Lina
LINA
T he acrid stench of booze and sweat assaulted my nostrils as I pushed through the throng of bodies in the dimly lit cantina. My stomach growled. Three days ago I’d slunk out of that cargo hold to find myself on Lakaris, the notorious underground city carved into the giant moon, Belond.
I’d heard stories of this moon—once a lawless pirate haven, now with its upper levels tamed for thrill-seeking tourists. But nothing had prepared me for the reality. The air felt thick, recycled, carrying unfamiliar scents. Neon signs flickered above a maze of corridors and ramshackle dwellings, hinting at the dangers that still lurked the lower you went. The lower depths were ruled by ruthless gangs, making it the perfect blend of surface-level respectability and underlying lawlessness—the ideal place to disappear.
At least, I hoped so. Because I was out of credits, and out of options.
I approached the cantina’s bar, my eyes fixed on the Orlian bartender. His sand-colored skin shimmered in the low light, and the membranous appendages on his arms fluttered as he mixed drinks with practiced ease.
“Excuse me,” I said, trying to keep the desperation out of my voice. “I’m looking for work. Any chance you need help cleaning or serving drinks?”
The Orlian’s large eyes narrowed as he looked me up and down. “We don’t hire humans here,” he grunted, turning back to his patrons. “Too much trouble.”
I pushed down the frustration and fear threatening to overwhelm me. “Please,” I persisted. “I’m a hard worker. I’ll do anything.”
He ignored me, wiping down the bar with a rag that had seen better days. I stood there, feeling increasingly invisible as the minutes ticked by.
Finally, he glanced back at me with a sigh. “Fine. You can clean tables. Two credits an hour. Don’t expect more.”
Relief washed over me. “Thank you,” I said, meaning it. “I’m . And you are?”
“Kel,” he replied shortly. “Now get to work. Those tables won’t clean themselves.”
I nodded, grabbing a rag and a spray bottle from behind the bar. As I worked, I was invisible to the customers, conversations flowing freely around me.
“Did you hear about the latest Crag-Worm races?” a squeaky voice asked. “I’ve got 500 credits on Blue Lightning.”
“You’re a fool,” his companion replied. “Everyone knows the Vinduthi are fixing those races. You might as well flush your money down the waste chute.”
I filed that information away, moving to the next table. A group of Lykan traders huddled close, speaking in hushed tones.
“The shipment’s coming in tomorrow night. If we play our cards right, we could make a fortune.”
“Quiet, you idiot,” another hissed. “You want the whole cantina to hear?”
I kept my head down, pretending I hadn’t heard a word. The last thing I needed was to get caught up in some illicit scheme.
As the night wore on, my arms ached from the repetitive motions of cleaning. My feet throbbed, and exhaustion threatened to overtake me. But I pushed through, knowing I couldn’t afford to lose this job.
When the last patron finally stumbled out, Kel approached me. “Not bad,” he said, his tone slightly less annoyed than before. “You can sleep in the back room. Be ready to open at 0600.”
I nodded gratefully, following him to a small, cluttered storage room. A thin blanket lay folded in the corner. It wasn’t much, but it was better than the streets.
As I settled onto the hard floor, my mind drifted to Dr. Heylarth. Was he worried about me? Did he even know I was gone? I pushed the thoughts away, knowing they’d only lead to tears. I needed to focus on survival now.
Sleep came fitfully, punctuated by strange dreams of red eyes and pointed teeth. When Kel woke me at dawn, I felt as if I’d barely closed my eyes.
The next three days fell into a grueling routine. Clean tables, serve drinks, dodge wandering hands, sleep for a few hours, repeat.
On the second day Kel gave me a battered old commpad to take orders with. My hopes soared. I could contact Dr. Heylarth, get help, get home!
But this was just a dumb tablet, slaved to the system behind the bar. No way to get a message out. I was still just as stuck as I’d been before.
On the fourth night, as I wiped down a particularly sticky table, the hairs on the back of my neck stood up. Slowly, I turned, my heart pounding in my chest.
There, at the bar, sat a Vinduthi male. His gray skin seemed to glow in the low light, dark green markings swirling across his left cheek and arm. His gaze was cold and compelling.
I couldn’t breathe. Couldn’t move. It was as if time itself had stopped.
And then he smiled, revealing sharp, pointed teeth.
Every instinct screamed at me to run, but my feet remained rooted to the spot. He stood, his lean, muscular form uncoiling with predatory grace. As he approached, I caught a whiff of something spicy and exotic - a scent that made my head swim.
“You’re new here,” he said, a dangerous purr.
I swallowed hard, trying to find my voice. “Just started a few days ago.”
He leaned against the table I’d been cleaning, invading my personal space. I took an involuntary step back.
“I’m Tharion,” he said, flashing those sharp teeth again. “And you are?”
“,” I replied, hating how small my voice sounded. I should have lied, but my mind went blank.
His eyes roamed over me, making me acutely aware of my grimy work clothes and disheveled appearance. “Human, aren’t you? Rare to see your kind in these parts.”
I shrugged, trying to appear nonchalant. “Just passing through.”
Tharion chuckled, a sound that was both alluring and terrifying. “Aren’t we all?” His hand reached out, fingers brushing a strand of hair from my face. I flinched at the contact, his skin surprisingly warm.
“I... I should get back to work,” I stammered, looking around for Kel. But the Orlian bartender was nowhere to be seen.
“Surely you can spare a moment for conversation,” Tharion purred. “I find humans... fascinating.”
The way he said ‘fascinating’ made my skin crawl. I took another step back, bumping into a nearby table. “Really, I need to finish up here.”
His eyes narrowed slightly, a predatory glint sharpening his gaze. “Running away so soon? And here I thought we were just getting acquainted.”
My heart raced as I realized I was trapped between him and the table. I glanced towards the back of the cantina, wondering if I could make it to the storage room.
Watching me, Tharion’s lip curled into a smirk. “Thinking of bolting, little human? I wouldn’t advise it. The lower levels of the city can be... dangerous at night.”
“I can take care of myself,” I said, trying to inject some steel into my voice.
He laughed, the sound sending chills down my spine. “I’m sure you can. But why take the risk when you have my... protection?”
The way he said ‘protection’ made it clear it was anything but. I needed to leave.
Now.
“I appreciate the offer,” I said, forcing a smile, “but I really should finish up. Maybe another time?”
Tharion’s eyes flashed, and for a moment, I thought he might grab me. But then he stepped back, giving me a mock bow. “As you wish, . But don’t think this is the last you’ll see of me.”
I nodded, not trusting myself to speak, and quickly made my way to the back. As soon as I was out of sight, I bolted for the storage room, my heart hammering in my chest.
I grabbed my few meager possessions and slipped out the back door into the alley behind the cantina. The cool night air hit my face, and I took a deep breath, trying to calm my nerves.
Tharion’s interest in me was dangerous, and I couldn’t risk staying any longer. I’d have to find another job, another place to hide.
As I hurried down the twisting corridor, I heard footsteps behind me. Slow, measured steps that echoed in the quiet night. I quickened my pace, not daring to look back.
The footsteps continued, unhurried but persistent. I broke into a run, my heart pounding in my ears. I turned a corner, then another, trying to lose my pursuer in the maze-like back streets.
But no matter how fast I ran or how many turns I took, those steady footsteps followed. He wasn’t even bothering to run. He was stalking me, like a predator toying with its prey.
I ducked into a narrow passageway, pressing myself against the wall and trying to catch my breath. The footsteps stopped.
All I could hear was the sound of my own ragged breathing.
Then, from the darkness, came Tharion’s voice, smooth and amused. “Did you really think you could outrun me, little human?”