Repellent

2- Monster Humans and Human Monsters

*First Draft

My eyes pop open and I see a metal wall and an orange light. Flicking on and off. My arms are bound behind my back and I am sitting on the cold hard floor.

Panicking, my eyes scan the room and I gasp when I see a figure sitting across me and I immediately look away. There is a man there, but my skin is prickling, warning me not to look again. Staring at the floor, my heart races at his presence. I don't know what is wrong with me, but every part of me is screaming, danger.

Memories of Ethan and the club flood my mind and my stomach clenches in terror. The figure over there is not Ethan, I am almost certain it is not Ethan.

"You're awake."

My head springs up and Ethan is kneeling in front of me. Studying him, I am careful to not let my gaze go any farther to my left, toward the frightening presence.

"You tricked me and drugged me," I accuse. My hurt evident in my voice.

"Nothing personal."

"You called me pathetic." Tears well in my eyes over the memory.

"You remember that? I only meant you were an easy mark, no need to cry over it. The GSA is offering a large sum for you. What I can't wrap my mind around is why." He raises his eyes in question.

"I have no idea. I swear. Magna wouldn't tell me. Ethan. Please take me back home. Magna said the GSA will hurt me."

He rubs his hand down his face. "I doubt the GSA wants to hurt young innocent women."

"So this is what you do? Go around and kidnap people and get paid?"

He scoffs at my accusation."I wouldn't call it kidnapping. I track and collect mostly criminals. Like that nasty fucker over there." He nods in the other man's direction.

I refuse to look, but my curiosity is overwhelming.  The presence feels sinister and unnatural, making my skin crawl.

"Who is he?" I whisper, hoping the man can't hear me.

Ethan's eyes light up and he seems almost giddy. "Repellent."

I wait expectantly for him to say more. When he doesn't, my eyes scrunch in confusion.

"You're shittin' me. You haven't heard of him?"

I shake my head.

Shaking his head in disbelief he says, "You really are the most sheltered person I have ever met. That thing is the most wanted criminal in the Goldilocks System. He is dangerous and part of a mercenary group that is wreaking havoc on almost every planet in the GSA, except for Cerise, I'm assuming." Ethan chuckles a little, like he just made another insult on my planet. I fail to see the humor in it.

Ethan's smile disappears when he doesn't get a reaction from me. His eyes hold a glint of mischievousness as he leans in closer.

"Can you look at him?"

There is a challenge in his words. I almost tell him 'no', but I want to prove him wrong. That Repellent man over there may be a dangerous criminal but the way Ethan calls him a "thing " twists my gut.

Like how he called Vi an ogre.

And me, pathetic.

I squeeze my eyes shut and try to settle my racing heart. Just turn your head, Jade!

Slowly, I turn my head and tremors convulse throughout my body. The revulsion gets stronger and stronger. I push through it.  Fighting, I open my eyes and–