by Alechia Dow
My lips quirk. “So, the Starry Eyed, huh?”
He takes my hand in his and leads me to the door. “They’re the strangest beings in the universe. The arguments between Cecil and Allister—”
“They always fight! I remember reading that in an interview.” We walk down the stairs together, and although my legs ache, I want to go and see Alice. Maybe even my dad, if I can bear it. Maybe my mom, too. They are a painful reminder of the center, but I love them with all my heart. And they will come back.
“I think they’re genuinely nice beings, though. They saved us. They brought us to their home. If they were Ilori, they would have left us to die.” Morris closes his eyes as we step into a hallway. “She’s somewhere down here.”
“Alice?” I call out. “Alice?” No one answers. There are four different doors down this hallway, and the lighting’s low. The hallway is checkered red and purple—the band’s signature colors—and has mildly luminescent sconces between the doors.
We hear a voice call from inside a locked room farthest down the hall. “Let me out of here.” My father’s voice calls from inside. “I have a purpose. I must serve them.”
I cringe. “Will he ever be...himself again?”
“Yes. The half-solutions program requires a monthly injection. Without it, he should revert back to himself in time.” Sadness threads through his voice.
“How long?”
“I don’t know, Ellie. However long it takes to work out of his system. I’m sorry I cannot guarantee when that will be.”
Another door swings open. Colorful lights dance across the marble floors and walls as Alice steps out. Her eyes are bright and wide, and she’s wearing a long yellow dress that makes her shimmer like a beam of sunlight. Her thick hair is swept over her shoulders.
“Ellie. Oh God.” She throws herself into my arms. I hug her, ignoring my father in the other room as I’ve ignored him for many months now. I know that he wouldn’t want me to agonize over something I can’t change. But I will save him. I will.
Another member of the Starry Eyed leans against the doorway. Her name is Whisper, Whisper Landsome. She wears a bright blue gown, same style as Alice’s, that sparkles like shards of crystal. Her expertly cut black bob swings on the sides of her face as she turns toward me. Shimmery, gray-black eyes flick to mine. Also not contacts. How did no one realize they’re aliens? We all just assumed their brand was colorful eyes, questionable costumes and strange accents no one could quite place.
“How are you?” Whisper asks, a polite smile on her face.
“Wow. You’re even more beautiful in real life,” I blurt, and immediately wish I could take it back. Embarrassment flares up inside of me and I step away from Alice and closer to Morris, my safe zone.
“Thank you.” She smiles widely, even though she must be used to hearing the compliments.
I look back at Alice. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine. Avi was supposed to give me the vaccine. Instead, they kept me hidden in an apartment upstairs with your mom. I’m sure the reason I’m here is because of you, right?” Her eyebrows raise.
“I told Morris to save you.”
“Well, thank you, Morris.” She peers behind me at him. “Anyway, we lived like that until everyone was vaccinated. They took my mom and baby sis somewhere, but Avi said that they’re safe and we’ll get them out. I won’t lie, the first few days were hard, but then Avi brought us upstate. It was quiet. Everything’s gone up there...except a weird little cottage outside Albany, I think? I was getting some firewood when a bunch of Ilori guards came. They collected us all... And Ellie? Your mom...she’s not well. And your father... I didn’t know he wasn’t lucid anymore. Why didn’t you tell me?”
I wish I could say that I was afraid that if I told someone else, it would make it real, but I don’t want to admit that to her, not now. I have to be like stone for whatever lies ahead.
She continues with her story. “Those guards—they were working for some commander, somewhere. They took us in this weird plane type thing across the country and brought us here. And you know the rest.”
I touch her arm, bringing her back to the moment. “I’m so happy you’re okay. I was worried about you.”
There’s a sadness etched onto her features. “I’m happy you’re okay. I thought you died. I had no idea.” She hugs me again and then laughs; it’s just as loud and vivacious as I remember. “Wait till Jackson Hughes finds out that I’ve been hanging with the Starry Eyed. Bet he’d feel bad then.”
I shake my head. Still Alice.
There are footsteps down the hall that shake us out of our moment. We turn just as Allister appears. “Come on. Let’s meet in the den before you leave.”
“Leave?” I ask, but Allister is already gone.
Whisper cocks her eyebrow at Alice. “We’d better do what he says. He’s been insufferable since he lost Sidra.” Her eyes flick to another locked door down the hallway. “No one wants one of his tantrums.”
“According to two separate sources, he has many tantrums,” Morris whispers in my ear. I would expect nothing less from Allister Daniels, the genius musician. He’s everything I thought he would be.
We follow Whisper and Alice into a den in the opposite wing of the house. I want to stop and stare at all the details, the beauty and richness. But I know that there are more important matters at stake than admiring the architecture.
Alice and Whisper lounge on a couch beside each other, and I swear they share shy glances. But it’s the platters of food sitting on a table near the far wall that catch my attention. I make a beeline toward them and start shoving random pastries—where did they even get these—and cold cuts into my mouth. I’m chugging my second glass of water when Cecil and Avrola enter the room.
Morris hovers over the food table beside me, glancing my way between bites of an apple and sips of orange juice. I guess neither of us realized how hungry we were. But he’s happy. All in all, we failed, but there’s hope that we can still do this, we can still save humanity. We won’t give up.
Allister enters through another door, a cello between his arms. I gaze at its beauty with longing. It’s been forever since I played one; since I lost myself in the music and notes, the strings and bow. It used to be a sort of medicine for me.
Allister sets the cello down against the empty wooden chair.
My stomach flips as Cecil takes a seat and pulls a guitar into his lap, while Rupert—he’s the stoic one—grabs the other. Whisper languidly gets up from the couch and positions herself behind the drums. Are they going to play music for us? I sink down next to Morris on the love seat and I tap my leg on the floor in excitement.
Avrola slides into the empty seat beside Alice. I lean over to them.
“Avrola, I just... I just want to thank you for saving my family. For saving Alice. I can’t thank you enough.”
Avrola’s head tilts and their lips quirk. “You just did.”
I smile with a small shrug. I take in the rest of the room. We’re a weird group, and it’s a beautiful picture. I wish I could actually take one to savor for later when my self-doubt creeps in and tells me none of this was real.
“Thank you all for joining us.” Allister’s voice booms like a thespian. “Before we play some music for you—and Ellie, you’ll be joining us—we want to discuss what will happen next.” My mouth flaps open as he crosses his legs and looks at Morris. “IpS1L was destroyed. And you guys need to find a way to get away from Earth, right?”
We both dip our chins. How does he seem to know so much?
Allister’s voice cuts through my thoughts. “We know your mission, and we’ve agreed to help you.”
“What?” I ask at the same time Morris asks, “How?” We exchange a look before focusing on Allister.
“We have two Andarran ships here, below our feet. You and Ellie can take one as soon as you’re ready.
I would suggest sooner rather than later.” He chews his bottom lip, his eyes slightly glazed as if he’s lost in thought. “You need time. And you need allies. Your mother has found some, but they won’t be enough. Go to my home, go to Andarra. You will find many sympathetic to your cause, especially with Ellie by your side.”
“How did you know I’d go?” I ask, and Alice pats my arm.
“I sing and know things, Janelle Baker.” He winks at me. “I know you aren’t the type to leave the fate of your world in someone else’s hands. You’re stubborn, determined, smart and, above all else, hopeful even when the odds aren’t on your side. Morris needs you.”
Morris glances at me for confirmation, but I have no words. How does he know me that well? How?
And then it strikes me. It’s happening now. Our adventure, our mission, our purpose. My nerves fray a bit. But I push them aside to listen to Allister.
“Janelle, your parents need to stay with us. We can help them, but your father...he’s dangerous the way he is right now, hopefully it’ll only last a few more weeks.” He tosses a glance Morris’s way before continuing. “We will always be safe on Earth, and this place is a fortress. The Ilori know better than to attack us, or our ships. We have a peace accord, after all.” Allister’s lips lift.
“Alice, and Avi, if you want to stay, you are more than welcome. We could use your help. We’re already run off our feet with the humans living all over the compound.”
“I want to stay,” Alice says, her eyes flicking toward Whisper’s.
She’s literally known Whisper a few hours and already she’s in love. I shake my head. Alice lives and loves better than anyone I know.
“I’ll be able to provide help with the deprogramming of Janelle Baker’s father, and can assist in training humans in combat,” Avrola announces.
“Really?” I gasp. “You can do that?”
Avrola casts me a look of confusion. “I just said I could.”
Rupert strums his guitar. “We’re delighted to have you both.”
Cecil leans forward, catching my attention. “Janelle, your parents, your friend Alice—they’ll be safe here while they wait for your return. We promise to protect them.”
My eyes fill, and I have to look away while I swallow the lump in my throat.
“You can do this,” Allister claims, pointing to his head oddly. “I know it.”
I look up at him through the tears. “I’ll do my best.”
Morris nudges me with his shoulder.
“Ellie, you’ll do fabulously,” Cecil says warmly.
Allister rolls his eyes. “Anyway, Ellie, we are going to play the song ‘Lost With You.’ I know you know it. It’s your favorite, right?”
I nod, too nervous for words.
“If you would be so kind.” He gestures to the cello leaning against the chair.
“Do we have time for this?” I squeak. The fate of our world depends on Morris and me. Already, my stomach flips with worry that we’ll fail again.
“You need this,” Allister answers. “We Andarrans believe there’s always time for a little fun. Breaks up the monotony of peril, don’t you think?”
I laugh once. Yeah, I might need this. “I’m a little rusty.”
Morris squeezes my hand before I stand up and arrange myself on the chair. I brace the cello between my legs.
I pick up the bow and run a scale. The sensation of it; the way it instantly trickles back to me and into my muscles that have been waiting for this one use, makes my fingers move of their own accord. It feels like home.
The world is broken, but right now, it doesn’t matter. I have my cello and a story in my mind. And love, so much love.
I take a deep breath and remember the chords and notes and sounds from memory. Allister sits in his chair, humming a bit, while Cecil plucks at the bass and Rupert strums his guitar. And Alice sits there, waiting, staring at Whisper while she twirls her drumsticks. I fiddle with my bow, and I can’t help but look at Morris. His nose twitches as the corner of his mouth lifts.
And then Allister begins to count off, and I realize I’m playing with the Starry Eyed. I want to scream and run away. Laugh at the ridiculousness.
A few weeks ago, I was imprisoned in a center. Surviving but not really living. Now I’m here, playing with the Starry Eyed. I’ve never been more alive than in this moment, which is funny, because soon I’ll be in space. Where I could die. It hasn’t been easy, but it’s been an adventure straight out of a book.
I run my bow across the cello, opening the song, and playing what I can from memory. It’s not perfect, but it helps to calm my shaking soul.
Allister begins to sing. Goose bumps rise on my arms. “Lost in the cosmos, stuck in the colonies. Worlds upon worlds in the galaxies. The spectrum as far as our eyes can see... Honey, do you trust me? Past the sun, on the other side of the moon, I know you’re scared, we’ll be there soon. You read me the book, I’ll sing you the tune. I make you laugh, you make me swoon.”
Morris mouths the words, probably too nervous to sing along with Allister. It’s the cheesiest thing, but I love every second of it. I need every second of it, like it’s sloughing off all the fear and death of the past few weeks and months and years. I’m a teenager again. So is Alice, as she stands and sways to the beat like a wild child. Cecil, Whisper, Allister and Rupert give it all they’ve got, and I pluck at strings, sliding my bow by rote. Right now, we’re friends, family, musicians. We’re alive. And this music is life.
My eyes flit to Morris, who catches my gaze. He beams like the sun; the Ilori boy who was shamed for his feelings before coming to Earth is singing a love song, just to me. “You put your hand in mine, taking me with you... I love you.”
The way he looks at me, like I’m the only person in the room, heats my cheeks and melts my heart.
“I love you... I love you.”
CHAPTER 27
“It’s no use going back to yesterday, because I was a different person then.”
—Lewis Carroll
JANELLE
The ship’s in the basement below the atrium. We’ll have to drive it out, and then blast off into space—I can’t even believe that’s the phrase I’m going with. Thankfully, Morris knows how to operate it to reach Andarra. In space, so I’ve been told, there are bridges called Linx between planets and patches of the universe that make it quick to navigate. I wish there was a book I could read about traveling the galaxy, but I’ll take the aliens’ word for it.
Once on Andarra, we’ll contact his mother, and find out how to upload his song. In the meantime, we’ll have to persuade people to join our war, all within a week.
Honestly, I’m not sure I’m the best person for the job, given my lack of conversational skills with anyone but Morris, yet through everything, I’ve learned I’m capable of fighting and caring.
The road ahead is long, but there’s hope.
I’ve changed my clothes once more into a loose white blouse that looks amazing when tucked into my new stretchy black pants. Allister had a closet of strange clothes and shoes, several in my size. He practically forced my feet into black boots to match the pants, and although they’re the most expensive thing I’ve worn, I can’t say I hate them. I did forgo the glittery black cape he offered, though...there’s a time and place for a cape.
I showered and Cecil did my hair into two French braids that dangle down my back under my purple hat: my purple crown. It’s a bit more frayed now, and loose, but it’s a reminder that my dad is still with me, and that I’m loved. I will come back to them. I will save them.
Allister assured me, and Morris did as well, that I don’t need a space suit for traveling into the universe. While humans lacked proper technology, Andarrans don’t. But still I was nervous, so Allister gave me two items; a tiny chip that sank into my ear painlessly and will provide translation for any alien lan
guage, and a drink he called traveling serum. It tasted sweet, like a candy bar, and since drinking it, my body feels oddly lighter, and I’ve been able to take longer breaths. I don’t think there’s a way to feel prepared, but I’m ready to go.
After, we said our goodbyes.
We hugged.
We shed more tears than any of us have probably shed before. We made promises to be back soon. I kissed my mom even though she was asleep, and went to see my father, although he didn’t really know who I was. Both goodbyes nearly broke my heart, but I’m fighting for them. I have hope they’ll fight, too.
We’re almost ready when Allister pulls me aside.
“Janelle, there is no limit to love, nor is there a limit to potential.”
I don’t know what he means by that, but I nod anyway.
Whisper leans against the wall with Alice wrapped in her arms. “The pod you’re taking once transported Allister and Cecil here from Andarra. You’ll notice the seats have scratch marks because, even then, Cecil grated on his nerves.”
“I heard that!” Cecil responds. He’s standing beside Rupert, who’s inspecting the outer rim of the open hatch.
I stifle a giggle. “You know, for two people who argue a lot, I sense a lot of love between you. Sometimes people don’t know how to express their feelings quite well...” I glance at Morris. “Sometimes they argue and blame others, or they hide everything inside, unsure and afraid to—to admit. But you two, you make music together.” I think of our stories and songs. Of Alice and her newest love. Avrola and their undying loyalty to Morris. My mom and dad. “You’re lucky to have each other.”
Allister shoots me a look full of so many conflicting emotions that I can’t quite place one. He swings his arms for a few beats. “Come here, Cecil. I’m sorry I’m such a scamp to you.” Allister and Cecil hug, and everyone freezes as if moving while it’s happening will result in another feud. “Let’s try to be better to each other. If you start each day with an apology for what you did—”
Cecil huffs and shakes his head. My heart feels lighter for their levity. I’m scared, maybe even stalling.