Primals (Reverse Harem 1)

Two days and still, I’m in the middle of nowhere, only trees and snow in sight and an occasional rodent scurrying to the safety of its burrow. The fact that I haven’t died of hypothermia by now is still a surprise to me. Whatever I’ve become, it’s given me the ability to walk forever. To not feel the cold. I’m not even hungry, just tired. Not even physically tired. Just tired of walking, of getting nowhere.

Now, I know the answer to that old question – If you could have a superpower, what would it be and why?

Flying. That’s the answer. If I could fly, I’d be somewhere with a phone now, somewhere with a cozy bed and a warm cup of coffee. I could even be home.

Yet, here I am, out of breath, stuck in a patch of woods that look just like the last, snow up to my knees, my scarf unraveling from the number of times it got caught on the tip of a branch.

Lost and alone.

I consider giving up but I’m no quitter. Besides, it’s not even an option. I have to survive, to get to a place where there are people and phones.

And dry clothes.

And coffee.

I have to let the world know I’m alive. I’m sure my folks must be worried by now. If the Lab has notified them, that is. I’m sure Kyle and all the people I work with must be worried. I’m sure my dogs, cats and my fish back at my apartment must be hungry, though the last is just my feeling guilty for being gone so long. I have a service taking care of them. I’m not looking forward to getting that particular bill.

But I have to let them know I’m alive. I have to get back to them.

My resolve renewed, I climb the nearest tree, going as far up as I can, enjoying the strength of this new me that enables me to do something I’d never been able to do before in my life. Clinging to the trunk, I turn my head in every direction, my heart skipping a beat when I see a flicker of light in the distance.

How distant? I don’t know.

But it’s there. The more I walk, the sooner I’ll get there.

I jump down, grab the straps of my backpack and continue walking.

HOW DOES THIS PLACE even exist?

I stand outside what has to be the strangest location for a bar in the entire world. I mean, there isn’t even a real road to this place, though there’s a handful of snowmobiles outside that tell me how people have gotten here.

What’s strangest is there’s no town. No houses, no other buildings, just this one. Lights run on a generator and noise I can hear from out here that lets me know that wherever I am, there’s a party going on that I’m missing.

I feel like Alice and w

onder what kind of rabbit hole I’ve fallen down.

The lights suspended from the tavern ceiling blind me as I enter, the sound of men’s drunken laughter an assault to my ears as their breaths are to my nostrils. As soon as they see me, though, a curtain of silence falls, all gazes on me.

I ignore them, heading straight to the bar.

“Excuse me.” I lean on the counter as I try to call the attention of the stocky man behind it, pouring a stein of beer.

He doesn’t answer, busy with his task.

“Excuse me,” I speak louder.

He raises a bushy eyebrow. “What do you want? I ain’t got no rooms.”

“I don’t want a room. I just need to use your phone.”

“Use my phone?” He chuckles. “Hear that, boys? This missy wants to use my phone.”

The tavern erupts into laughter even though I don’t have a clue what’s funny.

Strange. But I’m not hearing any thoughts at all. Not a single one.

“What do you want to use the phone for?” the man asks me. “Call your boyfriend?”