Chasing Constellations (The UGS Constellation Series)

by HA Fortman

  Later that evening, Elisa had already forgotten about the mysterious call, choosing to push it out of her mind as some crazy local wanting to scare her. Or even one of the officers trying to get her to drop interest in what was going on.

  Instead, she chose to spend the day exploring the town; spending her day aimlessly meandering down the streets and visiting the local stores before heading to a diner on the edge of the beach.

  She never noticed the tall man following her from one place to another; if she had, she might not have enjoyed her day as much.

  It wasn’t until after dark that Elisa made her way back to her home. Elisa never knew that he watched as she made her way from her car with her hands filled full of the treasures she had purchased throughout the day.

  Setting the bags at her feet, she searched her purse for her the keys she dropped in there while gathering the shopping bags from the back seat of the car. Just as she pulled the keys out of her purse and fit them into the lock, a hand wrapped itself around her lips and stifled the scream that tried to force its way out of her mouth.

  The fingers dug into her left cheek as the body behind her forced her roughly against the door. It knocked out whatever remaining breath she had left in her body. Another arm wrapped around her side and crushed the bruise, from the day before at the police station, while trapping her arms against her sides.

  With wide eyes, she tried to peer around her shoulder at whoever was holding her, to break free. But their weight was enough to drive against her and pin her to the door. Even though she wriggled her body against their hold, attempting to kick them with her legs, it only caused her to be pressed against the door with more force.

  “I warned you to stay away, to go back home and leave well enough alone but you wouldn’t listen would you? Instead you stayed here and played like all the other little ants. Well, the next deaths are on your head! Too bad you won’t be able to enjoy their suffering on your behalf!” The gruff voice triggered her memory, he was the one that had called earlier and threatened her!

  She’d completely forgotten about the call after talking to her friend, and then spending the day shopping, enjoying herself in the warm sunlight and pristine beaches of California.

  Without warning the hand wrapped around her waist moved, turning the key and unlocking the door before it was shoved open hard enough to bounce it off of the wall.

  Stumbling her way into the house as she was pushed from behind, Elisa was still struggling and kicking as much as her slight weight would allow even as she was forced into her rented home.

  The slamming of the door behind them sounded ominous to Elisa. Since she had no idea what the man wanted or if she would even survive the encounter, and she couldn’t even break from his tight grip, she could only guess at what he intended.

  Oh my god, is he sniffing me? I have to get out of here! I have to get away before he kills me!

  Elisa could feel the man’s nose brushing against her neck, sliding from the hair that had been knocked out of the loose bun as it tumbled down her back. His nose traced along her shoulder, she could hear the deep breath in he took, felt it skittering down her flesh as he released it with a groan that frightened her even more. It was enough to turn her stomach when she felt the added pressure of his erection growing against her lower back.

  When his hand moved up to cup her breast, she tried to rear her chest away, but only succeeded in pressing her back against his front.

  His grip on her had changed. With her arms now freed, Elisa was able to jam her elbow backward as hard as she could. She was rewarded by hearing a very satisfying oof and muttered curse.

  As she jammed her elbow back, she also slammed her heel down on the arch of his. Her three inch heels drove into the soft loafers the man wore; the scuffed and well used brown leather was no protection against the near dagger-like shoe. She slammed her foot down hard enough it snapped the heel off, leaving her lop-sided.

  Finally, she was able to break free by bending forward far enough to break the grip across her mouth.

  She didn’t stop to think, instead Elisa just took off running towards the bedroom, screaming as much as her lungs would allow.

  Sadly, she didn’t have much room left after the bruising from the day before and the man knocking it out of her just now; as a result her screams were barely heard.

  Elisa thought she was safe, that she had eluded her pursuer as she made her way across the bedroom rapidly to the window, her steps hobbled as she bounced on one broken heel while the other was still encased in her black shoe.

  The missing heel making her steps, uneven and slowing her down, but she didn’t dare pause long enough to remove the other.

  Instead, she tried to lift the window with shaking hands and started to climb out of the single story home, her fear making her waste precious seconds as she fought with the pane of glass before realizing she needed to release the catch. Finally, she managed to open it, knocking out the screen with her free hand.

  She was just starting to heft herself out of the window to freedom when the man caught up with her again.

  Elisa released a small screech of shock as she felt hands grab her roughly around the waist before they yanked her suddenly out of the window.

  She had only managed to get her chest out of the window before the stranger was pulling her back into the home.

  She pulled against him as hard as she could, but her strength was no match for his. The only thing she managed to do was slam her head against the top of the window, while her nails scraped against the painted wood.

  The slam to the frame against the back of her head left her dazed, her body falling limp. The sudden slack in Elisa’s body gave him the needed opportunity to completely haul her body into the house.

  As he pulled he stepped back from the window, he twisted his body and hurled the small body with brute strength back across the room.

  Elisa flew towards the far wall as the man grunted from throwing her and smiled. She tried to keep her eyes on the man, she even carefully turned her head to the side, but all she was truly able to do was to move her eyes.

  She was horrified at the sadistic curl of his lip when noticed that his lowered head radiated such satisfaction it sent Elisa’s panic to a whole new level. She knew this man! The face that was so familiar to her, since it mocked her from the wall with all of the other photos.

  Her body had hit waist high on the wall and slowly slid down, leaving a small crimson streak against the once pristine white walls. The coppery smell that rapidly filled the room caused the man to lift his head and inhale the scent, releasing the breath with a moaning growl.

  Once more Elisa felt his weight drop on her back as he used his weight to keep the girl from breathing easily, his hands glided almost lovingly against the skin on the backs of her thighs as he straightened her legs out and pulled her crumpled body away from the wall.

  He rolled her onto her stomach, grinning manically as his hands forced her burgundy skirt up over her hips and caressed her lower back just above the line of her basic white underwear before moving on.

  He jerked and yanked, laughing like a mad man, as her body bounced beneath his. He pulled until he had her shirt untucked and the tan material ripped in several places. He exposed her back to his satisfaction beneath his splayed hands.

  He almost seemed to revel in the feel of her rapid breaths as they expanded her rib cage.

  His laughter turned maniacal as he raised one hand clenched into a tight fist, his other braced between her shoulder blades and holding her down.

  The solid thud of his fist connecting with the already dark bruise against her ribs was followed by another and another.

  Both of his hands soon become engaged with slamming against the girl. Nothing was spared and soon she was swollen in color patches.

  But it wasn’t enough, wasn’t nearly enough to satisfy the man above her.

  Over and over the man rained blows against her defenseless body, from her shoulders dow
n to the backs of her knees. His arms blurring in their rapid strikes, pausing only long enough to grind her hips against the floor as he moved down to sit on her calf’s before resuming the agony he brought to her.

  Finally, her back was covered and he ran out of pristine white flesh.

  Instead of moving on as Elisa hoped and prayed that he would, ending the reign of horror, the man lifted her by her now completely freed hair. Yanking the long strands back, he lifted her head and shoulders, using the momentum to flip her onto her beaten back.

  For good measure, he dragged her several feet into the middle of the room and away from the walls. He was still laughing as he dropped his full weight onto her hips from the front.

  Curling his hands around the partially ruined shirt, his muscles bulged as they tore it open the rest of the way and sending buttons flying in every direction.

  This time he paused to grip her breasts hard enough to leave red fingerprints against the flesh peeking around the lace of Elisa’s bra. He watched in clear fascination as the marks slowly faded when he released them, before ripping the white bra from the front and flicking the fabric out of his way.

  Once more the air was filled with the sound of flesh connecting with flesh.

  Broken only by the soft grunting and groaning of Elisa as she tried to lift her arms and protect herself. As though she’d just awoken from a fog Elisa brought her hands up over her chest and tried to cross them over her tender body, occasionally lifting them enough to slap weakly at him or scratch his arms when her mind and body allowed her to.

  Whenever she managed to block him from her chest, he would simply move to her face or her stomach, driving her to try and stop him from the new torment.

  He laughed even more, as though it were a game to him, his hips moving in a parody of making love against her hips. Perhaps he was in his own twisted manner.

  Finally the man seemed to have had enough, those piercing blue eyes clearing of their bloodlust long enough to take in the damage done to Elisa. His smile gentled as he ran a finger down the side of her cheek to her throat, the only part of intentionally left free of any marks.

  Almost lovingly the man brought both hands to her shoulders, the touch feather light as the man dragged his fingers along the narrow lines until they encircled her flesh.

  Gradually they tightened, choking off Elisa’s ability to breathe, squeezing tighter and tighter as he watched her closely. He didn’t want to kill her, not yet.

  Elisa’s vision had started to go black around the edges. The panic leading to tunnel vision that only narrowed as she was beaten started to dissipate with a lack of oxygen.

  Now her hands found new life, as she scratched and pulled against his wrists in an attempt to break free.

  Elisa’s final sight before her vision turned wholly black was of the evil grin gracing the man’s face. A face she had memorized. A face she knew was responsible for the other deaths so recently.

  Weak from lack of oxygen, Elisa watched in horror as her hands fell from his wrists to drop limply beside her while her consciousness faded completely.

  She didn’t know how long she was out for, only that when she finally did wake up it was to a world of pain and agony.

  Elisa rolled to her side and carefully pushed herself up. She managed to crawl her way toward the opened door of her bedroom.

  Hesitantly, she made her way to the living room, each crawling step on hands and knees brought back the horrific memory of running for her life.

  Weak, she was so weak and shaking so badly that when she reached for the phone, she nearly passed out just from the pain. “I… have… to…”

  Finally, her fingers curled around the cord and pulled down the phone from the small table it sat on.

  She didn’t want the receiver landing on her already battered face and was barely able to move out of the way as it fell with a crash to the floor.

  Elisa didn’t know what number she called as she randomly mashed buttons down, only that she thought she had managed to reach someone and call for help. She only knew that she gave her name softly into the phone, that talking any louder than a whisper brought immeasurable pain to her throat.

  She never knew that she had given her plea for help to a dial tone. Because she was not able to lift the phone to her ear; she was unable to hear the incessant dial tone that would have normally let her know she hadn’t reached anyone.

  “Easy. Try not to move. I am here to help.” That soft voice, so familiar and comforting, lulled Elisa out of the catatonic state she had slipped into. “I heard the screaming and came as quickly as I could. Did you see who did this?”

  Careful of her wounded back, Elisa tried pushing herself over from her stomach to her back so she could see who was talking to her.

  It took only a moment before large hands eased her over, tenderly pushing the long locks of hair from her face and allowed her to finally see her savior.

  Shock stormed her system as she peered at the man that attacked her, the same one that ran into her at the station, the sight that greeted her caused her to try and scramble backwards out of his arms.

  Chase Ricter knelt at her side.

  “Shh, it’s ok. It wasn’t me. I know I look like him, but you have to believe me.” Chase released her immediately once she started to struggle, afraid that she might further stress her injuries.

  “Look, my hands aren’t bruised. Surely you know that if I had hit you I would have wounds too, right? It looks like you fought back, if I was the one that had attacked you I’d have wounds as well, wouldn’t I? Besides, there’s no way I could have hurt you like this even if I had wanted to. I don’t hit women.” Chase said as he held up his arms, showing her the tan and unmarked skin, before dropping them back down again.

  Her confusion and shock must have been easy to read as he answered her unspoken questions.

  Her green eyes fluttered from his eyes down to his hands and back to his face, looking for any trace of deviousness. She didn’t see any of the marks he mentioned, and she knew she got at least a few good strikes in on her own, then she relaxed back against the floor and gave a shaky nod.

  Gently Chase lifted Elisa in his arms and placed her on her couch.

  His hands shook as he fixed the twisted and torn shirt from around her body, carefully rolling her from one side to the other and running his fingers down her side with a feather light touch. He could feel where the deep tissues had swollen against the ribs, the color quickly turning a dark blackish purple, and knew she would have at least fractured ribs.

  Sliding his hands over her hips, he noticed that from the pelvis down in the front she didn’t have any marks; however, higher up her body was a free for all of torture. Even her arms had marks; scratched and bruised from trying to defend herself and fight off her attacker.

  He allowed his gaze to travel her neck where clear imprints of hands had left a nasty ring of darkened flesh; to her face where her eyes were barely able to open around the swelling. Blood created a macabre path that blazed trails all over her flesh and stained the once soft and silky blouse.

  “Transport two to medical, now!” Not wanting to startle the injured woman, Chase eased her battered body into his arms.

  One arm wound around her shoulders while the other cupped the back of her knees, with a show of his strength the man lifted her with great tenderness into his arms before vanishing from the room in a dazzling display of lights but without a sound.

  Chapter 9

  “What did you bring me this time Commander?” Softly spoken, the healer of the UGS Constellation never needed to speak higher than a soft whisper.

  Mostly because he dealt with injured warriors that were easily provoked, but as an Atunre his kind did not believe in striking out in anger with raised voices and closed fists. Instead, they found other means to sate it, which made the breed both the perfect medic as well as the ultimate assassin. They even went so far as to raise their children with strict rules against raising their voices.


  “She was attacked by the perpetrator we are after, Yannick. Heal her quickly before she wakes enough to notice that she’s no longer on Earth. She is my Anare, Yannick, we cannot let her go.”

  Startled pink eyes jerked from the woman in Chase’s arms, up to the man holding her before a veil was dropped to hide it.

  “As you wish, Commander, place her on the bed there and I will tend to her now.” Dr. Maleet gestured over at a small camp like cot set over against a far wall, barely discernable against the white glowing walls and floor.

  As Chase placed Elisa onto the indicated bed, he failed to notice her eyes fluttering or the rapid beat of her heart.

  Panic had already set in once again and the adrenaline that coursed through her body gave her the strength to surge from the Commander’s arms just as he set her down. She was able to fling herself into the far corner several feet away, where she curled herself into as small and tight of a ball that she could.

  “What the hell are you!?” She screeched from her tormented throat. Elisa coughed a few times in an attempt to clear the bruised flesh enough so she could talk. “Where am I? What… what did you do to me?”

  “Easy Anare, we mean no harm. Yannick here is going to make you feel better and then we are going to discuss what is going to happen next. OK?” Chase held his hands in the air, a move he had seen plenty of individuals do during his time on Earth.

  It was a primitive planet that held vast mysteries, it such a shame he wouldn’t be able to spend time leisurely exploring them.

  “I was not the one to do this to you. Think back Anare, to that moment when you first saw who did this to you. I want you to tell me what he looked like; even the smallest detail could help us catch him.” As he spoke, he intentionally deepened his voice in a soothing tone, allowed the cadence to slow, as he attempted to calm the female. Each word brought him one small step closer and closer until he was crouched before her with his hands held beseechingly before him.