It took me a few days to get back to Texas. Donavan and Asim landed us not too far from Las Vegas. Apparently, the facility we were held in was in Lincoln County. We stopped at a motel for one night where Asim debriefed me on what I needed to say to the authorities about my whereabouts. He also told me to stay out of the media as much as possible. He didn’t want me to draw too much attention to myself. There were still contacts at Vita Labs that could remember me.
I had lots of questions for Asim as well. The biggest one being why Dr. Strong became so obsessed with me. He explained that one of the things that made great soldiers was the ability to focus on a task until completion. When Dr. Strong created the serum, hyperfocus was one of the synthetic traits he added in. What made the serum work the last two times was the alien DNA. When combined with the serum, the alien DNA allowed the subjects to balance that hyperfocus. They were capable of maintaining that focus without it consuming them. Dr. Strong was not. His hyperfocus turned into a very unhealthy obsession. However, I wasn’t his obsession, Alpha was. Only because Alpha showed interest in me, Dr. Strong did as well.
I thought about that as I sat at this police station waiting on my parents to come. I felt numb. I had on the same clothes I’d had since I changed in that utility closet. I’d barely slept, and only because my baby reminded me often, I ate. All I saw when I closed my eyes, was that giant ball of fire consuming the compound. Once again, the tears fell down my face. That was something else I’d been doing recently, crying.
I watched as all the cops walked by me eyeing me wearily. I was sitting inside the fish bowl office of the police chief. I’m the woman that was kidnapped and sold into sex trafficking. At least that’s the lie Asim came up with. Supposedly, I don’t remember any details about where I’ve been, only that the men spoke in Spanish and broken English. Everyone told me how lucky I was, how blessed I should feel that I was one of the few that were able to escape. I don’t feel blessed. I feel like a fraud--a fraud for lying about where I’ve been. I should have told everyone about what I endured. How Vita Labs aided in the kidnapping and experimenting on women. I was also a fraud, because I was able to escape when so many other girls did not, like Ashley, but what really made me a fraud, is because I’m here, living and breathing, when my soul is not. My soul, my heart, my other half was on that military base.
“Right this way, Governor,” I heard the police chief’s voice say.
Chief Morton came into the office escorting my mother, father, and sister inside.
“Oh my God, Morgan!” My sister shouted as she barreled into me.
She wrapped her arms around me squeezing me into a tight hug. I allowed her familiar scent and embraced the comfort.
My mother and father eyed me wearily like I was some kind of wild creature they’d stumbled upon in their yard.
“Like I was saying over the phone…” Chief Morton went on to say. “We should keep her out of the media as much as possible. We still have not located the people that took her, and it is a possibility they will be looking for her.”
“And you say she was involved in a prostitution ring?” my mother asked.
The disgust was so obvious in her words there was no mistaking how she felt about me.
“Yes ma’am. Sex trafficking is a huge problem all around the world. Most girls never come out alive. They’re usually forced on heavy drugs and shipped around the world to different brothels. Your daughter is truly lucky.”
There go those words again. They were a contradiction. If I were truly lucky, wouldn’t I not have been captured in the first place? If I were truly blessed, I would have never had to be a guinea pig to a crazy scientist or starved, beat, nearly raped, and if I were truly the lucky woman that they claim I am, I wouldn’t feel like my heart has been snatched from my chest.
“And you’re sure she’s safe to come home with us?” my dad asked.
I admired how the chief of police looked confused at my parents’ reaction. He honestly believed that he was talking to concerned thoughtful parents. He had no idea that he was dealing with two of the most self-absorbed people in the world.
“Dad, I’m pretty sure she’s ok to come home,” Monroe said.
She still had one arm around my shoulder as she sat down beside me. She was constantly wiping the tears from her eyes.
“Monroe, your father asked a valid question. If Morgan is in danger, she could put us all in danger, and you know how many people would love to get their hands on your father and I.”
Being locked in that compound for nearly six months felt more real than this moment? This feels like I’m watching someone else’s life, or a television show. I wouldn’t be surprised if I suddenly heard a laugh track.
Chief Morton looked to me, he was trying to figure out the same thing I was. Is this real? Unfortunately, it is, Chief.
“Umm, yeah, well, it’s pretty safe. I mean, she’s the one that would be in the most jeopardy seeing as she’s the escapee. They will want her back to silence her if for nothing else.”
“Well good,” my mother said clutching her pearls. “We are in the middle of a re-election year. Marvin has certain public appearances he has to make.”
At this I laughed. I couldn’t help it. I probably looked like a crazy person, but what parents are this clueless? Alpha wasn’t even human, and he cared more about his unborn child than these people who raised me.
Monroe looked over to me like I’d lost my mind.
“Morg, are you ok?”
I wiped the tears that filled my eyes away as my laughter faded.
“I’m fine. It’s just funny to me that he just told you my life was at risk, and the only thing you’re concerned about are some goddamn public appearances?”
My mother gasped and covered her hand over her mouth.
“Whoa! Now I understand you’ve been through something traumatic, but you do not speak to your mother that way.”
“Then I’ll direct my next words to you, fuck…..you!”
Monroe burst into laughter as my father’s mouth fell open.
I stood to my feet. I was done with this reunion already. I didn’t even want to come back here. Asim thought it was best to come back to my parents and hide out for a while, at least until he found out about the compound. I was only giving him a month tops, then I was disappearing with my baby. I would never let my child grow up around the people that raised me. I had a few other things that I needed to handle before I disappeared, so sitting around this police station wasn’t going to get stuff done. I headed out of the office and toward the front of the police station. Monroe followed me out. We climbed in my parents’ car and waited for them to join us.
“Holy Cow, Morgan! That was awesome!” Monroe stated, her excitement evident. “I’ve been waiting all my life to hear you put them in their place like that. Did you see how speechless they were?”
I was proud to make my sister so happy. She truly was the only one I could depend on.
“Thank You, Monroe,” I turned to her and said.
“For what?”
“For being the only one that actually cared.” I looked down at my hands in my lap. “You’re going to be an aunt.”
Monroe’s eyes widened and then she screamed in excitement before she threw her arms around my neck and hugged me tight. When she let me go, she placed her hand over my belly, the little swell was barely noticeable under the army shirt.
“I can’t believe it, but I thought they...” She didn’t finish the rest of her sentence.
She thought I obtained this baby during my time in prostitution. “You would want to keep it?”
I chuckled. “This baby wasn’t made the way you think. I found love, Monroe. Real love. The kind that leaves you empty once it’s gone.”
“What happened to him?”
I wiped the tears away that tracked down my face. “Dead. He got me out of that place. He saved our lives.” I rubbed my belly. “But he didn’t make it.”
“I’m so sorry, Morgan.” My sister’s eyes welled up with tears. “What about Trevor? Are you going to tell him?”
I snorted. “Honey, Trevor and I were never in love. It’s time that I admit that and let him go.”
Monroe shook her head, her long, straight ponytail swung back and forth. She clutched my hand in hers and squeezed it. “Don’t worry, we don’t need him anyway. I’ll help you raise my niece or nephew.”
I gave her a sad smile. “No, you won’t.”
She looked at me confused. I placed my free hand to my little sister’s jaw.
“You won’t be able to help me, because you will be in New York being a model or painter, or whatever you want. All you have to do is go, and I’ll pay for everything.”
Tears fell from Monroe’s eyes. “Oh, my God! Morgan, are you serious?”
I nodded, yes and once again, Monroe had me in a tight hug. She squealed in delight.
“But you and the baby will come visit, right?”
I didn’t tell her the truth. I didn’t explain that once I sent her on her way with the money, that I would never be seen again. For now, I wanted her to be happy. That’s why I agreed to give her half of my fortune. Once I consolidated all the investments and property, I would have more than enough to give my sister half, and continue to provide for myself and my child without having to work for the rest of my life.
We both broke apart when my parents got into the car.
We sat in silence the entire ride home, still holding hands and bonding the way we always had.
*****
It’d been a few weeks since that first day back. I’d yet to see Trevor. Apparently, he’d been out of town on business for three and a half weeks. He’d been dodging my calls. He does text me often to tell me that he loved me and missed me and wanted us to really work on our marriage. Supposedly, the time away had shown him that he hadn’t been the best husband. It’s a little too late for that. The divorce papers were already drawn up. We both signed prenups before the marriage, so he left with everything he came in with and nothing more. I did give him the house. Despite it being a gift from my grandparents, I still didn’t want it.
He was due to arrive back home tonight, just in time for our family dinner. My parents were throwing me a welcome home party in a few days and wanted us to spend time together as a family before the big event. They really just wanted to make sure we had our lie intact before we went around people. I have no interest in the dinner or the party, in fact I hope to be long gone from this place before the day of the party.
Since I’ve been home, I’ve been busy preparing for my departure. All I’m waiting on now is word from Asim. He begged me to stay put until he could find out more about what happened the night we escaped.
I walked back into my parents’ house—where I’d been staying since I came back—to find my mother talking to the florist. Mother was already in party mode even though the party was still a few days away. She’d been busy preparing the house. I’d been out all day and just got back in. I’d spent a lot of time at the bank since I returned. Apparently, while I was fighting to survive in that hellhole, someone back home went on a shopping spree with my bank card. They were able to use up a few thousand dollars of my money before the bank shut down the card. Thank God for fraud alert. When the person was no longer able to get money from the credit card, they started inquiring about my money from the bank. It was then that the bank told them that no one could get access to my money, and if they thought I was dead, then all my money and assets would go to charities. Just as I had planned. It seemed everyone in my family— except Monroe— at some point, had been to my bank. In fact, it got so bad the bank shut down all my accounts. I had to go in in person to get them to open the accounts back up so I could access my money. I also went by to see my accountant since I’d been back. I’m making arrangements to settle all my assets.
“I told you I wanted pink roses and gardenias. These roses look red,” my mother argued with the florist.
“Morgan, do these roses look pink to you?” she asked me as I passed by her in the foyer.
“I don’t care,” I answered as I continued towards the kitchen.
“Excuse me,” I heard my mother say to the terrified florist before her heels were clicking behind me.
I went to the fridge, pulling out a water bottle.
“Morgan, now your father and I have given you time to adjust. We understand your ordeal was terrifying, but you are now back in the real world, and you need to get it together. First thing in the morning, you’re going down to that salon and let them do something to that nappy hair. You look unkempt and un-lady like.”
My natural hair was growing beautifully. Already my hair was long enough to cover my ears. The front curls fell into my eyes if I didn’t pin them back. I loved my hair.
I finished drinking my water, placing the top back on the bottle before placing it down on the counter in front of me. I looked my mother straight in her eyes when I told her, “No!”
“Morgan Amira Downs, you will not disrespect me in my own home.”
“Your home?” I chuckled. “Do you know what I’ve been up to these last few weeks, Mother?” I answered the question before she could. “Well first, I had to go to the bank to unfreeze my accounts. It’s actually funny how many people tried to access my money while I was gone. It seems you guys went to the bank more times when I was missing than the actual police station. Oh, don’t look surprised, they told me how concerned you guys really were. Took you two days to report I was missing, and that was the only time you acquired about my whereabouts. Yet, you alone made seven personal visits to my bank.”
“We…..we……we were.”
I waved away the lie she was about to tell. I knew they didn’t really care about me. It doesn’t even bother me that other than the few cries for help to the media, they didn’t even look into my abduction.
“Doesn’t matter,” I told her. “I just want you to know that while I was at the bank, I sat down with the banker to discuss all my assets. I thought it was about time I paid attention to just how much property I owned. Especially, since my family seemed so concerned about finances, and guess what he told me?” Again, I didn’t give her time to answer my question. “It seems my house wasn’t the only house Grandpa bought. This house was also bought by Grandpa as a gift to you and Dad. Although, apparently Grandpa knew the both of you were shady as hell, so he bought the house in his name. And do you know what happened to everything that grandpa owned when he died?”
I smiled as Mother’s eyes widened when she realized just what I was telling her. I found out a great deal of information over these last few weeks while going over my finances. It seems I’m a lot richer than I thought I was. The money is only half of my fortune, if you add in all the land, property, and investments I own, a girl is sitting pretty.
“So, if I were you…” I went on to tell my mother. “I’d be a little more worried about being respectful to me in MY house.” I left my mother in the kitchen with a shocked face and a dose of the truth.
**
My time at the compound had changed me. I hardly recognized myself as I sat in front of my mirror preparing for a dinner that would hopefully be my last with my family. I stared at the woman looking back at me. I saw her bright brown eyes and glowing smile. Her wild curls were pinned up on one side. The curls, like her, were so full of life. Her thick lips that now knew what it felt like to truly kiss a man. Her body, with all its perfect curves, knew how it felt to be made love to on a spiritual level. The woman staring back at me was not a statue. She did not belong in a wax museum. Too much life flowed through her veins. She wasn’t scared or frightened or some silent observer in a life she couldn’t control. The woman looking back at me in the mirror now, was bold, strong, feminine, and brave. She was a survivor and a fighter. She was once loved so deeply and passionately by a man that understood her value. This woman, was ready to take on whatever came her way.
My belly grumbled loudly, and I chuckled.
“I know, I know, little one. It’s time for us to eat. Your daddy would have a fit if he thought I wasn’t feeding you.” I rubbed circles around my stomach.
“Mrs. Downs?” Pamela, my parents’ maid, called my name.
I turned to face her in the doorway. “Yes, Pamela?”
“Your mother says that Mr. Downs has arrived, and it’s time to eat.”
I smiled, ready to get this show on the road. Tonight, I was going to reveal everything. I was going to tell Trevor about the divorce and tell them all about the baby. I even had the check for Monroe written out. With the amount of money I’m giving my sister, she can go anywhere and do anything she wants. I was setting us both free tonight.
“Thank you,” I said to the quiet girl.
Pamela couldn’t be much older than me. My mother had gone through quite a few maids.
“Oh, and before I forget again…” She pulled a white envelope out of her pocket and walked over to me. “This came for you today. It must be pretty important, I had to sign for it.”
I didn’t pay attention to the last part of her sentence, the name on the front of the letter had all my attention.
I mumbled the words thank you to Pamela and quickly opened the letter. It was written in a slanted handwriting.
Morgan,
I know that it has taken longer than planned to get back in touch with you. I apologize. I just wanted to make sure that enough attention had died down before I went snooping for answers. I finally have word about the compound. The facility was completely destroyed. All of Dr. Strong’s research and files have been deleted and destroyed. Project X has been completely wiped from the earth. I’m afraid that is the only good news I have to share with you, however, Morgan, there were no survivors. All fifty-one super soldiers have been accounted for and are presumed dead.
I took a moment to let that news sink in. I had assumed that Alpha was gone, but deep in my heart I felt that he had survived. I still clung to a little hope that I would get my happily ever after. The tears fell from my eyes, and I felt his loss all over again. That gut-wrenching pain of losing the man I love was back. I wanted to crawl into my bed and cry, but I couldn’t. I had to be strong for our child. I quickly wiped my eyes, glad I decided on the waterproof eye liner. I picked up the paper and started reading again.
It seemed the ball was dropped on the breeders. No one can seem to find an exact record of the females; this comes as a slight blessing. If they have no records of the female breeders, they cannot hunt you down. For that, I am happy. It seems someone really was thinking ahead. I know that eventually, they will track down the list of females. I’m sure Vita Lab has some kind of record. However, in the meantime you can breathe easily.
I again would like to apologize for my part in your ordeal. I truly did believe that we were going to save the world. I also believe that at one point, Dr. Strong believed that too. I do want to leave you with a bit of parting information. Not all the girls on the compound were taken at random. Some were volunteers, and some, like yourself, were sold to us. Attached to this letter is your signing contract.
Best Wishes,
Asim
It took a moment for those words to sink in. Someone sold me to Vita Labs and Dr. Strong. Who could despise me that much that they would do something like that? They would send me off to be someone’s lab rat. Did they know what would happen to me? I quickly snatched the two stapled papers apart. My eyes scanned the signing contract. A measly hundred-thousand dollars was all I was valued. They listed everything about me, my hair color, height, weight, even my schedule and known hangouts. It only took them three sentences to describe me. Three simple sentences was all they felt it took to sum me up. I skipped over the rest of the paperwork, too angry to read more. My eyes stopped at the name scribbled at the bottom of the page. Well damn!