by Sherry Soule
My heart twinges. Low blow. Her words sting like wasps. She knows Neela was engaged to Hayden. Our friendship has changed, and not in a good way.
“Who’s Neela Voorhees?” Viola asks.
“She’s Hayden’s former fiancée. I told you about her,” I mumble. “So, um, will Neela be going with us?”
Tanisha shrugs. “Maybe, but I heard her family has been hiding out in their San Francisco mansion since her dad went all ballistic and tried to kill you. Everyone’s saying how he’s disgraced his family.”
I unbuckle my seatbelt and stand. “Can I have a word?” I grip Tanisha by the elbow, pulling her to her feet, and moving away from the others. “If you knew about Hayden’s engagement, why didn’t you ever say anything?”
“I don’t know. Its common knowledge that those types marry each other,” Tanisha says.
Viola joins us, standing close to my side.
“And you never considered telling me?” I ask.
“What’s your damage?” Tanisha says.
I sigh. “I knew you were a crappy friend, but I didn’t think you were stupid, too.”
Tanisha’s jaw drops. “I said I was sorry!” In a huff, she stomps to her seat and I glare at her backside.
Viola touches my arm. “You seriously need to chill. This is supposed to be a fun vacation.”
“Well, it’s not going to be fun if I have to deal with her and see Neela the whole time,” I say through my teeth. “Do you even know what Tanisha’s done to me? All the blackmail, the threats…”
“I’m well aware, but you’re going to have to get over it,” Viola says. “Otherwise, you two are gonna make me extra cranky. I, for one, am glad to be leaving Earth for a couple of weeks to avoid any encounters with Sector Thirteen and a one-way trip to boarding school.”
We return to our seats, and I twist to face Tanisha. “Why didn’t Raymond, your human boyfriend, come with us?”
Tanisha’s never had a serious boyfriend except Raymond. In a weird way, I always thought she was above the petty pursuit of guys. She has so much other stuff going on, like being a straight-A student, blogging about feminism, and discovering indie bands.
Tanisha shrugs. “Everyone has a weakness. Besides, he doesn’t know I’m a hybrid yet.”
“Keeping secrets can ruin a relationship,” Viola says. “Just ask Hayden and Sloane.”
“Gee, thanks for bringing that up,” I say.
Zach smirks. “Ready to meet the Zetas, Sloane?”
“Puh-lease,” I say. “I was born ready.”
“Only after you passed all your father’s tests,” Tanisha mutters, toying with a dreadlock that I’d like to yank out of her nappy head.
“What else do I need to know about the Zetas and their planet?” Viola asks. “Any tips on alien etiquette?”
Zach adjusts his position in the seat. “Ah, they don’t shake hands and only eat two meals a day.”
“Two meals?” I gasp. “Why? That’s terrible!”
Everyone laughs, although I’m quite serious and already wondering if they’ll serve meals on this flight.
Hayden stands and stretches his limbs. “Why don’t you come with? I’ll introduce you to my father now.”
Hayden’s dad is still talking on the phone, his shoulders stiff and tense. Probably doing a last minute business deal before we leave Earth’s orbit.
“Um, okay.” I follow Hayden out of the room.
Mr. Lancaster glances at us over his shoulder and blinks hard. “I’ll have to call you back,” he mumbles into the phone and shoves it into the chest pocket of his pristine white button-down shirt.
His gaze dissects me, giving me the uneasy sensation that he’s not in the mood to meet his son’s crossbreed girlfriend. At least I’m not half-naked this time.
“Son,” Mr. Lancaster says, slapping him on the shoulder.
“Father, I haven’t had a chance to introduce you to my girlfriend. This is Sloane Masterson. Sloane, this is Garvin Lancaster.”
“Sloane, it is a pleasure to meet you,” Mr. Lancaster says.
I force a tight smile. “Nice to meet you too, sir.”
There’s a long moment of uncomfortable silence. This is becoming somewhat awkward, especially after meeting Hayden’s mom in the cottage half-undressed. His wife must’ve told him all about that humiliating encounter. Ugh.
Hayden glances at his father as if expecting him to welcome me into the Meleah family with open arms.
My throat goes dry. “I’m excited about the trip. And I’m sure Arcane told you I’m half-Meleah, a shalinaya…”
“Yes. Um, wait until you see Reticuli. It’s beautiful.” His phone buzzes in his hand, and he peers at the screen distractedly. “Excuse me,” he says, lifting the phone to his ear. “I need to take this before we lose service.” Mr. Lancaster turns away and speaks into the phone.
“Sorry. He gets grouchy when there’s a long flight and he can’t work,” Hayden says.
I shrug a shoulder. “It’s cool. I get it. They say the human body can survive three weeks without food, three days without water, but only hours without Wi-Fi…or chocolate.”
He laughs, and warmth fills my chest. I love that he gets all my silly jokes.
A computerized male voice states, “Initiation of hyperdrive launch. Please go directly to the sleep chambers. Ten, nine, eight, seven…”
Hayden takes my hand. “Let’s find pods next to each other. When we wake up, we’ll be in paradise.”
FRIGHT NIGHT BABBLE
Greetings, Fellow Horrorphilas!
Here’s some dumb clichés that should be chopped into little pieces.
All alien races look roughly the same as humans. Please take a cue from fantasy writers, who have cute mogwai (Gizmo), fairies, dwarfs, and Orlando Bloom as a sexy elf.
Isn’t it odd that aliens usually speak English? Given the fact there are roughly six thousand different languages spoken on Earth, how is it they grasp English so quickly? Lame-o.
All members of an alien species dress the same, making them readily identifiable. This may be a consequence that aliens all have single, monolithic cultures: one language, one religion, and one ugly outfit choice, per planet. Are there no trendsetters in space? Sheesh.
Obviously, we need to negotiate a peace treaty that includes access to the home shopping network being streamed to their planet. And I’m sure Amazon can remedy any interstellar shipping issues, too.
Peace, love, and horror flicks,
Sloane
THIRTEEN
I awaken slowly, groggily as the glass dome-lid whispers open on my sleep pod. Rubbing my eyes and yawning, I sit up. It feels like I just went to sleep. All around me, everyone else awakes and gets out of the chambers.
Hayden stands over mine. “We’ve landed.”
“We’re actually here?” I rub the sleep from my eyes and climb out.
Hayden and I follow the other Meleah to the hull door, and the creaking sound echoes throughout the spacecraft as the hatch opens and the ramp lowers. We walk outside, and I take my first step in this strange new world.
Warm gusts lift my hair and fill my nose with the fragrant scent of orange blossoms and blooming lilacs, with a subtle bitter green edge. The aromas represent the flora, the flowers, and the seaside landscape. The air feels moist and salty. I step onto the spongy green terrain and my vision drifts upward, squinting into the glare. The gradient cobalt sky has a string of lazy drifting clouds, with dual suns, one much larger than the other, beaming upon the ground and heating my skin.
Zach, wearing madras shorts and a polo shirt, with Viola in all black, rush down the ramp and stand beside us as we drink in the amazing view.
“Welcome to Reticuli.” Zach sweeps out his hand like a game-show host.
We stand near the platform and gape at the scenery. To my left are white beaches, a verdant jungle of foliage, resembling a triple-canopy rain forest with fluorescent leaves, and a calm blue sea, lapping at the shore. If there were
any palm trees, I’d swear I landed on a weirdly colorful paradise like the Caribbean or Hawaii.
Every nerve-wracking Sector Thirteen related worry I’ve had since escaping Earth melts like sherbet left too long in the sun. One deep breath of this phlegmatic atmosphere and my whole body exhales.
In the distance, I catch sight of soaring buildings with paneled walls of mirrored glass, reflecting the twin suns. Their stone heads reach the clouds, casting long shadows on the walkways below.
“What’s that city called?” I ask.
“Zoltar,” Hayden says. “The biggest metropolitan in Reticuli.”
On one side of the urban area, I spot squat domed buildings, which must be homes, all surrounded by strange lavender trees, yellow swaying grass, and weird flowers in vivid pinks, reds, and oranges. There are no cars, but sidewalks, with a slow conveyor mechanism that’s transporting the population to different places, which resembles those moving walkways at airports.
“Those are travelators.” Hayden points at the traveling sidewalks. “It’s the Zetas main source of transportation, if one doesn’t feel like teleporting.”
“There are no cars or buses here?”
He shakes his head. “Nope. Not airplanes, either. Only the vessels used for space travel. Although, there are trains for transporting bulky items and food into the cities, and boats for sailing.”
Hoots and cheers have my head turning as the Zeta pilots disembark the spacecraft. The aliens have slender frames clad in teal jumpsuits, oval-shaped black eyes, and dull grayish skin. Yup, they resemble every Sci-Fi movie stereotype imaginable, yet I’m relieved the Zetas don’t look like that scary creature in the film Alien, or its many awesome sequels. These unique creatures have no notable irises, flat nostrils like reptiles, and small, smiling mouths. Three of the aliens are five-foot and willowy without hair, who must be males, while the four females have stouter bodies, dark hair, and a fringe of thick lashes. The Zetas talk with the Meleah passengers, grinning and laughing.
Part of me wants the Zetas to say something cliché like, “Ha! Puny Earthlings! Tremble before the might of our superior intellects!”
A high-pitched screech pierces the air. Grabbing Hayden’s arm, I spin on my heel to gaze into the rain forest and notice a rainbow-colored bird cawing from the trees.
“What do you think?” Tanisha walks up behind me, her dreadlocks swept into a ponytail, and D&G sunglasses cover her face. “Is this utopia or what?”
The cliffside landing strip where the two ships parked overlooks the ocean, with its crystal-clear water. Magenta fish swim beneath the surface, and the gold trees with spindly branches in luminous aquamarines wave in the balmy gust.
“I can’t believe how incredible Reticuli is,” I reply. “And the best part? No reapers or Sector Thirteen.”
“It’s like I’m Alice stepping through the looking glass,” Viola says.
“It’s cool to see Reticuli through the eyes of a novice space-traveler,” Tanisha says.
“I’ll see you guys later.” Hayden kisses me on the cheek. “I’m heading home to unpack.”
Mr. and Mrs. Lancaster, with Delta, who’s like an obedient puppy beside her adoptive parents, stand across the ramp waiting for Zach and Hayden to join them. Zach waves and takes off to unite with his family.
“Viola! Sloane!” my mom yells.
We search the myriad of faces until we spot my parents with Jonah at the edge of the clearing. My mom waves at us, and we weave through the crowd to them.
“We have a modest home on the outskirts of the city. I can’t wait for you to see it,” my dad says.
“Don’t tell me we need to teleport to get there,” I say.
“Omigod! Yes!” Jonah exclaims, then pouts. “But I wish my abilities would emerge like Sloane’s. It’s not fair.”
“They will soon enough, son,” my dad says, ruffling his hair. “Give it time.”
“I hope you guys don’t mind if I stay with you,” Viola says.
My mom puts an arm around her waist. “There’s an extra bedroom with your name on it.”
“Mom, have you been here before?” Jonah asks.
“Once before you were born,” she says. “I hardly remember how fascinating it is here. I can’t wait to get out my paints.”
While they’re admiring the scenery, I pull my brother away from the others.
“Hey, you wanna hear something frightfully weird?” I ask.
“Always.”
“When I was captured, a soldier shot me with a neutralizing ray gun, but it had no effect on me.”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean, they shot me with sticky orange goo, and besides staining my shirt, it didn’t neutralize my powers. I could still teleport. Weird, right?”
“Yes, especially since Meleah are normally rendered powerless.” Jonah rubs his chin. “I should run some tests with my chemistry kit when we get home.”
“Should I tell Mom and Dad?”
“Not yet.” He shakes his head. “Wait until my analysis is completed and I have more data.”
I peer at the others, Tanisha and Viola observe the beauty of the planet, while my mom and dad discuss a family sightseeing trip. Ack!
“Fine by me, Brainiac Boy,” I say. “Hey, what if Mom’s human DNA mixed with those potent alien genes have blended and become radioactive? Now we’ve got this weird combo of extraterrestrial and human substance altering our internal framework. That must be why I’ve turned into such a kickass superpower.”
“Uh-huh. I’ll do a complete blood and tissue sample workup on us,” Jonah says. “And get back to you on that bizarre theory.”
“This is wicked cool. Maybe tomorrow I’ll wake up and have the power of invisibility. I’ll get to spy on everyone we know. No one will ever be able to talk behind my back again!”
He shakes his head. “I wouldn’t count on it, sis.”
Jonah and I rejoin the others, and I stand beside Viola, with Tanisha on her other side. My parents point out several mountains across the sea, my dad launching into the history of Reticuli.
“Hi, Tanisha.”
We turn to find a girl, who resembles a petite, real-life Disney Princess, with gorgeous auburn waves. She has serious muscle tone and rosy red cheeks. Miss Princess is wearing a strapless pink dress, tiny diamonds earrings, and high-heeled sandals.
“Hey, Neela,” Tanisha says, the hem of her shirt billowing in the breeze.
My shoulders curl inward as all the hairs on my neck stand on end. No effing way. It’s the notorious Neela Voorhees, Hayden’s ex-fiancée.
“Good to see you again,” my dad says. “Please meet my family. This is my wife, Karen, and my children Sloane and Jonah.” He gestures to Neela. “Everyone, this is Xavier Voorhees’s daughter. Her mother is on the Galactic Brotherhood council.”
Neela hangs her head before meeting my eyes. “Hello, it is nice to meet you.” Her gaze lingers on my outfit and purple hair with an odd expression on her face.
Self-consciously, I swipe a hand down the front of my dirty, black T-shirt, then tug up my fingerless lace gloves. My holey jeans have stains and rips from my earlier escape from the lab, and now I wish I’d had time to clean up and change.
An older Meleah woman with a stern expression, and Egghead, who helped his father attack Hayden and me, approaches us.
“Mrs. Voorhees,” David says. “I didn’t realize you were coming on this trip.”
“Ah, David. Just because my husband has been…detained, I still intended to make the reunion this year,” Mrs. Voorhees says.
The woman leans in and gives my parents an air kiss on each cheek, bending at the waist. I can’t help but notice the size of the ruby necklace surrounded by huge diamonds dangling around her neck. Next to her, Egghead remains silent, his posture stiff and his gaze trained straight ahead. He doesn’t speak or look at anyone. Frightfully weird.
“This is Mrs. Voorhees and her son, Rost,” my dad says. “This is my wife Karen and
my children.”
Mrs. Voorhees’s brown and green gaze skims over me with an eyebrow raised. She fans herself with one hand, the sleeve of her red blouse drooping to her elbow. Her bleached blonde hair is cut into a sleek, chin-length bob.
“You must be the infamous Sloane Masterson, the girl whose questionable actions put the entire future of the Meleah at risk,” Mrs. Voorhees says tersely.
Her Egghead son, Rost, blinks and his lips twitch.
My jaw drops. “My questionable actions? What about your husband? He tried to kill me!”
Mrs. Voorhees raises an eyebrow. “Well, your insolence certainly hasn’t been exaggerated.”
“Watch yourself,” David warns, grasping her arm. “From what I understand, Xavier tried to harm my daughter. Now I realize it wasn’t your fault, but mind what you say, or we’re going to have a serious problem.”
“Ah! I see the Lancasters.” Mrs. Voorhees twists out of David’s grip. “I need a word with them before they leave.” She stalks off with Rost and Neela quick on her heels.
Tanisha giggles. “Damn. How awkward was that?”
“Very.” Viola takes my arm, steering me away from Tanisha. “Now, let’s go before my knockoff Docs melt to the pavement in this heat.”
FOURTEEN
Two hours later, I’m chilling with Viola on lounge chairs near a pool in the backyard of my dad’s strange home on this even stranger planet. The best part of this trip so far is our Zeta home, an ultra-weird, metal monstrosity with all sorts of windows that poke out and stare down on us, looming at the end of a private driveway. The house has a built-in touchscreen panel in each room that controls lights, heat, and other high-tech wonders, and even the kitchen faucet is not only for water. It also dispenses ice and various beverages, like the yummy drinks Viola and I are currently sipping, and even drinkable vitamins.
The highlight of this futuristic home is a virtual reality mirror that hangs on the bedroom wall and catalogues your wardrobe, enabling a person to stand in front of it and try on clothes without changing.
