Reakrid (Daddies of Dagmon #1)

2. Prologue

PROLOGUE

MIKA

I carefully disembark from the spaceship with all the other girls. This is our new home until who knows when. Will I ever return to Earth? I don’t know.

Our authorities never explained what we are doing here or what will happen. Women are randomly selected from all around the world, chosen to take the journey to the planet of Dagmon. The authorities don’t care if we are already married and have kids. It isn’t up for discussion.

Thankfully, I am not married and don’t have any kids, but several women on the ship are and do have little ones. My heart ached for them as I watched them cry for hours on the ship. It still does.

We left Earth, not knowing anything. Other women have come here, but we have never heard from them again. Did they die? Are we going to die? Are they slaves? Are we going to get tortured?

So many thoughts run through my mind as we walk in a single file line toward the camp. Some men from Dagmon are watching to ensure we don’t run off. Where would we go if we did? How would we survive?

“What do you think is going to happen to us?” Ashley whispers.

Ashley and I have bonded over the trip here, both single women who don’t have a choice in being here. I think the only people who do have a choice are the men—the few men who volunteer to come to the planet guard us.

I don’t know why. Maybe to keep us in the compound? Keep us all healthy and safe? I personally don’t think they are needed but the Earth government wants to make sure we hold up our end of the deal—a deal women didn’t make.

I can’t do anything about it now. I am on the planet, and the ship has already left. Now there is no going back.

“I don’t know,” I mumble. “Maybe we’ll just work the land. It’s so vibrant and lush here.”

The sky is pink, and the ground is green, and several trees, provide shade as we make our way toward the compound.

“But staying in a compound? Sounds more like slaves to me,” Ashley whisper-yells.

I shrug and look over at one of the Dagmonian natives. I can tell he is tall just from sitting on whatever creature it is. It’s hairy, has four eyes, two mouths, and is this deep shade of blue.

What an odd color and creature.

What is it?

“Maybe that’s where we’ll sleep,” I suggest. “I don’t know any more than you do. We’re just going to have to wait until we get there.”

“Maybe we can ask one of the men.”

I immediately shake my head. “We aren’t supposed to talk to them, and who knows what they’ll do to us. Remember, they come once a month, and one of them takes us women with them, never to be seen again.”

“Okay, but one keeps staring at me. Maybe I can ask him,” she suggests.

“No!” I raise my voice.

“Quiet!” a man yells. A human man comes toward us, his face contorted in anger.

“No talking!” He slaps me across the face.

I whimper and cradle my cheek. They never said we couldn’t talk.

“Sorry, sir,” I whisper.

Two Dagmonian natives take a step forward, but another one stops them. What are they going to do? They can’t do anything. Well, they probably could, but would that hurt the treaty? I also don’t know if I want their help. They are aliens.

“Talk again, and I’ll whip you,” the man sneers, striding off.

I keep my head down as we close the last bit of distance to the compound. Tears threaten to spill down my face, but I don’t let them. I can’t show weakness in front of the natives, not when I don’t know why I am here.

“Are you okay?” Ashley whispers.

I nod as we enter the compound. The walls are so high we can’t see over them. Plants are cultivated in rows, women picking whatever is there.

Is this what the aliens want us to do? Plant and pick food for them? Do they not have the ability to do that for themselves?

“Listen up!” a man yells, gaining our attention. “This is your new home for the foreseeable future. You will all have jobs around the compound to help us live here. Once a month, the men of Dagmon will come to our compound and one, just one, will pick a woman. One of you will get picked, and when you do, you can fight and scream all you want but none of us can or will do anything.”

Great. Of course, no one will.

“Now, please get into a single line, and I will hand out what job you will be doing here.”

We all get into a line and wait for our turn. What kind of jobs are there to do?

“Do you think we’ll be together?” Ashley asks. She is standing in front of me, waiting for her turn.

“I don’t know,” I mumble. “I don’t think so, but maybe we will.”

Ashley stands in front of the human male.

“Nurse. Please head to the right and find a guy named Morgan. He’ll give you all the information you need.”

As I take a step forward, I pray I will also be a nurse. I don’t have any experience, but I want to be around someone who I kind of already know.

“You will be picking food. Head to the left and find John, he’ll tell you what you need to know.” The man gives me a sympathetic look.

Why? Did I read his facial expression wrong?

I head to my left to find the guy who slapped me holding a sign.

John.

I suck in a breath and approach him. Please tell me I got the wrong person.

“Yes?” he asks, looking annoyed.

“The man told me to come find you. I’m picking food,” I say, unsure if I am speaking to the right person.

“Get the fuck in line and don’t talk,” he growls.

Nodding, I take a step to the right and go past him. John grabs my arm and pulls me close.

“Maybe later we’ll have some fun,” he whispers.