Return of the Matka-Zem (The Sorain Chronicles)

by Chanley, Deborah

  It was both a curse and a blessing that Donna talked non-stop, for Jane could barely get a word in edgewise. She learned that the blonde woman was fifth generation San Franciscan and she loved her city beyond a doubt. The woman had gone to Oregon to visit friends but could not wait to feel the concrete under her feet again. Donna was quite the storyteller and Jane enjoyed the tales of her adventures. As she listened to the woman, she thought of her own recent adventures. She had dreamt for years about being free, being able to experience the world—not running for her life from horrible monsters. She hated to admit it, but she actually missed the tranquility of the compound.

  The remaining ten-hour bus trip sped by while the two girls conversed. With polite evasion, Jane was able to avoid Donna's multitude of questions as the woman tried to pry into her life. It was nice to talk with another woman close to her age about nothing important. When the vehicle pulled into the San Francisco station, she gathered her pack and said goodbye to her traveling companion.

  ***

  "Do you have a hotel room?" Donna followed Jane out of the bus terminal. For some reason she had been drawn to the tall, strange girl sitting at the back of the bus. There had been plenty of seats available, but when she spied the head of red hair, she made a beeline towards it. Maybe it was the sadness on Jane's flawless face or the way she stood out from the other passengers that made her sit next to the girl. At first, the tall girl needed coaxing to talk, but after some time she began to relax. Yet, there were underlying emotions that Donna could not quite place. For some irrational reason, she had to help the girl. Jane seemed to NEED her and Donna needed to be needed. Whatever the reason, her maternal instincts overruled her common sense.

  "I don't need a hotel," Jane replied when they stopped at the curb. "I'm going to do my business, then leave for San Diego as soon as possible."

  "My dear girl, it's Saturday evening. Nothing important is open and won't be until Monday morning." She took hold of the girl's arm and waved for a cab. "You're coming home with me." Normally, she would not have offered a stranger a place to stay at her apartment, but the girl seemed so innocent and out of touch with the world. Morally, she could not leave the tall girl alone in the city. It was plain to see that the red haired girl was country born, and with her looks, would be victimized within a matter of hours.

  Besides, Donna's curiosity was peeked to its highest point in years. She had been bored and depressed for a long time. Even the trip to visit friends had not cured her. However, the presence of the girl seemed to lift the darkness around her and give her a sense of purpose. Having the girl at her home for a night or two might be just be the thing she needed to get out of her funk.

  ***

  "I am?" Jane asked when Donna shoved her into the waiting taxi. She was not sure staying with her newfound friend was a good idea. If one of those creatures hurt the talkative woman, she could never forgive herself. "Maybe I should stay somewhere else?"

  "Nonsense, you can't get a room around here for under $400 a night, unless it's a dump," Donna replied when she squeezed in next to her. Jane's friend leaned forwards to tell the driver the address then plopped back to enjoy the ride. "And you certainly don't want to sleep in those beds, if you get my drift."

  "Yes, I do." Jane had read enough to understand her meaning. As they traveled towards Donna's home, she peered out the window at the city and marveled at the height of the skyscrapers. Once again, she was surprised how humans lived in such unnatural conditions. Deep inside her subconscious, she realized that life on Earth was very different from her own world. Unlike Earth, her people lived in harmony, where all life forces are symbiotic with each other. She wondered why she had to leave her own world, if it was as peaceful as she recalled. Maybe something was wrong with the symbiotic relationship in some way. Moreover, what was her role in the possible conflict? Her thoughts returned once again to the man with the yellow eyes. Did she really hear his smooth voice in her mind? To her shock, she heard a faint, "Yes."

  "Why the sad face?" Donna's question broke into her thoughts.

  "I was thinking of a sick friend," She really did not want to go into detail, but the look on Donna's face was too inquisitive for Jane to ignore the question. "He had an accident and is in a coma."

  "I'm sorry to hear that." Donna only hesitated for a moment before curiosity propelled her on. "What happened?"

  "He fell off a horse." She lied, not wanting to tell her the lie she told the hospital. That would only bring more questions from the woman. The thought of Thane falling off a horse brought a slight smile to her lips. She could not picture the Mlinzi falling off anything, much less getting hurt from the fall. Her heart flipped inside her chest as she pictured the man and realized that she liked him. Faint memories of her antagonizing Thane as a child tickled her mind, and she wondered if she was infatuated with the guard before she left her home world.

  "That's why I believe in keeping my feet firmly on concrete." Donna explained, trying to make light of the subject. "So, you're a country girl, huh? Is this your first time in the city?"

  "Yes." As part of her political training, the Keeper had taught her the simplest answer was always the best approach with an inquisitive mind like Donna's.

  "Great!" The blonde woman exclaimed, "We have tonight and all day Sunday for me to show you around my city."

  "Well, I am a little tired from the bus ride." She could imagine the Keeper's sour face at the thought of her roaming around the strange city. The smartest thing she could do was stay inside the apartment and wait until the bank opened for business.

  "Don't be ridiculous!" Donna punched her shoulder. "You can't come to San Francisco and not see anything. You have to visit the wharf, at least."

  "Why is the wharf so important to see?" She could not remember reading much about San Francisco, and had no clue what the woman was talking about.

  "Where have you been living, girl?" Donna asked with an irritated chuckle. "In some hippy commune?"

  "No." She gave an uneasy laugh at how close her new friend had hit the mark. When she did not explain farther, Donna puffed in frustration and punched her shoulder again.

  "Well, you're going sightseeing whether you like it or not." Donna's jaws were tight and her eyes were squinted in stubbornness. Jane could not get out of it.

  Donna's apartment was located above a local herb shop in China Town. It was a quaint studio apartment with hard wood floors and a sleeping loft accessible by ladder. The small kitchen was tucked away in a corner, and the tiny bathroom was so small that you had to step into the tub to close the door. The apartment was lit brightly, with the main window opening to a fire escape that substituted for a balcony. Although her bedroom suite at the compound was double the size, she felt more comfortable in the little apartment.

  "Well, it's not much, but its home." Donna dropped her duffle bag by the worn, yellow sofa. Her friend strolled over to the refrigerator and wrinkled her nose at its emptiness. "Let's get something to eat." Before she could form a refusal, Donna grasped her hand and hauled her out the door.

  The streets were still crowded, with throngs of people mingling through the Chinese shops. Wet clothes hung from ropes strung between the buildings, dripping water on their heads. As she glanced around to admire the pagoda style buildings, Donna explained about their history.

  "Outside of Asia, San Francisco has the largest Asian population in the world!" Donna proudly exclaimed as they walked down old Chinatown Lane. They stopped for dinner at one of the restaurants that offered Dim Sum, where carts of different appetizer-type concoctions came by their table. Although, Donna explained many of the dishes, Jane was not sure what to make of the exotic food. Some morsels she liked, but others she only had to sniff before quickly placing them back onto her plate. By the time they ate their meal and browsed the nearby shops, the two girls were both tired and called it a night.

  At first, she refused Donna's offer to take a bath, but her friend was insistent and tossed her a long slee
p-shirt. It felt good to be under the hot water, as it poured over her dirty hair. She quickly scrubbed the matted mess before attacking the rest of her with a firm sponge. The heat relaxed her tired muscles and, although it felt wonderful, she felt guilty to use so much water. With great reluctance, she dried and donned the shirt that came just to mid-thigh. As she stepped out of the bathroom, she heard the news from the TV and saw that the sofa had been expanded into a bed.

  "Well, there you go." Donna said, patting the firm mattress, "I know it doesn't look like much, but it's comfortable."

  "Thank you for all your help, Donna," Jane replied as she strolled towards the bed. She glanced at the tiny television as she passed . . . then froze. She gasped in horror when she recognized Sam's and Helen's motorhome with its Nashville, Tennessee bumper sticker. She hurriedly squatted by the TV to turn up the volume. Gripping the sides of the tiny box Jane stared at the picture.

  "Breaking news from Vancouver, Canada, where an elderly couple was brutally murdered while they were camping in Golden Ears Park." The crime scene video feed played behind the female news correspondent. Jane gasped in horror when she saw the blood-stained windows in the back of the RV. "At first it was thought that the Tennessee couple was mauled by a pack of wild animals while they were sleeping. But what we just learned from some witnesses," the newswoman glanced at the RV before facing the camera again, "is that it appears the elderly couple were attacked by something described as being like dinosaurs." The female news reporter said all this in a professional voice, but it was plain to see by her stiff features she didn't believe the reports. She turned to face a middle-aged man to question him.

  A loud buzzing deafened Jane and bile filled her mouth as an anguished moan escaped her trembling lips. Jane buried her face in her hands as huge sobs rose in her throat as she rocked in agony.

  Donna hurriedly turned off the TV and wrapped her into her arms.

  "I killed them." Guilt racked Jane's body as she held back a sob and fought to control her tears. "Inga killed them because she was looking for me. It's me they were after." She grabbed Donna by her shirt and pulled the woman within inches of her face. "She will kill you too, Donna, for harboring me."

  "Nonsense, Jane," Donna's voice was an octave higher and she gave an unsteady laugh, appearing unnerved by Jane's hysterics. She pulled out of her grasp and went to the kitchen. She came back with a drink for both of them. When she returned, she said, "No one is after you, and I'm just a nobody, not worth the effort."

  Donna sat on the floor next to her and handed her a full glass of brown liquid. "Here, drink this and tell me all about it."

  "You won't believe it." Jane brought the glass to her lips. Without thinking, she took a huge gulp of the liquid and quickly lost her breath. Slamming her hand to her chest, she coughed on the fiery liquor.

  "Why don't you try me?" Jane saw Donna try to suppress a giggle while she patted her on the back. "I'll keep an open mind, I promise."

  "Jane is not my name. In fact, I really don't know my name." She peered into Donna's sapphire eyes to see her reaction.

  "I kind of figured that." Donna smiled kindly at her. "No one really has the name Jane Doe, silly girl. But never mind, keep going."

  "I have no memory of my past." She did not want to tell Donna she was an alien, so she tried to explain her situation simply. "For the past ten years I've been imprisoned in the Canadian wilderness by a woman I called the Keeper, because she wouldn't tell me her name. When the old woman died, these horrible creatures started chasing me. There was this man, who helped me escape, but the monsters wounded him and I had to leave him in a hospital." When she saw the disbelief in her new friend's eyes, she stiffened her spine. "Sam and Helen gave me a ride to Vancouver where I boarded the bus." She looked away and took another, much smaller drink of the auburn liquid. "I know you don't believe me, but I'm telling the truth."

  "Well, it is hard to fathom that monsters are killing people to find you, Jane," Donna answered in a gentle tone, "But I believe that you believe it." Donna patted her on the back again then hauled her to her feet. "Now get some rest. I'm hopping in the shower and getting some Zs too. We have a busy day ahead."

  "Thank you."

  Jane crawled into bed and stared at the ceiling, listening to Donna softly hum in the shower. Inga had followed her to the elderly couple and killed them in a horrid way. She was sure they'd told Inga all they knew of her, and she did not blame them. She would have done the same. It was just a matter of time before the cook and her pets arrived at the apartment. She had to find a way to convince Donna to leave her beloved city in order to stay alive. However, how to get the talkative woman to believe her without using her Gift to show her was another question.

  "How can I make her understand she is in danger?" Jane whispered to the dark room. As her eyelids grew heavy, she still had no answers.

  ***

  Inga growled deep in her throat, a feeling of unease settling over her as she looked out at San Francisco. The city was larger than she had hoped, and finding the princess's scent would be difficult. Armed with the information from the elderly couple, she located the bus the princess had ridden and the stops it made along the way. The Glauc-tuko picked up the princess's scent at its last stop in a small mountain town. By their reaction, they were not far behind their prey.

  Inga leisurely strolled to the truck she acquired to transport the Glauc-tuko during the day and pulled out a map of the city. It was getting too light to start the search, and she could feel fatigue wearing her down. She placed a finger on a wooded area in the middle of the city called "Golden Gate Park" and smiled. That would provide cover for her to rest, and when darkness fell, she could release the Glauc-tuko.

  ***

  A mixture of spices and smog drifted into the small apartment through the half-opened window to assault Jane's nose. With a yawn, she rolled onto her back and tried to return to a peaceful dream. The sounds of the city prevented her from doing so and she sluggishly swung her legs over the edge of the bed. With a deep sigh, she ran her hands over her face. After retrieving the clean clothes from her backpack, she sluggishly made her way into the tiny bathroom. She splashed her face with ice-cold water to wake her sleep-fogged mind. With her face still dripping, she peered into the little mirror above the sink.

  "I'm going to make them pay." Although her voice was monotone, her eyes darkened with hatred. "Somehow, some day, I will make Inga pay for what she did." She visualized the loving elderly couple and the caretakers at the compound. "I promise." A spark of power flared inside her abdomen. As the Gift fed on her hate, the power intensified and she felt her mind cloud with a swirling mist of loathing and, surprisingly, ecstasy. She clenched the sink as she tried to avoid succumbing to its intoxication. Beyond the mist, she felt a presence of an entity, slumbering in a pit of blackness. The rhythm of its heartbeat pounded in her head as she searched for a way out of the mist.

  "Don't leave me, Princess!" A faint voice echoed in her mind.

  Whimpering in relief when she spied glowing, yellow eyes floating in the mist, she clenched at the outstretched hand that materialized in front of her.

  "Thane!" Jane heard herself speak the Mlinzi's name. A dizzying spinning sensation slammed into her subconscious, and moments later, she opened her eyes to find herself sitting on the toilet. Rubbing a hand over her face, she drew in a deep breath to control the fear that raced through her.

  "What in the hell just happened?" Although she spoke the words, Jane knew she'd lost control of her Gift. If it had not been for the Mlinzi, she would not have found her way back to reality. She was not sure how he managed to save her, but she was thankful he had the ability to enter her mind. Rising shakily to her feet, she splashed more cold water on her face and left the bathroom.

  "Ah, you're finally awake." Donna entered the apartment just as Jane opened the bathroom door. She had a shopping bag in her hand, which she sat on the tiny, round kitchen table. She looked at Jane and smiled. "You wer
e dead to the world."

  "I guess I needed the rest," Jane said, as she watched Donna remove the items from the bag and put them away in the appropriate cabinets.

  "Good, you're going to need your energy. We have lots to see." Donna smiled brightly at her. "A long romp around the city will be good for you." Jane was about to refuse when her friends bubbly smile vanished. Jane knew she could not get out of going, which Donna confirmed by saying, "You're going sightseeing even if I have to drag you."

  "I don't think you could drag me anywhere." With her extensive battle training, she was confident she could easily subdue the smaller woman if she'd been so inclined. The desire to experience a life as a regular girl, even for a tiny bit, overruled her common sense. "But, against my better judgment, I'll go peacefully."

  "Great!" Donna busted out in excitement, and skipped over towards her. She laced her arm through Jane's and gave her a slight tug towards the door. "Let's go eat."

  After they had a light meal at one of the local restaurants, the two girls browsed around China Town for a few hours. Jane enjoyed the odd souvenirs that cluttered the shops along the crowded streets, but refrained from purchasing unnecessary items. As they strolled through the streets, she pushed any unpleasant thoughts out of her mind. She wanted to enjoy the day, savor her freedom, and have fun for the first time in her life.

  "You would look beautiful in this." Donna held up an emerald geisha dress for her to see. She made a show of eyeing the length of Jane's body and made a face before she returned the garment to the rack. "You're too tall though."

  "But you would like great in it, Donna." Jane placed a hand on Donna's shoulder and guided her out of the store. "Show me more of your city."

  "Pay close attention to the grip-man," Donna laughed as she hoped into the trolley car.

  "Who?" Not sure who she was talking about, Jane scanned the trolley car.