by Luna Hunter
The road back is filled with silence. I’m sure the guards thought they’d have a hoot at my expense — time for your reckoning, asshole.
We pass the checkpoints, the guards, the huge metal doors and finally make it back to the warden’s office. The only place that looks like a normal room in this bleak and dark facility. Well, it would look normal if it wasn’t built inside of a freaking vault.
“Miss Baker, back so soon?” Anik Onyx says, glancing up at me. “What can I do for you?”
“What kind of show are you running here?” I say, barely keeping my voice down.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“You damn well do,” I bristle. “What you’re doing is illegal and you know it. Keeping him in isolation? Keeping him up at night, alone, chained up like an animal? That’s torture!”
“He is an animal,” Anik sneers, his knuckles turning white as he grabs his glass of whiskey tightly. “He’s a monster! And we treat him like one. What is wrong with that?!”
“Everything!” I yell. “It goes against everything the Federation stands for!”
“What do you know about the Federation?!” he sneers. “I am the Federation! My family is the Federation!”
My cheeks glow red hot with anger. Who does this pompous asshole think he is?
“There are laws, mister Onyx, and even people like you have to obey them! You can’t treat Torin like this, no matter what you think. I will be making a report of this, you can be sure of that. Oh yeah, and your guards thought it would be funny if they stripped him naked and hosed him down before locking him in a room with me, figure that!”
Anik Onyx raises his thin eyebrows. “And? Did you have fun?”
I ignore him. “You will place him in general population,” I demand. “And I won’t forget this. I’ll bring all of it to light, no matter how long it takes. You’re messing with the wrong woman. I think the people back on Earth will be very interested to hear what goes on here.”
He throws his glass against the wall, shattering it into a thousand little pieces. I flinch involuntarily.
“You have no idea what goes on in here!” he barks as he jumps out of his seat. “You Earthlings are all the same. You come in here and tell us how the world works, how to run my prison! You’ve been here, what, half a day?! I’ve been here for years! Years! I’ve seen prison riots. I’ve seen what these animals are capable of. Give them a finger and they bite off your arm and beat you to death with it. You know nothing. If I put that monster in gen pop, you know what happens? Chaos. Mayhem. Interspecies gang warfare. The humans will try to kill him. The other species may defend him, and before you know it, I have a fucking war. Want to blame someone? Blame that Zoran son-of-a-bitch for Pazar. Blame him! Don’t come in here and tell me what to fucking do. Bitch.”
He sits back down and sighs, running a hand through his greasy black hair. I can’t believe the gall of this man.
“All you’re doing is delaying the inevitable. Sign off, and we can kill him and be done with it. His sentence is clear. What side are you even on?”
“The side of justice,” I sneer. It’s clear he’s grown bitter over the years “Unlike you. I will not rest until I have turned this case upside down. There’s nothing you can do to stop me.”
“Nothing?” he says. “This is not Earth. Choose your words carefully.”
“This is a Federation planet where Federation laws apply,” I say. “Is that a threat? Because you can’t hurt me, Onyx.”
“Think again, race traitor.”
“What?!”
“I see it in your eyes,” he says. I smell the whiskey on his breath from across the room. His eyes are filled with hatred, his gangly face looking mean as hell. He looks completely unhinged as he points a bony finger at me.
“You love Zorans more than you do humans,” he says. “I’ve heard of women like you before. It’s because of traitors like you that the Zorans came to Earth in the first place. It’s because of you we let those mongrels dilute our bloodline!”
He’s a xenophobe — can’t say I’m surprised.
“I’m sick and tired of listening to this shit,” he barks. “You waltz in here with your fancy degrees and your high heels and your total lack of experience, and you start telling me how to do my job? Yes, I did a background check on you missy. You’re fucking nobody. In fact, nobody is going to miss you, too. You want that Zoran to have someone to talk to, hm? I’ll give him one! You’ll be his bunkmate, how about that?!”
My heart skips a beat.
“What?”
“That’s right! You want to cozy up to a Zoran killer? Here’s your chance!”
“You can’t do that,” I say, my throat feeling dry.
“I can do whatever I want!” The veins in his neck look ready to pop. “This is my planet, Nora! Mine!”
The warden presses a button and buzzes in guards. “You know where to take her,” he sneers.
I stand up, wobbling on my heels, feeling sick to my stomach. I raise my fists defensively even though these guards have a hundred pounds of muscle on me. “Stay back!” I say.
Suddenly, a rag covers my face from behind, and everything fades to black.
Chapter Four
Torin
I cover her shivering figure with a blanket. This… this is a strange new development. I’m not sure what to make of it.
I sit down on the edge of the bed and watch the human female sleep, watch her chest rise and fall with every breath. I tuck a strand of hair behind her ear, making sure not to wake her.
After the fateful meeting with the human, the guards escorted me back to my cell. Later, they returned — and threw a canister of gas into my room. When I woke up again, I found myself in a different cell… alongside the human female.
This cell is bigger than previous one, with a bunk bed, a toilet, and a chair. Still no palace, but certainly an improvement. The walls are solid, with a small window in the door to peep out of. However, I can’t see much through there. I’m glad the guards left me a new orange jumpsuit, so I don’t have to walk around like a naked animal anymore.
Though with the female here, I might still do that…
“Good morning,” I say when she stirs, though truthfully, I have no idea what time it is.
Her big brown eyes find mine, and they grow wide with shock. “W-where am I?” she stammers.
“If I knew I’d tell you. I have a sneaking suspicion that we’re still in Blackgate. Moved to one of the lower levels. I assume this is your doing.”
She groans and runs her hands through her hair.
“My head hurts,” she says. “That bastard drugged me!”
“That sounds like the warden alright. What did you tell him?”
“I told him to shove this entire prison planet up his pompous ass, I think.”
I chuckle. Such fire for such a small frame. “Did you really?”
“Something like that. I’m paraphrasing. I can’t believe this. I’ll take this all the way to the High Courts, believe me. Once I get out of here. If I get out of here.”
“Of course you will.”
“I hope so,” she says. “No offense.”
I smile. “None taken. Not exactly here out of my own volition.”
“I think the warden hopes you’ll kill me or something. Two birds, one stone.”
“Then he’s going to be very disappointed.”
“I agree,” she says, and for the first time since waking up, I see the hint of a smile.
“I’m not going to hurt you,” I say. “I’m not what they say I am.”
She sits up on the bed and folds her legs underneath of her. “I know,” she says. “I believe you.”
There’s a rattle in the distance. The sound of a shock stick being dragged across iron bars. “Wake up, maggots!”
“Ah, you woke up just in time to experience the first of many prison delights. Breakfast,” I say.
Through the small window in the front door I
hear an excited murmur as the other prisoners wake up. So, this is what general population sounds like. All the months I’ve been locked in isolation, I thought about all the things I only know from vids. Working out in the yard, standing in line for lunch, communal showering. That sort of thing.
Now, all I care about is the human female — and keeping her safe.
My body wages war with itself every time I look at her. A war my self-control wins. I’m glad to know that I’m still not the animal they say I am, not even after what they put me through. Because, in truth, there is nothing I’d rather do than bury myself inside of her. I’d like to wrap my hands around her curvy body, make her submit, make her cry out my name as I fill her with my seed…
But, I restrain myself.
She doesn’t want to be here. She is scared. She is the only person who looks at like I’m alive. Like I’m worth a damn. And to me that’s priceless.
A small hatch opens and two plates of food are thrown unceremoniously into our room.
“It seems our gourmet meal has arrived.”
I get up and retrieve them, handing Nora her plate. She looks at it with disgust written all over her face.
“What in the world is this?”
“Blackgate’s finest.”
She takes a sniff of the black goo and recoils.
“This can’t be edible!”
“I’m afraid so. It has to be fit for more than just humans to be economically viable.” I stick a spoonful of the goop into my mouth. “Mmm,” I say. “Efficiency.”
“Oh god,” she says as she sticks a spoonful into her mouth. “This is disgusting.”
I can’t help but laugh as I finish my portion. “It’s far from the worst I’ve had while here. Seems you’re in quite the predicament, human.”
“You can say that again,” she says as she makes faces and nibbles on her food.
“What did you do to get in here? Besides telling the warden off.”
“I told him you shouldn’t be in isolation, so… here I am.”
We chat away as we eat our food, and it feels good. Really good. I’m happy my isolation hasn’t driven me to the brink of madness.
As if on cue, the door swings open and a burly guard stands in the doorway. Time to ruin another good moment. “Hey, you two. Time to get to work. Big guy, you’re on mining duty. And the girl can go do the laundry.”
I stand up and stretch. “We’re not going anywhere, human.”
“Is that so?” the guard says as he pulls out his shock stick. “You do you what you’re told, you hear?”
Within one second I’m at the door, towering over the human. He recoils, shaking in his boots. He has no experience with my speed, my skill, my strength. None of the guards do. I’ve waited for the right moment — and this is it.
I won’t let them separate us. She is in here because of me, and I’ll protect her with my life if I have to.
“We’ll only work together, or not at all.”
I slam the door in the guard’s face. He makes the right call and moves on, mumbling under his breath.
“What did he say?” Nora asks, looking shook.
I sit down on the chair and rub my neck. I’m glad those damn chains are off as well. That’s something the guards might regret as well…
“They expect us to work,” I tell her. “Forced labor. They wanted to separate us. I won’t let that happen.”
Her eyes dart towards the floor. “Thank you,” she whispers.
“Don’t mention it.”
She glances up and her brown eyes take my breath away all over again.
“Do you really think it’s unsafe for me out there?”
“I don’t want to frighten you,” I say, “but you just might be the only female on this entire planet. Don’t worry — I’ll protect you. From the other prisoners and from the guards.”
“I can’t believe this is actually happening,” she says. “It still feels unreal.”
“I hope you can get out of here before it starts feeling real.”
“Speaking of which,” she says. She gets up and walks over her suitcase, which has been placed in the corner of our cell, along with the rest of her things. She pulls out a document and starts scribbling on the back.
“Is that my case?” I ask.
“All three thousand pages of it,” she nods.
“What are you writing?”
“A message. We have to reach my boss.”
I nod. “That should be doable. Every prison is just as strong as its weakest link, and I’ve seen some of these guards… we’ll get a message out. One way or another.”
Chapter Five
Nora
Well, my career is steadily going from the frying pan into the fire. I got myself locked up with the infamous Zoran criminal Torin himself. However, so far he’s been the most chivalrous person on this entire cursed planet. All of the other men have been nothing but dicks, with the warden on top of my shitlist.
I’m supposed to be scared, but actually, I feel quite safe in the Zoran’s presence.
I can tell he’s attracted to me. His eyes dart over frequently, looking at my legs, my hips, my butt, my boobs, my eyes, my hair… I don’t regret wearing this dress anymore. I enjoy the way he looks at me, filled with desire and pent-up lust. I know it’s wrong, but I enjoy giving him a good view. I enjoy being the object of his affection.
If he ravaged me right now, I wouldn’t even blame him.
I shake my head. Get your mind out of the gutter, Nora. You’re in deep shit. Locked up in a prison light-years from Earth! Stop thinking about spending quality time with an alien warrior and face the music. You know what prisons are like, and Blackgate is the worst of the worst. You might not even make it out of here alive.
That thought sends a cold shiver down my spine and sobers me right up. Torin is right. If I’m the only woman in here… that means I’m like a meaty steak thrown into a pack of hungry wolfs.
About to be devoured.
Men have never fought over me before. They’ve mostly ignored me, either because they didn’t find me attractive or because they were intimidated by my success — I don’t know, I never asked. Having a whole prison lust after me, while that may seem fun in theory, now that I’m actually there, it seems rather foolish.
I focus my attention on the note I’m scribbling. This has to reach my boss, and sooner rather than later.
The more I think about it, the more I realize that being in this room with Torin might actually just be the safest place for me on this whole planet, as contradicting as that sounds. No one on Earth will believe that, but I feel it in my very core. Torin is a good man. He has a good heart.
He in no way lives up to his reputation. And that only makes my question the official story more and more…
The doors all buzz and then fly open. “Lunch!” a voice in the distance cries.
Torin gives me a look. “Do you want to go?”
“I do not.”
“Neither do I,” he answers, “but if we want get your note out there I’m afraid we have no choice. I’d leave you here if I could, but you’re safest by my side. Let’s go.”
I take a deep breath and gather my courage.
“Yes, you’re right,” I say. “Lead the way.”
I follow Torin into the cell-block. My heart races when I see the other prisoners. Every hall falls silent as we pass through them. All I hear is my heels clicking on the floor.
There are all kinds of different aliens here. Some I have never even heard of! Besides humans, I see reptilians with scaly skin and feathers on top of their heads, and hairy bear-like men with snouts, and some things that defy description.
There’s a whole universe out there. It’s easy to forget when you’re on Earth, caught up with human concerns.
The eyes of all the inmates follow me, but I don’t see hatred or anger in their eyes. Mostly, it’s curiosity. They are as surprised to see me as I them.
After several turns we arrive
at a big hall with rows and rows upon tables. The lunch room. It too falls silent the moment we enter. Torin grabs my hand and pulls me along, heading towards the counter.
I am thankful for his touch. When he lets go to grab two plates of food I can’t help but feel a little disappointed. I mentally chastise myself for this. I don’t need a man to take care of me. I’ve been sticking up for myself for years! So why does it feel so good when this mountain of a man takes control? I feel guilty but I can’t help but enjoy it. It’s nice to know that someone else is looking out for my interests as well.
Slowly the buzz in the room returns as all the inmates start talking to each other again. I glance down at my plate, hoping for something good, but seeing the same goop we had for breakfast.
“Is this all we’re going to get in here?”
“Afraid so.”
I stick a spoonful in my mouth. The bad food I can deal with. It’s the other inmates that frighten me. However, I feel that as long as I stay close to my protector, I should be all right.
I want to show Torin how thankful I am for his kindness, but I don’t know how.
Well, there is one way…
Yeah, I should be working on the case, figuring out if there’s some way to fight the verdict. Instead, Torin is taking care of me. I made a total fool of myself. When my boss comes, if he comes, I’m sure he’ll laugh at me. He’ll be completely vindicated. He expected me to screw up. And screw the pooch I did…
A blue skinned alien walks up to us. His forehead has many ridges, and his ears are pointy. His yellow, cat-like eyes are focused on me, and I recoil as soon as I see him. He’s giving me bad vibes.
“What do we have here?” he slithers with a thick accent. A forked tongue licks his thin lips. “How much for a ride?”
Torin pushes his shoulders back. “I’m only going to say this once, kavii. Back off.”
The blue alien reaches out for me. His fingers are like prongs, long and thin, and I dart back. Before he comes even close to reaching me, Torin intervenes. He grabs the man’s arm and slams it down the table with a heavy crunch.
