"Huh?" I said. I was still petrified. I was fearing for my life. My upper body was quivering uncontrollably, and my teeth were chattering. But I was also confused. The creature understood English. It spoke clear English. At least that I would understand it. Some creatures talk in their native tongue only. My parents and the rest of the scientists teach them English so they can communicate with one another. So far, not one alien has had trouble. Mom and Dad would be ecstatic to know that this alien spoke fluent English.

The alien who claimed that I am beautiful. What a lie. I am far from beautiful. I am not in the least attractive. I am not gay. I am straight like a path. This creature had better not be female.

Mrs. Blueberry tossed the big hammer aside and stood next to the hedgehog-like creature. She stared at me as if sucking the life out of me. She cocked her head to the side and clasped her hands together. Her eyes were red now. Bright red. Something was most definitely wrong. As if her smashing the tube were not obvious.

"She sure is beautiful, is she not?" Mrs. Blueberry said. A smile stretched to her ears.

"Yeah," the creature responded. It took a step forward. Its hands were held up to its face in gripping positions, ready to grab me.

I started rolling back my wheelchair. "Mrs. Blueberry." I figured that she was in a trance. She looked and acted like that she was. Her abnormal, red eyes told me so. "I want to go back to my room. I need to go back. Please." I was nearing the doorway. Freedom. But with its arms outstretched, the creature was charging after me! I was not shocked that it was faster. It was not the distressed soul stuck in a wheelchair. "I need to grab something. I will be quick. In and out."

My wheels were rolling over the bump in said doorway - when the black creature gripped the armrests. I froze. My white dress was completely covered in sweat. I was breathing so hard that my chest and upper back ached. I grabbed the alien's wrists and tried pushing its hands off the wheelchair. But it would not let go. It was much too strong. I felt something dripping down my palms. I released both wrists and brought my hands to my face. Black ooze was running down them. My hands shook. I did not know what else to do except scream. I clenched my dirty fists and shut my eyes. I screamed as loud as I could. I needed my parents and their helpers to hear in order to put the creature in its place.

Mrs. Blueberry scuttled around me and put both hands over my mouth. "Oh, Fawn. Do not make it difficult for him. For your new friend."

Was she referring to the alien? Did it - he, thank gosh - hypnotize her? Why?

As if he had read my thoughts - and for all that I knew, he had the ability - the creature said, "I hypnotized her so she could help me bust out."

"Mmm!"

"Mrs. Blueberry - I - will remove both hands from your mouth if you promise to not scream or call for help."

I tried talking. "How can I know that you will not harm - or kill - me?"

He put his hand on my chin. "Anybody wanting to hurt a girl as beautiful as you is a fool."

"What do you want from me?"

"Promise that you will not scream?"

I sighed heavily. "Fine. I promise. Just do not hurt me. I am already dealing with pain." I motioned to my legs. Drops of the black ooze splattered onto the white floor. "I cannot stand or walk properly. It is why I am using a wheelchair."

He let go of my chin. "I know."

Mrs. Blueberry's hands slipped away from my mouth. I breathed in and out. "You are one smart alien."

He pushed himself off my wheelchair. "I have not been so curious of anybody as I do about you, Fawn."

I was wiping the ooze off my hands. "Is it because I am in a wheelchair? And how do you know my name? And what is yours?"

"You will know me from your heart when you and I get to know each other. Right now, I must save your world - the universe - before it is doomed."

My eyebrows furrowed. "Save the universe? Um...what do you need to save the universe from?"

"You will be worried if I tell you."

"I already am worried."

"You do not have to be. I will make sure of it."

"How can you when you are out saving the universe?"

The creature stared at me for a few unsettling seconds. He then walked to the same table and moved his hands along the tools and other shiny objects. He was looking for something.

I swallowed wrong, but I made only little coughs. I was too frightened to cough regularly. To clear my airway. I waited for him to snatch a sharp tool and start slashing me until I was dead. A screwdriver. A knife. A different hammer.

But he said that he would not harm you, Fawn. He said that anyone is a fool for wanting to inflict pain on you.

Was he lying? Did he say that just so I would cooperate with him?

To my relief, the unique creature did not pick up a tool or another dangerous object. Instead, he grabbed what seemed like a necklace by the chain and examined it. A purple charm swung back and forth. It was shaped like a pearl. It glistened under the white lights.

He walked back to me and put the necklace around my neck. "This pearl increases my powers and protects me as much as it can. So it can protect you too."

I gazed down at the pearl, which was glowing. "Whoa."