Broken: The Discordant Earth Series 1.0 Read online

  At the back corner, Alyssa spotted the damaged fence, a full section still missing from the radical attack. Two Szu’Kara guards flanked the opening, facing the empty fields that surrounded the compound grounds. Ela aimed at one, and Sebastian abruptly dropped Alyssa’s legs to aim at the other, causing her to shriek. The guards spun around, alarmed, searching for the source of the sound.

  With two loud pops, the guards fell. Ela had killed her target, but Sebastian’s guard bellowed from a wound in his shoulder. She rushed over to the wounded alien and put a bullet in his head as Sebastian gathered Alyssa in his arms and raced over to the broken fence.

  Just over a rise, sunlight glinted off the roof of a black SUV. Ela and Sebastian ran full out, away from the compound. Alyssa tilted her head back just enough to watch behind them. By the time they reached the SUV, several guards had breached the fence line.

  Bullets smashed into the dirt around them, causing Alyssa to yelp. Three rounds pierced the SUV’s body panels as Sebastian tossed her, screaming, onto the back seat, crawling in behind her.

  “Go! Now!” Ela slammed the front passenger door, yelling at Jordan.

  The SUV jerked forward, tires digging into the loose, dry dirt of the dusty field. Jordan glanced back at Alyssa and Sebastian, eyes bulging when he glimpsed the bloody sheet around her midsection. Sebastian impatiently ordered him to face forward and “get us the hell out of here.”

  “You okay, darlin’?” Sebastian gently situated Alyssa so her legs draped over his lap and the rest of her lay flat against the seat.

  “No, AH!”

  “Sorry!” Jordan yelled over his shoulder after they bounced over a large bump.

  “It’s going to be a rough ride, darlin’. No helping it.”

  “Check her wound.” Ela commanded from the front seat, anger furrowing her smooth brow.

  “Jor, keep your eyes front.”

  “You got it, bro.”

  Sebastian braced one hand on the back of the seat and used his other to gingerly unwrap some of the blood-soaked sheet.

  “What am I looking for, Ela?”

  “Is the wound still open and bleeding?”

  “I can see things I shouldn’t be able to see so, yeah, it’s still open, but the bleeding seems to have slowed down.”

  “That is good. The Valene is working.”

  “What are you talking about? Valene is just a drug.”

  “Not to Szu’Kara. Alyssa has Valene in her bloodstream from her child. It is enough to make her body accept the healing that comes naturally to my people.”

  Sebastian looked at Alyssa with a “Well, how about that” expression and replaced the sheet over her belly.

  “So, I assume that’s the reason she’s awake and not passed out or in a coma?”

  “Yes. I have performed Yken’Sa. Alyssa will remain conscious for a short while longer, and she will continue to heal, but the pain will return soon. We must get her to someplace safe and sedate her before that happens. She will need sutures and antibiotics to prevent further damage.”

  “What about my baby?” Alyssa’s weak words were barely audible.

  “What about the baby, Ela?” Sebastian kindly repeated the question, winking at Alyssa.

  “I will not know until I can examine her.”

  The SUV jumped over another large bump, then the ground smoothed out under the tires. Alyssa wailed as Sebastian braced her legs to prevent her from spilling onto the floorboards, and she shot him a grateful smile.

  “We’re on the back roads, darlin’. Not much longer.” He offered an encouraging squeeze to her leg.

  “Is anyone following us, Bas?”

  Sebastian checked behind them, his eyes bouncing around, searching the road.

  “Not that I can see, but speed it up. We can’t get caught in town. In fact, turn off now. We need to get back on the fields, in case we’re spotted. They need to think we went in the opposite direction of HQ.”

  “Right. I’m on it.” Jordan yanked the steering wheel in a sharp turn, tossing everyone around. “Sorry all!”

  “I know you’re hurting, darlin’, but it’s going to get bumpy again. I’m really sorry.” A grimace pulled at Sebastian’s mouth.

  “It’s okay, babe. I’m here with you, and that’s all that matters to me.” Alyssa whispered to him, not enough strength in her body to put any volume into her words.

  “Babe, huh? I like it.” He winked at her, patting her leg lovingly.

  Gazing at her handsome savior, Alyssa wished for a peaceful life with Sebastian, hidden away in some mountain retreat where they would grow their own food and spend their days snuggling in front of a fire. If only.

  Jordan drove over a small incline, and Alyssa glimpsed the tops of houses before they disappeared from her view. Ugh, more bumps. He jerked the wheel to the side and back to avoid a hole the back wheel still bounced through, tossing Alyssa two inches off the seat. She clenched her teeth, whining in the back of her raw throat.

  Sebastian clamped his arm tight over her legs, attempting to minimize how much she bounced around. The effort was sweet but pointless. Alyssa couldn’t brace herself, and most of the bumps were so bad everyone in the vehicle got tossed into the air. Her head pounded and spun, and she zoned out as Sebastian and Jordan discussed how to backtrack, diverting any potential followers.

  After what seemed like hours later, Alyssa reached her trembling, weakened arm out to get Sebastian’s attention. His head turned toward her in slow motion, asking her a question, but she couldn’t understand his distorted words. The edges of her sight darkened and her vision grew blurry as a wave of dull pain flowed from her abdomen, making it difficult to take a full breath.

  Sebastian’s face morphed into a dark blob that slowly winked out of existence.

  ***

  “Get her out now!”

  A loud groan echoed off the garage walls as several hands grasped her suffering body. Cold air skimmed over her burning skin.

  “Aly! Oh, God! Aly, please don’t die!”

  Despairing sobs rolled through Alyssa’s fractured mind. Her limp arms hung below her as several formless shapes lifted her out of the SUV. Tender hands protected her head from bouncing against doors and walls. Her body floated through dim, hazy hallways as lights flickered in and out of her vision.

  Sun-bright fixtures flared, blinding Alyssa’s already sensitive eyes. Her stomach churned as faceless people lifted her body up before lowering her onto a thin mattress. Agony burned and ate away at her core, forcing terrible screeches and howls from deep in her diaphragm. A needle jammed into her flesh, sending blessed, numbing relief through her veins until her piercing cries quieted to a pitiful whimper.

  “Alyssa, darlin’, you have to be still.” I thought I was.

  “Hold her legs.”

  Hands held her arms down and a body lay across her legs. The bloody sheet had dried to Alyssa’s wound, causing her to wail and writhe as someone peeled it away from her skin, the unbearable pain ripping and tearing at her flesh.

  Overwhelmed by the torment, Alyssa swallowed one last gasping breath before letting out an ear-piercing scream that halted all movement around her. Expelling all the air in her lungs, her scream seemed to last forever, slowly dying down to nothing as her mind let go and fell into a deep, black hole of oblivion.

  Chapter 29

  Sharp plastic bit into Alyssa’s raw, bleeding wrists. She thrashed from side to side, trying to get free. Looking around, she caught sight of movement near the end of the bed.

  Kayn’s bed!

  A shadowy figure hovered in the corner, and Alyssa watched, terrified, as the figure stalked her. No!

  Dusky light slowly spread across the dark face as the figure approached, Alyssa’s blood freezing in her veins. NO! NO! NO!

  Shadows highlighted the razor-sharp angles of Kayn’s glowering face. Oh, God. Alyssa whimpered, tears streaming down her cheeks as she tried to shrink into the bed. She pushed with her feet to scoot away from him,
but her tethered wrists prevented escape.

  The bed plunged as Kayn’s knees sunk into the fluffy, white duvet. His sickly, gold eyes pinned her in place, and Alyssa struggled to get a single, raspy breath into her constricted lungs. The cloud-like bed swallowed her as he straddled her naked, freezing body.

  In a blink of an eye, Kayn’s body covered hers, crushing her shivering flesh. His knee deftly separated her legs, baring her most intimate parts. Before Alyssa could form a word in protest, Kayn thrust his spear-like member deep inside her, dragging an agonized scream from her throat.

  “Alyssa, wake up! You’re having a nightmare.”

  She sat up ramrod-straight, flailing her arms in front of her in an attempt to shove Kayn away. A silent scream filled her aching throat.

  “Aly. Alyssa, open your eyes!”

  Jess’ beautiful face appeared before her as she slowly opened her stinging eyes. Glancing around, she found herself flanked by Sebastian and Jess with Ela hovering nearby, pushing buttons on a heart monitor. A little black screen displayed a digitized line that jumped with each of her rapid heartbeats. Alyssa’s eyes searched for a second screen.

  “The baby,” she whispered. “Why isn’t there a heart rate monitor for the baby?” Alyssa turned to Sebastian for an answer, panic gripping her chest.

  “I’m sorry, darlin’,” Sebastian said, emotion straining his voice, “the baby didn’t make it. There was too much damage.”

  “Didn’t make it...?” Her eyes lost focus, her head spun and her ears started to ring. Denial raced through her mind as she clasped her hands over her growing belly, only to find it flat and squishy. She pressed her fingers down, searching for the telltale sign of a growing fetus. No!

  “Where’s my baby? Who took my baby? It was here, inside me… How could it be go—” A memory flashed before her eyes, a hazy image of a scene forcing its way to her consciousness. Alyssa blinked rapidly, trying to erase the horrific image from her mind.

  “This isn’t real. It’s not happening. It didn’t happen!”

  Jess’ arm snaked around her waist, offering support. Sebastian squeezed her hand, moisture brimming his eyes.

  “I’m so sorry, Aly.” Tears trailed down Jess’ paled cheeks.

  “No, I don’t believe it. He didn’t do it. He couldn’t do it. He wanted our baby as much as I did.”

  Alyssa’s body vibrated, her psyche slowly fracturing. She refused to accept the truth, but the memory of Kayn slicing her open became clearer with each passing second. Her belly ached from the recalled pain and the emptiness of her womb.

  Ela watched, distant and cold, as Alyssa turned to face her, remembering the alien’s presence in Kayn’s bedroom. Anger licked at her brain, but agony drowned it out before it could take hold. She lurched forward, cramming her fists against her forehead, screaming into the space where her child once lived.

  Hands clutched at Alyssa, voices whispered soothing words that meant nothing to her. Sebastian begged her to calm down, but she saw and felt nothing but rage. When her scream faded to a raspy wail then to a weak sobbing, sanity crept back in, despair settling in for a long stay.

  “Was it a boy or a girl?”

  “Huh?” Sebastian and Jess both reacted, but Ela spoke up.

  “Your child was a boy.”

  A boy? I had a boy. He could’ve been Lyssa’s playmate, or best friend, or even her husband someday. I had a boy…

  “Where is he?” Alyssa whispered. “I want to see my son.”

  “That’s not a good idea…” Sebastian frowned, shaking his head slowly.

  “Aly, sweetie, you’ve been through too much—”

  “Now, please. I want to see him. I need to hold him. I need to say goodb—” Tears choked her, stealing Alyssa’s breath.

  “Darlin’, the damage was… You shouldn’t see him that way.”

  “I will prepare the child,” Ela said, and left the room before anymore protests.

  Closing her bloodshot eyes, Alyssa lay back against the pillows, waiting. Her hands twitched and her mind replayed the last memory she had of feeling her gravid belly. She recalled her dreams of a life in the mountains with Sebastian and her baby, her son, with younger siblings.

  They would’ve been happy, away from that monster. Her son would’ve looked different from her other children, but that wouldn’t have mattered. Their family would’ve only known love and peace.

  The large, heavy door crept open as Ela pushed her way in, a tiny bundle in her arms. As she approached the bed, compassion softened her face, moisture glistening in her eyes. Alyssa gawked, shocked by the unusual display of emotion, then her eyes slid down to the baby-blue blanket.

  “You should not look upon his face. Hold your child, and touch his hand, which I have left uncovered. I… I hope this brings you closure.” Ela handed the bundle to Sebastian and turned to leave, pausing with her back to them, her head hung to the side. “I am truly sorry I could not save your child. I will return soon.” She rushed out the door, letting it swing shut behind her.

  Alyssa stared at the door, unable to move, to face the pain waiting in Sebastian’s arms. She felt a nudge at her elbow, turning her head to look into his red-rimmed eyes. Carefully, she pushed herself back up to a sitting position. Jess adjusted the bed so the back angled up enough for Alyssa to recline comfortably.

  With a rattling sigh, Sebastian gently placed the pale blue bundle in Alyssa’s arms. No warmth radiated from the still form. No cooing or wriggling arms and legs. No indignant cries of a newborn pushed out of the comfortable womb only to meet the cold air and bright lights. Nothing but an unmoving, wrapped body with one tiny, almost fully-formed hand attached to a miniature, gray-skinned arm with a dull sheen that should’ve glimmered in the light.

  Inches away, Alyssa’s own arm still shimmered, the differences between her arm and her son’s arm tore at her heart. He weighed nothing, light as air. His little body, wrapped in the blanket, wasn’t more than eight or nine inches long.

  With a light touch, Alyssa ran her hand over the bundle, imagining his tiny body tucked inside. She mentally counted fingers and toes, reaching for the one itty-bitty hand she could touch. That precious, little hand, so limp and cold, sent a chill through her body.

  Tucking her palm underneath the tiny appendage, Alyssa felt the weight of her child’s hand in hers. Each miniature finger laid partially curled, the thin fingernails scraping against her skin. Sebastian gently touched his finger to the back of her son’s hand, the pressure pushing those tiny fingers to splay out in her palm.

  The gray, nearly transparent skin chilled her hand, raising goosebumps on Alyssa’s arm. She gently folded her fingers around her son’s hand, trying to force warmth into the lifeless flesh. Tears flowed down her face, dripping onto the baby blanket. Jess swiped a rivulet from Alyssa’s cheek as she scooted closer.

  She looked at her best friend, who placed a tear-dampened hand on the bundle. Jess lay her head upon Alyssa’s shoulder, and started to hum a quiet tune from their childhood as Sebastian wrapped his arm over Alyssa, resting a hand on Jess’ back.

  Together, the three of them mourned as Alyssa held that tiny hand, squeezing the bundle to her breast, gently rocking her son to the sound of Jess’ tune. Before long, Ela appeared by the bed, yet Alyssa hadn’t even heard the door.

  With a heavy heart, arms and fingers stiff and unyielding, Alyssa clung to her child. Sebastian murmured in her ear, coaxing her to let go as Jess rubbed her hand up and down Alyssa’s arm, whispering sympathetic words.

  With great reluctance, she loosened her grip, allowing Sebastian to tuck his hands under her son, but as she felt the tiny body leaving her arms, she stiffened.

  “Wait!”

  All movement in the room stopped, and Ela regarded her from a few feet away. Sebastian stooped over her, hands cradling her child, Jess clutching her arm.

  “Let go. Please.”

  Sebastian and Jess moved back, giving her some space. Alyssa reached for the flap o
f blanket covering her son’s face.

  “You should not—”

  “Darlin’, no—”

  “Aly, don’t—”

  “Enough!” Alyssa glared at each of them, knowing they were only concerned for her wellbeing, but determined nonetheless. “I will look upon the face of my child. I will see what his father has done to him and remember for the rest of my life what kind of monster I devoted myself to. Everything I do after this will be for the sake of my son, who will never know the love of the man who should’ve been his father.”

  A loud sniffle came from Sebastian’s direction, but Alyssa couldn’t look away from her child. Distantly, she noticed Jess move to Sebastian’s side and a small part of her heart went out to her friend for supporting the love of Alyssa’s life when she couldn’t.

  With everyone hovering nearby, watching over her with bated breath, Alyssa lifted the flap from her son’s face. It should’ve frightened her, but she only felt love. He didn’t look deformed, like Erica’s baby had. His head wasn’t misshapen, only bruised.

  The tiny face looked peaceful, sleeping even. His ashen skin had turned purple, the muscles and tissue barely visible under the bruises. Smooth, silky skin covered his large, hairless head. He almost looked like any other human baby Alyssa had ever seen.

  A large, ragged gash ran down the side of his head, one little ear missing. Alyssa couldn’t bring herself to check, but she assumed the gash went beyond where the blanket allowed her to see. Ignoring the damage, she brushed her finger along a pudgy cheek, stopping at the corner of his precious, little mouth.

  Studying the tiny, unfinished face, Alyssa let out a pained sigh. With a silent ‘I love you, baby boy,’ she leaned down to place a kiss upon those delicate lips, memorizing the feel of his fragile body and soft skin. Lifting the tiny form up to her chest, she gave him one last hug before passing him off to a waiting Sebastian.

  Muffled words and quiet cries filled the room as Sebastian and Jess said their goodbyes before Ela took her son away forever. Sebastian asked her, delicately, what Ela should do with the baby, to which Alyssa insisted her son be cremated, “so that sonofabitch can’t get his hands on my son to study him in the lab, like some genetic experiment.”