Chapter 8: The Symphony of Escape
The cold, metallic clang of boots echoed down the corridor as Celeste sprinted, weaving through the ship’s narrow hallways with a grace born of years of evading danger. The air was thick with the scent of burning circuits and ozone, a sign that the skirmish had left more than just a few bruises on the ship. But she didn’t have time to worry about that. Not now. Not while they were still trying to get out.
Her lumitharp was slung across her back, but she wasn’t using it now—she was relying on her agility, the sharpness of her reflexes. She could hear the bandits closing in behind her, their voices muffled by the ship’s hull but growing louder with every step. They were hunting her, and that wasn’t a game Celeste ever played lightly.
But something else kept pushing her forward, something she hadn’t expected when she first crashed on this planet: Orion. The thought of him, his easy smile and steady hands, gave her the strength to keep running. The connection between them had grown stronger over the past few days, more than just a shared goal of survival. It was the bond of two people who, despite the odds, had found something worth fighting for.
As Celeste rounded a corner, she spotted one of the bandits ahead, standing by the access hatch. His rifle was raised, eyes scanning the hallway, oblivious to her approach.
A flicker of an idea ran through her mind. She couldn’t fight them all at once—not with numbers like this. But she could outsmart them.
She reached for her lumitharp, the familiar weight of the instrument grounding her as her fingers hovered over the strings. The sound of the ship’s engine thrummed beneath her feet, a steady heartbeat that pulsed with the life of the vessel. The bandit turned just as she strummed a low, resonant chord, the vibrations sending a shockwave through the walls.
He flinched, disoriented, and that was all the time she needed. With a fluid motion, Celeste launched herself forward, closing the gap between them in a heartbeat. The bandit never saw her coming. She knocked his rifle aside and, using her body as leverage, twisted his arm behind his back, forcing him to the ground.
“Stay down,” she hissed, tightening her grip.
For a moment, there was silence. Then, with a groan, the bandit struggled beneath her, but he didn’t fight back hard enough to break free.
Celeste stood up, her pulse racing, but she didn’t take her eyes off him. The sound of footsteps behind her made her turn, but before she could react, a sharp voice called out.
“Let him go, lady. Or I swear, you won’t get out of here in one piece.”
It was the leader of the group. The one she’d learned to fear over the last few days.
But this time, Celeste wasn’t afraid. She was determined. She could hear the faint echo of Orion’s voice in her mind, steady and sure, reminding her that they had to finish what they started.
“I don’t think you’re in a position to make demands,” Celeste said, her voice low and confident, her hand still clutching the bandit’s arm. “You’re the ones who’ve overstayed your welcome.”
A laugh echoed from behind her. It was the leader. “You think you can take us all on? You’re outnumbered.”
“Outnumbered?” Celeste tilted her head, her lips curving into a smirk. “I’ve faced worse odds. You’re all just a bunch of desperate fools, hoping to catch a break.”
With a swift motion, she pressed her foot into the bandit’s back, using him as a shield as she backed toward the access hatch.
“You’re not going anywhere,” the leader growled, stepping closer.
Celeste’s fingers hovered over the strings of her lumitharp, ready for the next move. The ship’s hum vibrated through her as she channeled the energy of her music into the strings. She needed something more than just a sound wave this time. She needed to escape—and she needed Orion.
“I’m not the one you should be worried about,” Celeste said, her eyes narrowing. “He is.”
The sound of rapid footfalls came from behind her, and Celeste smiled. She could feel it—the surge of energy that only Orion could produce. He had the timing down to a science, and Celeste knew exactly what he was about to do.
Orion appeared in the doorway, blaster raised, his eyes cool and calculating. “You might want to reconsider your options,” he said, voice dripping with calm confidence.
The leader’s face twisted into a sneer. “You think you can take us on with just a blaster and a—what is that thing?” His gaze flicked to Celeste’s lumitharp.
“You’re about to find out,” Celeste said with a grin.
In the split second before the bandits could react, she let out a sharp chord from her lumitharp, sending a shockwave of sound that slammed into the walls, rattling the floor beneath them. The bandits scrambled, disoriented by the powerful sonic force that filled the corridor, but it was already too late.
Orion fired, hitting the leader square in the shoulder. The man cried out in pain, dropping to the floor, and the rest of his crew hesitated—just long enough for Celeste and Orion to make their move.
“Now!” Celeste shouted, her heart pounding in her chest.
Together, they rushed toward the access hatch. Orion’s hand slammed against the control panel, opening the door to the outside. The wind howled in the distance as they ran toward the makeshift ship, the one that would carry them to freedom.
But even as they ran, Celeste felt a flicker of doubt. Were they truly free? Or was this just another temporary escape, one that would eventually come to an end?
Orion turned to her, his face determined but soft. “We’ll make it,” he said, his voice firm. “I won’t let anything happen to you.”
She nodded, feeling the weight of his words settle over her. It wasn’t just the ship they were escaping—it was the uncertainty of everything else.
But for the first time in days, Celeste didn’t feel so alone. And that, she realized, was enough.
For now.
