The Ascent

Chapter 56

The inside of the ship was unique in two ways. It was huge, more spacious than anything Jasmine had ever seen, and unbearably humid, so much so that it felt like breathing water.

"It stinks," Arman said as the stench that reminded Jasmine of rotting fish hit them.

"Now, now," Asher chastised firmly. "Remember what we said about visiting those we don't know. We mustn't be rude."

Suddenly, all the conversation stopped as the ray that had pulled them off the face of the earth deposited them unceremoniously on the ground, their ascent finally complete.

Their fate felt sealed. Yet, Jasmine didn't want to accept that. She thought there was always a way, a possibility of escape, a way to survive.

As she looked around, she noticed that the living conditions on the ship seemed more in tune with the sea creatures (or at least partial sea creatures) than they did with the humans. The conditions were the same as that desolate planet she had dreamed about. Only she was pretty sure that wasn't a dream. It was the sad reality of what those creatures left behind.

Desolate planets.

Lost lives.

There were also many strange tube-shaped attachments to the ship that Jasmine didn't want to know the purpose of because they reminded her too much of the Matrix movie setup, even though she couldn't see any humans attached to those devices.

Yet.

What they could see were four bald men approaching at a fast pace.

"What do we do?" Jasmine asked without moving her lips.

"I guess we see what they want, chat. We might be able to postpone whatever is to come," Asher answered, his voice quiet and shaky and his eyes wide as they looked at his children.

A hint of desperation clung to him as he hugged his kids tightly, hoping to protect them when the time came.

"The parasite marked the three of them," one of the bald men said, pointing out Jasmine, Ariyana, and Arman. "We might have some use of them."

"No!" Asher exclaimed, putting his precious children behind him in an act of bravery and foolishness.

"Ash-" Jasmine was about to warn him but it was already too late.

A loud thump rang through the empty vastness of the ship as one of the aliens punched Asher out of the way, clearing the way towards the children.

In his fear for his children, Asher had forgotten that the important thing was to survive, and if he talked back to their captors, the chances of them doing that were slim.

"There is no need for that," Jasmine said, hurrying towards the children, taking their hands in each of her own. "That's such a human thing to do. Don't you feel embarrassed by stooping to such uncivilized methods?"

Jasmine's sudden inspiration was caused by a memory that resurfaced for unfathomable reasons when she most needed it.

"How dare that loser tell my girlfriend that I am cheating on her!" Steve shouted even though they were still in class.

"But dude, you were cheating on her," his buddy said, none of them paying attention to the teacher as he was known for letting the students do whatever they wanted.

"Yes, but that's not the point. It's none of his business. He shouldn't have interfered," Steve said, fire coming out of his eyes. "Pete is going to get it today after school."

"Excuse me," Jasmine said with a shaky yet determined voice. "Are you talking about Pete O'Conor?"

"Yes, what's that got to do with you?" Steve asked grumpily but not too rudely because, even angry, he was aware that he might need Jasmine's help in the future.