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Authors: CM Doporto

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BOOK: The Arrival
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Jessica
retreated a few steps before tripping over someone’s backpack and falling on
her butt. She stared me down with a piercing glare and a nose flaring like a
bull that had just seen red. I straightened my metallic gray scrubs and pushed
my hair from my face. Something must have told her to stay put, because she
sighed and pouted while crossing her legs.

Words
rushed to my tongue, and my mind swarmed with vicious thoughts. Not about
Jessica, but about breaking free of Nidus.

“I’m fine.
In fact, I’m better than fine.”
Oh no. Don’t say it, don’t do it.
“We’ve
been at Nidus way too long.  They made me donate my eggs to save their
species—but I refuse to stay here and be their prisoner.”

“What?” Gaby
gasped. “Miranda, you can’t be serious. You want to escape? I don’t want to end
up like the Wellington girls from Tennessee.”

She had a
point. None of us wanted to share that fate. The saddest part was they hadn’t
even passed the required test and would’ve returned home within a week. If
their dad and brothers hadn’t revolted against the Eslites, they would’ve still
been alive. Despite the few people that had rebelled and lost, we couldn’t sit
back and let the Eslites have full control any longer.

“No, Gaby.
We’ve done what they’ve asked, and they haven’t delivered on their promises. We
were supposed to be home months ago. I mean, haven’t we all had at least two
egg extractions?”

“I’ve had
three,” Destiny said, tears rolling down her puffy cheeks.

“Three.
Really?” I asked.  “Did you know they are not supposed to do more than three
extractions?”

She gave me
a pitiful nod, and her lip quivered.

“If they do
more than three, they are not only violating the agreement but also putting
your life at risk.” I inhaled deeply. “Why are they keeping you here? Why won’t
they let you go home?” I stood upright and faced the rest of the girls. “Why
won’t they let any of us go home?”

“I don’t
know, Miranda.”  Destiny sniffed. “You’re right, though. I should’ve left after
my last egg extraction.”

“Exactly.” I
paced in a circle. “There has to be a deeper motive to this. You can’t tell me
they need to keep us here, so we can work in their centers.” I stopped and
focused on Gaby. Of all the girls, she had the closest relationship with an
Eslite. But he was no ordinary Eslite, he was the head doctor of the facility.
If anyone, she would have inside knowledge.

“They can
run their centers without us.”  She cleared her throat. “In fact, they really
don’t need our help. So, the minute they tell me I can leave, I’m outta here. I
may love working in the Med Center but I miss my boyfriend more.”

“Me, too,”
Jessica blurted.

“Which
one?” Aliah asked with sarcasm.

“All of
them,” Jessica replied confidently.

“Oh, Lord,
please.” Destiny snorted. “There is more to life than boys, shopping, and
makeup.”

“What
makeup? I don’t think Burt’s Bees tinted lip balm qualifies as makeup,” she
said, pulling a skinny yellow tube from her pocket, before tossing it at
Destiny.

“Watch it,
girl.”  Destiny scowled.  “I had my monthly hormone injection this morning and
just finished my protein shake, so I’m liable to knock that smirk off your
face. And Miranda won’t be able to hold me back.”

Jessica
squirmed in her seat. “I don’t know how you drink that awful green stuff. It’s
bad enough they make us eat vegetables with every meal.”

Destiny was
at least five inches taller and had arms twice the size of Jessica’s. Destiny
would win if they threw down.

“It’s not
that bad.” Destiny shook a nearly empty container in her hand and then slurped the
remaining grass-colored shake.

“Gross. I’m
dying for Coke.” Kate whimpered. “I can’t believe I’ve been caffeine free for
nine months. Life is so much better with Coke and Starbucks.”

“Tell me
about it.” Aliah pursed her lips and sighed. “I miss my Cheetos. I even miss my
mom yelling at me for leaving orange fingerprints on the backseat of the car.”

“I’m
confident no one knew this would be like a prison, where we’d be forced to eat
a restricted diet, dress in sack clothes, and live in a dungeon without Internet
or outside text messaging,” I replied with a grimace.

“At least
we can message each other.” Kate held up her tablet.

“What’s the
point?” Jessica stood and frowned.

 “All I
know is that we’re no match for them or their technology.” Destiny folded her
arms in front of her. “You’re going into some dangerous territory, Miranda. You
better be careful.”

 “And how
do you propose we escape?” Jessica cast me a glance of skepticism.  “It’s not
like we can walk out the front door or break a window.”

“I don’t
know yet.” I took a few steps and halted beneath the neon blue eye that watched
and recorded our every move. I didn’t want it to see my lips moving, and I could
only hope it wasn’t monitoring our conversation. “We have to figure something
out. I don’t want to say too much right now, because they could be documenting
everything. We have to plan.”

“You are
crazy.”  Jessica snorted.  “No, wait, insane, for thinking you can bust out of
here. I may be ready to get the hell out of this prison, and get back to my
social life in California, but I have to admit that what the Eslites are giving
us in exchange for their survival is fair.”

Although
the Eslites claimed they had cures for many diseases, they had only given one
in good faith, a serum to combat Alzheimer’s. Once they successfully produced
offspring with our eggs, they assured us they would deliver on their agreement
and give us the remedies to AIDS, cancer, and many more diseases.

“That’s
right. They healed my granny’s memory loss. You two are a bunch of fools.
You’re going to get us all killed. I’ll do my time so I can get back home to
New Orleans,
alive
.” Destiny stood. “I don’t want any part of this.”

“Neither do
I.” Jessica followed Destiny to the door.

“I’m glad
they helped your grandmother, but how do we know they’ll live up to their end
of the bargain when they’ve already broken the order?” I interjected.

With an
expression of utter confusion, Gaby glanced at me, then Aliah, then Destiny,
and finally Jessica.

“We could
get killed, but I don’t care. I’m not staying another day, week, or month in
this rat trap.” Aliah raised a fist to the all-seeing eye, as a warning. She
picked up her backpack and headed to the exit.

“Wait.” 
Kate dashed to intercept her. “Like Miranda said, we
all
want to leave
this prison. I know I do. I miss my family back in Myrtle Beach. I think it’s
time we take a stand against these aliens. It’s time for us to speak up. Just
because they landed on Earth doesn’t mean they have the right to take over us
girls. We have to let people know we are sick and tired of being slaves to the
Eslites.”

The room
grew silent. No one wanted to die, but everyone wanted the same thing.

Freedom.

“We have to
be smart.”  I met each questioning gaze.  “And we have to fight. Fight to win
back our freedom.”

θ

Chapter 2

 

I lay in my bed, tossing and turning,
and welcomed sleep, but it didn’t welcome me. My mind raced with different
plans on how to escape. Now that I had the idea, there was no stopping me.
Regardless of the consequences, I had made my decision. I was getting out of
Nidus, and if any of the girls wanted the same, they could join me.

Thinking back to what Kate had said, she
had a point. It was time we stood up to the aliens. We needed to plan, step by
step. It wouldn’t be easy, but it was possible. Working in the technology
sector gave me an advantage, because I knew their computer and software
systems, knew how their trackers and scanners worked, and knew where the ever
watchful eyes were located throughout the three facilities.

Gaby would also be a huge help.  As long
as I could convince her that it was the right thing to do. She worked closely
with Dr. Ridus in the Med Center and had access to information that none of us
had. Together, our knowledge gave us exactly what we needed to plot our escape.

Around three in the morning, with the
fifth idea I had conjured in my brain, I fell asleep. For some reason, I kept
hearing a familiar voice in the background. It took a few seconds to realize it
was Shiloh, my personal computer assistant, telling me to get up.

“Geez, Shiloh, it’s Saturday. Can’t you
let me sleep?”

“I’m sorry. Dimas has scheduled a
meeting with you at ten hundred hours.”

“What?” My heart jumped into my throat.
Had he found out about last night’s conversation? Had he somehow read my mind?
Did he know our scheme? I leaped from my bed, stammering around my room.
“Shiloh, what time is it?”

“It’s zero-eight-thirty,” the electronic
voice replied, shining a digital display, as big as the sun, on the wall.

“Thanks. Can you shut that off?” I
asked, shielding my eyes from the glare.

“Sorry, Miranda. May I open the panels
for you?”

“Sure, at fifty percent, please.”
Slowly, the dark panels covering the wall of plate glass lightened, and the
morning sun filtered through. I walked to the bathroom, washed my face, and
brushed my teeth. I took a few minutes to run a brush through my hair before
deciding to pull it into a pony tail. Pressing my ear against the door in the
bathroom that led to Kate’s room, I listened. Silence filled the air. I lifted
my hand, about to knock, when I decided not to wake her.  Even though I really
needed to talk to her before I saw Dimas.

The pounding of my heart, along with thoughts
swirling in my head, made me dizzy. Why did Dimas want to see me? I had met
with him before in his office, and it made me delirious with nervousness. Maybe
because I feared the worst. After the last round of dead fetuses, he told me
that we would create a baby together, even if it meant we had to copulate. I
knew what that meant.
Ughhhh.
My stomach balled into a knot, and I
wanted to puke. I swore to myself that I would never have sex with him. Ever.

I fumbled through my wardrobe, trying to
remember what outfit he required, when Shiloh spoke again.

“Dimas has ordered you to wear something
else to the meeting.”

“Okay, what?” Before Shiloh responded, a
buzz sounded. I walked to the door and pushed the answer button on the digital
pad fixed to the wall. The door turned an opaque color and then clear,
affording a view of the opposite side. Thanks to the nifty setting that I
learned to override, all they could see of me was my face.

“A package has arrived for you.” A
silver robot, which resembled a leopard, waited outside, with a black box in
its hands. Oddly, the machine stood upright and had to be at least six feet
tall. Ebony splotches of fur covered the shiny armor and its huge, bear-like
feet.

 “Okay,” I said before hitting the
button that slid the door open. The Leopard Bot lowered its head, and its neon
blue eyes brightened and then lightened, as a pupil adjusting to a glare. Even
after nine months at Nidus, I still found it hard to get used to the creepy and
somewhat annoying robotic animals.

“Miranda Mays, a package for you.” Its
short arms lifted to hand me the box.

“Thanks.” I retrieved the mystery item.
The Eslites favored reusable containers for multiple things. They took
recycling seriously and claimed they did everything to help save our planet.
However, I think they were more concerned with saving their planet, Ephesus,
and not Earth.

The tailless bot trailed off, and I
closed the door. I walked to the built-in dresser along the wall and placed the
box on the countertop. Grasping the edge of the lid, I hesitated to open it. I
hoped he didn’t send something freaky like lingerie. I’d die if he had. As I
removed the lid I found a sheer black shirt, with a black tank underneath,
paired with black skinny jeans.
Whew. Thank, God.
At the bottom was a
pair of black, patent ballerina slippers.

I couldn’t hold back my excitement over
my new clothes. As part of the requirements, I had been confined to the scrub
uniforms every day for the past nine months. I needed something different, even
if the clothes were black.

“Miranda,” a sleepy voice called out.

I turned as Kate, still wearing her
black nightshirt and boxer shorts, shuffled into the room. “Hey, Kate, glad
you’re awake.”

“I heard you in the bathroom. Do you
have to go to work?”

“No, I, um, have an appointment.”

She rubbed her arms and said, “It’s
freezing in here,” before crawling into my bed and pulling the covers over her.

“Should I adjust the temperature?”
Shiloh asked.

“Sure, bring it up two degrees,” I
instructed and then said, “Oh, and Shiloh, please go into rest mode.”

“Yes, of course,” the digital assistant
replied, following my orders. Although it was nice to have a personal
assistant, I didn’t trust her. I feared she would record me or inform the
Eslite guards when we said something alarming. Even though I had searched
through countless computer records, and hacked into my own digital tablet, I
didn’t find anything. Except for recorded conversations between Shiloh and me,
which meant I needed to be careful.

“So, why are you getting dressed this
early?” Kate asked and then yawned.

I looked at her through the mirror.
“Dimas called a meeting with me.”

“What?” Kate shot upright. “Oh, my God.
Did he find out what we were talking about last night?”

“I don’t know. I’m not sure why he wants
to meet with me.” Kate’s panicky nature didn’t help mine, but I managed to push
the negative thoughts from my head. Otherwise, I’d be a hot mess walking into
his office. “But he sent these for me to wear.” I held the shirt and jeans for
her inspection.

“Really?” She rushed to my side and took
the clothes from my grasp.

“Cute outfit, but why does everything
have to be black?”  She quirked her lips and then handed me the clothes. She
sat on the bed and pulled the covers over her legs.

“I’m sick of black, too. At least it’s
something different.” I pulled the jeans underneath my black and
silver-checkered nightshirt. Holding the nightgown at my waist, I checked
myself in the mirror. Perfect fit. How in the world did he know my size? I
tossed the nightgown on the dresser, put on a black bra, and slipped into the
tank top and sheer blouse. Material gathered around the edge of the sleeves,
giving the shirt hints of ruffles, and tied at a scoop neckline. Even though
Dimas gave it to me, I hated to admit that I liked it.

“So, what do you think?” I turned around.

“You look good—and skinny.” She pouted
and then slumped further into the bed. “I hate that I’ve gained all this
weight.”

“Don’t worry, you’ll lose it as soon as
you’re off the hormones,” I reminded her, trying to cheer her up. Kate, along
with most of the girls, had put on some poundage, with the exception of a few
others, such as Jessica and me. The
‘supers,’
that’s what they called
us—superior donors. We were lucky because we didn’t have to take hormones, only
vitamin injections that kept our immune systems in tip top shape.

 “I hope so. She stared blindly at her
fingernails and then sucked in a breath. “Oh, no. What if Dimas wants you
to—you know?”

“Don’t say it.” I shook my head and
squeezed my eyes shut, trying to stop the sickening thought before it became a
vivid image in my mind.

“I’m sorry. I keep thinking about what
you said, and why is he sending you clothes that aren’t part of the uniform
requirements?” Kate’s fearful expression told me we suspected the same thing.

“I don’t know.”  I collapsed beside her
on the bed. “But I have to admit I’m scared.”

“I’m scared for you, too.” She leaned
her head against mine. “Come and get me the minute you get back, okay?”

“Okay.” I blinked away the tears that
tried to escape my eyes. I longed to be home and in Bryce’s arms, surrounded by
his tender protection. I had no one to protect me. Not my father, not my
boyfriend, and not Kate. I was my only hope.

 

***

 

Kate had wanted me to have breakfast
with her and Gaby, downstairs in the dining room, but I told her I wasn’t up to
it and would eat in my room. I needed to get my head clear before my meeting
with Dimas. I dumped my leftover cereal into the recycle bin and pushed the
‘food’
button.

Over and over, I rehearsed what I would
say if Dimas confronted me about last night’s talk. I also thought about what I
would do if he forced me—if he raped me. Even though I was still a virgin, my
body felt violated in every way. Having two egg extractions and several pelvic
exams made me think twice about ever having sex or giving birth. Then again,
that’s all I had dreamed about, marrying Bryce and having a few children of our
own. Now, I didn’t know if that would even be possible. My throat tightened,
and I swallowed hard to relax.

“A guard is en-route to escort you to
your meeting with Dimas,” Shiloh announced.

“Ookaay. Thanks.” I walked to the
bathroom for one last check. Kate had convinced me to put on some makeup, the
little they allowed, and wear my hair down. I agreed, even though I didn’t do
it for Dimas. I convinced myself that I did it for me. It made me feel
confident and strong. I was Miranda Mays, and I would not be taken advantage of
any longer.

The buzz from the door threw my heart
into top speed. I took a few deep breaths.
I can do this. I will be fine.
I
pressed the open button on the control pad and stepped out, ready to face the
devil once again.

The guard led me to the elevator, which
took us to the twentieth floor. A glass walkway connected the second building
to the third, where the Eslites lived while occupying Martinsburg, West
Virginia. What I couldn’t understand is why our military hadn’t seized the
compound yet. The Eslites had their cylinder-shaped structures constructed on
an Air National Guard base. Didn’t the government know what was happening to
us? Or did they know and turn their head the other way? Surely they weren’t
ignoring us.

The Eslites had violated their own
order, and as far as I could tell, no one realized it—except those of us imprisoned
in their facility. Worse, I couldn’t help but wonder what we didn’t know,
because girls were dying.  And so far, no one had come to our rescue.

 “To the left,” the guard spoke and held
the elevator open with his hand.

“Oh, all right,” I muttered as I made my
way down the dimly lit corridor. The black marble floors and gray metallic
walls blended together, making it impossible to distinguish between the two. If
it weren’t for the tiny track lights shining above, every few feet, I would
have thought we were in an underground cave. The end of the hall appeared to be
a dead end, until I squinted and noticed the double doors in front of us.

The guard pressed a button on the
electronic pad located to the side of the entrance. “Subject, Miranda Mays, is
here for her meeting,” he said with a stern, dry voice. He crossed his hands
behind his back and assumed a soldier stance, supported by his size and build.
The black unitard showed every muscle and bulge on his body. He couldn’t be
over forty, but his tawny skin and hairless face made it hard to tell. In fact,
they all had the same flawless physique, even though they weren’t flawless. 

The doors rescinded into the wall. I
paused for a moment, hesitant to enter. I had met with Dimas before, at his office,
but something told me it wasn’t a formal meeting. These were his living
quarters.

Crap.

I should’ve been paying attention.

“To the right and down the hall.” The
guard startled me.

My heart hammered in my ears, and I
wanted to turn and run. If I refused to have sex with him, would he rape me?
Regardless of my determination to resist, I knew I would have no choice. He
would get what he wanted from me, and no one could stop him. Not even me. Then
I heard my dad’s voice,
‘Mays are strong leaders and never show weakness.’
I pushed the fear aside, took a deep breath, and stepped through the entrance
leading to hell.

BOOK: The Arrival
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