Page 4 of I Got Abducted by Aliens and Now I’m Trapped in a Rom-Com (Cosmic Chaos #1)

“Hey, wake up,” said a voice above me.

When I ignored it, something nudged at my side and I swatted it away. Everything hurt and I was so tired. The beds they had at the research center were little more than prison cots, and my back was always killing me. But today was worse than usual. Not that it mattered; I’d have to get up soon and check on the status of Nugget’s troop and the power struggle. Bad back or no, we needed that footage for a dynamic season finale. Still, it could wait five minutes. “Go away.”

“I’m hungry,” the voice said.

“How is that my problem?”

“Fine, we can play your way.” A booming roar shook me awake. I opened my eyes to see Toto’s fangs about to descend on my face. Screaming, I backed away from him, my heart pounding in my chest. Confusion clouded my mind as I tried to gather my bearings. The lion erupted in laughter, rolling onto his back in his hysterics.

Memories of the alien abduction and dinosaurs all came rushing back. Blinking rapidly, I tried to make sense of my surroundings. In lieu of the Stay Positive poster of a shark eating a child holding a thumbs-up sign I kept next to my bed, my gaze landed on the rough, jagged walls of the cave I found myself in. The air felt heavy and humid, carrying a scent of rich vegetation. “What is wrong with you?” I snapped. “You scared me half to death.”

Toto merely rolled upright and stretched like a cat. “Get up faster, then. I’ve been waiting all morning. Sleep any longer and we’ll have to hunt in midday sun. I hate running in the heat.”

“What hunt?” I asked, rubbing my eyes. As my senses started to awaken, I became aware of a symphony of sounds echoing through the cave. A cacophony of chirps, trills, and distant roars filled the air. The cave was dimly lit with morning sun. Sparks of amber still danced among the remnants of the fire we had. Its small heat provided a comforting warmth against the chilly air. I glanced around to see there was no sign of our new alien friend. “Where’s Sol?”

The lion bent forward, stretching out his back legs before shaking his head. “He left much earlier. Said he would be back as soon as he finished hunting down something called the Gruulorak.” Walking toward the front of the cave, he inclined his head and grinned. “By hunt, I mean you and me. You won’t let me eat Sol and I already promised I wouldn’t eat you. Normally I just do it myself, but I don’t know the area and this leg is still giving me trouble,” he said, shaking out the leg still wrapped in bandages. “So I suggest you help me hunt so I can keep that promise.”

“Right,” I said. “Let me just…” I trailed off, trying to gather my thoughts without the helping guide of coffee or energy drinks. “Damn, I don’t exactly have a toothbrush or change of clothes. All right, whatever. Let me just grab my phone.” Still feeling a bit unsteady, I managed to stand on wobbly legs. As I did, the lion paced back and forth, his tail swishing impatiently. His amber eyes flicked between me and the dense jungle beyond the cave entrance.

“Finally, let’s go,” Toto said.

I followed him out of the cave, pulling out my phone and opening a recording app. I pressed the big red Record button and held the phone up to my mouth. “Captain’s Log, Day 2.”

My companion turned back to me. “What did you call me? I thought my name was Toto.”

“Hmm? Oh, not you. I’m making a captain’s log of what we see here in case we get rescued.”

The lion looked at the phone, confused for a moment, before deciding it wasn’t worth the trouble. “You humans are strange. Just keep it down so you don’t scare off any prey.”

“I’ll do my best,” I said. Deleting the old recording, I started again. “Captain’s Log, Day 2. My location is still unknown. We walked at least ten miles away from the crash site. No new sightings of any birdlike aliens. Contact has been made with a local from a species called the Sankado.”

“He’s not local, remember,” Toto cut in. “They got brought here just like we did by the sour birds.”

“Right, thank you.” I corrected the statement and detailed the species I had seen the day before. With no way of knowing whether or not I’d get back to Earth, keeping a log made me feel like I was doing something. If I did get back, no one would believe the things I’d seen, so I made a note to take several pictures. After some convincing, I got Toto to pose in a selfie with me, which would immediately become my profile picture on every social media platform if I was returned home.

As we moved deeper into the jungle, the dense foliage became thicker, obscuring our view and making each step more challenging. Toto gracefully maneuvered through the tangle of vegetation, his movements fluid and deliberate. In comparison, my attempts to keep up with him looked more like a drunkard stumbling along.

Suddenly, Toto stopped in his tracks, his ears twitching as if picking up a distant sound. Instinctively, I slowed my pace, mirroring his alertness.

Without warning, Toto veered to the right past a cluster of bushes and out of sight. I climbed through as well, just to see him melt into the grassy clearing on the other side. His powerful body blended seamlessly with the tall grass. I followed closely, my eyes darting around, searching for any signs of danger. The grass tickled my legs as I pushed through, my heart pounding with a mix of excitement and anticipation.

But just as I was about to catch up to Toto, my foot caught on an unseen root hidden beneath the thick vegetation. I stumbled forward, my arms flailing, before I landed on the ground with a soft thud. The fall knocked the wind out of me, leaving me breathless.

When I moved to get up, Toto rushed to my side and put a paw on my head. “Stay down, there’s food.” His low voice came out hushed as his eyes remained transfixed on something ahead. “You’re smaller and weak, so I’ll deliver the killing blow. Flank it and scare it toward that large tree in the center.”

Peering through the grass, I finally spotted what had caught his attention. What looked like a cotton ball mixed with a young stegosaur grazed peacefully halfway across the clearing. “What in the world…? Is that stegosaur covered in wool?”

“Hush,” Toto snapped. “Haven’t you ever hunted before? I know humans eat meat. Listen up, lazy thing. I won’t coddle you, so learn quickly. Swing wide around the grassy side. You’ll be easier to spot against the trees. Charge at it from behind and try to steer it toward me. Go. Watch for rocks as you step.” He then slinked off toward the large tree in the center of the clearing.

The squeamish part of me was grossed out at the concept of killing a baby dinosaur; however, the wildlife researcher in me was freaking out. I was hunting with an actual lion. A lion who was telling me how he hunted and why. My mind raced, trying to commit everything to memory. The little girl inside me who had been obsessed with animals since I could walk was screaming with joy. Unfortunately, the small rational part of my brain that still feared death had my stomach in knots.

Even though the calf was definitely a lot smaller than the non-fluffy stegosaur I saw yesterday, it was still the size of a donkey at least. Menacing-looking spikes adorned the end of its tail. One good swing and I’d be impaled. On the other hand, if I didn’t pull this off, Toto might eat me.

Decisions, decisions.

I sent a silent apology to the fluffy guy and crept around him. The calf poked its head up to survey its surroundings and I ducked down. When its head sank below the grass to continue grazing, I charged. Yelling loudly, I flailed my arms over my head, trying to scare the thing toward the aforementioned tree.

The calf stumbled and ran. With an unexpected burst of energy, I charged after it. But just as I closed in, my foot landed on something soft, causing me to falter midstride. Before I could get my bearings, pain shot through my leg, and I found myself abruptly yanked backward, suspended in midair.

I let out a cry of surprise as I realized I’d been caught in a snare. The branch holding the rope creaked under my weight. “Are you fucking kidding me?” I screamed. “Poo on a stick! It’s just one thing after another with this stupid planet.”

Behind me, I heard a snarl and a dying cry cut short. Flailing, I was able to spin around to see Toto holding the calf by its neck. Damn, he was really good at that. I rubbed my own neck in silent solidarity with the now dead calf. “Better you than me, Fluffy.”

Toto released his hold on his kill and tilted his head at me. “Whatcha doing up there, buddy?”

“Oh, shut up and get me down.”

Laughing, Toto circled around me as he tried to figure out the trap. “What did I say about watching where you stepped?”

“You said watch for rocks. Not stupid traps!”

His lips pulled back into a Cheshire grin. “It was heavily implied.”

Something rustled in the trees and we froze. “What was that?” I asked, the hair on the back of my neck beginning to rise.

Toto scanned the dense foliage, tensing when a twig snapped.

I swallowed the lump in my throat. “Toto. Toto, get me down.”

“Right.” Standing up on his hind legs, Toto grabbed me by the pant leg and pulled me to him. His sharp claws dug through the fabric, making me wince. The lion pulled me farther down until the branch arched.

In the distance, I could hear the rustling move closer. Heart pounding in my chest, I reached for my ankle and tried to untie the knot. The damn thing must have been tied by this planet’s most anal-retentive Boy Scout. It was so tight I couldn’t even get a good grip on it. “Toto, hurry,” I said.

The lion bit the rope, trying to slice through it. “I’m trying,” he said.

“The rope’s too thick; just untie it,” I said, voice frantic.

“Woman, do I look like a mammal with opposable thumbs? Quit thrashing!” He bit down harder, shaking his head like he meant to snap the neck of a gazelle. The movement only caused me to bounce around.

My stomach rolled, and I nearly tossed up the meager biscuit I’d had the night before. “Oh god, I’m gonna be sick.”

“This thing is more stubborn than a water buffalo. Break, damn you!” He gave another shake, pulling me close enough to the ground that my fingers could touch the tall grass.

“Denalbu!” came a deep voice.

Toto released the rope and looked toward the voice, sending me flying when the branch holding the end of the rope snapped back upright. “Fuck!” I cursed, flailing around.

“Oh, sorry,” Toto said.

When my dizzied vision began to clear, I caught sight of a horned figure walking toward us. Blinking rapidly, I squinted, trying to make him out against the sun. “Sol?”

The large man approaching us was definitely a Sankado, but it sure as hell wasn’t Sol. He was bigger. Deliciously so, with a face that made me think there was a conspiracy going on where all aliens on this planet had to be unfairly hot. Maybe I’d just been single too long.

While Sol’s horns arched back like an ibex’s, this alien sported a large pair of horns that twisted around. The base of his horns was decorated with red lines that matched the red arrow tattooed on his neck. As he drew closer, downcast silver eyes raked over the two of us in obvious confusion. They were framed by curly black hair that fell past broad shoulders. His left ear had a notch missing, as if someone had sliced through the pointed tip. His skin was dark purple, with freckles of yellow dotting along his shoulders before disappearing beneath his shirt. Two sets of sashes came over his shoulders to form a loincloth that fell past his knees, held firmly in place by a thick belt displaying various knives and trinkets. A spear with colorful feathers adorning the top of its shaft was strapped firmly to his back.

“Get away from her!” Toto snarled and took a swipe at the newcomer, who leapt away.

The Sankado muttered something in his native tongue and pulled out a knife from his belt. “Oh shit,” I breathed. The man grinned before he twirled the knife through his knuckles and took a step forward. Which would have been unbearably sexy, if he wasn’t about to murder my lion.

“No, no, stop!” I yelled. Both Sankado and lion paused to look back at me.

“What?” Toto snapped.

“Don’t snarl at him like that; we don’t even know if he’s friendly yet. He could just be here to help.”

Toto looked at the newcomer, then back to me. “He has a tiny spear.”

“A knife, Toto. He has a knife. And he only drew it after you swiped at him. Gimme a chance to see what he wants before you try disemboweling him.”

A petulant huff. “But I want to.”

“Are you kidding me?” I asked, voice rising with growing indignation. “Why, man, why do you want to disembowel him?”

“Defending my kill, protecting you, the simple thrill of a fight to the death? I’m a fucking lion, take your pick.”

I let out a breath, trying, and failing, to rein in my ever-growing hatred for this damn planet. “You know what? I’m just going to ignore you,” I said firmly.

“How dare—”

“Hush,” I snapped. I waved at the Sankado and did my best to sound friendly. “Hey there, stranger. Sorry about my friend; he’s a little cranky without his breakfast. Do you mind lowering that knife?” I asked, then pointed to the blade and made a motion of tossing an invisible knife away from me.

He raised a brow at me and slowly lowered his knife, waiting for my reaction. “Yes!” I said, smiling. “If we could all just calm down, and maybe, ya know. Cut me down, if it’s convenient. I’m sure we could all work this out.”

The Sankado approached me, his silver eyes piercing through mine as he inspected me. I hung there, suspended in the snare, feeling vulnerable and exposed. The weight of his gaze made me squirm uncomfortably, and my ankle chafed against the ropes that held me captive.

He grabbed hold of my leg and raised his knife to the rope. Just as I braced myself for the imminent fall of being cut down, the Sankado’s attention shifted. His eyes darted toward something in the distance. Before I could fully comprehend what was happening, a sudden explosion rocked the air.

A fiery projectile slammed into the Sankado’s shoulder, knocking him off-balance and sending him sprawling away from me. I watched in shock as he tumbled through the air, his body crashing into the underbrush with a thud.

Sol came sprinting out of the trees. His tail rose and a whooshing came through the air. Each of the black spots running down its length glowed a fiery orange before he shot a fireball across the field.

I coughed at the trail of smoke behind it. Sol came to stand in front of me, staring daggers into the small brush fire containing his fucking murder victim.

“Dammit, I can’t leave you alone for a second, can I?” Sol growled. “I knew I should have kept you tied up. Why did you leave the cave?”

Goose bumps raced along my arms. An icy chill touched my heart as his words sank in. “Oh fuck, you’re a psychopath. You didn’t take us to that cave to save us; you took me there to trap me for some Stockholm syndrome–type shit.”

The psychopath had the audacity to look back at me as if I was the problem. Which frankly did not help his case. I know a murderous gaslighter when I see one. “Did you bash your head against that tree when you stepped in his snare?” he asked. “I don’t even know what a Stockholm is.”

“That’s just what a crazy stalker would say. Right before they kept you locked in a storage unit, like that one guy did on the last episode of True Crimes and Wine Times . Dammit, I’m not into this. This is not my kink at all. I do not consent. Cut me down! But get away from me. Cut me down and get away from me!”

He shook the smoke off his hands and pulled a knife from his belt. He grabbed my leg and began sawing through the rope. “You make an incredible number of demands for a woman in constant need of saving.”

“You just murdered someone in front of me!”

“He’s not—” His words were cut off when the other Sankado rammed into him, knocking him back.

The stranger stood, then looked down at me with a grin. In a fluid motion, he cut my leg free and flipped me upright to stand beside him. I stumbled to get my balance, then yelped when he pulled me to rest against him. He nodded toward Sol and asked me some kind of question.

“Right, this is gonna seem weird, but bend down, I need to kiss you.” I reached up to grab the back of his head and pulled him to me. His brow rose, but he didn’t protest. Just before our lips touched, Sol yanked me back by my shirt.

“Stay behind me,” he barked, then took a swing at the stranger, who blocked his blow. Sol snarled, and his tail lit up. Sparks ignited in his palms. “What are you doing this far inland? You know this is Night Ridge territory.”

The stranger snorted and waved around the clearing before barking something back at Sol. It must have been an insult, as the next thing I knew, the two were trading blows. The larger stranger clearly had the physical advantage, and Sol was sent flying by another headbutt. Undeterred, he used his superior speed to lob fireballs at the guy before darting farther back out of his reach.

Sol fired another shot at the stranger, catching him right in the chest. Smoke spilled around him, blocking him from my view. When Sol pushed away to catch his breath, a hand shot out of the smoke and grabbed him by the tail. With a roar, the stranger slammed him hard into the ground.

“Can…can we just talk about this?” I asked. My plea fell on deaf ears as the two began trading blows again. “Hello?” I asked. Instead of answering, Sol tripped the larger man and began punching him repeatedly in the face. I threw my hands up. “All right, fine!” I walked over to them, slapped Sol’s fist out of the way, and kissed the stranger.

“What are you doing?” he snapped. “I told you to stay back. You can’t trust a Roamcrest.”

I crossed my arms but took a few safe steps back. “Well, I told you two to stop. Clearly, we both have issues following directions.”

His eye twitched. “Will you just get back to the damn cave? I’m trying to protect you.”

“Protect her from what?” the stranger asked. “All I was doing was cutting the poor thing down. You’re the one that attacked me in neutral territory.”

“This isn’t neutral land. The Night Ridge clan’s territory—”

“Ends at the Fujilly Rock.” The stranger laid his head down against the ground and pointed a finger at a boulder with words painted on it in red. From the look on Sol’s face, I’d guess it said “Fujilly Rock.”

Sol cleared his throat. “Well, it seems I’ve made a mistake.”

The stranger pulled his hands behind his head and relaxed, crossing one leg over the other. “So, are you just gonna get comfortable up there? I’ll admit, I was hoping to convince that enticing creature there,” he said, nodding to me, “to share a meal with me. But if she’d prefer an entourage, I’ll make room.”

I looked back and forth between Sol and the stranger, feeling the tension in the air dissipate as they both seemed to realize their misunderstanding. Sol released a deep breath and stood up, brushing the dirt from his clothes. The flames on his tail subsided, returning to their dormant state.

“I apologize for the confusion,” Sol said, taking a step closer to me. His height blocked my view of the stranger, who blatantly walked back into my view. “My name is Sol, from the Night Ridge clan.”

The stranger’s eyes flicked back to Sol, then he grinned. “So I’ve gathered, Sol from the Night Ridge clan. Now that we’ve established that—” He shoved Sol out of the way and knelt in front of me, taking my hand in his. His hand was shockingly smooth. Like how you’d think the hands feel on those lotion commercials where the women are always smiling as if they’d just found the fountain of youth. “Hello there, my name’s Lokbaatar, but you can call me Lok. Tell me, gorgeous, are you the one that fell from that star?”

“Star? Oh! The space pod, yes, that was Toto and me.”

He grinned wide. “It seems wishing stars do exist. Tell me your name, Stardust.”

What kind of isekai shit is this? I wasn’t sure how many laws of nature I was breaking by being attracted to aliens, but his grin was a little sexy. “I’m Do—”

“She’s just leaving,” Sol cut in, then snagged me by the wrist and all but dragged me away from the man.

As Sol dragged me away from Lok, I stumbled along, trying to free my wrist from his tight grip. “Sol, wait! What are you doing?”

Sol didn’t respond immediately, but his grip tightened even further, causing a sharp pain to shoot up my arm. He finally stopped, turning to face me with a stern expression. “Do you have any idea who that man is? He’s a Roamcrest, Do—”

“I don’t care if he’s a Roamcrest or a unicorn from outer space,” I interrupted, my patience wearing thin. “Let go of my damn wrist; you’re hurting me.”

Immediately, he let go, instead placing a hand on my back to ensure I kept moving. His body tensed, and he narrowed his eyes at me. “I apologize for grabbing you too roughly; there’s no need to pinch me.”

“I didn’t.”

A puzzled expression settled on his face before he looked down at his butt, his eyes widening in horror as he noticed a small dart protruding from his rear. He reached and plucked it out. Confusion turned to anger as he quickly turned his accusing gaze toward Lok. “You shot me with a dart?”

Lok wasn’t paying attention to him. Instead, the larger alien was crouched low, eyes trained on something in the trees. His body tensed before he darted toward me and tackled me to the ground.