GATE: First Encounter

Chapter 10

The alien's tail, which had been slowly swaying moments ago, suddenly stopped—
then struck the floor like a whip.

"Don't lie to me."

His voice was harsher now, more commanding.
The atmosphere in the room shifted—heavier, oppressive.
For a moment, under that cold and piercing stare, I felt... small.
Insignificant.

His words rattled me.
But I couldn't blame him.
If I were in his place, I'd probably think I was lying too.

I took a deep breath, forcing myself to stay calm.
I tried to keep my voice steady.

"I'm not lying," I said.
Then added quickly,
"Something attacked me at home... and when I woke up, I was here."

A long silence settled between us.
The weight of my words hung in the air.
Every syllable echoed deep in my mind.

When he finally spoke again, his voice was still stern—
but there was a slight shift, almost like the edge had dulled just a little.

"What attacked you?"

That question triggered something.

The memories I'd tried to bury came rushing back.
That terrible night.
The moment I thought I was safest—in my own home.

I saw it again—those red eyes watching me.
The creature waiting behind my door, silent and patient.
The moment I opened it...
the scream that never escaped my throat—
the thing that forced itself into me, down my throat—

It was all still so clear.

My body began to tremble, as if I were reliving it again.
But I knew I had to speak.

I needed to earn his trust.
No matter what it cost.

"It all happened so fast," I began.
My throat tightened.
Words came slowly, with effort.

"I left my room to get some water.
When I came back... it was behind my door.
A black shadow. Red eyes.
It lunged at me.
I didn't even understand what was happening before I passed out.
When I woke up, I was here."

I wanted him to understand the fear I had felt.
To know I was a victim, not a threat.

But I was careful—
I left out the part where it forced its way into my body.
I couldn't risk telling them that.
Being seen as a helpless survivor might be my only chance.

The alien watched me in silence for a while.
His eyes scanned my face, as if weighing every word.

Then suddenly, he glanced up at the camera—
and stood up.

It looked like he'd received an order.
His tone changed instantly—flat and distant.

"How long does your species live?"

Since the question was about my kind, not me personally, I felt a little more at ease.
But the emotional toll of what I'd just relived was still lingering.

I took a deep breath and answered:
"I'm not exactly sure," I said, thinking.
"Maybe around eighty years... but some live past a hundred. Rarely."

I wasn't sure why they were asking these kinds of questions.
But my goal was survival—
so for now, I decided to cooperate.

As he began pacing slowly in the room, he asked his next question more calmly:
"How old are you?"

I scratched the back of my neck and answered, a bit timidly:
"Seventeen."

He stopped in his tracks and looked at me with slight surprise.
He stared for a moment, almost as if trying to confirm it.
A brief flicker of curiosity crossed his expression.
Then he steadied himself again and asked:

"What do you want right now?"

I paused.
Then looked down.

My voice was quiet—tired, hopeless.

"I want to go home."

More than anything, I wanted a normal life.
I wanted to forget all of this—
to pretend it was just a dream.
But I knew it wasn't.

Tears welled in my eyes.
The emptiness inside me felt unbearable.

He waited a moment in silence—
like he was choosing his next words carefully.

Finally, he said,
"I understand."

Then turned and headed toward the exit.

Panic surged in my chest.

"Wait—how do you know my language?" I called after him.
"You didn't talk to me before this—how did you learn so quickly?"

He paused for a second.
Looked back at me, uncertain.

But then, without a word, he stepped through the door.

The guards followed him—
and the door closed behind them.

He'd ignored my question.

I was left with silence.
And too many unanswered thoughts.