by Susan Wu
For a moment, I felt pity for Epir. And then I remembered he was the person Izic was trying to protect me from, “Why does Izic think Epir is a danger to me?”
“When your grandparents passed away 10 years ago, Izic ascended to the thrown over Epir. That was the last straw for him. So he went to the only other blood tie he had remaining-- Xak. Xak is one of the greatest warriors of all time--completely ruthless and brutal. But also sharp tongued and manipulative. He convinced Epir that he belonged with the Eku and that it would one day be his to rule. That day happened a lot earlier than Xak expected. A few months ago, Epir assassinated Xak. He anointed himself as the new king of Eku. His first act as king was to declare war on Phynx.”
“I still don’t understand. Up until two days ago, not even my father’s most trusted advisor knew of my existence.”
“Unfortunately, you are wrong about that Fallon. There are those with gifts that would use them against others. There are those among us that can know our deepest secrets and fears without ever knowing us, without ever uttering a single word to us. Despite your father’s efforts to keep you concealed, far too many may know of your existence now.”
I look down at the fan on my lap. “He hates my father that much?”
“Epir is out for blood. He wants vengeance on those he believes have grieved him. His mission is one of complete destruction, he will kill anyone who stands in his way.”
I close my eyes, scared of his answer, “Has Izic foreseen something you’re not telling me?”
“Izic has been having troubling dreams of late. He has had much unrest in the past couple days. He dreams of blood. Much like the days leading to the death of Xak. As you know from experience, the dreams are not clear. Your father does not wish to risk your life on the chance that Epir might not know who you are.”
“I've been having strange dreams too. Well not dreams of blood. Hold on a minute, I have a drawing.” I run into my room and flip open my sketchbook, frantically turning the pages until I find my nightmare drawing. I bring the drawing back to Zefa, “Here take a look at this. I drew it right after I woke up one night. I've been having this same dream for weeks. I am lost in the forest and when this man finds me, I scream but no one can hear me. His eyes flash like steel, gray and cold.” Looking down at the drawing, the memory of fear makes my blood turn to ice in my veins.
Zefa studies the drawing, a crease forming between his eyebrows, “If he does not already know about you, he will soon.”
“So this is Epir. At least I'll know what he looks like when he's coming to kill me. But just because Epir knows of my existence, how exactly does Izic think he's going to track me down? Earth is kind of a big place.”
“There are a very small number Phynx who are readrs. They possess the rare capability of recognizing our kind because they have the ability to see inside the minds of other Phynxians. These individuals are not to be trusted. They usually go mad from not being able to stop the influx of information, but a few have honed this ability into a weapon. This ability is only limited by proximity and if he knows about you, he'll likely come here first. And since you haven't left Everest Heights since your birth it won't be that hard to find you. But you are half-human, it is hard to say whether or not a readr would be able to track you, but we're not taking any chances.”
“Where exactly are you planning on taking me?”
“Somewhere far away enough that they will not be able find you.”
“I'm supposed to be in London on the 26th. Why don't I just fly out there early? Spend some time hiding out on another continent. Then you can go back and tell Izic everything is fine and I don't need a babysitter.”
“Fallon, that is probably not a wise choice. Epir will not stop looking for you just because you are not in Everest Heights, waiting for him. Plus anyone associated with you, anyone found in your proximity will be put in immense danger. It is best that we leave the planet all together. Safer for everyone involved.”
There is a sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach as I think of Ethan. “Where will you take me? What happens to the people I’m leaving behind? You said they’re going to be in danger.”
“We have colonies throughout space. There is a small planet in the Elkipi sector that is very sparsely inhabited and the conditions are... livable. We can stay there until we receive further instruction from your father. I could have your father station someone here for protection... but that will confirm that the readr is on the right path and might draw more attention.”
My mind starts generating scenarios of how this will play out. “And then what happens next? When the situation is diffused? Then it's off to Phynx, right? What about my life here?”
“When the danger is eliminated, I am to bring you back to Phynx. You are headed on a different path now.” The implications leave my head spinning. I feel like time has been momentarily suspended and I am unable to move, unable to think, unable to speak. All I can see is Ethan, his face glowing with joy as he fastens his gift around my neck. I can feel the warmth of our happiness in that moment.
Zefa gently places his hand on my shoulder, “Fallon? Are you okay?” The image dissolves and the light fades back to the dim lighting of my living room. I am suddenly shivering in my coat.
I shake my head trying to clear my thoughts, “When do we leave?”
“Straight away. After you pack what you need. You'll need your warmest attire.”
“What about Ethan?” I ask in a small voice.
Zefa is taken aback, “Who is Ethan?”
“My boyfriend. I'm supposed to be meeting him in London next week. I was going to meet his dad and his brother.”
Compassion softens Zefa's expression, “Call him. Tell him nothing. Better yet, lie. It will be safer for him that way.”
Zefa leaves with the pretense of going outside to monitor the perimeter. As I sit on my bed, an empty suitcase on the floor in front of me, I finally let myself start coming undone. Emotion I didn't know I was capable of comes pouring out. I am trying to cry quietly but instead I'm gripped by great racking heaves. I feel like a bomb has been dropped in the middle of my chest, the tremendous agony brought on by sudden explosive impact.
I try to gather myself before I call Ethan, but the overflow of emotion is nearly impossible to contain. He’s not landing in London for several more hours but he has a layover in New York between flights. I don’t know how to begin saying goodbye and pray he doesn’t answer his phone. It takes me several minutes of slow concentrated breathing before I am crying and not sobbing. It takes several more before I find my voice. With shaking hands, I dial Ethan's phone number.
He picks up on the third ring, breathing a sigh of relief as he answers, “Hey, Fallon. I meant to call you but I had to call my mom first or she freaks. She kept going on and on about her gift to Scott and how she wanted me to wrap it. I don’t have much time, I’m about to board my next flight.”
I can’t control the trembling in my voice, “Ethan, I’m so sorry to drop this on you like this. I don’t know how to say this. I’m... I’m not coming to London.”
His silence stretches for an eternity, I can hear his breathing change before he replies, “I don't understand. What’s going on, Fallon? Is everything okay?”
I take a deep, shaky breath, “It's complicated, Ethan. The time has come. I have to leave.”
“What do you mean you have to leave?”
“I mean... I'm leaving Earth.”
“Why now? What happened? I just left you a couple hours ago,” his voice is fearful and uncertain.
I desperately want to tell him everything, to try and make it all right. But I can’t ignore Zefa’s advice. The less Ethan knows, the safer it will be for him. “There’s a...situation. My father needs me.”
“What could your father possibly need you this suddenly? I don't understand why you have to leave right this instant.”
I feel like I’ve aged an eternity since I left school, “Ethan, does it matter when I leave
? You knew I would have to leave eventually. It’s better this way. I feel myself growing more attached to you everyday. I can't keep going on like this with you. The longer we prolong this... it will just be harder for you.”
His voice is quiet with disbelief, “You can't just leave me like this. Please, Fallon, tell me you don't really think it’s better this way. Tell me you want to stay.”
The hurt and accusation in his voice is a crushing pain inside my chest. It takes my breath away and I can barely whisper back, “I don't have a choice, Ethan.”
“You're your own person. You don’t owe him anything. What has he done for you? He’s been absent most of your life.”
“It's not that simple.”
He’s getting frustrated now, desperation in his voice, “It can be that simple. You can't just leave! I... I need you. I have never felt this way about anyone before.”
“I will always care about you, Ethan. I'm so sorry. I wish there was another way, but there isn't. Please trust me when I say it's for the best,” my voice is hollow as I try desperately to keep my tears in check.
“I thought you had finally let me in. I feel foolish.”
“I never meant for it to get to this point. But you have to understand nothing lasts forever. We were meant to go on different paths.”
“I think I love you, Fallon.” And those six words are uttered with such despair, my resolve nearly shatters. It is also a painful reminder of why I need to leave.
“Goodbye, Ethan.”
With shaking hands, I hit end and quickly flip the phone over and remove the battery. I let the dissembled parts fall onto the floor. I pick up the sketchbook with the drawing of Ethan from the night we first kissed. Studying his face, a teardrop falls onto the page smearing the image. “I think I love you, too.”
I meet Zefa in the living room with my packed suitcase. My entire existence fits inside a single 29 inch suitcase. How pathetic is that? Zefa told me I would need my warmest clothes, so I've changed into a long sleeve thermal shirt with two chunky knit sweaters layered over it and long thermal underwear under my jeans and two pairs of thick wool socks. I have a tight lid on my emotions, waiting until we’re far away enough to let myself go. I'm running on autopilot as I dig out my winter parka and waterproof boots from the hallway closet.
Zefa takes a quick look around, “Is there anything else you need?”
“No, I'm ready to leave.”
He nods and heads toward the front door. I follow Zefa out of the house, not bothering to lock the door. I get into a nondescript black sedan parked on the curb next to my driveway. He pulls out into the street and turns left at the end of the block. I don't look back.
We drive 50 miles out of the town limit to the state forest preserve. Once there, we drive up a winding gravel path deep into the heart of the forest. The sun has long set and there is a dense canopy of trees, making anything beyond the glow of the headlights invisible. But Zefa knows his way, he pulls into an empty parking lot by one of the hiking trails.
“We have to go into the woods to get to my ship. It's dark out but I know the way. I don't want to attract any unnecessary attention with lights so just hold onto me so you don't get lost.” I nod in agreement, remembering the sharpness of his night vision from the memory he showed me.
Zefa unloads my suitcase from the sedan and carries it by the handle. He starts walking away without locking the doors, “Wait, what about the car? Are you just going to leave it here?”
He pauses, “The authorities will find it in the morning and it will be returned to its rightful owner.”
I am incredulous at his blasé tone, “You stole this car?!”
“Not exactly.”
“Oh, so some stranger just lent you his car?”
“Not quite. I was not entirely forthcoming earlier. I wanted you to trust me. The other aspect of my gift is that I can plant memories with my touch. Izic knew you would not trust me even if I showed you the memory. That is why he gave me the fan.”
I grind my teeth. Lying to gain my trust. This night was full of surprises and revelations. “I’m going to have more questions about that later, but we should get going. Wouldn’t want to get caught with stolen property.”
With that, we head into the line of trees twenty feet away from the parking lot and I grip a fistful of Zefa’s jacket. I've hiked along every trail in this forest preserve, but the descent into the woods is eerie in the complete darkness. Every twig that brushes against my skin, every critter skittering along the forest ground, every twig that snaps under my boot makes me want to jump out of my skin. I press my lips tightly together to suppress my scream as my hand brushes through a spiderweb.
After a long walk in silence, Zefa announces in a whisper, “We are nearing the ship. Just a few more minutes. You have to be careful walking through this area, there are a lot of fallen branches.”
We carefully navigate for a few more minutes when Zefa suddenly stops short and I smack right into his hard back, almost falling backward.
“We're here.” He reaches into the inside of his jacket and pulls out a flat round device. He presses it against the second line tattooed on his left forearm and it flashes once. Then right in front of me, his ship slowly shimmers into sight. I am too exhausted, physically and emotionally, to be amazed by the sight. The ship is an unassuming round white pod with smaller circular skylights all around it and a large round windshield in front. The royal crest is painted on one side in a brilliant shade of red.
Zefa steps up to the pod and presses his forearm against a small black screen on the side of the wall and a light scans the rings on his arm. A door appears in the seemingly blank wall and stairs slide down with a quiet hiss. As I board the pod, the reality of the situation hits me. These were my last moments on Earth. I was never coming back. I look down at my covered wrists.
I had not felt this alone in a long time.
Ethan
I hit redial for the twentieth time. It rings once and goes straight to voicemail. Cursing loudly, I throw my phone to the ground. It splits open with a clatter, the battery skittering across the tile before sliding to a stop in front of the large window that faces the tarmac. Everyone in the terminal turns to stare at me, whispering to their companions.
I clench and unclench my fists. I drag my hands through my hair and down my face. I want to punch holes into the drywall until my knuckles are bloody. I want to scream until there’s no air left in my lungs. I want to cry until my tear ducts are dry. But the other passengers are already staring and whispering about me. I lean my forehead against the cold glass of the window and look out at the plane parked outside the terminal. The plane that is going to take me to London. I had no way of getting back to Everest Heights. Not that it mattered anyway. Fallon was already gone.
In the back of my mind, I had known one day she would have to leave. I didn’t expect it to be so sudden and without warning. I had been setting myself up for heartbreak from day one. My heart clenches painfully in my chest as I remember our last kiss on the sidewalk in front of the school. The last time I would ever see the girl I love.
The woman on the intercom announces that my flight has begun final boarding. I peel myself away from the window and pick up the scattered pieces of my phone, stuffing them into my backpack. I head to the stand and hand the gate agent my boarding pass and walk through the tunnel onto the plane.
Taking my seat next to the window, I pull out the pieces of my phone. I press the battery back in place and slide the back panel on. The screen is completely shattered from the impact. Catching my fragmented reflection in the black screen, I can’t help but wonder how I was going to pick up the pieces of my life.
Fallon
It takes us a few hours of traveling faster than light speed to get to the Elkipi sector. As we approach Planet 213, I am struck by the sigh of it. It reminds me of a snow globe--a snow globe in the middle of an asteroid field. The whole planet seems to be covered in thick layer of white clouds.
We descend under the cloud cover and the planet below us is covered in thick layer of perfect, untouched snow. Everything from the mountain tops to the plains are covered in a layer of white. The ship touches down behind a mountain in a puff of white powder. The planet might be habitable but not particularly desirable to live on.
I undo the harness that's strapping me to the seat and stand up, “I'm going to go for a walk, I need to get some air.”
“There's too much carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. You can't go out there, we're going to be staying on the the ship. There are sleeping quarters and bathing facilities back there.”
“What about food?”
“We have enough supplies for months.” Stranded on an alien ice planet with only Zefa to keep me company. I might just walk outside and save Epir the trouble of hunting me down and killing me.