Page 5 of Swipe Right for Stardust

A towering figure moved towards me through the crowd, and my jaw dropped. Dr. Zarnak Thal, if that’s who he was, towered over the other contestants, easily seven feet tall with broad, muscular shoulders. His skin was a light, icy blue – almost white – with shoulders covered in a layer of short, dense fur.

But as I studied him, I noticed something. Behind that imposing exterior, there was a hint of uncertainty in his eyes. Maybe he was just as nervous as I was.

“Alright, lovebirds,” Caelan’s voice cut through my thoughts. “You have one hour to get acquainted with your partners. And then, the real fun begins.”

As the crowd began to disperse, mingling and chatting excitedly, the giant alien came to tower over me.

“Hi there,” I said, holding out my hand and summoning my warmest smile. “I’m Vanessa. Looks like we’re partners!”

He regarded my outstretched hand before carefully taking it in his much larger one. His grip was firm but gentle, his fur surprisingly soft against my skin.

“Dr. Zarnak Kolvari,” he replied, his tone formal. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

I racked my brain for something – anything – to say.

“Hey, did you hear about the claustrophobic astronaut?” I blurted out. “He just needed a little space!”

He frowned. “I fail to see how an astronaut’s psychological condition is relevant to our current situation.”

I bit my lip, fighting back a giggle. “It’s a joke. You know, because we’re in space? And about to be locked in a room together?”

His eyes widened slightly. “Ah. I see. That is... quite clever, Miss Wilson.”

“Please, call me Vanessa.” I smiled up at him. “And terrible jokes are one of my strong points.”

He bowed. “Then you should call me Zarnak. Humor is a good talent to possess.”

We moved to a far corner, his impressive stature parting the crowd effortlessly.

“So,” I said, trying to sound more confident than I felt. “What’s your specialty? Any skills that might come in handy for an escape room?”

Zarnak shook his head. “I’m afraid not. My work usually involves studying alien ecosystems, not navigating through them virtually.”

“That sounds fascinating! “ I perked up. “What’s the weirdest thing you’ve ever encountered?”

For the first time, I saw genuine enthusiasm light up Zarnak’s eyes. “There was a fungal colony on Epsilon VI that communicated through pheromones. It created intricate chemical symphonies that-”

He stopped abruptly, his expression closing off. “My apologies. I’m sure you don’t want to hear about xenobiological minutiae.”

“Are you kidding?” I grinned. “That sounds amazing! I’d love to hear more about it sometime.”

Zarnak blinked, clearly surprised by my interest. “I... thank you. Perhaps after we successfully complete this challenge?”

“It’s a date,” I said, then felt my cheeks flush again. “I mean, not a date date, obviously. Just a... friendly exchange of information between challenge partners.”

A small smile tugged at Zarnak’s lips. “I look forward to it.”

The excitement of our first challenge mingled with a healthy dose of nerves, creating a potent cocktail of adrenaline that coursed through my veins. I glanced up at Zarnak, marveling at how his towering form dwarfed mine.

His face was a mask of calm concentration, but I noticed the fur on his arms standing slightly on end. It was oddly comforting to know that even my stoic alien partner felt the pressure of the moment.

“Ready?” I asked.

Zarnak gave a curt nod. “Affirmative.”

We stepped inside a circular chamber bathed in soft, pulsating light and I gasped as the walls shimmered and shifted around us, covered in what looked like living circuitry.

“Incredible,” I breathed, spinning slowly to take in the futuristic decor. Holographic displays flickered in the air, showing strange symbols and alien script that danced before my eyes.

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