BOOK THREE: REJECTED BY THE MOON

CONTENT WARNING:

Heads up: This one's a dark dive into forced fantasy – kidnapping in a dystopian Earth-Moon setup, virginity tease under power plays, light non-con vibes with a massive Viking-type handler (gentle touches amid the fear), humiliation from stripping/washing scenes, and a boss's selection game pitting captives against each other. Age gaps, emotional whiplash from terror to traitorous arousal, and hints of group selection drama; if captivity tropes or body betrayal hits hard, maybe moonwalk past this one. See what I did there?  ; )

 

CHAPTER ONE

This wasn't happening.

This couldn't be happening.

It wasn't fair.

But when had her life ever been fair?

Kidnapped. She made herself think the word. She'd been kidnapped. But why had they taken her?

Kidnappings were almost common on Earth now. The wealthy had moved to the Moon, leaving most of Earth behind except for when they needed something or wanted to travel to an exotic locale. Criminal empires had sprung up, taking over control of the Earth, but most of them left the citizens of the Moon alone when they visited. Until the Viper. The Viper would occasionally select one or two of the young men and women visiting earth for schooling or leisure and they would... disappear. A few would return to society within a day or two, others could be gone for months. Those who were returned quickly boasted of sexual decadence, of orgies, of perverse pleasures... and suddenly the younger generations were flocking to visit Earth, eager for a taste of danger. Most of them felt safe in the knowledge that they were unlikely to be taken, but they liked the idea that they could be gone for a day or two and then returned with all sorts of experiences outside of the stale lives they usually led.

Mostly no one talked about the unlucky few who were gone for longer periods of time. Mostly because those few never talked to anyone about their experiences anyway.

There were very few photos of the Viper, despite rabid interest. First hand accounts couldn't be trusted, because they were so wild. The most anyone knew for sure was that he had dark hair. A faint scar traced his cheek, thin and pale, like a viper's strike frozen mid-lash.

Which was why Tessa was twice as terrified when she woke up in a room with another man - who'd told her his name was Alvin - and woman - Alvin said her name was Bonnie - who had just woken up as well, both also bound to a pole the same way she was, and the first person to walk in had very, very light hair. Just as light as hers, in fact, and she knew that she was an anomaly, with hair so pale it was nearly white. His hair was the same light, light blond, although his was only half an inch long or so. And unlike Tessa, he was huge. She'd always been petite, with a slight figure, but in his presence she felt even smaller. The man had muscles on his muscles, and he was so tall she was getting a crick in her neck from staring up at him, but she was too terrified to look away. If she wasn't so scared, she might think he was handsome.

His cold, grey eyes slid over her, calculating, and Tessa shivered, cringing back away from his gaze.

Tessa didn't understand. She was from the Moon yes, but she wasn't from an influential family like all the other kidnapping victims had been. Her parents had worked for a wealthy family before they'd died, leaving her an orphan. Fortunately, because she was smart, she'd been allowed to stay and had been educated on scholarship. She'd grown up in a Moon orphanage, which was still better than an Earth orphanage, but it wasn't pleasant. And she had nothing that the Viper would want.

Unless the Viper wasn't behind these kidnappings. The huge, blond man in front of her, who reminded her of the historical drawings she'd seen of Vikings, might be in charge. He certainly looked like the kind of man who would be in charge. But the Alvin and Bonnie were definitely the kid of people that the Viper would be interested in. They were dressed in expensive clothing, and from the authoritative way Alvin had spoken to Bonnie - whom he obviously knew - before the Viking came in, at least one of them was used to being in charge.

The Viking shifted his gaze to the two, taking in their darker hair and eyes, before his eyes flicked back to Tessa.

"Good. You're all finally awake." The curve of his lips tilted cruelly as he smiled, anticipation gleaming in his silvery eyes. Tessa shivered again.

All three of them were roped together, hobbled, and led down the hall. The Viking told them his name was Jason and admonished them to behave. Tessa didn't think he had to tell her or Bonnie twice, but she was a little worried Alvin might do something. He was obviously furious and feeling protective of Bonnie. To Tessa's surprise, some of that protective feeling appeared to include her as well. His lips thinned every time he looked around, as if looking for some way to escape, and then he'd look back at Tessa and Bonnie.

Their destination was a tiled room with a drain in the center of it. Tessa stared at the drain, her terror swamping her, reaching levels that she hadn't known were possible, and tears started to slide down her face. When Jason hung Alvin up by his wrists, it was all Tessa could do not to start sobbing. What was going to happen to them?