Shouts and jeers grabbed my attention as the world righted itself.  The fight had started.  Everyone leaned over the rail and yelled encouragement to their chosen pick for the night.  One alien after another knocked into my shoulders, shoving me one way and then another. 

I glanced at one standing beside me as he shouted.  His face a pale blue, hard, twisting in hate as he yelled threats if his pick didn’t win.  With all eyes on the fight, no one paid me any attention.

The yellow beast, Kuna they called him, let out a mighty roar and swung at Zorvak with his wooden staff.  Zorvak ducked.  With Kuna’s side now exposed, Zorvak narrowed his eyes.  His grin looked terrifying, deadly.   With his arms wide, he barreled toward Kuna and wrapped them around the yellow torso as he tackled his opponent to the ground.

Punches thrown, blood splattered, they were evenly matched.  Kuna threw Zorvak off him and jumped to his feet.  I didn’t want to watch, but I couldn’t tear my eyes away from the gruesome scene as they battled, hopefully not to the death.

The fight lasted forever, or so it seemed.  Both males showed no signs of tiring.  The rink floor now covered in blood…orange from Zorvak, green from Kuna.  I don’t know how much time passed as my eyes stayed glued to the scene below.  Mesmerized and horrified at the brutality of it all, uncaring of the aliens bumping into my shoulders as they shouted.

Somehow, Zorvak wrestled the wooden staff from his opponent.  With focused, intense eyes, he circled Kuna like prey.  Kuna whipped his tail, trying to knock Zorvak off his feet.  It didn’t work.  Zorvak watched for an opening and when Kuna raised his fist in anger, leaving his torso exposed, Zorvak barreled toward him, impaling him on the wooden staff.  Kuna’s eyes widened in shock, but no sound came from his mouth.  He clutched the impaled staff just before he fell dead to the floor.  Zorvak stood over him, and after a mere second, his head shot up and he pierced me with his black eyes.

My world tilted again.  How did he know I was there?  Surely, he couldn’t see me.  I needed to leave.  I needed to collect my winnings.  I took two steps back then turned on my heels.  Munic’s words echoed in my mind.  Use the same machine. Just my luck, it was empty.  As I stood in front of the betting machine, my eyes darted to my surroundings.  No one paid any attention to me as the same erotic scenes played out around the room. 

I reached inside the cloak and slid my hand inside the pocket.  My fingers wrapped around the card.  I was nervous.  For the first time in my life I was committing a crime.  I often wondered what drove people to lead a life of crime and now I knew the answer.  Desperation.  As guilty as I felt, I still slid the card into the slot and collected the winnings.

There weren’t many coins, but they looked different than the one I had left.  I scooped them up, slid them into my pocket, and with my head down, I headed for the door.  I wanted to glance around, make sure no one followed, but I couldn’t.  Fear clogged my throat and I needed to leave as soon as possible.  I’d never stolen anything before.  Never!  And even though the rules were different here, I’m sure stealing was still against the law.

Cold air stung my face, but I never looked up as I hurried away.  The first light appeared, casting a dim shadow all around.  Shit!  I had to hurry.  I knew the nights were short here, but not once did I dream that I’d stayed there that long.

Shouts rang out over my shoulder.  The sound of hoofs pounding the pavement sent my heart into overdrive.  All I could think about was the Humchins riding those beast, searching for their next victim.  Did they know I stole money?  I quickened my steps but the sound drew louder, closer.  Thinking quickly, I ducked inside one of the buildings and headed toward the back.

“Can I help you?”  A deep voice sounded from behind.  I just shook my head and kept walking, hoping he understood. 

When I reached the back wall, I stood there. With overwhelming fear, tears glistened in my eyes.  I felt trapped as the walls closed in on me. 

“Are you all right?” the same deep voice called out.  I knew he stood right behind me.  I could almost feel his breath sweep across the top of my head when he spoke. 

I squeezed my eyes shut and tightened my lips together.  With nowhere else to run, I slowly turned and faced the owner of the store.

I kept the hood over my head, but his eyes still widened in surprise.  My eyes drifted away from him and I got my first look around.

The walls were made of seamless metal with intricate designs etched into it.  There were no clothes hanging on hangers, nothing that I would expect to find back home.  Instead, there were rows of cubes made from different colors and sizes.  I accessed the NI and immediately new that the cubes were clothes.  The fabric formed to the person who wore it. 

“What are you?”  My eyes slid back to him.  An average sized alien with ridged gray skin, large eyes, and holes for a nose, he looked reptilian.  Screwed, that’s what I am.

Why would you think that?  I froze.  Someone, or something just spoke inside my head.  Was it the alien in front of me? 

“I asked you a question.” 

Well that answered that.  How could I speak knowing he won’t understand?  I just shook my head.  He stared a mere second longer, and then walked over to the wall.  As one hand touched the side, part of the wall disappeared, leaving a small opening to see outside.

The first rays of the harsh sun shone brightly, hurting my eyes before I quickly turned away.  But not before I got a look outside.  Several Humchins were policing the streets while riding their beasts.  Are they looking for me?

Why would they be looking for you?

 That voice again!  A deep, dark voice that oozed sex but sounded like the promise of death.  Someone I wouldn’t want to meet or cross.

He touched the wall, making it whole once again before he turned and faced me.  There was no one else around when he closed shop.

“Now,” he started again as he crossed his arms, “what are you?”

“Human,” I barely mumbled as I stared at the floor.

“Speak up.  I didn’t understand you.”

The charade was over, at least with him.  With my chin lifted high, I stared him in the eyes as I slowly reached up and slid the hood back showing my face.  “Human,” I repeated louder, with more confidence than I had.

He gasped.  “I have never seen a creature such as you.”  With nervous eyes, he looked everywhere and then grabbed my wrist in one hand while touching the back wall with the other.  Just like the window, a doorway appeared.  “Come on.”  He pulled me through against my will, his grip so tight it hurt.

With the wall now firmly in place, he dropped my wrist and stared intently, his eyes studying my appearance.  I wanted to run away but instead, I hid my nervousness of his intense scrutiny.  I knew I was different, but he must have seen tons of different lifeforms here.

Instead of speaking, I glanced around the small room.  He must live here.  There was a small divan against the wall to rest on, a round chair, but not much more.

“You cannot go outside right now.  The Humchins would snatch you away instantly.”

My eyes darted back to his.  “I know.”  Why would he help me?  That was the real question.  Could he be stranded here like Munic and Oddle?  “My name is Camilla, but everyone calls me Cami.”  He grimaced, at least I think that was the expression on his unusual face. 

“I cannot understand you.”

“I know.  According to Mu…according to my friend, I must keep talking for you to understand what I’m saying.  Yes, I’m babbling but it helps your translator.  If you have a translator that is.”  I glanced around in a nervous gesture.  I couldn’t believe I almost gave him Munic’s name.  “Nice place you have here.  Is this where you live?”

“No.  It is where I rest when I am here.”

My eyes shot to him.  Damn, those translators were smart.  “You understand me?”

“Yes.  What are you?”

No beating around the bush with this guy.  Straight to the point.  “I’m Human.”

He crossed his arms and tilted his head.  I felt like a bug under a microscope.  “I have never heard of Human.”

“I know.”  But I had read about his species, at least a little.  Skarz, a mild-mannered species unless provoked.  “I’m Cami.”

“Rokhol.”

“It’s nice to meet you, Rokhol.”

He sighed, clearly not happy that I stood in his secret room.  Or maybe it wasn’t so secret.  But it felt that way. “I have to open up.  It will attract too much attention if I don’t.  Stay here until dark, and then you must leave.  If the Humchins find you here, then we are both in big trouble.”

“Thank you.”  I swallowed in relief.  If I could hide in here until dark, then I could make it back home. I startled at the thought. Where did that come from?  This was not my home.  I didn’t belong here.

Rokhol nodded before he headed out.  When the wall rematerialized, I plopped down on the chair and raked a hand through my tangled hair.  I want to go home!

Free me and I will take you. 

I bolted straight up and gripped the arms of the chair so tight, my knuckles turned white.  No one else was here with me so who keeps talking?  Am I supposed to talk back?

Free me!  The voice growled inside my head. 

I may not know much about this planet, but he sounded dangerous.  Why would I free him?

They kidnapped me from my home planet and I have a score to settle. 

You heard me.  How?

Do not be daft.

I seethed.  Who the hell did he think he was to call me daft?  He was the one needing to be freed while I roamed around undetected by other aliens.  I told him as much.   Daft?  You’re the one who needs to be rescued.

An unfortunate oversight on my part.  He sounded smug.  The fact that I could tell that from the tone in my head sent chills down my arms.  What else could he do?  Could he control my mind?  My thoughts?

Well, good luck with that.  Goodbye, I said, wanting to end the conversation.  As the adrenaline faded, my eyes grew heavy and I needed rest.  It had been a stressful night full of adventure--- good and bad.  Mostly bad, although I did win some money.  I just didn’t know how much.  Someone could have handed me a handful of rocks and I wouldn’t know the difference.  Mental note: learn more about currency. 

Wait!

His voice was a sharp command, and it pissed me off.  Don’t order me around!   I’m tired and need to rest so get out of my head!  I felt a little bad for telling him that, but seriously, how can he demand help?  What happened to common courtesy?  I headed for the divan which looked inviting.  As I laid down, I relished the comfort as I placed one arm behind my head.  Tonight would be here soon enough.