Her smile grew even wider. “We’ve managed to bring in so many women to Sekhmet, but so many of them have been older, no use to use where we really need it. Finding you, Zoey, so young and healthy and full of vitality, was a godsend.”
It dawned on me suddenly, why I was so important above the rest. I was young, untouched and unblemished by the effects of aging. Sure, I had scars but those weren’t genetic. I was fairly healthy and was just stock full of exactly what they needed to build a new race. I could give them new lives, new people to breed to their ideals. I felt sick to my stomach.
“You’re going to use me to build your perfect race,” I spat out, repulsed at the thought of someone touching me. My thoughts flashed to Ash, and I felt a pang go through my chest.
“We hope to find more young girls like yourself soon,” she said, shrugging her shoulders. “I would not want the burden to fall too heavily on your shoulders. But, yes, we want you pregnant and soon.”
“You’re disgusting. You’re horrible, vile, wretched, and I hate you!” I spat out at her, standing up. Hands immediately grabbed at me, but Razi looked bored.
“Take her back to her room,” she said, dismissing me, “her new room.”
They dragged me, kicking and screaming, back to the second floor. They didn’t take me back to my first room; instead they took me to a new one. I was practically thrown in the room. I tripped, crashing to me knees on the ground. I turned to run back at them, but they slammed the door in my face. I was alone again.
MY NEW ROOM HAD A CLOCK.
It wasn’t the only thing in the room, but it was the thing in the room that I hated the most. It hung high above the door. I immediately went to grab a chair, to tear it down from the wall so I wouldn’t have to agonize over time passing but it was a no go. The chair, along with the rest of the furniture, was bolted to the ground.
My new room felt like a hotel room, much more comfortable than the room I had before. This one had a bed, at least a full size, with a thick gray comforter and two comfortable pillows. There was a separate bathroom, equipped with a sink, toilet and shower. There was a desk, though I wasn’t sure what I would need it for. There was also a dresser, full of clothes identical to the ones I was already wearing, including clean underwear. I lifted them out, feeling the soft fabric under my fingers. They weren’t anything that you would find on a rack at Victoria’s Secret or anything, but it was definitely better than the ones I was currently wearing.
Directly across from the bed was the entrance to the bathroom, complete with a sink, toilet and shower. I ran a hand through my greasy, tangled hair and reached for the knob. I was shocked when a blast of hot water came bursting out of the showerhead. I peeled my clothes off leaving them in a pile on the floor and stepped into the shower, pulling the door closed behind me.
After I showered, I went back into the room with a towel wrapped tightly around me. I stared at the clothing in the drawers, wishing that I had anything else to put on except those. I stared at them for a long time before caving in and slipping into a brand new pair of underwear, clean pair of socks, a bra and a dark green scrub like shirt and baggy brown pants. I felt like a tree.
I climbed into the bed, not bothering to pull the covers down. I lay on my back, staring up at the ceiling. I noticed a small black globe above me and swallowed hard. I didn’t even want to know what that camera was for. I drifted to sleep, my eyes glued to the camera that was sure to have someone monitoring me.
I woke up the next morning (or at least, I thought it was morning) when I heard a loud pounding on the door to my room. I sat up quickly, my hand immediately going to my hair. It was still damp and stuck up in random places, and I yawned. The loud knocking sounded through the room again, and I felt a wave of irritation roll through me. Was the knocking really necessary at this point?
“What?” I grumbled.
The door swung open, and the nurse from the day before, Tommy, came in, this time without his companion. He wheeled a tray in front of him. I looked at it and saw the familiar silver gleam of the dome that covered a meal. He rolled it over to the bed and lifted the cover without any flourish. Underneath was a simple breakfast of oatmeal, eggs, orange juice and toast. I looked up at him, raising my eyebrows.
“You’re not leaving the room until you eat, so I would suggest you eat,” he answered, sitting in the chair in front of the desk.
“I’m not exactly inclined to leave the room, so that’s kind of an empty threat,” I said, folding my arms across my chest, refusing to acknowledge the loud grumbling that was coming from my stomach.
Tommy smirked. “You’re a feisty one, aren’t you? You’re lucky you’re young and at a great breeding age, or Dr. Cylon wouldn’t put up with this.”