Chapter Seven

Sophie and Jacob had been to the old Professor's home many times before, so when they were ushered through the door and told to make themselves comfortable they weren't awkward or unsure. There were two couches, Jacob took one and Helen walked over to take off his shoes and talk to him as she draped a blanket over him. Sophie sat on the other and took off her own shoes, she did this for a moment before she felt eyes on her and she looked up to see Klaatu staring at her. She paused for a moment before kicking off her shoes and lying down on the couch, she was shattered. She pulled a blanket over herself and after a moment there were hands over her own. Klaatu's hands.

She allowed him to tuck her in and then kneel down beside her. He put a hand to her head and stroked her hair gently.

"You need rest," he whispered and she just stared at him. "I am sorry Sophie, I never meant for this to happen to you."

"I'm not, I'm glad it did. I like knowing you, I like being able to tell your thoughts."

"You are only a child; you do not understand such things. But you must sleep now. Rest." As he moved forward to touch his lips lightly to her forehead she dropped instantly into a deep sleep and she went limp on the couch.

Helen watched as this happened but turned and left the room as Klaatu was standing up. As he turned to leave Jacob spoke to him.

"What have you done to her?" he asked, he was defiant yet a little scared.

"There is a bond between her and I. She initiated it when we first met." Klaatu explained.

"A bond?"

"Yes. It means that we can feel each other's feelings. And share each other's thoughts."

"She's just eleven. You're old."

"I understand that. But she initiated it, so it cannot be a wrong match."

With that, Klaatu left. Leaving just Jacob to look over at his older sister and flick between the channels, searching for something to watch.

What felt like moments later to Sophie she was being shaken awake and told to get her shoes on so that they could leave. She didn't understand why her mother was in a rush but she went along with her. She pulled on her jacket as they ran out into the rain, her jacket was hardly waterproof and it didn't take long before her hair was plastered to her scalp. She ran to Klaatu's side and stuck close by him, constantly whipping her head around to catch a sight of her mother or Jacob. She could only watch as her mother was grabbed and pulled aboard a helicopter, kicking and screaming.

"Mommy!" she screamed, aiming to run towards her but Klaatu grabbed her wrist and pulled her back.

"She's gone." He said plainly and she looked up at him, suddenly very afraid of him now her mother wasn't there to protect her. He was a strange alien man who seemed to have an astonishing amount of control and influence over her and was now telling her to abandon her own mother. She pulled her wrist free and backed away from him, straight into Jacob. The two children clung to each other and began to run, they were aware of Klaatu following them but they continued to run anyway. They crossed a bridge over a stream and Sophie ran straight to the other side, Jacob paused and turned back to face Klaatu.

Sophie kept her mouth shut as Jacob and Klaatu spoke, she didn't even flinch as Jacob fell but Klaatu caught him. It was as if this was all a dream, none of it was real, all her sensations were being clouded and dulled by Klaatu. It was his attempt at protecting her and getting her to trust him, but she just couldn't. She'd seen inside his head and she knew of his and GORT's attempts to rid the earth of mankind. But Klaatu's presence in her mind was growing ever stronger; she couldn't fight against him anymore or feel anger against him. He was becoming so overpowering that she felt dizzy and weak.

They were walking through the trees when she called out for her brother, even her own voice sounded like it was being uttered a hundred miles away. It was muffled and she was simply aware of arms around her and then her world went dark.

A/N: I'm so close to the end of this bit of the story! I really want to move on to the next bit which is why I'm hurrying this a little bit, hope you don't mind!