Chapter 3

A shiver wracks my entire body to the point my teeth are chattering. I reach down to pull the blanket up – I must have kicked off through the night – only for my hand to hit something hard.

Groggy, I blink, noticing the brightness of the room and the smell of musty air. AsI am wiping my eyes, something catches my attention. Standing at the foot of my bed is the strangest-looking creature I have ever seen. Shaking my head, I rub my eyes again.

Woah, if this is a dream, what did I watch on TV last night before I went to bed?Ok, Tessa, this is even a good one for you, but since when do you dream of bubble-headed, multi-eyed gray guys? The last time you dreamed of something odd at least the guy was hot.And all was well in my world until the gray guy spoke up.

"Please remain calm, your body and brain functions are still trying to reanimate. Any sudden movements or actions could delay the process."

Ipinch myself lightly; yep, I felt that. My eyes then sweep around the room I seem to be lying in. Multiple arms hang from the ceiling above me, the place is so clean it looks new. BigTV screens hang everywhere, all of them showing a body and symbols I don't understand. But my eyes just keep coming back to the bubble head, staring at what looks like an iPad in his hand.

"Did you just speak to me?"

Allthose creepy eyes turn my way. "Yes, I am glad at least your translator is working properly. Can you advise me on how you are feeling at this present time?"

"I don't think how I'm feeling is relevant at the moment. Where am I?"

"All things will be answered shortly. We simply need to give your body time to adjust to its new environment."

Stiffly, I pull my legs up, pulling down the thin gown I have on. "New environment?" For some reason, those words hit me hard, and everything becomes terrifyingly clear. This entire room reeks of experiments, and I think I might be the prime specimen. I've been abducted!

Themoment that thing looks away from me, I jump out of the bed, stumbling on unsteady legs, as I run out into what appears to be a long hallway. Not recognizing a single thing at all, I pick a random direction and start running. Doors open and close on their own as I race by. Glancing in, I can see I am not the only other thing here. Each room seems to be holding a creature of different colors within it.

Thereis another hallway coming up and just as I start to turn down it, a large white arm comes out of nowhere grabbing me. Immediately, I start fighting against its grasp, scratching and clawing at the monster who is now holding me close.

"Calm yourself, Amori. You are only going to damage yourself by struggling so."

"Let me go, you big bastard." When he laughs at my attempt to escape his arms, I spit right in his face. "Take that you alien prick! What is it, can't get a woman from your own race so you must steal another whole species? Put me the fuck down now!"

Hislaughter just gets louder, as he throws me over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes. RealizingI am not going to calm down, he clasps my legs close to his chest and smacks me on the ass. While beating my fist against his massive frame, I am pretty sure I call him every cuss word in my vocabulary and even make up a few. I am so focused on trying to get loose, I don't notice where he is taking me until he ducks down and enters a smaller space. A space that looks like the inside of a small airplane.

Swingingme off his shoulder. He sets me on my feet, moving just out of the way when I try to kick him in the balls. "You overgrown albino reject. I don't know who you are, or why I am here, but I have a life. I demand you take me home now!"

Stillholding on to my arms, his eyes flash a bright orange, and he frowns as he walks me backward. The back of my knees hit something hard, and he pushes me down into what appears to be a really big seat. WhenI try to kick out at him again, he catches my leg in his hand. His gentleness shocks me enough to stop for a second. "What do you want from me? Why did you bring me here?"

Hepulls the straps around me, securing me tightly, then moves back away, looking down at me oddly. "Hey, I am talking to you, don't you at least think I deserve some sort of answer?"

"You seek answers I am not sure you want to hear. First of all, I give you my word you will not be harmed. Yes, as I'm sure you now realize, you were taken from your world. I did purchase you from the ones who obtained you, but not for the reasons I'm sure you are imagining. You are feeling unwell because you have just been awakened from the cryosleep they stored you in, and you need to let your body rest. From my understanding, you have been under for quite some time. It will take a few rotations for your body to readjust to being awake."

"What? Is this some sort of StarTrek nonsense? Cryosleep, there is no such thing! And not to change the subject, but that is one elaborate costume you have on there. Are those muscles real or are you just a skinny guy in a suit? I'm gonna give you points for originality for sure. Because all those black marks seem to be moving around under your skin. That's a pretty cool special effect, and those contacts are creepy as shit. I mean, there is no way you are an actual alien, your English is too good."

Heshakes his head and walks away, settling into another chair a couple of feet in front of me. A vibration starts up underneath my feet and I pull my legs up. Suddenly the air changes around us and I start to feel dizzy. Grasping onto the straps, I can't seem to hold back the scream bubbling up in my throat when I am suddenly pinned against the seat.

Heglances back at me before hitting a button, instantly the pressure around me stops and I can take a deep breath. "Forgive me, I didn't realize leaving the atmosphere would affect you so."

Heno longer says that when a huge warning starts flashing on a screen in front of him and a voice surrounds us. "Proximity alert, evasive maneuvers are to be initiated immediately."He jerks on something I can't see in front of him and my head slams against the side of the seat I am tied to. Spots form in front of my eyes as I struggle to remain conscious. With my eyes closed, I rock myself back and forth, concentrating on the next breath as my whole world spins around me.

Grabbingmy head in my hands, I fight my way through the pain and the panic that seems to be flooding my system. "This isn't real, this isn't real! You are going to open your eyes and find out that you were simply dreaming. There is no such thing as bubble heads with multiple arms, nor sexy-as-shit solid white linebackers. This is a practical joke, and your friends are just having a good time torturing you with all this." A tear runs down my cheek and I brush it away. I don't have the energy or the brain power to fall apart right now. Suddenly, the straps loosen around me.

"You are free to move around now if it would please you."

Idon't, because right now this seat seems to be the farthest away from him. His soft words bring my anger back with a vengeance for some reason. "What? Now you're trying to be friendly. Where am I? For that matter what the hell was that place you just took me from? What in the love of God are you, and what are you planning to do with me?"

"So many questions, not all I know the answers to, either. You remember nothing as to how you came to be here?"

"Do you really think I would be asking these questions, Powder, if I knew the answers?"

"What is this powder?"

"Out of all the things I have called you, many by the way were not favorable, you are worried about being called powder?" He doesn't say anything else, just sits there looking at me like I am a puzzle he is trying to figure out.

"It's a grainy white substance, you and it are the same color." He tilts his head sideways, it's so familiar, and odd at the same time, that I smile without realizing it. His eyes get brighter and suddenly he is kneeling before me, pulling my hands into his.

"What have I done to be bestowed such a sight as this?"

Afrown instantly replaces my smile, and he looks like I just kicked a puppy. "Excuse me?"

"Forgive me."

"Ok, big guy, either you are really confused, or I am. You are a guy, right? BecauseI don't want to just take that for granted. I am doing my best to not trip the hell out right now and my emotions are all over the place. Even though you manhandled me, and brung me here, you haven't hurt me yet. So, don't break this tiny bit of trust I am bestowing on you right now."

"Little human, you will not ever be damaged in my care, and yes, I am all male. There isn't much I can say to you to ease your fears. I believe only time will help with that. However, I will strive to gain more of your trust and hopefully a few more of those smiles." He stands back up and I have to tilt my head all the way back to look at his face.

"My name is ZoD. I retrieved you from my research facility that you were sold to for testing, but I deemed that you would not be involved in these procedures the moment I laid eyes upon you."

"Why was I suddenly so special?"

Helooks away from me again, then turns away.

"Hey, am I talking too fast for you or something? I have only asked you half a dozen things and so far, I haven't gotten a single answer."

Hehits a button, and the entire wall in front of him disappears. His bright white skin is bright against the blackness suddenly surrounding us. In the distance, I can see what I believe is a planet, not a pretty blue one with white fluffy clouds. A brown one with random green patches.

"Amori, there are some questions that no matter the answer, your mind will not believe until your eyes witness it for themselves. Behold the planet of my forefathers and the entire reason I purchased you, to begin with, Zodiqua."

Thesincerity in his voice, and the proof in front of me, it all becomes too much. So, when the dark spots appear before my eyes, I don't fight it. This time, I welcome the silence.