“Hello, my little cutie,” said the first convict, who was waiting in the woods ahead of her.
“Hell—,” Kiru said, as she retreated behind one of the trees, “—o.”
“Hello, you doll,” said the second one, who was already standing there.
“Oh, hell,” she said, as she moved sideways.
“Some call it hell,” said the first.
“But you must have come from heaven,” said the second.
“That’s why she looks like an angel,” said a third, who materialised at her side.
They appeared to be human, they sounded Terran, but they were the most alien creatures of all: men.
“Nice to see you.”
“Very nice.”
“Ever so nice.”
“You must be lonely.”
“Out here on your own.”
“But not anymore.”
All three of them were gazing at her, grinning, leering. Then they glanced at each other.
“I saw her first.”
“Didn’t!”
“Did!”
“She’s mine!”
“Mine!”
“Mine!”
They suddenly became silent, looking around. The three had become four, and this one really did look like an alien. Small, broad. Staring at Kiru with crazed, unblinking eyes. So scary that the other three all stepped back.
“Sorry.”
“She’s yours.”
“Don’t want no trouble.”
“I’m going.”
“No offence.”
“Please.”
“Anything.”
“Don’t.”
“Thank you.”
“No.”
“Yes.”
“Thanks.”
They were gone, and Kiru was naked and alone and defenceless with the alien. The creature looked her up and down, down and up.
She thought she’d spent most of her life being scared, thought she knew what it was always to live within the ominous shadow of fear.
But she hadn’t, she didn’t.
She’d never known total terror.
Until now.
She shivered with absolute fright.
Then the thing began to strip.
And she became more afraid, too petrified even to tremble.
Its shirt was gone faster than Kiru could have blinked. Not that she dared to.
The beast ripped its shirt in two and held out both pieces toward her as if they were a gift.
She looked at it. At him. He wasn’t a monster, she realised, or at least no more than any other man was. Because he was a man. Ugly, a dwarf, but human. Kiru breathed again.
He gestured toward her, to her breasts, to her hips. She frowned. He made another movement, holding one arm across his bare chest, the other over his crotch.
She nodded her understanding, and he gave her his torn shirt. Her fingers shook, and it was a while until she managed to tie one piece around her waist, then the other across her torso.
“Thanks,” she whispered, finally. “My name is Kiru. Who are you?”
The man touched a finger to his lips before running it quickly across his throat, making a cutting motion. They had to remain silent.
As he lowered his hand, it brushed across a silver amulet hanging from his neck. It was heart-shaped, palm-sized. He clutched at the pendant, staring at Kiru as he did so.
Then he turned, gestured for her to follow, and walked off through the woods. She glanced around, wondering about the other three thugs. They were dangerous, but the dwarf was very dangerous. She hurried to catch up with him.