Monstrum Origins 1: Dominique (WIP)

Turn Me On, Turn Me Off

      CHAPTER 3

"All rights reserved" ©2019

Year 2218 New Deep Ellum, a province of New Dallas.(NeukDae Base)

DOMINIQUE

I screamed and screamed but no-one came rushing into the door to save me. Maybe this was normal; they lure unsuspecting prey in for this monster to eat. I scooted back on the mattress until the wall stopped me. The yellowed eyed guy got up moving with a sinewy grace. He would be beautiful with his slightly slanted eyes that were now the color of liquid fire. His pink full lips were slightly curled back over white teeth that looked a little larger and way more pointed than they should be. He growled; actually growled. ­WHO GOES AROUND GROWLING? But what was more disturbing was why I found this somewhat a turn on right at that moment? I didn't want to think about. If I made it out alive I'd feel guilty about my apparent lack of morals then.

The sleeve of his t-shirt moved up as he panther crawled onto the mattress; I got a flash of his honey-gold skin with an elegantly drawn tat as he moved. My eyes were drawn to the circles and thin lines that formed a picture or word? I wasn't sure which. I fought the urge to trace it with my finger tip; snapping back to reality. I said "Okay, hey I'm not sure what you're hopped up on but you don't want to see the moves I will pull out, if you don't step the hell back!"

I used my most menacing voice. I did notice he paused for just a second, but I wasn't sure if I seemed threatening or laughable to him. Whatever worked, I didn't care. He crawled closer; I put up my hands in a karate chopping position, which hurt because I was unable to stretch my arms out with his hovering over me. I waved them around the best I could pulling from techniques I picked up from the one martial arts training I had five years ago, which I dropped when I discovered I liked dance more. "Dude you haven't even bought me dinner! Get Off me!"

I felt his body weight press me further into the softness of the mattress. His stilled my hands by placing them over my head and pinning them down. I used my legs to try and bring any damage I could, anywhere I could. Even though it shouldn't have, the heat from his body which seemed way warmer than a normal person; it felt really good. Heat seeped through the jeans and tee I wore sinking right to the core of me, bringing all sorts of tingles that I hadn't experienced before.

For just a second, the fire cooled in his eyes and I could see his deep chocolate gaze. I stopped struggling, feeling lost for a second. He felt familiar.

I'd never had much time for dating. I focused on my dance, so training and my studies were my lovers. But I went out here and there when they made it past my mother's inspection. I'd never thought about a Coreanica guy. Not that it was a big thing nowadays. Not like in the past when the color of your skin could affect who you were allowed to love. Now it was more about districts, where you're from and where you're going. Folks always had to cause drama about something. So an Africae girl, like me was free to love who she wanted if they were from her district. There were Coreanica guys in my district, but we all lived like shadows sliding past one another; you know, next to one another but never interacting.

But this guy was making me feel some kinda way.

He finally spoke." Who are you? What're you doing to me?"

He had a tinge of an accent, but I understood clearly, he asked the question as if he was in pain. The words staggered out almost in a plea. "Dominique". I said in a breathy voice which pissed me off. Here I am with a would-be rapist? And I'm flirting? What the hell was wrong with me? He allowed his body weight on me fully. My arms screamed in pain because he still had them over my head. He leaned in and breathed deeply as if that one action brought him complete satisfaction. It was enough to distract him and I felt the pressure on my legs lighten. I was able to twist under his weight carefully, he seemed quiet. Was he asleep? What?! I positioned my leg and brought my knee up quickly and sharply. The noise he made surpassed my earlier screams. He arched up crying out and I balled my hand into a fist, and even if I didn't know what exactly I was doing I struck at the side of his head and he rolled off me. I scooted quickly and jumped up and ran to the door and yanked on the door knob. "Help! Help! Somebody, anybody even that screwed up short girl that kidnapped me!"

I heard movement behind me. His groans had stopped and I felt him standing behind me. I paused then started yanking at the door harder! He placed a hand on my shoulder and turned me around. His gaze was normal. He no longer looked like a hungry animal, just a pissed off guy." They're out on patrol. No one else is here. But you don't have to worry. I have myself under control. My name is Yi Hyun Jai. You can call me Jai."

I wasn't feeling very friendly. "My name is I don't give a damn, you tried to rape me!" I inched along the door and the attached wall. I spotted pens in a holder on his desk. If I could get to them, I felt I could do a little damage. He didn't seem impressed with my bravado.

He watched me with his arms folded and a blank expression. He bowed slightly. "I apologize for my behavior, I assure you I was not trying...not trying to be intimate. He paused for a second and said. I had a bad reaction to some medication I took before. I'm very sorry... your name?"

I debated telling him anything about me. I didn't know him or his peoples. I'd been knocked out, mauled. No it was best to just get out. But I couldn't shake that he seemed so familiar, and to be honest. I lost that..." he's a creeper" mode when his eyes returned to normal. He just looked tired. My dad always said I had the best gut instinct than anyone he'd ever known. I was normally 98% right. I didn't want to think this might fall into that 2% range. I went for it. "I'm Dominique Coutee."

Just then my amulet flared up and Q's voice filled the empty spaces."Dominique Coutee? I am back on-line." Q said.

I was elated to hear a familiar voice."Q! What happened?"

Jai said. "Your companion ­AI was neutralized until it could be scanned. We wanted to make sure that our base remained safe, and we monitor all outside transmissions. It was clean and placed back in the Fringe."

I couldn't stand it anymore. "Why was I brought here? Look I'll leave and we can just forget all of this."

Just then outside the room, I heard footsteps and low voices speaking. The cooling system kicked on and through it, the aroma of grilled meat wafted in and my stomach growled. Jai paced with his head slightly downward as in thought. He's so uptight.

He turned suddenly and asked. "How did you find the Haven Enclave?"

I had no idea what he was talking about."What's the Haven Enclave?"

He frowned. "In order to enter where Su was, you would've had to go through an invisible cloaking. No-one enters there unless they know it was there?"

I was getting dizzy with hunger and fatigue. My thoughts tumbled restlessly over one another. I pushed and thought back to the moment when Shark and his crew chased me, How did I know of a place if it's invisible? Then I remembered. It was if a knowing or deep inner thought nudged me in the direction...back corner on left. I wasn't sure how to explain that...knowing. I sure didn't think he'd believe me."I-I don't know? I just headed in that direction. Shark and his crew came in as well!"

He said "Once it's been breached the guards are all the way down. It's visible. I'm sorry you will need to remain here until we know more about you."

I snapped."You're kidnapping me?!"

He continued like I never spoke. "You need to lie low. We're offering you a deal. You're searching for someone correct? No one knows New Deep Ellum like our crew. We can help you find that person. Also Shark has put out a Want on you.

I even knew Wants were bad. Every low life in the area would be after me to get the prize money. Besides, I seemed to have met with the worst with this group, and I'm still here. Maybe they can help me. My stomach protested loudly. I couldn't make any decisions as hungry as I was. He went on. "Think about it. Stay for dinner and overnight. You can bunk with the others. It's safe."

A knock came at the door. Jai walked over and opened it. A younger girl around 14years old stood in the hall. He said. "Yes, Baby J?"

She smiled trying to peek around him. I suppose I was the talk of the base. "Dinner's ready and Scout's home. He says to come down and bring her with you. He's so pissed."

She says with a grin and runs off. Jai frowns and looks at me, then waves his arm at the door, gesturing for me to head out first. I hesitated for a second, then my stomach protected again at its emptiness. I walked through wondering who's this Scout and how bad could he be, to make a beast nervous?!