Unedited, sorry. I'll fix it up soon.

TO SAY THAT the ETB was uncomfortable was an understatement; I knew just from looking at it that it would be the most horrendous thing in the world. As soon as I lay back on the cold surface of the pod, a shiver shot down my spine and seemed to constantly bite at my nerves until I had no choice but to stand back up. Reluctantly, I laid the scruffy excuse of a blanket down on the metal slab before trying again. It was more bearable but no less difficult to get comfortable. Louis was watching my struggle with a cheeky grin, sniggering every time I had to reposition myself. He seemed to be enjoying my pain.

"You look most comfy, Flora," he joked, sitting on his own pod. "It's not that bad, is it?"

"Try it and see for yourself," I told him, flashing a pained smile. If I had to sleep on this thing, I'd wake up with a crick in my neck and quite possibly some more bruising. 

Louis huffed and dragged himself onto the slab, laying on his back and looking to the ceiling. I waited a few seconds for him to complain and sure enough, an unsatisfactory groan escaped his throat before he was up and trying  a new position. It was like watching a fish out of water, flailing about, desperate for some sort of help. Only the help we required was in the form of a Councillor who should have fixed us up with better accommodation several hours ago. How hard could it be to tell Klaru that the prince of Junito deserved better service?

Very, whispered a voice in my head. You've seen how evil that woman is; she wouldn't even consider moving us somewhere better.

"Nope," Louis finally decided, jumping up to glare down at the ETB. Hands on hips, foot tapping he said, "I'm really beginning to lose my mind in here. I may have downgraded from my royal luxuries to human ones - no offence - but this is driving me insane."

"I'm just honoured to not have been at the bottom of your luxuries list," I mused. "But yeah, this is bullshit. Two days to get to Mars, Norkar said. Then how long until Junito? Jupiter is the next planet in the system. So, what, four days in total, five at most? And they expect us to stay in here that long? Shit."

"Yeah, it sure is." Louis rolled up his sleeves and pushed a loose strand of hair out of his face. He looked just as rough as I did and I had to wonder if Klaru was going to offer either of us a shower. Did aliens shower like we did? Recalling the first time I tried to get Louis into the shower, I was guessing no. It had been a nightmare, like trying to give a cat a bath so I was definitely looking forward to trying out the alien way of bathing. 

If the bitch even lets you, I reminded myself.

"Where about on the ship would we be relocated?" I asked. "Are there chambers or sleep capsules or something?" I asked, shuffling until I tugged the blanket out from under me so I could wrap it round my shoulders.

"I'd assume my quarters," he answered, strolling over to the bars between us. He raised his arms above his head and leaned against the metal, pushing his face between two of the bars to look at me in the eye. "It's the most wonderful room on board."

"I know, I've seen it," I told him. "Had a sneak peek when I was trying to make my way back to you. Really nice room, Loudrix. Could crack a window open though, that was a powerful smell in there."

He looked simply perplexed. Hadn't I mentioned it already? Something inside me was telling me that he was the kind of person that didn't allow anyone in his room, especially without permission and a wave of guilt instantly washed over me. It wasn't as if I'd had much of a choice - it was either hide or die.

"You were in my room," he stated, brows furrowed. His hands came to grip the bars so tightly his knuckles turned white. "C'mere, Earthling.

I shot him a puzzled look but didn't question his motives. Pushing myself up and over to him was easy enough, but once I reached him and saw the crazed, almost manic, look in his eyes it was hard to fathom what I'd did that was so bad to the point he was almost exploding with rage. It wasn't like I touched anything or tried to steal something after all.

"Louis?" I questioned, reaching up to place a hand over his. "What did I do wrong?"

"You were in my room," he repeated robotically. "Nobody goes in my room, especially not you."

"Alright," I snapped back. "What's gotten into you all of a sudden?"

He ignored my question and began ranting instead. "I suppose you saw it all then, hm? All of my plans and work on the walls? The glass jars with body parts in them after experiments have been carried out? What did you think? Were you scared or intrigued? You always blab on about how amazing it would be to see new things and explore new places, Flora. How does it feel to be exploring the inside of a glass jar then, Earthling? Is it exciting?! Are you bursting with joy and pride because you and you alone are experiencing all of this futuristic madness?!" He was yelling now and no matter how badly I wanted to take a step backwards, my feet seemed to be glued to where they were.

"W-what are you saying?" I practically whispered. He'd never spoken to me like this before. I hadn't even been aware that there was a side to him like this. A monster, a beast so filled with anger.

He leaned forward until his face was mere inches from mine. Inside my chest my heart was beating so hard and fast I was surprised it hadn't burst out my rib cage. He grinned menacingly and said, "I asked how it feels to be inside a glass jar. Those experiments I was on about? You were the experiment. You always were, right form the beginning. I never cared about you, I was just using you to survive and boost my research and theories. Now I can return home with proof of your kind." He paused and slowly stood back, waiting for my reaction. 

There were tears in my eyes as his words hit me like a tsunami. How could he say such dreadful things? After everything we'd been through, this was how it would end? Part of me hoped to God he was lying, that it wasn't true and as I told him that, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a glass jar. It was filled with a putrid looking liquid with several long sausage-like items floating around inside. On closer inspection I realised they were fingers.

"How does it feel," he began, holding the jar out to me, "to be in a glass jar, Flora Brannon?"

Without knowing why, I reached up to take it from him, disgustingly fascinated by the contents. But then I noticed something that made my heart drop, my eyes leak and breath catch; my fingers were gone. Both hands, finger-less bloody stumps. I looked to Louis with panic, shrieking in fear and agony and for him to snap out of it and help me. What was happening? Why had he suddenly become a psychopath? More importantly, where was my friend? His sudden change of character left an irreplaceable emptiness in my heart; nobody could replace Louis.

In one swift movement he let the jar drop and smash to the floor, liquid and fingers spilling everywhere before wrapping his hand around my throat. He pulled me forward against the bars so hard my head began to spin where they had connected, a pain shooting through my entire body. I couldn't breathe. Couldn't call for help. Couldn't loosen his grip from my neck. Everything seemed to just stop right there and then, as though time wanted me to suffer longer than I already was. 

"You're nothing," he said to me. "Nothing at all."

I tried to speak his name but it was impossible. 

"A mere annoyance in the world," he continued. "Your kind are filth. Filth!"

But then something in my head began to promise me it was all going to be alright. That no matter what, he was still my friend and no matter what he did I would eventually find it in myself to forgive him. It seemed unlikely to me then but I knew the voice was right.

It will be fine, don't worry. You'll both be fine, Flora.

Flora?

Flora!

"Flora!"

I woke with a cold sweat and my head spinning to the point where I could hardly make out the face above me. With a few blinks and squint I was able to make out Louis' face directly above mine. My heart was hammering in my chest again and without realising what I was doing, my first came up and connected with his nose.

"Hoooly shit!" he gasped, rearing back with both hands covering his face. "I think you broke my nose!"

Suddenly there was movement around me and two lots of hands were hauling me to my feet. I retaliated by throwing my body to the side, trying to free myself but it was no use; whoever had a hold on me wasn't letting go any time soon.

"Get off me!" I shrieked, panting and completely disorientated. 

It was a dream, I told myself over and over, it wasn't real, calm down before you get the both of you killed. 

I snapped my head back in Louis' direction. The prince was still holding his face, a Councillor by his side with a cautious hand on his upper arm. Did they seriously except him to make a run for it? Groaning and flashing me an incredulous look he asked, "What was that for?!"

Clearing my throat, I told him, "I'm sorry. I got a fright."

"No shit," he muttered, wiping blood away with the back of his hand. "I swear, you're the reason I get injured most of the time."

"Sorry," I told him again, looking to the two people holding my arms. Councillors, both of them, but one was a female. She was in her true skin, her red complexion hurting my eyes. She wasn't looking at me, but straight ahead like a soldier awaiting orders, her long, dark hair swept up into a pony tail. I wondered if she was one of the Councillors Norkar had said wasn't completely loyal to Klaru. Perhaps she was good within?

"Are you alright?" Louis asked, breaking me from my reverie. I nodded and asked what was happening. He grinned at me widely. "We're being upgraded."

"That sounds terrifying," I voiced, giving him an unsure grimace. "What does that mean exactly?"

"I mean we're finally moving to better accommodation," he clarified. "Dear me, that hurts!"

A few minutes later, after the Councillors were sure we weren't going to begin hitting each other, they guided us out of the cells and down the dimly lit corridor until I recognised the jagged hallways and green hue that surrounded us. It was the place I had rescued Louis from earlier only this time there were Councillors on either side as we walked, lined up and ready to step in if either of us made any sort of attempt at an escape. Dressed just like Norkar, their scarlet tunics were the brightest things I could see, planting that tiny seed of fear deep in my stomach. Due to the dimly lit hallway, the brightest source of light came from the lethal tips of the Striking Blades, sparking like live wires in the dark.

My eyes scanned the dark corridors veering off to the sides, wondering what exactly was down each of them. Pipes and ribbed tubes covered the grated floors, out footsteps echoing around us as we walked, almost like we were walking through a cave. 

"What spooked you back then?" Louis asked me, his voice low enough for only me to make out. We were sandwiched between two groups of Councillors; Louis' at the front and mine at the back. Louis and I were walking side by side and I felt his fingers momentarily brush against mine. "Hm?"

I just chuckled and told him, "I had a nightmare. Then  woke up and it was standing directly above me."

"Ha, very amusing," he muttered, rolling his eyes. "What was your nightmare about?"

Slightly uncomfortable at the thought of the Councillors eavesdropping on our conversation, I promised him I'd tell him later once we'd adjusted to our new room and he dropped it instantly which I was extremely grateful for. There was nothing worse than somebody pressing you for words you didn't feel like expressing. 

"Her Majesty has granted you your request on one condition," Norkar said as he led the group up some stairs and into the blindingly white corridors of the Mothership. "As soon as you and the human are put to your room, you stay there with no funny business happening. If you disappear all of a sudden or try to escape you will be back in the cells and given no luxuries such as food and drink."

"Understood," Louis confirmed. 

"Yeah, what he said," I added, one of the windows catching my eye - or should I say what was outside the window. At the first opportunity, I turned my head to stare out, peering at the most beautiful sight I'd ever seen; stars - hundreds of them, bright and twinkling as the ship soared through space. Without realising that my feet had stopped carrying me forward, the female Councillor behind me shoved my shoulder so roughly that it took everything in me to not take a swing at her. If there was one thing I was good at, it was laying a good punch. 

"Fuck off," I snapped at her instead, unsure if she would be able to understand the insult while being in her true form. 

Louis grasped my arm carefully and tugged me towards him until we were once again walking in sync. His eyes caught mine for a second before he fixed his gaze ahead, the brightness of the hall highlighting his scruffy appearance; his hair was longer than it had been upon arrival and instead of the original perfectly neat head of locks, it now hung messily around his face. Bags sat deep and dark under his eyes like he'd been deprived of sleep for days, his complexion paler and washed out. He looked pretty awful, the worst I'd ever seen him look.

Rounding another corner, the Councillors finally stopped us in front of the large golden door I knew to be Louis' room. The first time I'd caught a glimpse inside was when I'd been hiding, only able to see several things like posters and the mess on the floor. At least this time I'd get the grand tour.

"You could at least have warned me before hand so that I had the chance to clean up a bit," Louis huffed at Norkar.

The Councillor just laughed. "Well, Your Majesty, I do apologise about the lack of information you are receiving." I couldn't help but notice how venomously he spoke, almost spitting the words. Nothing like how he had pleaded earlier for mercy. Was he telling the truth?

Norkar pushed the door open and stood aside so we could walk in. Apparently we were too slow, for the two aliens behind us shoved us forward, Louis tripping and falling face-first as a result. I nearly went flying too and so I decided to whip round and smack the woman across the face. The surprise on her face made it worth it, no matter what punishment I'd receive.

Finally able to put her words together, she started shrieking at me in her native tongue, her hands curled into fists at her side. If the other Councillor hadn't been holding her back I was sure she'd have hit me back just as hard. Norkar tried to console her all the while gently pushing me into the room - out of harm's way? To just get Klaru's prisoners seen to? Once Louis and I were inside the room, the door was closed behind us, a faint jingling of keys and a final click informing me that we'd been locked in. 

"Are you OK?" I asked Louis, reaching down to help him up. He took my hand with a smile and nodded before looking round. I bit my lip when I saw the state of his nose. "Sorry about that," I told him.

He just waved off my apology and said, "I do apologise for the mess. The only other people who set foot in my room are Nix and my parents. I'm used to them knowing about my messy habits so I don't really clean as I go anymore."

I kicked a pair of fancy looking trousers to the side and murmured, "I can see that."

"Welcome to my grand sleeping quarters, I guess," Louis pipped, flashing me the most genuine smile I'd seen in a long time. 

Finally I could have  good look around; the scientific posters with scribbles and highlighted areas, the clothes all over the floor, a large bed-like frame in the corner, several desks lining the walls, a complex looking device with buttons covering the sides. Everything interested me and the more I looked round, the more I could relax, finally able to experience the journey to space in a little more comfort. 

"I thought a prince would be brought up knowing that cleanliness is greatness," I joked and he just scoffed.

"Please, a prince is brought up knowing that treating everyone with respect and keeping your nose clean is what makes a man earn loyalty. If anything, it was my mother who made me realise that cleanliness is also a pretty good thing to upkeep."

"Your mum," I began, slightly changing the subject, "what's she like? You always said she was the one who encouraged your love of science and discoveries."

Louis smiled at the mention of his mother and nodded to me. "Yeah, she was. She's great, my mother. Slightly crazy at times but in a good way. She enjoys simple things in life - funny considering she's a royal and used to living a life of luxury. Before she married my father she was from a family hundreds of miles away, in a smaller realm on the other side of the planet. When it came for my father to pick his bride, it was only by chance they met for she was the younger of her siblings and not yet of age to seek marriage. But my father was infatuated with her and he waited two extra years until they could be together and only then did they both ascend to the throne." Louis spoke slowly as if retelling a tale he'd heard only once before. He chuckled. "My father is strict but deep down he's still a romantic. He'd kill me if he ever heard me say that."

I listened intently, so absorbed in his story of the young lovers his parents had been and how his dad had been willing to wait for the girl of his dreams before they could tie the knot. It was romantic and also something I couldn't see a human doing; humans were too selfish and greedy. Seemed like my kind could learn a thing or two from Louis' father. 

"If we manage to come up with some sort of escape plan, will I get to meet your parents?" I asked curiously.

Louis gave me the most unimpressed look I'd ever seen, as if he thought I were stupid. "Are you kidding?" he scoffed. "Of course! What kind of question was that? As soon as we get home, you'll be on the guest list. I'll even introduce you to all of my friends and the staff at the castle. The grand tour of the kingdom!"

I couldn't even begin to imagine what the place was going to look like but no matter what, I knew it would be incredible.

Thanks for reading as always. Also, a huge thank you to everyone who wished me a happy birthday last week, I was so overwhelmed with all of the messages! 
Alien joke: What's E.T. short for? Because he has little legs!
Cazza x