Chapter 2
CHAPTER TWO
MINDY
Taking a deep breath, I held my hands out before me, waving them around. I felt as though I was being watched, but without taking off the bag I had no way of knowing.
They never said it had to stay on.
My hand trembled as I reached up and folded the front up to rest on my forehead and saw something standing against the bushes.
I took a step back and felt something prick my hand.
“Ouch!” I jumped and stuck my wounded finger into my mouth. The taste of my blood made me cringe, and I quickly removed it.
“For those watching, Serissa, Vivia, and Mindy have passed the first challenge!” His loud voice vibrated deep in my ears, and I hated him.
“This is so stupid.” I grumbled and shook my head.
This wasn’t what I wanted. Or what I thought I signed up for. The ad said it was looking for females of all shapes and sizes to be models in another world.
I blew out a hard breath. The sweet-talking alien who recruited me talked me right out of my panties, and another female claimed he showed favoritism.
When we arrived on Bovinara, the ginormous minovacca claimed me to round out the king’s request.
“And here I am.” I kicked the ground as I pouted. “Stuck here hoping to win so I can do God knows what with … with that … pfft.”
The mic crackled, and the announcer’s laughter filled the grounds. “Check out that tiny hooman! She sure is animated!”
Laughter swept over the area in waves, and it fed the tiny part of me that wanted to prove everyone wrong.
Especially that damn dragon. I wanted her to eat her words. I’d heard their race was all large, headstrong, and imposing.
The Bovinarans were very open about their bodies. I’d seen more dick in the first twelve hours on this planet than I bet hookers saw in a lifetime.
“Get it together, Mindy.” I looked around and it occurred to me that, being new here, I had no idea what kinds of flora and fauna existed.
Well, except for that thorny bush.
Is my tongue numb?
I stuck it out and tried gently biting it.
“My tomb ith numb.” I wiggled my finger and noticed the tip turning a bright red. “Wha ith happnin.”
“Care for something to drink?” The figure popped its eyes open and gave me a strange smile.
“Um.” I gave it a wide berth as I went around them. “No tank ewe.”
I heard a dismissive sniff and watched as whatever it was melted into the bushes.
“Welf, tat not thrange.” I rolled my eyes and followed the path, trying to find a place I could turn.
“Everyone! Did you see that?” His voice sounded shocked. “Only the hooman passed the second challenge!”
What challenge?
My feet felt weird in my shoes, so I lifted one foot up and saw the sole had been melting off. With a scream, I ran forward, glancing over my shoulder. The path behind me melted away!
“Thit. Thit. Thit. Thit. Thit. Thit. Thit.” I ran into another bush and felt its barbs stabbing me. The branches moved with me, almost as if they were hugging me. Sounds of fabric tearing filled me with fear as I fought to detangle myself.
The limbs suddenly let go, and I fell backwards, hitting the ground hard. “Oof!”
I felt a gentle breeze through my tattered garments and let the tears run down the sides of my face.
“Thith! Thucks!” I yelled at the sky.
“The tiny hooman is on the ground! Is this it for her?” Wicked laughter chuffed out of the bastard, and it filled me with anger.
And determination.
Pushing myself up from the ground, I removed the top part of my shoes and carried them as I paced, trying to decide if I wanted to go left or right.
Choosing left, I walked slowly trying to look at each little thing. I didn’t want to be stung again, or to have my feet melt off my body.
Stupid planet.
As I followed the path, it felt as though it was getting narrower. I paused and looked back, then turned to look the way I was going, and it looked the same.
But why doesn’t it feel the same?
I took one more look both ways before I continued on. In the distance, I heard screeching and sounds that made my skin crawl.
Pausing in the path, I lifted my head to listen to the cries and heard the mic crackle.
“It is Marvummoth versus Atanian!” An unfamiliar voice stunned me, and I looked up to the sky. “Who will prevail?”
He sucked in a breath. “You know, Tynnar, both planets yield females who do not excel in combat.”
“Very true, Xygur, this could be anyone’s win.”
The audience chanted and cheered, and I felt a pit grow in my belly.
Did no rules mean … violence?
Something wound around my ankle and yanked me to the ground, dropping me down to be flat on my back. Vines wrapped around each of my limbs, and I felt my clothing stripped from my body.
“Oh! The puny hooman is down!” Tynnar’s pitch heightened.
“Which will resolve first?” Xygur added in. “Use the handheld unit to place a side bet!”
What an asshole!
I cried out as thorns pierced my body, and I heard a soft voice whisper over my skin. “Youuuuuu dooooooon’t belooooooong heeeeere.”
“Great Vaccas! The Marvummoth rises victorious!” The crowds had mixed reactions, and the vines tightened.
“Then let me go home.” I struggled against their hold.
The numbness wore off.
“Youuuuuu haaaaave noooooo hooooome.”
How did they know?
Sadness filled me, and I stopped squirming. “So what.”
“Youuuuuuuu doooooooon’t waaaaaaaaant toooooo staaaaaaaaay.”
There wasn’t a place I could go back to.
“What if I did.” I felt renewed. “Or do.” Twisting my body, I ignored the pain and pushed to be released.
“Youuuuuuuuu muuuuuuuuust fiiiiiiiight.”
Now or the others?
“Fight?”
“Fiiiiiiiight.” The vines shook me.
“Fight?”
“Muuuuuuuuuust fiiiiiiiight.”
“Wait.” I stopped squirming. “Are you trying to help me?”
“Youuuuuuu muuuuuuuust fiiiiiiight.”
“What am I fighting for?” I swallowed the lump in my throat. “Is death the only way to win?”
“Noooooooooooo.” The vines loosened. “Youuuuuuuu muuuuuuuuust fiiiiiiiiiiight.”
The vines pulled back, leaving me writhing in pain on the ground.
The places where the thorns pierced me felt like they were going numb, and it hit me.
I need to move to get the poison to clear my body.
Pushing myself up, I felt my left arm go fully numb, and it wouldn’t move how I wanted it to. Then, my right leg joined in.
The only way I could move was by dragging my leg behind and swinging my upper body to keep my arm moving.
I knew this couldn’t look good, and each step felt harder than the one before. That was when another scream shattered the quiet.
“Oh!” Xygur’s voice rang out. “Did you see that, Tynnar!?”
“I did!” Tynnar sounded equally excited. “The Marvummoth surprised the Hucow! Look at how she’s milking those udders!”
“The Hucow is down on her knees!” Xygur laughed. “Looks like she needs a bull for some relief!”
“Let us get someone from the stands in here!” Tynnar rang a bell. “Punch the green button to be entered into the pool! Let’s get this cow some relief!”
They can’t be serious.
“Hit that button, Tyn!”
Bells went off, and Xygur cheered. “Zudiax! Come on down!”
The cheers felt like they shook the ground. “Xygur, look how hung that bull is!”
“He will keep her busy that’s for sure!”
Tynnar chirped. “Current females left in the labyrinth are Apricoria, Vivia, Aldri, Serissa, and Minnnndeeeeeee!”
“I think our tiny hooman could be a contender today!”
Are they cheering me on?
Not a stitch of clothing remained on my body. I dropped my shoes somewhere when I was captured.
Xygur hooted. “And there goes Vivia with her arms up in victory as Zudiax mounts the cow, reaching around and milking those glorious teats.”
“Send in a pail to collect that sweet liquid!” Tynnar laughed.
This planet was so strange, I shook my head as I looked all around me. The lush foliage of the bushes felt overwhelming.
“It all looks the same!” I ran my free hand through my hair, pulling it in frustration.
Slowly I saw the branches move as if telling me which way to go.
Why are they helping me?
Dragging my leg behind me, I swung my torso to help the numb arm swing, which propelled me faster.
At least that’s how it felt.
As the time ticked forward, I felt some control return to my body, and that filled me with hope.
“F-i-i-i-i-i-i-i-i-i-i-i-i-ight!” The battle cry startled me, and the crowd went nuts.
“Tynnar! Do you see this?”
“I do, Xygar!” He cheered. “Oh! That horn is dangerous!”
Slowing my pace, I tried to figure out who was fighting Serissa.
“The hot-headed fire dragon is down!”
She’s fighting Aldri?
“That was a brutal headbutt! Aldri is out of the running.” Tynnar laughed. “No one saw that coming. You can bet there are a lot of disappointed people.”
Feeling unencumbered, I picked up my pace, jogging down the path. Apricoria stepped out from another path and held her finger to her lips. I slowed down and listened to the wind.
“Hiiiiiit soooooooft plaaaaaaaaace.”
Where the hell is a tree soft?
With a shake of my head, I stepped closer to my opponent. “Why?”
Her face went blank, and she gave a soft whinny.
An image of them walking away flashed in my head. I thought nothing of it when I saw them, but it occurred to me now they walked off wrapped around each other.
My armpits were so wet they felt nasty … armpits.
I charged Apricoria, and she ran towards me with her arms raised, screaming a battle cry. When we were within striking distance, I held my fingers rigid and stabbed her armpits.
She let out something that sounded like pain mixed with laughter.
Pulling back, I stabbed my fingers harder and deeper into her pits making her fall to her knees.
“Xygur! Are you seeing this?” Tynnar sounded shocked. “The tiny hooman is bringing down a Tanum!”
“Look at her go!” Xygur’s voice filled with awe. “I can promise you no one saw this coming!”
Apricoria’s eyes filled with tears as she whispered. “Harder. Make one arm crack.”
“Youuuuuuuuuuuuu. Muuuuuuuuuust. Fiiiiiiiiiiiiight.”
Pressing my lips together, I forced my left hand deeper and grabbed her right arm, yanking it up until I heard a snap and she screamed.
“I am so sorry.” A tear made its way down my cheek.
“Thank you.” She mouthed and let her head fall back onto the ground.
I hopped up and lifted my arms in victory before I ran down the new path. This time the cheering was for me.
And it felt good.
The faster I went, the better I felt. And I ran past another opening. I skidded, almost falling, before backing up to the opening.
Turn or go straight?
The crowd chanted for me to turn, and who was I to let them down?
I took the path, and instead of being straight like the others, it wound around. The bushes felt as if they were guiding me.
“Well, well, well little hooman.” Serissa’s voice made my skin crawl. “You must think you are a big bisadillo.”
I halted and stared at her. She had blood all over, and I knew then that whatever had happened between her and Aldri had not been good.
Shaking my head, I sized her up. “There’s no reason we both can’t walk out of here.”
“Scared little human?” She taunted me as she flicked her tail. “You found Apricoria’s weakness.” She flicked her tail again and swayed her hips as she moved closer to me. “I will destroy you.”
“You can certainly try.” I forgot I stood before my opponent naked as she reached out, slapping my breasts. “Ouch!”
We walked in a circle, eyes locked on each other.
She tilted her head and mouthed. “Tail.”
Extending my arms forward, I shoved her back, and she spun, giving me her back. I wrapped her tail around my hand and yanked her back while she screamed.
“Think you’ll destroy me?” I hoped those words sounded firmer than I felt.
“You are not fighting fair!” She screamed again. “Say it to my face!”
I released her tail and stepped back. “Get up!”
“What did you say to me?” Her eyes went wild. “I am not some horse for you to ride!”
Confusion filled me as I didn’t know what I could do to best her. Then she charged me and knocked me to the ground. We rolled and grappled. We bit and clawed.
Then I managed to get over her shoulder to her back, where I yanked her tail again and spanked her.
Where did that come from?
Her skin went from pale pink to bright pink. It was almost as if she was embarrassed so I spanked her again.
“Stop that.” She hissed.
“Not until you concede.” I popped her ass again. “Brat.”
“Uh-oh we might need another bull on the labyrinth floor!” Xygur teased.
“I concede.” She glowered, and I let her up. Her eyes met mine, and she mouthed. “Thank you.” Then flipped her mane and tail and stormed away.