Caged With The Alien Warrior

Aanya

I awoke gradually, blinking against the searing brightness of the room. My eyes stung as I squinted, trying to make sense of my surroundings. Blinding white walls stretched endlessly around me. Light reflected off every surface, sterile and unyielding, making it impossible to gauge where the walls ended and the floor began.

My head throbbed. The faint hum of unseen machinery buzzed in the background, digging into my skull like a drill. It was incessant, a relentless reminder of where I was—or where I might be.

The room was too bright, too empty, too cold. A suffocating pressure coiled around my chest as memories clawed their way to the surface.

The lizardmen. Their cold, slitted eyes peered down at me as they strapped me to a metal table. The sharp, searing pain as their instruments cut into me. The acrid stench of chemicals that burned my nose.

They'd taken me apart and stitched me back together, their guttural voices blending as I screamed into the void.

My heart raced and hammered so hard it felt like it might burst.

"No," I whispered hoarsely, my voice trembling as I bolted upright. The white walls seemed to close in and spun faster with every shallow breath I took. My chest tightened. The air felt thin and insufficient, like I was suffocating all over again.

I scrambled to my feet and slipped on the smooth floor as my panic mounted. My mind screamed that I was still there with the lizardmen. They'd found me again.

"No!" I croaked louder, clawing at the thin sheet covering me and stumbling backward. My hands flew to my arms, searching for restraints that weren't there. "No, no, no!"

The door hissed open, and a shadowed figure rushed in. My mind screamed danger, and my body reacted before I could think.

With a feral cry, I lashed out, kicking wildly and swinging my arms. My foot connected with something solid. A grunt of pain sounded, but I didn't care. I swung again, my nails scraping against the figure's arm. "Get away from me!"

"Aanya, stop!" the figure called, but his voice barely penetrated the roaring panic in my ears.

I wouldn't let them take me again to be lasered apart. Not again. Not ever.

Strong arms wrapped around me suddenly, pinning my arms to my sides. The restraint sent my panic spiraling further. I thrashed harder, my screams turning into ragged sobs.

"Let me go!" I gasped, my voice cracking. "Please! Don't—don't touch me!"

"Aanya!" His voice softened, though the urgency remained. "It's me. You're safe. Aanya, it's Ronan."

Ronan.

That name, that voice—familiar, steady. The panic faltered for a fraction of a second.

"Ronan?" My breaths came in shallow gasps as I froze mid-struggle. The warmth of his embrace seeped into me, grounding me against the terror still clawing at the edges of my mind. That woodsy, calming scent—it was him.

"Yes," he murmured, his voice breaking. "It's me. You're safe now. I've got you."

The fight drained out of me as reality crept back in. My body went limp as I sagged against him. Tears spilled down my cheeks. Silent sobs wracked my chest as I clung to his steady presence.

Ronan held me tighter. His arms were like a shield against the horrors that haunted my mind. His wings unfurled slightly, their warmth cocooning me further.

"I'm so sorry," he whispered, his voice thick with guilt. "I should've realized what this would remind you of. I shouldn't have left you alone."

I shook my head weakly, pulling back just enough to wipe at my face, horribly embarrassed by the outburst. "It's not your fault," I croaked. "Did—Did I hurt you? I'm sorry, I didn't realize who or where—"

"You didn't hurt me at all," he said, gruff.

"Good," was all I could whisper. I hadn't meant to fight him off, I thought he was a lizardman.

His purple eyes glistened with emotion as his jaw clenched. "I thought I'd lost you," he admitted, his voice trembling. "When I found you like that... I—" He cut himself off, exhaling shakily. "Who did that to you?"

"I don't know," I said, swallowing hard. "One second, I was working out, and then the next, the room started shutting down. I couldn't breathe. The door wouldn't open..." My voice faltered, and I looked away, unable to meet his gaze. "I thought I was going to die."

Ronan's fists clenched at his sides, his wings twitching in agitation. "We're close to the Intergalactic Alliance headquarters," he said tightly. "This must've been an attempt to silence you once and for all."

The weight of his words made my stomach drop. I recoiled, wincing.

"And there I go, putting my foot in my mouth again," he muttered, rubbing the back of his neck.

"No," I said, meeting his gaze. "I prefer the truth. Someone is trying to kill me. We can't afford to pretend otherwise."

The door slid open again, and Hale stepped in, his expression a mix of relief and concern. "You're awake," he said, exhaling deeply. "Thank the stars. We were worried."

Before I could respond, he started rambling, his words spilling out in a frantic stream. "I was supposed to stay with you. I told Ronan I'd be there, but then I got called into the meeting, and I thought it wouldn't take long, but it did, and then—and then this happened! I should've been there! If I hadn't left—"

"Hale." I reached out and touched his arm gently, cutting him off. "It's not your fault. You couldn't have known this would happen."

"But—"

"No," I said firmly, meeting his anxious gaze. "I forgive you. I'm okay, and that's what matters."

Ronan stepped in, his voice softer but no less resolute. "She's right. This isn't on you. If anything, it's on me for not making sure you knew exactly what to do."

I nodded. "Truly, it's the fault of whoever the hell is trying to kill me."

Hale nodded reluctantly, his shoulders relaxing slightly, though his eyes continued to scan the room like a hawk. "I won't let it happen again," he said, moving to stand guard outside the door.

Moments later, Dr. Krono entered, his usual calm demeanor making me tense instinctively. My muscles tightened as I eyed him warily.

"I'm not here to take samples," he said quickly, raising his hands in a placating gesture. "You've been through enough. I just want to check your vitals."

His reassurance eased some of the tension in my shoulders, and I allowed him to approach.

As he worked, Ronan stayed close, his purple gaze never leaving me. Hale stood outside the door like a sentinel, his presence steady and unyielding. For the first time in what felt like hours, I felt a flicker of safety.

But the unease lingered, a constant reminder that danger still loomed.

I glanced at Ronan, his expression hard and protective. If someone was coming for me, they'd have to get through him—and Hale—first.

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AUTHOR'S NOTE

Some hurt/comfort moments in this chapter ❤️ 

Can you believe we're almost at 100 chapters already? That's 99,888 words already!! What's the longest book you've ever read? 

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Virtually yours,

Ro