Evie
stood at the side of the window and watched as the food soldiers
filed past, two by two. The first in line, fanning out, and searching,
the rest carrying their finds in small cages. The sight sent a
shudder through Evie's small frame.
Evie
recognized the neighbors' three year old swinging by, captive
now, in one of the cages. He would go to the food farm and be
fattened up before it was market time for him. There were several
small dogs and some cats. The flesh eaters were out in force because
of the upcoming holiday.
She
shuddered at the thought of the next feast. She also was running
out of the strength to evade them. Winter had come on, and her
sources of nourishment were becoming limited.
There
was an old greenhouse on the other side of the city and soon,
before she became too weak, Evie knew she would have to chance
going there. There just might be some vegetables left inside.
Before
the takeover, there had been plenty for all to eat, but soon,
the flesh eaters had overpowered all and seemed to grow in number.
They had consumed almost every living organism that they could
until there was nothing left except their own kind and a few stray
animals.
Evie's
parents and older relatives were among the first to be harvested
for food. She herself had left home as soon as she had realized
what was about to happen. Joining a small resistance group, Evie
had moved with them from place to place until most were captured
by the flesh eaters. Everyone knew what their fate had been.
Her
special friend in the resistance movement had been captured three
days ago. Four of the flesh eaters had set upon him when he and
Evie were on a food foraging trip.
Her
last sight of Tor had been of him fighting a losing battle with
them. He had screamed at her to run and she had obeyed. She had
run until she could run no more.
It
was dusk and soon would be dark. It would be much easier to move
about then. Perhaps she could make it to the greenhouse. If not,
she would starve in this section of the city.
She
was missing Tor terribly now. Shaking off her depression, Evie
ran her fingers through her dark hair and strode to the doorway,
awaiting the first shrouds of night.
Evie
slunk out as soon as she had the cover of darkness. She had mulled
it over in her mind and had decided the safest route to her destination
would be straight through the heart of the city, as that was not
where they would expect a Vegan to be.. Certainly not right in
among them. Therefore, they would be less vigilant.
Doorway
to doorway she went until she found a stairway. Up the stairs
Evie quickly went, stopping at the top to look and listen. There
were footsteps ahead of her coming this way. She darted into a
doorway and leaned against the door and, surprised, felt it give.
She tumbled backwards into the room and quickly sprang to her
feet. The room was empty.
Breathing
a sigh of thanksgiving, she looked around and saw a small doorway
to her left. It was ajar. Haltingly, Evie investigated. A small
dressing room with a shower and feminine clothing hanging on a
metal rack..
Dare
she? Evie hadn't had a bath in what seemed like years. Throwing
caution to the wind, she turned on the shower and stripped her
ragged clothes off.
Once
under the shower, the warm water on her naked body felt like heaven.
In wonder, she picked up the soap and hastily began to lather
her aching body. For a moment. she was transported back to her
first meeting with Tor.
She
had been sleeping in a small stand of trees when she was set upon
by the food soldiers. They had roughed her up quite a bit and
tied her hands and feet together. Remarking how little and scrawny
she was, one had said that she would be a good specimen for the
farm. Evie had screamed and screamed, but to no avail. She had
been carried off with no further ceremony.
They
took her to an enclosure where she was made to shower and dress
in a white sack type dress.. She was let out in an enclosure with
other young girls. Some were pregnant. Looking closer, Evie was
shocked to see that some could not have been over twelve years
of age.
The
girls were quite willing to talk and began to tell her of the
place they were all held in. They looked at her with eyes so sad,
some were rolled into a ball in corners, crying and wailing. Evie
could tell that they had given in to madness.
They
told Evie that this was a breeding station. One girl told her
she was on her fifth pregnancy and four babies had been taken
from her to be fattened up for the Flesh Eaters.
One
of the girls had her hands bound behind her back. She was obviously
in her eighth or ninth month of pregnancy. Evie was told that
the girl had killed her last baby to save it from the flesh eaters.
No matter about the bound hands, as she had told the others, she
would gnaw her baby's throat this time.
Covering
her ears, Evie slowly lowered herself to the ground, unable to
understand the horror of her situation.
About
that time she was grasped in a strong hold by two guards, one
on either side, telling her she was going to the breeding room.
They had a new mate selected just for her. She could hear the
nastiness and disrespect in their voices.
They
had roughly dragged her to a small four-walled enclosure with
another nasty smelling guard at the door. All the flesh eaters
smelled badly to her. She knew it was because of their diet of
flesh..
The
guard opened the gate and the two who were dragging her, bodily
threw her inside, still kicking and screaming with all her might.
In
the half light, Evie could see a form move towards her. It was
a man and he did not give off the odor that the guards did. He
reached for her and crushed her against him, running his hands
over her body and breathing hard.
Evie
felt his lips on her throat and then they moved to her ear. She
heard him whisper, "Play along and when I say GO,
we are out of here." Shocked, Evie relaxed against him, sensing
an ally..
The
guard leaned over the gate, leering. Actually, he enjoyed the
fringe benefits of his job. The man kept caressing Evie's shivering
body and maneuvering ever closer to the gate.
Suddenly
he let go of Evie, and with one lunge, brought both his fists
hard and forcefully upon each side of the guard's surprised head.
The
man sank from sight and after grabbing Evie's arm, they were suddenly
over the gate and running at full speed.
Losing
these sad thoughts, Evie quickly shook the water from her hair
and stepped from the shower, suddenly face to face with a young
woman in a maid's uniform.
She
had been so lost in the warmth of the shower and her thoughts
of Tor that she had not heard anyone enter the apartment. Evie
cursed at herself for dropping her guard.
"Missy,
I am the replacement you asked for. I heard the shower and laid
out your clothes for the feast. Your escort will be along shortly.
I will help you dress, and I hope you enjoy your dinner,"
the young maid spoke in a way that gave Evie to know that the
girl had never met the apartment's true owner.
Evie
was saved, once again, and still remained safe for a while.. Who
knew how long that would be?
It
seemed to be best to play along, and she allowed the maid to brush
her wet curly hair and dress her in a pale mauve velvet dress
with a long sweeping shirt. Oh, joy.. were she to run, she would
have to hike the skirt up above her legs!
Evie
caught sight of herself in the mirror. Peering closer, she saw
that she had matured and the girl child had quickly become a young
woman, and a pretty one at that. Blushing, Evie wished that Tor
could see her like this.
The
maid brought out earrings and helped Evie fasten them on her ears.
"You are ready, Missy, all but your shoes," handing
her low heels, but nevertheless heels.. Evie groaned inwardly
and slipped her feet into them.
There
was a tinkling of a bell and the maid disappeared toward the front
of the apartment. Evie looked wildly around. There was no way
out of this place, save the front door.
The
maid returned and told that her escort and driver were waiting.
He was also new, and the maid hoped that Evie would find him satisfactory.
Of all the luck, Evie was starting to believe in guardian angels!
The
young man escorted her to a waiting vehicle below the stairs in
front. There were many people on the street, and all seemed to
be hurrying in the same direction. Their smell was overpowering
to Evie.
She
knew there were too many of them to outrun, so she entered the
car and her escort proceeded to drive her to the main part of
the city where the feast was being held.
Pulling
up to the entrance to the Great Hall, they were met by the doorman,
and Evie's escort said to him, "Miss Du Luc, sir." She
was then escorted into a long hall filled with people waiting
to eat.
Their
heads turned as she entered.. and then turned back again to each
other as they realized that she was just another guest and not
a waiter bringing their food.
Across
the hall on spits were human bodies, turning slowing, being basted
with some manner of spices and broth. With a start, Evie recognized
Tor as one of those bodies roasting.
She
almost swooned and went to her knees, but strong arms caught her
before she fell to the floor.
"Miss
Du Luc," a male voice said, "you need to eat. You have
grown weak from your fasting before the big feast." With
that, the man drew a chair from the side and seated her at the
long table. "You will be among the first served."
Evie
was in panic. Tor was dead.. dead! Nothing more than meat on a
spit. Her fears had come true. She knew she was utterly alone
now. The smells of the roasting flesh and the smells of these
flesh eaters were almost more than she could bear. Were it not
for the hatred welling up in her, tenfold for them, she would
have collapsed on the floor, moaning in grief and fear.
Evie
was angry.. angrier than she had ever thought possible. She wanted
to leap up and tear everyone that was in the hall limb from limb!
She would find a way to make them pay. Make every last one of
them pay dearly.. and she would accept nothing less than each
of their deaths. Nothing less!
Her
face became serene as a platter containing bits of roasted flesh
was placed in front of her.
Evie
steeled her soul and with vengeance already forming in her mind,
she picked up a bit of flesh, and, under the hall's watchful eyes,
slowly began to chew...
The End