her shop. She’d had it stenciled there as a celebration when she became the sole proprietor.
The elf stepped forward, cruelty gleaming in her Orange Crush eyes. She was a little too into her role. “If you cooperate, it is more likely they will spare your life.
They will spare her life? Not we? That was odd.
The pain receded enough to let Nikki think, or at least to start forming complex thoughts. It also produced her first shiver of fear. Now that her eyes were focusing, she was no longer sure they were wearing costumes. “Where the hell am I? And what do you want with Nikki?” No need to volunteer information until she understood what was happening.
“I see you are starting to realize this is not a practical joke,” the elf said calmly. “You are on a planet called Cretz, in a dimension inaccessible to humans.” She paused, watching Nikki closely. When Nikki said nothing, the elf went on. “I offer this information so you will believe me when I say, you cannot escape.”
Despite the ridiculous claim, Nikki’s heart slammed against her ribs. A different dimension? That was a new one. Aliens had made contact with Earth a couple of years ago, but they looked more or less human. Her gaze drifted back to the male. He didn’t look anything like the aliens on Earth. And what was with the orange-haired elf? “If that’s true, and I don’t believe it is, why target Nikki? What did she do to you?”
The elf continued on as if Nikki hadn’t spoken. “Fighting us will only result in painful restraints and humiliation, so make it easier on yourself. Do whatever you are told to do.” She didn’t give Nikki a chance to respond. Instead, she turned to the male and spoke in a language Nikki didn’t understand.
The male nodded then advanced. Nikki shot to her feet and scurried away, but there was nowhere to run. His meaty fist closed around her upper arm and Nikki screamed, tugging against his hold with all her strength. Without even acknowledging her struggle, he dragged her into the corridor. She’d blacked out moments later and had no memory of what followed. When she regained consciousness, she was back in the cell. Haley and Selina were wide awake and concerned about her.
All three quickly accepted that the ordeal was real. They had been kidnapped by interdimensional aliens and an arrogant orange-haired elf.
Over and over the cycle repeated. One of them would be taken. They would be gone for many hours and then be returned to the cell while still unconscious. Nikki had been taken eight times, Haley six, and this was Selina’s fourth. The first time they tried to take Haley, Nikki confessed that she was Nichole. She begged the elf not to take either of the others, insisting that she was the one they were looking for. She grabbed the alien male’s arms, hanging off him with her entire weight. None of it had done any good. Both of her companions had still been subjected to whatever lay beyond this room.
And now Selina was so weakened by the mysterious ordeal that the others feared for her life.
“We have to do something,” Haley said, gaze pleading, lips trembling.
Nikki watched the rise and fall of Selina’s chest, agonizing as the intervals grew longer and longer. Haley was right. If they just sat here, Selina would die.
Rushing to the door, Nikki pounded on the thick wooden panel. “Hello! Can anyone hear me? If you want your test subject alive, you better get your asses in here!” She paused and looked as far down the corridor as the small opening allowed. “Hello! Where is everyone?”
Two large males darted around the corner and came into view. One was dressed in the simple brown uniform all the Cretzians wore, but the other’s black leather pants and lace-up shirt would blend right in nicely at a Renaissance festival. Her gaze reached his face and Nikki gasped. He wasn’t Cretzian. Pulled back from his face, his black and red hair reached well past his shoulders, and his assessing gaze was pale pink. Was he an elf like the female? That didn’t mean he was any less dangerous than the guard.
Before she could decide if Mr. Red Hair was friend or foe, the guard spoke in accented English. And he sounded just like the female elf. What the hell was going on here?
“Don’t call out again,” the guard said firmly, but his expression lacked the contempt of other