Chapter 5 – Kerra
I was pretty sure I had to be in some kind of twisted and unending nightmare.
None of the last few minutes made sense.
My groggy mind had trouble discerning fact from fiction. I thought I heard voices speaking a strange dialect, but I couldn’t focus. Slipping in and out of consciousness, I wrestled with images of red scaly monsters and slimy tentacles wrapped around my body as I fought to break free.
My stomach ached and felt bruised as if I had been punched over and over repeatedly with something blunt but heavy. Was I sick? Injured? I wasn’t sure.
Slowly, awareness returned as my eyes fluttered and finally opened. The familiar walls of my bedroom appeared, and I sighed with relief. None of it was real. I must have fallen asleep after the gym.
Sitting up, I let my legs fall over the side of the bed. Kacie would be here soon. I needed to shower and start dinner. It wouldn’t take long –
My thoughts were interrupted by the hulking form of a man as he stepped forward from the shadows. I screamed and reached for my cell as he stepped into the light and snatched it quickly from my hand.
“My apologies but I don’t think it’s wise to use your phone.”
His presence brought the earlier attack forward in vivid detail and I shrank back from his touch.
In the soft lighting I could discern every detail of his tall and bulky frame clearly.
The dark alley had disguised my rescuer but now my eyes roamed the broad expanse of his chest and the thick muscular arms that ended in clenched fists at his side.
He wore cargo style jeans and heavy black combat boots, dark leather gloves, and a gray hoodie that completely hid his identity.
Other than the physical feature of strength and build, I couldn’t say what his nationality or race would have been.
As much as I wanted to push the hood back and see the man that had saved my life, I understood his need for privacy.
We lived in a dangerous world and not everyone enjoyed fame or discovery.
More importantly, humans weren’t the only beings that existed or explored the galaxy.
Was I still shocked to see the red scaly devils and the blue tentacles?
Hell yes! Aliens first appeared over a hundred years ago and had returned several times since according to the public records in the city’s main library, but they hadn’t stayed.
It wasn’t common to see any alien species walking the streets or working next to you in a cubicle.
They didn’t flip burgers in the local fast food restaurant or handle money at the bank.
Aliens were mysterious and more of a myth than anything else.
It was no wonder that was the consensus.
We weren’t ready, according to the archives. Too primitive. Our technology too far behind.
Humans knew the existence of the Galactic Conclave, but it was dangled before our nose as a reminder that our race wasn’t good enough.
We were frail, lacking in proper defensive weapons and so we were protected by something called the Cardinal Edict.
Since that declaration, sightings were few and far between.
It had been decades since any new footage.
Any interaction with alien species was plastered throughout social media to the point that it was saturated.
I was disgusted by the lack of respect for dozens of alien cultures and societies far advanced above our own.
Despite the bitterness of rejection, I was in awe of the vast unknown of the universe.
The Interstellar Space Program was created to change all of that and provide answers to the questions that had plagued humanity for at least a century, if not longer.
Ever since I was a young girl, I wanted to travel among the stars.
To learn about other planets and languages, food and entertainment.
I owed much of that interest to my sister.
We spent many nights huddling together as girls and dreaming of life far beyond the reach of Earth and human technology.
She was an explorer and longed for the opportunity to leave this galaxy behind.
Maybe someday I would get my chance. Perhaps Kacie would take me with her next time. She’d offered more than once. I hope I didn’t lose my opportunity. Today’s attack was a wakeup call though. Not all aliens were friendly, even if the Cardinal Edict dictated protocol.
The shock of the last few minutes seemed to be wearing off as my thoughts jumbled together and raced through a dozen scenarios. Who was this man? Where did he come from?
A strange sense of calm washed over me, and I wasn’t afraid. Those red and blue aliens had been hostile, but they were defeated. The man in front of me saved my life. Somehow, I knew he wouldn’t harm me. What purpose would it serve after the fact?
When my rescuer spoke, I was startled by the deep, rich timbre of his voice.
The tone was overwhelming and commanding in the small space of my apartment and I resisted the urge to shiver.
I’d heard him speak – or rather roar – in the alley earlier but it hadn’t seemed so intimidating or rough to me at the time.
Perhaps that was because he’d directed his displeasure at my attackers.
His focused gaze penetrated my body through the darkness of his hood, the weight of his stare pushing down on my shoulders with physical hands and I ended up shivering in response anyway.
“Show me all the entry points of this pod, err . . . dwelling.”
He didn’t ask. The strange man only demanded an answer with authority as if he was used to ordering others around and expecting those commands to be followed without question.
“This isn’t a dwelling,” I huffed. “It’s my home.”
My words didn’t have any impact. His response was clipped as if he didn’t care where he was. “Regardless, I must secure the entire perimeter.”
Sighing loudly, I led him through the interior of my apartment and pointed out the front door, my bedroom window, the sliding glass doors that led to my balcony, and the living room windows.
My rescuer never said a word but growled low when we approached the balcony doors.
Shoving my body behind him without haste, he reached for the handle and stepped into the enclosed space filled with several plants, strands of clear, white twinkling lights, and my wrought iron table and chairs with plush cushions.
I thought it was welcoming and serene. Apparently, he did not.
“Turn off these ridiculous illuminations,” he snarled.
Hands landing straight on my hips, I didn’t hesitate to let him have it. “Look, I appreciate –”
That was as far as I got before he spun, and his hand clamped down over my mouth. “Shhh, we aren’t alone.”
He backed slowly inside, and I managed to flip the switch that shut off the lights as we moved.
An involuntary tremble echoed throughout my body as I realized the danger wasn’t over.
He slid the door closed slowly and quietly before flipping the lock into place.
Holding onto my arm tightly the entire time, he moved from room to room and encased us in total darkness.
“When I say run, do it without question. We will exit through the main doorway if it’s accessible. Don’t look back and don’t slow down. I’ll be right behind you.”
The order was shocking and frightening, and I clung to his arm as we backed slowly toward the front door of my apartment. All thoughts of my sister and dinner fled in an instant. “What’s your name?”
He made some kind of sound low in his throat like disbelief or annoyance. “An awkward time for such a request.”
“Maybe but I’d feel better if I knew what to call you besides rescuer or hero.”
He stiffened momentarily before replying, “I’m no hero.”
Really? “I think you are,” I contradicted.
“You’re supposed to be quiet,” he grumbled. “The Seekers won’t be fooled for long.”
I blinked as I tried to comprehend his meaning. Who were Seekers? Or what?
“Motok.”
“Huh?”
“My name,” he clarified in a hushed whisper.
“Motok, it’s . . . interesting to meet you.”
A mild snort followed my words as if he was amused. “May I ask the use of your name, female?”
Female? Frowning, I decided what he meant didn’t matter at the moment. “Kerralynn but my family and friends call me Kerra or Kerr.”
He nodded as his gaze remained focused on the balcony doors.
From our position near the front door we could see them clearly even in the darkness.
The moon’s soft pale glow blanketed the area enough I wasn’t totally blinded.
In fact, the whole apartment was eerily calm and serene but filled with a pregnant pause – like the seconds before a snake struck at their intended prey.
The danger was present, but nothing was happening.
The result was an awkward silence that engulfed my apartment and made me feel uneasy.
Motok finally spoke a few minutes later. “Kerra, I am at your service as long as you see fit to accept my protection.”
He rolled the r’s in my name almost sensually and it was the first time I noticed his slight accent.
Not odd or regional, it was more unique than anything else.
Motok gave off an otherworldly vibe that was both intriguing and disconcerting.
I wasn’t sure what to think of him but decided if he was offering protection I’d accept as long as I was in danger. I’d be a fool to turn him down.
“I accept.”
“A wise choice, breh’ha.”
The word he pronounced was difficult to understand and I gave up trying.
He enunciated the letter h but followed it up with a clicking sound on the roof of his mouth.
The action was foreign to my ears and I turned away as I felt the weight of his stare for the second time since entering my apartment.
“I think you are safe for now. I don’t hear anymore . . .”
His words garbled as he continued to speak but I couldn’t understand a single thought he was trying to convey. The language was difficult to process and wasn’t only words that didn’t make sense. He made sounds and clicks that were so inhuman that I took a step back from him, startled and confused.
Motok let out a frustrated grunt when I shook my head, clearly not understanding.
He tapped the side of his neck and growled as he stood, reaching inside his hood to grasp something small and metallic with smooth edges and nearly round in diameter.
He shoved the item deep into his front pocket.
Holding out a hand, he gripped my own tightly and tugged as I followed.
My confused and addled brain was having a hard time keeping up with the chain of events as fatigue settled in and the adrenaline wore off.
I sank onto my bed with a sigh and lay back against the pillows.
I didn’t think I’d actually fall asleep with my mind so active and a complete stranger in my room but at least I could take a few minutes to sort out all of the chaos since I left the gym.
Kacie hadn’t called yet so her flight must be delayed.
I could wait until she contacted me. I was so tired anyway . . .
Motok lifted his hand and pressed something cool to the side of my neck. A small prick caused my body to tremble followed by the heavy flutter of my lids as my eyes closed without my consent. He said something I couldn’t understand and frowned as I was swallowed up by darkness.