Page 1 of Zinnia and the Zombie
CHAPTER ONE
“I’m not sure about this.”
“Are you trying to back out on me, Romat?”
“No, but what if the captain finds out?”
“How’s he going to find out? You know that lazy bastard is never going to come all the way down to the cargo hold.”
Captain? Cargo hold?
Zinnia frowned as the conversation drifted through her foggy brain, trying to make sense of the words. There was something wrong with the voices as well—an odd, growling undercurrent that didn’t make any sense. Other things were wrong as well. Instead of the usual comforting scent of flowers and plants, there was a faint metallic tinge to the air, and the surface beneath her was hard and cold.
She struggled to open her eyes, but when she finally managed, it took a long moment before everything finally snapped into focus.
What the hell?
She was lying on the floor of what looked like a shipping container. A variety of boxes were stacked all the way to the ceiling against the back wall, with a motley assortment of objects piled in front of them—several rolled carpets, a large golden statue, and a vase almost as big as she was.
“She’s waking up.”
The voice came from behind her, shocking her out of her dazed examination of her surroundings. She tried to turn in its direction but her body was heavy and unresponsive and she only managed to move her head. Even that took far more effort than it should have.
Two men were standing at the entrance of the container. Except, they weren’t exactly men. The more she looked at them, the more their differences became apparent. The shape of their faces was wrong—the brow too low, the nose too wide. And the dark hair she could see peeking out from beneath their gray coveralls looked more like fur than hair.
“Who… who are you?” Her voice came out weak and shaky.
“I am your master,” one of them said, his lascivious stare making her stomach churn.
The other one elbowed him. “Shut up, Romat. If anyone is her master, I am.”
“Master?” she whispered.
“I own you.”
“Weown you,” Romat interrupted, scowling.
“Own me?” She tried to sit up and this time she managed it. Her arms and legs were still shaky, but her mind was starting to clear.
“Yes.” Romat nodded, looking smug. “And you’re going to make us a lot of credits.”
“Shut up, Romat, “ the first male repeated.
“You can’t own me. It’s not legal to own another person.”
He shrugged. “Do you see a Royal Fleet officer around here anywhere?”
Royal Fleet?
Romat laughed. “You’re not on Earth anymore, female.”
“Not on Earth? That’s not possible.” But despite her protest, the sick feeling in her stomach increased.
“It may not be possible for your primitive species,” the first male sneered. “But I assure you, it is entirely possible for us.”
“But why? Why did you take me?”
“Because someone wants to purchase you—a very wealthy someone—in a private transaction.”
