Page 1 of Orange Town
Prologue
Zirc
Bollocks to this!
Punching at my makeshift pillow, I looked at the windows. It’s near dawn and still I could not sleep. Try as I might, I am drawn once again to the sleeping form of my companion. I could not believe my luck or misfortune when I realized this is a female neko! A female! Wonder what Maine will say when he seesher? Being a neko male, he will mate her at once. There are very few female nekos alive in the universe. My race has no females at all.
Still, so many things bother me about her. She could be a spy, brought by my enemies. Her language is unlike anything I’ve heard. Her voice is soft, not like mine or even like Maine’s which I always tell him, his voice is whiny. I wonder where her allegiance lies? She has advanced implants, but the way she acts is almost uncivilized.
I observed her, bundled up in old rags. She shivered. If she’s a spy, why would they send an inferior one who could not even stand the chilly winds of the desert? I doubt she came from a city. She looked so foreign and most likely brought up in a less harsh world. Right now I can see her skin sunburned. And the only spots I can see are in her face. She has no spots in other parts of her body, why? And those spots are tiny, only noticeable when up close. Her spots -
Even now, I try to control my urges to take her again.
Who am I kidding? Even her small spots make me hard.
I stood up, grabbed my pack and prepared to leave. Maybe I can just leave her here. Fewer distractions to my mission. I kill and hunt people. I am not known to pick up strays.
Guns, knives, blasters, the vial. I secured everything I had in my arsenal in Abstang. At least he looked reliable, able to withstand different temperatures of the desert. Unlike a certain -
“Where are you going?”
I tried to ignore her. It’s unfair that I can only understand her. Or maybe this is a ruse. I had already delayed my mission. The others should be near the borders by now. And I need to catch up with an old friend in a few days. I was hoping to surprise him, but it seems he will have the advantage this time.
I hopped onto Abstang.
Before I could urge Abstang to move, I felt a hand on my leg.
“You can’t leave me here!”
I urged Abstang to move. And on cue, the female started wailing. It irritates me that her words, her cries, urges me to help her. She is not an invalid.
She’s most likely leaking water in her eyes again.
“Hah.” I urged Abstang to move faster. And in mere seconds, I could not hear her cries anymore.
May the gods guide you to your stars. Against my wishes, I said a prayer taught by one of my fathers.
Chapter One
Brynn
Day 6 without Zirc. I will not despair. I should be thankful that he finally left me!
I brushed away the tears running down my face. Again.
Is this what they call the Stockholm Syndrome?
I refuse to be a victim. I will be stronger than this. First things first, I need to survive. I am an Anderson. My family thrives on crisis. Better not think about them right now. My heart gets pulled every time I think about the family and friends I left behind. Yet, they are also a source of how I can survive this.
My dad would ask, what do I have right now? There is enough food in the shed that can probably last for a year. Strange that I never worry about food before. Born in Colorado, food is not scarce and I never have to worry there is no more food to harvest the following year.
Note to self. I am not in American soil anymore.
I glanced out the window. There’s no shadow, so it's probably noon time. I went out the door and checked the water mill. One thing I liked about this place, it is never too humid. I dropped to my knees to look at my science project. I collected the mist drops from one side where I heated the water coming from the orange river. I was experimenting on replicating this process just in case I needed to leave this place.
In case Zirc comes back and takes me away, my mind insinuates.
“This should be enough for two days!” I exclaimed. Vocalizing my thoughts somewhat lessens my feeling of depression and being alone.
