Invasion

Chapter 7

*Note, this chapter has another language in it (one that I have made up) and the translations are at the bottom, but it is pretty easy to decipher. If you would prefer the translations in a different place, just let me know*

I was tired of walking and I just sighed.

"You okay, Zin?"

"What do you mean Zin?"

"It's my nickname for you."

"You just learnt my name and have already given me a nickname?"

"Yeah. Zinnia seems too long, so Zin seems better."

"I like my name, thank you very much," I didn't want to admit that I thought it was cute, but I didn't want him to think he was my friend just because he knew my name.

"Let's rest here, there's a bench," Saros pointed to a broken down bench.

"Is everything here old and broken?"

"Isn't that how you humans have it?" He shot me a smile and ran off to the bench.

"So do you aliens have your own language?" I sat beside him and asked.

"Esur ew od, sti' yelaler dierw houhgt," Saros smiled at me as I tried to figure out what he said.

"What?" I was puzzled and was starting to regret even asking.

"I said 'sure we do, it's really weird though,'" he shrugged and got comfortable.

"It sure is weird to me," I mumbled under my breath. I looked around and in the distance I saw a puff of smoke.

"Saros, what's that?" I shook him and he fell off the bench.

"Aggressive, much?" He paused to look at the smoke, "Oh, that? I don't know, let's check it out," he jumped up and walked slowly, waiting for me. He looked really unsure and I could tell there was a lot we humans didn't know about the alien race.

'What is he hiding? Is he really just trying to help find Orion? What's the bigger picture here?' I thought to myself.

I must've been eyeing him, because he gave me a weird look. I just followed him as we followed the smoke, but as we got closer, the smoke grew bigger. It slowly descended down to us the further we walked, it got thicker too. I started to cough like crazy, but Saros seemed unaffected.

"Is this some trap or something?" I stopped and had a coughing fit.

"No? What's that supposed to mean?" He looked back at me.

"I can't breath," I gasped for air right before collapsing.

•••

"Zinnia, are you okay?" I just nodded

"Yeah, I'm okay," I stood up and looked around. No one else was there. Was I imagining things? The air had cleared up, and it was a bright summer day. I lifted my hand to my ear where I had put my zinnia, sure enough it was still there. I turned to look behind me and it was mothers' dream house.

"You really do have everything on this ship, don't you Saros?" I said to myself as I walked up to open the door. I half expected to see Saros there, but instead I was bulldozed to the ground by Orion.

"Orion? You're safe! We can go home now, or we can go find mother and run from father," I grabbed his hand and started to run, but he just stood there.