A smirk tugs at the corner of her mouth. “What are you doing up there?”
Despite the indignity of my predicament, I let out a low chuckle. “Just hanging around. The view is quite spectacular from this angle.”
Mia stands beneath me, her gaze flickering between my suspended form and the surrounding swamp. Her brow furrows as she weighs her options, and I know exactly what she’s pondering. Should she leave me to my fate, or lend a hand?
To my surprise, her shoulders set with resolve. Perhaps she’s realized that in this deadly game, even reluctant allies are better than none at all.
I try to quash the surge of hope that rises in my chest. This is merely a tactical decision on her part, nothing more.
Regardless, a warmth spreads through me at her choice.
With determined steps, Mia approaches the base of the tree. Her nimble fingers trace the intricate workings of the snare, brow furrowed in concentration. I watch, mesmerized, as she methodically dismantles the trap. Each precise movement speaks of a keen intellect and a survivor’s instinct that I hadn’t fully appreciated before.
The rope slackens suddenly, and I brace myself for impact. My feet hit the ground with a muffled thud, and I shake off the last clinging tendrils of the snare.
As I straighten to my full height, I feel a rare emotion.
Humility.
It’s a foreign feeling, one that has never before rippled through my fins, yet it doesn’t chafe as I might have expected.
I meet Mia’s gaze, acutely aware of how this moment has shifted the dynamic between us. “Thank you, Mia,” I say, my voice filled with a sincerity that surprises even me. “I am in your debt.”
The words feel strange on my tongue, but I mean them with every scale on my skin. She has done me a great service, and I am honor-bound to repay it.
I watch Mia’s every movement, acutely aware of the tension in her body. She gives a nonchalant shrug, but her eyes tell a different story. They dart over me, assessing, calculating. Her back foot shifts slightly, toes digging into the earth. It’s a subtle tell, but to my trained senses, it screams of readiness—readiness to bolt at the slightest provocation. The air between us crackles with unspoken wariness as I hold perfectly still, unwilling to shatter this fragile moment of truce.
I incline my head toward Mia, unable to suppress a small smile. “Your resourcefulness is truly impressive. Few could have dismantled that trap with such finesse.”
Mia shifts her weight, her fingers fidgeting with the hem of her revealing skirt. “Life’s taught me to think on my feet,” she replies, her tone guarded yet tinged with unmistakable pride.
I nod, and my gaze softens as I regard her. “Survival skills are invaluable, no matter the environment. You’ve clearly honed yours to perfection.”
As I speak, I notice Mia’s shoulders relax slightly, though wariness still radiates from her like heat from sun-baked stones. Sensing her unease, I take a deliberate step back, giving her more space. “I assure you, I intend no harm,” I say, turning my palms upward in a gesture of peace. “My sole concern is your safety.”
Mia’s eyes lock onto mine, scrutinizing every nuance of my expression. The intensity of her gaze sends an unexpected thrill through me. Finally, she gives a small, tight nod. “I should get moving,” she says, her voice firm despite the uncertainty in her expression. “You can head the same way if you want, just… keep your distance.”
Her words catch me off guard, and I struggle to mask my surprise. “As you wish,” I reply, my voice steady despite the conflicting emotions roiling within me.
With a final, curt nod, Mia turns and strides away, her movements measured and alert as I trail behind her, my mind racing with possibilities now that she’s shown me some consideration.
Still, I must be patient.
She is worth waiting for.
Chapter 7
Mia
I can’t shake thoughts of him as I slog through this dense, murky swamp.
Krakenos.
His name alone brings to my mind images of some ancient warrior king, the kind whose legacy echoes through time. What was his life like back on his distant planet?
Was he really some Atlantean-like ruler, commanding vast underwater realms and shaping his people’s destiny?
It’s easy to picture him in a grand, otherworldly city beneath the waves, surrounded by technology I can’t even begin to comprehend.
God, his life must’ve been so… purposeful. Each day probably brought new challenges, opportunities to lead and inspire. It’s a far cry from the aimless existence I was yanked out of.
A pang of sympathy hits me. Here he is, trapped in this game, so far from home. All that drive, that importance, stripped away in an instant as he’s forced to fight other aliens for some sick intergalactic reality show just so he can get back to his people.
But what am I fighting for, besides basic survival? What’s my greater purpose in all this mess?
The realization hits me like a punch to the gut. I don’t have an answer. I’m just… existing. Trying not to die. There’s no higher calling, no meaningful goal. Just me, stumbling through each hellish day in this nightmare.
Lost in this gloomy spiral, I don’t notice a hidden thicket until it’s too late. In a heartbeat, I’m entangled in a mass of hostile vines, just like the ones that nearly killed me when I first landed in this godforsaken place. Within seconds, my arms and legs are bound tight, and panic sets in as I realize how utterly trapped I am.
I thrash wildly, trying to break free, but that only makes it worse. The vines tighten their grip like boa constrictors, squeezing tighter and tighter until I can barely breathe.
A sudden, searing pain rips through my inner thigh, making me cry out. I look down to see a thorny vine has slashed deep, leaving a gash that’s already pouring blood.
Oh God, oh God…
These things are going to tear me apart.
