Alone

Chapter 8

Even with red lights flashing and alarms blaring, with every eye on me – human or not – I am still amazed by the feeling of running with other people.

         I lead the five of us – Jenna, Cameron, their parents, and I – to the closest corner of the room. There, we crouch down, hiding from the mobs of aliens scanning the place.

         “How do we get out of here?” Jenna’s dad asks. He has a deeper voice than I’ve ever heard.

         I’m still trying to figure that out. Jenna and Cameron’s eyes are trained on me, waiting for me to say something, while their parents scan for aliens coming toward us.

         I’ll never admit I’m not sure. Instead, I say, “We’re still on Earth, right? We haven’t left yet.”

         “Yes,” Jenna’s mother tells me.

         “Then we need to break out a window or something,” I say.

         “And where do we find a window?” Cameron’s voice is isn’t nearly as low as his dad’s, but it’s low enough to hold substance and power.

         I am conflicted. What do I really want? I want to get my notebooks back, that’s what. And my planet. I want that back, too.

         But now I’m hooked to Jenna and her family. I can’t leave them here, and I have to take them into consideration. I can’t just barge into some place because they could get hurt. So, basically, I can’t do anything rash. I can’t do anything risky as long as they’re on my back. I might not be able to escape without doing something risky.

         “We’re going to the control room,” I say. I know that’s where the alien boss is, and I know it’s in charge of what happens on this ship. Whether they agree with me or not, I know my notebooks are in there.

         “Why?” Cameron asks.

         “Because my notebooks are in there,” I say, not used to having to tell other people things before. “And that’s where all the commands will be sent out. They’ll give the order to take over the planet from that room.”

         Jenna’s family seems to think that stopping the aliens from taking over the planet is a good cause.

         I peek my head around the capsules that block us from the views of the aliens. To my surprise, I see one heading toward us, scanning the area.

         I duck abruptly, every muscle in my body tense, my breath caught in my throat, and my lips pursed tightly shut. Beside me, everyone else falls silent as they crouch down to get lower.

         I hear the alien’s footsteps approaching. The noise pauses not far from us and I don’t hear a thing but the silence, waiting for the alien to makes some sort of noise, some sort of sign telling me that we’re safe.

         The footsteps leave and everyone relaxes. But only for a second.

         “Follow me,” I whisper to Jenna’s family. They don’t need to be told twice.

         I slink along the glass capsules, trying to get to the elevator. Maybe if I can get to that 104th floor that I had my interrogation on, we’ll have a chance.

         When we get to the elevator, I make sure it’s clear before quickly darting over to press the button and going inside, holding the door open for Jenna’s family, who follows wordlessly.

         The ride up to that top floor is quiet for only a second before I speak. “We’re going to change history now,” I say, feeling brave. “We’re really going to save the world.”