The Skybridge

Frankie stood up, then leaned down and scooped her up.

She was light. She wrapped her arms around his neck, burying her face in his shoulder.

-Gravity generators are offline, Frankie muttered.

-Stabilizers are failing, she whispered back. Don't drop me, Captain. It’s a long way down.

He carried her out of the living room.

The hallway was pitch black.The Skybridge, a narrow, terrifying gantry connecting the ship’s command module to the astrometrics bay.

Frankie walked slowly. The magnetic plates on the floorboards kept them from floating off into nothingness.

-Keep your eyes on the horizon, he said.

Red tightened her grip.

-I’m not looking down, she breathed against his neck.

They reached the door at the end of the hall. It was closed. The airlock to the Astrometrics Bay.

Frankie paused. He adjusted her weight, holding her close against his chest.

-We’re at the threshold, he said. Once we cross, there’s no turning back.

Red reached out. Her hand found the doorknob.

-Open the pod bay doors, Frankie, she laughed, turning the handle.

The door creaked open, revealing the dark bedroom inside.

Frankie stepped through. He kicked the door shut behind them.

Sealed.