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Dad’s worried voice came into my head.

I kept running, pushing forward. I turned the corner onto Palm Avenue, my legs and arms moving as fast as my muscles would take them, my sense of urgency growing with each stride. I didn’t know where Jesse was. At this hour he could still be home. Or at the school. Or anywhere in between. I just knew that he was in trouble. I stopped, breathing hard. Looked up the street towards the school. The other way towards his house. It would take too long to get to his house by foot. Or even by bus.

I closed my eyes and tried to sense him…

School.
He was at the school. I was sure of it. I started again, sprinting in that direction, and didn’t slow down until I got to my locker where the usual crowd was gathered. They were laughing and looking as normal as ever.

“Have you seen Jesse?” I asked, breathless and sweaty.

“Nope,” Lacey said. “But you look like death. Are you really mov—?”

“Thanks.” I continued on my way, running towards his locker, bumping into students. But he wasn’t there either.

The class bell rang.

I headed to his first class, algebra, and waited outside the classroom door, anxiously watching the students file in, asking each one if they’d seen Jesse.

Until the teacher closed the door.

No. He
had
to be here. He’d found me at the party. And I was the one who supposedly had the abilities. I closed my eyes and tried to feel him. I could sense something: pain…and fear. But it was encompassing, not coming from any singular direction. I turned to my left, then my right. I sent out a stream but it bounced back. A surge of adrenaline pumped through my veins, making it impossible to stay in one place. I ran again, across the campus—to the football field—but that was wrong. I stopped and turned back. Sweat dripped down my forehead. My heart felt like it might explode.

Finally—I felt it. The janitor’s closet. I sprinted back, cursing myself and my stupid sense of direction.

I yanked on the closed door, revealing Jesse, who was kneeling on the floor next to the mop sink. His face was red and sweaty. His hands over his ears.

Everett stood above him, looking victorious. “Well, well, Mira. It’s about time you showed up.”

 CHAPTER THIRTY ONE

 “What have you done to him?” I motioned towards Jesse, who rocked back and forth, his face contorted, his hands clutching the sides of his head.

“You’ve been quite the little troublemaker,” Everett said, smiling sweetly. He held up his hand to show a red scratch. “Come in, please, and sit down.” He motioned to where Jesse sat. “And close the door behind you. We’ll want our privacy.”

“What have you done to him?” I repeated, frozen in the doorway, my eyes locked on Jesse.

He suddenly let out a piercing wail and increased his rhythmic rocking motion.

I dove to the floor and wrapped my arms around him. “Stop it!” I said to Everett. “Make it stop!”

“Oh, don’t worry.” Everett pulled the door closed and turned the bolt. “He’s survived worse. He’ll be fine…eventually…once we get everything worked out.”

“What are you talking about? What do we need to work out?”

 He studied his hand, his face pleasant. “I’m actually flattered that you wanted a souvenir of me.”

I started to respond, but hesitated. Creepy human stalker or rogue nafarian? Either was still a possibility. “I know you saw Jesse destroy the evidence,” I said, hoping he’d take the bait and say something useful.

He looked up from his hand as if I hadn’t spoken. “Listen, since I know how much you like games, you’ll be pleased to know about one you and Jesse are about to play. It’s called
Meet the Parents
.”

 “What are you talking about?”

“I just need you to take little Jesse home to destroy the evidence I’m sure you still have. Then you can introduce him to Mom and Dad. Tell them how
special
he is to you.” He flashed a charming, side-ways grin. “That’s it. The whole game.”

I stared. He referred to the evidence, so I’d been right. But was still baffled. “Why? Why would I do that? Why would you care?”

Everett bent his knees, resting on his feet, so that he was eye level with me. “We both know that you’ll be on a transport back home the second after you tell Mama about Jesse.”

My chin dropped. He admitted he knew about transports. If I just let him talk, I’d finally have my evidence. “But I’m already getting on one. It’s scheduled. You must know that.”

“Yes. I do. But this way, I can use his eyes to make sure you’re actually gone. Besides, this will help you keep your boyfriend’s interests at heart. For instance, if you’re thinking about replaying this conversation to anyone—which I’m sure you are—you can think fondly back to Jesse’s current condition and change your pretty little mind.”

Jesse moaned and lurched forward onto his knees, gripping his head.

 “Stop!” I yelled, holding on to Jesse’s shoulders. “I get it!”

Jesse relaxed and fell forward, dropping his head onto the concrete floor.

I stroked his sweat-dampened hair, holding back a sob. “But if the governing council finds out…I don’t know what they’ll do to him.”

“Oh don’t worry about that.” Everett straightened his legs, towering above us, and rested his arm comfortably on a shelf. “Mother will protect him.”

I looked up at him. “Mother?”

“Yes, my mother.” He pulled a face of disgust and nodded towards Jesse. “
Our
mother. She’s got a real soft spot for her little mutt here.”

I looked from Jesse to Everett and back again. “Her…her mutt?”

“Ah that’s right. You hadn’t figured that out yet. I’m relieved you weren’t able to pick him out as easily as you did me.”

“But…he doesn’t even look…”

“No, he doesn’t, does he? That’s because he’s a half breed. One of Father’s little experiments.”

 I stroked Jesse’s tense back and wondered how much of this he could hear. “So Dr. Alison is…is…his
mother
?” I asked.

“Why yes, you’re catching on nicely. Her eggs were switched for another woman’s at that fertility clinic you’ve been studying up on.”

“But Dr. Tom isn’t his father?”

“No, he just switched the eggs on dear Jesse. He thought it would be an interesting mix. Something worth studying anyway. He picked a mixed-race family so that no one would notice the breeding mess.”

“But Jesse doesn’t know?”

“No. He’s clueless.” Everett shook his head. “Absolutely clueless. Our parents thought this would be an opportune time to teach him about his unique family tree. Whenever they’ve tried in the past…all he hears is a noise. Apparently a rather uncomfortable one.”

“So that was them? Last year?”

“Yes, that’s right. But they weren’t just torturing him. They really are as good as their reputation.”

“Oh yeah,” I spat out. “Pillars of the community.”

 “No, it’s true. They love Earth. They just want to help it rise to its potential. Introduce the genetics that will help it advance as it should.”

“I guess it doesn’t matter if a few humans get hurt? Or killed?”

He tipped his head and looked at me like I were a small, errant child. “In the big picture, no, it really doesn’t.” He straightened a bottle on the shelf before continuing. “They spent months trying to communicate with Jesse. So we could start our training. We were supposed to persuade our Earth parents to move to a high school near USC. But that plan was a failure. Kind of like him.” He chuckled, humored by his own joke. He then abruptly dropped his smile and sighed. “Jesse wouldn’t listen. And since Mother just won’t give up on him, they retired from the university and we came to him instead.”

He cocked his head and studied Jesse curled in a ball. “Father insists he’s gleaned some valuable information from him. But between you and me I think it’s a waste. All I’ve done since arriving at this place is clean up his messes. Like on the first day of school. Instead of starting classes like I was supposed to, I was off trying to subtly change his schedule.” He laughed as if he’d just heard a good joke. “Mother was so annoyed to have you in her class—and neither of her sons—that her angry mood made it into the official agency record, thanks to you.” He chuckled again and casually pushed his thick brown hair back from his face. “Oh, how we teased her about that.” His pleasant smile disappeared. “And we can’t forget the simple task of convincing you to go home. Who would have thought that the mutt would rescue you like some lousy white knight, making you desperate to stay?”

Jesse suddenly gripped at his ears, as if he’d like to pull them off. I placed my hands on top of them. “If I agree to do what you say, will you make this stop before we leave?”

“Yes, of course. He wouldn’t be able to watch you while in that condition now would he? And after that, we’ll make sure he’s cared for.” He sneered at Jesse, nudging his body with his foot. “Just like any family would care for their pet dog.”

I wanted to lunge at him—to yank on his foot, pull him to the ground, and pummel him. But Jesse could be dead before I even started. “Just turn it off,” I spat out.

“We have a deal then?”

 “I’m not going if it doesn’t stop.”

“I understand. Just be on your merry way. It’ll stop before you get to the car.”

“Come on,” I said, finding Jesse’s hand. “Let’s get out of here.”

I fully intended to leave. But Jesse, looking very much like a mad man, grabbed at a vacuum as he rose. He held it over his head and swung it around and down, onto Everett’s head.

Without a flinch, Everett thrust him away, shoving Jesse against the shelves behind him. Bottles and boxes tipped and tumbled to the ground.

Jesse lunged forward, wailing in agony, and pushed against Everett with his shoulder. He continued moving forward until Everett’s back smashed against the wall—pinning him. Jesse used his forearm to put pressure on Everett’s throat. “You are not going to get her in any more trouble than she’s already in,” Jesse said through gritted teeth. “She said she’s going home. That’s all you need. I’ll watch from a distance if you want.”

Everett laughed between gasps for air. “I could watch her from a distance, if that’s all it took. But anything could happen when she gets to headquarters. I want both of you in custody. So you’ll be able to watch her until she departs.” Everett glared at Jesse, who abruptly let out a yell.

Jesse released Everett and stooped low, covering his ears.

Everett kicked ferociously at Jesse’s stomach.

Jesse flailed against the shelves on the opposite side of the small room.

“You’d better get him out of here,” Everett said to me. “Before I decide to
really
hurt him.”

“Jesse, please. Let’s go.”

Jesse acted as though he hadn’t heard me. He snatched a small broom from the shelf and rushed forward, pinning Everett once again. He shoved the tip of the broom handle into Everett’s throat. “Go,” he grunted to me, his face red and twisted. “He doesn’t really need me there. He’s just trying to punish you.”

Everett squirmed and tried to push the broom away. “Your brute of a boyfriend might be willing to sacrifice himself, but what about Lacey?”

“What are you talking about?” I demanded.

“Lacey’s texting you right now.”

My cell phone vibrated. I put my hand over it.

Jesse moaned in agony but held tight to his position.

“Father can see her, of course, texting under her desk,” Everett continued, gasping, still struggling against Jesse. “But he’s not about to stop her. She remembers that you told her to let you know if anything odd happens. And right now she can’t stop thinking about the surgical knife on her table.”

I put my hand on Jesse’s arm. He let up slightly. “He’s just trying to scare you,” he grunted.

“She’s supposed to slice a leaf sample,” Everett continued. “But is fascinated with the thought of putting the blade to her skin instead. In fact she’s trying to figure out where her radial artery is. She’s pretty sure she knows.”

“Jesse, stop.” I pulled on him. “I think he means it.” He looked to me, his eyes wild and uncertain.

“Ah, now she’s wondering how many people she can injure before getting to her own wrist. It’s rather disturbing. But since I’m just watching this—Father is the one giving her the thoughts—I have no control over the outcome. She’s texting with one hand now, holding the knife with the other. Here comes another message.”

My phone vibrated again. I glanced down and saw the words
help me
on the screen. I looked at Jesse’s twisted face, sweat dripping down his cheek. “Tell your dad to lay off Lacey and make this stop for Jesse,” I insisted.

“Okay.” Everett closed his eyes, moving them back and forth rapidly below the lids. “Lacey’s calmer now.” He opened his eyes. “But your lug won’t feel better until you get him off of me.”

“Jesse, come on. Please.” The broom clanked at our feet and I pulled Jesse into the bright sunshine. We stood outside the door, unsure of ourselves. “Do you think you can drive?” I asked.

“I don’t know. Not yet…but even if I could…I don’t like this.”

“Neither do I. But it’s the only way. At least for now.” I waited, watching Jesse. I gripped his arm, watching him process the information he’d just been served—still in agony. “Has it stopped?” I eventually asked.

He raised his hand for me to wait. Then nodded.

“Let’s get out of here,” I said, pulling on him.

 We ran hand-in-hand to Jesse’s car. Before starting the ignition, Jesse opened his mouth as though he might ask a question. Then closed it and turned the key.

“So could you hear him?” I asked.

He nodded without putting the car into gear, staring straight ahead. Turned to me. Then turned back.

“Did you understand what he said?”

He blinked several times. “I guess I’m an alien too.”

“You’re a mixed race human being. Just like you’ve always thought. Born and raised in California by loving parents.”

“That’s right,” he said. “Part Chinese, part Dutch, and part…what would that be?” His voice was derisive.