The Mirrorverse

Maya

Steve’s agonised screams pierced Maya’s skull as they reverberated around the cargo bay. Maya was shocked at the sudden movement and made to engulf a few steps backwards automatically, only the bugs prevented her passage.

He was on the floor on his face, and his left arm looked like it was made of jelly. Syrhahn was twisting it, but she felt no pity for the man who had ruined their lives, and killed Rob.

Her only concern for Steve’s welfare was that he remain conscious long enough to find out where Ellie was. Syrhahn tortured Maya’s sworn enemy while her squeamish side turned her gut as Steve’s bones broke audibly.

Brian’s dead body lay next to them, a motionless reminder of the fate that Steve faced. Maya had to believe that Ellie was not in the same condition.

Suddenly Syrhahn’s words snapped her out of her shocked reverie, “They’re both still alive.”

Maya’s breath caught in her throat as she believed the torturer’s words. Ellie was still alive. She followed Syrhahn’s eyes to her left and couldn’t believe who was standing there staring at her.

Maya ran at Ellie, arms open and she flew into them, hugging her so tightly she could barely breathe. Ellie was alive and in Maya’s arms. Maya could barely keep a thought in her head as the events of the past moments, hours, days and weeks failed to catch up with her.

They broke apart as Syrhahn and what must have been Viskra let go of each other. Maya was warmed to see Viskra take Ellie’s hand, while she squeezed it. Maya had no idea what they had been through, but they looked like shit.

Les was saying that Joe shouldn’t have killed Steve because he wanted to, but Maya was secretly glad that he didn’t. Les shouldn’t have that on his conscience, but at the same time, she could understand why he had wanted to exact his revenge on the man that killed his husband.

Maya just stood there in the centre of the relieved chaos that surrounded her. Suddenly she saw Xhisara, who must have brought her Ellie to her. Maya threw herself at her, crying into her chest.

When Maya emerged from Xhisara’s bosom, she looked around the now funeral parlour, and thought about how she needed to get out of there, so she asked if they should adjourn to the mess hall where there was beer.

“Actually, I’m afraid the mess hall is out of bounds at the moment, I’ve locked the surviving young recruits of William in there with a load of bugs and Shel is shall we say, debriefing them, as we speak. The Spectrals want a word with them once it’s safe to de-bug.”

“Always trying to save someone, huh?” Syrhahn teased, starting a wave of laughter that went around the room, peals of merriment echoing off the metal walls.