The Guardians of Gaia

Chapter Thirty-Three

The time was passing by so slowly to Marshall because Faust wasn't there and he had the overwhelming feeling that Faust was in danger. At times he felt like no one shared his views, no one thought the same things as him. Ophelia hadn't stopped worrying about the aliens, but she had stopped talking about them to anyone because Commander Canada, DreamWalker and InTell wouldn't hear her, Theo just wanted to have fun as per usual, and Otto was still wrapped up in trying to ensnare Ophelia.

Marshall felt like he was the only one in the group who was still sane. At night he would lay in his empty room and he'd slide his cold fingers under the blankets and slide them up his shirt and he'd feel the skin of his stomach, his hip, the tops of his thighs smooth and warm and if he forgot everything around him and focused he could feel the slight groves in the deepest scar Faust had given him. The first one, ground zero of his scarred body. He felt close to Faust for a moment then, thinking about all of the fear that accompanied that one exhilarating encounter, the raw passion and danger enshrined in that moment.

He longed for the days where he could just reach over and grab Faust's long fingered hand. He missed Faust's groaning protests at any sort of activity aside from gaming or lounging around in bed, groans that barely masked his playful reluctance. He ached, something within his skin, like the last vestiges of Faust hadn't left him after all of those patches. 

"Can't I go outside?" Marshall asked InTell over dinner one night. The entire house gathered at the table aside from DreamWalker who refused to leave the control room. To Marshall it seemed like she needed to maintain control at all time. 

They ate dinner in a modern dining room with an adjoining kitchen. The walls terracotta, the table glossed wood, the chairs comfortable and high-backed.

Lady Earth had picked dinner for the night. A kale salad with pistachio nuts, oats, sundried tomatoes, olives, green peppers and a splash of balsamic vinegar. "What is this?" Theo cried at the sight of the plate. "Is this the appetizer or something?"

"It's dinner," Lady Earth asserted.

Theo let off an impressive chain of expletives. The rest of the G-Force laughed heartily at Theo's expense. Over the mayhem Marshall noticed InTell staring at him with the smallest of smiles on his lips. Marshall felt a little disconcerted. Why does he like me and not everyone else in the Guardians of Gaia? He thought.

Because you're not like them, InTell's voice hummed in his head. It sounded small like InTell was speaking through a tube. InTell's smile widened. 

Can you get out of my head? "Pass the . . . um. . . balsamic," Marshall stammered.

"We're not allowed anymore then the teaspoon we've been given," Ophelia said with a chuckle.

I'm not in your head. Everyone has thoughts and I can hear them all but it all sounds like nonsensical chatter unless I focus on one person in particular. It takes a lot of energy but sometimes . . . it's worth it.

"Can't I go for a run or something?" Theo whined.

Marshall looked at InTell in alarm. InTell sipped the water with lemon they had been forcibly served. Faust won't care. He doesn't love you anymore. I know you're lonely. "Unless you want to get snatched by the aliens, Theo," InTell replied smoothly.

LEAVE ME ALONE!!

Well if you change your mind let me know. You really are so beautiful, you know. Everything on you is perfect. 

"I'm going to bed," Marshall announced rising from the table.

"Darling, you've hardly touched your kale," Lady Earth cooed.