The Orange Door

My wife Amber and I were taking a walk around our neighborhood when it happened. The walk is something we did with some regularity since we moved into our small apartment. It was the perfect time of togetherness for the two of us. Both of us were getting established in our careers. Amber, all five foot five of her, with long copper hair, fantastic legs, brilliant blue eyes, and great tits, was actually a junior editor for a woman's fashion magazine. She likes to dress up for work at her office but not at home.

It doesn't bother Amber that I am not much taller than she is I'm five foot eight but when I'm with her I feel like an NBA starting center. I have black hair and, even if a say so, a nice physique. I recently took a job as an assistant tennis coach at the local university. Both of us could only go up and on to better things. The two of us had been married just over two years on the night of this particular walk. The moon was shining high and we were in fine spirits. The two of us were amused by a news blurb we had read.

Some tribe or cult, I forgot which, had made a prediction that the world was supposed to end at midnight. We walked arm in arm just before before midnight talking about all of the past failed predictions. The year 1.000, the year 2001, 2012, all of the rest. False predictions were kind of hobby of mine. I had a little scrap book where I pasted the false Rapture ravings of televangelists, ancient Maya tribes, Druid, Roman, and every other flavor of error. I planned to put a big check mark next to the latest clipping in my scrapbook at 12:30 denoting another failed prediction.

We were four blocks from home when Amber noticed a bit of shimmering just ahead. It looked like an orange beam of light reflecting upon a gossamer curtain. My lovely wife mentioned that the oblong orange wispy shape looked like a doorway.

"Well then Amber my angel, why don't we take a step through that door?"

It seemed funny that shimmering seemed to stabilize and grow more intense as we approached. Still in light spirits, we strode towards the flickering beams. Even though we could see our familiar city street through what we thought was a trick of light, once we set foot through the misty barrier we entered a vast darkness.

Amber screamed "Ben" and I tried to pull her close. Despite my efforts we became separated and my arms were filled with inky blackness. I heard Amber scream once more and then everything in my brain matched the black surroundings and I passed out.

I awoke an unknown time later on a dune of ocher sand. Nothing seemed normal. Right away I noticed the three suns in the sky. Wherever I was it was not on earth. I called for Amber as loud as I could and heard her voice weakly off to a distance. After a half hour of searching I discovered Amber buried to her waist about a mile away.

It took the two of us to dig her out. Our hands were sore and Amber's nails were a mess before she was able to stand free of the sand pit. Her jeans were torn at the knees but otherwise she was fine. She took off her light jacket and shook out the sand. Underneath her baby blue jacket Amber had worn a simple white blouse. It was fortunate that she was wearing lace up brown boots or her footwear would have been lost in the sandpit.

Amber and I scaled a dune and took a gander at our surroundings. For kilometer upon kilometer there seemed to be only the ocher sand. Amber is a brilliant woman and deduced as quickly as I had that we were not on any place known as earth.

"Well Ben, IF we ever get back home you will have to put a big question mark next to tonight's entry."

Amber scanned the horizon and thought she spied some trees behind one of the dunes off to our west. If that direction was the west.

We were fortunate that weather was reasonably cool, as the walk was arduous. What had first appeared as an indistinct green blob revealed itself to be a plateau dotted with foliage. Whatever they were looked similar to trees on earth. We heard the unmistakable sound of rushing water; that was a gift from heaven as both of us were parched We came to the foot of the prominence to discover what was clearly a stairway cut into the rock surface itself. The carved staircase was geared for beings a bit taller than humans. We had to take three steps to tread over each riser.

At the top of the staircase was a flagstone lined plateau and a beautiful pool surrounding a small waterfall. The plaza was evidence of civilization and the water provided evidence that we would live.

Amber and I had not talked much during our hike to this oasis, our parched throats were not conducive to conversation. We began to make up for lost time.

Taking in the stonework and the artificial bottom to the pool surrounding the waterfall demonstrated that there was intelligent life upon this planet. We also wondered how we had traveled here. As best as we could discern, we had passed through some sort of inter-dimensional gateway.

"How will we ever get home Ben?" Amber asked me.

"We passed through that door once, perhaps we can find it again." I replied.

"We have no idea where that door is, or if we find it that it will transport us back to earth. I afraid Ben that we a stuck here. Maybe forever."

My heart fell as I considered Amber's words.

"There HAS to be a way home." I replied stubbornly.

"I know that you want to believe that Benjamin but we have to be realists. In any event it will make a marvelous book one day. "

Whenever Amber called me "Benjamin" and not just "Ben" It meant she thought I was acting childish and stupid. I decided to quiet myself. We took a look a long walk around the flagstone topped oasis. There was a definite pattern to the layout. Trees in one area, large succulent looking bushes in other areas. There was a strange alphabet on various objects and walls. It was an odd script it looked like a cross between Chinese and Korean. There were not as many characters as Chinese and it seemed to have a uniformity like Korean. We saw many of the letter patterns repeat themselves in the script all over the landscape.

"You know Ben, I think I could figure this alphabet out if I had a week and some sort of Rosetta Stone. Despite the complexity of the characters it looks like a fairly simple and straightforward language."

After a while we took off our shoes and socks, rolled up our pants legs and dangled them into the beautiful clear pool surrounding the small waterfall. Our backs were turned to the staircase that led to the plaza as we talked softly. The only sound was the steady gentle roar of the waterfall. We were not aware of and never heard our captors until we felt their arms encircle us. I fought like mad but I was hopelessly outmatched. Then I saw why. The man pinning me down was huge, at least six foot five with iron sinews for muscles. In moments both Amber and I were hogtied and had been set down next to each other on some kind of furred mat.

My eyes drank in the sight of the entire tableau. There were seven of them, all tall muscled and very dark. On earth I would have taken them for Middle Easterners or Indians from the subcontinent, Their eyes however were all a steel gray with flecks of blue. Some had brown hair the rest had hair as black as pitch. With them were beasts of burden. Great bipedal birds that resembled giant emus, they were grayish blue. Instantly I realized that these were obviously the creatures that the staircase been built for. My eyes caught Amber's, she was a terrified as I was.

We heard them talking excitedly among themselves. Their language reminded me a bit of the Mandarin you hear on shortwave out of China with a darker, guttural thread passing through it. The discussion was quite animated. Four of the large men produced guns that resembled old time blunderbusses but each was mounted with a stiletto like bayonet. The way the quartet handled the weapons, they clearly understood how to use them to maximum efficiency. I feared that they had decided to kill us right then and there.

Instead, the one I took to be the leader unfastened the ropes binding first Amber and then myself. Warily we rose to our feet, working out the kinks form having our limbs restrained. Amber and I each tried to say a few words but the leader frowned. He made motions with his hands and pointed to his own garment, a green Nehru type button-less shirt and a pair of loose slacks. At last Amber understood his meaning.

"We are prisoners Ben and he wants us to strip."

"My God Amber, are you sure?"

"Yes darling and I think we best get moving the leader seems to be getting impatient."

Just as Amber finished speaking the four rifle bearers leaned in menacingly towards us.

Hastily I tore off my sweatshirt and unbuttoned the blue shirt I was wearing underneath it. I could not help but notice that the leader and the other men were eying myself and Amber quite differently as we pared down to our birthday suits. I could not help but notice Amber's actions as well. She slid off her jacket and then unbuttoned her white blouse. The eyes of the leader and the men manning the rifles eyes filled with appreciation once they spied Amber's fabulous tits, barely restrained by her white lace bra. I must have dawdled a bit because I was yelled at for not moving fast enough. I slid of my pants and briefs. Amber loosed her tits to the elements and I could tell that these aliens were equipped with penises just like men on earth. Obvious bulges filled their pants. At last Amber slid off her peach colored panties and her delightful copper covered pussy was obvious to all.

The men pointed and laughed at my penis. That stung but Amber never complained about my size. I was always able to make her happy. Next the bayonets were fixed upon my throat holding me in place while the leader examined Amber.

My wife was quite brave as the huge man ran his fingers through her long copper hair, sniffed her head to toe. I was really pissed off when he practically inserted his nose into Amber's lovely thatch of womanhood and inhaled her feminine essence. He gave her a very thorough inspection everywhere. When he was satisfied the man moved on to me. I knew better than to protest when he forced my mouth open to examine my teeth and had me move around so that he could ascertain how nimble and fit I was. He sniffed me as well but not with the interest or intensity he had shown in examining Amber. The crowning indignity was when he shoved a finger up my asshole. I nearly forgot where I was and struck back at him. Instead I filled his ear with English and French invectives.

The last order, we understood at last was to hand over our jewelry. I ceded my watch, wedding ring and my college fraternity ring. I knew I would never see them again. Amber had several earrings. She took her time removing them. I saw her eyes fill with tears as she slid off her wedding and engagement rings. The big leader pocketed all our rings and other baubles. I saw one of the men gather up all of our clothing even our shoes and socks that had been sitting by the pool.

The leader then shouted a series of commands I saw a large man approach me with something metallic in his hands. I tried to shrink away and was clouted by a rifle butt. Amber screamed and the man continued to bear down on me. I came out of my daze just as the large man had finished locking me into the device I stood up to realize that I was now clad in some sort of chastity belt. It held my penis in a downward curve. I could urinate but erections were clearly now impossible. I did not know if I should be thankful that they intended to preserve my chastity in this new world or fearful that I would never be permitted to have sex again.

To my right I saw another man step away from Amber. She too was clad in a chastity device of some kind. It hid her womanhood in a metal cloak with straps running up to just below her navel. The leader then presented Amber with a white cloth and instructed her to put it on. It resembled a cropped Tee shirt and hid Amber's luscious breasts from view, something she seemed thankful for. The shirt still exposed most of Amber's taut muscled tummy but at least her tits were not exposed. Amber and I were bound once more and strapped to the back of one of the large birds. I was reminded of the time, as a child, when I rode an elephant at a circus. Amber and I were gagged so that we could not talk but we communicated as best we could with our eyes, head nods and body language.

The group of men was out of our view for a long time. Apparently they were busying themselves with whatever business had brought them to this oasis to begin with. We were moved into the shade to keep the now hot suns off our backs. After a very long time the bird we were strapped to was led to the pool where it drank its fill of water. The men mounted the remaining birds, the leader mounted our bird and followed the others down the staircase.

At the bottom of the stairs awaited some wagons. Obviously they had been unhitched from the birds so that the animals could climb the stairs. Amber and I were placed on the fur lined mat and the mat was placed into the back of one of the wagons. The cargo of the wagon, boxes and barrels, was shifted to make room for us. Amber and I were placed face to face. I forced my body to crawl and close the short distance between us. Her soft warm skin felt wonderful against my own.

It was at least several hours later the three suns had shifted in the sky creating an eerie type of twilight. The orbs of two moons began to climb the sky. We entered a city The architecture seemed to all be stone and brick. The wide streets were lined with huge trees and smart little houses. Whatever else, I thought to myself, this world certainly has pretty towns.

I noticed lights going on behind the windows. It was not the glow of electric lamps like on earth, nor was it candle, or gas. Apparently this world had some sort of science. That was good, perhaps some resident of the city knew where the orange door opened and could direct us home. It was the only hope to hang onto.

At length we arrived at a building that reminded me of a barn. The wagons of our caravan entered the building and the doors closed behind us. Other carts and wagons with goods were already in the large open room. Suddenly I realized that tomorrow must be market day. Suddenly I was very fearful.

Amber and I were loosed from our bonds and marched over to a a cage in the corner. There was straw on the floor and something that I took to be a toilet and water fountain. At last our gags were removed. We understood the body language of the leader, we were not to yell or speak loudly. The door to the cage closed behind us with a sickening thud. A formidable lock looked unpick-able, even if we had a bobby pin or some other piece of thin metal. Amber and I drank. Amber figured out how to use the toilet. Her device did not impede urine. I took a piss after she was finished. Until the lights went out Amber and I tried our hands at removing our chastity devices. I had to admire the engineering even as I cursed its achievement.

Amber and I hugged and spoke in whispers.

"What do you think will happen to us honey?" I asked.

"You know as well as I do Ben. It's a vile word ... slavery."

"Oh come on, not in this day and age."

"Benjamin, don't be so dense. This isn't earth. We are nothing more than commodities here. Just another good to go on the wagon."

"Look Amber. It can't be that hopeless. This planet has to have scientists. One of them must know the way back to earth." I replied, trying to inflect hopefulness into my tone.

"Ben what scientists know about that orange "door" we passed through on earth? Why would anyone on THIS world know about it? Earth is probably more advanced than this place. Face it Ben we are shit out of luck." There was an air of finality in Amber's voice as she said those words.

Amber's last words that night were a dire,"I swear I will kill myself before I let one of those gorillas have their way with me."

Not able to conceive of a reply, I simply took Amber in my arms and kissed her deeply. She kissed me back. Sex was impossible in our devices. My penis was in agony as it fought to become erect but failed miserably. The cold metal about my loins was the worst kind of prison. I kissed Amber all over and nibbled her breasts until she cooed with pleasure. We might be separated soon so we were going to enjoy every moment that we still had. Several hours later we fell asleep in each other's arms. My sleep was fitful and I had horrible dreams. So did Amber.

We were awakened the next morning when one of our captors slid a tray of food into our cell. The meal consisted of a deep yellow bread and some purple fruits shaped like pears. Amber and I were so hungry that we dug into the food with gusto. The bread reminded me of sourdough. I can't describe the taste of the fruits other than to say That I had never tasted anything like them before and that they were delicious.

After eating we washed our hands and faces in the fountain. After bathroom breaks we sat and held each other some more. The leader of the gang and two of his companions who had captured us appeared before our cage. The leader was carrying a whip and all of them held a large pistol.

"I think it best we cooperate!" said an alarmed Amber.

The leader cracked the whip twice. He did not strike us but it sounded like a firecracker next to our ears. Following his urging we were led out into the daylight and down the paved walk to a large open plaza. Amber and I were led to a series of poles. They resembled nothing so much as giant hitching posts. Amber and then myself had our hands bound and we were lashed to the tall posts. Amber looked at me forlornly. A short time later other people were brought into the plaza and tied to other poles.

The women of this planet were gorgeous. They were all about three inches taller than myself. Their legs were long and shapely, like Amber's, and they had lithe arms, flat tummies, and ample busts. Their hair was long and lovely and their eyes were so striking when compared to their dark skin. There were also men lashed to the line of poles. All of us were clad identically, the men and women is chastity devices and the women in cropped tops. Judging by the forlorn looks on all present, there was no doubt that we were all intended for sale.

"Ben. I love you." Said Amber "I doubt that we will ever see each other again. I do NOT want to die but if these creeps think that they can use me like some sex toy they are in for a surprise. Ben, I will say goodbye to you now for if one of these awful men touch me I swear that I will find some way to off myself. No man can ever take your place and no man ever will. Promise me that you will live and find some way to escape and find the doorway to home."

"Amber, it can't be that bad. Promise me that you will live. I could not go on if I thought you were dead."

"My mind is made up honey." Said Amber with finality.

I don't know how long I hung there one my tiptoes and hanging by my wrists. There was a puddle of urine under each one of us lined up for sale after a while and the suns climbed a bit higher in the sky. If this was earth I would consider this part of day noon as the three suns were all the zenith of the sky.

As I feared the sales began a short time later. A pair of rough looking attendants, much taller and burlier than the ordinary huge men of this planet untied and began to lead away each victim in turn. I was surprised there was not more resistance. Some dragged their feet at first but the big bruisers knew just where to apply pressure to the body to force compliance. After seeing them work on the first few "items of merchandise" everyone else glumly complied. They disappeared behind a wall but the cadence of an auctioneer is plain as day no matter the language.