“We’re enjoying the fruits of our labor, Sir.”
When Peter came into view, the expression on his face was carefully controlled as always and he looked relaxed, but his normally warm eyes held the promise of death and destruction.
“Let her go!”
“You’re alive.” If he heard her whisper, he didn’t show it.
The man who tore her clothes sounded like a whiny boy.
“But, Sir...”
Peter backhanded the young man straight over the face, hard enough to make him tumble backwards.
“Disobedient little twits. It’s because of people like you my job takes so much time.”
The man holding her loosened his grip enough for her to wriggle free, and she fled toward the door and the relative safety of the house. Behind her, one of the attackers said, “But Sir, it’s not like you haven’t done it yourself. With her.”
Oh, so that’s what this is about? You think I’m open for business?
It was just too much to bear. She wanted to speak up, to defend herself and point out the difference between consensual lovemaking and rape, but it would only make things worse. She glanced back and saw Peter lift an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed.
“Well then, see it as if she’s mine and not for you to touch. She is private property. Do I need to say it more clearly?”
Rachael didn’t hear any more. She backed inside, afraid to take her eyes off them. Her hands shook with adrenaline and shock.
If he hadn’t shown up, or if he arrived five minutes later...
She couldn’t even finish the thought.
When Peter entered moments later, she stood in exactly the same spot, weeping softly and pulling at her torn clothes.
“You have to keep the blinds closed. Didn’t I tell you that?”
He sounded brusque, but this wasn’t her fault, was it?
She wanted to throw her arms around him and wail, but was afraid to. As composed as he looked and acted, she sensed boiling rage under the surface. He looked like a person pushed just a little too far, about to tilt over the edge and explode.
He went through the house and closed all windows, shutting the world and its dangers out, together with the sunshine and all joy that might be out there. She watched him disappear into the bedroom, and moments later he draped a robe around her, covering up her ruined clothes.
The touch and gesture comforted her, but his face could have been carved in stone.
“You’re angry. With me?”
Her words sounded like a sob.
Why can’t I speak in emotional situations? How will anyone take me seriously if I can’t talk coherently?
Peter frowned.
“Is it that obvious? I’ll have to work on it.”
He exhaled and met her eyes.
“I’m furious, but not with you.”
She still didn’t move. Her body wouldn’t obey. He ran his hands over her shoulders, keeping her fixed with his hypnotic eyes.
“Lock the door behind me and don’t open for anyone. I’ll be back as soon as I can, but it might be a while.”
The thought of him leaving again finally broke her paralysis. She inched herself closer and rested her head against his chest.
“I’m so happy to see you. I thought you were dead. I wish you could stay.”
Her mind painted out all sorts of horrors that could happen the minute he was gone, to both him and her.
He held her, but only for a moment.
“They won’t be back. You know I want to stay, but I can’t, I just needed to see that you’re all right. You’ll be fine.”
After staring into her eyes a moment longer, he kissed her so hard it almost hurt, and was gone.
*****
Knowing she was clean wasn’t the same thing as feeling it, and Rachael scrubbed herself in water so hot it made her skin red. She stayed in the shower until she ran out of warm water and it became too cold for her to handle. The memories of hard hands grabbing her wouldn’t wash away. Were things like this going on all over the planet, or was it just her?
“Why does all this weird shit happen to me?”
The answer was pretty clear, of course.
Thank God Peter showed up.
It might not have happened at all if it wasn’t for her relation with him, but that was a moot point. She couldn’t imagine life without him.
She paced the house, afraid to look out, and waited. Afternoon turned into evening and evening became night.
He didn’t come back.
Did their relation cause trouble for him too?
People clearly knew, had to know. Maybe it was forbidden, and he was imprisoned somewhere awaiting a gruesome punishment for breaking the rules?
Midnight came and went. The cat slept. Rachael watched its paws and ears twitch. Did she chase imaginary dream mice?
Whatever a cat might dream about, I hope it’s nice.
She needed to sleep, but she was afraid of going to bed. In her imagination a whole squadron of heavily armed invaders would storm the building at any moment.
What if Peter came over and she missed him? He had a key, but didn’t always bring it. What if he knocked on the door, and she didn’t hear?
She kept the bathroom door open when she brushed her teeth and slipped into a nightie.
No Peter.
Eventually, she curled up on the bed and closed her eyes. Sleep would most likely stay away on the night when she needed it most to come.
Every little sound made her heart race.
It had been a few long days, and eventually she drifted off into a restless slumber.
A noise snuck its way into her dreams, blurring sleep with reality. She turned over on the other side and pulled a pillow over her head. It was probably time for Peter to get up soon anyway, and he could deal with the nuisance. He was much better than she at dealing with stuff.
Peter isn’t here. Remember?
Her eyes flew wide open, and a burst of adrenaline shook every remnant of sleep away.
Someone knocked on the window.
There was a potential intruder outside her bedroom, and she had gone to sleep with the gun in the other room.
Were the curtains drawn enough for her to bolt to the living room without whoever disturbed the peace seeing her?
“Rachael, wake up! I need to talk to you.”
Peter’s voice was hushed by the glass, but it was him. She pulled a hand over her face and forced herself to exhale.
I need to open up and let him in.
She fumbled with the window and heard him laugh.
“I’m not climbing through there. Go open the door, Silly. You just didn’t hear me when I knocked there.”
Makes sense. I guess I’m not all that awake after all. Maybe he’s not even here. Maybe I’m dreaming.
Peter’s voice shook her out of the thoughts. He spoke softly, but the words were persuasive.
“Rachael, Honey. Please go open the door.”
How long had she just stood there, leaving him outside in the dark? His words helped her feet move, and once she started, she ran through the house. Looking through the peephole didn’t do her any good. It was too dark, and when she unlocked the door, she expected a group of wannabe rapists outside.
She was so distracted she forgot about the security chain, and the door came to a sudden stop. She still didn’t get it, and pushed harder.
Oh, I forgot I put the chain on. He probably knew. Guess he didn’t want to kick the door in. Good thing too. That would have scared me...
She drew a sigh of relief when she saw her lover walk around the house with long strides. As soon as he entered, she threw herself in his arms.
Peter held her with one arm and she felt him move his weapons away from her with the other.
“Careful there, Beautiful. Don’t hurt yourself.”
Clinging to an alien might be pathetic, but she couldn’t help herself. He represented safety, and it was the only safety to be had in the world.
“
I can’t stay. I just wanted to see you’re okay.”
A voice spoke out of nowhere in a language she didn’t understand, and he pushed her away enough to reach a gadget hanging on his chest. She didn’t understand his answer either, but there was no mistaking the reluctant tone of the words, “Мне пора лететь.”
“Is that Russian? Why do you speak Russian?”
“I speak every language on the planet. It means ‘I have to go.’ We’re transferring more forces in from the east.”
He sounded tired, and she lifted her eyes to his face. Normally tanned and healthy looking, he was now pale and had dark rings under his eyes.
How long have you been up? How much longer do you have to work?
Asking wouldn’t do her any good, so she pressed a palm against his cheek instead.
“Take care of yourself.”
A smile lit up his face.
“You too. I wish I could stay.”
“You said you needed to talk to me.”
“I guess it will have to wait.”
He brushed his lips over her forehead and was gone. Rachael stood alone, watching the closed door for a few long moments, just in case he’d come back. Nothing happened, and she shuffled back to bed.
This time, she put both the gun and her sword on the mattress next to her, where he would normally be.
*****
A loud ringing echoed through the house and Rachael groaned.
It can’t possibly be morning.
She fumbled for the old mechanical alarm clock, trying to turn it off without opening her eyes, and it fell to the floor with a bang loud enough to send Bonbon fleeing.
The impact in no way prevented it from ringing.
“Oh you bloody stupid old thing...”
Cursing it didn’t help either. She rolled out of bed and sat on the floor with the clock on her lap. It clearly malfunctioned. It wouldn’t stop ringing, and it couldn’t be seven thirty already.
Once she managed to turn it off, she moseyed over to the window and peeked out. Sunshine flooded the yard.
“Damn.”
A cold shower made her feel a bit more awake. The invaders wouldn’t be relaxing, and if they could keep at it, so could the people of Earth. Business as usual would be the mantra of the day.
Just as she sat down with a cup of tea, someone knocked on the door.
Great. What horror might it be this time? Ryan, more out of control troops, or a new and unexpected scary surprise?
Maybe the soldiers ran out of Tofu and hoped she could replenish their supply.
She clutched her gun and tiptoed to the peephole. If she was really quiet, maybe she’d be able to pretend she wasn’t home. A second later her hands danced over the locks.
It was Peter.
When the door opened so she could see him properly, her mouth popped open and she forced it shut again. His face was lined with fatigue, and he wouldn’t appreciate a bombardment of questions.
He smiled wryly and held out a bag with an egg salad sandwich and a paper mug.
“Coffee has been reinstated. I brought you breakfast.”
The idea of him stepping into a 7-11 seemed preposterous.
“Are you okay?”
He grimaced.
“Tired, but I’ll be fine. With any luck I’ll get some sleep tonight.”
Rachael’s mind churned. He never stayed until morning.
How do you know what I like for breakfast? How do you know when I usually leave? Have you been spying on me? Do you have people watching me?
A wave of anger rose in her, and she wrestled it down. It was just fear and fatigue, and if she gave in to the feeling, she’d start a fight they didn’t need.
Peter leaned against the wall.
“I’m glad I got here before you left. I need you to stay indoors today.”
You can’t tell me what to do.
All thoughts of how much she missed him and how scared she was without him washed away like a rose petal during a thunderstorm.
“Thank you for breakfast, but I have a job to do. It might not be as dramatic as conquering unwilling planets, but I’m going to work.”
He pulled a hand over his face, looking and sounding exhausted.
“I don’t have the time for this right now. Can’t you please just stay in the house?”
She wanted to stomp her feet and throw a tantrum.
“No.”
Peter fixed his peculiar golden eyes on her, and as much as she tried to hold on to her rage, it disappeared.
Is he hypnotizing me? Is that how this works?
A more sensible part of her mind offered a simpler explanation. She cared for him, and he for her. He disarmed the situation completely through wrapping an arm around her shoulders and pulling her with him into the house, to the sofa.
“Please sit down.”
She obeyed and he took the food from her hands, put it all on the table, crouched on the floor in front of her, and rested a hand on her knee.
“It’s dangerous out there right now, and I don’t want you to get hurt. That’s all. I’m not trying to control you or decide over your life, it’s just... I don’t know how this will end, but I don’t have a good feeling.”
She had been too preoccupied to notice it earlier, but a continuous murmur of voices came from his radio. They would have been shouting, but the volume was turned down.
I bet he brought me breakfast to make sure I don’t go outside.
“What’s going on?”
“Please stay here today, and I’ll tell you all about it tonight. Stay at home, just for one day. It’s all I ask, trust me for one day.”
All her rebellion ran off. She wanted to hold on to her anger and independence, but found herself nodding mutely.
After all he had done for her… she could give him one day.
Peter rose up, pressed his lips against her cheek and whispered, “Thank you.”
Thank you for caring for me.
The words wouldn’t come out, so she just followed him to the door. He rested his hand on the doorknob and chewed his lip.
“Be careful. It might be a good idea to keep the cat inside too.”
The next moment, she stared at a closed door. After locking it, she went to the kitchen to peek out the window. He was already far away, jogging down the road.
“What is going on out there?”
Only one way to find out, but she had promised to stay in the house.
The smell of coffee found its way to her nostrils, and she roamed back to the living room. Were there better ways to secure the house than just locking the doors and windows? Maybe if she had owned hurricane shutters, but it was too late to think of that now.
She sank down on the sofa and nibbled the food he brought her. It was precious. She was lucky to have someone care for her.
Strange that we have coffee again, I didn’t even know. Maybe we’ll get chocolate too, if I can stay alive long enough to see it.
*****
A day had never gone by so slowly, and she never wanted to go outside this much.
It was just because she couldn’t, of course, but knowing the reason in no way lessened the urge. TV would have been a good pastime, but TV was a thing of the past. No radio, no videogames... How did people live before technology?
Around lunchtime, she couldn’t take it anymore. Bonbon sat right inside the door, giving her accusing looks.
“What do you say, Kitty? I promised we’d stay inside, but couldn’t I just pop over to the store, pick up some things, and come right back home?”
The cat stretched up and clawed the doorframe.
“Sorry, Baby, you’ve gotta stay inside. That’s what Daddy said.”
Did I just name an alien the dad of my cat? Yeah, that’s not weird at all...
She scooped the cat up and locked it in the bedroom, pulled on a jacket, and leaned her forehead against the front door. This might be a really bad idea, but she should check the outside for herself.
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Peeking out, the area appeared to be deserted. Even Melissa’s house looked empty. Well, they couldn’t guard her every minute of the day. With any luck her relationship with Peter might have turned into old news, and maybe she didn’t interest the neighbors any longer.
She took a few tentative steps down the driveway, and froze as she heard gunshots in the distance. These weren’t the newcomers’ energy weapons. It sounded like old-fashioned Earth guns with bullets.
Is Peter’s uniform bullet proof? How did I not hear all this inside? Guess my house is better built than I expected...
The bus should be at the corner soon, and if she wanted to go, she needed to move now.
Her feet carried her one more step forward, and then a loud boom in the distance made her freeze.
Did the ground just shake under my feet, or was that imagination?
Fleeing wasn’t a conscious decision, but she still ran back to the house and crouched down with her back against the wall. The explosion was ways away, but much too real.
“What the hell is going on here?”
The words came out as a whimper. Going to the store wasn’t one of her best ideas ever. Maybe it would be prudent to listen to her alien boyfriend who knew much more about everything than any everyday Joe who went about business as usual.
All the shots seemed to come from the city and there wasn’t a living soul in sight, but she still inched her way to the front door with her back pressed against the house. Crossing the short distance seemed worthy of a prize. She probably wouldn’t get an award for being a coward, though.
Once she reached the door, she fumbled with her purse, unable to find the keys, and when she had them, her hands shook so badly she dropped them.
Opening a door had never been this difficult before. When she got in, she slammed it shut and both double and triple checked it was locked. The world might have been crazy before, but nothing like this.
I’m so sorry I wanted to yell at you. Thank you for making me stay home. I could have been stuck in the middle of all this insanity.
It was a long day with nothing to do but wait. The noises from the raging battle were probably still there, but too far away to be heard inside the house. She made a pot of tea and brought out a book she hadn’t read for a long time, but mostly stared at the same page without even seeing the words.
Operation Earth Page 13
