Chapter One
Mercy
“Let her in!”
“Yes, let her in!”
I’m stunned as about a dozen women surround me. I’ve been running so hard I’m out of breath. I don’t think I can continue, and maybe I won’t have to.
“John!” someone shouts. “Seriously. You have to let her in!”
I tip my head back to look at the sign above the entrance to the building.
Club Zoom.
Holy shit. I’m in front of Club Zoom?
“Hurry!” another woman squeals. “John! Have a heart.”
The women have completely swarmed around me, concealing me from the view of anyone nearby. They crowd in closer, pushing me. Bless them. There is some good left in humanity after all.
I assume John is the giant man blocking the entrance to the club, and he suddenly steps aside before taking my hand and helping me through the doorway.
As soon as I’m inside, he hurries me into a room, out of sight of anyone passing by on the street.
I take deep breaths. “Thank…you.” I’m panting from exertion.
John stands in front of me, rubbing his chin. His brow is furrowed in concern. “Runaway bride?”
I smirk. “How can you tell?” I pluck at the front of my wedding dress. It’s the ugliest thing I’ve ever seen in my life. I feel like a beluga whale in it.
John glances at his watch. “It’s ten at night. Who gets married this late at night?”
I wince. “The wedding was at five,” I mutter.
“You’ve been running since before five?”
Swallowing hard, I shake my head.
John hesitates, then groans, and runs a hand down the front of his face. “Please tell me you aren’t married. I can’t let you into the club if you’re married.” He glances behind him.
When I follow his line of sight, I realize we’re not alone in this room. There are six other women in here. All of them are sitting around tables staring at me. On closer inspection, I notice they’re each holding a pen, filling out forms. Waivers.
I’ve heard about this club. Everyone has. No one can get in without signing a waiver indicating they realize the risk associated with entering. The risk being that they might get selected by one of the aliens and taken from the planet.
If only I could be that lucky. That’s not likely. I glance down at myself and cringe. I’m not a small woman by any stretch of the imagination, and this dress makes me look even more ridiculous.
“You shouldn’t be here,” John continues.
“Please,” I beg him as I lift my gaze. “If I could just stay for a while so I can think about what to do next. I promise I won’t move from this spot. He can’t get in here, right?”
John’s entire face scrunches up. “Your husband, you mean? A man you married just a few hours ago?”
I cringe at the title. Husband… That asshole can fuck himself for all I care. What he’s not going to do is fuckme. Ever. I just need to figure out how to get out of this mess.
A door opens across the room, and another man enters. He’s tall. About six and a half feet, but I don’t think he’s Eleadian. I’ve heard they’re all over seven feet.
His brow is pinched the same way John’s is. “What’s going on?” He looks me up and down.
