“From orbit?”
“Yes. Our ships are undetectable with your tech-nology.”
“Will you get in trouble for letting us go?”
“Perhaps. But I am a scientist. I can be creative about the explanation. We will also learn, I think, from watching your dreams and thoughts as you are still alive.”
“You mean we’ll always be able to share dreams?” A shiver traveled through me as lightning cracked overhead, illuminating a circle of a dozen freed captives, dancing and hollering in the storm. Each face looked tired, dirty, disheveled, beaten, but still alive.
We were so accustomed to being timid around storms, seeking shelter from the heavy droplets. Not tonight. I caught Kisana’s glittering gaze in the light of the lightning arc. My heart rate quickened, delighting in the sight of her face under the falling rain.
“No. Just until we are far enough away to lose mental range from one another. By tomor-row morning, your time, we will be too far away.”
“Show me your true form before you leave,” I said. “Please.”
Kisana appeared at my side as Ian gave me a brief nod. She grabbed my hand. I squeezed it. Her palm was slick with rain. Fear enticed me to sneak back into the gym, hide from the alien’s unveiling, but I had pumping adrenaline on my side. Kisana’s warm grasp and an inner voice told me I couldn’t pass up this opportunity. The voice sounded a lot like David’s.
In a furious blue haze, Ian’s hologram disappeared, shrinking down to the size of medium-sized dog. We had to shield our eyes from the brightness of the light. It resonated with a silver glare, similar to the rest of the alien equipment. After the light faded away, a new color replaced the mechanical blue hue—pure white.
Ian was the size of a bulldog. Four stout legs, a large head, and skin that gave off a milky glow, reminding me of the color of a sun-covered snow bank. His face was remarkably human, with pale eyes and a tiny mouth and nose. Two cat-like ears perked up, and Ian cocked his head to us, a gesture close to the hologram’s. Ian rose up on two legs then, his limbs surprisingly agile and flexible, like a chimpanzee’s. Each appendage had six opposable fingers. In one hand, Ian held a ball-shaped device.
Kisana and I stared at the figure in front of us. The hand gripping mine tightened.
The ball in Ian’s palm began to glow. “As you can see, knowing your species, you may have been temp-ted to attack me if you had seen my true form.”
“True,” I said, swallowing hard. “I assume we wouldn’t have been able to get far?”
“No.” The glow around Ian increased and became edged with blue crisscrossed lines, the same glow that had caused the dome to dissolve. The glow formed a barrier around Ian, similar to a hologram, but solid.
“So that molten goop that’s around the gym, around your machines, made the dome, made your gun, and made your hologram was…part of you?”
“Yes. We form the substance within us, similar to a by-product.”
“Talk about self-sufficiency.”
“You can begin to see why other species fasci-nate us so much. Life is filled with so many possibilities.”
“Amazing,” Kisana said, her mouth open wide.
“Now, I must go.” The ball in Ian’s hand flashed, and with the flick of a broad wrist, the alien disappeared within a glow of blue-lined silver.
Chapter 26
Kisana and I stared at the empty space the glow left behind. Behind us, the happy shouts continued. Naomi’s voice rang out above the others as she excitedly told the newcomers our story.
An arc of lightning flashed above our heads as Kisana and I faced each other, our hands still intertwined. She shoved her free hand into the pocket of her hoodie and pulled out my wind chimes. They unfolded and clanged in the rainy breeze. “Almost like I foresaw this storm,” she said.
I smiled. Raindrops fell against the chunks of metal and tinged lightly against the top row of aluminum. As the drops slid down into the cat food cans, they emitted a lower-pitched noise. The two musical notes blended together, creating an odd, metallic harmony.
“That’s the most beautiful sound I’ve ever heard,” I whispered. “I’m sorry I pushed you away. I was an idiot.”
“What you went through was traumatic. I can’t blame you for wanting space. Besides, it’s more my fault than yours. My fears got the best of me, I guess. I felt like I couldn’t breathe in that gym, yet the whole time, all I wanted to do was breathe in the scent of you. It may have seemed like I doubted my feelings toward you, but I don’t. Not in the least.” Kisana tossed me a lopsided smile. “You’re handsome in the rain.” She released my hand and ran hers through my wet hair. The wind chimes jangled next to us.
“Well, now you can have the fresh air, the fog, the sight of the harbor, real food to enjoy…and me.” I placed a hand under her chin and brought her face to mine, kissing her. She tasted like the storm—wet, wild, and finally free.
A pair of ambulances wailed behind us. The gathering of people made their way toward the noise. Joel and Han’s father lifted Marge up and carried her away from the doorway. Simon flicked his tail at me from under his table. All this we ignored. All we saw was each other.
Someone cleared their throat behind me. I brought my face away from Kisana’s for a brief moment, caressing her cheek.
It was Pablo. I took my hand away, meeting his gaze. The wind chimes continued to sing as the wet concrete around us shone crimson from the light of the approaching ambulances and fire truck. The light dived between puddles as raindrops plopped into the reflections.
Pablo stared at me, the siren lights reflecting off his face.
Kisana took a step toward him and reached back for my hand. I gave it a quick squeeze.
“Daddy, I’m sorry,” she said. “I wasn’t being honest with you.”
Pablo turned his head and met Kisana’s gaze. “Oh?” I felt her hand twitch within mine, and I squeezed it again, willing the strength of the storm to fuel her courage. It was all I could do.
“I wanted to spend every waking moment with Sam from the moment we shared our first kiss. I want nothing more than that right now, and I’m willing to do whatever it takes to make you see that. Mother Mary will always be close to my heart, but Sam takes precedence. I am…sorry.” Her body shuddered as she took a deep breath.
“You would abandon your religious upbringing for this reckless woman?”
“Yes. If need be. I do not need a church or cathedral to seek solace in my own personal prayers.”
Pablo sighed heavily, his gaze meeting the puddle-ridden concrete.
Marie appeared at his side. Her eyes were moist with rain and tears. “I heard everything,” she said. “Pablo, it seems we have no choice. Our Kisana must find her own happiness.”
“Yes,” Pablo said. “Mother Mary may not agree, but we in time, may be able to. It’s important we follow the paths that call to us. Such paths called to us when Marie and I were young, after all.”
Marie nodded, smiling. She held out her arms, and Kisana bounded into them, tossing me the wind chimes.
I held them up, gazing up at the storm, which was beginning to recede. A light spray of drops still pelted the bits of metal, but the lightning and thunder rumbled off to another part of the city. I smiled at the thought of other groups of captives running out into the storm, dancing to the rhythm and taste of rain. Amidst the skeletal remains of our city, of our planet—tonight was a night to celebrate.
Kisana joined me again as her parents wandered off to fetch Joel. Her face was bright with relief, happiness, and exhaustion. More sirens wailed around us as San Francisco took its first steps to recovering from the storm.
“I want to see how Marge is doing,” I said. “The ambulances haven’t left yet. Come on.”
We walked through the crowd of people. EMTs were handing out bottles of water and emergency ration energy bars. They looked as dirty and tired as the rest of us, but happy to be out in the storm, assisting others in need. It was a relief to see Ian�
�s kind had left the hospitals intact, presumably using them to house large numbers of citizens.
Kisana touched my elbow then pointed to the boxes of food, signaling me. I nodded. She disappeared to stand in the food line.
I continued to the ambulances, where Donna and Charles were keeping Marge company. Marge was lying in a gurney next to an ambulance, sheltered under a portable canopy. She had an IV pole at her side. She saw me approach, and smiled widely.
“How you feeling, Marge?” I asked.
“Better, thank you. Whatever’s in this concoction is doing the trick. They’re taking me to the hospital shortly.”
“Good. I’m glad the hospitals weren’t hit. Do you have someone you can call?”
“Yes, my friends. If they…” Her gaze dropped to the IV pole suddenly.
Donna laid a comforting hand on her shoulder. “Remember what that nice EMT said? They just got a call from the bridge hall near your place. I bet your friends were held up there and are safe and sound.”
Marge looked up at us again, heaving a sigh. “I pray you’re right.”
I squeezed her hand. “I know she’s right. You deserve all the happiness in the world.” My voice threatened to break apart. After all we’d been through, it was easy to think of her as family.
“So do you, Sam. I’m glad you made up with Kisana. I noticed you two kissing in the rain.” She peered at my wind chimes, which were swaying gently in the breeze.
I grinned, feeling my face flush. “This has been an amazing night.”
A EMT appeared at Marge’s side, readying to hoist the wheeled gurney into the ambulance. “You going with her, Donna?” I asked.
“Yeah. Naomi’s meeting us there. She needed to see our…prison one last time.” She shook her head, laughing. “Crazy lady.” Charles gurgled with laughter from within Donna’s arms.
I smiled at the boy. “Well. I’ll just have to come visit you guys.” I made a mental note of the hospital’s name on the side of the ambulance then gave Marge’s hand another squeeze. “Make sure they take good care of you, Marge. I’ll come see you tomorrow. Tonight Kisana and I have some celebrating to do.”
Marge laughed. “Ah, to be young again.” The gurney disappeared from view as the EMT lifted her into the ambulance and closed the double doors. Donna gave me a quick one-armed hug. “We’ll see you tomorrow. Enjoy the night.” She grinned and entered the passenger side of the ambulance.
The ambulance made its way down the debris-coated alley, sirens wailing. A pair of young men were hastily clearing a path as more emergency vehicles made their way to us. Humans were strange beings. So focused on their own individual lives until the moment disaster strikes—and suddenly we’re a unified race again.
Kisana appeared at my side with one arm full of water bottles and energy bars. “Marge okay?”
I nodded. “We’ll have to go see her tomorrow.”
“What about you? Shouldn’t you get your leg checked out?”
“Nah. It doesn’t hurt anymore.”
She scowled at me. “Uh-huh. You’re not allowed to drop dead on me.”
“I won’t. Ian healed it for me. Strange little guy.” I grinned.
“Oh. Well, then. I like this sound of this ‘we.’ Do you think your place is intact?”
“Probably. One good thing about single-story duplexes…kinda hard to topple them over.”
She smiled. “Okay. You won me over. Take me to your place. But don’t forget your cat. I’ll tell my parents we’re leaving.”
I handed over the wind chimes and David’s ashes then ran back into the gym. The overhead lights were on now, and I squinted up at them. The brightness looked foreign. I stood at the doorway, my eyes tracing over the rounded edges of our tents. The air inside smelled heated, filled with sweat. Fearful. I stepped inside timidly. A part of me wanted nothing to do with the room ever again.
Simon meowed at me and rubbed up against my legs, giving me the burst of courage I needed. “I know, baby. We’re headed home.” Home. A smile tightened across my face again. The cat and I entered the gym and crossed the dusty floor to my tent. I grabbed Kisana’s painting, a blanket to protect it, the pride flag Julie had made, my dad’s ashes, and my story.
When I exited the tent with my arms full, Matt, Naomi, and Julie were waiting for me. All three wore the same expression Kisana wore—relieved, ecstatic, exhausted. I knew my face echoed the look as well.
“Marge is on her way to Saint Francis, along with Donna and Charles,” I told them.
“Oh, good,” Naomi said. “I was hoping you hadn’t left already. Julie and I are heading there now. Will you be okay tonight?”
“Yeah. Kisana and I are headed to my place. I told Marge we’d go see you guys tomorrow. Why’d you come back in here, anyway?” I peered at her curiously.
She held up her carry-all bag. It bulged with a rolled-up sheet of cardboard. “I needed a few souvenirs. Julie’s calendar, my trowel that kept getting us into trouble, and our knitting supplies. I see you grabbed a few things too.”
“I’m guilty.” I smiled, letting my gaze trail over the gym again. “I’ll never forget this place—as awful as our time was here. I’ll never forget the friends I’ve made.”
Naomi held her arms out wide. “Me neither. I’m gonna miss you, girl. Take care of Kisana. Come see us tomorrow at the hospital.”
I set down my pile of stuff and shared an embrace with her. “Definitely.” I turned to face Julie then. “I’m going to miss you, Julie, even if it’s just for one night. I’ll miss your sunny calendar and sunny smile.”
“I wish my daddy was here,” she said.
I knelt down to hold the little girl. “Me too. But he’ll always be with you, guiding you, showing you the stars, tucking you in at night. Telling you weird stories.” I reached into my pocket and took out David’s watch. Placing it in her hand, I showed her the twine loop I’d placed on it. I’d cut off the bands too. This way, Julie could use it for a pendant or pocket watch. “Remember this? Would you like to hold on to it? You’ll need to be careful.”
Julie nodded fervently. I looped it around her neck, giving her another squeeze.
Matt shuffled his feet against the floor. “Maybe you should collect kids and cats, Sam,” he said. “Make it a real dyke-o-rama at your place.”
“No. I’m good, thanks. But I will be keeping an eye on this little girl, believe me.”
“I hope Cluckers was destroyed, burned to the goddamn ground.”
I laughed. “Me too. Even if it’s not, I probably won’t be back there. Not that you’ll care.”
He tossed me a sheepish grin and stared down at his soggy shoes. “Nah. I’m not going back either. Gonna check on my family in Denver if the roads are free. See what happens next.”
“Take care of yourself, and feel free to give me a call if you ever want a noob to go parasailing with. I’d love to give it a shot.”
“Will do. For the record, you didn’t deserve me being an ass to you.”
“You…did deserve me being an ass to you,” I said.
The four of us laughed as we gathered up our things and left the building that had been our home for a time length none of us wanted to even imagine. It had to have been at least three months. Simon sauntered around my feet again as I gave the outside lunch table one last, long stare. It was time to leave. Simon needed real food, and we all needed to remember what it was like to live free again.
Naomi, Matt, and Julie disappeared back into the group around the ambulances. I found Kisana where I had left her. She cradled a large box.
“What’s in there?” I asked.
“Some of our family photographs. Change of clothes. Your weird ball. Wind chimes. Rations. Looks like you got a few souvenirs, too.”
“Yeah, except I wasn’t very smart about grabbing a box. Let me carry yours, and then I can put my junk in it. Have a hungry cat.” I picked up Simon who was still circling around my feet and set him in Kisana’s arms. I didn’t want h
im to get lost in the crowd. He swished his tail at me then settled into her warm embrace. “Oh, and don’t get rid of that ball. I’m keeping it until Julie gets older. David’s ashes are in it.”
She tossed me an arched-eyebrow glance as I led us through the group. I found myself nodding to those I recognized and even those I didn’t. There was a sort of understanding between all of us. We had survived being held captive. We had survived.
An ambulance wailed past us as we distanced ourselves from the crowd of survivors and the shadow of our prison. In the distance, a helicopter whirred. A breeze picked up again, and I shared a grin with Kisana. The little things we had taken for granted all our lives—the sensation of a moist breeze, the ability to dance in the midst of a storm, and the familiar sounds of humanity—we wouldn’t take them for granted ever again.
When we reached the top of a large hill, we stopped, gazing down at the patches of rubble and ruins, leading all the way down to the ocean. A bank of fog was just starting to roll off the bay, whispering prayers through the forlorn streets.
“The streets don’t have to be empty anymore,” I murmured. “Let’s go. Maybe we can find one of Ian’s broken-into Walmarts along the way, grab some food. Simon’s not going to be a happy camper unless we hunt down cat food.”
“Do you even know the way back to your place?”
I grinned. “Not really. But I can see the glint of the ocean through the cloud cover. That’s all the compass I need.”
About the Author
Living in Hemet, California, Laura Hardgrave writes science fiction and fantasy with a queer edge. Her current project is a four-part fantasy novel series involving the creation of life and magic, a GLBT host of characters, a talking rock, feline shifters, and lots of sake. She’s a bit of a self-proclaimed weirdo. By day, she’s also an MMORPG gaming journalist, avid gamer, reader, and animal lover. Captive by the Fog is her debut novel. Find out more at her website:
Website: http://laurahardgrave.blogspot.com/
Blog: http://laurahardgrave.blogspot.com/
Twitter: @laurahardgrave
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