Page 22 of Fresh Flesh

Maisie

I guessI fought just a little too hard for my own good.

Why else would this giant Grengoran throw me onto the dirt and then flip me over onto my belly? I scream behind the hood, unable to see other than some traces of light coming through the fabric.

“Settle down, human,” he growls, putting his knee in my back. I try to fight him, but he drags my hands behind my back and binds them with a length of rawhide.

The bounty hunter drags me back to my feet. I try to run, go about three feet and trip over something I can’t see. I have to get back to Lurg, Mlarx, and Joras. I have to!

Only I don't think that is going to happen at the moment. The bounty hunter sighs and drags me back to my feet.

“You little fool. You are going to hurt yourself, and then your meat might be spoiled. Here, let me take that hood off so you won’t trip over your own feet any longer.”

He pulls the hood off. I’m really mad, and before I can think about whether or not it’s a good idea I spit in his face.

The bounty hunter flinches, and then wipes his face with the folded hood in his hands. He glares at me, and then grabs me by the throat. He squeezes hard enough my mouth flies open because I can’t breathe.

He wads the hood inside of my mouth, then uses more rawhide to hold it in place, tying the knot behind my head where my hands can never reach.

Then he shoves me ahead of him on the path. I try to kick his shins, and he growls. The bounty hunter throws me onto the ground and crosses my ankles, binding them together as well.

“Let’s see you kick me now,” he growls.

He grabs the length of rope between my bound ankles and drags me through the dirt. I groan as my butt slams into a big rock along the way. He doesn’t stop dragging me until we come around to the waiting train.

With horror, I realize what’s happening. There are too many humans in the enclosure, so they are sending a batch up to the Northern Tribe. That means I’m about to be loaded on and taken away from my men, forever.

I fight and scream behind the gag, but it does me no good. The bounty hunter comes up to the side of the train and nods at the alien standing beside it. The alien throws the door open and he tosses me inside, still bound hand and foot.

I land on some scared humans as the door slides shut, locking us in near total darkness and stifling heat. Fortunately, the humans remember me from all the times I gave them food. They quickly untie me. I pull the gag from my mouth and throw it onto the filthy floor.

I feel very guilty right now. My heart breaks for the state of my people, and yet I’m failing them. In this world, it’s join and fight or give up and be part of the food chain.

The Northern Tribe bounty hunter grabbed me because he thought I was an escaped human. I look around the darkened train, my eyes adjusting to the low light.

“We can escape,” I say, “before the train starts moving. There has to be a way to get the door open.”

They all look at me like I’ve lost my mind. Some of them shake their heads vehemently, others shrink back as if I’m contagious or something.

I keep trying, but I keep getting the same result. No one has the gumption to try and escape.

“What’s all this jibber jabber?”

The door to the train flies open and a massive Gregorian guard steps on board. He lays about him with a short bladed whip, making people scream and dive out of his way.

“No talking,” he snarls. “No noise! Otherwise, I’ll just have to start making some of you my evening snack.”

I could say something, tell him that I want to see Mlarx, Joras, or Lurg. But what good would that do me, really?

I can’t say anything about them without also getting the three into trouble with their superiors. I remember that lesson well. For the time being, I shouldn’t say anything.

I resolve myself to my fate. For the time being, I have to remain on the train with my fellow prisoners. My best bet is to just cool my heels here for now.

Of course, that doesn’t mean I’m giving up. I’m just biding my time until I find a way to escape.

Assuming there is a way to escape in the first place.

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