Gateway to Astria - Part 1

by Isaiah Gray

  ~*~

  The bright light stung my eyes as they gently opened. The soft texture of the blanket felt good on my face as I covered it to hide from the light. Opening my eyes, I let them adjust a bit before I pulled the blanket back down and got up. I threw on a solid white t-shirt and skinny jeans and walked over to the bedroom to see what Resh wanted for breakfast. “Hey, what do you want to eat?” I called through the door.

  No answer…

  “Resh?”

  I unlocked the door again. I walked inside and froze. It took me a few seconds to process it before a floodgate of distress flooded into my mind.

  He was gone…

  “R-Resh!” I repeatedly called out as I ran to my room and grabbed my gun. Slowly, but surely, I walked around the house, ready to pull the trigger on my weapon at a moment’s notice. But I found nothing, I couldn’t find him anywhere. About every five seconds I looked behind me, worrying over if he was going to jump out and… well I’m not sure what he would do. For some reason I got the impression killing wasn’t his thing.

  I looked around the front room and listened – dead silence. This wasn't like it usually is, no sounds of wind outside, no usual hum of the security system, no anything. I rescanned the room and saw my clock. It was blinking 1:43 AM. The power went out. Turning towards the front door I slowly walked towards it. When I opened it, out before me wasn’t the wheat field I expected. It was a desolate wasteland… black and charred like a nuclear war just happened here… And a smell! Oh! The horrid stench was almost too much to bear. Off in the distance, odd shaped buildings and figures, tons of them. Many of them had wings as I could make out. “Oh no…” I ran back inside and grabbed a pair of sunglasses and put them on. They had a digital telescope in them. My vision zoomed so fast I felt like my eyes were going to pop out of their sockets. As I realized, just a tiny slide to the left, a huge heap of something burning was bodies – human bodies. Even THAT was a bit much for me. I gagged so hard I almost through up. It was an invasion. Did they leave anyone alive?

  Yes they did. A bit to the left in a long line they all chained together were humans. The tall Astrian winged people, clad in armor and weapons. Soldiers towered over them.

  “Looking for someone?” A voice next to me said.

  I turned around to see Resh standing in front of me with what I thought was a full suit of battle armor. “Thanks for the chili by the way, I don’t think I would have survived the collision if it wasn’t for that and you giving me a place to recover…”

  I raised my gun to try and shoot him but he raised a blade and sliced the barrel about half an inch on front of my finger. I dropped the half of the gun I was still holding, backed up slowly as he took a few steps towards me, then turn and ran. My ankle caught and sent me falling straight forward, landing hard enough that it felt like I dislocated something, not to mention spraining my ankle. I yelped in pain before I crawled backwards trying to get away, but he stepped on my injured ankle. Pain shot up my leg as he did so. I was stuck. My heart was thumping as fast as a drum roll; I tried to find something to throw, but no good thing in reach. My eyes locked with Resh’s as he gave a chuckle. He slowly lifted his sword, twirled it around and thrust it down towards my stomach. it was the last thing I saw…

  And then I woke up…

  I sat up panting deep heavy breaths. My hand reached immediately to my dresser for my gun, it was there, just as I had left it. It wasn’t in half either. I tried to calm myself down. It’s was just a dream… nothing is going to happen… It was just a dream. I swung my legs off the couch shaking my head. It was just a dream. That only happens in movies, but yet again an alien landed in my backyard. Was I falling for Resh’s plot… his, scheme, plan, or something? Whatever his little trick was leading up to, I became determined that I wouldn’t fall for it. I grumbled to myself and sighed as I put on a new set of clothes. I had grabbed the same pair as in my dream, a white T-shirt and jeans. It made me hesitant until I realized it was a different set. Scratch marks scarred the left knee of the jeans; the one in my dream did not. The white shirt was of tighter fit than the other. I sighed thankfully; it made me feel like I wasn’t doing a reenactment of the dream.

  At that point a wonderful smell tickled my nose. “Pancakes?” I must have mumbled aloud as I walked from my room to the kitchen, because what came next startled me.

  “Yes.”

  “W-what? W-who?” I replied as my vision adjusted to the brighter lights of the kitchen. I heard a faint chuckle as when they adjusted I saw Resh giving me a bright smile. My gaze sleepily followed the spatula as he flipped a pancake onto a stack of pancakes. I quickly grabbed my gun, twirled around and slammed on the trigger. Five bullets flew over Resh’s head and through the pans hanging behind him and into the wall on the far side of the dining room. I kept pulling the trigger.

  There are two sounds a gun makes. One I love the other I hate, the first sound being the echoing boom of the powder exploding in its casing. The second is the sharp clasping of the gun’s hammer signaling he didn’t have anything to hit. Unfortunately, I received the latter.

  I let the mag fall to the ground and grabbed another from my dresser in my room.

  “Waitwaitwaitwaitwait!!!!” I heard Resh yell. I was back within a second as I loaded the new clip and aimed it at him. But I didn’t pull the trigger this time.

  “I’m. Not. Going. To hurt you.” Resh said, holding his hands out peacefully.

  I pulled back on the top, loading a bullet into the chamber.

  “NO! Hear me out!” He proclaimed.

  “You got out, how?” I asked.

  Resh laughed, “You forgot to close the door, sides’ you really going to keep me prisoner? I ain’t going back home, can’t. So I suppose if being a prisoner is what it takes to get a bed then sure I guess…”

  I stood watching. He sighed and reached for the plate of pancakes.

  “You want some pancakes? They help to calm your nerves.”

  I shook my head. “You really expect me to trust you?”

  “I was just trying to be nice… You made me food, so I thought I would fix you a little something…”

  “What did you put in it?” I retorted back.

  “Flour, eggs, all the normal stuff.” He responded.

  “That’s not what I meant.”

  “No, I didn’t put poison in it if that’s what you’re after. Somebody’s on edge today… Nkohm...” I wasn't sure what the last word was, but the tone sounded equivalent of a disappointed sigh.

  Oddly, that wasn't what I was thinking – though it usually is. I was wondering of the pancakes were going to make my head spin again. I was wondering if those images would come back.

  I just stood, my eyes dancing back and forth between him and the pancakes.

  Resh sighed. “Alright fine… Don’t have any… But honestly, if I got out over an hour ago I just as easily could have killed you while you were sleeping, If I wanted to that is.”

  I scowled to myself. He had a point, unfortunately. My gaze followed Resh to the table where he sat down with the gigantic plate of pancakes. He put a few on a second plate. “Do you mind if I eat? Because I’m hungry.” He said. I sighed and nodded. I still didn’t dare lower my weapon as I walked over to the table and sat down.

  “You don’t have to point that at me you know. I’m not going to do anything.”

  I ignored his comment and rested both my arms on the table, still aiming the weapon at him. I tried to fix my gaze on him. But I found the pancakes distracting. I kept glancing down at them, but pretty soon I could feel my mouth watering. Something about them was just tempting me, was it the smell? I couldn’t put my finger on it.

  I sighed and I looked down towards my stomach as it growled harshly. I figured I might as well. Whatever he could have put in it would probably be better than starving to death.

  “Toss me one.” I finally said. Resh nodded, took two actually and threw them to me. They looked like regular pancakes, but there
was…something different about them. I just can’t pinpoint what. I stared down at the food before me, and then glanced up at Resh; he had already finished half the stack, which surprised me. I don’t know what it is like to be hurled into earth, but don't think it makes you any hungrier. I guess I wouldn’t know for sure until I’ve tried it, though I don’t intend on it.

  Slowly I picked up my fork and knife and cut a piece off. I brought it about an inch from my mouth and looked at Resh, no expression, he was eating more.

  I snatched the piece off my fork and chewed. It was the same as the chili last night. They were moist, tantalizing, melting in my mouth, definitely something you would never find on earth. It took a few seconds of chewing before my head started to spin, at first I thought something was wrong, then all the images from last night engrained themselves into my mind.

  “Ow!” I yelped. The images hurt; they didn’t feel like just thoughts. I looked as Resh. He was now looking at me, the entire plate of pancakes gone.

  I had some inner feeling that Resh knew what those images were. it was creeping me out, even inspiring the smallest notion of fear. I anxiously ate the rest of my food; I hoped they would come back a bit clearer this time. They did not, unfortunately. Even though I didn’t get that blurred image anymore, the sensation of the pancake stayed. That made it almost irresistible. It tasted amazing.

  “Why is the food you touch so different?” I asked.

  “I just make it the way we do at home.” Resh responded.

  “Astria?”

  Resh nodded in return to me.

  “If all food there tasted this good, I may become a food critic and take a trip.” I found myself attempting to hold my own self back from eating to eagerly and enthusiastically. I had to find what those images were. I finished every bit that was on my plate, and with a soft burp of satisfaction, I actually smiled.

  Resh apparently heard it, smiling right after. He patted his stomach, full from eating the rest of the pancakes. It actually sunk in that he had eaten the entire stack in almost no time. No seconds for me I guess. .

  “Why?” I piped up.

  “Why what?”

  “Why are you being so kind? You’re in a strange new planet. “I kept you as… somewhat of a prisoner. ”

  Resh sighed, chuckled, and nodded before responding. “Let’s say I’m trying to change… I did a lot of things I regret. And I’m trying to become a different person.”

  “I-is that why you were sent here… Because you did those things? It must have been pretty bad.

  “I was a-” His voice was cut off by the ringing of the phone again.

  “Hold on” I said, holding up one finger yet again. I picked up my gun as well, but instead of aiming at Resh I simply holstered it at my side. For some reason, a reason I could not figure out, I found a strange sense of familiarity with this… alien. I found it hard to be cautious. Though he was still an alien, and someone I shouldn’t trust right away. It was hard not too… It was like he, or something at least was somehow messing with my mind. I know I should be worried, but I wasn't, and I had no idea why.

  Tapping my pocket, the word “answer” rolled out of my mouth. For some reason – a personal pet peeve of mine – voice activated commands feel embarrassing to say in front of other people. It felt weird, awkward, or something along those lines.

  The video came back up: Brown eyes. Brown, short, spiky hair, similar to Resh’s hair, but Resh’s was black. “Hey Nathan” I said.

  “Hey, I’m nearing home, Just thought I’d remind you that I’ll be stopping by later tonight.”

  “Alright.” I bluntly replied, this time with a smile on my face. He nodded back, said I love you and then hung up.

  Turning away from the closing screen, I looked at Resh who was watching me.

  “You want to explain who he is, if I’m going to meet him when he gets here?” He asked?

  “No, He won’t know.”

  “You mean you’re going to keep me a secret from your boyfriend?”

  “How did you know he was my boyfriend?” I asked with question.

  “You smile when you talk to him.”

  I opened my mouth to fight it, but I knew he was right, so I continued on. “Nobody will know about you, not until I figure out more about you.” I snapped back.

  “Why not?”

  “Just no.” I bluntly replied. To be honest, I wanted the first questions and didn’t want anybody else to take a crack at him.

  “You’re not much for conversation are you?” He inquired.

  “It depends on the conversation.” I responded.

  “Okay, tell me while you are so jumpy and edgy?”

  “Am not!” I snapped back. I shook my head; He isn’t going to give up is he.

  “Thank you for proving my point!” He laughed at his own little joke

  “No I didn’t.” I replied. It wasn’t funny.

  “Well, then answer my question then!”

  I grumbled to myself before answering. “Fine… Let’s just say I didn’t have the most… positive upbringing, just a lot of harsh things happened to me, and not just while I was young. THAT is why, why I don’t know who to trust.”

  “Do you trust anybody?”

  I nodded.

  “Like?” He replied.

  “Nathan.” I bluntly replied.

  “Your boyfriend?”

  I nodded. “Pretty much the only one I can trust”

  Resh stood up. Something about that conversation tensed me enough to draw my weapon at him, hesitant.

  He put his hands in the air. “Whoa! Don’t shoot! You can trust me.”

  Somehow something started to convince me. Maybe I can. I shook my head crazily. What was I thinking? Something was messing with my mind, maybe it was the pancakes.

  I sighed. “No, I can’t, not after what I’ve been through… You’re not even close to earning my trust.”

  Resh nodded, sighed in defeat.

  “Go.” I motioned to the guest room – prison may be more appropriate term. Resh nodded and sulked off to the other room.

  I sighed, I needed Nathan here. He would know how to handle this. Maybe it would be a good idea to tell him.