Chapter 17: Sun

Sun opened her eyes when all motion finally ceased. She had clenched them shut, her whole body tensed into a ball of terror as she felt the ship buck and toss all the way to the surface. The stability net surrounding the pod protected Sun and Bronwyn from the worst of the vibrations, but not even that could prevent them from feeling the impact. Sun heard Bronwyn's endless screaming as it grew more and more hoarse. She clung to the other girl, knowing these could be her last moments, but unable to even pray for her own salvation.

The shuddering horror seemed to go on forever. When it stilled at long last, she couldn't believe it. In fact, it took the soft, whimpering cries of the girl next to her, the only sound now everything had fallen still, to shake her loose from her fear.

She was all right. And, despite her own belief to the contrary, so was Bronwyn.

"We made it," Sun whispered to her. "We're safe. Bronwyn." Sun hugged her, gently this time, without the iron grip of panic. The other girl reacted to it, if in slow motion, uncurling herself from her clenched position and opening her eyes. Swimming green met brown. Tears coursed down Bronwyn's cheeks and Sun felt gratified when the girl hugged her back.

"We're okay!" Bronwyn laughed, voice shaking as she pulled back, forcing her long, dark blonde hair from her face, smiling at Sun like the morning light. "We're actually okay!"

Sun laughed too, feeling amazing, a rush of joy. They had somehow survived the crash.

Bronwyn let out a deep breath before checking the panel next to Sun's head.

"All lights are green," she said. "Looks like there is atmosphere, wherever we ended up." She keyed the door control with a shaking hand. It made a low grinding noise, but nothing happened.

Bronwyn frowned, hitting it again. This time there was nothing at all.

Sun felt her fear returning. She hated tight spaces, had terrible fear of confinement. The relief of survival was turning into a need to escape the tiny pod.

"What's wrong?" She tried to keep her voice down when she spoke, but there was a shrill edge to it she couldn't control.

"I don't know," Bronwyn snapped at her. "I'm no engineer. Stupid thing!" She slammed her fist against it several times, but nothing happened.

"I have to... I have to... get out." Sun could feel herself starting to hyperventilate. The last thing she needed was to be overcome and pass out after surviving a crash caused by an alien attack. The thought of it was absurd. Besides, her mother would kill her. Lily hated it when Sun showed weakness.

"No kidding," Bronwyn shot back. Then looked at Sun with a strange expression. Sun saw the wheels turning behind the girl's eyes as she made the connection. "You're claustrophobic," she said.

Sun bobbed her head, gulping air, trying to breathe deeply, to stay calm, but losing the battle as the walls of the pod vibrated and started to close in. Her vision shrank to a tunnel, all black around the edges as her brain fought for oxygen. Sun heard a low, animal moan and knew it came from her own throat.

As darkness drew closer, Sun heard something bounce off the outside of the pod. As it did, the straining mechanism was finally able to do its job. With a hiss, it slid partway open.

Sun felt her breathing steady and full consciousness return when her tortured mind realized she was no longer trapped. She dove for the crack in the seal and forced her body against it, trying to open it further. Bronwyn tugged on her sleeve, hissing at her to be quiet.

Something moved around out there.

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