The Soul Eaters (The Thin Hex Line Book 1) by Gwyndolyn Russell (e reader txt) 📕

been in the barracks. It was calmer here. People chatted. Others gave orders. A sense of urgency in the air. I could hear someone crying somewhere.

A rush of cold air flowed over me. A door slid open. I felt a large hand press into my back. I spun around and forward. The smell of the air here was familiar. Whiskey. I had not even thought about it until I smelled it. Now it was all I could think about.

The door shut behind me.

I knew my room. If I could navigate it while black out drunk, I could navigate with my eyes closed.

I pushed towards the kitchen. Found the sink. Grabbed a glass velcroed to the counter. I didn't even bother rinsing it. Pouring a glass without gravity required a special lid. A retractable straw that punctured the lid of the glass, then the cap of the bottle. A simple transfer of air by tilting the two let the whiskey flow into the glass. From there, I could drink it out of the straw, or by using a tiny switch that opened a small hole to be drank from.

I opted for the latter. I was ready for the sweet, smokey flavor and that pleasant burn. Yet all I got was nothing.

There's no way I messed up. I tried again. When I lowered the glass, something chilled plopped into my face. It rolled like slime across my nose.

"Damn it." I sighed. I reached for the blob. Sucked it up. I hit my head against the counter.

"Fine! I don't need a glass, anyway!" I snapped. I let go of the glass to let it float around the room.

I was already going stir crazy. I just recovered from the broken leg! Just got back into action. Now I'm more than worthless. At least I could still help in training with a bad leg. What could I do while blinded?

It trapped me in my room for about five days. Any time I tried to leave, Fenris was magically there, stopping me from even opening the door. Apparently, he never left. Not even once. He was awkwardly quiet. Honestly forgot he was even there most of the time.

Reaper stopped by one day to update me on the news.

"Torch says the damage is reminiscent of a solar flare." He said.

"Makes sense with the power failures, but what about the jump?"

"He's not sure how that could happen. Threw out a bunch of words I don't even know." He chuckled. "He says he can get everything back up in a few days once he gathers everything he needs."

"Good. Is there anything I can do to help?"

Reaper sighed. "Doctor wants you on bed rest. It'll help you heal faster." He paused. "You ain't the only one. If that helps. There's ten other cases of blindness. One of which is healing spectacularly according to Reynolds."

"Wish it was me…."

"You will heal!" He patted my back. "For now, why not relax and enjoy a vacation? And slow down on the alcohol. I haven't seen this many empty bottles since boot camp."

"There's only two. Relax."

He sighed again.

"There's ten, Jack. Ten. In four days." I could feel the disappointment radiating from him. "Maybe this down time will be good for you. Give you time to think. Reevaluate some choices and figure out where you want to go. You can't keep living like we're still in the war."

"Shut up. That shit is behind me."

Of course, I didn't want to talk about it. I didn't even want to think about it!

"You know, you could help me out." He piped up.

"Huh?"

"There's been odd rumors circling around. Some of the...dead from the power surge have disappeared. Just a smear of blood left in and around the pods. Witnesses say they saw Fenris leaving the scene."

"What? There's no way. A hundred fucking reasons why hell no. Fenris has been with me ever since."

"Are you sure?"

"You really suspect it was him?"

"I didn't say that. I don't want to believe he would do it. Then again, he isn't human. The dead to him may be treated differently."

"What would he do with the dead, anyway?"

"Rumors say they were eaten. Hence there being no trace."

"But he doesn't eat! Do you?" I turned to look at Fenris, though I couldn't see him.

No answer, like always.

I couldn't believe Fenris would do anything of the sort. I mean, he wasn't an angel, and he gave us no real reason to trust him. It was just a gut feeling. I had faith in him like I had in no other. I don't know the words to explain it any better. I knew deep down that Fenris, despite how he appeared, was genuinely good. He didn't trust us. How could he? Everyone seemed to be out to get him. Strangers at Empyree talked about him like he was some sort of god demanding sacrifices.

I think they misunderstood him.

"Well, nothing is ruled out. It could be anything. We did fall out of a tunnel through space and time. It could just be an anomaly." Reaper gave me a pat on the back. "Just keep an eye on him-- erm…"

"I don't think he'll leave even if I asked him, too."

"Hey, maybe you two could bond! The first human and valkyrie friendship!" I could hear his smile.

"Yeah, probably not. You know I don’t do friends."

A brief gust of wind brushed over my arm. I could feel the weight on the couch alter.

"I need to go check on the others. I'll come by later." His voice was further away now. "And slow down on the booze! I don't wanna catch you drunk and naked again!"

"Always something happening…" I sighed. "Honestly fucking wish I was still in a war. So much easier. Simpler. No time to think. Just survive."

"Surviving easy." Fenris' voice came in almost like a howl. "Primal instincts... easy fall on."

I perked up, scratching my chin. "I guess. What do you know about it?"

"Much."

"Care to elaborate?"

"Fenris understand not."

I paused. What did he mean by that? How could he not understand the question?