Page 10 of Swipe Right for Stardust

Suddenly, I felt something wrap around my arm. I yelped, looking down to see a small, tentacled creature clinging to me.

“Zarnak!” I called out, panic rising. “What is this thing?”

Zarnak hurried over, his expression a blend of concern and curiosity. “Fascinating. It appears to be a Cephalox, a harmless but notoriously clingy species.”

As the initial shock wore off, I was more intrigued than frightened. The creature chirped softly, its grip on my arm firm but not painful.

“It’s kind of cute,” I admitted, watching as its tentacles shifted colors in response to my touch.

Zarnak reached out, attempting to gently pry the creature off my arm. “Here, allow me to?—”

The Cephalox sang a series of happy chirps and latched onto Zarnak’s hand as well, effectively binding us together. I couldn’t stifle a laugh at the absurdity of the situation.

“I don’t think it wants to let go,” I said, grinning up at Zarnak.

He gave a small huff that I was beginning to recognize as his version of a chuckle. “It appears not.”

As we stood there, connected by this strange alien creature, warmth spread through me. The awkwardness that had initially colored our interactions had faded, replaced by a comfortable companionship that felt surprisingly natural.

“Well,” I said, looking down at our new companion, “I guess we have a mascot now. What should we call it?”

Zarnak raised an eyebrow. “You wish to name it?”

I shrugged, careful not to dislodge our clingy friend. “Why not? It seems like it’s going to be with us for a while. How about... Taffy?”

“Taffy,” Zarnak repeated, as if testing the name. “An apt description, if not particularly scientific.”

I laughed. “Sometimes the simplest names are the best. Come on, Sticky, let’s solve this puzzle.”

With our new companion firmly attached, we refocused on the task at hand. Working around Taffy proved to be a challenge, but also added an element of fun to the process. We had to coordinate our movements more closely, which led to several moments of awkward proximity that sent my heart racing.

As we manipulated the final plant into position, the clearing came alive with light. Patterns emerged, connecting the various life forms in a complex dance of illumination.

“We did it!” I exclaimed, feeling a rush of triumph.

Zarnak nodded, the tiniest of smiles on his face. “Excellent work, Vanessa. Your idea was crucial to our success.”

I beamed at him, feeling a flush of pride and something else I couldn’t quite name.

The moment was broken by a mechanical whir. A door materialized at the edge of the clearing, sliding open to reveal the way out.

“I guess that’s it,” I said, exhaustion washing over me. “We’ve completed the challenge.”

Zarnak nodded, his expression unreadable. “Indeed. Shall we?”

We were covered in alien goo, confetti from previous challenges, and now had a tentacled creature attached to our arms.

I giggled. “We must look ridiculous.”

Zarnak glanced down at our disheveled state. “Perhaps by conventional standards. However, I find our appearance to be a testament to our successful navigation of the challenges.”

His words filled me with a strange sense of pride. Who cared if we looked messy? We had accomplished something incredible together.

As we emerged from the escape room, we were met with a crowd of shocked and amused faces.

I heard snippets of conversation around us:

“Is that a Cephalox?”

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