Somewhere in the Middle

by Linda Palmer

  Teo chortled. “Are you asking if your boyfriend’s a giant bug in disguise?”

  I waited, but that was all the answer I got. So I tried a new tack. “If your father needs a psychic to predict the kobling and then keep it open, how’d you get here?”

  “Uncle Os does more than spy on Earth. He’s the most powerful psychic ever. Unfortunately, he’s very sick. But before I came here, he assured me he had the strength to send me a posse once I found the psychic we sought. Of course he had to wait until the next brush, which was last night. He’s now keeping the kobling—we actually call it güür-open until we round up Roone and take him back with us.”

  Keep him talking. “So you originally came alone.”

  “More than one of us might’ve caused unwanted attention, and I didn’t know how long it would take to find the psychic. Plus the natives on Början are getting restless, so Father needs his best men to keep them in their places.” Teo turned to one of his companions. “We’re supposed to rendezvous with the others in an hour, Jun. We should go now and contact Roone from the landing site.”

  “Yes, noyan.” Jun wore his black hair in a military buzz. He looked about thirty or so and had on leather as Teo did, but in a style that screamed military.

  “Isas, you go out first and take the kid,” said Teo. “Can’t have Everly making a run for it.” With a nod, Isas opened the front door and stepped onto the porch, Eli in tow.

  As the glass storm door shut behind him, my fear for my brother kicked up several notches.

  Teo glanced at my empty hands. “Where’s your bag? Girls here always have bags.”

  “In my car. I’ll get it.”

  “No. Sheng?”

  The guy he’d spoken to slipped past me and out the door. I saw he had a buzz, too, and wore military-type clothing identical to Isas and Jun.

  “Give me your phone.” Teo held out his hand.

  “It’s in my bag.”

  “I don’t believe you. That’s another thing girls here can’t seem to live without.”

  I stubbornly shook my head.

  “I’d love to pat you down.” He lifted his hands and cupped them, wiggling his fingers.

  Ew. I dug my phone from my hoodie pocket and slapped it into Teo’s palm, much to his amusement.

  He set it with the three already lying on the foyer table. “Okay. Let’s go.”

  I burst outside and found Isas and Eli standing there. Eli looked okay, but my heart still twisted with fear for him. Jun and Teo brought up the rear. As Teo pulled the door shut behind us, Sheng signaled that my bag really was in my car, where it was apparently going to stay.

  “Wish I had my goddamn flyer.” Teo nudged me toward the steps. “The transportation on this planet totally sucks. I still haven’t gotten the hang of that clunky piece of shit I’m driving.”

  No wonder Roone drove so cautiously. Wheels were new to him. Knowing what I now knew, I thought of all the other hints he’d given me that Earth wasn’t his home. Though I’d wondered at the time, it was seldom more than briefly. And his really being from another planet in another world, well, that had never crossed my mind.

  The moment, Isis got a little ahead of us, I snatched my brother away and lifted him into a hug. As I settled Eli on my hip like some two year old, I realized I’d gladly die defending precious him.

  But my death would equate to abandonment. I had to stay alive. I had to play it smart.

  Sandwiched between Juno and Sheng, we silently walked in the dark to another street where two SUVs were parked a couple of houses apart and on opposite sides of the pavement.

  After a quick glance around, Teo took my arm and led me to the nearest one. He opened the door. I looked for a way out, but quickly realized there wasn’t one. So I set Eli on the seat. Teo pretty much shoved me in next to him. I banged my knee in the process.

  My mind went nuts as he and Isas got into the front seat, Isis behind the wheel. While I understood that I was supposed to lure Roone into capture, I didn’t quite get how. None of us had a clue where he was, and he couldn’t read my mind…at least as far as I knew. As for that long-distance chat he’d had with his brother, I believed that was a shared-blood connection that wouldn’t work with me. But just in case it would, I decided not to say or even think his name.

  To keep myself distracted, I whispered to Eli that everything was going to be okay. I saw that he was clutching his plastic Mjölnir as if it were a real weapon and his shield as if it could actually protect him. I hoped they gave him courage. I was pretty sure we were going to need it.

  I thought about my parents, who’d probably be home for a while before they began wondering. How long would that take? I’d told Cory that Eli and I were going to check on Roone, but hadn’t given him an address or anything. Once they knew there was something to worry about, Dad the deputy would have to use official resources to find the house, which would take even more time, something I felt sure I was running out of.

  “Tell me about Början.” Desperate to appear unafraid, I hoped normal conversation would also keep me from thinking of Roone and Isas from thinking of Eli.

  “It’s a planet smaller than Earth but at a similar place evolutionally speaking. Amazing, isn’t it, that two universes so unaware of each other could produce life forms so physiologically similar. There the resemblance ends, unfortunately. Börjans have a history of wise decisions. Therefore their planet is far superior to this one in every way. Unfortunately their respect for life actually hindered their ability to defend themselves when my father invaded. We slaughtered them like sheep.” He smiled at the happy memory.

  I shuddered. “Are there countries on Början?”

  “Sectors. Our present stronghold is in a city called Farsund, which is in Holmstrand Sector.”

  “Did Roone come to Earth to get away from your father?”

  “Probably. We think Bo Thorsen, who’d been drafted into our ranks of scientists, got wind that Os was ill. He must’ve feared that Father would hear of Roone’s powers and force him into service, too. At any rate, they were long gone by the time we actually did learn what he could do. My father began monitoring the movements of the brother who stayed behind in hopes Roone would contact him. But that only just happened since Roone apparently didn’t know he could until he watched some film with you. What was it?”

  “Thor.” My mind a daze of unanswered questions, I absently pressed a swift kiss on the top of Eli’s head.

  “Thor? Really? That’s freakin’ hilarious. Very ironic.”

  I didn’t get the joke. “So you’re originally from another sector?” The sketchy details and foreign names had begun to confuse me.

  “I’m from another plane of existence. I believe Roone’s father calls it Andre, which means second in his language. He has the order wrong, of course. We came first, which is why we call it Ug or origin.”

  Whoa. I thought of Bo’s paper. “There really are three of them then?”

  “Four that we know of. I just told you about the newest discovery.”

  Chapter Thirteen

  So he had, and I was struggling to get my head around it. “Are you going to invade Earth?”

  “Earth isn’t worth the effort. Too much pollution and waste of natural resources, too many mouths to feed, inferior educational systems.”

  “And this fourth plane…there’s a planet with intelligent life on it?”

  “Maybe. So far Os hasn’t picked up anything specific, but that could be because he doesn’t know where to look. We won’t have a better idea until Roone gets us there.”

  I peeked at my watch. I’d only been gone from my house for an hour and a half. No one would be worried yet. I stole a glance out the rear window. No headlights, nor were there any oncoming. Clueless as to where we were, I’d never felt so helpless and alone.

  Alone? I desperately wished I was. If anything happened to Eli… I swallowed hard, unwilling to go there.

  “What’s your planet called?” asked Eli.
<
br />   I looked down at him in wonder. Was this conversation really making more sense to him than me?

  Teo glanced back, clearly as surprised. “Govil. It’s a desert area that’s smaller than Början, and currently overpopulated by warriors, the reason we’re expanding. Father isn’t the first to do it, either. One of our kind actually visited Earth thousands of years ago, which I thought made him totally unique. Now, of course, I realize Earth has had other visitors, too.”

  Clueless as to what he was talking about, I didn’t comment.

  “You might’ve heard of him, Everly…Temuujin?”

  “Nope.”

  “He called himself Genghis Khan.”

  “Genghis Khan was an alien?” I remembered reading about him in world history. A ruthless warrior, he founded the vast Mongol Empire, and was known not only for his brutality and sexual conquests, but, oddly enough, for his religious and racial tolerance.

  Teo grinned at me over his shoulder. “Hard to believe, isn’t it?”

  “Too hard,” I said. If old Khan was an alien, the history of his birth and upbringing had been highly exaggerated in textbooks. “Where are we going?”

  “It’s not far now.”

  I tightened my grip on Eli’s hand and stared out the window. Was I scared? Hell yeah. So much that simply trying to make small talk had completely exhausted me. I desperately hoped that psychic Roone had already picked up on the fact that he was in danger and gone into hiding with his family.

  But if he had, why would they leave the house wide open and their phones on the table? I could only think of one reason—they weren’t coming back.

  For all I knew, the Thorsens had stayed on the move since their arrival, which meant Roone had known he wouldn’t be around for long. Was that the real reason he’d told me he couldn’t have a girlfriend? Because he knew he’d exit my life as abruptly as he’d entered it? That matched the facts and would even explain the “no matter what happens” wording last night. I felt heartsick at the idea—heartsick and betrayed.

  Teo slowed and pulled over, jolting the SUV as the tires dropped off the pavement and crunched to a halt on a graveled shoulder. A quick glance out the window revealed we were parked next to a huge field in the middle of nowhere. I saw no lights of any kind except the full moon and the stars, which looked massive and close enough to touch.

  No one would hear if we screamed.

  No one would call 9-1-1.

  No one was going to save us.

  Isas jumped out of the vehicle and opened my door. I slipped off the seat and into the chilly night, dragging Eli after me and then blocking Isas’s access to him with my body. By then the other black SUV had parked behind ours. Guided only by moonlight glistening on wet grass, Teo started into the field, motioning for everyone to follow him, five of us in all. Weeds, tall and tangled, slapped at my legs, making it hard for us to walk. But when I slowed to help my brother, I got a shove from behind that almost sent us sprawling.

  I snapped at Jun. “Rude much?”

  “I could always carry you.” He held out his arms and made a clucking sound with his tongue that might’ve brought a puppy running.

  But I was no one’s pet and starting to get a little pissed, which actually energized me. “Touch me and die.” I heard Teo’s chuckle from up ahead. Clearly showing some sass was the way to go, but I had to be careful. I didn’t want Eli to get hurt because of something stupid I did.

  About fifty yards from the road, Teo signaled that we should stop. By then, the winter cold had taken its toll. My teeth chattered and goose bumps skittered up my arms. I knew Eli had to be as miserable as I was.

  “Call Roone,” Teo said. “I’m not sure how much longer Os can keep the wormhole open.”

  “Excuse me?”

  “Call Roone.”

  “He doesn’t have his cell.”

  “I didn’t say to phone him. Speak his name.”

  As if. I opened my mouth to tell Teo just where he could go.

  Eli, misunderstanding my intention, tugged on the hem of my hoodie. “Don’t call him.”

  “I won’t.”

  The sound of an approaching vehicle distracted all of us. I glanced toward the road. Help? No such luck. Three more guys in leather piled out of the SUV that had pulled up and parked behind ours, which meant there were now seven huge men, a little kid, and one desperate girl. I did not like those odds. It didn’t help that everyone including Teo held gun-like weapons that I’d never seen before but felt sure could vaporize us on the spot.

  “They’re called jer and are way more efficient than any weapon on this pitiful planet.” Teo pinched my face between his fingers to make me look at him. “Now call your boyfriend. We’re in a hurry.”

  Pulling his hand from my face, I watched two of the additional guys position themselves near the road. The other headed our way. “If you’re thinking I can just say his name out loud and he’ll come running, you’re dead wrong. That only works when there’s shared blood.”

  “I’m positive a love connection will be just as strong.”

  I shook my head. “I’m not doing it.”

  He went very still. “I’d love to make you.”

  I glared at him. “Try it.”

  Teo gave me a leering look. “Actually, I’m loath to bruise that beautiful body.” He glanced past me. “Nohai, you’ll have to do it.”

  Before I could turn to see who he’d spoken to, my right wrist was caught in an iron grasp and yanked it behind me. Excruciating pressure shot through my shoulder. I went right my knees, screaming in agony. My precious baby brother charged, shield up, and his plastic hammer circling like a lasso over his head. A single side-armed swipe sent his tiny body flying.

  “Don’t hurt him!”

  “Then say Roone’s name.”

  “It…won’t…work.” Every word came out a tortured gasp.

  “Isas.” Teo tipped his head in Eli’s direction. With a pleased smile, Isas stepped toward my brother.

  “Roone.” It was barely more than a whisper.

  Teo instantly halted his men with a move of his hand. Crying hard, I twisted free and went straight to Eli. He threw his arms around my waist.

  “You brought this on yourself, you know.” Teo’s voice was cold.

  I didn’t acknowledge him. “Are you okay, buddy?”

  “I dropped my stuff.”

  Stuff…? Oh, Thor. “It doesn’t matter.” Paying no intention to my burning shoulder, I picked him up as I had before so that he straddled my hip. He wiped my tears with his hand.

  When I had control of my emotions, I turned to Teo. “I hate you.”

  He stopped his restless pacing. “I’m just doing what has to be done. It’s nothing personal. In fact, I actually like you. So much that I’m rethinking your demise.” His gaze swept me, lingering where it shouldn’t. “We could have some fun, you and I.”

  His smirk made me shiver.

  “As for your brother, he can be one of my warriors someday.”

  Eli shook his head. “I’m a good guy.”

  Teo laughed under his breath, clearly taking that as a compliment.

  “Assuming Roone shows up, how are you going to cross the kobling? On foot?”

  He raised his left arm so he could pull up the sleeve of his jacket. I saw a watch on his wrist, or was it? Teo touched the tiny instrument and then caught my eye, nodding toward the field. I glanced to my right just as something shimmered into view—something that must’ve been there all along. Shaped similar to a car, but larger and entirely illuminated from within, it floated above the ground. The weeds growing under it whipped as if caught in a stiff wind. “Everly, Eli…this is a flytestilling more commonly known as a ‘flyer.’ They’re common on Början. I prefer a smaller model for personal use.”

  Eli gasped. I didn’t blame him. Of all the craziness that had happened since I encountered Teo and crew, this was the craziest. “Wake up, Everly. Wake up.”

  Teo thought that was hilarious. �
��I like that you’re more than just brains and beauty. I’m always looking for a laugh.”

  Suddenly sick at my stomach, I closed my eyes and hugged Eli a little tighter. Would thinking about something else help me get through this?

  I deliberately focused on my family—my rock. Had my parents missed us yet? Though I’d once known what time they got off today, at the moment I couldn’t remember. I was that rattled by the reality of cosmic bridges, alien soldiers, and UFOs.

  Roone, if you can hear me, please don’t come. I’ll find a way out of this. I know I can do it.

  The ground beneath us trembled slightly—just enough to make me lurch. Thunder rumbled in the distance. Teo frowned and scanned the heavens, which still looked clear. “Jun?”

  The warrior in question stepped closer, his eyes on the sky, too. Isas joined them, and then the others. They began to talk among themselves. I started backing away, my heart racing. Could I run far and fast enough to escape? I had to try. Spinning toward the road, I charged into the night. Eli suddenly weighed a ton and my feet tangled in the grass as before. I stumbled, nearly dropping him, but somehow staggered upright.

  “Shit!”

  I glanced back to see two shadows splitting off and pursuing us. They caught up in seconds. Jun grabbed my hood to stop me. Isas tried to take Eli. Screaming, I pivoted and kicked at both of them, but it was no use. They easily herded us back to Teo. A low hum in the distance made everyone turn toward the road. Though my eardrum barely registered the noise, I could tell it was getting louder. A car? Didn’t sound like one. A motorcycle?

  “Roone.” Eli’s soft whisper made my blood run cold.

  Please God, no.

  I squinted, trying to see into the night. A single headlight appeared, confirming my worst fear. Roone had somehow heard me, and of course he’d come. Heart sinking, I watched him pass the parked SUVs and pull over in front of ours.

  A jubilant grin on his face, Teo watched my guy dismount the bike. When I moved to go to him, he stopped me. “No.”

  So Eli and I watched helplessly as Roone walked across the field, his hands stuffed into the pockets of his open leather jacket. My gaze swept his body, cherishing details of his appearance—dark shirt, form-fitting jeans, biker boots. With his messy hair lifting slightly in the winter breeze, he looked like a modern-day god to me. My personal superhero.