Page 3 of Right Next Door
“Fuck off!” She hissed, pulling back against him, her scalp burning with agony. Hot tears of anger, fear, helplessness burned in her eyes as she glared at him.
But he only laughed, reaching for his belt.
Knock, knock, knock.
He paused, glaring at the door. “I’m busy. Come back later.”
He looked back at her.
Knock, knock, knock.
Growling, he dropped Misty into her chair. She pushed herself tighter into the corner, dragging the table with her, as he walked towards the door. He cracked it with a glare.
“What? I said, I was-”
Misty didn’t hear what the other officer said. His soft, whispered voice was too quiet for her to make out the words. Whatever it was, however, made Prickhead pause before stepping out, hastily shutting the door behind him without even looking back.
She caught her breath, thankful for the momentary reprieve. But her mind was racing. Trying to figure out what she was going to do when he came back. Because even if that was Lacie out there, somehow driven by whatever scraps of conscience she had left, come to confess the truth, she didn’t think Prickett would let her go that easily.
More time passed. Misty couldn’t hear what was going on outside. This place might not have cameras, but the walls and door were old and thick. Sturdy. Offering great sound proofing. She could only count the seconds as she waited for his return, desperately casting her mind around for some kind of plan. Anything to keep his hands off her.
Knock, knock, knock.
She froze, glaring at the door. Though she didn’t answer, it still opened.
And a monster walked in.
Misty’s jaw dropped as shock made her reel back, the cuffs cutting into her wrists. There was a lizard man wearing a steel gray suit stepping into her room. And that was absolutely insane.
He offered her a smile, all of the sharp, alligator teeth in his muzzle shining in the yellow light of the old bulb that buzzed overhead. It took her stunned brain a couple seconds to recognize that this wasn’t a monster – it was an alien. Those lizard men aliens that worked with the color changing aliens that were constantly surrounding Earth. Protecting them, they said. From what, Misty didn’t know. And nor did she care right now,because there was no reason for any alien to come all the way out here to the back ass end of nowhere.
Except this one was turning the plastic chair that Officer Prickett had just vacated and sitting in it sideways. It wasn’t the most comfortable perch, especially for a dude as big as him, but he had to for the sake of the thick, muscular tail trailing behind him. Bright white quills shined on his head, smoothly laid back, as he smiled at her through purple eyes.
“Good evening, Ms. Miles,” he greeted with a pleasant rumble.
“What the fuck…” she mumbled, not entirely sure when exactly she lost her mind, but it had to have happened at some point in the last six hours because this wasn’t real.
Still better than being touched by Officer Prickhead, but definitely not real.
“My name is Tzomei,” he continued like she hadn’t spoken. “I’m the ratchi ambassador to Earth. I wish we could have met under better circumstances, but it is still nice to meet you nonetheless.”
“What the…” She couldn’t even finish the dumb exclamation this time.
He just smiled at her, his three fingered hands folding together neatly on the table. “I understand this is a bit of a shock. Take your time.”
Misty shook her head quickly. “This isn’t happening.”
“I assure you, it is.”
“Why is this happening?”
“I’m glad you asked.” He smiled again. “Do you remember getting your scan done at True Match a few years ago. Four and a half, I believe it was.”
“Er, vaguely?” Misty made a face. She knew it had happened because she found an email about it afterwards, but the event itself was a blur.
One of her old friends had an out-of-town birthday party for her twenty-first. And she told Misty that she’d booked scans at True Match – the matchmaking thing – for all of them. They weren’t all single, but True Match promised to find your soulmate for you, so it was considered romantic by most to do it – those that didn’t suspect it of being a human trafficking front put on by aliens.
Misty wasn’t friends with them anymore. Most of them left town and didn’t look back, and the others had fallen out of touch with her as Misty embraced her gothic side. They were friendships that turned out to be casual things, easily abandoned.
