Chapter Five
Blinking my eyes open, I rolled over to find I was alone in the bed. The window revealed it was still raining and dark outside, and I sat up, stretching before throwing back the sheets. I’d slept like a baby, without any hint of a dream. I ran my fingers through my hair and pulled it over my shoulder before making my way out of the room where I found Betty sitting on the lounge watching television.
“Good morning, sleeping beauty,” she said with a warm grin.
“What time is it?” I asked.
“Almost lunch. You obviously needed the sleep.”
“Where’s Reece?” I asked.
“He insisted on helping me with a few jobs, so he’s out tending to some of the animals.”
“In the rain?”
“I told him he was crazy, but he insisted. Can I get you something to eat?” she asked.
“Yes, thank you.”
She rose from the couch and made her way into the kitchen. “Egg on toast?”
“Sounds perfect.”
“Looks like you won’t be getting very far today, so I think I’ll put a roast pork on for tonight,” she said. “Can’t say I’m not a little grateful for the bad weather. It’s nice to have some company.
“Roast pork sounds delicious,” I replied.
“If you were stuck in Skywatchers, I bet it’s been a long time since you’ve had a home-cooked meal, so I intend on spoiling you for as long as I have you here,” she said.
I flinched at the word Skywatchers, but she didn’t appear to notice.
The front door burst open, making us both jump. My hand automatically went to where my belt should’ve been, but all I found was the bottom of my shirt. Reece stood in the doorway, dripping wet.
“Great weather for ducks,” he said.
“Not for people,” Betty said.
“Or aliens,” he replied.
I swallowed hard at the word alien. I’d been trained to react with anger and disgust. Would I ever shake the reaction my body made when it heard the ‘A’ word?
Betty laughed. “Or aliens. Ky, pass him a towel, please. I put one on the end of the chair there.”
I grabbed the towel she gestured to and unfolded it, handing it to a soaking Reece. His damp t-shirt clung to his muscular body, leaving nothing to the imagination. I swallowed again for a whole different reason.
“Thank you,” he said.
I realised I was staring and tore my eyes from his physique, making the mistake of looking directly into his blue eyes. Betty had said aliens and humans could be together, that we were pretty much the same species. I mentally shook the thought from my mind. What was getting into me? This boy had lied to me and tricked me. I was with him to find my brother. That was all.
Turning my gaze from Reece, I sat at the small table as Betty placed a plate with toast and eggs down. As they spoke about the animals, I focused on my meal, enjoying every bite.
When I finished, Betty took my plate away, and Reece sat at the table across from me.
“I hope you don’t mind, but we aren’t travelling anywhere in this weather,” he said.
“As long as Betty is happy to have us,” I said.
“Of course, sweetheart, for as long as you need,” she said.
Betty sat beside Reece. “Have you told Ky all about your planet?” She beamed.
“I don’t think Ky wants to hear about my planet,” he said.
Did I? Was it wrong I hadn’t even asked about where he’d come from? I hadn’t even asked its name, or what it was like.
“Rubbish. I’m sure she’d love to hear all about it. Wouldn’t you, Ky?” she said.
I gave her a smile. “Of course.”
Reece’s eyes widened, checking if I was sure, and I nodded in reply.
“Okay, well, my planet is called Terra Sol. Much like Earth, we’re fortunate to be the perfect distance away from the sun to keep from roasting to death or freezing to death. It has the perfect conditions for life, and it’s where my people, the Solan’s live. My planet has much more water than your own, with much less land, but we’ve learned ways to use the water for power, and to desalinate for drinking water. Where your world relies on so much industry to run, ours is self-sufficient.”
“So why come to Earth?” I asked.
“They invited us under the pretence of helping heal the Earth from everything it had endured. But, as you know, it was a rouse to slaughter us,” he said.
“But why?” I asked.
“Your brother will explain it much better than me,” he said.
“If you ask me, big corporations would lose too much money if we ran the same way as Terra Sol,” Betty said. “Imagine if they weren’t making their millions from mines and destroying the planet?”
“Terra Sol sounds like it’s perfect,” I said.
“It has its challenges and issues. But no one is poor or rich. Everyone is equal and has equal chances.”
“So why did you leave?” I asked.
The sadness creeping into Reece’s eyes made me wish I hadn’t asked.
“I better go put the roast on if we’re going to have it for dinner.” Betty rose from her chair. “Can you help me with the vegetables, Ky?”
I looked to Reece, who stared at the front door.
“Yeah, of course,” I replied, following Betty into the kitchen.
“I might go check on the cows now the rain’s settled down,” Reece said before leaving.
“Don’t mind him,” Betty said. “He carries a lot of guilt around, coming here and losing his family. Especially his sister.”
Guilt clutched at my stomach as Betty set me up to cut up carrots. He’d mentioned his family had died during the invasion. At the time, I’d assumed they’d been killed by aliens, not humans. At least I knew he hadn’t lied, even if he hadn’t stipulated the circumstances.
Betty and I had finished prepping the vegetables and had made our way to the couch to have a cup of tea when Reece returned. His shirt was damp but not dripping wet like it had been earlier.
“How were the cows?” asked Betty.
“They’re fine. I went for a bit of a walk. The rain has almost let up, so Ky and I’ll head off early tomorrow morning.”
He didn’t make eye contact with me as he spoke.
“I might go take a shower,” he said.
“Dinner will be almost ready when you come out,” Betty said, getting up from the couch.
Reece’s eyes found mine briefly before he headed towards the bathroom.
Stomach aching from eating too much pork roast, I climbed into bed, letting my belly settle. Reece had been quiet as we ate, only answering the few questions Betty asked him. Out of the corner of my eye, I caught sight of him entering the room and turned to face him.
“I might sleep on the couch,” he said.
My throat tightened. “I really don’t mind sharing the bed. Did I snore last night or something?”
He gave me the smallest of smiles. “No, you were fine. Just thought we’d be stuck together all day on a motorbike tomorrow, so you might need your space.”
“Bullcrap.”
“What?” His eyes widened.
“That’s bullcrap. Why are you really avoiding me?”
“I’m not.”
“Bullcrap.”
“Stop saying bullcrap.”
“Well, tell me. Is it because I asked why you came here? If you don’t want to talk about it, that’s fine. But don’t spend the next few days being weird and awkward because of it.”
“So it’s okay for you to ignore me and be weird but not okay for me?”
“Exactly.” I crossed my arms.
“Well, that’s not fair.”
“How old are you? Twelve?”
He smiled. I’d won.
“Just don’t hug me in my sleep,” he said as he climbed onto the bed.
“I’ll do my best, Ricko.”
“Ouch.”
“You asked for it.”
“N
ight, Ky.”
“Night, Reece.”
The sensation of someone poking my arm woke me, and I groaned, rolling over.
“Ky, we need to get going,” Reece said.
I moaned, rubbing my eyes and willing them to open. Reece leaned over me a little too close.
“Get out of my face,” I said.
“Aren’t you a sweetheart in the mornings? We need to get moving. I want to be well on our way before the sun comes up. Just in case,” he said.
I crawled out of bed and made my way to the bathroom where a warm shower helped wake me up and wash away some of my bad mood. A pile of clothes had been left beside the door when I climbed out, and I pulled on the jeans and navy tank top before plaiting my hair.
In the kitchen, Betty had made eggs on toast, and I ate them as Reece fussed around packing a backpack.
“Betty had a couple of things in a cupboard you might be able to wear,” Reece said. “And she’s given us more food and water.”
“Thank you, Betty,” I said as I finished my breakfast and took my plate and cutlery to the sink. “Do you want me to wash these?”
“No, you two better get going.”
“Thank you for everything,” Reece said, wrapping Betty in a tight hug.
“My pleasure, sweetheart. You know there’s always room here for you. You too, Ky.”
“Thank you,” I said as she moved from Reece to me for a hug.
“And Ky, promise me you’ll try to forgive yourself,” she said.
“I’ll try,” I replied.
Betty followed us out and stood on the top step as Reece lead me towards a shed not too far away from the house. The rain had stopped, but the moon still hung in the sky.
“What time is it?” I asked him.
“Four am,” he replied.
“No wonder I was horrible when you woke me.”
He pulled open the door of the tin shed and inside was a bench cluttered with tools and other bits and pieces. A motorbike was parked in the center, and other mechanical parts lined the side wall.
Reece wheeled out the motorbike and passed me a black helmet. Watching him pull on the straps and slide on his own helmet, I copied him and watched as he buckled his up.
“Here’s a jacket, too.” He reached behind him before passing me a black leather jacket.
I slid in my arm. The sleeves hid my hands, but at least I’d be warm, and my limbs might stay attached if we had an accident.
“I have no idea how to do this up,” I said, holding onto my helmet straps.
He stepped towards me, and I lifted my chin while he buckled it.
“Tighter,” I said.
He pulled it tighter.
“Tighter.”
“If I do it any tighter, you’ll have no blood circulation to your head,” he said. “You’re no good to me if you pass out.”
“I just don’t want it to fall off if we crash,” I said, nerves swirling in my stomach.
“We aren’t going to crash.”
“No one thinks they’re going to crash. They just do. And then they’re dead, and all of this was for nothing.”
“You’ll be fine. Just hold on tight.” He lifted his leg over the motorbike and settled into his seat. “You coming?”
I hesitated for a moment before taking a deep breath and swinging my leg over the seat behind him. Wriggling back, I tried to put as much room between us as possible.
“I thought you didn’t want to fall off,” he said.
“I don’t.”
“Well, as much as it disgusts you, you need to wrap your arms around my waist.”
I shuffled my butt closer to him and did as he instructed, my heart beating faster.
He started the bike with a rumble, my stomach churning as he did, and he waved to where Betty still stood in the doorway. I gave her a little wave, not wanting to be caught off guard, and Reece revved the bike.
He drove us down a dirt driveway, taking it easy until he hit the bitumen road, then sped up, forcing me to clutch him tighter. Cold air rushed around my face, sending my heart into a frenzy. It was both frightening and exhilarating at the same time as my mind went from fear of crashing to enjoying the freedom of it then back again.
We rode until the sun began to rise, casting shadows across the bitumen and smudging oranges and pinks across the sky. My legs and butt ached by the time Reece pulled over at a small gas station, and I found it difficult to climb off the bike, my stiffened leg’s protesting the movement and weight of my body.
“How are you feeling?” Reece asked as he pulled off his helmet.
“Like I’ve been run over by a truck… five times,” I replied.
I lifted my chin for him to unbuckle my helmet and slid it off. Reece hung them off his bike, and I stretched my neck from side to side.
“I’m going to fuel up. You should probably stretch your legs. I want to have a good run until lunch,” said Reece.
“I might find the little girls’ room,” I said, trying to shake off the numbness in my butt.
Following the female toilet signs around the corner of the building, I made my way into the brick building. There were only two stalls, and one was taken, so I went inside, holding my breath to avoid taking in any unwanted smells, and went about my business.
The toilet beside me flushed, and I waited a moment later until I was sure my neighbour had left. After flushing, I walked out to find a woman leaning against the brick wall beside the sink. She wore a tight black tank top and long black pants, her light brown hair tied back in a ponytail as though she’d walked straight out of Skywatchers. The thought sent a shiver down my spine.
I gave her a tight smile and washed my hands.
“Nice ride you’ve got,” she said.
Looking around, I realised she could only be talking to me. “Sorry?”
“The bike. It’s pretty old, right? Sounds like bike’s used to sound.”
“Guess so. Not much into bikes myself,” I replied.
“Then what brings you on the back of one all the way out here?” she asked.
I dried my hands on my pants and started to the door, an uneasy feeling settling in my stomach.
“Is the guy you’re with your boyfriend?” she asked.
“I better get going. He’ll be waiting.” I stepped through the doorway, quickening my pace towards the front of the building.
Looking behind me, I couldn’t spot the woman, and I hoped she wouldn’t follow me.
Chewing on my already short nails, I waited by the bike while Reece finished paying for the fuel. He returned with a paper bag.
“Got us a snack. Hope you like spring rolls,” he said.
My eyes darted to the side of the building. “I can’t remember the last time I had one. Thanks.”
“Are you okay? You seem weird. Weirder than normal,” he said.
“Just had a strange conversation with a lady in the bathroom.”
“Strange how?”
“She was asking lots of questions. About your bike. If you’re my boyfriend.”
“And what’d you tell her?” he asked.
“Nothing. I hightailed it out of there.”
“Maybe she was keen on you?” he said.
“What?”
“Maybe she was trying to hit on you. Flirt. You know, what normal people do when they find someone attractive.”
I looked back towards the side of the building. Was I over reacting?
“If it was some girl coming onto you, we best eat up and get back on the road. I don’t need to fight off hunters and women. Who knew you’d be such hard work?” He laughed.
His words eased the clenching of my stomach, and the spring roll disappeared in a few bites. Reece passed me a cola to wash it down.
“Ready to hit the road again?” he asked. “Unless, you want to go get that chick’s number?”
“Okay, stop it.”
The lady walked into the roadhouse, her eyes on us.
“That’s her.” I n
odded in the direction of the woman.
Reece’s expression turned grave. “Maybe we should get going. Just in case.”
He helped me with my helmet, and we climbed back onto the bike. My legs ached in protest, but the lady watching us through the window forced me to ignore them.
“I’m going to leave back the way we came. We’ll backtrack another way,” Reece said as he turned on the bike.
The woman watched as we pulled out of the roadhouse and back onto the highway.
A chill raced down my spine, but the wind chased it away as we made our way back the way we’d come. Further down the road, Reece turned off onto a side road and began backtracking towards my brother.
Chapter Six
We rode through the day until the sun’s heat beaming down on us was too much, even with the wind racing over us. Reece pulled off the highway onto a dirt road, and we bounced further along it, dust kicking up behind us, until he found a small clearing in the bush and pulled over.
I swung my leg over the bike and lifted my chin for him to undo the buckle.
“You know you’re going to have to learn to do this yourself, right?” he said.
I slid the helmet from my head. “Once you get me to Tyson, I’m hoping I never have to climb onto one of these again. My butt hurts, my legs are aching, and my neck is sick of holding up this stupid helmet. It makes me look like I have a bowling ball for a head.”
He laughed, shaking his head. “Pass me the backpack.”
I slid it from my shoulders and lobbed it to him. He proceeded to pull out a blanket to throw over the ground, our water bottles, and some sandwiches Betty had prepared for us.
“Lunch is served.” He gestured towards the blanket.
I rolled my eyes as I fake curtsied and sat cross-legged before unwrapping my sandwich. We ate in silence, enjoying the hum of insects and the gentle breeze cooling my bare arms.
“How are you feeling about seeing your brother?” Reece asked, wiping crumbs from his face.
“Honestly? Scared to death,” I replied, swallowing my last bite.
“Scared? What of?”
“Him hating me for what I’ve done.”
“If he hated you, he wouldn’t have sent me to rescue you. He loves you and wanted to save you from the Skywatchers. Doesn’t that prove he doesn’t hate you?”
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