Despite herself, Lisa smiled as she watched the humans open the doors to The Grey and pile into the hallway. There was a thunder of gunshots echoing down the first hallway that was roaring in Lisa’s ears.
Looking up, Lisa saw a camera pointed at her. She tilted her head up at it, making sure the camera caught all of her. Then she smiled again and screamed, “I’m home, bitches.”
A mother stuck her tongue against the glass container her Red came in, trying to lick every last bit of it. She heard a pop, then another. Standing, she peered at all the monitors. Humans were in the greeting room. Then there was a Woman of the Grey’s face, looking into the monitor. It spooked the mother. It looked like it was seeing her. Then she heard, “I’m home, bitches.” Nervously, the mother opened the desk drawer and took out a small black box. When she opened it, she found only an empty glass container.
“FUCK” was the last thing the mother said before hiding under a desk.
Lisa had immediately lost Israel in the shuffle. That didn’t bother her. She had said her goodbye to him in that small cheek kiss. She trailed behind the humans a bit, biding her time till they got to the center of The Grey.
The center of The Grey was the heart of it all, containing the cafeteria and kitchen as well as the path to the garden. Lisa’s human posse would soon reach it. The humans moved quickly, being over-confident in their actions because of this early success in the breach. Lisa was watching her steps. Dead Women of the Grey lay everywhere.
Rounding a corner, Lisa heard a man screaming, “Where is my daughter?” Quickly stepping forward, he came into Lisa’s view. The screaming man had a gun pointed at a mother. He was visibly shaking, crying. The man yelled “It’s you, Grace, you.”
It was Grace. All Women of the Grey wore nametags. How else could you tell them apart? Pathetic really, as if they were all part of a fast food franchise.
“I don’t know,” Grace said. “It’s me… it’s me, Paul. They forced me to come back and I had to give her up.” The Z9T man and Grace were both sobbing now. He put his gun down the whimpered “I just want our daughter.” The man leaned against a wall and Mother Grace collapsed into his arms.
“So, we can love…” Lisa said this to herself it was only an observation. “and be loved back”
Going over to the couple, Lisa put her hands up walking forward slowly she spoke to them “Sneak out, go away, far away.” Mother Grace was a mess. Sorrow clung to her. The man put his gun on the floor looking at Lisa he responded. “But, our daughter.”
“She’s lost…there is no way of telling.” Lisa started to walk away then but stopped, turned around. “Save yourselves.”
Clinging to each other, the man and Grace ran into the direction of The Grey’s front gate. She hoped for the best for them. In a pitiful way, Lisa was happy for Grace. She was glad that at least one Woman of the Grey knew what being loved felt like.
Teresa
There was a noise. Something loud. Something that startled Teresa awake. She had been dreaming that she was floating inside Uni again, but it was different. Uni could remember the beauty of his home planet in detail. Details that he was finally sharing with Teresa, as she painlessly floated inside of him without his tentacles clenched to her.
Teresa began to crawl towards the door. She held the knife in her teeth, like a jungle human she had seen in a movie. She wasn’t crawling to be dramatic. Teresa crawled because she was too weak to do anything else. The rush of killing an Original was gone. She had nothing left.
Reaching the door, Teresa put her fingers under it and pulled it open just a sliver. What she saw almost made her cry out. She stopped herself, knowing that if she did, she’d be noticed. An Original had another Original on the ground and was swiping its claws across the body with exaggerated arm gestures. Chunks of flesh flew, splattering the walls and covered the floor.
The Original that was doing the killing was enjoying itself. Teresa could see it, sense it. It killed with abandon. It killed like it was dancing. There was a joy to each arm swing, delight in each chunk of flesh that flew from its talons.
Teresa knew she should close the door, but to watch an enemy be killed with such feverish glory was enjoyable. She’d like to watch all the Originals locked up in a cage, swinging at each other’s necks.
Hearing a click, Teresa focused her eyes on the floor. Something hit the ground. What made that noise? Five feet in front of Teresa was a ring. Teresa knew this wasn’t just any ring. It was the ring of Superior Mother. The ring of the leader.
If she could grab it and put it on, then they’d leave her alone. Then she’d get strong again… and do what? Teresa didn’t know. Would she lead The Grey or work to banish them? Her mind was still too fuzzy to make such choices.
Teresa looked down at the ring, then at her emaciated legs. Legs so weak, made of jelly. No muscle. No strength. How could she lead? With the ring, her body could recover from what was done to her, but what about her thinking, her mind? What was left of that? Would the ring exploit her mental weakness or banish it?
The head of the dead Original rolled across the floor, eyes turned a muddy color. “So that is what dead looks like,” thought Teresa. For Uni, his sparkle vanished. For the Originals, their eyes that were once almost luminous turn to the color of dirt.
Superior Mother, now in her true form, stood stretched, looking down at the corpse. Teresa dreaded whatever was next, only because it might involve her. She should go hide, but she also felt compelled to stay and watch knowing that she might be watching her own ending.
What would she look like when dead? She had no light. She wasn’t able to turn the way the Originals did. Looking down at her naked form, Teresa in truth already looked dead. On the inside, in her being, she felt dead and craved death. So why not go forth and let Superior Mother grant it for her?
Grasping the edge of the door, Teresa opened it just a bit more, willing herself to go forward, wave her arms, say something, allow the creature that was Superior Mother to see her. But Teresa pulled back. Superior Mother was treacherous. Wicked. Would she kill Teresa? Or lock her back up? Looking around the lab, Teresa choked a bit. She couldn’t handle it. Another Uni? Another cage? “No, no, no, no.” Teresa held the knife tightly. Not again, locked up, cut again and again.
Superior Mother would not help Teresa, even if it meant killing her. She could not trust her. Teresa could trust no one. Teresa looked into the hallway again. Superior Mother was now gone. The ring sat there on the floor. Superior Mother didn’t know it had slipped off her finger.
At first Teresa didn’t move. She visually inspected the grey pieces of meat that were lying about. Both the severed head of the Original and the ring were in her line of sight. The ring sat amongst the rubble, glittering, calling to Teresa.
Teresa pulled the door open wide now. She felt brave. The ring would be hers. She didn’t know what she’d do with it, but she would take it, then scramble back into the lab, find clothes, find a way out. Maybe she could go out into the world and hide the ring. Drop it into the ocean. There had to be a way.
Crawling out, Teresa felt the muck under her hands but swallowed her puke. She took the ring in her hand. It was heavy and frigidly cold. The cold of the ring bit into Teresa, as if to say you cannot hold me. You are not worthy of what I am.
Tears of pain dripped from Teresa’s eyes but she wouldn’t let go. She realized, with bitterness and loathing, that this ring might be all that was left of their home planet. What and where that was Teresa didn’t know, but this ring had to be special.
Teresa sat sobbing in the hallway, naked, skeletal, covered in the debris of the departed Original. With the ring of their leader in her palm. She began rocking back and forth. This ring was home. It was what she was. Teresa tossed her knife aside, hugged the ring to her body, fighting the frost that punched her. The ring was home.
Closing her eyes Teresa vowed to protect it. She’d save it. Then there was a nudge on her forehead. Opening her eyes, Teresa
saw that a man had a gun to her forehead. He was dressed in black, helmet on, and was now speaking to his shoulder.
“I have a target.” The man said head cocked towards his shoulder. He raised his hand at Teresa in a “be quiet” motion. Teresa wouldn’t make a sound. She was stunned. Stunned. Who was this human?
“In the lab…” He responded to nobody Teresa could see. He shoved the tip of his gun into Teresa, holding his hand out, palm up. “Hand it over.”
Teresa was confused. “Hand over” what? She was naked, she had nothing. Looking up she pleaded with him. “I have nothing” The man whispered into his shoulder again, gave Teresa a firm look.
“The ring.” He spit out these words and then wiggled his fingers with exasperation. Teresa didn’t like him. She thought for a moment that maybe she was imagining him. This wasn’t real. He wasn’t real. Stepping forward, he pulled his trigger just once and Teresa fell over. The soldier spoke loudly into this left shoulder now. “Target taken care of.”
Looking around, the man strapped his gun into place, took a glove out of his pocket, put it on, then picked up the ring. With the other hand he quickly pulled out a thick plastic bag and dropped the ring in it.
Turning his head, he spoke once more into his com line. “I have the ring. Open the front door. It’s time to party.”
June
Walking forward, June put her hands up “What do you want Cara? I have no fight with you.” June meant those words. She had no fight with Cara. Cara was always less than an afterthought. To June, Cara was just a thing, a needed thing, but nothing to think on. Nothing to bother thinking about. What could Cara want with her?
“I WANT EVERYTHING YOU HAVE.” Cara screamed her response, and this turned June off. Nobody yelled at her. That was something that once done, could not be undone. She’d cut off mothers for raising their voice to her.
Looking behind her, June thought of the little girl. The naughty girl who wasn’t naughty after all. They were just different. It was just like Superior Mother to condemn someone for being not like everyone else.
“What exactly is that?” She made up her mind to remain calm with Cara. She would lure her out, although June wasn’t sure if she could spare her life. She already wanted her dead for taking up her time. It was a given that once Cara got near enough, she’d tuck her in.
“I want money. I want to leave. I want to come back. I want your life.” Cara’s head popped out from behind some trees, and she then started to walk forward. She didn’t look like she was carrying a weapon, but June wouldn’t count on that.
“You can have it.” June said this flatly, and she meant it. She wasn’t coming back. “Sit down. I’ll tell you how to do everything. I’m not coming back.” June tossed her hands up in the air, raised her eyebrows at Cara. She’d hand over this turd, no problem. She had no use for this desecration of a life.
“I’m serious.” June raised her voice slightly, not with tension, but with ease, a “listen to me” tone. “You can have it all…I’m leaving. FOR GOOD.”
“YOU FUCKING CUNT. I KNEW IT. I KNEW IT. BUT CLARISSA WOULDN’T LISTEN.” Cara screeched her response then charged forward enraged. She wanted June’s head on a dinner plate, but June wouldn’t fall for it.
Hopping to the side, June evaded Cara’s first attempt to hit her. June then swung her arm around slamming her hand into the back of Cara’s neck. Cara tumbled to the ground, and June took this opportunity to kick her swiftly and with heart, right in her lower back. June would break a bone next. Standing there, June contemplated which bone telling Cara. “Stop your bullshit.” That was the only warning June would give her.
Cara was now attempting to roll around. June put her boot on Cara’s head. “Hold still, my sweet. No good can come from rolling in dirt. We wouldn’t want to be naughty, would we.” June used her best Mother’s voice for this. She did this for her own entertainment.
Cara grabbed at June’s leg, pulling her down to the dirt. Sitting up, Cara attempted to scratch at June. Her nails were long and sharp. June took notice of that. Cara’s nails looked just like the girl she had killed in the kitchen. On the ground, June angrily shook her head. She wasn’t going to give Cara the opportunity to morph. June was aware that happens with some Women of the Grey, but not all, and unfortunately not her.
The sound of gunfire split the air. Cara and June stopped what they were doing and looked at each other. Confused, June stood up. There were no guns in The Grey. Even the elite team of Mothers who handled nasty situations did not have guns.
Running to the doors that led to the kitchen, June opened them slightly and quietly. She saw nothing there, but then movement in the cafeteria caught her eye. Whoever had the weapons were advancing forward. Cara was now at her side, looking at June with questions in her eyes. For a second or two, June considered sparing Cara. She had been her delivery person for years, after all. As far as June knew, Cara never spoke ill of her or spilled the beans on their operation.
That, however, wasn’t June. She followed a strict gut instinct that was severe and often ruthless. Her gut told her Cara ended here. She pulled out an inhaler she had traded for with one of those elite mothers. Slammed Cara down, stuck the inhaler into her mouth.
“Breathe in, now.” The ground started to shake under June’s feet. The mountain was shifting. An earthquake? Explosives? Cara shoved at June, but she dug her knee into Cara’s chest. Cara tried to yelp and that is when June pushed the inhaler down, depositing a poison directly into Cara’s mouth, a poison that worked almost instantly.
June shoved her body against the door. That obstacle would only gain her a couple seconds before whoever had the guns shoved the door open. Sprinting to the shed June opened it. The little girl was curled into a corner of the shed, filthier now, soaked in tears. Extending her hand, June gave the girl one nod. It was now or never. They’d make a run for it.
Sunny
Hidden under a bed, Sunny could feel herself switch off. She didn’t remember crawling under the bed. Sunny didn’t know which bedroom she was in or where that bedroom was in The Grey. Rubbing her eyes, Sunny could only remember a handful of things.
Kia was dead. Sunny had killed many mothers and liked it. She wanted to kill all of them, but then there were noises. Noises she hadn’t heard before. Sunny remembered running, then nothing, and now here.
Sunny started to cry. She was conflicted, lost, and alone. Alone, that word was worst of all. She was always alone. Burying her face in her arms Sunny cried. She cried like a child, because after all that is what she was.
The door to the bedroom swung open. There were boots in front of Sunny’s eyes, and she shoved herself against a wall when a woman’s face that was not a mother appeared.
“It’s a little girl!” She said this with excitement. Sunny was confused. The mothers never referred to any of the children with excitement.
“Kill her…” said a man’s voice. Sunny could hear the hate in this voice. He hated her and she didn’t know why.
“I’ll do no such thing.” The woman responded. “This could be one of ours. She could be a daughter of someone in the group.” The woman set a gun down on the floor, then laid on the floor herself, facing Sunny.
“Hello, darling.” She smiled at Sunny then. It was a warm smile. Sunny had never seen that kind of smile before. It was the kind of smile that invited a person in.
“We are here to free you. Get you to your father.” She put her hand close to Sunny’s then and smiled again.
“Father?” Sunny remembered his face and the look of terror on it as she shredded her mother open and freed herself. She didn’t think her father would want to see her.
“I don’t have a father.” Sunny answered. She said this meekly, but didn’t mean to. The thought of killing these humans was shoving at Sunny’s insides. She’d change soon, throw the bed off and tear at the man’s throat, but right now she felt more exhaustion than anger.
“Everybody has a father, honey.” The woman a
nswered then she wiggled her fingers. “Come with me, and we’ll find yours.”
Being raised in The Grey, Sunny felt distrust for this human and her kindly invitation. Her sweet nature was off. Her smile felt dirty, untruthful. How could Sunny explain that she had killed her mother, terrorized a man she believes was her father? And that she remembers no more than that.
“Come on out now.” The woman’s voice was still kind, but there was a touch of impatience to it. She wanted Sunny out. The impatience would soon switch her tone from loving to venom. Sunny felt a little pop of anger about that. Were all mothers the same, both human and not? Were they all sweet, until they were not?
Standing up, the woman said to the man, “She won’t come out.” She then huffed. There was a thin layer of ice underneath Sunny, and it was growing. Sunny knew there would soon be ice vapor all around, her real face would come out, her nails would extend, then the teeth and the killing.
Sunny almost didn’t want to do that to these humans. They were nothing more than dumb to her. Ignorant to where they were and what she was. They thought they could come to The Grey with guns, smiles, and good intentions and all would be well.
The man’s face appeared under the bed. He was on his knees “Come out now…” He said this with a growl. It was meant to scare Sunny and that made her giggle.
“She’s laughing…” The woman said this with a question mark. How could this small child in such a horrible situation laugh like that?
Sunny lightly bit into her arm; her teeth were ready. Her vision was now so finely detailed she could see traces of sweat on the man’s face when he leaned in again. “This is not funny, kid. Come out now…or I swear.”
He stopped at swear, because that is when he focused on Sunny. That is when he saw not a little girl but an alien. She had the large bulbous eyes and grey skin. He didn’t notice her shark like teeth or the talons that replaced her nails.
Women of the Grey- The Complete Trilogy Page 59