by Sheri Vie
“Shiana, what on earth are you up to again?” the older female said.
“N-nothing, M-Miss Amber,” a girl said.
Laughter rang out.
“That’s enough!” the female said. “The answer is Bulnitramet BLM, and since none of you know this, your homework is to memorize the chemistry table before your next lab session.”
The children moaned.
“Yes, that’s enough time after your Halloween party,” the female said.
A jarring noise shattered the air. Jali flinched, his ears snapped shut and he crouched into a ball shape near the boy, who stared at him.
“Hayibo, that’s not the police,” the boy said, and patted Jali’s head. “Silly, it’s just the school siren!”
He slapped Jali’s knee. “Come on, let’s go before they see us!” The boy turned, sped past Jali, and disappeared over a shrub hedge; the tuft of leaves from his head flying into the air.
Behind Jali, the chatter of children softened as he followed, jumped over the bush, and into a garden. He paused to rest his hands on his knees and catch his breath. Sweat streamed down his face, and he rubbed his neck.
I am burning hot! Where is everyone?
“Have you seen Brela?” he asked the curly haired boy.
It was their first eye-to-eye contact. The boy jumped backward, his eyes widened, and he dropped the white-leaved papyrus and stick from his hands. Fixing his gaze on Jali he slowly bent to pick up the leaves.
The boy relaxed, smiled, and shrugged as he looked at Jali. “Aikona, not sure who that is.” His eyes brightened. “Hey, are you having a jol for Halloween?” He pointed to Jali’s Third Eye, ears, and clothing.
“Halloween? Jol?” Jali said.
The boy narrowed his gaze. “Yebo.” He sighed, and lowering his head, focused his gaze on the ground, with his mouth turned downward. He looked up, squinted, and scanned Jali’s face. His large black eyes widened again and stepping back toward the tree, he tilted his head. “Hey, are you from the US or are you with the Dragons?”
“US? Dragons?” Jali repeated, his face burning hot.
In the silence, they eyed each other from head to toe. The boy smacked his lips, inspected him with curiosity and said, “You stole the outfit, didn’t you?” He walked around Jali scrutinizing him. “You don’t look like one of them.” He pushed the strange glass at the tip of his nose back on his face. “Don’t worry, I won’t tell.”
Sweat poured down Jali’s back and face. Blinking fast he watched the boy with absorption, until his super-hearing perked, and his gaze darted left.
The boy jerked his head in the direction of the loud screams. “Aikona, no!” he said. “The Dragons are here. Come on, let’s go.”
He tugged at Jali’s arm and ran ahead.
Jali sped behind the boy. The screams grew louder as they approached a fence of shrubs and molded themselves snugly into the foliage. Jali wrinkled his nose. What is that odor?
Over the hedge, on a gritty-path, two warriors clothed in long, dark coats shoved a group of youngsters into a large-wheeled, shuttle-like vehicle. In the front sat a fair-skinned younger man.
He looked out of the window and yelled. “Come on, that’s enough captives for today.”
The tall warrior kicked a boy. A girl captive ran to help him, her faced discolored with tears. Both warriors rebuked her and flung the two into the shuttle.
A rancid odor plumed from the vehicle, and Jali coughed.
“Hey!” the shorter warrior shouted. “There’s someone in the bushes.”
“Let’s get him!”
Next to Jali, the boy yelled. “Run!” But he tripped on a boulder, and Jali bent to help him.
The warriors jumped from the bushes behind them. Jali whirled with shock; his nostrils flared, and he stood tall. “What Zookian level are you at?” He cocked his head to one side and demanded an answer for their wayward behavior.
The warriors roared with laughter.
Jali’s eyes narrowed. They did not look like any warriors he had seen before. Where were their Third Eyes? They were not Zookian warriors. The boy also did not have a Third Eye!
The taller man dashed past to the boy whilst the second assailant rushed close to Jali and even closer as he stepped back.
The man’s red eyes glinted and he smirked. “Hello, hello, hello, what do we have here?”
Spit splattered on Jali. Stunned, he wiped his hot face and confronted the bully. “I command you to stop at once!” he said, raising his voice.
The man scoffed. “Another freak for Halloween.” He turned and looked at the boy. “Bring that freaky, four-eyed know-it-all here,” he said. The tall man lunged at the boy and dragged him close. “Siya, I see you found yourself a buddy, ja?” He jabbed a finger into Jali’s chest and beamed.
Jali’s heart lurched.
Siya pushed the glass onto his face, straightened his shoulders, and nodded. “Yebo, he’s my friend.” He turned his head to one side, appearing confident. “Yebo, from the US and we’re going to a jol. But we didn’t see anything.”
The attacker chuckled. “I think today’s the day for a detour!” He shoved the papyrus from Siya’s hand and tramped on it.
The boy dropped to his knees, his hands to his head, and he groaned. “Noooo…”
Jali scuttled to Siya’s aid and glared at the men. “Stop all your unworthy actions. You are hurting Siya!”
He helped the boy off his knees, picked up the torn pieces, and stared up into the men’s fiery eyes.
The dark-haired man, quick as lightning, swung back his right fist. Unbearable pain ripped through Jali’s abdomen and the garden spun and blurred. He screamed and crashed into the bushes, blinking fast. Someone rushed to him. Jolts of pain shot through his left side, his right side, and again on his left side. He moaned as he used his hands to block the attacker.
The man laughed, his hot breath on Jali’s face “That will serve you right, you freak from the US. Right, ha ha!”
From behind them, children’s laughter neared, severing the heightened tension.
“School’s out. That’s enough now, Dragons. Let’s get out of here. They’re waiting to process the captives,” their leader shouted from across the hedge, and their footsteps vanished into the rustle of bushes.
Jali’s body throbbed with unfamiliar soreness as the garden gradually stopped spinning.
A soft hand cradled his head, and a scent of roses flowed into his nostrils.
“Grandma, Reenaaa…” he said before darkness enveloped him.
***
CHAPTER NINE
VISIONARY PURE ONES
A FRAGRANCE OF RED ROSES drenched the little backyard, cheered the cracked walls of the rumbling old house, and ignited a smile on Kriaka’s tan-colored, heart-shaped face. She tilled the rich brown soil around the flower garden, sprinkled water onto the thirsty leaves, and softly sang.
We shall overcome some day, hey, hey…”
A latch squeaked open at her side, and Meosic jumped off the trapdoor, but not fast enough as loose patches of grass and sand tickled her whiskers. She stretched her neck and meowed in annoyance.
Rama’s curly black hair jutted over the flap. He winked his hazel-brown eye, propped his chiseled arms on either side of the outlet, heaved his tall body onto the grass, and joined Kriaka’s song.
“Our sun glows bright
We dream of doves each night
Our voices will soon have their say, hey, hey.
Their say, hey, hey.”
He bent to kiss her head, patting her shoulders with his strong hands. She sniffed wrinkling her nose at him.
Rama chuckled. “Smell of a hard-working bloke, sis.” He swiped his greasy hand over his sweaty forehead and puffed. “Man, is it hot down there!”
She offered him a rag and poured a tall, hazy glass of water from the jug at her side.
Meosic rubbed her furry back on Rama’s legs, looked up at him, and meowed.
The summer sun shim
mered over Rama’s muscular body, showing off his biceps as he guzzled, reached for more, and gulped. Droplets splashed onto his unshaven face. He tilted his head and wiped his handsome features on his faded T-shirt.
“Less than an hour and we should be set for tonight.” He rubbed his hands with the old cloth and aimed it at Kriaka.
She caught the greasy rag before he turned, headed to the secret basement, and pulled shut the wooden decoy over him.
Cautiously, she replaced the patch of grass over the trapdoor and smiled when Meosic sauntered over to her favorite spot to sunbathe.
In an instant, a shudder ran through Kriaka’s body, and her heart missed a beat. She dusted her sandy fingers on the well-worn blue dress that flowed around her small hips and wiped tiny beads of sweat off her forehead. Close to her feet, Meosic’s tail stiffened, and the pair watched the hidden garden entrance in anticipation.
The bush parted; a small hand showed through.
“A-A-Akaaa,” Shiana cried. The girl’s slender form ran toward her, her Halloween wings tearing in the bush. “H-help him,” she said, pointing behind her.
Siya appeared inside the secret garden with an unconscious little boy on his back; the boy’s feet trailed on the grass. Meosic ran and tugged at his pants.
Kriaka rushed to Siya, as he collapsed with a huff and puff. They tried to catch the boy, before he fell on top of Siya.
With a bit of a struggle, she lifted the body and Siya rolled out from under, sat up, and adjusted his spectacles back up on his face.
“H-h-he’s hurt. The Dragons beat him up,” Shiana said.
“Okay, help me lift him inside,” Kriaka whispered, her gaze darting around the garden.
Siya held the boy’s legs, and they shuffled through the back door, placing him on the old couch in the corner of the sitting-room.
Kriaka drew the outmoded velvet curtains firmly across the windowpane.
“Quick, bring water and some towels!”
Shiana and Siya hurried to the kitchenette. Meosic brushed her tail against the boy and meowed.
“Who is he? What happened?” Kriaka asked.
Shiana hastened, spilling water from the bowl, her eyes as large as saucers, while she stammered. “H-heard crying. D-Dragons ran from the garden behind the school. I found S-S-Siya and the b-boy.”
Kriaka moistened the tattered towels. “Siya? Who is he?”
“He maybe is from the US, but I dunno.”
Puzzled, the two females stared at him.
Siya shrugged. “Ay, I saw him in the schoolyard, and then those Dragons got us.” He touched the boy’s hand. “Is he okay?”
Kriaka checked the boy’s pulse. “He’s burning up.” She turned to the girl. “Ana, go find Herb, he’ll know what to do.”
Kriaka stood tall. “Siya, stay here, do not open the door, I’ll get Rama.”
He agreed, and Meosic curled close to the boy, licking his hands.
Kriaka smiled, bemused. That’s a first—she must like him!
Within seconds, she dashed out the back door and through the rose patch while monitoring the area. Pulling open the wooden slab door, she glanced over her shoulder, and descended.
Rama’s drilling, hammering, and cussing echoed as she walked down the cold tunnel toward the light. His head was bowed, intent on the engine.
She tapped his shoulder.
He jumped back. “Kriii! Careful.” She stared at him, speechless. “What’s wrong Kri? What’s happened?”
“I’m not sure. Siya and Ana brought a little boy, beaten by the Dragons. He’s unconscious and burning up. You’d better come check.”
Her brother ran ahead of her into the house, where Siya and Meosic were magnetized by the little figure on the couch.
A frown appeared on Rama’s forehead, and he pulled Kriaka to the sink. “What if he’s a spy? We can’t risk it. There’s too much to lose tonight!”
Meosic jumped onto the tiny fridge, stretched her neck, and meowed at them.
Kriaka knit her eyebrows. Meosic is behaving strangely.
Rama walked to and fro, and in an effort to calm him Kriaka rested her hand on his chest.
“Look,” she said, “why don’t you finish the engine and check on the team. I’ll see to the boy. I’ve a good feeling about him.”
Her suggestion appeared to relieve him; he sighed, hugged her, and grabbing his cap and shades spoke in a hushed tone. “Tonight’s our night! See you soon.” The back door creaked shut behind him.
For a moment, Kriaka folded her arms and leaned against the squeaky wooden panel to catch her breath. Deep in thought, she readied the water to clean the boy’s face. The gaudy novel cloth on his light-brown skin, was a Halloween trend for sure.
The dot between the boy’s eyes, did it change color? Kriaka sponged the boy’s face, careful not to cover the special dot. His princely Halloween costume is fantastic, even the pointed ears. I wonder where he’s from.
Siya seemed equally fascinated by the boy.
The kitchen door squeaked. Herby filled the doorway, huffing and puffing, with Shiana behind him. He kissed Kriaka’s lips, knelt near the boy, and checked his pulse. Frowning, he touched the boy’s face, shook his head, and frowned even more. He tried to open the boy’s Halloween top but failed.
“He’s burning up. Get some more cold water.”
Shiana ran back to the sink.
Kriaka’s heart hammered. “He’s changing color. His skin—it’s turning green!”
The four exchanged glances.
Herby stared. “Where did you say he was from?”
Siya muttered. “Hayibo, I asked if he was from the US, and he didn’t know about the US—didn’t know Halloween, didn’t know about jol!”
Kriaka beckoned Herby to the bedroom. “Stay here kids,” she said and closed the shaky door.
“What do you think we are dealing with here, Kri?” Herby whispered, his eyes soft as he touched her face. “Does it have anything to do with the GIFT? I don’t want anything to happen to you.”
The back door scraped open. Footsteps neared and Rama entered, his voice full of excitement. “We’re set. This is our last chance to find the GIFT. What time can we leave?”
Kriaka and Herby exchanged glances and shrugged. Herby indicated to the lounge.
Rama banged his fist into the wall. “Oh, no!” He wrenched off his cap and scratched his head. “Look, we leave him here, with Siya. When he’s feeling better, Siya can take him to find his family.”
***
CHAPTER TEN
THIRD EYE SUPERPOWERS
FAMILY!
Jali inched his aching body off the soft couch. “Reena, Grandma.”
He tried to make sense of the dull ceiling that filled his vision. Squeezing his eyes, he opened them again, but the ceiling remained muddy, and the damp odor offended his nostrils. He coughed.
A movement at his side caught his attention; he narrowed his gaze. To his right sat the boy named Siya.
A girl stood alongside him. Her shoulder-length blonde hair hung loose around her fair face, her eyes deep blue, widened with fright. She blinked fast.
Neither of them had a Third Eye. Their ears are not pointed. His ears perked as he picked up on chatter.
“Where’s Reena, where’s Grandma?” His breathing quickened, his clothing clung to his back, and beads of sweat poured down his face. He tried to push himself up but fell back from excruciating pain at his sides.
“Is that your mommy and granny? Don’t worry, we’ll find them,” Siya said.
Jali broke into sobs. “Reena, Reena, Reena.”
Siya enfolded his hand, and the girl pressed his forehead with a wet cloth.
A cat jumped onto him. He rubbed its neck and pleaded, “Reena, call Reena.” The cat’s ear popped up.
Jali’s ears straightened as Siya and the girl jumped back. The cat leaped off the bed and slid toward the location of the hum.
Bright blue light filled the small corner.
&
nbsp; “Reena!” Jali squinted and sat up.
The two youngsters watched with their mouths wide open, next to them the cat stretched her neck and meowed.
The Zookian Glass emerged with Commander ZW1 and Reena, but their images were faint.
“Jali, I am safe and well,” Reena said. “Listen. This transmission will end soon. You transported over to planet Earth. I cannot regulate your temperature. You must seek shelter in a cool cave as soon as possible if you are to survive. This is your prime concern right now. Understood?”
“Yes.”
Reena looked at Siya and the girl who clutched him. “You must take my brother to a cool cave at once. Otherwise, he will disintegrate. Cool cave to reset his thermo…” The Zookian Glass faded.
Jali collapsed on the softness beneath him. His hair clung to his wet head. Reena was okay, but his temperature was the problem. Yes, of course, he needed a cave.
When he tried to speak, his mouth dried and his skin burned. Helplessly, he gave in and lay still.
The girl held on to Siya who sat close to Jali. “Ay, you’re from another planet, ja?” Siya asked.
Jali nodded.
The boy gasped, his mouth opened wide. “The summer here is bad for you, ja?”
Jali nodded again.
“We must get you to the cave, ja?”
Jali nodded; his vision blurred.
Siya turned to the girl who was still rooted to the ground. “Shiana, we must do something or he’ll die.”
The cat meowed and rubbed its back on Jali. Siya pulled Shiana toward a door on the opposite side of the strange cave, opened it, and they disappeared. Jali’s ears tuned in to the chatter.
Shiana spoke in an elevated voice. “Aka, y-you must b-believe us. The boy, Jali, is f-from another planet. His sister appeared in a hologram. R-R-Reeena. She spoke to us. He will die if we don’t take him to a cool cave now.”
“What nonsense is this, Shiana? You are imagining things,” a man’s gruff voice snapped.
Siya replied in a shrill voice. “No, Rama, I saw Reena too. She looked like the boy, Jali, but older. You know—that green dot in the middle of the eyebrows and the pointed ears. Please, we must save him. We can’t let him die.”
“Siya could be right. I examined the boy. Never encountered anything like this before. He has a different body composition. His abnormal body color fits right in with what the kids are saying,” a soothing male voice said. “Look, time is short not just for us, but for this boy, Jali, too. I can’t let him die. We must decide. What do you think, Kri?”