Survivor Planet Series 2-Book Box Set Read Free Page B

the same, moving as far back as my cell would allow. I wrapped up tightly in the blanket and sat down, trying to conceal my nakedness as my cell door began to rattle. A moment later it swung open. A very large man stood in the doorway.
    Perhaps it was the poor lighting, or my fanciful if somewhat crazy imagination, but it appeared half of the man’s head was made of metal. I squinted my eyes and blinked several times before I confirmed my suspicion. Yep, definitely metal.
    â€œRise,” he said, his voice gruff and as cold as my ass had been on the floor. Despite what was assuredly a wild Episode I was having, I didn’t want to take any chances so I rose to my feet.
    â€œCome,” he said, gesturing me forward.
    Taking a big gulp I did as instructed. He reached out suddenly and snatched my blanket away, tossing it aside.
    â€œHey!” I made a move to retrieve it, but froze when he raised a hand to strike me. He wore a long gray lab coat over his clothing, which appeared to be a one-piece black jumpsuit. Lowering his hand he reached into his pocket and removed a strange handheld instrument. I stood, stiff with embarrassment, as he waved the device over my midsection and then lower toward my womanly parts. The object hummed and little lights flashed on and off. He grunted with satisfaction before he put the device away.
    Then he left. Just like that. Only pausing to pull the door shut and lock it behind him. Snatching up the blanket I peeked through the bars and saw that he’d gone into Lissa’s room. He hadn’t bothered to shut her door after he entered either. I suppose with his great bulk the odds of getting past him were slim to none. The cyborg dude must have yanked off her blanket as well, ’cause I heard her howl in protest. The word ‘pervert’ was yelled more than once. Apparently she wasn’t as smart as me, ’cause I heard a loud smack and then a cry—it hadn’t come from him.
    Quick as he’d been in my cell, he wasn’t much longer in hers. When he turned to leave I ducked down until I heard the click of his boots head off down the hallway. I could hear choking sobs and I knew Lissa was upset. I’d been a little disturbed by the encounter myself. Instead of calling out to her, I curled up against the back wall and wondered what was going on. Just where in the hell was I? What had happened in the cottage? And where were Jack and Danny? Dead or alive?
    My mind jumped from one scenario to another hashing out this concept or that one over and over—there was nothing else to occupy me. The next thing I knew the bottom slat of my door slid open and a tray was shoved inside. Dinner I guessed. I stretched out and grabbed it, dragging it back to the wall where I could get a look at it. The food at Lindove had been decent. Much more so than this shit. Whatever it was. A single bowl held what appeared to be watery porridge, or maybe it was stew, with chunks of green stuff in it. The awful sight aside, the smell was enough to put me off. There was a mug with plain water in it. I drank it down much too fast and then regretted not rationing it. God only knew when I’d get more. I poked my finger in the mush and then put it in my mouth. Damn, I was hungry. Couldn’t remember the last time I ate. The taste was bland but not terrible. They hadn’t bothered to give me a spoon. Using my fingers I scooped up the mush, eating every last bite, then settled back against the wall to see if it’d stay down. When my gut remained calm, I got to my feet and moved to peer out the door.
    All was silent across the hall. Lissa was probably gagging down her bowl of crap as well. She’d been here a few days so she was probably used to the hospitality by now. About an hour or so later—I guessed—the single dim light on the ceiling in my cell went out. Judging by the dark corridor I presumed it was lights out and time to sleep. Too bad I wasn’t