Chapter 57

When the door finally closed, I felt my entire body relax. I turned to Zerg, and he just chuckled, seemingly unfazed by what had just happened.

"Well, it was a little thrilling," he said in a light tone. "But don't worry, Lana. We'll get to it soon enough."

I didn't answer. Instead, I just stared at the door with mixed feelings-both fearful and determined.

Some time after that, I sat on the edge of my bed, clutching the blanket tightly in my hands. My mind was full of unrelenting worry. Today was the big day. Zerg said that his team would bring the Bitfrox crystal to Earth. But for some reason, I felt like something was wrong.

Flashbacks of my last conversation with Zerg swirled in my mind. "Today is an important day," he said with a small smile, as always. "The Bitfrox Crystal will arrive, and we need to make sure everything goes smoothly."

I remembered the look of conviction in his eyes, but behind it, there was something that made me uneasy. Zerg was always full of secrets, and I couldn't fully trust him. However, at the same time, I had no other choice but to rely on him for this plan.

Clutching the blanket, I felt that time was moving too slowly. Images of the Zerg team doing their job filled my mind. Would they succeed? Or would they be caught by Zask's subordinates? If that happened, I knew I would be the next target.

Zerg wasn't the type to protect me if things went south. Instead, he would probably spill the beans about our deal to Zask just to save his own skin. It was a risk I had known about from the start, but now, it felt more real than ever.

I also wouldn't rely on the Zerg or any aliens, in a situation like this I could only rely on myself, even if I cooperated with them.

I tried to take a deep breath, but the agitation didn't go away. I stood up and started pacing the room. My steps repeatedly stopped in front of the window, looking out, as if I could see what was going on out there.

My mind kept filling with various bad scenarios. What would happen if Zask found out about this? What would he do to me? I bit my lower lip, trying to stop those thoughts, but to no avail.

I heard the sound of the door opening, and my body instantly froze. When I turned my head, I saw Zask standing in the doorway, his gaze directly on me.

"Lana," he called in a flat tone, but there was a hint of curiosity behind his voice.

I tried to look calm, though I knew it was difficult. "What's wrong?" I asked, my voice sounding weaker than I wanted it to.

Zask looked at me for a moment, like he was reading me. I tried to look relaxed and sombre, I just needed to take refuge behind the guise of my sadness. Although in reality I was sad.

He stepped inside, closing the door behind him. "You look... agitated," he said, his eyes scanning my every move. "Did something happen?"

I felt my heart beat faster. He was paying too much attention. I had to say something before he got even more suspicious. With a little acting, I had to make sure he believed me. Admittedly, I felt trepidation right now, but I was used to this kind of situation.

"I just..." I thought quickly, looking for a plausible excuse. "I'm just remembering the incident when I miscarried. It made me feel anxious. It keeps swirling around in my mind, it's so hard for me to calm down."

His eyes softened a little, but I could tell he still suspected something. "Is that really what's making you anxious?" He asked, his tone almost a challenge.

I was a little offended, Zask's personality could not be called good, so I should not have been surprised, but still I felt angry with his response.

I nodded quickly, trying to reassure him. "Yes," I replied, trying to sound convincing. "Those feelings still haunt me, Zask. I don't want to talk about it too much."

He looked at me for a few seconds, as if trying to read my mind. I held my breath, hoping he couldn't see the lie behind my trying-to-calm face.

"I understand," he said finally, his voice softer. "I don't want to pressure you, Lana. If you feel you need time to yourself, I'll give you that."

It surprised me that Zask trusted me so easily. But it was good, I was relieved that he didn't suspect much of me. This will make it easier for me this time.

I nodded slowly, relieved that he didn't press me further. "Thank you," I said in a low voice.

He stepped closer, making me tense up a little. But all he did was reach out his hand and touch my shoulder gently. "You should rest more," he said. "Your body is still recovering."

I just nodded again, speechless.

Zask looked at me for a moment before turning towards the door. "I'll leave you alone for now, if you need anything you can ask me for help," he said before leaving.

When the door closed behind him, I could finally let out a sigh of relief. But the tension in my chest was still there.

I walked back to the bed and sat down, thinking about the conversation. Was she suspicious? Or did she really believe what I said?

Either way, I had to be careful. Zask wasn't stupid, and he would definitely watch my every move more carefully after this.

Holding my head, I tried to think of the next step. That Bitfrox crystal was the key to everything, but I couldn't afford the slightest mistake. If I failed, not only would I be jeopardised, but also everything I had planned all along.

I closed my eyes, trying to calm myself down. Today was going to be a long day, and I needed to stay focused.