by Black, Chuck
Drew glared at his mother and then at Jake. He had been betrayed. He knew exactly what had happened. Jake had shared Drew’s story with his mother, and they both thought he needed psychiatric help. He clenched his teeth as he fought to keep control of his anger.
“Yes, I do see something that doesn’t belong in this room,” Drew said with a strained voice. “You!” He stood up. “And me!”
Drew glared at Jake. “I trusted you.” He turned and made his way to the door.
“Drew!” Jake yelled, but Drew did not stop.
He opened the door and slammed it behind him. Anger seethed within as he threw his Mustang in reverse. Rocks and gravel peppered the cars in front of him as his tires spun and his roaring engine shot him backward away from his home. He whipped the steering wheel to the left, which slingshot the front of his car one hundred eighty degrees. Before the front end came to rest, Drew snapped the stick into first gear and the wheels spun forward. The acceleration felt good, and the direction felt even better.
Drew had to leave home soon, but he had hoped it would be under better circumstances. This betrayal by Jake and his mother struck deep into his heart. Logically he knew he shouldn’t blame them, but he did. If they wouldn’t believe him, then no one on earth would either.
He began formulating a plan—a plan that would give him answers and evidence, for there were many questions. Could he evade these invaders? How much, if at all, did they track individual humans? He assumed their biggest concern would be with people of power and influence, which made him grateful to be a nobody. At least he didn’t seem to be on their radar yet. Did the invaders have human conspirators who knew what was happening? There was so much to learn if he was going to survive. He figured it was inevitable that the invaders would eventually discover that he could see them … Perhaps they already knew. Drew shivered.
He drove to the place that had become a favorite for him and Jake. It was a lush green rise overlooking a small, still pond nestled in the hills of Kansas. Tall trees cradled the ground to the east and south. For some reason, when the sadness of losing his father pressed in on him, this was the place that made him feel whole, at least for a little while. It was his favorite place to think and to be alone. It was here that Drew evaluated his options.
The first option he considered was to disappear into the wilderness, away from the madness that he had discovered. With the skills Jake had taught him, he knew he could survive. But Jake had also taught him to take his course and cast it forward to see where it would land. Isolationism would not solve anything, and although Drew might have temporary peace, he knew a time would come when he would regret it. He eliminated that option.
The second option was to continue on in Rivercrest as if nothing had changed, but with what he could see, he would never be able to pretend life was normal. It was what he was trying to do now, and he was miserable. That left only one other option …
The third option was by far the riskiest and most dangerous. He would disappear into the mass of humanity with the intention of studying and learning as much about the invaders as possible while formulating a plan of counterattack. He needed to be where the invaders were, at least more than there were in Rivercrest. He also needed to find Ben. With Ben’s knowledge of the LASOK and Drew’s ability to see the invaders, they might just come up with a way of identifying and proving their existence to the rest of the world. It was a long shot, he knew, but at least it made sense, and it gave him something to occupy his mind. If it was at all possible, Drew knew he needed to disappear from both the invaders and traceable humanity.
As he wrestled with and tried to embrace the inevitable, Drew heard the soft crunch of grass behind him and estimated that the man approaching him was still fifty feet away. At thirty feet, he felt the man’s first footstep in the ground beneath him.
“I can’t believe you betrayed me, Jake.” Drew didn’t turn around. Only Jake knew of this place.
Jake abandoned his silent approach, walked next to Drew, and sat down beside him.
“I know that’s what it looks like to you, Drew, but I didn’t betray you.” Jake picked up a small stone and threw it at a tree squirrel. “Your mother is concerned about you. If I hadn’t told her what you told me, I would have betrayed her.”
Drew shook his head. Jake would never have arranged for a shrink to evaluate him like that. His mother had set it up, probably with Jake petitioning against it.
“So do you think I’m crazy, like my mom thinks I am?”
Jake hesitated. “No, I don’t think you’re crazy. I’ve seen crazy and you’re not it, but to some you sure sound like it. You have to admit, it’s a stretch and your mother just wants to help you. You’ve been through a lot, Drew. You can’t blame her for wondering if you are … well, coping properly.”
Drew lowered his head. “Yeah. I suppose you’re right.”
Drew looked over at Jake, who had that very serious countenance that told Drew he was about to teach him something important.
“Listen, wherever you’re going … whatever you’re planning to do … remember everything I’ve taught you. You are going to need all of it … and more.”
Drew nodded. “I figured you knew I was going to have to leave. You’re not going to try and stop me?”
Jake laughed. “Nope. I’ve taught you too well for that. Not sure I’d be very successful anyway. Do you remember what I taught you about dropping off the grid?”
Drew raised an eyebrow. “Why would you ask that?”
“Because in spite of that nice acting job a few days ago, I think you believe what you told me, and that leaves you no choice.”
Jake allowed a slight smile to cross his lips.
“It’s what I would do.” Jake put a hand on Drew’s shoulder. “If you need help, you know how to find me. Just promise me you will find a way to let me know what’s going on.”
Drew wasn’t sure how he could do that just yet, so he didn’t respond. “When I’m gone, what are you going to tell my mom?”
“Not sure yet. I’ll think of something. It’s going to be hard on her. You’d better figure out a way to say good-bye without saying good-bye.”
Jake reached into his pocket and pulled out a wad of folded bills.
“Here. It’s about thirty-six hundred dollars. It’s not much but should get you to where you’re going.” Jake looked at Drew for some confirmation, but he gave him none.
“You sure?”
Jake just pushed the money toward him.
“Thanks, Jake. I’ll repay you, I promise.”
“Here’s something else I took the liberty of making for you.” Jake handed Drew a card. It was a Minnesota driver’s license for Ryan Johnson, but it was Drew’s picture. Ryan was his father’s name, and Johnson was his mother’s maiden name. It would be easy for him to remember. Drew examined the card—it looked authentic, but the birth date and ID were not his.
Drew looked up at Jake.
“Sometimes my clients require an extra measure of protection while they are traveling to hide their identity. This will help you where you are going as long as it is stateside. Beyond that, you’re on your own, and I wouldn’t recommend it.”
Drew nodded his thanks; then they both looked into the distant beauty of the land. When it felt like it was time to leave, Jake moved to get up.
“Hey, Jake. My mom’s been asked out by more guys than I can count.”
This comment made Jake fidget. “Yeah, I’m sure she has.” Jake stood up. Drew followed.
“She’s never gone out with any of them … ever.”
Jake shot Drew a puzzled look.
“Good grief, Jake, if you wait any longer you might as well go off the grid with me.”
Jake turned away. “I … I promised your dad I’d take care of her, not date her. It feels like I’d be … dishonoring him.” He rubbed the back of his neck. Drew had never seen him so uncomfortable. “Besides, Kathryn is … well … she deserves better than me.”
&n
bsp; “You have honored my dad for eight years. Don’t you think he would want his best friend to date her rather than some random guy?”
It felt a little strange talking to Jake like this about his mother, but over the past year, their relationship had shifted. The word friend defined what was between them now. Even still, Drew sensed he had said enough.
They walked in silence back toward their cars. Jake looked across the hood of his Charger.
“Hey,” Jake called out.
Drew looked up.
“Thanks.”
Drew gave a quick nod, then settled into his Mustang and drove for home. His excursion to the hills had used up the whole day. The setting sun nested between two hills on the horizon, the last of its glowing rim disappearing. He looked at his phone and saw twelve missed calls and multiple texts … all from his mother. He felt bad. When he pulled up to the driveway, his mother ran out to the car with tears in her eyes. Drew jumped out and gave his mom a long hug.
“I’m sorry, Drew.” She wiped her eyes, then touched his cheek. “I should have talked to you about Dr. Fisher before asking him to come.”
“It’s okay, Mom. I understand. I just needed some time to sort things out. I’m sorry too.”
They walked arm in arm back to the house, and she fixed a delicious meal as Drew set the table. Mother and son sat, ate, talked, laughed, and cried together.
“Mom, you have been so strong through the years. I don’t know how you’ve done it, but I know you did it for me.” Drew looked across the table at his beautiful mother. A lone candle flickered between them. “Dad would be proud. Thank you.”
Flame-reflected tears trickled down her cheeks. “You remind me a lot of him,” she said with a gentle laugh. “He would be so proud of the man you’ve become, and so am I.”
A lump formed in his throat. Did all sons long to hear that from their fathers? He thought of Jake and what a friend he’d been to them both.
“Jake’s been good to us.” Drew smiled through his emotions.
“Yes … yes he has. He’s a good man.”
“Next to Dad, there’s none better out there.” His mother tilted her head and narrowed her eyes. Drew just smiled. “Their friendship must have been deep.”
She nodded, then became lost to some distant memory. “Like the brothers they never had.”
Drew grew somber. His mother reached for her glass, and Drew made a quick scan of as much of the house as he could see from where he was sitting before she looked back at him. “I’m worried about Ben, Mom. I know he’s out there, and he needs help.”
There, the seed was planted, the explanation given. It would be enough. His mother’s eyes saddened, but she nodded as she set her glass down.
“I can’t imagine what more you could do that the police haven’t already done, but when you’re ready, I’ll help you.”
What his mom would not understand when he left was that he was doing it as much to protect her as to find Ben. He was convinced that once the invaders understood who he was and what he was trying to do, he and everybody around him would be in danger.
“I love you, Mom.”
“I love you too, Drew.”
14
THE INVADER WAR
The next morning, when his mother left to teach, Drew grabbed the last few things he thought he would need, including his .40-caliber XDM handgun and four boxes of ammunition. He then drove to the bank and withdrew the twelve hundred thirty-six dollars left in his account. He sat in the bank parking lot with nothing left to do but leave. He knew what his first move should be, but there was something inside him that compelled him to make one visit before he dropped off the grid.
He set his direction east toward Drayle University. The six-hour drive gave him time to think. He hadn’t yet figured out how to go about searching for Ben. Drew had thought about his last conversation with Ben a hundred times, hoping to find some clue as to where Ben might go. As he replayed that conversation in his mind one more time, a realization struck—Ben told him where to start looking! He had thanked Drew for helping him on his science fair project, but Drew hadn’t helped at all. That comment was no mistake.
Drew looked at the baseball cap lying on the seat next to him, a gift that Ben brought back from that trip. Drew picked it up and smiled at the bright-orange C on the front of the hat.
He parked his ’67 Mustang in the visitor’s parking lot near the south end of the Drayle University campus. He stood up and stretched to get the blood flowing to his legs and arms again as he looked around at the towering dorms and university facilities. Coming here wasn’t the smartest move. After all, this was where it all began. But two things pulled him back here: the physics lab and Sydney.
He needed closure with both.
He slipped his baseball cap on his head, threw his backpack over his shoulder, and walked toward the physics building, trying to look as casual as the rest of the students on campus. Nearly eight months had passed since the accident, but it seemed as though it had happened yesterday. Outside the building was a large construction dumpster with a vinyl chute going through one of the windows in the second-story lab, which was still under renovation. It was amazing how slow new building and renovation projects seemed to go.
Drew kept the brim of his hat low on his brow and his sunglasses in place as he walked by the lab and across the street to the union. The events of that Friday night replayed in his mind, step by step, to the time he went unconscious.
Did it really happen?
He went through the front doors of the union and then turned and leaned against the entrance sidewall as if he were waiting for someone. The scene in front of him was the same as the picture Ben had shown him months earlier. He took a deep breath and looked across the street to the physics lab. He didn’t believe in fate or destiny, but he couldn’t deny the strange and compelling feeling that there was a purpose to all of this.
He reached into his pocket, pulled out his new prepaid cell phone, and dialed Sydney’s number. After three rings, she answered.
“Hello?”
“Hi, Sydney.”
“Who is this?”
Something caught the corner of Drew’s eye, and he turned. A dark wisp of something disappeared up the stairs leading into the main foyer of the student union. Almost as if a shadow appeared and then disappeared with the flash of a camera. Whatever it was, it was gone. Drew ran up the stairs and scanned the large room filled with tables, chairs, students, and computers.
Nothing.
“Who is this?”
Drew heard the faint voice coming from the forgotten cell phone in his hand. “Sydney … it’s me … Drew.”
“Drew? How … how are you?”
“I’m good. I’m wondering if you have a few minutes to talk.”
“Of course. I’m getting ready to go to class, but I can talk on the way. And we can talk more later if you like.”
“Is there a place we can meet?” Drew looked around. Still nothing.
“Meet?” Sydney sounded confused. “Are you on campus?” Excitement lifted her voice.
“Yes.”
“I’ve got two classes back to back right now. Can we meet after that? How long will you be here?”
Drew hesitated. It would delay him at least three hours. It was too long. “That’s okay. I need to be moving on. I’ll catch you another day.” But he knew it was a lie.
“Wait … I’d really like to see you. Is someone with you?”
Drew frowned. Was he picking up an echo on his phone? No, the sound was coming from the mix of voices in the student union. Drew scanned the union and saw Sydney trying to load her backpack with one hand while holding her cell phone with the other.
“No … I’m alone.” He started walking toward her.
“But how are you able to …”
By now he was just a few feet away. He clicked his phone off. “Get around?”
Sydney spun on the spot, dropping her phone onto the couch by her book bag. “Dr
ew!” She reached for him as he walked toward her. With his sunglasses still on, he couldn’t help the tease that entered his mind. He kept walking until he bumped into the back of the couch.
“Here.” Sydney grabbed his arm. She ushered him around to the front of the couch, holding on to him … He liked that. He grabbed her hand as she helped him sit.
“How on earth did you get up those stairs by yourself? Who dropped you off?”
Drew smiled and pretended to gaze to the right of her head. “I managed.” He still held her hand, and she seemed fine with it. Probably because she thought he was impaired. “How have you been, Syd?”
She smiled. “My little sister calls me that.”
She looked so beautiful. He knew he shouldn’t have come to see her, but he couldn’t help it. His mission off the grid could last years, and he wanted to soak up every detail of her face into his memory.
“I’m fine, but how are you, Drew? What are you doing here?”
“Well, that’s a long story, but the main reason I am here is to apologize to you … in person.”
“Drew, you don’t have to—”
“Yes, I do.” He squeezed her hand a little tighter. “I was a real jerk when you came to visit me. You were trying to be nice, and I … well, I’m sorry. You’re an awesome girl, and I had no right to treat you like that.”
He watched her out of the corner of his eye. She lowered her head and appeared quite moved. Now he was starting to feel like a jerk again.
“Hey, I know you have to go so—”
“No.” She put her other hand on top of Drew’s. “I’m going to skip this class … I want to talk to you.”
“You sure?”
“Positive.”
“Even if I were to tell you that I haven’t been completely honest with you?”
Sydney frowned. She stared at him in silence.
“Not about the apology. I really am sorry, and am again.” He shook his head. “Oh, never mind.”
He reached up with his free hand and removed his sunglasses, then looked straight into her eyes. Sydney’s face transformed from confusion to elation and back to confusion again. She lifted one hand and waved it in front of his eyes. He lifted his hand and waved back.