by Luna Athena
“Dance, Tessa,” said Rowan.
“I am,” she said.
“Barely,” he said. “Just relax and dance.”
If Rowan was faking this dance, he didn’t look half bad. He actually danced fairly well. Tessa tried to let go of all her thoughts. She tried to feel the moody goth music and just dance.
“You’re very pretty,” said Rowan.
It was the fifth time now that he’d said this. But Tessa brightened despite herself. How could a simple comment from Rowan do that to her?
“Do you see him?” Asked Rowan.
Tessa’s eyes moved around the dance floor. There was a lot of people, and a lot of dark flashing lights. Faces kept passing in front of her gaze. But none of them were Skull Carver.
“No, I don’t see him,” said Tessa.
“Just keep trying,” said Rowan. “He’s here. I know it.”
The current song ended. The band on the stage began to play a slower tune. The bass was deep and steady. Again came that ethereal voice. It was the same voice that Tessa had heard when they’d entered the club.
While some couples left the dance floor, those that remained all moved in closer. Bodies moved up against bodies. Hands joined hands. Arms went around necks and waists.
Rowan took Tessa’s hand, but only so he could lead her off the dance floor.
“No,” said Tessa. “We can see everything better from here.”
Tessa then pulled Rowan to her, and he came in easily. His big hands slipped around her waist. Tessa’s hands slipped up around his neck. She was back in his arms again. She was home.
Tessa shivered. Why did being in Rowan’s arms feel so much like home? It wasn’t, after all, any home she’d ever been to. And yet there it was, all the same, being in Rowan’s arms was home.
Why couldn’t it just stay this way? Why did this have to be such a hopeless situation?
Tessa leaned her cheek against Rowan’s muscular chest. She imagined them both studying pre-med at a university at some small town far, far from here.
She imagined them dating the way ordinary people dated. And planning out their futures as doctors. Why was it so impossible?
Tessa knew she was torturing herself with such a dream. But for the life of her, she didn’t know how to turn it off. She wanted it so bad. Why did Rowan have to be so different, so wrong for her?
Rowan’s hands slid down just slightly, so the tips of his fingers now went below the waist. Oh, Rowan, Tessa wanted to sigh. But instead, Tessa bit her tongue.
Then with her ear leaning against Rowan’s chest, Tessa realized she could hear Rowan’s heart thundering within him. He had such a strong heartbeat. Was it beating so hard because of Tessa? Did she do that to Rowan?
Please let it be true, Tessa thought.
Then Tessa asked herself, would Rowan really put that bizarre device back on her head and then take away all her personal memories? Even her memory of him?
For Tessa, tonight wouldn’t even be a memory at all, just forgotten as if it had never happened. It felt so wrong. Could Rowan really do such a thing?
Tessa looked up. Rowan’s eyes were riveted on her. They were so close. Tessa’s body was up against Rowan’s as they slowly swayed along the dance floor. Tessa felt as if her whole body were melting into Rowan’s.
Was this what all those school dances Tessa had missed would have been like? Is this what prom would have been like?
“Why couldn’t we have met some other time?” Whispered Tessa. “Why did we have to meet like this?”
She spoke so softly she couldn’t even know if Rowan had heard her. But he answered her.
“In any place, at any time, I don’t deserve anything good, Tessa,” said Rowan.
“Why?” Tessa whispered. “Don’t we all deserve a chance at some happiness?”
“Not me,” said Rowan. “I couldn’t even save my parents.”
“Rowan, you were ten years old,” said Tessa.
“And now look at what I do,” he said. “I steal people’s memories.”
“Rowan, don’t,” whispered Tessa.
She wanted to tell him he was wrong. But he wasn’t.
Part of Tessa thought she should hate him for all the memories he’d stolen from people. But right here, right now, she couldn’t bring herself to do it. Suddenly, right here, right now, she found herself wanting to kiss him. Just one more time.
Rowan still stared directly down at her with his big blue eyes.
This time he made the first move. His lips came down right on top of hers. The world faded away as they began to kiss for the second time.
Please don’t let it end this time, thought Tessa. Please let it go on and on and on, forever. Something that feels this good shouldn’t ever have to end.
As if timed to their kiss, the band’s music reached a crescendo. Tessa felt as if a flower were blooming deep inside her, something rare and precious and beautiful.
But Tessa knew it could not go on. She knew it was impossible. She winced and forced her eyes open. And just as she did, she saw him. He was here!
Tessa pushed herself a little bit away from Rowan. She looked up at him.
“What is it?” Rowan said.
“Skull Carver,” Tessa said. “He’s here!”
Chapter 11
“Take it easy,” said Rowan. “I have my eyes on him now. He won’t get away.”
Adrenaline now coursed through Tessa’s veins. Skull Carver was here!
He still wore his police uniform. Only the way he carried himself it looked less like a real uniform and more like a campy cosplay prop. Somehow it made Skull Carver fit right in.
A dangerous alien was now moving within the crowd, and not a single person recognized him. How would they feel, these people Skull Carver moved past, if they knew the truth about him?
Not a morning had gone by recently, where people hadn’t tuned into the news to see if yet another person had had their skulls carved open with their brains gone. And here walking right among them was the person responsible, the one the media had nicknamed Skull Carver.
And worse, he wasn’t even really human, but an alien hiding behind the identity of the first person he’d killed after crashing to earth as a seed.
“Can he speak?” Whispered Tessa.
“Don’t look at him again,” said Rowan. “He might recognize us.”
“Can he speak?” Asked Tessa again.
“He doesn’t need to speak,” said Rowan. “He has mildly hypnotic eyes. It allows people to see in him whatever they want to see. In some cases to even hear what they want to hear.”
“I don’t understand,” said Tessa.
“Think back to your own encounter,” said Rowan. “Until I shouted, you were getting ready to go right to him. Why?”
“I thought he was a patrol officer,” Tessa said. “I thought he would escort me to the hospital.”
“Did he tell you that? Did he say a single word?” Asked Rowan.
“No,” said Tessa.
“He doesn’t need to speak,” said Rowan. “If anyone even approaches him, gazes in his direction, they’ll see what they want to see.”
Rowan was gradually moving Tessa toward the end of the dance floor. He was trying to get the two of them there as fast as they could without attracting attention.
Skull Carver was now with a woman that had been standing alone swaying to the music. She was speaking to him. Skull Carver just nodded his head up and down. And then like that, she was following him out of the club.
“No!” Rowan yelled.
Fortunately, the slow tune had ended, and faster music had begun to play. It had a heavy beat, drowning out Rowan’s shout.
“Come on! We have to hurry!” Rowan said.
Rowan was in such a hurry that he nearly dragged Tessa through the club. He was practically sprinting now.
They pushed through a crowd that blocked their way out of the club. Then at last they were in the corridor that had led to the dance floor.
>
Tessa and Rowan looked left and right. The corridor was empty. Skull Carver was gone!
There were only two ways out. One a back exit that must have lead to an alleyway. The other way out was the same way they’d entered, through the front of the club.
Rowan hesitated for a fraction of a second trying to decide which way to go. Then he began to pull Tessa toward the back door exit. But Tessa stopped moving and pulled Rowan back.
“What are you doing?” Yelled Rowan. “He’s going to get away.”
“Not that way,” said Tessa.
“Of course that’s the way he’ll go,” Rowan said. “It’s some back alley where he can kill her.”
“No!” Tessa said. “He’s taking her across the street. The place we were at would be perfect.”
“What are you talking about?” Said Rowan.
“The back exit door might lead to an alleyway, but there’ll be others there,” said Tessa. “Even if he went that way, he won’t kill her there. He’ll head for the alleyway across the street.”
Rowan glared at Tessa. Then he winced. He changed direction and began to run to the door that lead to the front of the club. Then they were running out the front entrance.
As soon as they hit the side of the street, Tessa and Rowan scanned the area. They almost immediately saw Skull Carver and the woman. The pair had just crossed the street.
Even as Tessa and Rowan watched, Skull Carver and the woman disappeared into the dark alleyway where Tessa and Rowan had been earlier.
Rowan and Tessa dashed across the street. A car screeched to a stop nearly hitting them.
Tessa and Rowan ignored the shouting driver. They finished crossing the street, and then quickly got alongside the wall next to the alleyway’s entrance.
Rowan pulled out his silver pistol from its holster.
Then, Rowan reached back into his coat with his free hand. He pulled out a small object about the size of a pen. He pointed it down and tapped on it. A massive light emerged from it almost as powerful as a spotlight. He kept the light pointed downward and handed it to Tessa.
“When I say go, you come in behind me. Shine the light forward. Then I’m going to try and take the shot,” said Rowan. “Do you understand?”
“Yes,” said Tessa.
Tessa’s hand was shaking. She couldn’t even hold the light steadily. She couldn’t believe how afraid she was. What if something went wrong? What if Skull Carver had already killed the woman? What if Rowan missed his shot?
“You can do this,” Said Rowan.
Tessa nodded.
“On three,” Rowan said. “One, two...”
Tessa’s heart felt as if it was about to explode in her chest.
“Three!” shouted Rowan.
And then he was turning and jumping into the black alleyway with his pistol out in front of him. Tessa moved faster than she’d ever moved before. She brought the light up and shined it down the alleyway.
Tessa couldn’t believe how much light the small pen-sized device could deliver. The entire alleyway lit up in a bright, pale light. And there was Skull Carver, standing right behind the girl.
For a fraction of a moment it felt as if time had stopped. Rowan’s gun was up and ready, but he couldn’t take the shot. The woman with Skull Carver was directly in the way. She turned away from Skull Carver. Her eyes went right to Rowan.
The woman began to scream. But even as she began to scream, from behind her, massive tentacles began to sprout from Skull Carver. The alien’s body began to expand in size, and once again, tiny tentacles began to sprout all over his head, each with small eyes.
“Don’t shoot me,” whined the woman. “Please.”
The woman couldn’t have had any idea what was happening behind her. Rowan kept his pistol pointed forward. Tessa knew that he desperately wanted to take a shot, but the woman was in his way!
But then one of Skull Carver’s massive tentacles crashed right into the woman. It swept her to the side, so that she smashed into the wall and slid down into a crumple.
Skull Carver charged at Rowan, and Rowan took his shot.
Tessa heard an explosive sound, an electrical sound, as if invisible lightening had struck right there in the alleyway.
Skull Carver suddenly looked as if an invisible fist had slammed into him, knocking him backward ten meters. He made an audible hissing sound, while his whole body began to glow in a bright orange. And then, in less than a second, his body disintegrated into ashes.
For a long moment, maybe two, Tessa and Rowan simply stood there gazing forward. Finally, Rowan lowered his pistol.
Tessa’s eyes went to the woman that lay crumpled in the alleyway. Tessa went to her at once. One side of her body was scraped up. Her head looked as if it had hit the wall hard. Tessa put her ear to the woman’s mouth.
“She’s not breathing!” Said Tessa.
Rowan was already there.
“Get out of the way,” he said.
“I know some first aid,” said Tessa. “Maybe I can revive her.”
“Just get out of the way,” said Rowan.
He nearly pushed Tessa aside. Tessa finally stood back. She shined the light on both the woman and Rowan.
Then, to Tessa’s shock, Rowan took out the same device he’d put on Tessa. It was the same device he said he would use to take her memories away.
“What are you doing?” Screamed Tessa. “She doesn’t need her memories erased. She needs help!”
Tessa grabbed Rowan’s hands to pull them away from the woman.
“Get out of the way and let me help her,” said Tessa.
Rowan’s eyes went to Tessa’s.
“Trust me,” he said. “Please.”
Tessa didn’t like it. But she let go of Rowan’s hands. He then put the device on the woman’s head. He immediately began to press some of its buttons. He then looked at some kind of small holographic readout.
“She’s got a concussion,” said Rowan. “It’s serious. It looks like there’s damaged tissue and blood leakage.”
“What?” Said Tessa.
“It’s fine,” Rowan said. “I can fix it.”
Rowan’s fingers worked furiously on the buttons of the device. His concentration was intense. He pressed one final button. He then began to watch the woman.
All at once she gasped. Her eyes flickered open.
Rowan let out a sigh of relief. Then his fingers immediately went back to the buttons, and he typed in a simple sequence.
“No,” said Tessa.
But it was too late. The woman’s eyes had shut. She’d fallen asleep.
“What did you just do?” Tessa said. “Rowan, what did you do?”
Rowan looked at Tessa. There eyes locked.
“You just took her memories away, just like that?” Tessa said.
Tessa shook her head. She could feel her eyes watering.
“You’re a monster,” Tessa said. “A horrible monster. With just a few taps of your fingers, you just stole all her memories.”
Rowan met Tessa’s gaze full on.
“That’s what I do, Tessa,” he said. “Don’t you understand. That’s who I am?”
Tessa tried to choke back her tears. She hated Rowan. She hated him more than she hated even Skull Carver.
“That’s what I tried to tell you on the dance floor,” Rowan said. “I’m not a good person. I’m not. This is what I’ve done, twelve times before. Just taken a person’s memories away, just like that.”
“It’s not you, Rowan,” Tessa said. “It’s not.”
Rowan looked up, his eyes looked so sad.
“What do you know about who I am, Tessa?” He said. “What do you know about me at all?”
Rowan looked down at the woman.
“Anyway, her memories are still intact,” Rowan said. “I just made her fall asleep for now.”
Tessa let out a sigh of relief.
“I knew you wouldn’t do it,” Tessa said.
“You’re wrong about
that,” said Rowan. “I would have done it. Only this woman didn’t really see anything. But you, Tessa, have seen a lot. And just like you said, I am a monster.”
“Rowan,” Tessa whispered.
Rowan turned away from her. He began to examine the woman’s arms and legs.
“I don’t think she’s broken any bones,” said Rowan. “Come on. Help me get her up. We’ll take her to the hospital.”
“We’re going to the hospital?” Tessa said.
“I promised you, didn’t I?” He said.
And suddenly all Tessa could think about was Gran. Oh, Gran, please be okay.
Chapter 12
The taxi rushed through the empty night street. In the back sat Tessa and Rowan. The woman they’d saved sat between them, still stone cold asleep.
“Your lady friend,” said the taxi driver. “Are you sure she is okay?”
“Not unless you hurry,” said Rowan. “There’s a big tip in it for you, so can we pick the speed up a little bit.”
Tessa had taken out her phone as soon as they’d gotten in the taxi. She now tried to hold it steady as she put it to her ear.
Maria, the night nurse, answered the phone at the nurse’s station.
“Maria, how’s Gran?” Blurted out Tessa into the phone.
Rowan’s eyes were on Tessa.
“Tessa, are you okay?” Said Maria. “I was worried. I thought something happened to you.”
“How’s Gran?” Tessa said again.
“She’s okay,” said the nurse. “She woke once and called your name. Then she fell back asleep. Where are you?”
“I’m on the way. I had some problems,” said Tessa. “If Gran wakes again, tell her I’ll be there right away.”
“Will do,” said Maria. “And Tessa?”
“Yeah,” said Tessa.
“Hurry, okay?” Said Maria.
“Okay,” said Tessa, pressing the hangup button.
Tessa blinked back some tears. She looked at Rowan. Their eyes met, but neither of them said anything.
But how could she deny that Rowan had been wrong? They’d stopped Skull Carver. And the woman between them in the taxi was only alive because they had.
