Fated Mates of Breeder Prison: The Complete Series Box Set: A Scifi Alien Romance Series

11. Ellie

It was strange coming back to what I once considered ‘home.’

The walls felt confining, every corner and nook oddly suffocating.

I paused in the center of my living room, trying to take it all in.

The room was filled with the fragrance of vanilla from the scented candles I always kept burning.

Their familiar scent now seemed out of place, a mere ghost of the comfort they used to provide.

I glanced around, the soft beige walls, the plush sofa, and the minimalist decor.

It all felt so… limited, so diminutive.

Before Ikmal prison, this place was my sanctuary.

Now, every inch felt like a restriction, echoing the confines of that cold, metallic cell.

Every sound from outside became an eerie reminder of my time on that alien planet.

A distant siren morphed into the wailing alarms of the prison.

The low hum of the refrigerator took me back to the ever-present drone of its machinery.

Even the soft patter of rain against the window panes reminded me of the unfamiliar atmosphere of Ikmal.

It was as if the universe refused to let me forget.

Pushing away those thoughts, I decided to get some sleep, hoping it would bring a fresh perspective in the morning.

But as I lay in bed, I could still sense the cold steel of that prison cot.

The cotton sheets contrasted greatly with the rough fabric I had become accustomed to.

And where there was once the warm, comforting presence of Ceara beside me, now there was only cold emptiness.

The next morning, the blaring alarm forced me awake.

It took me a moment to register where I was, and the realization that I was back on Earth, safe and sound, brought both relief and an odd pang of longing.

I shook my head, dismissing the thoughts, and prepared for work.

The hospital was the same as I remembered, yet everything felt different.

The long, sterile corridors seemed to stretch endlessly, mirroring the daunting passageways of Ikmal prison.

The faint scent of antiseptic and medicine filled my nostrils, but my mind tricked me into detecting hints of the metallic, otherworldly aroma of the prison’s air.

As I made my way to the nurses’ station, I was greeted with cheerful waves and welcoming smiles.

My coworkers had missed me during my unexplained absence, but their understanding faces only deepened the chasm of isolation I felt.

Their laughter, their chatter, their easy camaraderie — it all felt so distant, so out of reach.

Throughout the day, every shout or call for assistance from a patient felt like a cry from a prisoner.

Every time I turned a corner, I half-expected to see one of Ikmal’s guards, their looming figures casting shadows of dread.

But it was all in my mind, remnants of an experience that felt both lifetimes ago and just yesterday.

In the break room, I tried to focus on the conversations around me, to ground myself in the present.

The aroma of fresh coffee wafted through the air, mingling with the scent of someone’s lunch.

Yet, even these familiar smells seemed alien, triggering memories of rationed meals in the prison cafeteria, and the bittersweet fruits Ceara and I had shared.

During a brief moment of downtime, I found a secluded corner and allowed myself to sink into memories of Ceara.

His deep voice, his tender touch, the comforting warmth of his embrace.

My heart ached with the thought that I might never see him again, that the memories were all I had left.

Shaking my head, I forced myself back to the present.

This was my life now — Earth, my job, my friends.

Ikmal, Ceara, all of it, was in the past.

But as much as I tried to convince myself that maybe it was all just a dream, a figment of my imagination, a small voice in the back of my mind whispered otherwise.

The day wore on, the weight of my memories bore down on me.

The world around me had resumed its usual rhythm, but I was out of sync, lost in a dance only I could hear.

* * *

The hospital’sclock tower chimed midnight, signaling the end of my grueling night shift.

I slipped out of my nursing scrubs, now stained with the challenges of the evening, and changed into my casual clothes.

The cacophony of a nearby football match, punctuated by cheers and the occasional groan, filled the night air.

The world seemed alive, vibrant, pulsing with the heartbeat of humanity.

Walking down the familiar streets, the well-trodden path I’d taken countless times, I felt a sense of nostalgia.

The hum of the city was as comforting as it was invigorating.

But tonight, as the smell of greasy fast food from a nearby food stand wafted towards me, and the street lights bathed the pavement in a soft yellow glow, I couldn’t help but feel adrift.

Wolf whistles broke my reverie.

A group of rowdy football fans, faces painted in their team’s colors, staggered past, throwing flirtatious comments in my direction.

But their attention didn’t bother me.

After facing the unknowns of Ikmal and its alien threats, human males seemed inconsequential.

Their catcalls felt like mere whispers in the wind, and I ignored them with ease.

I continued my journey, the streets gradually emptying, the noise fading until I reached that fateful alleyway.

A pang of recognition shot through me, making my heart race.

Here, in this unassuming path, my life had changed forever.

The memories flooded back — stepping into the shadows, the blinding light, and then finding myself in a completely different world.

Every fiber of my being yearned to relive that moment, to go back, to find Ceara.

His face, so clear in my mind, made my heart ache with longing.

Without realizing it, my feet began to gravitate towards the alley.

I could feel the rough texture of the brick walls, slightly damp from the earlier rain, under my fingertips as I ventured deeper.

Each step was drawn out, as if I was trudging through quicksand.

The alluring aroma of another world seemed to emanate from the alley’s depths, beckoning me closer.

I could hear my own shallow breathing, the weight of my emotions making each breath laborious.

I closed my eyes, imagining Ceara’s voice, the deep timbre that had once been my solace.

I found myself almost wishing for another abduction, just to see him again.

But then, like a glass shattering, reality snapped me out of my daze.

A stray cat darted past me, its mewl echoing in the confined space.

The noise was sharp.

It acted like a tether, pulling me back to the present.

Shaking my head, I stepped out of the alleyway, chastising myself for being so foolish.

The soft drizzle began to fall, droplets landing on my face and mingling with the tears I hadn’t realized I’d shed.

The coolness of the rain was comforting, a gentle reminder of my surroundings.

I continued my journey home, the pull of the past still heavy on my heart.

Each step was a conscious effort to remain rooted in the present, to not let the memories of Ceara and Ikmal consume me.

The soft patter of rain on the pavement accompanied my footsteps, a gentle lullaby to soothe my troubled soul.

By the time I reached my apartment, I was drenched, my clothes clinging to my body.

But the cold didn’t bother me.

I stepped inside, locked the door behind me, and sank into my couch, the weight of my emotions finally catching up.

The silence of the night enveloped me, broken only by the rhythmic beat of rain against the windowpane.

The longing for Ceara was still there, raw and unyielding.

But for now, I took solace in the familiar surroundings of my home, letting the sounds, smells, and sensations of Earth anchor me in the present.

But something was wrong…

* * *

The first signwas the smell.

That distinctly musky, metallic odor that seemed oddly out of place in the earthy surroundings of my home.

It was an alien aroma, one I had come to associate with the cold, sterile chambers of Ikmal.

My heart raced as my eyes darted around, searching for the source.

The silence was deafening, every creak of the wooden floor amplifying my growing sense of dread.

The dim lighting casting eerie shadows that played tricks on my eyes, but I could sense a presence — a lurking darkness that felt all too familiar.

And then, from the corner of the room, a figure stepped out, bringing the chilling memories of the past rushing back.

His title was on my lips before I could think:

“The Supervisor…”

I took a step back, instinctively, my fingers clenching around my keys, the sharp edges biting into my skin.

The faint aroma of my lavender-scented hand lotion seemed laughably out of place given the circumstances.

It seemed wrong, totally unnatural, for his huge form to occupy the blandness of my apartment.

Like a nightmare become real.

His cold eyes bore into mine, reflecting the soft glow of the streetlights outside. “Ellie,” he began, his voice a gravelly whisper that sent shivers down my spine, “there’s been a… complication.”

My apartment, once my safe haven, now felt like a prison.

“I had intended on keeping my word,” he continued, his footsteps resonating on my wooden floor as he moved closer, “but now I find myself in a position where I can’t. You must return to Ceara.”

Panic surged through me.

The faint chirping of the night crickets outside sharp against the suffocating tension inside.

I took another step back, my feet tangling in the soft fabric of my living room rug, sending me off balance.

But I couldn’t, wouldn’t, turn my back to him.

I could hear the faint, distant sound of traffic outside — so close yet so far away.

My mind raced, searching for an escape, a way out.

I glanced at the window, the soft rustle of the trees outside seemingly beckoning me.

But would I make it in time?

Before I could think any further, adrenaline propelled me into action.

I made a dash for the front door, my senses heightened.

I could feel the cool touch of the door handle, the slight resistance as I tried to pull it open.

But he was surprisingly fast and too strong.

In a blur, he was in front of me, blocking my way.

A guttural growl escaped his lips as he grabbed my arm, his grip firm.

The distinct tang of sweat and fear permeated the air, making it hard to breathe.

My heart thundered in my chest, and the sharp sting of tears threatened to blur my vision.

“Why?” I managed to croak out, desperation evident in my voice. “What do you want from me?”

He leaned in, his face inches from mine, the coldness of his breath making me flinch. “You are the key to his ability. Don’t you see? Without you, he has no hope, no future. I put you with him to heal him… but in so doing, you have affected him on a much deeper level than I could have imagined.”

Confusion clouded my thoughts.

What was he talking about?

Before I could ponder further, he released his grip, pushing me back slightly.

“You and Ceara.. .you’re connected somehow,” he said, seemingly talking more to himself than to me. “I can’t separate you. Not anymore.”

I stared at him, a million questions swirling in my mind.

But fear, raw and visceral, overshadowed everything else.

I backed away slowly, every fiber of my being urging me to run, to escape this nightmare.

I wanted to see Ceara again, yes, but not like this — not when I had to be imprisoned along with him.

But what choice did I have?

The Supervisor possessed technology far surpassing anything we had on Earth.

There was no one and nothing that could stop him.

The realization hit me with a crushing weight — I was trapped, ensnared in a web of intrigue and danger that I couldn’t comprehend.

The Supervisor’s laughter, cold and mocking, echoed in the room, a chilling reminder of the power he held over me.

And I knew my life would never be the same again.