Chapter 4

Chapter Four

Krake remained silent during our walk through the ship. Amazingly, so did I. My relief at not being disposed of was short-lived. Anxiety spiked higher with every step.

What had just happened?

A nonbinary being from outer space who collected other beings for sexual entertainment around the known galaxy rejected me.

A tantalizing alien convinced said Collector to not dispose of me in order to collect a finder's fee from the alien who would eventually purchase me.

But only if I could be trained.

And somehow, all of this was supposed to be consensual and not sex trafficking. Because those involved were well-compensated. Allegedly. Or at least not shot out of an airlock.

My breath hitched. I worried I might hyperventilate.

What would the training involve?

What would I have to do to not be killed?

Who would buy me?

I clasped my hands low in front of me and focused on my breathing to slow my frenzied thoughts. The floor was the fascinating metal that seemed to be the primary material for the ship. Our footsteps made almost no noise on it as we walked.

The lighting was bright enough to illuminate the path, brightening when at the flat-screen built-in workstations, but never so bright as to be unpleasant or sterile. I inhaled deeply. Huh. Nothing. The air on the ship smelled like nothing. I wondered if there was something that I couldn't smell—something outside my range. But it really smelled like nothing. Just clean, I supposed.

The apparent emptiness of the ship disoriented me. Once again, we passed no one. I had no idea where on the ship we were or where we were going. I couldn't even get a handle on how large or small the ship was. The walk seemed like it took a long time. Or maybe that was my anxiety. Everything was so smooth and flat that I had nothing to use to distract myself. No tiles to count. No cracks in the floor to avoid. No distractions from the maelstrom my mind had become.

Still, Krake said nothing. Nor did I. What could I say? Thank you for not letting them dispose of me?

As the anxiety grew to crushing levels, my vision swam. Vertigo threatened to overwhelm me. A snake of fear coiled itself around my spine.

I held my breath for a four-count. Released it. Repeated that.

"Why are you breathing so?" Krake asked.

I side-eyed him before answering. "I'm calming myself down. Before I pass out," I told him.

"That is good."

"That is good," I echoed him, attempting to wrap my mind around his meaning.

"You must focus so that you can train."

"Ah." Of course, he wasn't worried about my well-being. He wanted to protect his finder's fee. Understood.

Krake stopped before a gray door, which slid open for us to enter. The room was of a decent size, enough to fit a couch, low table, and cabinets, like a living room. Oh, this must be his quarters.

"Sit on the couch," he directed me, and I darted forward to perch on the edge of the gray couch.

"Thank you for not letting me be disposed of," I said, thrilled to not be dead, though not as thrilled to see what happened next.

Krake remained standing just inside the room, staring at me dispassionately. "It was a business decision. The finder's fee will be useful."

"Because you can't find your Runner?" I asked.

"Yes," he said. "That Zovan has been a tricky one."

"What's a Zovan?" I risked asking.

Krake didn't answer, instead crossing the room to join me on the couch. He sat beside me, not quite touching, but my body perked up at his nearness. Fuck me and my traitorous body.

"I assume another type of alien," I continued, trying to prompt him.

"Yes."

"What are Zovan like?"

Krake stared down at me.

"Why are you looking for him? Or her? Or them?" Who knew what gender a Zovan was? At this point, though, even I knew part of me was attempting to stall the inevitable. My training to become an Obedient, whatever that was. Although I had my suspicions, figuring the name gave it away.

"Nothing you need to know about."

I squirmed under the attention, unable to read his alien body language.

"Maybe not just a business decision," he said.

His statement caught me off guard, and I swallowed audibly.

"Teaching you may be enjoyable for me."

Understanding dawned. I would be his fuck toy.

"Show me what you can do."