Barrako:

My whole body felt like it was sinking into the ground, weighed down by something I couldn’t see or fight against. I couldn’t move. I couldn’t react. It was like I was trapped inside myself, my eyelids frozen shut, and every attempt to pry them open was met with complete failure. I should be able to open my eyes, right? Just a little? Open. Open. OPEN, dammit!

Nothing. My body wasn’t listening to me. I was wide awake, fully conscious, but it felt like I was paralyzed. Every second of this was torture—my mind alert, but my body locked in place, like a prisoner in my own skin. This feeling was unbearable, like I was drowning without any water.

What is this? Sleep paralysis? I had heard about it before, but this felt worse—way worse. I should still be able to open my eyes, at least. My heart started racing. I could hear it now—thump-thump, thump-thump—loud and fast, pounding in my ears like it was trying to break free from my chest.

Panic clawed at the edges of my mind, but I forced it back. Stay calm, Barrako. Don’t freak out. I needed to shift my thoughts, focus on something else until this passed. Breathe. Just breathe.

I tried to remember what I did before this... Before I “fell asleep.” But no matter how hard I thought about it, I came up blank. I didn’t go to bed. Wait... I never went to bed.

That’s when the memories began to crawl back in. Slowly at first, just whispers, muffled voices that I couldn’t quite place. But they grew louder, more distinct, until I could hear them clearly.

"I'm sorry."

Mom?

"I’m sorry... I brought you into this world. I should’ve never—"

Her voice faded, replaced by something else—something worse. The memory hit me like a punch to the gut. I could see it now. This... this monstrous being, holding me by my head, fingers gripping my skull. My head felt like it was splitting open, and I could hear the cracking sound, the pressure building, squeezing my mind.

Fear crashed over me like a tidal wave. My breath hitched, my chest tightened. Am I dead?

"Salia."

The name echoed in my mind. Salia? I’d never heard that name before. My thoughts spun in confusion. Where the hell was I?

Then, in a flash, my eyes shot open. My vision swam, blurry at first, but slowly everything started coming into focus. The light was harsh, almost clinical, and the air felt sterile. As things cleared up, I saw two figures—a girl and a man—standing not far from me. They were... different. Green skin. Turquoise hair. I didn’t recognize them, and nothing about them was familiar.

"Where are the rest of the beings, Salia?" The man’s voice was deep, commanding, but there was tension in it. They were talking about someone—others? Beings? What could they mean? And if I’m here... where’s my brother?

The thought struck me like lightning. Voice—where’s Voice? Panic surged, but I forced myself to focus. If I could see, that meant I could move. Right?

I tried lifting my arm, and to my relief, it responded. Slowly, but it moved. I raised my hand higher, trying to get a feel for my surroundings, when—thunk. My hand hit something. Glass. I hadn't even noticed the transparent barrier around me. The sound of the impact was louder than I expected, and the moment it echoed in the room, their conversation cut off.

Both of them turned toward me, eyes wide. Shit. I had to think fast. Play unconscious, Barrako. I let my body go limp, controlling my breathing, my heart racing as I felt their gazes bore into me. I listened, every muscle tense despite my act. Footsteps. Heavy ones, getting closer. The man was walking toward me.

"Did it just move?" he asked, his voice sharp with suspicion.

My heart thudded against my chest. Shit. Stay calm. Don’t react.

I could hear him pressing buttons, and a soft mechanical beep followed. The air shifted, cool and free, as whatever was containing me released its hold. The glass? A pod? I didn’t know, and I didn’t care. All I knew was that he was coming closer. I could feel his presence looming over me now, his breath warm and unsettling against my face.

"I’ll inject the narcotics, just in case."

Inject? Narcotics? That didn’t sound good. Not good at all. I kept my eyes barely open, just enough to see without giving myself away, my pulse racing. My heart nearly jumped out of my chest when I caught a glimpse of his hand, holding a syringe, the needle gleaming in the light. My stomach twisted in fear.

The man’s face came closer, scrutinizing me, and my instincts betrayed me—I flinched.

Instantly, his expression sharpened. He saw.

He flinched the moment I did, his eyes widening in shock, but he quickly recovered. I saw his arm pull back, syringe in hand, ready to stab me. Instinct took over—I shot my hand up and grabbed his wrist before he could move an inch closer.

It was too easy. Way too easy. His wrist felt fragile in my grip, like I was holding a twig instead of a person. I watched him struggle, trying to yank his arm free, but he couldn’t budge. His face twisted with effort, and I could see the panic creeping in.

I glanced to the side—there, standing behind him, was the girl. Green skin, turquoise hair. She looked confused, maybe a little scared. But I didn’t have time to worry about her. My focus shifted back to the man in front of me. He was still trying to free himself, but it was pathetic.

The struggle gave me a rush—a sudden sense of power. I’m in control now.

"Unhand me, vermin!" he spat, his voice filled with venom.

The fuck? Vermin? The way he said it, like I was beneath him, ignited something in me. I wasn’t used to being talked to like this. Being royalty had its privileges, and respect was one of them. I didn’t like his tone. I didn’t like him.

Without thinking, I squeezed his wrist harder. There was a sickening crack as the bone shattered under my grip. He screamed—a high-pitched, desperate wail that echoed through the room. The syringe dropped from his hand, clattering to the floor.

I let go, and he stumbled back, clutching his broken wrist, his face twisted in agony.

I stepped out of the pod, my bare feet hitting the cold floor. My body still felt heavy, but at least I could move now. I took a few slow steps forward, toward the girl. Her eyes were glued to me, wide with fear. The closer I got, the more she backed away, like a cornered animal. I could see it in her face—she was terrified.

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

"Don't hurt me," she pleaded, her voice trembling.

I stopped. Hurting her wasn’t on my mind, not even close. But I needed answers. And more than that, I needed to find Voice.

"Where is my brother?" My voice came out harsher than I intended, but I didn’t have time to soften it. I needed to know.

"B-Brother?" she stammered, clearly rattled. "Oh... he's in the Haven." Her voice cracked, and I could tell she was barely keeping it together. She was scared, but she still wasn’t telling me anything useful.

"What the hell is that?" I demanded, taking another step toward her. Her fear was like a living thing between us, but I wasn’t backing down.

She swallowed hard, her eyes darting nervously. "Just... just follow me. I’ll show you."

I hesitated. She was young—maybe younger than me—and clearly scared out of her mind. Trusting her didn’t feel right, but what other choice did I have? She had answers, and right now, I had nothing.

"Lead the way," I said, my voice low. I watched her carefully, not letting my guard down. She stared at me for a second, like she wasn’t sure if I was serious, then gave a small, shaky nod and turned to walk away.

Behind me, the man’s scream pierced the air again, a high-pitched, agonized wail that grated on my nerves. I glanced back at him, still writhing on the floor, clutching his shattered wrist. His eyes were wild with pain and fury.

"Salia," he snarled through gritted teeth, "I hope you understand the consequences of what you’re about to do."

His words hung in the air, heavy and threatening. I didn’t know what the hell he was talking about, but I turned to see if she would respond.

She didn’t. She didn’t say a damn word. She just glanced at him once, a flicker of something in her eyes—fear, guilt, maybe both—and then bolted, running ahead to lead the way.

I followed, my mind racing. There were too many questions and not enough answers, but one thing was clear: she was taking a huge risk. As I walked behind her, I cast one last look at the man, still howling in pain. Part of me wondered what he meant by consequences, but another part, a darker part, didn’t give a damn.

Let him scream.

We were running, the girl leading the way, her small frame darting through the hallways as I kept pace behind her. My head was pounding with a mix of exhaustion and adrenaline, but I forced my legs to keep moving. Eventually, we burst out into the open air, and that’s when I saw it—a massive hovering vehicle looming ahead. As I gaze around, I’m struck by the breathtaking new world unfolding before me. Sleek flying vehicles zip gracefully between towering, pristine white buildings, their surfaces gleaming with a futuristic sheen that seems to defy the familiar materials of wood and stone. This vibrant scene is unlike anything I’ve ever witnessed, and it fills me with a sense of wonder. Is this truly the high-tech utopia my father always spoke of?

I turn my attention back to the Vehicle.

This must be the "Haven," I thought. The thing was monstrous, hovering effortlessly over the ground.

The girl pointed at it, out of breath. "Your brother and the rest of your friends... they’re in the back."

Friends? I thought. What the hell was she talking about? The only person I cared about was my brother. But there was no time to question her. I sprinted toward the open hatch of the vehicle, my heart pounding, hoping to see Voice.

Inside, there were pods—like the one I had just crawled out of. And there, in the back, I spotted him. Voice, unconscious, floating in one of the glass capsules, his body still and pale. Relief flooded through me. He was breathing. He was alive.

I rushed to his pod, placing my hand on the glass. Thank the Stars, I thought, feeling a rush of emotion I hadn’t expected. I didn’t care if we were in some unknown place, I didn’t care who these green-skinned people were—all that mattered was that my brother was alive.

But just as I was about to try to open his pod, a shout pierced the air.

"Where are you going with them?!"

I turned quickly, my body tensing as I saw them—green-skinned figures, a mob of them, surging toward us. Their faces were twisted with anger, eyes locked onto us like predators ready to strike. There had to be at least a dozen of them, maybe more, and they weren’t playing around.

I clenched my fists, preparing to fight. I had no idea what these people wanted or why they were after us, but I wasn’t going to let them take my brother. My body coiled, ready for a battle I wasn’t sure I could win.

"We have to go!" the girl shouted, her voice cutting through the chaos. "They’ll kill you!"

Her words hit hard, and for a moment, I hesitated. I didn't fully trust her, but there was something desperate in her voice—something that made me believe her, just for a second. I could feel the intensity of the situation growing; these people weren't just angry, they were ready to tear us apart.

With a click of a button she slammed the trunk of the vehicle shut, sealing my brother and the others inside.

"Get in!" she shouted, already climbing into the front of the vehicle.

The mob was closing in, fast. I had no choice. I jumped into the back just as the door sealed shut behind me. The hum of the engines roared louder, and the vehicle jolted to life.

The vehicle shot forward, leaving them behind, but the image of their rage burned in my mind. I wasn’t sure who these people were, or why they wanted us dead, but one thing was certain—this girl just saved our lives.

For now.

Salia Gray:

What I just did… holy shit. That was easily the most thrilling—and terrifying—thing I’ve ever done in my life. I’ve officially crossed a line I can’t uncross, and now I’m speeding through the air in this vehicle, a Veloxian in the back who could rip me apart without a second thought.

My hands were shaking as I gripped the controls. I had so many questions swirling in my mind. Who is this guy? His species, his culture, how old he is—all the things I’d always wondered about Veloxians. But asking him anything? Yeah, no. The way he broke Simon wrist like it was nothing… It left me shaken. Still, I can’t help but think—if he really wanted to hurt me, he would’ve done it by now, right?

I swallow the lump in my throat, trying to gather the courage to speak. Maybe just ask something simple, like his name. Yeah, that couldn’t hurt. I breathe out slowly, my voice barely audible as I open my mouth. "What’s your na—"

"Where are you taking us?" His deep voice cuts through the air, sharp and sudden.

I flinch. It’s not like I didn’t expect him to ask, but hearing it was different. The weight behind his words made me nervous. But he has a point—he has every right to ask where I’m dragging them. My heart races, but I steady myself and answer.

"I’m taking you to one of my hideouts. Trust me, no one will know we’re there."

Silence. He doesn’t say anything for a moment, and I can’t tell if that’s good or bad. I sneak a glance at him through the rearview mirror. He’s staring at the window, his face unreadable. Then, he speaks again.

"Barrako."

"Huh?" I responded, caught off guard.

"My name. It’s Barrako."

Barrako. I mentally file it away. Veloxians were as mysterious as the stars, and now here I was, with one in my vehicle. What was I even supposed to say? I tried to play it off casually. "Nice to meet you, Barrako," I say, my voice quieter than I intended.

He doesn’t respond, just goes silent again. Great. This is awkward.

Then, he stands. My heart skips a beat as I see him move toward me, his tall frame casting a shadow over the small cockpit. My breath hitches. I can feel my pulse quicken, instinct screaming at me to be careful. This was the same guy who snapped someone’s wrist like it was a twig.

His eyes locked onto mine as he approached, and for a moment, I braced myself for the worst. Then, slowly, he reached out—toward me.

I panicked. I couldn’t help it. Every muscle in my body tensed up. I watched his hand move, fingers outstretched, and for a moment, I felt like I might pass out. But then, his hand gently—took mine.

I blinked, trying to process it. His grip was surprisingly soft, his fingers warm against mine. I glanced at his face, noticing his sharp canines just barely peeking out from behind his lips. His expression had softened, and he didn’t look nearly as dangerous as I’d imagined him to be.

"Thank you," he said quietly, his voice low but sincere. "For saving our lives."

I was stunned. That was… unexpected. Maybe he wasn’t just some violent brute. Maybe there was more to him. For the first time since I’d met him, I felt a little less afraid. He was being kind, even… thoughtful. I hadn’t expected that. “(Zzz..snore)” Oh wow he’s already asleep.

A couple of silent hours passed and the tension in the air had mostly evaporated. I even started to feel a strange sense of comfort.

Finally, the vehicle’s scanner beeped, signaling our arrival. We had made it. Loffi’s Hideout.