Author's Note: Hello, I'm back! It has been two years, literally almost to the day, from the last time I posted. Why, you may ask? Because like most tortured writers, I got bit by a story bug and now I'm cursed to word vomit it up to get it out of my head.

Do I plan on finishing End of the Spear and The Mask Maker? Yes to the former, maybe to the latter.

Stranded isn't supposed to be super long. I know the endgame, I know the key story beats, and there are 13 chapters already written. Apologies to those of you still waiting for my unfinished fanfics to get completed. In the meantime, I hope you enjoy Adira and Jin's story. The artwork featured for the thumbnail is "070616:prey" by Creature13 on Deviant Art.

As an aside, I have no idea what other Predator fanfics are floating around here. I haven't read any, unfortunately, in a long time. So if this in any way resembles another fanfic... *shrugs*

Content Warning: Violence, tense situations, cursing, and sexual themes

SCREWED

Like Dante's Hell, there are varying levels of how screwed a person is in life. The average person typically experiences the first or second level a couple of times a month — late for work, burnt dinner, broken machine, etc. As Adira stared up in wide-eyed horror at the monstrous creature reaching down into the cage for her, it was clear she was near the eighth level and quickly working her way toward the bowels of whatever nightmare was to come.

The woman snarled and bit at the clawed hand, tearing flesh. A sharp crack of its fist against her temple left her stunned. Dark spots danced across her vision as the creature dragged her out of the filth-encrusted cell. Without care or perhaps out of pettiness, it slammed her onto a metal slab. The blow jolted her already ringing head and for a moment, she blacked out.

In the next instant, Adira blinked back the fog clouding her eyes. She watched the hulking monster's back as it manipulated red-glowing machines of an indecipherable nature. They cast an ominous crimson silhouette over the creature, which already bristled with spiked segmented armor. Chains and long dark tendrils hung down its back. A skull of unknown origin was strapped to its side.

Someone's going through their goth phase. The thought stood out against the others, distracting her from the reptilian shrieks of panic streaking through her mind. Now wasn't the time for jokes. But it was all she had. Imagining her captor as an edgy teenager with a taste for bondage was far better than facing reality. The primal side of her brain set her heart racing. Think Adira. You're a mechanic. Find the solution. Goth-boy isn't going to leave you alone forever.

Nausea welled up in her throat as she looked around. Her wrists were bound by long metal shackles fused together, limiting her range of motion. But what she did see caught her breath. Another of the creatures was present. It hung by its wrists from the ceiling, barely able to stand upright. Deep slash marks crisscrossed its body, glistening neon green blood dripping from its many wounds. Why would the creatures torture one of their own?

Adira set the question aside. It's not like humans hadn't been abusing their own kind for untold millennia.

Maybe there was a way to free it. Set it loose. Cause chaos. Grant her a chance to un-screw her situation, even just a little. There had to be a release switch. Her frantic gaze locked onto a protrusion next to the door. A light switch? No. The room's lighting emanated from the malevolent machines and silver slits set in the obsidian walls. All of it a deep red. The color of blood.

Focus. It was her only play. The switch either opened the door and led to more unknown horrors or it potentially set goth-boy's captive free. Play shitty games, win shitty prizes. No matter what, she was probably fracked. It was like going through a choose-your-own-quest AI text game. Push the button or do nothing. Both options sucked and most likely led to the same ending: her guts splattered across the floor.

Slowly, Adira rolled over, gingerly landing on her booted feet as she dropped off the high table. The monster remained focused on the crimson dials and holographic data streams. She peeked over the edge in time to see it hold up a large syringe. That was all she needed to see to solidify her decision.

The woman crouched and scampered as quickly as she dared toward the panel by the door. A shifting shadow inside one of the many stacked cages along the wall was her only warning before a hand lashed out between the bars at her. She flinched, an instinctive yelp ripping from her throat.

She heard the monster behind her snarl in surprise. Adira bolted, avoiding the other outstretched hands grasping for her as she lunged for the panel. Like an animal, she clawed at the alien controls, smashing buttons. Heavy footsteps thudded behind her.

"Come on you piece of shit, work," she hissed, too terrified to look behind her.

A large hand grabbed her by the head as she twisted a dial and the woman shrieked in despair and defiance.

Claws dug into her scalp and wrenched her away. Adira flew across the room, smacking into the far wall with a bone-cracking thud. Adrenaline burned in her veins. Eons of survival programming screamed at her to RUN.

Adira scrambled to her knees. A keening beep made her pause. The cuffs biting into the strung-up creature's wrists snapped open. It fell to its knees with a heavy thud. For a moment, it swayed. Adira and her pursuer both froze and watched, momentarily distracted. Then it fell forward onto its face, thumping against the scratched metal floor like a thick log.

Frack me. And here it was, the ninth level, A.K.A. screwed beyond belief. Adira ran.