by Kelly Goode
Lydia rearranged her equipment and then covered her face with a surgical mask.
‘You can ask her all the questions you want when she wakes up. Now get as much blood as we have stored and prep her for a transfusion.’
9
Carson didn’t bother knocking on Chief Melman’s door when she reached it. He might be head of the Invasive Species Control Unit, but this was a personal matter.
‘Blake said you shot him,’ she blurted as soon as she walked inside his office.
Tom Melman was a firm but fair boss. He led by example and always projected the aura of control. He never looked less than immaculate, from his neatly trimmed dark hair and moustache to his over-shined shoes, but that control slipped when he looked up from his laptop and met her glare.
‘A hello would be nice,’ he replied curtly, as he closed the lid and deliberately rested his arm on top, as if she might leap across the desk and liberate it from him. ‘And I would appreciate it if you at least acted as if I have some control over you while we are at work.’
‘Did you shoot Blake?’ she repeated, ignoring his attempt to put her in her place. She wasn’t there as his subordinate. He was closest thing she had to family, but that didn’t mean she would tolerate him taking matters into his own hands and meddling in her relationship.
‘Sit down, Carson,’ he said and his jaw ticked as he studied her. ‘That’s an order.’
Carson frowned and jammed her hands on her hips. She could be just as stubborn as him. Silence stretched between them for what felt like minutes but in reality only lasted a few seconds.
‘You’re infuriating,’ Tom finally said. ‘You used to strike that exact pose as a child when I said you couldn’t do something.’
‘And you eventually relented,’ she replied.
‘Yes I did. You’re as obstinate as your mother, but you’re no longer a child. I couldn’t protect her, but I’m doing my best to protect you. Cut me some slack.’
Carson knew her anger towards him was misdirected, so she relented and slumped into the chair opposite his desk. She owed him her life. He’d taken her in after her mother had died and had practically raised her through her teenage years.
‘I’m sorry,’ she replied. ‘Hello.’
‘That’s better. Now what were you saying about me shooting someone?’
‘Blake told me you shot him.’
Tom sat back in his chair. ‘The only time I’ve shot Blake Holloway is in my dreams, which I assume is my subconscious way of dealing with your relationship. If he’s dead, he doesn’t get to touch you anymore. Is he dead?’
‘Of course not, you just saw him downstairs.’
‘Then I didn’t shoot him, because believe me if I did, I wouldn’t miss.’
‘Why would he lie?’
Tom tugged on the ends of his moustache. ‘I think you’re a little blinkered when it comes to Blake. Everybody lies. Even the people that claim to love you.’
‘Have you lied to me?’
He didn’t answer straight away and Carson felt her stomach flip-flop with apprehension.
‘Yes, I’ve lied, but you’ve lied to me too. Like I said earlier, everybody lies. You just need to work out whether this particular lie was for Blake’s benefit or for yours.’
Carson got to her feet and started pacing the room.
‘I saw the wound on his chest,’ she said, working her hands through her short, bristly hair, which was only just starting to grow back from a grenade mishap. ‘He isn’t lying about being shot.’
‘Well I didn’t do it and I really can’t see what he stands to gain by implicating me.’
‘I think he’s a little jealous of you.’
Tom’s brow furrowed. ‘Why would he be jealous of me?’
‘You already know that Blake is incredibly perceptive. I think he’s figured out our relationship goes deeper than just employer and employee. He hinted that he thinks there’s something going on between us.’
Tom laughed. ‘That’s ridiculous. I love you like a daughter, Carson.’
‘I know.’
‘Plus your file is sealed tighter than an airlock on a spaceship.’
‘I know.’
‘No one is ever going to find out how you came to work here or about our real connection. I promise.’
Carson wasn’t so sure about that. Secrets always found a way to escape their bonds.
‘I’ve seen the way Blake looks at us when we’re together,’ she said. ‘Maybe if I told him how you helped-’
‘No,’ Tom cut in. ‘You can’t tell him anything. Not a word about your mother and me. This job puts us in enough danger without the added incentive of someone using you as leverage to get back at me.’
She considered that. ‘We all have enemies. I wouldn’t want someone to hurt you to settle a score either.’
‘I’m glad we’re in agreement. Have we also established that I’m not the one who shot Blake?’
Carson nodded. ‘But someone did and I’m not going to stop until I discover the truth.’
‘The truth doesn’t always set you free,’ Tom replied a little wistfully, before clearing his throat and changing the subject. ‘As you’re here, you may as well fill me in on whether Lydia managed to stabilise the alien.’
‘Yes, she sedated her and stitched the wounds.’
‘It’s female?’ Tom asked, sounding just as surprised as everyone else. ‘How do you know?’
‘Blake seemed convinced of the gender. Maybe he copped a feel when he was holding her.’
‘Ah, I see. Jealousy doesn’t suit you either, Carson.’
She ignored that. She wasn’t jealous that Blake had jumped to the aid of a female alien. More that he didn’t trust her to tell her what was really going on in his life.
‘Have you spoken to Doctor Peters again?’ she asked.
Tom shook his head. ‘I told her she could use the medical facilities to help her friend, but I can’t see a way to move forward. She might have returned the microchip that she stole, but I don’t trust her, which is why I want Lydia to independently review Doctor Malone’s data. She’s our best chance to translate the science and tell us why he decided to hold a jaktten hostage in his basement.’
‘Are you going to tell her that he’s dead?’
‘When the time is right. I know the two of you didn’t exactly hit it off at the start, but she’s a clever woman. You should give her a chance.’
Carson sighed. ‘I never doubted her intelligence; just her personality.’
‘Once you get to know her, you realise that tough exterior is just a defence mechanism. Remind you of anyone?’
Carson shrugged, refusing to believe she had anything in common with Lydia. ‘Not in the slightest. I’ll let you know once I’ve spoken to Blake.’
‘If you decide after you’ve listened to his explanation that you want me to shoot him for real this time, I’d be happy to oblige.’
‘I’ll bear that in mind. Any news on the missing little girl?’
Tom shook his head and Carson’s stomach lurched. Liv, Tisha, Amy, Bonnie, and Sage. The list of victims had already grown longer and she couldn’t bear to add another name to it so soon.
‘I’ll find her,’ she vowed. ‘I’ll find her and make those desquamaters wish they’d never heard of Earth.’
10
Lydia pulled her black coat tightly around her thin frame before exiting HQ. Although the days were dry and fine, night-time frost brought the temperatures plummeting. She’d been reluctant to leave the injured jaktten until she was sure that the sedation hadn’t caused any adverse effects, but as the hours had ticked away, it was clear she wasn’t going to regain consciousness anytime soon. Adam offered to take the graveyard shift and Lydia agreed to return early the next day to relieve him.
She checked her watch and saw it was close to midnight. She had ten minutes to get to the bus stop or else she’d miss the last bus home. She briefly contemplated getting a taxi, but the rank was deserted. Lydia sighe
d and her breath swirled upwards like a little cyclone. She followed its ascent, taking in the bright, full face of the moon. She’d loved the moon as a child but now it sent a shiver through her body, knowing there were creatures that survived beyond the stars, with hostile plans for Earth and its occupants.
Lydia once again ignored that feeling of being watched; instead blaming it on tiredness as she stepped out of the safety of the building. The street was deserted, no people or cars for company, so she set off at a brisk pace towards the bus stop. She needed to rein in her paranoia. She chased evidence, not monsters. No one would come looking for her. She wasn’t important enough. Her thoughts drifted towards Doctor Malone, as something had forced him to conduct his research in a secret laboratory in his basement.
The closer she got to Romford town centre, the stronger the scent of fried food became. There were a few people staggering around the streets, having left the pubs either willingly or forcibly. As it was midweek, it was too early for the nightclubs to be chucking out so apart from the small crowd gathered inside the local takeaway shop near the train station, she was alone. The bus stop was also deserted and Lydia let out a sigh of relief that she wouldn’t have to deal with any intoxicated people during the journey home.
‘Give me your handbag, bitch.’
The voice came from behind her, as a hand clamped down on her shoulder. She spun around in alarm and met the agitated expression on a young man’s face. He wore a grey hoody pulled down over his head in an attempt to conceal his features, but she noted his chin was red and spotty and his teeth were stained yellow.
‘I don’t have any money,’ Lydia spluttered, as he yanked her bag from her shoulder.
‘I said give it to me.’
She looked up and down the street, praying the bus would arrive and scare away her assailant. She opened her mouth to scream, but he pulled a switchblade from his pocket and it felt as if all the air left her lungs at once.
‘Don’t scream,’ he ordered, as if reading her mind. ‘You must have something in here – a credit card or a phone.’
As the man now only had one hand free, he tipped the contents of her bag onto the floor and used the toe of his shabby trainers to push aside the items he deemed worthless.
‘I-I told you I don’t have any money,’ she stuttered. ‘Just leave me alone.’
‘Where’s your purse?’
‘I don’t use one.’
He reached out and grabbed her around the throat with one hand while pressing the tip of the knife against her cheek with the other hand.
‘Don’t lie, bitch.’
‘I’m not,’ she tried to reply, but he squeezed her neck until she couldn’t breathe. He tried to pat her down with the hand holding the knife until she felt sure he was going to cut her from the way his hand shook uncontrollably.
‘Give me your bank cards.’
Lydia looked into the young man’s glassy eyes and tried to control the panic that was eating away at her stomach. Her vision grew blurry and she sagged slightly. He must have realised he was holding her too tightly as he let her go and she collapsed to the floor, grazing her knees through her trousers. She gasped and sucked in as much air as her bruised throat would allow.
The hazy beam of approaching headlights caused them both to look towards the far end of the street.
‘That’s my bus,’ she wheezed. ‘They’re fitted with external cameras. They’ll catch you.’
Her assailant smiled and grabbed her by the hair. ‘Let’s take this somewhere private. I ain’t finished with you yet, bitch. If you ain’t got money, you can give me something else.’
He tugged her to her feet and manhandled her towards a small alleyway between two shops. This time she didn’t heed his warning and started screaming.
‘No, please, no, leave me alone.’
She tried to hit out at him, but his grip on her hair was too tight. For the first time, she wished she was more like Carson. The petite agent would’ve had her gun in this punk’s face the minute he touched her shoulder, but Lydia was not trained in combat or self-defence.
Once they were far enough inside the alleyway, her attacker slammed her back against the wall and pressed his chest against hers.
‘Keep quiet and you might live through this,’ he sneered, as he forced her legs apart, positioning himself in between them. ‘If you scream again, I’ll cut your throat. I swear it.’
Lydia felt him fumbling with the zip of his trousers and then with hers. The heat of his potent breath against her face made her want to vomit.
‘Help,’ she whispered, as a tear slid past her lashes. ‘Please someone help me.’
As if in direct response to her plea, a low growl resonated through the alleyway. The man heard it too and briefly paused groping her.
‘Stupid stray,’ he said, scanning the wet and grimy space. ‘Fuck off.’
The growl grew louder and more menacing until eventually an animal emerged from the shadows. It was larger than any dog she’d ever seen and had an unusual coat of silver fur. Lydia couldn’t make out its breed, as tears blurred her vision.
‘Go on. Get out of here, you fucking mutt.’
The man pushed away from Lydia and without his weight pressing her against the stone wall, she slumped to the ground. He kicked out at the animal and missed, landing hard on his knees. He cursed and waved his knife menacingly in front of his face.
This was her opportunity to escape.
Lydia inched sideways on her hands and knees, using the wall for support. Each movement seemed unbearably small, yet it took her closer to the entrance of the alleyway. Closer to safety. She was no more than six foot away when she heard the purr of another approaching engine –probably a taxi this time. She pulled herself to her feet, willing her body to carry her the remaining way to safety.
‘Oh no you don’t, bitch.’
The man grabbed her hair again and Lydia’s anger exploded like a firework at being foiled so close to her escape. If she had a pair of scissors she would have happily cut off her hair just to be free of him. She saw the shadow of the vehicle as it drove past and knew she would die if she didn’t get away.
‘Get off me. Get the fuck off me,’ Lydia screamed. She blindly kicked out and managed to land a lucky blow to his shin. The man grunted and released her, but she didn’t get far before he clasped both hands around her neck.
Before she could even contemplate that this was how she was going to die, her assailant let out a high-pitched scream and let go of her. Lydia turned around to see that the dog had jumped onto the man’s back. Only now she could see it wasn’t really a dog. It looked more like a wolf. Her attacker danced around as if he were on strings, and tried to throw the animal off his back, but eventually the weight proved too much and he fell forward and cracked his forehead against the concrete floor.
Lydia stood motionless, her earlier notion of escape now forgotten as she stared into the animal’s gleaming grey eyes. His gigantic paws were pressed firmly against her attacker’s back, holding him in place.
It had saved her.
She shared an eerily intimate look with the animal before it opened it jaws and punctured the man’s neck with its teeth.
11
‘You-you saved my life,’ Lydia stuttered, as the animal circled her and sniffed her clothes. It was an even more terrifying sight up close, as it now had her attacker’s blood matted to the fur around its mouth.
‘Thank you,’ she continued, and it cocked its head to one side as if it was listening to her, which would’ve made her laugh if she wasn’t so scared.
The animal stopped circling and sat in front of her. Its eyes were steely grey and unlike any she’d seen on an animal before.
‘You don’t look like a normal dog.’
It nodded its head as if agreeing with her and Lydia rubbed her sore eyes.
‘You need to go,’ she said. ‘If the authorities catch you here, they’ll destroy you for biting a human, even if that human deserv
ed it.’
The animal remained seated and held her stare.
‘Go on,’ Lydia said, firmer this time. ‘I said shoo. Go home.’
It ignored her and she had the sudden irrational urge to touch its fur. She reached out a shaky hand and scratched the top of its head. The animal didn’t seem to mind as its long pink tongue lolled out of its mouth. She caressed its silky ears and underneath its jaw.
‘You might not have a home to go to, but I do. Hopefully, my handbag is still in the street.’
Lydia realised that in order to get out of the alleyway, she would have to step over her attacker’s body. Her heart thumped painfully inside her chest, as she inhaled and exhaled rapidly. The animal noticed her discomfort and licked her hand. Its tongue felt warm and rough against her skin, but it seemed to give her the courage she needed to persuade her feet to move again.
‘I know you’re not really a dog,’ she said, as she shuffled around the man’s motionless body. ‘But I’m going to pretend you are, as there are only so many things I can deal with at once.’
Her attacker looked pitiful, sprawled out on the grimy floor. Part of her hoped he was dead, but no sooner had she thought that than his shoulder twitched. The animal growled and Lydia’s heart felt as if it would burst out of her chest, as the young man lifted his head and stared right at her. The hatred in his eyes caused her stomach to plummet. His forehead was covered in blood and his nose seemed broken, but that didn’t stop him from grabbing her leg. The tip of his blade glinted under the moonlight, as it slashed across her legs. It cut cleanly through the cotton of her trousers and nicked against her skin. Her attacker pulled himself to his knees despite the blood that gushed from the bite mark at the back of his neck.
‘I’m going to kill you, you fucking bitch.’
The animal growled and the man lunged in that direction instead, slashing and cutting at its fur with the blade.
‘No, leave it alone.’
In a moment of madness, she leapt forward and tried to knock the knife from his hand. At the same time, the animal pounced and locked its jaws around the man’s wrist, and with a vicious shake of its head, it bit through skin and bone. The knife clattered to the floor, but Lydia wasn’t quick enough to retreat before the animal struck again. Only this time it wasn’t the man’s arm it bit, but hers.
