Daughters of the Mayflower Universe: One

by Celie Wells

  My captors cared for me. I was well-fed and well-rested. Jason had obviously been neglected in my absence.

  “What is going on, Ja?” I grabbed at his stomach and felt the exposed muscles through his shirt. There had been a thin but soft layer of bulk before I left. “Haven't you been eating?” I hissed, grabbing his arms and squeezing even harder than before.

  His face was tanned, darker than the golden olive I was accustomed to seeing. I ran my dirt-stained fingers across his face. He cupped my hand and pressed it to his cheek. The pity that welled up in my heart for him poured over into the pit of my stomach, where all my rage had been stuffed for days.

  “What is going on here. I'm gone so you decide to stop eating, stop protecting yourself from the sun?” I pushed him back and pounded on the hard body that stood in front of me. His expression changed from happy to surprise. I didn't have the mass to hurt him, but I tried all the same.

  “Kar, I wasn't thinking about any of that stuff,” he admitted grabbing my hands.

  “That's pretty damn clear.” I scanned his face and looked behind him at the growing crowd of staff gathering outside to greet me. “What were you thinking?” I demanded.

  “Ways to get you back, ways to kill them all if I couldn't.” He was telling the truth, he looked too tired and single-minded to have made up any comfortable lies.

  It was startling to hear him say the word kill, even though it was the same word I had been spouting to anyone who would listen to me for the past five days.

  “So, I guess I only had two days left to get back home?” I asked.

  “We both did,” he answered, sternly staring into my eyes. I could see him calculating the differences in my hair and my eyes. “What did they do to you, Kar? He slid his hand behind my neck and cradled my head in his hand. “I want you to tell me everything.”

  There wasn't a good version of my story to tell. I wasn't beaten or severely abused by my captors. I was treated well, and at least a few of them wanted me to stay.

  “Let's go inside, and I will tell you all about my time away,” I suggested. “I need to see Dredge. I have coordinates for a water cache.” Jason nodded in agreement, never taking his eyes off my face.

  There was chatter from the house crew about heating a full bath and getting someone to trim my hair, fresh bandages for Jason's arm and clothes were to be found for both of us. Jason smiled at the flurry of activity and grabbed my hand tightly.

  “I'm sure my parents expect me home tonight,” I explained, stomping the dirt out of my boot treads before entering the house.

  “I go where you go, so I hope they expect me too. The media isn't going to leave you alone. You are welcome to have your parents come to our house. We have spare rooms,” Jason moved a flake of dirt off my face. “How big of a water cache?” he asked, leaning down to kiss my forehead.

  “I was able to swim in it, but I don't know how much water in any real terms, a metric shit-ton is my best guess.” Jason nodded in agreement.

  “So, the Reds tried to buy you with actual water?” he asked, grinning.

  “No, but they tried everything else,” I commented. “I think it was an appreciation for leaving. Maybe the Red elders didn't want you to bomb the cave.” I pulled his hand to my chest. His nails were bitten to the quicks.

  “They tried to make me want to stay, but I had to get back to you. There is nothing they have that’s worth more to me than having you for the rest of my life. No matter how long that is.” I was brave and told the truth. Jason kissed me and hugged me tightly to him for a long time. There was little more he needed me to explain. I came back for him.

  Once we hit the entry, the staff separated us. Jason was taken to the main study, where a nurse was waiting to change his bandages. I was taken into my salon and placed over a plastic sheet before my leather day suit was cut off me. After the heat it was exposed to, cutting it off me seemed to be the most efficient means of escape.

  Clara was the first to notice my new silk-wrapped ring. She looked at me for permission to take it off my hand.

  “The things we promise to be let out of the stables,” I laughed, running my hands through my brittle hair. One of the new staff noticed my dry baked curls and reached out to touch them. She pulled her hand back quickly. “I'm sorry, may I touch your hair?” she asked timidly.

  “Please do, whatever we need to do so I can get in that tub,” I said, pointing towards the brightly lit bathroom. “I feel like I will never be clean again,” I laughed. The small gathering of women laughed nervously with me.

  I could see them all cringe when a new bruise or scrape was found. My neck looked more purple than black today, but it was still evident that large hands almost squeezed the life out of me.

  The nurse was called in to confirm my condition didn't require medical help. She suggested an IV for dehydration. Clara, reading my face, assured the nurse I would be given plenty of fluids over the next few days. After being thoroughly inspected, I was helped into a heated tub of water. The appliance was big enough for two people and had a heater and a filter to keep the water clean and warm.

  Clara wrapped my remaining hair in a thick conditioning pack and helped me scrub the first layer of seabed grime off my skin.

  “Sienna, in the kitchen, has a sister that cuts hair downtown professionally. We have called for her to come by and trim your hair,” Clara explained cheerfully. “Also, I spoke to your mother. She's not entirely happy you're staying with us tonight, but with the media surrounding both houses, I don't see a better option.”

  “That's a relief. Jason wanted to follow me home, but his arm needs medical attention, he needs sleep and food. Clara, how was he allowed to live this way?” I asked, placing my soapy hand on the back of hers.

  Clara looked at the floor and shook her head. “He's a grown man. We can't force him to our will like we could a child,” she explained almost in tears. “I'm so glad you are home, Karine. I don't know how many more days he would have existed like this.”

  “Clara, I know you are charged with watching over me while I'm here. I will be sleeping in his bed tonight,” I explained quietly. “I can't imagine he will allow anything less, but I won't have him sleep on the floor outside my door.” Clara nodded her head in agreement and patted my arm.

  “We won't mention this arrangement to anyone. I'll have a bed brought to your room for appearance's sake. And we won't speak of it again,” Clara outlined her simple plan and then left me alone to soak.

  After a few minutes, I could hear the rustling of heavy objects in the room next to me. It didn't take Clara long to deploy her camouflage. We were both concerned with Jason's wellbeing. The properness and traditions society dictated didn't seem the least bit important to me anymore. Clara, a woman I thought cared too much about what others think, apparently agreed with me.

  The sound of the filter on the tub humming to life startled me back to the present. I made one more attempt to scrub away my dead skin before shaving my legs and rinsing out my hair one last time. A nice young woman was brought in to cut the charred ends of my hair away. My traditional waist-length curls were reduced to a mid-back length, rounded end shag. The cut looked surprisingly good, considering how much-burnt hair was left on the floor when the stylist finished.

  I was finally left alone, but I couldn't bring myself to cry. I was so happy to be alive. I couldn’t lament any of my recent misfortunes. I wrapped myself in a fluffy towel and began reading the instructions on the arnica cream package left out to heal my bruises. Walking into my room, I found Jason waiting for me.

  He sat on the end of the newly made bed, his hair still damp, dressed in only a pair of blue pajama pants, and a white bandage that went from his wrist to his bicep. He looked up at me with a blank stare while twirling Zeke's family ring around his finger.

  I took a deep breath and decided the only thing I could do was calmly tell him the truth.

  STARK REALITY

  “I can imagine what you must think.”
I grabbed my towel and tightened it around my chest. With my hair up in a towel too, there was no way to hide my colorful bruised neck.

  “Can you explain...?” Jason whispered. His voice was strained. He stared at me, and I could see the pity in his eyes turn to rage. “I want to know who left those marks on you, Karine.”

  “It was the same young man who shot at you that night. I wanted to provoke him. See how much of the Red rumors were true. If they were going to kill us, I wanted to die where you could find my body.”

  “Don't,” Jason held out his bandaged arm. “Don't say that to me.” He held out the ring and grabbed a bundle of chain from the middle of the bed. “What are these?”

  “The ring is from the Prowe family. They claimed me for their son, and he helped me get back home. The necklace is from the same person who gave me these bruises. Noah, he made sure I could climb up the cliff face and gave me the trinket to say he was sorry, I think.” I smiled, although I could feel my eyes start to tear.

  “They claimed you. For their son? How old was this son?” Jason asked.

  “Twenty, maybe younger.”

  “You were given to this guy, and you don't even know his age?” Jason questioned.

  “I didn't ask his age or his favorite color or what kind of music he likes. I didn't care.” I could feel my anger start to rise. I was not going to give in to my pride yet. I took a deep breath and walked to the edge of the bed.

  “I was betrothed to Zeke Prowe as his first wife. He tried to get me to stay with him. This ring is part of their ritual, their marriage traditions. I was required to pick a family. I asked to be exiled instead. His family claimed me long enough to send me home with provisions and gear. Instead of just the clothes on my back.” I explained calmly.

  “I should feel some gratitude for this family, not allowing you to walk back home unprotected.” Jason stood up and walked to the dresser placing the ring and the necklace carefully on the glass top. “but I don't.”

  “Ja, I don't know what you want me to say. I spent my time telling anyone who would listen to send me home before you bombed the entire seabed.”

  “I was prepared to wipe them off the planet for taking you from me, but I needed to know if you were alive first. I couldn't risk harming you again.” Jason wouldn't look at me. He faced the doorway. It looked like he wanted to leave.

  “Again?” I asked. “You had nothing to do with this. They took the other girls and me because we looked like pretty things, they wanted to save from the meteor strike.”

  “I shot towards you and the thing that had his arm wrapped around you. The gun was empty. I couldn't see clearly, but I tried to shoot in your direction. I could have killed you.”

  “We have been told that it's better to die than be taken by the Reds. You hear something enough times, and it sounds true even if it's a lie. I'm glad you were out of bullets. I'm glad to be alive. All these bruises and scrapes will heal, and we can leave this horrible crap in the past where it belongs.”

  Jason nodded his head in agreement while he rubbed his hand along the wood door jamb's decorative carvings. “There's something I need to know, and then I won't ask any more about this. The man that you were claimed by, the Prowe, how hard did he try to get you to stay?”

  “I don't know,” I answered, removing the towel from my hair.

  “What did he promise you to get you to stay?” Jason asked, walking closer to me.

  “Nothing really, family, protection, love, himself, I suppose. They don't live like we do. Possessions are used for survival, not status.” Jason nodded his head quietly in agreement and pulled me up off the bed.

  “Did he do this?” Jason slid his hand across the small of my back and pulled me close to him.

  “Yes, a few times,” I conceded. Looking into his eyes, I could see this was what he really wanted to know.

  “What about this?” Jason kissed my lips softly. I looked him straight in the eye and whispered—yes.

  Jason ran his hands down my back and rested them on the thick folds of towel covering my hips. “How about this?” he asked.

  “No,” I whispered, shaking my head slowly.

  “He must have done something to try and persuade you,” Jason growled.

  “We talked about the many ridiculous customs both our societies have, he tried to teach me to swim, and he kissed me. I was so happy to be allowed to leave that I kissed him back. He asked me to share his bed after his family claimed me, and I politely told him no. Anything those people got from me, they had to take.”

  “Blue stayed, she was claimed and persuaded to stay,” Jason stated.

  “Blue chose a man. His entire clan accepted her as one of their own. Chip found all the gear I needed to get home alive. He's a kind man. If she lives through the meteor strike, I imagine she will be happy.

  “But Blue didn't have you to come home to. She didn't leave the man she loves bleeding in the dirt while she was carted away into the darkness. There was nothing they could do to make me want to stay.” Jason kissed my forehead and pulled at the newly trimmed curls hanging around my face. He lightly traced the scrape on my cheek and slid his hands to inspect my bruised neck.

  I turned my back to him, revealing my newly bruised shoulder blades. The memory of tripping and landing on a pile of rocks made me wince. Letting my towel loose, I was able to show Jason the full extent of my newest and most colorful injuries.

  “Kar, I'm so sorry this happened.” Jason pulled his hands back to his face and curled them into tight fists.

  On the dresser top was an assortment of creams and powders, hair clips and combs. I set my eye on a bright purple hair clip large enough to sweep my shorter locks up off my neck. I walked over to the dresser, rolled my hair into a loose twist, and secured it with the clip.

  The room's light came from overhead and created round spotlights of golden brightness across the light cream carpet. I picked the spotlight nearest me and dropped my towel to the floor, revealing all my minor, yet ugly injuries.

  “This is what it took for me to get home. Take a good look, and when you question what anyone did to make me want to stay. Try to remember it wasn't nearly enough to overcome what I am willing to endure to get back to you.” I stood in the light for what felt like hours. It was only seconds before Jason wrapped his arms around me. I could feel his warm hands on my skin and his bare chest on mine.

  There was a knock at the door. Dinner was to be ready soon. Jason carefully helped me into a loose set of long pants and a short-sleeve shirt delicately kissing every part of me before covering it with the soft nightclothes.

  “I do love the lights in here,” Jason whispered. “But my room is all ready for you tonight.”

  “For both of us, I hope.” I steadied myself on Jason's good arm while I slipped my leg into my pajama bottoms.

  “Nah, the staff won't allow it, but I have a couch set up in the hallway outside my room.”

  “No, I already covered that issue. Pick a room we stay in it together. I won't have you sleeping on a crappy old couch. You need proper rest.” Jason smiled and paced the floor.

  “How did you get Clara to go along with that idea?” Jason asked.

  “She and I came to an agreement, but we need to keep up appearances, so she doesn't look like she's involved.”

  Jason stared at me, suspiciously, “Very sneaky, I love it.”

  The press camped outside the gates to the estate. We would need to keep up the expected social customs to avoid further scandal. Jason sat in a chair in the corner of the bedroom. He waited for one of the female staff to escort me to dinner before joining us, wearing a shirt and jacket that covered his injured arm. You could see the occasional flash of a camera grabbing shots of the family dinner from the gate a quarter-acre away.

  We discussed the doctor's recommendations of rest and fluids for me, and the new medications prescribed for Jason's neglected arm wounds. The statement for the Press was being crafted. Lawyers to go with us to the press co
nference had been retained. The tutor that would help me wrap up my school year was starting next week. A trip into the city for my birthday at the end of the week was scheduled. None of the dinner banter mattered to me.

  Jason patted my leg softly while we ate the meal and endured the flurry of information presented to us. After dinner, we planned to retire to the den near his room and listen to his newest lost music download.

  This month's collection is from an artist named only Prince. His work was thought lost in the 2076 event. Jason seemed genuinely excited to listen to the collection. The den's location also provides perfect, unseen access to his room at the end of the night. Keeping Clara’s hands clean. It was almost too perfect.

  AS IF

  The day after my return home began as if nothing happened. I woke up in Jason's bed alone. He briefly mentioned an early morning trip back to the city. A full-scale attack plan on the Red encampments was put on hold when I showed up. There were several loose ends to tie up.

  With my water coordinates, Dredge was assembling a survey team to investigate the area. There was mention of me joining the team later in the week.

  The hallway and den were empty. The new collection of classical music had been put away on the shelf next to the previous edition, which still had its wrapper intact. There hadn't been much idle time allowed to anyone recently.

  Clara greeted me cheerfully, with a fresh glass of synth orange juice and a note from Dredge. She let me know breakfast had been served early to allow the men to leave for their pursuits on time.

  “We have a car and a driver ready to take you anywhere you like, Dear. I'm sure your mother would love to see you.”

  “Thank you, Clara. That's a great idea I have collection of fruit seeds for her lab. Maybe I can go to the Eaton estate to see Beryl afterwards?” I asked.