Page 105 of Border Control

“Hello, my darlings,” she replies, her voice motherly, a far cry from the hard-edged woman who sat opposite me in the car, measuring every single one of my responses. She places a gentle hand on the little girl’s shoulder as she passes, giving her a reassuring squeeze.

The contrast throws me for a moment. Samara, who moments ago was sneering at me and dismissing Dom, now looks almost… tender. This place, this walled haven, is a kingdom ruled by women, a place where they can exist without threat, safe and secure. And I see the appeal.

But they’re also in a bubble, walled off from any challenge to their authority. They’re growing up in a world that’s built for them and them alone.

Is that better than what we have? It's dizzying to think about.

Samara makes her way down the path to the mansion, her friends beside her. Girls turn their attention to me, a few of them whispering behind their hands, casting curious glances in my direction.

I'm utterly alone here apart from my emotional support plant, but I hang back at the car, where Dom is.

Then the doors hiss shut behind me.

“Hey!” I shout, and when that doesn't work I slam my fists against the windows. “Open up!”

But I'm speaking nonsense to these aliens. I try to grab hold of the seal around the door but it's all smooth metal now, cold and unyielding against my fingernails.

Then it moves.

Shit.

As it takes off, I jerk forward, dumped on my front in the courtyard. The ache in my chest vibrates with the engines as they roar away, splintering my heart to pieces.

I can't panic. I have to think, have to do something. I have to do it now.

I get up and take off running after Samara.

“Stop!” I yell at her.

The golden haired woman glances back at me with that same piercing look from before, her face settling back into its usual cool mask.

I draw up panting, trying to breathe through my panic. “Where's the car going, where are you taking Dom?”

“Where he belongs.”

“And where's that?”

She smirks but doesn't answer.

Shit. He's fucked, unconscious in the trunk of a flyer headed who knows where. They could shoot him now and I'd be helpless to do anything. I've utterly failed to protect him as I so blithely stated I would.

My original reason for coming seems so stupid as I lean into the connection between us.‘Dom, wake up!’

Nothing.

The other women regard me with amusement in their eyes. “Let's show you some real jewels of Oloria,” Blondie says, and they lead the way inside.

With no better ideas, I follow, my grip on Shade shaking.

As we reach the entrance to the mansion, Samara pauses. “Welcome to my home. This is the heart of our sanctuary, where we raise and protect our future.” She gestures toward the massive doors, which slide open silently, revealing the gleaming interior beyond.

The inside is just as immaculate as the exterior—high ceilings, polished stone floors, walls lined with artwork glowingsoftly in the ambient light. Everything is pristine, beautiful, and sterile, like a show home, designed to be admired rather than lived in.

I take a deep breath, my gaze shifting between Samara and the fortress around me.

Her eyes narrow slightly, a gleam of pride mixed with something darker. “Here, we’re in control. We’ve learned from the mistakes of our ancestors, human. We won’t let our society fall into chaos.”

Along with the worry for Dom, I suddenly realize what's rocking my world view. I'm not in command here, I'm being tossed around.