Page 14 of Accidentally Abducted
"Shit," I sighed. I didn't have any tools or anything to help me.
I patted down my hoodie, finding only my cast ID card. The lanyard broke a few weeks ago, so now I kept it in my pocket in case security ever stopped me. I glanced down at the card, looking at my photo and the information that identified me as Greta's body double.
"Well, that would have been helpful a few hours ago," I sighed.
Still, I probably would have ended up here, anyway. That Zeysor guy was as stubborn as a brick wall. He was the one to blame for all of this. If I ever saw him again, I was going to kick him in the face or the nuts. Or both.
I got to work using the corner of my card to unscrew the screws. I didn't have much time. Someone could walk through the hall any minute.
The first two came out quickly, but the third was extra tight. My card bent as I twisted it around and kept slipping from the tiny slot. Finally, it gave way, but the head of the screw popped right off and fell down my shirt.
"Shit!" I hissed. The metal was cold. I shook my hoodie until the screw fell to the ground and then went after the last one.
A voice echoed down from the end of the hall.
I didn't dare look back, tugging the vent free and using every ounce of my less-than-average upper body strength to pull myself up.
This was crazy. This was stupid. When did crawling in vents ever work for anyone who wasn't an action hero in a movie?
I clawed my way in and then found myself stuck. My hips were maybe an inch too big.
"No," I grunted, clenching my ass in a ridiculous attempt to wriggle through.
Suddenly I felt hands on my ankles and a deep alien voice. With one swift tug, I was pulled from the vent and captured again.
***
The holding cell wasn't the dark and disgusting dungeon that I'd imagined. In fact, it was clean, well-lit, and modern. Not that it made it much better, it was still a prison.
I was given water and a blanket and then left alone.
The water had a metallic tang to it, but was too thirsty to care. I drank it all and then wrapped myself up in the blanket, which seemed to be made of some thick polyester felt. It wasn't soft, but it kept me warm.
I looked up at the ceiling. No vent this time. No furniture and no way out.
"Fuck," I sighed, sliding against the wall and curling up in the scratchy blanket like a caterpillar in a cocoon.
I couldn't cry. I wanted to cry, but my body was too tired to even shed a tear.
What was going to happen to me?
I wanted to believe that the old alien would just send me back to Earth, but he didn't exactly seem like a compassionate guy. I wondered about Zeysor, maybe he could convince his master to send me home. It was Zeysor's fault, anyway.
I gritted my teeth and slammed my fist down on the floor. Pain shot up my arm and I let out a tiny cry.
All there was to do now was wait.
CHAPTER SEVEN
- ZEYSOR -
MY MISTAKE had doomed that human female. I had to reason with the Commander.
"Sir, forgive me, but it was my mistake. Please don't send her to the slave colonies," I begged. I couldn't leave without trying.
"It's the only thing I can do, Zeysor," He said. "She cannot return to Earth now that she's seen us."
"Humans are well aware of the Terruxian partnership on Mars," I counted as modestly as I could. I was playing a dangerous game by arguing with my commanding officer.
