Page 17 of Wed to the Bullman

My blood freezes. My Agnes is up there, held captive against her will, and no doubt scared.

CHAPTER 14

Agnes

The cold metal room on the ship provides little comfort. My thoughts race back to feeling the prick on the back of my neck. What did they do to me? A small bandage is on my arm. I can only guess they drew blood.

Suddenly, the door bursts open, and the same Taupas strides in, glaring at me. He jabbers something in his own language.

My head shakes. “What?” My stomach rumbles, and hunger pains fog my thinking.

“You are with child. We were hoping you could carry one of ours to prove we can order wives from the marriage temple.”

It’s like a punch in the gut as I protectively place my hands over my belly. Vozak’s baby grows in me, and it’s a dream come true, except the nightmare of being on an alien ship is very real.

“Then you should bring me back to my husband. Why don’t you seek help from the marriage temple? I’m sure they’ll work with you if you do it legally. Kidnapping me isn’t going to help you, though.”

“We have a tea you can drink that will help you pass the baby. Then you can help us. Unless we try implanting one of ours during your gestation. It’s risky; you could miscarry that baby anyway.”

“No! I’d rather die than carry your evil spawn.” I back away to the far wall, which isn’t very far. The cold metal is a perfect setting for this nightmare.

“We’ll see about that.” He turns and leaves the room, locking the door behind him.

No! I can’t allow this to happen. I need to figure out how to escape this room and hide somewhere. And then what? It’s not like I can find the exit and leave the ship. I’m in space and stuck.

“Get up, follow me.”

My head shakes rapidly. “No way!”

“Get up!” He growls and advances on me. Oh no! I don’t want my baby harmed, so I don’t fight. Reluctantly, I stand and meet him, and he places a firm hand on my upper arm.

“Stop it! You’re hurting me! I won’t fight.”

He drags me along the circle hall, and I spy a room with weapon racks, the door open. Fear runs through my veins like icicles, but then a plan formulates. We end up at a dining hall with a long table and stools bolted to the floor. He shoves me onto a stool, and someone brings a tray with some sort of slop in a bowl and a jug of drink.

“Abortion tea?” I look up at him, and though I’m hungry, I’m scared to eat or drink.

“No. I told you, we’ll try to save your baby by implanting a new one once we harvest your eggs.”

I never heard of such a thing, and I shake my head. My stomach violently growls, the food, though not too appetizing, may give my baby the nourishment it needs.

The grainy cereal tastes nutty and oily. Not bad, but also not something I’d choose on purpose. I’m thirsty and slowly lift the jug, which turns out to be water. I eat cereal, scrape the bowl clean, and drink all the water.

“Come.” The gruff Taupas doesn’t give me a single second to sit and relax in a room other than the metal room.

“Did I sleep all night?”

“You were out for the night, yes.”

I nod. Poor Vozak must be horrified with worry. “What will happen with me?”

“Unless your minotaur family comes forth with our demands, we’ll try to impregnate you with our seed.”

The thought makes my stomach roll. I can’t allow that to happen. Think, Agnes, think. We pass the weapon room again. If I could get a weapon… He shoves me into my little metal room with the pad on the floor and shuts the door without another word.

I press my ear to the door, listening. The hall sounds quiet. The door doesn’t budge though. Checking the bathroom, I find nothing. Whoever cleans this ship does a good job. Vozak must know about me by now, especially if it’s been a whole day. I lost track of time being in this tiny metal room. At least I can drink water from the tiny sink. Moments tick by incredibly slowly. These people must not eat several times a day. I’m ravenously hungry again, and yet no Taupas brings me food or escorts me to the dining room. Lying on the pad, I fall asleep and wake up to what feels like hours later, my belly growling furiously now.

My fist pounds the door. “Hey! Anyone out there? Hello?”

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