A new sense of dread catches my breath as I scan the other women—all young and pretty.
Oh, fucking hell.
I’m onboard an alien spaceship—the Rape Express.Laughter shakes my naked body, tinged with the sharpest bitterness and most sardonic irony. If there’s a God, then he hates my guts. How did things get to this point? Months ago, relaxing on yachts in the Mediterranean with a cocktail in hand, the sun kissing my skin, not a care in the world, to this!
Standing up, suddenly overcome with seething anger, I lament my jiggling belly. These other women are all petite, with perky breasts. Miss Attitude even has toned muscles and an impressive outline of abs. I pinch a roll of my stomach fat, frowning.
I should’ve eaten those tasteless salads Jamal—my personal trainer—recommended.
Or not!Maybe my extra weight will be a blessing? My impressive boobs, wide hips, and husky build might spare me from the attentions of our alien captor.
Yes, yes!
A sly smile twists my lips as I scrutinize the others. I’m like a giant compared to them—I’m Heifer and Bigfoot, only this time, that’s a good thing!
“What’s so funny?” Miss Attitude approaches with a disapproving look twisting her face. “I don’t think this situation is very funny. Do you?” She glances over at the red-haired woman, who shakes her head before averting her eyes.
I peer down at Miss Attitude, my anger flaring, mirroring her own. “I laugh when I’m frightened,” I snap, narrowing my eyes.If this bitch thinks she can intimidate me, she’s got another thing coming!“Not that it’s any of your business.”
She crosses her arms, brown eyes flashing. For a second, I think she may lash out in violence, pent up with impotent rage, seeking to release it on me, but I won’t let her—I’m no one’s victim. We glare at each other until she scoffs and paces back and forth, muttering to herself.
“Does anybody know where the hell we are?” I ask, looking at the other women.
“I... think it’s a spaceship,” the red-haired woman replies with a heavy Scottish accent, stating the obvious.
“Wait. I saw your house!” I exclaim, recalling the news feed from Scotland. “It was all over the internet. That giant alien took out a bunch of cops.”
“It was terrifying...” The Scottish woman’s stare becomes distant, as if reliving the event over again. “He broke through my bedroom door and shot me...” Her gaze finds mine, tears trickling down her cheeks. “I don’t know what happened to mymaandda, or my boyfriend Conor!” She shakes with quiet sobs.
After what he did to those cops, I doubt anything good happened to them.
I approach the weeping redhead, offering her comfort. “I’m sure they’re safe and… stuff. Everything’s going to be okay.” The words sound as empty as my heart.
“Not okay!” The smallest woman exclaims, surprising me. “They going to eat us!” She glares up at me, her eyes red fromintense crying, her Japanese accent thick with fear. “Onicomes, red skin, sharp claws, massive. They eat humans!”
“They’re not going to eat us,” I retort, wondering if a quick death might be preferable to what’s coming. “I don’t think they’d travel to Earth to eat a couple of women.”
Miss Attitude halts to scoff, “Hola! We’re fourchicasnaked in a cell.” She throws her arms wide. “It’s not rocket science.” Her words echo my thoughts, sending the other two women into renewed sobbing.
Somehow, hearing the words spoken makes it worse, cementing it as fact. My pulse quickens at the prospect. Even if being tall and overweight lets me escape the worst of it, I’m still in for a horrific time.
“We need to stick together and come up with a plan,” I blurt out, driven by sudden panic, unable to think of an angle to play.
Miss Attitude nods her head, “Sí. I work security. Get me a gun and I’ll make theputopay.” She gestures wildly at the bars, her expression fierce.
I frown at the idea. “Just get a gun from the giant alien monster man, while we’re locked up naked in this cell.” My voice drips with sarcasm as I scan the area for emphasis, noticing to my horror a hole in the ground. “Please, tell me that’s not the toilet!” I exclaim, pointing.
The Japanese woman nods in confirmation, causing me to shudder with revulsion. “Typical. I end up on an alien spaceship that has a medieval toilet.”
Maybe a suicidal gun grab isn’t the worst idea.
“Get used to it,princesa,” Miss Attitude smirks, noticing my displeasure. “Youchica’swant to wait around? You better get used to a lot of things. Real quick.”
“Princess, hardly!” I scoff, although it’s certainly not the worst insult I’ve experienced. “My name’s Alexandra Turner,” I offer, gesturing to myself.
“Princesa Alexandra, got it.” Miss Attitude taunts with a smile.Why do others mock me constantly? Some unknown crime from a past life?“Carmen Jiménez,” she offers, performing a smooth salute of some kind.
“S... Sandra Gregor,” the red-haired Scottish woman stammers, the weakest smile curling her lips. All our eyes shift to the final unnamed woman.
