Chapter 56 The Undecided

Dalek: “I warn you, resistance is useless.”

Doctor: “Resistance is useless? Surely you don’t expect all the people to welcome you with open arms?”

Dalek: “We have already conquered Earth.”

Doctor: “Conquered Earth? You poor pathetic creature. Don’t you realize? Before you attempt to conquer Earth, you will have to destroy all living matter.”

 

-Doctor Who (First Doctor)

 

 Nate

 

Just when you think you have seen it all, life throws a surprise at your face.

I don’t know what binds this girl to this alien, but she seems to be with him of her own free will. It’s fascinating to watch.

He said the human whose life he stole didn’t know the girl. For some reason I don’t think he was lying. The girl called him ‘Burns’. He introduced himself as ‘Burns Living Flowers’. If she had known him before he stole that life, she would have used his human name.

Whatever the case, I don’t have much choice but to wait how this unfolds. I can’t walk on a broken leg. I barely made it here. I close my eyes.

I hope Rob made it back.

The events from a few days earlier replay in my head. How long has it been exactly? The fever has blurred my concept of time, but it can’t have been more than a week. Enough for Rob to make it back to the others. He must have made it. I can’t bear the thought of losing him too. Not so soon after TJ.

I can still see him salute before taking the small pill we all keep in our pockets. He sacrificed himself to give us the chance to escape.

The parasites were furious when they couldn’t take him alive. At least no one will give away our hide-out now. The others are safe.

They still chased us though. We had to ditch the car. They probably confiscated it.

I grit my teeth when I think of all the spoils we had to abandon. There won’t be another chance to raid any time soon now that the Seekers are suspicious. How long will they keep looking before they forget about us?

I hope Rob is safe.

If only my foot hadn’t gotten stuck in that crevice. We would have both been home.

What if Rob didn’t make it?

No one will know what happened.

I sigh.

“Are you okay?” the alien ask, “is you leg bothering you? I can give you some No Pain.”

I stare at him.

I want to trust him. He is nothing but kind. But I know from experience that exterior can be deceiving.

In this new world, kindness is lethal when you’re human.

On the other hand, it also teaches you to do whatever it takes to survive. If I can make him believe I trust him, I might still have a chance.

My eyes move to the girl that is still fast asleep at his side. What is it that made her trust him? I know he cares about her. It is in every line of his face.

I grunt. Now I’m referring to an alien as if it were an actual person.

Though I have to admit it, it’s hard not to think him human.

It.

Him.

I sigh and run a hand across my face.

“Nate?”

“I’m fine,” I mutter.

“Are you sure? It’s not a problem. I have a whole bottle.”

It takes me a few seconds to realize he is still talking about that medicine of his. I shake my head.

“I want to trust you,” I say, surprised at my own apologetic tone.

“I know,” he smiles. His eyes move to the girl again, Emma. There’s a softness to his eyes again.

I study them. If an alien can fall in love with a human, there might be hope for us yet.

My mind wanders to my daughter. Will I ever see her again?

“Where were you going?” I hear myself ask.

He looks at me confused. “I’m sorry?”

I nod my head at the girl. “The two of you. When you found me. Where were you headed?”

There’s a sad look in his eyes now. “I don’t know,” he says softly, “somewhere safe.”

“Safe?” I urge.

“Safe for Emma,” he clarifies.

He wants to protect her from his own kind? I knew he was in love with her, but to go that far…

I sigh. “And where would that be?” I ask. If there is such a place, it’s worth knowing.

He sighs as well and leans his head back. “Nowhere,” he whispers.

I nod. I expected as much.

He looks at me again. “can I ask you something?”

I nod confused. “Sure.”

He hesitates and looks at the girl again. “Would you take care of Emma if I left her with you?”

“Left her? What are you talking about?”

He sighs. “She should be with humans. With her own kind. I wasn’t sure I’d ever find any, but now you’re here. She’ll be safer with you than with me.”

“I’m not so sure about that,” I say, “I’m on the run from Seekers.”

“They are already gone,” he says, “they’ve given up on you. Please. I need her to be safe.”

I glance at the girl. “I don’t think she likes me very much.”

He grins. “She didn’t like me much at first either.”

“But she does now,” I say puzzled.

“Yeah,” he sighs happily, “she does now.”