Inhuman

Danielle Q. Lee

All rights reserved. Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the above publisher of this book.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. And any resemblance to actual persons, living, dead (or in any other form), business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Copyright © 2010 by Danielle Q. Lee

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without written permission of the author.

Cover art by: Karen M. Koski

ISBN 978-0-9865680-1-5

Dedicated to my sweet husband and best friend,

Chris Lee

Acknowledgments

Thank you to Philean Gladue and Crystal Hall for being my loyal editors and beta readers. Thank you to my husband for his patience and constant support with my dreams. Thank you to all my friends, fans, and cheerleaders who make me smile every single day.

To the reader

Thank you for purchasing Inhuman.

This book was born from a strange phobia I endured as a result of two separate surgeries. Previous to each surgery, I experienced an odd fear that, for some reason, the surgical staff would cut me open and discover that I was not human. For years afterwards, I continued to wonder what would happen if that were to occur. How would society treat a person with such an abnormality? Would they still be considered human? And most importantly, would they maintain their human rights?

This book is not a traditionally written novel. It is meant to be treated as a memoir that follows a short time in the life of the main character who discovers by accident she is, by society’s standards, not human.

Prologue

20 years ago…

A cool breeze nipped at her hands as she struck the match. Cradling the glow within her palm, she held it close to the kindling. Wind snaked around her, hungrily stalking the flame, as though awaiting the perfect moment to smother it.

“Start boiling the water.” Hunched near the rising blaze, the medicine woman ordered the handmaiden in her native tongue. Pursed in deep concentration, her skin wore the weather of time and the wrinkles of wisdom. Turning to the woman ripe with child, the old doula hushed her as she gently set fresh blankets over her legs. Dabbing the beads of sweat from the mother’s forehead with a cool cloth, she hummed an ancient Hopi lullaby.

The sounds of labor reverberated off the walls of the cave as the mother clutched her swollen belly, barely enduring the waves of agony that gripped her womb.

As the fire grew, flickers of light haunted the walls while tendrils of smoke crept from the mouth of the cave, weaving their way into the pitch of the night.

Releasing an anguished howl as a powerful contraction seized her; the mother sat up and began to push.

“Calm, child, you must be calm.” The medicine woman’s voice soothed as she gently coaxed the woman to lie back.

Pushing damp hair from her face, the medicine woman then unbuttoned the mother’s shirt in preparation for the baby. Customary to lay the baby next to the mother’s breast immediately after birth, she cleansed the area with a wet rag.

As droplets of water shimmered and ran between the mother’s breasts, the medicine woman was captivated with her patient’s unique birthmark. A perfect six-sided white star dwelt within the hollow of her bosom.

Ancient Hopi lore had spun prophecy of a day like this and what it could mean for the human race.

Relinquishing an agonized scream, the mother grunted as instinct overwhelmed her body. The medicine woman signaled for the handmaid’s assistance.

“It is time.” She uttered as she removed the blankets from the mother’s legs to expose the child’s crowning head.

Matted black hair mingled with blood emerged from within the mother. Working feverishly, the medicine woman eased the baby out and brought it into the air for the first time.

Breathless and exhausted, the mother smiled as her eyes beheld her newborn for the first time. Arms extended, she wept tears of joy and asked for her baby.

In the medicine woman’s quaking arms, however, there was silence and stillness. The sweet breath of life had eluded this infant. Her lip quivering, she slowly handed the tiny body to her mother.

The mother never faltered as she placed the baby on her naked chest. A confused frown eclipsed the old woman’s face as she watched the scene unfold.

The child lay unmoving upon her mother’s breast; the miracle of life had overlooked this infant, yet an unwavering expression of bliss remained on the mother’s face.

Holding her baby close to her, the woman’s chest suddenly began to glow white. From between her bosom—from the star birthmark—a source of power resonated.

Eyes widening as they witnessed the pulsating light emerge from the mother’s chest, the medicine woman and handmaiden clutched one another and fell to their knees in prayer.

Snaking slowly through the air, a cord of white light wove itself in the space above the mother and child. Writhing gracefully, it gently coiled around the tiny, lifeless child. With one swift movement, the illuminated thread disappeared into the child’s chest, giving the baby its first kiss of life.

A loud cry from the baby’s lips elicited fresh tears to flow from the old doula’s eyes. Rushing to their side, the medicine woman covered the baby with a warm blanket.

Turning to congratulate the mother, the medicine woman watched as the mother’s eyes slowly faded to dark. Her blood stilling beneath her skin, the mother’s hands fell from the loving embrace.

“She is…dead.” Shock overwhelmed the elderly woman as she lifted the child from her mother’s dead body and cradled her in her own arms.

The child cooed like a baby dove as she stared with innocent eyes at the old woman. Placing the infant on a bundle of blankets, the medicine woman inspected the child.

Her hand flying to her mouth with a loud gasp, she pointed to the baby. The handmaiden ran to her mentor’s side, a cry of surprise escaped her lips as she laid eyes upon the infant.

Inherited in the center of the child’s chest was a birthmark—a white star.

Chapter 1

Present Day…

“You’re just going to feel a little pinch. It won’t hurt a bit.” The young nurse-in-training warned as the steel tip of the needle disappeared through the skin and into my arm. I might have been more inclined to believe her if her hands weren’t shaking so much.

“You have really pretty eyes.” She commented as she removed the needle and tried again to plunge the syringe into my swelling vein. “I’ve never really seen that color before, what would you say that is? Hazel?”

I looked away as the needle burrowed deeper into my arm. Diverting my attention to an anatomically correct poster of the male body, I tried not to think about the blood draining from my arm and being deposited into several plastic vials.

“Amber. Kind of like cat’s eyes, so I’ve been told.” I winced as she released the tourniquet with a snap; an uncomfortable thudding sensation overwhelmed my entire arm as the blood fought to disperse itself evenly throughout the limb.

“There, all done.” The smile on her face was one of pure pride that she’d accomplished the task at hand without permanently damaging me in any way. Placing a cotton ball and piece of tape over the fresh hole in my arm, she then inquired. “Would you like some juice or a cookie? It helps to eat or drink something afterwards. Some people get a little dizzy after getting their blood taken.”

“No thanks, I’m okay.”

“I can’t believe this is your first time ever getting blood drawn. How old are you?” She asked as she labeled each of the six vials she’d just filled. Thick crimson liquid sloshed against the sides of the glass tube. It felt strange to be looking at something that was inside of me just moments before.

“Twenty.”

“Wow! Are you sure you’ve never gone to the doctor before?” Her expression was of amazement as she turned to me, felt marker in one hand and a vial in the other.

“Pretty sure.” There’d never been any need; really, I’d never been sick. Besides that, the reservation I grew up on didn’t have modern hospital equipment.

Tucking the six vials safely into a plastic container and sealing it shut, she turned to me and stated triumphantly. “There, all done. On to the next.”

Leading me out of the cubicle, she then pointed down the hall. “Just follow the yellow arrows and look for a sign that says x-rays. Okay?”

Nodding, I began walking down the sterile hall. My nostrils burned a little from the overwhelming scent of bleach.

At least it’s clean. I thought as I searched the walls for some visual stimulation.

There were several plaques lined up on the wall to the right of me, all dedicated to those who had generously donated large sums of money to Stanley University.

Following the yellow arrows, I could see a sign up ahead that appeared to say x-ray and a big black arrow pointing left.

At least this one shouldn’t hurt. I decided after the last test that I didn’t like getting my blood taken.

I approached a large desk with a student technician seated behind it. A bright smile upon his face, he inquired. “Are you a test subject?”

“Yes.” I nodded and returned a polite smile.

“Great! Just have a seat over there and we’ll get to you as soon as we can.” He said enthusiastically. “Would you like a coffee or orange juice?” He tilted his head as he asked.

“No thanks.”

“Okay, just let me know if you need anything.”

Sighing, I reached to my right to find something to read. After sorting through a few, I finally settled on a gossip magazine.

I scanned the pages half-heartedly, pausing to inspect the dresses worn by celebrities who’d recently attended an awards party. A few photographs made me shake my head.

Too skinny! These darn models and actresses, they don’t set a very good example.

Scouring the pages of the magazine, I read through the recent marriages, births, deaths and affairs of the rich and famous. Shaking my head often, I realized with a twinge of guilt that by merely reading this stuff, I was contributing to the source of the problem.

“Miss Tiponi?” A male voice startled me out of my thoughts. Glancing up from the trashy magazine, I was met with yet another warm pair of eyes.

“Are you ready?” The young technician asked politely.

“Sure.” Placing the magazine back on the pile, I paused for moment as I considered tossing it into the wastebasket. I weighed the pros and cons and decided that it was simply wasting precious paper if I were to throw it away, even if it did have garbage written all over it.

Seating me in yet another cubicle in a back room, the young man set a clipboard down and pulled a pen from the breast pocket of his lab coat.

“Okay. Name please.”

“Cassia Tiponi.”

“How do you spell that?” His face was pleasantly inquisitive as he looked up from the paper.

“C A S S I A T I P O N I.”

“That’s different. Is that Greek?” Considering my olive skin, I often received that assumption.

“No, it’s Hopi Indian.” I replied with a smile.

“Oh.” His response was quick as he returned to his questionnaire.

“Birth date?”

“February 14.”

Glancing up at me with a glint in his eye, he stated the obvious.

“Ahh, Valentine’s Day. Address?”

“Dorm 201, Stanley University Campus, Washington, DC.”

“Age?”

“Twenty.”

“Height?”

“Five foot six.”

“Weight?”

I hated that question. Confused by my hesitation, the guy looked up.

“Weight?” He repeated, obviously unaware of the turmoil it caused within the female gender.

“One hundred twenty-five.” I lied.

“Any previous surgeries, body piercings or tattoos?”

“No.”

“Okay then,” He scanned the page for any questions he’d missed. “Oh, just one more here. Any family history of diabetes, heart disease or stroke?”

I hated that question more.

“No idea, I’m an orphan.”

His cheeks and forehead reddened slightly as he stood up and gestured for me to follow him. Leading me to a row of change rooms, he pointed to a pile of neatly folded hospital gowns.

“Please remove all jewelry and anything metallic, gown open to the back and someone will be here to take you to the MRI shortly.”

“Thanks.” Entering the change room, I proceeded to remove my pants and top. Upon pulling off my sweater, it crackled and sparked. Looking at myself in the mirror at the back of the change room, I smiled when I saw that my long black hair had been filled with static and several strands were standing on end. Smoothing it down, I pulled the cloth scrunchie off of my wrist that I kept for just these types of emergencies.

Reaching around to undo my bra and letting the straps glide down my arms, my eyes were automatically drawn to the tiny birthmark centered between my breasts. A perfect star, it was definitely an oddity. While most birthmarks I’d seen or heard of were pink, red or brown, this one was white. Against my olive skin, the mark devoid of any pigment seemed to carve itself into my solar plexus.

Removing my underwear, I then slid my arms into the armholes of the gown and tied a bow at the nape of my neck with the strings provided. Momentarily self conscious as I felt a cool draft sneak through the opening in the back of the gown and graze my naked buttocks, I was relieved to find a clean housecoat hanging on a hook just outside the change room.

“Miss Tiponi?” A female voice called from outside the change room.

“Yes.”

“Are you ready? Did you find everything alright?”

“Yes, thank you.”

Sliding the curtain aside and coming face to face with another chipper trainee, I followed her to the x-ray room.

Several other students were eagerly awaiting my arrival, their notebooks and pens in hand.

“Just lie down here.” The dark-haired student urged as she pointed to a mat on rollers situated before a huge tube. Arranging myself on the make-shift bed, I tried to keep my gown from twisting around and inadvertently flashing everyone.

“The most important thing to remember is to remain as still as possible. It will take about thirty minutes.” She explained as she propped foam blocks on either side of my head. Handing me a cord with a red button on the end and headphones, she then placed a blanket over my legs. “Here is your emergency button and because the MRI is so loud, we give you some music to listen to. What kind of music do you like? Hard rock? Pop?”

“Classical please.”

Tilting her head with a quirky expression on her face in response to my choice, she then nodded and proceeded to slide me into the large contraption. The tube was small; claustrophobics would certainly sweat in something like this. Both of my shoulders were pressed against the sides and the ceiling was only two inches from my nose.

Proceeding to the control room, the trainee turned on my music and fired up the MRI.

Feeling self-conscious as the group of students gawked at me through the glass window; I closed my eyes and relaxed as a stream of symphonic bliss began tickling my eardrums.

The MRI machine clunked and banged around me. I found it strangely soothing somehow, cocooned inside the metal monstrosity while embraced by Mozart.

“All done.” A voice stirred me from a light nap as the rolling mat beneath me was pulled from the tube. Sitting up, stretching and swinging my legs over the side, I was surprised to feel so refreshed.

The student led me back to the dressing room and handed me a file.

“Take this to the receptionist when you’re done. Thanks again for coming.” She gave me a pleasant smile and left.

Getting dressed, I couldn’t get over how pleasant everyone was here.

Approaching the front desk, the receptionist looked up from her paperwork. Handing her the file, she scanned it quickly, signed the bottom of the page and then made out a check in my name.

“Here you go,” she began as she handed me the check. “Thank you again. Will you be back tomorrow?”

“We’ll see,” I responded while stifling a yawn, “depends on what they’ll do to me. Being a guinea pig is harder than I thought.” I winked and she laughed.

All in all, it was an easy way to make $250. I was going to have to endure a whole lot more poking and prodding if I wanted to pay my tuition though.

***

“Cassia!” Amy pushed her short, plump legs to go faster as she ran to catch up to me. Lunch bag in hand and back pack over her shoulder, she huffed and puffed as she asked, “How did…the testing…go?”

I slowed down to meet her pace. “Good, thanks. Can’t say I’m crazy about getting my blood taken though.”

Laughing out loud, she nodded in agreement. “I think that’s a pretty universal loathing.”

Smiling in spite of myself, I always enjoyed Amy’s twist on vocabulary. Amy Gates, my friend for the last two years in university. I was grateful to have found such a wonderful human being.

“Are you going back tomorrow?” She inquired throwing a fresh piece of gum in her mouth. Offering me a piece, I declined with a polite wave of my hand.

“Yah, I have to if I want to make my tuition next week.” My heart sank as I thought of the possibility of not making enough. Archeology was my dream, if I couldn’t finish school, I’d be devastated.

“How much more do you need?” Amy looked up at me with a worried frown.

“Only $500, so if I go two more times that should cover it.” I rolled my eyes as I added, “Of course, that means I don’t have any money for food this week, but who needs food right?”

Amy didn’t appear to see the humor in my statement as she clutched her lunch bag a little closer to her chest.

“What tests did they do on you?”

“Just blood test and MRI this time. Who knows what other crazy things they have in store for me?” Wrapping my sweater tightly around me as a gust of fall wind swept by, I sighed. “At least it helps the students learn, right?”

“What sort of things are they looking for…with your blood I mean.” Long strands of her blonde hair whipped at her cherubic cheeks as she gave me an inquisitive glance.

“Everything I guess. I had to sign a waiver before I started and it said something about red and white blood cell count and DNA evaluation…whatever the students in the lab need to learn I guess.” I shrugged as I watched a flock of robins suddenly dart into the sky from a nearby maple tree. The campus was littered with trees shifting from summer to fall, the school sat stoic amongst the golden and copper shades of autumn.

“A waiver? What kind of waiver?” Amy’s professional alter ego sprang forth with suspicion. As a second year law student, she was trained like a bloodhound to sniff out shady contracts.

Realizing I shouldn’t have said anything, I sighed, “Just a paper saying that if I fall down dead from their tests, I won’t sue. Oh, and that I give them permission to send my results to some government census project.” I mumbled the last part in hopes that she might not be paying attention. I was wrong.

“What?!” Her lunch landed on the ground with a thud as she spun to face me. Her eyes wild, she was obviously appalled. “Haven’t I taught you anything?! The government! Cassia…” She held me by the shoulders and looked me straight in the eyes. “The government is corrupt; they could use your own blood against you.”

I fought hard not to roll my eyes and I bit my lip to prevent the smirk that wanted to spread across my face. She was a big conspiracy nut and according to her; the government was out to get everyone.

Bending over, picking up her lunch and handing it to her, I shook my head, linked my arm in hers and started walking again. “Amy, honey, you have to learn how to relax.”

Chapter 2

“Ahh, back for more, huh?” The receptionist at the front desk gave me a teasing grin.

“Yah.” I shrugged. “I guess I enjoy a little torture first thing in the morning.”

“Haha, just take this sheet down to admitting and they’ll get you started.” She smiled sweetly as she handed me a sheet of paper.

“Thanks.”

I wandered through the corridor of the university, passing several students along the way. Each smiled warmly at me as we passed one another.

“Friendly bunch.” I mumbled as I walked to the admitting booth.

“Hi there.” A bubbly young woman greeted me.

“Hi.” I replied as I handed her the sheet.

“Wonderful, just head down to x-ray and they’ll get you prepped for the mammogram.”

“What?!” I’d heard those were terribly painful, what was I getting myself into?

Cringing as I walked down the hallway toward x-ray, I imagined my poor breasts being squashed between two metal plates that slowly moved closer and closer together like a present day torture device.

“Money for my tuition…money for my tuition.” I reminded myself, gritting my teeth.

Turning into the lab, I walked up to a young woman dressed in a lab coat. Cheerily, she nodded as she greeted me hello. “I’m Deborah, do you have your waiver with you?” Handing her the paper that would give her permission to inflict pain and suffering upon me, she guided me to the back to change.

Slipping once again into a gown and tying it in the back, I wandered out into the waiting area. Spotting me, Deborah walked quickly to retrieve me.

“Follow me, please.” She smiled and directed me with her pointer finger as she led me down a hallway. Turning into a dimly lit room, she instructed me to have a seat near an enormous piece of technology.

Warily, I searched for the little window that the students usually stood behind and watched their specimens from. Exhaling a sigh of relief as I didn’t see one, I could feel my shoulders relax a little.

“Please remove your gown and place your left breast on the plate.” The young student asked politely. Standing beside me as I took off my gown, I heard a quiet gasp escape her. Looking at her face, I saw that her eyes were firmly focused on the anomaly between my breasts. “What…?” She began with a bizarre mixture of fascination and disbelief painted on her face.

“It’s a birthmark, weird huh?” I could feel the burn of embarrassment reach the tips of my ears. Making a mental note to have my freakish birthmark covered with a garish tattoo after all of this, I turned my front torso away from her gawking stare and placed my left breast onto the cold plate of the mammogram machine.

Silently, Deborah turned and walked to the control room to begin the test.

After twenty minutes of torture and having my breasts squashed like pancakes, I wandered back to the change room. Closing the curtain behind me, I massaged my aching chest and then proceeded to get dressed.

“Thanks again.” The happy receptionist handed me my money and I left the building clutching my throbbing bosom.

“This had better be worth it!” I muttered as I headed back to my dorm room.

***

The hard noodles clinked against the sides of the pot of boiling water as I built myself a bowl of macaroni and cheese. As steam rose above the pot, I was reminded of the smoke that swirled up into the sky from the huge bonfires on the reservation.

I missed my home. Well, my foster home anyways. No one, not even the Hopi elders, seemed to know where I came from. My So’o, adopted grandmother, raised me from infancy after she found me abandoned in a cave near the village.

Closing my eyes, I could almost feel the heat of the Sedona sun kiss my face and warm my chest. Opening my eyes, however, I realized it was only the steam from my boiling pot of noodles.

Sighing as I poured the el dente noodles into a colander and drained the hot water away, I wondered if I was ever going to see my home in the desert again. I could barely afford to eat and put myself through college let alone fly over eight states to see my family.

Thank heavens for Amy; I wouldn’t have lasted this long out here if it weren’t for her. People just weren’t as friendly as I’d hoped they’d be when I moved away to go to school. Well, most people, the students that had been using me as a living Petri dish for the last two days were exceptionally nice which made it a little easier to endure the life of a guinea pig. Except for the pain, I almost looked forward to my last day of testing, I was getting used to the royal treatment.

Smiling as I settled down with my meager dinner, I winced as my arm brushed up against my swollen left breast. After being smashed in the mammogram, it was screaming in protest.

“Just one more day…then I don’t have to endure any more tests,” I shrugged as I loaded my fork full of cheesy pasta, “I hope.”

Chapter 3

Jogging through the campus, the muscles in my thighs burned a little. It had been a little over a week since I’d ran last and my body was letting me know that it wasn’t impressed.

With my long black hair secured in a ponytail, it bobbed on the back of my head with every stride. My ears quivered with delight as a heavy metal band blared angry lyrics. I rarely ran in silence, music was a muse for me.

The early morning sun was just centering itself in an ocean of blue sky. A brisk wind brushed against my face, air drying the tiny beads of sweat that were forming along my hairline.

Pulling my stopwatch from the front pocket of my sweatshirt, I checked the time.

Another ten minutes, then I should go back for a shower and head to the medical department for my next torture session.

Tucking my watch back into my pocket and turning a corner around the university, I started a sprint down the football field. Hot blood ran to my head and hands, a powerful thudding coursed through me as my body surged with energy. After only five minutes, however, I was surprised to find myself huffing and puffing a little.

Doesn’t take long for the body to lose shape. I thought with a disgruntled snort. How fickle the human body can be, one day it’s your best friend, the next, your worst enemy.

Slowing myself to a light jog, I noticed a couple walking hand in hand through the park. A pang of jealously twisted at my heart as my eyes lingered on the happy pair. I’d gone on a few dates in my life, but nothing, and I do mean nothing, ever came from them but annoyance.

Having been raised on the reservation, there’s a different approach to courtship. Most choose the more traditional route and allow their parents to find them a suitable mate. The western world shuns the idea of betrothal because they think it is a violation of individual rights, but in reality, it can be a very romantic way to discover love. Parents would only want the very best for their children, so they’d choose the best possible fit. Scouring nearby villages for the perfect future husband or wife, they can spend years searching for that right match.

I, however, being an orphan, was no one’s first choice for a wife. Without access to my ancestry, medical history or proven bloodline, I was considered ‘unfit’ for any of the boys within a hundred mile radius.

Stopping to take a breath and stretch my calves, I held onto a nearby oak tree and flexed my knees forwards, then straightened them.

Resentment for my biological parents seeped into my heart. Why did they leave me in the cave? Who were they? Wasn’t I worth keeping?

The questions had plagued me for most of my life; I began to wonder if they’d ever be answered.

A tap on my shoulder startled me out of my pity party. Pulling my earphones out and spinning around, I wasn’t quite prepared for what I was about to see.

“Hi…um…you dropped this.” A tall, bronze-skinned man said as he handed me my stopwatch.

“Oh! Thanks!” I responded as I took the timepiece. His eyes reminded me of dark chocolate with a dash of caramel in the middle. His black hair looked freshly cut but was left long enough to entertain a mass of wavy curls. It was fairly obvious that this guy worked out—a lot. I had to force my eyes away from his massive chest.

Towering over me with a warm smile, I looked at the ground as I felt heat rush to my cheeks.

“I’m Keanu.” He stated as he extended his large right hand to me.

“Like the actor?” The words fell out of my mouth before I could stop them. This guy made me nervous, I felt like a brainless teenager around him.

“Yah, like the actor.” His eyes twinkled with a kind humor. “And you are?”

“Cassia.” I couldn’t make my mouth relax, a silly grin stayed planted on my face.

“Like the spice?” His handsome face looked inquisitive.

“Spice?”

“Yes, there’s a spice, like cinnamon, called Cassia.”

“Wow, really? I had no idea.” Feeling stupid that I didn’t even know what my name meant, I attempted to change the subject. “Where did you find my watch?”

His bicep flexed as he turned and pointed to the far side of the university where I’d been only moments before. I averted my eyes from his arm to my watch as he looked back at me. Realizing the time, I debated internally whether or not to go to my next torture session in the medical wing. After only a few seconds, I quickly decided that because I was ‘volunteering’, I could go tomorrow.

“Do you…wanna go get a coffee or something?” Keanu asked shyly as his eyes searched my face.

My stomach did a little flutter of butterflies as I answered with a grin. “Sure.”

***

Sipping the steaming mocha with appreciation, I savored the creamy liquid velvet as it ran down my throat. My hands hugged the sides of the hot mug, treasuring the rare treat. Since starting school, such luxuries were few and far between. Taking another drink, I glanced over the brim of the cup at the large, gorgeous man admiring me from across the table.

“So you’re taking archeology?” I found his deep voice intoxicating.

“Um, yes. I’ve always loved ancient artifacts. I’m going to move to Egypt when I’m done.” I blurted out.

“Cool.” He responded with a warm smile.

“What are you taking?” I set my cup down but continued to clutch the warm sides; my hands were cold which always seemed to happen when I was nervous.

“Engineering.”

“Whoa, that’s a tough one.” I stated, truly impressed.

His bronze cheeks reddened a little and he grinned as he lowered his head. “Well, it’s not too bad. Are you from Washington originally?”

“No, Arizona.”

“Were you born there?” Keanu’s dark brown eyes were penetrating as he probed me about my life.

Nodding, I finished off the last of my mocha. Peeking wistfully into the empty mug, I hoped our food was coming shortly, I was hungry.

“In Phoenix?” He prodded.

“Um…” I always had problems answering that one. I didn’t like to explain where I was born. Most of the population could boast at least being born in a city, and more specifically, a hospital. There was no pride in stating that my mother pushed me out in a cave and then left. “Sedona. You?” I finally answered, fudging the truth a little.

“Hawaii.” He smirked as my eyes lit up with his answer.

“Oh, I’ve always wanted to go there!” I really did. The way the island seemed to breathe with beauty and energy, it was a dream of mine to take a holiday there.

“It is…beautiful.” His mouth spoke, but his eyes were firmly focused on mine as he enunciated the word beautiful.

The corners of my mouth twitched into a smile and for what felt like the hundredth time that day, I blushed like a schoolgirl.

The waitress arrived beside us with our order. I was ravenous and very grateful to Keanu for buying me a decent meal. It had been a few weeks since I’d eaten anything but macaroni and cheese.

“Any brothers or sisters?” He inquired as he took a large forkful of pancakes. The man’s metabolism must have been that of a lion! He’d ordered eight pancakes, two sides of bacon and four fried eggs! My meager French toast, orphaned between a slice of ham and a strawberry garnish, looked like a bite size snack for him. I would’ve ordered more but I didn’t want to take advantage of his gesture. I didn’t know if this was considered a date so it was best if I just remained polite and not order everything on the menu.

“Nope, just me. You?”

“I have a twin sister, Keila. She’s still in Hawaii.” His entire face warmed with the mere mention of his family yet I wasn’t sure, but I thought I saw a twinge of sadness behind his eyes.

Swallowing a mouthful of pancake, he inquired. “Are your parents still in Sedona?”

He had no idea how painful these questions were for me to answer; I felt my defensive mechanism churning deep within me. I wanted to drop the family subject and the inquisition altogether. Debating within myself as to how to answer, my eyes locked downward, I quietly responded. “My grandmother raised me.” I didn’t want to talk about it anymore. I really liked this guy, but we desperately needed a fresh topic.

He must have sensed my discomfort because he reached over and took my hand. Allowing my eyes to move up to his, I was surprised at the compassionate expression he wore.

For the first time in my life, my heart did a little skip. An awkward silence loomed over the table for a moment. I searched my mind desperately to find something intelligent to talk about but came up empty. Thankfully, he spoke first.

“Do you want to go for a walk or something?” His brown eyes shone with a hopeful glint as he awaited my answer.

“Sure.” I responded very quickly, my voice high-pitched. He made me nervous…but in a good way. I wanted to be with him. I liked his company and I certainly liked looking at him. Normally, I wasn’t the kind of girl who liked the large, hulking type, but damn, he was just a god among men.

Collecting our things, he paid and then led me out of the restaurant, his hand gently placed on the small of my back.

The morning sun was nestling itself into the center of the sky as we walked slowly around the large campus.

Several students were scattered about the yard, enjoying one of the last warm days of fall. Some studious pupils poured over books as they sat beneath the old oak trees. Standing like sentinels over the old university, their nearly bare branches stretched into the sky as though reaching for some unseen angel.

Keeping stride with Keanu, I smiled as I soaked in the atmosphere. A light wind whipped a few strands of my ebony hair over my lips.

“What are you thinking?” He tilted his head with an inquisitive grin as he reached over and gently pulled the flyaway hairs from my face.

“Oh, nothing really, just enjoying today…a lot.” I said, blushing as I gave him a telling glance.

Swinging his large arm gently over my shoulders and giving me a squeeze, he leaned in and with a low, seductive voice replied. “Me too.”

Chapter 4

“Does he go to the university?” Amy danced in front of me as she excitedly asked me everything about Keanu.

“Yes, he’s taking engineering.” I had to giggle as I watched her hug her books to her chest and grin from ear to ear.

Walking down a paved walkway in front of the school, the sound of the chirping robins made me smile. Everything made me smile today.

Examining my face, Amy suddenly halted to a stop and turned to me with a serious expression, she gave me a parental frown as she asked, “Did you…you know, with him?” She did a little pelvic thrust as she accentuated the ‘you know’.

“Amy!”

“Well, it’s a perfectly legitimate question. You best be using protection young lady, there’s a lot of diseases out there.” She walked ahead of me, waving her pointer finger in the air.

“We didn’t do anything…yet.” I grinned from ear to ear as I poked her teasingly in the side.

Smirking, she punched me lightly on the shoulder. “Just be careful, okay.”

“Yes mother.” I answered in a sarcastic teenager tone.

“Cassia!” A deep male voice called from behind us.

Spinning around, I was thrilled to see Keanu jogging towards me.

Amy turned around just as Keanu got close enough to wrap his arms around my waist and kiss me on the cheek. My entire body flooded with excitement at his touch. I’d never felt like this before.

“Holy shit!” Amy exclaimed as she gawked at Keanu and his huge chest. “Pardon me.” She added quickly as she regained composure, covering her mouth as though her outburst were a spontaneous burp. I’m sure it didn’t help that he was wearing a really tight muscle shirt.

“Hi there, I’m Keanu.” He offered his right hand to her.

“Hello there, you don’t happen to have a twin brother do you?” Amy flirted as she shook his hand.

“Sorry, twin sister. No brothers.” After winking playfully at Amy, he turned to me. “I was wondering if you’d like to go to a concert with me tonight.”

“Who’s playing?” I inquired politely, though; I would’ve gone to the moon with him if he asked me.

“A friend of mine is playing at the club on 69th street; he gave me an extra ticket.” Keanu held up two slips of paper and waved them back and forth as if to prove he really had them.

Amy elbowed me in the ribs and nodded her approval.

“Of course, that sounds great. What time?” I asked, trying not to stare at his chest. At that moment, I could understand the visual appreciation men had for women’s chests. It was hard not to be impressed by Keanu’s.

“I’ll pick you up around six, okay? Gotta run, late for class.” Both Amy’s and my eyes lingered long and hard on Keanu’s backside as he jogged away. Giggling as we caught each other, we linked arms and continued to walk along the path.

“Damn…wow, yah, I mean…damn.” It took a lot to make Amy speechless.

Looking at my watch, I realized that I’d forgotten about volunteering at the medical department again. Considering that I had to get ready for the concert in a couple of hours, I promised myself I’d volunteer tomorrow. I had no choice if I wanted to pay my tuition on time.

***

“Wow!”

Keanu’s reaction was exactly what I was hoping for as I opened the door to my dorm room. It was rare that I dug the short, suede skirt and black leather boots out of the back of the closet, but for tonight, I needed something special. “You look stunning.” His voice was a seductive growl.

Taking a step closer to me, his hands slid around my waist, grazing the small of my back. A pleasant shiver ran up my spine as I leaned against him. With my head down and my cheek nestled against his large chest, his right hand held me around the waist while the other went under my chin and tilted my face up to meet his.

As our faces drew closer, I welcomed his soft lips on mine. His kiss was gentle, yet firm and passionate. For one of the few kisses I’d experienced in my life, it was phenomenal.

Lifting up the back of my shirt, he slid his warm hands onto my skin. Kissing my lips, he then hungrily moved to my ear and neck. Sliding his fingers through my long black hair and pressing his large chest and hips against me, I involuntarily moaned as his hands explored my body.

Just as he began lifting up my shirt to remove it, I stopped him. “Wait…please.”

I didn’t even know why, but I suddenly felt like everything was moving too fast. My breath was quick and my pulse thudded hard and fast in my veins.

Stopping immediately, he whispered in my ear. “You okay?”

“Yes.” I stuttered as I straightened out my skirt and blouse. “I…I’m…”

I’m embarrassed to tell you I’m a virgin. I could think it, but saying it was another thing entirely.

“I just need a little more time, okay.” Rubbing his chest, I hoped that I hadn’t offended him.

Smiling, he responded with sincerity. “Absolutely, anything for you.”

***

Entering the club, the bass was thunderous and the rainbow of strobe lights pulsated hypnotically. Drunk and sweaty, the masses that were crammed on the dance floor swayed and gyrated against each other.

Clinging to Keanu’s arm, I held on for dear life while still trying to appear calm and cool. Leading me happily to the center of the room, he pulled me close and began to slow dance even though the music was hard rock.

Closing my eyes as I rested my head on his chest, I tried to imagine us anywhere but here. Buried within a pile of drunken bodies was not my idea of a romantic date, but I was really happy just being near him.

Leaning into me, he elicited a fresh wave of shivers down my back as he gently pushed my hair away from my ear and asked, “Would you like a drink?” Smiling and nodding, he took my hand and led me to the bar. “What do you drink?” He yelled over the racket.

“Iced tea.” I extended my voice to the loudest it would go.

“Long Island?”

“No, virgin please.” Giving me the strangest look, he ordered our drinks and when we received them, I followed him to a quieter section of the bar.

Sitting in a secluded area of the lounge, we snuggled into the corner of a booth. Watching all the pretty, and obviously inebriated, girls go by; I began feeling a little out of my element. Actually, a lot out of my element. What was I doing here? Yes, I really liked this guy, but what did I really know of him…or him of me?

Sipping my drink slowly, I tried to enjoy myself. It was a rarity that I ever went out, let alone on a date.

Keanu would look at me every so often, smile mischievously, and then lean over and kiss me on the lips, neck, or wherever he so desired. With his large arm around me, I felt safe and warm. Stealing glances at his face while he watched the band play, I admired the contours of his jaw, his kind eyes and handsome smile.

An unfamiliar feeling swept over me as the world seemed to slow down. As I thought about school, Amy, Keanu and my life at that moment, I experienced a feeling I hadn’t had before—happiness.

***

“Do you…want to come in?” I hugged the doorframe behind me as I invited Keanu into my room.

Taking a step closer, he raised his hand to my face and stroked my cheek with the back of his fingers. “Are you sure?” Uncertainty shadowed his handsome face.

Nodding, I took his hand from my cheek and kissed his palm, then ushering him into my dorm room, I closed the door and locked it.

Standing before him in my dimly lit apartment, an awkwardness overwhelmed me as I realized I didn’t know what to do next.

Good thing he made the first move.

He sauntered toward me with a sheepish smile. Sliding his right hand over my shoulder and under my hair to hold the nape of my neck, he slowly drew me to him. Tenderly, his left hand slid under my shirt, passed my waist and grazed to the small of my back.

Slow dancing to only the sound of our impassioned breath, he leaned over and placed his mouth on mine. Darting his tongue softly against my mine, I felt his fingers move up my spine to undo my bra.

Smooth.

My lips twitched into a smile as I felt the clasps release in the back, my breasts now free from their restraints. Still a bit tender from the mammogram, I winced as he cupped the left one in his hand. Despite the mild ache, the delicate caress forced a moan from my lips.

Kissing my neck, his palms moved out from under my shirt and slid down the sides of my hips.

A mixture of cologne and pheromone, his scent overwhelmed me; it made my head spin as I ran my fingers through his wavy hair.

Feeling a tug at the bottom of my suede skirt, I took a sharp breath in as I realized he was pulling it up. Hearing my gasp, he paused to look into my eyes, as though awaiting permission.

An instinct suddenly possessed me as I pushed him closer to the bed. Gesturing for him to sit down, I then reached around and unzipped my skirt. Wriggling out of it, I let it slide down my thighs to the floor; I then lifted up my shirt and pulled it over my head.

My bra still hung off my arms, hiding the last of my naked chest. Pulling the straps off one at a time, I teased him as I covered my breasts with my forearms. Finally, I let the bra fall to the floor and my hands moved to my side.

His eyes stayed focused on mine for a moment and then he scanned my body with an expression of lust branded on his face. At first, he seemed not to notice my birthmark buried deep in the hollow of my bosom, but then he stared at it, fixated.

“Is that a tattoo?” I could tell he was trying to sound casual but his voice cracked a little as he asked. Removing his clothes, I found it hard to concentrate as I stared at his chest—not to mention everything else.

“No.” Self-doubt crept out of the shadows and into my consciousness as I crossed my arms and hid my breasts again.

“It’s…beautiful.” His eyes twinkled as he reached for me and pulled me close to him. Undraping my arms from their protective stance around my breasts, he slowly and methodically kissed both of them. Running his fingers between them, he paused and playfully examined my star birthmark.

His fingers trailed to my hips. Sliding his thumbs between fabric and skin, he tugged lightly at my panties, guiding them over my contours and eventually to my ankles.

With him still sitting on the bed, he pulled me on top of him. After straddling him, he then took over and carefully eased my hips closer to his.

“Cassia.” Keanu whispered my name making it sound like a line of poetry as we gently moved our bodies together.

Chapter 5

Most people dream random, silly or scary dreams. They find themselves standing naked in front of a crowd or a crocodile chasing them, trying to eat their pants.

But not mine.

Mine have always been vivid memories of my childhood with encrypted secrets twisted within.

While cuddled in the crook of Keanu’s large arm, my eyelids fluttered furiously as I relived a moment of my past mingled with a subconscious message.

My bare feet burned on the Sedona desert as the sun poured scalding rays over top of me. Tiny grains of sand had burrowed themselves into corners of my eyes, making it nearly impossible to keep them open. With my lips cracked and my throat now unable to swallow, white patches of dried spittle caked at the corners of my mouth.

The only saving grace was a weak wind from the east to sooth my baking skin. Forcing my legs to move forward, my eyes narrowed to a slit as they scoured the landscape for any sign of the reservation, or better yet, water.

Lost.

It started out as a mission to find the cave where my mother had given birth to me; it ended up a near death experience. Four days I’d wandered the endless reaches of the ocean of sand, first searching for my past and then for my future. If I didn’t find my way home, or if my tribe didn’t find me soon, there’d be nothing left to bring home.

Only nine years old, I wondered what kind of mother could abandon her baby. What kind of person leaves her child to live—or die—alone in a cave? What if the medicine woman, now my grandmother, hadn’t found me there? Would my mother have cared? Did she return to make sure someone had found me?

Reliving my past within my dream, I felt a lump in my throat form and a quiet sob escape me. Lucid enough to know I had company in my bed with me, I forced silence upon myself.

In reality, a search party found me eight miles from the reservation, face down and barely alive. In my dream, however, I found myself standing at the mouth of a cave.

The cave.

The one where I’d been left behind.

And then there was the number. In every dream, there is always the same number.

Two, in Roman numerals—II.

Entering the cave, I hear droplets of moisture echoing as they splatter against the rocks. A pungent mildew scent invades my nostrils causing them to flare. Gliding my hand along the rough terrain of the cavern walls to guide me, I move through the veil of darkness. The further I go, the more the shadows swallow the light.

I sense a presence in the cave with me, just behind me. Without turning around, I know that it is someone—or something—protecting me.

As the dream continues, I suddenly find myself lying upon the floor of the cave. Shadows move around me with haste, though I can’t see who’s making them.

Next, all I know is pain.

I am screaming in pain.

The dream suddenly ends with a blinding flash of white light.

Sitting straight up in bed, my hair plastered to my face from sweat, I breathe heavily as I try to slow my racing heart.

“Are you okay?” Keanu asked as he sat up and began rubbing my back.

Attempting to sound casual, I answer as I’m wiping the dampness from my face. “Yah, sure, just a crazy dream.”

Kissing my shoulder, his fingers slid around my side and down the muscle line of my stomach.

“Here, let me make you forget all about it.” His hot breath tickled my ear as he whispered.

Laying me onto my back, he positioned himself over me and began another rigorous love-making session.

Clutching his shoulders, I tried to focus on the task at hand. Tossing out the occasional moan for his benefit, I couldn’t get into the moment.

My mind was still whirling around the meaning of the dream.

The Roman numerals haunted me.

Two? Why two?

***

A quiet morning glow trickled in from between the slits of my long burgundy curtains. Keanu’s hulking shadow maneuvered stealthily in the middle of my apartment as I dramatically draped my arm across the bed toward him. Exaggerating a pout, I pushed my bottom lip out as I watched him get dressed beside the bed. Noticing my distraught expression, he reached his hand to my face and stroked my cheek.

“I have to go gorgeous, duty calls.” Extending his own bottom lip, he gave me an apologetic expression.

Smiling, I nuzzled his hand with my cheek and then kissed his open palm. “Okay,” I sighed, “if you must.”

Chuckling, he slipped his jacket on and then leaned over to give me a soft kiss good-bye. “See you later.”

Glancing back at me before closing the door, I thought I saw an expression of wistfulness.

Feeling pleased that it appeared he was going to miss me; I lay back onto the pillow and closed my eyes.

After resting a while, I decided to force myself out of bed.

Slipping into my clothes after a nice hot shower, I resigned myself to the idea of one last day of medical torture.

Adding a little color to my face with a touch of mascara, pink gloss and blush, I gave myself a quick smile as I thought of Keanu. He made me feel good, better than I’d felt in years. He made me feel wanted, a sensation that up until now had eluded me.

I knew I had abandonment issues, but who wouldn’t after been left in a cave by their mother?

Sure, my adopted grandmother loved me, but it was different.

I had so many questions and so few answers.

Grandmother would develop an odd, distant look in her eyes whenever I’d ask about the cave and how she found me. It always left me with a yearning to find out more.

The day I left for university, she sat me down and had a very strange discussion with me.

“Little one.” My grandmother began in her native tongue, enveloping my hands with her own. “The world can be very cruel, especially to outsiders.”

Rolling my eyes gently, I gave her a look that only a young, inexperienced girl can give. “I’ll be just fine. Don’t worry. I’m only going to school and besides, you taught me well.” Patting her hand, I tried to reassure what I considered to be over-bearing and paranoid behavior.

Her soft brown eyes searched my face, her years of wisdom etched into aged skin. Frowning, she left me with one last cryptic word of warning, “You are different Cassia…special. Don’t trust anyone.”

Her last words to me echoed in my mind as I left my apartment for my final guinea pig session at the medical department.

My breath made translucent clouds in the crisp morning air as I jogged lightly toward the east side of the university. Fall had settled on the Washington ground, leaving each blade of browning grass coated with tiny crystalline shards. The trees surrounding the campus each wore a white blanket of frost that clung to every branch and remnant leaf.

So beautiful.

I could feel my nose turning pink from the chilly air as I entered the front of the medical department. Rubbing my hands together and breathing warm air onto them as I approached the front desk, my body began to warm up.

The receptionist that I’d befriended days before sat with her head down, obviously concentrating on the paper in front of her.

“Hi there.” I stated cheerily, unraveling my scarf and removing my jacket.

Meeting my eyes, I was shocked to be greeted with a mixed look of nervousness and…fear?

“Um, hello.” She stuttered, her hands shaking as she handed me my release form.

“Are you okay?” I asked, feeling a bit offended.

“Oh! Yes.” A forced smile cracked across her face while she glanced down the empty hallways, apparently searching for someone.

“Right. Okay then, where to?” I felt myself grow cold with her behavior, my defense mechanism rising to shield me.

“Um, down the hall and to the left…it’ll say…um Psychiatric Ward.” Her eyes darted aimlessly around the room as she obviously avoided making eye contact with me, and was that…sweat!? Beading on her brow? Sweat?

What the hell?!

Turning abruptly, I walked quickly away from the crazy, rude receptionist. Looking back once, my brow furrowed as I saw her lunge for the phone and dial quickly.

Psychiatric Ward! Now what are they planning on doing to me? Electric shock therapy? Looks like the receptionist could use a good dose!

The halls felt eerily quiet, even more so than usual. In the distance, I could make out the sign I was looking for.

I wasn’t one to believe in hunches and intuition, but something about this visit was creeping me out.

As I turned down the hall, I bumped right into an assistant who I recognized from the first day of testing. As a reflex, I smiled apologetically.

The girl’s face paled more than I thought a human face could pale when she saw me. Tucking her chin into her chest, she darted past me and nearly ran down the hall toward reception.

Testing my breath quickly, I seriously wondered if I smelled bad or something. Smoothing my hair back and adjusting my clothes, I considered leaving. They had all been so polite and kind the first two days, why were these people acting so weird?

Opening the door that led to the ward, I was surprised to see so many people standing there. All in black suits, four men stood before me, apparently having a private discussion as their voices were hushed.

Upon noticing my arrival, they silenced immediately and turned to me.

“Miss Tiponi.” An older gentlemen spoke, his ice blue eyes piercing mine as he walked toward me. Not extending his hand to shake mine, he stated with a Cheshire grin. “We’ve been waiting for you.”

“Please sit down.” Though his words were polite, his request sounded more like an order.

A nervous flutter in my stomach made me feel nauseous. Was I in trouble? Maybe I wasn’t supposed to use the medical faculties’ money for my tuition.

Maybe…I seriously had no idea; this was all just getting weirder and weirder.

“Miss Tiponi.” The man in black rolled my name off his tongue like a snake hissing. An odd gleam in his eye inspired a fresh wave of nervousness to roll through my system. I could hear my heart pounding in my ears, and the stupid thing was, I didn’t have a reason to be worried. Did I?

“Is there a…problem?” I could hardly stop my teeth from chattering as I spoke.

My mind searched every crevice of memory for any reason why I might be in trouble. Looking around the little room they’d put me in, I realized that the door had no handle on the inside…I was locked in.

His hand lay protectively over a manila folder in front of him, tapping it lightly; he chuckled as he repeated rhetorically. “Is there a problem? Why don’t you tell me?” His face flickered with an instant irritation as he stared at me.

“I honestly don’t…know what you’re talking about? I’m only here for testing…for tuition.” My temper suddenly flared when I answered.

How dare he lock me in here for no reason! I had rights and I realized they were being violated. Amy would have a field day with these assholes! “Look! I have rights…”

Slamming his hand down on the file, he leaned over the table and put his face directly into mine. His expression was…violent. I leaned far back into my seat, clutching the arms of the chair with a steel grip. Instantly silenced, tears fought their way to the corners of my eyes.

What the hell was going on?!

“Miss Tiponi.” The man sighed, his face relaxing a little. “I have a few questions for you.”

“Okay.” My voice shook uncontrollably. Keeping my eyes down, I fiddled with the zipper on my jacket to keep from looking at him.

“Where were you born?” He began as he flipped open the folder in front of him, holding a pen over a blank piece of paper as he awaited my answer.

“Sedona.” My voice was barely a whisper.

“Sedona? Where in Sedona?” The irritable edge returned to his voice, slicing at the tension already in the room.

“A…cave. I don’t know the exact location. My grandmother…the medicine woman at the reserve…found me.”

Chewing on the inside of his cheek and giving me a sarcastic glare, he shook his head and marked down my response.

“Who are your parents?”

“I…don’t know. I was…abandoned there, in the cave.” The tears that had been cowering in the corners of my eyes released and ran down my cheeks with shame. Wiping them away with the cuff of my sweatshirt, I slouched even further into my seat.

Slamming his pencil down, the man in black stared at me with a cold and hardened expression. “I can see that you’re not going to be very forthcoming.”

My eyes widened with fear and disbelief. “I’m telling you the truth!”

“That’s a ridiculous story and you know it! I want to know where you are from!” His face shaded red as he smashed two fists onto the table.

Suddenly the door opened and another man, also dressed in black, entered. “That’s enough. Out.” The first man left, closing the door hard behind him.

“Miss Tiponi. I’m Agent Evans.” Taking a seat in front of me, his face was calm. His green eyes were kinder than the last man’s, but still had a cold stare that froze my soul. “We need to get to the bottom of this, please answer our questions honestly or we’ll have to move on to more extreme measures.”

“I am being honest!” My voice was becoming shrill as I felt the grips of a panic attack crawling through my system.

“Alright.” He sighed as he too opened the folder and held the pen over the paper. “Let’s try again. Where are you from?”

The same questions over and over, for hours and hours. I had no idea how long I’d been sequestered in that tiny room, but it was long enough for me to become so tired that I finally just rested my head on the table and closed my eyes as they relentlessly pursued my past.

Never once did they explain why they wanted this information. Over and over, they took turns grilling me about my birth, my parents and my history. They wanted every detail of my upbringing, medical attention and knowledge of my ancestors. I answered every single question to the best of my ability…but they would not believe me.

I begged for water, food and a bathroom break, all of which were promptly denied until I told them the ‘truth’.

Finally, after what felt like days, I lost it.

“What do you want from me?! What do you want?!” I snapped, my mind teetered on the verge of insanity.

Sweat mingled with tears as they ran down my face and strands of my disheveled black hair stuck to the dampness.

Falling onto the floor, I huddled into a ball and rocked back and forth. All I could do was cry. They’d worn me down to but a mere shadow of myself. I was willing to tell them anything at this point. Anything that would make them let me go.

“What do you want? What do you want? What do you want?” I babbled incoherently as I pulled at my hair.

“Let’s get her ready for transport.” Agent Evans informed one of the younger agents.

“Yes sir.”

I didn’t look up; I just rocked obsessively within my own little world.

Chapter 6

A sting in my thigh, that’s the last thing I recalled after I woke up.

I remembered hearing someone coming toward me, but I didn’t look up from my little spot on the floor. Pushing me roughly onto my side, I felt a small, but distinct, sting in my right thigh.

Then…darkness.

Reality blurred with dreams as I lay upon a cot in the corner of a white room. I had enough sense to survey my surroundings, even though my vision wasn’t quite cooperating yet. Straining my eyes, I clumsily lifted my head to look around. In a far corner sat a polished porcelain toilet, beside it, a matching sink. Every other corner was empty.

A door, a cot, a toilet and a sink. All white.

In my drugged stupor, I laughed as I compared the room to a heavenly hell. Trapped in the tiny white room, I cried stupid tears…the kind that come when you’re laughing hard, not from being happy, but from sheer delirium.

I pushed myself to sitting and swung my legs over the side of the cot. Holding my head in my hands, I tried to focus so I could stand and walk to the toilet. Stumbling as I stood, I stooped over and held onto the cot for support until I could reach the wall. Sliding my hand along the cold cement surface, I made my way to the toilet. I hadn’t been allowed to go the entire time during the inquisition and my entire lower half was screaming for release.

Undoing my jeans, pulling them down and sitting quickly, I sighed loudly as my bladder emptied. The sound of my relief reverberated off the four white walls. Happy that I’d enough control not to release my fluids while I was drugged, I surmised that I couldn’t have been under that long or maybe I had been out for days and my body was just being pleasantly compliant.

Considering how the bastards had denied me of any water, I might simply have been extremely dehydrated.

Eyeing the sink as I pulled up my pants, I hurriedly fastened the button.

Turning the cold knob on as far as it would go, I bent over the sink and shoveled a least a quart of water down my throat with cupped hands. Splashing the frigid water onto my face and streaming it through my hair with my fingers, I allowed a moan of contentment to escape me.

It’s funny how even the simplest of things are pure pleasure when you’ve been denied them.

But why had I been denied anything?

I felt like nothing more than a caged animal now.

Pacing back and forth in my ivory den, I questioned my sanity. Maybe I had done something terrible and simply didn’t remember. But that didn’t seem to be the point of the questioning session. The agents wanted to know about my birth, my parents and medical history.

None of it added up.

My stomach growled angrily at me, demanding nourishment. Drinking another round of water sustained me for a little while…but not for long.

After another immeasurable amount of time imprisoned within my cell, I began banging on the door, demanding food.

Surprisingly, within about fifteen minutes, a narrow, hinged access flipped open at the bottom of the door and a rectangular tray was slid through. Pulling off the lid, I was greeted with a plate of steaming hot spaghetti. My hands shook as I removed the fork from its napkin cocoon and plunged into the meal. With every bite, I could feel my blood sugar rising and energy rush throughout my body.

After devouring the entire plateful, I laid down on the cot and let my stomach settle. Before long, I heard the ominous sound of keys jingling just outside the door.

Sitting up with a mixed sense of fear and relief, I smoothed back my wild and tangled hair. Strangely, I actually desired some human contact despite the inhumane interactions with the last ones.

A silver cart with an assortment of medical supplies preceded an attendant dressed in a white lab coat.

“Hello.” My voice was gritty and weak from the crying and screaming during the interrogation.

My polite welcome elicited no response whatsoever. The attendant simply pushed the cart into the center of the room, stood before me and stared at the back wall with no expression.

Examining the implements on the tray, I felt my heart sink and my stomach churn with fresh nerves. Organized neatly were several large syringes, various scalpels, scissors and disinfectant wipes.

This looks painful. My lips fell into a downward curve as I shivered with anticipation.

Mentally and physically preparing myself for the next stage of suffering, I watched as several agents in black filed into my tiny torture chamber.

Oddly, I was mildly relieved to see Agent Evans leading the pack. All the rest were unfamiliar. A blonde, blue-eyed agent at the back of the group sneered at me and eyed my chest.

Averting my eyes to the floor, I awaited the next onslaught of questions.

“Restrain her.” Agent Evans commanded his team. Obeying immediately, four agents rushed at me all at once. Two pinned my arms down while the other two grabbed my legs. I attempted to fight, but was quickly overtaken. The agents retrieved cotton straps from the underside of the cot and placed one around each of my limbs.

The four compliant agents then backed off, satisfied that I was sufficiently controlled. As I stared at the ceiling, hot tears rolled down my temples. Beside me, I could hear the light clinking of the implements being readied.

“We want eight vials of blood, four tissue samples and a hair sample.”

Nodding, the lab tech prepared a syringe to draw my blood. I tried my best to remain calm, but my entire body shivered with fear.

Why? Why me?

Wincing as the needle pierced the tender skin within the crook of my elbow, I made eye contact with Agent Evans.

“Please…” I begged, “Please…tell me why…I’m here.” My sobs echoed in the tiny room.

Agent Evans appeared to debate with himself as he watched the vials of blood fill, one after another. Sighing, his jaws clenched as he ignored my pleas.

After all the glass tubes were full of my precious lifeblood, the man in the white lab coat proceeded to scrape tissue samples from various regions of my body.

As the inside of my cheek was sliced, a copper flavor overwhelmed my taste buds and I felt a line of warmth trickle down the side of my cheek. Gagging from the overflow of blood welling in my mouth, I turned my head and spit red all over the white floor.

The hair sample, which I presumed would be the least painful of all, turned out to be the worst. I screamed as the lab tech carved out small chunk of my scalp.

Jackass! Now that spot will never grow back!

The pure white cell now looked like a crime scene and for all the sense it made to me, it was.

For the moment, all the agents and the lab tech had left me alone. I could hear them discussing amongst each other just on the other side of the door though, probably thinking up new ways to torture me.

Running my tongue along the inside of my cheek, I cursed again as I felt more of the butcher’s handy work.

That was the point when I realized that I probably wasn’t going to live through this. If they’d been so brutal just asking questions and taking samples, there was no way they were going to let me just walk out of here—wherever I was.

I missed Amy terribly. She’d be the only person that would even notice I was missing at this point. I had no idea if I was even going to see Keanu again, he didn’t really leave me any indication we were a serious item.

My grandmother wouldn’t notice for weeks—possibly months—that I was missing. I didn’t keep in touch very well. The only way we’d communicated over the last couple years was via letters through the mail.

I hadn’t paid my tuition yet or registered for classes, so they’d probably think that I wasn’t coming back. No one but Amy ever came to my room on a regular basis. Amy might alert the authorities, but they’d probably just think that I couldn’t afford my tuition, returned to Arizona and not be too concerned.

Basically, it all added up to me being missing or dead for quite a while before anyone would notice.

They could’ve at least undone these ties before they left. I pulled against the straps but they were fastened so tight that my hands would only move about an inch. Spread eagle on the cot, I closed my eyes and prayed for this to be over.

A peal of laughter just outside the door startled me. My eyes focused on the door handle as it turned. My heart began thudding hard in my chest as I anticipated more inhumane treatment.

The five agents in black walked in—and Keanu.

“Keanu!” My voice bordered on a scream as his name reverberated within the small cell. “Why do you have him? I’ll tell you anything! Just let him go!”

Desperate, I began formulating lies, lies that might satisfy what these barbarians wanted to hear from me to keep them from hurting Keanu.

Agent Evan’s eyebrows rose accompanying a snide grin. Glancing back and forth between me and Keanu, he finally spoke.

“Miss Tiponi, I’d like to introduce you…” Agent Evans waved his arm toward Keanu. “to Agent Kai.”

“Agent?” I repeated, my tone hollow and lifeless. Dressed in jeans and t-shirt, he looked just like the man I met on campus. How could he an agent?

The night we spent together flooded back.

He used me!

An inexplicable feeling overcame me, a sensation of worthlessness. I didn’t know what was going on. My real life ebbed away from me like a child sitting on the edge of a pool reaching for a beach ball on the water, grazing it with anxious fingertips, but never retrieving it. My real life became my past, never to be lived again.

I didn’t know what they wanted from me and now, I didn’t care.

“What can you tell us about her?” Agent Evans directed his question to Keanu…Agent Kai.

“I didn’t get any useful information about her past, but physically…” he blushed lightly. “She has a very strange birthmark.”

“Oh…where?” As though he had x-ray vision, Agent Evans narrowed his eyes and scanned my body.

“Umm…” Keanu paused then placed his pointer finger on the center of his chest.

A snicker from the other four agents elicited a swift and silencing glare from Agent Evans. “Show me.” He ordered Keanu.

Clearing his throat, Keanu approached me as I lay helpless on the cot. I turned my head sharply away from him as he tried to make eye contact. His eyes were filled with shame. If guilt had a smell, it was oozing from his pores.

Angry tears blurred my vision as he lifted up my shirt. Pushing my bra aside and uncovering my breasts, several of the agents gasped at the sight of my birthmark, or at least I hoped it was the mark they were gawking at.

A hot pain of embarrassment seared in my chest. I felt like a specimen, nothing more than animal ready to be dissected.

“I need to get a camera.” Agent Evans walked briskly from the cell.

With my breasts exposed, I could feel their eyes upon me. Keeping my face toward the far wall, I felt Keanu, who’d stayed by my side, pull my shirt down.

“Hey Kai.” The agent with blond hair heckled. “You fucked it didn’t you?”

It?!

My jaw dropped from the shock of his cruelty.

Keanu must have read my mind because he tensed and took a step closer to the cocky agent.

“Watch it Meyers!” His voice verged on anger.

“Enough!” Agent Evans snapped and glared at Agent Meyers as he walked back into the cell with camera in hand. “Everyone out…except you Kai.”

All four of the excused agents filed out the door while Keanu and Agents Evans proceeded to take pictures of my chest.

Keanu still attempted to catch my eye, but I would turn my face away in anger each time.

“Okay,” Agent Evans sighed after a few minutes of examining me, “Let’s go.”

“Sir?” Keanu’s voice cracked a little.

“Yes.”

“May I…untie her?”

My heart did an unwelcome skip with his request. Not turning to face Agent Evans, I held my breath as I waited for his answer.

“Yes, but be careful, she’s not likely to be very happy with you son.” Agent Evans shut the door behind him as he left us.

The mattress sunk beside me as Keanu sat down. His hip touched mine ever so slightly and I quashed the mild enjoyment of having gentle human contact again—especially his.

My entire body tensed as he leaned over me to untie my left hand. His warm breath tickled my neck as he slowly and carefully unraveled the strap. The Velcro released with a reluctant hiss as my hand was freed.

He paused for a moment as though anticipating my next move. I’m sure he was prepared for, and even expected, a punch or slap.

Ignoring my right hand for the moment, he moved to undo my feet. I hated that I loved the way his hands brushed up against the inside of my calves as he gently released me.

Remaining perfectly still, I refused to look at him. I’d forgotten up until now that my face was probably marred with dried blood from the sample session.

“Are you…okay?” His voice was hushed, laced with guilt and regret as he carefully untied my right hand.

My jaw clenched as I felt fresh tears well in my eyes. All the pain and persecution I’d endured over the last few days suddenly brimmed over.

“What the fuck do you think?!” Turning my head sharply in his direction, I yelled with more anger than I’d intended.

Flinching and moving away from my venomous glare, he stood and stared at me with sorrowful eyes.

“I’m sorry.” The sincerity in his voice was evident, but it did not deter my wrath.

“What the hell is going on?” Sitting up on the cot, I rubbed my wrists that had become raw from the Velcro straps. I pleaded with wide eyes as I looked at him.

“You really…don’t know?” Furrowing his brow, his eyes clouded with confusion.

“No! All I know is that I’ve been kidnapped, brutalized and treated like fucking lab rat!” Rubbing the top of my oozing head, I marched up to Keanu with my bloodied palm open and shoving it into his face, I waited for an explanation.

His handsome bronze face paled as he reluctantly observed the proof of my suffering. “I…thought you knew. We all…assumed…”

“What?! What did you assume?!” My voice was becoming shrill and I felt my knees get weak as days of exhaustion overwhelmed me. Catching me by the elbow before I fell, Keanu led me back to the cot.

After sitting down, I slapped his hand away. “Tell me!” I shrieked, my chest heaving with sobs.

“You mean to tell me that you really don’t know why you’re here? That you really don’t know?” Shock and disbelief consumed his voice as he rubbed his face with both his hands.

All energy had been sapped from my body, I hunched over, shaking my head from side to side. “No.” I whispered through the salty tears cascading onto my cracked lips.

Kneeling before me and placing his hands on both of my knees, Keanu sighed. His voice shook as he let the words that would change my life forever fall from his lips.

“Cassia…you’re not…human.”

Chapter 7

“DNA. Deoxyribonucleic Acid. The basic structure contains a double helix, forty-six chromosomes and several genetic markers shared by all humans.” Agent Evans sat across from me, his face somber. “You, Cassia, have none of the standard ‘human’ DNA attributes. Our scientists are still researching the samples to learn more, but as it stands, you do not have human DNA.”

“I don’t understand.” I stated, my voice echoing within the walls of a small conference room. Keanu had arranged for Agent Evans to talk to me. He’d apparently explained how I needed to know what was going on and he obviously believed me when I said that I had no idea.

“Your DNA has very…pronounced differences.” He paused as though reluctant to tell me, then continued. “Instead of a double helix…you have a triple helix. Instead of forty-six chromosomes, you only have twenty-six. All of which…in human understanding…is impossible.”

I could feel his uneasy stare on me as I soaked in all the information.

“It’s even too pronounced to be considered a mutation. Do you have any idea as to why your genetic make-up is so…alien?” His question was innocent enough, but implied so much.

Staring at the table and shaking my head, my entire body went numb. Glancing at my hands, I wondered how I could look so human if my genetic code had betrayed me so dramatically.

If I wasn’t human, what was I?

Except for the birthmark, I had every likeness of a human being and throughout my whole life, there’d never been any indication whatsoever that I wasn’t.

No special powers, no psychic ability…nothing that would make me remotely think I wasn’t human.

“Can I…go home?” I sounded like a small child and strangely, that’s how I felt. My world had been reborn into a nightmare, a world in which I didn’t belong anymore.

Taking a big breath in and exhaling, it appeared for a moment that Agent Evans was considering it. “No Cassia, I’m afraid not.” An odd flicker of concealment danced behind his eyes as he repeated his last statement. “I’m afraid not.”

Adjusting his black suit jacket, he turned and moved to leave the conference room. As the door closed behind him, I could see through the vertical sliver where the wall met the door. There was at least one guard…machine gun in hand.

Laying my head on the cool, hard table, I sobbed as I cried harder than I’ve ever cried in my life.

Alien?! That’s what he called me…an alien.

It’s funny how the things that we think are basic rights in life like going to school, money and especially freedom can be taken away so quickly.

In one breath, I’d been stripped of my former identity, my life…my humanity.

With all deaths, there is at least that recognition of something fading away from existence. Like a candle in the wind, someone’s life can be snuffed out, but there is always that tiny ember of light left behind, a warmth or acknowledgement.

Something.

My life, my former existence…was gone, leaving no trace, no warmth inside me. Just the knowledge that I’d once lived amongst the human race, as one of them, naïve to my true identity.

As I lay in a puddle of my own tears, wondering what I was, something inside of me…died.

My bloodshot amber eyes stared back at me in the mirror, dark circles pooled beneath them like ashen sediment. I was certain I looked at least five years older than I did only a few days before. Several strands of my black hair were matted with dried blood and hung like dreadlocks around my face.

I desperately needed a shower and fresh clothes. For a split second I compared this facility to a concentration camp, but then decided that I shouldn’t allow myself that much pity.

Knocking lightly on my cell door, I hoped to get the attention of the guards. After twenty minutes, however, I realized that either no one was out there or they were ignoring me.

Huddling in the center of my bloodstained white cot, I hugged my knees and tried to imagine myself somewhere else.

Anywhere but here.

Exhausted, even my imagination was too tired to cooperate.

Lying down on the pillow with the hum of the fluorescent lights above me, I succumbed to sleep.

The dream began instantly, only this time…I was being hunted.

***

The blistering sun was settling behind a sharp cliff to the west. With each step I took, hot sand pressed into the base of my bare feet and forced its way between my toes.

Licking my lips, I felt the grooves where the skin had split apart. Tiny grains of sand had nestled themselves behind my eyelids, every blink initiated a scraping sensation against my sensitive eyeballs.

The hot dry air filled my lungs with parched oxygen as I moved forward into the unfriendly desert. Ahead of me was a vast, bronze landscape sparsely littered with indestructible cacti and orphaned boulders.

With darkness settling over the land, the shadows began to own the night.

Mournful howls wailed in the distance as though announcing the end of the day and trumpeting the arrival of the evening. A light wind snaked over the contours of the land, quickly cooling the air around me. In a short time, I went from sweating profusely to shivering as the night air clung to my damp clothing.

Paranoid, my eyes scanned for movement behind every rock and brush. I knew they were out there, somewhere, lurking in shadows, searching for me. Like vampires lusting for my blood, the men in black stalked me, craved me…hated me.

The cave.

I had to find the cave.

This time, it was for refuge as much as it was for unveiling its secrets. Wrapping my arms around myself, I forced my tired legs forward. Shuffling through the cooling sand, I winced as I wondered if this was the step that would settle on a wayward scorpion. The laughter of coyotes assaulted my ears as I sensed them closing in on me.

A soft, warm light in the distance sent a rush of relief throughout my body. I picked up the pace as I recognized the mouth of the cave.

The glow within the cave soothed my aching soul. Flickers of light danced upon the walls like a midnight waltz, tenderly coaxing me in to rest my weary head. Holding myself up with the jagged surface of the cavern wall, I walked carefully over the rocky floor.

The wind whistled a haunting tune that echoed throughout the labyrinth of the cave. A large fire had been made by unknown hands; I seated myself in front of it and warmed my chilled body. Searching the walls with weary eyes, I noted the familiar number painted upon the walls.

II.

Always the Roman numeral two.

As I sat before the blaze, a sensation of being watched suddenly pervaded me. Glancing slowly around, I saw nothing, but still, the paranoia persisted.

Shivering and hugging myself, I waited for the unknown. I somehow knew it was only a matter of time before they found me.

It was then that I saw the figure.

Large and distinctly male, it made its way from the shadows towards me. Nearing the illumination of the fire, I strained to see his face. My heart pounded as I wondered if he were the enemy, one of the dark men who wanted me caged.

His hands outstretched, he reached as though to grab me!

Leaning from his grasp, it was then that the attack came from behind! Hard and forceful arms embraced me in a death grip and pulled me away from the man.

Looking back at the dark figure and his gentle arms outstretched for me, I realized—he cared for me.

Who was he?

Struggling within my dream, my consciousness flooded back to reality. Confused, I continued to fend off strong arms holding me down. Prying my tired eyes open, I realized that the dream—the nightmare—wasn’t over.

Holding my wrists with a crushing force and sitting atop my torso was a new enemy.

Agent Meyers.

***

The Velcro straps made a loud ripping noise as he adjusted the band on my left wrist. He’d already managed to secure my feet to the bed while I was sleeping. Sitting on my chest, he had my right hand pinned under his knee.

“Hello freak.” His voice was hushed and drenched in malicious intent.

Anger ripped through me with the word ‘freak’ and I began bucking my hips wildly in attempts to throw him off. Growling and snarling, I opened my mouth wide to scream. I needed to get the attention of anyone outside the door. My greatest hope was that Keanu was nearby and would save me.

Slamming his hand over my mouth, Meyers leaned over and whispered in my ear, his voice low and the heat from his breath brushing past my skin. “Shhhh…you wouldn’t want to ruin the party, would you?”

Pulling a roll of duct tape from inside his suit jacket, he held my mouth with one hand and with the other he pulled a piece of tape free and ripped it with his teeth.

Realizing the danger I was in and what his intentions were, I struggled with every ounce of energy I had. I cursed his strength as he placed the tape over my mouth and then proceeded to lock my right hand into the Velcro tieback.

“There, that’s better.” Climbing off of me, his dark blue eyes scanned my body, pausing on my chest. Fear overwhelmed me as my anxiety peaked. My breath came in short, uncontrolled spurts as tears flooded out of my eyes.

“Pity they didn’t clean you up first. Oh well, I’m not picky.” A Cheshire smile crept across his face as his fingers walked up the top of my thigh and slid across my stomach.

His baby face made him the perfect unsuspecting predator.

Adrenaline fired and I felt my eyes get very wide. He seemed to read my thoughts utilizing my expression of terror. “That’s right freak, I’m going show you the way humans do it, won’t that be nice.”

Oh god! He’s going to rape me!

Shaking my head vehemently from side to side and thrashing my body back and forth, I protested with every ounce of energy I had left.

Reaching down to his ankle, he produced a knife from under his black pant leg.

“You be a good little freak and you just might live through this.” He stated as he glided the blade along the inside of my thigh, past my stomach and up to my neck.

Sobbing hard, I closed my eyes and prayed for it to be over quickly.

“Mmmmm….Keanu’s got good taste in freaks.”

I felt him rip open my shirt, cut the straps of my bra with the knife and expose my breasts. Molesting my body, he groaned as he assaulted me.

I didn’t open my eyes again until it was over.

***

Thankfully a shower routine was introduced the very next day. I scrubbed my body harder than I’ve ever scrubbed before. Some parts of me were raw from the self-inflicted cleaning regime, but I had to get him off of me.

Everything about him lingered on me like a rash.

Night after night, he returned.

Strapping me down and ravaging my body like a rabid wolf, he seemed relentless in his efforts to destroy my spirit.

I’d like to say he lost—but he didn’t.

He’d won the first night he attacked me. He stole what shred of humanity I had left within me, and destroyed it.

In my old life, I would’ve gone to the hospital and been examined. The police would’ve been informed and a charge would’ve been made. Agent Meyers would’ve likely have gone to jail for what he did to me.

In this reality, this new existence, I had no rights, no empathy and no justice. Day after day, my routine consisted of waking up, being led to the showers, eating three square meals, being raped, and going to sleep.

The animals at the zoo had it just a bit better than me.

Weeks went by, maybe months, the same routine, the same day over and over. Thankfully, Agent Meyers seemed to tire of me and left me alone once in a while.

Most days, my mind drifted over the borders of sane and insane. I could literally feel the line where my thoughts delved into the world of crazy. I was at the point where I didn’t care if I lived or died anymore. My survival instincts had betrayed me.

Some days, I cried all day. Some days I raged and beat my hands bloody against everything in my tiny white cell. Some days, I beat myself bloody, disgusted with the creature that I’d become.

I hated not knowing what I was.

Was I an alien? Was I some gross mutation?

A mutant. The thought made me nauseous.

Maybe Meyers was right. Maybe I was just a freak. A freak of nature.

How fragile the balance of one’s humanity is. What is the line anyways? What makes someone human versus inhuman? Don’t feelings count? A soul? Didn’t I too, have a soul buried deep within me? A consciousness?

Why did my blood, or my DNA, something so insignificant, get to decide whether or not I was human? How fickle the human race was to accept me as one of their own at face value, but reject me at a microscopic level. How flimsy the standard of human rights become when they are scrutinized at a genetic level.

Can this get any worse?

Chapter 8

Hot droplets kissed every inch of my skin and rolled over my body as though caressing me. Cascading through my hair and running off my shoulders, the water hugged me at every contour like an appreciative lover. Steam rose and hovered in the air around me, cocooning me in a blanket made of mist. Raising my chin to greet the oncoming waterfall of warmth, I allowed a small and grateful smile to grace my lips.

The highlight of my day…a shower. The one place where an unbiased element nurtured me without a judgmental stare or awkward gaze.

Walking down the hall behind the armed guard, taking me to and from my daily bathing, I received nothing but sideways glances or avoidance from passing agents and workers. It was like being a leper of society without any visual proof of illness.

Drying off and dressing myself in the standard white jumpsuit issued to me after my clothes had ‘mysteriously’ been cut off, I was led back to my room.

Breakfast was always waiting for me when I returned. Day after day, the routine was the same—until today.

Agent Evans was standing in the middle of my cell when I returned. His face looked pale and he seemed agitated. I couldn’t help but notice the worried frown on his face.

“Is something wrong?” I asked, suddenly concerned for my own welfare. Briefly, my mind wandered to Agent Meyers and his assaults, hoping that maybe he’d been caught and Agent Evans was going to put a stop to it.

“Wrong?” He sighed as he shifted his weight from one foot to another. “I don’t know if I’d call it wrong.”

I sure hoped he didn’t mean that what Agent Meyers was doing to me was okay! My hands clenched into fists as I glared at him. Suppressed anger began to flood to the surface of my body. I could feel myself becoming volatile. I envisioned lunging at Agent Evans and tearing at his throat like a wild animal would after being caged and unfed for months.

A knock at the door invaded my deranged fantasy.

“Excuse me.” Agent Evans mumbled as he quickly walked to the door. The door cracked open slightly, I couldn’t see who was on the other side, but Agent Evans had a very quiet conversation with that person.

Wishing I had better hearing, I tilted my head in their general direction. I focused all my attention to my ears in hopes of catching anything, even just a word, a sentence, something, but I couldn’t make anything out.

Apparently these people were good at secrecy. I wasn’t surprised. I had determined long ago that they were part of a secret government sect, but it didn’t take a genius to figure that out.

“Okay, yup, okay.” Agent Evans finished his mysterious conversation with the unknown person on the other side of my cell door. Turning his attention to me, I stood with a defensive stance. My arms folded across my middle, I gave him my best ‘what the hell do you want’ glare.

“Yes, well, someone will come for you shortly.” Avoiding my abrasive expression, he looked past me at the wall.

“Come for me? Why?”

Walking quickly toward the door, he knocked to signal the guard to let him out. For a moment I thought he wasn’t going to answer me, but at the last second, he turned and gave me an unreadable expression. “We need to do another test.” And with that, he walked out.

Sitting down beside my uneaten breakfast, my stomach lurched at the thought of food.

Test? What kind of test? How painful will this one be? Curling up in the fetal position, I wondered what these jerks had in store for me now.

***

“Pee into this.” The lab assistant (whom I recognized as the asshole who’d taken a chunk of scalp from my head a couple months earlier) insisted as he handed me a little plastic cup.

Two armed guards had led me to a bathroom near what appeared to be the lab and then left me alone with the lab assistant. Hovering in the doorway, I gave him a cold glare.

Is he just going to stand there and watch me?

“Go ahead.” He stated, crossing his arms.

Out of all the torturous tests and inhumane acts, this had to be one of the most demeaning. Unzipping my white jumpsuit and pulling it down to my knees, I sat upon the cold, white plastic seat. Thankfully my long hair fell over my face and acted like a black satin curtain, blocking the gawking attendant from my view.

Holding the little cup between my legs, I waited for my bladder to release. There’s nothing more difficult than trying to relax an embarrassed muscle.

Finally, after what felt like forever, I managed to let my fluids go. Catching it in the little cup, I fought back the tears of humiliation as I handed him the warm liquid.

With his hands outstretched to obtain the sample, I intentionally tipped the cup and spilled some urine on his hands. I grinned with satisfaction under my veil of hair.

Pulling his hand back with a disgusted grunt, he stormed away to the lab. Giggling for the first time in months, I pulled on my jumpsuit and zipped it up.

Noticing for the first time since I’d arrived; I was out of the cell and unsupervised. Without a guard watching my every move, it was suddenly strange to walk around without an armed chaperone.

For a moment, I just stood in the bathroom doorway and just observed my surroundings. I could see the lab technician studying my urine sample. He was sucking it up with a little eyedropper and dribbling it on some slides and papers.

The lab looked like any I’d seen at a hospital; centrifuges, shelves filled with boxes labeled ‘gloves’ and ‘syringes’, and vials of blood standing upright in little plastic trays.

I haven’t had a blood test in weeks. Whose blood is that?

I guess it was a little naïve of me to think that I was their only specimen, but I wondered if there were any more like me.

Tip-toeing away from the bathroom, my bare feet made quiet patting noises as my skin made contact with the white tile floor. Staying close to one wall, I moved down a secluded hallway. Fluorescent lights buzzed monotonously above me and reflected a blinding iridescence off the polished floor.

The hallway was long and wide with no identifying signs or pictures, just stark and bland.

Every so often I’d come across a closed door, not unlike the one on my own cell. I wondered if I should open one and have a look. Maybe there was someone just like me in there, afraid and alone.

Placing my hand on one of the door handles, I contemplated whether or not I should.

What if there’s a crazy person in there?

Seemed rather likely in this place. I’d only been here for a couple months and I’d already danced with the prince of insanity.

No happy endings in this place, I’m sure.

With my hand still on the door handle, I decided to take a chance.

Why not, got nothing to lose.

Holding the latch down with my thumb, I yanked the white door wide open.

“Oh my god!” The words fell from my lips as I searched for something to hold the door open with. Scanning the small room, I discovered a tray of empty food near the sink. Grabbing it without losing my grasp on the door, I wedged the tray between the frame and the self-closing door.

After securing my escape route, I rushed to the side of the restrained occupant. “Let me get you out of this!”

Ripping off the Velcro straps, I had an unpleasant flashback of Meyers and his disgusting antics. Pushing the disturbing thoughts to the back of my mind, I focused all my energy on the task at hand.

After freeing all four limbs, the patient sat up on the cot. “Are you alright?”

“Yes, thank you.” Ocean blue eyes stared back at me with deep gratitude as she massaged her swollen wrists. Stroking her shoulder-length blonde hair maternally, I surmised she couldn’t be much more than eight years old.

“What’s your name sweetheart?” I asked, seating myself beside her on the cot.

“Jessica.” She replied, her tiny voice hovering between shy and afraid.

“I’m Cassia.” I thrust my hand toward her eagerly. Moving her petite hand slowly towards me, she accepted my gesture. Feeling her warm little hand in mine nearly made me jump with joy. I felt like it had been years since I’d been touched gently by another human being.

“Why on earth do they have you here? You’re just a little girl!” I felt a lump form in my throat as my imagination flew in all directions. All I hoped was that she hadn’t had to endure the torturous tests and inhumanities that I’d lived through so far.

Uncertainty clouded her young expression as she searched my face with suspicion. I could understand her reluctance to trust strangers; this place quickly teaches a person that no one should be trusted.

Smiling at her, I hoped that I could gain her trust. Frankly, I was just ecstatic to have some normal company again. Apparently deciding to confide in me, she spoke quietly as though telling me her darkest secrets.

“I’m…’mune to everything.” Confused, I frowned as I tried to decipher what she meant. Thankfully, she chattered on while she reached up and began braiding a section of my long black hair.

“When I was in my mommy’s tummy, she had a bad disease called…” She pursed her little lips and scrunched up her face as she tried to recall. “AID.”

“AIDS?” I offered, my heart sinking as I foreshadowed her mother’s fate.

“Yup. But I didn’t get it.”

My brow knitted together again. I’d heard of babies being born free of AIDS when their mother’s had it. It didn’t totally explain why they’d consider her immune to ‘everything’.

Jessica continued to tell her short life story.

“Daddy told me that the doctors tested me a lot…to see why I was…’mune.”

“Immune.” I corrected her softly.

“Immune. He said they looked at my blood and it was…different.” My heart literally stopped. I could feel it pause as I held my breath, waiting for the next sentence.

Was she…like me? Maybe I wasn’t the only one. I didn’t know whether to feel elated for myself or pity for her.

“Different?” My voice was but a whisper as I urged her to continue.

“Yah. The doctors said that I couldn’t catch a cold, or the flu or even something called cancer.”

Knowing my own medical history and lack of illnesses, this young girl seemed to be molding herself into my own life story.

“Jessica, I’m going to ask you something very strange, but it’s very important that I know, okay?”

Her big blue eyes turned serious as she stopped playing with my hair and stared up at my face.

“Do you have a birthmark…right here?” I touched my pointer finger to the center of my chest. I’m sure my heart was pounding so hard that I could feel it banging against my finger.

This could be the moment, the moment where I discovered I wasn’t truly an anomaly in this cruel and cold world.

That maybe, just maybe, I wasn’t alone.

Jessica opened her mouth to tell me the one thing I desired to know—whether or not she was like me. An alien among humans. An oddity in the world of the normal.

“I…” She uttered but was abruptly cut off by a man yelling just outside the door.

“Find her!” A male’s angry voice emanated from the hallway.

“Uh oh.” My heart began pounding under my ribcage as I wondered what they would do to me if they discovered me wandering about their secret facility.

“We have to get out of here.” I said in a hushed voice as I clutched Jessica by both shoulders and looked her directly in the eyes. Her eyes wide with fright, she nodded and we both got off her bed and walked carefully towards the door.

“Check every room!” The deep voice hollered.

Sliding my fingers between the door and frame, I bent over to remove the tray from its position. Cautious to be silent, I gently lay the tray on the floor and pushed it about two feet away from me.

Jessica whimpered lightly beside me as we heard several of the men in black run by, their dress shoes tapping on the polished hallway floor.

I’d never been a woman of faith, but I wasn’t above praying, especially at this moment. “Please, please help us.” I whispered just under my breath.

Ironically, within seconds of my impromptu appeal, one of the men shouted. “Check the north hallway!”

The frantic rapping of shoes faded into the distance. An eerie silence enveloped the hallway.

My pulse was racing so hard I could hear my blood rushing behind my eardrums. Carefully, I opened the door just a crack. Pressing my right eye against the sliver between the frame and the door, I scanned the hallway for movement. Satisfied that the hall was clear, I turned and offered Jessica my hand.

“Ready?” She nodded with obvious trepidation as I moved the door open slowly. Poking my head out, I looked back and forth down the hall quickly. Keeping Jessica safely behind me, we moved out from her room. Unsure as to which way to go, I paused for a breathless moment.

Which way?

Our survival could depend on just this one choice. Taking a deep breath, I chose to go to the left. Pulling Jessica out from the room with me, we moved forward into an uncertain fate.

The sound of our bare feet lightly slapping against the tile floor resonated throughout the hallway. Turning my head sharply, I glanced behind us to see if there was anyone there who might have seen us. Paranoia and fear intermingled in my system, making me feel nauseous.

Jessica followed along behind me; I could hear her attempting to control her breathing, fighting the panic, just like me. Stealthily, we moved through the long hallway until we came to an intersection. Pressing my back up against the wall, I motioned for Jessica to copy me. Complying a little too quickly, she practically slammed her back to the wall.

Giving her a compassionate look, I took her hand and gave it a squeeze.

Taking a deep breath, I prepared myself to peek around the corner. I could hear voices in the distance but couldn’t determine which direction they were coming from. Slowly, I turned my body and slid myself toward the corner. My right eye scanned the area. Seeing no one down either hall, I grabbed Jessica’s hand and led her across the intersection.

Row after row of white doors, just like the ones Jessica and I had been held in.

Do each of these have a prisoner? My heart was heavy just thinking of all the stolen souls that could be trapped within these walls.

Constantly checking behind us, we jogged silently down the hallway. Narrowing my eyes to focus, I could see a door at the very end of the corridor—a metal door.

Quickening our pace, I could almost taste freedom. With Jessica huffing and puffing behind me, we finally reached it. Placing my hand on the cool metallic surface, tears welled in my eyes as I read the sign above it. Backlit with a hot red light, the letters leapt out at me as though screaming the words of my salvation.

EXIT.

Pushing the silver bar in the center of the door, I winced as the hinges squeaked in protest. Praying that there wasn’t an alarm that would scream as soon as I opened it, I sucked in a deep breath before I pushed.

“Hey!” I heard the sound of angry men yelling and running up behind us. Jessica screamed and pulled on the back of my jumpsuit. Turning my head sharply, I saw five agents in black sprinting for our location.

Agent Meyers was in the lead.

Making eye contact with him, I saw fury behind his eyes. Giving him a defiant glare, I shoved my shoulder into the door as hard as I could. A piercing pain shot down my arm as the big metal door flung wide open.

Air. Sunshine. Wind.

All the elements which I’d been deprived of for so long rushed to greet me.

I didn’t care what happened at this point. I didn’t care if I died anymore. Feeling the rays of the sun kiss my face for the first time in months was heaven enough.

My maternal instincts, however, kicked in with another scream from Jessica. Bolting from the facility, I pulled Jessica along as I ran across an asphalt-covered yard. Littered with army vehicles, I surmised we were trapped on some kind of military base. Sprinting for the edge of the pavement, my eyes darted left and right as they searched for a way out.

Corralled by an electric fence, sharp barbs snarled from their perch atop the metallic latticework. Beyond the fence lie acre upon acre and mile after mile of grassland. Even if we’d managed to escape the enclosure, we’d have to run for days to find civilization.

Tired and frustrated, I stopped running. Jessica looked up at me with confusion as I suddenly came to a halt.

There was nowhere to go.

The five agents that had been chasing us had grown to over a dozen as they surrounded us. Falling to my knees, I covered my face with my hands and wept. Jessica hugged me hard. Realizing I didn’t get the answer to my question earlier, I looked up and grabbed her by the shoulders.

“Jessica! Quick! Do you have a birthmark here?!” I pointed to my chest. The agents rushed in, forming a circle of black around us.

Jessica cried openly as one of the agents picked her up and whisked her away. Reaching her little hand for me, she screamed the answer. “No! Cassia! I don’t!”

A familiar sensation of cold loneliness overwhelmed me. Watching them take the little girl back into the building, the numbness of alienation swept over me.

Alone.

I barely noticed as Agent Meyers took a step towards me. Lifting my face to him, I glowered at him like a feral cat that had been cornered. Raising his right hand and balling it into a fist, he brought it down across my cheek. Shock jarred my senses as a sharp pain ripped through my jaw. My head bounced off the pavement as I hit the ground. Crying, I coughed and spit blood out of my mouth. The stun of his strike made my head spin as I struggled to lift myself off the ground.

Pushing myself onto to my hands and knees, I noticed him pull back his foot, readying himself to kick me in the stomach. Right before his release, I heard a familiar voice holler from the doorway that I’d just escaped from.

“Stop! Don’t hurt her!” Keanu ran up, breathless as he stooped over, slid his hand around my waist and helped me to standing.

“Why not? She’s just a freak.” Meyers sneered as he rolled his eyes at Keanu.

Keanu’s entire body tensed beside me. Tired and beaten, I reluctantly leaned against his broad chest. Memories of our night together flooded back and I silently cursed the tears fighting their way to the surface.

The heat from his body. His scent. I closed my eyes for just a moment to bask in it. Just a moment to pretend I was somewhere else. Someone else. Something else.

The tension between the two men heightened as Keanu thrust his pointer finger into Meyers’ face. “Just leave her alone!”

Smirking, Meyers responded with a move of his own. Smacking Keanu’s hand away from his face, he stuck his face into Keanu’s and asked with a venomous tone. “Or what?”

“Enough!” Agent Evans yelled, his brow furrowed in annoyance as he approached the circle of agents. “I’ve had enough of you two! Take her inside!”

With my arm around Keanu’s shoulder, I hobbled back into the building. Weeping and bleeding, I was led back to my cell.

“Get the medic to clean her up.” Agent Evans ordered a nearby agent. “Pretty stupid move, Miss Tiponi.” He added as he turned to me. Nodding my head in agreement, I winced as the entire right side of my face ached in protest.

Keanu seated me on the cot and then sat down beside me, his arm still around me.

A line of drool escaped my swollen lips as I quietly mumbled. “Jessica?”

“She’ll be fine.” Leaning his hand against one of the walls and dropping his eyes to the floor, Agent Evans looked far more stressed than usual.

“Agent Evans?” My voice was that of a meek child. “Is Jessica…like me?”

Barely moving and not looking up, Agent Evans answered while still staring at the floor. “No.”

Hesitating, unsure as to whether he’d tell me the truth, I finally decided to ask the one thing that would change everything for me and my future.

“Am I…the only one?”

Sensing the depth of my question, Keanu squeezed my shoulder gently.

Sighing deeply, Agent Evans turned to face me. His eyes serious, he looked me square in the eyes as he responded. “Not anymore.”

***

The medic dabbed my seeping wounds with a small piece of gauze, moist with antiseptic. Stinging as it cleansed the oozing cuts on my lips, cheek and forehead, I waited impatiently for him to finish.

Agent Evans had left the room, refusing to elaborate on his last statement. What did he mean that I wasn’t the only one ‘anymore’?

I decided to probe Keanu for information after this guy was done cleaning me up.

Keanu leaned against the wall in my cell watching the medic like a watchdog. He’d always seemed protective of me, but suddenly he was extremely diligent about it.

“Okay, that should do it.” Pulling off his gloves and throwing them in garbage along with the blood-soaked gauze, he nodded at Keanu as he knocked on the door for the guard to let him out.

If Keanu hadn’t been parked so close to the mirror, I would’ve immediately rushed to it to see just how bad I looked.

Inhaling and exhaling sharply, he rubbed his face with his hands. The stress on his face could be read like a road map. Dark circles under his eyes and an expression of worry etched on his face, I sensed something was up.

“Just tell me what’s wrong.” I pushed him, tired of the games. “I can tell something is wrong.” Glancing at me momentarily, he appeared to be having some internal debate.

Maybe he was deciding whether he should—or could—tell me some awful news. Maybe they were planning to kill me. Or worse, subject me to more horrid experiments.

I suddenly had an awful vision.

My dead body splayed upon a cold metal table in a morgue hidden deep in the belly of the military base. Masked agents slowly and methodically dissecting me. One piece at a time, cutting away the flesh and bagging it for testing.

A specimen.

To them, I was worth less than a dead frog preserved in formaldehyde, to be torn apart by immature biology students in high school.

Shuddering, I pulled my knees into my chest, hoping it would erect some protective force field around me. Apparently sensing my distress, Keanu moved from the wall and sat beside me. With my head tucked down and with my hair shielding me like black satin curtains, I cried softly. I felt his large hand begin sliding up and down my back, comforting me.

“Please…please tell me what’s going on.” My body wracked with sobs as I whimpered my plea. “Are they going…to kill me?”

“I…don’t know.” His voice hovered just above a whisper.

Fear and anger surged through me suddenly. Whipping my head up from its cowered position, I pushed his hand away from me and came unglued.

“Why!? Why me!? What harm can I do by existing!?”

Standing up and pacing the small cell. I ranted, then cried, and then screamed for what felt like hours. Keanu simply sat on the cot with his head hung and listened.

Finally, I stopped. Whether I’d worn myself out or I’d released all the anger within me, I just stopped. Weary, I walked to sink and cupping my hands, drank several handfuls of water. The cool liquid was gratefully welcomed by my physically and emotionally drained body.

With my hands on either side of the sink, I looked at myself in the mirror.

A stranger looked back at me.

Once a vibrant, healthy young woman, I’d become a mere shadow of my former self.

What was once a shiny, thick head of hair now hung lifeless on either side of my face like a black frame for my sallow cheeks and sunken eyes.

Sad eyes. So very sad.

Eyes that used to fire with the shade of amber topaz had faded to a tarnished brass.

Silence smothered the tiny room. Closing my eyes to the monster staring back at me in the mirror, I asked one last time.

“Tell me. What do they want from me?” Clutching the sides of the porcelain sink, I braced myself for the answer.

I heard him sigh as he got up from the cot and approach me. Placing his hand on the small of my back, I was surprised that I’d become so dead inside that his touch didn’t even affect me anymore. Leaning his large body against me, I was confused when he began to pull my hair away from my face with his hand. With his lips only millimeters from my ear, he whispered.

“Not here.”

Turning his head and looking to a far corner of my cell, I followed his gaze. Tucked deep into the intersection of the walls was a tiny black circle. I frowned and tried to make out what it was, this tiny black thing nestled into the corner like a tick. Taking a sharp breath in as the realization struck me.

My cell is bugged!

***

“I’m just taking her to the showers to clean up.” Keanu informed the guard as he led me out of my cell.

“I’m not supposed to…” The guard clutched his machine gun close as he eyed me.

“I know, I have permission from Agent Evans.” Keanu lied, continuing to move us away from the cell. Leaving the confused guard behind, Keanu walked quickly toward the showers with me following closely behind.

“In here.” He said, turning just before the shower entrance. Opening a door to the right, and guiding me into a small, dark room which appeared to be a janitorial closet, he turned to me and whispered. “We should be safe here.”

After a few seconds, my eyes adjusted to the darkness. A glimmer of light from the crack at the bottom of the door dimly lit the room.

I’m sure my eyes looked just wild with confusion. I was still reeling from the fact that my cell had been bugged! I’d spent ninety-nine percent of the time alone; did they think I was going to talk to myself?!

Then it struck me.

Agent Meyers.

They must have known what he was doing to me night after night and they didn’t even stop it.

A dirty, disgusting sensation writhed within me as hatred penetrated me. I’d never known hate like I’d just found for them.

Keanu stood close to me, taking deep breaths as he obviously prepared himself to divulge some kind of classified information.

How? How could Keanu be a part of this? He seemed so…kind. Maybe he was still acting…just pretending to sneak me out of my room to tell me a great secret—or lie.

I can’t trust him.

“Cassia.” He began, his voice shaking with nervousness.

I narrowed my eyes to slits as I tried to ascertain whether I should believe anything he had to say.

“Cassia…you’re pregnant.” He actually smiled as he spoke the words, like I was an eager patient in a doctor’s office awaiting the happy news.

For just a second, the world didn’t feel solid anymore. Gelatin. Yes, that’s the best way to describe how my body felt. My knees buckled, sending me falling clumsily to the floor. Keanu thrust his hands out to catch me. Holding me by my waist, he eased me to sitting.

“You okay?” He whispered, adding a small chuckle at the end.

Okay?

Why do people ask such stupid questions? I was far from okay.

I didn’t even know how to think at this moment. My brain was frozen in shock—or horror—I didn’t know which.

A baby?

“Talk to me. Please Cassia. I need to know…what you’re thinking.” Pleading with me, he sat on the floor in front of me and tried to make eye contact.

“I…uh…” I tried to communicate but the ability just wasn’t there yet.

Though I couldn’t speak any words, thousands of things were zipping through my mind at the speed of light. From the idea of a tiny heartbeat pulsing within me to the fact that my belly was going to swell beyond recognition to the unbelievable thought of pushing this being out of me.

A baby.

A person. A whole person. Growing inside of me, incubated by my body. Dependent upon me for every miniscule drop of nutrition, this tiny creature lived precariously within a dark corner of my body. It offered me the thing that no one else had in my entire life—it needed me.

A fierce instinct suddenly enveloped me. No matter what, I had to live. I had to bring this life into this world. I had to get out of here.

Placing my hands softly onto my stomach, I caressed the area where my baby was growing. Sitting there on the floor of a dark closet, my life had no longer become my own. It wasn’t just about my survival anymore. It was ours.

As I stared down at my stomach, hands folded gently over my womb, I suddenly became aware of Keanu’s large warm hand encompassing mine. Looking up to meet his big brown eyes and soft smile, I realized something disturbing.

He doesn’t know about Meyers. He thinks it’s his baby.

Chapter 9

After wetting my hair to convince the guard that I’d indeed had a shower, Keanu led me back to my cell. Coming into my room with me, Keanu leaned over and gave me a tender kiss on my swollen cheek.

An awkward silence enveloped us as we stood before one another.

As soon-to-be parents, we should have been nervously, or even excitedly, discussing the logistics of our situation. Baby names, cribs and night-feedings should have been our main concern.

In a normal world anyways.

Mine was not that of a normal world. Trapped and condemned a prisoner, uncertain of my fate, I had few options. My ‘foreign’ DNA had labeled me an instant threat to a paranoid society.

DNA.

Something so small and insignificant. Untraceable, yet the tainted material in which had marked me as the outsider.

Caressing my belly, a soft smile twitched at my lips as I thought of the tiny heartbeat existing deep within my womb. This little person needed me. My body cradled this new soul, feeding it the nutrients it needed to live. I was giving someone life.

For the first time in months, I was happy. I envisioned myself holding this new little bundle of warmth in pink blankets. I saw myself holding a little girl. Rocking her to sleep, singing a soft lullaby and running my hand through the soft downy hairs upon her head, I vowed to keep her safe. I would hold her tight and kiss away any tears that may fall upon her angelic face.

Keanu watched my face with interest. He wore the same goofy grin that I suspected was on my face.

“I’ll stop by later, okay?” Squeezing my hand lightly, he turned and knocked on the door for the guard to let him out. Watching him leave, I felt a warm sensation wash over me. I wasn’t sure I loved him, but I cared very much for him…especially if he was the father.

A pain tore at my chest as I thought about the fact that this beautiful creature may not be his. I didn’t care. Even if it was Meyers’ child, I wasn’t going to let that notion destroy my vision, she was also mine.

My baby. My blood.

Blood!

It hadn’t occurred to me up until this point that this baby would inherit my blood, my DNA! Sitting down on my cot, I put my face into my hands. I had doomed this tiny being to my own fate! My marred DNA was coursing through her veins, leaving her with the same hazardous genetic material! They would take her from me and use her as a new experimental test subject!

Ironically, this little person had given me the one thing I desired most in the world since entering this nightmare—I was not alone. I was no longer the only one.

That’s what Agent Evans meant!

Before this, I was resigned to die here, in this unmarked grave of existence, but everything had changed. It wasn’t just my life anymore. She had to live.

That was the defining moment. That’s when I knew for a fact that I had to get out of here.

***

A plan.

That’s all I needed to figure out was a plan of escape. The last time had been too random, too spontaneous. I had to think of something concrete and foolproof—if that was possible.

Think Cassia think!

Wracking my brain, I realized that the only time that I could even make an attempt was during my daily trip to the shower. Now I just had to figure out how to get past the guard. He never watched me shower, that was the only few moments a day when I wasn’t supervised.

How do I slip away from him?

A diversion.

I needed a distraction when I was in the shower to make him leave, even for just a moment. Lying down on the uncomfortable cot, I closed my eyes and searched my mind for an answer.

I’m sure a light bulb popped up over my head when the idea struck me. Giggling, I was excited to put my plan into action.

Glancing over at the mirror with a grin and one eyebrow raised, I couldn’t wait until tomorrow.

***

Shuffling through the searing sand, the tender flesh between my toes protested against the hot granules grinding in. Wiping the beads of sweat from my brow, I pushed my reluctant body forward through the arid desert.

Ripples of heat waves danced in front of me as though seducing me into the fire. A relentless sun glared down from a cloudless blue sky.

Trudging past a large, fleshy cactus, a speckled salamander skittered from the base, startled from his meager shade.

Water.

I would’ve sold my soul for even one drop. Even the most important things in life become second when faced with a scorching ocean of sand.

She needs water.

Caressing my swollen belly, I felt the tiny life inside of me cry for rehydration.

Thankfully, in dreams, time moves more swiftly than in reality.

Swallowed by a mountainous cliff in the distance, the sun released its tyrannical hold on the Sedona desert for the day. Oranges, yellows and reds settled into the horizon like a fiery rainbow.

My white nightgown, drenched with sweat from the heat of the day, betrayed me as it absorbed the cool night air. Shivering, I scanned the darkening landscape for shelter. As with every dream, I see a shimmer of light in the distance. Beckoning me with its seductive warmth, I am captive to the call like a moth to a flame.

Entering the mouth of the cave, I’m immediately drawn to the symbols adorning the walls.

II. Roman numeral two.

Come, rest by the fire.

A familiar voice urges me. My eyes dart around the secluded cave, searching for the owner.

She is coming. It whispers like a distant prayer driven by the wind.

“Who?” My voice sounds hollow as it reverberates within the large cavern.

Instantaneously, as though my word was a trigger, a sharp pain tears through my belly. Lying down on the cave floor, I pant as I feel my child moving out of my womb.

Screaming, the dream ends, as it always has, in a blinding flash of white light.

Sitting straight up on the white cot, my breath came in short, uncontrolled spurts.

Coughing, I fought to regain rhythm. Pulling the thin, white sheet off of the cot and wrapping it around myself, I realized my teeth were chattering. My bones and muscles ached like I’d run ten miles the day before and my stomach churned with irritation. Nausea overwhelmed me, forcing me to run for the toilet a couple of feet away. Clinging to the sides of the bowl, I wretched violently.

Shaking and sweating, I waited to see if I was done. Since it was the first time in my life I’d ever thrown up, I was overwhelmed with the sensations of illness. My head spun and my body quaked with shivers as I crawled back to the cot.

Curling up on the tiny bed, I closed my eyes and sighed. My plan of escape was going to have to wait.

***

“I’m not sure, but it looks like she has an internal infection.” The medic stood over me, holding his stethoscope in his hand. “She’ll need an aggressive round of antibiotics.”

“Will it hurt the baby?” Agent Evans was gruff as he asked, his arms folded across his chest.

“No, it shouldn’t.” The medic sounded nonchalant as he packed up his stethoscope and other instruments into a silver suitcase. Lying on the cot, I felt myself nod off as the two men discussed my condition.

“Shouldn’t! We need to know for sure!” Agent Evans’ voice startled me from my brief nap. Opening my eyes to a mere sliver, I looked at his face and it was wrought with concern. I would have preferred he be worried for me, but instinct told me that his sights were set elsewhere.

“Sir.” The medic began, obviously shaken from the verbal outburst. “Even though she has human anatomy, we can’t know for certain what reactions she or the baby might have.”

Agent Evans paused for a moment, then replied. “Do it, do whatever you have to save the baby.”

Chapter 10

I was in and out of consciousness for at least two days. The only way I could tell time anymore was the kind of food being delivered to my cell. I had counted two breakfasts so far—both left uneaten.

The second day, I’d tried a bit of the chicken noodle soup they’d shoved through the little flap at the bottom of the door, but it came right back up. After that, I decided to test the old wives tale about ‘starving a fever’.

Even drinking water elicited heavy vomiting sessions but for the baby I forced myself to have at least two handfuls a day.

Three times a day the medic would come in to administer needles which I presumed contained antibiotics.

By the fourth day, I began to feel a little better. I could keep food down and that was the most important thing.

The little person inside me needed sustenance. Maybe it was the illness, but I was sure that I could feel her, sense her. It was like we had a connection, not only by blood, but with our minds as well.

I’d never been close to anyone who’d been pregnant before, so I wasn’t sure if this was a common occurrence. Some magazine articles I’d read alluded to the fact that mothers had a natural and deep bond with their unborn babies, but this felt like more than the average connection.

I knew her. I felt her being, her life force.

On the fifth day, Keanu came to visit.

“How are you feeling?” His voice was gentle as he sat beside me on the cot and rubbed my leg just above the knee.

“Better.” My voice had an obvious harsh tone as I glared at him. Why was this first time he’d come to see me since I’d been sick? Sighing, he sensed my disappointment in him. Leaning toward me, he whispered softly. “I wasn’t allowed to come before.”

Guilt immediately rippled through me and I felt my expression soften as I looked into his eyes and touched his hand. I guessed by his last statement that they had found out about our little discussion in the closet.

We sat in comfortable silence for several minutes, caressing one another’s hands. I examined his handsome face.

If all this hadn’t happened, we’d be planning a life together.

No sooner had I thought the words, I felt a gentle prodding from within my womb. She agreed with me.

“Keanu! The baby just kicked!” Pulling his hand and placing it on my stomach, I smiled as I waited for her to move again. Keanu’s eyes were bright and he wore a silly grin as he too, waited. After a few seconds, we both felt a soft tapping.

Elated, we laughed as we threw our arms around one another and hugged. Tears welled in my eyes as I bathed in the sensation of loving human contact. His large arms wrapped around me were so soothing, so warm. Nuzzling my cheek into his shoulder, I forgot for a moment where I was and how I’d gotten here. The memory of his kiss haunted me as I closed my eyes and inhaled the delicious scent that lingered in his shirt.

His body tensed suddenly and he glanced at the corner of my cell where the surveillance bug lie embedded. My instincts of mistrust took over and I tried to pull away. He continued to hold me even though I attempted to move.

I turned to look at him, still struggling to get away. Holding me tight with his right arm, he raised his left hand to my face. Caressing my cheek with the back of his fingers, his hand then trailed to the nape of my neck. The warmth of his skin on mine almost made me cry with happiness.

Gently pulling my face to his, he wet his lips as he brought my mouth to his. Running my hands through his black wavy curls, months of fear, anxiety and loneliness suddenly released from my body.

As a moan escaped me, Keanu quickly raised his pointer finger to his lips. Grinning, he laid me back onto the cot and reached for the zipper of my white jumpsuit. Beginning at the soft indent below my neck, he slowly pulled the cold metal zipper down the center of my body. Ending just below my navel, he held the material open and leaned in to kiss my body.

Pausing as though showing homage to the baby inside me, he placed a single tender kiss on the swelling contour of my lower abdomen.

Focusing his attention on me, he carefully pulled the jumpsuit down the length of my body, and then off completely. Peeling his own clothes from his body, my eyes drank in the sheer beauty of the man.

Climbing onto the cot and positioning over me, he continued to kiss my stomach. With his tongue trailing up my torso, he stopped and lightly kissed the birthmark between my breasts. Looking down at him, he gave me a teasing glance as he moved slightly to the right.

Licking and kissing every curve and contour of my body, he finally made his way back up to my lips. Passion and lust intermingled as we gave into our desires. Our bodies moved together, gently and lovingly.

Afterwards, holding one another and basking in the glow of blissful satisfaction, I could have sworn I felt the baby smile in approval.

***

Watching Keanu get dressed, I struggled to keep my eyes from welling with tears. Now that I’d had a taste of the outside world again, I felt like a little kid that had just dropped their ice cream cone in the dirt.

“Cassia, I have to go. They’ll already be suspicious.” His soft brown eyes pleaded with me as he tucked his shirt into his pants.

“I know. I’m sorry.” I averted my eyes to the floor.

Sighing, he moved to the cot where I was sitting and knelt on the floor beside me.

“Don’t be sorry for anything. You’ve done nothing wrong.” He rubbed my hand as he spoke. “All this…bullshit, you don’t deserve this.” Anger tinged his voice as he stood again.

Running his fingers through his hair, he paused for moment. Sighing, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a folded piece of paper. Walking briskly towards me, he took my hand and placed it firmly into my palm.

Lifting my chin and kissing me, he turned and moved to the door. Knocking for the guard to let him out, he gave me one last cryptic look.

After he’d gone, I looked down at the note in my hand. Fear swelled inside me as I unfolded it.

Was it a good-bye letter? Had he come to see me one last time? To say good-bye to the baby?

I couldn’t bear to read it.

The note crinkled as I unfolded it, holding my breath, I began reading.

Cassia, flush this as soon as you’re done reading it!

Follow this note to the letter…

Before I could read any further, my ears suddenly twitched as I heard the sound of voices just outside the door. I realized that someone was coming in. Unzipping my jumpsuit and stuffing the note down the front, I prayed it wasn’t Meyers.

He hadn’t bothered me since they had discovered I was pregnant, but I had a sneaky feeling that he wasn’t finished with me yet. The white door swung open just as I had zipped up the front of my jumpsuit.

“Agent Evans.” I said, relieved to see the older man.

“Miss Tiponi.” He eyed the cell suspiciously. “I need to take you down to the lab for more testing.”

A hard, cold sensation settled over me with the thought of more tests. I never knew what the hell they were going to do to me next.

“Um, what kind of tests?” I asked, trying to sound pleasant. He sighed as he appeared to contemplate whether or not to tell me.

“Ultrasound.” He finally surrendered, looking uncomfortable.

“Oh.” A streak of fear shot through me as I realized I’d have to remove my jumpsuit for that.

The note!

“Could I…have a moment before we go?” I stalled, my eyes darting around the small room as I tried to figure out where I was going to hide this thing stuffed between my breasts.

Wary, he frowned. “Why?”

Giving him a shy glance, I responded bluntly. “I…have to pee.” I almost giggled at the varying shades of pink he turned.

“Oh, um, yes, I’ll be back for you in minute or rather, knock when you’re ready.”

As soon as he stepped outside the door, I retrieved the letter from inside my suit and searched for a hiding place. Falling to my knees and running my hands behind the toilet, I realized it was too damp and would damage the note. The sink had the same issue. The cot was the only other thing in the room so I rushed over and felt underneath. Relief swept over me as I felt rows of metallic coils. After stuffing the note tightly between a coil and the guts of the mattress, I stood and walked to the door.

Knocking on the door, I looked back to the cot, praying that the note would still be there when I returned.

***

“You shouldn’t have let her urinate, Agent Evans, she needs to have a full bladder to perform the ultrasound properly.” The lab technician scolded the elder agent as he prepped me for the procedure.

I didn’t, dumbass. I fought the urge to roll my eyes at the arrogant attendant.

“Sorry.” Agent Evans mumbled as he tossed an annoyed glare at the lab technician.

Letting out an exaggerated sigh, the lab technician pushed up my gown, and holding a little plastic bottle, squirted some cold, clear jelly onto my bare stomach.

When I arrived, they had me change out of my jumpsuit and into a hospital gown.

Thank god I hid the note! I thought to myself earlier as I disrobed in the washroom outside of the lab. The very washroom where I’d wandered away and tried to escape a few weeks previous.

Placing an elongated wand on my stomach, over the location of my uterus, the lab tech slid the apparatus around with no obvious pattern.

Both men watched a monitor turned just out of my line of vision. I knew it had been moved so I couldn’t see—which really pissed me off.

I wanted to see her. I wanted to see her tiny hands and feet. Her heartbeat.

Watching the monitor, the two men’s faces were steady and concentrated. I couldn’t read anything beyond vague interest. There was the occasional mumble and odd pointing of fingers when they’d notice something on the screen, but other than that, I was bored.

Closing my eyes, I settled back and just enjoyed being somewhere other than my cell. It was rather relaxing laying there on the table. I felt myself nod off slightly. Pregnancy, combined with an illness, had definitely taken a toll on me.

Just as I drifted off, I was awakened by Agent Evans’ gasp.

“What?! What is it?! Is my baby okay?!” Panic swept through my body as I sat up on the examining table and clutched my stomach.

“It’s nothing. Lie back.” The lab technician pushed me down forcefully by the shoulder. I caught a subtle unspoken exchange between the two men as they looked seriously at one another.

Nothing my ass!

Anger and fear enveloped me as tears began flowing from my eyes.

How dare they keep anything wrong from me!

Shaking, worry for my baby’s well-being overwhelmed me. What if something was wrong? What if this deformed DNA of mine was a genetic death sentence for my baby?

I didn’t know if my mind could handle this. I was already on the verge of a breakdown from all the other atrocities I’d experienced over the last few months of my life. I couldn’t deal with the loss or malformation of my baby as well. She was the only person I could trust in this new and unstable world.

I could hear a lot of mumbled exchanges between the two men. Quieting myself, I strained my ears to decipher anything I could.

“Eighteen weeks?” Agent Evans asked with a hushed voice and the lab technician nodded in reply.

Eighteen weeks!

I was further along than I thought. That still didn’t confirm who the father was though; I’d been raped by Meyers only about a week after I had sex with Keanu.

Depressed that I couldn’t see the image of my baby and that I didn’t have confirmation of who her daddy was, I closed my eyes and blocked out the world.

Besides, I had a lot more important things to think about—like how I was going to get us out of here.

***

The white door to my cell sealed with an audible click. Moving quickly, I lunged to the cot and immediately stuck my hand underneath. Feeling around for the note, I panicked for a second when I couldn’t find it. Lowering myself further, I turned my head and scanned the underside of the bed.

I blew out a breath of relief when I saw it tucked neatly in the place where I’d left it.

Endeavoring to shove my fingers between the coils, I realized that retrieving it was going to be harder than I thought. Lying on my back, I positioned myself just under the location of the note.

Squeezing my hand between the bed frame and metalwork; I then tried to grab the note with my pointer and middle fingers pressed together. Slowly and carefully, I attempted again and again to pull the note to freedom. Painstakingly, I managed to maneuver it a couple of inches.

Hearing a tear as I moved the delicate paper note through the labyrinth of metal lattice, I paused and tried moving it more slowly. Only a few more inches and it would reach the edge of the bed frame. Shimmying the note back and forth for another minute, the end finally poked its nose out the side of the bed.

God! And I was worried someone would steal it!

As I unfolded the letter once again, a wave of nervousness washed through my stomach. Straightening out the wrinkled paper, I started reading.

Cassia, flush this as soon as you’re done reading it!

Follow this note to the letter…I can’t leave you and the baby to suffer any longer. Besides, they have plans for you after the baby is born…and it’s not good.

Tears welled and dripped softly through my lashes as I continued.

Tomorrow, when they take you for your shower, use the stall farthest from the door and look up at the showerhead, I’ll have left you something there. Use it to disable the guard. Drag the guard into the shower stall and close the door. Make sure to take the item with you, then hide in the janitorial closet that we used before. Stay there and be quiet. I’ll come get you when it’s safe.

Be careful.

And Cassia, I love you.

Gripping the note with both hands, I re-read it over and over in disbelief. I didn’t know which part I was happiest about, the fact that I was getting out of here or that Keanu loved me. Tears of joy ran down my face as I clutched the note, readying myself to rip it up and flush it down the toilet. Standing over the bowl, I held the note at the top, preparing to tear into two pieces, then four…

Frozen in mid-air, I tried to pull the letter apart. My eyes lingered on the last phrase and I realized how much it meant to me—and how much I wanted to keep that letter.

Chapter 11

After supper was delivered that night, I curled up on my little cot and waited impatiently for the next morning. Sleep eluded me for hours as Keanu’s plan replayed over and over in my mind. His idea was certainly a lot better than the one I had hatched only the day before.

Mine entailed breaking the mirror in my cell and hiding it in my jumpsuit. Once I got to the showers, I was going to cut my thigh, near my groin, and pretend like I was having a miscarriage. Upon calling the guard for help, I would stab the poor man and then make my getaway.

In hindsight, I’m not entirely sure I could’ve gone through with it, both the idea of cutting myself and possibly killing another human being just didn’t feel like my style. Not to mention, where was I going to escape to? I still had the acres of nowhere to deal with.

I wonder what Keanu has hidden in the shower?

I hoped it wasn’t a knife or gun, I wasn’t sure I could live with myself if I took someone’s life, even if it was essential for our escape.

Escape.

Daydreaming, I thought back to the moment the door swung open when I tried to flee with Jessica. Remembering the way the sunlight cascaded onto my face and how the wind ran its invisible fingers through my hair made me long for the outside world even more. Even the scent of the gasoline that hung in the air from the vehicles on the army base elicited an ache in my heart as I pined for freedom.

A tiny kick from inside my womb reminded me how important tomorrow was.

Soon, little one, soon. I won’t let them hurt you.

Closing my eyes, I let a wave of unconsciousness lull my weary soul to sleep.

Tomorrow.

My lips twitched into a smile as I drifted off.

***

The dream, which had been so consistent all my life, was suddenly unrecognizable. The golden ocean of sand that had always lay before me as my nemesis had transformed to a sea of white. Millions of crystalline shards of snow glinted and gleamed by the light of a lessened sun.

The sun.

The once colossal source of heat which had blazed within my dreams had retreated into the black fabric of space, leaving a bitterly cold and unforgiving landscape of ice to dwell below.

My bare feet burned with the bite of frost rather than the sting of hot sand as I shuffled through the frigid terrain.

Standing statuesque amidst the backdrop of white, scores of cacti bravely held their ground, their posed limbs surely appalled at the snow resting upon their shoulders.

Still in a thin gown of white cotton, I could feel my body shutting down as hypothermia assaulted me. With the last light of day glimpsing over the horizon and the haze of snowfall raining before me, I surrendered.

Falling to my knees and laying upon a bed of snowflakes, I closed my eyes and waited for the icy hand of death to still my beating heart. Fresh fallen snow descended onto my naked arms like tiny crystal butterflies, only to shatter and dissolve the moment they landed. A biting wind snaked around me as it whipped minuscule shards of ice into my face and eyes.

Sensing a presence around me, I forced my head up. I blinked and squinted as snowflakes landed on my lashes. Shielding my face with my hand, I looked out into the blizzard and saw movement. A shadowy figure, dressed in a hooded parka and snowshoes, moved swiftly toward me. The crunch of the snowshoes surrounded me as the figure reached my side.

“Cassia.” A familiar male voice whispered as he knelt beside my half-frozen body.

Wrapping me in a brown, wool blanket, he lifted me up. He walked with me cradled in his arms for what felt like miles. Pressed against his chest, I felt a comfort that I’d never known. Protected. Safe.

Feeling him slow to a stop, I somehow knew we’d reached our destination.

Peeking out from the side of the blanket, I beheld the familiar sight of the cave. Carrying me in, we were greeted by an already roaring bonfire. Placing me in front of the fire, I shivered uncontrollably as I thrust my frozen hands toward the blaze. Even though they stung terribly from the thaw, I welcomed the heat with open arms.

The man sat on the other side of the fire, only his eyes visible from beneath the fur-lined hood of his parka. His brown eyes glinted from the waving flames of the fire as he stared at me. A kindness dwelt behind the windows of his soul.

Somehow, through some unspoken exchange, I knew this man loved me. Raising his hands to his head, he began to pull the hood away from his face.

Just as the fur lining moved past the frame of his face, I felt my consciousness stirring.

No!

I cried out in my dream as the image of his face blurred and I was thrust back into the reality of my cell. As lucidity flooded back into my system, I cursed the timing of my awakening.

Rubbing my eyes and stretching, I felt the odd sensation of being watched.

It was then I realized—I was not alone.

“I’m sorry…I thought you were gone for a shower. I’ll come back later.” The woman dressed in a maid’s uniform uttered as she turned, dragging her mop and bucket on wheels behind her.

“Hey wait, who are you?” Sitting up on the cot, my interest piqued as I looked at the unfamiliar face.

I had noticed that every time I’d come back from having a shower that my cell had been cleaned. The floor, toilet and sink were always sparkling and my sheets had been changed. I guess it never occurred to me to wonder exactly who was doing this. It makes sense that even they would have a cleaning staff of potentially harmless people.

Noting her hesitation, I decided to go first.

“I’m Cassia.” Rising from the cot, I extended my hand in greeting. Her dark brown eyes shifted warily from my face to my hand. It was apparent she knew about me and my weird blood. Or maybe all the prisoners here were odd in some way and she had just learned to keep her distance.

“I…have to go.” Clutching the wooden handle of her mop nervously, she turned to leave.

“Please,” I pleaded, “I need to know something. Please.” Keeping my voice steady, I only wanted to know one thing from this woman who walked freely through the facility. Pausing at the open door, she looked up.

“What?”

“The little girl. Jessica. Is she…okay?” I wholeheartedly expected her to respond with good news. Hopefully, the little girl was just fine or, even better, released and allowed to live a normal life.

The woman’s paled expression, however, dampened my expectations.

“I’m not allowed to talk about…things that go on here.” She turned and moved quickly out the door. Lunging for the door before it slammed shut, I managed to get my fingers caught before it closed.

“Please! I just want to know if she’s okay!” I screamed as I tried to pry the door open. Someone on the other side smashed the protruding tips of my fingers with something hard. Shrieking in pain, I instinctively pulled my fingers away and held them to my chest. Throbbing and swelling, I thought for a moment that a couple of them were broken.

Jessica. What did they do to you?

Tears ran down my face as I pictured the beautiful little girl with the ocean blue eyes. I laid my hands protectively over my stomach as I realized my baby’s potential future.

I have to get you out of here.

I hoped with all my heart that Keanu’s plan would work, otherwise, I was going to go with Plan B.

If we don’t escape today, sweet baby, mommy will make it so they can’t hurt either of us.

Chapter 12

Leaving the safety of my cell, I followed the guard down the hall to the showers. The hallway seemed much longer than usual today; probably because it was the last time I was ever going to see it, at least, I hoped it was.

With my head hung and my heart heavy, I walked the last mile of this nightmare. One way or another, it was going to end today. The only thing left to be determined was whether it was going to be a happy ending or a tragedy.

Images of my loved ones flashed through my mind. My grandmother, Amy and Keanu. Not a very large number of important people in my life, I realized.

There were so many things I wanted to do with my life. So many unrealized dreams.

The prospect of archeology seemed so far away from me now, and honestly, quite trivial considering all of the other missed opportunities in my life.

Travelling the world. Marriage. Buying a house. Raising my baby in a happy, safe environment. Hearing her first cry, her first words and the moment she teetered with her first step, I was going to miss it all. I’d be lucky to even see her once in my life let alone care for her until she was an adult.

A large, painful lump formed in my throat as I smothered the tears welling in my eyes. Hugging my sides, I forced the unshed tears back.

The light padding of my bare feet on the polished tile floor was drowned out by the thudding of the guard’s army boots.

Walking steadily in front of me like a good soldier, he had no way of knowing that this, too, might be his final voyage. If Keanu had planted a gun, knife or some other weapon, I might be the last face this man ever sees. Does he have a family waiting for him to come home tonight? Would I be taking away someone’s daddy today? Will I be a murderer in a matter of minutes?

I felt sick to my stomach.

Rounding the corner to the showers, my insides lurched as I realized the big moment would be only seconds from now. Positioning himself outside the door to the showers, he stood rigid. Staring straight ahead, he pretended like I wasn’t there.

Avoiding eye contact. Avoiding me.

I looked up to examine his face. I couldn’t live with myself if I didn’t at least acknowledge his existence, his life.

He’s so young.

So young, in fact, I now felt that he couldn’t even be married or have children. How could I steal that future from him?

Pushing the door open and moving quickly into the washroom, I couldn’t tolerate to look at him any longer. It was unbearable to think that I’d have to harm this young man, probably fatally.

As the main door slammed behind me, the bang resonated loudly throughout the room. Holding onto the wall for support, I made my way to the last stall.

There were only four stalls in total but the last one felt as though it were over a mile away. As I passed each green door, I grew increasingly more nauseous and the anxiety was insufferable.

By the time I reached the third stall, I had to pause and hold my stomach because I was sure I was going to vomit. Breathing in and out slowly, I steadied myself as I reached the last stall.

Closed before me, I exhaled sharply as I placed a hand on the cool surface to push it open.

This is it, baby, this is where our future begins…or ends.

With a resistant creak, the green shower door swung open. Slamming into the back wall, I cringed and looked back at the main door with paranoia. As usual, a single white towel had been left for me, hanging behind the door.

Looking quickly to the showerhead, I was instantly confused.

There’s nothing there! What the…?

Almost breathing a sigh of relief that I may not have to kill anyone, I realized that the plan of escape may not happen…which meant I’d have to resort to plan B, which was slicing my leg open and pretending I was having a miscarriage, or worse…suicide.

That idea definitely didn’t appeal to me but it was quickly becoming evident that I had no other choice. Even if I pretending to miscarry, there’s no way I could run across the acres of fields without being caught.

Panicked, I checked all the other stalls to see if maybe I’d read the note wrong and I was going to find this item somewhere else. After peeking into each stall and realizing that there was no hidden weapon, I literally wanted to fall onto the floor and cry.

“Keanu…where is it?” Speaking quietly to myself, I decided to go back to the fourth stall and re-examine it. Pushing the door open again, I entered the stall this time and walked directly underneath the showerhead. Squinting my eyes and peering at the pipe that protruded from the wall, I actually saw something.

Held in place with silver duct tape to the topside of the pipe was a long thin metallic…pen.

A pen! Keanu! What the hell am I going to do with a pen?! Stab the man in the jugular?!

Annoyed, I extended my arms and stood on my tippy toes to retrieve the pen. Fighting with the tape momentarily, I finally pulled it free.

Examining it with a frown on my face, it indeed appeared to be a normal pen. There was no way to unscrew it or take it apart, so it obviously didn’t harbor some miniature knife or secret compartment. Pressing down on the top of the pen with my thumb, I heard the telltale audible click as its tip moved in and out.

“What the hell?” I whispered out loud.

Holding the pen in one hand and the tape in another, I was bewildered and lost.

What was I going to do now?

I considered my options. Stab the guard in the jugular which was going to be ridiculously difficult and messy, or continue with my alternate plan. Looking at myself in the mirror hanging on the wall, I swallowed as I thought of the second option. I was going to have to cut myself pretty deep in order to bleed out enough to die.

Gruesome, but necessary.

Exhaling deeply as tears of frustration forced their way into my eyes, I realized I didn’t have any option but to end all of this.

Walking toward the mirror with trepidation shadowing every step, I examined the best way to smash the mirror. It needed to be quick and quiet. If I alerted the guard with a resounding crash, everything would be ruined.

Scanning the room for something to break the mirror with, I realized I was holding the answer.

The pen.

The metallic pen in my hand felt very strong and sturdy. It might be tough enough to hit the mirror with and just make a crack in the glass. From there, I could pick out a sharp piece and…I didn’t want to think about it yet.

Watching the reflection of myself as I held the pen like a knife, ready to pierce the mirror, I gave myself a final look.

Cassia Tiponi, the body which I’d worn for twenty years, was about to die. The baby inside me, the innocent victim in all this, had to perish because of my tainted blood. I couldn’t allow her to be subjected to the cruelty of these…humans. She has a right to a life, yes, but she has the right to a decent life. A decent life that I knew for a fact would never exist as long as she carried my genes.

A sensation of calm washed over me as I stared at my image for the last time. I realized in that moment that, despite all I’d learned of myself over the last few months, I was not just this body. I wasn’t defined by this suit, this flesh. No matter what deformity existed within me, I was still me, still the essence of a greater creature, a soul.

Aiming the pen at the mirror, I poised to strike it like a cobra would its prey. Focusing my attention onto the reflection of the tip of the pen, I readied myself to stab the mirror.

“One, two…” I muttered under my breath, my eyes like a hawk on the small, silver tip. The hollow barrel of the pen stared back at me, awaiting its fate like a tiny tin soldier.

Just as I was about to whisper ‘three’ and release my hand with all my strength, the baby fluttered lightly in womb. Losing my concentration for a moment, I realized exactly what I was looking at.

“Hey! Are you going to have a shower or what?” The guard’s voice nearly gave me a heart attack as he opened the main door a crack and hollered in. “I don’t hear any water running.”

Scrambling away from the mirror to avoid his gaze, I moved to the nearest shower stall and closed the door behind me.

“Yah! Just had to use the toilet!” I threw an irritated tone into my voice as I yelled back.

“Just hurry up.” His snarly attitude was going to make this easier, now that I knew what this pen really was and how to use it.

A plan. I need a plan. A diversion.

Plotting for a moment, I searched my mind for an idea. With the limited resources I had in front of me, I had to dig deep. I nearly yelled with happiness as the idea struck me.

Excitement and fear mingled in my system as I took off my white jumpsuit. Running to the last stall and turning on the shower full blast, I then retrieved the white towel reserved for me. Wrapping it around my naked body, I then moved stealthily to the mirror.

With the pen held in my mouth, I grabbed my long black hair behind me with both hands. First forming a pony tail and then twisting it around several times, I folded my hair up into a tight bun. Holding the style with one hand, I reached around, took the pen from my mouth and proceeded to tuck it tightly into the chignon like an oriental up-do.

Giving myself one last look and a nod, I prepared myself with a deep breath.

I almost felt giddy.

This just might work.

I wasn’t going to allow myself to think too far ahead, but the taste of freedom was moving passed my lips and nearing my tongue.

Tip toeing quietly to the main door, I placed my jumpsuit on the floor behind the garbage bin, out of sight. Opening the door just a crack, I peered through the sliver at the guard. Obviously bored, he leaned against the wall just a few feet from me. Taking a quiet breath in, I decided it was now or never.

Swinging the door open quickly, the guard jumped a little.

“I need your help.” I stated with a seductive voice and a soft pout on my lips. “I can’t get the hot water to work; the knob is too hard to turn. Will you help me?”

His eyes widened as he looked me up and down, my towel just barely covering the essentials, I was pleased when I saw his cheeks redden.

“I, um, I’m not supposed to…” Adjusting his collar, he glanced around with uncertainty.

“Please.” I edged toward him, reaching for his arm and touching him lightly. “I need a ‘hot’ shower.”

Giving him my best ‘come hither’ look, I moved even closer to him. Intentionally resting my chest against his arm, I stifled a giggle as he ogled my cleavage.

Staring down at my body moving against him, he stuttered as he leaned his gun against the wall. “Well, I’ll just have a quick look, okay?”

“Thank you.” Stepping out of his way as he entered the room, I followed closely behind as he checked out the shower.

Leaning in, he reached for the hot knob and gave it an easy turn. Turning to face me, he gave me a quirky grin like he’d done some serious hero work.

“There you go.” His voice cracked a little as he slowly moved toward the main door.

“Wait.” I pushed myself softly against him, blocking his departure. I ran my hand up his arm and caressed the back of his bare neck. “I’ve been alone for a very, very long time. I could use some…attention, if you know what I mean.”

Tilting my chin down as I gazed into his eyes like a cat stalking her prey, I pulled his face forcefully towards mine. Kissing him lightly on the lips, I ran my hands through his hair. His hands quickly went around my waist as he hungrily kissed me back.

As he groped me all over my body, I reached down and released the top of my towel. His eyes widened as I pushed him down to kiss my breasts. Diving in, he began devouring me like a starved wolf.

With him completely preoccupied, I carefully and slowly reached up to my head. Pulling the pen from its secured location within my hair, I brought it down into the back of his neck. Clicking it lightly with my thumb as I would if I wanted to begin writing a letter, a tiny needle extended into his skin and released what I hoped was only a sedative. His body slumped instantly against me, nearly knocking me over.

Moving away from him, his limp body fell over and landed face up on the shower floor.

After turning off the shower so the poor man didn’t drown as the droplets splashed his face, I ran to retrieve my jumpsuit and put it on.

With his body half in and half out of the stall, I grabbed one of his arms and tried pulling him further into the shower. Heaving him as hard as I could, I couldn’t believe how hard it was to move dead weight.

After several attempts, and a lot of groaning on my part, I finally managed to pull him to the corner of the stall.

Checking the pulse on his neck, I was relieved to feel a steady beat. Giving him one last look, I closed the stall door behind me and strode triumphantly toward the main door.

Holding the pen in one hand, I slowly opened the door with the other. Peeking out, I waited for a few moments to be sure it was really safe. I only had a couple feet to get to the janitorial closet, but it meant the difference between life and death, so I wanted to be certain I wasn’t going to get caught at the beginning of the game.

Feeling confident that the hallway was clear, I moved out of the shower room and with my back against the wall, I slid toward the closet. Paranoia was rampant within me; I imagined that every noise was the enemy about to pounce on me. Reaching the edge of the door to the closet, my heart in my throat, the sensation of success began to sweep through.

Extending my hand to the doorknob, I worried for a split second that it would be locked.

That would be my luck!

Placing my hand on the cool, metal knob, I turned it with trepidation. Luckily, it turned perfectly and I slipped into the closet with ease.

With an audible click behind me, I breathed a sigh of relief as I felt somewhat free and safe for the first time since I’d been abducted.

Looking around my new, and fairly dark, environment, I decided to turn over a silver bucket in the corner and have a seat. I had no idea how long it would take for Keanu to show up so I thought I’d better make myself comfortable.

Almost there.

I patted my stomach to reassure my silent passenger that our freedom was just around the corner.

For the first time in months, I actually felt normal…even human…again. Since the whole nightmare began, I hadn’t allowed myself the privilege of considering a future for myself, but now, it seemed as though it just might be a possibility. If Keanu could get us out of here, we might just have a shot at a life. Maybe not a normal life, but a life none the less.

Growing up on the reserve had given me a different perspective on the standards of living. Though the Hopi people didn’t have much need for technology or modern housing, they had an understanding, an appreciation, for the land. They moved as one with the earth.

After so many years in the city, I’d almost forgotten my adopted roots. Even though I was not a Hopi Indian by blood, I was still a member of their community, trained with essentials to survive even the harshest elements; they’d taught me how to live.

In my youth, I learned how to gather and utilize the necessities provided by the earth. It had been years since I’d had to think about the basic survival teachings, but now, I couldn’t imagine going through all this without it. I was going to have to dig deep into my memories and retrieve everything I’d learned from the elders to get me through the next part. We’d have to live off the land just like the Hopi people, possibly for the rest of our lives.

It saddened me that I was never going to be able to finish school.

Even more, I missed Amy. My only friend.

Seated uncomfortably on my little silver pail, reflecting on my past, present and future, I almost didn’t hear the doorknob turn. Alarmed, my eyes widened as I watched the door move open slowly.

Keanu!

Excitement rushed through me as I realized how close I was to getting out of here.

I had a silly grin of achievement already planted on my face. I hoped he’d be proud of me for sedating the guard and following his letter loyally. I even ripped it up into tiny pieces and flushed it just as he’d asked, even though it broke my heart to do so.

As the door swung open, however, I was met with a pair of startled eyes.

“What are you doing in here?!”

Like a frightened child cowering in the darkness, face to face with the shadows that dwelt in the corners, I buried my face in my hands and cried tears of fear.

I’d been caught.

They were going to come and drag me back to my cell, allow me to complete my pregnancy, tear her from me—then kill me.

I’d failed her.

“What are you doing in here?!” The cleaning lady hissed again. “If they catch you in here…well…”

Glancing once down both directions of the hallway, she walked into the closet and shut the door behind her. Weeping, I tried to be quiet. She probably had no choice but to call security.

My hopes of freedom faded away like the scent of flowers on a breeze.

“Don’t cry. I’m not going to tell on ya.” Kneeling before me and pulling a tissue from inside the cuff of her sleeve, she handed it to me and patted me on the shoulder. Shocked, my head snapped up instantly.

“You…you’re not going to…tell on me?” I’m sure she could have told me she had a rabbit in her shirt and I wouldn’t have been as surprised.

“No. I’ve seen what they do to people here; I’d rather see you get away.” Her voice softened as she looked me in the eye. Sadness clouded over her eyes as she continued. “That little girl… the one you wanted to know about…”

“Jessica? Is she…?” I couldn’t finish my sentence without a knot tightening in my throat. “…okay?”

The look in the woman’s eyes read like a book, Jessica was dead. I just knew.

“How?” I asked as fresh tears surfaced in my eyes.

“They believed she was immune to everything…she wasn’t.” Closing her eyes and sighing, she continued. “They injected her with…a virus. One that they made themselves. She was dead within an hour. It was horrible.”

Stifling a sob with my hand, I cursed the men who had done this to her. If they were willing to do that to Jessica, what were they going to do to my baby?

“What do they want with me?” I queries through tears.

Shrugging, she seemed to be contemplating her words carefully. “They only ever want one thing…control. They don’t know what you are or where you came from, that makes you a threat.”

“Why?!” I asked, bewildered.

“If they didn’t make you this way, they want to know who or what did. For all they know, you could be some kind of secret weapon or Russian-made super soldier. That’s the way they think.” She shook her head. “I’ve worked here twenty-five years. Seen a lot of horrible things.”

Wide-eyed as I listened to her, I realized the gravity of the situation.

“Do you have a plan to get out of here?” The woman asked suddenly, leaning toward me.

Shaking my head, I didn’t want to divulge anything about Keanu. I trusted her but, just in case; it was safer to keep quiet, for her own safety as well as Keanu’s.

“Okay, the best way to get out of the building is through the big steel door just north of here. It will take you to an underground parking lot.” Staring me seriously in the eye as she explained, she stopped and sighed heavily. “Just…follow me. I’ll get you out of here.” She stood up and brushed her pants with her hands.

My mind veered a million directions at once. Should I trust this perfect stranger, abandon my plans with Keanu and attempt an escape with the cleaning woman? My heart pulsed ridiculously fast, nearly without pause between beats.

This might be my chance. Regardless of who gets me out, it’s only important that I escape. Fate is fate, right? If I’m meant to die this way, it will happen no matter who helps me.

Squeezing my eyes shut, I tried to force my intuition to assist me. Begging the universe to show me the way, I prayed for the second time in my life.

What should I do?

“Are you coming?” The cleaning woman asked, her lips pursed in concentration as she held the door slightly ajar and peeked into the crack. Before I could answer, she jumped back and hissed. “Hide! Someone’s coming!”

Clambering to hide within the small closet, I managed to wedge myself into a dark corner in the back. A large yellow bucket on wheels with a mop extending out sat beside me. Like divine providence had intervened and placed it there, I pulled the trolley in front of me, shielding me perfectly.

Sitting absolutely still, I could hear the cleaning woman shuffling around looking for her own hiding spot.

Then, for a just a moment, there was pure silence.

Holding my breath, I distinctly heard footsteps nearing our location.

Tears welled in my eyes as I imagined the horrors that awaited me if I were caught.

What will they do to me? My baby?

Stifling a sob as I cowered in the dark corner, I wished in some small way that I’d just taken my life like I had planned. This nightmare would be a distant memory. No more pain, suffering and degradation.

Peace.

My baby and I would have gone to another place. Another dimension maybe, existing only to love one another.

In the Hopi beliefs, souls ascended into a perfect spirit world, death was only a transition to a higher realm. Later, if the spirit so chooses, they can return to earth, beginning once again, as a baby.

There was no shame in suicide, especially if one was sacrificing themselves for the greater good. My baby was worth that, she was the greater good.

But no, I had to try and live on. What on earth was I thinking? Even if I got away, what kind of life could we expect to live? I couldn’t even go home to the reservation in Sedona. We’d constantly be on the run. Never allowed to stop and enjoy life, we’d be forced to conceal our true identities and hide for the rest of our natural lives.

I should have ended it all when I had the chance.

Bitterness fought its way to the surface of my soul. I hated this. All of this. I hated myself for things I couldn’t control and didn’t understand. I hated my mother and father, whoever the hell they were, for creating me and then leaving me to dwell in a world that was obviously not my own.

Interrupting my dark thoughts, I was suddenly alarmed as the door handle began to turn. So preoccupied with my internal loathing, I neglected to hear the tapping of the shoes come to halt…right in front of the closet door.

A low metallic grind pierced the quiet of the tiny room as the doorknob twisted ominously. Our entire fate, all three of us hiding in the closet, now depended on whoever was on the other side of that door.

I didn’t dare even take a breath. I didn’t even want to look. Closing my eyes tight, I let my mind drift like I had been taught by the medicine woman when I was a child.

Meditation.

She always spoke of the magic and the mysticism of meditation. She said it was the soul’s way to dream. At night, humans dreamt with their minds, but the soul could dream at any time. When a soul dreamt, however, it could make things happen. It could manifest a wish or a prayer.

“Connected to the spirits of our ancestor’s,” she would say, “meditation brings magic to life from within you.”

With the door to the closet now opening, I sincerely hoped with everything I had that she was right.

“Cassia?” A deep voice whispered into the shadows.

“Oh god! Keanu!” I tried to keep my voice down as I scrambled from the corner. Managing to step over everything in the closet without tripping, I lunged and pressed myself into him. His large arms wrapped around me like a cocoon as I breathed a sigh of relief.

I was surprised, and found it a bit disturbing, to see him fully clad in a ‘men in black’ uniform, but there he was, holding me tight with the devil’s attire covering him.

“Oh!” Keanu suddenly exclaimed and I looked up at his surprised face. Following his gaze into the belly of the closet, I locked eyes with the frightened cleaning lady.

She’d shoved herself behind one of the wooden storage shelves. Appearing terribly cramped and uncomfortable, I extended my hand to help her out. Clumsily, she clambered out of her hiding spot. Obviously shaken, she mumbled something incoherent as she meandered her way past us and out the door.

Smoothing back her untidy hair, she turned to look at us as she stated. “I will pray for you. Whatever happens.”

“Come on. This way.” His hand on the small of my back, Keanu ushered me swiftly towards the end of the hallway.

Approaching a large steel door just north of the janitorial closet, I thought it was ironic that it would have been the exact escape route that the cleaning lady and I would have used.

Pushing the door open, Keanu checked the area for unwanted eyes before letting me come through.

“Okay.” Waving his hand for me to move forward and follow him, I cringed as my bare feet left the cool tile of the facility and landed on the freezing cement floor of the parking garage. Exhaling, my breath fogged as the heat of my body clashed with the frigid air around me.

Winter.

I’d forgotten that this side of the world was likely embraced in the throes of an arctic season which made this venture even more dangerous.

Hand in hand, we moved quickly through the garage. Leading me toward a dark sedan near the very back of the building, Keanu silently pointed to some cameras that were hidden atop cement pillars. Thankfully, Keanu seemed to know all their exact locations and the directions they were pointing. It appeared that he’d strategically parked this car in the cameras’ blind spots.

I marveled at his agent abilities. Up until now, I hadn’t seen him in action. Calm, smooth and in control, he reminded me of a young Hawaiian James Bond.

With the keys in his hand, he popped the trunk a few feet before we reached the car. Lifting the lid, he pulled out a large piece of black fabric. It didn’t flow like a blanket though, it was rigid and oval.

Signaling for me to get into the trunk, I paused and gave him a wary glance. He gave me a reassuring smile and I reluctantly climbed into the trunk of the car, hoping that it would not become my means of travel for very long. I’d never been one to be claustrophobic, but this was certainly going to test my limits.

Lying down, it was surprisingly comfortable. The view from the trunk, however, was unnerving.

A coffin.

That’s what it reminded me of. Even though I’d obviously never been in a coffin before, I was certain this would be the view—and the lid was coming down soon.

After giving me a final reassuring look, Keanu placed the strange fabric over me like an enormous black shield. With only tiny slivers of light gliding in from under the fabric, I was suddenly buried in complete darkness.

Chapter 13

There was a kid I knew on the reserve, his name was Juno. He had been hit by a drunk driver while riding his bike home from school.

I went to his funeral.

Normally, our tribe’s funerals were an outside, almost festive, event where a soul was reunited with the spirit world. I’d been to several of the elders’ funerals before; it was the celebration of transition.

The body of the deceased was placed on a special altar, decorated with the symbols of their life and times. After much song, dance and food, the altar and their body was lit ablaze, turning their body back to ashes, to become one with the earth again.

Juno’s funeral was not one of these.

My grandmother and I had to travel to a nearby town to attend Juno’s funeral. His parents had left the reservation years before and lived in the ‘modern’ world for a time. They insisted that Juno’s funeral be one of current trends, not a ‘hokey tribal celebration’ as they’d put it.

Entering the funeral parlor, I was immediately intimidated and uncomfortable. Hordes of people, all clothed in black, wept as they hugged one another and uttered their condolences.

An eerie hush lingered over the crowd as the service began; only whispers and the occasional sniffle could be heard. The minister spoke words of sorrow, forgiveness and of Juno’s progression to a heavenly place.

We sang hymns from a booklet and his father read a final letter to his son. Then everyone was invited to approach the casket to say their good-byes.

All I could think about as I stood in the aisle, awaiting my own last moment with Juno, was that it was an open casket.

I had seen plenty of dead bodies before, but they were always older, much older. I’d never laid eyes upon a dead child before. Juno wasn’t a close friend of mine or anything, but I felt incredibly disturbed none the less.

As the person ahead of me approached Juno’s coffin, a sense of anxiety stirred within me.

I didn’t know if I could do this.

Before I knew it, it was my turn. I moved slowly toward the shiny black box. Taking a deep breath in, I summoned the courage from within and looked directly at Juno’s body.

He wasn’t exactly as I remembered him. He looked like he was sleeping, but appeared waxen and fake. Dressed in a black suit like he was one of the attendants of his own funeral, he was merely a shell. That’s what I saw, a shell, a remnant of someone who had once been, but was no longer. There was no glow, no flush of the cheeks, no…life. All that remained was the vehicle that had once carried a vibrant soul.

That’s the day I was no longer afraid of dying. While I wasn’t fearful of death anymore, I had, however, become terribly afraid of coffins. Not the tight fit, so much, but the idea of being placed into the ground, buried and left to rot under six feet of dirt.

Curled into the corner of the trunk, I fought fears and anxieties long forgotten. Pushing my irrational worries aside, I attempted to control my breathing and focus on the task at hand. Besides, having been kidnapped and held by unsympathetic government agents had recently taught me what real fear was about and I wasn’t going to ruin my chance to escape it.

Tucked into the belly of the trunk, I felt the car start. The low rumbling of the muffler beneath me rattled as I sensed the car moving forward.

I had no idea what to expect next.

Considering that Keanu had placed a fabric cover over me, I assumed that the guard might inspect the trunk, probably as a standard precaution.

Caressing my abdomen with my hand, I attempted to sooth myself as much as my tiny passenger.

We’ll get through this little one.

I hoped I wasn’t lying to her.

***

The car moved steadily forward. For a moment I thought maybe we’d already gone through the checkpoint and we were home free.

That’s when the car slowed to a stop.

My ears perked when I heard male voices mumbling outside. While I couldn’t make out what they were saying, the tone sounded friendly. The car doors were being opened and then slammed shut. After the fourth door closed, I braced myself for the inevitable.

An audible click directly above me caused me to flinch and a fresh wave of adrenaline shot through my veins. My mouth went dry as I heard footsteps approaching the back of the car. Two men chatted, one obviously Keanu, as their voices neared my location.

“Where are you headed?” An unfamiliar voice asked politely.

“Washington. Just going home for the weekend.” Keanu’s voice was calm and casual.

The men were standing just outside the trunk. I held my breath and closed my eyes, hoping this would be over soon and we’d be free.

The trunk lid groaned a little as it was fully opened. Praying that no part of me was visible from under the dark cloth, I waited, paralyzed.

“Which part of Washington you from?” The guard asked as I felt his eyes scanning the inside of the trunk. His voice was so loud now; I knew he was only inches away from me.

“Richmond.” Keanu’s voice cracked ever so slightly as the pressure mounted before him.

Finally, after several moments of intense praying, the trunk slammed shut and I heard the men walk away. I wanted to scream with joy that we’d done it!

We’re free baby! We’re free!

All we had left to do was drive off the base and join the world of the living again!

Feeling the car jiggle a little and a door slam, I knew Keanu had gotten back into the driver’s seat. Excitement like I’d never known welled inside me.

Before this entire nightmare, I’d never thought about what it must be like to be incarcerated, or worse, sitting on death row. To be a prisoner awaiting their last meal or walking the last mile toward the moment of their last breath.

Now I understood what anxieties and pains they must endure…and the appreciation of freedom. I’d only been captive for a short time compared to many inmates, but I’d faced my worst fears and my own death head on, only to come out the other side a changed soul.

My perspectives had altered so drastically, I felt like a different person. Now being on the run, it crossed my mind that I would have to consider changing my name, which seemed appropriate now that I’d been reborn into a different light.

I had never been a materialistic person but whatever obsessions I used to have regarding my hair, make-up, clothes, etc. were virtually non-existent on my list of priorities now. Even school and my once precious archeology were pressed so far back into the recesses of my former self, I didn’t care if I ever went back.

Amy.

I would always miss Amy. I knew I could never see her again. It would too risky to associate myself with anyone I knew in my former life.

Even my grandmother, the wonderful soul who welcomed me into her life from the day she found me in the cave, would have to be left behind, filed into the memory banks of my past.

Someday, I knew that I would find a lesson in all of this, maybe even an appreciation, someday, a long time from now.

With the car moving slowly forward, inching us across the borders of salvation, I heard a noise that chilled me to the bone.

Tears streamed from my eyes immediately as a loud siren screamed outside the car. I could distinguish angry shouts emanating somewhere in the distance.

They know!! They’re looking for me!

A million thoughts raced through my mind. Did the cleaning woman get caught and was forced to tell what she knew? Did they find the guard’s unconscious body in the shower stall? Maybe they went into my room for whatever reason and realized I was nowhere to be found.

As I was preparing myself for the worst, the car suddenly pealed forward, sending me rolling towards the rear of the trunk. Smashing my head against something hard, a sharp pain ripped through my forehead. A trickle of warmth drizzled down my forehead and dripped onto my hand. Crying out in pain, I applied pressure to my throbbing head with my hand.

The car swerved sharply to the left and then to the right. My entire body slammed into one side of the trunk and then the other as the car sped away from the facility.

Releasing my hand from my gushing wound and spreading my body out, I pressed my hands and feet into the four corners of the trunk to prevent from further being flung around like a rag doll.

Blood ran down my face and soaked my hair as I held on for dear life.

My poor baby! I hope you’re okay in there!

The sound and sensation of gravel clunking under the vehicle dominated my little space. There was an occasional tinny noise as tiny rocks rebounded off metallic parts in the undercarriage.

Poor Keanu!

He’d given up everything for us. Keanu most likely wouldn’t be able to see his family again because of me. He was going to end up a fugitive for the rest of his life—if he even lived through the ordeal.

The car’s rear end fishtailed violently as we fled from the dark authorities. Hot, salty tears cascaded down my face as my arms and legs shook from holding my body taut against the sides of the trunk.

Why? Why me? I don’t want this!

Between the rocks beating the underside of the car and the revving of the engine, I couldn’t hear anything else—until I heard a loud banging noise. Every few seconds, I could make out a bang, followed by a sound that reminded me of hail pelting a tin roof.

Bullets!

I nearly threw up with the realization that we were being shot at. The whole scenario reminded me of the cheesy chase scenes depicted in an action movie, only this was terrifyingly real.

With all the noise going on around me, it was startling when everything but the roar of the engine suddenly stopped. The car bounced lightly as it appeared to move from the gravel road to smooth highway. From then on, the car moved at breakneck speeds. The winds whistled around the car as the aerodynamics were pushed to the limits.

Surprisingly, and much to my relief, the gunshots had ceased. Had we gotten away? Did they give up and decide to let me and my baby go free?

Somehow I doubted that.

Chapter 14

It felt like hours before the car slowed to a stop. I’m sure I fell asleep several times, but never for long. Any little sound outside the car would alert my consciousness and startle me awake.

The deep wound on my forehead had finally stopped seeping blood and had coagulated into a dry and crusty patch. If I scrunched up my face in any way, the dried blood pinched at my skin like a mud mask at a spa that had set and was ready to come off.

With the car now parked, I breathed a sigh of relief. I heard Keanu get out of the car and close his door.

The trunk lid clicked open, a sound that literally brought tears to my eyes. Whatever phobia of coffins I had up until this point was either cured or going to become vastly worse after this whole experience.

Pushing the lid open with my hand, a flood of sunshine streamed into the darkness of the trunk. Though the rays of light were a welcoming sight, the pain in my eyes from adjusting to the brightness was brutal. My eyes watered relentlessly but I didn’t mind, I was free.

A large shadow suddenly blocked the sun from assaulting my eyes further. Shielding my eyes with one hand, I looked up and was ecstatic to see Keanu standing there.

“Oh my God! I’m so sorry!” Examining my bloodied and swollen forehead, he took my hands and assisted me gently out of the trunk.

Fumbling as I climbed out, my legs wobbled as my equilibrium adjusted itself. After being tossed around and pressing my limbs against the walls of the trunk, I felt like a newborn baby giraffe trying to accustom myself to my new surroundings.

“I’m okay.” I mumbled as I put my hand to my forehead, cringing at the copious amount of dried blood that had accumulated there.

Glancing around with concern clouding his handsome face, Keanu then led me to the passenger side. “They might still be following us.” Closing my door, he strode quickly around the front of the car to the driver’s side.

Checking over his shoulder for oncoming traffic, he then signaled and sped off down the highway. Watching the world fly past the window, my eyes brimmed with tears.

While there was very little snow on the ground, the trees glistened and glinted in the sunshine courtesy of the hundreds of snowflakes resting on their limbs. Acres of pasture spread out beside me like a royal carpet covered with white satin blankets. The sky smiled down upon me with its deep shade of blue, clear with the exception of the occasional puff of white cloud.

The sun.

Something I’d never once appreciated as much as I did in this moment. The glorious and loyal star that spread its warmth and rays of gold each and every day, never once bitter for the lack of appreciation.

How I loved and appreciated it now.

“Are you sure you’re okay?” Keanu asked quietly, reaching for my hand and taking it into his own. I’m sure I looked positively broken with my face battered and bloody, but if he could only feel the elation bursting from within my soul.

Nodding enthusiastically, I smiled brightly and turned my attention back to the scenery.

Nothing mattered to me right now. Only the delicious feast my eyes were devouring at the moment. The sensory deprivation I’d endured was more drastic than I thought.

Even though I wasn’t technically considered ‘human’, my needs were apparently the same. I craved human companionship. I needed visual stimulation and change. I loved and desired love. My sanity depended on my freedom.

How sad it must be for criminals. Sure, they did the crime, they have to do the time…but I had learned to empathize with their situation.

I had only been kept from humanity for a brief time; I couldn’t imagine how excruciating it would be to spend years locked away from life.

“We need to find a motel.” Keanu muttered under his breath as he read a sign indicating we were only a few miles from a town. “I just don’t know if it’s safe to stop yet.”

“What happened after the guard inspected the trunk?” I asked as I watched a couple of horses trot gracefully through their field.

“I’m not exactly sure, but I’d guess that they discovered the guard in the showers and began a search for you immediately.” His hands clenched the steering wheel tightly as he spoke. “I…panicked when I heard the alarm.” He sighed and shook his head angrily, obviously annoyed with himself. “I just got in the car and took off. I guess they realized I had you and chased me. I’m…sorry Cassia, I screwed everything up.” His eyes lowered in shame as he spoke.

“No, Keanu, it will be okay. You’ll see, it will all work out.” I didn’t know if the thrills of freedom were playing with my senses, but I felt elated and ready to take on the world.

Shaking his head and turning his face toward mine, his eyes filled with fear and his voice wavered. “No Cassia. It won’t be alright. You have no idea what they’re capable of…or what they’ll do if they find us.”

***

“Over here!” Keanu waved his hand frantically as he signaled me to follow him up a set of stairs. Leaving the safety of the car, I jogged toward him, glancing around with paranoia.

“Quickly!” He hissed as I reached him. Shielding me and my bloodied face by opening his jacket and pushing me against his chest, he led me up a flight of stairs to a motel room he’d just purchased with cash and a fake ID.

Shoving the keys into the lock and opening the door, he led me inside and slammed the door shut. Going straight to the window, he peeked around the gaudy curtains to see if anyone was following us.

“I’m…gonna have a shower, okay?” I hugged myself as I watched him scan every angle of the street.

“Mm mm.” He mumbled, leaving me to wonder if he’d actually heard me at all.

Though I felt like rolling my eyes at his suspicions, I knew all too well that I should be just as cautious and concerned with our welfare.

Closing the door behind me, I cringed at the questionable state of the bathroom. If there was one thing that I’d been pleasantly subjected to while locked up at the facility, it was sterility. I was sure that the cleaning lady who’d cleaned my cell never left even one hair or speck of dust.

This place, however, didn’t look like it even had a cleaning lady.

Turning and looking at myself in the mirror, I gasped. It was much worse than I thought. No wonder Keanu had insisted we stop so I could get cleaned up.

A two inch gash marred the entire left side of my forehead. In a normal situation, I’d have at least ten stitches sewn onto my head by now.

Blood had run down my face from the wound like a river that had burst free from a dam. Clotted blood coated my left eyelid and had meandered all the way down to my collarbone. Chunks of my hair were so matted and colored with my blood that they looked like thick dreadlocks.

If someone had seen me, they’d surely mistake me for the character in the movie ‘Carrie’. I shuddered as I stood before my reflection.

Creepy.

Undressing, I noticed my swollen belly in the mirror. Despite my horrific appearance, I saw the beauty of creation budding right before my eyes. Caressing my baby’s temporary home, I smiled as she wriggled within me.

Turning on the water and stepping into the shower, I let a moan of pleasure escape my lips as the hot water pelted my skin. Raising my face to the showerhead’s rain, I felt the pains of the day wash from my face. Looking down at the drain, the red-tinted waters swirled down into oblivion.

If only my problems could be resolved so easily.

I lingered in the warmth for as long I could, but I knew I had to get out soon. We had to get back on the road as soon as possible.

Guilt twisted in my stomach, I hated the fact that Keanu had to be brought into this nightmare. Sure, he was assigned to me in the beginning, sent to uncover all my secrets and knowledge about my strange background.

Too bad there was nothing to tell. Like I had any idea I was some oddity, a rare anomaly among men.

Examining my hand as the droplets of water trickled over my skin, I wriggled my fingers, watching the tendons and muscles bend and flex with the slightest movement. Turning my hand over, I followed the swirls, patterns and lines etched upon my fingertips and palms.

How was I so different? I had the same skin, the same muscles and bones, how could I have a completely foreign genetic blueprint compared to everyone else?

Assuming I was the only one.

It then dawned on me.

My mother knew!

She’d abandoned me in the cave for a reason and this was it! She knew I was ‘different’ because…she was.

I exhaled as I came to the realization. The anger that I carried for her all these years dissipated and was replaced with a mixture of guilt and relief. Pregnant with me, the situation was likely very similar to what I was experiencing. She was most likely an alien too, or whatever I was, carrying the child of a human.

Alien.

I didn’t even believe in that kind of stuff before all of this. It was Agent Evans who used the word first, leaving me to come to no other conclusion except that I was of some extraterrestrial descent.

Closing my eyes, I tried to imagine what my mother looked like. It was impossible. As much as I would’ve liked to picture her to be a raven-haired beauty with bronzed skin and a graceful body, I could envision nothing more than some weird alien creature, all gangly, scaly and green.

I was sure she was beautiful. How could she attract my father if she were some deformed beast?

My father…a human maybe?

I’d never given much thought to him. Maybe he was the alien and my mother was the human. My head began to hurt as I contemplated all the ideas. Somehow, though, I knew that my mother was the one. The one like me.

He could’ve been just a guy she met once or maybe they’d been in love. All I knew is that my grandmother never mentioned anyone but my mother. Grandmother had always been very secretive about finding me in the cave and come to think of it, how did she know it was my mother that left me there? How did she know that my father wasn’t there too?

As the puzzle pieces of my past began to fit together and more pieces came to light, I knew what I had to do.

I need to get to Sedona. I have to talk to grandmother and I have to make her take me to that cave!

The cave. The beginning of my life and the source of all the mysteries in my life.

Why? Why did my mother leave me?

Running my hand over my belly, I knew the answer.

A deep sorrow eclipsed my soul as I realized that my mother was only trying to protect me. It made sense that she would leave me behind; it was the only way to make me anonymous.

Frowning, I contemplated all the scenarios that my mother might have endured. The days leading up to my birth were likely wrought will peril and pain. Now knowing the fierce instinct of protection I had for my own unborn baby, I understood my mother’s decision wholeheartedly.

Warm tears rolled down my face as I faced the truth. I too, was going to have to make a decision. If I gave birth to my baby and kept her, her identity and bloodline would be evident.

How was I going to protect her?

***

Thankfully the front desk had a first aid kit. Keanu had requested a band-aid for his blistered heel, which was a lie of course; he needed it for my forehead. He had to change the story a bit to hide the fact that I was in the room too.

He’d originally checked in with his false ID telling the receptionist that he was staying in the room alone for the sole purpose of throwing off the authorities. I didn’t say so but I was certain they were much smarter than that, and by the energy that Keanu was giving off, I was sure he knew that too.

They. Who were they? I intended to find out.

“Keanu.” I mustered up the courage to ask him after we’d gotten back into the car and driven a few miles out of town. “Who are…the men in black?”

Exhaling sharply, he turned his head away from me. His eyes scanned the rolling hills of white moving quickly passed his window. He was silent for a few moments. I wasn’t sure if he was deciding how to tell me or if he should.

Finally, he spoke. His eyes clouded over with a dark hue and his voice was low and monotone. “They are an elite task force designed to find, capture and contain any and all anomalous beings or objects.”

I winced at his words. He spoke them as though he’d been programmed like a soldier…a drone.

“Are they…a part of the government?” I asked though I wasn’t sure I actually wanted to hear anymore.

“Yes…and no.” He replied quickly, not elaborating.

“What are they called?” I fully expected him to respond with one of the usual suspects, Army, CIA, FBI…the big ones.

Again he sighed, obviously uncomfortable with my questions, but eventually he surrendered. “At first, they had no name. Just an anonymous division in the shadows of government.” He switched on the wipers as a few droplets of rain fell onto the windshield. “Their name evolved over time.”

I glanced out the window as I waited for him to explain.

“They are the Majestic 12. Sometimes called Men in Black. They formed from twelve different elite secret societies within the United States. The rumors…are true.” Keanu’s face was white. He looked as though he was fighting back the urge to vomit. He also looked scared.

Instantly curious about all the things I’d heard over the years about UFO’s and conspiracies, I turned to him excitedly. “Roswell. The UFO crash. Is it true?”

Furrowing his brow and giving me a disapproving glance, he uttered with anger in his tone. “Many, many people have died for the secrets kept by the Majestic 12. Don’t you understand how powerful…and evil…they are? They’re all about gaining power, money, and manipulating the public.”

I bristled at his annoyance with my question. Facing myself forward, I pouted and stared out at the highway. I understood fully, thank you very much. The brutality and inhumanity I’d experienced over the last few months was all too fresh in my mind.

Sighing, he reached his free hand to my knee and rubbed it apologetically. “I’m sorry Cassia; I’ve seen a lot of bad things.”

A hot anger tore through me. Slapping his hand off my knee, I turned and glared him down like a cat ready to slash open her prey. “You’ve seen a lot of bad things? I’ve lived through those bad things! How dare you insinuate that I don’t understand how horrible these people are!”

“Cassia, I’m sorry.” His eyes focused back and forth from the road to me as he apologized. “I didn’t mean that you…” He gave up on explaining. I’d huddled myself against the passenger door and was staring vehemently out the window.

After a few minutes of allowing my blood to cool, I asked him without facing him. “If they’re so awful, why do you work for them?”

The silence behind me was unnerving. Again, I didn’t know if he was going to answer me. I hated all the secrecy.

“I…wasn’t given a choice.” His voice was thick with bitterness.

I turned to face him as I asked. “What do you mean?”

His eyes darkened as he gripped the steering wheel tighter, making a squeaking sound as his palms rubbed against the leather.

“I saw something…long ago…when I was fifteen.” He inhaled and exhaled sharply. “Afterwards, I was forced to work for them.”

“Forced.” I repeated, frowning.

“Yes. Forced.”

I contemplated my choice of words carefully. The anger behind his eyes was frightening. Slowly reaching my hand out and placing it on his forearm, I probed him further. “How did they force you?”

I had visions of the Majestic 12 hypnotizing Keanu or beating him into submission. My stomach turned as I considered that he, too, may have lived through unimaginable pains.

Though he was a very big man, he appeared so frail to me at that moment. His voice wavered and his eyes glistened with unshed tears as he spoke.

“They have my sister…Keila.”

Chapter 15

My head was pressed against the glass of the passenger side window, bobbing occasionally with the movement of the car over the highway.

The sun had just set leaving the moon in charge of lighting our way. A silvery hue now blanketed the darkening countryside. The snowflakes that had reflected the sun’s golden glow all day now glistened like white diamonds dancing upon a sheet of glass.

The cold of the night invaded the interior of the car. Keanu turned up the heat when I shivered and pulled my hands up into the arms of my sleeves.

The escape had only happened this morning but I felt like it had been weeks already. My brain hurt with all the new information being processed.

Fear and adrenaline had kept me buzzing for most the day. Even hunger hadn’t invaded my thoughts or my stomach until just recently. I had been on high alert all day, anticipating that the Majestic 12 would jump out at us at any moment.

Weary, I closed my eyes for just a second before forcing them open again. I was too afraid to sleep. Unconsciousness would leave me vulnerable. If I stayed awake, I could see them coming.

You should rest.

My mind thought it, but I wasn’t sure if it was me or the baby that had actually said it. Now I was just losing my mind.

Have to get to Sedona. The cave. I thought, knowing that all my questions were going to be answered there.

One thing that I wondered was if the cave was going to look just like I’d seen in my dreams. How could I know what the cave looks like if I hadn’t been there since I was an infant? Would grandmother even remember where it was? Was it safe to go there? Probably not.

I thought of the dream. The reoccurring dream. It hadn’t visited me for quite a while. Last I recalled, there was a mysterious man in my dreams who’d carried me through a snowy desert to the cave. I actually hoped I would dream soon. I wasn’t enjoying being awake right now. My reality was almost unbearable.

Now that I’d gotten my freedom back, I couldn’t bear to think of the Majestic 12 capturing me again and dragging me back to their facility. Maybe it was just because I was exhausted and delirious with stress, but I actually felt that death was a much better option than facing the men in black again.

In some strange way, I had the feeling that it wasn’t just the Majestic 12 that was stalking us. Death was right on our heels as well. It was just a matter of time before one of them found us.

Resisting sleep, my eyelids forced their way over my dry and exhausted eyes. A wave of relaxation swept over me as I surrendered to the unconsciousness. Almost instantly, a dream began, but it was not what I expected.

***

A rainbow of colors danced in front of my eyes. It was like a blanket of northern lights swirling around me, embracing me. I realized quickly that I was completely naked, but for some reason, I didn’t care. I had no concern whatsoever for my exposure.

As the palette of shades waltzed in a circular rhythm around me, I noticed a figure approaching me from outside the peaceful tornado. Immediately drawn to the being, I opened my arms to offer an embrace. I knew this person, this creature. I instinctively knew her to be my mother even though I’d never seen her before.

Light. She was made of light. Her body, inside and out, was comprised totally of energy. White energy.

Stepping out from the confines of the rainbow whirlwind, I sensed her smile at me. She spoke to me, not with a voice, but with a thought. Tears welled in my eyes as I heard her tell me she was proud of me.

Raising her right hand, she placed it on the center of my belly. An exchange occurred between her and the baby. An exchange of light. Inside of me, the baby squirmed with excitement, somehow knowing her ancestor was nearby.

For just a moment, I felt like an outsider. An intruder. I didn’t understand what was happening to me. I needed to know why this fate had been placed upon me.

Why was I left on the Earth? Was I alone here? Why had my people abandoned me?

Part of me began to recall my true nature, my real identity, but the knowledge was just barely out of reach and the closer I got to it, the faster it moved from me.

“What am I? Who am I?” I yelled into the oblivion.

I tried to communicate with my mother but her essence only smiled at me and began to move away. Attempting to run after her, I realized I couldn’t travel forward. Crying, I called for her over and over again.

Just before she faded out of view, however, she turned around one last time. Her luminescence shifted and became more solid. With her features shifting to human, I recognized her face…it was mine.

Within seconds of the realization that she wore my face, it appeared to melt away like a wax mannequin. Flesh and blood bled away from her…my…face leaving only patches of white bone peering through.

I opened my mouth to scream, but I had no voice. Raising my hand to my mouth, I realized that my skin was mirroring hers…and mine was liquefying and sliding off my face as well.

A faceless monster, I flung myself upon the ground and tore at the chunks of skin falling off of me. Holding what remained of my face in my hands, I suddenly began to shake.

Then it all ended.

“Cassia! Wake up!” Sweat beaded on my forehead and chest as Keanu shook me by the shoulder. “It’s just a dream Cassia!”

My eyes fluttered open as I tried to focus on my surroundings. The amnesia of waking after a dream faded as I realized where I was. Keanu watched me with concern as he kept his hand on my shoulder.

“Are you okay? You were screaming.” He asked after he was certain I had regained my composure.

“Yes. It…was a weird one.” I took in deep breaths and tried to exhale slowly in order to slow my racing heart.

“Jesus, you were shrieking. It sounded awful.” Looking a little shaken, he reached to push the button for the radio.

Keanu turned the knob on the dashboard as he searched for a good tune. The long stretch of highway we were on left us with few choices considering the reception we’d get in the middle of nowhere.

Blips of voices and undesirable songs floated throughout the interior of the car. He didn’t seem to be much for talking right now. After the screaming incident during my nightmare, I think I freaked him out a little.

I guessed that he was rather stressed.

If the Majestic 12 had his sister held prisoner, he was probably worried about what her fate would be, considering his recent actions. He’d stolen hot commodity from a powerful and secret government agency, I’d be concerned too.

I wonder what he saw?

It had to have been pretty spectacular if the Majestic 12 felt the need to blackmail Keanu into working for them. I wanted to ask him but the expression on his face didn’t look very inviting, in fact, he looked downright sick.

“What’s wrong?” I asked when I noticed his jaw was clenched and his face had paled dramatically. “Are you okay?”

“Um, yah, I’m just tired…and hungry. I’ll be okay.” He waved his hand toward me in attempts to shrug it off.

“Well, I’m really hungry too. What do you say we stop for a bite at the next town?” My stomach even growled as I spoke the words.

“No!” He shouted suddenly, looking at me with wild eyes. “We might be recognized!”

It was then I realized he might be having a small nervous breakdown…who could blame him.

“Keanu.” I began calmly, “I’m pregnant. The baby needs food. I’m sure if we just go through a fast food drive-thru, we’ll be fine. Okay?”

His expression softened with the mention of the baby.

“You’re right. Yes. Food. Okay.” He muttered as he gave his head a shake. It occurred to me that he’d been driving for numerous hours without a break. He’d stopped twice to let me get out and pee, but other than that, he hadn’t taken a break to rest at all.

“Keanu?” Keeping my voice calm and quiet, I attempted to tame the beast.

“What?” His eyes were red around the rim as he remained focused on the road.

“How about letting me drive after we eat? You need to rest.” I cringed as I anticipated a verbal lashing but instead, he looked mildly relieved.

“Um, yah, sure, after we eat.”

Another half hour passed before we reached a sleepy little town called Davisville.

Ohio.

We’d made it a lot further than I thought.

Pulling into the center of town, we scanned the main street for a quick meal. Spotting a burger joint, I pointed to it with one hand and folded the other around my growling belly.

After ordering and handing the attendant a large sum of money, Keanu parked the car at the far end of the parking lot and we dug in.

I thought he had a big appetite before! He’d ordered six hamburgers, four large fries and an extra large pop! My order appeared meager compared to his; mine was only two chicken burgers, one large order of fries and a medium pop.

Shoveling our food in quickly and digesting for a few moments, I felt rejuvenated. Keanu looked much healthier too.

Right away, however, my bladder began protesting. I knew he wasn’t going to approve of the idea of me going into the restaurant, but I hated peeing on the side of the road.

“Keanu.” I started, adding a touch of sweetness to my voice.

“Mmm mm?” He mumbled as he threw a few remaining fries into his mouth.

“I…need to use a washroom.” Directing my eyes toward the restaurant, I hinted to him that I wanted to use a real toilet.

His mouth turned down with immediate disapproval. Frowning as he surrendered, he soon realized that he couldn’t compete with my pleading eyes.

“Hurry! And talk to no one!” His eyes were dark and serious as he waggled his pointer finger at me.

Giving him a cheeky smile, I trotted off to use the bathroom.

Pushing the glass door open, the scent of warm food wafted under my nose. Though I was pleasantly full after our meal, I considered ordering some ice cream. I thought better of the idea after recalling Keanu’s order to get in and get out quickly without speaking to anyone.

I glanced around the crowded restaurant. Families gathered around small tables and enjoyed their food and each other’s company. Several employees stood behind the main counter, taking orders and serving customers. In a far corner, a large television entertained some of the men with a football game.

Scanning the open concept room for any indication of where the bathrooms might be hidden, I finally spotted the ‘women’s’ symbol from across the room.

Meandering through the aisles, I was careful not to bump into the highchairs that were placed at the edge of some of the tables. The tiny eyes of babes stared innocently at me as I walked by.

One little girl smiled widely at me, her face covered with mashed French fries. Giving her a happy grin, she then offered me a fry that had been squashed between her chubby fingers. Stifling a giggle, I whispered a polite ‘no thank you’ and continued to the bathroom.

Breathing in the atmosphere, I was elated to be surrounded by people again. A sense of normalcy crept into my heart, though I was afraid of the consequences of getting comfortable with it. I had no idea what the general population would do if they knew what I was…or what I wasn’t.

Entering the washroom, I was pleased with the fresh scent of vanilla. The cell I’d been locked away in for months had been devoid of any pleasantries, including scent. Sure, after the cleaning lady came, there was a strong smell of bleach for a couple hours, but that was no comparison to the sweet fragrance of flowers or perfumes.

Sighing as I emptied my bladder, I washed my hands in the sink. Pumping the soap into my hands and lathering, I realized just how spoiled I was before all this happened. Even the most basic freedoms, like perfumes and soaps, were a luxury that I took for granted.

Glancing at my reflection in the mirror, I was sad at how tired and haggard my appearance had become, not to mention the bruises and healing scars. At only twenty, I shouldn’t have looked so worn out. Thankful for my newfound freedom, however, I wasn’t about to allow myself to worry about such trivial things.

Smiling at myself, I smoothed back my long black hair and moved toward the exit. Walking past the customers once again; I noticed that everyone’s attention was on the television screen in the far corner of the room.

The large screen television flashed a breaking news bulletin. Big and bold, there it was. Something I thought I’d never see on national news…my face.

Turning and running from the restaurant before anyone could recognize me, I ran toward the car. Flinging open the passenger side door, I climbed in and promptly pushed down the lock with a click.

“You okay?” Keanu’s face was contorted into a confused grimace as he watched me breathe heavily.

Fighting to slow my racing heart, the only word I could utter was, “Go!”

Panicked, Keanu slammed the stick into reverse and peeled out of the restaurant parking lot. Tiny rocks sprayed in all directions while the back end of the car fishtailed. Hitting the highway, he pressed his foot hard against the gas pedal. The smell of burnt rubber invaded my nostrils as the car took off down the road.

“What happened?” His face was grave as his eyes darted back and forth between the road and my face. I tried to look calm but I know the fear in my eyes betrayed me.

“I came out of the bathroom and…there was a TV up on the wall and…I was on it. My face was on the news.” My voice quivered as I explained, the gravity of the situation began to sink in.

Swallowing hard, sweat beading on his brow, he inquired. “What did it say about you?”

“I…don’t know, I just ran.” Realizing that I should have paid more attention, I gave myself a mental kick.

“Dammit!!” Keanu pounded his fist against the steering wheel. At first I thought he was mad at me and, honestly, I wouldn’t have blamed him.

Watching the dark highway roll underneath us at breakneck speeds, I again thought of what life could have been. With my womb expanding and the arrival of a baby in just a few months, reality slapped me in the face.

Not only was I being hunted by a bloodthirsty cabal, I was now a fugitive. Guilty of what, I wasn’t sure yet, but I trusted the Majestic 12 with one thing, they would destroy me, one way or another.

A deep sadness wrapped itself around my soul.

“I’m sorry.” Tears rolled down my cheeks and my bottom lip trembled as I hung my head. I was to blame for all this; I should’ve just let the Majestic 12 have their way with me. What was one—or two—lives really? Now I’d ruined another, Keanu’s.

“No, no, no, Cassia, this is not your fault. I’m angry because I suspected they’d pull something like this.” His handsome face was etched with anger as he spoke. Reaching over and caressing my face, he added. “I just knew it. They stopped chasing us very quickly. I knew it was too good to be true. Too easy.”

The guilt was too much to bear, I broke down and sobbed. “It is my fault. None of this would’ve happened if I hadn’t gone for testing. I ruined all our lives.”

“Cassia.” His foot lightened on the pedal as he spoke softly to me. “I don’t regret meeting you. I fell in love with you. And…” His hand glided down from my face and landed gently on my stomach. A warm smile kissed his lips when he spoke. “You’re having my baby.”

Oh god! This whole time!

I’d forgotten. I’d forgotten that she—this baby—might not be his.

Chapter 16

“Where are we going?” I inquired after eight hours of driving. We’d turned onto a dirt road several miles before. I assumed he was navigating on back roads to keep a low profile. Even though it appeared he knew where he was going, I wondered what his ultimate plan was.

His jaw muscle tightened a little with my question. Stress and exhaustion marked his expression as he answered. “I don’t know…yet.”

An image of the cave popped into my mind. Sedona. Somehow I knew we had to go there. “We should go home…my home.”

“No.” His answer was swift and final. “That’s the first place they’ll look for us.”

Annoyance writhed inside me with his response. “My people can protect us.” I voiced with a cold tone. “They know the land better than any agent.”

Sighing, he nodded in agreement, but added. “I know Cassia, but these men…they’re unlike any you’ve ever known. They have…ways of breaking people. Of making them talk. Your people would only get hurt if we involved them.”

Exhaling and bumping the back of my head against the headrest, I was frustrated and irritated.

Where were we going to go then? I realized then that he had no real plan; we were just drifting along a lonely highway, avoiding the inevitable. I knew he was just trying to get us as far away from the Majestic 12 as he could but we desperately needed a destination.

What was I going to do, have this baby in the backseat and we’d just keep driving? Live in the car?

And what was going to happen if—when—I told Keanu that this baby might be Agent Meyers’? Was he going to leave us by the side of the road?

Keanu was an awesome guy but I was pretty sure that a blow like that was going to send him running in the opposite direction whether he loved me or not.

Staring up at the blue fabric ceiling of the sedan, I decided I needed a diversion from my thoughts. Leaning over, I switched on the radio. A familiar medley immediately filled the car and soothed me.

Humming along to the tune, I looked out at the world drifting passed my window. The snow had disappeared several hours before. I could tell we were moving into warmer climates the further we drove, but I had no idea what state we were in now.

The sun was setting, filling the sky with shades of orange and coral. I really wanted to sleep in a bed tonight. I wanted a fluffy pillow under my head and mattress cradling me while I slept. With Keanu’s determination to keep driving, I didn’t know if he would even consider the idea.

Oddly enough, like he’d been reading my mind, he suggested it first.

“We should find a room for the night.” His voice was thick with fatigue.

Nodding enthusiastically, I smiled as I thought of indulging in a hot bath and a good night’s rest.

“Cassia, I really think you should do something with your hair.” He glanced over at me with an apologetic expression.

“My hair? What do you mean?” I wasn’t sure if I should be offended or not. Did I look that rough?

“Considering how recognizable you are with long black hair, maybe we should…cut it.” He looked as crushed about it as I felt. Then he added quietly. “And color it.”

His suggestion made perfect sense. Seeing my face plastered on the national news, labeled a fugitive, I knew that Keanu was right. Altering my appearance was logical, but I didn’t know if I even cared anymore.

Sure, I could change my hair, but hiding my growing belly, however, was not going to be as easy. She had grown dramatically over the last week or so. By my calculations, I was finishing my fifth month soon.

I wished I could give her the attention she deserved.

Instead of being trapped in a car with little food or water, we should have been eating healthy or going to doctor visits and listening to her little heartbeat. The poor little creature inside me was just an unwilling passenger being dragged along in a nightmare.

Her mother should be an upstanding citizen, not a fugitive and freak of nature. Well, in all fairness, the fugitive part wasn’t my fault.

Then it dawned on me.

What are they telling the world that I did?

***

Keanu waited until it was dark before we pulled into a motel. I was too tired to notice what town we were in and really, it didn’t matter anymore. All the road signs had become a blur; I didn’t even know what state we were in.

The passenger door groaned as I opened it as though mocking my weariness. Dragging myself into the motel room, I flopped down on the queen sized bed and nearly fell asleep upon impact. My twenty year old body was drained of all energy. Pregnancy, coupled with being on the run, had worn me down to a mere shadow of myself.

I faintly heard Keanu walk across the room and flick on the television. The mattress sank near my feet as he sat at the end of the bed. Flicking the channels, I could hear the minor blips and noises of each channel as he passed by them. It didn’t occur to me that he was looking for anything in specific, but I knew the moment he’d found the channel he was looking for.

“The fugitives are thought to be travelling west. Last spotted in Davisville, Ohio, they were driving a 1998 black sedan.”

I sat straight up after I heard the first sentence.

They’re talking about us!

A large picture of Keanu looking dark and angry flashed onto the screen. “The male accomplice is 6 foot 2, approximately 230 pounds, black hair, brown eyes and light brown skin. He is skilled in martial arts and is considered armed and dangerous.”

Staring into Keanu’s dark brown eyes looking out from the television screen, the moment turned surreal. Up until now, the whole thing felt unreal.

My face was up next.

A less than flattering picture of me was displayed. My long hair hung like black string around my sullen face. Ashen semi-circles settled under my eyes making me look insane and malnourished. The vacant stare behind my lifeless amber eyes gave me an aura of unintelligence. I had no idea when this picture was taken. It didn’t even look like me.

The news anchor continued with a grave tone. “The female fugitive is 5 foot 6, approximately 125 pounds, long black hair, hazel eyes and about five months pregnant. She is also considered armed and dangerous. If you see these people, do not approach them. Contact the local authorities immediately.”

“This is ridiculous.” My voice sounded hollow as I watched a real life nightmare unfold in front of me. “That doesn’t even look like us.”

“They doctored the photos,” Keanu explained, his shoulders hunched and his head hung in his hands as he listened.

“Again, the FBI is asking for your assistance in this matter. Anyone with information pertaining to the fugitives or the murder, please contact your local police immediately.”

“Murder?! What murder?!” Tears welled up in my eyes and I moved to the end of the bed with Keanu. His head sprang up with the word murder. “They’re blaming us for a murder?!”

“Shhh!” Keanu shushed me as the news anchorman continued.

“Yesterday, the body of a Stanley University student was discovered stabbed to death in Cassia Tiponi’s dorm room…”

The anchorman’s words faded away as I stared at the picture now on the television screen. Bile rose to the back of my throat as the room began to spin.

Right before I fainted, I heard myself whisper, “Amy.”

***

I didn’t know which was worse, the searing ache I felt in the pit of my soul for the loss of my dear friend or the blazing hatred I had for the Majestic 12. How could they have killed such a wonderful and innocent person just for the sake of capturing me?

Keanu had to force me to get dressed and walk to the car the next morning. After I fainted, he told me I’d slept for over six hours, which is good that I got some rest, but I started to cry inconsolably immediately after I woke up.

My imagination was concocting all these terrible scenarios in my mind. Visions of Amy’s blood smattered against every wall of my dorm haunted me every time I closed my eyes. A young and beautiful girl’s life had been extinguished, all because of me.

The Majestic 12 wanted to make a point—and they made it. They wanted to show me their power and to what lengths they’d go to get what they wanted and what they wanted was me, and worse, my baby.

Grandmother!

Panic seized me as I thought of what they might do my other loved ones. Would they systematically destroy the lives of every single person that I’d ever cared for? And what about Keanu’s sister? Was she already dead?

“Stop the car!” I yelled, holding my hand over my mouth. Keanu jumped, startled at my sudden outburst, and then quickly steered the car to the side of the road.

Vomit forced its way up my esophagus and passed my lips. Spewing bile between my fingers, I managed to get the window open so I didn’t get it all over the inside of the car. I flung the door open once the car had stopped, sprang from the car like a jackrabbit and managed to stagger a few feet before my stomach lurched again. Gagging and dry heaving, I fell to my hands and knees, tiny bits of gravel stabbed and embedded themselves into the palms of my hands.

Beads of sweat formed on my forehead and tears poured down my cheeks.

“Oh Amy! I’m so sorry!” I whimpered, my arms buckling beneath me. Curling into a ball on the side of the highway, I wailed with despair. So immersed in my sorrow, I barely noticed when Keanu walked over, picked me up and carried me back to the car.

I considered telling him just to leave me by the side of the road. I didn’t know if I cared anymore. I should just let the Majestic 12 have me; maybe then no one else would get hurt. If they had me, maybe they’d forget all about Keanu.

No. They were out for blood now. Keanu was up to his neck in this now too. Both our lives were over.

“Are you alright?” With both hands, he softly pushed the hair out of my face and tucked it behind my ears. His brown eyes searched my face with concern.

“No.” My voice was thick as I shook my head weakly. Tears ran down my face and he tried to wipe them away as fast as they were coming.

“I know. I know.” Pulling me to his chest, I snuggled in and let him comfort me. Though nothing could extinguish the grief, his arms around me made me feel safe—for the moment.

***

“Shhh!’ Keanu hissed raising his finger to his lips. I hadn’t realized I was making noise but he must have been referring to the sound of gravel crunching beneath my feet. I moved over onto a small patch of grass in order to smother any sounds. Crouched behind him, wide-eyed and terrified, I watched as he maneuvered his large body through a small opening in the chain-link fence. Keeping his body low, he ran towards a red minivan parked at the end of a long row of new vehicles.

I had no idea what time it was, but it was very dark.

My back and legs aches from sitting in the car for so long, we had to be getting close to Arizona. We’d been driving for days.

Worried we’d be recognized again, Keanu thought this was a good time to switch vehicles.

His plan seemed simple enough, just scary as hell!

Abandoning the black sedan near an old junkyard, we walked a couple miles to a car dealership we’d noticed as we drove into town. Keanu said we were going to break into one of the vehicles, hide there until morning and wait until the dealership was buzzing with customers. Once it was busy enough, he’d hotwire the vehicle and we’d drive off unnoticed. He claimed that he’d learned that while working with the Majestic 12. It was called hiding in plain sight.

Regardless of how confident he was with his plans, my nerves were shot. Shivering from both the night air and the fear of being caught, I awaited the signal to follow him.

Squinting into the darkness, I panicked when I couldn’t see him anymore. How the hell was he going to signal me if I couldn’t see him?! I didn’t have night vision! I wasn’t a friggin’ cat!

Just then, from out of the darkness, I heard a quick little whistle. That was him, it had to be.

On hands and knees, I crawled through the small opening in the fence. Sharp wires nipped at my clothing, scratching my skin.

“Shit!” I cursed then immediately silenced myself.

Standing and wiping the dirt off myself, I peered across the dark parking lot. Scanning for any movement or sign of Keanu, I hunched over and meandered through the scores of vehicles.

In the distance, I could hear the whizzing of traffic on a nearby road and a lone dog barking a couple of blocks away, other than that; it was silent…and unnerving.

Beneath me, the sound of my shoes scuffed against the pavement. My ears remained focused and pert like a feral cat anticipating a predator. I stopped moving for a moment to assess my location. Realizing that I was nearing the end of the row of minivans, I expected to see or hear Keanu soon.

Looking around, my eyes wide, I wanted to see or hear him in advance. I was worried I’d scream if he startled me.

“Psst. Over here.” Instead, relief swept over me as I heard him call to me from a couple vans over. Moving toward the sound of his voice, I saw him crouched behind the second to last van in the row.

“Whew! I was getting worried!” I whispered as he took my hand and led me to the other side of the van.

I watched as he pulled a pocketknife out of his jacket, flipped it open and shoved it between the frame of the van and the sliding passenger door. He applied a little pressure and I heard an audible click. I was shocked how easily it popped open. Sliding the door open, he offered me his hand and helped me inside. Following behind me, he closed the door.

“There, that was easy huh?” He grinned as we settled ourselves into the backseat.

Rolling my eyes at him, I then surveyed my new surroundings. The interior of the van was a nice, light blue, complete with fabric seats and that new car smell. Breathing in the new van scent, I noticed that it had a DVD player.

“Cool.” I’d never owned a new car before, so for just a moment, I pretended like we were a couple shopping for our first new vehicle together…rather than the reality, which was stealing it.

After stifling a yawn, Keanu offered to lay the back seats down and turn it into a bed. Giving me his jacket to use as a pillow, I lay down and stuffed it under my head.

Lying down beside me, his head propped up by his hand and elbow; he smiled at me…and my swollen stomach.

“What do you think it is? A girl or a boy?” His eyes were bright as he looked at me excitedly.

Clearing my throat, I answered quietly. “A girl.”

“Really? Do you just have that feeling?”

I couldn’t look him in eye. The guilt ate at me. “Yes.”

His face looked so peaceful, so…happy. How could I tell him?

“Cassia?”

Taking a deep breath, I turned onto my side and readied myself to tell him the disgusting truth—that this beautiful creature inside me might not be his, that she very well might be the product of a vicious and brutal attack courtesy of Agent Meyers.

“Keanu, I…” The words got stuck in my throat as I tried to speak, but before I could continue his hand was sliding under my hair and onto the nape of my neck. Shivers of pleasure slid down my body as he pulled my face gently toward his and kissed my lips.

Drifting from the back of my neck and trailing down my shoulder, Keanu slid his hand up the front of my sweater and massaged my right breast.

Kissing my neck with greedy lips, our pace suddenly quickened.

I don’t know if it was the height of danger we were in or if it was the hormones racing through my body, but a ravenous lust took over me. Hungry for him, I pushed him flat on his back and climbed on top of him.

The surprise on his face made me giggle as I pulled my sweater over my head and quickly undid my bra. Like teenagers, we were frantic for one another. Sitting up with me straddled on him, his mouth explored every available part of me while I clutched at his hair and pulled his mouth to mine over and over again.

With his face buried within my chest, I threw my head back and gave in to the moment. A primal, inhuman, instinct took over and I released all the angst, pain and sorrow I’d gained over the last few months of my life.

I didn’t care anymore. If I was only going to live a short time, I wanted to live it to the fullest.

Raising my hands over my head and pressing my hands against the ceiling of the van, I rocked my body against his. Holding me by the waist, he lifted me off and laid me down beside him. Pulling on the elastic top of my sweat pants, he raised his eyebrows twice giving me the hint to take them off.

Removing the rest of our clothes, which I found difficult laying down in the back of a van, he started taking full advantage of me.

Running his tongue along the inside of my thigh, I smiled as I anticipated where he was going next. Pleasuring me for what felt like a perfect eternity, he looked up at me, grinned and then positioned himself over me.

Ever so gently, without added pressure to my belly, he entered me and made love to me for what felt like hours.

Whatever horrible events were painted upon our fates, I would remember this moment as my heaven on earth.

***

A stream of sunlight trickled across my face, announcing the dawn. Stretching and groaning, I cuddled in closer to Keanu’s bare chest.

“Morning gorgeous.” He smiled as he wrapped a large arm around me.

Moaning a happy sound in response, I sighed and fought to open my eyes. Running my tongue over my teeth, I desperately wished I had a toothbrush. I hoped my morning breath wasn’t too bad.

“I wonder what time it is?” I muttered as I reached for my pants.

“Time to go.” Keanu’s body tensed suddenly and his voice was low.

“What? Why?” I looked around quickly and all I could think was—thank goodness for tinted windows.

“Just stay in the back, okay?” He whispered as he carefully set the seats back into position and then moved to the front. “And put your seatbelt on, just in case.”

It was good thing I hadn’t eaten any breakfast yet, I’d probably be throwing it up by now. The stress that I’d released the night before came rushing back to me like a boomerang.

Lying down on the bench seat and waiting for the shadows to pass by the left side of the van, I slowly searched for the lap belt. The people outside the van were laughing and chatting with the salesmen. With just a thin pane of glass between us, I wondered what they would think if they knew I was right beside them, watching and listening.

The entire scenario made me wonder if I’d ever been in that situation, where there was literally someone only a foot or two away from me and I didn’t even know it.

When the group moved to the far side of the van neighboring us, I pulled the two pieces of the lap belt together and clicked them into place. I cringed with the subtle noise of the device, even though only someone with bionic hearing would be able to detect such a slight sound.

Wedged between the back of the driver’s seat and the second row bench seat, Keanu signaled me to stay down and be quiet. I couldn’t deny that annoyed me a little. What was I going to do, bounce up and down on the seat and demand an ice cream cone like a three year old?

Men.

I rolled my eyes in his direction, but he was too busy being Agent Kai.

After a few tense minutes, the salesman and his prospective clients sauntered back to the dealership. Keanu carefully moved forward and slid into the driver’s seat.

Things moved very quickly after that.

Sliding his hands under the steering wheel, he pulled a piece of plastic loose and started fiddling with some wires. It looked just like when the actors did it in the movies. Very soon, I heard the soft purr of the engine and casually, Keanu pulled out of the parking stall.

I was surprised at how calmed he looked. He even rolled down the window and let his arm hang out. After seeing him in action, I understood what he meant by ‘hiding in plain sight’. Why would anyone suspect anything was wrong? He looked perfectly natural.

With my head against the bench seat, I tried to play it calm and cool too. No such luck. Keanu apparently had practice with controlling his emotions much more than I.

I was a nervous wreck.

The baby kicked inside of me. She felt…excited. Her enthusiasm gave me hope that this plan would work.

“I can’t believe it. It seemed so…easy.” I shook my head in disbelief as we drove down the highway, now miles from the dealership. I’d relocated into the seat behind Keanu after he’d given me the okay to sit up and move.

“Yah, you wouldn’t believe some of the sneaky shit that the Majestic 12 gets away with and all because the general public is very trusting…and very naïve.” His tone was cocky, but I allowed him the moment, he’d deserved it. He continued in a more neutral tone. “It could be a few days before the dealership even realize the van is gone…if we’re lucky that is.”

Nodding, I looked above me and noticed the DVD screen flipped up.

I wonder if they have anything for me to watch?

“Darn it.” I slammed the DVD screen back up into position as I realized it had nothing at all to watch but a blue screen.

“Maybe when we stop at the next gas station I’ll grab you a movie okay?” He grinned at me in the rear view mirror.

Clapping my hands, I was actually starting to really enjoy this trip—even though there wasn’t a destination.

Bored, I resorted to my usual activity of looking out the window.

“Want some music?” Keanu asked as he switched on the radio and flipped through the frequencies to find a good song.

Smiling in appreciation when he found an old nineties station, I continued my observation of the outside world.

I’d lost track of what state we were in a while ago, but the climate was getting warmer and warmer.

Nevada?

As green fields gave way to drier and sandier terrain, I realized that regardless of where Keanu thought he was going, he seemed to be taking me home.

“Keanu?”

“Mmm mm?” His eyes were locked steadfast on the road ahead of us.

“I…think we should head for Sedona.” I began and continued before he could protest. “Not to my village though, I…think I know a place where we could hide.”

The image of the cave was so clear in my mind; I could almost see the path that led to my birthplace. It was like destiny whispering on the wind, calling me home.

He looked leery as he glanced back at me through the rear view mirror. After a few moments, however, he seemed to realize that it was better to have an irrational destination than none at all.

As he nodded in surrender, I felt a wave of relief wash over me.

Home. I’m going home.

Chapter 17

Tumbleweeds bounced across the arid terrain just like you’d see in the movies. Large jagged mountains stood stoic in the background as we neared the heart of Arizona. The hot desert sun had raped the land of any humidity, starving the landscape of lush green plants or trees. There were thick forests high on the mountains where the raindrops could reach the ground before the hot sands could evaporate them upon impact.

Otherwise, the desert was a vampire with an insatiable thirst for water.

Memories of my childhood swarmed my thoughts. The Hopi natives were ingenious with the way they adapted to the searing heat, rather than suffer with its tyrannical hold over the land.

“Which way?” Keanu drove straight along a darkening highway, the sun was just settling behind a large mountain to the west.

Indecision overwhelmed me; it was the first time I felt in charge of my own destiny for many months.

Even in the dark, my instinct was strong here. Pointing my finger south, I trusted the inner guidance that was trying to speak to me. I may not have been born a Hopi Indian, but I grew up as one and I’d inherited their sense of spiritual intuition.

The sun gave one last ray of light in our favor as we turned off the road. I wasn’t sure if we were going to find the cave tonight or even at all, but I knew that we could hide here and even the Majestic 12 and all their deceptions wouldn’t be able to trick their way through the desert.

They were on my turf now.

Noticing a good place to hide, I pointed as I spoke. “Pull in behind that big rock.” A row of free-standing rocks, over ten feet high each, would protect us for the night. Even though it was the desert, which most people believed to be nothing more than big sandbox, it had secrets that only those who knew the land could use to their advantage.

Folding down the bench seat to form a bed, Keanu and I settled down for the night. We tilted our heads to look out the back window. Devoid of any light pollution, we silently watched the stars begin to fill the night sky with sparks of illumination.

“Keanu?” Breaking the silence after several minutes, I felt brave enough to ask a delicate question. “What did you see…that made the Majestic 12 force you to work for them?”

His body tensed as he held me. At first I wasn’t sure he was going to say anything, but then he sighed and it was like the floodgates opened.

“You know how there are people claiming to be abducted by aliens?”

“Yah.” I tried to keep my tone neutral, but the weirdness factor rose dramatically with his question. But, who was I to talk; I didn’t have human DNA, so the likelihood of aliens and abductions were quickly becoming a fact I might have to deal with soon.

“Well, my parents…they believed they were being abducted…often.” He took a deep breath and then continued. “They went to psychiatrists, hypnotists and every crazy and kook that they thought would believe them. Some people claimed to believe them, but only ended up talking my parents into giving them money.” He rolled his eyes, sat up and turned to face me. “So after years of watching them suffer and be mocked by everyone, I decided to help them prove it.”

Intrigued, I perked up. How could he prove it?

He kept his eyes down as he told the story. “One night when I was fifteen, I hid in their closet…with a video camera. I thought if I could catch the aliens in action, people would believe them and…well, give them a little respect.” He shifted as though uncomfortable and continued. “Around 3 am, I saw weird lights appear outside their bedroom window and I filmed it. Their window slid open and I expected to see some little green men or something, but I didn’t.”

Totally engrossed, I leaned in like a child listening to a ghost story around a campfire. “What was it?” I asked, my voice hushed and wispy.

“Men. Dressed in white jumpsuits. They injected my parents with some sort of paralyzing hallucinogen and carried them out of the house where they, I assume, performed illegal experiments on them.” His face was somber.

“Illegal experiments?” I wrinkled up my nose as I imagined all the weird things they might have done to his parents, like the anal probes and genetic experiments I’d read about in tabloid magazines.

He nodded, but didn’t elaborate so I left it alone.

“So anyways, here I was with this footage of these guys coming into the house and stealing my parents for a few hours. Turns out they were the Majestic 12 and they do this crap quite often.” Disgust crept into his voice as he spoke of the secret sect. “I knew these guys were probably pretty powerful so I put the footage directly onto the internet. Turns out, it wasn’t such a good idea. They figured out it was me right away.”

“What did they do?”

“First they took my parents one last time and basically gave them terminal cancer. They died within six months.” Unshed tears glistened in his eyes as he spoke. “Then they took Keila and I haven’t seen her since. I knew she was alive somewhere, they’d prove that to me from time to time, but I never saw her again. They said I’d have to work for them…said I was just bright enough to be an asset to them.”

Turning away from me as tears glided down his cheeks, I saw a side of Keanu I didn’t know existed. This huge, hulking man carried so much pain within him, so much sorrow.

The Majestic 12 hadn’t just stolen my humanity; they’d stolen Keanu’s too. They’d taken a part of him and destroyed it. I may have been an anomaly at a genetic level, but I wasn’t alone when it came to being treated inhuman.

I suddenly understood why this baby was so important to Keanu. He had no family left. This tiny person was his only blood-relative—if she was his, that is.

Taking a deep breath in, I realized I had to tell him. Right now.

“You know, not to be rude but…it looks like the baby has grown a lot over the last couple days…your stomach has almost doubled in size since we left the base.” Keanu tiptoed around the sensitive topic.

Rubbing my belly, I had to agree. According to the last ultrasound, I should only be about twenty weeks, but I looked almost eight months along. Even my belly button was popped out like a fully-cooked turkey at Thanksgiving. At least, from what I’d seen in magazines, I’d never been pregnant before so it was hard to tell what I was ‘supposed’ to look like.

“Keanu.” I inhaled sharply as I prepared to tell him the bad news about the baby. Lowering my eyes, I prepared myself for the worst. “I have to tell you something…about the baby.”

His face turned very serious and he reached for my hand. Conjuring the courage, I fought back tears. What if he left me? What if he didn’t care about us anymore once he found out? Searching my entire soul for the courage to speak the truth, I started to speak.

“I don’t know if…she’s yours.” Tears ran down my face with undeserved shame.

His face paled immediately. “What?”

Trembling, I explained. “When I first arrived at the facility…I…he…” I could barely speak. The horror on Keanu’s face was almost too much for me to bear. Whispering the words through sobs, I finally told him. “Meyers raped me.”

“What!?” Fury possessed him as he suddenly lunged for the sliding door. Exiting the vehicle, he pounded the side of the van with his fist. “Bastard!” He screamed, his anger echoing within the valley.

I had no words for the disgust I felt. Even though I’d been violated and was completely innocent, my insides writhed with guilt.

Looking out the side window, I saw him walk angrily away from the vehicle. My voice was small and weak. “Keanu?”

Peeking my head out of the open sliding door, I felt a panic attack brewing as I realized I couldn’t see him anywhere.

He left us. A hot pain ripped through my heart as I stepped out of the van and wandered from it.

My head down, I walked aimlessly over the bland terrain. With the exception of a few cacti, low-growing brush and a large patch of Yucca plants, I was alone.

“Keanu!” I cried out. Shielding the glaring sun from my eyes, I scanned the desert for any sign of him.

Suddenly, from somewhere in the distance, I heard him yell to me.

“Cassia! Hide!”

Frantic, I searched for cover. I had no idea who or what Keanu had seen, but I obeyed quickly by cowering behind one of the bigger boulders.

That’s when I heard the noise, a low rumbling that seemed to resonate in the air around me. Echoing off the walls of the cliffs in the canyon, I suddenly realized what it was.

A helicopter!

Glancing around from my hiding spot, I tried to see where Keanu went. I couldn’t spot him anywhere.

Considering he was an agent—former agent—he was very obviously very skilled in the art of concealment. Me, on the other hand, I felt like I should’ve been wearing a big red target. With only the rock to shield me, I contemplated making a run for the nearby mountain. At least there were trees and possibly caves to hide in.

A black helicopter circled overhead. Sand whirled beneath it as it moved closer to the ground.

Oh god! They’re landing!

I wasn’t sure if they’d seen me, but it was obvious they’d spotted the red minivan. Hovering just over the vehicle, I positioned myself behind the rock, hopefully out of their line of sight.

Keeping myself as low as possible, I watched as the helicopter gently touched the ground. The blades slowed but didn’t stop as two men in black exited the side. While I didn’t recognize either of them, hatred swelled inside me with the sight of them.

Murdering bastards!

Tears welled in my eyes as I thought of Amy, the shock of her death refreshing itself within me.

I watched as they searched the inside of the van. They pulled out various papers and items that Keanu and I had left behind, nothing important though, just garbage, receipts and whatnot.

After pulling everything out of the van and inspecting it, the two agents stood and talked with one another, probably deciding their next plan of action. One pulled a cell phone from his jacket pocket and made a call. With the constant hum of the helicopter’s blades gyrating, however, I couldn’t hear anything he said. I could see his mouth moving and his head nodding occasionally.

With a final nod, he pushed a button on his phone and replaced it into his pocket. He said something to his partner and they immediately ran toward the helicopter.

How I wished I could read lips! If we knew where they were headed next, we could go the other direction.

Throwing dust in all directions, the long blades of the machine spun faster and faster, chopping into the air around it. Eventually, it lifted off the ground, humming like a giant blender, and turning sharply to almost a ninety degree angle, it flew off to the north.

Sitting up and pressing my back against the cool stone, I closed my eyes and took in deep breaths. They hadn’t caught me—this time. Next time, I might not be so lucky.

“Keanu?” Feeling safe, I raised my voice to a shout. “Keanu?”

“Over here.” His voice was muffled as he called to me from several feet away. Scanning the landscape, I was relieved as I saw him crawl out from beneath a miniature forest of Yucca plants. He was lucky to have found enough shelter to cover his huge body in the middle of the desert.

Running to him, we embraced. It felt so good to be in his arms again. Even though I knew all could not be forgotten in just mere minutes, but I hoped that, in time, he could look at me like he did before I told him about Meyers and the baby.

We were both covered in sand and with the hot sun stalking the sky, we were starting to sweat. Even though it was considered to be winter, the desert only cooled slightly. We were lucky it wasn’t summer; we’d have a lot more to worry about than we already did. No matter what the season, dehydration was as big a threat in the desert as hypothermia was in the Arctic.

We needed to find shelter and water fast.

“Those mountains.” I pointed toward the nearest rocky range. “We should hike up there. There’s shade and hopefully some caves.”

Keanu nodded and we started walking toward it.

Fatigued from lack of food, I pushed my body forward. The weight of my growing belly, however, slowed me down. My stomach seemed to be growing bigger by the hour. Keanu took my hand and gently urged me along.

Reaching the base of the mountain after what felt like hours, a plethora of trees greeted us. Lying down under a large Juniper tree, I rested.

“Where do we go from here?” His voice was lethargic.

“We have to find the cave.” My throat was dry and I felt like this venture was becoming hopeless. If we couldn’t even walk a small ways without becoming completely exhausted, how was I going to lead us to a cave that I hadn’t been in since I was a baby?

Laying my head on a bundle of moss, I slipped quickly into unconsciousness.

The dream swept over me like a soft, warm wind. Draping itself over my mind, it seemed to throw a blanket over my sorrows.

No longer was I scouring the desert for a long lost cave or for a mother that time had long since forgotten, I was safe.

The Majestic 12 and Meyers were gone, no longer my concern.

Just peace.

Wandering like a ghost, I found myself lying upon my back on a pedestal made of stone. Clad in a long white gown, my long hair flowed around my shoulders like a black satin cape. My eyes were closed as if in sleep and I was ever so still. Holding a bouquet of lilies close to my chest, my body lay poised like a statue.

Death.

Death had kissed my pale lips and left its permanent mark upon me.

Floating closer to my body, and then hovering over it, I wasn’t sad, in fact, I felt relief. The pain and suffering I’d endured was over, I was…satisfied with my life and that I’d done what I came here to do.

I struggled to remember what my purpose was and how I’d completed it, but the foggy amnesia that clouds the mind within dreams would not clear.

Examining my former body and admiring the soft features of my face while embraced in a deathly slumber, I smiled as I recalled the adventures and the hardships of being trapped within that body. Though the suffering meant little to me now, I knew it was all for a higher purpose.

I noticed movement in the corner of the cave…my grandmother.

Frowning, I wondered why she was here. Unaware of my phantom presence, the sadness painted upon her face was heartbreaking. She moved toward my body, slowly and reluctantly.

Confused, I noticed something shiny glint within her hand.

A knife.

I wasn’t concerned about her hurting me, I was already dead.

Tears ran down her sad face and I somehow knew that she’d held a secret within her for many years and it had nearly eaten her alive.

I watched as she approached my body. Raising her arm, she held the tip of the knife to my chest. Cutting open the bodice of my dress, she began to carve a mark into my flesh. As she pierced my skin, a white light poured out from the opening.

Pulling her hand back, the white star that had been branded between my breasts was no longer.

Instead of a white star was a new mark, the bane of my dreams for so long—the number.

II.

***

“Cassia! Up here!” I awoke to Keanu’s excited shouts. Shaking off the dream, it faded into the recesses of my mind like all the others.

He had gone scouting up the mountain over an hour before, leaving me to nap at the base of the mountain. Though it probably wasn’t safe for us to stay in the same area, let alone so close to our abandoned minivan, I had no choice but to obey my body’s desire for rest. The baby was growing at an alarming rate now, there was no denying it. I no longer appeared five or six months along, I looked due at any moment.

Pushing myself to sitting, I followed the direction of his voice and saw him several meters up the mountain, waving for me to follow him. Struggling, I managed to get myself to standing and waddled a ways up the path. Bending over, I stopped to catch my breath. The steep terrain was wearing me down fast.

“Here, let me help you.” An unfamiliar voice said to me. Whipping my head up, I saw a man, obviously Hopi Indian, extending his hand to me. His face was worn like old leather; he’d obviously seen his fair share of the desert sun. He wasn’t an old man compared to my grandmother, but he was likely in his mid-fifties. Beyond his tanned and weathered appearance, however, his eyes shone with the warmth of a hundred elders.

He must have sensed the alarm in my face when he quickly introduced himself. “I’m Tanaka. I live in these parts.”

“Cassia.” I responded warily, accepting his offer to help me up the hill.

“Come with me.” His voice was calm and soothing. Somehow he put me at ease, and stranger still, I felt like I knew him or that I’d seen him before.

Struggling up the side of the mountain, an excited Keanu stood before the mouth of a large cave. His happy expression melted into disbelief when he saw my swollen belly.

“What the…? You weren’t that big an hour ago!” His eyes were wide.

“Thanks.” I responded sarcastically, still trying to catch my breath from the jaunt up the hillside.

Tanaka took his backpack off, opened it and then offered me a leather bladder with what I assumed was water and a strip of jerky.

“Oh thank you!” I snatched them away with unintentional rudeness. Plopping myself down on a nearby boulder, I devoured the jerky and then nearly drowned myself as I poured the water down my parched throat.

“I see you’ve met Tanaka.” Keanu stated as he attempted to reach for the water bag, but was met with a look of sheer contempt. Pregnancy does weird things to a person, especially when hungry or thirsty. Eventually, I shared the water…but not the jerky.

Nodding, Tanaka added as he pointed to Keanu. “Yes, I saw this one wandering around on my mountain and I came to check him out.”

“Your mountain?” I wasn’t sure if he actually owned this land or had merely claimed it.

“Yes, I have an acreage a few miles from here. I was out checking my traps.”

“What are you trapping?” Keanu inquired with interest. He really seemed to take an instant liking to this old fellow. I had to admit, Tanaka was rather soothing to be around, I wondered if he was a shaman or medicine man.

“Coyotes. They’re a nuisance.” He explained, then asked. “So what are you folks out here for? It’s dangerous to be wandering about the desert.”

Keanu and I exchanged a quiet glance, both of us unsure if we should trust a stranger. Tanaka picked up on our hesitation.

“You on the run?”

Sighing, I nodded. I was tired. Tired of running. Tired of lying. I just wanted to lie down, I didn’t feel well.

“Why?” Tanaka’s face was so…innocent. I felt guilty that I couldn’t spill every single detail to him. I wanted to release all the fear and anxiety I had bottled up inside me. Part of me so desperately desired to just blurt out everything, get it off my chest.

But how could I? I’d have to tell him why. I’d have to tell him that I wasn’t human.

It’s not every day, I’m sure, that someone meets a…a…what was I exactly? An alien? Yah, that would go over well, I’m sure. Mutant sounds a little better, sort of, but I wasn’t willing to call myself that. I may as well start calling myself freak if that was the case.

He must have sensed my internal struggle with divulging any more information and turned to walk into the cave.

“Come, let’s look around.” His native accent was strong; I wondered what tribe he was from. I would’ve recognized him immediately if he were from ours. He dressed rather modern for someone who lived in the desert. Wearing dark jeans and a short sleeve shirt, I suspected he had lived in the city at some point.

Our tribe wore more traditional clothing. We tried to make most of our own clothes from leather and light cotton fabrics. Of course we had to buy some of the fabrics from nearby towns but we preferred to be as self-reliant as possible. Some modern people mocked our ways but we preferred to live with the land rather than just on it.

After I moved away to university, I had to retrain my thinking to blend with society. I didn’t miss a lot of the traditional ways of the Hopi tribe but one thing I did miss was being surrounded by people who respected the land.

“We can hide here for the day and then travel by night. It will be harder for them to spot us…if nothing happens, I mean.” Keanu said eyeing my belly nervously

“If I may ask, where are you going?” Tanaka inquired, his voice smooth and relaxed.

I glanced at Keanu, wondering how much information he was going to supply this perfect stranger.

Keanu sighed and seemed to have an internal debate within himself, obviously thinking the same thing as me. After a moment, he blurted out. “We’re trying to find a certain cave…a special cave…where Cassia was born.”

The man paled instantly, his eyes moved to mine.

“You…were born in a cave? Here, in Sedona?”

My voice wavered as I answered. “Yes.”

Fumbling as he nearly fell over; he managed to sit down on a large rock before falling.

“Are you okay?” I asked, frowning and touching his shoulder.

“Yes, I’m sorry.” He composed himself. “Are you from a nearby tribe?”

“Yes, the one in the far south, near Sedona.”

Standing, he stated with a look of trepidation dancing across his face. “We need to go there…now.”

***

“How much further?” Tanaka asked as we sped along the Arizona highway. The headlights shone like two moons on the black asphalt, guiding us through the dark.

“Make a left up here and it’s about twenty miles from there.” My voice shook with anticipation. We hadn’t seen any sign of the Majestic 12 since the helicopter incident and I kept feeling like they were going to jump out from behind a tree or bush at any moment.

Keanu curled and uncurled his fist beside me. Staring out the window into the pitch of the night, his aura exuded stress. I could see how he would be tense, I looked like I was going to pop at any moment and we could literally be driving directly into the arms of his fiendish former employers.

Sandwiched between the two silent men, I couldn’t stand it anymore. Leaning forward and switching on the radio, I breathed a sigh of relief as Johnny Cash began serenading me with one of his classics.

After the song ended, the radio announcer began his top of the hour spiel.

“Good evening everyone. That was the one and only, Johnny Cash with his number one hit, Walk the Line. On to the weather, we’re expecting rainfall for this evening and into the morning. Tomorrow should get to a high of 86 with the occasional cloud in the sky. Sunday will be smokin’ with a high of 95 degrees, but will cool down by Monday to 84.”

Waiting for the next song to start, I smiled at the newscaster’s jolly weather report. He continued.

“That’s all for the weather. I hope all you lovebirds are prepared for tomorrow. Valentine’s Day is upon us and if you men out there want to keep your ladies happy, you best be hurrying down to the local flower stores tomorrow!”

“Valentine’s Day!” I exclaimed with a twinge of excitement. The men on either side of me jumped with my spontaneous outburst. “It’s my birthday tomorrow! I’ll be twenty-one!”

With the all the upset and upheaval in my life over the last few months, I realized that I didn’t have clue what day it was…let alone what month.

I’d always loved my birthday! Grandmother made it such a special event that it warmed my heart.

Keanu turned and grinned at me but Tanaka’s entire body stiffened and his face fell like he’d heard disturbing news. Slightly offended and annoyed with his reaction, I chose to ignore him and enjoy the fact that tomorrow was my birthday.

Resting my head on Keanu’s large shoulder, I closed my eyes and let myself drift off a little.

***

“Cassia. We’re here.” Keanu gently shook me awake as we approached the glow of a bonfire in the distance. Even in the dark, the welcoming ambiance of my village warmed me from head to toe.

With the light of the large fire, I scanned the entirety of the township, making sure everything was okay. If the Majestic 12 had been here, it didn’t appear that they had destroyed any of the homes or buildings. I’d had terrible visions of them desecrating our entire village in their fury to locate me.

As soon as Tanaka’s truck stopped, I began shoving Keanu to get out. I needed to find my grandmother. She was old and frail and if she had gotten hurt by the Majestic 12, it was my fault. I had to know she was okay.

Keanu smiled at my impatience and quickly opened the passenger door and hopped out of the truck. Extending his hand to help me out, I wriggled myself and my big belly across the bench seat.

Tribal members had already started wandering toward us out of curiosity. Once close enough, a few of my friends recognized me and moved to hug me.

One such friend was Nova.

“Nova! Where is my grandmother? Is she alright? Is she here?” I couldn’t hide the panic in my voice.

“Of course, Cassia, she’s fine. She’s probably gone to bed already, that’s all.” Her chestnut eyes filled with worry as she scanned my face and then glanced down at my stomach. “Are you alright?”

“Um, I can’t really talk about it right now, I’m sorry.” Pushing my way through the crowd, I made my way to my grandmother’s house.

My lower back ached as I walked through the dark paths of the village. Stretching, I tried to release the tension that was pinching the nerves and muscles.

Nearing my grandmother’s tiny home; I was suddenly self-conscious about my pregnant belly. Would she be disappointed? Surprised? Yes, definitely surprised. Hopefully she wouldn’t be too upset.

I walked up to the door of the familiar home. Rustic, yet enchanting, it always reminded me of the homes described in The Hobbit. A wooden shack was surrounded by vegetation; her house seemed to invite nature to rest itself upon it. Large trees hung their heavy branches, lush with foliage, like a protective umbrella over her house. Shrubs and cacti had nestled themselves close to the side of the house as though protecting the old woman’s home from intruders. An enormous Aloe Vera, with its mystical healing properties, grew close by in case of an emergency.

Knocking lightly on her door, I cringed as I imagined her sleeping and then being startled awake by my intrusion.

I hope it’s not too late.

I realized that my thought had two meanings. Too late in the evening and, of course, too late to save her from the evil that killed Amy.

With my heart thudding hard in my chest, I was nervous when I couldn’t hear anything from inside the shack. Then, I recognized a familiar shuffle emanating from within. She’d always had a bit of a limp, but refused to use a cane. Hearing a click on the other side of the door, I waited with trepidation as the old door groaned open.

Tears filled my eyes as I saw my grandmother for the first time in at least two years. Clad in her nightgown and robe, her long gray hair, normally held back in a tight bun, flowed passed her shoulders and draped over her forearms. Her ancient brown eyes, shrouded by the weathering of time, stared at me with a calm that only comes with the wisdom of the ages.

Speechless, I reached out to hug her. I had to stoop over a little to wrap my arms around her tiny frame. Enveloped in her loving embrace, I sobbed tears of relief and gratitude. After several blissful moments, I stepped back.

“Hi Grandma.” I spoke in the Hopi tongue.

Taking my hands into hers, she held them as she stared affectionately into my eyes and said, “Child, you’ve come home.” Glancing once at my enlarged belly, she added. “And I see that the prophecy is once again at hand.”

Chapter 18

“Would you like some tea?” My grandmother shuffled slowly through her tiny adobe toward the kitchen to heat up some water.

“Sure.” I tried to sound calm, but my insides were churning with anticipation. What was this prophecy? Did she know what I was?

Sitting on a wooden bench propped before a homemade table, I waited and tapped my fingertips anxiously against the knotty surface. Normally I felt calm in her cozy home but tonight, I felt nothing but the angst of uncertainty.

“How was your trip?” She asked casually as she placed a cup and saucer in front of me, tendrils of steam rising into the air from the confines of the teacup. Setting one on the table for herself, she groaned as she sat down across from me.

Wrapping my hands around the teacup, I absorbed the soothing heat into the palms of my hands. Taking a long breath in, I let the atmosphere of my grandmother’s home embrace me. She always had a way of helping me center myself, to clear my thoughts.

“Well…some was good. Some bad, I guess…there’s a lot going on right now.” I fumbled, honestly not knowing how to answer. As much as I didn’t want to worry her, I needed her to understand the gravity of the situation. I needed her to tell me whatever she knew about me. I needed answers.

She nodded as she lifted her teacup to her mouth, her lips twitching with a smile. I envied her quiet wisdom, her ability to surrender to the winds of faith and know without a shadow of a doubt that whatever divine powers that be…would protect us.

Staring down into the dark waters of my tea, I debated on how much I should tell her of the last few months. Some of the experiences were so horrific, I didn’t know if I could even repeat them, let alone tell a frail old woman who’d likely never heard of such atrocities.

Breaking the silence, grandmother spoke quietly to me. “Cassia, I know you’ve come for answers and I will tell you what I know, but I must warn you, I don’t know all the answers.”

I fought against the tears brimming in my eyes. Before she could continue, I jumped up and moved around the table to hug her.

Rubbing my back, she added cryptically. “I know you have seen many nightmares, my child, but I fear there may be more to come.”

Pulling back from her loving embrace, I looked her seriously in the eyes. “Please, just tell me what you know.”

Gesturing for me to take a seat, she began, speaking slowly in her native tongue. “The day you were born, my apprentice and I were out collecting herbs in the desert. It was very hot, even for February. We’d spent the entire day collecting sagebrush to use for my cleansing rituals.”

She rose from her seat and retrieved something from a nearby cupboard. “While we were walking near Doe Mountain, I found this.” She placed a leather satchel on the table. “I figured it couldn’t have been there long, it was very clean with no sand on it.”

Nodding, I understood what she meant. Anything that dares land on the desert’s floor would very soon be smothered by the sand. Grabbing the tiny bag, I held it in my hands and caressed the smooth leather with my fingertips.

Continuing, she wrapped her shawl tighter around her shoulders as she spoke. “I looked around the place, for the owner. Walking a ways up the mountainside, we heard screaming coming from one of the caves.”

“Screaming?” My eyes widened as she told the story.

“Yes. When we reached the cave, we saw a woman in there…ready to give birth.” Sighing, she continued. “Fate. Coincidence. Luck. How is it that a doula and her apprentice would be walking through the desert and come upon a pregnant woman ripe with child? I still ask myself that every day.” Lowering her head, obviously tired, she muttered the last part as though to herself.

“Was this…” I held up the satchel, a waft of tobacco drifting from it as I moved it. “hers?”

Lifting her head slowly, her eyes met mine as she responded. “No, that…was your father’s.”

My father.

Grandmother sat across the table from me, her eyes, though focused on me, were tired and fighting to stay open. Most likely exhausted from old age and the time of night, but I suspected she was also weary of the secrets she’d been holding onto for over twenty years.

“Was he…there?” I felt numb as I watched my grandmother intently.

“Yes. He was there.” Her voice was quiet yet I could tell that she was relieved to be divulging this information.

Confusion overwhelmed me. Tears flowed freely down my face as mixed emotions rose to the surface.

“Why?” I spoke louder than I meant to but the anger was rising within me. “Why did they both leave me behind?”

“Cassia, please don’t be angry with them…or me…we did what we had to do to protect you.” Fatigue strained her voice as she continued. “Your father didn’t want to leave you behind; he did it out of love.”

“Love?! He left me out of love?! What does that mean?” All the years of abandonment, neglect…how did that equal love in any way? I wanted to slam my fist on the table or throw the teacup across the room.

Protect me?! After all I’d been through over the last few months, seems to me that their little ‘plan’ of protecting me hadn’t worked very fucking well!

“Child, please, listen to me.” Her eyes pleaded with me and I took deep breaths to calm myself.

I hated this. I hated learning that the one person I trusted in life had lied to me. After a moment of composing myself, I looked my grandmother straight in the eyes and waited…for the truth.

“Cassia, your mother died right after she had you.” I inhaled sharply as the shock set in. “Your father begged me to take you, to keep you and…hide you. He never told me why, only that you were the most precious being on the planet.”

I swallowed hard as a painful lump formed in my throat.

He knew. He somehow knew about my blood.

“Did he say…anything else?” I managed to force the words out between sobs.

“Yes.” She exhaled sharply as she continued. “He said that someday…you would help change the world.”

Melting into a pool of my own tears on the kitchen table, I didn’t know if her answers left me feeling relieved or more confused. I knew that she was telling me the truth, but there was still so much I didn’t understand. A thought flashed through my mind, making me sit straight up.

“Did my mother have a star? A birthmark…like me?” I knew before my grandmother even spoke that she did. The sparkle behind her eyes lit up with the question.

“Yes Cassia, she did.”

Joy. I felt immense joy that my mother was like me. Even though I still didn’t know what we were, I was just happy that there had been another.

Frowning with yet another epiphany, I asked. “My father…did he?” I pointed to my chest with hope.

Shaking her head, she responded with less enthusiasm. “No, just her…and you.” Then she added with a very serious expression. “There is a prophecy that the elders used to speak of. The Kachina.”

I sat up with interest, normally the old legends of the elders didn’t spark much curiosity within me but I was beginning to believe in fairy tales.

“The elders spoke of a coming time when the new people would arrive. They said that they were of a royal bloodline and would be called…the star people.”

I’m sure my eyes widened to the point where they would soon fall out. This was all too unbelievable.

Aliens, were they talking about aliens?!

Closing my eyes and resting my head in my hands, I tried to wrap my head around her words. In the disbelief of the moment, I began to giggle. I laughed so hard that I nearly bowled myself out of my chair. My pregnant belly jiggled like a bowl of Jello. Looking up at grandmother, she looked offended, but that only seemed to make my maniacal musing even worse. Snorting as I fought for air, the laughter bubbled out of me.

God it felt good.

I wasn’t laughing at my grandmother or her story, I was laughing because for the first time in my life, something completely irrational made perfect sense.

If she had told me before this whole nightmare had started that I was some space creature, I would’ve turned tail and run away as fast as I could, but because of the fear, torture and inhumanity I’d endured over the last few months, I completely believed her.

For the first time in months, I cried tears of laughter. Poor grandmother stared at me as though I was completely cracked.

After several moments of basking in the glow of lunacy, I decided to ask her the question that had plagued me since the beginning of this nightmare. Though I was certain I knew the answer, I needed to hear it with my own ears.

Composing myself, I asked. “Grandmother, what am I?”

Wisdom danced through her eyes as she opened her mouth to answer. “You are…”

Before she could answer, however, her front door flew open with a large bang! Keanu stood in the doorway, panic marring his handsome face.

“They’re here!”

Peering out of my grandmother’s window, I saw over a dozen men in black approaching the bonfire.

With nearly my entire tribe standing in a semi-circle around the fire, I was genuinely frightened for the fate of my people. Plain and spiritual people, they were unaccustomed to violence and manipulations.

Keanu and Tanaka scoured my grandmother’s house for supplies and weapons, supplies they found plenty of, weapons, however, were scarce.

I noticed my grandmother eyeing Tanaka suspiciously as he searched her home. Thinking nothing of it, I turned back to the window to watch the unfolding drama outside.

The men in black appeared to be chatting pleasantly with the chief of our village and a few of the elders. I shuddered as I imagined what the Majestic 12 were telling them. What if they convinced my people that I was guilty of Amy’s murder and my village turned against me? If they handed me over to the men in black, I would be shipped straight back to the facility…if I was lucky. After all of this, I’m sure the Majestic 12 simply wanted my baby, and my head on a platter.

Swallowing hard, I was pleasantly relieved when Keanu came up from behind me, slid his arms around my waist and whispered in my ear. “Time to go.”

Turning around, I stared up at his face as I realized he wasn’t upset with me about Meyers or the fact that the baby might not be his.

Inhaling a calming breath, I looked out the window once more to witness a malleable tension form between the men in black and my village.

The chief was waving his hands and pointing as though ordering the outsiders to leave. A spark of hope fired in my chest as I watched the villagers move into an aggressive stance as though readying themselves to protect their home.

“Let’s go.” Keanu stated, leading us out the back door of grandmother’s house.

A streak of lightning ripped through the black fabric of the night sky as we ran through the dark. Thunder growled overhead with a vengeance as though the gods were shouting obscenities at the Majestic 12. They were intruders on sacred land, our land.

Escaping down a shadowy path behind grandmother’s house, we scrambled up a steep embankment. Grandmother led the way with Keanu helping her over the unpredictable terrain. Tanaka stayed close to me, holding me up when my cumbersome body threatened to topple me over.

With my grandmother nearly blind, I hoped that she could navigate her way to the cave without getting us lost in the desert.

Angry shouts and screams could be heard from the village below us. The Majestic 12 had ambushed my people and I feared for them. I knew the Hopi natives; they were fiercely intelligent and resourceful people. I just hoped it would be enough to keep them alive.

Tanaka held my hand tight as we shuffled down the side of the hill. Low growing brush slashed at my ankles and sand worked its way between my toes.

The mournful cries of coyotes in the distance and the whistle of roving winds suddenly captivated me.

The dream.

If it weren’t for being surrounded by people who cared for me, this scenario would have mimicked my reoccurring dream exactly, wandering the desert in the pitch of night, searching for the bane of my existence…the cave.

Grandmother had stated earlier that she’d discovered my mother in labor within Doe Mountain. Irony mocked me as the realization sank in. All this time, all these years, I’d searched for a cave that I thought was miles and miles from the village, and here, it was less than a mile from home.

“Stay low.” Keanu whispered, now in the lead.

Edging our way down the mountainside, a helicopter emerged in the distance, searching the ground below with a powerful spotlight. Its great blades sliced through the air, chopping their way toward my village like an army of battleaxes.

Even though my body was flooded with adrenaline, I found it nearly impossible to push myself further. Exhaustion and a sense of failure overwhelmed me. I had led those maniacs to my village and now my people had to fight them off.

My heart was heavy, but my abdomen felt even heavier as I forced myself to move forward. In the moment that I was going to fall upon my knees and surrender, my grandmother spoke the words I’d waited my whole life to hear.

“There it is.” Pointing a crooked finger to the east, a bolt of sheet lightning tore across the sky as though illuminating my way home. Following the direction she was indicating, I could distinguish Doe Mountain.

With the intermittent flashes of light ripping through the sky, I could just barely make out an opening high on the mountainside.

The cave.

“The path up the mountain has eroded since you were born.” Grandmother uttered with a tinge of fear in her voice.

Picking up the pace, Keanu led the small group toward the base of the mountain.

It occurred to me while standing before my nemesis that this was a crazy plan. How was getting us into an old, musty cave going to protect us from the Majestic 12? They would eventually locate us, wouldn’t they? Cowering inside a rocky cavern, did we really think they would just give up and stop searching for us?

A gentle hand upon the small of my back gave me the motivation to continue. “Come on Cassia, you can do it.” Tanaka’s tender voice urged me, giving me that inspiration to keep going.

Sweat ran down my forehead and strands of my long black hair stuck to the side of my face as I clawed at the ground, forcing my body to ascend. Pulling myself up over the rocks and grasping at branches within my reach, I thought I might never see the top of this mountain.

Reaching a narrow ledge only a few feet from the mouth of the cave, my back against the wall of the cliff, I did what a person was never supposed to do in my situation—I looked down.

Even though it was pitch dark all the way down the side of the mountain, I could tell that we were fairly high up. My knees quaked a little as my hands groped along the surface behind me.

The path beneath my feet grew narrower as we moved along. Tanaka moved slowly behind me while I followed my grandmother and Keanu to the entrance of the cave.

My left foot searched for a grip in the darkness, my right foot following only after a secure foothold was found.

Only a few more steps baby.

I wanted to rub my stomach, to soothe her though I knew the comfort I sought was for myself.

With only a foot or two left before we reached safety, I suddenly lost my footing and slipped forward. Sliding into the abyss of darkness, my pregnant belly slammed into the side of the mountain as I plunged forward.

Somehow, in the midst of my fall, Tanaka had grabbed hold of my arm and literally held onto me while I dangled precariously at the edge of the cliff.

Involuntarily screaming, I prayed for two things—that I’d be pulled to safety and that the Majestic 12 didn’t hear me scream.

My large belly bumped against the side of the cliff as Tanaka struggled to maintain his unsteady grip on me. With two of his arms, he had a hold of only one of mine. With the weight of my body, he fought to simply prevent me from tumbling down the side of the mountain.

“Oh god!” Keanu’s voice penetrated from within the shadows, his footsteps growing louder as he moved to help us.

I tried to remain as still as possible until he reached our location. Worry began to set in as I heard Tanaka grunt and then fumble for a better hold on me. With the warmth of the desert night and the physical struggle, his palms felt sweaty and slippery against my skin.

“Keanu! Hurry!” I screeched as Tanaka’s grasp began to loosen even more.

I just wanted this over with. The whole nightmare just kept getting worse and worse. Not that I wanted to plummet off the edge of a cliff, but I was ready to be done with this experience.

My arm was sliding further and further from Tanaka’s hands. Soon he would only have my slender wrist to cling to. If Keanu didn’t hurry, the baby and I were going to die a horrible and tragic death.

As the pain of Tanaka’s grip overwhelmed my wrist, I honestly didn’t think Keanu was going to find us in time. He hadn’t been that far ahead of us but the narrow edge of the cliff and the darkness likely slowed him down.

Tears of relief flooded my eyes as I suddenly felt another set of hands wrap around my forearm; I was shocked when I was lifted so easily up into Keanu’s arms.

Burying my face into his chest, I sobbed with relief and fatigue. My arm throbbed all the way from the shoulder to the wrist. Leading me the rest of the way to the cave, I looked back to make sure Tanaka had made it safely.

“Should we light a fire?” Tanaka asked, his voice weary and strained.

“No.” Keanu answered, “Too risky.”

“Wait.” Tanaka exclaimed. “The cave, it goes much deeper. Come on, back here!”

Following his voice, Keanu, grandmother and I felt our way through the shadowy abyss until we were startled by the strike of a match and Tanaka’s face suddenly lighting up as he held up the flickering flame.

My grandmother gasped loudly and she moved toward Tanaka. Leaning in close to him, inspecting him, she whispered. “Could it be?”

“Yes healer, it is me.” His expression warmed with a wide smile as he glanced around at the faces sheltered within the cave…pausing the longest at mine.

As the flame slowly flickered out, I knew instinctively who he was. Somehow I think I’d realized it the first few minutes of our meeting, but wouldn’t believe it.

My father.

No one had to tell me, I just knew. Like a memory that had burrowed deep within my soul, I just knew who he was. Feeling my way through the darkness, I found him and gave him a big hug. A sense of completion filled me as I was held in the arms I had yearned for. I didn’t care anymore that he had missed being in my life, he was here now.

Rubbing my back, Tanaka and I gently pulled away from one another. Wiping tears from my eyes, I stated. “We should start a fire.”

Keanu’s confused voice responded in the darkness. “Here?”

“Yes.” My voice was firm.

“Why?” Keanu inquired.

“Because…the baby’s coming…right now.”

***

There are no words to explain the excruciating waves of pain that assault the body when a child is readying itself to come into the world. Lying on the cave floor, the flame of a newborn fire crackling and undulating beside me, I had a new definition of pain.

For the first hour, it was tolerable, only mild muscle cramps that made my stomach tighten and relax. The odd twinge in my back was easy enough to bear…then the marathon of torture reared its ugly head in my direction.

To ease my pain, both physically and spiritually, I shared the pains and woes of the last few months of my life with grandmother and Tanaka. Their compassion comforted me in more ways than I could imagine.

After a while, however, the labor silenced me.

Rippling waves of throbbing pain crushed my abdomen. Sweat poured down the sides of my face as I pounded the rocky floor beneath me.

I’d heard horrific stories of women enduring labor for hours and hours—even days! The mere thought of spending one more minute living with this agony was bad enough; I didn’t even want to consider the idea of suffering through days of this!

“Shhh…calm, child, remain calm.” My grandmother sat on one side of me and smoothed my damp hair away from my face. Tanaka was firmly planted on the other side of me, holding my hand. Both wore a strange expression, one that I couldn’t quite describe.

They looked…sad.

“Tanaka?” I exhaled sharply as I breathed out his name.

“Yes?” He seemed to force a smile.

“Tell me about my mother.” I stared up at him with pleading eyes. As much as I really wanted to know about her, I also wanted him to distract me from the pain.

Tears welled in his eyes as he began. “Oh, she was truly beautiful. Inside and out.” Nostalgia embraced his face, overtaking the distressed expression he wore only moments before. “She was truly a rare and perfect soul.”

Warmth like I’d never known possessed my heart. All the years of hating her for leaving me behind were washed away in an instant. He’d loved her deeply, it was evident.

I glanced over to Keanu who was guarding the tunnel and felt such gratitude. Even with all the awful experiences I’d had over the last few months, I was now glad they happened. Meeting Keanu, finding my dad and now giving birth to my baby, life somehow made sense.

Directing another question to Tanaka as I fought through another powerful contraction, I asked. “What…was my mother?”

His eyes immediately moved from my face to the floor. Taking in a deep breath, he began to explain.

“Your mother…told me about the prophecy.” My eyes widened both with interest and in response to a sharp contraction. “She told me that the earth is going through changes, big changes, along with its inhabitants.”

Confused, I pushed myself up onto my elbows. “Changes?”

Grandmother, who’d been busily tending to the needs of my laboring body, frowned when I sat up.

Ignoring her, I waited for him to explain.

“Yes, the prophecy states that a new age will be born…along with a new race of humans.”

Intrigued, I almost forgot I was in labor.

“I don’t understand.” Frustrated with both my body’s intense pain and his story, I glanced around the cave. Looking at the inside of the cavern, I felt strangely underwhelmed. I guess I’d expected the cave to be more like it was in my dreams.

This cave looked just like any other. No Roman numeral II painted on the walls and ceiling, just stark, rocky slabs with the occasional sharp protrusion.

“Cassia.” My father caught my attention. “There’s more.”

Nodding, I tried to focus my attention on him and away from my pain.

“Your mother…and you… are unique souls.”

“Unique?” My voice was coated in awe.

“Your mother said that she gives birth to her new body in every lifetime. Her soul then transfers to the newborn body…until the prophecy is complete.” Pausing, he let the information settle, then continued. “Once the prophecy is complete, the new humans will usher peace into the world.”

“How will we know the prophecy is complete?”

Shaking his head, he responded quietly. “I do not know.”

Digesting all this new information, I realized that his explanation was only creating more questions.

Sensing my confusion, he added. “All I know is that you, your mother and the ones that preceded her are the beginning of the prophecy. The star on your chest is the sign that the Hopi people had been waiting for…a sign that the new world is at hand.”

Sighing, the information swirled within my thoughts. Still enduring my labor, I turned to him and asked. “What makes us different? My mother and I, this star, my blood…what does it all mean? Are we…aliens?”

Caressing my face with his hand, he chuckled at my question. “No, you are not an alien. You are evolution. All beings must evolve, humans are no exception. You are the next step in human evolution.”

“So, are there others like me?” I grunted in pain after my question, but he continued none the less.

“No…not yet.” His answer was cryptic.

A million questions churned inside me, but before I could ask, a piercing shot tore through the cave. My ears rang as I tried to ascertain what was going on.

Gunfire! Oh god, they’re here!

Chaos ensued as my grandmother screamed and backed against a far wall of the cave. Tanaka threw his upper torso over me, trying to shield me.

“Get down!” Keanu yelled, his voice filled with a mixture of fear and anger. “Someone’s in the tunnel!”

Peering over my father’s shoulder, I trembled as another shot resounded. The bullet sparked off the wall behind Keanu, narrowly missing his head.

His hands raised in a defensive stance, I heard yet another shot fire and saw Keanu fly backwards into the wall of the cave, blood spraying from his right shoulder.

“No!!” Screaming as horror filled me, I watched as Keanu slid to the floor, unconscious and bleeding profusely.

The sound of footsteps echoed around us as someone made their way through the tunnel of the cave.

A dark figure finally emerged from the passageway.

Inhaling sharply as I recognized the intruder, hatred consumed me instantly.

My eyes narrowed into slits and my voice was a low growl when I finally spoke through gritted teeth.

“Meyers.”

Meyers circled me, his gun drawn and pointed at my father who had pulled a knife from his boot and was poised to fight.

Glancing at Keanu’s unconscious body propped against the wall of the cave, I prayed for him to wake up and save us. I could tell he was still alive because his chest was still moving but with his wounds, I didn’t know if he was going to survive.

Following my gaze, Meyers’ commented on Keanu’s lifeless body. “Just thought he’d want to join his sister. Took care of her personally…if you know what I mean.” He sneered

“You bastard!” I screamed, clutching my belly in pain.

“Come on old man!” Meyers’ eyes were wild with exhilaration as he eyed Tanaka’s knife.

Tanaka and Meyers circled around me, waiting for the other to strike first. As they moved to the front of me, Meyers pointed the gun directly at my father and simply said. “Ugh, I’m bored of this.” He fired two quick shots into my father’s stomach and laughed as he watched him seize his stomach and fall to the ground.

“No!!!” I screamed and reached for him. My father glanced once at me, smiled and then I watched as the light faded from his eyes.

“Hello freak.” Meyers smirked as he eyed me up and down. “Hmmm, gained a little weight I see.”

“Fuck you!” I spat, reaching for a rock beside me. Finding one a little smaller than a baseball, I held it close to my side, waiting for the perfect moment to throw it at his face.

“Thank you for screaming earlier, by the way.” He snickered. “I never would have found you otherwise.”

Disgust poisoned me as I looked at his face and realized that the baby could be his. I didn’t want to think less of her, but it was difficult as I looked into the eyes of my assailant. Memories of his body pressed to mine as I was shackled to the cot flooded back into my thoughts. Bile rose in my throat with the idea of his hands on me…of him inside me.

An overwhelmingly painful contraction suddenly took me by surprise and I cried out, clutching my belly with one hand and squeezing the rock hard with the other. An intense pressure unlike any I’d ever known seized my lower half.

I had to push.

“Move!” My grandmother, who had been crouched behind Meyers, stood up and pushed past him.

Gently, she checked the progression of my labor.

“It is time.” Her face was grave.

“Oh good, perfect timing.” Meyers began, “Junior’s coming right when Daddy gets here.” He grinned at me and waved his gun around as he chuckled.

“She might not be yours!!” I screamed from both anger and the burning sensation between my legs. Arching my back in agony, the sounds of my pained cries overtook his laughter.

I turned my head and glared at him. With two quick strides, he was by my side. Bending down onto one knee, he grabbed a fistful of my hair in one hand, pulled my head back and held the barrel of the gun under my chin. Leaning close to me, he kissed my ear and whispered. “And then again…it might be.”

Fury possessed me like a demon. Spitting into his eyes, I didn’t even care if he pulled the trigger. Recoiling and wiping his face, I took the opportunity to bring the rock that I’d been cradling in my hand to his head. Coming at him from the side, I smashed the rock as hard as I could into his temple.

Clumsily, he fell over onto the cave floor and dropped his gun. Stunned, he looked shocked as a stream of thick crimson ran down the side of his face. “You bitch!” He screeched as his hands flew at my neck.

Clawing at his face, I felt my esophagus crushing as he dug his thumbs into the soft groove of my neck and pressed with all his might. Still strangling me, he slammed my head up and down, smashing it against the rocky floor.

It was then I realized he might succeed in killing me.

My eyesight began darkening as my lungs burned for air. Hands falling to my sides, I gave up. I surrendered to the dulling beat of my heart and the slowing of blood through my veins.

I didn’t want to try anymore.

Staring up at Meyers’ maniacal expression, I was saddened that his would be the last face I would ever see. This moment, this violent and tragic moment, would be the last I ever knew.

Just as my eyes were drawing to a close for the last time, I heard a single shot fire. I had just enough sense left to recognize the shock on his face as his life ended in one instant.

The pressure instantly released from my throat as he slumped over onto me. I gasped and fought for air to return to my lungs. Pushing his dead body off of me, I looked sharply to my right.

There, standing strong and proud with the gun in her hand…was my grandmother.

Chapter 19

“Push Cassia! Push!” My grandmother brushed the hair out of her eyes with her forearm as she instructed me.

Groaning, I pushed with all my might. Gritting my teeth together so hard I thought they’d break, I used every amount of strength I had left in my body to bringing my little girl into the world.

“Good, Cassia, one more!”

Taking in a huge breath, I held it and gave one last final push. Finally, I felt something move out of me. Relief consumed me as I breathed heavily.

“My baby! Let me see her!” I exclaimed holding my arms wide toward my grandmother.

She’d wrapped her in a shawl, bundled up in fabric cocoon. Grandmother stood before me, her face sad and filled with despair.

Placing her in my arms, I realized she wasn’t breathing. I immediately looked to my grandmother and began crying. “What’s wrong with her?!”

Grandmother only shook her head.

Holding her close to me, I looked at her tiny features. Her perfect little nose and mouth, her eyes, closed. Her chest, unmoving.

“Why?” I had no words for the sorrow I felt. A pain like I’d never known attached itself to my heart.

Suddenly, I was assaulted by another wave of contractions. Quickly handing my baby to grandmother, I felt the overwhelming desire to again…push.

“What’s happening?!” I yelled and grunted as I tried to push into the pressure consuming my womb.

Shock eclipsed grandmother’s face as she uttered. “There is…another!”

After a few minutes, yet another baby slid out of me. Grandmother gasped, drawing my attention to the newborn in her arms.

“A boy?!” I exclaimed. “Oh my god! Two! That’s what the dream meant. Roman numeral II! Gemini! Twins!” I laughed like a crazy person as the epiphany settled in.

Grandmother forced a smile but still, her face was sad.

“What’s wrong?” The little boy, now wrapped in a piece of fabric torn from my grandmother’s skirt, lie still in her arms.

Glancing over at Keanu’s broken body propped against the wall of the cave, I sobbed with a wonderful realization.

Twins…Keanu is a twin.

He was the father; I knew it in my heart.

With both of my children now born, a strange calm overcame me. Glancing down at my chest, I watched in awe as my birthmark—the white star—began to pulsate with a vibrant light.

Looking up, my eyes met with my grandmother’s. She was crying as she handed me my babies. Her eyes told me she knew this was the last time we’d see one another.

Admiring the faces of my offspring, I felt an odd sensation come over me. The pulsing in my chest grew and the light emanating from me was dazzling.

My breath sped up for only a moment and then stopped forever.

I felt a release—I was out.

I drifted within a new, yet familiar, reality like a thought upon the wind. All knowledge and all memories of my past were at my disposal.

I’d evolved from a human body many eons ago, like a butterfly escaping from her metamorphic cocoon, and remained a secret until a prophecy—a plan—was complete.

Reincarnating myself, I created my own future body. Within my own womb, I harbored the new body which would eventually carry my own soul through the centuries. Upon birth, my soul moved from one to the other.

In all the ages that I have lived, I have only ever given birth to girls.

When the world was ready to evolve, however, I would give birth to a son. His birth would be the resounding lullaby that would bring a new song to the world.

The prophecy was now complete.

Populating the earth with the seed of the new human, he and his children will bring forth the new race, a new people.

Remembering my purpose, I hovered above my children. Etching their beauty into my ancient memory, I prepared myself to enter my new body.

***

The old woman watched as a silvery white light left Cassia’s body and twisted above her two stillborn babies.

Meandering over them, it moved towards the heart of the little girl. Caressing the spot where the white star would have emerged, the luminescent thread moved slowly away from the little girl and towards the little boy.

Saddened, the old woman realized that only one could be given the gift of life as she’d seen when Cassia’s body had been brought back from the dead.

Looking up to Cassia’s still expression, she shed a tear for her lost daughter.

Watching in awe as the cord of light moved over the baby boy, the old woman waited for Cassia’s soul to enter his chest. Puzzled, the old woman observed as the snake of light writhed and rose high into the air in between the two babies.

A loud crackling noise suddenly pierced the air and the graceful light pulsated and grew exponentially brighter. The old woman stared in disbelief as the shining cable began to tear into two.

Dancing above the babies, the two silver threads descended and—one each—wrapped themselves around the babies. In an instant, both threads disappeared into the babies’ chests.

Both children inhaled at the same time and exhaled with a tiny cry. Tears of joy rolled down the old woman’s face as she picked up her grandchildren—both adorned with a six-sided white star upon their chest.

Looking at the little girl, her head covered with black downy hair, the old woman smiled as the little one cooed. “Cassia would have wanted your name to be…Amy.”

Turning to the little boy, his eyes rich brown and full of wisdom she said. “And you, young man, shall be named after your grandfather…Tanaka.”

Walking to Cassia’s vacant body, she leaned over kissed her daughter’s cheek. “I will keep them safe Cassia.” And turning to leave with the twins in her arms, the old medicine woman looked back and whispered. “Good-bye my daughter.”

Epilogue

“Come on now, you can do it.” The old woman gently urged the young man as they maneuvered down the side of the mountain. The sun had just risen and was moving to grace the sky with its presence.

She heard the young man grunt ahead of her and watched him clutch his shoulder as he struggled down the steep slope. His wounds were bad, but she felt that she could heal him.

Glancing back at the mouth of the cave in the distance, she thought of Cassia’s body, lifeless and cold, lying on the cavern floor. Nodding, she silently vowed to have her brought down and be given a proper burial.

Cradling the two babies in her arms, she smiled wistfully at their innocent faces. She’d lost a daughter today, but gained two grandchildren.

With the prophecy now complete, she had no idea what the future world was going to look like. Her ancestors had promised peace and a utopian society, she hoped they were right.

As they reached the outskirts of the village, the old woman braced herself for what she might see. The men dressed in black had attacked her village the night before and a flutter of fear danced around her heart as she proceeded with caution.

“Careful.” The young man whispered as he leaned against a tree for support. He eyed his children carried in the crook of the old woman’s arms with concern. His heart ached with the loss of their mother and his sister, but he felt warmth like no other for the twins.

Peering around the corner of a neighbor’s hut, she was surprised to see so many bodies lying upon the ground. In the distance, she could see many men digging shallow graves and inspecting a large, black helicopter.

Her lips curved into a smile. The outsiders hadn’t stood a chance against her people.

With the babies clutched close to her bosom, she wandered into the center of the village. Instantly surrounded, tears flooded her eyes and ran down her wrinkled cheeks.

“Medicine Woman, is it true?” The chief asked, his eyes wide with hope. His ceremonial headdress perched high upon his head and his bare chest coated with the dried blood of the outsiders.

“Yes.” Her voice was quiet as she gazed at the infants, settling upon the tiny boy. “The prophecy is complete, a new world has begun.”

The End

Scroll down for an exciting excerpt of NIGHTMARA!

“Whatever you do, don’t think about them before you fall asleep.”

After Grayson Castle is kissed by a beautiful and mysterious woman at a night club, he soon discovers the true meaning of fear. Plagued nightly by what he believes to be a terrifying curse, he seeks professional help from Dr. Zoe Alexander.

Convinced it’s nothing more than sleep paralysis, she disregards his experiences as merely a hallucination—until they come after her.

Based on a true phenomenon, Nightmara explores what horrors may lie between sleep and awake.

Excerpt from:

NIGHTMARA

Darkness had descended on the city hours ago, leaving only the streetlights to illuminate the black fabric of universe that hung overhead. An occasional honk or barking dog can be heard, but otherwise, a hush of eerie silence drifts over the community like a dark fog.

Moving through the lonely streets, left abandoned by the endless activities of the day, an impromptu ghost town is born by the setting of the sun.

While most of the population had closed their eyes and succumbed to the call of slumber hours before, one particular bedroom window remains brightly lit.

Entering the tiny apartment, it looks like any other messy bachelor pad.

A second-hand couch stares blankly across the living room at an extra large television while a mystery plant dies of dehydration in the corner. Tonight’s dirty supper dishes, along with yesterdays, lie abandoned on a rectangular coffee table.

Stacks of unopened mail are left strewn upon the matted beige carpet which is in desperate need of vacuuming.

The bathroom is littered with the remnants of the weeks’ laundry and the hallway devoid of any pictures except for one that clings precariously to the corner of the tilted frame.

From the outside, it was a home like any other…except for the bedroom.

Approaching the plain white door, a glaring light escapes from the small crack at the bottom. On the other side of the door, only a light whispering can be heard penetrating the silence of the apartment.

Several dead bolts decorate the inside of the door even though he’d learned long ago that no amount of locks can keep the entities out.

Plugged into every outlet within the little room, nightlights and lamps of all shapes and sizes enlighten each dark corner.

Strategically built wooden boards form a barrier around the base of the queen-sized bed. It was simply too frightening to climb in and out of the bed with the dark space underneath threatening to grab his ankles at any moment.

A lone dresser sits unrecognizable at the far end of the room. Beaded rosaries drape over the semi-open drawers while a tiny statue of Buddha grins from his perch atop the dresser. A miniature nativity scene, depicting the birth of Jesus with his human and animal onlookers, occupies most of the space on the left side of the dresser. A lovely bust of the Virgin Mary wears a Mona Lisa smile next to a large silver menorah, all its candles lit and flickering with every breath of air that nears it.

A crucifix hangs beside a large amulet of the Star of David; both seem to be overlooking the young man as he reads from various bibles and religious scriptures. The words of King James, the Kabala and the Quran are amongst the rows of sacred literature decorating the bedroom floor.

Kneeling before the shrine in the corner of his bedroom, the young man shivers as psalms and verses pour rapidly from his trembling lips.

His forehead beading with sweat, he glances around himself every few seconds. Palms pressed together, he ignores the pain of the fresh bruises on his wrists and ankles and rocks back and forth as he prays feverishly to any deity that will hear him…and protect him.

Available on Amazon Kindle!

About the Author

A paranormal enthusiast, Danielle loves to collect ghost stories and explore the realms of the unknown. After living in two haunted houses, she quickly developed an insatiable thirst for supernatural knowledge.

For more information, look up Danielle’s website.

http://www.daniellelee.ca/

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