Chapter 30 Jean
Three shadows, actually.
I recognize them immediately from their silhouettes. They are three of the aliens who were down in the mine tunnel with Venim after he found Scythro and me. The same three he ordered to carry bug parts up to the surface to feed the thrumwings. I guess they must be going back down for seconds.
My heart was already in my throat before. Now it threatens to leap straight out of my mouth and haul ass away from here. I’m tempted to do the same, but there’s just one problem.
There’s nowhere to run.
I’ve already ventured so far into the mine that it’s getting difficult to see. If I try to go any deeper, I won’t be able to see at all.
Meanwhile, the area inside the entrance offers no hiding places. The walls are far from smooth, but there aren’t any cracks or crevices big enough for me to squeeze inside of, and the few broken crates scattered around the floor are far too small to conceal me.
I could try to run for it. Sprint past the aliens and get back to my friends. I doubt I could break their chains with the pickaxe I found—not quickly enough anyway—but maybe Scythro could? His hands are locked behind his back, but his prehensile tail is still free.
No. There’s no way that will work. I have to think of something else.
But what…?
I hesitate too long, and the darkness where I’m standing gradually grows brighter.
The approaching aliens are carrying pointy sticks with some sort of bioluminescent larvae skewered on the end.
Glowing grubs the size of sausages, alive and wriggling.
The sight of those living torches sends a wave of disgust skittering over my skin.
But it’s nothing compared to the repulsion I feel when I see the flicker of excitement in the aliens’ eyes.
“Well, well, well… what have we here?”
The one who spoke is a shaggy, ape-like creature with crimson fur and a face like a bat.
His companions are even less appealing. One of them looks like a human cavefish with pulsating organs visible beneath his pale, translucent skin.
The other reminds me of an upright vulture with a nasty-looking beak and piercing, carrion eyes.
“Lovely,” the cavefish whispers. “Lovely, lovely…”
The vulture just clacks its beak.
I stand frozen in fear as the alien convicts approach. My mind is screaming at me to run, but my feet refuse to budge.
I know it would be useless anyway. The aliens have already spread out into a formation designed to block my escape. If I try fleeing deeper into the mine, I’ll probably just run off a ledge and fall to my death.
Maybe that would be preferable.
The ape creature grins. His hideous features are lit from below by his worm-torch, making him look like something straight out of a bad horror flick. My skin crawls under his hungry gaze.
“Don’t think you’re supposed to be in here,” he says. “Venim won’t be too happy if he finds out you’ve been trying to escape.”
“Don’t have to tell,” the cavefish whispers. “Our little secret.”
The vulture clacks.
The aliens have me surrounded now. They gradually close in, making the gaps between them smaller and smaller. If I try to slip between them now, I’ll be well within arm’s reach.
I raise the rusty pickaxe in front of me and try to make myself look as threatening as possible.
“Stay back,” I warn them.
It doesn’t work. The ape-man just laughs at me, a blood-curdling sound. The other two make sounds that are far, far worse.
“Don’t worry,” the ape-man says. “We’re not gonna hurt you… are we, boys?”
A gurgle from the cavefish. A clack from the vulture.
“We’re not gonna hurt you. We’re gonna make you feel good.”
The ape-man reaches for me, and I swipe at him with the end of the pickaxe.
He quickly dodges out of the way, surprisingly nimble for his size.
It’s obvious that I’m not just outnumbered.
I’m outclassed as well. I’m just a soft little Earthling who knows how to make coffee.
I’ve never been in a brawl in my life. I don’t stand a chance against three hardened alien criminals.
But I’m not going down without a fight.
The vulture lunges, and I swing. He ducks out of the way with an ugly cawing sound. I realize too late that his attack was merely a feint. A tactic intended to distract me so his partner could make his move.
Cold, slimy fingers grab me from behind.
The cavefish. I gasp in revulsion and try to turn, attempting to stab the end of the pickaxe into my captor, but it doesn’t work.
The ape-man comes to his partner’s aid, grabbing the haft of my makeshift weapon and snapping it in two with a simple twist of his hand.
He tosses the head of the pickaxe away, and it lands in the darkness with a rusty clunk.
I don’t give up. I stab at him with the sharp end of the broken handle, but somehow he catches that too and yanks it out of my hand. He tosses it away to join its missing half.
“Stabby little thing, isn’t she?” he growls in amusement.
“Stabby!” the cavefish gurgles, holding me tightly. “Stabby-stabby!”
The vulture catches my arm, trapping me between himself and the cavefish.
“I think I’m gonna enjoy stabbing her,” the ape-man says. “With my prick.”
The front of his pants are bulging with excitement, providing a suggestion of the twisted thing concealed within. I shudder at the sight.
“Stab,” says the cavefish. “Stab… stab…”
The vulture says: Clack! Clack-clack!
“First, let’s get a look at what we’re working with, shall we…?”
As the cavefish and vulture hold me in place, the ape-man reaches toward my throat and takes the tab of my zipper between two gnarled, misshapen fingers. Then he lowers it, revealing a vertical slash of skin. Subterranean air licks my flesh like a cold tongue. I shiver.
“So soft,” the ape grunts. “So smooth.”
“Soft,” the cavefish echoes. “Smooth.”
The zipper continues its descent, until the top of my pubic hair is peeking out. Then the ape-man releases the tab and hooks his long, knobby fingers inside the collar of my unzipped bodysuit. His other hand still holds his writhing worm-torch.
“No!” I gasp. “Don’t!”
The ape-man ignores me. With one quick tug, he pulls the front of my bodysuit open, baring my left breast. He groans at the sight while his compatriots make their own disgusting noises.
“Would you look at that? Always did prefer mammals. But then, I suppose I’m a bit biased…”
I wince as a callused palm cups my breast and squeezes.
“Oh yeah, nice and soft. I’m gonna enjoy holding onto those mammaries while I breed her.”
“Best hurry,” the cavefish hisses. “We all want a turn at her.”
The ape’s smile spreads into a hideous grin.
“No turns,” he says. “She’s got holes enough for all three of us. Now get that mask off her.”
I am temporarily blinded as the vulture pulls the mask away from my head. By the time I manage to shake the hair clear from my face, the ape-man has released my breast and shoved his own pants down around his hairy thighs. When I see the gnarled thing protruding from between his legs, I scream.
I scream for the only person who can save me now.
“Venim!”