Hello, thank you for stopping by on the third part of this story, I really wanted to give the reader a little information about Jasmine before I move this plot forward, so, in this chapter, you will get a bit of background on our heroine and get to learn about our Creature's possessive behavior.
My eyes had a hard time adjusting to the sunlight after being shut-in for five days, but my skin felt amazing under the sun. When my vision adjusted I gasped in surprise, we emerged from a small shed near the majestic mountains. We were surrounded by tall trees and the sounds and smells of nature. Before I could take in our whereabouts, the beast leaped in the air, causing me to hold on tightly. It quickly cleared a great distance stopping in front of a clear river at the base of the mountain. A stream of water flowed down the mountainside.
I felt excitement course through me as the beast set me down, and I promptly ran toward the river, dipping my foot in, before taking the plunge. It was cold but I didn't care, after spending so many days cooped up in a small little room I needed the freedom that swimming provided. Coming up from the water laughing I started floating on my back and felt the flow of the water caress my naked skin.
The creature stood at the riverbank looking down at me, its silver eyes following my every move.
I wasn't clueless when it came to the monster, it was dangerous and caused harm to many people but when it looked at me that way, I felt warm inside.
You should be thinking about escape, not frolicking about
I thought, feeling conflicted. It hasn't been a week and I felt some sort of connection with the monster, I didn't want to be away from it. I wanted to...protect it in some unreasonable way.
Shaking off my worries I started kicking my legs, letting my body flow with the river. I heard a splash and the beast was treading next to me, and I couldn't help myself, I splashed it with water and swam in the other direction feeling myself laugh. Before I could get far the beast grabbed me with its tentacles lifting me in the air above the water level.
"Put me down," I demanded.
A look of something like mischief crossed the beast's face and I frowned down at it.
"Don't you do it," I said shivering. The beast lips pulled back, showing its teeth.
Is it smiling right now?
Suddenly I was dropped in water, and I breathed it in, causing me to sputter when I came back to the surface.
You're not getting away with that,
I thought, climbing on the monster's back, trying to use my weight to shove it down by its large shoulders to no avail.
Dipping back in the water, I gave up the fight and started floating on my back, enjoying the sun rays. I felt the beast hand grab mine, while it floated next to me.
My heart grew warm and I felt as if I could enjoy the moment forever. The beast pulled me into its arms, against a warm hard chest and kissed my forehead tenderly.
I'm in trouble,
I thought, extending my arms as much as I could to hug the beast.
*****
Several hours passed and Riley was nowhere near locating Jasmine's whereabouts. His team of catchers was drawing up short as well. The tracking monitor was not working and Riley feared the worst.
The creature is not prone to killing,
he thought reassuring himself, frowning down at the blank monitor,
what could be jamming this up?
All TRACE's employees were microchipped two years ago for security reasons. A three-tier scientist was abducted causing the higher-ups to panic about a potential harmful leak that could shut the compound down. The scientist was eventually recovered and it was discovered that his kidnapping had nothing to do with work, but for a personal reason involving his soon to be ex-wife.
Sighing Riley glanced over at one of the catchers, "Did you happen to bring a scent detector?"
"No, sir," said the catcher, glancing down at his watch, "I could head back to the compound's equipment center but it will be dark by the time I get back."
Another lost day,
thought Riley, trying not to let the guilt sink in. Leaving Jasmine was eating at his conscious after bearing witness the damage that happened to Jennifer. Never in a million years would he have thought the monster would capture Jasmine and take her away.
What is he doing to her,
he thought imagining the worst.
"Be back by sunrise," Riley told the catcher, turning to the rest of the team. "We will camp here tonight, take extra precautions, the beast could be anywhere, we will sleep in shifts."
******
We returned to the small shed and the beast left and quickly returned with long strips of fabric, a blanket, some packaged goods, and what appeared to be fresh clothes. It walked over to me and started wiping me down carefully with the fabric, starting with my hair and working its way down.
Where is he getting this stuff from,
I paused on the thought, surprised at myself.
So, it is he now?
Feeling confused I tried stepping away from the beast, but it pulled me closer and stuffed me into a bright yellow dress.
A dress?
I thought,
I never wear a dress.
It wasn't that I never wanted to wear a dress, but my gender has always been a huge question mark when I went out in public. My mother thought it best if I wore gender-neutral clothing because it would draw less attention and after one awful experience during my schooling period I agreed with her. I thought back to the way the mojo-operator that hopped us to the mountains looked at me with confused eyes, trying to determine my gender.
Although I was named as a female, my gender became questionable even to me as I grew up and was faced with my sexual identity. It didn't help that my genitalia seemed to always morph depending on who I was attracted to. When I tried to describe this to my mother she laughed it off, telling me that I was imagining things and pleaded with me not to discuss the problem out in public.
