Page 15 of Sold to the Alien Smugglers

I shudder. I’m not exactly much of one for talk of the Gods – but if there was a literal Hell On Earth, I’m pretty sure it would resemble the interior of a Toad mothership.

As the pounding in my head eases, I turn to Tessa.

“I’m awake,” I hiss – not wanting to speak too loudly and attract something even more unpleasant than that mosquito.

I speak, but each word comes at a price. Every word I utter makes my head throb.

Tessa sees the pain in my eyes.

“Thank the Gods, Jamie. When you hit your head…” Tessa’s head flops forward. “…I thought you were dead. I tried to hide you, but… ”

“…a Toad boarding party found us, right?”

Slowly, Tessa’s head lifts.

“W-what’s going to happen to us?”

I gulp.

What do I tell her?

Perhaps I should give her false hope. Maybe Tessa’s never heard what happens on Toad motherships. I could protect her from that knowledge – until knowledge turns into experience for her, as the Toads take full advantage.

Oh, Gods – I’ve never seen it with my own eyes, but I’ve heard the stories from the slaves Ling and I freed from motherships just like this.

Unless someone will come and save us, we’re going to be enslaved by the horrifying creatures.

And no one is coming to save us.

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