A World All Their Own

A World All Their Own

Smashwords Edition

Copyright 2018 Michelle Grotewohl

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

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C.H.A.O.S

Contain-Harvest-Alter-Organize-Strike

Date: 11/5/2005

Project No.: 32343

Author: Dr. D. Cole, ID: 0527

Project Details:

Project No.: 32343

Project Codename: 'Storm Child'

Organizer: Dr. D. Cole, ID: 0527

Project Goal(s):

To breed a 'control' specimen from two 'non-control' subjects.

Project Necessities:

x #1 [1] Fertile Male Subject, Phenotype- 'Fire'

x #2 [1] Fertile Female Subject, Phenotype- 'Ice'

x #3 [1] Artificial Environment, Living Condition- 'Utopia'

x #4 Audio/Visual Monitoring Equipment

x #5 Genetic Dominance Reduction Solution

_ #6 Proven Effective Aphrodisiac

Overarching Procedure:

[See 32343-1]

Important Note 01:

T= 'Fire' Allele

t= 'Ice' Allele

Potential Outcomes:

Before administering 'Project Necessity #5':

#1 Heterozygous Child, Phenotype 'Fire'- 49.5%

#2 Homozygous Recessive Child, Phenotype 'Ice'- 49.5%

#3 Heterozygous Child, Phenotype 'Fire + Ice'- 0.5%

#4 Heterozygous Child, Phenotype 'Storm'- 0.5%

After administering 'Project Necessity #5'

#5 Heterozygous Child, Phenotype 'Fire + Ice'- 25%

#6 Heterozygous Child, Phenotype 'Storm'- 25%

#7 Homozygous Child, Phenotype 'Ice'- 50%

Desired Outcome:

'Potential Outcomes #4/#6'

She woke with a jolt, her eyes shooting wide to see she was lying on her side on a hard dirt floor, inside what looked like a hut that was made mostly of long, slender sticks. It seemed to be solidly made, but sunlight filtered through even the smallest gaps and sparkled in her eyes. It made her feel cozy and lazy, so she closed her eyes with the intent to go back to sleep.

She didn't know where she was.

Her eyes opened again, this time as she sat up quickly and stared straight ahead at the opposite wall, wracking her brain for any kind of recollection of how she'd gotten there, or any memory of a time before this one. No matter how hard she tried, she got nothing but a headache. She couldn't even remember her own name.

She stopped forcing it and rested her head back against the wall, eyes squeezed tightly shut, fighting panic though her breath was jerking in and out of her lungs and her heart was thundering in her chest. Had she been drugged, kidnapped, raped?...

The worst kind of fear tore through her, but she shoved it down.

She didn't know what had happened to her, and freaking out wouldn't help, nor would it solve her current problem of finding out where she was.

She drew in a calming breath, then opened her eyes for a third time; this time, she was determined, they would stay open until she found out something.

She started to whip her head around to survey the room quickly, but a slight sting at the back of her neck made her hiss. She lifted her hand to it, felt a tiny welt that burned slightly when she touched it, and knew she'd been injected with something.

Fighting fear, she turned her head slowly, looking for anything that might be a clue as to where she might be.

To her right, there was a bed, plenty big enough for two or more people and looking odd as it was a regular mattress and box spring on a metal frame. It was covered with plush pillows and several cushy-looking blankets. The sight of it made her even more nervous, as it likely would any woman.

She paused as her eyes fell on it, her logical brain kicking in and wondering why she'd been dumped on the floor rather than in the bed. Perhaps she'd woken in her drugged state and tried to escape, and this was where she'd fallen. She didn’t know, couldn’t recall, and so continued her visual journey, looking for anything that might answer any of the million questions circling her head.

More sticks, more sticks, more sticks, as she moved her eyes to the left...

She sat up straight when she saw the outline of a door cut into the branches, big enough for any man, with a clearly visible handle. Maybe whoever had put her in here assumed she was still unconscious, and had left it unlocked...

Her shoulders lurched forward as if to give her momentum to stand, but she found she couldn't. Her legs didn't want to work yet. She gave a frustrated growl.

That's exactly how I felt when I woke up, came a deep, masculine voice from beside her, making her turn her head so sharply that her nape stung.

Directly to her left, a few feet away along the wall, sat a man. He was long and lanky, and muscular with it- She could tell because he wore only knee-length denim shorts, leaving his worrisomely-strong chest, stomach, and arms bare. His brown hair was short on the sides, a little longer on the top where it stood up at odd angles, as if he'd only just pulled himself from bed. His eyes were dark brown and seemed to take in everything as they swept over her shrewdly.

Who are you? she asked forcefully and with as much false bravado as she could muster.

He lifted a brow as if he'd seen right through it. I don't know. Who are you?

His lack of information deflated the little bit of bravery she'd pulled together, and her shoulders slumped. I don't know.

I figured as much. Think you can stand?

She shook her head. No. You?

He nodded. I've been awake for about half an hour. Took a few minutes, but I got my legs to work. I can stand and walk just fine, so you'll be alright soon.

That was a tiny relief, but not enough to really make her feel any better. Okay... Good, she mumbled, looking down at her hands.

Here, let me help you, he said, then moved toward her and grabbed her nearest ankle.

She couldn't really pull away but shifted her chest as far from him as possible since that was the only thing she had any control of currently. If he decided to attack her, there was little she could do.

Though she saw his lips compress, he ignored her reaction and turned her none-too-gently, so her legs were lying across his lap, then began rubbing his hands up and down her calves and bare feet. She watched him closely, aware he might be trying to lull her into complacency. But after a couple of minutes, when she hissed at the pins and needles that said her lower extremities were coming back, he released her.

There. You can finish up.

He stood and went to the door, looking through the tiny crack around it.

Trying to ignore the teeth-grinding sensation of her legs waking up, she asked, Can you open it?

With his back to her, he nodded. Yeah. I did earlier. But I didn't go out because-

She waited a moment before prompting, Because...?

He glanced at her briefly before returning to his scouting. Because I didn't want to leave you alone, unconscious.

Her hands paused on her feet, now almost completely back to normal, as she stared at the back of his head. Why not? Do you know me?

He shook his head. No. But it didn't seem right, leaving an unconscious woman alone, especially since we were clearly drugged and brought here for who knows what.

She didn't know what to say. Ever since she'd seen him, she'd been nothing but skittish and snappy. Understandable, she was sure, but still... Now she felt guilty, because he'd tried to protect her, just because she'd been unconscious. She didn't think an apology was necessary, considering the circumstances, but thanks were.

Thank you. That was very... thoughtful, and kind.

He lifted a shoulder but didn't turn from the door.

Have you seen anything, or anyone, since you woke? Her legs felt normal now, and she wiggled her toes to see she had complete control over them before standing slowly.

From the door, he said, No. I haven't seen anything but a few birds flying around. No people.

He looked back at her, then did a double-take and stared, presumably because she was on her feet. She glanced down at herself, too, at the denim shorts she also wore- though they weren't nearly so long as his, well above mid-thigh- and a white tank top that was smudged with dirt from the floor on one side.

Good, you're up, he said roughly. And though his eyes were on her legs, she didn't think it was only because she was using them.

The look made her just a little uncomfortable. Her eyes jumped quickly to the bed and back to his, just in time to see his had done the same. She narrowed her gaze at him, as if daring him to try it.

He rolled his eyes at her, a gesture that looked out of place on the big, tall man. Please. If I were going to force myself on you, don't you think I'd have done it when you weren't conscious, so you couldn't fight back? Jeez... He turned away from her again, once more taking up his post at the door.

She refused to apologize, but she could explain herself. You're probably right. But look at it from my point of view: I wake from a drug-induced sleep to find myself wearing next to nothing, in a room that contains only a bed, and a man plenty large enough to overpower me if he got it into his head. I think I have good reason to be concerned.

"Yes, you do, of course. But try to remember I woke in the same predicament, and you could have just as easily brought me here somehow, and could be pretending to be the damsel in distress so I'll give in to your charms without a fight. The only thing that keeps me from worrying so much is the fact that I'm bigger than you. And still I, well, sort of protected you until you came to, and helped you get mobile again rather than jumping all over you. A little faith is all I'm asking," he said as he looked back at her over his shoulder.

She supposed she could see his point. I'll try.

He held her gaze, saw she meant it. Okay.

So, what do we do now? she asked, coming to stand beside him and peer through the crack around the door, her blonde hair cascading in soft waves around her shoulders.

He was momentarily stricken silent by her proximity. He'd expected her to try and trust him, to try and talk to him, to try not to flinch if he came near her. But he hadn't expected her to be so brave about it, and walk right up to him, practically give him her back so he could have done anything before she could stop him. He realized then she trusted him more than even she knew. It was a balm to his sore pride that her words couldn't have provided.

To answer her question, he said, Well, I think we should go out, see what happens. Likely nothing: Why put us in here only to pick us off when we leave?

Comforting, she mumbled, as the thought likely hadn't occurred to her.

He fought a smile. Sorry. Still... The principle remains the same. I think we can safely leave, and we should. Who knows how long it’s been since we've eaten, had something to drink, gone to the bathroom... All basic human functions we should see to as soon as possible.

She lifted pretty blue eyes to his. I suppose you're right. There isn't anything in here but that. She pointed vaguely, uncomfortably, toward the bed. We can't sit in here forever, anyway. We'd die of dehydration pretty quickly from the heat alone.

She was right, he knew. With the sun overhead, the temperature had climbed considerably since they'd been talking. And he didn't know whether the heat would get worse or better, because he didn't know what time of day it was. They had to leave, if only to find water.

Alright, I'm going out. Coming?

She held his gaze for a moment, looking mildly panicked, then nodded. I don't know who I used to be, but I won't be a coward now.

Though he doubted any drug could change who you were deep inside- if she was brave now, she'd likely been brave before- he respected her willingness to face the currently-terrifying unknown.

Let's go.

She stepped back so he could slowly open the door, and he peered around. No one here, just like last time.

He moved out of the doorway onto the packed dirt in front of it, she followed... And stopped a few steps later, once her eyes had adjusted to the glaring sunlight.

The large