by Pearl Tate
“I’m not sure what a dog is—is that one of your Earth animals? Never mind.” She shakes her head as I nod. “The answer is yes. We will put this around your neck, but no drilling will be needed. There are already points set up in the catacombs for this purpose. The records clearly show where all of them are and it was just up to Vina to pick one.”
“So, there’s no worry of cheating on this though? Like someone getting the map and knowing where all the chain points are?” I’m very curious and have to ask. We don’t want anyone disputing this after the fact.
“No. The main reason is because there are so many scattered around the catacombs that it would take days to check them all. He either knows or doesn’t. Someone couldn’t memorize them and then find someone. It would take days. He only has two hours to find you. We will be going less than half that time in. Understand?”
Yes. I nod and take a deep breath. He can do this. I couldn’t but he can, right?
I’m distracted from this train of thought as we get closer and closer to what appears to be a big, rock mountain. I passed through the Rockies when I was a kid and this imposing mountain looks very similar in height. Twenty feet off the ground, is a small opening and we slow down as we enter. There are flood lights in a circle around the opening, but they only travel about twenty feet inside on either side. I see why we are in such a small hover vehicle. Slowly, we navigate through the tunnel. There are rocks and jagged formations protruding out from the sides. We wouldn’t want to scrape one of them. There are lights on the hover car all along the exterior and often I would see a flicker of animals in the lights, scurrying away.
I’m curious but not! In fact, I’m pretty sure if I start asking about their wildlife, I will definitely start over thinking this. They wouldn’t put me out there if there are things around here that could actually kill me, right?
I can feel us heading down and realize we must be traveling more into the underground. Everyone is quiet as we each look out the sides contemplating our own thoughts. I feel like I may have napped—time went so fast, but I don’t think I did. I’m too busy trying to keep calm and not let the environment get to me. But it isn’t long before we stop.
Everything happens so quickly after that! The driver and Vina step out and check on the ring drilled deep into the rock. There is a bit of banging out there while Marquel attaches the collar around my neck. She holds the end of the chain while I climb out before joining me under the lights on the exterior of the vehicle.
The collar doesn’t feel super tight, just heavy. It pulls me down with substantial weight because of the long, eight to ten-foot chain attached to it. I realize they probably don’t feel like it’s as heavy as I do. They are almost two feet taller than me and a lot more solid. I take my first careful step away from the vehicle on the rough, rocky ground. I’m surprised to notice it feels a bit spongy, like there is a layer on top that gives under even my weight and its color is more red than gray.
I stop thinking about any of this as they walk me over to the ring and attach the chain. They all leave to climb back into the hover car except Marquel who passes a small bag to me. In the lights of the hover car, she opens it to pull out a round disk she wraps around my wrist.
“This is a light. Push here,” she demonstrates, strategically turning the light away from our eyes as she puts it on. “Please don’t turn it on until we are a little further away. There is also a bottle of water.” Pulling it out, she clips the water bottle onto my chain.
“Will Bren have a key to this collar?” My hand unconsciously tugs as if testing its strength. Nope. I won’t be taking this off myself.
“Yes. But don’t worry, if there are any issues with the key he won’t have a problem getting you out of it.” I don’t question her before she turns and starts to walk away. “Best luck to you, Hannah Becker of Earth.”
I watch the doors to the hover car close behind her. It doesn’t even turn around. It just starts going backwards out of the tunnel. It isn’t super narrow here and as their lights recede, I turn on the light on my wrist. It easily illuminates the ten foot wide tunnel. The light carries fairly far in both directions. I’d say a good fifty feet each way.
Well, fuck. So now I just need to stay calm and wait for Bren to arrive. Two hours, that’s not long. Two hours. That’s the worst this can be. It’s not so bad.
Okay. Yeah. I do hear the occasional scurrying further down the tunnel and mostly out of sight. One of the reasons it wouldn’t have done any good to ask Marquel if there are any animals around is because I’m sure I can’t imagine what they would look like. They could look like a teddy bear but be the most dangerous animal on the planet. How would I know?
I don’t want to touch anything, but the day has worn on me. I’m tired and tempted to sit or lean against the wall. A faint tap tap tap, sounding like light footsteps travels to me from the way we were going when we came in.
That couldn’t be Bren, right? Wouldn’t he come from the way we did? It would make sense that they brought me in the quickest way. And don’t they need to totally get out before his time starts? How does that all work?
The footsteps seem to fade away and I decide that I’m not going to freak myself out. Mimicking the way Bren sits to meditate every morning, something I was never big on before I met him, I finally give into the urge and sink onto my butt cross-legged to try and relax as best I can.
Settling in and leaving the light on, I close my eyes and just try to concentrate on feeling him. Nothing—or nothing yet. I don’t know how much time passes but I do hear light, freaky sounds that I refuse to acknowledge. It smells musty and moist in the air and I can just imagine how much my imagination could run away if I let it.
Again, I hear the pitter patter of footsteps very faintly. Unfortunately, still off in the tunnel end that Bren probably won’t be coming from. Only this time it keeps getting louder. Opening my eyes, I look down the tunnel but don’t see anything. But I hear it. It’s quite clear.
In fact, there may be more than one thing coming! Just based on the sound of the footsteps I hear.
It’s almost on top of me before I realize it’s on the ceiling. And it’s big!
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
- Hannah
I feel all my hair stand on end. Fuck! Fuck! Fuck! I’m screaming in my head but I don’t make a sound or move.
It’s not a spider really—but it’s body is over a foot in diameter! It’s so big. Although I don’t really know all the different kinds of spiders on Earth, it’s definitely looks in the same family!
It’s past me before the squeak totally leaves my mouth. Breaking out into full body shivers, I start to shake. Springing to my feet, I perform the traditional insect on my body dance, slapping and jumping in a circle! I just can’t help it!
What the hell was it?
Its footsteps retreat back towards the way we came in but that isn’t the end. As I’m standing frozen in fear, I hear another coming!
Maybe that one is being chased by this new one? But what can I do? If it doesn’t stop to visit me, I think I will survive. I think.
Even as I shake in place, I keep my eyes open and try to get a better look at it as the next one comes by. Easily as large as a dinner plate, with multiple legs, they definitely look somewhat like a spider. Black and gray, they blend in with the ceiling here perfectly and even with my turbo light, I have a tough time making out features.
Maybe that is for the best? Yes. I’m still shaking uncontrollably.
As the second one disappears the other way, I’m not surprised to hear more coming. Of course, there are.
Fucking hell. Over the next few minutes I count twenty-six more zooming by at top speed. None of them hesitate or slow down which is ideal. But more are still coming and the sound they make as they run is starting to become more of a loud hum. There are a lot more on their way!
Fuuuck. Crossing my arms over my chest, I try not to panic, telling myself out loud, “Don’t panic, don’t panic.”
I can’t audibly hear myself though since I’m so freaked out my air supply is just a wheeze.
They reach me before I have time to try to run which was what every fiber in my body was telling me to do. Just run! I would have broken my neck for sure. They aren’t just on the ceiling this time. They are on the ceiling, the walls and the floor, hundreds of thousands of the not-quite-a-spider creatures. It’s a black wave of them.
I close my eyes in terror but pressure on my legs makes me open them to see their bodies pouring quickly around me. One has stopped for a few seconds, resting two of it’s six legs on my thigh, looking up at me with four eyes that protrude from bony looking protrusions off it’s three segmented eight-inch round body. A part of me thought it looked intelligent or pleading.
It hops up and clamps its jaws around my left arm, pulling it away from my body almost pulling me off my feet as it surges behind me, tugging me along. Stumbling a step or two, I shuffle through the bodies surrounding me gasping as it’s grip on me tightens. I’m afraid it’s going to break my arm it hurts so bad!
Five steps later and I’m at the end of my chain and the creature is yanked from my arm by the momentum of the others surrounding it. Only my right hand’s grip on the tightened chain and collar around my neck keeps me from being overrun as I fall to my knees, cradling my left arm. It was practically pulled out of its socket. The sharp flare of pain dies down now that I’m not being dragged by it.
My nerves settle a bit realizing they are more like humongous ants than spiders. Yeah. So much better. I struggle to my feet, afraid of being bowled over or grabbed or trampled!
I think I’m in shock. I’m not thinking clearly. Hard to say and as their numbers taper off and most of them running by are on the ceiling again.
I start to recover. I’m still shaking uncontrollably and crying but yeah. I’m alive.
I didn’t pee my pants. Close.
As the pitter patter of their feet tapers off in the distance, I hear a crunch and scrape sound. Fuck. It takes me a minute as the sound gets louder but could these guys have been running away from something?
Pulling on my collar, I feel it cut into the back of my neck drawing blood. Whatever the fuck they were running from, I feel really inspired to run from too!
I’m stuck though, and I know it. Should I close my eyes again? The choice is taken from me as a shadow moves across the floor and into my light.
Fucking hell! It’s a fucking snake! I watch in horror as the biggest snake I’ve ever seen moves slowly across the floor towards me. It’s not stupid either. It was going much faster until it spotted me and now it has slowed and is eying me up.
When it reaches thirty to forty feet away, I can see the vibrant green and blue on its body reflecting off the scales in my light.
My panic is full blown and manic as I cry out loudly, pulling on the collar holding me to the rock.
I have to get the fuck out of here!
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
- Bren
I try to send Matthias away. He must go with Hannah! She can have escorts and protectors. She needs someone but Matthias points out the old laws are clear. He quotes them calmly. Explaining that he has researched and she is only allowed family. Blood relatives to her only.
The old laws need to fucking change! This whole entire situation has made me stop thinking. I just have a heavy, throbbing pulse and roaring in my ears. Always the voice of reason, Matthias yells to keep me sane. “These situations were not common, but they did happen. Once this is over, there can never be any question or dispute.” He holds me and keeps me in the room.
We stumble to the floor as my legs give out. “Calm, brother.” Holding my head, I double over and try to focus. “Breathe.” I start my noisy inhale and exhale, but I sound like I’ve been running for years.
“Are you sure? Positive there isn’t anyone that would qualify to go with her. Stay with her?”
“No. I tried.”
“She’s going to be all alone in there. You know what is in there. The animals and danger. She’s not a warrior Matthias!”
“I know, but we will leave as soon as we can. You are going to find her so fast. She will only be there a few minutes alone.” He’s placating me, but I eat it up like an infant. I just can’t bear the thought of Hannah chained and alone in the dark.
I have no idea what kind of immunities she has built up in her system yet and if she can even stand the bite of one of our sheeva’s. But in addition to smaller insects, there are often larger animals that live in those caves. All kinds and forms with the larger ones able to remove a limb with razor sharp teeth.
“Stop dwelling on it. You will get there in time. She will be fine. Relax and stay focused. Being new to this, you will need to concentrate so you can get there as quickly as possible.”
I pop up into a sitting position, almost flinging him totally off me before looking at him. “Find out how close we can get to the catacombs before the signal is given that we can go in. Can we sit right outside?” Matthias hesitates. “What? Tell me!”
“We can go down to our vehicle, but I thought we should wait until we are actually leaving. They are going to be archiving all of this. As soon as you step out the door they will be there. This is big news for everyone.” His voice drops, and he leans in. “I’m the one that tipped them off to what was going on. When the council was asked, they had no choice than to let everyone know. It’s a trade off really. If people know you exist, you are more likely to stay alive. You wouldn’t want to be a secret, right?”
Standing quickly, I head to the door. “I don’t fucking care about that. They can watch all they like. As long as we don’t all watch her die because she doesn’t have family on this planet to stay with her during the mating trial.”
When I swing the door open, I almost trip over all the people waiting for me to come out. Drones buzz in the air and as I put pressure on the crowd and start through them I yell to Matthias, “Where am I going?”
He’s right behind me but answers by pointing. “Follow the crowd.” Yells and questions are thrown at us from every side, but I ignore them all as I push through to get to the hover vehicle. The commentator and council member Kirley Pelack is standing by the entrance to the catacombs. I will take my time killing every single council member slowly and painfully if Hannah is not alright at the end of this. But not right now in front of all these archiving machines.
“Bren Khar, I see you are early. We can’t leave yet.” Well, I certainly don’t want to talk to her. Turning away, I grab my brother and pull him away.
“What do the people of the planet want to know? Why are they here? Should I talk to them?”
My brother looks eagerly at me. “They are curious about Hannah and what’s happened between you. It gives them hope that the future may be different for us all. Let me talk to them and you can just interject if necessary.” Matthias moves away to address the crowd while I wait and concentrate on what I can feel of Hannah.
No panic, which is good.
“My brother is trying to send warm, comforting thoughts to his mate while she waits for him to come locate her. With no family on the planet, she will be alone and chained inside the dark catacombs.”
“Is that unusual?” The loudest question gets his attention.
“Yes, in all the records I reviewed, which detail out the previous mate trials, every one had the maximum three family members with the mate at the pick up location. This was for protection from wild animals and to keep them company. Hannah Becker from Earth doesn’t have that. And as I am Bren’s only brother, we will be traveling out in the hover vehicle with councilor Kirley Pelack and my friend Chevepak Dall. It will all be archived and available so you can keep track of our progress. Please pray together that Hannah Becker from Earth will not be harmed during this. My brother will be shattered but also, none of us will know whether this is a true mate compatibility and whether we are able to successfully, naturally produce offspring.”
He has
been thinking about this quite a bit. His thought provoking words start a murmur through the crowd.
“If that’s the case, how do you think this will impact our family structures in the future?”
Acting like this is the first time he’s thought about that at all, he looks earnestly at them. “Well, we can only hope that our family structures will be revisited in the laws by the councilors so that more mate pairing can potentially breed new blood and a new future for Quasar.”
Councilor Kirley had obviously heard enough. “It’s time.” Her voice is a combination of stern and annoyed as she goes ahead and climbs gingerly into the back seat, effectively cutting off any more communication with the news suppliers.
I quickly follow her, hopping into the front. Glancing back at Matthias before dropping inside, I see him heading over to follow me. Finally we will be on our way.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
- Bren
Hopping in the front, I recognize Chevepak as one of Vina’s other husbands. My former future brother. “Good to see you Chevepak.”
He smiles brightly. “It’s excellent to see you. Are you ready to get her?”
“Oh yes!” He takes off like a rocket when Matthias’s door latches and leaves my stomach on the ground. Racing over to the side of the entrance to the catacombs, we wait for the drop off party to exit. They come out a moment later, as they slowly roll out and move off to the side, and we can finally enter.
“They are following us.” The announcement from my brother isn’t a surprise. Within one hundred and fifty feet, Chavepak slows as we reach an area with three tunnel choices. “Get out and walk around to each one. It will help.” Matthias leans forward to point. “Walk each entrance. It looks like that one has another intersection only a few feet in. Ready?”
I’m already out of the vehicle and walking in a fairly small circle. But it isn’t hard. Walking a few feet into the option on the left, I know that is it. Getting back inside quickly, I point to the tunnel I just left. Chavepak doesn’t hesitate and takes off immediately.