Don't Look Back (Warders of Earth) (35 page)

Alex landed next to me, on his knees. “Get behind me.” He jerked his head as he fired off another shot.

“Cease fire,” bellowed Galloway from his position behind a tree.

Another bullet whizzed past me. I cringed.

Spinning around I saw the soldier with his hands around Nic’s neck reel backwards as the bullet ploughed into him. The guy stiffened, his knees buckled. Nic pushed him aside as he folded with a dull thump like a bag of dry cement.

Silence reigned.

Head throbbing, my body pulsing in one slow throb of pain, I peered around Alex as Galloway strode across the small clearing, gun in hand. Shay shoved past a thickly leaved bush, squinting down the length of his sniper rifle as he held it steadily in the direction of the enemy.

Galloway halted a few feet from me. His gaze fixed on the remaining soldiers, he barked, “Put your weapons down. Slowly.”

One by one the men tossed their guns onto the ground.

“Hands in the air.”

They raised their hands.

“Alex.”

“Sir.” Gripping my elbow, Alex helped me up, making sure I wouldn't crumple to the ground, before he looked over at his father.

“You need to go.” Beneath the dirt and sweat Galloway's face gleamed pale.

“We’ve got this covered,” inserted Shay in his quiet voice. He kept his rifle trained on the soldiers.

“Nic needs help...” I cried, knowing as soon as the words left my mouth I wouldn't be the one giving the help.

Galloway glanced at me and shook his head. “We’ll look after him.”

“Okay.” My gaze zipped to where Marnie sat on the ground beside her fallen father. Lifting her head, Marnie met my eyes then smiled.

“Best friends forever,” she quipped.

Even from where I stood, I could see how Marnie’s mouth trembled as she spoke. Her eyes glistened with tears and the stark knowledge; this was our last goodbye.

I repeated, “Best friends forever.”

Feeling as if my heart was being ripped apart, piece by tiny piece, I turned away, gripping Alex’s hand so hard my nails dug into his skin. But he didn’t complain. Instead he holstered his pistol, slung an arm around my shoulders and encouraged me to run.

“I’m proud of you son,” shouted Galloway.

Alex hissed in a sharp breath. I knew without looking, he was dealing with his own grief as with every step we took we increased the distance between
ourselves and the ones we loved.

And now had to leave behind.

What about Mum? Dan? The others in the bunker?

Dad and Shay will help them.

We continued our mad dash. Gradually, the forest gave way to widely-spaced trees then we emerged onto the edge of a massive field.

The light from the approaching meteorites was glaringly bright, defying the glow of the sun. How much time did we have left?

Minutes?

Seconds?

“Come on. A little bit further.” Alex urged me onwards.

Muscles burning, legs as weak as a new-born calf, I struggled to keep up. First in English and then in the alien language I'd read in my brother’s drawings and dreamt about, I started to chant:
Follow the path of Elvirathon and you will be saved
.

“They’re coming!” said Alex.

A shot rang out.

He crumpled.

His
pain ripped through my body. Screaming Alex’s name, I fell to my knees. This mind meld shit sure had its downside.

Clenching my jaw, I attempted to block the connection while I tugged at his shoulders. We couldn't stay here, we had to keep moving. I glanced wildly around, seeking help. But instead, my eyes followed the glint of metal.

Standing beside her remaining loyal soldiers was Emma. One of the men had a sniper rifle aimed directly at us.

“Emma! Please stop this, it doesn’t have to be this way!” I yelled, my heart jack-hammering like crazy.

“Go.” Alex raised pain-glazed eyes. Blood soaked his shirt from where the bullet had entered his back, near his right shoulder-blade. “Leave me, Tara. Please.”

Gently, I stroked a strand of damp, blonde hair from his face. “I’m never leaving you. Now, get on your feet, lover.”

Placing my hands under his armpits, I pulled.

Alex grunted but staggered upright, his weight leaning heavily on me. I widened my stance and took it.

Took his agony from his wound deep inside, lessening his burden, opening our connection until nothing on this Earth could shatter it. I shared my hope, my faith in him, giving him my strength to carry on. “Keep walking.”

Entwined together, we staggered drunkenly forward.

One step.

Then two.

Three.

A bullet whistled past my cheek.

I flinched.

I feel their link,
flashed Alex.
They’re here.

About time.

Something icy and alien slithered into my mind and I shuddered.

I could feel it, rummaging about like a possum in a garbage bin, stealing my thoughts, my emotions, pondering over my memories.

Right. You want to know about us, then know this.
I poured all my anger, resentment, my disgust at their dirty tactics and horrific competition into the link. I let them experience my love and anguish over my family’s fate, the faces of friends and the people of my town and my horror over the destruction of the beautiful land I loved so much.

Would it be enough?

“Tara! Don't move! Don’t make me shoot you!” screeched Emma, her voice now a faint cry that echoed over the empty landscape.

You know what, Alex?

What?
His response was weak. My heart did a nose dive as the paleness of his features registered, the life dulling in his eyes.

I flashed,
Now would be a good time for these aliens to finish their stupid, senseless game.

The ground rumbled beneath my feet.

A thunderous roar filled my ears making it hard to think.

Wrenching my gaze from Alex, I looked up just as a massive metallic-grey, space ship like nothing I could ever imagine, cut through the thin clouds.

Terror eroded my shaky courage. My eyes tracked to Alex.

He smiled.

His image wavered, like a bad transmission.

A zillion electrical sparks pricked my body.

The earth fell away from under my feet.

Blue sky flashed past.

A bright white light blinded me and I felt myself splinter into millions of particles. Deep inside, I screamed from the pain crashing through my body.

Was this death?

Three seconds later, the agony receded and I fell into darkness. When I opened my eyes I found myself staring out from inside a transparent tube. Standing beside me, was Alex, whole and hot, if still covered in dried blood. With a wide grin on his face, he said, “We made it.”

“Alex! Are you okay? You’ve stopped bleeding? What happened? Where are we?”

“They fixed me, pulled out the bullet and repaired my body. We’re on board their ship.”

I burst into tears. Alex pulled me into his arms and hugged me tight.

After snivelling into his shirt for a few minutes, I leaned back and studied him. “How long have we been here?”

He shrugged. “No idea, but I think several hours. There’s no way of checking the time, my phone has been shut down. Part of their security precautions, I should imagine.”

“OMG! Mum! Dan! Shit, we have to stop them bombarding Earth.” Wrenching out of his hold, I pounded on the tube with my fists. “Let us out of here!”

“That is not going to work.”

When I looked at him, he spread his hands wide and said, “I tried.”

“Damnit. Where do you think they are? What’s taking them so long? I would have thought they’d be in here wanting to question us.”

“They’re watching us.” Alex jerked his chin toward the corner of the room where an orb rather like a massive eyeball protruded from the end of a flexible-looking cable.

I crooked my forefinger hoping the aliens would understand and finally front us. Slowly, I examined the rest of the room. Oyster-coloured, on three walls of the room, multi-coloured equations and data scrolled down in a continuous stream of information.

Data that I could read.

I caught my brief, fascinated and leaned closer to Alex. “It’s a history of their world.”

The lights dimmed.

Alex squeezed my hand.
I’ll never leave you.

Across the room, a door slid open.

And my smile faded.

Five aliens glided in as eerily as ghosts. With their soft grey complexions and billowing cream robes that fell to their bare feet, they could have passed as spirits from some horror movie. They all stood a good thirty centimetres above Alex and were so thin, they looked like stretched rubber bands. I was relieved to see they were humanoid and not some hideous creatures with tentacles. Their eyes were big, dark ovals and unblinking as they examined me.

Welcome, Tara Ferguson,
intoned a disembodied voice inside my head.
You have been judged worthy to be an ally of the Elvirathon race. We are impressed by the strength of your concern for others.

I tried a mind connection thing with the aliens and shuddered when I felt their cold presence,
Good, than does that mean you’ve decided we’re worthy to live?

Not all are worthy.

True but when people are scared they sometimes do stupid things. That doesn’t make them bad. Please stop the destruction on my planet.

We have ceased our attack while we discuss the next tactic.

One of them stepped forward and clasped his hands in front of him. Inclining his head, he said,
We have watched you for some time.

I tried not to feel creeped out and nodded.

When the lead guy glanced back at his buddies, Alex tightened his grip on my hand.
Something’s wrong.

Had they lied to us? Did they even now, continue to destroy my home? “You promised.” The words shot from me like bullets.

They stared back impassively.

“They’re not capable of communicating like us, Tara. Only telepathically,” Alex advised.

“Right.” I drew a breath and concentrated.
Will you leave Earth alone?

We, the elder council of the Elvirathon race have discussed this matter in depth. It is our opinion your race shows several traits which are interesting and are worthy of further study. It is possible, your people may reach a level of worthiness we judge similar to ours.

So, it’s a ceasefire?

Alas, the attack has not stopped. The Skeetishas have decided the competition is far from over.

You said we’d be saved.
My body shook with a combination of fury at this betrayal and fear for those I’d left behind.

This is true. However, the choice is not ours.

That’s bullshit! What you’re doing is bullshit! What gives you the right to kill people and animals for some stupid game?

The leader held up his hand and I shut my mouth.