Survivor Planet III Read online

  SURVIVOR PLANET III: DEVOLUTION

  by

  Juliet Cardin

  TORRID BOOKS

  www.torridbooks.com

  Published by

  TORRID BOOKS

  www.torridbooks.com

  An Imprint of Whiskey Creek Press LLC

  Copyright © 2015 by Juliet Cardin

  Warning: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 (five) years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000.

  Names, characters and incidents depicted in this book are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental and beyond the intent of the author or the publisher.

  No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.

  ISBN: 978-1-63355-800-7

  Credits

  Cover Artist: Kelly Martin

  Editor: Fran Mathieson

  Printed in the United States of America

  WHAT THEY ARE SAYING ABOUT

  HELP, I’VE BEEN ABDUCTED BY AN ALIEN

  As well as having the heat turned up, Help, I’ve Been Abducted by an Alien! is also full of adventure. After finding out about Earth’s fate, Jen is desperate to return to Earth and warn the human race. Lysander knows of the consequences and more, which is partly why he keeps her with him. But Jen’s character is strong and so is her will!

  As well as having fun, believable characters and an enjoyable storyline, it is also well written and flows nicely. I do love how Juliet Cardin has gained the reader’s attention by beginning the story with Jen as a non-believer in the abductees stories but then having to believe them after she shares a similar experience. It is certainly a read I would love to read again. Any sci-fi erotic romance fan is sure to love this little story!

  ~ Caroline Barker, Areadersreviewblog

  SURVIVOR PLANET

  Amanda and Ayres. This is a story that will make you think of Hunger Games, but then I also thought about Lord of the flies and Star Trek as I was reading it. There are layers of intrigue and reality that are slowly revealed. A short read, it still covers a lot of ground and I already look forward to the sequel. It's not a cliffhanger, but you just know that there are adventures waiting in the future. Amanda has lived in psychiatric institution since she was found unconscious among the remains of her uncle and aunt. She has hallucinations and a troubled past. Ayres is an enigma represented by her crazy ex-lover, or is he?

  There's politics and aliens and games reminiscent of the Roman's Colosseum. What's a girl to do when she is abducted by aliens, except go with the flow? This story isn't really what I was expecting. I was expecting a 'Mars needs women' type of story, but it is actually much better and not nearly as predictable. You kind of have to do as the heroine does and just strap on your seat belt and enjoy the ride.

  ~ Cheesecake’s Reviews, Goodreads

  THE TULPA KNIGHT

  The Tulpa Knight was a sweet read. I really enjoyed the easy flow to the story and its characters. Kallie is a strong woman who finally realizes just what true love is. Jamie is a great man who finds a way to gain back what he looses. The love and the emotions that grow between Kallie and Jamie are a wonderful read. Juliet Cardin makes us once again want to believe in the magic of true love and what it can do. If you enjoy a quick and romantic read this is a book that you should not miss.

  ~ Got Romance Reviews

  SOLAR SLICK

  I would recommend this novella to those who enjoy sci-fi erotica/romance. It’s an enjoyable read, which is highly entertaining and full of intrigue. More books are sure to be in the future, and I for one am looking forward to them!

  5/5 flaming hearts for hotness.

  ~ sslyblog.wordpress.com

  Other Books by Author Available at Torrid Books:

  www.torridbooks.com

  Planet sEx

  Divisive Dome

  Observation Deck

  Across the Distance

  Male Order Alien

  Solar Slick

  Galaxy Glitch

  Step in Time

  The Tulpa Knight

  Help, I've Been Abducted by an Alien!

  Pretty Potions and Sexy Spells

  Survivor Planet Series

  Survivor Planet

  Survivor Planet II

  Chapter 1

  I couldn’t feel my toes.

  There they were stretched out in front of me wiggling like crazy, but I wasn’t the one making them do it. How could I when I felt numb from the knees down? My hands worked okay. My fingers bent on cue, and that was all me. But something had possession of my toes. I took inventory of my body, starting with my head, and worked my way down. Everything moved the way I wished, until I got to my knees. Then, nothing. Zilch. Nadda.

  How the hell was I supposed to get up?

  Straw poked me in the ass. The entire floor of the eight by ten cell was covered in the stuff. Across from me, stretching from the ground to the ceiling, was a steel door made up of vertical bars. Six in fact. One barred window rested in the wall behind me, high enough that I could stand—when I could stand—on my bare feet comfortably and peer outside. It allowed the sun or darkness to creep within, telling me whether it was day or night. Another way to gauge time was the three meals they brought me a day; sunrise, high noon, and dusk.

  Breakfast ended about an hour ago so this was the beginning of another day. I reached for a small rock resting beside me and picked it up. Leaning over far as I could, I used the pointy end of it to scratch a line through the four lines I’d already made on the wall.

  So this was day five.

  I can’t remember much about how I came to be here. I’m dressed in a plain brown gown that ends just above my knees and knots at the top of one shoulder, letting the other one go bare. I wear nothing beneath it. The material’s strange, feeling soft, yet almost rubbery between my fingers, and the way it repels dirt and dust suggests it isn’t your typical run of the mill cotton and polyester blend. It appears similar to a toga, and if I had to fathom a guess I’d say that’s what it was intended to be. Made perfect sense considering the man that brings me my grub wears a skirt to his knees comprised of long, brown leather strips, and a leather vest overtop a white shirt, along with high leather boots—appearing to be a Roman from days of old.

  From the long looks I’ve taken outside my window the view reveals roadways made from interlocking stone, a huge coliseum, and sandal-clad men, women, and children wearing various colored toga-like apparel, with long pieces of fabric fitted overtop, belted at the waist. So, either I’ve time traveled, or I’ve gone insane.

  I prefer to believe the former.

  My guard won’t give anything up. His entire demeanor reeks of standoffish, bored, hostile indifference. As though I deserve less attention than the sand or straw beneath his feet. He at least brings me decent food to eat, so someone must care if I live or die. An old woman, bent and smelly, wearing a gray worn out frock empties my slop bucket every morning. She never speaks, but when she smiles I’ve noticed she has no teeth and I’m beginning to think she’s sworn to secrecy or lacks a tongue.

  When I peer out through the bars of my cell into the passageway I can count at least ten more cells, guessing that for every one across from me there’s another one on my side of the row. They’re staggered, so I have a hard time seeing who’s in them. I have caught glimpses of lo
ng swinging hair from the closest ones, and heard faint cries, so I’m thinking they’re women. Perhaps all the cells are filled with women? I have no clue.

  Did I do something wrong, I wonder? Something to justify having me sweat it out in cramped quarters, isolated almost to the point of hysteria? Or is this someone’s idea of a joke?

  I am not amused.

  My knees tingle and feeling slowly returns, allowing me to gain some semblance of control over my wiggling digits. A few deep breaths later and when I attempt to cross my legs I’m successful. At least now I can fidget respectably and find some comfort. A few more minutes and I may even attempt to stand. I suppose I shouldn’t be annoyed. Without my bodily quirks to distract me I might actually go crazy.

  Yelling would get me nowhere. I figured this out the hard way. Any type of noise above muffled cries or whispered speech would gain the attention of the guard. And he doesn’t like to be bothered. My second day here gained me a good zap in the gut with a long steel wand that he waved around like the good fairy. It shocked me into silence pretty effectively and I haven’t given him cause to use it on me again. Come to think of it, that’s when all the problems started with the bottom half of my legs.

  Although, it also happens to my arms on occasion; from elbows to fingertips.

  They’ll wave or sway or punch up over my head or around my body. Sometimes I find myself saluting several times, making me feel pretty stupid, but there’s nothing I can do to stop it. It feels as though someone turned me into a marionette and pulls my strings for kicks. It’s got to be that zapper wand. He fried me and damaged my body somehow…that must be it.

  Loud voices and rustling suddenly sound from the far end of the passageway where the guard always disappears to. Shimmying over to the wall, I used it for leverage to get to my feet. I didn’t want to be sitting on my ass if something was going down. Sure enough, the sound of several pairs of booted feet began stomping in my direction. They started with the cells before mine, and jingling keys and clanging steel doors flinging open reach my ears.

  So do the girls’ screams.

  Unmistakable slaps rang in the air followed by silence. At least until the next cells are opened. Then it began all over again. They were getting closer. I backed against the wall and felt a slight breeze against my bare shoulder from the window. A lot of excitement was going on outside judging by the shouts and happy squeals I heard. If I weren’t so concerned with the passageway I’d turn around and check it out. I wondered if the two scenarios had anything to do with each other? Maybe we were being brought outside to witness or join in some kind of festivities?

  Another cell banged open.

  Now they were at the one beside me. I could see guards swarming about dressed similarly to the one who frequented my cell. From where I stood I counted six of them, or more. Since I didn’t see the girls they plucked from their cells I assumed they’ve each disappeared with a guard. They’re huge fellows who’d probably have no trouble handling lone females by themselves.

  Now a guard unlocked the door to my cell. It wasn’t possible to back away any further than I already had. Whatever fate awaited me would come to pass regardless of my actions. The empty cells before mine attested to that fact. They would take me from here, one way or the other. The choice was mine on how I wished to meet this fate.

  I took a step forward.

  Chapter 2

  “Come,” the guard said, gesturing to me. In his hands he held a rope. I moved up before him and put out my arms in front of me. This was not a man I’d seen before, not the dour faced fellow I’d seen daily. Not the man who’d zapped me with that metal wand. This one, pleased by my compliance, winked at me and tied my wrists together. He was gentle and despite the rope being heavy and rough, it didn’t overly rub me raw.

  “All right in there?” another guard called from the passageway.

  “Fine,” my guard said.

  Now secured, he guided me into the hall where mayhem resounded. Walking past a few other prisoners and beefy guards he led me down the long passageway. From what I could see and hear I assumed I’d been correct about the other cells containing only women. Some of them were ahead of me and I could see them, barefoot and brown-toga-clad, heads drooped in defeat. How sad. Soon we broke free of the dim walls and stepped outside. Sunshine hot and bright felt glorious on my face.

  I needn’t ask where we were going. The coliseum loomed ahead. From the path we trod I knew it to be our destination. Even from a good distance away I could already hear the crowds who even now flocked inside the huge double wooden doors set at intervals around the massive circular structure. A jolt of realization hit me. The coliseum, several stories high, with its walls accented by arched openings, was fully intact. This was no ruin.

  But how could that be?

  Had I time traveled then?

  My gaze swept the landscape. All the buildings I spied were pristine as though newly or recently built. I wracked my memory trying to find some semblance of an explanation. My name is Lara. I am twenty years old. I live in…

  Remember…

  For some reason my mind failed to register any more information. The deeper I dug, the higher the wall I encountered. My steps faltered and when I felt the slight tug on the rope at my wrists I sped up. The shadow cast upon the ground by the coliseum was vast. Desperate for the feel of the sun I tilted up my head toward the sky, deep blue with fluffy white clouds. A glorious day. And then the sight of two giant moons floating in the vast sea of blue startled me.

  So I’d been wrong.

  I had neither time traveled or lost my mind.

  I was on another planet.

  Flashes of memories bombarded me. Darkness all around, running through a forest, and then a bright glowing light descending from above. A spaceship perhaps? I shook my head, forcing the blurred images aside. They only confused me, and I needed to stay focused on the present. Wherever I was, something big was happening. And the pit of dread in my belly was telling me we were about to be at the centre of it.

  Soon we’d be within the coliseum and, greatly fearing what was inside, I wanted to linger as long as possible. I slowed my steps, being careful since I still stared upward. Behind me was a line of more women. We had to pause for a moment when we reached the coliseum. I heard many of them exclaim in dismay over the sight of those moons, which had been hidden from our limited view from our small prison windows. My guard led me over to a small unremarkable door away from the ones the public used. Inside, a huge barrel-chested man stood guard. He allowed us to pass. His gaze roved over me, his tongue flicked out to lick his upper lip, and his hand rubbed against the front of his tunic suggestively. My guard scowled at him.

  Though I had a million questions running about in my head I remained silent. Upon entrance we’d moved steadily downward, the dirt path leading us into the bowels of the structure. The assault to my nostrils was strong, the sweet aroma of straw mixed with the sweat of what seemed a hundred animals. Before us opened up a vast area filled with a labyrinth of corridors.

  The guard veered to the right and moved us along a wide passageway. Overhead I could hear the tread of many feet. Heavy wooden beams ran along the walls and overhead, absorbing the weight from above. Sawdust danced in the air, lit up by stray pinpricks of sunlight shining in through the walls.

  The corridor got wider as we walked along and what appeared to be animal stalls lined the right side of the wall. There were also cells similar to the one I’d spent time in although the doors were made of heavy wood. As we passed by I caught glimpses of huddled forms through iron barred windows. In others I saw groups of three or four giant men, pacing, leaning against cell walls, or sitting on dirt floors, dressed in short tunics, leather bands on their wrists, reminding me of gladiators. Grimy hands clung to the bars of a cell just ahead. I slowed my pace and then stopped, causing the rope on my wrists to tug. My guard turned around and narrowed his gaze at me. Others were coming up behind us and I knew we had to keep moving, bu
t I couldn’t make my feet work. It wasn’t like the times in the cell when I lost control. This was different. It took me only a moment to figure it out.

  Fear.

  Fear paralyzed me.

  There in the cell staring back at me was not another man as I’d expected. Seeing him—it—up close I realized that now. His head was large and square shaped, sporting not two, but three eyes. Two tiny holes sat centered on his face where his nose should be. His mouth was wide, with thin lips stretching right across his face. The hair atop his head was dark blue, matted with dirt and grime, and poked up in some places from his scalp in tufts. When I gained the strength to tear my gaze away and stare at my guard he merely pulled me along.

  “Come,” he said.

  The others were almost upon us, I had no choice but to obey. I forced my legs to move and concentrated on my steps. One, two, three, four…

  But I couldn’t get the image out of my head.

  What the hell was that thing?

  We walked into a tunnel that led us upward on a dirt ramp. Ahead I could see bright sunlight pouring down and could hear the roar of the crowds. As I stepped out my gaze swept round the vast coliseum seating, bearing thousands of rowdy spectators.

  All of us were led into the centre of a huge open area. At our feet the ground was hard-packed dirt. From above, the crowds jeered and shouted, making our heads swing this way and that in fear and awe. I counted twenty of us women standing in a long line, our guards behind us holding our tethers tight lest we flee. The crowd suddenly quieted and at the far end of the coliseum I saw a man dressed all in gold with a crown of green ivy upon his head standing up with arms stretched out before him. My guard gave me a slight shove indicating I walk forward. The other women did so as well, until all of us stood in a straight line before the man commanding the attention of the crowd.

  “Fellow Roamyns, for your pleasure my council and I have arranged a display of grand proportions!”

  The crowd roared with excitement and then once again became silent.