Rate my child from 1-10

[EDITED]

I woke up feeling a remarkable sense of relief. The fatigue that had plagued me earlier was completely gone, replaced by an inexplicable comfort. However, there was an underlying feeling that something important had slipped from my memory. What could it be? What was it that I had forgotten?

As I tried to piece it together, fragments of my recent encounter with aliens flooded my mind. Aliens... more aliens... demons! Suddenly, I jolted upright, breaking free from my daze, and found myself drenched in a cold sweat. I quickly assessed the room I was in noticing its plain appearance, devoid of any distinguishing features. The focal point of the room was a large, round, mocha-colored pillow-like object on which I had been resting. Curiosity got the better of me, and I reached out to touch the fabric, reveling in its softness. With a gentle push, the pillow slowly rose, giving in to the pressure of my hand. It was wonderfully squishy, a sensation I hadn't experienced in what felt like an eternity.

But I needed to snap out of it. Aliens had abducted me, and I found myself in an unfamiliar room. The door lay within sight, presenting a plausible escape route, while the windows offered a second chance at freedom. However, I couldn't shake the overwhelming fear that gripped me, stemming from the fact that I might be on an unknown planet. A place shrouded in mystery.

Coming to a definitive conclusion, I realized I was too terrified to venture out. Instead, I sought solace under the giant mocha pillow, seeking refuge from the dangers that awaited me outside. The pillow seemed to swallow me whole, enveloping my body, providing warmth and the gentle touch of the fabric against my skin. I noticed that I was wearing clothes, the texture of which felt like a soft T-shirt and comfortable basketball shorts and boxers.

My heart skipped a beat as I heard the handle turn, causing me to instinctively cover my mouth and nose to muffle my breathing. In the absence of visual confirmation, the situation felt eerily reminiscent of a horror film—a genre I despised. Strangely, though, I no longer felt like an empty vessel; instead, I felt as though a newfound strength had inhabited my being. At least I had regained my humanity; the effects of whatever drugs they had administered to me could have been a cause of my depressive episodes.

My heart pounded in my ears muffling the sounds, as I heard the faint footsteps drawing closer. Suddenly, they came to an abrupt halt, followed by hurried footsteps running in the opposite direction. I released a small breath, feeling the tension in my muscles gradually subside. However, my solitude was short-lived, as the room was soon filled with the heavy thud of multiple footsteps approaching the door.

"He's gone!" A desperate, tear-filled voice sobbed from the other side. "It's my fault!"

"..."

"..."

"..." Did I just hear someone speaking English? I was so shocked I froze. I had to remain calm and composed, like an immovable rock. I held my breath, waiting for them to leave, pretending that this was all just a game, similar to the silent game I used to play with my mother. If I could be as quiet as possible, I would win.

"Nori, be quiet, he's still here," someone hushed, and the room fell into silence once again, with Nori's sobs subsiding. My anxiety levels soared, and I could feel my nerves on the verge of unraveling. I covered my ears, squeezing my eyes shut tightly, and curled up into a protective ball, employing a technique I called the hamster technique—a method I used to block out traumatic situations. And this certainly qualified as one.

"Are you hungry? We have some food for you," a deep voice, familiar with the ashy-colored alien from before, spoke softly in English. Oh, dear God. This was it. I was going to be treated like a pet, like a dog! My mind raced with despair, tears welling up internally, even though I had completely misinterpreted the situation.

"It must be hot under there. We'll leave the food in the room. Don't worry, we won't bother you," a gentle voice reassured me. I listened as something thumped onto the floor before the sound of footsteps gradually faded away. I wasn't going to fall for their trick, no way.

Minutes later, the heat became unbearable, forcing me to stick a foot out from under the pillow. The cool relief of the air momentarily satisfied my need to leave the confines of the cushion. However, the stifling heat quickly overwhelmed me, and I popped my head out scanning the room anxiously. Fortunately, no one was present, but an enticing aroma invaded my senses, causing my mouth to water.

The scent of the food wafted through the air, unmistakably reminiscent of pizza. I stared at the plate on the floor in disbelief. Could it be? No way! These aliens weren't going to win me over with just two slices of deliciously cheesy, greasy, deluxe pizza. My mouth watered as I clenched my jaw, suppressing my hunger. But surely, they must have drugged it, right? I hesitated, my mind wrestling with the conflicting desire for food and the fear of being manipulated. However, alongside the pizza, they had also placed two glasses one with milk and the other with water. Some apple slices sat on a small plate as well. Milk that tasted good and fresh fruit—I hadn't enjoyed such luxuries in what felt like an eternity.

Glancing toward the door and finding no one in sight, I reluctantly but quickly reached out, snatching the plate and pulling it closer to me. Once the tantalizing dish was right before my face, I couldn't resist taking a deep drag of the aroma. Who would have thought I'd miss this scent so much? It almost transported me back to my workplace, but this smell was even better. With my cheek slightly bitten in anticipation, I cautiously picked up a slice, waiting for someone to burst through the door or for some nefarious trick to unfold. I swallowed nervously before taking a small bite, savoring the flavors that surpassed the experience of eating pizza while intoxicated. A small piece of heaven flooded my taste buds, eliciting a moan of delight. Encouraged, I took bigger bites as if trying to guard my treasure from being snatched away. If anyone dared to take it from me I would bite back contradicting my previous belief of being a submissive pet.

A satisfied sigh escaped my lips as I drank the last sip of the cold milk. The satisfying meal settled comfortably in my belly, making me feel pleasantly drowsy. It was a familiar sensation, a food-induced sleepiness that always followed a satisfying feast, especially when accompanied by milk. My body seemed to have its own sleepy drug, crafted solely from the enjoyment of good food.

Stretching my arms, I tidily organized the plate and empty cup, placing them back in their original position. Then, I scooted under the embrace of the oversized mocha-colored bean bag thing. Nestling into it like a bear preparing for hibernation. The carpeted floor offered surprising comfort, and the weight of the pillow above me felt like a gentle, reassuring hug. I really needed that sense of comfort right now.

Thoughts of whether these aliens would eventually harm me crept into my mind, but I softly shook them away. For now, I decided to go with the flow and stay vigilant for any signs of suspicion. It wasn't as though I had given up on escaping—far from it. I would make my move when I deemed it necessary. And for the time being, a couple of aliens who fed me pizza, milk, and apples could receive a temporary pass.

Closing my eyes, I drifted off to sleep, my mind consumed with contemplation and the promise of uncertain futures.

-

My eyes flew open, and my body instinctively tensed. The door had opened, and my sensitive ears easily detected the soft footsteps drawing closer. I reacted by curling in on myself, attempting to calm my racing heart. It's going to be fine. They won't hurt me, right? I repeated those words to myself, my breath coming out shaky and uneven. They won't hurt me.

I heard the tray being picked up, followed by a brief pause in their steps. It seemed as though they wanted to say something but hesitated. Nervous anticipation gnawed at my consciousness, causing my mind to run wild.

"I'm Oaka, and... the annoyingly loud one is Nori, while the brute is Riker. I hope we can talk sometime..."

My breath caught in my throat, and my heart skipped a beat. That was unexpectedly kind and human-like. Why did my heart flutter in response? Stop that! It must be some strange effect of Stockholm syndrome induced by the pizza and the alien's tender voice. Or perhaps it was the voice itself that elicited such a reaction. But wait, what did I even know about the alien's gender? Did aliens even have genders?

Curiosity piqued, I found myself torn between wanting to see the alien who spoke English and sounded so gentle and being too terrified to even breathe. With a mix of complex emotions, I cautiously lifted the pillow just slightly, revealing only a glimpse of legs. Frowning, I lifted it a bit higher, and there before me was a sight I hadn't expected. Pastel red skin, red hair, black scale patches adorning parts of his exposed skin, and bright shocked golden irises. Our gazes met— My heart pounded against my chest, and I hastily retreated back into the comforting warmth of my cocoon. Why did I feel such embarrassment? Was it because of our brief eye contact, or was it something else entirely?

As I was thinking distressed thoughts, a small chuckle echoed in the room, causing my cheeks to flare. Only then did I realize that the alien's footsteps had faded away, and the sound of the door clicking shut signaled that I was once again alone.

Why did he have to go and make me feel so embarrassed?

A/N-

Goodnight :D