by Lisa Lace
Cancer had reduced his sturdy build to a sad, bedridden shadow of himself. Sallow skin clung to his bones, and the countless rounds of chemotherapy had him struggling to keep his eyes open for more than an hour or two at a time. These were the remnants of a man who had put his professional quarterback aspirations on hold to raise two young girls abandoned by their mother.
And of course, there was Janine – an absolute genius blessed with street smarts and academic intelligence. When Eden was unable to complete community college because their father fell ill, the goal-driven Janine was the only person in the family who stood a chance to escape their family's cycle of poverty.
In the end, Eden was already in front of TerraMates, and she had nowhere else to be at the moment. Perhaps today she would be pleasantly surprised. Was a cultured European gentleman who had lost his wife and was looking for companionship waiting for her? Ignoring the tight knots lacing her stomach, she gently pushed open the front door to the building.
Eden tried not to gawk at her surroundings, but she could feel her chin slowly lowering in amazement. Inside the building was a spotless office with state-of-the-art equipment and floors so white you could check your teeth for lipstick smears off of it. TerraMates agents attended to attractive young women inside straight rows of cubicles.
She hesitated and nervously fiddled with the worn strap of her purse. As she lost her nerve and turned her body back toward the entrance, a woman in a sleek, all-black pantsuit and a bleached, shoulder-length bob caught up to her. She smiled and stretched her arms over the door, barring the exit.
"Welcome to TerraMates. Are you lost?"
"Sorry," said Eden hurriedly. "It looks like you're full. I'll come back another time."
"Nonsense, I'll take care of you personally," said the woman cheerfully, the bangles on her arms jingling as she beckoned her forward. "I'm Jennifer Daley, the director here. Please, follow me."
Eden's forehead wrinkled warily as her eyes drifted back to the door handle. Sucking air in through her teeth, she moved her stubborn feet and followed Ms. Daley to a tubular, glass elevator at the far end of the office. They arrived on the basement floor. Eden watched as they walked past a display of flashing lights behind curtains, ending up at what appeared to be photo booth stations.
"What's your name?"
"Eden. Eden Castle."
"Great, Eden. You're beautiful, by the way. Frank will hold your things for you," Ms. Daley ordered, taking Eden's belongings and shoving them to a skinny man wearing an ill-fitting doctor's coat. "First things first. Let's have your picture taken."
"My picture?" Eden repeated, puzzled. Ms. Daley pulled her behind a curtain and placed her on a seat in front of a white backdrop. Eden brushed a finger across her lips self-consciously and grabbed a handful of her unruly, unwashed hair. "I'm not exactly presentable right now."
It was too late. She heard a camera take a few pictures, and she blinked furiously. She saw spots from the sudden flash of light.
"That will do. Follow me, please."
Eden shook her head, feeling naked without any of the possessions she had brought into the establishment. This was already one of the strangest interviews she had experienced, and this included a prospective employer from Brooklyn Heights, who would only address her breasts. Still, against her better judgment, Eden followed behind Ms. Daley, who was walking to her private office in stiletto heels.
"Please, have a seat."
Eden pulled up a chair opposite to Ms. Daley. Her hands rested uncomfortably on her lap as she looked at a woman whose features were rendered indecipherable from years of botox treatments. Frank entered the room a few moments later, handing the director a clipboard and a thick manila folder. As Frank retired silently to the corner, Ms. Daley skimmed through the contents of the clipboard before finally breaking the silence.
"Can I get you anything to drink?"
"No, thank you."
"Eden, I take it this is your first time interacting with the matchmaking industry."
"Is it that obvious?" said Eden. She noticed she was jiggling her leg self-consciously and tried to stop it. "I'm not sure how this works, exactly. To be honest, I need the money."
"It looks like you're in luck. How would you feel about being stationed...overseas? There is a gentleman who's willing to pay quite a bit for a natural redhead."
Goose bumps appeared on Eden's covered arms as she listened to the nonchalant objectification coming from the woman's lips. Ms. Daley made it sound like she was offering Eden bonus health and security benefits. Eden opened her mouth to speak, but Ms. Daley, perhaps sensing her reluctance, spoke again.
"I apologize for the bluntness. Sometimes I forget it's everyone else's first time. Here," said Ms. Daley, pulling out a massive contract from a folder and sliding it across the table. "Our agency guarantees your safety and well-being, as well as a complete confidentiality clause."
Ms. Daley's words dwindled to static in Eden's ears as her eyes focused on the total amount in bold, sitting front and center on the first page of the agreement.
"Is this a typo? All these credits up front?" Eden asked in disbelief.
It couldn't be real. With all this money, they'd be able to fly her father to Dallas for the treatment he desperately needed. They could start paying the mortgage on the house again. Janine's tuition bills would be paid. Even better, they would be able to afford a school she deserved. This was too sweet of a treat, and up until this point in her life, they had not existed.
"The contract is real," said Ms. Daley. "That's why I was so forward with you in the first place. If you're not interested, there are plenty of others waiting in line behind you."
Where am I going?, Eden thought to herself. What she said was, "Where do I sign"? She grabbed the fountain pen resting on the table.
Ms. Daley leaned forward eagerly, flipping over page after page as Eden hastily scribbled her signature in circles and across dotted lines. But as Eden was busily signing her initials on the last page, she failed to notice Frank's figure sneaking up behind her.
As soon as Eden lifted the point of the pen off the crisp sheet, she smelled the peculiar scent of rubber and latex. She thrashed her arms but stopped struggling when she felt a sharp prick on the side of her neck.
Within seconds, Eden had slumped over the chair.
Chapter 3
AFTER THE AUCTION
Drip. Drip. Drip.
Eden stirred, blindly batting at the dripping liquid. The leaky roof was on her to-do list to repair, but she had not gotten around to it yet. Groggily, she lifted her aching arms to wipe the rain water from her cheeks.
As her fingertips touched the cold, slimy liquid, her face scrunched up like she had accidentally tasted a sour lemon. She wiped away the slobber with her sleeves and slowly sat up. As soon as her eyes snapped open, a scream erupted out of her dry throat.
"Oh my goodness," Eden choked, scurrying backward and bracing herself against a wall.
A creature the size of a miniature horse stood in front of her. It wasn't an animal you could find at a zoo, and it certainly wasn't one you wanted making its nest in your closet. The horrifying hybrid had eight amber eyes set around giant, beetle-like pincers, with eight hairy legs to match. Its claws clicked noisily in excitement as it crawled forward, tilting its head as if it was sizing her up. She poked at her face and ears with slippery hands, crying out in pain. The pink pinch marks from the animal hurt when she touched them.
Eden covered her face, hoping her hands would provide sufficient protection against impending doom. "No! Please go away!" Eden gasped, kicking her legs randomly as she peeked through the gaps in her fingers. "I know we've got sewer rats the size of dogs in New York, but this is ridiculous. Leave me alone! Help! Janine?"
"Hercules, heel!"
The Arachtera backed off and sat on the ground using its opposable legs. A tall man stepped forward, his face obscured by a thick hood draped over his head. He wore a leather-brown outfit. In the hauntin
g green lights of the room, his silhouette was bathed in a seductive glow. Eden's grip loosened around the tangle of hair she held in a death grip.
She stared in awe at the figure's one-piece suit. It was certainly handmade and fitted with multiple pockets, trinkets, and small gadgets she'd never come across before. She was hopeless with technology but liked watching other people use it.
"Thanks for that. I didn't know what I was going to do," said Eden. She dusted herself off as she rose to her feet. She froze as she got a better look at her surroundings. Her knees wobbled beneath her and threatened to dump her on the ground again. "Wait a second. Where am I?"
"What's your name?"
The deep, beautiful tone of his voice rattled her, but she wouldn't give up. "Don't answer my question with another question. I'm serious!"
"What is your name?"
"I...Eden. Look, sir, whatever this is, I need to get back home."
"Don't call me sir," the man interjected firmly. "My name is Thiago Arris."
"Okay, Mr. Arris. Did you make that name up yourself? Or is it Greek or something?" said Eden. She nodded to herself slowly, crossing her arms as if she'd figured everything out.
"I'm not really in the mood for any of this. I just had a hell of a dream. Janine put you up to it, didn't she? This elaborate prank is exactly the kind of joke my sister enjoys. It's just like her to try and hit me months before April, too, so she can catch me off-guard."
"I do not know who Janine is."
"Yeah, okay," Eden sang, fixing her arms on her hips mockingly. "Let me guess, it's Jeffrey under the hood using a voice modulator."
She strode towards Hercules, slanting her head to the side to study the creature. She was impressed. Her bottom lip stuck out as she remarked, "And that, of course, would be Caleb. Where did you guys get this suit? These costumes must have cost you all a fortune. I have got to hand it to you, though. It is extremely lifelike. You almost got me. Almost. Hey, Caleb, think fast!"
Eden reached into the pocket of her parka, fishing for a brown, half-eaten apple in a clear bag. She hurled it at the creature, expecting it to bounce off its head. Instead of watching an annoyed teenager burst out of a costume, Hercules leaped in mid-air and caught the apple with its pincers. An unmistakably real mouth opened to reveal circular rows of yellow teeth gobbling up the juicy fruit.
She leaped back once again and screeched. She wasn't going to be unarmed this time. Eden snatched a thick, glassy rod from the table next to her and wielded it like a sword.
"Unless you intend on performing Herc's annual health exam, you should put it down. You're holding his rectal thermometer."
Eden dropped the thermometer immediately. Mortified, she began rubbing her hands raw against her jeans. The air filled with rapid-fire cursing.
"Calm down," said Thiago, laughing. "He's more afraid of you than you are of him."
"That sounds nice, but I don't think that applies to Satan's spawn."
Eden looked around for a place to wash her hands. A living room, kitchen, and a workshop area were all crowded onto the first floor of the loft-like space. A short, spiraling staircase led up to a dark room littered with clothing and an unmade mattress. Sunlight streamed into the first floor through multiple windows. She ground her teeth together and braced herself as she dashed towards the closed circular windows embedded in the dense, pale walls. Inserting her finger into an opening at the center, she began to pry it open with all her strength.
"Hey, what are you doing? You don't want to open those!"
"Why don't you have regular windows like a normal person?" Eden angrily muttered as she pulled back in a huff. "What do you do for air around here?" She ran her fingers through her hair and over her neck, accidentally brushing the small puncture wound.
"Ow! No way. This can't be happening, can it? Did those people at TerraMates drug me? I knew Ms. Daley was a little odd. I haven't said goodbye to my family, I haven't packed...none of this makes sense. Is this legal? It's kidnapping!" She rambled on, answering her questions as a nonplussed Thiago stared blankly at her.
Behind Thiago, Hercules whimpered sympathetically. The creature attempted to approach her but retreated into position with one reproachful look from his master. As Thiago stared at Eden, whose frantic speech was rising in pitch every second, he wasn't sure what his next move should be. His knowledge of proper Earth etiquette was a little rusty. The last time he'd interacted with one was over a decade ago.
Clearing his throat, he lifted his arm to signal it was now his turn to speak, but his motion only aggravated her.
"Don't you dare point your finger at me. I demand you tell me where we are, right now!"
"We're on planet HT-007. Please, if you could keep your voice down and your emotions in check, it would make everything a lot easier to explain."
"Excuse me? Planet what, now?" Eden asked incredulously. She buried her head in her arms in confusion. "I can't even see you. Would you please take that damn hood off? Look, I'm sorry, Mr. Arris...."
"My name is Thiago."
"Thiago," Eden repeated through clenched teeth. "There's been a misunderstanding. I need you to hand over my purse so I can call and arrange for some way out of here. Are we still in North America? Central America, maybe? China?"
"You arrived with no possessions. I could check, but I don't think you can call home. It's a long way away," Thiago stonily replied as he leaned back against the wall.
"Now you're on a budget? I'll reimburse you for the long distance fees. Give me my things or I'm going to be forced to call the cops on you."
"The what?"
"The cops! The po-po? The fuzz?" said Eden loudly as she tried to latch her zipper onto the other end of her parka. "The guys that are going to come and handcuff your sorry ass, charging you and everyone else at TerraMates with twenty to life for kidnapping. Oh, forget it."
Eden was flustered and dropped her head into her hands. She wandered aimlessly around Thiago's spaceship. Eden wasn't sure what she wanted to find. One thing was certain – she wouldn't be going anywhere with him. She stomped down on a glowing green pedal on the floor of the wall adjacent to her. The wall split open, granting her access to the cockpit.
"Hey, wait a minute! Don't go anywhere!"
Eden had time for one brief glance at the controls before a wayward breeze brushed her cheek. She realized the door to the cockpit was slightly cracked open. Eden jumped on the opportunity and forcefully opened the door. Casting one final glimpse at Thiago behind her, she slipped out the door and sprinted into the darkness. The sound of his voice faded behind her.
Chapter 4
Eden stopped running. She gasped for breath as she looked back at Thiago's spaceship, which was now about the size of a coin. As Eden clamped a hand over her heavily thumping heart, she twirled around in place. What was she going to do now? She was in the middle of nowhere without any indication of civilization around her.
"I wonder if they sent me off to live with a serial killer," Eden thought out loud.
Her heart sank. Without warning, her cheeks ballooned with vomit. She turned to her side and hurled her upset stomach's contents onto the ground. Her chest still heaved, but her head felt refreshingly lighter as she shuffled away from the crime scene.
Wherever she was, it wasn't wintertime here. Eden was overheating in her Brooklyn winter attire. She stripped down to a white tank top, tying her parka and flannel shirt around her waist. Eden started down a path, decided to head straight for the horizon to find some help. Eden paced herself, knowing she had wasted energy with the adrenaline rush that had gotten her all the way here.
Her sneakers slapping against the gravel on the ground sounded like a lonely poltergeist walking back and forth in an abandoned attic. She was a nervous wreck and believed she had escaped from a murderer. Her teeth chattered despite the muggy heat of the windless terrain as her mind flooded with worst-case-scenarios, most of them ending with her body detached from her head and buried in a shallow grave.
She felt a heavy sense of regret. She scolded herself for not trusting the peculiar feeling that she felt before stepping foot into TerraMates.
Snapping out of her self-pity, she slowed to a stop and frowned. She squinted her eyes up at the night sky covered with a thin haze of golden fog. The moon peeked out of a cluster of clouds and helped to illuminate her path. As she squatted to examine the ground, she quickly realized something was different here, and she hadn't stumbled onto a strange eclipse changing the color of her surroundings.
Eden scooped a mound of dirt into her hands. Its texture was like grains of sand as it cascaded through the spaces between her fingers. It had a dark, almost violet hue to it. The landscape surrounding her looked like it had popped out of a Halloween cartoon. Bright orange plants resembling cacti dotted the horizon. A handful of ten-foot leafless trees with purple bark spread around the vast stretch of land.
She sprang up from the ground and rubbed the dirt off her hands. Other than her daring escape from her crazy hermit "husband" who'd undoubtedly bred and nurtured the monstrosity he called a pet, she felt astonishingly well-rested. Had TerraMates injected her with a sedative that contained hallucinogens? Perhaps this sad wasteland was a toxic dump site created to give government conspiracy theorists something to discuss. As she looked on at the flora, watching as they appeared to move around without a breeze displacing them, she decided it was probably the former.
"Alright, Eden. You've got this," she said, her voice slicing through the icy stillness. The sound of her voice calmed her jumpy heartbeat. "You've never needed anyone to look out for you before. Now it's finally time to look out for yourself. You knocked a full-grown man onto his ass for disrespecting you a few days ago, and he was twice your size. You've got..."
Eden's self-coaching trailed off. Her widening eyes spied two, tepee-style tents in front of her. Sighing in relief, she scampered forward. As she approached the neglected site, however, the grin on her face swiftly faded.
Gathering her unmanageable curls over on one side of her neck, she stepped with slow, calculated footsteps. A blackened pile of burnt firewood sat between the tents, accompanied by copper pots, stained sheets, and something unidentifiable. Her budding curiosity got the better of her. Eden picked up a twig on the ground and stuck it under the filmy, mottled matter.