When I came to, my entire body was wracked with pain.
It didn't take long to remember I'd been captured.
I jumped to my feet and looked around frantically.
The room I was in was simple—barebones.
Just a small bed and a compact toilet cubicle.
Cramped, confined.
I rushed to the door—locked.
Desperately scanning the room, I noticed a camera in one corner.
I waved my hand at it.
It responded with a subtle nod, moving up and down.
I let out a long sigh and sat on the bed, pulling my knees tightly to my chest.
All I could think about was the beating I'd taken.
That pale white lizard—
I hated her.
The fury inside me only grew stronger with each memory of that fight.
Not even landing a single hit... it made my blood boil.
Sure, they'd caught me—
But I wasn't going to go down that easily.
Not yet.
Before long, I heard a knock at the door.
A small panel in the lower half opened, and a tray of food and water was pushed in.
The hatch slammed shut immediately afterward.
I got up and inspected the tray.
Meat... and several strange, unknown plants.
As I reached for it, I noticed something on my arm.
A device—
The same kind those creatures wore.
Why had they put one on me too?
Not that it mattered.
I had no idea how it worked.
I tried to remove it—
but it was fused to my skin, like it had grown into me.
It didn't budge, not even a centimeter.
Frustration exploded in my chest.
I grabbed the food tray and flung it across the room.
The contents scattered.
Screaming, I pounded on the door with both fists.
When the tray bent out of shape, I tossed it aside and collapsed back onto the bed.
My hands throbbed.
Looking down, I saw blood running down to my wrists.
I'd hurt myself without even realizing it.
Drowning in a storm of rage and helplessness, I knew I needed a plan.
I had to escape somehow.
As my thoughts spiraled in chaos—
the door suddenly opened.
Several of them entered before I could react.
One of them raised a weapon and fired immediately.
A dart struck my arm.
My head spun.
My vision blurred.
Before my eyes closed, I knew they'd drugged me.
When I opened my eyes again, I was still in the room.
The pain in my body had lessened, and I noticed my wounds had been treated.
Why were they helping me?
What did they want from me?
Time passed...
Days, maybe.
I lost all sense of it.
There was nothing to do in that cell but sleep—
and think about escape.
Sometimes, that... thing inside me would speak.
The invader in my mind.
"I can help you escape," it whispered.
"Let me in. Trust me—I'll keep you safe."
But I knew better.
This was all its fault to begin with.
There was no way I'd trust it.
Then, one day, the cell door opened again.
I sat up immediately, alert.
Three of them entered.
Two wore armor and stood guard near the door, watching me closely.
I could feel their harsh gazes even through their helmets.
Their presence made my tension rise sharply.
The third one approached slowly.
There was something in his gaze—
as if he were scanning me, reading me.
His skin was a shade of brown, his face marked with battle scars.
He had a broad, powerful build, and his posture carried a commanding presence.
Each scar on his face looked like a story in itself.
He wore a forest-patterned military uniform.
On his left chest were two emblems—
one resembling a tail, and the other, a pair of fangs.
I had unconsciously bowed my head while observing the insignias.
When I looked back into his eyes, I felt a jolt of fear.
He was staring directly into me—
not just at me, but through me.
It reminded me how defenseless I was.
I averted my gaze and clasped my hands together.
I didn't know what was about to happen.
But the silence was suffocating.
My heartbeat made it worse.
The uncertainty gnawed at me.
Then he sat down in front of me.
He studied me for a while in silence.
Finally, he spoke—
his voice sharp, but genuine.
"Who are you?"
The fact that he spoke my language took me by surprise.
Some of the fear eased.
I looked him in the eyes and answered, my voice tense:
"My name is Okan."
He fell silent again.
As if choosing his next words carefully.
Then he asked, in the same firm tone:
"What are you?"
The fear was fading now.
And something long-suppressed began to rise inside me—
the simple desire to talk.
I couldn't even remember the last time I had a real conversation.
I was still a prisoner—
but the fact that he understood me, spoke my language...
that was enough to make me want to speak.
I steadied my emotions and replied quickly:
"I'm human."
He nodded slowly, seemingly satisfied.
His tail, which had been still until now, gave a small flick.
He remained silent for a moment, deep in thought.
Then asked:
"How did you get here?"
I froze.
I didn't have an answer.
Because I didn't know.
I tensed up.
But I chose honesty.
"I... don't know. I don't remember how I got here."
He stared into my eyes.
Watching carefully—
trying to figure out if I was lying.
It felt like he wanted to reach into my thoughts and pull the truth from my mind.
