Page 9 of The Bully Alien

That's it. I've had enough of this. I'm done hiding my true form and lying about who I am.

She can try to turn the tables on me and try to get me to grovel, but I won't.

For the first time since coming to Earth, I transform into my true form.

My skin starts to shimmer and glisten as it changes from a light brown color to an iridescent green color with sequin-like scales covering my legs. The air around me begins to feel electric and warm, like the air when you stand near a bonfire on a starry night. My eyes become slits like a cat's eyes, and they glow brighter than any star in the night sky. Four horns sprout from the top of my head, giving me an even more fierce appearance.

The Earthling girlstands shocked before me, and I expect her to scream.

But she doesn't. After a moment, she rolls her eyes.

"You didn't answer one of my questions," she points out. "If you don't start talking, maybe I will."

She reaches for her phone.

Are you fucking kidding me?

I snatch it out of her hands. My fingers are more claws now, and I squeeze her phone, crushing it.

"If you don't buy me a new one, I really will tell everyone," she says, lifting her chin. "I don't care if they send me away for it, but I'll blab until they have no choice but to pick you up, and then they'll find out the truth. Then, you'll be the one locked up as they experiment on you. Is that what you want?"

I let out a growl and stalk toward her. I'm stronger in this form, taller too, and if I'm not careful, I'll be spotted by someone else.

I also might kill her even if I don't mean to.

"Go ahead, revert back to human form. If you applied here, you have funds. You have access to money. Give me enough to pay for a new phone."

I slowly revert back. "You won't tell anyone," I say evenly.

She snorts. "I need more than money to pay for the broken phone to keep my mouth shut."

"I will not accept this," I growl.

"You don't like being blackmailed? I don't like being judged before you know me, and if you ever, and I mean ever, call me Scar Face again, I'll cut you myself."

"Threatening violence, huh?"

"No, promising it," she snaps.

I take a deep breath and try to keep my cool. Coming to Earth hadn't been planned, and it has turned out to be even worse than I ever thought it would be.

My home planet is called Grixulara, and while its existence isn't well known by most other galaxies, it is highly advanced in technology. We have spaceships that can travel through warp tunnels at the speed of light in order to cross large distances quickly and safely and ships that allow us to traverse the stars without being detected by anyone else.

My ship was damaged during a recent intergalactic skirmish, leaving me stranded on Earth with no way back home until I can get the parts to repair it, parts that only exist on Grixulara.

For years now, I've been stuck between two worlds, one where I belong and another where I definitely don't. It's up to me to make sure I can get back home, and I can't afford to have anyone get in my way.

I shake my head and take a step back. "Okay. Fine. I can't have anyone get in my way as I try to return to my home planet, and you don't want me to leave with the knowledge that you know the truth about me. But I refuse to apologize for who I am or what I've done, so let's make a deal. You keep your mouth shut, and I'll give you enough money for a new phone and more."

My face is expressionless as we make our deal, but inside, my heart is racing. She's right. If anyone finds out about my being here on Earth, it could spell disaster for all of us, aliens and humans alike. I've learned enough about Earthlings in the yers I've been here that I know they will dissect me and rip me apart to study me. I am human, but they won't consider me to have any basic rights.

She shoves the money into her purse. "I didn't expect you to have that much money on you."

"I don't like banks."

Her eyes widen. "How exactly did you come to have this money?"

I flash her my teeth, not smiling. "When will you realize I am not going to answer your questions?"

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