Home (excerpt #1)
At home, Sean carried in his groceries and stored them, before starting his Saturday chores of laundry and cleaning. He ate dinner out. Once back in his apartment, he fixed himself a drink and put on some soft jazz. He needed to sit and think.
His entire world had been turned upside down. He had seen and experienced things he thought were impossible. He had spent time with someone he’d thought of as an enemy and found to be a friend; maybe more than a friend. He stood and paced when he thought of the kiss they’d shared. How could that have happened? Hadn’t he known Yana for years and years? Apparently not. He knew Mitchell Yates, not Yana
“Yana.” Sean said the name out loud.
Why does the mere thought of him scramble my mind? How can just thinking about him bring such excitement? When I think of Mitchell Yates, I feel nothing. Yet the name “Yana” is a whole different story. It’s like they are two different people! And where did all these strange feelings come from? Haven’t I always preferred the brainless blond, beach boy, Jimmy-types for a few hours’ fun? And anything more serious than that I’d already decided long ago was not in the cards for me.
Sean couldn’t make sense of any of it. How could the green-eyed creature with the thick sable hair capture him so fast and so completely? Was it the tall, lean body, the long legs, or maybe the crooked smile? And what did he see in those eyes that had never been there before?
He went to bed and fell asleep thinking about the kiss, and the delicious mouth that delivered it.
His entire world had been turned upside down. He had seen and experienced things he thought were impossible. He had spent time with someone he’d thought of as an enemy and found to be a friend; maybe more than a friend. He stood and paced when he thought of the kiss they’d shared. How could that have happened? Hadn’t he known Yana for years and years? Apparently not. He knew Mitchell Yates, not Yana
“Yana.” Sean said the name out loud.
Why does the mere thought of him scramble my mind? How can just thinking about him bring such excitement? When I think of Mitchell Yates, I feel nothing. Yet the name “Yana” is a whole different story. It’s like they are two different people! And where did all these strange feelings come from? Haven’t I always preferred the brainless blond, beach boy, Jimmy-types for a few hours’ fun? And anything more serious than that I’d already decided long ago was not in the cards for me.
Sean couldn’t make sense of any of it. How could the green-eyed creature with the thick sable hair capture him so fast and so completely? Was it the tall, lean body, the long legs, or maybe the crooked smile? And what did he see in those eyes that had never been there before?
He went to bed and fell asleep thinking about the kiss, and the delicious mouth that delivered it.
* * * * * *
Home (excerpt #2)
“You think you can bait me?” Sean walked around to an open area in the middle of the room. “I’ve been swatting punks like you since before you were born. Bring it on!”
The next moment, Jimmy leaped at him and they were into it. Fists flew. Furniture was knocked over. Sean managed to duck Jimmy’s fist and landed a solid right to his stomach. Jimmy pulled back, startled, and Sean couldn’t help but grin. Taking that smirk off Jimmy’s face had felt so good. Jimmy was quick on his feet though, and caught Sean with a right to the jaw. All the humor of the situation vanished as Sean tackled him, taking Jimmy down, overturning a table and its contents in the process. In a matter of moments, Sean had him on his knees in a headlock he couldn’t get out of. Jimmy wiggled, struggled, cursed a blue streak, and threatened, but he couldn’t budge the hold Sean had on him.
“Maybe I should have told you that I was captain of the wrestling team in college, and lettered in boxing. But then again, punks like you always seem to think that a few years on a guy means he’s ready to be put out to pasture.” Sean chuckled. “Surprise,” he hissed close to Jimmy’s ear as he tightened his grip.
Tussling on the floor, Sean didn’t notice the door open and Yana walk in. “What the... what the hell is going on here?” Yana yelled.
Sean released the headlock he had on Jimmy and they got to their feet. Jimmy pulled free and ran to Yana’s side.
“Thank God you got here. He attacked me, Yana!” Jimmy was red-faced and gasping for air. “I came by to invite the two of you to dinner and he attacked me. He’s crazy!
The next moment, Jimmy leaped at him and they were into it. Fists flew. Furniture was knocked over. Sean managed to duck Jimmy’s fist and landed a solid right to his stomach. Jimmy pulled back, startled, and Sean couldn’t help but grin. Taking that smirk off Jimmy’s face had felt so good. Jimmy was quick on his feet though, and caught Sean with a right to the jaw. All the humor of the situation vanished as Sean tackled him, taking Jimmy down, overturning a table and its contents in the process. In a matter of moments, Sean had him on his knees in a headlock he couldn’t get out of. Jimmy wiggled, struggled, cursed a blue streak, and threatened, but he couldn’t budge the hold Sean had on him.
“Maybe I should have told you that I was captain of the wrestling team in college, and lettered in boxing. But then again, punks like you always seem to think that a few years on a guy means he’s ready to be put out to pasture.” Sean chuckled. “Surprise,” he hissed close to Jimmy’s ear as he tightened his grip.
Tussling on the floor, Sean didn’t notice the door open and Yana walk in. “What the... what the hell is going on here?” Yana yelled.
Sean released the headlock he had on Jimmy and they got to their feet. Jimmy pulled free and ran to Yana’s side.
“Thank God you got here. He attacked me, Yana!” Jimmy was red-faced and gasping for air. “I came by to invite the two of you to dinner and he attacked me. He’s crazy!
* * * * * *
Home (excerpt #3)
Sean’s heart warmed at Yana’s e-mail, but he was too anxious about Jimmy for the pleasantries and flirting in which he so wanted to indulge. He hit the reply tab and wrote: We need to talk. Jimmy paid me another visit.
Shit! Are you okay? Yana’s return message instantly flashed on Sean’s screen.
I’m fine. But he spouted off a lot in front of Captain Miller.
Fuck, fuck, fuck! How’d he take it?
He heard enough to know that my bruises weren’t from any bar fight as I’d been telling him.
And he’s suspicious and asking questions?
From Yana’s words, Sean imagined him in the early stages of a coronary. So he gave him his brand of assurance. I handled it. When can I see you?
Not a good idea. I’d better go take care of Jimmy.
Let him wait. Sean typed as fast as he could.
You have no patience.
That’s right. When? Where?
You’re hard to refuse.
Then don’t!
Conversing with Yana stimulated Sean’s already inflated need for him. He likened himself to a desert in need of quenching rain. That rain was called Yana.
You’re crazy! Yana replied.
That’s a given. When? Where?
No reply.
An instant later, Yana was standing in front of Sean’s desk. “How about here and now?” Sean jumped up, grabbed him, and kissed him fiercely.
Yana barely managed to get out, “I can only stay a few hours. I have to be somewhere at two thirty.”
“Two hours? We’ll just be getting warmed up,” Sean complained, and led Yana to the bedroom.
Yana’s jacket and shirt hit the floor. “It’ll have to do for tonight.”
Shit! Are you okay? Yana’s return message instantly flashed on Sean’s screen.
I’m fine. But he spouted off a lot in front of Captain Miller.
Fuck, fuck, fuck! How’d he take it?
He heard enough to know that my bruises weren’t from any bar fight as I’d been telling him.
And he’s suspicious and asking questions?
From Yana’s words, Sean imagined him in the early stages of a coronary. So he gave him his brand of assurance. I handled it. When can I see you?
Not a good idea. I’d better go take care of Jimmy.
Let him wait. Sean typed as fast as he could.
You have no patience.
That’s right. When? Where?
You’re hard to refuse.
Then don’t!
Conversing with Yana stimulated Sean’s already inflated need for him. He likened himself to a desert in need of quenching rain. That rain was called Yana.
You’re crazy! Yana replied.
That’s a given. When? Where?
No reply.
An instant later, Yana was standing in front of Sean’s desk. “How about here and now?” Sean jumped up, grabbed him, and kissed him fiercely.
Yana barely managed to get out, “I can only stay a few hours. I have to be somewhere at two thirty.”
“Two hours? We’ll just be getting warmed up,” Sean complained, and led Yana to the bedroom.
Yana’s jacket and shirt hit the floor. “It’ll have to do for tonight.”
* * * * * *
Home (excerpt #4)
Noel leaned over the chamber and spoke. “Yana, do you know where you are?”
Yana thought a minute, his eyes moving to take in all he could see, and he nodded.
“You were injured in an explosion, but you’re going to be fine. Aaron was with you, and he’s okay, too. You know the routine. Six hours in here on your back, a visit with Counselor Dorothy, and you’re free to go.”
Yana made another attempt at nodding, then turned back to meet Sean’s eyes. A moment or so later, he noticed the flowers. His eyes went from one flower to the next and back again to Sean.
“Do you understand them?” Sean asked.
Yana smiled his answer.
Sean picked up the first stem. “Yarrow—health and healing.” He reached for the second offering. “Thyme—strength and courage.” Then, “White heather—wishes will come true.” Lastly, he picked up the red rose, smelled it, and said with a grin, “The red rose—I can’t remember for sure. I think it’s something like ‘I love your Gladiolas’.”
Yana choked out a laugh and began coughing again. Sean immediately regretted his feeble attempt at humor and anxiously waited as Yana settled down again.
“You know what a red rose means?” Sean knew full well Yana would know a red rose meant “I love you”.
Yana nodded slightly.
“Good. That’s settled then.” Sean grinned, then asked, “You doing all right in there?”
Another slight nod from Yana.
“A few hours and you’ll be out of there, good as new,” Sean assured him.
Yana thought a minute, his eyes moving to take in all he could see, and he nodded.
“You were injured in an explosion, but you’re going to be fine. Aaron was with you, and he’s okay, too. You know the routine. Six hours in here on your back, a visit with Counselor Dorothy, and you’re free to go.”
Yana made another attempt at nodding, then turned back to meet Sean’s eyes. A moment or so later, he noticed the flowers. His eyes went from one flower to the next and back again to Sean.
“Do you understand them?” Sean asked.
Yana smiled his answer.
Sean picked up the first stem. “Yarrow—health and healing.” He reached for the second offering. “Thyme—strength and courage.” Then, “White heather—wishes will come true.” Lastly, he picked up the red rose, smelled it, and said with a grin, “The red rose—I can’t remember for sure. I think it’s something like ‘I love your Gladiolas’.”
Yana choked out a laugh and began coughing again. Sean immediately regretted his feeble attempt at humor and anxiously waited as Yana settled down again.
“You know what a red rose means?” Sean knew full well Yana would know a red rose meant “I love you”.
Yana nodded slightly.
“Good. That’s settled then.” Sean grinned, then asked, “You doing all right in there?”
Another slight nod from Yana.
“A few hours and you’ll be out of there, good as new,” Sean assured him.
* * * * * *
Home (excerpt #5)
The outer doors to the lab were being blasted away. Yana dropped the chip on the floor and grabbed for it frantically. A loud pounding started on the door outside the lab.
“I hear it, Yana. The clicking. What is it?”
“They’re here.” Yana did a quick assessment of their location. “The cabinet. Sean, get inside. Now!” He fumbled with the last chip until he managed to get it inserted.
Yana dashed across the room to the storage cabinets, shoved Sean inside one, and climbed into the one next to it. He barely got the doors closed when the entrance to the lab burst open and the Krill swarmed in.
Yana had given Sean extensive insight into the Krill during their journey. But the clicking noise of their chatter was the stuff of nightmares. As they entered the room, Sean could hear the sandpaper sound of their bodies over the floor, followed by the odor of something truly foul. Sean’s heart thumped so loud he was afraid they might be able to hear it from his hiding place.
The Krill circled the device with their instruments, connected them together, and stood back. In a few seconds, the room filled with a humming sound, followed by a loud snap of electricity, and the device disappeared.
“I hear it, Yana. The clicking. What is it?”
“They’re here.” Yana did a quick assessment of their location. “The cabinet. Sean, get inside. Now!” He fumbled with the last chip until he managed to get it inserted.
Yana dashed across the room to the storage cabinets, shoved Sean inside one, and climbed into the one next to it. He barely got the doors closed when the entrance to the lab burst open and the Krill swarmed in.
Yana had given Sean extensive insight into the Krill during their journey. But the clicking noise of their chatter was the stuff of nightmares. As they entered the room, Sean could hear the sandpaper sound of their bodies over the floor, followed by the odor of something truly foul. Sean’s heart thumped so loud he was afraid they might be able to hear it from his hiding place.
The Krill circled the device with their instruments, connected them together, and stood back. In a few seconds, the room filled with a humming sound, followed by a loud snap of electricity, and the device disappeared.
* * * * * *
Home (excerpt #6)
His captors pulled him into the next room, and someone sprayed a light mist in his face. Sean recoiled, but couldn’t escape the effects. His thinking was scrambled, the world went gray, and his legs buckled beneath him. He would have fallen if they hadn’t been holding his arms.
His next conscious moment, he found himself placed on a table. They rolled him over on his side and, to his horror, inserted something cold and metallic into his rectum. They flipped him back over, and his arms and legs were strapped down. A restraint across his forehead completely immobilized him. Overwhelmed with a feeling of helplessness, he tried to speak, but words wouldn’t come. In a daze, Sean couldn’t move or speak.
A man wheeled a device over to the table and hooked it up to Sean’s body. The same burly captor secured something—Sean couldn’t tell what—to his pelvic area and enclosed his penis inside.
Panic gripped him, and he dragged in deep gasps of air, which only heightened the effects of the spray. Everything dimmed out entirely. He awoke some time later, his insides churning and his pulse racing. The room had gone silent, and he struggled to free himself, but to no avail. His groin area warmed, and it stunned Sean to realize he had an erection. He fought, calling out again and again, but no one came.
The probe in his rectum began to vibrate against his prostrate. “No! No!” he cried out as he ejaculated with such force he passed out.
His next conscious moment, he found himself placed on a table. They rolled him over on his side and, to his horror, inserted something cold and metallic into his rectum. They flipped him back over, and his arms and legs were strapped down. A restraint across his forehead completely immobilized him. Overwhelmed with a feeling of helplessness, he tried to speak, but words wouldn’t come. In a daze, Sean couldn’t move or speak.
A man wheeled a device over to the table and hooked it up to Sean’s body. The same burly captor secured something—Sean couldn’t tell what—to his pelvic area and enclosed his penis inside.
Panic gripped him, and he dragged in deep gasps of air, which only heightened the effects of the spray. Everything dimmed out entirely. He awoke some time later, his insides churning and his pulse racing. The room had gone silent, and he struggled to free himself, but to no avail. His groin area warmed, and it stunned Sean to realize he had an erection. He fought, calling out again and again, but no one came.
The probe in his rectum began to vibrate against his prostrate. “No! No!” he cried out as he ejaculated with such force he passed out.
* * * * * *
Home (excerpt #7)
Yana looked at his lover, Sean, gasping for breath next to him, blood trickling down the side of his battered face, then to Aaron, bloodied and semi-conscious on the ground. “Him. I choose him.You give me your word? He will be sent to a neutral base?”
“He will. He will be given medical care and transferred immediately.” With the wave of a hand, Aaron was carried to the chief’s transport. “We will return here to begin mining again in one hundred days. If you are still alive, make yourselves known to us. No one has ever lasted that long, but there is a first time for everything known to the Gods. If you are chosen by Them to survive, then I can do no less than to assist in your return to your people.”
“Can you leave us our weapons at least?” Yana stood as the others departed.
“No.” The chief said nothing more. In a nearly silent whoosh, they were gone.
Sean pulled his belt off, and wrapped it around the bleeding gash in his thigh. “We’ve got to find shelter.”
The roar of a beast startled them, and they took off into the nearby trees. Sean fell twice, and each time Yana pulled him back up.
“Go on,” Sean insisted, but Yana grabbed Sean’s arm and pulled him through the woods.
The small encampment had several shelters—similar in style to the old Quonset huts and interconnected by covered, reinforced walkways. If they could make it back there, they might stand a chance; but between them and the settlement was the woods. Woods filled with all kinds of animals— each more vicious than the last. They didn’t dare stop because the ground beneath their feet was just as dangerous, with insects the size of rats that crawled and buzzed and flew at them at every turn.
“He will. He will be given medical care and transferred immediately.” With the wave of a hand, Aaron was carried to the chief’s transport. “We will return here to begin mining again in one hundred days. If you are still alive, make yourselves known to us. No one has ever lasted that long, but there is a first time for everything known to the Gods. If you are chosen by Them to survive, then I can do no less than to assist in your return to your people.”
“Can you leave us our weapons at least?” Yana stood as the others departed.
“No.” The chief said nothing more. In a nearly silent whoosh, they were gone.
Sean pulled his belt off, and wrapped it around the bleeding gash in his thigh. “We’ve got to find shelter.”
The roar of a beast startled them, and they took off into the nearby trees. Sean fell twice, and each time Yana pulled him back up.
“Go on,” Sean insisted, but Yana grabbed Sean’s arm and pulled him through the woods.
The small encampment had several shelters—similar in style to the old Quonset huts and interconnected by covered, reinforced walkways. If they could make it back there, they might stand a chance; but between them and the settlement was the woods. Woods filled with all kinds of animals— each more vicious than the last. They didn’t dare stop because the ground beneath their feet was just as dangerous, with insects the size of rats that crawled and buzzed and flew at them at every turn.
©2011-2016 Donna McIntosh