Caged

August 1, 2030

The world had changed since the humans had lost control nearly a decade ago. From the shadows had come the blood drinkers, the Vampyres. The once powerful humans were now slaves and playthings to the rulers of the night. Instead of upper. middle and lower class, you now had the companions, breeders, and slaves. Only the most beautiful were chosen to be the in the elite class of the companions. They are the ones they Vampyres chose to keep as pets of sorts. Breeders were used to keep humans populated so there would be food and fresh servants and companions. They were chosen by their pleasant looks and great genetic makeup. Breeders had to have clear family histories and lack any genetic flaws. Then there are the lowly slaves, they are nothing more than property there to do their master’s bidding. These were the leftovers, the ones who weren’t beautiful enough to be companions and their DNA contained genetic flaws.

Alexis Harper arose from her bed; her 18th birthday was just a week away. The moon clung low in the sky and the clock beside her bed read 1:35 a.m. It was time for her to make her escape. Like every young human, once you turned 18, you took your place in the new world as either a slave, breeder, or companion. Alexis knew she should consider herself lucky but to be chosen as a Vampyres companion was the worst thing that she could think of. Every year since she had turned 10, a Vampyre had come and seen her. Her blood had been taken and tested each year. Her DNA was flawless, but it was her looks that had sealed her fate. She had long flowing red hair and beautifully tanned skin. She only stood 5 ft 1in but like they say, dynamite comes in little packages. Everything about her made both men and women take a second glance.

In just a weeks’ time she would leave everything that she had ever known and become companion to a Vampyre named Damien. He was a Lord of sorts and helped create the rules and regulations for the humans. She had heard he was also extremely handsome but that did not sway her from her decision to run away. She lifted her window slowly and tossed her rucksack out onto the grass. She quietly followed, the moonlight glinting off the heart shaped locket around her neck. Alexis ran towards the woods, she could hear the patrol car coming. Just as the lights from the car came racing towards her, she was ducking below the branches out of sight. She breathed a sigh of relief. Heart racing, she made her way to the river and disappeared among the underbrush.

Almost 2 years later

The ropes were coarse and cut into her skin as she struggled to free herself. Alexis had managed to survive nearly 2 years on her own. It had been a lonely life, but she had been free. Her long red hair had come loose from her ponytail and covered her face. She had been captured by local authorities while trying to check on her family. They had taken her in and ran her fingerprints. Immediately the results had came back and she was on her way to Damien. It would be up to him to punish her for her transgressions.

The car bounced along, and she struggled to remain upright. The driver didn’t even glance back at her as he hit the brakes and she went flying into the floor. Her door was jerked open, and she was lifted from the floorboard. Alexis struggled to get a look at who held her. “Hmmmm my sweet, if you had cooperated in the beginning then you could have arrived here in style years ago.” Alexis went completely still. The moonlight seemed to bounce off his tan skin. His black hair was short yet wavy and his eyes were a piercing blue. For a moment she was dumbstruck until he smiled, and his elongated canines glittered. She began struggling again trying to get away, laughing he sank his teeth into her neck and the darkness over came her.

Alexis could smell freshly cooked meat and that brought her back to consciousness. The room she was in was large and easily accommodated the enormous bed she was laying on. The door opened and in walked a slave carrying a tray. The slave sat the tray down on a table beside the bed and removed the warming lid. On the plate was bacon, eggs, sausage, and grits. Her stomach growled loudly. For the past few months, she had been living off whatever she could scavenge. She begun to scarf down the food and washing it down with the glass of sweet tea that had been provided. Alexis didn’t notice the slave leaving the room nor when Damien stepped inside the doorway and leaned against the door jamb. She ate until her stomach was bulging. She couldn’t ever remember being so full. “Glad to see that you haven’t been put off your appetite my sweet.” Alexis jumped and jerked her head toward the doorway. Damien pushed himself off the jamb and walked to the bed. “Under normal circumstances you would accompany me to tonight’s ball, but I think it would be better if you remained in your room. Once you have had a chance to acclimate and learn the rules then you will be allowed to join me. However tonight our president shall be attending, and I don’t need my companion embarrassing me.” He tilted his head toward her.

Alexis refrained from sneering at him. She figured that this would be a good opportunity to try to get away again. She dipped her head and tried to appear demure. “Whatever you think is best my Lord.” She replied. Damien held back a smirk. She was up to something. Enjoy your evening my sweet and I shall check on you once our guests have retired.” Damien turned and strode out the door. Alexis heard the lock click and waited for his footsteps to fade away. She climbed out of bed and looked out the window, she was on the second floor. It was narrow but thankfully she was lean without an ounce of fat on her. She would be able to easily slide out and escape. She turned back to the room and spotted her rucksack. She grabbed it and went to rifling through it. Hidden, rolled up in some clothes was the wooden stake she had carved one night she had been bored.

Alexis slid the stake into the side of her boot and rolled her jeans back over it. Outside she could hear cars pulling up. The noise level below her was slowly rising as the guests arrived. Alexis opened the window and pulled herself out and then tugged her rucksack out behind her. She pressed herself against the wall and slowly made her way across the rooftop to the edge. This side of the house was dark and there was no trace of the moon in the sky. She stealthily jumped down to the ground. She held her breath to see if anyone had heard the thud that her feet had made when she landed.

A hand clamped down on her shoulder, Alexis whirled around. From the shadows stepped a pale Vampyre. His skin nearly glowed in the darkness. “Well, well, well. What do we have here?” His canines were even longer than Damien’s. Her hand itched at her side, but she was waiting for the perfect moment to grab her weapon. Alexis tried to jerk away but the fingers dug into her shoulder. He snatched her close to him and traced his free hand up her torso to circle around her neck. His fingers ran over the golden chain of her locket. “You must be Damien’s companion; he did say you were exquisite. However, you don’t seem to have learned your lesson from running away. I shall have to show him how to properly discipline his companion. But for now, I’ll punish you myself!” He drew his hand back and the blow caught her across the face. If he hadn’t been holding her up, she would have hit the ground. Unconsciously her hand went to her cheek and split lip. The blood dripped down onto her hand.

“Who do you think you are?” She asked, “I happen to be president of our great nation.” He laughed. This Vampyre was the reason the humans were treated the way they were now. Her eyes grew wide, and she ducked as his hand swung back at her face. Before he could move, she had her stake in her hand and was plunging it into his chest. He let out a gasp and gripped her neck, but she was pulling away. His fingers grasped the chain of her locket and she felt it break from around her neck. The president fell back against the wall. In one hand he clutched her necklace, and the other was attempting to pull the stake from his chest. Blood trickled from his mouth, and he let out an anguished scream.

The pounding of feet alerted her, and she took off running, Lights poured out from behind her as Vampyres raced to the aid of their fallen leader. Alexis made it to the woods and turned to look behind her. She could see Damien looking around for her, the heart shaped locket glittering in his hand. Alexis turned disappeared into the darkness. In more danger than ever but free once again.