Collected (Selected Book 1) Page 6

  And then I heard the sound of metal against metal. I turned and gaped.

  I was in a scene direct from Gladiator or Spartacus. It was clearly an arena, a colosseum. There were people in the stands, but they were indistinct, and I couldn't have said a thing about any of them.

  Here and there I saw humans, naked, as was I. Most of them were female, but there were two men. Some of us carried weapons, and I realized then I held a sword and shield.

  And then our opponents came into view.

  Aliens.

  Aliens of so many different sizes and shapes. Oh, they all appeared humanoid, but there was no mistaking them for what they were.

  The aliens were fighting. Some of them were fighting each other. Others were driving the humans, driving them apart. As I watched, one woman was driven backwards into a cage, and as soon as she was inside, the door slammed shut on her. The alien who had forced her into the cage lifted his head to the sky and bellowed a cry of victory. He leapt onto the cage, and then it lifted into the sky, disappearing from one moment to the next.

  So far, none of the aliens was paying attention to me. I thought about trying to help some of the others, but I was frightened, terribly frightened.

  I looked around in my panic, and I saw an archway with glowing letters over it.

  Exit.

  I bolted for the exit.

  I didn't get far. From the corner of my eyes, I saw three aliens on my right, racing to beat me to the exit, and one more from the left. The four came to a stop, arrayed before me, and I came to a halt.

  All four were tall and fearsome, and when they began to advance on me, I backed away. When I looked behind me, I realized they together were driving me towards one of the cages.

  "No!" I screamed at them. I tried to run around them, but two cut me off. I ran the other way and was cut off. I brandished my sword at them, but one reached forward with a long, long hammer and knocked it from my grasp.

  But then from behind me came another battle cry, and a woman leapt over me -- over me! She landed in a clear battle stance, halfway between me and the terrible aliens.

  Oh, she wasn't any more human than they were. No, not at all. But when she looked over her shoulder at me, she was both frightening and beautiful at the same time.

  "You may choose," she said.

  And then she turned back and bellowed at the other aliens.

  "Choose what?" I screamed. "Choose what?"

  I woke, my heart pounding.

  "Choose what?" I screamed. "Choose what?"

  There was no answer.

  * * * *

  The chair gave me water. The chair offered warmth and comfort. The chair offered solace. And I slept. And I dreamt.

  I couldn't have said what I dreamt.

  Life Continues

  I slept. And then I woke. The chair had withdrawn, and around me was the morning light. I lay quietly for a while, staring straight ahead, not moving. But when finally I tried to sit up, the chair adjusted, helping me to sit.

  I was still naked, but when I looked around, I saw no one.

  I looked over my shoulder then swung my feet over the edge of the bed, climbing to my feet carefully.

  I felt weak and dizzy.

  "Minerva?"

  There was no answer.

  Walking carefully, delicately, I stepped to the window. Saturn was gone. Instead I stared out across an alien landscape, too bizarre to even attempt to describe. But it was beautiful and colorful, and strange creatures passed before me.

  I stood for a long time.

  "Minerva?"

  There was no answer.

  "Moirai?"

  A girl could hope.

  My stomach growled.

  "Anyone?"

  When there was no answer, I turned away. A girl has needs. In the bathroom I saw to them then eyed the shower.

  Why not?

  * * * *

  I felt better after a shower. I brushed and dried my hair again, then, with the towel wrapped around me as it had been last night, I returned to the main room.

  And there I found clothes waiting for me, the same sort of clothing I wore yesterday. I climbed into them. And then I wondered what I was supposed to do.

  I eyed the chair. And then I shrugged and sat down in it, making myself comfortable. It adjusted for me, but it didn't encase me.

  * * * *

  I don't know how long I waited. I don't think it was long. But then before me, a doorway appeared in the middle of the wall, not far from the bathroom, about where a door might be in any hotel room. The door opened, and beyond it, a woman stood, waiting for me.

  I climbed from the chair and walked to her. I came to a stop, a half pace from her.

  "Good morning, Ms. Fletcher. I imagine you are hungry."

  For some reason, I didn't feel like speaking, and so I simply nodded.

  "Well then, let's take care of you. I am Sara." She took my arm, and I let her lead me.

  We arrived at the cafeteria. I saw no one else, and when Sara sat me at a chair, I remained docile.

  "Do you know what you would like?" she asked, taking the seat opposite me. Slowly I shook my head. "Perhaps something warm and filling. Should I choose for you?" I nodded. She stood, assured me she would only be a few minutes, and stepped away, disappearing from my view when she was a few paces away.

  I turned to the right, but there was no window, only a blank wall. I had hoped Moirai would take time to talk to me again.

  And then Sara returned with a tray. She set it on the table to unload the contents. Then she set the tray upon another table, and it disappeared. Sara sat down across from me, and I stared at what she had brought.

  I didn't move. I only stared.

  "This happens," she said gently. "Two days is a long time."

  I looked up at her. "One."

  "No. It has been nearly two. You agreed to stay for two."

  "I did," I admitted. I looked back at the food. There was a waffle with butter and syrup waiting. Another plate held bacon, and there was a small bowl of fruit and a glass of juice.

  "Is some of this yours?"

  She smiled. "I've eaten. Go ahead. It looks like a lot now, but once you begin eating, you'll want it all."

  It turned out, she was right.

  Finally, stuffed, I leaned back in the chair. "The doctor told me I needed to lose weight."

  "You needed the energy and the comfort food brings," Sara replied. "Are you ready to go home?"

  "Home?"

  "Your testing is complete."

  "Don't I get to hear the results?"

  "There are no results, except whatever the doctor told you."

  "Oh." I looked away. "I thought maybe they'd tell me what they decided." I sat quietly for a while before turning back to Sara. She was watching with a kind expression. "I may go home?"

  "Yes. You may go home. Your things are waiting for you, and someone to drive you." She paused. "You were here for two days, and we test more intensively those of you who accepted a ride. You'll be back to normal by tomorrow morning."

  I nodded. Sara stood then helped me to my feet. I let her lead me wherever she wanted to go.

  * * * *

  The room looked the same as the first one. There was a bench, and a drawer. Sara led me to it, and all my things were there. "Once you are sure you are ready, walk to that door." She pointed. "It will open, and your driver will be waiting."

  I nodded. "Thank you."

  * * * *

  I don't really remember the drive. I remember pulling into my driveway. "I'm sorry," I said. "My car is at work."

  "Your car is in the garage here," the driver said. "And there are meals for you for the next twenty-four hours. Your car will not operate until tomorrow morning."

  "No driving?"

  "No driving." Then she climbed from the car and crossed to my side. I offered my hand and let her lead me into my house.

  * * * *

  My brain was mush for the rest of the day. I went to
bed early, but by morning I was back to myself.

  And so, I returned to work. And life continued as if nothing had happened.

  * * * *

  "How was it?" asked my sister, Liz. Liz was two years older than I was, but she hadn't been through her own testing. It was all in the luck of the draw. "Were you afraid?"

  "I was, at first," I said. "It was all a blur."

  "I didn't know they could keep you for two days. Isn't it normally one?"

  "Yes."

  "Why did they keep you for two? Did you flunk out the first day?" She grinned at me to make sure I knew she was teasing.

  "I don't know why," I said.

  "But you're all right? They didn't hurt you?"

  "They didn't hurt me. I'm glad it's over though. I can move on now."

  "But did you meet one? One of the aliens?"

  "No," I said. "Everyone was a normal, boring human. They were just, I don't know. Aptitude tests or something. Sometimes they offer people jobs, but they must not have been interested in me."

  "You wouldn't have accepted!" Liz said. "What kind of person wants to work for a bunch of space aliens?"

  "I suppose that's a good question," I said. "Besides, I worked too hard to get where I am. I wouldn't want to give up my career now. I'm just really getting started."

  "That's right," Liz said. "Exactly. So, how's your love life?"

  "What's that?" I asked with a smile.

  * * * *

  And so, life went on, much the same as before. But I made a point of spending more time with Liz and my best friends, Tracy and Mallory. And remembering what the doctor had told me, I went for a walk, every evening after getting home, and bike riding on the weekends.

  At night, I slept, and if I had dreams, I don't remember them.

  But some mornings I woke with the memory of a pair of alien eyes.

  "You must choose."

  I had no idea what I must choose.

  * * * *

  But life went on. Halloween arrived, and I let Tracy take me to a party some friends were throwing. We both wore costumes, and I had a very good time. A guy tried to hit on me, but I wasn't really interested, and eventually he got the hint.

  * * * *

  Life continued. But if I leaned back in my chair and closed my eyes for a moment's rest, I could see a pair of alien eyes.

  They were haunting but beautiful, a shade of gold I wasn't sure was ever seen on Earth. They seemed to glow, and if I waited long enough, they moved closer. And then I could feel breath against my cheek, and then soft lips pressed against my ear.

  "You will choose."

  I stopped asking what I would choose.

  Part Two

  Doorbell

  I knew it was a dream, but it was far more vivid than any dream since my testing. I stood in a forest. My heart began to pound, and I ducked behind a tree, hiding.

  Somehow I knew I was being hunted.

  I carried a compass, and somehow I knew safety was north.

  But I was being hunted. And the hunter knew how to find me.

  I broke cover and ran.

  * * * *

  The dream morphed, and I found myself crouched down, ready to flee, but staring into a pair of alien, female eyes.

  "You will choose soon. Choose wisely."

  "What am I choosing?"

  "Your future."

  * * * *

  I woke to the sound of my doorbell. I groaned, then rolled over and looked at my phone.

  6 AM. Who rings a doorbell at 6 AM?

  The bell rang again, and there was something about it that was insistent.

  "This better be important," I growled. I climbed from bed, shivering from the lost heat of the covers, and shambled to the closet. My warmest robe hung from a hook just inside the closet, and I pulled it around me. I pulled on a pair of slippers just as the doorbell rang for at least the third time.

  "I'm coming!" I yelled. "For crying out loud!"

  I was halfway to the door before I realized what an insane hour this was. Unless it was the police about to deliver exceedingly bad news, whoever was out there was making some sort of mistake.

  I detoured to the kitchen and pulled my chef's knife from the block.

  The bell rang a fourth time just as I reached the door.

  "I'm coming!" I yelled. "What's the matter with you?"

  It was still night out, and so I flipped the light switch on then peered out the thin window beside the door. I saw some sort of uniformed police officer, male, and beyond him, I could see there were others, but he was largely blocking the view.

  "Oh shit," I said. I stashed the knife in a planter just to the right of the door, undid the deadbolt, and then, hiding largely behind the door, I opened it a crack.

  "Officer? Um. Officers?"

  There were four people standing on my front step, two men and two women. They all turned to look at me.

  "Sapphire Fletcher?"

  "It's six in the morning," I said. "I presume this is important. Did someone die?"

  "No one died," said one of the women. "Are you Sapphire Fletcher?"

  "If no one died, come back at a decent hour."

  I started to close the door, but one of the men inserted his foot, blocking the closing door.

  "Unless you have a warrant either for my arrest or to search my house, remove your foot," I said firmly.

  "Ma'am," he said. "We need you to step outside."

  "I was sleeping. I'm barely dressed. I wouldn't step out in my jammies in the best of weather. And it's November. I'm not coming out there. Remove your foot."

  "Ma'am," the officer said. "We need you to step outside. If you do not step out willingly, we are authorized to use force. If you attempt to flee, we are authorized to use force. Please don't make us do that, Ma'am."

  I stared. "You have got to be kidding. It has to be below freezing out there."

  The four of them exchanged glances. "You may invite us in," one of the women said. "Or you may step out here. Those are your two choices. Ma'am."

  "Protocol-" the first man said.

  "Fuck protocol. She's right. It's cold out here, and she's in a bathrobe."

  I looked between them. The first officer's foot was still in the door, and I didn't think I was going to win a physical battle with him. He looked big and a lot stronger than I was.

  "What do you want?"

  "Ma'am, we've told you what we need. Please, will you cooperate?"

  "Not unless you tell me what you want. I know my rights. Unless you have a warrant, I don't have to invite you inside. And I don't have to come out there. Now, if you have an official explanation for why you are on my front steps at this ungodly hour, I'd love to hear it. But you're letting the hot air out, and that's wasteful."

  The four exchanged glances. Then the woman spoke again. "Ma'am, we are happy to explain everything, but you must first step out here or allow us inside."

  "I don't have to do either." I looked them over. "You're not even real cops. Get off my property."

  So far, other than a foot wedged in the door, no force had been used, and until someone decided to use force, we had a standoff. I had no doubt what would happen if my bluster failed.

  "I hate this job," the other man grumbled, the one who hadn't spoken yet.

  "Then get a new one," I suggested. "One that doesn't involve waking innocent women at 6 in the morning. You should have a job you finds fulfilling. Unless you are going to tell me why you're here, I want you off my property. You haven't waved a warrant at me, so I presume you don't have one. That means you have to leave."

  The man sighed. "Ma'am, if you have not stepped outside or invited us inside, in five seconds, we are coming through this door."

  I stared. "That's a violation of my rights."

  "Four," said the first man.

  "Wait!" I said. "Just wait!"

  "Three."

  "Wait!" I screamed. "You can't do this."

  "Don't run, ma'am," the second man said. "Please
don't run."

  "You can't do this!"

  "Two."

  "Wait! Compromise."

  "Wait," said the other woman, the only one who hadn't spoken. She set her hand on the arm of the first cop, or whatever they were. "Hear her out."

  "You clearly don't have a warrant," I said quickly. "If you cross that threshold without my permission, you are in violation of my constitutional rights. If you touch me without cause, you are also in violation."

  "You offered a compromise, ma'am," the woman said. "Let's hear it."

  "I am not inviting you inside," I said. "But I will step away from the door. If you enter my house, you are breaking the law."

  "Don't run, ma'am," the woman said.

  I closed my eyes and then stepped away from the door, letting it swing open as I took three steps directly backwards.

  The four of them didn't wait. The two men rushed past me, and I squeaked in fright, but it was the two women who stepped to my sides, clasping my arms firmly.

  "Please don't do this! Please don't do this! I didn't do anything."

  "We know you haven't, ma'am," one of the women said. "Don't fight us now."

  "You can't do this!" But when they forced my hands behind my back, I didn't fight them. When they applied the cuffs to my wrists, I didn't fight them. "Why are you doing this?" Tears began to crawl down my cheeks.

  "Johnson, close the door."

  One of the cops, the first one, moved to the door and closed it.

  "Please don't hurt me."

  "We're not here to hurt you, ma'am," said one of the women, the first one.

  "Take what you want and go," I said.

  "We're not thieves," said Johnson.

  "Well, you're not cops," I said. "Who are you?"

  "Ma'am," said the first woman, turning me to face her. "Are you Sapphire Fletcher?"

  "I don't have to answer your questions! I want my lawyer."

  "You're not accused of any crimes," she said. "But even if you were, you have to answer questions about who you are."

  "Only if you're arresting me, and only once you take me to a police station."

  She paused then sighed. "Ma'am, if you aren't Sapphire Fletcher, just tell us."