THE MOMENT

- Let me go, you hideous monster. she shouted, struggling.

But they only laughed at her useless and desperate efforts to escape.

- You can always try, young lady," said one of the guards, bursting into a gritty laugh, "it doesn't hurt to try after all. But it won't work.

- Even a little protest adds a little fun in the end. Added the other joining his fat laugh to the one of his companion. Scared and dejected, Avine still had the audacity to look at them all with contempt.

- You are monsters, the waste of the universe. One of the guards immediately tightened his painful grip around the vulnerable prisoner's arm.

- Careful my beauty, you better shut up, because you're going to have to satisfy too many of these wastes that you call so well in the coming days.

- Perhaps but that will not change anything. Spat she, revolting of more fiercely. You are disgusting debris which are simply unable to conquer the affection of the women and must pass by there to have a remainder of pleasure.

- And what a pleasure it would be for us to see you taken and broken by our master. They answered him, their faces hard and excited. With a heavy heart, Avine tried her last card again.

- My mother is an important person, she would pay anything to see me again. A fat laugh followed his words.

- But she'll never know where to find you, poor thing.

- But you don't know her, you punk. She'd do anything for it, and she'd find you. She looked at the monster in front of her.

- Be sure of it.

The monster only emitted a snide and cruel laugh, revealing shiny teeth, half of which were made of silver metal, in no way frightened or worried by the threats of the little rebel who was going to become his next victim in the following seconds.

- It could be. But she wouldn't be able to do anything. Especially for you, who would already be submissive and broken, drowned forever in vice and defilement. Hearing his words so harsh and final, sealing her young fate for the worst, Avine could not hold back her sobs and moans, now struggling like a madwoman. Avine tried with all her might to free herself. Even though she knew in her heart that it was a losing battle, she still couldn't find the strength to do it. And despite her weakness, she didn't want to give up. Finally, she arrived in front of this abominable beast. He reached out and touched her, slowly caressing her skin, all the while letting out a squeaky laugh. Avine had also noticed, as if in a sort of second state, that this giant ship was floating above a dead planet, probably orbiting it to hide the horror it contained. From this dead star, nothing remained but an ocean of black and apparently toxic gas. And as she felt the wet tongue lick her skin, Avine wondered what was worse, to be raped by this soulless being, or to sink into the black, bottomless mass of this planet that life had given up on.

And then, finally understanding her end, she closed her eyes, and closed with them, her heart and all emotion that could ever exist again. In short, she closed in on this lost life ... when she heard a voice. His voice.

***

Even now, remembering that moment, which was preceded by the most unspeakable atrocities that Avine had even avoided all her life to imagine, to become unique and radiant of all hopes, she still thought that this voice, which delivered her from the darkness, was the most beautiful of all and obviously, unforgettable.

- Well! Ladies and Gentlemen, the voice said, but I see you are all having a good time. You had apparently organized a very big night of debauchery, and if it can delight you, one of the biggest I have ever...surprised. And believe me, I've seen quite a few. So surely you won't have the heart to forbid me to join you to add my modest participation to such a grandiose party?

The stranger spoke little. Or rather the young stranger corrected Avine, studying the unexpected sound. Probably a little older than her, and clearly more experienced. His voice was clear and pure, which no one, especially not her, would have expected to hear in this thick and morbid atmosphere. But they all heard it, even her.

Avine opened her eyes to see the reality of this being, which even this man sitting in front of her, who intended to take her by force, seemed to fear.

He was nonchalantly leaning against the glass wall that separated them from the space, a sardonic smile on his lips. They were staring at each of the guests with a surprisingly transparent and deep gaze. Glass eyes that the girl found fascinating, bewitching, unfathomable. His long hair with an astral reflection surrounded a thin face, but of an almost cadaverous whiteness, which paradoxically added to his beauty. He was tall and incredibly thin, but one could easily guess the fine musculature of his perfect body. His warrior's suit was dark and very distinguished, with an unknown symbol on his chest on the right side, but which gave off an impression of imperial power.

In short, he was magnificent. And when Avine thought that the foul beast that still clutched it in his hand, despite the fear that now gnawed at him, was soulless, she was exceptionally wrong. For somehow the horror of the lecherous king paled in comparison to this stranger who had come, for some unknown reason, to encroach on this spectacle made of red and black.

- And what about you? How dare you come here, young ignoramus.