Opheliac

by J. F. Jenkins

  “To celebrate?” she asked. “Celebrate what?”

  He turned the vial she’d given him over in his hands. “Progress and breakthroughs. And I would love to see more of your home. When I come here to visit and explore, I don’t know where to begin. I thought it would be fun to have you show me around and I could see what fun looks like in your world.”

  “It can’t be that different,” she pointed out.

  “Maybe it’s not, but I think it’s a well-earned reward all the same. It was only a thought.”

  Sounds kind of like an indirect way of him asking me out on a date. At the same time, there was something so sweet and endearing about his awkward shyness. So long as he doesn’t get the wrong idea, we can spend time together. It’d be nice to get to know him better and get him to relax some. “You’re right—we have earned a reward. I’ll show you around. As a friend.”

  Laughing, he stood from the table. “Of course, Cadence. I would never presume otherwise. Thank you. Everything you have done has been incredibly helpful.”

  “You’re welcome.” And for the first in a while, she felt useful to the cause. She appreciated that about Jaes, as well as his patience. Too bad he was so obviously attracted to her and she didn’t feel the same about him.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Focusing on his homework was about the only thing JD could manage to do lately. Whenever he had free time, he couldn’t play a game, go out on an adventure, or even read a book. He hated to read, but was willing to try anything if it would help stop his mind from wandering too much. So he did homework, and while his parents and teachers were thrilled with him getting things done on time, he would rather be doing something else.

  Homework made him think of Cadence. They always used to do their homework together.

  With a heavy sigh, he turned the page of his textbook and jotted down some more notes. He sat in the living room, stupidly having volunteered to babysit his younger siblings while his parents went out for some time alone. Angela was locked up in her room, no doubt playing around on her phone.

  I should have left her in charge of the kids. At least they’re asleep. Too bad he couldn’t find anything on the TV to make for a good distraction; he was almost out of pages to take notes on. There wasn’t even a good trashy reality show on.

  The urge to text Cadence was great, but he promised he’d be good. Was texting her out of pure boredom a bad thing? What was she going to be doing on a Sunday night? He’d been awesome and left her alone all of Saturday. He didn’t even offer to drive her home after their meeting. Nor did he bother her all during the day. Space was what she wanted, and normalcy. Not talking to her is not normal.

  So he picked up his phone, and sent her a message.

  “Booooooooored.”

  Then he tossed his phone onto the couch, and tried to not stare at it anxiously as he awaited a reply.

  Angela left her bedroom. Right away, JD knew she was upset because she had tears glistening in her eyes. She tried to hide her face as she kept her head down on her way to the kitchen.

  “What’s up?” he asked. Passing the time by being a good big brother would earn him some good karma.

  “Nothing,” she mumbled as she dug around in the refrigerator.

  He scoffed quietly. “Right, that’s why you’re getting ready to eat your feelings.”

  “Am not!”

  “Uh-huh,” he said and watched her pull out a container. “Then why do you have the leftover mac and cheese?”

  “Because I’m hungry, duh. Is that weird?”

  Nodding, he put his pen and book down onto the coffee table in front of him. “Yes, it’s weird. You only eat the leftovers for a snack if you’ve had cheer practice, are in that time of the month, or have something bugging you. Cheer practice didn’t happen this weekend, I know you’re not bleeding now, and so that leaves something is bugging you.”

  “Are you sure you’re not one of the aliens?” She peered across the opening between the kitchen and living room. “You shouldn’t know me so well. I’m serious.”

  He stood up and closed the distance between them. “Who do I need to beat up and why?”

  “No one,” she whispered. “I’m just…” She lifted her gaze to meet his and then sighed, shaking her head. “Never mind.”

  “Angela…”

  She sighed again, looking a lot like a kicked puppy. Her eyes were wide and teary, her lower lip was pushed out, and she was all-around pathetic to behold. “They got back together.”

  It didn’t take much time for it to click in his head whom she was referring to. Orlando, and his psychotic ex, Sprout, or whatever her real name was. JD only knew her as Sprout, and he hated her.

  “Got it,” he muttered.

  “I don’t get it. He knows she’s bad news. After everything she’s done…”

  Good points all around. It didn’t sound like Orlando to do something so…dumb. He may have had issues, but he also had principles. At least, I thought he did. “Did Orly tell you this?”

  “No, but she updated her relationship status from Single to Complicated to In a Relationship in the span of about three hours today.”

  “You’re basing your meltdown on a stupid social media website? What makes you so sure they’re back together just because she put she was in a relationship again as her status?” He rolled his eyes. “I don’t know how many of my exes thought we were in a relationship when we weren’t.”

  Angela poked at the cold macaroni and cheese in the plastic container. “I guess, but you’re nothing like him.”

  “Has nothing to do with him and I being alike. It’s about her and her perceptions. Just saying. If it bugs you so much, ask him about it and get the real scoop. Or I guess stalk his profile online.”

  “He doesn’t update it much,” she mumbled. “I already looked. The most I can tell is he’s playing Bubble Buster.”

  With a shake of his head, he walked over to his sister and patted her hair. “Again, if it bugs you so much, talk to him about it and get the real story.”

  “If I ask, then he’ll know I like him. What if he doesn’t like me?” She took a big bite. “No.”

  “Girls,” JD said and grabbed a can of soda before returning to the couch. Just as he hoped, Cadence had replied to his text.

  “I’m sure there’s something to do.”

  He stared down at his phone, deliberating between the different approaches he could take. Suave, flirtatious, indifferent, casual. Too many options. Just be yourself, man. Taking in a deep breath, he sent her another message.

  “Trapped at home. :( Babysitting.”

  “Don’t you have homework due tomorrow?”

  “Did it.”

  “:O Really?”

  He laughed. “Yes, really. What are you doing?”

  “Hanging out in my room. Was reading.”

  Sighing, he stretched himself out on the couch. “Wish I had your attention span.”

  She didn’t reply.

  After a moment of waiting, he summoned up what guts he had inside of him and tried something else. “Maybe we can hang out some time after school.” Again, he got no reply. “If it’s too soon, I get it. Thought it’d be worth a shot. Miss you.”

  A lot. He missed her a lot. How could he have been such an idiot to take advantage of their friendship like he had? She was right: he got too carried away too quickly and took her along for the ride. Then again, he hadn’t expected her to just follow along with him so blindly. Everything is way too confusing.

  Ten minutes passed. Ten agonizing minutes at that. A blue light started to blink on his phone. He checked his messages and gave a small smile.

  She wrote back, “Let’s see what Alan has planned for us first. We can figure something out. Miss you too.”

  It wasn’t much, but it was something. Her admitting she at least missed him felt like a milestone had been achieved. Patience wasn’t one of his better virtues, but he’d exercise more of it for her.

  Chapter S
ixteen

  “Man, oh, man, a lot happened,” Dale said. The double agent Alan’s tribe planted in the enemy lines was much more flustered and nervous than usual. The teen boy was always on some kind of edge. At tonight’s meeting, he seemed more afraid than ever.

  Both Alan and Jaes found a place to sit in the boy’s room.

  “Take your time. We are in no rush,” Jaes said.

  Dale took in a deep breath. “The blue tribe knows you’ve gained control over some of their old charges. There’s a plan in place, but my leaders won’t talk about it. I only know because I can hear their whispering sometimes. I’m almost positive they know about me. And this weekend, the plan to betray the green tribe is going to be executed.”

  “Do you have a date and a time?” Alan asked.

  “Yeah, Saturday night, ten o’clock, at Central Park near the high school. We’re supposed to perform a trade.” Dale frowned. “And I think they want me to tell you this. A small group of us has been chosen to put on a display of power for potential clients the Doctor has. But she said the ‘proper people’ will stop this transaction from occurring. Maybe they don’t think I’m the leak, but the options have been whittled down to four of us. With the way my leaders talk, it’s like they know one of us is going to tattle. You’re supposed to hear these plans and get the Doctor out of the blue tribe’s hair.”

  Jaes frowned. “Sounds like a trap.”

  “I’ll gladly lead this operation,” Alan said.

  “We’ll discuss it elsewhere,” Jaes said darkly. “Is there more?”

  Taking in a deep breath, Dale ran a hand through his hair. “Someone from your tribe sat in on our last meeting. He had a mask. All I know is he’s male. Didn’t say anything, just watched us all. Like he was analyzing us. Then again, he was also lurking in the shadows. I don’t think he knew I could see him. Given my gift, I’m more in tune with darkness. My night vision is fantastic.”

  “Fascinating,” Jaes said. “Another spy?”

  “You mean you don’t know?” he asked. “I was hoping you’d say he was another of your plants. Sensor didn’t mention him being there and he knows when so much as a squirrel is right outside of the building. I thought maybe you put this guy there and found a way around Sensor’s powers.”

  Sensor, a familiar name, but Alan didn’t know much about that charge. He lifted a finger to pause the conversation. “What is his ability again?”

  “He can detect the presence of other life forms. When given enough time, he can get more specific details about an individual by reading their DNA. And apparently about animals as well,” Jaes explained.

  “I see. As far as I know, this lurking shadow was not placed by us,” Alan said. He waved at Dale. “Continue.”

  For a moment, the teenager was quiet. “Got it. I was hoping I wasn’t alone. Now I’m confused. More mysteries. I hate this feeling that everything is going to blow up. We’re all going to have to choose sides, and the things protecting me now aren’t going to matter anymore.”

  “Explain.” Alan leaned forward.

  Dale’s gaze dropped to his hands as he fidgeted with them. “What’s normal for home. You know, for my planet, my hometown, all that. As much as you say these other tribes won’t retaliate against me for helping you, I’m not sure I’m convinced. They aren’t going to care about my parents or getting caught. And the police aren’t going to help me either.”

  “We will,” Jaes insisted. “You are always under our watch. This tribe won’t be able to touch you.”

  “So you say.” Dale shook his head. “After this, I want out of the whole thing. It’s too much pressure. I just want to be a kid again.”

  “The blue tribe will not allow this.”

  He sighed. “They will if you conveniently capture me. Maybe they’ll think…I don’t know what they’ll think. I guess I haven’t thought that far ahead. But I just can’t handle this. Every day, all of you Alturans start to care less and less about what you’re doing to our planet.” His eyes narrowed. “It’s disgusting.”

  With a wince, Alan closed his eyes. “After this mission, we can discuss options.”

  “I suppose so.” Jaes gave him another dark look, his entire body tensing up. His expression softened when he returned it to Dale. “Try to relax and not worry about things so much.”

  Nodding, Dale lay back on his bed and closed his eyes. Alan didn’t need to be told that their meeting was over. He didn’t wait for his companion before teleporting back to the ship. Jaes was more than capable of doing so on his own. He popped back into the den of their quarters and waited on the couch for Jaes to return. It gave him a few minutes of peace since Jaes still didn’t teleport into the room directly. He had some walking to do, which allowed time for Alan to decompress.

  There was a lot for him to process. Alan saw the defeat in Dale’s eyes. He’d seen it on his charges before as well. They all had faced that moment where they had to choose between letting go of their childhood or clinging to it at all costs. Each reaction was more surprising than the next. Those he thought would leap into being an adult were the ones who shied away from it the most, and those who were the most childish were unafraid to jump.

  The door opened. Jaes was back. He kicked off his shoes and immediately joined Alan on the couch.

  He scratched his chin, before glancing at Alan. “I do not appreciate you undermining my authority.”

  “I didn’t do anything of the sort,” Alan said, sharply.

  “Volunteering for a task that isn’t yours to volunteer for is not a part of our protocol, and you know it.”

  Alan rolled his eyes, hoping Jaes knew exactly what it meant. “Since when have I ever been forced to follow protocol? Who better to attend a possible trap than the most expendable person on the ship? Sir Orioltogorthan will give the okay on the idea just over excitement that I might get caught and he can rub it into my father’s face. If all else fails, I can teleport out with ease.”

  “It’s still something we should talk about before saying anything in front of a charge,” Jaes mumbled. “They…they shouldn’t know those kinds of things.”

  “Why not?”

  Jaes averted his gaze.

  “Why not?” Alan pressed. “Shouldn’t we maintain open and honest communication with them? I think they have a right to know what’s happening and who is in charge. And I’m sure Dale found it refreshing to know that someone was interested in taking on the task and unafraid to brave a trap. He’s terrified.”

  “Yes, I know. It’s disappointing.”

  Shaking his head, Alan stood to get some water from the nearby kitchenette. “There you go again, talking like he’s supposed to be some kind of a soldier.”

  “Isn’t that what he is? He did decide to get involved.”

  “He was forced into this. The Doctor gave him the drug, and if we hadn’t convinced him to join our side, then he would have been made to join the blue tribe, or the green one for that matter. They might have brainwashed him, or who knows what else,” Alan snapped. “That doesn’t make him a soldier. That makes him a pawn.”

  Neither of them said anything for a moment. Jaes continued to look away from Alan, his brow deeply furrowed and his lip between his teeth. He’d never appeared to be so upset before. It was startling. Normally the guy was so laid-back and relaxed. Alan had finally found the button to push that would set his friend off. He almost apologized for being upsetting, but he didn’t believe in saying sorry for things he hadn’t done wrong. Jaes needed a slap of reality.

  Taking in a cleansing breath through his nose, the prodigy exhaled slowly out of his mouth. “You make a good point. The boy has obviously been pushed beyond his limits. After this next task, we’ll give him a break, let him regroup, and then readdress the issue. War doesn’t stop just because we want it to, but that doesn’t excuse how he’s been treated.”

  “His heart is in the right place,” Alan said softly. “Obviously, he wants to help us or he wouldn’t have agreed to try
. But he’s right—a lot is starting to change. Changes our people were fighting to avoid. The more the other tribes decide to throw the secrecy of our battle aside, the more detrimental the consequences are going to be to everyone. You know they don’t care. You heard about what happened on Veleriyon.”

  Jaes nodded. “I did hear. An entire species was killed off. Several societies crumbled. It will take hundreds of years to repair the damage done.”

  “And the inhabitants there were even more advanced than those who are here.” Alan grabbed a bottle of water. He then locked his gaze on Jaes, not speaking again until they were making eye contact. “I urge you to please reconsider how you treat your charges before it’s too late. They may be like us, but they are different in just as many ways as we are the same. If you start to change, then others will follow your example.”

  “I’ll consider it.”

  Consideration was about as much as Alan could hope for. He decided to let the subject drop for the time being.

  Sighing, Jaes picked at his pants. “Cadence said similar things when I saw her this weekend.”

  “You saw Cadence on your own?” Alan asked, surprised and…jealous?

  “Yes, I visit her every so often and we collaborate on the drug. We’ve made a lot of progress. We almost have a testable version ready,” Jaes said. He smiled ever so slightly, but it didn’t last long. Soon he was back to frowning. “She wants to be rehabilitated once we are done with her.”

  That thought made Alan so incredibly sad inside, he’d have thought she was dying. Why did it bother him so much that she wanted to return to normal? She wasn’t the only one, and it didn’t bother him when Orlando or anyone else talked about it. So why her? I don’t want her to forget me.

  Clearing his throat, he took a long drink from his bottle. “I suppose we’ll have to wait and see what actually happens. If she chooses to be rehabilitated, her request will need to be respected. She’s been through a lot since all of this has started. I can’t say I blame her in the slightest.”