“Okay, let’s go.” She nodded, relaxing slightly when he began to walk away, his focus no longer on her.
He moved down the winding path, and as she followed him, she thought about the woman who’d told Izzo about Earth food. “Izzo, the woman you mentioned,” Alice panted, trying to keep up with his long strides. “Is she pregnant?”
Izzo spun toward her, Luka’s dangling arm flying wide and almost hitting her in the face. “How did… No… Uh…what makes you think that?”
Alice shrugged, wondering what the fuss was about. “Those aren’t really normal foods to miss, but some pregnant women crave things like that. Except for pizza, I guess. You can always crave pizza,” she amended.
Izzo ground his jaw and grimaced. “Oh, I didn’t know that.” He lifted the corner of his mouth in an uncomfortable smile. “Mind not telling anyone about that? She’s keeping it quiet for now.”
Given the events of the last few weeks, hearing about a secret pregnancy of an Earth woman made Alice uncomfortable. She nodded in agreement anyway and resumed biting her nails.
They rounded the corner, and Alice saw the group of women waiting near the now-closed hatch. One man stood still and watched the uneasy women, while another carried a struggling Helas to a pair of silver floating ovals a few feet away.
Her steps faltered, and she studied the objects with wide eyes. A panel slid open on one, revealing seating. Must be their version of a car.
How were things so large and seemingly heavy floating like that? She clicked her tongue. Why am I surprised? They can literally fly through space, or float in space, or whatever you do in space. Hovercars are probably nothing to write home about.
A trill of excitement rang through her. For the last few weeks, her life had been so bleak. The fact that she was on an alien planet had been lamentable because of the circumstances, but now, hopefully, she was going to see another side of this world. The wondrous side. The side that had flying cars. Her enthusiasm faded when her eyes focused on Luka being loaded into the second floating vehicle.
Many people would kill for the chance to explore an alien planet, yet all she really wanted to see was the light blue of Luka’s eyes, clear and aware.
Movement out of the corner of her eye caught her attention. Vanessa urgently motioned for her to join the other women. Alice hurried over, keeping one eye on Luka.
She slowed as she neared the group, noticing a few women were gone. Only three of the five remained. “Where did the other two go?” she whispered.
Vanessa glanced around, making sure they weren’t being overheard. “They left before these dudes got here. When that guy carried you off, they got freaked out and decided to take their chances in the woods instead.”
Alice glanced at the tree line of the dense forest.
Who in their right mind would choose a black alien forest? Are they trying to be eaten by the Predator? She stifled the judgmental thought and reminded herself that she had no idea where they were coming from. For all she knew, those women had suffered much worse than she had.
“Should we tell the men?” Alice glanced at the remaining women, trying to recall who was missing. The ill-tempered woman and the small one who’d snapped into a fighter’s stance at the first sign of danger were both gone. Alice found it odd they’d decided to go off together, considering their short-tempered exchange earlier.
The older woman with long, flowing white hair spoke in a slow, smooth voice. “They’ve had so many choices taken away from them. If they want to leave, they should be allowed. It’s their choice.”
Alice found that she agreed with the woman. Personally, she thought it was stupid to run out into the dark forest of an alien planet, but it wasn’t her choice. It was theirs. Still, she couldn’t stand the thought of them alone out there. “What if we learn more about this place and the people before deciding anything? If we all agree those girls would be safer with us than in the woods, we tell someone.”
Vanessa and the silky-voiced woman nodded, but the small woman Alice had watched cry in her room only darted glances between the three. Alice recalled Vanessa saying she hadn’t thought the woman spoke English. She only knew a little Spanish and French. Maybe the girl would know one of those languages.
“¿Hablas español? Parlez-vous français?” she said, doing her best with her accent.
The small woman knitted her brows and stepped toward Alice. She pointed over to Izzo, standing near the floating vehicle that was apparently being used to transport Sal, Gishen, and Helas. In perfect English, she said, “What’s going on? Can we trust them?” Her voice was loud, as if she was unable to monitor her volume.
Alice quickly raised and lowered her hands and mouthed, “Too loud.”
The small woman clapped a hand over her mouth, tears making her amber eyes glassy, and shot a fearful glance toward Izzo. He stood watching her with his head tilted. When a tear slid down her cheek, his brows drew together.
Vanessa scooted next to her and began to run her hands up and down the terrified woman’s bare arms. Her forehead crinkled in concern as she looked between Alice and the silver-haired woman. “She must not be able to hear us.”
Alice caught the girl’s attention and, making sure to exaggerate her mouth movements, she slowly said, “What’s your name?”
“Daisy,” she whispered, almost too quietly for Alice to hear. “The things that took me hurt my ears. I haven’t been able to hear anything for a few days now.”
Alice nodded and patted Daisy on the hand, then turned her attention
