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

kill us so now they want to determine what we’re capable of as we age which is why they haven’t killed me.” Ashaa’s statement was matter of fact without emotion.
    “Doesn’t that make you mad?”
    “What would be the point of getting angry, Jasmine. It would not change my circumstance and probably would have gotten me put down.
    Sudden screams interrupted the discussion. They were animal sounds of pain and agony that brought out goose bumps on the humans and had the large reptile like creatures snarling and throwing themselves at the bars of the cage. They roared furiously. The noise was deafening and terrifying. Despite their size and fierce appearance, the bearcats as Rose had dubbed them cowered in the corner. The blue aliens in the cage with the other group of humans seemed to be sobbing. The sounds stopped as quickly as they had started. Only the angry roar of the reptile creatures and the clanging of the animals testing the cage sounded now. Gradually, even these sounds waned. Sadness and fear settled over the room with only a few sounds from the animals but even they were mostly quiet.
     
     

Chapter 4
     
      Long hours had passed when several of their current captors returned with food again. The tiny beings were only about four feet tall; grass green with slim bodies that held heads which seemed too big for their bodies and big black eyes. But despite their stature there was something sinister about them. Perhaps it was the huge unblinking black eyes. Sienna wasn’t sure they even had eyelids. The two waited patiently at the door holding the pan. Sienna realized they wanted the first pan back. She stood and returned the pan to the slot. One of the small beings pulled out the empty and the second slid the new pan into the slot. The pan was filled with the same gray bricks as the first time. One of the two grinned at her and she instinctively moved back. His mouth was full of sharp needle-like teeth. The two moved the cart on to the next cell. Sienna pulled the pan out of the slot and started toward the others.
      First she offered the contents to the creature still hiding in the corner. The creature was only about three feet tall and looked like a furry octopus except it had more than eight tentacles. This close to it Sienna could see that the orange fur had swirls of darker orange running through it and it had light green eyes. She smiled at it without showing her teeth. Mindful of the teeth she had just viewed herself. The creature stared at her balefully for a moment and then reached into the pan for two pieces of the food. She then went to the four women who still seemed intent on avoiding Ashaa although she had done nothing to indicate she was a threat to them.
    Private Jennings glared at her as she approached him.
    “Why did you give that thing first choice?” he sneered at her.
    “Just be glad I didn’t leave you for last,” she retorted.
      He snatched three pieces and glared again. Sienna chose to ignore him. Jasmine and Natalie filled the water bottles from the tap again. Taylor watched the orange creature turn its own upside down and stare at the empty bottle with a forlorn expression. She stood and approached the small creature.
    “Would you like me to get you more water?” she spoke to it with a soft gentle tone not wanting to frighten it. She crouched to its level holding out her hand. The creature watched her for a moment then gave her the bottle. She went to the tap, filled then returned the bottle. It watched her for a moment and then retrieved the bottle from her allowing the tentacle to brush her palm. It was soft and warm and tickled her palm. As she went to move away, the tentacle touched her hand again. She looked the creature and heard a soft whisper, “zanksss.”
    “You’re welcome,” she told it and returned to her group.
      “It spoke to you?” Rose eyed the creature. 
    “Yes.”
      “Cool,” Rose said and turned to her meal.
    “Why did you help it?”