“Is this part of our adventure package? Do we go across the bridge or go back down?” Adam shifted on the balls of his feet and fidgeted about. His excitement was almost palpable
“Well, since we’re up here, we might as well go across. This seems a lot easier to get through than the thick trees on the ground.”
“I did good with finding this, right?”
She rustled the hair on top of his head. “You sure did.”
Big raindrops suddenly hit her head and face. Miranda held up a hand and tilted her head back to the sky. She would expect overcast or dark clouds signaling an impending storm, but she saw the same sky she’d seen every day here for the last few days. Pink and purple. “This also means we don’t have any cover from the rain.”
Adam threw his hands in the air and turned in a circle, giggling.
“Of course you don’t mind the rain,” she muttered.
“This is the best adventure ever!” He stopped and covered his mouth with both hands. His wide eyes were on her.
“We have to be quiet,” she reminded him.
Adam nodded.
She looked toward the sun. She had maybe another hour before the ear-piercing alarm sounded. It also meant Ben and Esme would be waking soon and find her gone. They’d be upset at first, and maybe a little relieved too. They had to know deep down that her leaving was for the best, and they were better off without her.
“Come on. We better get going. Don’t lean over the edge.”
Adam skipped ahead, and Miranda followed. Although the bridge was a nice change of scenery when the sun was fully up, and the alarm sounded, they needed to be on the ground. The bridge was an easy place for the aliens to trap them. Not to mention they would bake without the coverage of trees to soften the sun’s rays. Lexi’s skin was already beginning to peel.
But for now, she let Adam enjoy his adventure. She pulled a protein bar from the diaper bag. “Hey, adventurer.”
Adam turned and walked backward. She tossed him the bar, and he caught it with both hands. “Eat it all this time. I know it doesn’t taste that great, but we can’t waste food.”
He took a bite before turning around and skipping ahead. They’d finished the food she’d initially packed for a day out on Earth. It hadn’t been much, a few jars of baby food, vegetable snacks, and juice boxes. Since the food pods seemed to be limitless, she’d been calling for one every break. Whatever they didn’t eat, she stored. She didn’t know how long the free food would last, and having food readily made her feel better about their situation. She could go without food for a little while, but the kids needed three meals a day.
Something hit her in her head, breaking her concentration. It bounced on the bridge with a clunk. “Ouch.”
She rubbed the side of her head and glanced where the object had come from. Three monkeys—no, not monkeys; they were covered in fur and about the same size as monkeys, but they had six limbs and three large eyes. A group of them sat huddled in a tree, watching with curious eyes.
Adam picked up what they’d thrown, something round and orange. He giggled and tossed it back. One of the not-monkeys caught it and took a bite out of it, then threw it back. Adam caught it and opened his mouth.
“No!” She smacked the item from his hand. It fell to the ground and rolled, falling off the bridge. “We don’t know what that is. Better yet, I don’t want you eating after animals.”
The not-monkey screamed and jumped, shaking the branch it was on. The screams soon became screeching. It bared sharp white teeth and smacked the side of the tree.
She passed Adam and pulled him to follow. “Come on, let’s keep going. I want us on the ground before the alarm sounds. We have to hurry and try to cover as much ground as we can.”
The not-monkeys followed them, using the long branches to help swing and propel them from tree to tree.
“I think we made new friends,” Adam said, watching them.
“Miranda?” Ben’s voice came across the comlink. “Miranda, where are you? Answer me.”
Before Adam could press the communication icon on his comlink, Miranda grabbed his hand. “We can’t talk to him. Not right now.”
“Miranda? Answer me. Talk to me,” Ben begged, his voice cracking.
Miranda gnashed her teeth together. She wanted to answer him. He deserved to know why she’d left. It took all her will not to. Without Ben helping, they wouldn’t have made it this far. They would’ve been caught along with Spencer and Mary Ann. But if she stayed with Ben and Esme, they would all end up like Spencer and Mary Ann. No. He would understand. He had too.
“Why can’t we talk to him? Ben is our friend,” Adam whined.
“He’s our friend, but we have different packages, remember?”
Adam skipped by her. “So, since we can’t be part of his hiking group anymore, we can’t talk to him?”
“We’ll talk to him again. Later.” After he realizes he’s better off without us.
Just then something tugged her backward. Lexi screamed. Miranda turned around just in time to grab Lexi’s leg. One of the not-monkeys had an arm around Lexi’s neck, yanking her from her carrier.
“No!” Heart slamming against her chest, Miranda pulled her back. The not-monkey held Lexi tight, and another launched from the tree to help his friend.
Her pulse kicked up in true fear as she punched the not-monkeys with her free hand, landing strikes on any part of their body she could connect with.
“Let my sister go!” Adam yelled.
Her punches didn’t have much effect on them. She changed to gauging the not-monkey’s eye with her fingers. With an ear splitting scream, the not-monkeys finally released Lexi and jumped in one bound from the bridge back to the trees. Their continuous loud screeches blasted through the air, signaling their displeasure.
Weak-kneed, Miranda let out a cry and squished Lexi to her chest. No longer able to steady her shaking legs, she dropped to her knees and pulled Adam close to her as sobs tore through her. Tears rolled steadily down her face. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t stop crying.
How are we going to survive this alone?
Chapter Three
The pod launched Fanian out in front of the lodge, just like the night before. And like the night before that, he wasn’t at the processing center with his prey in hand.
He grumbled as he stalked toward the lodge doors. He didn’t bother waiting for the Dar’E tonight. The Dar’E’s prey and the mother had parted ways. Fanian had found that out only after he’d followed the Dar’E for most of the day. Another rumble came from his chest, thinking about all the time he’d wasted.
Fanian had failed today, but tomorrow he would be victorious.
He had to be.
What if he couldn’t find the mother in time to claim her and someone else did? He would have to turn his attentions to another female.
That would pose another problem. The longer Fanian stayed in the game, the more credits it cost him, eating into his profits. The reason Az’ud had hired him was that Fanian had a one hundred percent catch rate. There wasn’t anyone out there who could elude him.
A human female with two children shouldn’t pose any problem for him.
The Dar’E popped out to his right. By the look of his face, he was just as upset as Fanian at having to spend another night in the lodge. Fanian followed the Dar’E inside, splitting hallways, and for the first time since arriving, Fanian regretted he hadn’t splurged for a private suite.
The smell hit Fanian’s nose before he entered the room. The air in the communal living area was eye-watering. Days of hunters of various species with questionable personal grooming habits stuck in one place had made their mark. Fanian stepped over the threshold, and the pungent smell increased ten-fold.
Sweat, dirt, and desperation wafted throughout the room, filling every crack in the walls and clinging to the furniture. The hunters who’d arrived before him were already heading to the food processors. If they hadn’t spent any cred
its for day-time snacks, this would most likely be their second meal of the day, the first consumed before the morning alarm.
When it was his turn, he approached the food processor and swiped past one screen after the other until finally reaching the last one. If more hunters had requested this meal, it would’ve been found on one of the earlier screens, but seeing how he was the only Givvek on Turolois, he was the only hunter who required synthetic blood as a meal source.
After a few seconds, his meal was served in a biodegradable container warm to the touch. Fanian took his meal and bypassed the tables where some hunters had gathered to eat and made his way to his assigned cot. He sat and took a swig from the container. The warm liquid eased down his throat, instantly absorbed into his bloodstream. He allowed only a few seconds of pleasure, closing his eyes and inhaling a deep breath.
He took another drink. His body was already rejuvenating. The cells damaged by the oppressive heat healed. Muscle tears in his legs from pushing them beyond the norm all day quickly repaired themselves. When he was done, he threw the container away and settled onto his cot while taking a good look around the room.
Losers. The lot of them. And he was considered among their rank.
Each of them had underestimated the humans. They were supposed to be easy prey. Every other species knew of their weakness. They were so sheltered they needed protection from the Okuthyu. Without the Okuthyu, Earth would’ve been taken over years ago when it was first found as a fledging world at the far end of the galaxy.
Fanian snorted. If humans were so weak and vulnerable, as they were led to believe, why were most still in The Hunt? Every one of them should have been snatched up the very first day.
Fanian turned his attention toward the projected images high on the opposite wall where pictures of the remaining prey were displayed.
Five females remained, including the mother. Fanian squinted, counting that number again. His breaths deepened. Time was running out. One of the females had been caught today. The mother would surely be the next to go.
Fanian smelled a hunter approaching him from behind, putrid and unwashed. It was times like this that he wished his nose wasn’t so sensitive to smell. With the closeness of the quarters, Fanian wasn’t alarmed. Hunters were practically on top of each other. The proximity caused tempers to rise.
As if on cue, a skirmish broke out to his right. Some pushing and shoving and harsh words were exchanged, but nothing remarkable that would warrant a shock from their collars.
The hunter approaching stopped by his cot and stood over Fanian. The Zorvan looked at the projection as well. The Zorvan appeared strong and formidable. Their height, muscles, and plates covering some parts of their bodies were deceptive.
In reality, their skin was thin, which left their organs vulnerable. They also didn’t have good eyesight, but their sense of smell and hearing were extraordinary. Fanian doubted the Zorvan would advance to the next round. Especially a round where hunters were allowed to eliminate their competition by hurting or killing each other.
“Which one do you have your eyes on?” the other hunter asked.
“No one in particular. Just as long as I don’t go home empty-handed, I’ll be fine.” He kept his response generalized.
The hunter grunted and pointed to the mother’s picture. “I like that one, but no one can get near her because of the Dar’E. Once he picks out who he intends to claim from their group and gets out of the way, I’m going to capture her.”
There was no reason to let the other hunter know that the mother had already separated from the group. “There are plenty of others to choose from. Why not move on to one of them?”
“She bears children. The other females might not have this gift.” He fisted his hands onto his hips. “She will provide me with many children. Girls to sell and boys to help around my farm.”
Fanian slowly turned toward the hunter. He shouldn’t have been appalled by the hunter’s words, this wasn’t an ethical group. Yet, he was. The sooner he could leave this place, the better. “You would sell your own children?”
“Half-human children would fetch a reasonable price.” The hunter lifted his chin, sure of his words and that Fanian would agree. “There would be many who would want to breed with them or make them pets. I’ve never shunned away from an income source.”
Fanian knew he shouldn’t ask his next question, but he did anyway. “What would you do with the children she already has?”
The hunter shrugged. “I’m not paying extra for those when I can make my own.” He glanced pointedly around the room. “Someone here might want to catch them.”
Fanian also glanced around. Every hunter here wanted a human. That’s why they’d paid the exorbitant fee to enter the illegal game. Their investment would be paid ten-fold if they left with prize in hand, but for those who would leave empty-handed? The credits spent weren’t recoverable. He could see someone taking both or one child.
What would be in store for them? The question popped into his mind before he could stop it. He pushed it away just as quickly as it had come. What was in store for the mother, her children, or any other human on Turolois wasn’t his concern.
He had to separate morals from this venture. It was the only way he could stomach doing what he planned.
What was the difference between him and the Zorvan? Nothing really.
The thought made Fanian’s stomach turn. He swallowed hard, but couldn’t swallow his guilt. He needed to finish his task, leave Turolois and hope he would be able to live with himself after he gave the family to Az’ud.
“Good luck,” Fanian said, rising from his cot, signaling the end of the conversation.
“You never told me who you’re after?” the hunter yelled as Fanian made his way to the door.
He left the communal living area without answering him. Fanian paused briefly to breathe the fresh air circulating in the hallway, clearing his lungs of the vileness he’d left behind. After a few breaths, he knew that he wouldn’t be able to cleanse himself until he left this place.
He eyed where the hallway forked, leading to the executive suites. With the help of the Dar’E, he could go as early as tomorrow. That’s if the Dar’E had the connections Fanian hoped he did.
As Fanian made his way down the hall, he expected guards posted to keep out the unsavory characters. Then he thought about it more. Everyone on Turolois was unsavory. Maybe that’s why he was able to make his way to the executive suites unencumbered—that was the easy part. The next part would be figuring which suite belonged to the Dar’E.
Fanian sniffed around one of the doors. Clean. The room was unoccupied. He moved on to the next one. There was a heavy odor, but not the Dar’E’s. Fanian continued until he scented the Dar’E. If not for the smell, he would’ve still found it easily because of the noise coming from inside. The Dar’E was communicating with someone. Loudly. Fanian recognized the deep baritone. His voice was a harsh and abrasive rasp.
“I don’t need another lecture from you, Bradliix,” the Dar’E growled out. “You’re my assistant. Not my conscious.”
“And I wish I didn’t have to give you another lecture, Xrez, but here we are.” The speaker’s voice was somewhat muffled as if it came from a communication device.
“Have your say. Let’s get this over with. I have another big day ahead of me tomorrow and need to rest,” Xrez replied.
“That’s what I want to talk about. You’ve already saved many of the humans from being taken immediately. You’ve done what you’ve set out to do. There’s no need for you to venture into the game another day. Let this play out as it should.”
“You’ve seen them. They still need my help. Without me keeping hunters at bay, dismantling traps, and giving the humans pointers, they would all be gone in a day and none of them would advance to Level Two.”
“You’ve done far too much as it is—”
“And I need to do more,” Xrez said, cutting the speaker off harshly.
“
You are the new Game Warden. It is not your job to help prey to the next Level. Your job is to ensure hunters are getting their credits worth by keeping the gaming arena new, and refreshing.”
“Providing hunters with formidable prey is my job as Game Warden.” There was a loud growl. “I don’t know what my father was thinking with this idea of his.”
“I wish you would trust in your father and trust the process, Xrez.”
“This is something that I can’t leave to fate, Bradliix. My father’s legacy and my tenure as the new Game Warden depends on a successful hunt.”
Fanian smiled to himself and backed away from the door. The information he had was far greater than he could’ve imagined. He wanted to bang on the door and reveal all that he had discovered, right then and there.
Patience.
He had to decide what he would do with this information and how best it would suit him.
* * *
Miranda huddled with her kids under a tree with big purple leaves. The leaves were huge and spread out in big fronds. They blocked out the waning sun, obstructed the sky, and gave them protection from the relentless rain. Although the leaves wouldn’t provide any kind of protection against predators, she felt somewhat safe.
After the evening alarm had sounded, she’d cried. Relieved, they’d survived another day, and without coming into contact with any alien hunters or animals who wanted to steal Lexi away. She didn’t have to worry about Adam noticing her tears. The fat raindrops provided a perfect cover to hide her anxiety.
She busied herself, using a dab of baby soap and water to scrub Lexi’s cloth diapers. She couldn’t get them thoroughly clean, but they were clean enough. The kids were out of their wet clothes, fed, tucked into the sleeping bag, and drifting off to sleep when Ben’s strained voice came over the comlink. “Ben, here. Esme? Are you out there?”
Miranda paused from laying out the wet clothes and frowned. Had Esme left Ben too? Why would she go? Without Miranda and her kids dragging them down, Ben and Esme could’ve made a formidable team.
“This is Payton. Esme is with me.”
Hunted by the Alien Vampire: An Alien Abduction Romance (The Hunt Book 4) Page 4
