Inhuman

What was I going to do now?

I considered my options. Stab the guard in the jugular which was going to be ridiculously difficult and messy, or continue with my alternate plan. Looking at myself in the mirror hanging on the wall, I swallowed as I thought of the second option. I was going to have to cut myself pretty deep in order to bleed out enough to die.

Gruesome, but necessary.

Exhaling deeply as tears of frustration forced their way into my eyes, I realized I didn’t have any option but to end all of this.

Walking toward the mirror with trepidation shadowing every step, I examined the best way to smash the mirror. It needed to be quick and quiet. If I alerted the guard with a resounding crash, everything would be ruined.

Scanning the room for something to break the mirror with, I realized I was holding the answer.

The pen.

The metallic pen in my hand felt very strong and sturdy. It might be tough enough to hit the mirror with and just make a crack in the glass. From there, I could pick out a sharp piece and…I didn’t want to think about it yet.

Watching the reflection of myself as I held the pen like a knife, ready to pierce the mirror, I gave myself a final look.

Cassia Tiponi, the body which I’d worn for twenty years, was about to die. The baby inside me, the innocent victim in all this, had to perish because of my tainted blood. I couldn’t allow her to be subjected to the cruelty of these…humans. She has a right to a life, yes, but she has the right to a decent life. A decent life that I knew for a fact would never exist as long as she carried my genes.

A sensation of calm washed over me as I stared at my image for the last time. I realized in that moment that, despite all I’d learned of myself over the last few months, I was not just this body. I wasn’t defined by this suit, this flesh. No matter what deformity existed within me, I was still me, still the essence of a greater creature, a soul.

Aiming the pen at the mirror, I poised to strike it like a cobra would its prey. Focusing my attention onto the reflection of the tip of the pen, I readied myself to stab the mirror.

“One, two…” I muttered under my breath, my eyes like a hawk on the small, silver tip. The hollow barrel of the pen stared back at me, awaiting its fate like a tiny tin soldier.

Just as I was about to whisper ‘three’ and release my hand with all my strength, the baby fluttered lightly in womb. Losing my concentration for a moment, I realized exactly what I was looking at.

“Hey! Are you going to have a shower or what?” The guard’s voice nearly gave me a heart attack as he opened the main door a crack and hollered in. “I don’t hear any water running.”

Scrambling away from the mirror to avoid his gaze, I moved to the nearest shower stall and closed the door behind me.

“Yah! Just had to use the toilet!” I threw an irritated tone into my voice as I yelled back.

“Just hurry up.” His snarly attitude was going to make this easier, now that I knew what this pen really was and how to use it.

A plan. I need a plan. A diversion.

Plotting for a moment, I searched my mind for an idea. With the limited resources I had in front of me, I had to dig deep. I nearly yelled with happiness as the idea struck me.

Excitement and fear mingled in my system as I took off my white jumpsuit. Running to the last stall and turning on the shower full blast, I then retrieved the white towel reserved for me. Wrapping it around my naked body, I then moved stealthily to the mirror.

With the pen held in my mouth, I grabbed my long black hair behind me with both hands. First forming a pony tail and then twisting it around several times, I folded my hair up into a tight bun. Holding the style with one hand, I reached around, took the pen from my mouth and proceeded to tuck it tightly into the chignon like an oriental up- do.

Giving myself one last look and a nod, I prepared myself with a deep breath.

I almost felt giddy.

This just might work.

I wasn’t going to allow myself to think too far ahead, but the taste of freedom was moving passed my lips and nearing my tongue.

Tip toeing quietly to the main door, I placed my jumpsuit on the floor behind the garbage bin, out of sight. Opening the door just a crack, I peered through the sliver at the guard. Obviously bored, he leaned against the wall just a few feet from me. Taking a quiet breath in, I decided it was now or never.

Swinging the door open quickly, the guard jumped a little.

“I need your help.” I stated with a seductive voice and a soft pout on my lips. “I can’t get the hot water to work; the knob is too hard to turn. Will you help me?”

His eyes widened as he looked me up and down, my towel just barely covering the essentials, I was pleased when I saw his cheeks redden.

“I, um, I’m not supposed to…” Adjusting his collar, he glanced around with uncertainty.

“Please.” I edged toward him, reaching for his arm and touching him lightly. “I need a ‘hot’ shower.”

Giving him my best ‘come hither’ look, I moved even closer to him. Intentionally resting my chest against his arm, I stifled a giggle as he ogled my cleavage.

Staring down at my body moving against him, he stuttered as he leaned his gun against the wall. “Well, I’ll just have a quick look, okay?”

“Thank you.” Stepping out of his way as he entered the room, I followed closely behind as he checked out the shower.

Leaning in, he reached for the hot knob and gave it an easy turn. Turning to face me, he gave me a quirky grin like he’d done some serious hero work.

“There you go.” His voice cracked a little as he slowly moved toward the main door.

“Wait.” I pushed myself softly against him, blocking his departure. I ran my hand up his arm and caressed the back of his bare neck. “I’ve been alone for a very, very long time. I could use some…attention, if you know what I mean.”

Tilting my chin down as I gazed into his eyes like a cat stalking her prey, I pulled his face forcefully towards mine. Kissing him lightly on the lips, I ran my hands through his hair. His hands quickly went around my waist as he hungrily kissed me back.

As he groped me all over my body, I reached down and released the top of my towel. His eyes widened as I pushed him down to kiss my breasts. Diving in, he began devouring me like a starved wolf.

With him completely preoccupied, I carefully and slowly reached up to my head. Pulling the pen from its secured location within my hair, I brought it down into the back of his neck. Clicking it lightly with my thumb as I would if I wanted to begin writing a letter, a tiny needle extended into his skin and released what I hoped was only a sedative. His body slumped instantly against me, nearly knocking me over.

Moving away from him, his limp body fell over and landed face up on the shower floor.

After turning off the shower so the poor man didn’t drown as the droplets splashed his face, I ran to retrieve my jumpsuit and put it on.

With his body half in and half out of the stall, I grabbed one of his arms and tried pulling him further into the shower. Heaving him as hard as I could, I couldn’t believe how hard it was to move dead weight.

After several attempts, and a lot of groaning on my part, I finally managed to pull him to the corner of the stall.

Checking the pulse on his neck, I was relieved to feel a steady beat. Giving him one last look, I closed the stall door behind me and strode triumphantly toward the main door.

Holding the pen in one hand, I slowly opened the door with the other. Peeking out, I waited for a few moments to be sure it was really safe. I only had a couple feet to get to the janitorial closet, but it meant the difference between life and death, so I wanted to be certain I wasn’t going to get caught at the beginning of the game.

Feeling confident that the hallway was clear, I moved out of the shower room and with my back against the wall, I slid toward the closet. Paranoia was rampant within me; I imagined that every noise was the enemy about