Total pages in book: 48
Estimated words: 45782 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 229(@200wpm)___ 183(@250wpm)___ 153(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 45782 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 229(@200wpm)___ 183(@250wpm)___ 153(@300wpm)
I nod. “I’m willing to take that risk,” I respond sarcastically. Is he not looking at me? Can he not see I’m not the sort of person someone would choose for anything, let alone a wife?
My curiosity about the females-only policy is piqued, so I ask, “What keeps men from coming here dressed as a woman? Or what about trans women? Can’t they come?”
He smiles. “Sure. It doesn’t really matter. According to the Eleadians, it’s Fate who has predetermined who they will be matched up with. It’s hard for me to grasp that, but I suppose if they were meant to be with a man or a trans woman, Fate would ensure it is so.” He shrugs. “I’ve never heard of it happening.”
Huh. Interesting.
He continues, “The Eleadians are here to find a mate. Presumably female. It wouldn’t do much good if this club was filled with men. But also, it’s not a good date spot. If women came here with their boyfriend or husband and got chosen…” He shudders. “Well, I can’t imagine how ugly that scene would be. It’s easier if we have a women-only policy.” He shoves off the table. “You’re free to go inside.”
I stand and quickly move toward the door he indicates with a wave of his arm. I want to get inside before he changes his mind about me. I’m sure I’m not the usual patron, even if I am female.
As soon as I’m through the door, I breathe easier. It’s not just warm in here. It’s hot. It’s extremely crowded. Women are packed in like sardines.
It’s also loud. The music makes me cringe. About half the women are dancing on the huge dance floor. The rest are standing around the edges of the room in groups, laughing and leaning into each other to talk. I don’t know how they could properly hear a word even if they shouted.
I do not fit in with this crowd. Granted, I don’t fit in with any crowd. I never have, not even when I was a semi-regular kid at school. I wasn’t always this poor. It was just me and my mom, but we had a trailer home. I had food most of the time. It wasn’t nutritious or anything, but it was food. I had clothes. I was clean.
I let my gaze roam around the room with wide eyes. I’m not sure I’ve ever been anywhere this crowded. I’ve even slept in a few homeless shelters, and none of them were this packed.
The noise is deafening. I hate this music. I’ve always hated pop music. I should have thought about this probability before I decided entering this club was a good idea.
I’m overstimulated. My heart is pounding. Sweat builds up on my forehead. Fuck. I’m going to have a panic attack. I can’t stop it. It’s already happening. My breath catches in my lungs. I lift my hands to cover my ears and squeeze my eyes closed.
I still have my mittens on. I never even took them off to sign the waiver. I’m also wearing my thread-bare, ratty coat. I wore it because it’s nicer than what I’m wearing underneath it.
My mind goes to places I’d rather not, but I can’t stop it.
I’m back in elementary school. Kids are taunting me.
“Plain Jane. Plain Jane.” I can hear their sing-songy voices as though it were happening right now.
“What’s wrong with you, freak?”
“Are you going to bang your head against the wall again?”
“Why are you moaning?”
“Freak. Freak. Freak.”
“Plain Jane, she has no brain.”
I need to get out of here, but I can’t. I’m frozen in my spot. If only I knew where the bathrooms were. I could at least hide in a stall until this attack passes. Or maybe I could hide in there all night. Maybe no one would find me after closing, and I could be warm all night.
I cringe when someone touches me. They don’t just brush against me. Someone sets their hands on my shoulders. Warm, huge hands. I’m aware I’m being crowded by a man. It has to be one of them. One of the Eleadians. Or it could be an employee.
The hands move to my cheeks and tip my head back, but I still have my eyes closed and my hands over my ears. I can’t block out the music well enough, but at least the blinking lights are sufficiently dimmed.
“I’ve got you, Baby girl. Take a breath for me.”
My eyes shoot open, and I gape up at the enormous man standing so close that my chin is touching him—his stomach. He’s more than two feet taller than me.
I knew the Eleadian men were tall and large, but I wasn’t prepared for this. My eyes roll back in my head a moment before the entire room goes black.
Chapter Two
Ten minutes ago…
Tekfan
I step into the control room, running a hand over the top of my head. I’m aware my brows are furrowed and pinched together. The night is young, and I just got down to the second-floor control room, but already I’m frustrated from the volume. Why do humans play their damn music so loud?