***
Voices echoed in Rina’s head as cold fingers tapped her face. She opened her eyes slowly and saw an Earth-human man, fortyish, with a soft smile.
“How are you?” he asked.
“Fine,” she said as the man helped her to sit. Her head was pounding and her stomach hurt.
“Where am I?” she asked.
“You’re in an underground jail. Creatures from outer space called Zorcons brought you here ten minutes ago. My name is Vinny,” he added.
“You’re not in a good place,” said a voice behind her, “I’m Lisa.”
Rina turned to see a wisp of a young girl with stringy black bangs over pure white skin; her dark eye make-up left ebony streaks down her face, a sign she’d been here for some time. The small, open cavern smelled of mold. Rina counted fifteen people in scraggly, filthy clothes. Some were huddled on their knees praying while others were visibly crying. Lisa sat beside Rina.
“There’s a blast hole in your shirt,” said Lisa. “What’s your name?”
“Rina,” she said, reaching around and feeling the opening near the small of her back. “I remember being shot, but there’s no pain or flesh wound.”
“They healed you,” said Vinny, scratching his head through his salt and pepper hair. Layers of brown dirt covered his skin. “They always heal the ones they want to save for later.”
“Yeah,” said Lisa, brushing off her torn jeans. “We’re the Zorcons’ meal ticket.”
“You could show a little more compassion,” Vinny said, irritated.
Rina could tell this was not the first time Lisa had annoyed him.
“Hey,” Lisa said firmly, “she has a right to know how she’s going to die.”
“You need to control—”
“It’s okay,” said Rina, placing her hand on Vinny’s arm. “I’ve had several run-ins and—” she reached for her necklace. It was gone. “Crap! I have to get out of here.”
“We all want to get out,” Lisa said, sarcastically. “What makes you so special?”
“My pendant contains a stone of pure energy and Vorkis is going to use it to kill millions.”
“You gave him Pril?” said Lisa, rising to her feet. “You idiot! Why did you bring it down here?”
Rina now knew why Vinny disliked Lisa.
“I didn’t know what it was until a short time ago,” said Rina. “Stop being so presumptuous and ask before you cast judgment.”
“Whatever. Now we’re all dead for sure.”
“Don’t mind her,” said Vinny. “Her mouth gets in the way of her brain.”
“Stuff it,” the girl muttered.
Vinny pointed to an exit. “The only way out is blocked by an invisible shield. We’ve tried everything to break through and failed.”
“I have to try,” said Rina.
“Are you a scientist?” asked Vinny.
“Yes,” answered Rina. “Now if you’ll help me, I need to see that door.”
Every muscle was aching as Vinny helped Rina ease off the stone bed. She nearly fell from dizziness but he caught her.
“Careful,” he said. “They healed your wound but your body is still weak. You need to rest.”
“No time,” she said, forcing her unsteady legs to straighten, “or Lisa wins.”
“Now that’s an awful thought,” said Vinny.
Lisa rolled her eyes.
Vinny helped her to the exit where she stood in front of the shield. She glided her fingers over the clear wall and though it twinkled to her touch, it was solid and strong.
“It must be a REM shield,” she said softly. She turned to the crowd. “How did all of you get down here?”
“We were transported like in Star Trek,” said Lisa, standing behind them. “I was walking home from school in broad daylight when the next thing I knew I was here, looking at the scariest monsters I’d ever seen.”
“I was driving on the Long Island Expressway in New York at three a.m. when the Zorcons took me,” said Vinny. “Every one of us was transported here to be food for the Zorcons. One of them told me they even have some of us in safe keeping for when they leave.”
“Yep,” said Lisa, “stashed away in a fridge like meat in a butcher shop.”
Vinny shook his head in disgust. “Two months ago there were twelve hundred of us and now we’re all that’s left. I heard two of them saying they were leaving the planet soon.”
“Yes, they are,” said Rina. She flattened her cheek against the shield trying to peek into the sidewalls of the exit.
Suddenly, the transparent face of a Zorcon appeared in front of her. Rina gasped and stepped back, startled at the hideous animal who slowly stood upright. Two Zorcons with Barras were standing behind him.
“I am Master Taru, Captain of the Guard.”
“And the ugliest thing this side of the universe,” she said.
Vinny put his hand on her shoulder as if to say, “Don’t.” She moved closer to the shield. Taru’s wide grin revealed white serrated teeth glistening against the blood-red background of his mouth. His glowing red eyes were scrunched in an evil glare.
“You will make a fine meal,” he chuckled.
“Let down this shield and we’ll see who gets who, coward.”
“You were the one with the plump male,” said Taru, still smiling. “He was delicious. I especially enjoyed his eyes.”
An irrepressible hatred instantly engulfed Rina. With clenched fists, she lifted her face and roared with all her might. An onslaught of heated air scorched her throat as her lungs threatened to collapse. Desperate to contain the agony Shiro must have felt, her eyes flooded with bitter tears while her heart cried out in agony. No one could bring Shiro back. He’d died the most horrible death anyone could suffer. It was over. This monster had killed him...but now it was his turn to die. Left with a ravaged heart and trembling with depleted lungs, she caught her breath and pounded her fists on the shield so hard a booming sound shook the walls of the cavern. Taru stumbled away frightened, falling backwards into the two guards, who pushed him back onto his feet.
“You’d better hope I never get out of here,” she shouted, her voice raspy from inflamed vocal cords. “I’m going to rip you to shreds.”
Taru vaulted back to the shield and snarled, moving in on Rina’s face. She leaned closer to him, unafraid, carefully studying his bones, watching them move in their joints, picking which ones to break first. Nose-to-nose with him through the shield and repulsed by his putrid breath, she refused to cower. He snapped his teeth several times, growling and hissing but she held her ground, glaring into his hideous eyes.
“Take this one to dining room three,” he said.
“No!” bellowed a voice from down the tunnel.
Taru immediately bowed to a blue lizard guy.
“Yes, Lord Vurro,” answered Taru.
Vurro walked towards them, his massive chest and arms billowing with ripples of muscle. His long snout, similar to a lizard, exposed shark-like teeth. Protruding from beneath his snug, tan-colored pants, his ten-toed feet pounded the earthen floor, expanding and contracting like water-filled balloons, pulverizing the dirt beneath, creating small clouds of dust with each step. Two wide bands of brown leather crisscrossed a broad, grainy blue-skinned chest filled with swollen white pustules that looked ready to pop. As he stood in front of Taru, he glanced at Rina and she got nauseous. This creature enjoyed intimidation and the power he radiated.
“The female is to be taken to Vorkis,” said Vurro. “His Highness is waiting.”
“Yes, my lord, we will obey,” said Taru, bowing again.
Taru waved his hand over the wall beside the shield and it disappeared. Rina dashed out and slammed Taru into the rock wall. She dug her nails into his face and tore whatever she could. He pushed her away and she went reeling back into him. Her knee rammed his groin and he crumbled to the floor clutching himself, gasping for air. She pounced on him, punching hard, determined to avenge Shiro’s death. His white blood w
as sprinkling everywhere. Taru was screaming for her to be removed. Something bashed the back of her head and everything went black.