Yeah, best laid plans, right?
None of those precautions kept me or my little sister safe. Not from the Zyfeliks, and not from being abducted and becoming one of the statistic I studied so closely. Just another missing woman who will never be found.
Hell, Maddie and I are probably being featured on a true crime podcast right now back on Earth—the tragic case of two sisters who vanished without a trace. How ironic is that?
Which is why I’m determined to be a new version of myself. The old one didn’t keep me safe, so it’s time for the new, improved version to get a shot. And let’s face it, I’ve learneda few things since being taken from Earth. Namely, that aliens fucking suck.
First the Zyfeliks abducted me and nine other humans, keeping us penned up in cells for days, and nearly starving us. All while they took us further away from Earth and ran tests to determine if we werequality merchandise.
Yeah, they were planning on selling us at an underground auction. Underground because apparently it violates intergalactic law to even have contact with humans, let alone steal us and sell us. That’s when something called the Alliance Force showed up. Rather than risk getting caught, the Zyfeliks dumped us like trash on the side of the road. They detached the cargo bay we were trapped in and sent it crashing down onto an uninhabited planet.
Except, Laedirissae isn’t uninhabited.
We quickly learned this planet is full of deadly wildlife, including creatures that look disturbingly like dinosaurs. Between the dinosaur-like predators lurking in the jungles and our meager supply of food and water, it was a fight to stay alive.
We appointed Haley as the leader of our ragtag group, and we were just starting to figure out a plan of sorts when she disappeared. We searched everywhere for her. We called her name until our throats were raw, but she was gone. It was like she was swallowed up by the jungle.
Turns out, Draggar—the big, teal-skinned alien warrior who looks at her with adoring eyes—found her, and claimed she was his spirit mate, his amoris. His tribe welcomed her and offered us sanctuary.
Not long after, Haley and a squad of Laediriians showed up to rescue us from two pterodactyl-like creatures that I now know are called anurois that had been harassing us for days.
I remember watching in awe as the nearly seven-foot-tall warriors effortlessly and gracefully fought against the oversized birds, ultimately winning. Their movements were a mesmerizing blend of strength and graceful elegance as their swords slashed through the air.
And one warrior in particular... he treated the deadly battle as if it was nothing more than a game. There was a fierce joy in the way he moved, muscles rippling under his bright skin and a gleam in his eyes as he dodged razor-sharp talons.
For a moment, it felt like time slowed to a crawl as my gaze locked onto him and I forgot how scared I was.
He was splattered with blood from the massive creatures, but the white flash of his fangs was clearly visible as he grinned. That's when I realized just how dangerous this planet is—and just how dangerous the Laediriians could be.
The Anuriix tribe might have saved us, but that doesn’t mean they’re our friends. I've seen too much and been burned too many times to trust them at face value.
Their sheer size, the imposing muscles that ripple under their teal skin, and the way Haley seemed to so quickly fall under Draggar’s spell haven’t exactly eased my suspicions.
I don’t trust them. Not one bit.
Yeah, they may have welcomed us into their village, offered food, shelter, and hospitality, but something feels off. They’re hiding something. I'm going to find out what it is, and I'm going to find a way off this planet.
Because I refuse to sit back and wait for the next disaster to strike.
Not again.
We’ve only been in the Anuriix village for a few days, and so far, it’s been a bizarre experience. Everything about this place feels like it’s teetering on the edge of two different worlds.
On one hand, their medical tech is so advanced it makes Earth’s hospitals look like Victorian bloodletters. I’m talking real miracle stuff like handheld scanners that can diagnose any issue within seconds and treatments that work faster than anything I’ve ever seen.
On the other hand, the village looks like it could be used in a medieval reenactment. Their houses are made of stone with rustic, wooden roofs. They cook over fires, and most of the buildings in the village don’t have electricity. The ones that do are powered by lunar and solar energy panels.
And they fight with swords. Like honest to goodness knight-in-shining-armor swords.
It’s hard to wrap my head around how they can be so advanced in some areas and so primitive in others. Which is why I think they’re hiding something. Maybe a spaceship that works and can transport a bunch of stranded humans back home.
I glance at the warriors standing at the front of the crowd, their sharp gazes scanning the elders and younger members in the village and, occasionally, us humans. My eyes are involuntarily drawn to one warrior in particular—Sorrin—and my gaze rakes over his muscular frame and his bright skin before I force myself to look away.
They’re all wearing loincloths—actual loincloths—made of dark blue leather. The material clings to their hips, barelycovering what it needs to. Which I guess makes sense since we’re deep in what the tribe calls the hottest season—summer, I guess.
Against my will, my gaze flicks back to the warriors. The loincloths don’t leave much to the imagination, and if I’m being honest... well, bodybuilders back on Earth would have a serious inferiority complex if they saw these guys.
Not that I’m impressed or anything. I mean, I don’t trust the Laediriians as far as I can throw one of those massive swords they carry around. But I can still appreciate the view.