“You have me,” Erzo said softly, almost as if he were offering the universe itself.
How did he always seem to know what to say? Polly eyed him, taking in his formidable stature. “You have that whole tall, dark, and alien thing going for you. Plus, you can carry me around like I’m light as a feather.”
Erzo closed the distance between them. His eyes twinkled with amusement. “I am at your service. I’ll keep you safe. You can trust me.”
Polly smirked. “You’re like my personal space bodyguard. I always wanted one of those. Does that come with a laser gun and a cool secret handshake?”
“But of course,” Erzo replied, playing along, striking a pose with his arms crossed and a slight bow. His gesture seemed both formal and oddly intimate. “I am, after all, your best option.”
Polly, feeling a bit out of her depth but willing to embrace the moment, mirrored his pose.
“I accept your vow, oh mighty protector. I hereby solemnly swear to trust in my intergalactic knight in shining... well, whatever space-age material that is,” she quipped.”
His smile, warm and genuine, lit up his face. Polly must have gotten it right, judging by the sparkle in his eyes, making her heart flutter a bit. “Your trust is my honor.”
Despite the craziness of her situation, Polly felt a strange sense of comfort. Sure, she might not have many options, but with Erzo, maybe she didn’t need them. She was, after all, in the capable hands (and tail) of her extraterrestrial guardian.
But a shadow of concern lingered in the back of her mind. The laughter and banter couldn’t entirely mask the reality of the invisible figures possibly hunting them. As she stood there, playing along with Erzo’s protective charade, the niggling worry about the lurking dangers of a hidden enemy made her realize their safety was far from guaranteed.
Polly jolted awake, her heart pounding. The sound that disturbed her sleep was unfamiliar and deeply unsettling. Lying in the dark bedroom, she realized she had locked the door. It was a precaution, but was it against Erzo or something else? She trusted him, didn’t she? Yet, the fear of those invisible figures lurked in her mind, a silent threat only she could see.
She scanned the room, her eyes straining to catch any sign of movement in the shadows. There it was again—a low, ominous rumble. Instinctively, she reached for the softball bat that wasn’t there. Right, not on Earth anymore. A wave of vulnerability washed over her.
Sitting up quietly, she grabbed her phone. What could she do with it? Use the flashlight or snap a photo of whatever is out there. Clutching it still gave her a semblance of control.
Polly tiptoed around the room, the ice-cold floor sending shivers up her spine. Definitely need to invest in some socks or slippers. She was half-trying to distract herself from the creeping fear.
There was no sign of the ghostly figures she had seen earlier. Could someone have breached their apartment’s security? She searched for anything she could use as a weapon, but found nothing substantial.
“Erzo,” she whispered, hoping he was just outside, safe on the couch. But what if something had happened to him? What if those cloaked figures had found a way in? Fear gripped her as she approached the door, her hand hovering over the locks. They were still engaged. Taking a deep breath, she called out louder, “Erzo?”
The rumbling noise repeated, and Polly honed in, listening closely. It wasn’t random—there was a rhythm to it.
“Wait a minute,” she murmured, curiosity piqued, and cautiously opened the door.
The sound intensified, and she realized what it was. Erzo was snoring, and not just a gentle rumble but a full-on snore. Polly couldn’t help but chuckle, her tension easing as she watched him sprawled on the couch. The dim light cast shadows across his broad chest, accentuating his muscular form. His tail, an odd yet fascinating feature, lay curled to one side, almost balancing him as he slept.
“Typical,” she muttered with irritation and amusement. “My perfect alien mate, a snorer.”
Not that she viewed Erzo as perfect—he was green and had a tail, after all. But deep down, Polly had to admit there was something endearing about him. His strength was undeniable, demonstrated when he’d effortlessly carried her. And his concern for her safety was genuine, something she couldn’t ignore.
She observed his tail, wondering about its function. Could she use it as a weapon? It seemed strong, almost prehistoric, yet it twitched and flipped with a feline grace. She pondered the possibilities—in a fight, it could be a formidable asset.
Trust, however, remained an issue. Erzo was holding back information about the translucent figures. Polly couldn’t shake the feeling he was expecting trouble. Was he entangled in some underworld she was now a part of by association? The parallels to Earth’s mafia families, where ties were never truly severed, lingered in her mind. Was Erzo’s past in the Charro clans similar?
Polly’s history with secretive partners made her wary. She needed to know more to understand the world she was now a part of. Yet, part of her hesitated, not wanting to push too hard, too fast.
As she turned to head back to bed, she accidentally bumped into the wall. Instantly, lights flickered on.
“Dang,” Polly muttered, fumbling to turn off the lights.
Erzo’s voice, deep and concerned, made her jump. “Are you okay?”
Spinning around, Polly stammered, “Yeah, just... heard a weird noise. Thought I’d play detective, then bam, turned on the lights.”
He raised an eyebrow. “What noise?”
She waved it off. “Oh, nothing, just your, uh, sleep symphony.”
