Page 3 of Vylit: Glowing for Her
He gestured toward a massive arch of living coral about fifty yards away. The structure pulsed with the same bioluminescence as Vylit's skin, its center showing glimpses of swirling energy.
"Nope, I'm not going anywhere with you." I backed away, nearly tripping over my own feet. "I need to go home."
"The Gathering Lagoon is not sustainable for human physiology beyond an hour. Without the resources of my ship, your Breather Mask will fail, and the atmospheric composition will damage your cellular structure."
Great. Death by alien atmosphere or leave with the glowing giant who thought we were cosmically matched lovers. Some choice.
"Fine. Your ship. Then we discuss my immediate return to Earth."
Relief flooded his features. He extended a hand… massive, with those delicate webbed fingers that somehow seemed both powerful and gentle.
I ignored it, marching ahead toward the coral arch. The breathing mask pulsed against my face, a constant reminder of my dependence on alien tech just to survive here and how I wasn’t home anymore.
As we approached the gate, I noticed its surface wasn't static. The coral-like material writhed slowly, forming and reforming patterns similar to those on Vylit's skin. The portal within rippled like mercury caught in a breeze.
Vylit stepped ahead of me, pressing his palm against a section of the arch. The material responded, unfurling like a sea anemone to reveal a complex organic panel.
"The Consent Biolock requires verification before allowing passage," he explained, positioning me before the panel. "Place your hand here."
I hesitated, then pressed my palm against the surface. It felt warm and slightly sticky, pulsing once beneath my touch. Small tendrils extended from the panel, brushing against my skin as if tasting it.
"Double tides activate the passage way," Vylit instructed.
"What?" I frowned up at him.
"The Biolock requires verbal confirmation from both travelers. It's a safety measure to prevent coerced transit."
"Oh." That actually made sense.
I glared at the panel, which seemed to be literally sniffing my skin with its tiny tendrils. When it found whatever it was looking for, it retracted quickly, the opening shrinking back to its original size.
"It rejects our passage." Vylit's brow furrowed, his luminescence dimming to concerned pulses. "It senses your reluctance."
No shit, I thought. A smart alien gate that could detect when someone didn't truly consent to travel. Earth security systems could learn a thing or two.
Vylit led me around to another section of the gate. Here, smaller openings revealed what appeared to be handholds—massive for him, comically tiny for me.
"Alternative manual controls," he explained, his confidence faltering visibly. The glow beneath his skin dimmed further, showing vulnerability that made something twist unexpectedly in my chest. "My vessel awaits on the other side. Your comfort accommodations are... limited. I had insufficient time to prepare properly."
The genuine concern in his voice caught me off guard. Despite his imposing size and alien appearance, there was something almost endearing about his anxious desire to make things right. He truly believed we were meant to be together.
A bizarre laugh bubbled up in my throat, equal parts fear and absurdity. Here I was, Dr. Maya Poe, who'd spent her life studying ocean organisms, suddenly swept into an ocean of stars with a glowing alien who'd matched with me on some cosmic Tinder.
The lagoon around us surged suddenly, its geometric patterns dissolving into chaotic waves. A voice boomed from somewhere overhead, the translation patch struggling to keep up:
"Gate halo turning its head. Move now or remain permanently!"
Vylit's expression turned urgent. "The Transit Gate is destabilizing. We must pass through immediately or be separated by dimensional barriers."
The portal within the arch flared violently, its mercury surface roiling with increasing instability. Electrical discharges crackled around its perimeter, sending shockwaves across the lagoon's surface.
I stood frozen between impossible choices. Stay here in this alien world where I couldn't even breathe the air, or step through a dimensional gateway with a stranger who claimed we were destined mates. Could I even get home if I left with him?
The scientist in me analyzed probabilities, considering variables and likely outcomes. The woman in me felt the pull of something inexplicable… not just fear, but a strange, unwanted fascination with the glowing giant whose patterns danced more frantically as he watched me decide.
Vylit extended his hand again, his expression open and vulnerable. "Please, Maya Poe. I cannot force you, but I ask you to trust me."
The portal behind him flared white-hot, the gate structure groaning as it struggled to maintain stability. Beyond it lay his ship, potential safety, and a way forward. Behind me stretched an alien world where I would soon suffocate when this mask failed.
