The Space Speculation: Book 1

Chapter 13: Daughter of the Almighty Chad

I fell asleep on the cold stone floor. I didn't know how long I had been there. I knew that Neptune had shorter days than Earth and I knew that Pluto had longer days than both, but my mind was so boggled up that it messed with my whole sense of time and space.

One morning I woke up to the sound of the large prison doors open. They squeaked so loudly that it made the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. I heard heavy footsteps in the hallway. Someone was slowly walking down. 

Finally, Chad stepped into the light. The sight of him made me gag.

 He grinned. "Hello, dear." 

I snarled and hissed, trying to look threatening; although I'm pretty sure I looked like a crazy three-year-old having a tantrum. 

"Settle down, settle down," he soothed softly. It was creepy and it made me cringe.

 "I am sure you're wondering about your lame father and cousin? Well, you'll be glad to know that they're--well, they're still living at least."

 "What did you do to them!?" I screeched. 

He impatiently cleared his throat.

 "You would be dead right now. I would have killed you and your family ages ago, if not for an intriguing offer. You see, the Martians love humans. Well, they love human slaves. And they offered us--well, me--a great deal on you three. It seems many are searching for you. Believe me, when I tell you, dear: they are not kind.

"Until they arrive to ship you off to Mars, I am not in need of so many prisoners in the prison. It's bad for my reputation." He chuckled maniacally before pulling out a large set of oddly shaped keys. Shuffling through them, he found a particular key and placed it in the slot on my door. Before he turned it, he gazed into my eyes. 

"You are now, for a time, Miss Paisley, daughter of the Almighty Chad."

 "What?!? Are you crazy?!?" I blurted, leaning my face into the bars. 

No! I was not going to be the "daughter" of this beast, even if it was for a little while. How much was a "little while" anyway?

 I decided that as soon as he opened the door I would make a run for it. But he still stood there, his eyes gleaming with evilness.

 "Leonard will be my "pet", and your poor, poor father will be tossed to rot in my prison."

 Tears brimmed my eyes. I was not about to cry in front of this wretch! It would show him that he was succeeding in ruining my life. 

He slowly turned the lock. I got ready to run.

 Click.

 Click.

 Click.

 Clunk.

 The lock was open. Slowly he swung open the door.

My heart raced. I darted from the cell, attempting to dodge Chad's enormous arms.

 But he was ready, of course, and grabbed my braid, yanking me to the ground. 

"Aww; one does not run from their father." His smile churned my stomach. 

He grabbed my leg and began dragging me to who-knows-where. I let myself go limp as I was pulled across the dirty floor and tried to be as heavy as I could. 

Shortly, we arrived at Leo's prison cell. His was even more miserable than mine. He sat huddled to his knees, shamelessly crying on the floor. I felt bad for the little guy. I suddenly regretted everything awful I had ever told or called him.

 "Get up, pig!" Chad was much nastier with Leonard than with me. 

Heavily my cousin stood and tramped over to Chad. 

Minutes later Chad was dragging both me and him. I was in his right hand and Leo in his left. Soon we got to Dad's cell. Leonard and I looked up with a flicker of hope. If anyone could get us out of here, it was Dad. 

He stood up, tall and brave.

 "Leo, Paisley! Oh, kids, I'm so sorry."

 "Don't sweat it, Unc." Leonard didn't sound very enthusiastic at all. 

Chad leaned over to Dad. The only thing separating their hate-filled faces were the rusty cell bars. 

"Rot in here, swine," Chad snarled.

Dad's iron gaze didn't flinch.

 Suddenly Dad charged toward the cell door.

This section was written by Amity