by Lauren Wood
There was that word again, home.
“You are new to Moal, aren’t you?” He asked.
“Why does that matter? Answer the second question.”
“Well if you were from Moal you would know that you are not allowed to be outside after dark.” A smirk crept across his beautiful face.
“And why not?” My arms were aching so I lowered the vase.
In return he lowered his hands. “It’s against the laws set by The Leadership. Anyone caught after curfew is arrested.”
“Why?” My voice bit back.
“I don’t really know.” Xam shrugged. “As far as I know, The Leadership performs a series of tests throughout the night beginning the exact moment that darkness hits. They are an extremely secretive organization so I can’t tell you anything more than that. They set the rules and we have no choice but to obey them.”
I took a moment to process this information.
“Since you obviously knew better and you don’t seem like much of a rule-breaker, tell me why were you out after dark.” I stared him down.
“I was following you.” Even behind his blue skin, I could see that this confession made him blush.
“Why were you following me?”
“Because I had never seen anyone who looks like you. I was curious. Then you disappeared into the park and night fell. I needed to find you before The Leadership did.”
“Couldn’t you have just introduced yourself and told me about the laws rather than abducting me?” I grilled.
“I couldn’t risk making a sound. They would have taken both of us away.”
With that, I ran out of questions. I stepped forward and dropped myself onto the couch.
“May I sit?” Xam asked, motioning beside me.
I nodded.
“Where are you from?”
“Earth.” I left no room to expand on the topic.
“Really? How did you get to Moal? There have been no portal agreements secured between your galaxy and ours.” Xam scratched his head in search of an answer.
“I was on Neptune and I met a young Moalite boy. He had a portal device that malfunctioned separating him from his parents and landing him on Neptune. After helping him to fuel up he offered to take me back here with him. I had never even heard of Moal before him to be honest so I was intrigued by the offer.” I looked over at Xam sitting beside me. “So, here I am.” I shrugged.
“So, here you are.” He smiled at me. “I don’t believe you have told me your name yet?” Xam asked.
I detested that question.
“Kate.” I winced.
“Can I ask you something, Kate?”
“I guess.” I hated when people asked me questions. It meant they wanted to get to know me and I wasn’t generally interested in wasting my time on such a mundane conversational process.
“How do you know Boln?”
“Boln?” I questioned.
“Yes, Boln. It is our language. You are speaking it so fluently. How did you learn Boln if you have never even heard of Moal?”
“I don’t know what you mean, I am speaking English. It’s one of the most common languages on Earth, so I guess I might ask you the same thing then. How did you learn English if you have never been to Earth?”
“Moalites have spoken Boln for thousands of years. The language was discovered during the first hundred years of galaxy exploration. Our Moal ancestors stumbled upon a planet that contained an advanced civilization. They had harnessed the power of nature and learned how to take advantage of the resources within it. They had been able to move past means of technology and instead lived humbly off their land. The planet was abundant with nature and purified air. Unlike any other planet discovered. Our people decided to live by the example set by this newly discovered planet. They took the language back with them along with soil and flora samples. It was from this discovery that we were able to develop green spaces such as Qien Park. The plants in the park are alien species to Moal but we have developed resources to help them thrive.”
I wasn’t sure how to respond so I remained quiet.
“So why did you leave Earth?”
I felt a pain shoot through my heart. Normally this sort of personal question would send me running but for some reason I felt compelled to tell the truth. Xam had been nothing but kind to me and I had no reason to lie. In all honesty, I thought I might really like Xam. He was kind and from what I could gather he seemed intelligent, unlike the vast majority of the male population remaining on Earth.
“I’m sorry, you don’t have to tell me.” He retracted.
“It’s alright.” I placed my hand over his it was soft and warm. “I want to tell you.”
“I wasn’t trying to pry—“ He started.
“You weren’t.” I smiled at him reassuringly. “A week ago I received a phone call telling me that my parents had been killed in a motorcycle accident.” This was the first time I spoke these words aloud. My parents had been killed.
Xam remained silent.
“I hadn’t seen them in more than four years.” Sadness crept its weary hand over my eyes and I began to cry. Sudden thoughts about my parents flooded my mind. It was the first time since I received the call that I allowed myself to mourn the loss of Mom and Dad.
Xam laced his fingers through mine and squeezed my hand reassuringly. For some reason, I let him do it. I think I kind of liked it.
He cleared his throat. “Why had it been four years?”
“Thinking back, I can’t come up with an appropriate answer to that question. My entire life I was settled on the goal of falling below the radar. I never went out of my way to make friends. I was scared I couldn’t possibly be good enough for anyone. So instead of risking the let down, I avoided hope at all cost. Mom and Dad wanted me to go to college and get a job but I knew I could never fit that mold. Rather than let them down by dropping out of college or getting fired from a crappy job, as soon as I walked the stage for graduation, I took off and never went back.”
Xam took a moment to think about this. “I can understand where you are coming from.” He offered. “I lost my parents a few weeks after my graduation but unlike your situation my life was spent under the pressure of them wanting me to go above and beyond. I tried so hard but nothing I ever did seemed to be good enough for them. The morning before their death, I received a letter in the mail regarding my college application. I was so nervous to open it. I thought if I didn’t get in, my dad would be so disappointed in me. I couldn’t bare it so I packed my bag, wrote a note and left my parents behind. A few hours later I got the call about the fire.”
“I’m so sorry.” I genuinely meant it.
“After that, I couldn’t bare to open the letter. At that point it didn’t matter anymore.” He reached up and grasped a locket that hung around his neck.
Through my own tears, I noticed Xam was also crying.
“This was my mother’s necklace. She was wearing it at the time of the fire. It is the only thing I have left of my old life.”
For reasons I cannot explain, I felt compelled to hug the man beside me. Not only for my own comfort but also for his. Sadly enough, this was the first time I had ever felt compassion.
I leaned over and wrapped my arms around him. In turn, he held me back. His muscular arms cast an unfamiliar but welcomed feeling of safety over me. I breathed in his musk and decided I would be happy it I never had to let go. Is this what love was supposed to feel like?
“Kate,” Xam’s voice was quiet.
“Mhmm?”
“I didn’t fully tell you the truth when you asked me why I had followed you into the park.”
“How so?”
“When I first saw you, I was struck by your beauty. From your long blonde hair to your azure blue eyes.” Xam tucked a strand of hair behind my ear.
This time, I welcomed the touch. I felt my heart pounding freely in my chest. No one had ever made me feel so out of control like this before.
“I had never seen anyone with s
uch color in their cheeks.” He placed his hands gently on my either side of my face.
I looked deep into his eyes. They were so bright I could almost see my own reflection looking back at me. I could feel myself blushing. What was happening to me?
“Kate?” He whispered, leaning in closer to me.
“Yes?” I exhaled, drinking him in.
“Would it be alright if I kissed you right now?”
“Yes.” I felt my mind soar as Xam brought his lips to mine.
He pulled me in closer and I wrapped my arms around his neck kissing him back. Xam’s hands fell to my shoulders. Tracing gently past my shoulders, down to my breasts and waist before dropping them to my hips. Without breaking the kiss, he pulled my hips forward so I was sitting on his lap. He leaned forward and got up from the couch, I linked my legs around his back as he carried me toward the bedroom.
Gently he laid me down on the red silk sheets. I unbuttoned my dress before reaching forward and pulling his t-shirt up his strong back and over his head. His skin was warm and soft against mine, every nerve spiked under his temperate touch. As I kissed his neck, I could feel his breath heavy on mine.
“Kate,” he exhaled.
“Yeah?” I tried to steady my own breathing.
“I don’t know if we should do this.”
“Yes, we should.” I continued to kiss him down to his chest.
“Kate, please. Wait.” His voice housed a strange feeling of fear or nerves.
Admittedly, I was nervous too. I had never met an alien before and now I was on the verge of sleeping with one.
On the other hand, I had never felt this way about anyone in my life. I didn’t even know feelings like these existed until this exact moment. I think I was on the brink of falling in love with Xam.
“Is everything alright?” I suddenly felt worried.
“I don’t know if we should do this.”
I felt my heart drop.
Xam rolled onto his side. I reach for the covers and pulled them up to my chin. I could feel tears welling up in my eyes. I felt vulnerable and heartbroken, feelings I had never experienced.
Tonight was certainly a night of firsts for me.
“In Moal it is against the law to frequent with anyone outside of your race. I am only to fall in love with Cyans.”
He used the word love. My heart fluttered in its broken state.
“Cyans?” I was afraid of the answer.
“Yes, Cyans like myself. We are the race of Moalites that have blue skin. Cyan men are to mate with Cyan women. Yellow men with Yellow women. Magenta men with Magenta women. It’s the rules.”
“What happens if the law is broken?”
“The offender would be thrown in prison or abolished.”
I remained silent.
I could tell his mind was wandering. He chewed incessantly on his lower lip. I wanted to cry.
His hand found my cheek in the darkness. “But I can’t help who I fall in love with.”
With that, he kissed me more passionately than he had before. He ran his hands through my hair as I pulled him into me.
I am not certain, but I think fireworks erupted and showered over us tonight. With every touch I fell deeper and more intensely in love with Xam.
***
I yawned and blinked my eyes against the brightness of the morning sun. Stretching, I kicked my legs out from under the red sheets and reached my arms above my head.
“Morning, Xam.” I rolled onto my left side.
He wasn’t there.
I got to my feet and tugged the sheet off the bed. I draped it over my shoulder and trudged my way into the kitchen in search of Xam.
“Where are you?” I called out.
My voice rang empty.
“Xam?” I searched each room with no response.
Maybe he had to leave for work, I thought. It was strange that he hadn’t left a note but he could have been in a rush.
I rounded the corner toward the front door and saw the Moroccan vase on the floor. It was smashed into a thousand pieces along with the table it had been sitting on. Wooden splinters littered the rug.
Across the room in front of the door, I saw an object glimmer catching the sun. I walked toward the object on the floor and bent down to pick it up. It was Xam’s locket.
My stomach dropped. Something was wrong.
Xam was gone.
Chapter 3
“Next.” The Leadership agent called out summoning the next person in line. This time it was my turn.
I slapped the locket down on the counter and fought back the tears building heavily behind my eyes.
“My friend has been taken. I need to know where he is.”
“I am so sorry to hear that darling. Can you provide your friend’s name and address?”
“Xam. He lives at 767 Nexiun Street.” I chewed on my lip, impatiently waiting while she typed this information into the computer in front of her.
The agent scanned the screen in search of any information that might help me out. As she reached the bottom of the report her yellow eyes widened.
“Excuse me, miss. I will be right back.” She flashed me a nervous smile before disappearing through a door behind the counter.
I picked up Xam’s locket and closely examined it in my hand. It wasn’t hard to tell that it had endured a fire. The edges were charred and the clasp had melted forcing the locket to remain closed for the remainder of its days. A tear escaped my eye and ran down my cheek. Eerily, it landed directly on face of the locket. I scooped it up and placed it back into my pocket for safekeeping.
My attention returned to the closed door that the agent had disappeared into. I could see the knob turning and my heart raced. Maybe she had an answer for me as to where I could find Xam.
The look on her face told me otherwise.
Two brawny men followed in tow, their eyes stared straight at me.
“That’s the Earthling. Arrest her.”
“Me? What are you talking about?” I screeched.
“You were the motive of temptation for a Cyan. Such illegalities do not slip by The Leadership unnoticed. You are to be punished for your crime against Moality.”
“How is falling in love with someone a crime? Where I come from, interracial relationships are celebrated not criminalized!”
It was no use. The decision was made.
Each man grabbed one of my arms and started to pull me away from the counter.
“Tell me where he is!” I shouted trying to wiggle out of their grasps. “Let me go!”
No matter how violently I thrashed around, I wasn’t about to be set free.
The prison was dark and damp, much worse than anything I had ever seen on the television when I was a kid.
I was thrown into a holding cell with three native Moalites: a Cyan, a Magenta, and a Yellow. At first they didn’t say much rather they eyed me up as I crossed the cell toward my bunk. I laid down in hopes of sleeping away this nightmare only to find the mattress was composed of recycled card board. I sat back up and stared down at my feet dangling over the edge of the bunk.
“Hey rookie, what’s got you down?” Magenta whistled.
I ignored her.
“What? Are you too good for us?” Yellow balked.
“Leave her alone.” Cyan barked back. “Give her a minute to settle in.”
She made her way toward my bunk with an outstretched hand.
“Xra.” Cyan grabbed my hand and shook it.
I fixed my eyes on my feet.
“Do you have a name?” Xra questioned, picking my chin up between her fingers.
“Kate.” I muttered. I was getting bored with this question.
“Welcome, Kate.” She smiled. “The Yellow is Zici and the Magenta is Qoo.” Xra motioned behind her to the other girls. “I’ll give you some peace but we’re here if you need us.” She patted my leg and turned to walk away.
“I slept with a Cyan.” I blurted.
I heard gasps across the
cell.
“It’s all my fault. He told me it was against the rules but we fell in love anyway.” I bowed my head and let the tears flow freely.
“They took him too?” Qoo sounded genuinely concerned for me.
I nodded.
“They didn’t pardon you? You shouldn’t even be here.” Zici stepped forward and threw her arm across my shoulder.
Across the cell, I could tell Xra was thinking of something. “Seeing as you are clearly not from around here I am surprised they didn’t give you a pass to go back home.”
There was that word again. Home.
“We need to get you out of here.” Qoo piped up.
“But how?” I sniffed.
“We bring forward your rights from your home planet. They are required to exercise proper legal disciplines according to the laws held by your home. They will be certain to send you back. Where are you from? We will help you.” I could almost hear the clicking of the gears turning in Xra’s head.
Truthfully, I didn’t care if I ever got out. I just wanted to know that Xam was safe. But in the off chance that I would be granted release, I would spend every minute fighting for his freedom even if it meant sacrificing my own.
I had to get out. For Xam.
“Earth.”
Xra’s eyes shot wide open. “Earth?”
I nodded. “You’ve heard of it?”
“Of course I have heard of Earth! Before I was arrested and locked away, I was a student at Qien College. I studied linguistics and agriculture. The majority of content in my studies revolved around Earth. But as far as I was aware, I thought the barriers between our galaxies had been barred for a thousand years now. How did you get in?” Xra grabbed my hands into hers.
“I met a Yellow boy during my travels to Neptune who had a personal portal device. It malfunctioned and that’s why he ended up on Neptune. He invited me to come with him to Moal.”
“Amazing.” Xra’s drooled. “Does The Leadership know that you are an Earthling?”
“Not that I am aware of.” I hadn’t exactly gone out of my way to tell them so I would have to assume that they didn’t know.
“We have to tell them! They will free you for sure.” Xra ran over to the bars and started hammered on them with her fists in attempt to attract the prison guard’s attention.