I rub my stinging neck while Alex discusses payment details with the receptionist.
The doorbell jingles, indicating that there's a new customer. A large parbeing man is struggling to force his strong human through the door.
Alex is holding the jacket I came with, but I'm the only one holding the neck chain.
This is the opening I've been waiting for. I know Alex can track me, but that won't matter if he can't catch me. This is my chance, and I'm taking it.
I bolt across the room and out through the front door. The cold air rushes over me. I move as fast as I can.
There's a commotion, but I resist the urge to look back. I can't stop now.
I dodge left and right around parbeings and humans alike. They're gasping. Sometimes there's a shout in my direction. Unlike before, they're certainly paying attention to me now.
My neck chain is rattling on the pavement. Without slowing down, I pull it up into a bundle.
I need to get out of this populated area.
I turn into a narrow street between two tall buildings. There are only a few parbeings scattered about. The less of them, the better.
I stop in my tracks at the sight of two white armoured parbeings ahead of me.
"Human! Stop right there!" they shout.
I turn and run in the opposite direction, I dash into an alley and around another corner.
I hear their motorised metal legs behind me. Shit.
"We're the Police! Stop running, human!"
No. I have absolutely no intension of been captured by another parbeing. I sprint from one alley to the next. Adrenaline is pumping through my veins.
A metal hand clamps onto my shoulder, and I'm yanked off my feet. Another hand grabs my arm and pulls me up before I hit the ground. That's going to leave a bruise.
"Got her." The policeman holding me adjusts his iron grip, pinning both my arms on either side.
The second one prowls around me, like a predator who's just caught his next meal.
"Well... well..." he mocks, picking up my dangling chain. "It looks like we've found a runaway pet."
He's wearing power armour just like the soldiers, except it's white with a few blue stripes.
He grabs my chin and forces me to look at him. I hate that I'm so much shorter than them.
"It's a cute one too. Don't worry human, we'll find you a good home," he says with a malevolent undertone. I don't like this at all.
"I bet that Ann's Brothel would be happy to take you in. They'd compensate us quite well for delivering a young human girl in such good condition."
"Go to hell!" I spit.
Before I know it, the hand which was gripping my chin jerks back and slams into my stomach.
The punch winds me. I try to scream from the pain, but nothing comes out.
The one holding me lets go, and I fall to my knees, trying to catch my breath.
He pulls me to my feet with the chain, choking me.
He wraps the chain around his fist, just above my neck. He pulls it upwards, making it hard to breathe even when standing on my toes.
"Move," he orders, pushing me forward while keeping the pressure on my neck.
YOU ARE READING
His Prize
Science FictionNina is captured by parbeing man. He plans to turn her into his pet. He knows she won't go down without a fight, but he's not prepared for how much 'fight' she has packed in her small body. His new pet leaks into every area of his life, changing thi...
