TAKEN: Journey to a New Home Read Online Free PDF Page A

the General’s voice shouted from the other room.
    Ashaa sipped more water but didn’t stand. 
      “Sir, she’s ignoring you,” the soldier relayed, glaring at the women between him and Ashaa.
      “Then make her comply,” the general ordered.
      “Move,” he told the women. When they didn’t, he took a menacing step toward them. He threw an unexpected punch at Sienna and sent her tumbling back over Samantha and Ashaa. Ashaa was on her feet faster than Samantha had ever seen anyone move. Ashaa kicked out one of her long legs and her bare foot connected with the soldier’s jaw. He slammed back into the wall of bars and slid to the floor unconscious. Ashaa turned and came back to where Samantha was helping Sienna into a sitting position.
      “I’m sorry he struck you,” Ashaa said quietly.
      “It isn’t your fault,” Sienna told her.
      “Isn’t it? You were defending me.”
      “I would have defended anyone being treated that way. It was unnecessary and callous,” Sienna assured her.
      Ashaa blinked her gold eyes and smiled. “You do realize that I am not completely human, right?”
      “The eyes and the green nails are kind of a giveaway. But it doesn’t matter I would have even defended orange and fuzzy over there in the corner from that kind of treatment. And he, she or it kind of gives me the willies with all the tentacles,” Sienna replied and smiled at her.
      “Ashaa, could you please try the door?” Major Roberts’ voice interrupted them. Ashaa stood and went to cell door. She closely examined what she could see of the lock. She stepped back and kicked hard. Noise reverberated through the room. The door stood firm.
      “I cannot open the lock as the mechanism is unknown to me and metal is solid,” she reported to the major.
      “Thank you, Ashaa,” the major nodded to her from the other cell.
      She then returned to Sienna and her group. Ashaa eyed Sienna.
      “You’re getting a black eye.”
      “It’ll match the headache I have,” Sienna told her.
      “If you don’t object, I could help,” Ashaa said quietly.
    “Why would I object to help?”
    “They fear me,” she indicated the four women cowering in the corner.
    “Well, I would appreciate any help,” Sienna said quietly.
      Ashaa reached out and placed her hand gently on Sienna’s cheek. Her hand was soft and cool. It gradually began to warm. The heat moved up Sienna’s cheek and the pain and pulsing began to ease. They sat that way for nearly five minutes.  When Ashaa moved her hand, Sienna opened her eyes and smiled.
      “Wow, I don’t even have a headache now,” she grinned touched her own cheek. “Thanks!”
      Ashaa smiled back at her. “You’re welcome.”
    “Why do they keep calling you ‘The Ashaa’ instead of just Ashaa?” Rose questioned.
      “It stands for Alien Species Hybrid specimen aa,” she replied, “or Ashaa for short.”
      “So does that mean you were the first?” Jasmine wanted to know.
      “No, they started with the single letter A and worked their way through the alphabet several times such as A little a, A little b then B little a, B little b,” Ashaa explained. “I am the specimen labeled with two little a’s.”
      “That’s a lot of specimens,” Jasmine said softly with horror in her voice.
      “What happened to the rest?” Blanca asked.
      “Most died as a result of the tests.”
      “What kind of tests?” Blanca asked apparently oblivious to the horror of the revelation.
      “The kind to discover what would kill us.” Ashaa answered in quiet matter of fact voice.
    ***
      Sienna woke hours later to the screaming. She looked around to check all of her group now including Ashaa were present. They were also all awake. The screaming cut off shortly after all of the humans and most of the other creatures were awake. The screaming had sounded like a male human.
      “Major, is everyone in your room accounted for?” Colonel Derrins voice