by Shelly Crane
I could hear Danny moving around in the other room, trying to speak. I let out a long steady calming sigh as I stood up. This big long crazy story wasn’t going to be fun to tell him, but it’d be better coming from me.
I tapped on the glass with my fingernail to get his attention, he jerked his head and ran over to me at the window. I could hear him just fine through the thin glass between us. He was not happy to say the least so I started to talk quick, but the look on Danny’s face is strange. He backed away in awe, shaking his head and plopped himself onto the bed again, staring at Merrick. I glanced over at him too.
“The mind thing?” I asked moving a bit towards Merrick.
“It’s the best way to...cut through the red tape,” he answered.
We both finished our half hour long plea for Danny to believe and understand, which he did. After the mind trick it was hard not to, but Danny was mainly concerned for my safety...on the other side of the glass. Merrick opened the door to let him out and Danny hugged me as if he hadn’t seen me in years.
“Are you ok? He didn’t hurt you did he?” he asked loudly, glancing back to glare at Merrick.
Always my tough guy.
“No. No, he didn’t hurt me,” I said looking at Merrick too.
“Don’t mess with her, you hear me? I don’t care what’s going on with everything. We may be stuck together but just...stay away from her.”
It was strange how it looked like Merrick actually was fighting a smile.
“I would never hurt her, or you, but alright, Danny. I understand,” Merrick replied steadily.
“I can’t believe I went along with that story you came up with. I should’ve known better.”
“Yes, you should have,” I replied flatly.
“You...you were awake, well aware...in the car, weren’t you? You could hear that whole time?” Danny said with comprehension setting in.
“Mmhmm,” I answered tersely.
“What was that stuff you gave me?” He turned to look at Merrick. “I heard you guys out there mumbling the whole time but I couldn’t get up.”
“It’s a drug. When we come here, sometimes we have some explaining to do. When we arrive, we are in the body of someone else and have to leave their family to help our Special. They don’t understand that the person has died. Sometimes it’s necessary to put people out for their own good so they don’t hurt themselves or us,” Merrick explained.
He was looking at me, subtly apologizing for doing just that to me not a few hours ago and once again my heart fluttered at being on the receiving end of such an honest look. I shook it away.
“Makes sense I guess,” Danny muttered, rubbing his hand over his face. “Ok. Well. Wow. Whew. What a day, huh?” Danny was a talker when he was nervous.
The whole “he’s a Special thing” would go straight to his head. All this time, I told him he needed a purpose, a goal, an ambition. He had a bigger one than I could’ve ever imagined.
“So. What now?” I asked.
Stuck in the ground with a Special and a kidnapping Keeper, no clothes or anything else personal and my stomach growling. Every girls dream.
“Well. I have food for tonight in the bag I brought. Sherry and I will have to go out tomorrow and get some supplies and we’ll be getting some company tomorrow as well.”
“Can you still see the future?” I asked, praying the answer was yes.
What a useful tool that could be.
“No, not once we take a body. Then we are basically human, except for the mind projection and the symbol behind the ear, there’s no way to tell. Not that I know of anyway. We usually aren’t in a body very long so...we’re kind of in uncharted waters.”
“Hmmm. Ok. Well, can we eat now, maybe? I’m pretty hungry,” I said looking at my watch, 1:30 a.m.
I’d been ‘asleep’ for a few hours then.
“Sure. Let’s head into the kitchen, then I’ll show you two around the place.”
We followed him down the wide white hall with the rooms on it and to the right, there was a grand kitchen area. All silver, and chrome with two entrance way doors on either side of the room. Industrial ovens, stoves and a refrigerator. Even a huge double door freezer.
If you were gonna hideout, this was the way to do it I guess. He pointed towards the bathroom and showers as we passed. There were no shower curtains, doors or stalls.
Hmmm. That would be interesting.
There was a lab area and even a room with a basketball goal and court in it. Upon asking, he told me this was a facility used for scientist and geneticist. They stayed here for months at a time when they worked on fertility drugs. They were afraid of activist trying to thwart their efforts, so they hid in this warehouse with their families while they worked and did their internships.
The cans of tuna he brought, with no crackers or bread weren’t appetizing, but to an empty stomach and no breakfast in sight, it hit the spot. Stale water in the pipes but clean water none the less and thankfully it wasn’t sulfur water. Try to make a good situation out of something crumby. At least Danny was safe.
“There will be ten Keepers coming tomorrow with their charges,” he told us as we walked past another hallway of rooms.
“How long can we stay down here? I mean, won’t the Lighters just keep looking? How long do we have until Danny’s supposed to do...whatever it is he’s gonna do?”
“I don’t know specific dates, Sherry. I don’t know when he’ll need to do something or where, it’ll just happen. As far as staying down here, I don’t know that either but you’re right, we won’t be able to stay here forever. Don’t worry, I’ll do whatever I have to do to keep you safe.”
The way he still looked at me was very strange. He wasn’t looking at Danny that way. It was almost like a man looking at someone he...desires or admires. So I asked.
“Do you have Matt’s thoughts and memories?”
“No. Everything of Matt is gone but his body.”
“Hmmm.”
Well that solved nothing.
“Alright, we got a big day tomorrow. Things might get tense with all of us getting crammed into this small space.”
“You mean things will get tense right? You’ve seen it?” I suggested.
“Yes.” He actually smiled, and it was amazingly gorgeous. He was pleased that I was listening to his story I guess. “Things will get tense. A few of the other Specials and family members aren’t thrilled about this. Some still don’t believe and some are angry and want to fight back, want to fight us, the Keepers.”
“So you can’t see past tomorrow right? That’s your forty eight hours?”
“Right, after tomorrow night, we are all walking blind but just my coming here can alter the course of things. Anything we do can change the way things happen.”
We all exchanged loaded heavy glances. I sighed and fidgeted with my necklace.
“Ok then. I’ll guess I’ll go pick a room and get some sleep? Good night...Merrick,” I said nodding to him and turning.
“Um. Sherry,” he said catching my sleeve and his fingers brushed my skin sending a zing through me. I jolted slightly, looking at him sharply and he released it. “I think it would be best if we all stayed in the rooms next to each other and either you and Danny can share a room or Danny and I can, but someone will have to. There’s only fifteen rooms so...”
“Ah, I guess I’ll share with ya, sis. No snoring though,” Danny said pointing, clearly back to his old self and the shock gone.
Wouldn’t be long until the ego reared it’s ugly head.
“Fine and I do not snore.” I punched his arm and then turned back to Merrick. “Night Ma- Merrick. Sorry, uh...You do sleep, right?” I asked as I twirled a curl in between my fingers, unable to stop my nervousness.
Merrick watched me do it, like he had watched it a hundred times, reminiscent. His eyes were dark and watching but they still have kindness in them, a familiarity but not Matt’s. The dark brown eyes I was used to seeing on that face were d
eep green now, all Merrick.
“Yes. As far as your concerned, I’m human.”
“Ok. G’night.”
As we turned the corner I couldn’t stop myself from one last look and there it was again! That look he’d been giving me all night. Like he was in some kind of trance. Tomorrow I would find out what that whole ‘you don’t know how long’ business was all about.
Merrick - Explaining To Do
Chapter 4
I laid down on the surprisingly soft and comfortable bed. The white sheets were clean and smelled like bleach. Smell. I actually could smell the bleach. I chuckled under my breath at how every experience on earth was so different. I’d never really paid attention to smell when I was here before. I guessed I didn’t have to worry about it anymore. I would always have smell. It wasn’t like I could go home, not like I would.
I couldn’t believe it. I was actually lying in a bed, on earth, next to the room where Sherry and Danny were sleeping, safely. I was actually here again, but for them this time. I never thought I’d get the chance with them.
I slipped out of bed and walked the short distance to the next room to check on them, again. My charges. Danny was snoring and drooling on his pillow, laid out on his stomach and limbs spread wide. Normal.
My conscience was already starting to buzz with just the thought of leaving him here alone tomorrow.
Sherry was laying on her side with one leg stuck out and curled around the covers, her hand under her cheek and her hair fanned out on her shoulders. Normal for her too.
I guessed the beds were comfortable enough for them. Me, having never slept on a bed, I had no idea what it should feel like, but it felt pleasant enough.
I watched their little mannerisms, Sherry’s sighing softly and shifting slowly, almost dreamlike, rubbing her neck in her sleep. Danny talks and snores, rattling the walls as people say but doesn’t move. They probably wouldn’t be comfortable with me watching them like that, but it was just so in habit of me. Comforting.
I’d always watched them, even in their sleep. They have been my only priority for many years.
Sherry was even more gorgeous in person, and her scent...is amazing. Again with the smell. It lingered in the air even after she was gone from the room. Carrying her was almost unbearable. Light as a feather and yet, my knees wanted to collapse from actually being able to hold her, touch her.
And why! Why did I have to come here as Matt! What the heck was Matt doing way out there? She would have nothing to do with me, not even as friends. How could she with this face? He was so brutal to her, berated and belittled her. She could never see past it. Not like it mattered. She could never love me let alone like me.
I was not a human.
And Danny. I couldn’t believe he fell for that act, and with Matt’s face no less. How naïve and gullible was he? Even if the Lighter’s hadn’t pulled this stunt I would’ve been down here soon enough to save his lazy behind. Sherry was right. She thinks she was too hard on him, but he needed guidance that his parents definitely didn’t give him.
They were both so wonderfully normal and real to me.
It still amazed me ,even after all that time, how different people were in person than when you watched them. It was like a dream, a haze, a cloud. Color but a copy, not real but here, everything was alive.
Smells, facial expressions, the fluidity of movement, the way they banter and flash smiles at each other, the way she protects him and the way he loves and reveres her. It was all so real and colorful, loud and wonderful. I was glad Danny has had Sherry all these years.
It definitely takes some getting used to, the humans and their bodies. I couldn’t believe how tired I was. My eyelids were forcing themselves down over my eyes, though I was still looking and seeing and aware. And hungry, my stomach making those noises that command me to obey or else.
These bodies betray them with their senses. Like the way Sherry looks at me and I freeze, my limbs shaky and stiff, this heart pounding against my ribs. I knew she could tell, she had to. If I knew how to be embarrassed, I was sure I would be. The body would show me soon enough.
Tomorrow, we’d gather the supplies we needed. Please let everything go smoothly. I knew Sherry wasn’t thrilled about going out alone with me. I didn’t blame her. I had to gain control of myself around her. It was just after watching her for so long and to have her there...right in front of me...
But...I was going to be a good man. I was going to be noble and gallant, I had to be. I’d keep my distance and just enjoy my time with them here. I couldn’t let her know how I felt. I’d hate it if she felt uncomfortable around me, more than she did already. I had to control myself, control the bodies reactions.
Something had changed with the Lighters. Something that they thought would help them get away with it. Gah, this is bad! How could I tell Danny and Sherry that their world was...over? Centuries and Centuries. Why then?
As I looked at the human face in the mirror of the bathroom, rubbing the hairs growing on my chin, I couldn’t help but not recognize myself. The face looked nothing like my true self. I was utterly devastated to be stuck with the face of someone who could degrade a woman like he had Sherry.
I thought about how I’d have to start shaving, brushing my teeth, taking showers. I poked under my eyes, that were lined with gray semi-circles from fatigue. I ran my hands through my new black hair. The face was young. I had no idea how old Matt was, looked to be early twenties. He kept himself healthy and worked out a lot. I could tell that from the body. My t-shirt was tighter than I’d like and uncomfortable around the arms bands. I guessed human girls like that sort of thing. And this stupid tattoo, a bull of all things. I was stuck with a bull on my chest. Of all the galaxies and planets I knew of, earth is by far the most puzzling.
Earth. Never spent more than a day on earth before in one stretch. Never saw the end coming. I had a feeling we wouldn’t be returning to our home, that there was no going back to the way it was for the humans. Maybe that was just me, being selfish. If I didn’t finish my task, then I couldn’t leave. And I wouldn’t have to find a reason to stay.
I couldn’t leave. Danny and Sherry were my...family. They may not have felt that way, in fact I knew they didn’t but I couldn’t let them go. I’d never felt that. Never had a need to feel it but I couldn’t leave, she was too close. Even if I could never have her for myself, she was everywhere here.
I was stuck and there would be no going home for me.
A New Way To Be Human
Chapter 5
There was no sun to wake me in the morning. No windows, no birds songs or honking horns. Only the fluorescent lights that were on a timer as I heard them click and buzz to life. I opened my eyes, squinting against the harsh light. My watch said 6:30.
6:30 a.m.? Ugh. And no coffee.
I hated to admit to myself that I was one of those people. Those coffee people. But I liked- not needed- but liked my coffee in the morning. I guessed that was why I was so bitter about Danny’s coffee job. I could work there and drink the heck out of some coffee. But no. Danny, who didn’t even drink coffee, worked there. No, the coffee wasn’t good but, at 6:30 in the morning, I’d take coffee in any form.
Letting my eyes adjust, I laid there quietly, looking at the white ceiling tiles in my small white room. A big perfectly square one with popcorn plaster above my bed. The bed was pretty comfy, firm but soft enough. The room was nice enough, dreary white, but nice. A whole basement of nothing but hospital white and sterile chrome. Lovely.
Danny, still snoring passed the lights and clicking sounds, hadn’t moved an inch from where he fell asleep last night. There was a bed and a cot in the room. Danny graciously took the cot. No matter how unruly he was, he was still a gentleman about some things. Shaking him, I said his name and he moaned and groaned, sucking the drool up from his lip and mumbling something about mom leaving him alone for a few more minutes.
I rolled my eyes, I walked into the hall, I dearly wished we had
grabbed some clothes in our hurried escape. I should’ve known that Merrick would have that covered too. Outside my room, on the floor in the hall, were two stacks of clothing. One for me. As I examined them, I realized they were sweat pants and a t-shirt. Universal grey. Great.
I grabbed them up and went to jump in the shower, assuming Merrick would be in the kitchen, though I didn’t know why I thought that.
As I walked in I saw the steam but it was too late to turn before getting a peek of Merrick’s/Matt’s, backside. All those months we dated I never saw anything but his chest. Gosh, it was nice. What! Turn around you fool!
I blushed what I’m sure was an extreme color of rouge and tried to turn and run but once again he was there before I can escape. Not humanly possible. He had the towel around his waist and already in front of me, blocking the way out.
“It’s ok. It’s all yours,” Merrick said towel drying his hair, not looking a bit bashful.
It was awfully hard to not look at him. I did mention how gorgeous Matt was right and that I’d never seen anything but his chest at the pool?
I averted my eyes to the wall behind him in a desperate attempt to regain some coherency. Then focused on Matt’s tattoo, right above his right breast. A black and gray horned bull. I’d always thought it fit him and his attitude but I guess it didn’t belong to Matt anymore.
“I’m so sorry. I should’ve...knocked,” I said, licking my suddenly dry lips.
“It’s ok. I thought I had more time before you got up. I’m sure you’ve seen it all before anyway...wait. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that,” he said running his hand through his wet hair.
I assumed he meant he saw me in the future walk in on him and he was trying to hurry to avoid this.