Page 9 of Her Alien Harmony
I gave her another few seconds to answer my question, yet only her silence answered.
“Goodbye, Gerri Johnson. You are the first human I have ever met on Earth, and I intend to remember you until my dying breath. For your safety, you should not mention me to anyone, especially the police or military. I would not see you harmed.”
More silence.
What did I expect? That she would accept me as I am and rush into my arms? No. I am no better than a monster according to her people, even thoughtheyare the ones who do monstrous things.
Only birdsong twittered from the trees.
I have lost her.
Unable to bear her silence any longer, I dashed toward my stealthed Sparrow. My mission had been to visit Earth for new ideas, and somehow, I’d gotten distracted. I would do what I had set out to do and return to my kin. Hopefully, with a clearer idea of how to create a better ship experience for our journey home.
And a way to forget about the woman who captured my heart.
Chapter 4
Isensed there was something off about him the moment we met.
His enormous form walked away, and his long, black hair flowed in the wind. Tight muscles bulged under a dark blue uniform, similar to the flight suits I’d seen worn by the Air Force.
As he strode farther away, my anxiety eased. Glancing around, I needed to ensure he hadn’t been spotted.
No other vehicles appeared in the distance, and the other shops remained shuttered and dark. The little town of Barkley still slept.Thank goodness.
Sliding by back down the wall, I landed on my butt and stared toward the field, at the last spot Drayven had been before I’d glanced away. Only dry brush and tall grass stood there now.
Good. I’m glad he’s gone.I should’ve been more worried about my sanity, how easily I’d accepted his alien form, but what irritated me the most wasn’t rational. He’dliedto me, made methink he’d been human. What if he’d decided to do—I don’t know—alien things to me?
Stop being stupid. You know, deep down, he’s one of the good guys, and that’s why you so readily invited him to stay.
I hated that voice of reason, so I slammed the lid on her.What Ishoulddo is go to the cops.
Or find the nearest shrink.
That thought made me pause. Had I spent so much time alone as a nomad that I’d lost touch with reality and made him up?If so, why is that idea even less reassuring?
My attention wandered to the ground where we’d stood only moments before.
A dark gray band of metal, around two inches wide, slept on the bumpy asphalt.What did he call it? His lifecord?It seemed so unassuming, like a blank piece of metal someone would buy from a hobby store to decorate or engrave.
So, I’m not crazy or dreaming. He really is an alien.He’d said he came from Mars. How had the government never found them?
Maybe the government knows but keep us in the dark. It wouldn’t be the first time.His warning about reporting him rang in my ears. Could it have been just a ruse to keep me quiet, or would it truly put me in danger? Besides, who would believe me?
They’d believe me if that lifecord thing is real.
I didn’t want to turn him in for many reasons, but mainly because I wanted to forget everything and pretend it never happened, that I’d never met such an intriguing being.
Pushing myself to a standing position, I gathered my painting supplies. The mural wouldnotbe finished today. My thoughts were too scattered. The only thing I needed at the moment was to go back to my tent and figure out my next move.
Drayven knew where I lived, but I felt no threat from that knowledge. Though he’d lied about his true appearance, I didn'tfault him for that. How many times had I hid myself to blend in with others, especially as a teen and living on the streets, to ensure I wasn’t singled out…or worse.
With a deep breath, I shouldered my pack of supplies and carried the ladder to my truck, shoving it in the back, next to my bed, and gave the unfinished mural a last look.
The lines of the tree trunks seemed stark and cold without their branches and leaves. I closed my eyes and remembered the soft touch of Drayven’s hand against mine, how I’d longed to kiss his lips.
But they weren’t really his lips, were they? Just a clever disguise.
