Don't Catch Me!

Chapter 18 - Procreation Day

Chapter 18 – Procreation Day.

“Umm Ladies, Excuse me Ladies,” the guards voice was gravelly and commanding. 

My eyes were facing forward as I emulated the behaviour of the workers we had seen.  Still I couldn’t help but look at this man.  He was tall, dark and broad.  He was older than Joel and held himself in such a way that seemed to ooze physical confidence.    Yet his weapon was slung over his shoulder.  He was not expecting any trouble then.  That was good.

I stopped and stood just a little in front of Joel.  I could tell from the way Joel tensed that he was getting ready for the fight or flight decision.  I had to do something before he gave us away.

“I’m sorry?  Is there a problem?” I tried to sound unemotional yet confused.  Difficult.

“Procreation Day, if you hurry you should be there before it starts.” He looked around at his guard post and huffed.  Not where he wanted to be obviously.  “I’ve got some points saved up, sooo ladies..”

Without letting the guard finish his offer I abruptly spun on my heel and, without looking like I was touching Joel, I subtly steered him back towards the square.  That was the direction which the guard had nodded in.

As soon as we were out of earshot Joel began to swear under his breath.

“Calm down, let me deal with this.  The smoke injured your voice.  Trust me Jolene.  It will be fine.”

“I can speak for myself.  I’ll tell those leeches where to shove their procreation points...”

“Exactly,” I interrupted, “Firstly you will be too angry to control your voice and secondly you won’t control your anger.  So let me deal with this.” I gave him a meaningful look and he grumbled something unintelligible back at me.

“Calm down Jolene, OK?”

“Cissy, I don’t like this, we should go...” he started to hiss at me, indicating in the direction of our hideout, but as we rounded the corner we were joined by another female worker coming out of the factory.  I heard Joel clamp his mouth together in with a soft snarl of frustration. There was no way we could retreat and wait this out now.

We walked in silence from that point on, although I was well aware of Joel.  The tense anger and frustration rolled off him and each movement seemed stilted like he was desperately fighting to control himself.  I knew that he didn’t approve of the way they used procreation points to buy the favours of the women here.  It went against everything I believed in too.  But Joel’s anger was more than that.  I could tell by the way his hand occasionally reached out almost catching mine, before falling back to his side, that he was scared.  He needed to be able to protect me and this wasn’t a situation he was prepared for. 

His focus had been on keeping me safe from the law of this place.  So concerned was he about the punishments that this dimension held for me if caught, that I didn’t believe he had considered the need to save me from procreation.  I could almost see, with my quick glances, the fear in his eyes as he realised that he had no way to defend me from every male with enough points to demand a touch, a kiss or something more.  To do so, would jeopardise me and risk exposing us for what we were.  

Of course I wasn’t vain enough to think that every male here would choose me, but I also had Jolene to think of.  I wasn’t being entirely sarcastic when I had teased him about his appearance.  He did look pretty damn hot if you didn’t look too closely.  Of course, he did walk like a man and was currently grinding his teeth while scowling in an unladylike manner, but hey I doubted that the guys here were what you would call picky.