Susix, p.3
Susix, page 3
This time, I didn’t jump. A small alien with purple mats walked quickly toward me. They stepped onto the platform while digging through a bucket at their side. I backed to the opposite corner of my cell. The alien didn’t pay any attention to me. They pulled out a mesh bag filled with water balloons. They set it on the ground and rolled it through the cage bars. I rushed forward, worried they might pop on the rough surface.
Next, the alien entered a code into the cell’s door. A window swung in. When I saw it, I stopped moving. The opening was two feet wide and over one foot high. It was large enough for me to squeeze through with enough motivation. I was very motivated, so I knew I could fit through that window.
Something dropped onto the ground. I ignored it. My eyes were zeroed in on the window. I watched it close automatically. The alien entered another code into the cell door. There was a clicking sound.
They didn’t stick around once the cell locked. They turned around and left. I waited until they were gone before moving.
I carefully dumped the water balloons onto my bed. I went back and picked up what the alien had pushed through the window.
It was a bundle of dark cloth. The instant I lifted it off the floor, I knew something was inside. Setting it on my bed, I unwrapped the cloth. It ended up being a shift dress. The fabric was coarse. It looked like it would cover all of my important parts. Wrapped inside the dress was a jar with some goop inside. I opened it and sniffed. It didn’t smell like anything, and I had no idea what it was, so I set it aside.
The last thing in the bundle looked like a toothbrush made of driftwood. The handle fit in my hand comfortably. The bristles were thick and spaced very far apart.
After counting my water balloons, I used a few to wash my clothes and take a circus bath. Wetting the cleanest square of my disgusting leggings, I started wiping myself down. I only managed to smear dirt around. It still made me feel better.
I put on the new dress. Then I started wetting my clothes, rubbing them together, and rinsing them. It was the best I could do without soap. Then I left my clothes out to dry.
Life fell into a pattern. Once a day, the same alien would come in and throw me some water balloons and leave. I washed more thoroughly when I realized they would be bringing water frequently. I broke down and used the strange toothbrush thing to work out the tangles in my hair.
Aliens were constantly coming in to drop things off. The room was filling up with lots of pretty stuff. There were brightly colored fabrics, shiny objects, and beautifully decorated containers.
One day, a group of aliens came in and hung a massive tapestry. The threads lit up at night. I got excited when stuff like that came in because it broke up the monotony of having statues brought it. There were so many statues.
In total, there were eleven, including the massive one they brought in that third day. I’m embarrassed to say I had been in that cage for weeks, staring at nearly a dozen of these statues before I realized they were all of the same alien. In my defense, the aliens with mats and no facial features were hard to tell apart. Besides the color of their hair, they were nearly identical.
Whomever the alien was, they were either important enough to have people making statues in their honor, or they were conceited enough to have commissioned a dozen sculptures of themselves. Either way, I started to call the room I was stuck in the treasure room.
The gifts only came every few days. Not often enough to keep me from getting bored. I started to miss the chaos of the pet store. At least there, I didn’t go mad with boredom. I kept wishing they would bring in another cage with something alive in it. They never did. I would have done terrible things for a goldfish to look at—anything to pass the time.
Space was turning out to be very boring.
None of the aliens bringing in treasures stayed. A few stared at me. They never got close, though. The alien that brought me food only stayed long enough to ensure the cage was locked behind them.
That was the most exciting part of my day. After that first delivery, I started paying very close attention to the alien who would bring me water in the mornings. That little window was going to be my ticket out. Every morning, I was in a position to observe how the glass panel worked. It was camouflaged to look like a series of bars along the right wall. I knew where it was hidden because it had become my obsession, and I had nothing better to do.
The alien would use the glass panel to type in a code. The code unlocked the window. It was only open for twenty seconds, which made me sweat to think about it. Currently, I was workshopping a way to keep it open.
My other problem was the code that opened the window. I had casually watched the alien put the code in a few times. I did not recognize a single sign on the glass screen, but I had memorized most of the pattern. There was one section at the end I could never see. No matter where I sat, I couldn’t tell what the last two symbols were. I knew where the alien’s hands went on the screen, so I could guess if I needed to.
None of it mattered if I couldn’t touch the screen. When I was alone, I tried to touch the glass panel. I climbed the bars. I tried coming from above and below. I couldn’t reach it. I broke one of the jars I kept being given and used the pieces like sticks. I had managed to touch the glass. It hadn’t done anything. Which made me think it might need skin contact to work.
One morning, I was playing with a new hammock-style footstool. I had tied one of the dresses between two bars. I couldn’t hang off the cell bars long enough to try putting in the code. If I had something taller to stand on, I might be able to angle my hands enough to touch the panel.
I was busy trying to keep the fabric from sliding down the bar, so I didn’t look up when I heard the big doors open. My water delivery was usually around this time, so it wasn’t unexpected. I just kept fiddling with my hammock thing.
I heard the alien walk up to the cage. I waited for the water balloons hit the floor near me. Nothing happened. Usually, the little purple alien went quickly. They only lingered when they collected the little packet of dirty clothes that I threw into a pile outside the cage. Today was not laundry day.
I set my project down and looked up. A new alien was standing outside my cage. I stood up and slid away from them. They didn’t look like anyone who had ever visited my room. Apprehension had me standing straighter.
They wore a heavy cloak that covered them from head to foot. It did nothing to hide that they were not the same species as the aliens who worked here. The draped fabric only accentuated how different they looked.
First off, they were shorter than the other aliens. The hairy aliens were heads taller than me. At best, this creature was my height.
Then, there was the tail. Hard to ignore the four-foot-long appendage flickering behind the creature. It was very reptilian looking. Long, thin, and covered in scales. It waved back and forth just off of the ground.
I couldn’t see inside the dark cowl of the cloak. I could tell that the alien was staring at the large pile of egg-sized stones sitting on a cushion by the throne. They stepped towards the tiny mound. I heard the distinct sound of claws clicking on the tile.
Sure enough, the alien had claws on their feet. There were curved talons at the end of each of their three flexing toes. I couldn’t turn away as I watched each toe arch like a big cat’s would.
We both jumped when the doors started to open. I dove towards my bed. I was hidden before I even formed a coherent thought. I tried to force my body to relax. To look natural.
As they made their way to my cage, the purple alien didn’t miss a step. They fiddled with the carrier strapped to their body. They didn’t bother looking up.
I snuck a glance toward the alien with the snake tail. My heart stopped. They were gone.
My handler tossed the water balloons through the bars as usual. Hiding it behind a yawn, I looked for the alien in the cloak. I didn’t see them behind any of the larger items near my cage. I looked around the room. I couldn’t see them at all.
The window opened, and new clothes dropped to the floor just as the cell locked again. The purple alien had their back turned on their way out the door before the lock’s echo ended.
Once again, I was alone. Well, kind of alone. I waited a few minutes, expecting the new alien to leave its hiding spot. Nothing happened.
“They’re gone for the day. Unless someone drops off new goods.” I glanced around the ceiling. “I haven’t seen any cameras. I’m human, so I probably wouldn’t recognize whatever passes for alien surveillance equipment.” I shrugged. “You’re the one who snuck in here, not me. You probably know better than I do.” There was no reply. “Great. I imagined them. This whole experience has finally driven me crazy.”
That thought broke the dam. The lack of physical harm had kept my hopes up. I was diluting myself. I was someone’s pet. I was going to spend the rest of my life alone in this cage with only a hazy figment of my imagination to keep me company. That thought was the final straw. I started to ramble, unable to stop myself.
“Since I’m not sane and there’s no one here to judge me, I think we should get to know each other. My name is Cecelia. I can’t stand it. Everyone calls me Cece. I was born in a small town. I’ve got to say, if I get home, I owe Mr. Jenkins an apology. I thought he was crazy when he said aliens had abducted him. Now, I think he was telling the truth.”
Once my mouth opened, it felt like it wouldn’t close. Suddenly, the silence made me anxious. So, I kept talking until the lights went out. My throat was croaky by then, so I took it as a sign and shut up. I grabbed a water balloon and leaned back on the bars.
My mind was wandering when something moved in the corner of my vision. I stopped drinking and turned my head. A shadow emerged from a black mass on the platform. I blinked a few times.
The shadow crept around the platform. Occasionally, it would stop. Its head would move from side to side before changing directions and moving again. After an agonizing few minutes, the shape came within reach of my cage. Up this close, I could see the outline of a tail sweeping across the floor.
“Oh, thank god,” I gasped. Tears filled my eyes. “I thought I made you up.” I wiped away the wetness falling down my cheeks.
I stood up and walked over to where the figure was searching. The figure would pick through a treasure trove for a few minutes before moving on. They never took anything. They were looking for something specific.
“Not to brag, but I’m kind of the curator of this little museum. If you tell me what you’re looking for, I can point you in the right direction.” I don’t know why I expected a response. Ignoring the twinge of disappointment, I went on. It didn’t matter that they couldn’t understand me. I kept talking. “If you get me out of my cage, I know I can find whatever you’re looking for. I’ve seen everything they’ve brought it. Help me out, and I’ll help you.”
I told them about the code and the window in the cell door. The alien didn’t look my way once. It kept combing through the pieces that had been stored in here.
I knew the instant they found what they were looking for. Their entire frame froze. Their shadow vibrated with energy.
They pulled a delicate circlet out from a mountain of heavy wooden boxes. The darkness made it impossible to see. Whatever it was, there had to be metal on it. It glinted in the soft glow from the iridescent tapestry. By the way they were holding the piece, it was very delicate.
The alien’s tail snapped back and forth in jerky motions. The creature brought its prize close to its face. In the silence, I heard a hissing exhale of air. The tail whipped more wildly. As it curved back around, it caught the corner of a jewelry box.
I watched in horror as the box tipped sideways. It hit a set of precariously placed vases. The jewelry box cracked one of them on impact. The sound rang through the chamber. I recognized it from a childhood incident involving a porcelain plate and a metal ladle. Before I could gasp, the second vase hit the floor. The sound of it breaking was impossibly loud.
Small metal items hit the ground like rain. The jewelry box must have spilled open. Finally, the box hit the tile with a sickening thud. That had to have left a dent.
There was no way that racket went unnoticed. The alien whipped off the cloak and took off for a dark mound in the corner of the platform. I blinked and lost them in the darkness. I couldn’t see anything moving against the shadows.
I don’t know why I did it. I didn’t process my actions until the balloon left my hand. By then, it was too late to stop it. The balloon sailed through the bars and smashed into the broken vase on the ground. I stared, stunned at the mess.
Why am I covering for this alien?
I didn’t have time to ponder the reasoning. The sound of feet pounding down the hall filtered into the room.
In for a penny.
I grabbed two more balloons and aimed for the table to make it look like I had knocked the jewelry box off the table too. At least, I hoped that’s what it would look like.
I didn’t have time to do anything else. The lock on the door clicked just as the lights were thrown on. I flinched at the brightness. When my vision cleared, the room was swarming with big and small matted aliens.
Some carried weapons. Others had glass tablets. They spread out to every corner of the room.
The big green aliens with weapons wove through everything. They moved statues. They lifted stacks of rugs. None of them were gentle about it either.
I started to sweat. I kept waiting for someone to find the thief. No one shouted. I didn’t hear any weapons fire. Everyone kept searching.
Behind the big guys, the purple aliens rushed around. They took inventory. I watched as they did a much more thorough job of combing through the room.
One of the workers found the broken vases and spilled jewelry. When they saw the water balloons, they shot me a nasty look. I saw teeth behind the curtain of hair.
The discovery caused a big uproar. Purple workers growled at each other. The green aliens snarled. The tension left the room once everyone realized I was the one who had caused the fuss.
Half of the security left the room. Three purple workers started cataloging the damage. They found a new jewelry box and replaced everything. The broken vases were vacuumed with the same controller used to move my cage.
Just as they were wrapping up, there was a commotion by the doors. A huge alien swept into the room. They were much taller than the security guards. Their hair flared out along their neck and down their back. Everyone in the room hit the floor regardless of what they were doing. The newcomer didn’t pause in their stride. They walked directly to the group kneeling by where the mess was.
I recognized the alien once they got closer. I had been staring at their visage for weeks. Every statue in the room was a depiction of this alien. Which meant the big boss had come to see what had happened. That could not be good.
The giant alien barked out a single word. One of the purple aliens answered in a quiet tone. They lifted their glass tablet for the big guy to read. No one breathed while this alien looked over whatever was on the screen. Finally, they said a few words. The purple aliens nodded. The giant said something else. One alien’s hand shot out like a spring, pointing right at me. The others reluctantly pointed at me too.
I felt my stomach drop. The giant alien turned to look at me. They looked like every other individual of their species that I had seen, except they were massive. They took two steps and were at my cage door. They looked down at me from the top of the cell.
They grunted, and one of the purple workers rushed forward. They read something from their glass. When they were done, the leader held out a hand. One of the guards put a metal stick in it.
“Hey,” I shouted, pressing against the back bars. Whatever that stick was, I didn’t want it anywhere near me. “I won’t do it again. Please don’t kill me.”
The stick tried to stab me. I dove away from its blunt tip. The giant growled and jabbed again. I grabbed the middle of the stick and pulled. Nothing happened. The alien was comically stronger than me. They pulled the stick back, lifting me off of the ground. My grip slipped. My ass hit the floor. The alien saw their chance. They struck me with the stick’s tip.
The world lit up. My muscles seized. Lights exploded behind my eyes. It felt like my teeth were being pulled out of my head. Then, it was over.
My body went lax. I lay on the ground, trying to breathe through the pain. I could taste copper on my tongue.
Once when I was a kid, my neighbor dared me to touch an electric fence. Luckily, I hadn’t grabbed the wire because my muscles had seized up until I managed to throw myself back. Whatever that stick was, it made the electric fence look like a joke. My eyes felt sunburnt. My head pounded.
I slapped a hand on the floor. I put pressure on it and heaved myself up. My nose wrinkled. I’d peed myself, which felt like the grand finale of this circus show.
When the ringing in my head stopped, I saw only a couple of aliens left. The giant was gone, along with most of the security detail. It looked like a few of the purple aliens were putting things away.
At that point, I didn’t give a flying duck. I stripped out of my gross dress. I threw it in the pile of dirty clothing. Snatching two dresses from my clean pile, I walked to the alien toilet area.
There was a drain on the floor there. I used it to take mini showers. I had the whole area set up. There were a few water balloons here. I hung one of the dresses from the top of the cage. I bit open a balloon and wet the other dress. I wiped my body down. I opened a second balloon to rinse off. Then I put on a new dress, my cargo jacket, my cleanish leggings, and my socks.
By the time I was done, only one alien was rushing around. They shut off the overhead lights and sprinted out of the room. The door slammed shut with a bang. I didn’t hear the lock click into place.
Exhausted, I sat down on my bed. The luxurious blanket felt cool against my fried skin. I drank a balloon of water to get the copper taste out of my mouth. My eyes were closed when I felt a presence.
“You’re back.” I sat up to talk to the little thief. “As a thank you for saving your ass, how about you tell me where you keep hiding?”
