The Rental

By: Linda Mooney

Narrated by: Erin Bateman

In need of extra income, Dane Caravelle applies for a new program that allows other people to “rent” her and lets them essentially live her life. This groundbreaking scientific technology is meant to allow those who may be disadvantaged or disabled to experience a normal life. Although it requires rigorous testing to become a rental, Dane is ecstatic when she’s approved.

She’s nervous in the beginning and is assured she won’t even know when her renter is observing her unless she checks the app, but that hasn’t been her experience. Nudges here and there. Feeling as if someone is watching her. And was that a man she saw reflected in her eyes when she looked in the mirror? The program promised only females would be paired with females. Who is he? Or rather, what is he?

The nudges turn into phone calls, then voicemails, and she quickly learns that we’re definitely not alone in this universe. There are others out there, other species from other worlds, and they’re just looking to survive…or so she’s told. Despite warnings from her friends, she agrees to help the stranger. But is this “alien” real, or is she being led on? Either way, she discovers she’s grown to care for him.

And that’s just the beginning of her problems.

©2022 Linda Mooney (P)2023 Linda Mooney