The Start Of The Contest [R-18]

Ryan narrowed his eyes at her in surprise. 'She's like me?!'

"I don't know what you're talking about," Ryan tried denying it, but even he knew he was lying through his teeth.

Stacy looked into his eyes and started to cry. "I didn't live long on Earth, only 14 years. I died, and so did my parents..." Her voice broke off, and she began sobbing, causing tears to flow from her dark brown eyes and down her cheeks.

Ryan could feel the warmth of Stacy's body against him as she cried. He gently patted the top of her head with the palm of his hand as he rubbed the back of her head in a soothing motion.

'She must have been really sad,' he thought, unsure what else he should do now.

He felt close to this girl, a connection he hadn't noticed before but became evident once he recognized it.

She probably lived an even worse life than Ryan had if she died at 14 with her family.

Although Ryan died on Earth, he did so without pain or suffering, only the regret he felt over Aliza's death.