Page 25 of Pet: Genesis

“Tell me something, Iris. Do you like having your tongue?” The question is random, and I find myself stumbling over my response.

“Yes...?”

“Then, no more questions. Or you will no longer have one.”

The remainder of the ride is silent, my nerves growing more shot by the second. I look up as we descend upon another section of the city, this one completely different from the part that held the ball. The building does the same as the last as we approach, opening its walls to allow Remus a landing spot inside.

Once we land, Remus turns to me, his tone completely different from earlier.

“Do not try and run, Iris. This is your only warning unless you want to give me another challenge.” He eyes me with such intensity I find myself shaking my head vigorously. I can see the excitement in his eyes at the thought of another challenge. He’s asadistic being. He wants me to defy him just so that he can exercise his power over me. When he’s pleased with his intimidation technique, the doors to the craft lift open, and we begin our trek into the mystery building.

The halls are dark as we make our way to our destination. I look up at Remus’s looming presence before me. He’s dressed in his signature white, including a shorter cape that wraps around his body. I assume these are a part of his noble regalia. Today, however, his hair is not pulled away from his face as it usually is. It’s free of its restraints, flowing around him as he walks without a care in the world. The longer I study him, the more I find myself giving in to the thought that Remus is an attractive being.

But the moment the thought manifests itself, so do the lifeless eyes of my loved ones, allowing me to push the ridiculous thought from my mind.

We finally reach our destination, and instead of a wall dissolving upon approach, the double wooden doors open. The building itself is extravagant. And just like Remus’s home, it is an open concept. The glass ceiling is vaulted so everyone below can see the sky they will never touch. The interior itself is foreign as each wall curves and stretches, allowing natural light to filter in. Unfortunately, the natural beauty is dampened by the presence of enslaved humans who sit behind the glass walls with hopeless expressions on their faces.

Humans who have yet to be placed within cells stand near the center of the room with alien locks around their wrists. The Leviathan in charge circles each of them individually, usingrectangular tools to scan and mark each individual human before sending them off. This must be where humans are sent after having their freedom taken from them. It sickens me, the cross between a prison and a zoo, as I look around in despair.

My legs carry me backward, my mind unable to accept what I am seeing. Remus notices me before I can move too far, snatching me by the arm. His grip is tight, causing me to flinch as he pulls me close to him.

“Do not push me today, Iris.”

His tone causes me to shiver, and I have to fight my instincts to remember my “place” and not anger this alien.

“Harena wa’yomi newa Aureon atano.”1

Remus releases me as a Leviathan approaches with a smile on her lips. She speaks to Remus in their native language, her tone suggesting familiarity. She’s a beautiful Leviathan wearing stilettos and a tight dress that hugs her curvy frame perfectly. And like most Leviathan, she’s tall with dark hair that’s glossy in texture. I briefly glance into her eyes, noticing that they are black. She’s another Leviathan who looks nothing like Remus or his brother.

She bows once she reaches Remus, remaining in that position until he murmurs something in their language, after which she stands up tall and proud, extremely pleased to be in his presence. They continue to speak in their language, and Remus gestures to me once before her eyes light up, and she nods her head,turning away from him. The sound of her heels echoing against the floor is enough to frighten me further.

“Pet. I can hear your heartbeat,” Remus chuckles in front of me.

He turns to face me, and I hate the excitement I see in his gaze.

“Why are you frightened?” he asks.

Just as the question leaves his lips, a scream erupts in the room, pulling my gaze. It’s a man, and he’s pulling at the illuminated chains around his wrists.

“No! No! Please, No!”

I watch in horror as a Leviathan holds onto his chains with ease, pulling him toward another Leviathan who looks irritated with the exchange. The man is fighting for his life, but it does nothing against these monsters. They drag him to his fate, snatching him roughly around the throat to cut off the noise he makes. A sickening gurgle fills the room, and we all watch in horror as the man pathetically continues his feeble attempt to fight for his life.

My eyes shift to Remus, who is watching the drama unfold with a smirk on his lips. As if sensing my gaze, his eyes shift to mine.

“How foolish,” he says before making his way to one of the doors. “Come.”

I force my legs to move, keeping my eyes down even when I begin to hear more struggles behind me as more people are given their fate in this place. Tears burn my eyes. I don’t understand the point of Remus bringing me here yet, but I know it has something to do with my lack of following his directions. We continue our trek across the main hall, and I hear humans begging as we pass, some going as far as reaching for us, crying for freedom.

“This is where we bring humanity from this region of your planet that isn’t killed on sight. This is where it is decided what the role for your lives will be,” he says. We reach the door on the far side of the room, and the woman who greeted Remus originally appears with a smile on her lips.

Instead of Remus speaking in their native tongue, he switches to English. And I immediately understand why.

“I’ve come to inspect the production rate of your facility. I hope nothing is out of place, Yura, for your sake,” he says.

The woman, Yura, visibly pales at Remus’s threat and whips away from him, gesturing for the doors to open. Remus takes the moment to turn to me, pulling a familiar object out of his pocket. A heavy weight washes over me as I take in the necklace.Mynecklace. He pops it open, looking at the picture.

“Such a quaint little family,” he smiles.

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