by C. Baely
The morning light streamed into the cave when the main door opened and a male Pradorian walked in. He looked at her as if he disapproved of her presence before he turned toward Archail.
“What is it, Dar?” Archail seemed annoyed by the male’s presence.
Dar made a growling noise from the depths of his throat in some sort of salute to his leader before leaning over and whispering something in Archail’s ear.
Archail rose from the table and turned toward Sara. “It’s time to see some of my people off. Would you care to join me?”
Sara looked forward to leaving the cave for some fresh air, so she agreed straight away, although she couldn’t help but wonder who these people he mentioned were. She took another sip of the cold, juice-like purple drink Archail had given her before rising from the table to follow them. He’d told her earlier that the juice tasted just like water but was high in vitamins, so it would help her to digest everything she ate at a faster rate without any side effects. She didn’t relish repeating the experience of the first night when she had eaten that disgusting violet fruit that not only burned, but also acted like some sort of sedative.
On exiting the cave, Sara was faced with nineteen Pradorian males and a matched number of human females standing in a row. The females seemed different to her, as if they were in a trance. They stood very still and quiet next to the males, who let out low growls when they saw their leader.
Archail moved forward and raised his hands in front of his chest. “You have proven worthy. The great Prador will now accept you, and you may live within it. You must prepare your female mates for the blood ceremony of acceptance. My blessing is given. You may go. I will follow in fourteen risings of the moons for the completion of the ceremony with my mate, who will be willing and ready for the sacrifice.”
Sara almost jumped at the mention of blood ceremonies and sacrifices. She was ready to shout out that she definitely wasn’t willing to do anything like that, but Dar sensed her intention and grabbed her by the arm, squeezing it painfully, spitting his words out in a whispered tone only she could hear. “Don’t you dare speak out. You are a mistake.”
“Let me go,” Sara whispered back, in pain as she tried to free her arm from the gigantic male’s grip. Meanwhile, the group of Pradorian males before them moved silently into the thick forest, the females following in step behind them.
Sara was about ready to knock Dar out when Archail turned and saw what was happening. He growled at Dar, warning his second-in-command to release his mate.
Dar backed away from Sara obediently. “She is not ready, my Vasil.”
“She will be.” Archail pinned him with a cold stare, his yellow-flecked eyes almost daring Dar to defy him further.
“She is a mistake, my great one. Consider the consequences.”
Sara’s stomach tightened as she listened to the two exchange words, because she knew they were talking about her. She really needed the answers that no one seemed willing to give her. She felt as if a cold hand was gripping her heart as she watched the two alien males stare each other down in some sort of private conflict.
“I will deal with the consequences, Dar, as they arise.” Archail waved a hand toward Dar in dismissal.
“What’re you two talking about? I’m right here, and you two are talking about me like I’m some pet,” Sara protested, unable to hold her tongue any longer. Hearing these two males talking about her and the consequences made her head swim.
Dar stared at her as she spoke. He took a step forward, raising his hand as if preparing to strike her.
“Silence, woman!” ordered Archail instantly. He moved closer to her as if in warning, but he made no move to touch her like Dar just had.
Sara wanted to yell back at him, but she realized that Archail had placed his body at such an angle that he protected her from Dar’s advance.
“Very well, my great Vasil.” Dar sounded resigned as he stared back at Sara almost sneeringly and lowered his hand. He then turned to leave, heading toward a distant rock formation on the other side of the enigmatic lake.
“What was all that about?” Sara snapped out of the silence she had been forced into.
“Nothing you should be concerned with.” Archail spoke quietly as he turned toward the lake. “I am going for a swim. If you would like to do the same, please stay near the shore. I don’t want to have to rescue you again.”
“No thanks. I think I’ll go for a short walk instead.” Sara turned to leave, not wanting to see him undress.
“Just stay close to the lake. I really don’t want any more trouble from you.” Without waiting for a retort, he dove into the clear, green, phosphorous water.
“Certainly, your highness.” Sara mockingly dismissed his warning. Curiosity got the better of her as she decided to head the same way Dar had gone, hoping to find some answers about these strange creatures and their peculiar customs.
The narrow trail was formed from rock and packed dirt. It seemed to run close to the lake in some portions and farther away in others, at least from what she could see. At first, Sara was only interested in the direction Dar had gone, but as she gazed at her surroundings in the morning light, she noticed a figure sitting by the side of the lake. She shuddered when it occurred to her that Dar could have doubled back. But this being was smaller and not blue. It was human! Maybe it was one of the females from earlier.
Sara’s pace quickened as she hurried toward the figure, but she stopped suddenly when she recognized who it was. “O…rora? Is that really you?”
The woman whipped her head around at the unexpected voice. Sara noticed her long blonde hair and strikingly hazel eyes on seeing her in daylight for the first time. She seemed tired, worn, and worried. She nearly broke into tears on seeing Sara. Orora jumped up to wrap her arms around Sara’s neck. “Oh my God…Sara. Where have you been? Are you okay? What happened?”
Sara couldn’t help but smile as she held Orora gently. She struggled to convey everything that had happened to her. “I almost drowned before being captured like you were. Since then, I’ve been held inside a cave. When I tried to escape again, some hairy, ape-like creatures almost made me their main course, but I managed to get away safely. I’m surprised I haven’t gotten food poisoning yet, and if that wasn’t bad enough, everyone keeps bossing me around as if I have no say in anything.” Sara stepped back slowly to get a better look at Orora. She seemed healthy enough, and there weren’t any bruises or cuts on her, so she probably hadn’t been beaten, which was good. “Anyway, that’s enough about me. How are you? What happened to you after that night?”
Orora looked at Sara for a long moment before turning and walking back to the spot where she had been sitting. She sat down and patted the smooth rock beside her, inviting Sara to join her. Sara gazed around the clearing for any sign of Dar or others who might interrupt them, but she saw no one, not even the females who had accompanied the males earlier, so she sat next to Orora and prepared to listen.
“Sara, listen.” Orora appeared worried. She put her hands into Sara’s and held them while she talked. “That night we arrived, when I was carried away by that large Pradorian—Dar, he said his name was. I must have passed out because I don’t remember much after feeling sick and scared to death. Anyway, that doesn’t matter, because when I woke up, I heard voices. I was too afraid to open my eyes. I didn’t want anything else to happen to me, and I was sure they’d notice if I woke up.”
Her head shook and her eyes squeezed shut, making the tears that had welled up flow down her cheek. She took a deep breath. “Anyway, there were two of them, I think, and they were talking about a group of females. I thought they meant us at first, but it turned out another group came before us. I’m not sure if they were the only ones either. There could have been God knows how many groups before them, b-but what I heard…”
Sara nodded, willing her to go on, but Orora simply broke down into tears. Sara pulled the crying girl toward her and held her close. “It’s okay, Oror
a. You don’t have to tell me if it’s too hard. It’s all right.” She rubbed Orora’s back in an effort to comfort the other girl.
Orora shook her head and pulled back. “They all died!” Sara’s mind went blank. Although Orora was still speaking, Sara didn’t hear a word she said. Orora shook Sara, trying to get her attention. “Sara! Are you listening?”
Sara shook her head and blinked. “What?”
“I said they all had to take some sort of vaccine! The Pradorians injected them with some sort of serum that…Well, they didn’t say what it did or what it was for, but it killed them!”
“But…why would they go to all that trouble to bring us back to life and ship us here just to kill us again? It doesn’t make sense!”
Orora shook her head once more. “I don’t know. It doesn’t make any sense to me either, but whoever was talking to Dar said it was someone’s fault. I don’t remember his name, but it started with an A, I think. Anyway, he was supposedly the one who administered the drug to begin with. He killed those women.”
A feeling of dread moved into Sara’s stomach as she whispered, “Archail…” to herself, not quite loud enough for Orora to hear. When Orora asked Sara what she’d said, Sara shook her head and told her to carry on with her story.
The frightened woman took a deep breath and nodded. “Well, Dar got really angry and told this other Pradorian that he shouldn’t insult their leader and that he should always trust the decisions made by whoever it was they were talking about. What’s worse though, Sara, is that they said they were going to do the same thing to us. They said there was going to be a ceremony or whatever for it, and we were going to be a part of it. Sara, we’re going to die!”
Sara ignored Orora’s white-knuckled grip on her. The whole world was turning upside down again. First, she had been wakened from a peaceful death without her consent only to learn she was going to be the mate of some alien. As if that wasn’t bad enough, they were all going to be killed again, less than a week after being revived. None of this made any sense, but Sara knew one thing for sure: none of this was good, and they really needed to escape. They had to try just one more time before it was too late. If Sara was destined to die, she’d rather die fighting than sitting around waiting for some injection. Besides, who knows what other effects the strange substance would have? Maybe it would even be a slow, agonizing death.
“Sara, what are we going to do? I don’t want to die again,” Orora pleaded.
Sara’s distressed eyes moved to regard Orora. She looked scared beyond words. Whatever had happened to Orora in her past life must not have been good. Maybe she didn’t die of old age like Sara had. Although she didn’t know the circumstances of Orora’s first death, Sara was damned if she was going to let it happen again. “We’re leaving,” she replied, with no hesitation whatsoever.
Orora gazed at her, confusion and surprise evident in her expression. “What?”
“We’re going. Now. Get up. We’re going to leave, right now while no one else’s around. No one will notice we’ve gone until it’s too late. Come on already!” Sara barked the order in a hurried, urgent tone, yet her voice was surprisingly calm as she pulled Orora from her sitting position with a firm grip.
“Ow! Sara, hang on, they’ll catch us again! We can’t. If we try to escape now…”
Sara steeled with determination and commitment as she stared into Orora’s hazel orbs. “If we don’t do it now, we’re going to die. Is that what you want?” Orora’s gaze shot to the path the other women had taken, and her eyes welled up again.
As if she’d read her mind, Sara explained. “Their fates are already sealed. Did you see the dead look in their eyes when they followed the males? They probably already injected that serum into their bodies. I was there when they were lined up with the rest, and Archail gave his speech. He said the women were to be prepared for a ceremony and something about sacrifice. I’m not waiting around for that, and neither should you.”
Orora winced once more as Sara started to half drag her away. Taking another look in the direction the other women had walked off in, she heaved a heavy sigh and joined Sara, matching her pace perfectly.
* * *
An hour had passed before Archail swam ashore and dressed himself again with the small cloth he always wore. His eyes scanned the lakeside for any sign of Sara, but he saw none. She was nowhere to be found. He let out a tired sigh as his mind went through the possibilities. Maybe she had run away again? Maybe she had just gone back to the cave. He decided to check the cave first, but on reaching it, she wasn’t there, nor could he smell or sense her nearby. Archail even checked all the rooms she could access before deciding to search outside, but he ran into Dar as he was leaving.
“Orora is gone. I let her have some time alone at the lakeside, but when I returned to collect her, she was gone.”
Archail frowned as he considered this. “Then I can only assume Sara is with her now.”
Dar grimaced slightly, causing soft wrinkles to appear above his thin nose. He shook his head softly in disapproval, while his thick eyebrows creased thoughtfully.
Archail cursed and pushed him aside. “They can’t have gone far. Let’s track their scent from the lake and see where it leads.”
“If they are injured or die before the ceremony—” Dar began before Archail cut him off fiercely.
“I know the price that must be paid for what I’ve asked. It makes no difference either way! I agreed,” stated Archail sternly.
Dar simply saluted his leader with a hand on his chest and joined him in tracking the girls.
Dar and Archail were soon hot on their trail, moving rapidly through the forest with a speed and agility not unlike a cheetah’s. “What would you have us do when we reach them, my Vasil?”
Archail’s stiff but lithe frame easily dodged trees, avoided roots and fallen branches, and passed over the ground so lightly he barely left any prints. His eyes squinted against the oncoming wind. “I first want to know why they ran away again.”
His companion grinned. “Your mate is very spirited, a fine match for a Pradorian. Now if she can be made to stand still for more than a few moments…” Dar’s comment was met with a low growl from Archail, signaling for him to quit while he was ahead. Dar complied, but he maintained his wry grin.
Chapter 7
Huff after puff of air escaped from the women’s lungs as they ran. They ran until their insides burned and their legs wobbled unsteadily, like toddlers exhausted after trying their first steps. Orora raised a hand, looking as if she was ready to collapse. “I can’t keep this up any longer. Let’s rest here. We’re far enough away now that it’d take someone a while to catch up, assuming anyone is even looking yet.”
Sara’s eyebrows rose, looking still as defiant as when they left the lake, when she turned to gaze at her friend. “We can’t stop now! If they’ve noticed we’re gone, they’ll have started looking for us, and you know they run much faster than we do. We have to hurry and find a place to hide before nightfall.”
“But it’s barely midday. How are we going to keep this up all day? I can barely feel my legs now.” Orora sank to the ground.
Sara moved to grab Orora’s arm. “We can’t stop now. Come on, let’s at least walk. There must be a hollow tree we can hide in around here.” Sara looked around while supporting her friend with one arm around her shoulders. After a moment, Sara pointed to a rock formation that looked fairly small from their location. “Look! Those rocks…they could hide us while we rest, but we’ll have to move again. We can’t stay in one place for too long or they’ll find us.” She grunted as she practically carried Orora toward the rocks.
Sara judged the rocks must be some distance away. How would she get there before nightfall while carrying Orora? Sara looked around again for anything else that could hide them while they rested. She saw nothing other than fallen tree limbs and the leaf-covered forest floor. Her sight lingered on the leaves. What if she covered both of them with leaves? Sh
e reckoned that would mask their scent, but her mood was dampened when she considered that two long mounds of leaves would look suspicious. She had nothing to dig a hole with, and even if she did find something to use, it would take too long.
Sara cursed, then looked up. They could climb the trees, but there weren’t many branches to use as footholds until a good fifteen feet up. There was no way they could reach that. Even if Orora stood on her shoulders, she’d still need to find somewhere to hide herself, but maybe she could at least help Orora survive. There was still the question of how she would get off the planet. Sara was certain the Restorian ship must have left by now. She had to try something, but from what she knew of Orora, she couldn’t leave her. She just couldn’t.
Sara was so wrapped up in her thoughts she barely even noticed when the forest first went silent. There was no sound anywhere. Even the air stood still. Sara’s foot caught on an exposed tree root, causing her to trip. She gasped. Both women hit the ground with a loud thud. The grass beneath her felt pleasantly cool against her hot tired body, and she wanted to lay there, even if it was just for a few more minutes, but the logical part of her brain kicked in and pushed her to get up. As Sara started to push herself up with her hands, two familiar-looking blue and black feet came into view. Her head whipped up suddenly, bringing Archail’s slick, muscular frame into full view.
“Where are you going?” His thick voice enunciated every word while his arms crossed over his bulging chest.
He didn’t look pleased to see Sara, but then again, when did he? Although, there were times when he actually seemed to have her well-being at heart, and she had seen him smile once, maybe even twice.