Chapter 4. The Escape
Shikha sat above all the Morlocks on a stalagmite with a broken off top making it suitable to use as a seat. She barely spoke now to the others as she had no friends. Not since Mog had to leave for his adult journey in the deep caverns. Often she would sneak down and see if she could find him. Sadly to no avail could she recognize her friend and before she could find out further the males would chase after her.
It had been ten years since they were separated. Often she wondered if they would ever see each other again. Each year she had waited to just see his happy face peer through her cave to play more games. After eight years she had finally given up, either he had died or had moved on to find a mate. She sunk her head into her arms at the thought of a mate. Now that she was old enough those were new thoughts in her head. Even if he did come back would he recognize her? As a friend or just another meal?
Being an Eloi, Shikha had matured much faster then her underground cousins. The wait seemed to take forever then with the slower maturing ones around her.
She climbed down the stalagmite's mighty base and padded off into the darkness back home. A few hours a day she would climb to the daylight and sit under the trees as her mother advised it was good for her. She didn't feel like going out today. Not with her mood so low with the heavy thoughts.
Marn was pushing rocks aside from their home entrance. "Damn neighbors keep pushing gravel down here as if this was a dumping ground. I should have a word with them."
"Mom? Do you think I'd ever find a mate?" She climbed back inside and sat down on her sheet. "I am old enough now and the other females have already been paired up."
Marn scowled and shook her head. She was just as frustrated as Shikha but knew very well much better. "I have doubts any Morlock will pair with an Eloi." She realized how much her daughter hated being called that and changed it. "Well you are more like a day Morlock."
"Am I really that ugly? I wish I was pretty as the other females. They all have such nice long hair on their arms and nice teeth. Mine are just stumpy and my arms bare. Maybe that's why. I'm just not appealing enough."
Her mother stared down at her daughter. Shikha was only over four feet tall, short compared to the other Morlocks who stood easily over five foot. Some of the larger males towered to six foot if they weren't crouching down. There was no way that any of them would take a liking towards a skinny, stunted female.
"No Shikha I don't think you will. It's been too long for changes now. You would be only viewed as food instead of a potential mate," She would have suggested finding her own kind but the fate that all the Eloi met was just not an option for her only daughter. "but that doesn't mean there might be at least one male. Who knows. Not all Morlocks are the same. One might find you attractive."
The last words gave Shikha some hope. It would be nice to have somebody that actually loves you and would be willing to lay out their life to just keep you safe. She was tired of being alone and lingering in the shadows. In her years of waiting her mother had secretly taught her many things such as mathematics, arithmetic and science. Despite her eager to learn, Shikha's brain just couldn't comprehend all the information her mother fed her. Thousands of years of breeding to be stupid played it's toll on her. Another subject she had interest in was about the past. How the Morlocks and Eloi were once one creature called Man in the past. This intrigued her to great lengths that she had to bring up a conversation about it frequently.
"Mother. Let's talk about the past again. I want to learn more." She crossed her legs and clasped her hands together. "I wish we knew what Man looked like. Did he look like us? Or did he look like the Eloi?"
Marn sat down in front of her and chewed away at a bone, trying to get down the marrow. "Well we don't know. There isn't any pictures of our ancestors. But yes we both came from him. Now remember Shikha, don't go on around telling folks what I've told you. It isn't safe and nobody likes to hear the fact that Eloi are our cousins."
"I don't talk to anybody but you mom. Why did Morlocks go underground for?" She continued.
"Man had ruined the earth with his many wars and diseases. Wiping out everything in their path with their anger. Because the air was so dangerous to breath Man decided to go underground. After a few hundred years the earth was much clearer so some came back out to the light again. Only a few could as some were too accustomed to their underworld home. These that were above became the Eloi whom decided to try and take over us as slaves. I have no idea why really but the rest evolved into the Morlocks. Over time the Eloi became very lazy and depended on the Morlocks to do their work for them. They became detached from their world and very weak. Eventually the Morlocks took over and after the last of the animals died out we started to feast on them. We still take care of them and watch after their every needs. In return we bring them under and eat them."
"Now things have changed of course since the Traveler came. They say he came in some time machine from the past and decided to attempt to destroy our kind for feasting on the Eloi. He has killed many a family of Morlocks. I heard he looks like an Eloi only his hair is a different color and he is much taller and smarter." Marn snorted in disgust. "We hate him for disturbing our peace. We don't hate Eloi. They were simply our food but he thought otherwise."
Shikha's eyes grew wide at the mention of the Traveler. "Is he a man? Our ancestor?"
"I guess so. He seems primitive in his ways and his machine looks like something from the Atomic age. He tries to drive us out of our homes. What does he expect us to eat? Grass? If there was some other animal perhaps we wouldn't be eating Eloi."
Shikha nodded in agreement. "I may be an Eloi but I understand one must eat. I would hate it if somebody took my food away and scolded at me for just eating. It makes no sense. I don't think I like this Traveler very much if he thinks he can hurt my family." The blonde girl wrapped her arms around her mother's neck to hug her. "Mother I think I am a Morlock in some ways. I may be an Eloi in blood but I don't feel like one. I am smarter and know the language of the Morlocks."
"Of course you are. You are very special unlike other Eloi. If only Fown would finally warm up to you as well. I do thank him that up to now he isn't up to any nasty tricks." She gave her daughter a serious face. "Now remember that now you have reached maturity the other Morlocks may try to hunt you. Even my mate may try, remember he isn't attached to you like I am."
"I know mother. I will watch my back." Feeling much better Shikha decided to go out in the daylight again to collect some fruit. "I will be back later."
After her daughter had gone Fown entered and plopped down on the flour. Today was a long and hard today for him as usual. The smell of the Eloi child was ripe in the air, making him drool.
"Marn we have to talk." He motioned towards his busy mate. "She is old enough now."
"For a mate? Of course but I don't know who would want her truthfully." Marn answered.
"No Marn. She is old enough to eat now. I told you when you found her she would be eaten later."
"Never!" His mate gasped with wide eyes. "You know damn well how much she is to me! You think it's just fine to eat my own daughter! My own daughter damn you!"
"She is an Eloi and that's what she is bred for. You had your fun raising your pet. Damn I let you have her for twenty years. That is much longer then any Eloi is meant to live. It's her time now." He growled in return. "Tonight is the hunt and it will be her last night too."
Marn crawled out from the cave bawling. She couldn't believe such words from his mouth, such evil words. No it will not end this way, not her only daughter. She would die protecting her if it came to it. She saw no weak Eloi ready for a feast, only her own precious gift. She searched around the entrances of the cave till at last Shikha came down from the broad daylight with fruit in her handy sack. She smiled brightly when she saw her mother waiting for her. Her expression sagged when she saw her mother's hysterical face.
"Shikha you must leave." She pushed her down the caverns in the direction where the males made their journey. "You must go and find Mog. He is living a mile down that way. Straight on."
The blonde girl started to breath heavily. To be suddenly told to leave forever was unspeakable. "Why mother why? Did I do something bad?"
"No but Fown wants this to be your last night." She looked gravely into her eyes.
Shikha felt her legs melt beneath her. She wanted to faint and drift off forever in a dream. "But mom I can't find my way around the caves. It's too dark! Plus it's so hard to go down there! What if Mog has changed and wants to eat me!"
"I have no other option Shikha. It's either stay here and have Fown pick on your bones or one chance to escape." Marn bent down and nuzzled her forehead. "Perhaps we can meet again someday Shikha. Please be strong and remember everything that I taught you. You are different from the other Eloi and being eaten is not your fate."
Shikha sobbed quietly in her arms. "I will miss you dearly. I will go and find Mog and maybe he will remember me as a friend. I will go down the caverns even if I can't see. I will try mom."
"Good." Marn cried, she threw a glance back over her shoulder and saw Fown coming out from the entrance of their cave. "Run Shikha! Run for your life now!"
Shikha's breath stopped and she spun around without even thinking and took off down the path. She didn't pay no mind to any boulders or jutting rocks. It didn't matter now that a hungry Morlock was probably on her tail.