The birds flew in a V formation, quickly returning back to the compound.

I had this odd feeling like we were forgetting something. Like we left something undone, unfinished, still alive. I glance back many times expecting to see someone attacking us.

It is something that I would have done. Attack us in mid air. Launch a load of debris until we could see nothing but clouds of stones falling.

Sadly, I was disappointed.

Nothing happened.

There was no excuse for me not to talk with Hannah.

Mrs. Harper and her husband met us at the landing pad. The way Chandler stared at me was like a man who knew he was cucked. I kind of felt bad for him. It was obvious his wife didn’t see him as human anymore. Well, human is the wrong term.

It was obvious, she saw him as less than human.

Mrs. Harper ran up to the scientist, grabbing her in a big bear hug. I knew that poor lass was hurting because I personally experienced Mrs. Harper's body changing. Going from soft and cuddly to lean and fit. That ass no longer rippling when you slammed into it, merely raising up.

“We have so much to talk about, but first I have things to do.” Mrs. Harper turned to me. “Hey, we are moving out to another compound on an island. So if you need something to eat then you have fifteen.”

I nodded and turned to Hannah who gave me that look, ‘what do you think?’ I could only regret not bombarding that building with thunder while taking her down to the kitchen where barely any chefs were located.

They had prepared plates out. I grabbed one of them and passed it to Hannah while leading her back to the cargo plane. Not one of those that need a runway, but the one that can just rise up and take off.

Hannah stuffed the plate in my hands while taking a seat on the grass. Looking out at the people milling around, smoking, conversing, like the end of the world hadn’t happened. This kind of thing could totally make one forget that this is a different world.

I sat down beside her and she slowly unwrapped the steaming plate of rice and some kind of gravy covered meat.

“So, how many women have you slept with?” she started off with the heavy punch.

I glance into the sky while formulating my answer. It was always safe to be honest with the person who was close to you. And we have been dating ever since she first entered uni. Thus I might not be able to get away with lying even if my face doesn’t change.

“Two, really. If you count the others who come just because I first learned how to give an electrical massage, then maybe four or five. But only two that I kind of cared about.” I went with honesty.

Hannah unwrapped the spoon and fork and began cutting the whatever-kind of meat into smaller chunks.

“Do you still like me or have your feelings faded?” she asked, while not looking up.

I glanced at her and noticed for the first time, the insecure woman that hid underneath that stern personality she put up before others. She was a selfish woman in my mind, but she had those rare moments that made me smile. Those moments that made me think back and realized that I really like this type of woman.

This was one of those moments. Her eyes downcast, not a hint of wrinkle on her flawless skin. A smudge of freckles across her cheeks and nose. Making it look almost as if she had a smudge of dirt. The way her lips pouted out just a bit to showcase she was in inner turmoil.

I brushed a strand of her red-hair back, chuckling to myself. “Of course. I might have forgotten about you because I heard you were safe, but I dreamt about our time together. To be honest, I might have been a bit happy with the way life was right now. But when I traced your phone number to you and saw you playing a game like nothing was wrong. I was a tad upset. No, upset is a weak term.” I tapped her bare ankle. “I was pissed. You were okay enough to play games, but not to call me. Like was I that unimportant? I think that really kept me from calling you. If I was important to you, then you would have called, right?”

I felt the tingle of power coursing through me. I was probably a glow stick right about now.

She looked into my face, resting the utensil on the plate.

“Good.”

She returned to her food. Eating slowly like she was waiting for my backlash, but we had done this so many times. I understood now at this point that I was just too inexperienced with women to ever truly understand them. Maybe, this was why I was enjoying paradise and didn’t think about her. Maybe, this was why I like the inattentive Jada who didn’t need maintenances unless it was sex. The sexy mother who likes to cuddle and talk about her past.

You never know what you miss or hate until it's gone. When it shows up, it just reminds you of what you have that is good. I had something good. I wasn’t going to walk away from it for an abusive relationship that would leave me emotional high strung. I was a God for damn sake.

I stood up but she turned to me with an eerie smile. “Sit.”

My ass planted faster than I could think. I covered my mind with webbing and tried to stand up but my body wasn’t under my control.

“Don’t fight. I’ll let you play with your little lovers, but you are mine. My toy, my man, my whatever I want at that time. Do you understand, Chase Cross?” She grabbed my chin, speaking softly.

My soul trembled because I had no control. Maybe, it would have been fine if I had become a zombie.

“Yes,” my voice didn’t even sound the same.