Chapter 7 The Other Kind


"Everyday those Eloi grow stronger. Everyday the Traveler seeks to come closer. He's trying to drive us out, destroy what's left of our civilized world." An aged Morlock male and a few companions stood looking down from a stray cliff onto an Eloi village. "He's there I can sense it. Trying to show them his ways."

"He's doing more evil then he imagines." Another Morlock spoke. "We must soon leave if he drives those Eloi to uproar against us. They may fight weakly but this Traveler knows much. We must seek council again to decide what to do. Soon they will come after us and burn our underground systems. I fear our time might have a sudden end."

A few months had passed since Mog and Shikha abandoned their underground home to travel far into foreign places. Shikha's once frail body hardened into more developed muscling from the long walks and climbing. Her own mind expanded as well as Mog taught her more about her surroundings and how to make the best of it. She learned better ways on how to gather fruit from the high tree tops and how to mend her own clothing. It took her longer then a Morlock to learn but when she did gain the knowledge she never forgot it. She also took in all the scenery and attempted to remember certain land marks like Mog would do.

"I see lots of cave entrances. Many Morlocks live here. This is their territory." Mog slowed down and stared at the chains of mountains that stood regal before them. "We must watch ourselves. I may be one of them but I have no relatives here. They would try and attack us both."

Shikha and Mog made themselves comfortable in a small indention in the side of the mountain to rest until the next sunset. The land was quite beautiful but it could not be their home with too many potential enemies lurking.

Shikha took her usual spot on his lap and laid her head against his stomach. His musky scent enticed her senses and she tightened her grip around his waist.

"Remember when we first met? You were so cruel to me ha-ha." She started. "You still owe me for that mud pie in my face."

"I used to call you a tasty morsel all the time, would piss you off." He smiled back. "I was surprised how close I grew to like you. You were my first friend. My only friend as well."

Shikha felt her heart warm up for him. She wanted to tell him so much how she was happy that he had no other female by his side. Without thinking she leaned forward against his chest and started to press her lips against his face. She parted them and nibbled on his neck like she's seen courting Morlocks do. Mog was confused by her actions at first.

"Shikha stop it." He grabbed her shoulders and looked into her eyes. She drew back in embarrassment from his reaction to her affections. Her clothing was damp with sweat and her eyes bulging.

"Why Mog?" She finally let it out, no longer hiding the fact that she had feelings for him. "You don't have any mate. You and I have been together for months. Why can't we be mates?"

Mog closed his eyes and let out a deep sigh. "I don't know. I just don't have those feelings with you. I'm sorry if this hurts you deeply."

"It's because I'm an Eloi isn't it? Then tell me Mog why are we together now? Why didn't you eat me when I went to find you? Why are you helping me now? I am only an easy meal!" She started to cry, feeling her breath catch inside her throat. "I have no desire for life then Mog. Who wants to go on forever with nobody to love them back!"

Mog growled at her. "It isn't my fault that I don't share your feelings. I am truly sorry. I just want to be friends with you. It is not because of what you are. Please Shikha don't take it personal. I want to help you find a better life."

She drew back from him and gathered her bag. How selfish, she only thought of her own feelings instead of his. It just would never work. "Maybe I should just live with the other Eloi! I am one and I never have given it a chance."

Mog hopped up so fast it seemed like an amazing feat with somebody of his weight. "No you will only be food! You won't last I assure you." He grabbed her and yanked her close.

"Let go of me Mog." She jerked her hands away and ran towards the entrance. "You are right. An Eloi and Morlock can never be together! It is just unthinkable. I was being selfish and stupid. I am an Eloi of course so it doesn't matter. My life doesn't matter anymore. If I get eaten then that's okay. It's what I was bred for."

"It doesn't have to be that way!" Mog hobbled after her. He was not built for speed like the Eloi was. She distanced herself easily from him and made it for the sunlight.

At the entrance she climbed up and looked down back down inside the hole. "You should go back Mog. You are a Morlock. You need to go back to your own kind and me as well."

"You are being rash!" Mog called out from the darkness, unable to come any further. "Please come back!"

"The sun has betrayed you like your kind have so many times ago. Not for the Eloi it hasn't." She whispered. "Goodbye Mog."

Shikha ran as fast as she could. Her tears just started to dry on her cheeks. The only problem now was where to find Eloi. Some had to be nearby since some Morlocks lived close by. She stumbled blindly through the bushes, uncaring where she lead herself. Eventually she came upon a trail and followed it. Up ahead she heard strange chattering. Quietly she approached the noise and spied from behind a boulder. There were Eloi sitting on the grass and clapping their hands. Some were eating fruit and others laughing with each other. They seemed such a bright and happy bunch. She exposed herself and stood in front of them, expecting them to leap up and attack her. None of them even took notice of her. She walked around the maze of Eloi folk and sat a few feet away from the group and watched them. She could not understand their language. Perhaps they understood Morlock since they lived so close to them?

"Hello I'm Shikha." She told two females that were chewing on some wild onions. "Who are you?"

The two females only stared at her with raised eyebrows. Shikha did not take any note to how strange she sounded. Instead of a any words like the Eloi spoke, only grunts and groans came from her mouth. Out of frustration she raised her voice and spoke her words loudly and more slowly. Soon all the Eloi were staring at her. Bodies frozen and eyes glaring, the Eloi soon got up and drifted away. Shikha only sat there and watched them leave back inside their homes. Why did they all leave? All the Eloi seemed nervous of the sun setting. She only sat there as the sun disappeared behind the mountain while the Eloi stared out at her in confusion.

Not wanting to be alone she got up and followed them inside as well. The Eloi's eyes grew calm again and then huddled around each other on beds of thick sheets and pillows.

It didn't take long for Shikha to find out how absolutely strange her kind were. None of them were interested in any of their surroundings. There was no objects to play with or any machinery with them. They all just sat there and stared up at the moon. No spark of imagination existed in their eyes. Their eyes were only fixed on the moon because it was simply there. There was no dreaming of going to the moon or how it was like up there. It was there to stare at.

The Eloi barely spoke now. They just picked grass off their clothing and out of each other's hair. Even the children didn't play. They only laid on the pillows as if they were dead. There was a few Eloi mothers nursing their babies. Other then that she saw no other further bonds between the mother or child. It was all purely instinct. It seemed as soon as the child was old enough to eat fruit the mother no longer cared about it.

The night carried on and the breeze started to pick up. Some of the Eloi craned their necks over towards the mountains and let their mouths hang open. The others soon lifted their heads and looked over as well. Dozens of glowing eyes were staring at them through the open door. The Eloi's started to grow restless and fidgeted around in their places. Only to Shikha did those horrifying eyes mean comfort.

Suddenly a loud whip cracked across the floor. The noise was so shattering in the gentle night's silence. All the Eloi jumped up and stood trembling. Strangely enough their faces didn't show much fear at all. Only their legs shivered to show what fear they probably had at all. The glowing eyes floated around them and soon behind them facing the door. The whips cracked again and the Eloi power-walked out in the opening. Shikha followed up front of the pack. All their heads hung low, staring at the ground. Only the moonlight and the Morlocks could guide them through this darkness. Back to the mountains they were lead. The large cave entrances swallowed them up as all of them squeezed through to keep out of the way of the stinging whips.

Inside they were led down a narrow isle where many Morlocks stood. They were split in several groups and shoved inside smaller caves for inspection. Shikha's eyes grew wide as she tried to keep her head above all the others to get a glimpse of what was going on. Soon her group grew smaller as the Morlocks pulled one at a time out and looked them over. The Eloi only stood there with hanging mouths and lazy eyes as their captors would feel their arms and legs. Soon it was Shikha's turn. She found herself grabbed quite suddenly and yanked to the center by one Morlock. He pried open her mouth with his grimy fingers and inspected her teeth. Then felt down her body and poked at her sides. She realized now what they were doing. They were inspecting their meat in the fashion her own ancestors once did with cattle and pigs.

"She's old enough to slaughter. Nice and muscular compared to the rest of them." The Morlock said out loud. "I don't like the wild look in her eyes though. She might cause some trouble. Slaughter is the only option here. We don't need to breed off ones like this now."

Shikha shrieked and tried to run away from him but the Morlock's grip was too strong and he simply threw her over his shoulder and brought her into another room. She beat her hands against his back and tried to bite him. She found herself flipped over backwards and dropped on a sandy ground. Other Eloi stood there staring straight ahead with their usual sleepy eyes.

"You stupid Eloi! Why don't you run?! Don't you know your fate? You are stupid! Mother and Mog are right! You are stupid! No sense at all to even save yourself!" She grunted loudly in her Morlock tongue.

Their killers peered over towards her direction. She quickly shut her mouth, not wanting to be singled out for speaking like that. They probably thought another Morlock was shouting that and wanted to beat him for such a speech. They crowded around the entrance of their small containment and each pulled out an Eloi for their liking. Some of the Eloi did struggle and scream at last. Their heads were instantly bashed against the wall, leaving bloody brains running down onto the floor.

Shikha couldn't stand it anymore as the sweet smell of blood became stronger. She ran around, shoving other Eloi out of the way and screamed her head off. This was it. Her last night after all. This is what she desired and asked for anyways. Remember Shikha, you have nobody that loves you now. You are food now like it should be.

She felt big hands grab her around the middle and she was thrown over a Morlock's backside. She raised her head and cried. Her arms grew weak and her head grew light. Her eyes rolled back and she hung limp.