Untamed

Chapter 5

Jess ran through the crowds, dodging the aliens walking about their business. The air was hot and the weather warm, but it felt welcome and in a way delicious. She was free from that suffocating ship. As she ran, she breathed in the heavy aromas of spiced food, heady perfumes and the alien odors of the crowd. Bright colours, animals in cages that she didn't recognise and metals both precious or bladed flashed past. How she wished to see it. Why was she running? Didn't she want Malak to show her this world?

Yes.... Yes I do want him to show me this world but I want it to be on my terms....I just want to free of that cage. She ran now, further into the market, behind the stalls and down the warren of tents and make shift huts. She ran further before darting down an alley.

Panting, she glanced around the deserted alley. Nothing but junk and garbage. She sat down for a moment's rest. Breathing deeply, she smelt some aromatic food wafting in from a nearby building. Seeing aliens walk in, she figured it must be some public area. She watched a bit more, watching aliens come and go before the curiosity got the better of her. Pulling the sheet over her head, she slipped into the building,

Inside, Jess was taken aback. It appeared to be a pub of sorts There was aliens everywhere, sitting, eating and generally talking. Leaning against the wall, she observed the patrons. Soon what appeared to be the kitchen erupted with chaos. Humans came running out with drinks and food. They were smiling at the aliens as the served them and talking to them in their language. Calming down a bit, she sat at a nearby booth and tried not to bring attention to herself.

A human waitress ran over and spoke in human with a thick accent, "drink?"

Jess nodded, "water please".

The waitress nodded and ran to the kitchen. Jess observed these humans interact with the aliens and they seemed happy. They were laughing and smiling to one another.. Jess eased back into her chair. They were content.

The waitress came back and put the glass of water in front of Jess and smiled. Jess wanted to know more... and called the waitress over to sit. The waitress was a bit nervous at first but then sat next to her. Jess watched her closely. She was dressed in simple handmade clothes and wore a gold circlet around her head. She was young, maybe Jess's age and quite pretty.

"What is it miss? Do you need some food... or a job? Boss is always looking for more help..." The waitress confused by what Jess was after.

Jess shook her head. "My name is Jess, and I have been brought here by these... aliens... I don't know what is going on.... Please help me."

The waitress nodded, "oh so you are new? Who or where is your owner?" Jess was amazed, the waitress appeared to nonchalant about the whole ordeal and sat there with a slight smile.

Jess sighed, "so fill me in."

The waitress giggled. "We are captured and then brought to a place, and then sold. We get these..."pointing to her circlet..."jewellery to translate into our language. You learn some words... we are fed and clothed and make a lil money. It's a good life. Better than earth. I know it doesn't appear it, but there is no complications, no stress..... We are actually really well looked after. Think of it like we are pets that work."

Jess frowned. "Not all pets are treated well...."

The waitress smiled sadly, "I don't know of any that are not treated well. But then I don't know of all the other...pets.... We are not slaves... we earn money.... We cant exactly go on vacation but we do travel and we stay in with the boss in his house, and its nice. We don't work all the time and we take work in shifts. If we want to, we stay in the human village, but its not as....exciting as living here."