Through the Never

by J. A. Culican

  Her papa was tall for a human, at six foot four, but these males were at least six inches taller. One stepped over the wreckage and into the room, his white duster jacket touching the floor. Every line of his body, from the slashes on his cheeks to his muscular arms and broad chest, spoke of danger.

  Allie’s gaze snagged on his punk rock, steel-toed boots in awe. She’d always wanted a pair of those but she couldn’t find the old relics anymore. She followed the boots up to leather pants and to a silver stun gun, slung across his hips carelessly. This guy meant business. No one but the military owned those. Stun guns stopped your heart in less than a second.

  Allie frowned. She should be afraid. She smiled at the thought, thankful that the moonshine glow hadn’t worn off yet. If it had, she would’ve been a wreck.

  She brushed off her thought and moved to the alien’s face. His features were remarkably similar to humans, all but his pointed ears and hair the color of dark green grass that faded to lime green tips. Those screamed alien. Foreign. Unhuman. The hair was weird, and colorful. The ears reminded her of the stories her grandma used to tell her about elves.

  Her gaze dropped to his face and froze. He was staring right at her, his unnaturally bright green eyes penetrating her. Allie dropped her eyes to the floor. If Jer was right, she didn’t want to attract attention. If she stared at the floor long enough, maybe he would forget about her.

  Too late.

  Black steel-toed boots entered her line of sight as a large, blunt finger curled under her chin and lifted. Allie jerked her chin out of his hand and lifted her eyes of her own volition. His green eyes danced with mischief, a smirk hitching the corner of his mouth up.

  “There’s a little fight to you, isn’t there?” he said, his voice holding a faint accent.

  She wisely kept her mouth shut and stared at the alien, keeping her expression blank. Now was not the time to challenge him. But the fuzzy whiskey warmth was battling with the sense of danger she was in.

  He cocked his head, his green hair sliding across his forehead in an attractive way.

  Allie stiffened. She shouldn’t be thinking anything about him was attractive. “Stupid whiskey glow,” she muttered under her breath.

  “What was that, little one?” he asked, studying her the way she studied him. It was like his eyes saw right through her mask and into her soul. It wasn’t comfortable. She dropped her eyes to her knees, hoping the alien would move on and leave her alone. But that wasn’t to be. Another pair of boots moved into her vision.

  “You want this one?” a gruff, accented voice asked.

  “Not sure yet, Asa.”

  She pushed back into her seat when a large hand wrapped around her throat and a thumb pushed under her chin. How dare he touch her like that! Her eyes narrowed to slits. No one manhandled her.

  “Let go,” she hissed, eyes darting between the two men.

  The blue-haired one, Asa, leaned forward, grinning. “Earth produces the most luscious women.” He breathed deeply, creeping her out. “My mouth is watering at her scent.”

  Allie cringed. Her scent? Were they going to eat her? Here she thought there wasn’t anything worse than flying, but being eaten was definitely worse.

  “I don’t taste that good. I promise.” She snapped her mouth shut. Of all the things to come out of her trap…

  Today was not her day.

  Both aliens stilled, looks of wonder and mirth on their faces. “Does she really think we’re going to eat her, Xan?” Asa, the blue-haired alien asked.

  Xan, the green-haired man, eyed her, and then the man next to him. “I believe so.”

  Asa gestured to her. “For someone who thinks they will be eaten, she’s not very scared.”

  Xan rubbed his thumbs along her jaw line, making her shudder.

  “Stop touching her,” Jer growled from her side.

  Both aliens glanced at the redhead beside her.

  “What was that, human?” Asa questioned with a raised brow.

  “You heard me, Av,” Jer sneered the slur. “Couldn’t wait for us to reach your planet?”

  Asa leaned forward and loomed above Jer, his eyes caressing her red curls. “It’s like fire,” he said, ignoring her slight as he moved closer.

  Jer snapped her head up and right into the blue-haired man’s face. He jerked back, cursing as silver liquid dripped from his nose. Allie stared unabashed. His blood was silver. Not red or blue, but silver. She lifted a hand and poked Jer in the shoulder.

  “Look at that, Jer. His blood is silver.”

  Jer flashed her an annoyed glance. “Very astute.”

  Allie smiled at her and turned her attention back to the pissed-off alien glaring at her new friend. She swallowed at the irate expression on his face. She would not want to be Jer for anything. A thumb brushing her lip snapped her attention to Xan.

  “Enough,” she said. “Please go away. I’m tired.” And she was. Her whole body was beyond heavy.

  “Xan, you take the one with the hair the color of fire. I’ll take the one that looks like the sun.”

  “No,” the alien kneeling before her replied. “She’s mine.”

  “Please?” Asa begged.

  “Not a chance.”

  “Fine,” the blue-haired alien grumbled. “Grab her and let’s go. We need to have them tagged.”

  Xan pulled a wicked-looking dagger from inside his white coat that was made of some shiny material that caused her eyes to glaze. It didn’t even faze her when he sliced through her safety harness. Allie pursed her lips, watching the belts slither away, and part of her shirt agape where he’d cut clean through it.

  “You could have cut me.”

  “I didn’t.”

  Allie raised a brow and gestured to her shirt. “You cut through my shirt.”

  He shrugged. “Please follow me.” He pushed to his feet and held his hand out.

  A giggle slipped out of her, causing him to frown. “I’m not going anywhere with you.” She pointed at his ears. “My mama always told me not to go with strangers, and you, sir, are a stranger.”

  Allie glanced over when Jer snarled next to her. The blue-haired man had thrown her friend over his shoulder. How rude.

  “Hey, you put her down!” she demanded. Asa eyed her with a condescending smile that said, “What are you going to do about it?”

  “Not a chance, sweetheart.” Jer punched him in the back, fighting like crazy. “Knock it off or I’m going to drop you.”

  “Never,” Jer spat.

  Asa blew out a breath and pulled a syringe from his pocket. “I didn’t want to have to do this, but you leave me no choice.” Without further ado, he plunged it into the redhead’s butt. Jer slumped immediately.

  Allie stared in horror. “What was that stuff? What did you just give her?”

  “Something to calm her down.”

  “Calm her down for what?”

  He ignored her and strode past the green-eyed man. “Better grab yours.”

  “Get up,” Xan commanded.

  “No.”

  His jaw ticked. “I said get up.”

  “I can’t,” she said weakly. Even if she wanted to obey him, her body wasn’t working.

  “I say you won’t.” He placed both hands on the arms of her chair. “Get up or I’ll carry you.”

  She swallowed, a sliver of fear working through her. Allie paused, assessing the feeling. The whiskey must be wearing off, but there was still no way she could walk.

  “I can’t,” she repeated.

  “Okay, you’ve made your choice,” he growled, yanking her from the seat.

  Allie flopped over his shoulder with as much decorum as a sack of potatoes. Nausea churned in her gut; saliva filled her mouth as he stomped out of the room.

  Oh no.

  “You really need to put me down,” she choked out.

  “Not happening.”

  Bile burned the back of her throat. “No, seriously, you need to put me down.”

  “Enough
.”

  “You asked for it.” She burped and her stomach rebelled violently. The man carrying her froze as she continued to expel the contents of her stomach all down the back of his shiny white coat and black boots. Her head pounded, and she labored to breathe just as another round hit her. Allie’s whole body heaved and shuddered. It was like her stomach was trying to come out.

  “Stars and moons. No way.”

  “I’m dying,” she moaned, ignoring the puke on her face and in her hair. “Never again.” She shifted and then found herself lying on the floor. Allie pressed her cheek against the smooth, cool metal.

  “Disgusting.”

  She cracked one eye open as something splatted against the floor. A white coat.

  “That was my favorite coat.”

  “I warned you,” she whispered, closing her eyes.

  The creak of leather reached her ears at the same time a cool hand rested on her sweaty forehead. “You’re burning up. Are you sick?”

  She scoffed pathetically, pressing further into his touch. “What do you think?” A whimper escaped when he removed his hand. “Stupid moonshine.”

  “What?”

  “Moonshine. Whiskey.”

  “I know what it is. What does it have to do anything with this?”

  “I had some.”

  Silence. “How much?”

  “Half a vial.”

  “That’s not much.”

  “It was my first time.”

  A black oath. “Seriously, Allie?”

  “What?” she grouched. “Getting on airships is scary.” She blinked, trying to clear her vision enough to get a good look at the alien crouching next to her. “Don’t judge me, pirate.”

  “Pirate? That’s what you think I am?” He arched a brow.

  “Well, you hijacked my ship and are stealing me,” she said. Her stomach rolled again. “It’s coming again.”

  “I’m going to give you something to help with the nausea and help you sleep.”

  Allie weakly slapped a hand at him. “No, you will not drug me. I’ll not allow it.”

  “You’ve got no choice.”

  Her eyes almost fell out of her head at the size of needle he was wielding. “No.”

  He met her eyes and stabbed the needle into her arm. She cried out, tears welling in her eyes. “That hurt, you bastard.”

  “It couldn’t be helped. Now, lie still.”

  Like she was going anywhere. A sigh of relief escaped her when the nausea disappeared almost instantly. Her eyes became extremely heavy. Stars above, all she wanted to do was sleep.

  “Listen to me, Allie.” A hand smoothed her puke-covered hair out of her eyes. “Keep your eyes open when you reach the city of Sars. You need to be careful. I’ll look out for you. Sleep safe, little one.”

  She smiled and closed her eyes, sinking into bliss.

  Crazy? I was crazy once…

  Allie jerked and blinked furiously, her nose scrunching up in confusion at what surrounded her. She was sitting in the hull, strapped into her seat.

  She blinked again.

  The door was in perfect condition, and the passengers in various states of rest. Her gaze snapped down to her chest. The straps were in perfect condition, as was her shirt.

  “What the hell?” she breathed.

  “What was that?” Jer murmured.

  Allie slowly turn to the redhead. “Jer, pirates attacked our ship.”

  Jer frowned. “Not that I know of…” A look of understanding slowly crossed her face, and she held up the empty glass vial. “You fell asleep almost immediately. It’s been smooth sailing since we left. We’re just about to land.”

  “Land?” she repeated stupidly. How long had they been on the ship?

  “Yeah, Sars … the alien planet we agreed to help populate.”

  “Agreed isn’t the right word,” Allie muttered. She peeked back at the door and down to her shirt again. “I had some crazy dreams.”

  The redhead rolled her eyes. “No joke. You mumbled and twitched in your sleep for fourteen hours.”

  “That’s it? We’ve been traveling for fourteen hours?” It boggled her mind that in fourteen hours, 28 years had passed on earth. A lump settled in her stomach. Her mama and papa probably had grey hair and grandbabies by now.

  “Hyperspeed is a wonderful thing.”

  Her friend’s commented pulled her from her morose thoughts. Allie rubbed her arm, her brow wrinkling. It was like she could still feel the needle. “It felt so real,” she whispered to herself.

  Jer gave her a knowing smile. “Side effect of moonshine.”

  She shuddered. “I’m never drinking that again. I have no idea what my parents were thinking when they created that.”

  Her friend patted her hand. “It’s always worst the first time.”

  The ship tilted, making her stomach flip, and then gradually settled. An AM detached from the wall and pressed a series of numbers on a clear pad next to the door before turning to them. “Thank you for flying with us. Please mind the gap between the ship and the platform. Also, remember that the air on Sars is thinner, so your equilibrium will be off for a few days. Your luggage will be transferred to your new homes. Welcome to Sars.”

  A series of clicks sounded in the room as the safety straps released. Allie clutched her little bag and sat staring as the surrounding people collected their belongings while moving towards the hull door.

  She couldn’t believe it. She was on another planet. Allie forced herself out of her chair onto shaking legs. “We’re actually here.” The flight was over and they’d survived the trip with only a few bad dreams to show for it.

  Jer slapped her on the back and held her elbow out to her with a smile. “Would you accompany me to our new world?”

  Jer’s energy was infectious. She grinned at her redheaded friend and locked elbows with her, feeling a little more confident. They shuffled unhurriedly through the throng of people and paused just outside the hatch in awe. It was nighttime, but instead of a black sky with stars, it was purple with three silver moons.

  “Three moons,” Jer commented. “Go figure.”

  Allie stared in astonishment and brushed at her arm.

  Ouch.

  She pulled her eyes from the alien phenomenon and lifted her arm up, scanning it for bruises. Nothing. Huh. It would probably be a bruise by tomorrow. Just as she peered up from her arm, her eyes clashed with green ones. Unnaturally green.

  Xan. The green-haired alien from her dream.

  “Do you see him?” Allie said, pointing at the alien smirking at her.

  “Who?” Jer asked, scanning the crowd.

  “The elf-looking guy with green hair.” Allie blinked when he winked at her. “He’s right there.”

  “I can’t see him.”

  She dropped Jer’s arm and plunged into the crowd, needing to find him. It wasn’t a coincidence that he was here. How was it possible?

  “Allie, wait!”

  Ignoring the dirty looks and scowls, she plowed through the people. Allie burst into an open spot, breathing hard, and spun around looking for green hair. Nothing. It was like he’d disappeared into thin air.

  Jer jogged to her side and slapped her on the arm. “Don’t run off like that. We don’t know how safe it is here.”

  “But I saw him,” she explained lamely.

  “The man from your dreams?” Jer said, trying to keep a straight face.

  “I saw him right here,” Allie said, frustrated.

  “Hun, I think the moonshine messed with your head.”

  She growled, still searching the sea of people around her. Doubt started filtering in. Maybe she was still under the glow. Dumb moonshine. “I could have sworn—” Allie spun around and slammed into a large chest.

  “You’ve got to be kidding me,” she grumbled.

  “I didn’t think you’d be this happy to see me.”

  Allie froze. She slowly looked up into the face of the man who’d ruined her escape. The Lock.
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  “You,” she growled.

  “You,” he mocked.

  Allie smiled inwardly as her former idea came back to her. She let a smile tip up her lips and reached into her bag. “Thank you for helping me get onto the ship. I wouldn’t have been able to myself.”

  The confused look on his face would have been comical if she wasn’t trying to pull one over on him.

  Carefully, she glanced down into her bag and plucked a glass vial filled with green liquid out and held it out for him with what she hoped looked like a grateful smile. “My family makes moonshine. This is my way of saying thanks.”

  He smiled and pulled the green vial from her hands. “I’ve never had any that was this color.”

  She glanced around like she was divulging a secret. “It’s a new recipe. Something new my family is releasing in six months.” His eyes rounded in surprise and delight. “Enjoy.”

  “Thank you, ma’am.”

  Allie grinned and gave a little wave before looping her arm through Jer’s. She steered the redhead away from the Lock, a feral smile taking the place of her grin.

  “That’s an evil smile if I ever saw one. What did you just give him?”

  “Something he’ll never forget.”

  “I’ve never seen moonshine that color before.”

  Her smile widened. “That’s because it’s not moonshine.”

  “Well, what is it?”

  “Something he’ll remember me by.”

  “What did you do?”

  “Gave him a taste of his own medicine.”

  “You’re avoiding the question,” Jer accused.

  An evil chuckle slipped out of Allie. “Let’s just say he won’t be leaving the bathroom any time soon.”

  The redhead’s brows raised in surprise. “You’re that angry with him?”

  “I’m not mad.”

  “No?”

  “No,” she echoed. “I don’t get mad, I get even.”

  Jer blinked several times then straightened wearing a smirk. “I think we’re going to be great friends, Allie Sai.”