1. Ellie

The guard shoved me forward and slammed the door shut.

Before I could utter so much as a whimper, he snapped the lock into place, and his heavy footsteps marched back the way he had come.

The way we had come.

Only now, it was just me in this cell.

In this cage, with this monster.

The room was dark; the only light source was a glass wall.

It looked out on the prison, but even that did little more than give the tiny space an otherworldly green hue as it was the middle of the night, and the other cells were silent.

I turned hesitantly toward the darkness.

Where I knew the beast to be.

Few knew this prisoner even existed at Ikmal.

Because, officially, he didn't exist.

I tried to keep the few details I knew about this prisoner from my mind.

I didn't want him to read them on my face.

I shuffled toward the dark sheath of the shadows, my medical tools sweaty in my quivering palms.

I stopped at the darkness's edge, as sharp as a blade.

I looked back at the cell door.

It was pointless to do so as no one would come in and rescue me.

Not now.

I shuffled a little closer to the darkness and managed to lift my foot, preparing to step into the shadowy recesses—

And I froze, my foot hanging limply a foot off the ground.

The shadows! I thought. The shadows… they moved!

I was sure of it!

I stared into them even harder but wasn't sure if what I had seen — what I thought I had seen — had really taken place.

Maybe it was just a figment of my imagination.

Was all this just a figment of my imagination? I wondered.

I wished it was.

I wished it was all a terrible dream I would wake up from, finding myself in my comfy bed back on Earth.

The homeworld I had been abducted from.

Once again, I shook my head of the past and focused on the present moment, that darkness that might have been infinite.

Of course, it wasn't and only seemed that way because I knew what was in it.

I swallowed what little saliva I had in my throat and began to inch forward into the light.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you," a deep voice growled.

I froze again, chastising myself for being foolish enough to go against my instincts and attempt to head into that blackness.

"If you choose to step into the dark," the voice snarled, "you must accept all that happens from that moment. Are you sure you wish to risk it?"

"W-What o-outcome?" I stammered, struggling to control my fear. "M-My n-name's E-Ellie. I'm h-here to h-help you."

Something slid across rough fabric, and heavy footsteps thumped the floor as they approached me.

I gazed up into the darkness, searching frantically for what was in the depths.

The footsteps — or were they hoofsteps? — grew so loud I realized the cell must be much larger than I thought.

Just when I thought the figure would appear from the shadows, they stopped.

I caught a glint of light that bounced off the edges of his horns… but no more.

Only the snorting rasp of his breath through his flared nostrils.

He breathed deeply and let out a long breath, and it sounded… hungry?

Oh God, please help me!

I didn't know what I had agreed to!

I don't want to be here!

I whimpered in the back of my throat.

"The future is a messy place," the prisoner said. "Like fractals of light bouncing off a diamond's face. Do you wish to finish taking that step?"

My foot was shaking now and, too fearful of what might happen, I placed it back down onto my side of the cell, back into the light.

The beast snorted and returned to his bed, still wreathed in shadow.

It groaned as it took his weight.

Within moments, his breaths became heavy, and he slipped into a deep sleep.

I cast around at the half of the cell with light spilling across it.

There was no cot on this side of the room, but I was happy even for the floor.

Just so long as I don't have to share a bed with that thing!

I put the medical supplies down and used what I could to get comfortable.

The floor was hard and dug into my hips, but it was made a little more comfortable by the packs of bandages I lodged underneath myself.

I cupped my hands together and used them as a pillow.

I lay on my side facing the wall.

I couldn't bring myself to look into the darkness.

In his direction.

I had gotten off easily, I knew.

There weren't many Prizes who had escaped so easily their first night in this place.

Most would have been used by their Champions, who Claimed them after winning in the fighting pits.

But I hadn't been Claimed, and the prisoner in my cell was not a Champion.

He was something entirely different…

I shut my eyes and willed pleasant memories into my consciousness.

I wanted to dream of happy times, of a time and place far from here.

But all I found was a monster in the darkness.

* * *

Two days earlier,I had been coming to the end of my night shift at the hospital where I worked as a nurse.

It'd been a particularly tiring shift as the local football team had — against all the odds — won their match, and some of the fans had decided it was a good idea to break into the local high school and perform some late-night free running on the grounds… while drinking heavily.

A short time later, ambulances were dispatched, and they were brought to my hospital, where they all needed two dozen stitches.

And who had the honor of sewing these fools back together again?

Only the nurse with the steadiest hands.

Only the nurse with the most experience of stitching people back together again.

Only yours truly.

They didn't stop complaining as I fixed the assault they had committed upon themselves.

I had been coming toward the end of my shift too, and now with all these extra patients, I'd been forced to work more than two hours of overtime.

What was worse was that I had another shift beginning in less than six hours!

Exhausted and thankful the night was finally over, I tugged on my coat and began the walk home.

Taxis were extortionate at this time of night, and you were playing a game of Russian roulette about whether the bus would turn up on time.

The streets were still littered with broken glass from the celebrations of the successful football match — no matter whether they won or lost, damage was always done.

Still, I enjoyed the quietness of the main street before the full energy of the morning kicked in.

The shops were shut, and what few trucks I could hear in the distance were soothing.

Ordinarily, I would have taken a moment to pause and breathe in the cool night air, but tonight, I was just too exhausted.

I came to a stop at an alleyway that I always avoided due to the overpowering stink of urine and usually preferred to take the longer route, which added an extra twenty minutes to my journey.

But hey, I'm a safety girl and didn't think the extra time I saved was worth getting my throat cut.

But tonight, something beckoned me into that alleyway; something told me it would be different and worth taking the risk.

With the football hooligans having made a pass through the town's streets already, I was sure the dregs of society would have been scared off.

After all, no one liked to be confronted with the same violence they liked to dole out.

And so I turned and headed into the mouth of the alley.

It was deathly dark in there, more like a portal to another world than just shadows.

I clutched my coat closer to myself, glanced back at the mouth of the alley, the orange light of the street lamps like lanterns at the rim of the River Styx, and decided to push on.

The glowing light at the opposite end of the alley was only a few dozen feet away, I sensed no one else within that alley with me, so what was the harm?

I fortified my spirit and continued forward, keeping a close watchful eye on either side of me, my attention focused on the end.

The stink of urine hit my nostrils hard, causing me to slap a hand over my mouth and nose to block the worst of it, but it was too late.

It had already invaded my senses and made me gag.

I pushed forward to get past it, but as I scurried forward, the stink seemed to follow me — or maybe it just infected the whole alleyway, I wasn't sure — and I suddenly found myself alert and awake.

And now that my senses were on full-beam, I wondered how I had allowed myself to do something so stupid as to come down this alleyway in the first place.

Suddenly, dozens of cases of attacks flashed in the forefront of my mind, one after another; attacks, muggings, even attempted murders… all had been carried out in this alleyway of evil.

You idiot, idiot, idiot!

I had repeated the same mistake the foolish football fans had — and left my senses at the door and let the lazy part of my brain make the decisions.

The part of the brain that told me it was okay not to exercise, that it was only to sleep in, that it was okay to do the bare minimum at work.

And now it had allowed me to come into this alley just to save twenty minutes?

I hurried my footsteps forward and made a b-line for the glowing orange of the exit ahead.

I was halfway through now, and if I kept going, if I could just keep up this pace, I would be there within two minutes.

The hard soles of my uncomfortable black shoes bounced back at me off the stained brick walls.

Clack-clack, clack-clack, clack-clack.

And it almost sounded as if someone were shadowing my every step.

I began to glance back, to look over my shoulder before thinking better of it.

Focus on getting out of that alley, and then I could look back all I wanted.

A dozen yards remained.

A dozen strides.

A dozen steps.

Clack-clack.

Clack-clack.

Cla-clack.

I paused, realizing my last footstep hadn't ended before the next one came to replace it.

How was that possible unless…

The blood drained from my face as I missed a step; the reflected sound bounced back at me before my step had even been made.

Someone else was in the alley with me!

Someone else was right on my heels!

Once again, I didn't turn to look back — I didn't want to give them any heads-up that I was onto them — and I shifted my weight instead, leaning forward and pointing my toes, going up onto the balls of my feet to race toward the exit.

I was ready to let the torture devices known as my shoes slip from my feet if necessary.

Just so long as I could escape.

I took one long stride and felt the wind press against my face.

I drew my arms back to launch into a full-on sprint and—

Powerful hands caught the nook of my elbow and, using my momentum against me spun me around and yanked me into the shadows.

I hadn't fully believed someone was behind me, hadn't completely given into the terror, and had assumed that once I reached the safety of the alley mouth opposite, I could look back into the empty concrete corridor and breathe a sigh of relief, and even manage a little laugh at myself for being so silly.

Of course, there wasn't anyone else in the alleyway.

Of course, I was always going to get to the other end of it safely.

Of course, my imagination had just gotten the better of me.

And all the while, I would promise myself that I would never again put myself in that situation.

But my imagination wasn't wrong.

Someone had grabbed me, and now he pressed his weight against me, and his lavascious tongue dabbed at my cheek.

I turned my head to one side and screamed, but the figure's hand clamped over my mouth, silencing me.

The man wasn't taller than me, but he was strong, even as I struggled, I felt his weight pinning me to that wall.

He fumbled at his fly with his free hand and unzipped himself. "I was beginning to worry no one would come into the alley tonight. Pickings are slim when there's a win on the field."

I felt his tiny cock pressing against the front of my skirt.

My terror was complete.

I could barely bring myself even to believe this was happening.

Fight him! a tiny voice at the back of my mind bellowed. Fight!

But my muscles were rigid with panic.

I balled my fists and beat ineffectively against his chest, but he paid them no mind.

He reached toward my skirt and began to hike it up before scrabbling for my panties, hooking his hand over them with a well-practiced tug, and angled himself toward me.

"It'll be over in a minute," he said. "I won't take long…"

"No!" I yelled.

My anger exploded out of me in one single burst of outrage.

My hips were pressed against the wall, and I used the leverage to shove him back.

He was already off-balance while he attempted to enter me, and coupled with my attack, he stumbled.

I saw my opportunity and bolted back the way I had come.

I managed half a stride before something yanked on my hair.

He had a tight grip on it, and my head snapped back.

His arms wrapped around my waist, and he thrust me against the wall once more, this time knocking the air from my lungs.

"You little bitch!" he snapped. "I was going to be good to you. Now you've made me angry!"

He turned me around and hiked my skirt up higher around my waist.

His finger pressed against my asshole.

"No!" I screamed, finally finding my voice.

I yanked back my elbow to smack him in the face, but he was there to block it and twisted my arm painfully behind my back.

"Fight," he said. "Go ahead. It makes it all the sweeter."

He smacked my ass, and I felt his wet cock against the soft flesh of my thighs.

My mind had once again shifted into an expression of disbelief that this could happen to me.

It was a defense mechanism, I knew.

And that meant this was going to happen.

I was going to be abused at the hands of this asshole.

I was going to end up becoming one of the broken victims I saw in my hospital.

I cried, the tears of terror that had formed in my eyes earlier now turning to beads of despair.

"Hoik!"

It was a strange sound, like someone taken by immense surprise.

Then a series of snapping sounds like a bunch of twigs being stepped on.

The weight of my attacker's body left me, and I was relieved of him.

I was in a state of shock and didn't even think to take off.

Something heavy struck the cobbled street at my feet, and as I turned I saw the lifeless eyes of the monster who had attacked me.

He stared up at the ceiling of the alley, the look of surprise painted on his face would be the last thing he ever showed the world.

Standing over him, concealed in shadows, was my rescuer.

I felt what little strength remained in my body flood out of me and I stumbled forward and fell into his arms. "Oh, thank you!" I cried. "Thank you, thank you, thank you!"

I didn't know who this man was, only that he had saved me from a terrible fate.

But it was enough.

"Zzz-ik," he said.

I frowned.

I mustn't have heard him correctly.

I pulled back, a smile on my face.

I didn't care which country he came from, what nationality he was, only that he had done what so many wouldn't, and helped me. "What was that?"

"Zzz-ik," he repeated.

"Sorry," I said, shaking my head. "I don't know—"

My heart stopped for the second time that night.

My fingers were pressed to his chest — his exposed chest — and I felt the odd coarse scales of his skin.

Yes, scales.

I had seen enough nature documentaries to know scales when I saw them.

They were rough and haggard, nothing like the smooth scales of a snake.

And when he stepped into the light, his cat-like slitted eyes glared down at me.

This thing, this creature… was not human.

He snapped a hand over my forearm, looked up, and said:

"Zzz-ik."

A bright flash of light consumed me, filling my eyes and body from the inside out.

That was how I came to be abducted.

And my luck only got worse from there.

* * *

The sensationsthat washed over me first were of smooth, cold metal against my cheek.

My eyes flickered open, and the intense brightness temporarily blinded me.

Adjusting, I squinted and lifted myself off the ground, trying to recall the events that had brought me here.

The room smelled sterile, like a combination of antiseptic and something more foreign, almost sweet.

It reminded me of those expensive lavender candles I once bought on Earth, only with a hint of blueberries.

The hum of machinery, soft and distant, was oddly comforting.

I sat up and touched the smooth floor with my bare feet, feeling the slight electric pulse underneath.

The floor was cool, but not unpleasantly so.

My fingers played with the thin fabric I was draped in — pale blue, almost translucent.

It was surprisingly soft, feeling like a mixture of silk and velvet.

"Ikmal," a voice echoed, and I jerked my head up.

The sound was coming from a hovering drone-like device.

The word "Ikmal" translated as if I'd always known the language.

"You're on Ikmal," the drone repeated. "It is a first-class moon-bound prison. Welcome, Prize."

I blinked, trying to understand. "Prize?"

A screen flickered to life, and a holographic face appeared.

It had piercing green eyes, elongated facial features, and a gentle smile. "Welcome! Here on Ikmal, prisoners who prove themselves in the fighting pits have the opportunity to Claim a Prize. Congratulations! You are one such Prize. The Claiming ceremony will be in three cycles."

The image blinked off and the drone floated away.

Memories began flooding back.

The alleyway…

The attack…

My rescuer…

But it was murky and distant, like it'd happened longer ago than I recalled.

For the next, I had to strain.

Wasn't there a ship?

Or a tank?

I remembered thick glass, peering though the condensation that formed on the inside.

Or was that just a dream?

I shook my head.

None of this made any sense.

What was going on here?

My heart raced, and I swallowed hard.

I heard a soft whimper, turning my gaze to find others.

Females — not just from Earth but from various planets — wearing similar revealing outfits, their faces painted with equal parts fear, confusion, and determination.

One of them, a tall human with tattoos shimmering in iridescent colors, approached me. "Hey, you're new too?" she whispered, her voice as soft as the rustling of leaves.

She smelled like rain.

I nodded and looked her over uncertainly. "I'm… Ellie. From… Earth."

"Nova," she replied, extending a hand that felt as light as a feather.

"Why are we here? I mean, what's this Prize thing about?"

Nova sighed. "It's exactly as they said. The strongest fighters in the pits get to Claim a Prize. Mostly, it's a symbol of prestige."

My stomach churned at the thought. "What? No. I'm a nurse. I have a shift… I have responsibilities… I have… I have…"

The panic attack came on fast.

I bent over double or else would have passed right out.

Nova looked sympathetic and placed a hand on my back. "We all feel that way. But escaping Ikmal is no easy task. This place is fortified beyond imagination."

I refused to let her words discourage me.

As we spoke, I took in the environment around me.

The walls were made of a transparent material, probably an alloy.

The vast expanse of space stretched out beyond, dotted with stars, galaxies, and the silhouette of a magnificent planet.

The sight was breathtaking, but the beauty did little to soothe the anxiety that bubbled within me.

The prison complex was vast, with high ceilings and a series of interconnected chambers.

From my limited view, I could see the fighting pits in the distance, a roar of cheers echoing faintly.

There were guards, humanoid in form but might have been robots by all the hardware they carried.

"Have you tried to escape?" I asked Nova.

She shrugged her shoulders. "A few times. But it's not just about getting out. There's nowhere to go. We're on a moon, surrounded by the vacuum of space."

I felt a pang of hopelessness.

A guard approached, his keen eyes scanning the Prizes. "The Claiming Ceremony begins in thirty minutes. Prepare!"

The Prizes were a sudden frenzy of activity.

I just sat on a seat, trying to grasp the enormity of it all.

What the hell is going on?

* * *

Whispersand subtle giggles echoed around the dressing chamber as the Prizes — which now included me — readied ourselves.

Rows of luminescent cosmetics lay on illuminated counters, radiating in various shades.

I hesitated, not knowing where to even start.

Nova was beside me, her tattoos now coated in a luminescent powder that caught the dim lighting of the room. "Just embrace it," she said softly, applying a shade of silver-blue on her eyelids that made them pop beautifully.

Taking a deep breath, I picked up what looked like a stick.

The moment it touched my skin, it transformed into a warm blush, highlighting my cheeks.

The scent of wildflowers arose, momentarily comforting me.

"Smell good?" a purple-skinned female from the next counter asked, her large eyes twinkling.

I nodded, feeling the velvety touch of a brush as it swiped across my collarbone, leaving a trail of glitter.

The soft murmurs, the clinking of cosmetic tools, and the distant hum of music from somewhere created an oddly harmonious ambiance.

The final touch was the dress.

Transparent yet tinted in hues of blue and lavender, it clung to my body, accentuating my curves.

I couldn't help but admire how the fabric shimmered with every move, feeling like a gentle caress against my skin.

Then I growled at myself for being so stupid.

I was a slave!

I was going to be a Prize for an alien warrior!

There was nothing to admire or feel good about!

The room — which Nova described as the Prize Pool — where the selection took place was expansive.

Platforms rose from the ground, each designed to display a Prize.

"These platforms are new installations," Nova added. "After new management took over."

New management?

I took my place, feeling a rush of cool air from beneath, carrying a strange scent — part metallic, part floral.

The other females, including Nova, stood tall and poised on their respective platforms, their dresses billowing slightly.

Their confidence was palpable, their smiles radiant, and the entire room glittered like a starlit sky.

I tried to mimic their grace, but my heart raced, each beat echoing loudly in my ears.

Then, the doors at the far end of the room swung open.

A massive figure stepped in, flanked by armed guards.

His skin was a shade of deep blue, and old scars crisscrossed his physique.

Muscles rippled with every step, telling tales of countless battles and challenges.

But what caught my attention most were his eyes — intense, calculating, and… fierce.

He was still bleeding from two large gashes below his ribs.

The room went quiet, save for the soft, anticipatory rustles of dresses and the faint whispers of awe.

He began his inspection, his gaze moving from one Prize to another, lingering just long enough to make each one's heart race.

Except mine.

I didn't want to be chosen.

I didn't want to go to his cell.

His eyes finally landed on me.

They bore into mine, making me feel exposed, vulnerable.

There was a raw intensity in his gaze, a depth I hadn't expected.

Time seemed to stretch, and the world around us faded.

All that remained was the heavy beat of my heart and the burning focus of his eyes.

As he stepped closer, I could hear the soft thud of his footsteps, feel the warmth radiating from him, and catch a whiff of his scent — a blend of wood, musk, and something wild.

My stomach churned with fear.

But just as quickly, his gaze shifted.

To my left, to Nova.

My friend looked back at him with equal intensity, but there was a spark of defiance in her eyes.

A silent communication passed between them, one I couldn't decipher.

Then, in a deep, rumbling voice that vibrated through the room, he spoke. "Her."

A collective gasp filled the hall.

Relief washed over me, but it was bittersweet.

Watching Nova descend from her platform nervously, I couldn't help but think of the fate that awaited her.

Would she be a trophy, a possession, or would she find some measure of happiness?

And for how long?

As the Champion and his new Prize exited, a hushed murmur resumed amongst the remaining females.

I was lost in thought when a shadow loomed over me. "The Supervisor wishes to see you," an armed guard said, his voice mechanical, speaking by rote.

Confused, I followed his gaze up to a large window overlooking the hall.

A gigantic figure stood there, watching the proceedings below with a keen interest.

My heart raced once again as I considered this new development.

The Supervisor?

What did he want with me?

Gulping down my anxiety, I stepped off the platform, preparing to face yet another unknown in this bewildering world.

* * *

The doorto the Supervisor's office slid open silently, revealing a room at odds with the elegance of the Prize Pool chamber.

It was functional, filled with screens and holographic displays of Ikmal and its many sectors.

At the center of it all sat the Supervisor, his massive bulk a dominant presence.

He was like no alien I had ever seen — and it wasn't as if I was an expert with that!

The Supervisor was not just large, he was immense.

Rolls of fat cascaded down his frame, each moving with a life of its own.

His skin was a peculiar shade of green, mottled with patches of yellow, and seemed to glisten under the overhead lights.

A multitude of eyes, small and beady, peered out from folds of flesh, each one darting around, capturing everything in the room.

As I stepped closer, the faint smell of musk and something akin to damp earth reached my nostrils.

The room itself was cool compared to the warmth of the Prize Pool chamber.

I could feel the soft vibrations of machinery underneath my feet, humming in sync with the rhythm of my racing heart.

The Supervisor's voice was surprisingly soft, almost melodic, a stark difference from his intimidating appearance. "You are Ellie, I presume?"

I nodded, trying to muster the courage to speak, but found my mouth dry.

"I've gone through your profile," he continued, his eyes — well, some of them — fixated on a holographic screen that showed snippets of my life on Earth. "A nurse, isn't that correct?"

Images of the hospital, my colleagues, and the countless patients I had cared for flashed before me.

It felt distant, a world away from this moon prison.

"How did you…?" I began, unable to fully form the question.

"Get so much information about you? We didn't. We simply hijack the information your governments already collect on you."

I nodded again, swallowing hard. "Yes, it was my profession on Earth."

He leaned forward slightly, the layers of his fat shifting and moving.

The light caught the wet sheen of his skin, making it gleam. "I have a proposition for you," he declared, his voice turning more serious.

I braced myself, fearing what he might suggest, but his next words took me completely by surprise.

"I need someone with your skills. One of our…" And he hesitated over the word, "prisoners has sustained injuries that our medics are struggling with. He won't let anyone near him. If you can help him recover, I will grant you your freedom."

For a moment, the weight of his words didn't register.

When it did, a rush of emotions overwhelmed me — hope, relief, uncertainty.

My senses sharpened.

I became acutely aware of the gentle hum in the room, the slightly tangy taste of the recycled air, the soft material of my dress against my skin, and the mingling scents of the Supervisor's musky aroma with the sterile environment.

"Why me?" I managed to whisper.

The Supervisor gave what could only be interpreted as a smile, his lips stretching to reveal rows of tiny, sharp teeth. "Your reputation precedes you, Ellie. I asked specifically for a female with your skills."

So it was this asshole's fault I was abducted in the first place?

I was tempted to run over and slap his sweaty face… but thought better of it.

Yes, he might be the one responsible for me being here, but he might also help me return home.

"But," he interjected, breaking my chain of thought, "should you fail, you will find yourself back in the Prize Pool, with no hope of ever leaving Ikmal."

The gravity of his statement wasn't lost on me.

I considered the risks.

But then again, wasn't I already destined for the Prize Pool?

I had nothing to lose and everything to gain by his offer.

In essence, I really had no choice at all.

Taking a deep breath, I met his multiple gazes. "I accept."

The Supervisor nodded, his eyes displaying a hint of satisfaction. "Good. I hope, for your sake, that you succeed."

As I left his office, the reality of the situation began to sink in.

I had been granted a lifeline, an opportunity to escape this prison and return home.

But first, I needed to nurse a prisoner back to health.

How difficult could that be?

It turned out, very.

* * *

And so theguards had tossed me into this cell along with the prisoner.

The cold, hard floor beneath me felt unforgiving against my back.

The cell, though not cramped, was dimly lit.

Deep shadows played along the walls, concealing more than they revealed.

Tentatively, I inhaled, picking up the musky scent of the beast on the other side of the cell.

My ears strained, and I could discern the faint, rhythmic breathing of the prisoner known as Ceara.

My task was to heal him, to get close to him… and so far, I had gotten off to a crappy start.

But if it meant I could leave here and never have to think of this place ever again, I would do anything necessary.

And I meant anything.