Zola Flash (The Zola Flash Series Book 1) Read Free Page A

quickly notice Doodle isn’t in my arms. Doodle isn’t even in the room. I whip my head back toward the soldier. “Where’s Doodle?”
    “You mean that annoying emp?” At my nod, he says, “It was getting on my nerves, so I threw it in another room.”
    I thrust up from the floor and charge at the male, but his reflexes are too fast. He captures both of my arms within his hands and restrains them behind my back. I struggle against his hold, but his grip tightens.
    I moan in pain. “That hurts.”
    “You throw punches like a man, expect to get treated like one,” he replies.
    “Doodle is the only thing I have left.” I whimper.
    “You refer to that thing likes it’s a person.”
    “Doodle is the only thing I have left,” I repeat.
    He narrows his eyes at me, but releases his grip on my arms. Heading toward the door, he gestures for me to follow. I do, and we end up in a hallway that leads to a red entrance through which sounds can be heard.
    My smile spreads as I recognize Doodle’s buzzing.
    The male seems to be watching my expression really closely as he uses a key in the lock. Nothing happens with the turn of his wrist. He turns the key again, then again. Still nothing.
    My smile turns into a frown, and I slide down the wall.
    He stares down at me. “Um . . . grabbed the wrong key.”
    “Well, find a way to get in! I want Doodle.”
    The male bursts into laughter, and I tilt my head up at him.
    “What is so funny?”
    “I was joking. The door is open.”
    He reaches out and swings the door open, and Doodle wobbles out, immediately trotting over me and licking me.
    “I missed you, too,” I say, scratching his head.
    The male extends his hand, and giving him my attention for a second, I take hold and let him pull me up.
    Doodle leaps into my arms. “I’m grateful I have Doodle back,” I say. “He means everything to me right now. With everything going on, you know.”
    The male smiles.
    “So . . . um, you apparently know who I am, and I know nothing of you. What’s your name?” The last thing I want is to feel like I owe anything to a Payohlini.
    “Pin.”
    “Pin?”
    He nods. “Pin.”
    I look away from him and down the length of the hallway we just entered. I start to walk away, when Pin stops me. He throws me a couple of things, and though I don’t really want anything from him, I unfold them.
    “What is this for?” I ask, holding up new attire.
    “I didn’t know what size you wore, so I grabbed that. You can’t go back out there dressed in battle armor.”
    I eye Doodle for a response, but he nods as if in agreement with Pin. I start to think about the pros and cons of wearing my armor. The cons outweigh the pros, especially with a war roaring outside. Eventually, I concede. “Okay, I’ll wear it.”
    “Good, ‘cause I didn’t feel like fighting for your life.”
    I stare at Pin. He stares back. Doodle looks from Pin to me.
    Pin starts tapping his foot, and I sigh, lifting my eyebrows. “What are you waiting for?” he asks.
    My cheeks heat. “I need privacy.”
    “Oh . . . um . . . sorry.” He ducks through and open door.
    Doodle leaps out my arms and nudges the door until it closes before wobbling back to my side and buzzing at me. With a final glance at the door, I quickly assemble my new habiliments and march through to Pin.
    After seeming to check me over, Pin starts walking in the opposite direction, and I follow.
    He turns a corner but backs up fast, and holds out a hand that prevents me making the turn.
    “Why did we stop?” I ask.
    “Stay here until I come back.”
    “Why?” I ask, but as soon as I hear the voices, I know.
    Glancing in the direction of the voices, Pin walks away, leaving me standing there. Alone.

Chapter Six
    DOODLE AND I SIT on the floor, waiting for direction from Pin. I thought the ship was vacant beyond the three of us. I was wrong. I crawl closer to the edge to the wall. Doodle sticks his snout around the corner, which I pull back, as I