The alien returned sometime later with a tray of something
called mesantine. But Ava defiantly refused it and flung the tray and its
contents across the room, so the food splattered against the wall and
door after he left. "How do I know it's not poisoned!" she shouted after
him, not caring what he thought of her behavior.
Furious at another hopeless situation, she flounced back to the
bed. Laying on it, she crossed her arms in a huff, stewing over her
captivity. But, too upset to relax, she got up and began pacing. At one
point, when she chanced too close to the door, she was startled when it
opened of its own accord. She tiptoed to the doorway, to peer out, fully
expecting someone to be guarding her. When she realized no one was,
she was quick to make an escape, chiding herself for not checking the
door sooner.
Grinning at her discovery, she dashed down the corridor, seeking
a way of escape, although she was still terrified.
She did fine for awhile. But every so often she would hear voices
that sent her scurrying in another direction. She had no interest in
attracting attention from any other aliens on board. She had no clue
what they might do to her if they caught her snooping about.She soon found what looked like an elevator. This, too, opened
automatically, so she stepped inside to play with the controls, glad no
one was in it. The strange markings on the panel gave evidence of her
alien abduction, and it was with some apprehension that she pressed a
few buttons. She had no idea where her daring might lead her, but what
choice did she have? She only knew that if she wanted to get off the
ship, she would have to seek the landing bay for smaller vessels, if there
were any. Of course, she was going only by what she had learned from
Hollywood movies and television shows. She just hoped she was right.
When the door whisked open, she slowly peeked her head out.
She knew God was with her still because the corridor was free of life.
Hurrying from the elevator, she made her way along the wide, metal-
colored hallway, stopping at each intersection for signs of movement.
When she turned down one hallway, she halted in surprise. Before her
were two huge, red doors. She groaned because they reminded her of
the fairy tales she had often shared with her brother. Jimmy had loved
tales of giants and dragons.
But the doors also impressed upon her how lost and alone she
was. She choked back a sob, overcome by emotion.
Until the aliens had arrived, she had resigned herself to spending
her entire life at St. Christi's, alone and forgotten. After her parents'
tragic deaths in a car accident, she had thought that that would be the
worst for her. But nothing had prepared her for life with the Maddocks
where she had been forced into servitude and practically starved. Had
it not been for a schoolmate, Jenny Tompkins, and her family, she didn't
think she could have survived it. When Ava and Jimmy planned an
escape from the Maddocks, even that plan was thwarted. Jimmy had
fallen into Norman's evil hands, and she...she had been discarded likean old lost shoe. Sent to a place where she would be locked away from
society...forever.
Groaning as nightmarish memories raged through her brain, she
stepped toward the doors, surprised at how easily they whisked open at
her entrance. Only when the deafening gong began to sound did she
know she had made a mistake.
The lights brightened instantly at her presence. Turning, with
hands covering her ears, she backed away from the door, uncertain
whether to hide or flee through it. Why she didn't run, she wasn't sure.
Curiosity perhaps. Either way, she wasn't prepared for what was behind
her.