Page 27 of Forged in Deception

The group had spent the last couple of hours enjoying a winding hike through the retreat grounds and surrounding areas, stopping for an early lunch atop a flat, windswept bluff. For most of the day, Karlin had seemed to be avoiding him, always managing to walk and now to sit as far away from him as possible.

Every time he thought he was making some leeway in gaining her trust, she closed herself off again. Even if all it had accomplished was to make him more curious about what lay beneath the surface of her chilly personality and more eager to know why she was so determined to keep him at arm’s length.

Though he had to admit that maybe she was just being smart.

It probably would be good for him to learn to keep his distance. He’d spent way too much of his life looking for love in all the places he’d never find it. Deep down, he knew that finding his soulmate while undercover at a medical trial was about as realistic as meeting her in a bar.

“Earth to Axel, earth to Axel,” Destiny announced from somewhere on his right, startling him out of his thoughts. She was staring at him like he had three heads, and so were Cora, Paul, and Lily.

“Hi. What?” he said stupidly, shaking a smattering of sand loose from his hair.

“These dear ladies were trying to ask you if you had anyone special waitin’ back home,” Paul drawled patiently.

Once again, Asher’s gaze drifted involuntarily toward Karlin, who was now chatting with Bajwa and Ned as they helped him to finish tidying up.

Stupid. He seriously needed to get a hold of himself if he was going to keep his cover, let alone his dignity.

“Nah, not at the moment,” he said quickly. “I’m just focusing on the band right now. Most chicks can’t handle all the gigs andthe late practices. I don’t think they want to share the A-man with any rabid fans, you know?”

Paul raised an eyebrow from beneath his cowboy hat, saying nothing. Lily chuckled to herself.

Asher knew he sounded like a world-class douche, but fortunately, Destiny and Cora seemed satisfied with his answer.

“I mean, that makes sense,” Cora said, bobbing her head up and down. “I dated this YouTuber once. He’s really big in the ufology world. Anyway, it wassucha nightmare. Never again.”

“Ufology world? What does that even mean?” Destiny asked, wrinkling her nose.

Asher noticed that even out here on a hike in the desert, Destiny was dressed better than the average woman on a Sunday morning back home. She reminded him a little of a black version of Grace, though the latter would have probably opted for a bubblegum-pink skirt instead of the red one that Destiny wore.

“You know, like people who study unidentified craft and interdimensional beings,” Cora said, waving her hand as though this was the most normal thing in the world. “It’s really fascinating.”

Paul retreated further under his hat, though Asher was certain he muttered something under his breath.

“Aliens?” Destiny said, shaking her head. “I don’t know. All the abductions and the…probing? It just sounds like demons to me.”

Cora rolled her eyes. “It’s science, Destiny. Not invisible horned dudes in the sky tempting us to sin or whatever. What do you think, Axel? Lily?”

Gabe and his friends had let Asher watch Signs with them when he was ten, and the movie had totally freaked him out. He wasn’t sure he’d given a whole lot of thought to the existence of aliens since then.

Then again, right now, he was supposed to be fake drummer Axel Bishop.

“I mean, aliens would be pretty awesome,” he said with a grin. “The universe is huge, man. So many planets and stars. Why would we be the only intelligent beings out there?”

Lily ran a hand through her silvery hair. “Well now, I’m just not sure one way or another, I suppose, though I’ve read some interesting things.”

“I don’t really see how the existence of intelligent life elsewhere in the universe is compatible with the incarnation of Jesus,” Paul said at last.

“Right,” Destiny agreed. “And the fall. And a whole lot of other things. Did Adam’s sin affect little green men on Mars? Do they need a savior? Is Christ crucified again by the aliens? I find the whole idea creates a lot of problems.”

Cora made a face. “I’m not going to let ancient superstitions get in the way of scientific progress, but you guys can believe what you want.”

Asher pressed his mouth together into a firm line. He couldn’t really get into an argument while he was supposed to be undercover, however annoying he found the woman’s presuppositions.

“Hey now,” Lily said. “I don’t think you have to pit faith against science. Maybe it’s more complicated than we think.”

“Exactly,” Cora said excitedly. “I’m not necessarily saying that aliens are gray men with big eyes who drive spaceships. They might be something else. Something we can’t usually see or perceive with our minds under normal circumstances.”

“I have heard of people speaking to what they call aliens while under the influence of psychedelics,” Lily said, her brow wrinkling. “But I sure hope that doesn’t happen to me. No thanks. Sounds way too spooky.”

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