A/N: Here is the next chapter! I have a specific idea in mind, so bear with me while I get the next few chapters out. To the guest who left the review saying I should turn this into a Saiyan princess fic….Thank you kindly for your input, but I think that idea is sooo beyond overused that there isn't room for creativity….so not happenin' captain! Not my jam / I recommend you write one yourself? Maybe? I'm just...Saiyan...heh.
Anyway, to those of you who stick with this story, Thank you for reading! Enjoy!
DUSK
02
There was something so surreal about how I was feeling. There was a strange sensation of warmth that enveloped me into the most wonderful hug I had felt in so long. In fact, it was a warmth so familiar that I was coaxed out of unconsciousness, opening my eyes to be greeted by the sight of sweet sunlight streaming through my windows.
A welcome sight yes, but it didn't take long before a sense of panic welled within my chest. I jumped up from my small couch, frantically looking around my apartment. All of the boards I'd used to cover the windows had been taken down. Without giving anything else much of a thought I stumbled from the couch, scrambling over to the boards that oddly sat in a neat pile.
"No, no, no, no…" I began to mutter, head shaking my head back and forth.
This was not ok.
I shook with nervousness and rage all at the same time as my memories from last night began to all flash before my eyes. It was in that very moment that a rather charming voice spoke up behind me.
"Hey I just took those down, what are you putting them back up for?"
I gasped, startled where I sat.
Wide eyed and unsure of what to do, I felt like a deer caught in headlights as I whipped my head around to see who had spoken. My hands shook as I gripped the board, my nails bit into the wood when my eyes landed on the bemused expression of the mysterious stranger who had burst into my humble abode last night.
My first reaction was, of course, a healthy dose of fear as I let my eyes travel down his imposing form. Though I'd be a liar if I denied that seeing him in the light made me fear him just a wee bit less due to his otherwise handsome features. Not what I had expected from an alien whose race was here to purge the planet I called home.
He was tall and most certainly sturdy given his well-built frame. For the most part, his race wasn't very much different from mine save the for jet black, wild, gravity defying hair that stuck out in every direction, and the almost black irises that stared back at me. I felt my face flush when he flashed me a bright smile. Breaking eye contact, I scowled as I looked back down at the board I still held onto while I tried to find my voice.
"Why did you take these down? I needed these to stay up!" I said, Slowly finding the courage to cautiously stand.
I changed a glance at him only to see him cock his head to one side and take a bite of an apple.
"Hmm, why? You look like you could use some sunshine anyway."
His perfectly sharp, white, teeth took another bite into the only damn apple I had in my possession. Anger swirled within me as I finally locked eyes with the rude man in front of me.
"Hey! What do you think you're doing?! Do you have any idea what I risked to get that apple?!"
I threw the board down and was about to march up to get in his face when he suddenly in mine, faster than I could even begin to comprehend. To say it was intimidating was have been a gross understatement as staring into those impossibly dark eyes struck fear into me all over again.
My chest rose and fell with increasing anxiety as he stared me down as he took another bite of the apple.
"What are you going to do about it?" He taunted
Now that he was so close I could see just how thick his muscles were and I was reminded of just how small I was compared to his hulking frame. And as the sun continued to stream in from behind him, I had no doubt that his shadow enveloped mine completely.
When I said nothing he backed off and finished the apple in what must have only been three bites. Flashing me another smile, he turned on his heels to continue to raid my fridge shamelessly. Who the hell did he think he was?! First, he came to my planet and...and..oh yeah, that's right...he was an alien from outer space who apparently could do whatever the fuck he wanted.
My fists balled up at my sides and I watched him continue to consume all the food I had risked my life to bring home. I silently cursed myself for allowing hunger to drive me out into the open last night. Had I not, perhaps this weirdo wouldn't have gotten any bright ideas.
"HEY!" I yelled, rushing over to try to close the fridge. "You can't just come in here and eat all my food! I don't have much of anything at all!"
He briefly raised a brow at me and my pathetic attempts to remove him from my fridge.
"Heh. Yea, I can see that." Was his dry response.
He didn't budge as I continued to try my hardest to push him out of the way. I angrily stomped one of my feet and turned around to try and use my legs as leverage. But it was to no avail. The sound of laughter filled my ears before I felt slack, almost falling to the ground when he finally moved.
"Alright, that was pretty cute. No wonder everyone was so easy to take out. You humans have no strength at all. I guess I'll help you find food though. I'm pretty hungry myself and this…" He looked back into the fridge, "This isn't going to work for me."
A strong pat on the back sent me stumbled forward toward the ground right after I had just composed myself. A small oops left his mouth as he went out of his way to help right my footing.
I was left feeling dumbfounded at his words. Why would he want to help me?
I watched him walk over the front door. He briefly paused, looking down at the evidence of his strength. It was clear now in the daylight that the door had splintered where the lock had been busted. He brought a hand up to scratch the back of his head before looking back at me from over his shoulder.
"Eh, sorry about your door again. I'll try to control my strength. You coming with me or what?"
"Yes. I mean, no…I...ugh, just wait a minute!"
Frustration was evident on his face for a brief moment.
"I want to but…" I looked around at my small studio apartment, eyes wander to the windows, " I'm not sure if it's safe out there for me. And why are you helping me? I don't feel good about this at all, to be honest. You and your buddies are responsible for destroying my home. I don't know-"
Again, he was suddenly in front of me, but this time his expression was kind. It threw me for one hell of a loop when he suddenly scooped me up and began to walk outside, ignoring my protests.
"HEY PUT ME DOWN THIS ISN'T OK! HELP-" I began to holler before I was rather unceremoniously dumped onto the ground. "Hey, ouch!"
"Relax, this isn't a trap. You can yell all you want but you and I are the only two beings within a 100-mile radius so…" He trailed off before stalking off in no direction in particular.
His words shook me all the way to the core of my being.
"What…? What do you mean? What about my neighbors I-"
"Dead. From the smell, it's been about a week." There was no emotion in his voice
I felt like I was going to panic as tears began to well within my eyes. Why hadn't I been brave enough to check in on them? Maybe I could have helped them in some way? Was it because they didn't have enough food, water, basic needs-
"Hey perk up, you're alive! Though, you won't be much longer if we don't get some food in you."
My thoughts had been interrupted but the tears had already begun to flow. For half a moment, I wondered how if I even deserved to go find food knowing the fate of the people who had been so kind to me. Emotions always turned my stomach off anyway. But something rough and warm grasped my hand and I was suddenly tugged forward and forced to move.
"Ugh C'mon I'm hungry and there will be time to grieve later. You're going to cry the weight you have left right off of you."
I jerked my hand away, suddenly feeling stubborn.
"Why do you care?! You were sent here to destroy everything and everyone! Why do you need me to accompany you? So you can kill me later? Forget it, you-"
"I'll pick you again." He took a step forward
"Don't touch me!" I hollered back, chest rising and fall.
I watched his shoulders slump slightly as his sharp teeth worried his bottom lip. If he weren't some psychopath it would have almost been cute. But it seemed my outburst wasn't enough to keep him away as I was slung over his shoulders without warning. Left only to pound on his back with my small fists.
"Honestly, you're right. I don't need you. I was sent here to help eradicate humans from this planet. But it's not like it was on my orders, did you ever think about that? And for the record, I don't care about you. I just met you. You're accompanying me because I said so and because everyone else has left. I'm just as stuck here as you are... and I'm hungry."
I ceased my actions immediately.
"What do you mean everyone else has left?" I asked, genuinely curious as to what he meant.
"What do you think? The Saiyans, my people, they left early this morning. The only reason I'm still here is that my pod is trashed and it's not like them to spare another pod for a third class warrior like me." He grunted. "If I put you down, will you stop freaking out?"
I mumbled a small yes and was placed back down before I cleared my throat and smoothed out my shirt.
"They really left you…?" I was still skeptical.
"Yea, don't rub it in. I'll just have to wait until the final raid a occurs, and secure one just before this planet is destroyed-"
"Wait, what?! Final raid? And what the hell do you mean-"
Once more, I found myself being stared down in an eerie way that reminded me of the fact that I was prey, nothing more.
"It means you don't have long to live unless you get on my good side, got it?"
I took a few steps back to put space between myself and the otherworldly terrorist I was more or less being forced to accompany. Quietly, I tried to let the gravity of his words sink in. It was such a beyond bizarre situation, to say the least. Finally, he relaxed and pushed his way through some rubble as I followed suit.
"So...can I at least know your name?" I asked.
There was a long moment of silence.
"Goku."
There was a small urge to comment on what a strange name that was, but I didn't dare open my mouth. While this guy was nice enough considering he could literally kill me anytime he wanted, I decided to thank him by not mentioning the oddity of his name. There was another long moment of silence.
"And your name is…?" He questioned, give me a once over from over his shoulder as we continued to walk.
"Lauren." My answer was an equally as short as his.
In the back of my mind, I wondered why I had even bothered to ask his name. He was probably going to kill me in the end anyway once I helped him locate food. Knowing death's name was as comforting as it was terrifying.
"Well, Lauren, where the hell do we find food around here?"
