The whispers hung on her shoulders like a bad omen. She took a shaky breath and gathered the fruit from the merchant's stand. This place was where she first met Nicodemus, but it was never the same when she returned alone.
Parlak flinched and yanked her partial left arm away from the person who bumped into her. They just gave her a strange glance and whispered something to their partner about how odd she was.
The golden haired alien turned away and snatched up her small bag, feeling increasingly uncomfortable. There were so many of them. All around her. Their eyes stung like a deadly jellyfish wrapping it's body around her. Her heart picked up pace, but she blinked slowly and made her way through the crowd, trying to convince herself she was okay.
Another body bumped into her, making her yelp and jump aside. He turned and looked down at her,
The green haired alien boomed down at her in a sarcastic way, chuckling to his orange haired girlfriend beside him. Parlak looked down at the steel ground, feeling her heart continue to race in her chest. She shook her head and began to speed walk through the river of aliens in the merchants bazaar.
She hated this area of the ship, it was always over crowded. But it was necessary for her to get food while Nicodemus was at work training the militia's recruits. He would be home soon, and she wanted to have everything ready for him when he got back. Nico meant the world to her now.
A sudden hard knock to her right shoulder made her stumble, and she blinked hard, feeling the steel cutting her flesh again. The spot where the rest of her left arm was began to ache. Parlak felt a shock run up her spine, all of her scars began to ache, she could feel it all. All the torture, it was happening again.
A clanking sound made her feel nauseated, she felt her knees quiver when she saw the source of the noise. An older alien with a long metal rod for a walking stick walked toward her. Parlak couldn't help but cover her mouth to stifle a scream as she dropped to her knees, feeling her muscles twitch and burn again. Her left eye socket felt like it was burning, and she covered her face- trying to fight her panic.
More eyes fell on her, she felt like she was on a stage. Everyone was watching her, and it was making her feel even more panicked.
A familiar voice called out to her, but it sounded so far away.
She kept her eye clamped shut and shook her head violently back and forth, refusing to look at the source of the voice. It was so familiar though, so smooth. Parlak trembled and felt hands grab her face, she opened her eye in a panic, seeing Nicodemus kneeling in front of her. His eyes were flooded with worry and she just gasped through her rapid breaths, staring at him. It was a brief relief as she stared at his comforting expression.
The gawking crowd around them talking made her hyperventilate even more, the room began to spin. Nicodemus shook his head, pleading for her to stay with him.
The petite alien flopped backwards and wrapped her arms around her as best as she could. She curled into a little ball and breathed rapidly, shaking her head and trying to distance her thoughts. Some laughter was heard in the crowd, sending Nicodemus into a rage. He shouted inaudibly at those around them, making them back away a few steps.
Nico rushed at various aliens standing around them, bowing up to them threateningly. He towered over her, clearing the area, but they kept staring at her around him. It infuriated him.
Nico violently knocked passed three younger aliens and yanked a small scimitar shaped blade off of a merchants table. He held it out, earning a gasp from the crowd. He roared angrily at them all, and held it up above his head.
The crowd looked from him back to her, unsure of what to think. The awe only grew when Nico suddenly grabbed his right ear and sliced it halfway up, letting the end of it fall to the ground. More aliens backed away fearfully, gasping and shaking their heads. Some called out for guards to respond.
Nicodemus used his free hand and splattered blood at them intentionally, causing a few to dart away in fear. He then did the same motion on his left ear, slicing it halfway, cutting part of it off. He tossed the part of his ear at the closest couple to Parlak, causing the female to scream and rush away through the crowd. Nicodemus shouted over the ruckus,
"Now you have someone new to stare at!"
His voice boomed like a lions roar, and he angrily shot death glares at anyone who dared make eye contact with him. A voice echoed in the distance,
"Commander Nico has lost his mind!"
Nico ignored the comment and stepped over Parlak, who was looking through her hand up at him. He gently reached down and scooped her up, holding her against him. She immediately curled around him, wrapping her legs around him and burying her face in his collar bone. His large chest muscle pounded with his loud heartbeat as he walked forward, carrying her to safety.
Parlak peered over his shoulder and stared at the crowd they left behind. They all stared in awe, not moving and appeared terrified. Now they knew her shear terror, and felt as scared as she did.
Hot blood trickled down his neck and shoulders. Parlak held onto his large shoulder muscle with her right hand, feeling the sticky liquid make contact with her fingers.
She couldn't believe what he did for her
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