But he’s as immovable as a mountain. His rough fingers easily wrap around my neck, and panic seizes my chest. I close my eyes, bracing for the worst, fearing he’s about to kill me. His incredible strength simmers just beneath, barely restrained; he could snap my neck like a twig.
Then, to my amazement, he strokes my throat with surprising gentleness. His warmth draws me like a moth to a flame. The perfect heat I need to stave off this cold that clings—I shudder, leaning into his touch, almost groaning.
“The collar?” Demon Egg-Head snaps, breaking the spell that entranced us both. “I swear, you leave these youngsters alone for two seconds and they lose all sense!” He cackles madly, like he’s escaped from an asylum.
Cold metal replaces the fleeting warmth as Dracoth clamps the heavy collar around my neck, brushing my hair over the edge. The click of the lock—the finality of it—churns my stomach with despair. My fingers touch the black metal, scarcely believing it’s real—that I’m chained like some wild beast. Injustice burns inside me, filling me with helpless rage.I did nothing to deserve this!But, of course, that doesn’t matter. It never does. I’m always misunderstood, always under attack—I’m sick of it!
The thick chains of the heavy collar jingle loudly as I shift to watch Dracoth place one on Sandra. She stands trembling, her eyes squeezed shut, trying to muster some courage. But her fear is obvious. She feels it too—this humiliation, this punishment for our goodwill and trust.
Dracoth steps back, looping the ends of our chains around his disgusting belt.
“Come,” he commands, turning to exit the cell. Sandra and I exchange a fearful glance before the chain pulls taut, painfully yanking me forward and threatening to pull off my head. We follow in his wake, almost stumbling to keep up with his long strides and thunderous pace.
“Isn’t this just lovely?” Demon Egg-Head chimes, his ancient voice mixing with the loud clanking chains and pounding footsteps echoing through the dim, purple-lit corridors. “Just the four of us out for a nice, quiet stroll.” He winces as the chains slacken, clanging against the metal floor.
“Where... are we going?” I manage to gasp, struggling to keep up with the relentless pace.
“We’re...”
Clink!
“Going...”
Jingle!
“I cannot think with this accursed racket!” Demon Egg-Head’s pleasant façade twists into a sneering rage. His sudden shift is terrifying, and I’d step back if the chain allowed it.
“This is madness,boy!” he spits, turning to Dracoth, who thankfully has stopped walking. “A giant displaying Hemo-Tok? Jingle jangling with two exotic females in tow? You invite disaster!”
Excitement and unease send my heart fluttering at his words. We’re leaving the ship? Maybe it’s to Dracoth’s home planet! But I thought he was the leader of his planet—why’s he afraid?
“Hold your coward’s tongue,” Dracoth sneers down at Demon Egg-Head, his eyes flashing like molten lava. “No one forbids me anything.”
“We’ll be sealed in the bowels of Scarn if you insist on this folly!” Demon Egg-Head persists, meeting the red titan’s malevolent gaze.
“We?” Dracoth retorts. “Stay behind. Where you belong.” He turns sharply and resumes his stride, yanking Sandra and me forward with a painful jerk.
“Would that I could,boy,” Demon Egg-Head scoffs. “But promises were made. Trust still needs to be earned, it seems.”
Their exchange sends a chill down my spine. This doesn’t feel like the triumphant return of a warlord—it feels like two smugglers sneaking across the border. I was right from the start: these guys are just space hillbillies with delusions of grandeur. I shake my head, feeling the heavy collar press down further, chafing against my skin with every step.
God, what does this mean for us? Double arrested... or maybe the Clown-dathian police force will rescue us! They might even return us to Earth... Wait, do I even want that? Earth, where I’m poor and live on the streets? Abandoned by the people who are supposed to love and care for me? I frown, pushing the thought away.
Bitterness oozes within me like vile poison, as I wonder if their stupid lies were nothing more than fake hope to keep us in line. They have laws against these sorts of things back home!
“I thought you were the great and powerful War Chieftain!” I shout to be heard over the clinking chains and heavy footsteps. “Is that just some corny line you use on alien women? Turns out—”
Dracoth growls and whips around with terrifying speed. His immense hand clamps over my mouth, stifling my words, and before I can react, he lifts me effortlessly with his massive arms.I let out a muffled squeal as he presses me against his armored chest, held like a child, my cheeks burning with shocked outrage.
“That’s one less chain,” Demon Egg-Head titters. I try to scream, to shout, to doanything, but only a muffled noise escapes Dracoth’s iron grip. The urge to bite his hand is strong—until I remember how poorly that went last time. It’s infuriating that he’s so big, and there’s no police or justice here. He’s free to bully me, throwing his weight around, and I’m powerless to stop him.
Silence falls over our strange procession as we continue toward the end of the immense ship. The warmth of Dracoth is oddly soothing, and even his loud, rhythmic breathing almost lulls me to sleep.
My eyes open, and I recognize this area—the docking hatch. A shiver runs down my spine, and I force myself to breathe as images of Kazumi’s last moments flood my mind. The panic, the helplessness, the terror—all of it crashes over me with gut-wrenching clarity.
“I hope this door is still operational,” Demon Egg-Head grimaces, staring at the solidified blue-black puddle of metal on the ground. “Must you break everything, young Dracoth?” He shakes his bald skull gleaming like a bloodstained pebble,his fingers dancing over the blue-glowing wrist device.
I remember this too—Dracoth tearing through that thick door like a frenzied monster.
