Tether's End

4843 words

Episode 10: Tether's End Mira’s boots skidded against the station’s outer hull, the cold metal biting through the worn soles as she fought to keep her grip on the tether. Her breath came in sharp, ragged bursts, fogging the inside of her helmet’s visor. Above her, Elrik’s shadow blocked out the faint glow of the station’s exterior lights, his gloved hand coiled tight around the cable, yanking with a force that made her arms scream. “Gotcha,” he growled again, his voice crackling through the comms, thick with smug satisfaction. “Elrik, stop!” Mira’s words came out half a shout, half a gasp, her injured hand slipping another inch on the tether. Pain lanced through her palm, a hot, jagged reminder of the gash she’d torn open hours ago. Blood had crusted inside her glove, sticky and warm, making every movement a gamble. She couldn’t see Earth below—just the endless black of space, studded with indifferent stars—but she could feel the void pulling at her, a silent, hungry thing waiting for her to let go. “You think you’re clever, huh?” Elrik’s voice cut through the static, sharp as a blade. “Sneakin’ around, playin’ hero with that damn skiff. You’re done, Mira. Council’s gonna hear every bit of this.” Her jaw clenched, teeth grinding so hard she felt the ache in her skull....