Astray Among The Stars

Chapter 37: Stranded

"Hello, Roger."

"Who are you?"

Roger kept his distance from the shadows. The dark figure had an aura of hate and anger.

"Who are you?"

"Don't you recognize me, honey?"

The figure stepped into the light. Roger whipped out his pistol. "Get the fuck away from me!"

Keltalis smiled. "Wanna play with your gun? Mmmmmm how about cowboys and aliens?"

Roger fired. Again and again he squeezed the trigger. It was an overkill, a mutilation, a sick work of art. Kel had burns all over his smoldering body, his clothes and skin like that of a Dalmatian. The Kotarin collapsed on the ground, lifeless and disfigured.

Roger jerked himself awake, sitting up with a gasp. He breathed heavily as he looked at the clock. It was midnight, new years day. Everyone else celebrated with alcohol and partying. He, like Tevra, did not want any part of it. Roger was tired from working fourteen hours straight, and so he decided to crash for the night. New years was just another day to him, nothing really important because he grew up on a ship.

There was a gentle knock on his door. He already knew who it was. The teen sat up, his legs hanging off the side of his bed.

"Come in."

Tevra took a seat to his left, not bothering to turn on the lights. Roger knew she felt upset just as before, but this was different. An uneasiness lingered in the air. He could smell it. She turned towards him in the darkness, her whole body shaking.

"Roger. . ."

He scooted, sitting next to her, shoulder to shoulder. "What is it, Tevs?"

She looked at the floor, unsure of the reasons.

"Was it a nightmare?"

She nodded, the bed shaking slightly. Roger put his arm around her shoulder, pulling her closer. It was bare, the girl only wearing a two piece. She still trembled with fear.

"There's nothing to worry about, Tevs. It was only a dream."

"Not dream."

Roger hesitated. "What did you see?"

"Much pain. I hurt. Very bad."

The past? No, it couldn't. The future? Roger gazed off into thought. The past was a nightmare for her, and for him. The future contrasted greatly-or did it? Was it the present, the emptiness she felt in him? Did she know of Rose?

"Sleep here," Tevra asked, breaking his train of thought.

Roger ruminated. If he said no, he would be ignoring Prill's advice. She would be disappointed or hurt, but he had to be harsh. She couldn't depend on him for everything. If he said yes, would it change anything between them? They had slept together before, yet that was for survival, nothing more. This was different. She needed comfort, but at what cost? Why sleep here tonight? Why do that for just a stupid dream? What if he was the cause for it? What if he inadvertently gave her pain?

Roger sighed. "Tevra-"

She took hold of his hand. "Please."

It must have been some nightmare. Her hands were ice cold. In fact, her whole body felt cold, her skin frigid as if she spent the night in a meat locker. Roger froze. Did she feel the same fear she did back then? Did she fear losing him?

"Roger," she gently whispered.

The boy laid back down, sighing in defeat. "Come here, Tevs."

The Valmirian rested herself into a fetal position, her back against his chest, sandwiching him between her and the wall. Roger pulled the blanket over her, his left arm wrapping around her, pulling her close. Her elevated heartbeats soon calmed into a steady set of rhythms. She closed her eyes and fell asleep. The shaking ceased, only now the occasional shivering but nothing more.