why me

28

I'd finally gotten away from ailign. I saw an oportunity when we passed through a large crowd, ailigns guard finally dropping after I had stuck close to him the whole day. It was getting dark and my feet ached from walking but I kept my fast pace with the crowd, keeping my head down. I look behind me and notice one silently following me. Fuck! I had to try and give her the slip as well. I didn't know if she had tracking technology in her. Probably.
"One, can you go into that shop?" I ask her.
"We have been separated from ailign. It is recommended we send out a signal to him to find us." She says
"No!" I yell "I order you not to do that"
"Very well megan. Would you like to continue shopping?" She says
"Yes one were just shopping" I lie and continue forward, making as many turns as I could.
The streets had no street signs I noticed. It was impossible to tell where I was going and where I had already gone but I continued forward. I ran for hours, getting nowhere in the process. I was frantic in my escape to this nowhere. Even if i ran at full speed one was still behind me, keeping pace easily. The streets grew darker as I rounded another corner, and the crowds disappeared, leaving the shopping district all together i was making my way into a residential area. It was earily quite on the street, the pitch black night not helping my unsettled nerves. I was growing tired after a long time of jogging and was happy to find that there was one shop however all the way down the road brightly lit up with red lights, it stood out among the sea of normal houses. I pressed forward deciding to take shelter in the small shop. Hope of giving one the slip was gone.
The shop was acletic on the outside, with books and nick nacks here and there. I make myway inside after peering at some of the strange alien figurines. I was greeted by grunting sounds one translating for me.
"She says welcome." One said.
The shop keeper was of the Rainer race, an older lady with and especially long snout. I didn't know what I was looking for especially just a warm shop to shield me from the chilly air. I absently observe some of the books on the shelves, my fingers brushing along there spines.
"Do you have any pilot books?" I finally ask remembering my conversation with Amy.
One translated for me again, and the shop keeper gets up and makes her way into the back room connected to the check out booth.
"She said she will check." One said
Maybe having one with me wasn't such a bad thing afterall. If it meant I could talk to these strange creatures. I wouldn't get far without it. I was humming to myself as I waited on the shop keeper, still picking up books and peering at there strange covers. She returned then with three books in hand.
"She says she only has books for beginners." One said
I smile to myself, imagining the look on Amy's face when I presented her with the books. How perfect.
"Ask her if she knows if any shuttles are going out to earth." I tell one.
One translates and the woman looks frustrated her tone suddenly sounding hostile, while she shoves the books forward.
"She says she doesn't want any trouble for helping a human. She told you to go home to your mech. I would also recommend this course of action. It is past curfew. I am sending out a signal for us to be picked up now per ailigns order." One says
"Dont do that one!" Pleading in my voice but her face begins to blink. The signal going out. I was fucked.
"Ailign will be here soon." She merely responds. Great my freedom was already over.
"Ask her again" I plead. I would try to get as much as i could in this moment. One begins grunting again at the woman. The woman starts using her hands now in frustration as she continues to grunt at one.
"She says if you need help to go to the black market, there you will find a shuttle. She also asks if you want the books or not."
"Please pay for the books one and thank her" one moves forward, making her way around the stacks of books, and purchases the piloting books. I at least got one good thing out of this trip I supposed. The woman begins grunting again at one.
"She's telling us to leave now before the authorities arrive." One says
I take the books from the front counter quickly and make my way outside, fustration leaking from every step. Myself and one decide to sit on a street corner down the road to wait for ailign. There was no more point in running, one was stuck to my side, her face still lighting up from the tracking signal. I look up at the night sky while waiting for my alien kidnapper to make his way to me. Their were two moons in the sky, with several stars lighting up the black canvas in the distance, the blackened street allowing them to show themselves. It was beautiful.
Suddenly a jeep came souring down the street, the screech of its tires as it stopped the only sound in the desolate little place. Ailign came charging out, anger on his face. I get up to get in the vehicle, but he pulls me into a bone gripping hug. I awkwardly stand there, not quit sure how to respond.
"I thought you were gone" He said quietly
"I was" I respond
He pulls away from my body and peers down at me.
"Ive been looking everywhere for you" He said "I was just about to get the whole damned army on the job."
"I was just shopping" I reply holding up my bag of books. Ailign looks over to one who confirms my claim.
"Next time send out a tracking signal immediatly one."
"Protocol has been updated. I will next time my prince." One says
"There won't be a next time." Ailign snarls. He then grabs my hand and leads me to my side of the car, opening the door for me.
"Well have a talk about your actions at home" He says
I roll my eyes at him, as I duck my head to get into the passenger side. He shuts the door behind me then makes his way to the drivers seat. The car ride home was deathly silent as I went over possible scenarios with ailign.
Sitting on my couch ailign finally speaks, he was standing in front of the couch with his back to me. I could see that his arms were crossed. I had been sitting waiting patiently for him to speak for sometime.
"What you did was reckless." He goes on "the streets are filled with dangerous aliens who aren't familiar with your race, and would have been quick at the oportunity to snatch you up and sell you."
'Just like you snatched me up' I thought to myself, but I waited for him to go on patiently, leaning my head against my arm.
"Your lucky something didn't bad happen." He said finally.
"Am I being punished?" I asked
He turns around then and makes his way to me, taking advantage of his tall frame he stops at the corner of the couch, intimidating me. I squirm in my seat, feeling the pressure.
"Whats your excuse?" He asks instead of answering my question
"I told you I was shopping. We just got separated from the crowds. Then I wanted some alone time so I told one to not send you a tracking signal." I said
His figure continued to loom over me, his eyes percing into mine. I strained as i try to push him away from me with my foot but he doesn't budge. His frame was steel hard beneath my skin, he didn't budge an inch. He leans down then, never leaving my eyes, arms still crossed.
"You'll never do this again, or you will be punished." He says
"I wont" I lie, now hugging the books in my lap to my frame with my other hand.
"What are those?" He asks me
"Something I bought while shopping" I say
"One?" Ailign asks her
"We went to a book shop" She responds
"Are they resticted?" He asks
Restricted? There were restrictions on books?
"According to the new laws placed on the humans yes." She replied.
Ailigns face twists into a scowl, as his attention goes back to the books.
"If that's all you can keep them." He says
"What are these laws for the humans?" I ask
"Nothing for you to worry about. You wont be following them." He says Then moves to leave. Was this really it? This was all the reprimantion I got? Even if I wouldn't be following the laws I still wanted to know what was going on.