In the Dark

Soul woke to an unwelcome feeling; her very bones aching with cold, radiating pain. She sat up slowly and rubbed the back of her head in a meager attempt to dull the pain. Remarkably there was no visible sign of injury but she knew it was there. The cold and scared girl not knowing what to do began to observe her surroundings. Sprawled around the room were other women just as scared and confused as she was. Soul pulled her knees up to her chest, trying to take up as little space as she could.

"You're finally awake," a female voice spoke. Soul looked up and searched for the voice "What's your name?" A hand was placed on her shoulder making her look to her left. A woman with shoulder length blue hair, in her early thirties, smiled down at her. Soul shied away from the strangers touch. "Oh it's ok, I'm not one of them." She hissed them like it was a curse.

"I'm Soul, have you seen my sister?" The woman made a face after Soul had said her name. She shrugged it off, more concerned about her sister. "My sister, Hart..." 'Oh' Soul realized.

"Well, that's an interesting name. Any way I'm Bulma." The lady smiled rather awkwardly down at the young girl.

"It's nice to meet you Bulma, it really is, but my sister. She was hurt, bleeding…" Why was it so hard to breathe? And was that her heart pounding faster or was that something else? Soul tried to breathe in but no air filled her lungs. 'Oh no'. She thought, panic rising in her chest. The walls slowly started to inch toward her, leaving her breathless and trapped. A slightly shorter woman, with long, black hair held in a messy ponytail approached them.

"Is she alright Bulma?" The other woman asked. Soul scooted back to gain space in an attempt to calm down from her panicked state.

"Chi Chi back up, I thinks she's having a panic attack." They moved away, giving Soul some room to breathe. Soul took a deep breath and held it, her heart still pounding in her chest. A familiar form came sauntering up from the far end of the room, coming into view.

"Breathe baby girl." Hart crouched before Soul and held her eyes. Soul stared into the depths of her sisters piercing blue eyes. Soon her breathing and heart rate returned to normal. Hart stood up and held her hand out to the other two women. "Harthvilious. It was very kind of you to try and help my little sister." The two traded handshakes with the muscular woman.

"It's no trouble at all, but why were you having a panic attack, Soul was it?" Soul looked up at the older woman.

"I have claustrophobia real bad, it's still affecting me..." She admitted looking at the walls and trying to will them away from her. A loud shriek sounded from the middle of the room. The four of them turned and saw a mousy girl fall to her knees. She screamed how she didn't want to die in space. Her scream set off a group of younger girls nearby, whom all started crying. Soon the room began to rise in a panic and Soul being caught in the middle of calming down after a panic attack, felt her heart sky rocket away from her minimal control. Hart sighed and whistled and ear piercing pitch that called everyone's attention to her.

"Ladies we are not going to die in space! If they were gonna kill us they wouldn't have brought us here. Now if you would pull your head out of your asses and calmed down for a moment maybe we can think of a plan to escape." She crossed her arms and glared at the tear stained faces of the crowed. From the back a hand appeared over the heads of the crowd. Hart nodded at the hand. "What?"

"Hi um, who died and made you boss?" Said the snarky feminine voice. Bulma stepped forward and answered for her.

"Ok, fine. You lead us. How do we escape?" The crowed was silent and looking at the girl. She said nothing and shrank back. "I thought so," Bluma sneered. The mousy girl looked up at Hart.

"Do you really think there is a chance to escape? I don't wanna die." She whimpered. Hart smiled at her.

"I don't know, but I do know we aren't going to die here. These saiyans are probably going to use us for slaves. Why else would the bother taking us off world?" Another girl, near by the group that had been crying perked up.

"Maybe they are actually taking us somewhere nice! Like a new planet? Or maybe they need mates?" She smiled and looked around for support. Hart shook her head sadly.

"I like your optimism but I highly doubt it. Otherwise they wouldn't have thrown me into a wall and cracked my skull open like an egg. I'm lucky to be alive." Soul stared up at her older sister, watching her talk so calmly about almost dying. She was so sensible but Soul could tell she was actually terrified. Hart continued talking but Soul stopped paying attention. She was finally calm from her earlier panic. Something about being with her older sister made her believe that no matter what she'd always be safe.

In the end no decision was made on how they all were going to get out of this mess, but Hart and a few others, Bulma and Chi Chi included, that they would set up watches by the only door, to warn the others if anyone was coming down. The rest would get some sleep. Hart, having looked after Soul her entire life had dutifully decided that first watch was to be hers. Soul laid down next to the mousy girl, whom had told her that her name was Alicia. Alicia had watched her brother and father fight the saiyan who had tried to take her and her mother, both died trying to save them. Then her mother in a last ditch effort to save her daughter cut the saiyan's upper arm, thus ending her life. Soul felt sorry for her, but slightly relieved that her sister who had tried the same thing was still alive.