Chapter 3

I lost track of time, only aware of the bladder that felt like it would burst, the ache in my throat and the endless darkness.

Now and then I heard a noise somewhere else in the ship and I grew hopeful that my captor would reappear but then I was left in the dark even longer.

I'd given up trying to find a way out, kicking and flailing had been hard with my wrists and feet clamped together. Fear still engulfed me and threatened to send me into a screaming mess again.

Suddenly light flooded the compartment making me blink and suddenly shy away. After being in the dark it only made things worse.

"Right, you've got one chance to head to the toilet and use it. Try and do anything stupid and I won't bother in future, got it?"

I tried to nod, but I wasn't sure I managed it or was even looking in exactly the right direction.

"Get up then."

Eager, I tried to obey, suddenly finding my wrists would come apart and then my ankles a moment later. I didn't quite trust myself to get up, but I moved to the light intending to look at least a little compliant, still blinking and squinting against the bright lights.

I forgot that the space I was in wasn't on the same level of the floor, and put my hand and weight down into nothing before falling to the floor below. Landing on my shoulder' pain shot through me and I whimpered. The sound of my own voice made me pause for a moment.

A moment later he sighed and then reached under my arms to haul me to my feet. I shuddered and blinked some more, finally finding I could open them just a little and not have it hurt so much.

The Frentin came blurrily into view looking less than pleased to be having to hold me up.

"Come on, find your feet and get moving, I've not got all night."

Night. That gave me some marker of time passing. It couldn't have been too long. And it made me hope that I wasn't going to be shut up for the whole night.

Now that I could see a little better I tried to look for the bathroom or any kind of room where I could relieve myself, the need now feeling even more relentless since he'd mentioned it and my mind had expected the relief.

While I looked around he sighed again and pointed towards a small door to the left. I stumbled toward it, not focusing on anything else but getting there.

It opened as I got closer and admitted me into a small metal room. There was a small toilet stall on the far wall and I shuffled towards it, almost tripping on the door lip behind me.

I was vaguely aware of hearing the door behind me hiss shut before I wrestled with my suit and then plonked myself down.

The relief was immediate and instantly helped calm me and clear my head. Now was my moment. I had to work out how to get out of this situation, but I was fairly sure I didn't want it to lead to me being stuck in that hole without getting to wee. Clearly he was willing to go through with that threat to deny it.

If I was going to get away from this Frentin I was going to need to be much more clever than anyone else he'd abducted.

Getting up off the toilet I moved to wash my hands and tried to think. I knew I didn't have long. Firstly, I needed to get him not to put me back. And that meant I needed to appeal to some kind of softer side in him or get him to trust me a little.

Taking a deep breath, I rubbed my wet hands on my trousers and moved towards the door again. It opened with another swish. At least it was a well looked after ship in some ways.

"Thank you," I said as soon as I was on the other side of it. My voice was hoarse despite the lack of noise my screaming had produced so I didn't try to say anything more but see what he did next.

"I prefer it if I don't have to clean up puddles of wee and worse when I'm done with a sale, but I also don't like to have trouble with you humans either. Now, the guy who told me where you'd be said you were one of the more sensible women to take the job he offered. Are you going to be sensible from now on?"

"I guess I'll try if it means I can keep using the toilet," I replied.

This earned me a dry chuckle.

"I do have a request if you'll hear it, though."

"I'll listen if you keep it short, but I'm likely to say no."

"I get claustrophobic," I replied. "Please don't put me back in that small space."

He frowned immediately and opened his mouth.

"Or leave it open, or tie me to something in here. Anything. I'll cooperate, but, please. I can't bear it in such a small dark place."

For a moment he looked to be studying me. No doubt trying to work out if I was telling the truth, and I knew, in his position I wouldn't believe me. Who would? I was a woman alone on one of the smallest space worthy vessels out there and I'd just declared I was claustrophobic. It was something people had teased me for in the past, and I'd even found it a little funny.

But it wasn't funny now. Not when it meant he was highly likely to shove me back.

"I'm not going to even dignify that lie with a reply," he said eventually. "Now are you going to get inside on your own and with a little dignity or do I have to shove you in kicking and screaming again?"

I exhaled, trying to keep my body from shaking as I looked at the hole. There was no part of me that wanted to go back in the dark, but I had to find some way to get him to let his guard down. Could I make him believe me?

"Go on," he said a moment later, moving to the side but also closer. It was clear if I took much longer he was going to help again, and I had a feeling that would be even more scary.

"Please," I said again, unable to stop myself. Despite my pleading words I took a step closer. I shook more and more as I grew even closer until I was a shivering wreck standing right in front of the room. I paused.

Looking back over my shoulder I tried to see if he would have any mercy, but his arms were crossed and he frowned. He looked tired, but I couldn't be sure.

It appeared I had no choice. Turning back to the small room, I tried to climb up inside and make myself smaller. I was shaking so badly I almost missed a hand hold and had to clamp on tight to the edge of the doorway to keep myself from going over.

More steadily I slid into the space, hearing my captor step closer behind me. I turned, fear already making my heart race and my thoughts jumble in my head.

"Can I at least have a light or something?" I asked as he put his hand out and tried to push me further back.

I whimpered, his hand stronger than me by a long way. He leaned in closer and immediately I got a lungful of his intoxicating scent. Heat flushed through me, desire almost instantly replacing fear.

Get a grip, girl. You can't let the small of one alien make you do something stupid.

He came even closer, however, and I found myself not disliking the lack of distance. As he noticed me staring at him, trying really hard not to imagine how it would feel to kiss his full lips and run my hands across the muscular arms and chest he sported, he paused.

A moment later he chuckled.

"Humans. You're all the same. So easily seduced. I'll make you a deal. You want to sleep somewhere other than this little box, I get to have some fun with you?"

Instantly I shook my head. There was no way I was trading my body for a better place to sleep each night.

The Frentin didn't give me another chance to speak or move. He pulled back and slammed the door, once more plunging me into darkness.