Page 8 of Pet: Genesis

“Do try your best to outsmart me. I haven’t had a challenge in years. I look forward to the fight you will put forth, Iris...” At this proximity, I am in full panic. My natural-born survival instinct caneasily determine that this being is the predator, and I’m his prey. Every nerve in my body can sense that. I don’t know how long he searches my face, but he finally laughs softly before stepping away from me. He turns away, making his way to the solid wall.

“I expect you to have eaten something before I return,” he calls over his shoulder. He finally reaches the wall, and just like it did in the room, the solid object disappears, only reappearing when he walks through it.

Silence overtakes the room, allowing me to look around. To my dismay, there are servants standing in the corners, but they aren’t watching me. Their gazes are blank. Unfeeling and emotionless. I push the chair back so that I can better stand, walking to the wall he just disappeared behind. Could it be a visual trick or automatically open once something approaches? I keep walking toward the wall, and the closer I get, the deeper I feel my heart sink. It doesn’t move. I press my hand lightly against the wall. It’s solid.

How is that possible?

I continue my inspection of the room I’m in. The floor has a glossy texture covering the black hue. The walls are glass, letting natural light illuminate the room. The glass table that sits in the center has chairs surrounding it as if this room were made for dinner parties, not for someone like me.

What is this place?

Who is this being that has me here, and more importantly, why?

I trudge back to my seat as horrible thoughts overtake me. Humanity’s fate within these Utopias has always remained a mystery. No one ever comes out once they’re in. I don’t have the slightestidea of what to expect with this Leviathan. As I take my seat, the food in front of me catches my attention. It smells amazing. It’s warm and fresh. There are vegetables, meats, bread, and fruits.

I choke on a sob. All this food, yet we were hanging on by a sliver of a thread in the blight. All of us. Either dead or enslaved. Margot’s gaunt face flashes in my mind. She’s gone, never having experienced the feeling of a full belly and never having gone to sleep without fear in her mind. The rest of them as well. They were the only family I had left. This far in my life, I barely remember my own family. I reach up, involuntarily reaching for the necklace that holds the photo of my family. Terror grips me when I grasp nothing. It’s gone.

My necklace is gone.

My nerves are frayed as I sit on the edge of the bed, waiting for the Leviathan’s return. One of the servants under his control brought me back to the room, and since then, I have been waiting for his return to confront him. I will not let him intimidate me as he has been from the moment I awoke here. Right on cue, the wall disappears, allowing for his entrance. He’s wearing different clothing. The attire is more regal. His gaze is focused, his face not amused as he enters.

I slowly stand from my spot on the bed, pulling my shoulders back. I lift my chin, trying my best to show that I am not scared. Onthe inside, however, I am terrified. His eyes find me immediately, and he takes in my stance; the only indication that he acknowledges my resolve is the small scoff that escapes his lips.

“Where is it?” I ask.

I’m greeted with silence.

“Where is my necklace?” I shout.

My voice comes out strong.

“It’s not yours any longer,” he says simply.

He doesn’t bother to elaborate. He turns away from me, walking in the opposite direction of where I stand. My feet are moving before I can think of my actions’ consequences. His hair is pulled into a low ponytail that falls down his back, pulling my attention. I reach out, my fingers inches from closing around the easy target.

In one moment, I reach for his hair, and in the next, I am locked against the wall, my arm clasped tightly in his grasp. The world around me shakes, and a wave of nausea washes over me from the speed of movement. My eyes close, and I force myself to calm my raging nerves. The skin he holds in his grasp is on fire from the contact of his hand, and when I open my eyes, he’s gazing at me with excitement.

“Reckless,” he says, searching my face.

My breathing comes out in shallow pants as panic consumes me. The Leviathan squeezes my wrist, causing me to flinch from the pain.

“Just like the rest of your race.” He places his free hand over my chest, feeling the rapid beat of my heart.

He laughs.

“I know you fear me. I know your body senses the danger. It warns you not to act against me. Yet, you ignore your biological chemistry. With no weapon, skill, or even a simple plan to back you up.”

To my brief happiness, he drops me, walking back to his original direction in the room. I cradle my wrist, a bruise already beginning to form from his tight grip. He takes a seat in one of the chairs, motioning for me to come to him, but I eye him hesitantly before making my way in his direction when I see his pupils dilate dangerously.

As I approach, he speaks.

“Today’s purpose was to help us understand each other. I wanted to see how smart you would be when faced with these situations, as I’m sure you wanted to see what kind of situation you have found yourself in. And now that I have learned all that I need to, it is only fair that I give you a brief lesson.”

Once I’m standing over him, he reaches for my hand, holding it tightly. His thumb lightly traces the veins running through it, causing chills to break out across my skin from the steady contact.

“As you are aware by now, I am Leviathan. I’ve come to this planet to add it to our empire,” he trails off, chuckling softly before continuing. “Compared to others, you are a very primitive species.” He lets go of my hand, his fingers tracing the hem of my dress.

“You are selfish. Instead of jointly fighting a common enemy, you closed off your borders, played the blame game on who causedwhat, and even shot missiles into neighboring lands. It’s your planet’s biggest weakness—the easiest to exploit.”

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