Boshville

B. 16

Natalie did not understand why Zee decided to stop in front of an apartment building. Bartin turned out to be a syringe in the box Daisy had given her. Natalie forced her mind to avoid sad thoughts of the woman. "Keep you heads up". Zee warned as they entered.

They climbed the stairs. The tiny creaks it made did not soothe her nervous mind. Zee nodded on a door and waited for the person on the other side to open it. A redhead opened the door. Natalie could have sworn that she had seen him in school.

"Are you safe?" The redhead asked. "We don't know how long before they find us but so far no tails". Zee replied. The redhead nodded and opened the door wider to let them in. Natalie felt her heart hammer against her chest. The familiar raven haired wore the same expression. "Casper!" "Natalie!"

The two best friends hugged each other. Natalie could feel tears prickling her eyes as she buried her face in his neck. "I missed you". She whispered. "I missed you too". Casper replied. Moss cleared his throat and they pulled apart.

Casper turned and frowned at the redhead. "What the hell is this?" He accused, "you knew where she was, how to get her to come here and you didn't say anything". "Yeah", Natalie mirrored the action with Zee, "I was worried sick and all you could say was 'Casper released them from the cells'. What a pathetic excuse! Let's not forget how you were constantly on my neck about keeping my emotions in check".

"This is not the time for this, Natalie". Zee wore a stern look. "Oh no! You don't get to tell me what time it is", she sassed, "we're talking this out right now. Is there perhaps anything else you would like to tell me? Maybe why Tristan has been scowling at you? Or the dead guy you were so gloriously chatting about?! I need to know what there is to know".

Casper didn't want his own conversation to be interrupted by an angry Natalie so he dragged Moss to the kitchen. "Do I really have to ask for an explanation?" Casper crossed his arms. "I couldn't risk their location". Was all Moss said. "Yesterday was the worst day of my life", Casper turned away, "I realized that I was missing a huge part of my life. Natalie and I being best friends is the only real thing I have. You can't just hold that from me".

"She's the only real thing huh?" Moss sounded very sad. Casper closed his eyes for a second. He wanted to know the full truth and this was the only way. "Yes, she is", Casper replied, "unless there's something you'd like to tell me?" "No and I'm sorry about hiding information. I just wanted to make sure she was here safely before I got your hopes up".

Casper spun around annoyed. "What is wrong with you?!" He unintentionally yelled. Moss was taken aback. "I can tell that there is or was something  between us", he stepped closer, "just tell me so you don't have to pretend to be happy". "We were close. That's about it". Moss tried to avoid eye contact.

"I leave for less than 24 hours and you get married. That's mean even for you", Natalie laughed as she popped in, "are you done scolding him? We actually have to plan". Moss stood frozen ever since Natalie spoke. A spark happened in his brain. "Married?" Casper frowned at Moss who's eyes were still glued to the ground. "I was kidding, Cas. Don't get upset". Natalie was oblivious to the tension.

"I have to see Zarphon". Moss quickly walked out. Natalie raised her eyebrows. "Is he okay?" She asked. "No", Casper buried his face in his palms, "I screwed up bad". "What are you talking about?" Natalie touched her friend with sympathy. "The signs were all there. I can't believe I didn't see it", Casper kept rambling to himself, "he must have been miserable. Having to watch me all these years and not being able to do anything. He could have moved on but he stayed..."

"Casper!" Natalie yelled. Casper was blown back. He broke through the wall of the kitchen and landed in the middle of the living room. All the men stared at the boy. Natalie had wide eyes. Electricity crackled and Alexis and Evie joined the crowd.

"My goodness! We leave for a moment and you are already breaking walls". Evie inspected Casper like an overprotective mother. "What went on while we were out?" Alexis asked. Natalie stared at her friends. She didn't remember Evie having a British accent and Alexis sounded full Russian.

Alexis's eyes finally landed on Natalie. "Ay! I see the origin". He waved. Natalie revived from her initial shock and went to help Casper. "I'm so sorry". She apologized to a concussed Casper. Casper groaned in several pitches as they tried to get him to stand up.

Zee glared at Natalie. She glared back and said, "in my defense, he was rambling and you didn't figure out I could do that". Zee rolled his eyes. "Sonic screaming", Fortin stroked his chin, "that is highly peculiar to people of your planet". Tristan eyed Natalie and nodded in agreement.

"You're an alien too?" Casper managed to hold his words together. "Just found out. And by 'too', I'm guessing you're one too". Natalie let out a heavy sigh.

Suddenly, Moss formed a Frank. "We have to get out of here", Moss said, "Frank would stall them". "What are you talking about? We just got here". Natalie questioned. "The bounty hunters have listening devices that can pick out even the thinnest voices", he explained, "your sonic scream was like an eruption. We have less than twenty minutes to run before they get here".

Natalie cringed on the inside. She felt horrible. She just put all of them in danger because she couldn't control her emotions. "Your renomones are screaming", Tristan walked to her, "maybe letting you grow as a teenage human girl was a bad idea". He took her hand and they went out the door. He kept whispering things to her and telling her to breathe.

Natalie did as he said. The feeling of self pity and guilt was washing off. "Thanks". She mumbled once they were downstairs. "Anytime kid", he smiled for the first time and Natalie thought it was the cutest smile ever, "Zarphon gets to the best of us". She knew there was a deeper meaning but she could question it later.

Evie hotwired a red Ford parked across the street. She placed Casper in the back with Alexis while Moss sat in front. Bartin was forced to shift into a hairpin since there was no space in the vehicles. The cars roared to life and zoomed off.

"Where can we go?" Natalie asked in a small voice. She didn't want to risk getting yelled at by Zee. "Let's find out". Was Zee's answer. He pressed the button for the radio. The entire roll of buttons turned inside out. "Cool" Natalie smirked. He clicked a blue button on the new dashboard. The device scanned his thumb and an elevated keypad appeared.

Natalie stared at the light beside her head. It was totally mind blowing. Zee typed some words she could not understand and the device beeped. "Zarphon?" A familiar voice asked from the device. A screen was projected from the keypad and Natalie saw a woman that supervised her many sleepovers. Casper's mom.

"Fiona, we need your help". Zee said without looking at her. "Location or supplies?" "Both. We're about to be chased down by the BHs. We're not sure how many minutes out they are". "You're in luck", Fiona replied, "the house is available but incoming bad news".

"How bad?"

"Fifty years bad"

Zee tensed up, "we'll expand the details in person. Anything else?" "Oh right!" Fiona flicked her forehand, "the General really wants that cube. Rumor has it that he's hired the BHs. Can't believe that almost slipped my mind". "Shit!" Zee slammed the horn.

He ended the call and sighed. "We've got problems". He announced. "I'm sorry to indulge in this but I told you so", Fortin semi gloated, "my intuition is never wrong". "Really old man? You're gonna brag now?" Zee snapped. Fortin gave a light chuckle while Barton let out a full laugh.

In a flash, the car received a blow that almost took it off the road. Natalie looked through the rearview mirror and saw motorbikes. "We've got problems". She repeated.

Another suspense! How will they get out of this one? And do you have an idea why Moss froze up? How about the sonic scream? Is that a great power up or what?

Find out in the next part!

Love you,
Josy💜