Chapter 59 The Ugly Duckling

It’s invariably saddening

To look through new eyes at things

Upon which you have expended

Your own powers of adjustment

 

-The Great Gatsby

 

Burns

 

When I wake up that morning, it takes a while before I remember.

Humans.

We found humans, or better said, they found us.

I bite my lips concerned. They weren’t exactly welcoming. I understand why they would hurt me, but Emma didn’t do anything wrong. They wouldn’t hurt her, would they?

Nate promised to protect her. I don’t really care what happens to me, as long as she is safe.

I look to the side. Emma is still asleep. Slowly I sit up.

From the matrass, Nate is watching me. When he notices me awake, he nods at me. “Morning.”

“Have you been awake all night?” I ask.

He grins at me. “Someone had to make sure you wouldn’t transform us all into little buggers overnight.”

I blink at him. “I can’t do something like that.”

Nate shakes his head. “Hand me that stick, will you?” He points at a branch against the wall. I hand it to him and he hoists himself to his feet. “Come. Let’s get us some breakfast before the others wake up.”

“What about Emma?” I ask while getting up. I don’t want to leave her here. She might get worried when she wakes up and I’m not here.

“She’ll be fine,” Nate assures me, “she’s far more resilient than you give her credit for.” He sighs at my uncertain expression. “I’ll send someone to help her once we get in the common room, alright? Come. The sooner you learn your way around, the sooner things get back to normal.”

I glance at Emma one more time, but nod at Nate and follow him. Perhaps he is right. If he really plans on letting us stay here, I should get to know this place. And the people in it.

I stay close to Nate, carefully finding my way through the dim lit tunnels. We go at a slow pace because of his leg and I decide to give him some more No Pain later. I wish I had something to heal broken bones, but I hadn’t anticipated on anything like this happening.

When we enter what Nate called the common room, there’s only a handful of people there, already eating. I recognize Evan and Ellen from yesterday. There’s an elderly woman and a girl with blonde wavy hair that appears a few years younger than Emma. She’s the one that smiles as we enter.

“Dad!” she says and almost knocks over her chair in her hurry to greet Nate.

Nate grins as he wraps her in his arms. “Careful love, I’m not that steady on my legs these days.”

“Aunt Anna- May said you were back,” the girl sighs, “I didn’t see you last night.”

“I’m sorry my love,” Nate says, “I had to see to our guests.”

The girl looks at me now and shrinks back. “Is it true then?” she whispers, “you brought one of them here?”

“Come Soph, there’s nothing to worry about. This is Burns Living Flowers. Burns, this is my daughter Sophie.”

I nod at her. “Nice to meet you.”

She doesn’t answer me. She seems afraid.

Nate presses her shoulder and plants a kiss in her hair. “Be a sweet child and go wake up his friend. She’s in my room.”

“Is she… one of them too?”

“As human as you and me, but she might be a little nervous waking up in a strange place.”

Sophie glances at me again before nodding at her father.

“Make her feel welcome eh? They saved  my life.”

We watch her leave and Nate pulls me towards a makeshift table.

The elderly woman looks at him with an angry expression. “You’re gonna feed it too?”

“Ease down Anna-May,” Nate says in a low voice, “he hasn’t done anything wrong and he’s taken care of the girl.”

“There must be some gain for him, Nate,” Evan sides with Anna-May.

“You were there, Evan,” Nate says, “you saw what he did after Rob shot the girl.”

“Rob didn’t mean to shoot her,” Evan counters,” he wanted to shoot that… bodysnatcher.”

“He wasn’t supposed to shoot anyone!” Nate growls.

“Please,” I say, “don’t argue because of me.” I look at Nate, “I understand their anger. You must have all lost loved ones because of my kind and I’m very sorry. We were wrong to come to this planet. I can’t undo that. I know they must hate me, but whatever happens, please take care of Emma. You promised. She’s one of you. She needs you. Please let her stay here with you where she’ll be safe.”

“You will both be safe here, son,” Nate says while glaring at everyone in the room, “I promise. We have rules here.”

“It’s not human,” Anna-May hisses.

“I know he’s not,” Nate says, “but he’s humane. He helped me when I was hiding from the Seekers that chased me and Rob and TJ.”

“TJ is dead,” Anna-May says.

“That is not Burns’ fault,” Nate answers, “he saved me and he cares about the girl. He betrayed his own kind by escaping with her. And now he finds himself in the lion’s den with nothing but hostility towards him and he still thinks only of the girl.”

“It’s a trick I say,” Evan mutters.

“Perhaps,” Nate says, “but I believe he speaks true. And since this is my place, I can invite whomever I want.”

“What if he betrays us?”

“Then I’ll shoot him myself,” Nate says icily.

It grows silent and I bite my lip. I thought I understood humans by now. It seems I was wrong. They still don’t make any sense.

Another figure enters the room, running a hand through his hair. Blake, I remember. The one that knew Emma.

He yawns and looks around the room with a sleepy expression. “What’s with the glum faces?” he asks and his eyes land on me. “Ah.” He moves to a corner and digs in a crate. Only now I notice the food. I recognize some things Emma and I took from Vegas.

Nate notices me look. “We share everything here,” he says, “and we lost one of the cars when we escaped.”

I nod. “It’s fine,” I assure him.

He slaps my shoulder. “Sit down Burns and eat. Your girl will be here soon.”

I hesitate, but Blake shoves a plate in my hands. “You better listen to him,” he grins, “before he forces you.”

I stare at him wide-eyed and he smirks. “Eat up or squirky will have my head.”

“Why… do you call her that?”

He grins. “Because she’s short. And a bit quirky.” His grin widens. “And because it annoys her.”

I shake my head confused. Humans. They are by far the strangest creatures I’ve ever encountered.

I’ll never understand them.