Page 3 of The Alien Who Saved Christmas
And her breath caught in her throat.
This gigantic, scarred, bloodcurdling alien had the most beautiful eyes she’d ever seen. They were like a tropical sea, filled with heat, and light, andlife. No one with eyes like that should die in an extraterrestrial mine. Someone with eyes like that still had so much more to see.
Everything outside of Sadie seemed to dim, until it was just her and Xane. All her instincts about people jangled in herhead. Telling her that she wouldn’t be alone, if she had Xane with her. Promising that he was the path to safety. Screaming that she hadto save this man, no matter what it took. It made zero sense, but she suddenly felt it like a compulsion, and she only had two seconds to decide. She could listen to her gut or play it safe.
It was a no-brainer.
Sadie never played it safe.
Her thumb pressed the green button and she kept it down, so the light stayed on. Her grandfather had raised turkeys on his farm. Back when she was a kid, he’d taken Sadie to livestock auctions.
“If you want to intimidate the competition,” Grandpa had said, “just act like money don’t matter.”
Xane didn’t seem to notice her aggressive bidding. He was fading back into his own head, swaying on his feet from the drugs. Whatever the auctioneers had given him, it was dragging him under. Unless someone fished him out, he’d drown.
Luckily, Sadie was there to protect him. She felt a sense of purpose. Of fate. For the first time in weeks, she was in control of her life.
Octopus-guy bid again and again, but Sadie’s light never wavered. Inside her head, logic warred with her sudden, stupid need to rescue Xane. Logic was making some compelling points.
Plenty of maniac killers had blue eyes. Not many normal people had horns. She’d just seen Xane rip a man’s leg off. Without the fluffy yellow aliens, she couldn’t get home. She wouldn’t have enough money to free them, if she kept this up. She might not even have enough money forhimat the rate theprice was climbing. If the metal coins weren’t enough to buy this big guy, would the auctioneers try and sellher?
And still she kept the button depressed as the cost soared higher and higher. Sadie had always had a soft spot for strays. She was strong enough to take care of herself and this poor, helpless man wasn't. She had to save him.
The auctioneer’s voice got excited, thrilled with the skyrocketing bid.
Octopus-man was looking sickly around his actual gills.
Xane fell to one knee, like he couldn’t keep standing any longer.
Sadie’s heart was beating out of her chest. Knowing she was risking everything on a man with four-arms and pretty eyes. Knowing that she should stop before it was too late. But she kept going.
In twenty-five years, her instincts had never been wrong. And they’d never been surer ofanyonethan they were of Xane. She was gambling her life on this alien, but sheneededto help him.
“I don’t have more credits on me, but we all know I’m good for the money.” Octopus-man said to one of the auctioneers. “I’m the richest man in town!”
Heads were shaking, refusing to take an IOU.
Octopus-man was furious, arguing with them and getting nowhere.
Sadie’s thumb stayed depressed on the green button until…
Sold!
The auctioneer hit the buzzer that signaled the end of bidding on Lot 25.
And Sadie Malone bought an alien for Christmas.
Chapter Two
Frosty the Alienwasn’ta jolly, happy soul,
With growls that exude, his rabid mood,
And two eyes that burned like coals.
From “Frosty the Four-Armed Alien”
A Christmas Carol for Non-Earthlings by Sadie Malone
