Part 7/11: pretending it's safe (Maria)
Tess looked at us, dumbfounded. "Wait a minute, do you two know each other?" She looked directly at Michael. "Why are you a hiding strange woman in your room?" She stuck her head a little further into the room and looked around.
"Tess. I think you should meet Maria," Michael announced gleefully. "That's M-A-R-I-A. She is one of Alex's best friends. A-L-E-X, of course. I believe you killed him once, not too long ago."
At this point, Tess seemed to decide that her innocent act wasn't exactly working, so she just looked at us both for a very long time and said, "Look, I don't know how either of you remembers each other or knows who I am, and I'm sure you just think you're so smart and you have me all figured out now, but you're wrong. Now, if you don't mind, I'll just take my key and leave." She looked pointedly from Michael to me and back to Michael again.
Michael, who had slipped the key back into his pocket before answering the door, looked straight at her and replied, still gleeful, "What key?"
Tess stared at Michael for a long moment. "Very funny. I don't see why you won't give it back. The key holds no purpose for you; you have no idea what it unlocks. But I don't expect you to waste your precious time worrying about me...I'll find the key, Michael. Goodbye." She slammed the door.
Michael was beginning to look concerned. "I don't want you anywhere near Tess again," he told me. "She could mindwarp you at any time. I might be able to resist, but it's not safe for you. Next time she shows up, run."
I was more than a little ticked off by his suggestion. "No. She killed Alex, Michael. Do you expect me to just let that go?"
"Maria, please. We don't know what she'll do for that key, because in case you didn't notice, she really wants it."
"Why don't we just give it to her?" I grumbled, beginning to get annoyed. "It's not like we'll ever figure out what it's for."
"Because it's the only thing we have against her. We need it," Michael argued.
"Great. All we have against the evil alien who killed one of my best friends is an old, rusted key. I mean, have you ever thought that maybe this is all just an act to get us distracted? Maybe she doesn't need the key at all."
"You are really beginning to irritate me with all this negativity," Michael warned.
"And you're irrtating me with your refusal to consider that something I say might actually be true!" I shot back.
"We're giving Tess exactly what she wants," Michael seemed to realize. "She wants us to hate each other. Because she knows she won't have a chance if we're working together."
He was right, of course. I hate it when he's right.
"Still," Michael countered, "You need to go home. Lock all doors and windows. I'll look for Tess."
I was offended. "What happened to working together?" I wanted to know.
"It's too dangerous right now. You need to be safe."
"Locks aren't going to keep an alien out," I pointed out, but Michael ignored me.
"You'll be fine. Trust me. I'll create a force field around the house."
I hesitated. "Promise me you won't get yourself killed?"
"I promise," Michael agreed.
"What do you promise?" I asked.
"I promise I won't get myself killed," Michael replied seriously. "Let's go. It's all going to be fine."
"Okay," I finally agreed. I almost believed him. Almost.
