Taken by the Aliens

by Anna Lewis

  The festive mood was contagious, allowing Lindy to relax a little. She was awed at the sight of these people who all had slightly pointed ears and uncanny eyes with silver sparks.

  Are they not human? she wondered silently as she continued to watch the merriment. There were almost a hundred of them present, with some glancing in her direction curiously. But they seemed to be polite, nice, and friendly.

  Is this just some kind of ritual or trick before they eat me? she thought, her eyes widening as she imagined them suddenly turning toward her like in one of those zombie movies.

  “Have some of our special fish skewers!” Kay offered, taking some sticks from a woman who passed by with a tray. “They’re yummy!” She took a bite from one stick and handed two to Lindy.

  Lindy looked at the skewers. Their delicious aroma and appetizing appearance made her mouth water. She cautiously took a bite and started chewing. Her eyes lit up. “Really good,” she murmured, taking another bite.

  Kay smiled. “It’s my sister’s specialty,” she proudly shared, pointing out an older woman who looked like her and had the same hair and tanned skin tone.

  “She’s a good cook then,” Lindy said.

  Kay beamed. “I’m trying to learn the skill…”

  “I’m sure you have your own strengths,” Lindy replied, which made the woman slightly blush and turn away.

  They sat together on one of the blankets that had been laid out on the ground. Some of the other women eventually joined them. Lindy surprisingly got along with them easily and found herself enjoying the party, all thoughts of aliens fading away.

  Soon a man came to collect Kayraz without any word. He looked stern. “I was looking for you…” was all he said. He pointedly threw Lindy a look of repulsion before leaving with Kayraz.

  “Poor Kay…” one of the ladies commented when they had left. “I don’t know how she puts up with Calone. He always seems to be in a bad mood.”

  The others nodded in agreement. They launched into a conversation about the couple’s supposed love story. Listening closely, Lindy figured Kay was either hopelessly in love or she just felt like she had no other choice but to stay in that relationship. They weren’t even married yet.

  Her eyes scanned the crowd for them. She saw Kay looking down at the ground while Calone seemed to be scolding her. Right then and there, she wanted to give that man a piece of her mind, but she knew it would be risky in her current situation. It was best to keep her mouth shut until she discovered a way to go back home.

  As the evening progressed, Lindy started to feel much more comfortable. She had made friends with the women who all seemed to want to learn more about her life as a celebrity. Of course she loved the limelight and couldn’t stop telling stories and bragging about the lifestyle she’d been enjoying. She had always been proud of her journey to success from being that poor 18-year-old girl with no family who had not had the chance to get into college.

  She was so much into her story that she didn’t notice her audience suddenly falling silent, their eyes shifting to somebody behind her. The music had stopped. The entire field had fallen silent. Her voice rang out, loud and clear.

  When she took notice of the abrupt silence, she stopped speaking. She saw the women around her bowing. That made her turn around.

  “Interesting life story…” the tall, handsome man standing in front of her said in a low voice. His slightly long black hair was brushed back in a formal manner that suited him well.

  Louder he said, “You would make a good storyteller around here, I guess…to entertain the community, since you are an entertainer, after all.”

  Lindy felt insulted and embarrassed. How dare he belittle her successful career and inspiring story! The way he called her an entertainer sounded as if she was an inexperienced clown or magician in the streets.

  He smirked, his lips turning up in a demeaning manner. His light brown eyes had sparks of gold instead of silver, twinkling quite mischievously as if he had a secret. Despite her annoyance at him, Lindy could not help gazing into his eyes and observing his regal stance and striking features.

  What’s more, his skin seemed to glow with a faint bluish light even in the dimness. It was nothing like she’d ever seen! Very fascinating, she thought. Maybe it’s a new skin cream or something.

  Addressing the crowd, he said in a loud voice, “Please, everyone. Continue with your merry-making.”

  The music resumed, but Lindy noticed that many of them were more careful with their conversations and actions.

  The imposing man walked away . She caught sight of the familiar crest at the back of his robe, the same one embroidered on the blanket she’d found in the woods. It showed gold swords entwined with one another, placed on top of a bluish gray planet with rings around it.

  Lindy paused to wonder at what the emblem meant. Then she remembered what he’d said to her. Immediately, her cheeks flushed with irritation again.

  “Who was that rude man?” Lindy asked in a peeved voice.

  Some of the women gasped.

  “Ssshhh…” one of them said, placing a finger on her lips. “He is our Great Leader—Kristan, the Prince of Planet Vorton.”

  Lindy’s eyes narrowed as a thought occurred to her. If he was the so-called prince that they all considered the leader of their entire community, then he was the person she ought to convince that she wasn’t a spy.

  A smile played on her lips as she imagined cozying up to him. I never realized trying to escape from here would mean seducing such a great-looking (though irritating) guy.

  She needed to find a way to talk to him.

  ***

  Lindy smiled at her reflection in the bathroom mirror. She’d braided her long blonde hair and had pinned some light pink flowers into the side. And though she was dressed in the same boring dress that the female servers often wore, she’d opened a few buttons on top and added a necklace made with seashells.

  Her blue eyes twinkled back at her, somehow filled with contentment. She wasn’t used to seeing herself without long, thick eyelashes. Nevertheless, she felt lighter and more relaxed than ever.

  She couldn’t quite put her finger on it, but there was something about the place that relaxed her. Or maybe it was the people who’d been so nice and friendly to her, treating her like family instead of as an accused spy or prisoner.

  Today she had woken up earlier than usual, ready to take on another day of learning new skills. She had been on the island a week already. She couldn’t believe it!

  The past few days, Kay and her sister had been teaching her how to cook their dishes so she could help during the nightly feasts and also help feed the rest of the community. It was the perfect opportunity to find her way into the main house where Prince Kristan resided.

  She had tried twice to go there but to no avail. The guards always stopped her. Furthermore, Eli kept appearing out of nowhere wherever she was. She didn’t know if he was seriously stalking her, or what his deal was.

  When Lindy stepped out of Kay’s house, the lovely burst of colors in the sky caught her attention, drawing her to follow the path leading to the beach. Most of the servers were either still asleep or already doing their designated tasks in their own homes. Nobody even bothered to check where she was. It was odd, but her guess was that they’d put a tracking device on her or they had some sort of high-tech way to detect her location. She wouldn’t put such possibilities past them. Apart from their simple clothing and island lifestyle, everything else was ultra-modern like in a futuristic movie set! She supposed the avant-garde glass and metal structures of the homes and facilities were just the beginning. She hadn’t even gone to the “war room” they’d been talking about or to the prince’s house.

  The sun was quickly rising on the horizon, causing a flood of pinks, purples, and oranges to light up the sky and illuminate the surroundings. The ocean was silent as it had been since that ill-fated storm, with its crystal clear waters glistening in the sunlight.

 
Lindy smiled widely as she gazed in awe at the beautiful sight before her. It was different from viewing a natural wonder while shooting a film. This time, there were no camera men, no directors, no makeup artists. This time, it was just her and Mother Nature.

  “When was the last time you were alone, Lindy?” a deep voice said softly from behind her.

  Lindy turned around in surprise. It was like whoever it was had been reading her mind! And to add to her disbelief, she found herself locking eyes with one of the most handsome, most intriguing men she’d ever met. And boy, had she met a lot of prominent figures in her lifetime!

  Kristan smirked, as if he could sense what she was thinking about him. But he said nothing and just cocked an eyebrow, waiting for her response.

  “Good morning, Prince Kristan,” Lindy immediately blurted out. She was shocked to find herself with no composure in front of the man! This was preposterous!

  He smirked again, which was beginning to irritate her. “When was the last time you were alone, Lindy?” he repeated his question.

  Lindy thought of the life she’d been living for more than a decade now. She was always surrounded by lots of people—fans, colleagues, crew members, advertisers, reporters, servants. But there was no one really special she’d ever been with, no one to call her family. Belinda was probably the closest she could consider.

  She shrugged and just answered, “I don’t know.” Then she turned away and walked closer to the edge of the shore, admiring the sunrise and trying to forget the not-so-good parts of her celebrity life.

  Prince Kristan didn’t say anything, but she could sense his presence at her back. He was keeping his distance.

  Isn’t this the opportunity you’ve been waiting for?! a voice inside her head demanded.

  Lindy snapped back to the reality of her situation. She had to do something fast before the prince left. “So…” she started, racking her brain for a conversation starter. It was so unlike her to not know what to say.

  Again, Prince Kristan didn’t respond. At least he didn’t seem so rude or formal that day. He still looked a bit uptight, but he also appeared to be enjoying the early morning treat.

  Turning to face him, Lindy felt enthralled by his looks and the strong personality that radiated even in his silence. She paused to admire even his casual ensemble—a white shirt that brought out his muscular chest and broad shoulders, combined with a pair of drawstring khaki shorts. Wow, he looked like a typical island boy. Her eyes ran down his neck and she suddenly pictured herself kissing the sunkissed skin.

  “I have to go,” he suddenly said, nodding to her in acknowledgement before turning and walking quickly away.

  “Wait!” Lindy called, following him. “Where are you going?”

  “Back to the house,” he answered. “My guards will panic if they notice my absence. They might send everybody into a panic.”

  That made Lindy laugh.

  “What’s funny?” he wondered as he walked faster back toward a trail that wound through the woods.

  Lindy tried to catch up with him, still laughing. “You mean to say you sneaked out?” she asked incredulously.

  “Yeah,” he said. “Nobody knows I come here every morning to watch the sunrise.”

  “Well, now it’s not a secret anymore,” Lindy remarked teasingly. “But don’t you worry…it will be just between you and me…” Her natural flirting mode seemed to be back on!

  He gave her a puzzled look and then suddenly came to a halt in the middle of the woods. He faced her and firmly said, “Go back to the beach or to the servers now. Or go back home where you belong.”

  Ouch.

  But wait… Wasn’t that what she wanted exactly? He was actually suggesting it?

  He left her again, but she still followed him. “You mean I can go home? You’re allowing me?”

  He stopped again with an exasperated sigh. “Yes, Lindy. I know you’re not a spy.”

  “Great!” Lindy said cheerfully. “How do I leave this island? Do you have a boat I can use?”

  “Unfortunately, we don’t make use of ships or boats because if you’re still not aware, this island is not on any map. Only the American government is aware of our presence here.”

  “What? I don’t get it. You mean nobody will ever come to look for me here?”

  “This is an invisible island simply because it’s not on any map and we have actually covered the entirety with a special electromagnetic field that throws off signals. It’s for safety precautions.”

  “I see… So again, how do I get home?!” Lindy asked, her voice sounding desperate now.

  “Look, if you leave me alone, I’ll arrange for a boat for you with a contact I have in the government,” he said reluctantly.

  He was obviously not interested in her. She felt dejected. But there was also hope rising from within her as she pictured everything going back to normal.

  Before she could say anything else, he started walking away again. But then he paused and turned around after a few steps. “By the way, don’t worry about your friends on the boat that capsized. They were rescued and are all alive.”

  Lindy’s mouth dropped open in surprise, wondering if this man wasn’t a news reporter or entertainment talk show host in disguise. She had so many questions she wanted to ask! But even as the prince walked away, he called out, “Don’t follow me!”

  Lindy stopped herself from running after him again. Damn this prince. He’s got me. I’m not just running after him instead of the other way around, but he’s actually giving me orders.

  She leaned against a nearby tree, sighing. “He’s giving me orders, and I’m actually following them. That’s a new one!” she said to herself. “Well, he’s royalty, after all…”

  The next few days, Lindy did not hear from him. She woke up early every single day and scanned the entire beach for him, but he obviously didn’t want to have anything to do with her. But as she was again cooking lunch with Kay and her sister Kam, she overheard Elixir hanging out with some guards on break. They were discussing the rigorous training sessions that the soldiers had been undergoing.

  “The war is nearing,” he told them when he joined them to have a taste of the dishes they had prepared.

  “I still don’t know what the fuss is all about,” Lindy complained. “Is your Prince working for the government? Are you guys plotting an attack on another country?”

  Kay and Kam looked at each other uncomfortably.

  Eli ignored them and turned to Lindy. “A union of evil aliens from different planets have been planning another attack on Planet Vorton, the planet where we all come from. We can’t afford to lose more lives again!”

  Lindy was shocked. She saw Kay and Kam throwing Eli dirty looks.

  “What?” Eli said, throwing his hands up in the air and looking defensive. “She’s been here now for some time. She’ll find out the truth eventually.”

  “Because of you and your big mouth!” Kam retorted.

  “She can’t do us any damage,” Eli argued. He motioned to Lindy. “Look at the woman! Do you think she’ll be able to squeal on us or something? And when she goes back to the world of the humans, will anyone believe her if she told them? They’re just going to assume she’s gone mad on this island!”

  “I guess you’re right,” Kay finally said in a quiet voice. Her sister was still fuming.

  Lindy finally found her voice, recovering from the initial shock of the revelation. “So you are all from another planet… i-it’s true?” she croaked. “Aliens are actually r-real?”

  “Yeah, we’re all aliens!” Eli told her with a grin. “Surprise, surprise!”

  I am fucked, Lindy thought, gulping.

  ***

  It will take some getting used to. Lindy couldn’t fathom the reality of living amidst aliens, but she didn’t have any choice so she assured her new friends that she was okay. It was touching that she could see their concern for her and not for their own welfare.

  Elixir was the only one
thinking that they had been protecting their kind. Most of those she’d become close to had actually wanted to protect her.

  One evening, Kam had told her she’d be taking her along to the main house. “You can assist me there, Lindy. You’ve been such a wonderful student. I know our leaders will be happy to have you serve them.”

  Lindy wanted to jump up and down with joy. It meant a lot in this community—almost like winning in the Academy Awards. Not only was this a huge compliment and achievement for her, but she would finally get to see the prince again. Her heart soared.

  A pair of guards transported Lindy and Kam in an actual vintage-looking carriage pulled by horses. The only difference was that the carriage was made of metal and glass and the horses were all robots.

  “There is a big celebration happening tonight,” Kam told Lindy as they traveled in the carriage.

  “Really? What?”

  “The Vorton Engineers will be unveiling their newest invention—a new battleship with special weapons or powers I believe.”

  “Wow,” Lindy breathed. “It is a special occasion then. Prince Kristan will be delighted.”

  “I guess,” Kam replied dubiously. “But you know, he’s hardly ever delighted by anything. He’s always so serious, but I can’t blame him. The pressure is on him to win this war and save the planet.”

  Lindy nodded in agreement. “That’s a truly big responsibility. I can’t imagine how it must feel.”

  “Yeah…but we all believe in him. It’s only him who doesn’t seem to believe much in himself.”

  “I find that hard to believe,” Lindy said, imagining the haughty expression on the prince’s face the first time she saw him. To her it had been annoying, fascinating, and captivating at the same time.

  “He’s generally kind to the soldiers, but very hard on himself,” Kam explained. “It’s because his father, King Oragon of Vorton, blamed him for the sudden attack that had gravely damaged our planet and led to the deaths of thousands of Vortons. As the head of the military his father felt that he should have been better prepared.”