Chapter 52

 

AN: Thanks to Lauren and Jules for their help on this chapter!

 

Brian’s point of view

 

“You’re saying… he’s been alive…” Nick slowly questioned, “…all this time?”

The small alien nodded, anxious and saddened.

“Then,” I began with scepticism, “why didn’t he come back sooner?”

“He helped us – he gave us his strength to build a new society,” Flyer explained.

“Wait a second!” AJ snapped. “You mean Kevin chose strangers over us? He wouldn’t abandon us like that!”

He spun on his heel and headed for the door, “I say he’s lying.”

“We were not strangers! And you would have him abandon us to be captured and executed?”

AJ stopped. He lowered his head, turning back while rubbing his eyes.

“I’m… I’m sorry, man. I didn’t mean it that way… it’s just… I just took it worse than I thought.”

“As am I,” Flyer bowed his muzzle calmly. “I shouldn’t have snapped at you.”

Howie was trying to comfort Kristin with a hug, but her eyes were constantly moist. Howie managed a shaky question.

“Did… did he ever mention us?”

“All the time. It tore him apart to delay his journey, but he did what he had to.”

He flew over to me and perched on my shoulder, before continuing.

“I’m sorry you had to hear about all of this. We just came to see if he was OK; we certainly found out. All I can do now is wait for Solin to return from her investigation of this strange presence. I hope she won’t be much longer.”

Strange presence? That sparked shuddering memories of strange voices and figures hiding in the dark.

“Flyer, could I… um… have a word with you alone?”

He frowned at me, puzzled, “Well, yes…”

I carried him from the sitting room into the kitchen, hoping not to be heard.

“Flyer, did he ever mention… talking with me?”

“Talking?”

“Well, in my mind. It was some kind of mental thing for sure. I thought it was stress for a long time, but now…”

“Then he…”

“He what?”

Flyer sighed, “He mentioned to me once that he had spoken to you in his mind before. He rarely tried it – he didn’t know what effect it would have. But he thought there was some kind of link between you, since you were the last one he saw before…”

Flyer trailed off sadly, but I was anxious to hear more.

“So it was really him?”

“I believe so.”

I found a seat and fell into it heavily, stunned. All this time, I had proof of these new revelations. How could I have been so narrow-minded? For years I knew!

“The last time, I swear I saw him!”

“Saw him? He got so close? How long ago was this?”

“Just over a month.”

He gasped, wide-eyed. I myself was stunned by his reaction.

“Important, I assume?”

“Very,” he exclaimed. “Anubis trapped Za… Kevin … a year ago! You couldn’t have seen him then!”

“I swear – I saw someone, and it sounded a lot like him.”

“Are you sure it was him?”

“He knew me, no doubt.”

Flyer looked away, “No, it couldn’t have been. But… if this strange presence is an Ancient… they may have tried to deceive you.”

“So, no chance?”

He solemnly shook his head, hopping onto the table. “Solin may have news – we shouldn’t make any hasty assumptions until she returns.”

 

Solin’s point of view

 

Shock, anger, despair, surprise… all crossed his face after I had spoken. My answer was the last thing he expected, and I knew he wasn’t prepared for such a confession.

“You…” he began quietly, but trailed off dumbstruck.

He looked away, his eyes darting back and forth as his own thoughts rushed through his mind, trying to comprehend the situation.

“How long…?” he muttered, stunned.

I paused a moment, relieved at his acceptance of the fact. I recalled the events of the near past to aid me.

“Since you left, a year ago.”

He once again fell into silence, yet he pulled away from me completely and turned his back. Holding his head in his hands, as if my words had put a physical weight on his mind, he walked away from me. I chided myself for confessing such a thing so suddenly. How much more difficult had I just made his decision to either stay or return? I followed him across the room, placing a paw on his shoulder.

“I didn’t mean to … to spring that on you-”

He sharply shrugged my paw off, twisting away from my grasp as if I was some threat.

“Please, don’t!” he begged anxiously.

“Kevin, I-”

“No.” he persisted. “Solin, don’t.”

I felt my heart sink as I watched him hold his hands up defensively and back off towards the door. Had I just taken a futile risk?

“It’s not mutual, is it?” I muttered, crushed.

 “I… I don’t know, Solin… I just need time … to think.”

Kevin kept his hands raised, his eyes afraid and bewildered as he dissipated into spirit form.

“Please… don’t follow…”

 

Kevin’s point of view

 

I fled to the roof of the apartment block, dumbstruck and shocked. Her words resounded in my mind hauntingly.

“…I love you…”

Had she really said that? Or was this all some strange drama of my mind, still trapped in the dark confines of Oblivion?

She loves me…… loves me?

And what did I feel? Ignorant of my own feelings, I couldn’t decide. I cared for Solin too, just as I cared for Kristin. However, was there a difference? Did one precede the other? Were my feelings for my racial companion stronger than those for my wife?

I knew I loved Kristin – I always had. I had married her for Pete’s sake. But Solin… throughout our arguments and disagreements, had I grown to love her too in the dreary years without my wife?

Regardless of the truth, this was a no win situation. I could only imagine how crushing it would be to Kristin if I betrayed my vows to her with Solin. Yet, I had seen how crestfallen and despairing Solin had looked. One of them would have to suffer; which one was up to me.

I couldn’t make that decision.

I was in serious trouble…

I looked up at the sky. The stars were fading as the pale yellow glow of day began to creep over the horizon. I thought of the one who I felt was the only one who could really understand and help me.

“You said you’d help me. You said you’d be there,” I stated flatly at the sky. “But where are you now?”

Looking back down at my feet, I sighed, losing faith and hope. A faint dizziness hit my mind.

Need to rest…

I paused. That wasn’t right. I had rested only a few hours ago. Something else was wrong. The last time I had felt this sickliness was…

Oh no…

I spun on my heel to glance all around me. Yet, I had noticed too late. The fast-moving, relentless attacker ploughed right into my chest, sending me bowling across the rooftop. The sheer force of the impact stunned me greatly. I stood. I tried to pinpoint my unknown enemy. I barely had a chance to regain my balance when a second assailant thudded mercilessly into my back, sending me sprawling forwards. As I feebly scrabbled to push myself up, a vice-like pair of claws grabbed my shoulders. I felt agony so unfamiliar, as this ambusher sapped my strength. As I cried out in pain physically, my mind screamed for salvation:

“SOLIN!!”

 

Solin’s point of view

 

Kevin lay vulnerably inert on the bed. Hearing his cry in my mind, I immediately followed it. However, I found him lying helplessly on the rooftop, with a trail of two Aversions leading towards the heavens. They were moving too fast to recognise, let alone follow or track. I laboriously dragged him back to his room, and stayed to keep an eye on him. I fretted – confused as he was, would he have the will to fight his drained state?

“W-uugh…”

I looked at him. His eyes had opened a chink. Elated, I clasped his hand in my paw. He seemed not to recognise anything in his bleary eyes.

“Kevin,” I whispered softly.

“Where…”

“Don’t worry; you’re safe. But you need to rest.”

He nodded weakly, steeling himself. His eyes shut once more, but his heavy breathing signalled he was tired, but awake.

“Rest, Kevin.”

“Can’t…choose…”

I raised a brow: “Choose? What?”

“Help… need help…”

“I’ll help you, Kevin.”

With what seemed like impossible effort, his shaky hand lifted and gently brushed against my jaw lovingly.

“K...Kris… not neither…… but not both… help… Kris?… sorry… took so long…”

Delirious – he thought I was Kristin. Rest was the only thing he needed now, besides comfort. He needed Kristin more than ever. The security of the one he loved. Though deceiving, I clasped his hand once more in my own paw,

“I’m here Kev. Just sleep…”

His head lolled to the side limply as he fell into a deep slumber. Crushed and exhausted, I soon followed with a single, lingering thought:

“Help us both… someone…”

 

***

 

 

Next

 

Back to index