Keeper

by Jessica L. Randall

  “Austin’s not sorry he went,” Kaela said. “Did you see Miriam hanging on his every word?”

  I smiled stiffly. The idea of Miriam getting too close to Austin still made me nervous. Austin and I both didn’t need to be pincushions for an alien species.

  “Lexi can’t talk,” Austin said, looking embarrassed. “She was holding Micah’s hand.”

  “That was—it was survival mode.”

  “Good one,” Kaela burst out laughing.

  “Well, I think we can all agree that our rebellious days are finished,” I said firmly. “I’m glad you guys came over. It’s nice to have a couple of normal hours, just the three of us.”

  “Is that all you wanted?” Kaela asked. “When you asked us to shower up and come over, it seemed like something was up.”

  I hadn’t been looking forward to explaining why I wanted someone with me, especially since I’d be withholding information at the very least. I had to keep my feet on the ground, literally. And after what I’d seen Micah do with the rocks, I was more freaked out than ever. “I just—I haven’t been sleeping normally. I’ve been ... sleepwalking.”

  My friends looked at each other.

  “So we’re here to keep you from running around the neighborhood naked, or committing a robbery in your sleep?” Austin asked.

  “I’m here for that.” Kaela nudged Austin. “You’re not allowed to sleep over.”

  Austin twisted his mouth up to the side, nestling his shoulders into the seat-cushions of the couch from his spot on the floor. “I miss all the good stuff. Just because I’m a guy. That’s sexism.”

  “Given your interest in watching Lexi run around the neighborhood naked I’d say it’s a good call.”

  Austin stuck his tongue out at Kaela and she nudged his shoulder with her foot.

  “Hey, so maybe it’s you whose been doing that weird crap in the neighborhood,” Kaela said, sitting up straighter.

  I pulled away from her, turning to give her my full attention. With everything else that had happened I’d forgotten what the Woman in Black had told me yesterday morning. How many people had seen something?

  “Like, what kind of crap?” I asked, trying to sound casual.

  Her eyes widened. “You don’t know? My mom told me this afternoon. Apparently, Mrs. Buchannon claims there was a really bright light blasting through the neighborhood last night. Then there’s other weird stuff, like birds flying all wonky into the windows.”

  “That sounds like something Lexi would be responsible for,” Austin said, his tone dripping with sarcasm.

  “And this dog went crazy. Ran around in circles, then right into the road. Got hit by a car.”

  I felt the color drain from my face.

  “Lexi, you okay?” Kaela asked. “I’m sorry. I know you hate stuff like that.”

  “Yeah,” I said, trying to stuff all the disturbing information down as deep as it would go. “Let’s just watch an episode of Blade Song or something.”

  “Seriously?” Austin’s eyes lit up as he scrambled to grab his laptop.

  The opening credits of Austin’s favorite show were running in seconds. I leaned my head into Kaela’s shoulder and closed my eyes. I tried to listen to the poorly translated anime instead of the thoughts in my head that were scaring me to death. I had my two best friends close by, and Mom and Cody upstairs. It all felt totally normal. I could almost believe I was safe.

  ***

  Will you meet me outside?

  My eyes opened wide, and my chest heaved in and out. How long had I been asleep? I tried to keep still, so I wouldn’t wake Kaela. My eyes darted to Austin, who was slumped against the couch. Blade Song was on episode who-knew-what.

  If I answered, could Micah hear my thoughts?

  I concentrated as hard as I could. Leave me alone.

  I waited.

  I was fairly certain I could resist his alien charms, even if he influenced my mind. I could dig into this couch and wait him out. But I was also pretty sure he had other ways of getting me to come if I refused. After all, there were thousands of reports of alien abductions, and I didn’t recall any of them saying that the alien simply asked politely and the victim obliged of her own accord.

  Maybe he’d just wait until I was alone and vulnerable.

  You’re not supposed to be able to answer back.

  I’m rebellious, remember?

  There was another pause. Will you come?

  Do I have a choice?

  This time? Yes.

  A chill went through me. There was that alien charm again. I won’t abduct you by force today, but maybe another time.

  I won’t manipulate your mind, or your emotions. I promise.

  How chivalrous.

  I’d asked my friends here so this wouldn’t happen. And yet here I was, considering walking out into the night to meet him. It was like if a stalker had hidden under the porch texting death threats and finally just sent a nice invitation and the stalkee was like, sure, let’s hang out.

  I had to admit, curiosity pricked at me. I didn’t have a problem with my hometown, but the same-ness of it sometimes suffocated me. I had a chance to learn about beings from another planet and maybe explore a spaceship. How many people could say that?

  Who knew what I might experience?

  That question sent me shivering all over again. People generally did not respond well to the whole alien abduction thing. There was a reason for that. They probably had all kinds of invasive things in mind, and when they were done they might just cut me up into little pieces and store me in the alien equivalent of Tupperware.

  Maybe if I texted Foilhatgirl she’d talk me down, like an AA sponsor or something. But I hadn’t checked to see if she’d messaged me her number yet.

  I want to talk to you.

  Was Micah finally ready to give me some answers? Maybe it would be worth the trip if I could discover more about my connection to him, and what other powers he was keeping from me. Or I might find out if there was a way to become less intriguing as a species sample.

  Or maybe he was just trying to lure me in.

  Also, I want to show you something. A surprise.

  Well, that could go in any direction imaginable.

  I took a long, slow breath. Even without the manipulation, I had let him get to me. How much of that influence was the bond he’d made between us, and how much was of my own choice?

  I didn’t care.

  I squirmed away from Kaela and carefully stood up, then crept up the stairs and out the front door.

  I stood on the sidewalk, trying not to think about Foilhatgirl’s words: There’s one more scenario. The one where you don’t come back. I searched the sky for that shift in the darkness pricked with false starlight. It waited for me. He waited for me.

  I sucked in my breath. What was I thinking? I turned and ran toward the house, but before I reached the door I felt the familiar tug.

  I was ready for the bright light, and the strange sensation as I was pulled up, up, and away. I wasn’t ready for the feeling that I’d left my stomach on the ground as I hovered hundreds of feet above it.

  Chapter 15

  I bent over, trying not to throw up again, and digging my fingernails into the squishy floor. Floating up into the night sky had been much easier when Micah had taken away my fear. I wasn’t going to complain, though. I’d rather be there on my own terms, along with the natural feelings that made me human.

  I looked up to see Micah waiting for me, dressed in jeans and a fitted gray tee, like he’d just come from school. It relaxed me a little, to see the guy from my speech class instead of the mad scientist/surgeon in his sterile lab coat. But the white lights still set his blond hair glowing, and brightened his already pale blue eyes, making me unable to forget that he was other-worldly.

  He walked over and handed me a black sweatshirt, his brow creased with worry. “How was the trip? I was concerned about how you would handle it without my influence.”

  I acted like
I was taking in my surroundings as I struggled to slow my breathing. “It was awesome,” I said, unable to keep my voice from cracking. “You should make a note of that. You could get extra credit or something for conducting a new experiment.”

  “I’d rather keep it between us,” he said, offering me a hand. This time I took it. I slowly wrapped my fingers around his pale, satiny hand, wondering how I’d ever thought they could be human. I stood up on shaky legs, then pulled the sweatshirt over my head, grateful that he hadn’t handed me a white gown this time.

  “So are you really all right?” he asked. “Anaphylactic shock, pursued by the law, it’s been a difficult week.”

  I nodded and shrugged, pretending my heart wasn’t still lodged in my throat from the ride up. “You forgot abducted by aliens. I’m a survivor.” My voice was hard. “Why so friendly all of a sudden? You’re giving me whiplash.”

  He looked at the floor. “Sorry about that. You could say I was distraught, about what happened at school.”

  “You could say I was too.”

  “I thought keeping distance between us was the best option.”

  “Because you don’t want to name the chicken you’re eating for Sunday dinner?”

  He frowned. “No. No one is going to eat you. We don’t eat people.”

  I rolled my eyes.

  “I know there is a lot to talk about, but first ...” Something that looked like mischief sparked in his eyes. “Come with me.” He pulled me down the corridor.

  So much for getting answers. I hurried to keep pace with him. “What’s the deal? Are all the good brain probers going to get taken?”

  He turned to give me a frustrated look, and ran right into Miriam, who had just rounded a corner. She stumbled back, and her eyes grew larger, if that were possible. She looked him up and down. Then she looked me up and down, and I quickly remembered what I was here. I might as well have already put on my white gown.

  “What are you doing?” she asked. “This wasn’t scheduled.”

  “You were the one who wanted to study without restrictions. That’s what I’m doing.”

  Her eyes narrowed. “Not completely without restrictions.” She glanced at Micah’s hand, which still held mine. “And are you sure this is study?”

  Micah gave her a sheepish look that stoked my curiosity to a blaze.

  “Right. I suspect it has more to do with the hormone inhibitor I disabled,” she said. “I’m beginning to think it was a mistake. I’ve made your assignment harder for you.”

  His eyes darted to me, and his pale face colored slightly. But his expression hardened as he looked back at Miriam. “I assure you our experiment has not compromised me in any way. And I’m not certain you have not responded in a similar manner.”

  I wondered if he was referring to Austin.

  Miriam stood taller. “I interact with humans at the appropriate times, and in the appropriate way.”

  So with a probe or a blade of some kind? I wondered.

  “What are you getting at? Miriam, if you recall, I outrank you. You are interfering with my work, and I’m going to have to ask you to get out of my way.”

  She stiffened, her lips tightening. “Fine. I’m sure whatever you’re doing is cleared by Teavers. Otherwise you’d risk your place on the ship. Favoritism only extends so far.” She started to turn around, but stopped. Her expression darkened when she looked at Micah again, and her voice rasped as she spoke. “Very little has gone right for us. If we don’t get on track—If you take this too far you know what I’ll be forced to do. Micah, I can’t do that.” She cleared her throat, straightening. “But you’re the number one rule follower around here, so I’m sure I have nothing to worry about.”

  “That is correct,” he said, his eyes icy.

  Miriam lifted her chin and turned around, disappearing as she turned down another corridor.

  I was afraid Micah could hear my heartbeat echoing through the corridor. What was Miriam so worried about? Also, she’d mentioned disabling an inhibitor. He’d told me they had ways of inhibiting certain emotions. Emotions like love. He’d led me to believe that applied to him, too.

  Did the disable inhibitor have anything to do with what Micah had planned for tonight? There was some stupid part of me that trusted Micah and told me not to worry. Maybe he was responsible for that part and I should be screaming for Miriam to come back. Then again, she was an alien, too. One who’d be probably be happy to start probing away at any human dumb enough to ask for her attention.

  Micah dropped my hand and started walking again, a little of the spring gone out of his step.

  I cleared my dry throat. “Is she going to rat you out?”

  He stopped again and looked at me, confusion in his pale eyes.

  “Tell on you. Is she going to tell on you?”

  “You certainly have an affinity for those furry little things, don’t you? No. She won’t.”

  “You seem to trust her an awful lot. She looked pretty mad.”

  “I do trust her. We have known each other all of our lives. It was what your friend Stillman would call a jerk move to pull rank on her. Also, she’s usually the one pushing the boundaries. She probably doesn’t like that it’s me this time.”

  “So what could happen to you if you got caught throwing caution to the wind around here? It sounded bad.”

  A shadow fell over his face. “Assuming I understand the question, I’d lose everything.”

  “Your career, and your father?”

  “I would consider myself lucky if that was all. There is a room on every ship which we call the recycling room. If a researcher is compromised, or disloyal, their bodies are disassembled and used for study and harvesting. Miriam would be responsible for ... disassembling me, in this situation.”

  I swallowed, and a sick feeling turned my stomach. “That’s what your people do?” My voice rose. “They would literally pick a teenage boy apart for his mistakes?”

  “I told you, much more is expected of us,” he said stiffly. “We aren’t coddled like your young people are.”

  “I guess not. But I’ll take a coddling species to a disassembling one any day.”

  Micah frowned. “Perhaps you are right. It’s not shocking to me, because I was raised this way. But I suppose I have been on Earth too long, or around you too much,” he smiled faintly. “I like to think if I had a child of my own, I would not want to raise them to be so void of feeling. Although in my world, that would only make things harder.”

  I stopped walking. “Send me back. I can’t be responsible for what happens to you if something goes wrong. Besides, if you’re gone, they’ll probably turn me over to someone else, and I have a feeling that if I’m going to be a lab rat, I want to be your lab rat.”

  His lips turned up slightly. “You are concerned for me?”

  “Well, yeah,” I mumbled. “I don’t want you, like, ripped apart or anything.”

  His smile widened. Then he became serious again. “You are not responsible for my choices. I have obeyed every rule and order I was given my entire life. I’m beginning to feel that I have not learned if I have not questioned them, and I’m not living if I have no freedom.”

  “Are you sure it’s worth it?”

  His eyes sparked and he took my hand and pulled me down the corridor again.

  “Okay, so what boundaries are we pushing tonight?” My stomach fluttered, a nicer, gentler version of what had occurred as I was lifted up into the spaceship. If things went badly, I might be experimented on or dissected or who knew what, but first I was going to break some alien rules. Then again, this was Micah. I hoped whatever had made his face light up was more adventurous than cafeteria food.

  We turned at the next corridor, heading in the opposite direction of Miriam. Micah stopped at a round opening and ushered me in. I paused at the door. It looked like a tiny ship with just two seats. Windows extended most of the way around, and there were several screens across the front.

  “Have a sea
t,” Micah said.

  I’d come this far. I stepped in and sunk down into a chair, staring up at Micah. He still had that impish look on his face.

  “So what is all this?” I asked. “Do I get to take this thing for a spin?”

  He laughed. “This is a pod.”

  “But why do you need one? There are only two people on your whole ship.”

  “It has different capabilities, such as higher speeds. It can be used by one of us when necessary, or for escape if there is damage to the ship.”

  “So, are we going somewhere?”

  “Yes.” He settled into the other seat, so close I could touch him—and smell him. I was pretty sure that scent would generate millions if I could turn it into a cologne or soap for Earthlings.

  “I’m guessing I don’t get to drive?” I asked.

  “You guess correctly. But you can choose where you’d like to go.” He looked at me, his face expectant.

  “Anywhere?” The possibilities flooded my mind, overwhelming me.

  “Let’s stick to Earth for now.”

  “Right.” I nodded. “For now.”

  I’d never really been anywhere, at least not anywhere anyone would want to hear about. I’d lived here my whole life. I’d been to Salt Lake City and Boise, Vegas once, but that was about as exciting as it got. Where would I go if I could go anywhere in the world?

  I bit my lip. “Théoule-sur-Mer, France.” I pulled up a link on my phone and showed him the screen.

  His brows lifted, and he looked like he might laugh. “I’d expect an Earth-girl to choose the Eiffel Tower in Paris. But not you. Oh, you’ll probably want to be strapped in.”

  Micah reached above me, pulling down an intricate harness. My breath hitched as he leaned in close, pushing the buttons that fastened it tightly around me.

  “Lean your head back.”

  He pressed a palm softly against my forehead. Then he slipped the headpiece on and clicked it into place, securing my head firmly against the seat. My instinct was to flail and scream; after all, apart from my free arms and legs this was exactly the horrifying kind of thing one would expect to encounter as an alien abductee. How had Micah managed to get me to walk right into it?