The Alien Prince's Captive

AVA'S POV

"We did it! We're finally going to explore space!" I heard someone say from behind me and I couldn't help the smile that formed on my lips as I stared at the spaceship in front of me.

It was like a dream come true. Everything that I'd hoped for, everything that I'd always wanted to do was finally coming to reality.

"Aren't you excited, Ava? You've worked so hard to get here. How long has it been, five years?" My best friend, Mia, said as she patted my back and I glanced at her for a second before chuckling softly.

"We've both worked hard to get here, Mia. You know that. It still feels like a dream..." I mumbled softly and she pointed at me like she had just seen something surprising.

"Your pupils are shining again. It seems every time you get excited, they glisten. I'm so jealous of your eyes, Ava." She said with a slight pout and I glanced at my phone screen to see that they were indeed glistening.

I have always been labelled as a freak for my shining blue eyes, and I try to keep it hidden, but sometimes I can't help my excitement. In high school and college, I never had friends because people thought I was strange.

I mean, who the hell has blue eyes that sparkle? Isn't that an alien characteristic? But aliens don't exist, right? And my parents were clearly humans, so why the hell was I different?

"Are you okay? You're zoning out again." She said with a worried expression on her face as I moved my attention from my phone screen to her round pretty face.

"I was just thinking of something. This crew, you, and everyone else in here are the only ones who see me as a normal human. Everyone thinks I'm strange because of my eyes and yet you envy them. Isn't that crazy?" I asked softly and she chuckled before giving me a harsh slap over my back, causing me to yelp.

"The next time you say something stupid again, you'll get more. You aren't strange, Ava. No one here thinks you're strange or a freak of some sort. So stop worrying about nonsense and focus on our very first space mission." She replied and I rubbed the spot where she had slapped me harshly before nodding in defeat.

"Alright, gather around, everyone. I have an important announcement to make." Cain suddenly said as he walked past us and turned to look at everyone with a smile on his face.

"We're going to space, guys!" He yelled with excitement in his voice, and the whole room echoed his words with shouts of joy and excitement while I clapped in excitement.

"Ava, darling, your pretty eyes are a distraction. Don't make me fall in love with you." He said, and everyone chuckled as Mia passed me a pair of sunglasses, which I put on immediately while I laughed in response.

He was our leader yet he was always so free with everyone. He never cared about respect or pride, he insisted that he was the same as everyone in here because we all had one goal. To explore the universe.

"Alright, as we all know, we'll be leaving Earth tomorrow morning, so say your farewells to your family before we leave because who knows? You might not want to return to earth after leaving." He said and I scoffed lightly in response as I glanced up at the sky.

Who would be so foolish to not want to return to their homeland?

"Is this a way of you telling us that we might die in space?" Dax's voice resonates from behind me and I froze at the sound of his deep voice.

I hated that he was going with us. I hated that I got to see his face every day. I hated that he could taunt and tease me whenever he wanted... and I couldn't do a thing to stop him.

"Don't scare everyone here, Dax. No one is dying in space. We all know, however, that the way time works on Earth is different from the way it works in space. Which is why I'm telling you to say your goodbyes because we don't know how long we'll be gone for." Cain replied and everyone nodded in response while a deep sigh escaped my lips.

"Will you follow me back home, Ava? I need to say goodbye to my parents and let them know that we're finally getting our dreams to reality." Mia said but I immediately shook my head in response as I held her shoulders gently.

"I should go see my parents too. It's been a while." I replied and she was about to say something before she finally let out a resigned sigh.

"Stay safe, okay? Let's meet back here tonight." She said and I nodded as she turned around to walk away. Everyone had dispersed, probably to go tell their families about our achievements and our next trip to the outer world.

My legs moved on their own accord and I found myself walking out of the space station to the place I had avoided for a long time. I didn't want to see them again. I couldn't bring myself to face them but... I had to tell them goodbye.

In case I didn't make it back.

I stood in front of the graveyard as I stared at the tablets erected for my parents. A lone tear streamed down my cheeks and I quickly wiped it off as I crouched down to place my hand on the stone.

"Long time no see, right? Did you miss me? Because I didn't miss you." I said bluntly and a chuckle escaped my lips when I realized that it was no use lying to them.

"I'll be going to space tomorrow. I finally get to achieve my dreams and yours. I know you've always loved everything about space, Dad and Mom would always support you. Well, I'll go there for you. When I get back, I'll tell you how beautiful it was." I said as tears ran down my cheeks in torrents and I remained crouched there for minutes.

"It was fun talking to you again. See you when I get back." I got up as I uttered those words and left the cemetery without glancing back again.

Returning to the space station, it was silent and void of life. It seemed like no one was back yet. Well, it wasn't so bad to have a little alone time to myself.

I had just taken the right turn to my room when I felt something collide with me and before I knew it, I was pinned to the wall like a helpless slave with no one to save me.

"Did you think you could hide from me forever?" His cranky voice whispered in my ear as his tongue swiped over my neck and I tried to struggle out of his grip.