But I suppose one never does. I don't know if it could be considered an abduction if you're expecting it to happen.
Midori realized her thoughts were rambling. Her brain tended to do that, particularly when terrified. And right then, she was scared shitless. A group of big blue aliens had just walked into the shower room and were staring at her naked body.
One was already enough, but at least he tried to give her privacy. She was shaking like a leaf, so there was no way she was going to look over at them. Still, she sensed their gaze accosting her as they ogled her like a piece of meat at the grocer.
Midori wished she could disappear. Just melt into the wall and hide away. Be invisible like she was on Earth. Well, not invisible—but not noticeable. Ignored. Unimportant. She had grown used to living like that. Here, she and the other women who were taken were the center of attention. She hated it.
A growl camefrom the front of the room, and Midori turned just enough to see the big blue four-armed guard she spilled food all over stomping to the door and blocking the way in.
"This room is occupied. Leave."
The threat in his voice was unmistakable, and she shivered again—both from fear and from being a little turned on by his ferocious protectiveness.
"There's more than enough room for all of us in here," the one in front said. "Besides, we're only looking. We promise to keep all our hands to ourselves, brother."
Her protector snarled at him. "You can either leave on your own two feet, or you can exit the door with my boot up your ass. You decide,brother."
From the corner of her eye, Midori saw the guard glancing at those who came in with him. Looking for support maybe? But she supposed he didn't get it, because the next thing she knew he said, "Fine. But don't take too long. We also have matters to attend to.”
The door swished closed, and Midori stole a quick glance at the ridiculously tall and blue four-armed guard. He still had his broad muscular back to her. His long blue monkey-tail swished back and forth, and she was hit with a confusing wave of disappointment which she didn't understand. Having someone watch her shower was a terrifying idea, but for some reason she wanted him towantto look at her.
Good god, what is this!?She didn't understand herself and the competing emotions of fear and desire.
Instead of trying to figure it out, she shook her head and went back to washing her body as quickly as possible. The sooner she got out of there and back to her sister, April, and their new friend, Valentina, the better.
Midori gathered her courage. "Thank you for making them leave."
The big blue alien grunted, which she supposed was his way of saying, "You're welcome."
She finished and deactivated the water using her palm on the hand reader. As soon as the water stopped, jets of warm air streamed from the ceiling and the floor, drying her in just seconds.
"I'm done," she said, doing her best to cover her nakedness with her hands, even though he was still facing away and keeping his promise to give her some privacy.
The guard walked over to the combination clothes washer and dryer, which worked amazingly fast. It made a shrill noise, indicating her clothes were clean. Another amazing alien technology—clothes washing and drying within a few minutes. No more waiting an hour for her favorite pair of jeans to dry.What I wouldn't give for those jeans.She wondered if she'd ever see any of her stuff ever again. She wondered if she'd ever see home again.
The threat of tears made her eyes sting, but Midori forced them back.I will not cry. It won't help anything, and I've cried for weeks already. No, I'm going to suck it up and do my best to act like April and Valentina.
Valentina was a natural leader and problem solver. She had been from the moment their ship to Rivia was attacked and the three women were abducted. Her sister April, however, was just plain stubborn. And angry. Really, really angry about the whole situation.
Midori was also angry about being taken, but mostly she was scared. None of the guards bothered to share information with them, even though the women were fitted with communication patches which gave them the ability to understand the foreign languages. It seemed like the aliens who took them were deliberately keeping them in the dark, and Midori was frightened to think why that might be.
At first she worried their alien abductors might want to eat them. Maybe barbecued human was considered a delicacy on their planet. But, after a few days of being ogled over in the showers, the women realized the aliens had taken them for baser reasons and were pretty sure their captors were going to sell them in some sort of slave trade. Thankfully, no one had tried to touch them. Yet. Midori was afraid once the ship reached its destination, that wouldn't remain the case.
The alien retrieved her clothing from the cleaner and held them out to her behind his back, stretching toward her with two of his four hands. "They're cleansed. You may dress now."
Midori's feet didn't want to move at first, in case he spun around and attacked. But she told herself he could have taken advantage of her at any time and hadn't. This huge and blue four-armed alien had been a complete gentleman. She thought she could trust him, at least for the moment.
Midori slipped her clothes from his grip and dressed in the same black leggings and purple shirt dress she'd worn for weeks. Despite being grateful for the opportunity to clean herself and her clothes, she yearned for a wardrobe change. Unfortunately, all their luggage was left behind on the Rivian ship when they were abducted.
"I'm dressed now. You can turn around."
The alien did, and Midori's heart pounded in her chest as she looked up into his startling silver eyes. She wondered if he heard her heart thrumming. It was beating so hard and fast.
Midori wasn't sure what it was about him that made her pulse pound and her breath catch in her lungs, but whatever was happening sure was making her uncomfortable. She wanted it to stop, and yet she hoped it never did.
Don't be stupid. To him you're just an object to be traded and forgotten. It doesn't matter how imposing and attractivehe is. He's with the aliens who kidnapped you. You can't trust him.
Her heart didn't agree with her mind.
