Runaway

3. Chapter

The person who had entered stopped right in front of the chest I was hiding behind. I tried to hold my breath while my heart was beating fast and loud. But nothing happened. The steps were fading away again and I almost sighed with relief. That was a close one. What if they had found me? What was I going to tell them? They would think I was there to spy on them. Or kill them and bring the fright back to the republic.
Just while thinking about this I realized something. How could I have been that stupid? I had forgotten a major problem. Food. As a genetically modified clone I didn't need as much of it as other species do but I didn't know how long this journey would take, it might be days and in that case I wouldn't survive if I stayed here.
My thoughts were interrupted by the sound of the engine starting. Maybe I should have been nervous, but instead I felt a surprising wave of comfort rolling over me. I leaned back against the wall just to flinch the next second as gunfire started hitting the fright ship. I could hear familiar voices yelling commands at the troops below me. I could hear panicking unknown voices, even in different languages trying to steer the ship out of this attack above me from the bridge.
More and more shots hit the ship, it was starting to stagger. Were we going to crash? A sudden shift in speed made my head bump against the wall. Suddenly the gunshots stopped. Or at least they didn't hit us anymore, we were out of reach. I took a deep breath.
I did it, I escaped. I felt relieved for a second, thinking the biggest obstacle was behind me. Little did I know about all the challenges I had yet to face.

I sat like this for a while. I don't know how long. Did I fall asleep for a while?   I had no idea but I started becoming aware of my surroundings as I heard steps once again. By paying close attention I guessed that it was a woman, the shoes definitely had heels and the steps were rather light. What was she doing here, didn't she already check on the cargo? She wouldn't be looking for me, how should she know I was here, she's probably just looking for something. While I was still thinking about that she pulled away one of the crates I was hiding behind with surprising strength. She had a smug grin on her face.

"Hah, I knew it!", she blurted out. "The droid told me he had noticed a lifeform on board."

As if I had asked for an explanation. I was still in shock, I didn't say anything.

"Little slave wanted an opportunity to escape, huh?", she asked, sarcastically.

Again I didn't answer. What was I supposed to say? The truth? Definitely not.

"Are you shy or do you not understand me?", she asked, this time genuinely. 

I was about to reply but she just grabbed my arm and pulled me up.
"Let's get you to the boss".