The Red Girl

by Thomas Davis

  He held out both hands with palms facing Adeola and said, “Just wait here between the shops while I go inside.” He noticed her disapproval. “Please.”

  After a little hesitation, she nodded and walked into the narrow alleyway between the two stores. Jake disappeared into old man Sebastian's pizza shop. For the first time since she woke up, Adeola was alone. She marveled at the strange architecture around her. Gently, she ran her fingers across the outer wall of the pizzeria to feel its texture. It looked and felt like brick but something was unreal about it. Although it had the trappings of excellent workmanship, it didn’t feel like it was made from the ground. She concluded it was created by something else – a synthetic amalgamation of materials that simulated natural elements. This was an achievement by itself. She wondered about these humans and their need to simulate things they can’t have. Being alone felt weird for her, she had thought Jake’s absence wouldn’t make any difference. But it did. He had somehow grown on her. His quirky and sometimes soft dispositions had somehow become a part of the air that enveloped her.

  Her eyes wondered to a couple walking down the street a little distance away from her. The guy was wearing a tight fitting jacket over black corduroy pants while the girl had on a puke-green wife-beater and brown skirt. She paid particular attention to the way they laughed and held hands. The way they gravitated to one another like two estranged planets in perfect synchrony. She watched the couple gracefully bump in and out of each other’s personal space and wondered how humans reproduced. The classes that were supposed to cover intergalactic spawning were abolished by the last regime. The argument being that other races were inferior and nothing good would come out of studying their messy ways of preservation.

  Her attention was snapped back to the present by the cry of a baby. She searched with her eyes while maintaining a straight face. Her eyes locked in on a young mother in a narrow street across. Gingerly, the mother retrieved the child from its stroller and sang in gibberish. The scene brought a smile to Adeola's face. She watched the child cease its crying due to its mother's comfort and playfulness. A sliver of sadness crept into her as she thought back to her family and planet.

  “Hey Adeola. Ad?” Jake’s voice resounded in her dark cocoon and pulled her into the now. Like a sleeper woken by a nightmare, she stared wide-eyed at the large flat box in his hands. “You okay?” he asked once more with searching eyes.

  "Yes, I am fine. That smell is incredible."

  Jake laughed, “Wait till you taste it. I wish I could taste pizza for the first time. This is gonna be great and I know the perfect place to eat it.”

  Springstein park was the place the big boys went. Its atmosphere was custom-built to impress females and close open-ended relationships. A large number of the married population had proposed there. Named after a popular author who had encouraged a more romantic approach to copulation, it served as a reminder of Terra and the power of love. Everyone wanted to go there, but few ever found a good enough reason to. Jake imagined Adeola’s reaction once she saw the greenery and rides that connected the happy theme spread all over the park. He would finally get to see the famous park with a girl – an alien.

  …

  Underneath a large tree in Springstein Park, Jacob wolfed down his two slices pretty quickly. Adeola made sure to savor each bite. This may be the only time she would get to enjoy this Terran delicacy they called pizza. It was a flavor, unlike anything her world had to offer. Jacob wiped some errand sauce from the corner of his mouth with a napkin as he tapped his wrist three times to quicksave to the Shangri-La ghost server.

  shngla/lhs/srv/0001976/upload.dat

  Adeola had noticed Jacob perform this gesture earlier and was curious. She pulled her attention away from two rotating solar rings in the distance.

  “What is this custom of tapping your wrist three times?” She asked with a raised brow.

  "Custom?" Jake adjusted his glasses as realization hit him. "Oh. No, I was just updating." He answered half laughing at her ignorance.

  "Updating?"

  "Yes, to the Shangri-La ghost server." He noticed the puzzled look on her face wasn’t disappearing then remembered that Adeola was an alien from a completely different culture. For some reason, he felt very comfortable with her. This made him often forget that she wouldn't understand some things that he took for granted. This would take some explaining.

  He inched closer to her and showed her the device on his wrist. "This is a Navi. If I tap it once it can access all kinds of information. There’s a score of libraries stored within the database. Information that had been gathered from way before I was born." With a quick tap, Jake brought up a small holographic projection of a Rose."

  Adeola poked her finger through it. " This is nice,” She said. “But this flower has no smell."

  Jacob shook his head with a wry smile, "The smell and other aesthetics come when you are connected to the server. Anyway, tapping the Navi three times is a shortcut gesture to update to the Shangri-La Ghost server." He double tapped to open the Shangri-La welcome graphic. It was a dove flying upwards before disappearing into a shimmering light.

  "Beautiful," Adeola said with an excited clap. “Is this the famed magic trick I have heard of?”

  "No. This isn’t magic. I understand your confusion. It’s because of the dove, right?”

  She nodded vigorously.

  “We were taught at the academy that your ancestors developed this crude but wonderful – my teachers don’t call it wonderful, but I do – invention that makes things appear and disappear. Why use only bunnies and doves though?”

  "I am glad you think magic is a wonderful invention. As to your question, I have no idea why they only utilized those two for tricks. There are other extreme magicians who do more dangerous tricks. Here," He said as he pulled up a video of a deadly escape from a straightjacket. He watched the light in her eyes and smiled at himself for accomplishing this much. "We're all filed on the server at birth. We upload our memories to it through the Navi. That was why I was triple tapping intermittently. I wouldn’t want to forget this day." He looked off into the distance and pondered.

  "After our bodies die, if we lived a good and productive life, we continue existing in a paradise on the Shangri-La server."

  "What about your soul?" Adeola asked.

  Jacob looked down at the bottom of his shoes, "Huh?"

  "No," she leaned forward to place her hand on his chest over his heart. "Your soul. Your spirit, It is a link to your ancestors. It links you to God"

  Jake's heartbeat little faster when she touched him. He didn't understand the concepts she spoke of. It didn't make any sense to him. "I don't get it. What's a god?"

  Adeola removed her hand from his heart and leaned her back against the tree. She looked to the sky as a warm smile grew on her face, "Mars is the creator of all things. He is the originator of life. The being who watches over all with love and strength."

  "So the Arez believe in magic?" Jake asked while trying not to laugh.

  Adeola frowned. " This is not magic. You Terrans believe only in your machines."

  "No... science. How can this ‘Mars’ create an entire universe from nothing?" He asked as he adjusted his glasses. "That's magic. Pure and simple."

  She looked at him then folded her arms in front of her. "So where did universe come from, smart boy?" She asked.

  Without missing a beat, he replied, "Scientists have theorized that the universe was created by an explosion over a trillion years ago. The big bang was the mother of everything. Mankind crawled out of the primordial void and here we are."

  "That's sad."

  "How?"

  "Your people. They believe that life is an accident."

  Jacob was silent for a moment. He had no words to respond to her. He changed the subject slightly.

  "So the Arez just disappear when they die? That's just being completely gone, isn't it? That’s no different from floating into oblivion." He stopped himself from fumbl
ing for words any further. The thought of nonexistence scared Jake to his very core.

  Adeola smiled, "Not gone. We go home. We go back to where we belong."

  Jake smiled back, "I'd like to believe in something that much."

  "You do."

  Jacob was taken aback.

  "You have not seen or visited your Shangri-La but you believe in it." She said as a matter of fact and grinned.

  "That's not the same as…. there’s proof that Shangri-La exists. My…" Jacob paused. He wasn't the type to open up to anyone. He always held everything in. Maybe he was afraid of other people getting too close to him. But Adeola was so open, so free. It only felt right to share with someone who gave of herself without hesitation. Plus, he needed to prove her wrong. "My mom.... she lost her life while… she lost her body while giving birth to me. Without Shangri-La, she would just be... gone."

  "She sacrificed for you." Adeola looked away, " That is very brave."

  Jake felt that Adeola had more she wanted to say but something stopped her. It was okay. She wasn't one to hold back what she thought or felt. When she was ready, she would share. In such a short amount time they were closer than when they had first met. It was almost as if they had always known each other.

  shngla/lhs/srv/0001976/upload.dat

  7

  Interrupters

  David and his group cut school early so they could go hang out at spots like Nowhere. They were making a racket about the system and general nonsense when he suddenly stopped. The gang members followed his gaze to where Jake and Adeola were seated at the base of a tree.

  “Isn’t that Takeda?” one of the gang members asked.

  “You don’t need to ask questions when you see Buttons. Let’s go over and say hi.” The group let out a ridiculous laugh and followed David’s lead.

  Jake stiffened the moment he saw them out of the corner of his eye. He tried to get Adeola to move fast but the girl wouldn’t budge.

  “What is wrong with you,” she asked in a concerned tone.

  “This is bad. This is bad. We need to get out of here.”

  “Why? This place is beautiful and I am not done eating.”

  “Please, Adeola. You need to listen to me. Leaving right now is the best option. Remember our deal? You are breaking it now. Can you please just do what I ask?” She looked at him for a moment and decided it must be serious if he was this rattled.

  “Okay.”

  Hurriedly, he picked his briefcase and tried to shuttle her across the shoulder of the little knoll they were on. They made it to a street with shops on either side then David appeared in front of them with a snarl pretending to be a smile.

  “Why are we in such a hurry, Buttons? Why don’t you stay and play?”

  By now, the other members had closed off his escape from behind. They kept moving in until a tight circle was formed with Jake and Adeola in the middle.

  “Hello, David.” Jake started with a stutter. “Fancy meeting you here. What a nice day.”

  “I was surprised to see you here. Don’t tell me you cut class! Oops. The perfect Takeda cutting school.” The members laughed and booed at this piece of information.

  “It wasn’t intentional. I kind of… look I don’t want any problems.”

  “Are you saying I’m a problem? Because if you are then we are gonna have a problem.”

  “I never said you were a problem but if you say so then… David, can I just go?”

  “You think you’re so smart. You think I didn’t catch on to what you just did.”

  Jake blinked a couple of times. His left hand was twitching violently. Adeola’s head was slightly bowed while she tried to pull the sleeve of the shirt. David caught sight of her red skin and his curiosity went for a swim.

  “What do we have here?” He said as he pulled off Adeola’s hood. She soundly grabbed him by the arm and threw him through a storefront window. Everyone gasped and their mouths formed an O. Nearby officers heard the commotion and rushed to the scene as Adeola and Jake were running away. One of the gang pointed them out to the officers. They gave chase and followed the maze the two had followed. Jake halted, calculated that the next turn would be a dead end and the only safe route was to go back the way they came. Luckily, they made the turn before the officers blocked the path.

  “We need to go to Nowhere. We have to jump to the other side of the station, that’s the only way we can escape these officers.” He yelled his thoughts as they ran and Adeola nodded curtly.

  They reached the alley faster than Jake had anticipated. Jake remembered the story of the boy that floated away forever and the chain of fear bounded him to the spot. He knew jumping from Nowhere was the only salvation he could hope for, and yet he feared floating into nothingness.

  “What is wrong?” Adeola asked.

  “I can’t make the jump. You should go.”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “Just jump as high as you can. Okay?”

  “I do not understand. You are not coming?”

  Jake didn’t hear her. He had already retreated into himself. He was floating in a dark corner of his own mind, alone. His shoulder felt warm. He peeked outside of himself to find the source of this feeling. Adeola had placed her hand on his shoulder. She was searching for his eyes, which he had pointed firmly at the ground. Jake met her gaze and that’s when he noticed. Adeola was just as afraid as he was. He was her only connection to this strange place and he was abandoning her here. He could never forgive himself if he hurt her like that.

  “I’m sorry. I just…Never mind just follow me.”

  “Stop right there!” shouted the approaching officers. They were closing in and would soon be on them.

  “Grab my hand and don’t let go,” said Jake with a determined grin. “Now!!!”

  Adeola grabbed Jake around the waist and they jumped up. Her powerful legs did most of the work as they shot up into the air. They soared upwards. Jake felt the wind on his face as the clouds parted before them. He could finally see it, the cityscape on the opposite side of the station. He looked to Adeola. She was smiling ear to ear and wide eyed also.

  Their ascent slowed as their bodies gradually shifted to land on the other side of the station that was now below them. They gently landed in the Irving district. They were still holding onto each other even after they landed. They stood there for what felt like a long time before Jake finally broke the silence.

  “That was… That was….”

  Adeola let go of him then inspected the area, “Do not ruin this with your words human. Just think of a plan, smart boy.”

  ***

  The Steno restaurant served different kinds of food and was the one stop for any craving imaginable. Standing square in the middle of a busy street that had business people, artisans, students – generally people from different sectors of the station go by on a daily basis. Its menu ran the galaxy, covering exotic and off-season delicacies that tend to be hard to find in other establishments. Inside, the ambiance was inviting and involved a mixture of different cultures.

  Although antiques were the dominant art present in the restaurant, it wasn't disconcerting or in your face – it took a subdued but significant role, which was a testament to the expertise of whoever was responsible for the décor. The long hall held traditional lamps that swung from the rafters, giving enough illumination while hiding what was unnecessary for a great experience. At the end of the corridor was a large red curtain that led to a different part of the restaurant; serving fast foods and confectionaries by some of the best chefs in the city.

  The air in this section was different and embodied the simple nature of everyday lifestyle. Most people never ventured past the red curtain on both ends and are always surprised to learn that a few steps would have taken them to another different food experience and palate explosion.

  Annabelle stopped the virtual tour of the restaurant when her Navi beeped. She was back at home. It was a call from the school administrator placed
in charge of Jake.

  “Sorry, Mrs. Takeda but I have been saddled with the responsibility of informing you that your son wasn’t in school today. This is part of a routine measure to ensure that the parents and school communication lines are open. We apologize for assuming your ward cut school, but since we were not contacted by you it became imperative for us to tell you what happened on our end. Thank you.” She placed her hands on her hips.

  “What will I do with this boy?” She tapped her Navi but his communicator was unresponsive. Without thinking too much, she grabbed her bag and keys and headed for the door.

  David was turning onto the street that led to Jake’s house when he saw Annabelle leaving. Her countenance confirmed his fear. He had felt bad after the way they treated Jake and the Arez and had come to check if he had gotten home safely. But from the way he saw Mrs. Takeda leave, he knew all was not well. He had wanted to come apologize but now, he felt he owed it to Jake to not cause his parents worry. Deftly, he decided to tail Annabelle from a distance and come out of hiding if she needed help.

  …

  The surprise that waited for Travis on reaching the salvage yard was beyond his imagination. The pride of his salvage collection lay open and empty! Everything in the yard was intact save for the one thing that was supposed to bring him fame and fortune – eventually. He ran to the office at the side of the large space and turned on the monitor connected to the security cameras he had installed after a break in two years ago. The technology was outdated but it did its work and remained undetected by the spy system act put in place by the station security.

  “Who would rely on a bunch of incompetent people for security. Not you, Travis Takeda. Not you! Where are they now that my salvage yard has been looted?” He spoke at the portrait of himself on the opposite wall while shaking his head vehemently.

  The screen lighted up and he touched some buttons that took him to a few hours back. He kept fast-forwarding till he saw Jake enter the yard. His breath caught when he saw what came out of the pod and he left without stopping the footage.