Page 31

The clear water in this tank must be highly oxygenated, or something – because it lifts me almost effortlessly back to the surface, and I can understand now why the first captive thrown into the water wasn’t dragged down by her clothes.

Dragged down to where? This deep, dark pool feels endless below me…

Kicking my legs to stay above the surface, I glance down – and that’s when I see the tunnel outlined in the gloomy depths. That’s where I’ll be dragged to once I’m sold – just as Tessa and the other captive were.

Now my head is above the surface, I can hear the Bullfrogs jeer and hoot – so much louder now that I’m more or less level with them.

As I bob up and down, I try to cover my chest – feeling shameful and humiliated knowing that the Bullfrogs got to drink in the sight of my naked body.

I just want to disappear – to fade into nothingness.

Then, through the glass viewscreens, I suddenly see Tessa.

Yes! It is her! But my elation at recognizing her instantly chills as I see that Tessa’s leashed at a Bullfrog’s feet. She’s attached by a collar around her throat to his huge, glistening arm.

Tessa sits there, petrified with fear. Soon, I’ll join her – and I can’t imagine feeling any different.

But once I’m in the same room as Tessa – perhaps something will turn in our favor.

I know I can’t save everyone – not now the auction has begun. But maybe - somehow – I’ll be able to draw on Ling’s teachings. Perhaps I can rediscover the boldness of the ‘old me’ and figure some way to get Tessa and I off this ship alive.

Yet, as one of the Bullfrogs raises his arm, starting the bidding, I realize the futility of this ambition. The fact is, I’mnotgoing to be able to get myself off this fucking ship – much less manage to do so with Tessa at my side. If I’m sold to a Bullfrog, escape will be an impossibility. I’d be better off drowning. At least choking in this chill water might be a quicker release than what awaits me in the aquarium of one of those sadistic brutes.

Then, my blood runs cold. I’d thought this was grim enough already, but suddenly my situation is threatening to get so much worse.

There’s a Bullfrog sprawled across the third row of seats – and he’s glaring at me. That’s not a glare of lust, or desire – and the moment my eyes fall across his glistening, green body, I instantly realize why.

That particular Bullfrog has a long, jagged scar across his shoulder – running all the way down to his sinewy, green arm. I suddenly remember my first rescue mission, years ago, during which I’d shot my blaster and badly scorched the arm of a Bullfrog that looked just like that particular specimen.

I mean, all Bullfrogs look similar to human eyes – but this one was branded into my memory forever. I’d injured that Bullfrog badly enough that he’d been unable to guard his shipment of slaves. I remembered exactly where I’d hit him – and what the damage had been.

I’d memorized the jagged lines of that scar like a roadmap, because the next time I’d seen the Bullfrog I’d adorned them with was when he’d shoved the crackling barb of an electro-rod right through Ling’s torso.

The Bullfrog had skewered her like a womp on a barbeque stake.

The same Bullfrog had stared at me with those same, bulbous eyes I’m looking at now – filled with that same hatred for me. His furious glare promises a world of horrors should he place the winning bid.

Gods…I’d hoped I’d never see that face again – even though I do, every time I try to sleep. It’s as if he’s been haunting me – chasing me across the galaxy. Now, through coincidence or fate, our paths have crossed again; only this time I’m even more helpless than Ling had been.

The Bullfrog stretches his mouth in a sadistic grin, and row after row of sharp little fangs glint in the light.

As the bidding continues, that Bullfrog raises his huge, slimy hand. His eyes are wide with desire for me – but not the kind of desire that could be sated by spurting his spawn inside me. He wants revenge. He won’t be satisfied until I’ve sated first his sexual desires, and then his murderous ones.

First, this Bullfrog took my best friend from me. Now, he intends to take everything else I have left.

I shudder in the water, but it has nothing to do with the chill. If that Bullfrog buys me, I’ll wish I was never born.

The irony? I know the old me would havewantedto be bought by him. She’d havewantedto get close to the creature that robbed me of my best friend. The old me would have endured almost anything – even the unspeakable rutting of a horny Bullfrog – if it meant a chance to slit his fucking throat for what he’d done to Ling.

But the old me died the same day she did, and now all I feel is terror.

I kick my feet to stay afloat, and stare in horror at the Bullfrog’s arm in the air. Then, the Aurelian sitting behind him – the one with the thick lips and the thick, brown hair – raises his own hand and nonchalantly increases the bid.

They’re offering up thousands of credits – more than some humans make in a year – and he’s doing it as nonchalantly as if he was asking for a refill on a drink; not bidding for the life of a human captive.

The opposing bid does not sit well with that murderous Bullfrog. The huge creature turns in his seat, staring up at the Aurelian with the same murderous look he’d given me

“This one’smine, Aurelians”