Phares was a different story. Mining was his legacy, passed down through generations. It was all he knew.
“It’s going to be okay,” Erzo reassured Phares in a low, calming voice, though he doubted Phares was listening. Keeping a watchful eye on him, Erzo followed as they headed back to the office for formal introductions.
Amongst the group, one woman stood out to Erzo. The one with short hair. Her glances towards him were discreet yet unmistakable. Each fleeting eye contact they shared sparked an unspoken curiosity, an electric connection he couldn’t deny.
Something indefinable shifted between them. A blush crept over her cheeks, a silent confession of the attraction simmering beneath the surface. She quickly averted her gaze, but the brief encounter left a tantalizing question hanging in the air.
Erzo felt a thrill run through him. This could be the start of something fascinating. A slow, knowing smile played on his lips. The tension between them was palpable. As they neared the agency, the question loomed: What possibilities did this unexpected chemistry hold? Erzo was ready to find out.
7
Polly’s mind teetered on the edge of surreal and impossible as she absorbed her new reality. It had to be a coma or drug-induced state, but then, who knows what would happen to her? Yup, those were the completely rational thoughts one should have at a time like this. Polly shook her head, but it didn’t do any good. Being paired with an alien, a living entity with emerald skin and a sinuous tail, was something straight out of a sci-fi fantasy.
Around her, the tension was palpable. Jana’s fingers twitched nervously, her eyes darting around the room like a cornered animal. Tori, meanwhile, exuded frustration, her every gesture sharp. The weight of the unknown pressed down on her, yet a part of her thrummed with excitement at the sheer alienness of it all.
She anchored herself in this bizarre reality, reasoning that the only way out of this situation was to walk straight through it. If this were indeed some twisted nightmare, there must be a way to awaken.
The confrontation with her family over Stefan’s behavior played in her mind. After the drama she’d stirred up about Stefan, she doubted anyone back home would want to see her again. She could still hear her aunt’s disbelief and feel the growing rift in her family. Her aunt believed nothing Polly said when she told her about Stefan’s cheating, even when Tori backed it up.
Now, transported across the galaxy, she couldn’t help but wonder what her family would think. Had they noticed she was gone? Were they worried, angry, or just baffled?
She’d definitely be the black sheep now. Maybe they’d think the three of them had ghosted everyone. The idea of their family’s shock upon discovering they were galaxies away brought a wry smile to her face. Good luck explaining this one.
Her thoughts raced with the absurdity of their situation. Who in the world would believe their story? The idea of them being taken seriously back on Earth seemed laughable. More likely, they’d be met with skepticism, perhaps even suspicion, the kind that leads to padded cells rather than open arms.
She let her imagination wander, picturing a version of Earth where beings like the three alien men roamed the streets freely. The mental image was so outlandish, so akin to a blockbuster movie scene, that Polly half-expected the surrounding reality to shatter, revealing it to be an elaborate set. She scanned the ceilings for hidden cameras, half-jokingly waiting for a director to leap out and yell, “Cut!” But the cool air of the agency’s office brushed against her skin, a chilling reminder that this was no dream—it was as real as the perplexed beating of her heart.
Polly watched Tori, who was firing off questions at Re-lee, her tone bordering on aggressive. Concerned, Polly reached out, placing a reassuring hand on Tori’s shoulder. “Listen, we need to figure this out. Don’t get all carried away yet, okay?”
Tori jerked out of her touch. “I’ll do what I want.”
From across the room, Olmed let out a snort, his head shaking in apparent amusement at the fiery exchange.
Polly sighed, not wanting to escalate the tension. Understanding the rules of this game was key. Then, they could figure out the next move.
Re-lee, unruffled by the heated questions, spoke with a calm authority. “Here at the Intergalactic Dating Agency, we specialize in creating perfect matches. You ladies are just what our clients need.”
She gestured towards the alien men, who all promptly averted their eyes, a hint of embarrassment coloring their exotic features.
Polly couldn’t help but find humor in their awkwardness. They seemed more bashful than beastly. With his striking purple skin and protruding bones, the one called Phares looked intimidating but not unapproachable. Olmed, his skin a deep shade of red with menacing horns, could pass for a creature from a gothic tale. And then there was Erzo—his green skin and tail screamed alien, yet his eyes held a depth that was surprisingly... human.
Polly wondered about the terminology. Human or humanoid? She didn’t want to offend anyone here.
Re-lee’s voice broke into her thoughts. “You joined us here, and now we shall bring each of you together in mated love.”
Something dawned on Polly. “So, I have a question.”
“Of course. What would you like to know?”
“Well, I am just trying to understand this,” Polly said. “We fell through the archway, all three of us. Does that mean your archway was waiting for us specifically?”
“Someone with your genetic genome specifications, yes,” Re-lee said.
“What if it had taken weeks? Months, even for someone to come through?”
“It rarely takes that long.”
Erzo, the only one among the men to join the conversation, chimed in with his own question. “Why? Why would it be so instantaneous?”
