The Call of the Others

Chapter 17

“Are you gonna kill us?” Cary asked, looking like he had just pissed in his pants.

Mr. Woodward’s twin laughed. “No, of course not.”

Cary studied him, arching an eyebrow. “Why?”

“Do you want me to?”

“No, sir! No, Mr. Woodward.”

He laughed again. “I am Mr. Woodward, just not the one you think I am. I’m his younger brother. We both worked at the same Agency.”

“Oh,” Cary said. “Well, nice to meet you!” He shook his hand enthusiastically.

Mr. Woodward wriggled out of Cary’s grasp. Rubbing his liberated hand, he said, “I need you guys to come into HQ for questioning.”

“But—but,” Charles began, “we don’t want to.”

“Quite frankly,” Martin cut in, “I don’t have the stomach.”

“I know your experience with the Agency has been anything but pleasant—”

“Uh, yeah,” Alice interrupted.

“—But I need your cooperation right now. Just tell all you think is important for me to know, and I promise nothing bad will happen.”

“Last time the Agency was going to kill us. And our parents.” Joe wasn’t ready to forgive.

“Sorry about that. Come on, you need to trust me. I’m not Nelec, I’m not Martina.”

There was a stony silence as Joe considered this.

“How about anyone who talks to me now gets to go home and forget any of this ever happened?”

Everyone’s ears picked up at Mr. Woodward’s offer, even Joe’s, in spite of himself.

“I will take that deal, my good sir,” Cary said. “Please, show me the way to HQ.”

“Cary!” Joe shouted. “What about the aliens?”

“I can take care of them. I promise I’ll do a good job. Joe,” Mr. Woodward explained, “these aren’t normal aliens. These aren’t the kind you’re used to. These aliens are dangerous.”

“Not that one,” Joe said, pointing to the Cage C creature, which he had mentally named Frog.

“Uh, Joe,” Charles said, “it did kind of eat someone.”

Frog blinked at him, his black shiny eyes full of confusion.

“Who might have shot us,” Joe pointed out.

Martin looked at both of them and announced, “I’m getting out of here.” He mouthed “Sorry” to Joe as he moved next to Cary and Mr. Woodward.

Charles sighed. “Me, too.”

Cassandra was right, Joe thought bitterly. He is just a freak controlled by peer pressure.

“I,” Preston started, but then trailed off. “May I think about it?”

“Take all the time you need,” Mr. Woodward said. “Alice? What about you?”

Joe implored her with his eyes to stay. She huffed and said, “I’m going to think about it.”

“And, Joe, I’m assuming you’re going to stay with your alien?”

“Yep.” He was never too scared of the teacher Mr. Woodward when he was alive, so why should he be afraid of his brother? His younger brother, at that.

 “Alright, fellas, let’s get out of here.” He led them out of the tunnel and out of Joe’s sight.

“Losers,” he spat out when they were gone.

“Now you’re indignant?” Preston snapped. “Now you care about these aliens Cassandra died for? She was right about you!”

“What did she say about me?” Joe asked, confused.

“Forget it,” Preston said. “It doesn’t matter now.”

He walked away from Joe and Alice.

“Where are you going?” Joe shouted after him. “You don’t get to leave!”

“I can. And I’m going anywhere but here,” Preston said without looking back.

“Where are you going?” Alice demanded.

This time Preston turned around. “I’m following them. Something isn’t right about that guy.”

“But he’s Mr. Woodward’s brother. Preston!” Alice shouted as the door slammed behind him.

“Cassandra’s getting in his head to. God! That bitch never goes away, does she?” Alice complained.

For the first time ever, Joe looked at his girlfriend and said, “Shut the hell up.”