My legs lead me to the woman as she reads her clause out loud:
I, Cora Mikelsen, hired language specialist, agrees to hold Moriarty, Inc. harmless for any and all claims, actions, suits and charges whatsoever brought for, or on account of injuries or death incurred during and/or after contracted work.
It is…not like mine. Mine is much longer and listed specific terms to ensure my safe trip back… My hands ball into fists, crumpling my papers.
The others read theirs, too, and I realize…they don’t have any option to go back home. I feel terrible. I feel like a traitor. A parasite.
“They didn’t even have the decency to give us an indemnity clause.” One woman says.
“What the hell does this even mean? What is that? Are you a lawyer?” The questions recklessly tumble out of my mouth.
She is young and pretty…too young to be a lawyer, though.
Shaking her head, she replies, “No, I used to work for a corporate attorney. I’m a waitress. Well, used to be.”
I have no idea why I thought we’re all botanists and biologists here. Do they even know what they’re getting into? Was Moriarty just randomly hiring girls to feed these supposed carnivorous plants? My theories run amok, wreaking havoc into the calm I force upon myself.
“What does this clause mean?” Another woman asks.
“It means they expect us to get injured or die here.” One chirped back.
My eyes find Ingar again, and I can justseehe knows what’s on my clause. What my conditions are. What am I supposed to do? We are in the middle of the ocean on our way to this island teeming with things that are going to eat us. It says in my clause if I do my job, I could go home. Just not the others.
The women start to fight the men, the employees. The chaos made me want to run back to the storage room and slam the door behind them. Despite my own anxiety, I jump up on a table andshout, “Okay, ladies, listen up!” It does not work. They still keep harassing the men, angry and terrified.
Ingar crosses his arms over his chest, watching me carefully. Daring me to reveal myself.
I sucked in a breath and bellow, “IF YOU WANT TO SURVIVE, LISTEN TO ME!” That did it. They look at me expectantly like I have all the answers. I hate this. Hate the responsibility brought upon me, by myself. I know I don’t have to, but…guilt eats at me.
I’m here for a job, but they’re sent here to die. The least I can do is teach them how to protect themselves, right?
“Hi,” I began shakily. “My name’s Lin Xiaoyu, thirty-two. I was a professor in Whiterock University just a few months ago. I taught botany and specialize in medicinal plants. I was hired here by that fucker—” I point to Ingar. “—to study the exotic flora.” I remove my glasses and wipe the sweat off my forehead. My headache’s starting to pound in my temples incessantly.
“Can you please introduce yourselves one by one and state what Moriarity hired you for?” I continued.
The woman whose paper I had read steps in, speaking first. “My name’s Cora, twenty-seven. Moriarty hired me as a language specialist. I used to teach in North State.”
Why the fuck is a language specialist included on this expedition that only deals with plants and animals? I swallow back the questions and move to the next girl. I will have to ask her later.
“I’m Laura, thirty, and I used to work as a nurse in Louisiana. Moriarty popped out of nowhere and offered me a job that seemed too good to be true. I was in dire straits, so I took it.”
“What job was that?” Cora asks.
Laura chews on her lip nervously. “A…fish lure.”
I understand nothing of this. “The fuck is a fish lure?”
“It’s not a good thing…” She shrugs it off. “But yeah, I should have known better. I got drugged and just woke up here.”
The women stir, and from their faces, I see we probably experienced the same thing. Baited and switched. As everyone continues to introduce themselves, I count. Seventeen women, including me. All of them have one thing in common, they are all single and Moriarty had approached them first.
There are mixed reactions. Some are crying, others are blank-faced—the reality not sinking in yet. One girl named Sunny is comforting another sobbing girl.
I feel sick to my stomach as I speak again. “We’re going to an island with giant carnivorous plants. Let’s stay together. There’s safety in numbers.” As soon as I say it, the overwhelming feeling of inevitable dread chokes me.
I remember the pistol Ingar gave me…I can protect them with that, but I have no idea how to use it. And I’m only one person… I really need this giant freak to speak up, but I don’t want the ladies to start terrorizing the men again.
Suddenly, a bell rings, then a jolly voice sings, “Good day! Captain Moriarty speaking. Twenty-foot waves and thunderstorms ahead. Staff, please secure the sails and loose equipment. Passengers, stay in your designated safe areas or cabins, stay away from exterior doors and windows. And last but not the least, keep calm and keep smiling, stay pretty, toots.”
