A Meaningless Existence... installment 2

Rachel could feel a sort of affection growing between them and wondered if he felt it too. but she didn't want to feel that. Having no control was such a horrible feeling that she wanted to scream.
Kan sensed her discomfort and stood up. -Come with me. Please?-
-Why?- Rachel inquired with a hint of suspicion in her voice.
-Id hate for you to have to stay here all day. Unless you want to. Then I suppose I don't mind.-
Rachel shook her head and let him help her out of bed. -No I don't want to stay.-
-Good.-
When Rachel sat down on the couch she was suddenly overwhelmed with the desire to leave. It was unbearable. Looking at Kan terrified her to the point of wanting to scream. And she hated remembering what she'd just done. Quietly she promised herself that it would never happen again. Kan was her worst fear, and those cannot be loved. But when Kan looked at her she could see that it made him happy in a way that she did not want to imagine. She shuddered.
Kan saw this and pulled the couch blanket around her shoulders. He stared at her for a long time; his eyes traveling from her neck to the low cut of her partially unbuttoned blouse which he ha done and didn't regret at the moment.
-How old are you Rachel?- he asked finally breaking the silence.
-19.- she replied quietly
-Hmm,- Kan thought for a minuet. Not much younger than me.-
Rachel gave him a questioning look. She didnt really care to know, but the silence would be unbearable.
-22. so tell me Rachel what kind of girl are you? Guys hit n you a lot? You dont really strike me as the..slutty type.-
-I-
-Do you have a boyfriend? Engaged?-
Rachel stared into her lap. -No neither.-
-Please don't get offended, but I think you're a ...well you've never... you're still-
-Yeah I know!- she said defensively. -I know you're a guy and you like sluts but-
-Hey lets not jump to conclusions now. Thats not what I meant.-
-Sorry.- she pulled her knees to her chest. I just dont like personal questions like that.-
-Then what do you like?- he asked sounding teasingly hopeful.
Rachel didn't answer at first. -Why dont we talk about you?-
-What do you want to know?- she thought for a moment but before she could answer, Kan started to fire off a brief history of himself.
-My name is Kan Wood and Im 22. I was arrested a few months ago and busted out, most fortunately, before I even got in cuffs. I have a five million dollar bounty on my head, probably more now that I have a hostage.- he seemed to stop and consider this as if he had not thought of it before- Oh. And by the way, you're the first. So now can we talk about you?-
Rachel nodded.
-Good so tell me your full name-
-Rachel Daniel Foster.-
Kan looked at her for a moment then moved an arid strand of hair behind her ear. Why does your hair look like this? Has it always been this way?-
-Yes. I guess its just a birth defect or something.-
-I wouldn't call it a defect.- he whispered then cleared his throat. -Where do you work? Do you Go to college?-
-Online courses. I had two jobs. The transport station and a restaurant.-
-Sounds stressful. What do you do in your spare time?-
Rachel laughed n her mind at his comment. Spare time..... Now I.. oh I worked a lot.-
Kan put his arm around her and Rachel suddenly felt trapped against the wall. -That can be stressful. What do you do to relieve stress Rachel? What would you like to do?-
Rachel felt her back press against something soft and realized that Kan was on her. His breath was hot against her lips and it chilled her spine. When he kissed her it was forceful. This scared her but she couldn't pull away. Not only did Kans hand held her head firmly in place, but something in her mind wouldn't have let her even if she'd had a choice.
It felt like an eternity before he stopped. When he did she was shaking, holding tightly to his sleeve and her shirt had been unbuttoned more.
Rachel felt her throat tighten. She wanted to scream at him to stop. She didn't want him on her and she didn't want him kissing her. But before she could speak h was kissing her again. Her lack of objection had led him to believe that she liked it. Kan stopped a few seconds later and looked at Rachel with concerned eyes. -Rachel you're shaking. Am I really scaring you? I thought..-
-Kan Im so scared please I.. cant .-
-Stop, I know.- he moved away and Rachel sat up grabbing her shirt. He had only missed one button. I guess that -Im just too forward with you Rachel.- he said more to himself than to her then straightened his collar. -You probably want to take a shower.-
Her scalp tingled. Rachel didnt like the idea but didnt want to make Kan angry by refusing. -Ok.- she answered, worried about why Kan had suggested this.
-You dont have to Rachel. Its only a suggestion. I dont want you to feel uncomfortable, mentally. But at the same i time i want you to be comfortable, physically.-
it was too late for that though. Rachel was shaking and she felt sick. Kan brought her close to him, slipping he unbuttoned shirt off of her shoulders. It fell around her waist and she took a sharp breath.
-Im sorry.- Kan began to fix her shirt and button it. -Come on. Follow me.-
The warm water in the shower ran over Rachel's head and she breathed steadily; as steadily as she had in what seemed like forever. She picked up the bottle of shampoo and began scrubbing her hair. Lost in thought, her motions became show and repetitive.
-This is really weird.- Kan thought to himself while checking his stats. -They haven't raised my bounty at all. In fact they dont even have it listed that I have a hostage.-
Rachel rinsed her hair and turned off the water.
-Were in course for M5. My brother lives there and I need some work done on my ship.- She heard kan say and knew he was standing outside of the door.
His words caught her attention. -M5.- she repeated quietly to herself. The code had triggered something in her mind and suddenly everything went white. The room was filled with wires, machines, and men and women in white lab coats. She could feel her skin screaming with the sting of needles. Hundreds of them in her neck and arms and temples. All at once she fell screaming, holding her head, unable to control the splitting pain that engulfed her scull
-Dont get too close,- a man holding a clip board held his arm out in front of a group of scientists who seemed eager to get a closer look at her. Her emotion sensory needs tweaking. She scares easily.-
Rachel screamed again. Unable to control the pain she hit her head against the rim of the bath.
-Im impressed with your work Dr. Foster, but what is her purpose? How did you do it?- a woman asked.
Foster. That was her last name. Who was this man?
-Its all in genetic development. I suppose we could sell them to high payers.-
-Sell them?-
-Expensive toys. Just playthings.-
-Im sorry Dr. But that strikes me as a little sick. Shes flesh and blood, just like us.-
He shrugged.
-Shes not a high-tech model is she?-
Dr. foster shook his head. Shes just like us but legally shes property.-
Then everything came back into focus, but the pain in her head didnt subside. Rachel opened her eyes, sat up and screamed-them off!- she ripped at her arms and neck, still screaming as if the needles were still in her skin. -Get them off! Please! It hurts! Get them off!- then she saw Kan and screamed again only for a different reason. Rachel tried desperately to cover herself but realized that Kan had thrown a towel over her and was now holding her shoulders.
He grabbed her up franticly and carried her into his room where he placed her on the bed hastily then darted back across the room as if she might kill him.
Rachel looked at his face and could see utter confusion and horror. -Im ok,- she struggled to say as the throbbing in her temples increased.
-Are you sure?- he asked reproaching her with caution. -What happened?-
Rachel leaned against the headboard and covered her face with her hands. She could feel a knot forming on her forehead.
Kan sat at the foot of the bed.
-Im sorry if I startled you.- she apologized through clinched teeth.
He shook his head. -No, you didnt startle me. You just scared the hell out of me. What happened?-
Rachel rubbed her neck and arms, her skin still alive with a vicious tingle. -I just fell everything went black.. My head.-
Her story didnt seem plausible. -You dont just fall and start hallucinating.- Kan thought but didnt want to push the subject. He had a cousin that was schizophrenic and could remember, as a child, being frightened to see her have an episode. -Ok,- he said then went to the night table drawer and took out a bottle of pills. -It'll knock you out for a couple of hours but your head will feel better.-
Rachel accepted them, desperate to rid herself of the pain, then let Kan help her into bed. Everything in the room seemed to double and she couldn't get her bearings. When she reached to steady herself on Kans hand, she grabbed a handful of air and just before falling unconscious she managed to utter a few slurred words. -You cant take me to M5...-
Light flooded into the room where Rachel slept, waking her out of a restless sleep. It was a bright glow that filled the entire glass wall but she couldn't get the source into focus so she shut her eyes and groaned. Across the room someone stirred. She heard the clink of Kans metal soled boots as he walked to the wall and closed off the glass.
-Where are we?- she asked and tried to sit up. Her attempt failed and she lied still.
-Were on M5. Sorry Rachel but I have to stop here. I dont have a choice.- He paused to sit next to her. Whats going to happen there? Why dont you want to go?-
Rachel rested her head against his shoulder, thinking it was the bedpost. -There were so many needles in my skin.- She rubbed her neck as if checking for them. -They were talking-
Puzzled by her unclear story, Kan bade her to continue -What did they say?-
-I dont know,- she lied. It was all a blur. But as soon as you said M5 it was like a flood of memory. Hnn I feel nauseous-
-Lie down. Ill get you something to drink.-
-Thank you Kan.-