Page 21 of Klaz

Klaz nodded, averting his gaze. “Of course.”

I fumbled with the zipper of my dress, my fingers clumsy from the cold. The fabric clung to my skin as I peeled it off, goosebumps rising on my exposed flesh.

“You okay back there?” Klaz asked, his back still turned.

“Peachy,” I replied, my teeth chattering. “Just enjoying the arctic breeze.”

I hurried to pull on the suit, struggling with the stiff material. As I zipped it up, my elbow knocked against Klaz’s back.

“Sorry,” I muttered.

“It’s fine,” he said quietly.

I tapped his shoulder. “All clear.”

Klaz turned, his eyes roaming over me before he looked away.

The moment was interrupted by an ominous cracking sound. Klaz’s expression hardened. “Move. Now.”

He yanked open the emergency hatch, letting in a blast of frigid air that stole my breath away. I grabbed what supplies I could, shoving them into a makeshift pack. Klaz did the same, his movements quick and efficient.

Sharp twists of metal littered the floor, and I snatched up two. Not much of a weapon, but at least something.

“Stay close,” he instructed, stepping out into the howling wind.

I followed, my steps crunching in the snow. The cold seeped through me despite the suit and thermal blanket I wore draped over me. I squinted against the glare, trying to get my bearings.

Klaz scanned the horizon, his sharp eyes picking out details I missed. “There,” he said, pointing to a rocky outcropping in the distance. “It looks like there might be caves.”

I squinted, barely making out the formation through the swirling snow. “That’s a long walk.”

“We don’t have much choice,” Klaz replied. “The pod won’t offer enough protection once night falls.”

I sighed, shouldering my pack. “Lead on, then.”

The first hour of our trek was grueling. The wind seemed to shift direction constantly, always blowing directly into our faces. Snow collected on my eyelashes, and each blink felt like sandpaper against my eyes. Klaz forged ahead, breaking a path through the knee-deep drifts. I focused on putting one foot in front of the other, trying to step in his massive footprints.

Klaz caught my arm, steadying me. “Are you all right?”

“Just peachy,” I grumbled. “Next time I book a vacation, remind me to pick somewhere tropical.”

He huffed a half-laugh that made me smile in return. “I’ll make a note of it.”

We trudged onward in silence. My thoughts raced, cycling between fear and determination. I’d survived worse situations, hadn’t I? But as the icy wind cut through my suit, doubt crept in. This was beyond any con or scheme I’d ever pulled.

I glanced at Klaz, his tall form breaking the wind for me. His presence was oddly reassuring.

The rocky outcropping grew closer. As we approached, I saw that Klaz had been right – there were indeed caves dotting the cliff face.

“We should check them out,” Klaz said. “Find one that offers the best shelter.”

I nodded, too cold and tired to argue. We climbed carefully over ice-slicked boulders, peering into each cave mouth. Most were shallow or partially filled with snow.

Finally, we found a promising option – a deep cavern that curved away from the wind. Klaz entered first, checking for any hidden dangers. I followed, relief washing over me as we escaped the biting wind.

The air in the cave was still, almost oppressively quiet after the howling wind outside. A musty smell filled my nostrils – damp stone and something else I couldn’t quite identify. As my eyes adjusted to the gloom, I noticed odd, glowing patches on the walls, casting a faint, eerie blue light.

“This will do,” Klaz declared. “We can set up camp here and wait out the storm.”