by Tate, Pearl
There’s no way I’m breaking out of this thing. It locks with some high-tech mechanism that will only open for Mahku. That’s the name of the head honcho and he’s now sleeping in the bed only feet away from me.
When he called and let me speak to Jenny last night, I was so happy! I’m relieved that she’s doing alright, and I asked her about the others. She was so distraught over the situation she never really answered. That’s okay. Somehow, we will get out of this.
I’ve gathered that they want to lure Jenny into their clutches along with me and they are using me as leverage or bait. I told Jenny what they were saying but I still don’t know if she will understand.
When Mahku took the call from me, there were a couple guys he was talking to over there. Demanding things from but I couldn’t see them. I kept repeating what I had heard in case Jenny could get them to make sense of it.
I’ve done what I can. Now I just need to stay alive. Easy, right?
I freeze as I make out rustling on the bed.
“Good morning little one.” I ignore him as he leaves the bed and walks into the bathroom. It’s interesting because now I can understand him perfectly. How is this possible?
After he relieves himself, his footsteps echo towards me. “Poor thing. You have to go too.” He leans over the cage peering in at me. I don't look at him. “Come on now. Let’s get you into the bathroom.”
There’s a click as the door to the cage releases and I study him warily. I don’t want him to know I understand him. It’s my only advantage at this point.
Reaching in, he grabs my ankle and pulls me out.
“Your skin is cold. Come on, come on.” Now that I’m out in front of him, he’s towering over me until he leans back and puts his hands on his knees. I think he’s trying to make me feel more comfortable.
He backs up a little, so I uncurl. The worst part is enduring being so naked. But so is he. Living with the natives and all. At least he isn’t hard. That would be more scary.
He’s not bad looking. They’re all big, with nice bodies and lots of the crazy hair. He seems older than Amari.
Watching me closely, he waves at me to stand and then points to the bathroom. “Ready to go?” Swallowing hard, I push down my fear. He hasn’t hurt me yet.
Standing up, I move into the bathroom and try to shut the door but he’s right behind me. The bastard. I can’t even pee in privacy but there’s no holding back. He looks at me as I go, and I try to ignore him.
“Today’s a big day.” He moves away from the door and I can hear him moving around in the bedroom while I finish up at the sink. “Let’s dress you in this… no sense in showing off those mating marks you have. They will be gone soon enough.”
His words are a punch in the gut. I’m trying not to think about Amari. I miss him so much. A tear squeezes its way out before I can control myself.
I’m washing my hands and face when he sets a shirt down on the edge of the counter top. I feel him trace one of the strange marks on my body and flinch. It burns a bit when he touches it.
Grabbing the shirt, I shake it out quickly and arrange it to throw over my head. My mind is in turmoil as I consider what he called my marks. Mating marks. And they match Amari. That’s not necessarily a bad thing. I like Amari a lot. A real lot if I’m honest with myself.
Everything is just so fucked up right now and I’m not sure what to think. He’s still standing in front of me as I drop the shirt over my head and the large fabric swings around me like a dress. It comes down to my knees.
“Let’s go, little one.” He tugs me out and through the bedroom into the living area. The three other terrors from yesterday are there. They stare from where they sit around the table.
“Why did you dress her?” The leering passenger from the shuttle stares at me as I try to stay behind Mahku. “She looks better naked, but she always smells fantastic.”
“Just keep your hands to yourself for now. We want to give her a sense of trust. Like we are doing her a favor.” I follow him into the kitchen area where he puts together a plate. I hope he plans to feed me too because my stomach is already growling.
The food with them here has been much better than it was with Amari. Too bad the company is so bad.
“Yeah. She can’t have liked that freak.” One of the others comments. “I’ve never personally seen him until yesterday, but I’ve heard about him. He’s exactly what all the elders warned us about.”
Another shrugged. “Yeah, he’s freaky. But look what he got.” He gestures at me. They all examine me with lust in their eyes. “He has a mate.”
“Almost a mate.” Mahku cuts into their conversation. “Her markings are not dark. Maybe she was resisting him?”
“I had heard that resisting the mating was futile. It's worse than the commitment ceremonies our females insist on.”
“Yeah, but how much of that is true and how much is propaganda? Maybe our women just like banging all their harems. Having a mate would end that. Maybe they are the ones that made sure that the matings ended?”
They seem to have all kinds of conspiracy theories going on about their home planet. But when they say harem, does that mean the same thing as what we consider a harem? Their women have more than one man?
“It’s hard to say. If we could just get more of these females, we could all have mates.”
“Let’s be realistic. The Discovery is always going be sent by the council but if we can get out of the dome, we can disappear.”
“Exactly. We leave a mess for them to clean up and that will keep them busy. They don’t have the numbers to come looking for us.”
“It will be even better if they think we are dead.”
“Yes. Now we have the way to do that.”
“Is everything in place?”
“It better fucking be. I told that no good moron that he wouldn’t be coming with us if he fails.”
“He won’t fail.”
Everyone shuts up and Mahku pulls me over into the living space instead of sitting at the table with the others. Settling onto one of the chairs, he points to the floor by his feet. Ignoring him, I perch on the arm of the chair.
Shoving me off, I drop lightly onto my feet and he points at the floor again. Mother fucker.
“I know you know what I mean. You may not understand my words but pointing and gesturing will be obeyed!” His face is turning red and I know I’ve pushed him to his limit.
Sinking to my knees, I settle down by his feet. There’s snickering at the table and I know he’s trying to present a tough facade in front of them too. No sense in pushing him.
“You should smack her. She needs to be trained.” One of the assholes at the table can’t resist giving his two cents.
“I will but there’s no sense doing it today. I need her fit enough to carry everything.” He gives me a mouthful of what I assume is fruit. It’s tangy with a bit of sweetness. It reminds me of peaches with the texture of watermelon.
“I can’t wait to get the fuck out of here. Once we get the other female and there are just the five of us with them…” I don’t look over at him. I don’t even want to know. My stomach churns with the new food I'm eating. There must be some way out of this.
“And once we kill her mate, those marks will fade?” The hopefulness is staggering. That dick head is talking about killing someone.
“That’s what I’ve heard, and we have to kill him, otherwise he will keep looking for her. We’re lucky that we grabbed her before they were fully mated, or I doubt we could have hidden her.” Mahku keeps feeding me and I obediently keep my eyes glued to his plate. I’m trying not to show any reaction, but this is the most enlightening conversation. Fully mated?
So, Amari’s what they consider my mate because we have these matching markings? The thought of them killing him fills me with a dread. I need him and that thought shocks me. How did I develop such deep feelings for him this quickly?
Maybe there is something to this whole mating thing. A chemi
cal change that makes you feel tied to the person. I definitely was attracted to him… am attracted to him.
Looking up at Mahku, I study him. He’s traditionally a much better-looking guy. His eyes are the same color for one thing, giving his whole face a more balanced, symmetrical look. But I don’t feel a thing for him except hate.
I still prefer Amari’s scary but sexy glare. Mahku feeds me until I feel ready to burst but I’m determined to stay strong and on my toes. I need to be ready to flee at the first opportunity.
As they discuss what each of them plan to carry out over the next hour, I realize this is all going down very soon. It will be up to me to figure out how to get out of this. And keep them from killing off—from the sounds of it—just about everyone under this dome!
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
- Amari
It’s dim and I’m surrounded by dark walls. A deep hum vibrates me, and my hair follicles react involuntarily by standing at their base. My teeth clatter with the cold and I start to shiver. My body is like a vibrating leaf, shaking, shivering and then… nothing. I can’t hear anything for a brief second before everything lights up in heat and flame. I’m engulfed in fire…
… and I wake up. Sitting straighter, I realize I’m in the same room I was before with Whik. At least eight males mill around and are set up in stations on the table, in the food prep and even next to me.
Rachel! Springing to my feet, I’m about to move towards the door but Selas cuts me off, his voice booming.
“Sleep well?” I’m going to kill him for drugging me.
“How long was I out?” I still feel disoriented and my last dream was so vivid. I’m still cold.
“About eight hours.” I want to strangle him and try to shift around him, keeping my hands tight to my sides so I'm not tempted. “It’s still night time and he will contact us in the morning. We need your help now.”
Freezing, I take a deep breath and try to concentrate on what he is saying. My body is screaming at me to go find Rachel. It’s like every cell is calling out to her but I’m not getting anything back.
Grabbing my shoulders, he leads me over to the chair and sits down across from me. “We believe they planted explosives and we have teams out looking for them. We desire your help too. You obviously have visions about your mate. Have you had any more? About bombs?”
His question surprises me, and it must show on my face. I think about the bombing I saw the other day and what I just experienced now while waking up earlier.
“I mean no offense, but your eyes are a sign of the shaman. It’s rare and has been almost completely eradicated in our genes but I’ve met one once before. In the order.” A warm mug is passed to me and I examine it warily. “It’s not drugged. I’m sorry about the nanup but that was necessary.”
Setting the drink aside, I make a big decision. Even though he has drugged me, I want to trust him.
I have to believe in my intuition. He doesn’t mean me harm. I perceive that everything he does is for the good of the whole. All of us. That’s a first for around here.
“I’ve seen at least one of the bomb locations.” Selas leans forward hopefully, waiting for me to continue. “It’s cold… and there’s noise. A hum. It makes your teeth chatter.”
“Pilex, get over here.” Selas’s voice booms out and another male is there instantly. “Where do we have people in the community kitchen? Have they had any luck?”
“No sir.” He shifts uncomfortably as he gives this bad news.
“Have them search in the coldest areas there. Where the machinery and refrigeration systems are running.” Directing his attention back to me, he continues. “Anything else?”
“Technically, my vision may have been at the water treatment facility too. The noise and cold could be there.”
“True enough. Pilex, give that information to all the search members. Let’s find these before we hear from Mahku again.” He scrubs his hand over his hair and face and I realize that he hasn’t rested. Everything in the dwelling is completely the same as before. They must be working around the clock.
If I’ve been out for as long as he says, it’s the middle of the night. But technically, the morning for me. “Do you have a quiet room I could spend time in my daily reflections? I will have the best success with getting more information that way.”
Selas smiles and stands. “Exactly what I wanted to hear.” He leads me out of the dwelling and we go down the hall two doors. Entering another place that is identical to where we came from except it’s quiet. “This will be good. I’ll make sure no one interrupts you.” Putting his hand on my shoulder, he looks at me seriously. “Thank you for this. I realize that this isn’t how your gifts are supposed to be used, but you will save thousands of lives. There are over two thousand males under this dome.”
He confuses me because I don’t understand what he is referring to. Gifts? “I’m uncertain what you mean by gifts, but I have to find Rachel and make sure I get her away from here.”
Selas turns away and starts prepping food and my mouth waters. I’ve forgotten that it’s been so long. Everything like this seems like such a waste of time but I know I will need my strength. Also, hunger is a distraction during daily reflections and will keep me from getting the most out of the time.
“If you don’t mind me asking, what got you sent here?” Selas pours us water and gestures for me to sit down at the table.
“My looks. My Ermada wasn’t impressed when she met me.” Shrugging, I settle into the chair. At least I watched him prepare this and can be sure he will not drug me this time.
Selas pauses on his way over to the table with my plate. His face is carefully blank as he serves us both. “That’s it? Your looks?”
“Yes. I knew it could be an issue. I’ve been ostracized since I was young. Many people are uncomfortable with defects. It sets you apart in a genetically altered and perfect society.” Shrugging, I dig into my food, ignoring his surprise.
I’ve seen it before. Everyone treats me differently. Few people have ever taken the time to communicate with me. In my life, there’s only been Whik.
“You know the history of your different colored eyes?” Selas still hasn’t started eating and I pause to study him.
“What do you mean by history?” Selas looks surprised and sad.
“The order had truth tellers or shaman. They were the leaders of each branch of the order. The various colored eyes were the outward manifestation of their gift. No one has ever told you that?”
“Who would have told me? I’ve been here since I was twelve. I came from a fairly poor family committed to the Facome line. My education was brief and was supposed to continue with my Ermada’s family who was much wealthier. That didn’t go as planned.” I don’t like thinking about this part of my life. I haven’t thought about it in years.
“The truth tellers are feared. They are almost myth, but I’ve met one before. I was young, and my older brother entered the order. Once, I was allowed to visit him and while we were together in their gardens, a shaman came up to us. He introduced himself to me and told me he came specifically to talk to me. That one day I would need to pass along their knowledge to someone in need. I guess that’s you.” His voice trails off with a question. I’ve stopped eating to gape at him.
Our eyes lock and my vision narrows as I’m sucked into his past experience. He’s right—the Truth Teller’s eyes were exactly like mine. Deep brown in one eye and almost white in the other. His face fills my entire mind as his soft voice fills my ears.
“Our kind have almost been eradicated, but as you come into your mating, your hormones will balance. Your gifts will expand. Use them to save and protect others and they will save and protect you in return. Relax, watch, share and learn. Trust Selas and your true mate will be returned to you unharmed.”
The vision pops like a bubble and it’s gone. I’m back staring at Selas in shock. He looks just as startled.
“I didn’t recall that! How could I have
forgotten something like that?” His shaking hand reaches out for the cup before gulping water noisily. The glass clatters on the table.
“It’s a good thing I didn’t kill you yesterday then.” I smile tightly. My stomach is in knots because all I want to do is leave. Take off and look for Rachel. I’m certain I can find her but now I’m committed to help all these people.
Sure, Rachel is included in that number but they're a lot of males here I wouldn’t mind seeing dead. I try to register the amount of them that may be here like me… totally innocent of any misdeeds. They are in need of new direction from decent management in this facility.
“I remember visiting my brother and spending time in the garden. I even remembered learning about the Truth Tellers but being spoken to by him... I didn’t remember that until now. Amazing!”
I’ve had enough. “You will let me know when you hear from Mahku? You will record it?” Standing, I wait for his acknowledgment.
He nods, still in a daze as I leave him to use the facility and then sit on the floor in the sleeping room.
With the turmoil my mind is in, it takes a few minutes to settle but I enter the void calmly. I’m not sure what new gifts I will have but if there is a way to help and save lives, I have to try. In return, my mate will be returned to me.
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
- Rachel
After we eat, Mahku puts me back in the bedroom in my lovely cage. At least I’m full and he let me use the bathroom before he stuck me in here. I’ll spend the time relaxing and see what I can sense around me. Maybe I’ll get lucky and detect Amari in the vicinity?
The first thing I feel is the maliciousness of the assholes in the living room. I try to calm my mind and reach out past them, but after five minutes, I’m relieved Mahku left me locked up tight. He took off to go somewhere and two of the others are still chatting. It's hard not to overhear. They don’t lower their voices since they think I can’t understand him.