S1 Week 1 EP 2
Thump. Thump. Thump.
A series of repetitive sounds in the hallway echoed through the bathroom walls. Heart pounding, I sat motionless, holding my breath.
My mind raced with thoughts of a possible intruder and what he’d do to me. Seconds later, the plumbing overhead creaked and thumped.
“Damn.” Nervous laughter left my lips. “Get a hold of yourself.” I exhaled, then took in a deep breath.
Gotta stop watching horror movies. They’re starting to mess with my head.
I shook my head, which helped clear the jittery thoughts.
“And next time, don’t drink too much water.”
Hell, once I had broken the seal of the bottle and guzzled the contents, it was always a pain in the ass to pee every five minutes.
I finished my business, wiped my privates, and then stood. My pants back in place, I flushed the toilet, opened the stall’s door, and then approached the sink.
The water ran cold, and I washed my hands.
There was nothing like a good cleansing, especially after working on a keyboard all day. The soap left a silky film on my skin, and I rinsed off the suds. I turned off the faucet, dried my hands, and then left the bathroom.
I checked the office doors as I made my way to the exit, ensuring they were locked, and then I armed the security system.
Stepping outside, I sucked in a breath of cool, crisp air, waved a goodbye in front of the camera for Mr. Security Guard, and then headed for my car.
The wind blew, sweeping the smell of rain and pine across my face, and I shivered.
A street light illuminated the parking lot, and dark shadows danced on its fringe. I approached my car, pressed the button on my key fob, and the headlights flashed twice. The sound of the car alarm disengaged, and I opened the driver’s side door.
I tossed my computer bag on the passenger seat, settled behind the steering wheel, and then buckled up. After securing my seat belt, I pushed the ignition button, and the car roared to life. I put my baby in reverse, backed her out of the parking stall, and then pulled out of the lot.
The wipers swished back and forth, keeping pace with the rhythm of the music playing in the background. A smooth hum filled the car as the corvette coasted along the highway, and my eyelids drooped.
“Just stay awake and stick to the speed limit.” I shot a glance at the clock on the dashboard, the phone nearby plugged into the charger.
The sooner I get on the freeway, the quicker I’ll be home.
I tapped my foot on the gas pedal, and the car raced up the hill. Pavement gave way to asphalt, fading into darkness, and my headlights illuminated the road ahead.
The sound of tires hitting the rumble strip drew me back from the edge of sleep, and I jerked the wheel to the left. Groggy, I blinked several times, keeping my eyes on the road, and then I turned onto the on-ramp for the interstate.
A dim traffic light on a pole flickered, drawing my attention, and I checked the rearview mirror for a couple of seconds, then my gaze flicked to the road in front of me. The reflection of my car headlights lit up the dark highway, leaving me alone with the open stretch of pavement.
My stomach grumbled, and hunger pains made me groan.
“Damn, a full belly would have been nice.”
I had a cup of strawberry-banana Greek yogurt in my refrigerator with my name on it, and couldn’t wait to tear into it.
Off to my left, trees dotted the landscape, and darkness swallowed everything else. I let off the gas and then coasted down the hill.
The sound of insects hitting the windshield caught my attention, and a faint flash of light in the distance made me squint.
“What the fuck is that?”
A hum vibrated in the air, and a bright beam enveloped the car. The light, blinding, shot through the windshield and then faded into a soft glow.
The next second, the ground disappeared, and the vehicle lifted off the pavement. I floated, weightless, and then the car spun, pulling me in every direction.
What the hell? Did I crash and not know it?
My body went limp, and my mind blackened. Seconds later, my eyelids fluttered open. I stood on a platform, and a white light illuminated the room.
What the fuck? Where’s my car?
Metal walls encased me, and a sterile scent filled my lungs. I scanned my surroundings, taking in my situation, and a foreign emotion settled over me.
Unadulterated fear.
An alien with large black eyes and gray skin approached. The creature, no bigger than a child, reached for my arm. I jerked back and then turned to flee, but my feet wouldn’t move.
I looked down and discovered that my legs were embedded in the floor.
“What the hell?” Fear coursed through me.
Another gray alien stepped out of the shadows and then stood beside the first creature.
A beam of light shot up from the floor, encasing me in a transparent box, and my head spun in circles. The edges of my vision darkened, and I fought to stay awake.
‘Subject 42.’
The sound of a voice vibrated in my head.
‘Place her on the bed.’
A tug on my mind drew me from my thoughts, then blackness consumed me.
Moments later, my eyes fluttered open, and I was strapped to a table.
Panic surged through my body, and my breaths came in gasps as I struggled to free my arms and legs.
“Let me go.” I tugged on my restraints. “What do you want from me?”
The hair on my head stood on end.
‘Her physiological makeup will suffice.’
Another tug on my thoughts made me wince.
‘Can we use her for the show?’
The head of the gray alien bobbed up and down as if in agreement.
‘We must take care in removing the subject's clothing to avoid contamination.’
“No one’s removing anything,” I shouted. “Do you hear me?”
‘Must we always use fresh meat?’
‘Yes. The last of them didn’t survive long.’
The vibration of their voices made my skin crawl, and I opened my mouth to speak, but my thoughts were fuzzy.
‘She’ll do. The reproductive organs are intact. Signals show high fertility.’
Another hum sounded, and my body vibrated. Seconds later, something made me sit up tall.
‘What about her breasts?’
‘What about them?’
‘The viewers prefer a certain frame of body. Her bosom is small.’
Pain shot through my head, and I clenched my teeth, closing my eyes.
‘True. But we can remodel them to fit the audience’s taste.’
I struggled to keep up with the conversation, but I was teetering on the edge of sleep and conciseness.
The hum of their voices took over my thoughts, and my stomach rolled. I opened my mouth, and bile rose in my throat, but then just as quickly, it slid back down.
‘We can initiate the transformation once we remove the clothing.’
The nausea subsided, and my mind fuzzed once again with the low hum of their voices.
‘She’s already got a healthy body; that should yield a good outcome.’
“Positive outcome? For what?” My heart raced.