Page 2 of Soren

We face off like that for a few seconds more. She opens and closes her mouth wordlessly. "I..."

"Please." My heart weighs heavy at leaving them behind, but I know that the stipend they send will more than cover Janie and Iris' expenses. And not just that -- they'll send food, too. And the way things have gotten, that's almost more valuable than cash.

Janie gives me a long look. "I know better than to try to talk you out of something once you've made up your mind, but are you really sure you want to do this?" Her face darkens. "Iris will grow up without a father because of that asshole. I just...don't want you to go through the same thing. For some wise guy, alien or not, rich or not, to just use you, it's..." Her voice breaks, and I wrap her in my arms.

"I'll be safe," I promise her. "They have all kinds of contracts in place to make sure no one's hurt, and the benefits are out of this world. Plus, it's only for a year. Then I can come back and we can start our new life. Together."

Janie looks up at me, teary-eyed. "I hate that it had to come to this point," she whispers before leaning her head on my shoulder. "But you're right. We're all each other has anymore. All Iris has." With a deep breath, she clears her throat and straightens. "If you're sure, I'm sure. Do what you need to do, Lara. I believe in you.”

Her blessing means more to me than she realizes. Little does she know, I was planning to sign up for the program whether she approved or not.

Not because I want to hop in bed with some rich alien just to have his baby. Not because I want to leave my home and my family for a full year. But because Iris is the most important thing in my life right now, and I can't bear to see anything happen to her.

This is my way of protecting her.

She hands me back the tablet, and before I can make any second guesses, I fill out the application.

GENETIC MATCHING

LARA

I'm not sure what I expected, but it wasn't this.

I'm sitting on a cold metal chair in a room with eleven other women. The facility has the bleak, sterile look of a hospital and too-bright fluorescent lights flicker overhead. I fold my hands in my lap and try not to fidget, but then my leg ends up bouncing up and down instead.

The news that I'd been accepted came only two days after submitting the application. We'd both been surprised that it was so soon, but I guess that gave me less time to reconsider.

Now I'm here, sitting in the waiting room, waiting for my name to be called. To pass the time I watch the other girls in the room. Some of them look tired. Others bored. Some of them, I realize with amusement, even look excited.

I think about what their lives must be like. What could have driven them to be here today, same as me. Was it desperation? Curiosity? Pure lust?

I wonder if they're leaving people behind like I will be with Janie and Iris. Or maybe they don't have anyone left, and they're just looking for a way out. The program caters to all types -- that much they made clear on the application.

I'm getting up the courage to say hi to one of the other girls when I hear my name.

"Lara Michaels?"

My head bobs up, and I can't help but gasp when I notice the woman standing there.

My first real, live alien. She stands rather tall for a woman, slightly humanoid but with eyes that are larger than life and skin tinged with a deep, lustrous gold. Stark white hair flows down her back in ethereal waves, and her pointed ears poke out in defined points.

Would the male aliens look like this too?

"Lara Michaels?" The name comes again.

"Oh! Yes, that's me." I stand up a little too quickly, head swimming for a fraction of a second before I right myself. "Sorry, I was..."

"Please follow me." She holds out a hand and her skin glimmers in the light. Fascinating.

I take one last look around the room. There's no backing out now. With a deep breath, I think of Iris -- of her sweet, happy face. Of her laugh.

As long as I keep my eyes on the prize, I can make it through anything.

She leads me down a long, brightly lit corridor. Her strides are long, nearly two of mine, and I rush to keep up.

"Nervous?" She asks as we walk. "I'm Orvox, by the way." Multiple rooms stretch down the hallway, each marked with a number.

"A little," I admit.

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