Page 5 of The Female

The conversation goes stale as Mom continues crying and Dad refuses to listen to my suggestions. It’s taking everything within me not to scream in frustration as the night goes on, my anger reaching an all-time high by the time I give up and head to bed.

I eye the hidden latch that leads to my hideout as I move about my bedroom, debating whether or not I should sleep down there for the next couple of weeks. It realistically wouldn’t be of any use. If the Seekers scan our home, they’ll be able to find me even if I’m hidden.

My chest feels heavy as I turn away from the latch and crawl into bed.

Fear prevents me from turning off my lamp, and I stare at the ceiling as I wait for sleep to find me. I don’t know when the Seekers will come, but I’m willing to bet it won’t take long if the rumors about the house raids are true.

They’re known for their efficiency. I give it a week at most.

Despite the exhaustion I feel throughout my entire body, I can’t fall asleep. Instead, I try to imagine what my life will be like when I’m inevitably captured. I’ll be held at the facility until somebody, or multiple people, purchase me during the next auction. I doubt it will take long, given the current demand.

Humans are genetically compatible with most other breeds, so just about anybody will be able to buy me. I only hope it’ll be by somebody who resembles my kind. I’d rather die than be purchased by an orc or goblin. Their grayish-green skin, hunched frames, and disproportionate heads aren’t exactly what I’m looking for in a partner. The mere thought of having to push the giant head of an orc baby out of my body is enough to make me cry, and that’s not even taking into account the rumors of orcs’ harsh treatment toward females.

The house grows silent as my parents finally head to bed. I doubt they’re sleeping, though, and are probably lying awake, just like me.

I could always sneak out while they’re sleeping. I estimate I’d be able to get a few miles away before being spotted, and it would be impossible to know exactly what house I’d come from at that point.

They could DNA test me to determine who my parents are, but I doubt they would go through the hassle. At least, I hope they wouldn’t.

A sudden shout has me jolting out of bed, my mind flying in a thousand different directions as I stumble toward my hideaway. My mother’s scream is earsplitting as I turn and trip over my bed sheets, my movements jerky and panicked as I sprint to the small trap door.

My bedroom door bursts open, and I scream as my hair is grabbed from behind. My feet fly out from underneath me as my legs take longer to process that my upper body has been restrained. I throw my elbow back in an attempt to hit the person who’s wrapped his arm around my waist, the attack proving ineffective as I’m dragged from my room.

The Seekers are here.

My kicking and screaming appear to make no difference as the man forces me down the small hallway and into the living room. Mom’s already there, still screaming, and my eyes dart over the blood that trails from her hairline to her cheek.

I look behind her, taking in the face of the man who’s restraining her arms. He looks vaguely human, but the bulge of large teeth behind his shut lips and his flat nose informs me he’s anything but. His muscles flex as Mom fights against his hold.

He seems annoyed by her struggling, but his eyes light up as he notices me being pulled into the room. Mom continues to fight, but she doesn’t seem to have noticed me yet. So much is happening, I’m not surprised.

I’m dragged toward the front door as I follow Mom’s line of sight. My throat dries as I notice where she’s looking. Dad lies face-down on the floor, his unmoving body signaling that he’s either knocked out or dead.

Given the pain in my mother’s screams, I’d say dead.

Time seems to slow as I’m ripped from my house, the pain from the man’s grip fading and the sound of Mom’s screams disappearing until all that’s left is the blood pumping in my ears. I feel disconnected, my mind viewing everything as if it’s watching through a television screen.

Mom pries herself free and lunges for Dad. She notices me at the last minute and pivots, but she only makes it a few steps before being grabbed once more. This time, the man grabs her hair and forces her onto the floor.

She’ll be taken to a facility, but there’s no rush to get her there.

Their goal was to grab me, and as I’m thrown into the back of their vehicle, that goal has been achieved.

I’m barely able to register that this is the last time I’m ever going to see my house or parents as the van starts to pull away, the men sitting in the front chatting excitedly amongst themselves.

They’ll be heavily rewarded for capturing a female.

This will make their careers.

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It’s impossible to block out the crying from the women around me, their quiet sniffles and occasional sobs hard to ignore in the otherwise silent room.

They’ve all been captured tonight, just as I have, and more are added with each passing hour. I knew the Seekers would move quickly, but I didn’t anticipate this level of speed. I thought I had a few days still.

Their swiftness is suspicious, though, and I’m starting to think this has been planned. The government probably approved this long ago and finally gave the green light after yesterday’s large capture.

Objectively speaking, it’s a good plan.

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