“The Southern Gulf Islands?!” I asked, amazed.
It was past mid-afternoon. We’d arrived at Swartz Bay, around forty miles to the south of Chemainus. Erik was buying the tickets for the ferry, nodding in answer to my question.
I knew the islands, though I’d never been there. I knew about the many tourists who passed through our town before heading to one of the almost two hundred practically uninhabited islands to enjoy the deserted beaches. I was surprised at our destination. We weren’t even going to the most populated island, Salt Spring.
Fear returned to my stomach, which was already a little upset thanks to the day’s events, when I imagined us at an even lonelier place. I felt pain in every muscle. The tension caused by the awkward silence between us and the tiring journey without a single stop were starting to take their toll.
The swaying of the boat had a soporific effect on my exhausted body and I fell into the deepest sleep I’d had so far. I woke up strangely comforted and relieved.
“Hi,” I said when I saw Erik beside me; he was looking out the window.
“Hi.” He turned to me and gave me one of those smiles that I loved and made my heart beat faster.
I smiled back, aware that I didn’t have the same effect on him.
“We're almost there.”
“Amazing!” I said, a little puzzled. “I can’t usually sleep anywhere other than in a bed.”
I ran my hand through my hair. God, it was like a bird's nest! I tied my hair in a ponytail, combing my hair with my fingers and using one of the elastic bands I always carried on my wrist for occasions like this.
Erik leaned towards me, put his arm behind my back and pulled me to him. I sighed with relief. As far as I could see, he wasn’t angry. I tried not to think about the reason for the trip, but it was impossible.
“Can I ask you something?” I said, searching his eyes with mine.
“Of course.”
“What does this guy chasing us look like? Does he look like you?”
“Yes, in fact you met him the other day, remember? His physical appearance is similar to us; and to you, by the way.”
“That’s not what I meant.” I said, gathering my thoughts before going on. “What I wanted to know is if he also... you know, snares teenagers, brainwashes them, seduces them...” I didn’t finish. I couldn’t finish.
I couldn’t get used to the idea that the angel who was hugging me and looking at me so sweetly right now, was one of them.
“No.” He turned to look back at the sea. “Rudolf is like the police; to give them a name, because their work is much more than that. They watch over us so we can do our jobs, they’re supposed to be here to protect us. They keep their distance, but if something goes wrong, and if they see that we might be compromised, they get rid of any incriminating evidence.”
“And getting rid of evidence includes… killing people?”
“If necessary, yes,” he said sadly, trying to look for understanding. “You need to understand that we’re here incognito. If someone found out what we’re up to, a war would break out between us. And you know who’d lose, don’t you?”
“Us,” I admitted.
“That's why we have to be discreet.”
I didn’t like him saying ‘we’, and I hated him for justifying something like that. I couldn’t see Erik that way, like a monster.
“That's why you’re hiding me. I’m evidence that has to be got rid of.”
The air escaped from my lungs in response to what I’d just said.
“Yes…” he muttered. “It’s all my fault. I'm so sorry I got you into this. I should’ve backed away and left you to get on with your life before things got too complicated. I hadn’t realized until now how immoral our mission is. We have no right to...” He shook his head without finishing the sentence. “I just hope someday you can forgive me for ruining your life.”
“Stop talking nonsense. You're the best thing that ever happened to me.” I turned my head and saw his tormented eyes. “I prefer being on the run with you than just getting by without you, like I did before.”
“You don’t know what you’re saying. I’ll never forgive myself for letting myself go. I had control. I fooled myself trying to pretend it was just work, when really I was being dragged in by the hold you have over me.”
Those last words reminded me of what Luke had said the night before. Since when did I have that power over someone else? Was it just over beings from another planet? It all seemed completely illogical.
“Stella…” Erik went on, “You’ve become my reason for living, and nothing… no-one… can change that. They know that and they won’t rest until they try to change it.” He held me closer when he noticed I was shaking.
I didn’t like seeing him so sad. He felt far away from me and that wasn’t good. I wanted him here, in body and mind, with me. Now those sky-blue eyes were hidden behind dark storm clouds. I tried to take his mind off it.
“Why are we going to that island?”
His features softened slightly as he answered me.
“It's where I lived before I went to your town, when I wasn’t working for a while…
I know someone there who can lend us a hand. Trust me.”
He was almost pleading. I didn’t know if he was trying to convince himself or me. Right now, I had no choice but to trust him. I hadn’t left town for years and I didn’t know anyone who lived elsewhere. I decided not to think about that and get answers to the other questions that had been bothering me.
“What does Luke have to do with all this?” I couldn’t understand why he was with us.
“You could say he helped us escape. He’s been helping us so far and, although the others trust him, he prefers to be with us. Honestly, I don’t understand why he’s taking such a risk. If they catch us, his future won’t look too bright either.” He noticed the frown on my face. “Don’t worry; he knows how to take care of himself. He knew what he was getting himself into.”
“You're still angry with him, aren’t you?”
“Yes.”
His tone of voice and his eyes expressed what he didn’t say. I didn’t like it.
“You shouldn’t get angry over that. At the end of the day, he’s risked his life for us. I think we should thank him.”
I hated to say it, but it was true. I felt responsible for what had happened. At least I shared fifty percent of the blame for falling in love with Erik, but Luke was risking everything for us.
“He doesn’t want your gratitude.” He turned his cold eyes on me. “Trust me, I know.”
“Well you'll have to explain it to me.”
I knew what he was talking about. I wanted to seem unconcerned, but my body gave me away and my cheeks flushed red.
“Do you want to stop running me down?”
I was shocked to hear Luke's voice so close.
“It isn’t right to talk about other people when they’re not around to defend themselves,” he added.
He was leaning over my back, leaning forward, his face a few inches from ours.
Erik’s face began to twist into a mask of pain, while Luke looked like the picture of happiness. Something was going on between them and I wasn’t prepared just to sit there looking on, especially seeing Erik like that. Seeing such remorse on his face made my heart ache.
“Stop it!” I shouted, pushing Luke back. “Stop thinking whatever you're thinking!”
Fury was eating me up inside, but screaming wasn’t going to solve anything. I needed to be more subtle.
“Luke, I’m asking you, please. Stop it.”
He laughed loudly and leaned back in his seat. Erik remained white as a sheet. His breathing was irregular and small drops of sweat beaded on his forehead.
“What’s wrong with you?” I asked, worried.
“Nothing.”
Not even he believed that.
“You promised to be honest with me, and seeing your face right now, ‘nothing’ doesn’t seem very honest.?
??
I knew his brother was listening to us, enjoying the situation he’d just caused.
“I know,” he said sharply. “But this time I’m not the one who has something to tell. I think it's the other way around. Am I wrong?”
He squeezed the bridge of his nose between two fingers and closed his eyes tightly, his mouth shrinking into a thin line.
“I don’t know what you mean.”
I wasn’t completely clear about what Erik wanted to hear.
“What if you start by telling me what happened last night?” His voice was cold and distant and it had me trapped.
“You know what happened.”
He looked at me suspiciously waiting for a more accurate answer. ‘Is he jealous?’ I thought. That was ridiculous. I needed to clear this up as soon as possible.
“I called my mother and I messed up everything. End of story.”
“Luke’s version is longer.”
I didn’t like the sarcastic tone he was using at all. I hadn’t done anything wrong. Luke had taken advantage of the situation. Besides, Erik had left us alone, without even asking if I was okay with that. Now he was playing the victim. My anger was growing every second, although I wasn’t sure if I was more upset with Erik for not trusting me or with Luke for putting me in such a situation and enjoying it.
“I don’t like your alpha male attitude. What I’ve told you is the only important thing that happened last night,” I said firmly. “What your beloved brother’s sick mind has conjured up can’t be the least bit important because I can’t even remember.”
I couldn’t see Luke, but I heard him squirming uncomfortably in the chair behind me. He can’t have liked what I’d just said. I didn’t like it either.
What I’d felt when Luke kissed me couldn’t be compared to how my body felt when I kissed Erik. Still, that stolen kiss came back to haunt my memory again and again, tormenting me. But I wasn’t going to give this arrogant moron that pleasure, listening to us from the row behind.
Erik was pensive, as if he was analyzing his options. I was tired. I decided to finish this once and for all.
“I don’t care if you believe me or not, I won’t talk about this again, so when you have something interesting to tell me, let me know.”
I closed my eyes and pretended I was asleep so I wouldn’t have to talk to either of them.
The boat slowed and a siren sounded. I opened my eyes and looked around. Erik looked out the window. I had a déjà vu. I’d lived this moment before. Luke had disappeared and had sat down a few rows back.
“Hi,” I whispered.
Erik turned to me. A dazzling smile lit up his beautiful face, stopping my heart. I searched in his sky-blue eyes. He wasn’t as happy as he was trying to make out.
“So you’re not angry any more?” he said in response.
He stroked my cheek gently. I took his hand, raised it to my lips and kissed it.
“Of course I’m not, but it bothers me that you don’t trust me. You’re always asking me to trust you. I think I deserve the same, right?”
“You're right,” he said taking my hand in his. “I'm sorry about before, but Luke drives me crazy. I can’t stand seeing you in his mind like that...” He stopped suddenly as if he realized he was doing something wrong.
“Like what?”
Luke had a few things to explain to me. As if he’d read my mind, he suddenly appeared next to me.
“Are we getting off, or we are going to live on this boat?”
He wore his backpack and a mischievous smile. He was also wearing his mask of indifference, similar to the one Erik used when he wanted to hide the truth from me. But his eyes spoke. They gave him away. As much as he wanted to conceal it, Luke had changed and, to be honest, it made him extremely attractive.
I turned to Erik and erased my last thoughts.
“Let’s go,” he said standing up, grabbing his backpack and mine.
We got off the boat. An incredible calm reigned over the small harbor. It was an odd place. Chemainus seemed like a hive of activity compared to this island.
A sense of peace came over me. The serenity of the surroundings was contagious. Erik pulled his phone from his pocket of his jacket and stood at a distance from me, whispering to the caller. I sat on the edge of a low wall to wait. Luke leaned against the trunk of a tree at a safe distance from me, with his hands his jeans pockets, looking very serious.
“Congratulations. You really are some actress.”
“I don’t know what you're talking about.” The irritation showed in my voice.
“That little show before was quite something. You fooled him, but you can’t fool me.”
I hid my nervousness. I knew exactly what he was trying to say, and he was right. But I wasn’t about to let him know it.
“I haven’t misled anyone. Maybe it’s you who’s fooling yourself.”
He came over to me, resting his hands on the wall where I was sitting. He leaned threateningly over my face.
“You weren’t so cold when I kissed you,” he whispered.
A cold sweat ran down my back and covered my hands. I clenched my backpack hard trying in vain to calm my breathing.
“You liked it as much as I did. I know.”
His lips were so close to my neck I could feel the warmth of his breath caressing my skin. I could feel the hairs on the back of my neck standing up.
I made a superhuman effort to disagree with a slight shake of the head.
“You won’t be able to resist forever.” His voice took complete control of my mind. “If I wanted I could have you right now, but I don’t want it that way. I prefer you to make your choice. But I assure you it'll be me.”
I blinked a few times to recover from what had just happened. Luke wasn’t there any more. He’d walked away in an instant and was leaning against the same tree as before, staring at me with a mocking smile on his face.
Then I realized it wasn’t so much his speed in walking away, it was my reactions that had slowed down. He’d used his powers of seduction with me again.
I hated myself for being so vulnerable. Now that I was back in control of my mind, I decided to ignore him and I looked at Erik, who turned and smiled at me, oblivious to what had just happened. I smiled back, knowing that Luke expected some reaction from me. I wasn’t going to give him that satisfaction.
We had a car at our disposal. A small one, left there by someone they’d contacted beforehand; I hadn’t even noticed.
“And now where are we going?”
To be honest, I didn’t care where we were going. There was nothing but rocks and vegetation there. But if I said something, maybe I could erase the episode with Luke from my mind.
“We're going to visit some friends. They’ll hide us for a few days until we decide what to do.”
Erik looked relaxed. I was sure he felt at home.
“Are your friends...” I resisted the use the word alien, because it always made me think of slimy green bugs. And in this case it was wrong. “...from your planet?”
“Yes, they’re Kaelians.” He turned to look at me. “Does that worry you?”
“I don’t know. Should it?”
I stared at him, but he wasn’t the one who answered.
“Of course you should worry,” said Luke in his usual jaundiced way. “Just being with us two right now should make your hair stand on end.”
He was in the back seat, right behind me.
“Something’s wrong up here,” he said, tapping my head with his fingers.
I pushed him away with a slap. He clung to my seat, rubbing my arms with his fingertips.
My body couldn’t move an inch, no matter how much my head wanted it to.
“Leave her alone.” said Erik.
Grabbing the wheel with one hand, he pushed Luke back with the other and freed me. I breathed a sigh of relief.
The way my body reacted to Luke was maddening. I couldn’t or I didn’t want to control myself. But my heart was Er
ik’s. I was going crazy. No, it was official. I was already crazy.
I’d never been interested in any boy and now I was caught between two aliens who were fighting over me. Luke must be right. I wasn’t right in the head.
I looked out of the window with my head resting on the glass. The background was breathtakingly beautiful. Splashes of red light dyed the clouds like cotton candies in a fiery orange sky, as if the sun was shooting out its last flares before dying completely. The narrow road was barely visible, dominated by a deep green that covered everything including us as we neared our destination.
I saw a small cabin in front of me. Erik stopped and I knew we’d arrived.
I got out of the car, followed by Luke. It was getting colder as night began to fall. I snuggled into my coat. Erik came to me quickly. He put his arms around me and the pleasant warmth of his body made me tingle inside.
“I’d forgotten how much the cold gets into your bones round here,” he said, squeezing me closer.
We stumbled together towards the little cabin slowly, but I had no intention of letting him go, still less of complaining about it.
“Welcome home.”
A beautiful woman smiled at us from the doorway. Her mahogany hair fell limply over her shoulders, ending in a sloping cut, slightly longer at the front than the back, framing her extremely beautiful face, with its soft features and velvety complexion. I paused for a moment to look at her strange lemon-green eyes, cold and expressionless, as might be expected from a Kaelian.
Erik and Luke greeted her politely. I did the same with a ‘hello’ and a nod.
“I'm glad you're here again,” she said to them, inviting us in.
The house was similar to the cabin that Luke and I had shared. Same furniture, same decor. They looked like prefabricated houses in wood and stone.
“What’s up guys?” I heard a male voice say from inside.
“How are you doing, Jeff?” said Luke loudly, striding inside ahead of us.
I walked in hesitantly behind Erik.
“Hi, Jeff,” he said once we were in the lounge.
It was as pleasant a place as the one before, but now that I looked at it more carefully, I could see slight differences. Inside it was wood and gray stone, no different from the previous one. But the windows were decorated with ivory-colored curtains lighter than the heavy ones in the other cabin. The furniture was different too, more rustic, maybe handmade. These little touches were the basic difference between the two houses. This one was lived-in. The temperature was nice inside, with the remains of a fire in the fireplace.
The man who’d greeted us was just getting off the couch where he casually put down a book so worn by use that it didn’t even close. As I’d expected, as I approached him I could see how attractive he was.
He had the ethereal beauty of my two companions, but something about his features made him look more mature, calmer, making him more attractive and, I assumed, older.
His short, jet black neatly swept back hair went with his big dark eyes, as threatening as a starless, moonless night. His body, like the woman at the entrance, was pure fiber. Nothing extra, nothing missing. As perfect as Erik and Luke.
I felt insignificant next to such beauty. Comparisons are always hateful, and more so in my case, I seemed to be a permanent loser.
“And you are…?” he asked politely, holding out a hand.
“Stella Preston,” I mumbled, shaking his hand.
“Nice to meet you Stella.” His dark eyes searched my face; I didn’t even dare to breathe. “And to what do we owe the honor of your visit? I didn’t expect your call and I never imagined you’d come so soon. I’m intrigued,” he added, turning to Erik.
“It's a long story; would you like to hear it?”
The question was pure courtesy. I was sure that Erik knew Jeff would listen. We hadn’t come to a remote island in the middle of the sea for nothing.
He invited us to take a seat and Erik began to tell him everything that had happened. I was surprised to hear our story from his point of view. It sounded more like a police report than a love story.
I glanced at Luke, who seemed very interested in the conversation he was having with the woman – Angie was her name, apparently. He didn’t seem the least bit interested in our story.
For a moment I thought he’d given up, tired of the dangerous game he was playing with me. Nothing could have been further from the truth. He looked over at me and I could feel the challenge in his eyes. He curled his lips, giving me a provocative smile that made me blush. I hadn’t realized, but I was staring at him, spellbound. He seemed delighted with the look on my face and came over to us.
“Well, Jeff, what do you think about this little love story?”
He stood beside the fireplace, leaning on the stone frame, with his arms crossed over his chest, the dull glow of the embers bringing out the copper-colored glints in his hair.
Jeff looked at Luke, shaking his head.
“You haven’t lost your style, eh? Always so blunt, so provocative,” he said with a slight smile. “This doesn’t look good…” he added turning to Erik, looking somber again. “You know that none of this will be any use.”
My muscles tensed when I heard that. What was he saying? Would he give us up to the people who were after us? Had we fallen into a trap? Dozens of hypotheses crossed my mind.
“I know, but the question is, can you help us?” Erik remained unperturbed.
Apparently, I was the only one in that little room who was likely to have a heart attack. The others stayed calm, as if they were planning a day out at the beach and not our future lives.
“I don’t know how I can help you, but you can count on me for whatever you need. You know I didn’t understand or agree with your work here.” He pointed his finger at both. “All this time playing God and in the end you...” he said, looking at Erik, “… fell into your own trap.”
“This is no time for sermons,” commented Luke.
I looked at him in disbelief when I saw he was taking Erik’s side.
“Let´s focus on the problem. What do we do with the girl?”
How could I not have realized? This wasn’t about backing Erik up; what he wanted was to turn their attack onto me. He knew I hated it when he called me ‘girl’ and he enjoyed seeing the rage on my face. I was going to become the target of his irony and I really didn’t want that.
“The ‘girl’…” I said, emphasizing the word, “…can take care of herself. You just haven’t given me the chance yet.”
“Oh, wow! Sorry if we’ve offended you!” he replied. “It turns out we should have asked her before saving her life. How thoughtless of us! I beg your pardon!” He clutched his chest in a theatrical pretense of regret.
I could feel the blood boiling in my veins, and I felt an uncontrollable rage taking me over. I met his gaze defiantly.
“I don’t know how you do it!” My voice was trembling with anger. “But bravo! When I thought I couldn’t despise you any more, you manage to go and do something to make me do it!”
Erik looked at us in silence, as if he wasn’t involved in all this. It was Angie who calmed things down.
“I think you've said enough,” she said, looking at Luke. “I don’t think it’s her fault she’s in this situation. It’s your fault, or should I say his…” she said, nodding at Erik. “Anyway, there’s no going back. For any of you. So we’d better get to work instead of wasting precious time on useless fights.”
She stood in front of Luke and ran her hand through her hair nonchalantly.
“You have your own love story too, don’t you?”
Luke went as white as a sheet. It seemed to confirm my theory that women, human or alien, had a sixth sense for reading between the lines.
“I don’t know what you're talking about,” he muttered, leaving the room in two strides. Within seconds, I heard the front door slam shut.
“I’m sorry,” Jeff said, turning to me. He seemed amused watching
the pathetic show we were putting on. “You must have a very low opinion of us.”
“No, of course I don’t.” I answered, trying to sound believable.
“Come with me. I’ll tell you a few things that I’m sure you don’t know about our civilization.”
He stood up and began to walk towards a small room off the living room. Erik took me by the hand, nudging me to follow him.
The room was small, full of books everywhere and a huge telescope in the center that reminded me of the one Erik had. You couldn’t find anything like that in the stores.
Jeff went to the bookcase. He took a thick, leather-bound book with yellowed, ageing pages and placed it on a table behind the telescope.
“Come here, Stella, I want to show you something.”
I walked toward him, hesitant but curious.
“This book contains our history. From the beginning of our civilization to what we are today, practically.”
I looked at the big book with different eyes. I might be able to find answers to all my questions there. Jeff started to answer some of them without me asking.
“Our civilization is very old. Twice as old as yours, more or less. We consider you to be still evolving because of your… precarious way of life.”
“And where did you come from? I mean…” I tried to explain myself better. “How did it all start on your planet? And on ours, by the way?”
He must have been expecting that to be my first question.
“To be honest, it's not something I worry about too much.”
His answer left me floundering. As usual, my face mirrored my thoughts.
“Let me explain. Most of us are scientists, each in their field. So we just dedicate our lives to research and study. This advanced knowledge about life is what makes me think there must be something superior to us, someone who’s done this, but that’s controversial, even in our civilization.”
“That's not the best answer for a scientist. It’s too superfluous.”
A smile spread across his face, adding sweetness to it. For a moment, I felt as if I was talking to my father again.
“Let's just say I don’t consider myself a scientist like the rest. But are those the questions you really wanted to ask?”
No, it wasn’t the path I wanted the conversation to go down. I had an excellent opportunity to discover everything that Erik had been hiding from me. I decided to continue investigating. I was hungry for knowledge.
“Why are we almost identical but we haven’t advanced equally?”
“Because we’ve taken advantage of the opportunity to enrich ourselves, increase our knowledge and wisdom, while you merely get carried away by your more unreliable instincts.”
That sounded familiar. Again, they were telling me that we were too sensitive. His answers only managed to raise new questions in my mind. Erik was silent, scrutinizing me with his eyes, while I went on with the interrogation. Then I asked the obvious question.
“How long have you been on Earth?”
“I think we came back a couple of decades ago.”
“Came back?” I was confused. “You mean you’ve been here before?”
“Yes. Do the Egyptians and Mayans ring a bell?”
“Sure, what about them?”
“You must know thanks to history that these two civilizations, despite living far apart in time and space, shared many features and abilities. Their pyramids, the knowledge they possessed about astronomy. It was very advanced for such primitive civilizations. Do you think it was a coincidence?”
“You?” I whispered.
“Exactly. Our ancestors were among them, enhancing their skills. You humans have the skills, what you need is to learn how to use them.”
I was more and more perplexed. I noticed Erik's hand was squeezing mine.
“You said you came back, why did you leave?”
“Because it was difficult to live among humans unnoticed.” There was a hint of superiority in his voice.
“And you don’t have that problem now?”
“It's not so obvious, but we have a more serious problem on our planet which requires us to be here. Didn’t you tell her?” he asked looking at Erik, who suddenly looked very tense.
“It isn’t necessary.”
“You’re wrong. It’s essential that she knows.”
I was dying of curiosity. I couldn’t wait to hear it, whatever it was.
“What kind of problem?” I said, insistently.
I knew Erik was hiding a lot of details from me. I didn’t want to miss this chance to find out everything.
“Our civilization is condemned to extinction unless we do something about it.”
I said nothing, my eyes opening wide.
“With genetic manipulation of our DNA we have achieved perfection, but such a drastic change has brought consequences for us.”
“I don’t understand.”
“A few decades ago, just before returning to your planet, we discovered that our DNA banks were flawed, they were contaminated. That's why most of those who were born during the last hundred years in Kaeliux are suffering from the same disease, a type of leukemia, which is killing us. Our bone marrow is damaged, we need transplants, but it’s virtually impossible among ourselves because we’re all suffering from the same disease and those who aren’t ill are more than a hundred years old and aren’t compatible. We’ve discovered countless treatments that minimize the symptoms and we’ve improved our quality of life, but only a transplant will eliminate the problem.”
“Erik told me you didn’t die from natural causes.” I was dazed.
“And we didn’t. Until now. This is an inherited disease. We weren’t aware of it until we had it.” Jeff's tone was neutral without being carried away by emotion. He was completely controlled.
“Isn’t there anything you can do to hurry these transplants along?” I looked at Erik, trying to work out his age from his timeless face. Was he also suffering from this disease?
“Yes, that’s why we’re here.”
“Ah.” It was all I could say.
“We need new, healthy stem cells. It’s impossible to get them from among us. Do you know where they’re found?”
In the umbilical cord?” I answered, although I wasn’t completely certain.
“Yes and from other places, but we are interested in the placenta, even though we use the cord too. Did Erik explain how we conceive our young?”
“He told me it was like an IVF procedure.”
“It's not quite the same. The entire process takes place outside the womb, in an artificial womb.” He raised his sweater and showed me his abdomen. “As you can see we don’t have navels like humans.”
I gasped, looking at his perfectly smooth belly.
“The females of our species are unable to bear children in their wombs like you humans; that's why we're here.”
“So why me? Why don’t you go to a hospital or something like that for the stuff you need?”
I wasn’t stupid, but this was beyond my understanding. The more I knew about this civilization, the less I understood.
“It's not that simple. We need stem cells that have part of our DNA, so that they’re compatible with our core. It doesn’t work with solely human umbilical cords or placenta. We have to combine our genes and yours.”
Now it all fitted. They weren’t looking to improve our species as Luke had made me believe. They were seducing teenagers to save themselves, getting them pregnant at the first opportunity, and waiting for the moment when they could make off with their precious stem cells.
A vague memory came to my mind of that conversation with my mother about Lilian, the girl someone abandoned at the hospital after giving birth, unconscious and alone.
Was she a victim of this madness?
The air was barely reaching my lungs and I was breathing too fast.
“We don’t mean to hurt you, but sometimes you don’t survive the pregnancy. It’s a little collateral damage. After
the birth, we get the umbilical cord and placenta, to continue the investigation, and if it’s successful, we go home in good health, physically and mentally.” Jeff seemed sincere, but I was about to throw up.
“And what about the babies?” I was almost incapable of speech.
“Until now none of the babies have survived. It must be impossible to survive such a genetic mix...” Erik interrupted him.
“But I won’t go on with this lunacy. It’s monstrous to use them this way,” he snapped, just to let me know he’d been following the conversation. I’d almost forgotten he was there.
“That's why you're being followed. They know there’s something wrong with your attitude and she’s the reason for it.”
I tried to pay no heed to what they were saying. I couldn’t believe they were so selfish that they were manipulating us like that. And worst of all, I’d believed the explanation about racial experimentation and all that!
“There's something I don’t understand,” I said, trying to think. “If you’re so perfect and advanced that you consider yourselves superior to humans, why are you hiding your mission? Isn’t there any way you could talk to the authorities? Sign an agreement about surrogate motherhood or something like that?”
Erik winced. He certainly didn’t like what I’d said, but he had to get used to the idea that I didn’t like what they were up to either.
“They wouldn’t understand. You aren’t ready to assimilate that there is life beyond Earth and even less so if we come and ask you for favors.”
Erik tensed beside me, looking down as if he wanted to apologize.
“I'm sure that's not the reason.” I saw a surprised look on their faces.
“It isn’t?” they replied in unison.
“No. Humans can deal with your existence perfectly well. I’ve done it, for one. You’ve realized that being so perfect has got you nowhere; that life is for living, for better or worse. That’s why you came to our planet in the first place, and that’s why you’ve come back. In the end you want to be like us and that’s why you want to go unnoticed, you want to live human lives,” I said, pleased to see that they didn’t know what to say. “Besides the stem cells and all that stuff.”
“You're right,” said Erik, kissing my hand, entwined in his.
“I am?” I was totally taken aback. I thought he’d say I was crazy for thinking that way.
“Yes, you're right, we envy you. And thanks to you I've been luckier than the rest of my race, since you’ve given me the chance to experience everything that I could only dream of.”
I smiled back at him.
“Guys, I'm still here,” said Jeff, as if our little display of love was making him feel nauseous.
The door opened abruptly, making me jump.
“He knows where we are!”
Luke burst into the room followed by Angie.
“What?!” shouted Erik.
“Apparently Rudolf followed you. We were too predictable coming here.” Luke's eyes sparked with fury.
“Let’s analyze this calmly.” Jeff seemed calm despite the situation, as did Angie.
“How did you find out?”
“He tried to contact me. Rudolf knew where to look for my mind.” He looked at Erik as if it was obvious. “I didn’t let him make the connection.”
Everyone fell silent. Luke paced from one side of the room to the other, running his hand through his shaggy red hair. Erik stood beside me with a lost, faraway look but still stroking my hand.
I couldn’t stand the silence. I knew I was the only one that was being left out of what was going on. They were probably sharing ideas mentally. It made me want to scream. I’m here too, remember?
“So what happens if they find us here?” I asked, to remind them I was being left out of their decision-making. Four pairs of eyes were suddenly on me, as if I’d just said something terrible. I tried to explain. “I want to be prepared for the worst,” I said, a little embarrassed.
“The worst case scenario…” said Luke, trapping me with his fierce gaze, “is that you end up dead and we get a nice complete brainwashing.”
The blood drained from my face. I knew that was a possibility. Erik had told me, but I never saw it as real as now, reflected in Luke’s eyes.
“That’s not going to happen.”
Erik hugged me against him, but I couldn’t look away from the depths of his brother’s gaze, his eyes strained and anxious.
“I'll take care of you, I'll protect you. You can be sure of that,” said Erik. He was my angel again. For a moment, I forgot the danger and I felt completely safe at his side, in his arms.
“Stop overprotecting her. Grown up, damn it! We’re risking our lives thanks to your foolishness.” Luke's voice rumbled around the room like thunder while Erik stared at him.
I started to feel weak and helpless again and I curled up against Erik’s body in a desperate attempt to stay calm.
“No one’s making you stay,” Erik scolded him with a coolness that didn’t match the fire in his eyes. “She’s with me. Face it, period.”
I looked in amazement at the two of them. We were on the edge of the abyss, and they were fighting over me. I was angry and shrugged off Erik’s arm. Right then, the last thing I needed was stupid fights between the two brothers.
“Stop it!” I was amazed by the strength of my own voice. “I'm not a trophy! Is that clear?”
An awkward silence reigned in the living room. Jeff and Angie left the house without saying anything. Luke followed them, after an angry glance at his brother.
I was alone with Erik, saying nothing, waiting for him to break the ice.
“What do you reckon?” he asked at last.
“I don’t think my opinion is worth anything right now,” I shrugged.
“It is to me.”
“Yeah, but first I'd like to know what we’re going to do. I don’t know if you realize, but I can’t read minds like you.” He heard the anger in my voice and he knew there was more behind what I was saying.
“Stella, I can’t change my past, but I can change the future.”
“We are what we are, people don’t change.” I said.
It hurt me to say that, but the more I discovered about Erik’s past, the more afraid I was about my hopes of a possible future with him, although that thought broke my heart into a million pieces.
“I can change. You’ve changed me.” His blue sea went transparent again, and I lost myself in it.
I knew he was sincere and he wanted, he longed to change. But what if Luke's predictions came true? The future that lay before us was not a hopeful one. What if Erik was like before, beautiful on the outside but cold inside? He seemed to read the concern on my face. He took my hand and placed it on his chest.
“This can’t be changed. Before my heart just pumped blood without questioning anything, but now it needs you to keep beating.”
I understood him perfectly. I felt exactly the same way. My heart reacted to being near him, as if it had a life of its own. It beat faster when Erik touched me or it could stop with one look from him. My heart was no longer my own. It belonged to him, this beautiful creature with golden hair and blue eyes.
At that moment I knew that, whatever happened, we would always be together. Our bodies were united by something supernatural. We needed each other to stay alive and nothing and no one, here or on another planet, would be able to change that.
“So what do we do now?”
“Luke suggested contacting Rudolf to set a trap for him. Jeff and Angie will help us.”
“Why are they helping us? Aren’t they afraid of the consequences this might bring?”
I only trusted Erik and, much against my better judgment, Luke.
“No, because they’re renegades, they’re outside the rules of our civilization.”
“Can you do that? Refuse to be a part of it, I mean.” These people didn’t cease to amaze me.
“Yes,” he stated.” We don’t live under a dicta
torship. There are some who disagree about how we live or what we do, and they decide to set themselves apart, living among you, but they can never reveal their identity.”
An idea crossed my mind.
“Why don’t you do that too?”
“Because I'm not just a civilian,” he admitted ruefully. “I’m part of an army. I was trained to follow orders. Obedience has to be my priority.” He bowed his head. “When I abandoned my mission I became a deserter. They will search for me until they find me, and my punishment will be an example for those who refuse to obey.”
“That’s cruel,” I answered, overcome by a feeling of impotence.
“I know, but I was aware of the danger I was exposing myself to. I'm not the first to skip the rules,” he added, playing with my fingers anxiously.
“And what happened to him?” My voice was as dead as my hope.
“When they found him, they locked him up in an institution and they emptied his mind of memories, leaving him in perpetual mental darkness.” His voice began to shake, as did his hands. I saw his jaw clench in an attempt to control himself. “A living death; all he can do is walk around the garden of the institution.”
His face, contorted with pain and anger, aroused my curiosity. A strange foreboding came over me.
“Was he your friend?” I asked, putting the question out there.
“He's my father,” he sighed, lifting his eyes to meet mine.
An intense pain shot through my chest when I felt his pain. I couldn’t imagine how hard it must be for him to see his father like that.
“I'm sorry,” I said, kissing his cheek softly, trying to ease the hurt.
“Until now I’d never cared about it. I had no deep feelings for him, you know,” he said by way of justification, a little embarrassed as he recalled his coldness in the past, even towards his own father. “Don’t look me like that, Stella, it’s not your fault.”
“It is now,” I said, intertwining his hand and mine, raising both together.
He looked at them for a moment that seemed to go on forever.
“You haven’t done anything wrong,” he said, taking my hand to his lips and kissing it tenderly. “Being charming, intelligent, beautiful... those are your sins.”
I dropped my head against his side. He stroked my long, cascading hair.
“And if they find us, will it be like Luke said?” I asked anxiously.
“It won’t exactly be pleasant if they catch us.” I could see the pain etched on his face.
“But will they kill me?” I insisted. He hadn’t given me a straight answer.
“Luke already told you.” He looked grim.
“Then he wasn’t exaggerating just to scare me?” I asked, terrified.
“No, Luke never exaggerates, he just simplifies.”
I felt myself shaking with panic.
“What kind of death can I look forward to?” I asked, surprised by my own question.
“Don’t make me talk about it.”
My curiosity turned to fear when I saw his eyes, as dark as the ocean in winter. I didn’t want to know.
“If they catch us, we’re dead, either physically or mentally. They don’t care what they do to achieve it.”
My panic was reflected on my face.
“We aren’t going to let that happen. They’re not going to catch you, so there’s no need to worry, is there?”
Luke came in like a shot, dragging the cold night air in with him. Erik didn’t move and I stood beside him, as stiff as a board.
“That’s enough talking, lovebirds.” he barked contemptuously.
“Get out,” replied Erik without even looking at him.
“Am I interrupting something? A declaration of eternal love? Till death do us part and all that nonsense?”
This time it was me that replied.
“I wish you’d bite your tongue and poison yourself.”
I stared him down for the first time, perhaps because I was angry, but it was Luke who took his eyes off me, ducking his head.
“If I’m going to bite anybody’s tongue, it’ll be yours,” he replied, without looking at me either.
I had no time to react when I saw Erik on his feet, grabbing him by the neck, his face twisted with rage.
“I’m not putting up with you anymore,” he snarled. “Get out of here or I’ll kill you with my bare hands.”
Luke didn’t defend himself; he just looked at Erik intently. His mind was telling him what his lips weren’t.
“Bastard!”
Erik's fist landed on Luke's jaw with a loud crack. He stumbled around for a few seconds, but quickly regained his composure to plunge a fist into Erik’s stomach, making him hunch up in pain.
I lunged at them, trying to separate them.
“Stop! Stop it!” I screamed like a lunatic, but it was completely useless.
Erik was unrecognizable, as was Luke.
Suddenly I felt a hand pressing my shoulder and pulling me back.
“I’ll take care of this,” Jeff whispered in my ear.
Angie came up behind Luke and wrapped her arms around him, like an anaconda with its prey. I was impressed by her strength. Jeff did the same with Erik, but it was more difficult to calm him down. Even so, the fight stopped.
ASSUMPTIONS
“There is no need to know danger to fear it; indeed, it may be observed, that it is usually unknown perils that inspire the greatest terror.”
Alexandre Dumas