The question and the woman who asked it startled her. She jumped back so fast, she almost jerked the dress to the ground. She looked at the woman who was probably in her early thirties with dark hair and wire-rimmed glasses.
“What?”
“I noticed you looking at the blue dress. Is that your size? Would you like to try it on?”
“Um. I’m not sure.”
“I heard there was a woman visiting the dome from one of the tribes. Proper clothing must be scarce. We have a private dressing room in the back.”
“I honestly don’t know what size to try,” Faith admitted.
The woman looked her up and down. “Try the size ten. We can see if it’s too tight or too loose.”
“Okay, I appreciate it.”
She followed the woman but noticed the two warriors were coming with her. “Hey, guys, can you stay here? I’m going to try on this dress and will be right back.”
“We are supposed to guard you at all times.”
“I’ll be fine. I’m just going to the changing room, then I will be back. You can’t come in there with me while I change. Logan wouldn’t like that.”
“I don’t know. Can you not try it on when we get back to our quarters?”
Faith couldn’t help feeling disappointed. The shopping was so normal and trying clothes on was part of the experience. “I guess so.”
“Are you coming?” the woman asked, shifting her gaze from Faith to the two warriors. She looked worried or nervous. Faith could understand that. The aliens were sexy but very intimidating. She was about to give the dress to the woman and apologize but leave without it.
“Perhaps we can allow her to try the dress on,” Powers offered.
“Really?” Faith perked up.
Lake shook his head, but Powers motioned for her to continue with the woman. Faith adjusted her backpack and followed the woman through the curtains.
“The dressing room is the last door on the left. I’m going to pull a couple more dresses I think you might like while you try those on.”
“Okay, thank you.”
Faith continued down the dark hallway to the door that the woman told her to go to. Just as she reached for the doorknob, a large hand covered her mouth. She dropped the dress and placed two hands on the arm wrapped around her waist and tried to shove it off. The hand barely left her mouth before it was replaced with a smelly cloth. She tried to scream, but the pressure was suffocating her. She drooped; the smell must be something… something… everything went black.
