Chapter Twenty
“What the hell?” I gasp as my pulse thunders in my ears.
Shayla scared the fucking shit out of me, and I clutch my chest, letting my eyes dart around my apartment for Sara. Did she let Shayla in?
How does Shayla even know where I live?
Wait!
“You remember me?”
For a second, I can’t believe it. Then relief makes all my muscles weaken.
Finally.
Shayla doesn’t respond as she holds out her empty hands and takes a step closer to me. “I just want to talk to you.”
“For sure!” Kicking off my shoes, I rush forward, pulling her in for a hug, letting out all my relief to have finally found someone who remembers me. “But how did you get in here?”
I pull back, annoyed with how tired I feel as I walk into my small kitchen to get a drink. After everything Shayla and I endured together, I do trust her. “Did Sara let you in?”
Shayla shakes her head, following me to perch by the sink while I pour us both water. She’s hiding something.
I take a deep breath, forcing myself to stay calm. Shayla went through the same ordeal as I did. My mind spins with questions, but I’m curious about what made her seek me out. She even snuck in here, so she must not want anyone to realize she remembers me either.
“I’m sorry,” Shayla says softly. “I needed to talk to you. It’s clear your memory wasn’t wiped like they promised.”
I frown as I shake my head, not liking her cryptic statement. They? Who is she talking about?
My confusion must show because Shayla steps closer, accepting the glass of water I’m holding out. “I’ll explain everything, just please—trust me.”
Her pleading eyes meet mine. My instincts scream to get answers first, but my gut says to listen. I slowly lean back against the countertop, waving at her.
“Okay,” I say. “I’m listening.”
Shayla’s shoulders relax slightly, but her gaze stays intent on mine. “I remember everything too,” she says. “The cages. Jamie…”
My breath catches. The images flash through my mind on an endless loop—the cold metal bars and walls, the scaled aliens, and the constant fear. I push the memories away, focusing on Shayla’s voice.
“… you. And of course, being rescued. The memory wipe worked on everyone, I believed, but then I ran into one of the Sinth aliens. You know… the ones who rescued us.”
I grimace, taking a big chug of water before letting the empty glass drop to the countertop. “How could I forget?” My poor choice of words has me breaking into a giggle.
“Well,” Shayla continues. “They’re trying to rescue everyone taken by the Taxin. How did you get your memory back?”
“Taxin?” The name sends a spike of dread through my chest. “Is that what they were called? The aliens who took us?”
“Yes.” Shayla steps closer, her voice dropping to an urgent whisper. “And the Sinth will stop them, Summer. Before they take more innocent people. But you need to be more careful.”
I hesitate, my mind reeling. I’d love to bury those memories and pretend none of it ever happened. But if Shayla is right—like Ray said—there are more people at risk.
“More careful how?” I meet her determined gaze, narrowing my eyes. She’s been through the same trauma, yet she’s brave enough to fight back. Can’t I do the same?
“You’re drawing attention to yourself by getting a petition going to stop the immersive debriefings. Now isn’t a good time to—”
“Why’s that?” I cut in, wondering if she knows something—anything—that would mean Ray will eventually be safe.
“Because they’re aliens! They have advanced weaponry, including technology, that can stop even the Sinth aliens. I went with them yesterday to help get some more prisoners out and—”
“So you can help, but I can’t?” Crossing my arms, I glare, daring her to argue with me.
Taking a deep breath, Shayla stares at me with her mouth open. “Um… that’s not what I said.”
“Then what are you saying?”
“Don’t be mad.” Shayla’s eyes flood with tears, and she reaches forward, tugging my hand from my chest and pulling me to the tiny table in the dinette area. “It’s dangerous right now,” she whispers. “I just don’t want you getting hurt. I think shit is going to hit the fan and I don’t want you in the crossfire.”
“So the Sinth are really going to help the humans too? Not just rescue their own people and then send back the humans like they did with us? Are you sure?”
Shayla’s eyes shine as she describes a Sinth named Fin and what she’s learned. She says I met him, but all those pale guys looked the same and that day is a blur. All I can seem to remember perfectly is Ray.
My curiosity grows with each detail. A whole coalition of alien races working together to stop the Taxin alien doctors? It sounds too good to be true.
“How did you find the Sinth and get your memories back?” I ask. “Or did they find you?”
“A little of both,” Shayla admits. “After the military debriefed me, I started having these wicked headaches. And I knew something was missing. The memories felt just out of reach. Probably of our time together in that horrible cage. I knew they’d erased something important from my mind.”
We stare at each other across the table. “And?” I prompt, dying to know what fixed her.
Shayla’s face flushes red as it dawns on her what I’m waiting for. “Uh… getting my memories was a side effect of getting to know Fin. Intimitely”
I nod slowly, envy mingling with awe. If only unlocking my own suppressed memories could be so easy. “I thought about going back to the house they were staying at. The one they took us to after they rescued us.”
Shayla nods, taking another small sip of her glass of water.
“And they want to stop the abductions and experiments on humans?” I press. “For good?”
Shayla’s gaze hardens. “The Taxin aliens have gone too far for too long. The Sinth are ready to end it once and for all. But they need to get proof for their superiors. It’s a work in progress.”
“That’s a relief,” I admit, sagging forward on the table.
She leans closer, her voice dropping. “We’re part of a small group here who truly understand what the Taxin are capable of. With our testimony, the Sinth can convince their entire Sovereignty to sanction decisive action against them. With your memory back, you’ll be able to testify, so it’s important to lie low. Alright?”
Fuck.
My heart pounds as I consider the implications. A chance to face our tormentors again, but this time with powerful allies at our side? It’s a tempting offer. And yet...
“I don’t know, Shayla,” I hedge. “It’s not that simple for me. There are...other factors to consider.”
“Just promise me you’ll think about it.” Shayla’s brow furrows, but she doesn’t press further.
I nod slowly. “I will.” And I mean it. Because one thing is certain—after the last week, I’ll never think about aliens the same way again.
“You never did say what triggered your memories to come back.”
I hesitate, unsure if I should reveal more to Shayla. She seems so certain about the Sinth and their intentions. But my time with Ray has left me questioning everything I thought I knew about the military and the Taxin aliens who took us.
And then there’s the connection between me and Ray. I still don’t understand it, but I can’t deny its power. When we touched, it was like our minds were meant to be one. I could feel his pain, his longing for freedom. It was real.
I promised not to reveal him to anyone. But he hasn’t responded to my messages since he called. The silence eats away at me. Is he still hiding somewhere, trying to get more information about the prison? Could he be locked up again somewhere, being tortured while I’m free?
My frustration mounts the more I think about it. I need answers from him. I need to understand what passed between us. Until then, I can’t tell anyone about him.
I’ll give him more time to get back to me.
“Summer?” Shayla prompts gently.
I shake my head, avoiding her gaze. “I… I can’t tell you. I promised. For now, just give me some time.”
She looks disappointed but doesn’t argue. She doesn’t push, just accepts.
Relief floods through my limbs and my hands and feet tingle as I stand. I have to find Ray. I have to tell him I found someone who remembers and she understands and knows so much.
I give Shayla a small smile. “Thanks for respecting my privacy about this. I appreciate it.”
Just then, the air ripples beside our table. Shayla and I both jump back as a tall, muscular figure materializes.
“Fin!” Shayla cries, rushing into his arms.
I stare at the vaguely familiar alien who helped us escape. “So... this is how you got here?”