The Lonely Orphan (The Lost Planet 5)

“By convince, you mean kidnapping us.”

“Let him talk, Zoe,” Willow says.

“I am letting him talk. All I’m hearing are excuses.”

Willow rolls her eyes, but they’re too bright with excitement to be dismissive. “Are you having any luck?”

“The system seems to be similar to the one we use at the facility. I should be able to patch into the comms system at the facility—or at least Sayer said as much.”

“So you don’t even know if you can talk to them? Great,” Zoe says.

“Are you always so negative, little one?” Hadrian says. “I want this to work as much as you do. I don’t want to stay here. My life is back at the Facility. The sooner I can get in communication with them, the faster I can go home.”

Home. Back to Aria.

The excitement at the prospect of talking to her again dulls a little when I remember Hadrian loves her. I try not to think about how it had felt having Aria always in the spotlight. Having everyone constantly telling me I’d never be as good as her, make as much money as her, live up to her.

The thrill I’d felt with Hadrian pales knowing he loves her. Of course he does. Aria has always been beautiful, talented, and kind.

How could I ever compare?

Pushing the thought from my mind, I cross the room to Hadrian’s side. I don’t understand one iota of what he’s doing, but I’m too anxious to pace around the room. No matter how I feel about myself, I love my sister. All I’ve wanted since she was taken from me was to get her back.

Hadrian lifts the microphone to his mouth. “Facility. This is Hadrian Alosius, please respond.”

Blank, white noise fills the speakers. My heart beats a rapid tattoo in my chest. Hadrian repeats his call and we wait. Still no response.

“Are they sleeping?” Willow asks, disappointment evident in the downturn of her bowed lips.

“No, there will always be someone stationed in the communication bay, especially since we’re out on the Mayvina. Even if there’s not, Uvie, our computer, will notify Breccan the moment they receive a communication. Something must be wrong with the equipment.”

“The antenna on the mountains sustained damage during a recent storm. It will need to be repaired if we want to communicate beyond that boundary. We haven’t tried up to this point as we haven’t seen the need.”

Zoe motions for me to follow her to the hall. With a regretful look at Hadrian and the microphone that will connect me with my sister, I join her.

“If he wants to repair the antenna, that means someone will have to go outside the prison—to the mountains. He’ll have to go too. You can’t consider it. It’s not safe.”

Travel outside the prison. I’d never gone farther than the walls surrounding the prison—not even after we overthrew the guards. The land surrounding us is simply too dangerous, the radiation too deadly. Incredibly, the prison is the safest place for us.

“I’ll do what I have to do,” I answer.

“You’re crazy. These monsters show up and you’re willing to throw away everything we’ve worked for.”

“You know me better than that, Zoe. I’m trying to do what’s best for everyone. If the mountains are blocking the signal and we do have to travel in order to communicate with our families, I will do what’s necessary to ensure that happens.” I cut her off before she can argue. “End of discussion. Go check on the rest and make sure they’re okay. I’ll stay with Willow and Hadrian.”

She gives me one last beseeching look, then does as I ask.

A headache begins to brew just behind my eyes. I haven’t had much sleep since I heard the first call from their vessel. Excitement, fear, anticipation have all been thudding through my system, leaving me unable to sleep, unable to do anything other than wait.

I push off from the wall and go back to Hadrian and Willow. The white noise still fills the speakers. “Any luck?” I ask.

“Nothing,” Willow says, forlorn. “Something’s wrong.”

I nod. “Zoe mentioned we may need to go to the top of the ridge for the signal to get out of the valley.”

At this, Hadrian swivels around in the chair to look at me. “I thought we were only allowed to roam in our section?”

“I didn’t say you were going to go alone.” I swallow hard. “I’ll be going with you.”

6

Hadrian

“No.”

Her eyes bug out of her nog. “What do you mean no? Must I remind you that you’re a prisoner here until we can make contact with my sister?”

I stop my spinning and rise from my seat. Willow eyes me warily as she inspects the zap stick. They see me as some sort of angry beast. But these aliens have no idea what lies beyond the safe walls of this prison. No idea.