4. Chapter 4

Grihul

T he door of the spaceship closes and I'm finally back in my place. I don't care what that crazy human female thinks. She has already caused enough delay...

I let out a breath as I head to the dashboard, checking to make sure the spaceship is functioning well. I just refueled on the way here, so everything's good and I can comfortably stay here for weeks.

Wait...

I head to the storage room instead, opening the cupboards. Well, in terms of fuel for the spaceship, I can stay for almost as long as I want, but in terms of food, maybe not so...

I shrug. It should be fine. I can starve a few days without being dead. There's enough food for a week anyway, and by then the power will have recovered. Given this is where they check "suspicious" spaceships, it has to be an important place that will be repaired soon.

I head back to the driving seat, looking out of the window.

It is dark, but not dark enough that I can't see. The human sits in the corner, probably hoping someone will save her.

I've already warned her. I don't know much about the climate of this planet, but I know a snowstorm and I know how to hide from one. We're in a basement. The floor is going to be cold.

Not that I care about her. She is the reason I'm stuck here. At least she is also stuck here with me. Karma served her right. I'm in warmth and comfort here, while she can starve and be cold outside.

She can blame herself for her misery.

Meanwhile, I can take a nap in my room. Even though I almost live on this ship, it has been a while since I could sleep on the bed instead of in the driver's seat after lowering the backing of the seat.

Somehow, that human female shows up in my mind again. If she was less crazy over tiny stuff, we wouldn't be stuck here. I'd have delivered everything before the snowstorm intensified. She wouldn't have ended up here too and probably would be home already.

She only has herself to blame.

I've already told my company about this delay. At least I'm out of checking and customs safely. The customs workers were confused as to why they even had to check my spaceship. I resisted the urge to tell them about this crazy police officer.

I stretch my arms. It's okay. I'm hired on salary, so if I'm stuck here, it won't kill me. I'd still have my money at the end of the month. It will suck to not manage the bonus, but it is what it is.

Inside my room, there's little to nothing. This spaceship is assigned to me for the job, so everything is barebone. There is a bed in the corner, a desk to the side, and a simple chair that's tied to the desk with chains.

I get it that it's just in case the spaceship is shaky, and for the chair to stay in place instead of sliding everywhere, but...

It looks ugly and almost feels like that's what beings in jail would have.

I was planning to take a shower, but I ended up on the bed instead. It is the bed's fault. It may be made of a magnet that pulls me over.

The bed and the blanket are so soft. I love it. I grab an armful of blanket, sinking myself into it. Now I miss home. The bed back there is nice and comfortable, too. Mother always keeps it tidy and ready for me whenever I head home.

And she is... nice... cooks... and...

***

I open my eyes when...

Looks like I fell asleep.

I sit and stretch my arms. Now, I feel better. Where am I again? Am I still flying somewhere?

Wait... No, that stupid and crazy human female had me locked up here in a basement. Then...

I head to the driving dashboard. Maybe the power is back up and I can leave. My paperwork for the shipment sits on the dashboard, waiting for me to deliver it to its destination.

Hm... It is still dark outside. It doesn't look good.

This is such a stupid planet...

I start up the dashboard, searching for the news. I'm not sure whether I'll get a connection. I was doubtful when these beings locked me up here and I shouldn't be able to reach...

Fuck...

At times, I hate it when I'm right...

There's no connection to the outside; even my phone isn't connected to anything. I let out a breath. This has to be an important facility, so the power is going to be back soon.

Wait... That human female...

I go to the window, only to find condensation droplets on the inside of the ship. This doesn't look good...

I wipe off the water with my hand. The human out there is still in the corner. She's balled up and I have no idea whether she's sleeping or not.

Is she dead?

Will the other police think that I'm the reason she's frozen to death?

But it can't be that bad outside.

She annoys me and is the reason both of us are stuck here. I don't have to care about her. If something bad happens to her, she chose it. It's karma doing its thing.

I fold my arms and look away. That's her problem, not mine.

That's not my problem.

That really isn't my problem.

I don't have to care about her.

Despite knowing that, I turn around and peek at her again. She isn't moving. But given the distance between us, she could have moved slightly and I wouldn't see it.

So...

I let out a breath, straighten, and head to the door of the spaceship. Maybe I can't stand to the side and watch her to see if she's dead.

At the door of the spaceship, I press the button for it to open. It moves slowly, but not slow enough to never open. It slowly swings down, revealing the dark parking lot and...

A cool breeze comes at me. Maybe this planet can get colder than I expected. I shiver and head back to my room, grabbing a jacket. She is going to be freezing out there.

Is she dead? What do I do if she is dead?

If the power is out, maybe the security cameras are down too, then... I'd be the only one found in the scene where she died. Those police are going to think that I murdered her because I was pissed about the delay.

I've never killed anyone in my life, and I think most beings are the same way. I'm not interested in killing someone either. I'm already good to get out of here, there's no incentive for me to kill or hurt anyone.

But who knows what those beings will think?

Even if I make it out safely, it is going to cost me a lot of time and probably also my job, which I have to replace, and it's going to suck.

I take a deep breath, trying to fight the load in my stomach.

I hope she isn't dead, then it will save a ton of my trouble.