In Search of Home

Chapter 77

The floor was less comfortable than he had first thought. The carpet was thin and the cold floor seemed to seep right into his bones. Though, he thought, curling into a ball as best he could with his ribs and trembling arms, it didn't help that he wasn't at his best.

Turrkn and Nhafka had left him alone for the most part after he had requested water. Viktor didn't move from his spot, plastered against the wall, until they had started coming toward him. He had inched away as quickly as he could.

Nhafka had grabbed his collar, painfully hauling him up onto his knees. "You behave in here tonight, Kohgrash, or you'll wish you were dead," he hissed, quickly reminding Viktor why he needed to be wary of them. The alien let go of Viktor, letting him fall into a heap on the floor. He pointed. "Stay here. Stay."

He didn't dare move a muscle. He didn't see any of the camera orbs floating around, but he didn't want to risk it. He wanted to go a few hours without getting smacked around.

The room was dark and unfamiliar. He was freezing. It was the worst night's sleep he had gotten since he had gotten on this planet. The collar made it hard to breathe, even though it rested innocently on his throat. He felt like it would choke him in his sleep. Finding a position to rest his head without feeling it dig into his skin was nearly impossible.

"Good morning, Kohgrash!" the door slammed open, and Viktor woke up with a panicked whimper. He lifted his head an inch off the floor before dropping it again, nauseated. He closed his eyes for a second. If the voice had been a shade or two deeper, much quieter, and kinder, Viktor could imagine that he had just fallen asleep on the floor at home.

"Did he die?" Turrkn asked. Viktor snapped open his eyes as footsteps thudded over to him. He bared his teeth, pushing himself upright with difficulty.

"No, you idiot. They just wake up slow," Nhafka snapped. His voice grated on Viktor's ears. He hadn't switched off the translator last night (half of him had been afraid that it wouldn't turn back on), and two days of morning migraine-level headaches were starting to do him in. And he was sure these aliens wouldn't be getting him sliced starfruit to help.

Viktor bit his tongue to force back the tears threatening to form. He missed Vok'Rul.

"Hey!" A sharp yell pierced right through his skull, and Viktor's hands flew up over his ears to dampen the sound. "What do you think you're doing?"

What? What had he done? Viktor flinched as Nhafka's claws shot out to grab his collar, shaking him hard.

"I told you to stay, you little idiot," the alien growled at him. Viktor brought his hands down on the alien's wrists, snarling weakly. All he managed was to piss him off even more. "And now you're trying to attack me!? After all I've done for you?"

"Done for me?" Viktor suddenly screamed, finding the air in his lungs to do so. A surge of adrenaline rushed through him, and his struggles got more intense. He reached behind him, ready to grab Korrashkka's claw and push it between Nhafka's eyes. "Fuck you!"

A fist connected to the side of his face, and Viktor dropped like a bag of rocks. His breathing grew labored as wave after wave of pain rushed through his head. These idiots were gonna kill him, he thought deliriously. He was gonna die in a shithole like this. He wouldn't even get a grave when he went.

"Do you act stupid, Turrkn, or were you just born that way?" he foggily listened to Nhafka yell. Everything was muffled.

"He was attacking you!"

"Did it look like I needed help!? He could barely even lift his head. And look, now he's half-dead. We'll have to bring him to Yorr."