Page 62 of Matched to the Alien King
Rather than do all this hemming and hawing, I could’ve been there by now, so before I had a chance to change my mind, I pushed the boat back into the snake-infested water. As soon as I saw one of those bitey fuckers slithering too close, I hopped in.
Every third row of the oar, I looked back at the beach.
Still empty. Wherewashe?
Worry for him surged me to the cliffside even faster, and I was there within minutes. A dirt trail led up a gently sloping incline that wound around the cliff, which was good since I didn’t want to scale a sheer rock wall.
One scaled wall was enough for today, thanks.
By the time I made it to the top, I was huffing and puffing, but it was so worth it. The view from up here took my breath away. The sparkling sea, painted with the swirling colors of the sunset, stretched outward to the curve of the planet where water melted into sky.
Other than this single cliff, there wasn’t a natural rock formation in sight, despite what Lieutenant Avery insisted. Depending on who you asked, this planet looked very different.
How though? How could it be both a rocky planet and a beachy/jungle island planet at the same time?
To my right lay stone ruins of an ancient-looking building. Part of it had been devoured by the jungle with tree roots and vines twisting through the walls and what was left of the ceiling.
Jutting out from the top of it stood the pulsing beacon. A cobblestone walkway lined with high, arched columns led to a short set of stairs and a stone door that leaned precariously to the left.
And behind me lay the beach. Still empty.
My stomach clenched at what that could mean. Call it woman’s intuition or whatever, but I sensed something was wrong. With Maxx…but maybe here too.
I drew my daggers, forced a breath, and hurried down the cobblestone path to the door. There was no way I could lift the huge slab of stone out of my way, so I crawled underneath it.
When I stood upright within the ruins, I jerked to a stop. Blinked. Rebooted my brain, but what I saw still didn’t compute.
This was my living room on Earth. Minus the jungle vines and the crumbling walls and ceiling, but this was it.
Exactlyit, right down to the scruffy gray couch parked in front of the blank TV with the violet accent wall behind it. The glass mosaic Earth Space Fleet coasters on the coffee table. The fancy hurricane candle holders on the fireplace mantel, now with tree roots shoving through it, that my mom got me for a wedding present. All of the pictures of Lucy…
Here. On planet Klio-3.
A sound came out of me that I’d never made before, a combo of a screech and a hiss and a wail, before I swallowed it back down. Quickly, I rubbed my sleeves across my face and then saw that I wasn’t alone.
My brain had skipped over her sitting on the couch because I couldn’t accept it. Couldn’t believe it.
“Rain.” I said it like a guttural accusation, the bitter taste of her name making me gag.
My knuckles cracked when I tightened my grip on my daggers.
She had already turned to look at me from the couch, her silky blonde hair stained with the sky’s colors seeping in from the giant hole in the ceiling. Her blue eyes shone brightly with unshed tears.
“Nera,” she said gently, “we have much to discuss.”
