Survivor Planet Series 2-Book Box Set by Juliet Cardin Read Free Book Online Page A

was aware of myself—scattered about. A cluster of little throbbing lights comprised my whole being. Other clusters floated around me in the darkness along with great swirls of colours. We were moving without thought or effort, guided by some unseen force. As quickly as I’d vanished, I unscrambled and become whole again, arrived now in another place.
    Looking about in stunned silence I noticed Ayres on my left. Strange that although we’d just been particles of light, I had felt his presence, known him even, distinguishing him from the others. He turned his gaze on me and I suddenly became grateful for his company. He was my constant in this topsy-turvy chain of events.
    â€œAre you all right?” he asked.
    I looked down at my body and everything appeared to be in the proper place. “I believe so.” Discussing what had just happened seemed futile. While it was strange to have experienced beaming around first hand, I’d seen it happen many times on Star Trek.
    â€œWhat the fuck was that!” I heard a woman exclaim. Across from us I saw her, on her knees, sucking in deep breaths of air. Her alien stood over her, frowning and glancing around at the other participants. Lissa and I exchanged a look and with relief I could see she remained unconcerned.
    â€œRise,” the woman’s partner told her impatiently.
    â€œFuck you!” she screamed, becoming completely out of control. “What is going on? I didn’t agree to this. None of us have.” She looked around at the other females, hands outstretched. “Did we?” she demanded when a few of them ignored her and turned away.
    â€œBe silent!” her alien ordered.
    Not to be denied her moment, the woman leaped to her feet and faced off against the giant snarling beast before her. She actually poked her finger into his chest. “Don’t you order me. I’ve had enough of this bullshit. You took me from my home, then had me locked in a cell for days, then told—not asked—but told me about some stupid tournament I had to participate in.”
    The look on the alien’s face really freaked me out. He suddenly reached out and grabbed the woman by her throat with one hand. He then proceeded to pick her up off the ground until she was eye level with him. Horrible choking noises came from her mouth. Her eyes bulged in terror. When I would have leaped forward to help her, Ayres threw a restraining arm in front of me.
    â€œDo not interfere,” he snapped, his voice devoid of emotion.
    â€œBut...”
    He glared down at me and stood firm.
    In helpless anger I watched as the poor woman became blue in the face. Her body twitched a few times and then went slack. The alien dropped her to the ground where she lay at his feet like a piece of baggage. He pushed at her still form with his boot and when she failed to stir he actually shrugged his shoulders. Then he looked around at the other contestants. “There is always next year,” he said. He tapped on a black button in the center of a silver band wrapped around his wrist. “I withdraw,” he said. “Return me.” A moment later he and the woman dissolved into a cluster of throbbing lights—beamed away—back to the ship I presume.
    Mouth hanging open, I stared at the spot where they had been, before my eyes snapped back to Ayres. “I thought we were stuck here if we didn’t win.” I don’t know why that was my first reaction to the scene I’d just witnessed.
    â€œThe game has not officially begun. There is time to forfeit.”
    Looking at the same band Ayres sported on his wrist, I said, “Maybe we should as well.” None of us women got to have a band.
    â€œNo,” Ayres determined. “We will win or we will die.”
    Those were some choices. Looking around at the shocked and defeated faces of the other women—except poor delusional Lissa—I had the feeling I had no other choice