DangerouslyForever

by A. M. Griffin

  “Argh.” She wiggled out of its grasp, only to find herself surrounded by more aliens, extending hands, tentacles and even claws out to her.

  Bile rose in her throat. She circled, trying to find a way to escape. Please God, get me out of here. The group closed in on her. She dropped to her knees and scrambled between legs, shaking off any hand that reached for her.

  She kept her eyes forward and focused. She could do it. She could escape.

  An opening.

  She crawled faster.

  Almost free. Then to find Eva.

  A hand wrapped around her ankle and pulled her back. Her knees and palms scraped against the ground. “Fuck,” she yelled, looking behind her to find that she’d been caught by the bastard alien again.

  When he readjusted his hold on her, she turned to her butt and pulled her leg back, aiming it at his thick face. With one fluid movement, she planted a fierce kick to his nose.

  Crack.

  In the brief time it took him to scrunch his face and yell out in pain, she had turned around, trying to get away.

  She didn’t get far. His hands were on her shirt, lifting her off the ground. She flailed, trying to grab something…anything. Finding nothing.

  The bastard wrapped his arms around her, holding her in a bear hug. He whispered something in a low hiss in her ear. The aliens surrounding her whooped and hollered. She could only imagine what he’d said.

  “Fuck this.”

  Ally snapped her head back, connecting her skull with his face. With a grunt he loosened his hold, giving Ally the opportunity she needed to let her body go limp and slide down his leg in an effort to get away. As she fell, he grabbed her hair, pulling her back to her feet.

  “Let me go,” she yelled. She clawed at his fingers, trying to get him to release her hair. She could feel strands being ripped from her scalp. Her eyes watered in pain.

  She had no choice but to stumble along as he led her back to the platform and up the stairs. She tried one last attempt to get away and he countered by twisting his hand deeper into her hair.

  “Holy fuck,” she cried, as tears streamed down her face.

  He tried to make her stand but she dropped to her knees. She didn’t pay any attention as the bidding began. She didn’t care.

  The very thing she and Eva had vowed would never happen was done. They had been split up.

  She directed her cold stare on the crowd. “I hate you. I hate you all,” she said through clenched teeth.

  * * * * *

  “Ally, you have to eat,” the middle-aged woman, Inga, coaxed.

  “No,” Ally said. She couldn’t even stand to look at Inga, or anyone else on the ship for that matter. She turned on her side to face the wall.

  Inga humphed. “I’m just trying to help you.”

  Ally wrapped her hands around her knees, bringing them closer to her chest. “Just like you helped me save Eva? That’s the kind of help I could do without.”

  Inga sighed and dropped down to sit next to Ally. “There was nothing we could do. You saw them. If Eva couldn’t fight them,” she shrugged, “what do you think we could have done?”

  What could she have done? Ally searched her mind for the answer but came up short.

  Ally finally turned. She’d known Inga and the other women who’d been purchased from the gated prison since being taken from Earth. “We could have tried to do something—anything.”

  Tears filled Inga’s eyes. “I lost two sisters during the takings. The only thing that I can do is pray that they’re in a better place. I’ll say the same prayer for Eva.”

  “Do you honestly think those giant aliens took her to a better place?” Ally’s gaze swept around the cramped compartment. “No, I think wherever she is she’s facing the same fate as us. But the difference is that we have each other while she’s all alone.”

  Inga looked around as well, seeing the same thing Ally saw. They were trapped in another ship—this one a lot smaller than the Loconuist vessel. “Eva will be okay. She’s a survivor.”

  Ally pulled her brows together. “I have to figure out where she was taken and try to get to her.”

  “And how are you going to do that?” Inga asked in a hoarse whisper. “Huh? We don’t even know where we are or where we’re going.” She ran her hand through her tangled red hair. “For the time being we need to focus on trying to stay alive.”

  Stay alive?

  She and Eva had spent the last three years trying to stay alive. Ally had prayed—and she hadn’t been the only one—that wherever they were going would be a whole helluva lot better than the Loconuist ship.

  But what would be the point of trying to stay alive if she had to face this uncertainty without Eva? Losing Jim had been hard enough. She didn’t know how she was going to get through any of this alone.

  I can’t do this on my own. Ally closed her eyes against the thought.

  As if reading her mind, Inga added, “Hey, remember what I just told you. She could be somewhere nice by now. Maybe we’re going somewhere nice.” She picked at her nails, refusing to meet Ally’s eyes. “I mean, this is already better than the Loconuist ship. They’ve given us edible food and clean water at least.”

  The aliens had left them alone once they’d secured everyone in the ship. The only contact had been first when food was delivered, and then when blankets were passed around. From that little bit of experience, everyone somehow assumed these new aliens were compassionate and taking them all to the Promised Land.

  Ally didn’t trust them.

  She shook her head and rested her chin on her knees. “I don’t know where they’re taking us, but I’m not naïve enough to think we’re going off to be queens and princesses.”

  Inga indicated the bowl that she held in Ally’s face. “Wherever we go, do you really want to get there tired and weak?”

  Tired and weak? Never.

  Ally grabbed the bowl and sniffed the contents. It didn’t smell bad. But it didn’t smell good either. Her stomach growled and made up her mind for her. She tipped the contents into her mouth. She chewed but mostly swallowed chunks of the food whole. It dripped from the sides of her mouth to fall on her chin.

  She was hungrier than she’d thought.

  She gulped the last drop and used her forearm to wipe her mouth.

  An announcement came from overhead. She, like everyone else, looked up for its source. A small speaker nestled in the corner of the ceiling.

  “What are they saying?” Inga asked.

  Ally shook her head. It’s not as if any of them could speak alien languages. She wanted to ignore the rhetorical question, but instead she said, “They’re saying, ‘Thank you for flying Alien Air. We understand that while you have a choice of many different alien ships, you have chosen ours. Please sit back and enjoy the ride’.”

  Inga ignored her sarcastic remark.

  “I think we’re slowing down,” someone else said.

  Ally put her hands on the floor. She could feel the craft dropping its speed as well. She hopped to her feet. “You’re right.”

  The craft jostled, making everyone bump into each other and against the walls.

  They stopped. Ally sidestepped to the far wall. There was only one way in and one way out. She could be the first at the door or the last. But the question was, did she even want to go out there to whatever was waiting for them?

  A couple of women moved to stand next to her.

  “Don’t crowd me,” she warned. If the doors opened and she didn’t like what she saw, she wouldn’t be leaving willingly. She didn’t have a plan after that singular thought. Anxiety had her on high alert.

  The door opened and the alien who had passed out the food and blankets was on the other side.

  His yellow eyes gleamed under the bright lighting. He smiled at them as if to say, “Trust me”.

  Yeah right.

  He waved his hand, displaying brown, dirty nails, gesturing for them to follow.

  Two didn’t hesitate.
As if waiting to hear screams and yells, the others waited.

  Nothing.

  Slowly, one by one, the others filed out.

  Until Ally was the only one left. She pressed her back flat against the wall. The door closed.

  Maybe they’ll forget about me and leave me here?

  A second later the door reopened. The alien poked his head through the doorway. He waved, wearing that same fake smile.

  There were no yells. No screams.

  But still…

  Inga poked her head through the entrance. “Ally, come on. They’re nice.”

  Swallowing her fear, Ally stepped off the vessel.

  * * * * *

  Yes, they were nice at first, even putting a universal translator in her head so she could understand what the aliens were saying.

  And that’s when she found out how fucked she really was.

  She’d been lured, with all the other women, to another auction block—she was being sold yet again.

  The real hell was just beginning.

  Chapter Two

  Brothel Number One

  Gyerta, Latreian Star System, Torus Galaxy

  “I will kill you, human,” the alien snarled. He had his arms outstretched, ready to grab her the minute she let her guard down.

  Ally twirled the stolen staff in her hand like a baton. “You have to catch me first,” she taunted.

  Crazy Horse lurched forward, but light on her feet, Ally stepped clear of his grasp. His name wasn’t really Crazy Horse. It was just what she liked to call him. It fit.

  One, he looked like a horse, and two, he was crazy. As evidenced by the way he snarled at her with white froth dripping from his lips onto his chin, lips that he had tried to kiss her with just minutes before. The thought made her stomach churn.

  She swung the body-length staff at his knees, hitting him with a hard whap.

  That’s what you get for trying to kiss me.

  He jumped back and rubbed his legs. “When I get you, I’m going to kill and fuck you.” He tilted his head in thought and then a slow smile eased across his face. “In that order.”

  She chuckled. The sound came out deep and throaty.

  If he followed through on his threat, she would be a very happy girl. But she doubted Crazy Horse had the credits needed to buy her freedom—essentially her death. She didn’t even mind that he planned to rape her afterward. Hell, he could do anything he wanted with her body as long as she was dead. It wasn’t as if there would be a funeral or burial for her. No, she’d seen what happened to dead brothel whores.

  They got thrown away. In the trash.

  “You promise?” she asked.

  “What?”

  Is he that stupid? Did he forget that quick? “Do you promise to kill me?”

  He straightened, squinting his silver eyes at her. “I’m going to snap your neck like a twig.”

  She nodded to the arm that hung loosely at his side. “Shouldn’t you take care of that first?” Thanks to her, it was dislocated at the shoulder.

  He looked down briefly. “I can kill you with one arm.”

  “I’ll tell you what.” She settled her weight onto one leg and rested her free hand on her hip. “If you promise to be quick about it, I’ll put down the weapon.”

  Grinning, he began pulling down his pants. “I’ll be quick. I have to return to my vessel anyway.”

  She rolled her eyes. “Not that, you idiot.”

  “Huh?”

  “Holy shiznits. Killing me.” She waved her free hand through the air, trying to jog his short memory. “Be quick about killing me.”

  He frowned and looked at her as though she was the crazy one. “And face the fines associated with your death? No.” He pulled up his pants.

  “No one keeps their promises anymore,” she whispered to herself.

  He started for the door.

  “Hey!”

  He flicked his hand back to her. “Keep the weapon.”

  He walked away. She threw the staff just as the door slammed closed behind him. It bounced to the floor and rolled to a stop.

  The weapon wouldn’t do her a bit of good and he knew it. What purpose did a stick serve against blasters?

  None.

  And they wouldn’t even set the blasters to kill.

  Damn. Why won’t anyone kill me?

  * * * * *

  Brothel Number Two

  Enan, Delta Star System, Torus Galaxy

  “Push, Adrienne. Push,” Ally coaxed as she held onto Adrienne’s right leg, holding it back so far that the knee almost touched her shoulder.

  Adrienne scrunched her face in determination as she grunted with another push. She was sweaty. Her normally brown skin was an unhealthy, dull gray color.

  When Adrienne let out a hard breath, Ally and Joyce—who held on to Adrienne’s other leg—passed concerned looks between each other.

  Adrienne had been pushing for what seemed like hours now. The alien baby within her wouldn’t budge. Unlike most of the women at this brothel, Adrienne had not been sterilized.

  Ally had made sure the deed had been done to her. She didn’t mind that they had taken out all of her woman parts. She didn’t need them anymore.

  Mari, the only human doctor at the brothel, sat on a stool between Adrienne’s legs. She eased a hand into Adrienne’s birthing canal, trying desperately to grab a hold of the baby in an effort to pull it out.

  “I think…I have it,” Mari grunted, twisting her arms and concentrating hard on her task.

  “See?” Ally said, trying to soothe Adrienne. “Almost done. You can do it. Be strong.”

  Adrienne turned her head to look at Ally. Her eyes were glazed over with pain. The bastard owner hadn’t even offered Adrienne pain medication, saying it would be a waste of meds. “I don’t think I can do this,” she said between shallow breaths.

  Ally met her gaze. “You can and you will,” she said, unblinking. There was no other choice but death—for her, the baby or both.

  “You’re almost done,” Mari said. “On three.”

  Joyce tightened her grip on Adrienne’s leg and began the countdown. “One. Two. And three!”

  Ally and Joyce held Adrienne’s knees to her shoulders again while Adrienne strained and pushed.

  “Here it comes,” Mari said as she pulled.

  No one objected to her calling the baby “it” because no one was sure what Adrienne would have. There was no way of telling which species had impregnated her, not until after it was born.

  Adrienne gave one last scream as Mari pulled the baby from her. “You did it,” Mari exclaimed, whisking the baby to a table where a blanket had been placed.

  Finally.

  “What is it?” Adrienne asked.

  “A boy,” Mari replied. She used the blanket to rub the baby vigorously, causing the baby to murmur and finally cry.

  Adrienne closed her eyes. “No. I mean, what is it?”

  Joyce and Ally looked to Mari for an answer, holding their breaths.

  “Don’t worry about that right now, Adrienne. You have a healthy baby boy. That’s all that matters,” Mari said, refusing to meet anyone’s gaze.

  “She has a right to know,” Joyce said. “What is it?”

  The baby began to cry louder, making a high-pitched screeching sound.

  The hairs on the back of Ally’s neck stood on end. Her eardrums felt as if they would pop. That doesn’t sound right.

  “It’s a baby,” Mari said, standing her ground.

  “Let me see it,” Adrienne asked weakly. “Give me my baby.”

  Mari looked up, giving Adrienne a quivering smile. “Maybe you should wait until after you get out of the healing tank. You’ve lost so much blood.”

  “Fuck this.” Joyce rounded the bed and went to the far table where Mari had the baby, shielding it with her back. The baby screeched louder and louder.

  Joyce pushed Mari away, making her stumble. “Move, let me see.”

  Mari regained her footing
and rushed to Joyce, trying to keep her from the baby. “No, I don’t think—”

  “What is that?” Joyce screeched.

  Ally’s heart skipped a beat as she and Adrienne watched Joyce hold the baby up toward the light.

  Ally dropped Adrienne’s hand. This can’t be right. “Oh my God.”

  Adrienne’s screams filled the room.

  * * * * *

  Brothel Number Three

  Sien, Delta Star System, Torus Galaxy

  Ally pressed indiscriminately at the buttons on the control console.

  Which one starts this fucking thing?

  She didn’t know what any of the buttons did, but she hoped to find the one that would fire up the engines and get her out of here.

  Bang! Bang! Bang!

  She didn’t look at the door. The guards on the other side had been trying to get in ever since the transporter landed and the doors hadn’t opened.

  “Shit,” she muttered. Nothing seemed to be working.

  She pushed the pilot’s body out of the way and it hit the floor with a thump. She didn’t worry about him waking up and stopping her. Unless he had powers of reincarnation, that wouldn’t be happening.

  It wasn’t her fault he was dead—well, not entirely.

  She had asked him nicely to turn around and drop her off somewhere safe—anywhere but another brothel. But he had laughed, which was rude, to say the least. She’d lost her temper and punched him in his throat, crushing his trachea. He’d gurgled and gagged, flailed about, before finally slumping dead in his seat.

  She had asked him nicely.

  The doors opened.

  Fuck. Too late. No escape for her this time.

  But one thing was for certain. She wouldn’t go willingly.

  She rushed at the first alien she saw, screaming. She hoped he would kill her on sight.

  * * * * *

  Brothel Number Four

  Ardan, Hylio Star System, Torus Galaxy

  Ally dug her nails into the Lioi between her legs and arched against his hard body. His cock pumped inside her, slow and steady. Although it was a little on the small side, it still did the job.

  She met each stroke, rolling her pussy onto him. Each time she did, her clit rubbed against his coarse pubic hairs, creating a tantalizing stimulation.