The morning was well underway and quickly turning into the afternoon, and I hadn’t seen or heard from Togtulir since last night after we had sex and fallen asleep. I had no idea where he had run off to. It seemed to be a trend of his, disappearing and then reappearing out of nowhere for hours on end. I wasn’t sure if those hours would turn into days, so I chose to focus my attention on getting the hell off this planet as fast as I could.

I knew that Drozalia was willing to help me and she seemed animated and excited about the task at hand. She came over in the morning and I explained to her that I was ready to go back to Earth where I belonged.

I told her I had no idea where Togtulir was. She seemed incredibly bubbly and bounced along on her heels happily most of the morning. I found her to be much easier to get along with today than any of the other days I had spent with her.

Since she was in such heightened spirits, I thought she may have turned over a new leaf. I trusted her more now that I could see Togtulir might not have really been who he said he was. Not to mention, she was being astonishingly polite and friendly toward me, a complete change from when I first met her when she had seemed dark and threatening.

“You know, you could always come back with me. I could show you the ropes on Earth and help you adapt to a new environment like you’ve shown me here on Cardalph. We could rent an apartment together and find jobs in the city. I live in Chicago. It snows in the winter months there. Do you get snow here on Cardalph?”

I looked over at Drozalia as I stuffed some of my belongings back into my shabby suitcase I had brought with me. It seemed like a million years ago that I woke up on the beautiful island and had met Togtulir. I was still so confused about his shift in personality. It didn’t make any sense to me how he could have been so charming and charismatic on the island, and then to come here and realize he’s some kind of scary dictator type of leader who tortures innocent people for sport. I was devastated from the hollows of my soul.

Drozalia was not listening to me. She was staring out the window and she appeared to be wedged into a deep thought. “Drozalia?” I interrupted her trance and she snapped out of it, turning back to me. “Sorry to break your focus. I just thought it would be fun if you ventured back to Earth with me. If you don’t like it, you could always come home since you know the technology of how to go back and forth.”

She shook her head violently. “No, absolutely not. I cannot leave here. That won’t work.” She turned back to the window and furrowed her brow as she peered out at something on the horizon. I went to join her and gazed out myself, wondering if she had spotted Togtulir. I saw nothing.

“Why can’t you leave Cardalph?”

Drozalia looked at me with a hateful glare that made me draw back. Her demeanor changed like a chameleon. She had so many layers of camouflaged emotions it was becoming hard for me to keep up. “I can’t come with you, Cindy. You don’t understand. Cardalph is my home. I grew up here. I have to stay and help Togtulir defend it.”

“I thought you said that Togtulir was just holding those people captive for fun? Was he even on that other planet trying to rescue them from invasion?” I had so many unanswered questions and grew more and more frustrated by the minute.

She dodged my questions, only to provide a different excuse. “I wouldn’t fit in with the people of Earth. You see my blue skin?” She pointed to her arm and tugged at it harshly. “In case you hadn’t noticed, I am not a shifter like Togtulir. I wouldn’t be able to blend in as a human. They wouldn’t understand or accept me with my skin color this way.”

She walked away from the window and went over to my suitcase, piling more stuff on top of the heap of clothes I had already attempted to stuff in there.

I sagged onto the side of the bed and watched her for a moment or two. “Perhaps I made a mistake agreeing to become a mail-order bride. I’m not a very strong person. I should have stood up for myself and faced Todd when I had the chance. I suppose I could always go back and fix my mistakes, though.” I trailed off and played with a fraying edge of thread that was coming unraveled from the mattress cover.

Drozalia just looked at me and nodded. I didn’t think she cared what happened to me. She was back to acting distant again. She was going to stay on her little planet and waltz around ruling the town in her own right. This drama had nothing to do with me. Saving Cardalph was not my responsibility and I was not obligated to stay here or continue to talk to a person who was seemingly a brick wall.

“You know what, I think you should go.” I was proud of myself for being so stern all of the sudden. Maybe I had learned a few tricks after all by this little trip of mine. I would go home and wouldn’t speak a word of where I had been, only just to let my sister know I had been on the island with Togtulir, but it didn’t work out. I would try to find a job and a place to stay of my own so I didn’t have to stress Melinda out with having to harbor me on her couch night after night.

“What do you mean I should go? Don’t you need my help?” Drozalia stopped packing and stood there waiting for an explanation.

“I don’t need you to hold my hand or walk me through this. I appreciate your assistance up to this point.” I stood up in an effort to let her know I was done talking, and I was ready to escort her from the palace. I wanted some space, and I wasn’t sure what to believe anymore. With Drozalia gone, I would be able to clear my head and collect my thoughts. I needed to fit the missing puzzle pieces together on my own.

“Good luck getting off the planet by yourself then,” she said smugly as she walked to the bedroom door. She turned and looked back at me and waved as if she were writing me off and casting me aside. I stood there staring stone cold at her. She walked out and once I heard her leave the palace, I flopped back down on the bed and exhaled deeply.

After a few minutes of lying on the bed staring up at the ceiling, a plan came to me. I felt as if I should write Togtulir a letter explaining all the reasons why I was leaving. I was going to be brutally honest with him, and let him know what Drozalia had told me. I’m going to give him the benefit of the doubt at least for the remainder of my time on this planet to allow him to defend himself.

If he really is cruel as she says he is, I will just hide out until I can find some Good Samaritan who was willing to help me escape the island. But I couldn’t just leave in all good conscience without listing out the reasons I was fleeing from him and the marriage I had agreed to participate in.

I finished packing my suitcase and went downstairs to find a piece of paper and a pen in his office. I sat down at the desk and looked out the window. It was a nice day outside, and the sun was shining brightly on the front lawn. I could see a few blue birds flying around, and I was delighted to see wildlife on other planets outside of Earth.

“Dear Togtulir,” my hand hit the paper with the pen and just took off. “I wanted to let you know I have decided to return to Earth. I have been frightened by things I have witnessed here in just a few short days. Drozalia took me to see the prisoners who are tortured here on Cardalph. It devastated me to see them caked in dirt and their own excrement, chained up in a dark, damp room day after day. She said that you torture them for fun, and I am not sure I can be married to someone who treats other people that way, regardless of what species they are.”

I sighed audibly and rubbed my face with my hands. I couldn’t believe it was coming down to this. I went on, “I enjoyed our time on the island together. You were so kind to me and I thank you for all the incredible hospitality you have shown me on your planet. I will go back to Earth with amazing memories stored in my brain to look back upon forever. But I am feeling alone and scared and I am not sure it will work out between us. Please try not to be upset, and try to understand where I am coming from. I came here without knowing what it would be like, under the agreement that I could return home whenever I wanted to. I am not sure I am meant to be here on Cardalph with you. I appreciate the opportunity to meet you and to view your astounding planet. Goodbye and in best regards, Cindy.”

I read and re-read the letter three times before deciding it was good enough to seal inside of an envelope. I slowly licked the sides and sealed it up. I went back upstairs and placed it on his nightstand, so I would be sure he would see it. I walked out of the palace and only looked back once.

I needed to find a hotel to stay at in town before I decided what move to make next. Togtulir had given me some money in the event I might have wanted to buy anything on my outings with Drozalia, so I would use that on a place to stay tonight. At least I had closure if it came down to leaving here for good.