Stranger Love (Discontinued)

4: The Lost Soul

Audrey's Pov

Jess and I meet with awkward smiles, some distance between us as expected. I still haven't figured out what I am yet or if I even feel for her. She look like she's had no sleep since, three days at most. "Hi," she says quietly. "Hey," I reply. My hands were shoved deep into my pockets and I felt more than tense, nervous about being around her today. "Still thinking of it?" She asks. I nod hesitantly and we both walk on into the woods up a path. Only now do I have some confidence to get closer to the farm girl.

The sun was high in the sky, a few clouds covered it every now and then which provided some shade in this hot weather. "It was nice, though," I say as I look away. I notice that the star was brighter and bigger, now visibly moving in circles. "I still can't believe you crush on Sasha. Why that two faced bitch?" I ask. "She's cute," she replied, "and I know she isn't homosexual. Sucks balls but I deal." What's weird is that I almost hate that she wants Sasha. I want Jess to crush on me even if I'm straight. At this point I might as well say I'm bisexual.

"So, how's life without... Sophie?" She asked reluctantly. My genuine smile faded a little as the words of my parents repeat in my head. "Sophie's gone," they said. It was difficult to process but I'm learning to cope. "Audie?" I lift my brows and look to her, feeling my cheeks fluster. "Audie?" I question. She shrugs and looks to the ground, her hair hiding her own red cheeks. I nod slowly and move on. "Life without her is quiet. Slow. I don't know why it feels that way. Maybe it's because she was always there everyday to make me smile with the most stupidest things," I laughed lightly.

"Makes sense. Stacy's taking it real bad, y' know. They were close." "Stacey and Sophie never hung out so how could they have been close?" Silence was the answer I got. She knows something about them but I'll let it slide. Out of nowhere, the meteor started droning as it came over our heads, taking out all the trees in it's way. I look to Jess as she looks to me, equally as curious as I am. "Race you there," she says before dashing off. "Hey, that's not fair!" I exclaim as I chase after her. I jump and vault over objects, using some to my advantage but I had no gain on her.

Then all of a sudden, I run into her when she skid to a halt. "Ow!" I exclaim. I look to her frightened face jaw dropped. "What? Never seen a giant-" I look to what we both thought was just a meteor. Steaming hot, greatly damaged and glass cracked and covered in dirt. It had large thrusters at the back and sides, a half torn off wing and covered in scratches and dents. "Should we check what's inside it?" She asks. I notice through the dirt covered window flashing red lights and muffled sirens that must be blaring inside. "Sure," I stutter. The space craft was as big as a school bus and as wide as a small boat that could hold cars.

We reluctantly make our way towards the ship but stop when several bangs on the possible door startled us both. The door then opened like an airlock and out came this small four armed alien wearing a red space suit and helmet with a mirrored visor, cracked and leaking whatever it needs to breathe. It held its belly with two hands, it's head with one, and the door frame with the other. "Oh shit... What if it's gonna kill us?" She asks. I shrug and step close, ready show I'm unarmed. It looked to me and Jess, breathing heavily and ready to dart off. I can tell by it's stance. As soon as I lift my hands up in the air and it runs off in the direction it came from. "I think that was the only one. It was scared," I say.

"Let's see if we can learn more from what's inside." I nod and we head inside considering the airlock was somehow broken and wouldn't shut. Unknown language was on a few signs and a glitched out screen and more made it clear this alien wasn't English speaking. I notice on the floor where other suits where, a photo of two different species smiling to the camera. As if they were taking a selfie. They were smiling, holding eachother close. However, the one on the right looked far more different than the one on the left who looked more humanoid. "What's that?" Jess asks. "A photo. I think it's of the alien," I say as I show her.

Later that evening, I arrive home and see dad in the kitchen doing dishes. "Hear about that meteor? Landed somewhere in the woods today. Why don't you and Jess go check it out." "We already have. It wasn't too cool." I look at the rifle on the dining table, raising a brow as I pick it up. "Thought you and mom were against having rifles in homes," I say. "A tranquilizing rifle. Had it in the attic for years. There's some racoons in the basement and you know how she'd react finding dead animals in the house." I nod and sigh, heading into the basement with the rifle, turning the light on once down here.

"Come on out, you stupid Racoons. Or whatever you are," I say quietly. My ears then adjust to the silence and within the silence I heard quiet sobbing and heavy trebling breathing. From the external basement door was a trail of dripping red blood that leads to a small space between a few boxes by the stairs. Sat there shivering was the alien. Instead of aiming the rifle at it, I set it aside and get closer to it on my knees. It tried moving away but it couldn't. It held its wound that was gushing but it fortunately hasn't removed the the sharp metal piece. "Audrey! Did you take the rifle?!" Dad calls. "Stay here," I say to the alien before taking the rifle and running upstairs.

"Call mom and tell her to bring home some stuff for a stab wound," I say as I set the rifle aside and pull a fishing hook and wire from a drawer in the dining room and pour some boiling water. "Who's down there?" He asks. "Just call mom!" I exclaim as I head back down to the alien. "Okay, I'm back." I sit the bowl of water on the floor with the hook inside. I reach slowly for it's helmet but it pushes my hands away. Suppose I got to gain it's trust. I remove my jacket then my t-shirt and press it against her wound gently. She then took hold of my top and that allowed me to remove my belt and show her what I plan on doing next. Hesitantly, she nodded.

An hour or two passed and she was laying in bed in the spare room with the covers over her. A bucket on the floor in case she ends up sick. Mom was wise enough to bring a strong enough pain killer home and proper medical equipment. This alien looks like your average nerdy girl from a teen movie. Her hair was a purple red colour and her skin was pink. All over her body was large dark purple patches that looked like birth marks. The girl also has a tail with a small haired tip. It was a long tail, as long as a tigers. Her eyes were a pale purple but bloodshot. Other than those few things, she's a humanoid.

I sit on the bed, right side of the sleeping girl who's yet to speak a word. Unless she can't for many understandable reasons. Mom came in after a gentle knock on the door, looking at me with the most unusual look on her face. She looked pleased but concerned at the same time. "I'm proud of you, Audrey. For helping the poor girl." I nod hesitantly and smile the slightest bit when the alien hugged the teddy bear tighter. "I wonder what she's doing here. You think she was exploring? Escaping danger?" Mom shakes her head without a verbal answer. We don't know what she's doing here or what she planned on doing but I know she doesn't mean any harm.

"I don't trust her yet. So can you maybe stay with her tonight? Keep an eye on her?" "Sure mom. Maybe she'll talk with someone around her age, appearance wise." She then leaves and I'm now thinking that this girl might talk if I hand her the photo. On the back says "Love you, Theo. Best girlfriend ever." Is this girl named Theo? She looks like a Theo. She looks a like Sophie a little. Maybe she's a replacement but I don't want Sophie to be replaced. My phone buzzes and it's Jess making sure I was alright. She's kinda paranoid about this now. As if the MIB are gonna come knocking on the door and kill us.

"I'm safe, Jessica. And that alien we saw earlier? It's here. She's harmless," I reply. "It's there?! What if it kills you?! It could be a psycho!" "Relax, Jess. She's sleeping right now. I gotta keep an eye on her, too." I look to the alien who now gazes at me tiredly. "Can't give you any more medicine. How you feeling?" I ask. Her eyes wander the room and return to me. She used the teddy to cover half her face as she curled up. Sophie sometimes acted like this when she was scared or frightened for her life. Feeling like the world was against her. Maybe Theo is yet to trust us hearing her voice. Bow she's crying silently. I'd give her a hug but it might be trying to trick me into doing something fatal. So I'll hold back for now.