Bella MacLeod's Twilight Fanfiction

Survivors

By BetterInTexas

Chapter 06: Busted

Astra hovered two hundred feet over the Arkansas River near Tulsa, Oklahoma. She knew he was near and didn’t bother turning around, instead keeping her vision sweeping the wilderness near the river, before having to walk another human city.

“I’m not done Non. I told you I will be back when I have found her.”

Non sighed, floating up beside his wife.

“Astra I know, I understand what she means to you. But the army is beginning to wonder if you have abandoned them. There are whispers of disbanding and going separate ways. We need you there to hold us all together. Separate we can be taken easier. The majority of them are not as strong as our Kryptonian brothers and sisters.”

“I have no brothers and sisters. If they want to survive they will stay under my guidance and protection or these horrid humans can have them. They will not have me or my daughter.”

“She isn’t your daughter.”

Astra turned quickly, striking Non in the chest with a burst of heat vision, not enough to kill, but enough to make the man think twice before disagreeing with her. She had not only outranked him in the Kryptonian Military, she was also stronger than he was here and would be sure he understood it. Husband or no, she bowed down to no one.

“Were you saying something husband?” she asked, swooping near him when he had stopped tumbling through the air.

“I’m sorry… but this isn’t going to work. Flying over this planet, looking for a small girl and a child, the odds of you finding her are very small. She could be anywhere. She likely has the same powers as we do.”

“I know! You think I have not thought of this? Did you check the DEO base?”

“Yes… there are four aliens being kept but they are not the sort we need or want. The species owe us nothing and would just as soon attack us as help us. They can offer no clues on how to defeat us. Kara was not there. She could be anywhere.”

“My… Kara is very, very smart. She will stay hidden. I have heard no rumors or reports on those primitive communication screens that the humans have seen a flying girl. She may not know that she can fly yet. She has to eat, she has to feed that damn child, and she has to have water. She needs clothes, refreshers, she needs… so much. And she is smart. She will be hiding but also be near a large water source once she determines that the water is clean and also near cities, probably smaller cities. Her nose would not be able to handle the smell and I doubt her ears could stand the noise of larger cities. I have a difficult enough time with it.”

“You do of course know how many water sources and small cities are on this landmass? She could be anywhere. You could search for years and never find her.”

“You expect me to give up?! Abandon her as Alura did? If she loved Kara she should be here with her, taking care of her! Not saddling her with her brother in law’s brat!”

“I am not suggesting giving up. I am only saying this approach you have will not work. Despite the vast portions of land, she will be noticed. As her powers grow, she will not be able to stay hidden. These information feeds the humans have are very detailed. Not much on this planet is hidden from the populace apart from military activities. The reporters are invasive and not controlled by the governments on the majority of this land mass. At least the portion called the United States and Canada. Something well happen and she will emerge. She cannot hide forever. I have an army monitoring all news feeds at all times, searching for any mention of a girl involved in strange events. At least I have someone watching as long as we have an army. Come back and we can continue the search in a more organized fashion. You will not find her in this manner. If she doesn’t know she can fly I guarantee she will know that she can run very fast. Perhaps you will get lucky and she will accidentally kill Jor El’s son.”

Astra’s blood boiled but she did not hit her husband. “If that were to happen, she would be devastated. You know nothing of children, probably why we weren’t gifted with one.”

“We are meant to be warriors, not parents.” Non argued, not for the first time.

“She is mine. If you ever say any different, I will kill you husband. You may not be able to hold the army together without me but I can hold them together without you.”

Non smiled at her. “I love you too Dear. I have always supported you in your desires and if you desire this child I have told you that I will take care of her as my own. I want her found as well since that alone would refocus you. I have even planned for the two of us to attack the DEO once she is found and pass the two off as Daxam refugees, taken prisoner shortly before we arrived. I will do everything to help you find her if you would just focus on the future!”

Astra took a deep breath, turning 180 degrees slowly for one last look. She knew in her head that Non was right. She would never find Kara in this manner. Her heart was another matter. The only way Kara could be discovered would be by humans first and then, she could possibly be attacked. Just because these humans could not hurt her did not mean they could not hurt a much younger Kara.

“Fine, I will go back to Roz with you. The search will continue for additional aliens, with a focus on children. We have reason to believe escape pods were launched from Daxam and Krypton. This should not be suspicious. I want her found Non. No matter what it takes, she is to be found, or the Army can do as they wish and this planet can burn. It won’t matter…”

“Our people need a planet and this one is perfect.”

“Without Kara there is no our people. Find her, alert me immediately and if she is harmed you are dead husband. I love you, but never mistake your place. She is my daughter now and without her, there is nothing else. Update me on your progress with the army on the flight back.”

The two figures in black shot away with a sonic boom.

The object of Astra’s obsession was simply relieved that she woke up with a start, from a nightmare once again, but her eyes were not burning everything around her. Perhaps it was because she had not slept as soundly the night before. The mattress was so much better than the ground and Kal was snoring in a minute, but Kara had too much on her mind. She slept on her back, Kal leaned into her side and kept her eyes towards the rocky roof at all times. While drowsiness eventually gave way to sleep, she never felt rested, waking often in the darkness, listening to Kal breathing beside her and once again drifting off. The last time she had a nightmare, not of Krypton or her parents but of faceless men dressed in black, holding her down, while they took a screaming Kal El away from her. Mixed in with her fear was anger and Kara had to hold onto the sleeping baby’s hand gently to calm herself, assure herself that he was okay.

Lying on her back once again, she watched the bit of light breaking in from above, showing her that she, they, had survived another night on this planet.

“Things are better because of Alex. I don’t know where we would be if she hadn’t found us. I think I would have turned left, or maybe backtracked. I had been looking for a hidden spot to stay in and if we found this cave, there must be others. I haven’t been looking underground and I should have. I know we can’t live like this forever.”

Kara sighed, thinking that in her mind, it was only just over a week ago that she had gone to bed, laid out on her front, her preferred sleep position and felt incredibly warm with her own white blankets wrapped around her. Looking back, she had missed the signs that night, the stress on her mother’s face and the unshed tears she hid behind a forced smile. Why didn’t she say anything then? She had been woken up barely five hours later. Sure, the quakes had gotten worse but that was life on Krypton. You learned to ignore them, The family’s compound was well protected against collapse.

“What are we going to do Kal? Steal more food and clothing and… find another cave? Her parents do not know about us. I have no doubt they would want her to show us to them. She wouldn’t and would be in trouble. Not doing as your parents ordered was unheard of on Krypton. Something for you to remember as we get older. As far as you are concerned I have changed enough diapers to be considered the head of your house. But I think things are different here, or at least she is. We are still going to be trouble. We probably already have caused her trouble. This is her food we are eating, her clothes I am wearing. She must have procured these supplies from somewhere and it is only a matter of time before she is found out. Maybe… I don’t know.”

“Kara?” the blonde heard whispered. Alex had apparently decided it was wise to not suddenly wake the girl. Using her vision, feeling less dizzy every time she used it, Kara was happy to see Alex was alone, and also just happy to see her. The young girl had been her lifeline, the only kindness she had known since arriving here. And Kara was repaying it by putting her in danger.

“Alex?’

The shuffling of feet, the customary ow when Alex hit her head on the low outcrop in the narrow dark path followed by what Kara guessed was a human curse word and Alex appeared.

“Thank God. I was worried all night that you wouldn’t be able to find your way back. No reason to doubt you. You figured out to get to this planet, so sure you could handle a cave, but the way you run, you could zig instead of zag and stop a hundred miles away. You look like crap, was the mattress not comfortable?”

Kara stared at the brunette.

“Right. The English lessons continue but I have great news! My parents went to work! They work thirty minutes away and aren’t usually home till like five or five thirty so we can spend the day at my house. Wake up Stinky and lets move. We can feed him there. Oh put diapers and wipes and some food in the bag I left, since all the baby stuff is here.”

The blonde continued to watch Alex, trying to make sense of her words and hand gestures. She understood diaper, bag, wipes, and house. She heard Stinky, knowing that was one of the many titles Alex had granted her cousin but the word that concerned her was parents. Her parents lived in that house. Kara didn’t need to sneak in for the refresher so why…

“ No. Your parents can’t see us. They can’t know. They will be in danger.”

“Yeah, I’m excited too!” Alex guessed.

“ If your parents are involved I cannot stay. You are already in danger just being near us. I just need to hide here a little longer and then we will leave. Please don’t tell them where we are.”

“You are getting your skittish blonde alien look. Something tells me… you are worried, aren’t you? About my parents? You don’t want to come to the house because… okay.”

Alex knelt in front of Kara.

“House? Parents? No. No parents at my house.” Alex shook her head and put her finger to her lips.

Kara thought she caught Alex’s meaning. She supposed she could see ahead of time if her parents were at the house, or anyone else for that matter, long before she was close to the residence. The girl wasn’t excited about her and Kal being open in the daylight, but Alex looked excited and was actually already preparing the bag, even though Kara hadn’t indicated agreement. She shrugged her shoulder and lifted her still sleepy cousin while Alex packed the bag.

Thirty minutes later the trio stopped when Alex’s cliffside home was in sight. Kara peered, straining her vision and going through the house, seeing the ocean behind it. Looking up and down, the blonde was satisfied the dwelling was empty.

Alex had noticed her looking at the house, the squint of her eyes, the concentration and the movement of her eyes.

“You can see inside the house, can’t you? You can see through walls! Are you serious right now? So your eyes don’t just blow things up, they can actually… wow. Okay, happy? Nobody home.”

Kara looked up at the girl and smiled shyly, suspecting she had been caught. Alex did not appear angry though, more amused.

The two started running, Kal bouncing in Kara’s arms until they reached inside. For the first time, Kara had the opportunity to take in a human dwelling, without worrying about being caught or attacked.

She thought it was beautiful, so different from the halls of her family’s giant compound, so much… warmer. They had entered in the living room and Kara saw the large flat machine that passed for hologram projectors here. She had not had an opportunity to look at one yet. Kal began squirming so Kara let him on the ground to continue improving his walking skills. Moving over the rocky surface of the cave was doing wonders for his balance.

The blonde noted the art on the wall but also the photos, photos of Alex and her parents hung freely on the walls. Their family had a gallery where the portraits of the members were kept and kept certain photos in personal holo emitters but never openly on walls. Of course there were only three people who lived in this residence and they were parents and child, not aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents, those who married in and were widowed. This was small and very… nice.

The photos were not just of the family posing. Alex and her parents were at some sort of water playland, smiling, laughing, having fun. Another of her and her father, an enormous mountain behind them. Another showed Alex and her mother, hugging at some sort of structure, perhaps a learning center? Alex was holding a microscope and a metal draped over her neck.

“I look like such a nerd in that photo. I won first place in the area science fair and… I wouldn’t have the first idea how to translate this story with hand signs.”

Kara smiled at her, recognizing her frustrated tone when she couldn’t translate something. Kara continued to look around the beautiful house. The furniture was soft, she was surprised when she sat on one chair and the bottom popped up when Alex hit a button, raising her feet level with her waist. Kara laughed thinking of her father looking stately, greeting visitors and delegates while reclined in this position.

Yes, human houses were much less formal than her old residence. Walking into the kitchen she had snuck through the night before, Kara finally had a chance to take it in. The tall silver container, she knew must contain food, had various pieces stuck to it, some by magnetic force. The blonde could see more photos, crudely drawn pictures, papers that showed scenes of what must be other parts of the Earth.

“Don’t pay attention to the art. I drew those when I was a kid and Mom refuses to take them down. It’s kind of embarrassing.”

Kara smiled at the girl and looked back over her work. She thought back to the art she kept in her nightstand by her bed. She loved to draw and wished dearly she had her artwork now.

“Eat?”

Both girls looked down at Kal, who had grabbed a baby food can from the discarded bag and was holding it towards Kara. She laughed slightly. He was picking up more English than she was and suspected why. He hadn’t been on Krypton long enough to establish his vocabulary. How long until he didn’t remember any of the language?

No, that would not happen. Kara would not let it happen. HIs home may be gone but he was her responsibility and she would make sure he knew about it. She had these crystals she couldn’t eat but she would always have her memories. They would be his as well.

“Hey,”

Kara turned.

“Good, you got Hey down. I’ll feed him while you take a shower. You know, so you don’t smell like you have been sleeping underground?”

Kara must have looked as confused as she felt. Kal didn’t need a diaper change yet.

“You.” Alex pointed at her. Kara pointed at herself, questioningly.

“You’re not roses, kid. Follow me.”

Alex picked up Kal and marched up the stairs. Five minutes later, Kara was standing under hot, hot water and had never felt anything as good in her life. On Krytpon heated vapors were used, water made in lab setting in short supple and often recycled. Spending ten minutes in a shower was unheard of on her former planet. Alex had showed her what she called shampoo and soap and the funny ribbon ball. She also learned conditioner. Of course they had scented soap on Krytpon but the smells here were different, closer to this planet’s flora.

Kara emerged twenty minutes later to find clean clothes, shorts and a red tshirt, along with socks and sneakers she had no seen before. They were slightly big and Kara had an idea Alex had worn these before. She also saw underwear, thankfully. The blonde was not comfortable showing this much of her legs but the first clothes she had stolen included them and Alex seemed to not mind. Shorts must be standard wear here.

“Look at you looking like a civilized human. You clean up good, Kara.”

“Thank you.” Kara guessed. Alex’s eyes widened.

“You understood me?”

“Thank you.” Kara repeated, deflating Alex’s hope. The brunette finished cleaning Kal’s face after his food while Kara wandered around the girl’s room, taking in the posters on the wall of very strange people in some sort of ceremonial makeup, her bed, which looked very soft and the shiny small discs spread out around a black box.

“I never use CDs anymore. I have a speaker plug in for my I phone. Want to listen to my playlists?”

Kara shrugged.

“Of course you do. It’s why you are the perfect friend. You have nothing better to do and need me for direction.”

The music shocked Kara who, not expecting the new loud sound, covered her ears quickly. Alex stopped the music.

“She is actually a big deal here but if you don’t like it…”

“No!” Kara started when before Alex could touch her phone again.

“No? You don’t want me to change it? Again?”

Kara nodded recognizing again from Alex’s games with Kal.

The music started again, the voice of Alicia Keyes filling the room but at a quieter setting. Kara closed her eyes and focused on the voice, filtering out most other sounds as much as possible. The blonde had heard music before but nothing like this. The woman’s voice was soothing and powerful at the same time and captivated her. The song was over and a new one started up before Kara looked at Alex once more.

“Again?”

“Sure but you are going to get this song stuck in my head. You like music huh?”

The third time Kara asked to repeat the song, Alex warned her it was the last time. To Alex’s surprise, Kara sang along, the words, the pitch, everything in perfect harmony. Even Kal had stopped chewing on a rattle to listen to her.

“You really are on fire girl. God, I wish I could sing like that. That is called singing. Singing?”

“Singing. I… like… singing.”

“Sweet! We have a new sentence Kal!” the brunette chaired, high giving her little buddy. “Okay so you like Miss Keyes. Lets see what other R&B greats you can entertain us with. Hey, you picked up those words really quickly. At least copied them. Maybe I am moving too slow. You don’t have to be told twice. We can go all over the house and I will point out everything I can find and what they are called. Lets see how you feel about Mariah Carey.”

The morning and afternoon was the most fun Kara had since she could remember. Despite her predicament, she had never felt so free. For a while, she didn’t focus on her powers or where she would go next, or how she would stay hidden. For one day Kara Zor El, felt like a kid and it was wonderful. So much that she was even more depressed when night fell and she was alone with Kal in the cave. Alex asked, she thought, if Kara wanted her to sleep over. She wasn’t sure what lie Alex would tell to make that happen but Kara refused. Alex did not need to sleep in a cave. She would also never be able to rest knowing Alex was near her when she slept. Kara kept Kal tucked closely in her side. She knew if she sat up, fire burning from her eyes, the heat would go in front of her and even if she turned her head left or right, he would be under her. Having Alex in an enclosed space where she could accidentally be killed by Kara was not going to happen.

The young Kryptonian was able to sleep surprisingly, perhaps worn out from the day’s activities or the feel of being truly clean since she arrived. She had ate quite a bit but Alex assured her not to worry about it. She had learned that “bananas” were actually peeled by humans and she did not invent the new technique for eating them. She also learned that she still loved to sing, so tonight before bed, she sang Kal lullabies from her childhood, that her mother and Aunt Astra had sang to her every night.

The next morning, Kara’s eyes popped open, surprised that she had slept through the night and the dim sun light had entered the cave.

“Kara!”

“Alex!” she yelled back. For once Alex didn’t bump her head. Instead she had a bag and was wearing…

“ What do you have on?”

“I know, purple looks great on me, doesn’t it? I can’t believe Mom wouldnt let me get a bikini this year but whatever. My blue one piece from last year should fit you. Put it on and we can head to the beach. No one is there at this ungodly hour. We can just take Kal’s diaper off if he promises not to poop in the water.”

Alex pulled out a blue outfit from her beach bag and tossed it to Kara.

“I’ll take Kal up top. Hurry up and change and meet me there.” Alex instructed, pointing to the suit, Kara and the exit.

Five minutes later Kara walked out of the cave, wearing a t shirt and shorts. Alex walked over and pulled her shirt up.

“Fine but make sure your clothes stay in the bag or sand will get all over them when you take them off.”

Alex led the way, taking the shortest route to the beach and was pleased to see as expected there were very few people on the beach, just one retired couple walking a dog in the distance.

“Take your clothes off and lets go.” Alex ordered, walking with Kal to the edge of the water. She turned back after she set the boy right at the edge of the break, noticing Kara was not following. She motioned to pull her shirt off.

“ No! I am not going to be dressed in only… tight blue fabric with no leggings! You shouldn’t be either. This is not appropriate.”

“ Kara, you are not going to wear clothes in the water. That is what the suit is for… you’ve never worn a swimsuit have you? Trust me, these suits are as conservative as they come. Mom made sure, believe me. Now take it off.”

“No!”

“Yes!”

The two girls stared at each other, a battle of wills being fought in their eyes.

Kara flinched first. “No?”

“Yes.”

“Please no?”

“You used please! But it won’t work. Yes.”

Kara took a long look around, trying to see as far as she could. It seemed mostly private. She quickly took her shit off and wrapped her arms around her chest.

“Kara you aren’t naked for God’s sake. Would you relax? Something tells me bikinis aren’t big on your planet either if this one piece has you embarrassed. Off now! In the water!”

Kara shook her head.

“Do you want sticky buns? I asked Mom to bake some last night. A whole lot of sticky buns, fresh, not wrapped, hot in a minute in the microwave. No ocean, no sticky buns.”

“Sticky buns?”

“Yep, if you want sticky buns, shorts off and get in the water. You are on Earth now. On Earth we wear swimsuits.”

The blonde thought about this. Her mother and father would… Kara could not imagine what they would do since wearing something like this in public was out of the question. She was pushing it with shorts. But she was on Earth now and if she wanted to blend in, things would have to change. Unbuttoning the shorts she stopped and pointed to Kal then covered her eyes.

“I’m not covering his eyes. Hurry up, I want to swim.”

Resigned, the girl dropped her shorts and stepped out of them, her cheeks burning, she ran towards the water and stopped at the last moment. The water didn’t resemble the oceans on Krypton. She already knew the water on Earth was not poison. Obviously this beach was a thing on Earth. Still she was not prepared for the difference in the water. It smelt… different. Kara waded to her knees, gentle waves lapping over her. Slowly bending over she cupped water in her hand and sipped.

Alex stood on the beach holding Kal and waiting for the moment. The look on Kara’s face was worth it, along with watching the blonde continuing to spit the taste of salt water out of her mouth. Kara looked at Alex accusingly.

“Do not drink Ocean.” the earth girl told her.

Kara glared at her friend. “You couldn’t have said that earlier?! It’s disgusting! Why does the water here taste so horrible? I could have put this disgusting liquid in his food!

“You are right, that was a very funny joke. Now, stop trying to drink the ocean, and let’s have fun. I’ll stay shallow with munchkin and you wade out into the waves. Just kind of… figure it out.”

Kara turned, back towards the ocean and slowly, carefully walked deeper. The currents were stronger than the streams she had dealt with before, perhaps adding to the waters horrible taste but she admitted they sensations were amazing. She felt as if she could float, the water was much warmer, the feel of the waves lapping around her, was exhilarating.

Alex watched the girl slowly walk into the ocean, fascinated. Kara obviously didn’t have oceans where she was from or had never visited a beach. Perhaps there was something wrong with the water. Alex had noted several times Kara smelt water before drinking it, which was weird, but not surprising. The girl really had no clue what Kara’s planet was like except something very bad happened there and she suspected no one was left alive except for her two adopted aliens.

Kal was giggling at the edge of water, moving his toes into the sand and water, bending down to splash the water and feel the soft sand in-between his fingers.

Alex noted Kara was going deeper. Now when a wave passed her, the water reached her shoulders.

She doubted Kara had ever been to a beach. Uh oh.

“Kara! You can swim, right?”

Kara turned to look at her friend, not knowing one of the most important rules of the beach, never turn your back on the ocean. The water dipped more than usual and a wave crashed on top of her head. Though the girl was too strong to move, the look she gave Alex was not friendly, because the brunette could not help but laugh.

Kara stood, her hair soaking wet, plastered to her face and apparently spitting out more of the bad taste in her mouth.

She looked like an angry, wet furry puppy, her hair stuck on her face. The glare did not go away as the second wave crashed over her from behind.

“Oh my God, you look so… I wish I had my phone. But if I take my eyes off of you to go… there is another one! Wow, you are just taking them. Are you not moving because you are mad or… come here.”

Kara quickly walked towards the beach, her eyes never leaving Alex.

“Can you swim?” the older girl asked, making a swimming motion with her arms. Kara said nothing.

“Well it is obvious you can drown. Lets teach Kal how to make a sand castle.”

Kara shook off her irritation, walked over to the two and began drying her hair with the towel Alex offered. She sat in the sand next to Alex, her embarrassment about the suit she was wearing forgotten, paling in the shame of her hair plastered around her face and the dirt and water she had swallowed. Kal walked over and sat in front of her, his diaper soaked but not seeming to mind. He was too fascinated by the sand to notice. Kara was also fascinated watching Alex grab cups of different sizes from her bag and packing wet soil into them, making tiny dirt structures stacked on top of one another, until Kal knocked them down.

“I think Kal is missing the point of building a sand castle.” Alex told her correctly. Kara began stacking cones of sand as well and all three eventually walked into the water, not to deep but enough that Alex could show Kara how to rise with the waves, while keeping Kal above water. The hours passed quickly and when the first group of kids moved towards the beach, Alex noted that it was 10 AM.

“Lets go back to the house. You don’t need to be seen. If it was just you, people would think maybe you were on vacation, not that many come here for vacation. But a baby with me and a new girl is going to be noticed.”

Kara did not understand most of what was said but she had noticed the arrival of others, became aware of the state of her clothing once again and hurriedly covered her suit in clothes, helped Alex pack and left. Within minutes they were back at Alex’s home. Kara stopped to look once more before Alex slapped the back of her head.

“No one is home, dork. Lets get cleaned up. Salt water is fun to swim in but not so much when it’s left in your hair.”

After showers and changing Kal, the three ate, Kara quite a bit and Kal a banana and apple skinned by Alex and ground up into pulp by Kara’s fist. After this Kara was introduced to the wonder of television.

“Hey Eight Mile is on HBO. I love this movie. You should like it, there is a lot of music… kinda. Just don’t repeat what you hear unless I tell you to, okay?”

“Okay.” the blonde agreed.

Kara was more confused about language than she had been before the movie. Things were spoken very differently in this place called Detroit. It also solidified her belief to stay out of larger Earth cities. The sonic weapons were used and the alien discovered these weapons had the ability to hurt humans badly. Cheddar Bob shot himself accidentally. This was what humans called stupid. He did seem to be of below average intelligence compared to the other humans in the movie. She also saw a human mating ritual during which she covered Kal and her eyes once she realized what was going on. Alex seemed to think this was funny.

“I would be in so much trouble if my parents knew I watched this. But since you aren’t telling them, we should be good. Oh crap.” Alex finished, noting the time. Her parents were due home in the next thirty minutes. Alex wrote a note, saying she would be with friends until 7. The three made the trek back to Kara and Kal’s cave where Alex continued her English lessons using the photos on her phone.

Alex didn’t need to worry because her parents were delayed that night. Jeremiah and Eliza could not figure out Alex’s increased appetite and discussed asking her about it.

“She isn’t gaining weight that I have noticed or growing taller. Do you think she could be sick, some sort of parasite, tapeworm?” Eliza guessed.

“Lets talk to her first. Maybe she is just snacking more than normal since she has all day off and isn’t realizing how much she is eating.”

“What if she has an eating disorder?! She could be purging!” Eliza thought worriedly.

“Alex vomits when she sees vomit. Something tells me that wouldn’t happen to her. Lets stop at the grocery store, restock, keep better count of what we have, and talk to her tonight. Do not freak out and assume she has an eating disorder, Eliza.”

“I do not freak out.”

“You are the queen of freaking out when it comes to our daughter. Relax, I’m sure whatever is going on is no big deal. At least she hasn’t stopped eating. That would be a concern. She could use a little weight. She is practically skin and bones now.”

Eliza took a deep breath and admitted that she did tend to freak out about her daughter. She only wanted the best for her and both Eliza and Jeremiah knew the difficulties in trying to fit in when you were the smartest person in school by miles.

The grocery store wasn’t busy, being a Tuesday night so the shopping went fairly quickly. At the check out counter, the clerk greeted the two.

“I have to say, what you are doing for that young girl you work with is so nice, Eliza.”

“Oh, thank you… wait, what?”

“The girl who had the baby? Alex bought so much, I was really surprised. Food, formula, diapers, baby clothes and toys? That is so generous of you. How is the poor thing doing? I couldn’t imagine having a 16 pound baby. I guess a C section was done? It had to be, right?”

“Wait what?” Eliza repeated again. The clerk noticed neither Jeremiah or Eliza had any idea what she was talking about.

“The other day, Alex came in and bought quite a bit of… she had your card. She said you were helping out…”

“Oh right.” Jeremiah told her, thinking quickly. “Yeah, we are sorry, its been a long day. We had forgotten. But since you bring it up, Alex lost the receipt. We actually donated it to a foundation that was set up for the girl and we need the receipt for a tax write off. I don’t suppose there is anyway we could get a copy?”

“Of course. Let me call the Ricky over and he can print one out from the server in the back.”

Ten minutes later, Jeremiah and Eliza were in the car, groceries in the back and looking at a very long receipt, that had been charged to their card.

“Wow.”

“She was supposed to be looking for books. Do you remember her mentioning donating to a daycare center? Because I don’t.” Eliza asked, trying to make sense of what she was seeing.

Jeremiah was worried as well, about many things. Why would Alex buy all this stuff, obviously none of it was for her. Why would she lie? Who did she give it too? Did she have a friend who had a child and was hiding it? No, there was absolutely no way something like that could happen in Midvale. No one could be pregnant in this small of a town and everyone not know about it, especially a girl Alex’s age or even a few years older.

“Lets go home. Don’t say a word. I want to look at this in depth before we ask her anything.”

The two had no problem since Alex had left a note, indicating she would be with friends and back in an hour.

Eliza looked at the kitchen with a critical eye.

“The sticky buns I made are gone. All of them. The ham we bought is gone, almost every water bottle. The fruit… she is either throwing this away or eating it.”

“Or feeding someone else.” Jeremiah guessed. “These items do not make sense.”

“Baby supplies, clothes, diapers and wipes? You are right, they don’t make sense.”

“Yeah but its the other things that are catching my eye. An air mattress? A case of Coke, candy bars, she even bought more fruit, bread, packaged sticky buns. Its almost like someone is camping with a baby and Alex is supplying whoever it is.

Inspiration hit Eliza and she raced upstairs, Jeremiah following. The mother looked in Alex’s drawers, twice.

“Please don’t tell me you think she is trading camping and baby supplies for drugs?”

“This isn’t a joke Jeremiah. Alex is keeping a secret and that is not like her. Sure she tells lies every now and then like other kids her age but this… whatever this secret, it is big. Her clothes are missing.”

The woman walked to her closet, turning on the light and her feeling of dread increased.

“Eliza her clothes are here. She hasn’t ran away.”

“The clothes she has outgrown aren’t here. I kept them separate, planning to donate them and, her old shoes are gone. I do the laundry and I know how many socks she has… some are missing.”

Jeremiah closed his eyes, figuring this out quickly and not liking the conclusion he was coming to.

“Bird watching. This all started… she came back and went right back out. You said she packed a lunch and went back out. She has been going back out since then, staying gone all the time.”

“And her suit hasn’t needed to be washed. She hasn’t been to the beach.”

Eliza moved to the clothes hamper in the wash room and was relieved for a moment seeing the Alex’s swimsuit had been used. When she lifted it though, she noted that her suit from last year had been used.

“She is hiding a girl with a baby. How in the hell… why would she do this? What is going on?” Eliza asked her husband, very worried now. Had a girl run away with a baby, a short older girl? Does Alex know her and is helping her hide? No one had reported any runaway girls with a baby. That seems like something that would make the news.

Jeremiah sighed. “Something tells me if I go to the back shed I would find camping supplies missing as well. Nothing to do but wait for her to come home. She is going to have to explain this. I have a feeling if we wait… we can’t wait. Alex is helping a girl with a baby somewhere, camping out. I am betting a girl younger than her.”

Jeremiah and Eliza went into the kitchen and sat at the table, waiting for Alex’s return. Jeremiah continued to look at the receipt and Eliza focused on trying to relax, telling herself there must be a reasonable explanation for this.

Forty minutes later, the backdoor opened and Alex entered the kitchen, immediately concerned seeing her parents both sitting quietly, staring at her. She also noticed her Dad had a rather long receipt, similar to the one she had on her a few days ago.

“Hey Mom… Dad. Good day at work?”

Both parents continued to stare at her.

“I’m guessing you want me to have a seat?”

“That would be a good place to start, Alex.” Jeremiah agreed.

Alex slowly pulled a chair back and sat. She had expected this to happen when the bank statement was checked but honestly thought she would have more time to come up with a lie. At this moment, she had a million options going through her mind and none of them good, except the one that seemed viable. She was faster than her parents and could live in the cave with Kara. At this moment, it didn’t seem like a bad an option.

“Alex, I can tell by your face, that you know exactly what this is about. We know about the groceries, the missing food, your sudden interests in birds, the baby supplies, the old clothes that are now gone, you left two swimsuits including last years in the laundry hamper.” Jeremiah opened.

“Wow… that was dumb of me.” Alex admitted, internally kicking herself for missing that detail.

“Yes it was.” Jeremiah agreed. “You are obviously keeping a very big secret and lying to us. No more games, Alex, no more lies. You are helping out a girl with a baby and I am guessing this girl is camping somewhere. She is hiding and you are helping her hide. Tell us the truth.”

Alex met her mother and father’s eyes, feeling sick to her stomach. She looked at the table top and took a deep breath.

“Ground me. Keep me in the house all summer, take me to work with you so you know I’m not going anywhere. Do whatever you want but I can’t tell you the truth. I won’t lie to you but I won’t betray her.”

Jeremiah and Eliza were both shocked at the determination and resignation in her voice.

“Alex, we can help whoever this is. Has the girl been abused and ran away with her baby brother? Is the baby hers? Wherever she is, it can’t be safe. You are putting them in danger by not telling us.” Eliza tried.

“She is in trouble but you can’t help. You will call the police and she will run. She s very, very fast. If she runs she will never come near another hum… another person again.”

“Okay,” Jeremiah sighed, “can you at least bring her to us if we promise not to call the police?”

“You will. She isn’t missing and she isn’t a runaway. She won’t trust you. She doesn’t trust anyone but me. I won’t betray her.”

“Why do you think she would feel betrayed because we want to help her?” he pressed.

“If people knew where she was, what she was, they would try to take her. They couldn’t, I doubt anyone can but her bro… she can’t be found. I don’t like her there, I don’t like leaving her there but its the only way right now. If I take you to her, she won’t give me a chance to explain. She will run and we can’t catch her and we won’t find her. Then they will be on their own again. If she stays I can sneak away from you. I will, and I will help her. I’m not trying to be… I don’t want to disobey you but this is… a different situation.”

Jeremiah and Eliza sat back and looked at each other.

“What do you expect us to do about this Alex?” Eliza asked.

Alex shrugged her shoulders. “Trust me and keep looking the other way?” the girl suggested. Judging by the look on her parent’s face that wasn’t an option.

“Why do you seem to think it is so important that she not be found? Can you at least tell us that? I won’t ask you where she is, I just want to understand.” her father asked.

“You wouldn’t believe me if I told you. I have a hard time believing it. She looks just like us, they both do. She can eat our food and she has to go to the bathroom, she…”

“We will believe you.” Eliza promised.

“No you won’t.” Alex told them once again.

“I won’t ask you again where she is if you tell us, but if you don’t, I am going to search everywhere around this area and I don’t care if it takes me weeks, I will not leave a little girl and a baby in the woods!” Jeremiah told her, starting to lose his patience.

“Fine! You want the truth? When I met her she didn’t speak English. She still doesn’t. She speaks a language I have never heard before. When she runs, really runs, all you can see is a blur. I’m not exaggerating. Her skin is impossible to break. I tried pinching her and her skin didn’t redden. She didn’t notice. She feels like us, she breathes, she laughs, her stomach cramps but… I think wherever she was before she got here, she was shot in the back. Her clothes, her clothes, the ones she arrived in had holes in the back that looked like a lot of pellets but there isn’t a mark on her skin. Loud noises bother her and I have a feeling her senses are very heightened. I also think she can see through walls.

She smells water before she drinks it or gives it to her brother. She didn’t even have a fork when I found her, she fed him from her hand. She can open baby food cans with her fingernail. I saw her crush an apple in her fist to soften it up so he could eat it. I also saw… her brother sleeps beside or behind her because she had a nightmare once and lasers came out of her eyes when she woke up. I saw it. They were really, really hot lasers. She still won’t look me directly in the eyes. I don’t think this is normal for her, something new. I think… I asked her where her home was. I’ve been trying to teach her English, at least what things are called and I asked her where home was and she just looked up at the stars. Then she was crying and I don’t mean a little crying, she was hyperventilating. She had never tasted sticky buns or Cokes or even bananas. I don’t think she had ever tasted most of the food I gave her.

I think… no, I know, that she isn’t from Earth and wherever she is from, something very bad happened. I think her parents are dead. She gets tears in her eyes when I show her pictures of you two. She smiles a lot and still looks sad. I am the only person she has and you won’t believe me. If I take you to her she will be gone and never trust anyone again. She… holds her brother like he is glass, because she is so strong but he isn’t. He is just like any other baby. He can walk and cry and laugh and he is really cute but he… they aren’t from this planet but you won’t believe me and I won’t betray them. At least I know where she is, she is safe. You won’t find her, she will see and hear you coming and she will run. You won’t be able to stop her, so there is no point in looking. You will just make it worse for them.”

Alex put her elbows on the table and head in her hands. She thought she would have more time to think about what to say, how to handle it, how to improve Kara’s situation. Now she would be watched and couldn’t even go to Kara and explain why. The girl would believe she had been abandoned.

Her parents sat straight, looking at their daughter and wondering if she even realized tears were coming from her eyes. What they had just learned was impossible.

But it was obvious by the emotion on Alex’s face, her stories and the conviction she told them, their daughter was not lying. Jeremiah looked at Eliza, whose wide eyes were reddening.

“We believe you.”

Alex must have misheard him. “I told you that you wouldn’t believe me.”

“We do believe you. You aren’t a liar Alex. You don’t make up stories. Honestly you are probably the most practical child I have ever known.” Jeremiah told her. “Everything you say, what she can do, I agree with you. There is more to her and maybe she isn’t a runaway. Maybe she is hiding because she is scared and… different.”

Alex looked at her father who seemed sincere. Her mother was crying silently.

“You believe me?”

“Yeah, we do.” Eliza told her daughter. “You say lasers… were you hurt, or burned?”

“No, I had just walked in and she was waking up. I heard her having a nightmare. I think she has a lot. I was watching from the side, calling her name and she sat straight up and these beams came out of her eyes and hit… the wall in front of her. I ran behind her and wrapped her up. Once she calmed down they stopped. They scare her and she can’t control them. I don’t think she is used to… anything. So… I can keep helping her? You won’t try to follow me?”

Jeremiah took a deep breath.

“Alex, you say this baby isn’t like her. He could get sick. They aren’t out in the open since you said she struck a wall but she isn’t in a tent and no buildings have been reported to be on fire in the last couple days. I am guessing she is in a cave, right? No, you don’t have to show me, but if you really want to help both of them, you are going to have to trust us.”

“Trust you with what?”

“I believe that you are telling the truth. I need you to believe in me, in us. You have been doing a good thing, even if I am not crazy about how you have gone about it. But you know she can’t live in one of those caves forever. It’s about to be June. In a couple months coastal storms will be hitting this town. You know what happens to those caves.”

Alex looked at the ceiling for a moment. She hadn’t had time to think of this either.

“You can go right now, and trust us not to follow you. Convince her to come here. Whatever form of communication you have established with her, she obviously trusts you, for good reason. I won’t follow you but you know she needs to be here, they both do. You can help them but we can do more together. I swear to you, I will not call the police or anyone else. We will keep her secret, but you have to get her here. Alex she doesn’t even have a bathroom.”

“She has been using ours…” Alex said before she could make her mouth stop moving.

“Of course she has.” Eliza laughed, trying to come to terms with this crazy night. She wasn’t sure what the hell was going on but she would bet her life that her daughter was telling the truth.

“Go to her. Convince her. Tell her she can trust us and I swear to you, we will not betray her or turn her in. It sounds like we couldn’t anyway, right?”

“Yeah, she is really strong and fast. I will do the best I can. I’m going to try. She is just so skittish and begged me… at least I think she was. I’ve just gotten her to the point she lets me hold Kal without worrying about it. I… I will talk to her. I will do everything I can to convince her but you won’t have to look for her if I fail. She will be gone the moment I leave.”

“Then be the stubborn woman I know you can be. Don’t leave without her.”

“Okay Dad. If I can convince her to come back, I will. Wish me luck.”