The Stars Are Stigmata (слэш)

The alien looks at Jayce like he’s a piece of meat.
Jayce grips the bars of his cage and tries not to tremble. Fear means weakness, and as Jayce has always been taught, aliens will prey on any hint of weakness that he shows, using it as a weapon against him. Despite his best attempts not to show his fear though, his teeth start to chatter and a sob slips from his throat.
But what does it matter anyway? What could his terror possibly matter now, when he’s found himself held captive by aliens, stranded impossibly far from Earth? What could allowing himself the indulgence of a single sob matter when he’s helpless and staring down the cold, eerily emotionless eyes of an alien that he can only assume wants to hurt him?