21. Visitor
1950 Words
I get cleaned up and eat so fast in the morning. Then I run to my office and bring up the analysis thing.
A brain comes in with me. "There are no televisions, cars, phones, pools. People hunt, fish, build things for a living. The girls are not veiled. But they do wear long sleeve dresses that go to the ground."
"I can deal with that. Can you get me 1 of their dresses?"
"Yes. However, none of them are your skin color. We do advise that a disguise be worn. A lighter skin shade would be needed. Other than that, your body frame and type does fit in."
"Ok."
"We also found a decent sized village. It has a market area with several shops. Homes surround that. This would be a good place to visit. It appears they get visitors, they even have an inn."
"That sounds perfect."
"I will get the disguise ready, ma'am."
"Thank you."
30 minutes later, I'm on an invisible ship with 10 invisible brains heading to the ground. I can't even sit still, I am so excited.
We get out in a field outside the village. I walk right in on the path. The gates are open. The guard only glances at me. "Welcome to Crocia." I must not be intimidating alone. I know the brains are with me though. At first glance, the place appears a bit dull. Dirt paths. Everything is covered in dust. Lots of insects. At least this time, they are really insects. Most of the rooftops seem either rotten or whatever wood they could find thrown over their area. The people dress in mainly tan or brown. Probably so people can't see the dust on their clothes. I fit in perfectly with the clothes. The brains did good work.
Many people are walking around, I join them easily. I pass by lots of stalls. They have many weird things for sale. One has blue meat, or maybe it's a vegetable. I don't know. It seems some people have pets. They are round hairballs that have 2 long legs they walk on. They don't seem to have faces. Just hair. The body is about as big as a basketball. The legs are an easy 2 feet long. They have 3 sharp pointy toes. I bet they do some damage. Then I see a jewelry stall. The gems are the same as the types I have. I do like sparkly things.
I hear some music from somewhere. I think it's music anyway. It sounds almost whiny. I can hear some drums with it too. I follow the sound for a while and end up near them. I smile at the people dancing. Some of them seem young, like me. They all seem happy.
A boy about my age comes up and takes my hand. "Would you like to dance?"
"I would love that."
He leads me out on the floor and I try to dance like everyone else. They keep throwing their arms up and acting like dying chickens or something. It's not a dance where we touch. I finish the dance then run the hell away. Dancing is not good here.
I see some people gathered by a path. I go over and stand with them. I check all over, but they don't seem to be watching anything in particular. Then I hear some chimes going off. The people start pointing. I watch 20 women, all dressed in black with black belts, gloves, shoes, tall pointy hats, all black articles of clothing. I can't see 1 inch of skin on these women. The women come out of a monument, maybe. They walk the path chanting something, but I can't hear what they're saying. I do see 1 of them point at me. I glance around and the people I'm standing with are staring at the ground. I stare down fast too. But it's to late, 2 guards grab onto me. They walk me behind the women. I know the brains are behind them. They won't let me get hurt. I didn't know I wasn't supposed to watch. But the guards don't seem to be mad or trying to hurt me.
I still can't hear what they're saying. It's a chant maybe, or a prayer.
I'm pulled right inside a religious building. There's a big room at the entrance. There's a round pool with the bluest water I have ever seen. I think it may glow. Surrounding the pool are 13 large white columns that go to the ceiling 3 floors above us. I am placed on my knees where the 14th column would be. I stare at the water, and it's almost hypnotizing.
"Thank you guards. We will take her from here."
"Take me where?"
"You mustn't speak, child."
"Ok."
They lead me to a room behind the pool. I am dressed exactly like them but in white. Pure white head to toe. Not a bit of skin showing. This was not my plan, but I'll see where it goes. Then the hat is pulled off, and I am given food. At least I think it's food. Some of that blue stuff is here. I shake my head at it. Then I hear more chimes sound outside.
2 of the women help me up and put the hat back on. Then they take my arms and lead me outside the front door. There are so many people gathered outside now. They cheer when they see me. The women lead me down a few steps and off to the side of the building. We seem to be heading towards a cave.
We get to the entrance of the cave. All I can see are stones, broken pottery, bones, moss, dead little animals. This is weird.
Then the women chant again. This time I hear it.
"Infinite Master, keeper, hear us. Please accept our sacrifice so we may continue to live in peace. We plead this of you."
They keep repeating it. I wonder what they're sacrificing. All of a sudden it dawns on me. I'm the sacrifice. "NO." I start fighting and they hold me back. There are too many of them. I get thrown in a room and a boulder slams against the hole. It's pitch black. This isn't good. I do the magic spell that makes the magic areas glow and nothing lights up. I scratch my head. "Any brains in here?" Nothing happens. I stand there wondering how I can make light.
Then I remember I'm a collector. I hope there's magic here. I put my hands up and pull for fire magic. The magic starts collecting right away. "Great. Now I need something to light on fire." I step on what seems to be wood. I throw fire at it, and it does catch on fire. I pick it up and pick up a few more pieces that are beside me. Now I have a little fire. I set it up nicely and check around the cave.
My stomach drops out my ass. "AAAAAHHHHHH!" There is a snake skin that is as big around as I am tall and 40 feet long that I can see. But I don't know how long it really is because it goes all the way out the room. "AAAAHHHH!"
The boulder blows apart behind me, and I'm picked up by a brain. He carries me to the entrance of the cave and throws me in the invisible shuttle. "AAAHHHHH!" We are halfway to the ship before I stop screaming.
I shake my way to the command room. Every part of me shakes the whole walk there. I have to hold the walls and brains and everything to get there. I make it to the captains chair and fall in it.
The lights all brighten up. "Incoming transmission."
I nod fast. I guess that means accept because I'm looking at Marcus.
He is looking at me.
I stand up and throw up all over the place. The brains run in and get it cleaned up. I fall back down on the chair. He's still staring at me. Now he has an eyebrow up.
"THEY TRIED TO SACRIFICE ME TO THEIR GIANT SNAKE GODS."
His other eyebrow pops up and he nods.
"GO ANYWHERE ELSE."
"Yes ma'am."
I try to relax. I take a deep breath. "So how's your day going?"
"Not that bad. Can you send me all the footage of when you were on the ground please? The brains record everything, ask them to send me the footage."
"Do that."
"Yes ma'am."
I rub my arms, stomach, legs. I don't know why. Then I shiver. "That was a big ass snake skin." I get a box and take the disguise off. "Search for giant snakes in your analysis now too."
"Yes ma'am."
"Any weird Gods."
"Of course."
Marcus smiles at me. "You're learning quickly."
"I already knew to stay away from giant snakes. I didn't just learn that."
He laughs. "I meant with the boxes."
"Yea, I can do the tv now too. Clothes are a bit odd though."
"Yes, they are a lot to get used to. I wanted to make sure you were alright. You seem ok now."
"I'm a little calmer now. That was horrible. Why do you keep connecting? Dipak did last night too."
"The people at your castle are asking about you. They can't figure out why we won't go get you and drag you back."
"I'm not going back."
"That's your choice. We won't step in, but we will try to connect with you every day and make sure you're alright. Honestly though, you are an adult. You made a decision to leave. We're not going to force you anywhere."
"Thank you for that."
"Alden only asks to know that you're ok. I'll tell him you're alive and... I'm leaving out the snake part."
"Can we never speak of it again please?"
"That sounds good. It never happened. Where are you going next?"
"Somewhere with no snakes. No elephant bugs. Nobody trying to sacrifice me. My list of criteria is really growing."
"Add on no dinosaurs. They have teeth bigger than you."
"No dinosaurs either."
"Yes ma'am."
"Thank you for sorting that problem out before I got to it."
"Don't mention it. Someone will connect tomorrow or the next day. We're a bit busy here."
"You don't have to babysit me. Like you said, I'm an adult. I made the choices I made. I'm not your responsibility, and I'm taking care of myself fine. Even if I wasn't, that's not your problem."
He acts like he wants to say something. "Yea but we're going to make sure you're alright for a little bit anyway."
"Fair enough. Talk to you tomorrow. I need a shower or 10 showers."
He laughs again. "Good night."
The lasers shut off, and I make my way to the bath. It seems like it would fit 4 of me. Plenty of room to stretch out. I fill it up and it smells so good. I have oils and bubbles in here. I lay back and relax in the hot water.
My mind roams to Alden. His eyes. His sexy face. Him standing in that towel. The day he took his shirt off for me. How warm he is. The kissing. The snuggles. I sit up and cry. I do miss him. I miss him so much. He was enough for me. I wish I could have been enough. He probably has someone new already. Probably happy and relieved I'm gone. Just like Tim was.
I wash my face again. Then get out and go to bed. That was enough for today.
- Writer
