Page 14 of Fresh Flesh

Maisie

It completely turnsmy stomach to pick out the humans to be harvested.

I don’t say a word to Lurg afterward, or for hours later. I can’t believe that they forced me to do it.

I guess while I’m doing my housework I get a tad obvious about being upset. Maybe I bang pots around in the kitchen too much, or maybe I’m more huffy and verbal with my internal cursing than I thought.

At any rate, Lurg looks over at me from where he’s reading a report on a tablet and scowls.

“Are you angry about something, or are you just clumsy?”

Joras frowns from his spot by the window, where he’d been catching a brief nap in the sunbeam. Mlarx is in his room, possibly napping as well, but I won't be surprised if he comes out to join us soon, now that people are talking.

“I’m angry,” I say, too worked up to have the good sense to be afraid. “I’m very angry, all right?”

Lurg scoffs. “Because you had to pick out some humans for the harvest? Please. That’s no reason to be angry. Besides, you needed to learn your place.”

“If my place is to pick out humans for food, then I don’t want to be in it.”

“Ah, you know it’s not about teaching you your place Maisie. The three of us, Lurg and Mlarx and I…”

Joras clears his throat, his golden eyed gaze troubled.

“We’re being closely monitored by headquarters. If we aren’t careful, they will demand that we offer you up to the next harvest as well.”

I almost think I’d prefer that, to helping subjugate and execute my own kind. I grow sullen and silent. Lurg and Joras exchange glances as if they’re not sure what to do or say to me at this point.

The door to Mlarx’s room slams open, and he comes out, eyes narrowed to slits. He stares down at me and gives me the eye. I know he still doesn’t trust me.

He turns to the others and speaks to them as if I’m not even there.

“It’s high past time we ended this farce and turned her over with the next harvest.”

“Why?” Joras says. “She’s got this place cleaned up nicely, she has a good attitude—”

Lurg clears his throat.

“About most things,” Joras amends. “And quite frankly, I like having her around. She’s not like the other humans. Didn’t you say the other day, Mlarx, that you wished the humans weren’t all so scared and whiny? Well, here is a human who fits that bill, and all you ever do is talk about getting rid of her.”

Mlarx grumbles and waves off their concerns. The discussion sort of stops there, and I wonder if I’m going to be forced to do more of the harvesting. If they try to make me, I will refuse this time.

Only, I might have bigger problems. Mlarx does not trust me. He still is looking for an excuse, any excuse, to send me out to the slaughter.

I have to find a way to convince him that I’m worth keeping around. But how?

I go about my business, cleaning up the house and preparing the evening meal. After dinner, Joras and Lurg head out to take care of some business with the camp. That leaves me alone with Mlarx.

On his way out the door, Joras frowns at Mlarx as if he wants to say something to him. Possibly he wants to tell Mlarx not to harm me in their absence. But in the end he remains silent and heads outside.

The door shuts, and I turn to Mlarx.

“So,” I say. “Alone at last.”

“Distasteful,” he snorts before staring at his pad. He’s pacing back and forth across the living area holding it, apparently not happy about whatever it is that he’s reading.

“Look,” I say with a sigh. “I’m an asset to the three of you, okay? Turning me over for food would be a huge mistake.”

“Mistake?” he scoffs. “No mistake. Not a mistake at all. I’m tired of having a human in my home. I have no time for it. No time.”

“You don’t think I’ve made your life just a little bit easier?” I dare to say.

“No. I don’t see a point in your being around at all.”

I feel mounting anger, and step up toward him. He drops the pad onto the kitchen table and faces off with me.

“Have you got some kind of problem, little human? What do you think you’re going to do to me?”

In response, I take a big gamble and I kiss him right on his scaly face. This should show him what I’m good for, if he thinks cleaning isn’t enough.

That, or he’ll tear my head off the moment I stop kissing him.

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