The Mamluks (The Mamluks Saga: Episode 1) Read online

  I took a deep breath. “I can’t believe it’s come to this.”

  Robert nodded. “It’s unimaginable.”

  I glanced at the wall and checked the small pile of food they'd found. “We won’t last long down here. At some point—we’ll have to go back to the surface.”

  Robert looked around, somberly. “I know.”

  Chapter 16

  Afterward, we all tried to get some rest. But I couldn’t sleep. I sat up and saw Robert sitting by the wall. He was staring at the fire, twirling a rock in his hand. I got up and walked over to him.

  “Can’t sleep?”

  Robert slowly shook his head. “I haven’t gotten much sleep since the invasion. It’s been no different down here.”

  “Mind if I join you?”

  “Not at all.”

  I sat down and crossed my arms. We stayed quiet for a moment, staring at the fire.

  “Did you meet their leader?” I asked.

  Robert chuckled. “No. I didn’t know they had a leader.”

  “They call him the Champion. He had a red cloak and everything.”

  Robert exhaled. “I bet that was a sight to see.”

  “Yeah, it was terrifying. Not knowing what to expect—lying on the ground like a helpless animal.”

  “I felt the same way with just the soldiers. It was very demeaning.”

  I paused and thought about Emily. “I’m still trying to figure out why they took the women.”

  “I’ve been thinking about that, too. I met a really nice lady on the night of the invasion. When they took her, it was like losing a lifelong friend.”

  I couldn’t help but wonder. “What was her name?”

  “Emily.”

  My heart thumped and my eyes grew wide as I quickly faced Robert. “What did she look like?”

  “Uh—she had brown hair, sky-blue eyes, a slim build—a beautiful young woman.”

  I shed a few tears as I looked up at the ceiling. “Thank God.”

  “I can see that she’s someone special to you.”

  “Yes. She’s my girlfriend.” Now all I could do was hope Emily survived whatever the Mamluks had planned.

  Chapter 17

  I lay on my bed, staring out the window. It was like being frozen in time, without memories to look back on, and no future to look forward to. All my life I had been taught to make the best of a bad situation. But how could anyone prepare for an alien invasion? I was lost—and there was nowhere to turn for help.

  I heard a knock at the entrance. I turned my head to check, thinking it was Katie. Surprisingly, it was a young girl holding a tray of food, wearing a plain white dress. I got up and walked to the entrance.

  “Hello. My name’s Emily. You can come inside.”

  The young girl had the saddest look on her face. “They told me to bring this to you.”

  I stepped aside. “Please, come in.”

  The girl hurried to the table by my bed and set the tray down. She spun around and tried to leave just as fast.

  “Wait,” I begged, grabbing her arm. “Tell me what happened.”

  She pulled her arm away and tried to run away again.

  I quickly, and desperately, reached out to her. “Please, come back.”

  The girl stopped and turned around. I walked up to her slowly. She looked away and put her head down. I opened my arms and gave her a hug.

  “It’s OK. I won’t harm you.” Gently, I rubbed her back. “Please, tell me what happened.”

  She wept terribly, and it made me fear what she might say. “They brought us to a room and made us put these white dresses on.”

  “What’s your name, Sweetheart?”

  “Audrey.”

  “How old are you, Dear?”

  “Eleven.”

  I cringed after hearing her age. “Come on. Sit down with me and have something to eat.”

  “I can’t. They told me to come right back.”

  I held my tears back and let her go. “Well… I hope to see you around. Good luck, Audrey.”

  She hurried into the hallway and ran away. I stood there for a moment, thinking about the other women. It was disturbing to see the Mamluks turning them into servants.

  I heard someone coming down the hall. Seconds later, Katie walked inside with another lady.

  “There you are. I was looking all over for you,” she said. “Bridget—Emily,” she went on. “Emily—Bridget.”

  I reached out and shook Bridget’s hand. “Hello. Nice to meet you.”

  She had blond hair and brown eyes. “Pleasure to meet you, Emily,” she said in a British accent.

  Katie moved past me and pranced to my bed. “What goodies did you get from downstairs?”

  “Just a few things.”

  “Katie and I were headed to the roof to mingle with the others. Care to join us?”

  “No thanks. I’m still trying to collect my thoughts.”

  Katie skipped to me. “Well, don’t be a stranger. And don’t stay cooped up in your room all day.”

  I smiled and nodded.

  Katie left with Bridget.

  Later on, I ate the food Audrey had brought me. And shortly after, I decided to go for a walk. I went downstairs to the front entrance and found a soldier standing nearby. I approached her with caution.

  “Hello. How are you?”

  She turned around, smiling. “What is your name, Human?”

  “Emily.”

  “Are you looking for something, Emily?”

  I pondered for a second. “Yes, actually. I’m looking for answers. But I’m afraid to ask questions.”

  She gave me a firm look. “You humans are emotional creatures.”

  “Yes, we are.”

  Another soldier walked in from outside. I moved away as he drew near. He glanced at me before walking up to the other soldier.

  “Your duties are complete for today,” he said to her.

  She left her post and headed outside. “Farewell, Emily. Keep searching for the answers you seek.”

  I stood there and watched her leave, thinking about what she'd said. Then, even more anxious than before, I looked up at the other soldier.

  “Where do you go when your duties are over for the day?”

  “Home.”

  “Where is home?”

  He chuckled and looked down at me. “Anywhere we choose.”

  Chapter 18

  The next morning, I woke up and found Audrey in my room. She was collecting my tray from last night and setting down a new tray. I sat up on the bed and stretched. Audrey glanced at me, frowning.

  “Good morning,” she said.

  “Good morning, Audrey. How are you?”

  “I’m fine.”

  I got up and went to the bathroom. There was a large, tube shaped, sandstone thing sticking up from the ground that was used for excrement. The washing area near the back wall looked like a giant bowl with evenly placed holes on the floor and ceiling.

  I took my clothes off and got inside. I waited a moment, and the water automatically turned on. As I cleaned myself with some mula, I couldn’t help but wonder where they were getting the water—considering Los Angeles, and its water system, had been destroyed.

  After a long shower, I dried off and headed to the dresser by my bed.

  A soldier came to the entryway, startling me. “It is time, Human. Dress yourself and follow the others upstairs,” she said, then went down the hall.

  I got dressed quickly and followed the other women upstairs. We arrived at a widespread room. The area was packed with hundreds of women and male soldiers.

  “Emily, over here!” Katie called out, waving.

  Bridget was there, too.

  I hurried to them. “What’s going on?” I asked Katie.

  “I don’t know. One of the Mamluks told us to come up here.”

  A few minutes later, Adomas came upstairs. All the soldiers dropped to a knee and bowed their heads. The women silenced as he approached. My heart pounded as he
came close. Adomas looked around and smiled, holding his hands behind his back.

  “I have chosen you well, Humans.” He went to the far end of the room and stopped. “My soldiers, you may begin your selection.”

  They rose and walked from place to place, scanning the women.

  Katie grabbed my hand. “Emily?”

  “Calm down. It will be all right.”

  I stood there and looked on. But for some reason, none of them were looking at me. Finally, a soldier came up to us.

  “You,” he said, pointing at Katie. “Come with me.”

  She let go of me and went with him. Then, another soldier came over and took Bridget. Soon after, all the women were gone, leaving me alone in the hallway.

  I watched the last couple go downstairs, feeling confused. Slowly, I turned my head and saw Adomas—still standing at the end of the room. I became numb as he walked toward me. Adomas stopped in front of me. I looked up at him, shaking like a leaf in the wind.

  “Follow me.”

  Adomas led me to a room on the next floor down. There was only a large bed inside. He walked to the bed and sat down.

  “Undress.”

  My eyes watered as I stripped down. I could feel him watching me, and it made my stomach curl. I covered my chest as I stood there naked.

  “Come to me.”

  I walked to the bed and stopped at his feet. He slid his massive hand onto my back and pulled me closer. I breathed heavily as he bent down. Adomas sniffed my body for a second, oozing with pleasure. He took his time as he went on, gently kissing my breast and roughly fondling between my legs.

  Adomas picked me up with ease and set me down on the bed. He stood up and took his clothes off. I looked below his waist and winced. As he came onto the bed, I crawled backwards and got off.

  “No—I won’t,” I snapped, covering my chest.

  Adomas glared at me.

  I stared at him for a moment, then fearfully looked away. “I want to talk first.”

  Adomas laughed. He sat on the bed and leaned against the backboard. “You are brave to defy me.”

  I slowly looked back at him.

  “I was wise to choose you.” Adomas smiled and waved me over.

  I climbed on the bed and crawled to him.

  “Tell me your name.”

  I stopped by his arm. “Emily.”

  Adomas reached up and gently placed his index finger on my chin, lifting my head.

  “What troubles you, Emily?”

  I blinked uncontrollably as I looked into his eyes. “Everything. Please—tell me why you’re doing this.”

  “In time, you will learn of the Mamluks.”

  Naturally, I was a little relieved that he didn’t kill me. So I slid down and opened my legs. Adomas got on top. I inhaled deeply, tucked my lips, then exhaled through my nose and closed my eyes.

  Chapter 19

  Our food and water supply was almost out. Everyone gathered around the fire. I let out a nasty cough and wrapped my arms around my stomach, feeling the hunger. Madison was sitting next to me, holding her hands by the fire.

  “All right everyone. It’s time to make a decision. We can either stay here and continue to search the rubble—or go back to the surface and pray they don’t find us,” Robert said.

  No one said anything at first.

  “We have no choice. Even if we find more food—it won’t last,” I said.

  “No, we do have a choice,” a man said. “We can either die down here or die up there. And I ain’t digging no more holes.”

  I nodded. “He’s right. There’s no point debating this.”

  Robert let out a deep sigh. “Fine. Anyone who chooses to go back to the surface, follow me.”

  Madison and I got off the floor. We put some food in a muddy shirt and tied it up. Robert did the same. Then, each of us grabbed a splintered log off the pile in the corner and burned the top. Before we headed out, I paused and looked over to the others.

  “Is there anyone else?”

  They said nothing and looked on with blank stares.

  I stood there for a moment, in shock. “Good luck to you all.”

  We marched into the sewers and climbed through the rubble.

  “Keep your eyes open for anything valuable,” Robert said.

  We went nonstop for what felt like an eternity. Finally, we found light from above. Cautiously, we moved ahead and listened for any activity. The area sounded clear. We hurried to the light and checked it.

  There was a narrow opening in the ceiling about twelve feet from the rubble. We desperately scanned the area for something we could use to reach it. But after searching for a while we came up with nothing.

  I crumbled to the floor and released a nasty cough. Madison sat down next to me and patted my back. Robert came over and sat down across from us.

  “Well, at least we can see the surface,” he said, looking up at the opening. “Let’s rest here for the night.”

  We put our logs together, made a fire and huddled up, lying back to back with Madison facing up in the middle.

  Later on, as the light from above faded away, I closed my eyes and imagined I was sleeping in my old bed. I concentrated hard, trying to separate my mind from my body. Eventually, I dozed off.

  I dreamt about Emily that night. We were back in Hollywood, going for one of our usual hikes up Runyon Canyon. When we got to the top, I dropped my water bottle on purpose and got down on a knee to pick it up. I showed Emily the ring I had been hiding and asked her to marry me. She said yes. I jumped up and shouted joyously, grabbing her and twirling around with the gentle breeze.

  Finally, I got back down and put the ring on her finger. I rose and leaned in for a kiss. But before our lips could touch, the skies turned black. I looked up and saw spaceships coming down on us. Thereafter, in the distance, I saw a massive explosion.

  Everything evaporated, and slowly the hilltop caved in. Emily and I fell into a dark pit. We kept falling and falling until we finally landed on a demolished terrain. We were wearing the white bodysuits now, and all I could see were fields of black smoke and fire.

  The Mamluks marched out of the darkness and came toward us. There were hundreds of them surrounding us. One of the soldiers grabbed Emily and took her away. I reached out to her, screaming. Finally, a Mamluk aimed at me and a laser came out. But before the blast could hit me, I woke up.

  I was sweating and breathing frantically, looking around. “Emily?”

  “Andrew? Are you all right?” Madison said, coughing.

  I exhaled and closed my eyes. “I’m sorry, Madison. Did I wake you?

  “No. I was up. What’s wrong?”

  “Nothing. Just had a bad dream.”

  Chapter 20

  It had been a few days, and we were still walking with limps. There was a Mamluk named Giedre who gave us a liquid substance that helped with the pain. I was sitting on my bed rubbing it between my legs when I heard footsteps approaching. I watched the entrance, and Adomas appeared.

  “I can’t—I’m still in pain,” I pleaded.

  Adomas chuckled and walked to me. “Are you ready to learn, Emily?”

  I nodded.

  Adomas crossed his arms and casually walked around. “Tell me your questions.”

  I let out a sigh of relief. “Well, let’s start at the beginning. Where are you from? And why did you come to Earth?”

  “We Mamluks are descendants of the planet Marsden. Some time ago, the females of our kind mysteriously lost the ability to bear offspring.”

  I nodded slowly. “So you came to Earth to continue your bloodline.”

  Adomas faced me. “That is correct.”

  “But why us?”

  “You were the only compatible species.”

  “But… how did you know that? Were you watching us somehow?”

  Adomas smiled. “Your intellect is impressive, Emily.”

  I shyly looked away. “Thanks, I guess.”

  “We examined your kind t
horoughly before traveling to Earth.”

  “How?”

  Adomas gave me a cold stare. “You are not privy to that information.”

  I nodded and glanced at the device on his arm. “I understand.”

  He turned and headed to the entrance. “You must prove your allegiance to me, Emily. Only then will you be granted all the knowledge you seek.”

  “How do I prove myself?”

  Adomas looked back at me. “By nurturing our spawn.”

  Chapter 21

  I was sitting on a concrete block, looking up at the sky through the narrow opening. Two days had passed, and we still couldn’t find a way out. Even worse, we were very dehydrated and had little food left.

  “We have to go back,” Madison said, standing under the light.

  Robert walked to her and looked up. “You’re right.”

  I put my hand over my mouth and pondered.

  “Come on. Let’s get moving,” Madison said.

  I stayed still and looked around as they moved along.

  Madison stopped when she walked by me. “Andrew? Come on.” She looked on as I continued to ponder. “Don’t worry. We’ll find another way out.”

  Finally, I gave in. And as I got up, I put my hand on the concrete block I was sitting on and used it for support. I paused halfway and stared at it for a second, then I rose completely.

  “Wait—the rubble.”

  Robert turned around. “What about it?”

  “Look at the size of some of these blocks. With a good amount, we might be able to stack them high enough to reach the opening.”

  Robert nodded. “That’s a good idea. Let’s try it.”

  We found the biggest blocks and carried them to the light. It took all of us to lift each one, and my back was strained by the end of it. The hard part was stacking them evenly. We went back and forth with different angles, getting frustrated at times. But eventually we were able to find a stable alignment.

  The stack of blocks was almost the same height as Madison. She climbed up first and got her balance.

  “All right. Now jump high and hold on tight,” I said.

  She was breathing heavy. “OK.”