Raven & The Angel

Chapter 17 - The Goodness Goodbye

Angelina and Penfold ran home. Penfold bleated the whole way, for once not even bothering to chew something.  He was adamant that Angelina take this opportunity of a lifetime and for her to take him too.  He could sense that the alien stranger was from a naturally peaceful race and knew that both Angelina and The Reef would learn so much from each other - what an adventure it would be!

"For crying out loud Penfold -  shut up! I can't hear myself think. I know it's amazing and I know it's a chance in probably a million lifetimes, but how can you be so sure that we will be safe?" pleaded Angelina.
"Bleat!"
"Just because? Seriously, that's all you have? "
"Bleat."
"Right... Great help, thanks." muttered Angelina as she opened the front door.

The house was in darkness and there wasn't a sound anywhere.  Angelina crept upstairs knowing it was doubtful either of her parents would be there.  She was right.  Making her way down to the basement, she hoped that the laboratory door and her mum's study would be unlocked.
"Damn it" she whispered as she tried both doors and neither budged.

House rules were strict at the Goodness household, as much to protect everyone living in the local area, as living there at the house.  A locked lab door meant 'Do Not Enter' and 'Do Not Disturb' - a failed critical experiment and more importantly, an unintentional explosion or worse, could be the dangerous consequences of interruption.  Angelina knew there would be no speaking to her parents tonight.  So she was on her own,  it was up to her whether she took a giant leap of faith and stepped into an alien space ship for a journey of a lifetime, or not.
"Bleat..."
"Bugger off Penfold, I need to think."  Despite saying the words, Angelina knew what she was going to do and that Penfold would be coming with her.
She wrote a letter to her parents explaining what had happened that night.  She told them the alien's name, the planet he was from, how far away it was in earth light years and even the name of his ship.  She hoped against hope that her parents would believe her and not assume she had lost her mind and run away.  Her letter ended with the promise that she would return, but she couldn't say when and that she loved her parents very much.   Penfold chewed the corner of the paper as she placed it on the kitchen table.  With that Angelina packed a small bag of what she thought might be essentials, although in reality having no idea how she should pack for space travel!  She did include her most treasured reference books and notepads that she had jotted in since the age of two, plus her satchel containing what she deemed to be her most useful herbs, plant leaves and seeds.

With that Angelina and Penfold, left the house and returned to where they had met The Reef earlier.  There was no sign of the ship, but Angelina's night vision soon picked out The Reef's tall figure hidden in the trees.
"You're early" he whispered.
"Promise me we will come back safe" Angelina begged.
"I promise" The Reef replied.
"OK, let's do this!"
"Bleat!"