War Of The Sexes

Chapter 1

                Red filled my vision as a light shined down on me bright. I squinted my already closed eyes, trying to retrieve the darkness I had previously been with once more. I wanted to fall back into the trance I had been in, not rudely ripped from it like I felt now.

                Something poked into my stomach, forcing my eyes to open.

                A murky gray sky greeted me at first look. The clouds twisted and contorted distributing an uneven shade throughout, but it lacked the soft blue and white clash I was anticipating. A low rumble shook the ground, warning of a storm to come.

                I sucked in a deep breath, my chest aching as it rose up from the excess amount of air. There was a disgusting smell to it, as if someone had burnt air a few hours ago. It wasn’t terribly strong, but very noticeable.

                “Is she alive?” A deep voice whispered to my left. My eyes darted toward the owner, head turning just the slightest.

                A man stood by my side with a curious expression decorating his face. Dark hair fell in shaggy layers down to his chin, the ends pointing in to frame his face. Dark eyes matched the dark hair. He stood with a dirty green shirt hanging loosely off of his body, arms folded across his chest. His muscles were flexed enough to send intimidation down my spine.

                Another man stood next to him with a humorless scowl smeared across his lips. His blonde hair was cut close to his head in a military fashion. A black shirt wrapped itself tightly around this one’s body, emphasizing the muscles hidden there. Hands resting on his hips, he looked down on me with a face full of disgust.

                “Apparently so.”

                My heart sped up in my chest quickly and my lips ran dry. I wanted to run to away, but I found myself frozen in the same position. My muscles refused to cooperate with me. I drew in a shaky breath slowly.

                The dark hair boy chuckled, “Aw, look, John. You’re scaring the little girl.”

                There was no reaction in the other boy—John, I presumed--from the joke. Both sets of eyes were fixed on me.

                “What are you doing here?” John asked

                I opened my lips to answer, but my tongue felt like lead in my mouth. Nothing but small whimpers escaped through the quick inhales and exhales I made.

                “I asked you a question.” He snarled, shifting his arms to stand like the boy next to him. Both unintentionally flexed their muscles, reminding me of how much weaker I was in comparison to them. “I’d suggest you answer it.”

                My eyes darted back and forth between the two as I struggled to comply with the commands. Again, nothing comprehensible came through.

                “Maybe she doesn’t speak Menglish.” The dark haired boy suggested.

                Menglish?

                John snorted, “That’s ridiculous, Clayton. If they’re going to send a spy over here, they’re not going to send a stupid one.”

                “What spy falls asleep conventionally trapped in her pod, though?” Clayton asked. “With no protection?”

                John didn’t respond. A few minutes of silence passed between the three of us. My heart continued to pound furiously in my chest. I could feel the years falling off of me as the seconds ticked away.