Abducted: Blue Barbarian Series, #1

By Rena Marks

Book 1 in the Blue Barbarian series. (This is NOT your Ice Planet Barbarians. ?)

 

Human female numbers one and two didn't make it. But I'm number three.

 

The mission? To sell us to other galaxies. But then I meet Drakar, a fellow caged abductee. Together, we formulate a plan for escape for both us and the ten other unawakened Earth women.

 

Fortunately, the spaceship crash lands on a return route to the planet Blaedonia, where Drakar's from. His fellow gorgeous blue barbarians have taken us in and will teach us to survive, because there's no way to get home.

 

We'll have to learn to adapt.

More in the Blue Barbarian Series:

Book 1 - Abducted
Book 2 - Stranded
Book 3 - Taken
Book 4 - Captive
Book 5 - Stolen
Book 6 - Betrayed

If you like blue barbarians, try my Xeno Sapiens in the Genetically Altered Humans Series!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Rena Marks
• Release date: May 27, 2016
• ISBN: 9781533775511

Rena Marks

Welcome to my Worlds! Rena Marks is a bestselling author with over eighty-five novels under her belt. She combines her love of science fiction with paranormal romance because no matter what happens in real life, a happy-ever-after never disappoints. Come get lost in my worlds for a few hours!

Book preview

Prologue

QUICK NOTE: This series gets better and better! When you’re done with Abducted, be sure to check out Stranded at the end of Niki’s read. Enjoy!

MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS are on the highest speed, the constant squeak of the rubber rubbing against the glass going a mile a minute.

It’s barely keeping the blur of the rain away. My heart is pounding just as fast as the wipers, despite the fact that I’m inside the car, protected from the freezing drizzle. The heat is blasting, keeping me toasty warm. The music is softly humming, but even that is irritating my mood.

I reach over to the knob and abruptly switch it off. The silence—save the squeak, squeak, squeak of the wipers—is such a relief, I release a breath I didn’t know I was holding. But then a shadow falls over the road and the engine dies. Just stops, no lights, no noise, no blowing of the heated air. Then I’m airborne, flying across the drenched road, sliding across the black surface, and I have no control except for the white-knuckled grip on the steering wheel.

No. No. No! I scream, but the car still spins off the road, into a rapidly approaching tree.

My last thought is: I guess it’s me rapidly approaching, because surely the tree stands still?

I wake to a bright light shining down into my eyes.

The harshness of the glare causes me to utter a breathy gasp that ends on a moan. Around me, a series of bleeps and whistles whir around the room as my befuddled brain tries to make sense of what’s going on.

The party had ended.

I wanted to get home before the snow hit.

And the snow never came, did it?

What happened?

I had been in my car driving through icy-cold rain when the engine stopped. Just stopped. The lights on the dashboard quickly blackened, plunging me into a complete and instant darkness. I slammed on the brakes and the car went spinning out of control, hydroplaning on the wet road, hitting a tree and—when my head banged on the steering wheel—slipping me into unconsciousness.

But it was more than that. There was an eerie stillness to the air when the engine had died. Everything seemed to move in slow motion, the slide of the car in the rain, the squeal of the tires, the feel of the lift as I crashed.

And the flying-saucer-shaped shadow in the skies above me.

That. That was what had caused the darkening of my view of the road.

Am I in a hospital? Apparently not, because I’m strapped to the hard table where the light still shines into my eyes. Then I realize the series of bleeps and whistles is a language, and it comes from the creatures standing around me.

They’re gray skinned. Their black eyes are oversized in their bulbous heads. Their mouths are tiny, flat slits in their intense, ugly faces. When one turns, the back of his head is bulging, with raw, open matter shaped like brains.

They’re creatures I’ve never seen before, except for science fiction movies.

Aliens.

Chapter One

I REMEMBERED NOTHING more after waking on the table beyond the realization of an alien abduction. The creature closest to me holds my head still while another holds my eyelids open. A hand-held device moves over my eyes as I wriggle desperately against the ties at my hands and feet. A strap also rides across my chest. I don’t even have enough strength to scream. Instead, pathetic low whimpers escape my throat.

Suddenly, a sharp laser shoots into my eyes and somehow electrocutes through to my brain. This time the scream is inside my head. Everything falls blessedly dark again.

The next time I wake, it’s because of a chattering noise. It takes a while for my numbed brain to understand it’s my teeth. They clatter so loudly I wonder if they’ll break. My entire body shivers and I feel sick.

One of the aliens is still here. He stands at the foot of the bed, watching. Then he grimaces.

Not a grimace. It’s a grin. The creature with the misshapen head, face, mouth... grins. He reaches for my ankles with abnormally long arms—my God, his arms must reach down past his knees—and he spreads my legs.

I open my mouth and suck in a ragged breath.

Don’t scream. The voice is calm and comes from a faraway corner of the room. Don’t do it.

The alien who’d spread my legs turns over his shoulder to hiss at the person behind him.

The unknown male voice is quieter this time when it speaks. "No matter what, don’t scream. It hurts their ears, and they will discipline you. I’ve seen them do it and it isn’t pretty."

I lay as still as I can while the gray monster peers between my legs and pokes me with his fingers. I shiver through it all. I’m aware that I’m much thinner and my naked body is covered in a slick layer of sweat. Fever.

The door opens, and another alien enters. To my surprise, the one at my feet slams my legs closed.

What are you doing?

Not a thing. She just woke.

The second man runs a finger along my arm. She’s still too warm. Can she understand us?

I don’t... I mean... I didn’t ask. She had just awoken.

You didn’t even find out?

Before I know it, the second one’s face is inches from mine. His gray skin seems thick and rubbery, like you’d imagine a seal would feel. His eyes are huge and so glossy I can see my reflection in them. I’m not sure where else to focus. He speaks slowly and succinctly. We have input languages from this galaxy into your brain. It is not always successful. Do you understand what I’m saying?

I’m not sure what to answer, I could probably learn more if they think I don’t understand, right? They won’t watch what they say around me and I can figure out what’s going on. I force my expression to look blank.

The creature clucks in disgust. Another failure. These humans are weak. We dropped the required languages down to under twenty this time. What an ignorant race. They are better off as food.

Agreed. What shall I do with her?

Toss her in the cell with the barbarian. She’ll die soon enough.

Toss in the cell is literal. The first gray creature picks me up by my arm, not caring that I’m too woozy to walk. He bleeps open the cell with a device like a remote control and throws me in. He laughs when I hit the opposite wall and slide into unconsciousness again.

It’s cold and pitch-black when I wake. Again, my teeth chatter and I mutter something nonsensical. Someone’s behind me. He wraps himself around me and he’s heavy and so warm. Shh, female. Earthling. You’re all right. They’ve left you alone for now.

It’s the same voice from earlier. The one who’d warned me not to scream.

Wha—who are you?

Drakar. They stole me from my planet before your abduction. They keep obtaining others of your species, but those awakened— He stops speaking and instantly I know what he wants to avoid telling me.

They died? I ask, ignoring his strangely formal way of speaking.

Yes. One was during the language input. One screamed when she woke, and they struck her too hard during her punishment. It snapped her neck. That is why I warned you not to scream. The pitch hurts them.

I’m the only human who’s alive?

I do not know. There could be others. I watched them take many from your planet. They keep us in hibernation chambers and wake us one at a time for experiments.

You obviously passed yours.

I am not female. I do not have testing. All the other abductions from your planet have been female.

Why?

I’m not sure. But the hesitancy in his voice makes me think maybe he suspects.

Will they come back?

Eventually. But not while the lights are dark. You’re safe until morning. Then, they will see if you live.

Do you know what they want with us?

No, I cannot understand their language. Obviously, you can.

How do you know? Even though it’s dark, I gape, but I can’t see a thing.

Because you understand me. And I understand you. The other females of your race? We didn’t communicate like you and I.

His arms tighten and I’m never more aware of being naked. I should be embarrassed, but I’m just too weak to care. It feels good to be cuddled, even if he is a stranger. I suspect he’s been alone long enough to want basic contact too.

I don’t suppose you have another shirt I can wear?

If I give you clothing, they’ll assume I’m interested in you. They may try to kill you or use you to get me to do as they wish. We need to pretend nonchalance so they don’t use us to hurt each other.

The situation looks bleak, but at least I have a comrade with something in common. We’re both prisoners.

Do not worry, small one. We have an upper edge. You didn’t let them know you understand. We can learn a lot from them. They won’t bother to curb their tongues since they think you can’t understand.

Where were you when you were abducted?

Here I am, trusting a person I can’t even see. But we have an uneasy friendship based on circumstance, and the big guy is keeping me warm. Plus, he smells good. His large body ripples with muscle and he makes me feel safe, as much of a falsehood as that may be. Part of me knows that and takes solace in the pretense.

I was hunting when the flying disk appeared in the sky. I forced my men to hide, even though they wanted to stay to protect me. I am glad I went with my hunch. Now I realize they would have taken us all. Our women and children would have been defenseless and sold like your women.

You were on board then when they traveled to Earth to abduct us?

He is patient with my woozy brain. Yes. I witnessed every one of the abductions from your planet. The aliens have a viewing board in the main room, behind the wall. The aliens who guarded me wanted to watch. You were the female in the red object that moved fast.

A car. They don’t have cars where he’s from?

Yes. They cheered when it smashed into the tree. They were using the lasers from the ship to control it, making you go back and forth, depending on who had the controls, as if they played a game. And then the chief of the aliens was upset with the others when he came into this room. He thought you may have been killed unnecessarily. You were bloody when you were beamed aboard.

Bloody? I look down, but it’s impossible to see in the dark. I can’t even see his arm where it hugs my midsection. I can feel him, though. He’s large and warm like a furnace. I’m not sure how large, though.

He snorts in my ear. It is no longer there. It has been too long.

Long?

I’m not sure if I want to ask, but I do. How long has it been?

It was many sun cycles since they input the knowledge of languages into you. I cannot tell how many because the days are not clear on the ship. I have to judge by when they bring food to eat.

What? That wasn’t yesterday? It seems like it was just yesterday when they woke me and blasted the laser into my eyes.

No. It has been a long time that you have laid on that table. I spoke to you, and you mumbled, but never woke.

The guards were here also?

No. They no longer watch me as carefully since I have been here locked up. And they knew you were helpless by studying the other females of your race.

Do you know how many of us were abducted? 

He’s quiet for a minute, as if pondering the question. There were twelve total. Two have died. You are the third risen.

Drakar and I talk a little more, but I’m exhausted and still sick and eventually, I crash mid-conversation.

The sound of a door sliding open wakes me when the room is lighter. I’m alone now, without Drakar’s warmth and protection. I look down. I’m still as naked as the day I was born. But I barely recognize myself, I’m so thin. It’s as if I’ve lost twenty pounds in the last few days. Few weeks, I guess, since I’d been out for several weeks after the brain beam. My knees are knobby and my wrists look like they’ll snap with a strong breeze.

Three gray aliens enter the room. They look so similar, I can’t tell one from the next. Huge, grotesquely-shaped heads. Gray skin. Bug-eyes and small, lipless slits for mouths. And those extra-long arms that nearly reach to their knees.

She still lives, one says, and the bastard sounds surprised.

Luck, the one in the middle snorts. The brain scan did not take. She still does not comprehend the languages.

No matter. We will test her and try another brain scan. We will see how many it takes before her brain fries like the first female.

What testing will be first?

Awaken another human, and we’ll see if she is able to transfer the languages with visual stimulation.

But the languages didn’t take.

That doesn’t mean they are not there. It means she is too stupid to comprehend them. However, if she can transfer, she will be useful.

She can be useful in other ways. The alien on the left leers, smacking his small, thin lips.

The one in the middle looks sharply at him. Contain yourself. You are a superior being. Do not be controlled by bodily functions.

Bodily functions? Then he would have been the lecherous bastard who had spread my legs. I force myself to look blank, even though my heart is pounding.

I have to look unafraid.

I have to pretend not to understand.

I have to look blank-faced and simple.

The middle alien turns to the one on his right. Get the female covered.

Not for my benefit. He simply wants to turn down the randy factor on his other pal. The one speaking must be the leader, because the second man never hesitates. He leaves the room and returns with a simple, wadded up garment. He tosses it into the cage.

I grab it quickly, holding it against me. It’s simple; a thin, shapeless gown much like a hospital robe without an opening in back. I slip it over my head, and it drapes to mid-calf.

Bring her and feed him.

Drakar? He’s still here?

Before I could blink, much less turn around to see the guy who’s kept me warm all night, the door opens, and I’m dragged out.

Be brave. Don’t scream, Drakar whispers from behind me. He sounds furious. I can only imagine what horrors he’s witnessed with the other girls.

Don’t you speak English? I ask the alien in the middle quickly. I want to distract them in case they wonder what Drakar whispered.

He responds in his strange native tongue of clicks and whistles. "English? Of course, I speak English, you ignorant fool. But you couldn’t understand me even if I used your language to respond in. You’re too dumb to have a simple language download in that tiny brain of yours." He turns, and I glimpse the back of his monstrous head where I suppose his much larger brain resides. It’s huge and wrinkled, like a grayish, rotting walnut.

The two aliens with him snicker.

Bingo. I just learned something new. They do know my language. I try to look disappointed, as if I’m sure he can’t communicate with me.

Go get another female, the bossy one says. One of them scurries away, while the other tosses me into a chair and straps me to it with a cuff around my wrist.

Make it loose, the middle one barks, still irritated with the lecherous one. I want her to be able to reach the new human for the language transfer.

The alien reties the rope, leaving a lot of excess dangling on the floor before the end is tied to the chair. As if I’d run.

The door opens and the first alien returns, carrying a small, light-haired girl, but she’s covered with a slimy gel that darkens her hair color. She’s still unconscious. Her body glows with a faint light, like a bulb is turned on inside her belly. She is completely naked, like I had been. They strap her down.

Shall we wake her?

Let’s practice with her still unconscious. I hate when they speak. Their language is so grating. Bossy sighs and looks at me as if humans are no more than lowly cockroaches.

I keep my head down. Out of sight, out of mind. Maybe they’ll forget about me.

It doesn’t work.

Get over here, he barks.

I stare at him as if I’m confused.

Damn idiot. He jerks on the tie attached to my arm, yanking me to him. He pulls his face close to mine and I gasp, moving backward. He taps my head, points at my eyes, and points at the girl they’d placed on the table.

What the hell does he want? The confusion is easy this time. I don’t understand, I mumble.

He sighs and speaks his own language. They’re so stupid. Watch me. He moves to the unconscious girl. Focus in your brain. He taps his forehead for emphasis. Use your eyes to transfer the mental beam into her eyes. He opens her eyelids and holds his huge, bug-eyes wide over hers.