Alone

Chapter 10

Everything is silent for only a second.

         Then, the blade is pulled out from the alien’s body, the weight of it almost falling on top of me before I move.

         I stand up, shaken. The alien lays on the ground, his limbs sprawled in unnatural ways, his dark, dark blood starting to leak from the wound.

         The wound. The blade. The knife. The person who held the knife.

         Who held the knife?

         I look up to see a familiar face. His dark hair falls in front of his eyes, which still shine green but have a wild, crazed look in them. The knife – my knife – falls from his hand and clatters to the metal floor.

         His eyes meet mine.

         We both stare at each other, amazed at what we see. In him, I see a brave boy that just experienced his first adventure. In me… I’m not sure what he sees.

         I’ve never thought Cameron would be the one to save me. I’ve been living on my own for so long that I never anticipated anyone else ever coming through for me.

         But now that I see the bloody knife on the floor, the alien – dead – on the ground, I can’t help but be amazed.

         Without having to say a thing, I fall into Cameron’s arms. He wraps his arms around me gently, but it’s probably only because of the shock he’s feeling from what he’s just done.

         Then I’m snapped back to reality – hard – and I pull away.

         Cameron seems confused when I take a seat in the control chair. All around me, buttons blink and numbers flash.

         I search the buttons, but I don’t know what I’m looking for. What do I want? Do I want all the humans to go back to Earth – where they’re supposed to be?

         Or do I want to keep them here?

         Do I want to leave this ship alone – reclaim my planet as my own and send all the humans away? Do I want to take Jenna and Cameron and their parents with me? Do I want to leave the humans of the world here, in their glass tubes, forever?

         Am I really that selfish?

         The worst part is, when I look inside me, I see that I am. I want my planet back. I want my planet back. I don’t want to share it.

         But some part of me keeps telling me that isn’t right. I think of Jenna, who might be down on the ground right now, looking at Earth for the first time. Maybe she’s seeing the trees right now, or the grass, or the birds, or the butter-flies – all for the first time. 

         What kind of person am I to take that moment away for every person ever born?

         “What are you doing?” Cameron asks, standing beside me.

         “I’m… I’m…” What am I doing?

         And then, before I know it, I’m pressing a button that looks like a speakerphone. I hope it goes throughout the entire ship. “Alright everyone,” I snap into the speaker, “all you aliens better get off this ship. One way or another you’re not going to stop me, so either scram now or die trying.” There’s a bitter taste in my mouth.

         “Girl, what are you –“ Cameron starts.

         “Help me,” I say, turning to him suddenly. “I need Jenna. And your parents. Now.” I’ve never asked anyone for help before.