November 12, 2361 AIA

P5

When Jane woke up, she could hear the xeno’s voice, but it was muffled. She tried to figure out where she was and why she couldn’t see anything. She was so disoriented, it took her a while to recognize the feel of cloth pressing over her eyes. Part of the blindfold was covering her ears; that’s why she couldn’t hear Levin clearly. She strained to listen.

“—long I’ll have to hold her?”

Who is he talking to?

The answer was indecipherable, but the sound made Jane think that whoever he was talking to was female.

Jane was gagged as well, but on the line of skin between the cloth around her eyes and the cloth around her mouth, she could feel something. Carpet? Was she laying on carpet? She wiggled her head enough to push the blindfold off her ear.

Levin’s voice: “No. That shouldn’t be a problem. Have we found a planet?”

There was the soft murmur of the woman’s reply. Jane still couldn’t make out the words. That probably meant they were talking over a channel.

When Jane realized she might be alone with the xeno, she felt a thrill of hope and terror war in her stomach. If there was only one of them, she’d have a better chance of escaping.

Escaping to where, Jane? You don’t even know what planet you’re on!

She forced herself to calm down. If there was a carpet and a computer, that meant she was on a planet where humans had settled. If she managed to get out of the building, she would find someone—there had to be someone who would help her.

Jane could feel the panic rising again and quelled it by berating herself for being afraid.

“Yes.”

She listened to Levin as she rubbed her face along the ground, hoping to dislodge the blindfold.

“I understand,” he said. “We’ll be safe enough here. I’ll take care of her.”

She could only breathe by pulling drags of air in through her nose. Fury pressed on her mind. Like you’ve been taking care of me so far?

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

When Levin had captured her, he’d bound her wrists behind her back with some kind of cord. That had been days ago. She couldn’t feel her hands anymore. For all she knew, they might’ve fallen off. Her stomach was an empty cold ache. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d eaten.

But her legs were free. She could run.

She managed to move the blindfold enough to see with one eye. The room was dark, but there was some meager light coming under the door along with the sound of the two voices. There was enough illumination, she could make out couches and a low table. On the opposite wall, there was another door. It was dark and silent.

Jane’s whole body shook as she got to her knees and dragged one foot under her. Then she was on her feet, stumbling toward the dark door. Only after she’d thudded against it did she realize it was shut tight and she couldn’t twist the handle.

Stupid!

Levin fell silent.

Jane noticed the unnatural pause in the conversation and moved away from the door she was leaning on.

“I have to go.” Levin had lowered his voice. “No—look! Trust me.”

Jane crossed the room and stood by the lighted door, waiting for him to arrive. When his shadow broke up the diffused rectangle of orange light, Jane flattened herself against the wall behind her. The door swung wide.

“Dr. Bonumomnes?”

She was so close to him that she didn’t dare turn her head to watch his cautious entry, but she could see it out of the corner of her eye. He was holding up his e-pistol, ready to fire.

“Doctor?”

He was coming from a lit room into a dark one, but that was the only advantage she had. If she was lucky, she might have a chance.

Levin was all the way in now. He turned away from her, sweeping his weapon toward the far corner. The door behind him was still open.

Jane dived into the orange light and found herself in another room. She had no time to take in any details. All she needed to see was another doorway, and she was running. She could hear Levin coming after her.

She was in a hall. As she passed a small table, she kicked it down and continued running. After the turn at the end, she found herself in an entrance hall that would presumably lead outside. Her desperate energy got her almost to the door, but before she could throw herself against it, two hands grabbed her arms from behind. The abrupt jerk lit a fire in each shoulder. Her head cracked against the floor when she fell, and her knee twisted when her leg bent up behind her.

Carter Levin knelt on top of her, his weight crushing down on her thighs. He had to press his e-pistol into her neck before Jane stopped struggling.

As his breathing slowed, Levin reached down and yanked the blindfold the rest of the way off.

Jane was glaring at him.

There was something almost humorous about the ferocity of her indignant rage. When he leaned forward, he put his free hand on her shoulder and pressed down.

Even through the gag, he could hear the sound of her scream.

“Doctor, I admire your tenacity. But you made a very poor choice. I had hoped these restraints would be all I needed to control you.”

Levin hauled her to her feet and led her back to a bedroom. After removing her gag, he offered her some water. Feeling the first trickle dribbling into her mouth was enough to make her sob. She had barely finished swallowing before he shoved her onto the mattress, face-first.

He ripped her sleeve up over her elbow.

“Are you going to kill me?” Jane asked.

The question came out as nothing but a horse whisper—that was all she had left of her voice. Jane had never felt so small and helpless.

She heard him chuckle.

“Oh, yes, Doctor.” He plunged a needle into her arm. “The only question is when.”

Her world went dark.