Chapter 14: Terror

But there was an obvious problem: her chronic fatigue. He had seen how this condition drained her, how it weakened her despite her incredible mental strength. If she was going to stay with him, he would need to find a way to help her overcome this weakness, or at least manage it. It would be a challenge, but Vykhor was no stranger to challenges.

For now, however, he had to wait. Wait for Evelyn to wake up, to regain her strength. Wait so he could talk to her, learn more about her, better understand this extraordinarily complex woman. It wasn’t just about curiosity; it was a necessity. If he was going to make a decision about her future, he needed to understand her first. Never in his long existence had he been so fascinated by a human being. And even less by a woman who, despite her apparent fragility, hid a strength and mystery that defied all logic.

Vykhor clenched his fists, making an internal decision. He would wait for Evelyn to wake. He would question her, try to pierce the veil of mystery surrounding her. And only then, after that, he would decide what to do. But one thing was certain: he wouldn’t let her fall into the hands of the military, or anyone else who sought to use her for her skills. She deserved better than that. And he deserved answers.

As the Narak'Thar continued its journey through the stars, Vykhor turned away from the observation bay, ready to face whatever came next.

When Evelyn opened her eyes after a twelve-hour sleep, her mind was still clouded by fatigue as it tried to readjust to her surroundings. But what she saw first was a room with white, sterile walls, illuminated by soft yet relentless light. Her still-numb mind made only one immediate and terrifying connection: the lab. That same lab where she had spent most of her life, the place of daily pain and suffering. Buried memories surged to the surface in an instant, more vivid and devastating than ever.

Terror gripped her brutally. Her heart raced, her breathing became erratic, almost gasping. Her frantic gaze darted around the room, desperately searching for a sign to prove she wasn’t there, that she hadn’t gone back, that she wasn’t once again trapped in this nightmare. But every detail of the room, every shade of clinical white, reinforced the nightmarish illusion.

Kryna immediately detected Evelyn’s distress. The AI’s sensors registered her vital signs spiking alarmingly. A soft voice, programmed to be soothing, filled the room. “Dr. Ashcroft, you are safe. You are aboard the Narak'Tharr, Commander Kael’seth’s ship. You are not in danger.”

But Kryna’s reassuring words didn’t break through the veil of panic that enveloped Evelyn. The irrational terror that had seized her was too strong. The walls seemed to close in on her, the cold light burning her eyes, and every sound, every vibration reminded her of the echo of the instruments that had been used against her. She backed away, trying to stand, but her legs, still weak and trembling, couldn’t support her. She collapsed almost immediately, her breathing becoming more labored as if the air itself was escaping her.

Kryna, recognizing the worsening of her condition, tried once more to calm her. “Dr. Ashcroft, try to breathe slowly. You are safe here.”

But nothing worked. Evelyn was trapped in her waking nightmare, unable to distinguish reality from her traumatic memories. Her entire body shook, her mind desperately searching for an escape, but finding none. She was spiraling into an uncontrollable panic attack.

Seeing her attempts to calm Evelyn fail, Kryna made a swift, pragmatic decision. The AI knew that the only person aboard who might break through this irrational terror was Vykhor. “Commander Kael’seth,” Kryna called through the ship’s internal systems, “Dr. Ashcroft is in acute distress. Your presence is required in the infirmary immediately.”

Vykhor, who had been in the ship’s control room, analyzing trajectories and reports, received Kryna’s call. Without wasting a second, he left the room and quickly made his way to the infirmary. His thoughts immediately turned to Evelyn. She had been severely exhausted when he brought her aboard, but he hadn’t anticipated such a reaction of panic. He had no idea she carried such deep trauma.

He entered the infirmary in a few strides, his heavy footsteps echoing on the metal floor. What he saw made him realize at once the gravity of the situation. Evelyn was curled up in a corner of the room, trembling, her face pale and marked by pure terror. Her eyes, wide open, were staring at the walls as if they were about to swallow her whole. She was completely disconnected from reality.

Vykhor approached slowly, aware that any sudden movement could worsen her state. He knelt down to her level, trying to catch her gaze. “Evelyn,” he said in a low but firm voice, “you’re safe. Look at me.”

She didn’t respond immediately, still lost in her world of fear. Vykhor hesitated for a moment before gently placing his hand on her shoulder—an unusually soft gesture for him. “Evelyn,” he repeated, more softly this time, “it’s Vykhor. Look at me.”

At his touch, something in Evelyn’s mind seemed to flicker, like a spark of awareness amidst the storm. Slowly, she turned her head, her eyes meeting Vykhor’s. There was something in his gaze, an anchor in the whirlwind of her terror. She remained still, staring into his yellow eyes, trying to cling to this presence she knew was familiar, that she knew wasn’t a threat.

“You’re on my ship,” Vykhor continued, his voice a bit calmer now. “You’re not in danger here. I won’t let you go back there.”

His words, his tone, the certainty in his voice finally pierced the barrier of Evelyn’s panic. Her breathing, still ragged, began to stabilize slightly. The white walls of the infirmary became less oppressive, and the environment started to distinguish itself from her painful memories. She hadn’t returned to hell. She was aboard the Narak'Tharr, under Vykhor’s protection.

Finally, the panic attack began to subside, leaving behind a deep exhaustion. The tears she had been holding back now streamed silently down her cheeks. Vykhor, still kneeling beside her, made no comment. He simply stayed there, close to her, watching carefully, ready to intervene if necessary. For the first time in a long time, he felt something he had never experienced toward a human: compassion.

Kryna, noting that Vykhor had managed to calm Evelyn, spoke again, this time with more restraint. “Her condition is stabilizing, but she still needs rest. Should I administer a light sedative?”

Vykhor nodded, not taking his eyes off Evelyn. “Do it. She needs to recover.”

Kryna released a soft breeze into the room, infused with calming agents that helped guide Evelyn into a deep, restorative sleep. This time, her rest wouldn’t be plagued by nightmares. Vykhor remained by her side until she was fully asleep, his mind racing.

He knew that the intensity of her trauma was going to be a problem. But he also knew that she was much stronger than this apparent weakness suggested. She seemed to have survived so much already. And now, here, under his protection, she could begin to heal—slowly, but surely. But for that to happen, he needed to understand more about what she had been through, what she was hiding. He could no longer afford to think of her as just a fragile human. Evelyn was much more than that.

Evelyn opened her eyes for a second time, several hours later, but this time, it was different. The deep, nightmare-free sleep she had finally experienced had restored her strength. She felt strangely energized, an almost unfamiliar sensation for her, as she had grown accustomed to living with constant fatigue. Her thoughts were clear, and instead of the panic from her first awakening, she now felt curious and intrigued.

She slowly sat up on the medical bed, observing the infirmary around her with interest. The walls were still the same sterile white, but this time, she saw them for what they really were: an advanced medical facility aboard an alien ship, not a terrifying lab from her past. The sophisticated equipment intrigued her, clearly far beyond anything she had seen on Earth. She mentally noted every detail, every device, and her mind immediately began analyzing and decoding what she was seeing.

As she stood, she felt surprisingly light, as if an invisible weight had been lifted from her shoulders. She walked over to a control panel on the wall, her scientific instincts taking over. Her fingers hovered over the controls, eager to learn more about the ship’s systems, maybe even understand how it operated.

“Dr. Ashcroft, I am Kryna, the ship’s medical AI, and I advise you not to touch those controls without authorization.” Kryna’s voice echoed calmly in the room, interrupting her exploration.

Evelyn jumped slightly, surprised by the AI’s intervention, but a small smile crossed her face. “Oh, sorry, Kryna,” she said with a bit of mischief. “Old habit, I guess.”

Kryna responded in the same soft, professional tone. “Commander Kael’seth is on his way. Please wait for his arrival.”

Evelyn backed away from the panel slightly, crossing her arms as she waited. Her mind, still buzzing, continued to process everything she had observed, but she knew it would be wiser to wait for Vykhor before pushing her exploration further. The ship, after all, belonged to him, and she had no desire to get on the wrong side of the one who had saved her.

A few moments later, the infirmary door slid open, and Vykhor entered with quick steps. His gaze immediately settled on Evelyn, and he noted with satisfaction that she seemed to be in much better shape. But he couldn’t let himself be distracted by that. He had questions that needed answers, and he felt the time had come to find out who this intriguing human truly was.

“I see you’re awake,” he said, looking her over, noting her alert and curious demeanor. “And apparently, already ready to explore.”

Evelyn stood up a little straighter, a slightly embarrassed smile on her lips. “You caught me red-handed,” she replied with a light tone. “I guess I’m just naturally curious.”

Vykhor nodded, but his expression remained serious. “I need to know, Evelyn. Who are you, really? Where do you come from, and why did the military want you so badly?”

Evelyn sat on the edge of the bed, sensing that the moment had come to tell him her story. She took a deep breath, gathering her thoughts, and began to speak.