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My eyes darted around, trying to make sense of this new challenge.
The one person I had come to rely on, Talan, seemed just as bewildered.
Seeing the mighty Talan, a figure who had come to represent strength and security to me, look just as lost… it was heart-wrenching.
The pod’s launch was swift, yet tumultuous.
I was thrown against Talan, and with each jolt and tilt, a new wave of terror engulfed me.
This was so much more intense than any previous launch — not because of the launch itself but because of the emotional upheaval.
The pod trembled and shook as if caught in the maw of a giant beast.
My stomach churned, and I felt sick.
And just when I thought I couldn’t bear it any longer, the pod broke through the platform’s atmosphere, and with a heavy jolt, we crash-landed onto the platform.
Staggering out of the pod, the fresh air of the jungle greeted me.
The familiarity of it did little to comfort.
The weight of the handcuff binding me to Talan pulled at my wrist, and I was reminded once again of the direness of our situation.
I tried to stand upright, but the world spun around me.
My legs gave out, but before I could hit the ground, Talan’s strong arms encircled me, catching me in his protective embrace.
The platform seemed different — wild, untamed, and more menacing.
But was it truly the environment that had changed, or was it just my perception, now tainted with fresh dread and uncertainty?
A rush of emotions washed over me.
I thought I had come to terms with the Mating Game.
That I had a handle on what was happening, and that there might even be a silver lining — a possible life with Talan beyond this.
But the unexpected twist, the sudden reappearance in the pods, Krexar’s malevolent grin — it all left me reeling.
“I… I thought it was over,” I whispered, my voice shaky. “I thought… I thought maybe there was a chance for us…”
Talan gently cupped my face, forcing me to look into his eyes.
There was a determination there that momentarily calmed my racing heart. “Riley, I don’t understand all of this either. But one thing I am sure of is that we will get through it. You’re not alone in this.”
His words were comforting, yet my anxiety lingered. “Talan, what if itneverends? What if we’re stuck in this loopforever?Or until welose?”
The very thought was too horrifying to contemplate.
He hugged me tightly, almost as if he was trying to shield me from all the uncertainties of the universe.
His heartbeat was steady against my ear, and the warmth of his embrace was reassuring. “We’ve been through so much already, Riley. We will find a way. Wewill.”
There was something profoundly comforting about Talan’s steadfast belief in us.
His unwavering confidence seemed to seep into me, making me feel slightly better.
But there was still so much unknown, so many challenges that awaited.
