H.A.L.F.: The Makers Read Online Free PDF Page A

into a dungeon to slowly starve to death.”
    Ian’s dark hair fell in greasy strands across his forehead. His chiseled face looked brooding with a week’s worth of beard growth. There were dark circles and puffy bags under his brown eyes. A small tear had gathered at the corner of his eye.
    “Ian –”
    “The point is, we don’t know anything, and no sense in our minds racing to the worst conclusion. And –”
    “And what?”
    “And no matter what happens, even if it’s really awful, don’t go thinking that it’s all your fault. I came because I wanted to. You don’t have unlimited power over me, you know. You’re not that charming.”
    Erika lightly punched Ian’s arm with her small, balled-up fist. “Yes, I am.”
    Ian squeezed her against him again, and Erika leaned her head back and rested it on his shoulder. She tried not to think about how she would have liked to rest her head on Jack’s shoulder instead and have his arms wound around her. But try as she might to get her mind away from the subject of Jack, the vision of his calling out as the alien ship took her was emblazoned on her mind. Her body shook with long, slow, silent sobs.
    “I know, hon. I miss him too.”
    Erika snuffed snot up her nose and wiped her face with her sleeve. “How did you know I was thinking about Jack?”
    “Maybe ’cause I know you so well. Or maybe ’cause if holding you makes me think about him, then I guessed it probably made you think about him too.”
    “You love him too, don’t you?”
    Ian didn’t answer. Erika pulled herself away from his arms and looked back at him. His eyes were closed, his head bowed. “Ian, are you in love with Jack too?” She’d suspected Ian had a crush on Jack when they’d first met him, but she figured Ian had moved on when he learned that Jack would never feel the same way about him.
    Ian nodded. “Maybe. I don’t know. All I know is that I think about him all the time. And when I see him kiss you or hold you or hug you, it’s like I feel so jealous. At first, I thought it was because I feeling protective toward you. But then, toward the end of summer, I realized it was because I didn’t want you touching him.”
    Erika took his hand in hers. “I’m sorry.”
    “You don’t need to be. Not your fault I fell in love with a guy that can’t love me back.”
    She squeezed his hand. “Doesn’t matter now, does it? For either of us. We’re here – wherever here is – and he’s there. Millions – maybe billions – of miles between us. Looks like it’s just you and me, at least for now.”
    “We’re both going to die virgins.”
    Erika laughed a hoarse, dry laugh.
    Ian didn’t join her laughter, but he smiled and held his arms open for her. “You’ll have to settle for body warmth from me,” he said.
    Erika’s body and mind were exhausted though she couldn’t remember doing anything other than hovering in a void, sleeping and talking to Ian since they ascended into the ship. Was that an hour ago? Or days? Erika’s eyelids were heavy like she’d taken nighttime cold medicine. She shook her head and slapped at her arms. “I can’t sit here anymore. I’ve got to find a way out of this room.”
    She took a few steps toward the door.
    “I tried to open it. If I couldn’t get it –”
    “I know it’s probably useless, but I have to at least try.”
    There was a sound coming from outside the room. The door slid open smoothly.
    Bluish-white light spilled into the room from the doorway. A large figure filled the door frame, flanked on either side by diminutive, thin beings with bulbous heads. They stood no more than four feet tall.
    “Dr. Randall!” Erika cried. She quickly closed the space between them and took his hand.
    Dr. Randall’s chin was covered in a sparse, scraggly grey beard. He forced a wan smile to his lips, but his eyes did not brighten. In fact, he looked as though he was on the verge of tears.
    The two beings with Dr. Randall had the same