Erie’s Cry  

The jolting and evasive flying woke me up out of a dead sleep long before I was ready to face the day.

I blinked, unseeing at the silver ceiling above me as the ship shuddered, absorbing an energy blast. The ship itself dipped down, diving so fast that my entire body went with it. The only reason why I wasn't sprawled out on the floor was because of the metal straps around my neck, wrists, and ankles.

I guess I should be grateful for them at the moment, but it was hard to appreciate something that has been keeping you in place since you were born.

After a moment, the ship seemed to level out, and I was able to squirm up enough to take some of the tension off my neck, allowing me to breath again.

'Carbon,' I called out in my mind, reaching out to the link I had identified as my brother. We were forbidden from talking. In fact, I don't think I have ever said a word in my life. If the Overlord found us speaking to each other…