Beyond our Earth

50: Aboard

~~~~SARA'S POV~~~~

I began prepping for departure. Though I didn't have much of anything to pack personally. So I busied myself gathering up Braden and Elizabeth's things as well as all of the hotel amenities I could plunder. Even the ones that weren't meant for taking, like towels and ceramic mugs.

"I should probably bring the bedding too." I spoke to myself before attempting to smush two pillows and a duvet cover into a palstic bag I'd saved from the store where I bought Althazar's disguise.

Meanwhile Braden had gotten up and was walking around the room, testing his strength.

"You'll burst a seam." I warned.

He smirked. "I actually don't feel that bad."

"Six advils'll do that for you." I said.

"Hope you've still got some left." He stated, sitting back down on the bed with a careful slowness.

"Elizabeth has half a bottle in her purse." I said, turning to look at her. "Elizabeth, are you okay?"

The only reason I asked is because she'd been remarkably quiet since Althazar left, pacing around the kitchenette not accomplishing much of anything.

"Fine." She said, bouncing on her heels. "Just keep packing."

"You going to help?" I asked.

"I think I need more coffee." She said, reaching for another packet.

"She can't keep still," I laughed to Braden under my breath.

We both watched her as she set made coffee, bouncing around on her feet.

"Something's up." Braden whispered.

There was a knock on the door.

"I'll get it." I said.

"Wait. Check who's there first." Braden called.

"I'm sure it's Althazar." I replied, putting my eye to the peep hole.

My heart stopped when I saw that it wasn't.

"Fuck." I whispered, backing away from the door. "It's the police."

The knock came again.

"Open up." A muffled voice yelled.

I stared helplessly at Elizabeth hoping she'd know what to do.

"Pretend we're not here." She whispered.

"That's only going to work until they bust the door." I replied.

"Sara, is it bolted?" Braden asked.

I glanced over my shoulder at it. It wasn't. Springing to life, I raced to snap the bolt and fasten the chain on the door.

"I know you're in there. Open up." A voice from outside called.

"Isn't there a fire escape we can use or something?" I asked desperately, walking towards the sliding glass door to the balcony.

That's when Althazar and his pod showed up, hovering outside our window.

I let out a happy laugh.

We were saved.

Hurriedly, each of us climbed into the small pod which was really only meant for two. I piled the bags on top of my lap and felt an enormous sense of relief as the door closed, sealing us inside. We took off, rising high above the city and hovered there for a moment, worry free.

 "I guess I should probably tell you where to take us." I said to Althazar.

He turned away from me, reaching behind him to get something. When he faced me again he revealed two pairs of translators. One was given to Braden and the other to Elizabeth, so finally Althazar could talk again.

"Right, now that that's sorted, which way would you like me to fly?"

I looked at Barden. "An island... But where?" I asked him.

"We're pretty close to Papua New Guinea, Indonesia, the Philippines..." He suggested. "Head North."

"That way." I pointed.

And Althazar began to fly us out of Australia, away from all the chaos.

I looked out the window and watched the ground move beneath us. I felt happy. Best of all I felt safe. The future didn't look so bad now.