Alek:
Once the girl was properly cleaned and dressed, we headed outside into the woods on our way to the that culvert she had presumably exited. That was when I realized something rather important. I had no idea how to get there. "Do you know the way back?" I asked sheepishly. My hand was rubbing the back of my neck as I did whenever I felt like a total idiot.
She didn't seem to notice my stupidity. She just responded with "Yes" and without another word she led the way into the forest. The trek was long and I had plenty of time to think. I got a sudden moment of serialism. A memory came back to me from last night, an hour before this mess had begun.
Thirteen Hours Ago
I had just sat down in the comfortable armchair in the library after what had to be the most boring day in the history of existence. There was nothing to do! I had seen all the movies, watched every TV show, listened to every song, and reread every book. I knew my life was charmed but it was also SO uneventful. There was no one here but me and it sucked.
Then I saw it, a streak of silver light across the purple&ebony sky. A shooting star. My mother loved shooting stars. Every time she heard about a meteor shower anywhere near us, she would pack me up and get there as quick as she could. She would always tell me the same story about where the streaks of light came from. "Those are Angels Alek. Angels from heaven sent to help people down here. If we make unselfish wishes when we saw them, the Angels will hear us and maybe will help." Of course I know now that shooting stars are just chinks of ice and stone from outer space burning up in the atmosphere, but no matter how much I know I still can't help but think that there's something magical about them.
So I made a wish on that star. I said "I wish for my life to be given meaning. I'll walk over coals, move mountains, become a superhero and save the freaking world if I have to, but I'm so tired of just living a worthless life. So please, give me something. There's got to be something for me out there."
Back To The Present
At the conclusion of the memory, I looked up at this strangest of girls. Maybe there was something to shooting stars after all. Was she my wish being granted? Would she give my life meaning? She'd certainly made for an entertaining couple of hours, but my destiny? No, I scoffed to myself. In a few hours I'll take her to the hospital where she can get some real help and I'll go right back to being a pointless loser.
We reached the place where there was a rather large hole in the fence surrounding the restricted zone. This was were I got in and out any time I had ventured into the zone. I had brought the two of us through this hole on my way home after meeting her. I had a general idea where we were going after that so I walked beside her and matched her step for step. A good thing I did because we game upon the sight a few minutes later. I've heard people comment that life really should come equipped with warning sings. Big flashing neon ones so that you couldn't possibly miss them. These people could not be more right. That's not to say I would change things if I could go back, but a little warning would have been nice.
After all these years it strikes me that up until then, I could have just walked away. I could have just brought her to the hospital and been saved so much grief. But the moment I came to that spot, there was no going back to that safe and boring life. The moment I saw what there was to see, I felt my blood run cold. It was then I think I knew that my previous life was over forever. A new chapter in my story had begun, one filled with the excitement I had always wanted, but also more trouble then I was ready for.
Jessie:
As I led Alek through the forest, I felt a strange mixture of exhilaration and nervousness. This could be the answers I needed. At the same time I worried about what my past held. It could have been anything. I was scared and exited at the same time. Now more than ever I was grateful for Alek being there. He walked beside me, lost in thought, but still there. He was all I had in the world. I did not know if I had family or friends or anyone else that might help me. The only thing I had was the generous boy with a tendency to blush walking by my side.
When we came to the entrance to the grey tunnels, the scene had radically changed since last night. There were several large black motor vehicle standing off to one side. The scene was crawling with strange looking creatures. Humanoid in form, they were covered from head to foot in white fabric and their faces covered with translucent screens. The only person who looked like a person was a female dressed in a black jacket, a blue shirt which I thought was called a blouse, and the same kind of pants I was wearing. She had hair the same color and length as mine. We also looked somewhat alike I thought.
I was about to go over and say hello when Alek grabbed my arm and pulled me down into a small niche in the ground covered draped in tree roots. Alarm was written all over his face making me scared as well. He pressed a finger to his lips and made a "shh" sound at me, clearly wanting me to remain silent. He peaked back over the rise in the ground before ducking back down quickly. Then he turned back to me and gave quick instructions in a voice so forceful that it made me pay attention yet so quite no one but me would be able to hear it. "Do not make a sound! Go back to the house and make as little noise as possible!"
I quickly botched that job. My first step landed directly on a twig. The snap might have been a gunshot the way Alek flinched (I heard the sound on the television last night). The woman who looked like me turned in our direction and began to walk forward. Alek must have seen to because he squeezed his eyes shut and huddled in the niche as tightly as he could. I huddled in next to him only slightly distracted by the warmth of his body. The woman was nearly on top of us when a morning dove chose that moment to fly off from the opposite side of the clearing. Probably thinking that the bird had snapped the twig. The female turned around and walked back to the creatures in white.
Alek let out a breath he had been holding, something I am told humans do during a particularly tense situation. The remainder of the trip back was spent in a state of worry. Alek was constantly looking over his shoulder for signs of pursuit. There was none however, and we made it back to the house without incident. Alek brought me into a new room, one with many comfortable chairs and couches. He seemed very agitated and fidgety, pacing back and forth, like he was about to panic. He reached into a chest of drawer and pulled out a small silver and white rectangle with five small symbols set in its face just below a dark screen like a very small television. "This is an I-Pod" Alek said to me. "It had music in it. I figure you should hear some since music is everywhere these days. If you hear something you like just hit this button and the song will play again" I did not want to just sit and listen to music, I wanted to talk to Alek, to understand what I had seen. But before I could say another Alek pugged it into what Alek calls a stereo system and a sound began to pore out of it. The most wonderful sound I had ever heard. I knew what music was, but I had never heard anything like it before. I could feel the beat and melody make my bones vibrate and eco inside my head. And then the lyrics began.
I'm feeling sexy and free
Like glitter's raining on me
Alek:
Please let that keep her occupied for a while, I silently prayed as I walked into back into the kitchen, knowing I couldn't listen to music and think at the same time. I needed to think this through rationally before I had a full on panic attack. That place had been swarming with has mat suits scurrying about the place like a bunch of ants. That in and of itself was worrisome enough but what really scared me was that woman who looked a little like the girl I left in the parlor. There had been a ID card clipped to her belt with the Madacorp logo on it. My father had done business with those people before he lost his mind and they I did some digging into their projects. On the surface they were just a powerful company like CromTech, cutting edge in every field with brilliant staff and management. Underneath however, they were into some of the darkest stuff I had ever heard of. Human cloning, brain hacking and control, living bio weapons, nothing seemed to be too far for these people.
I had known Madacorp was seriously messed up, but experimenting on an innocent girl? That was way beyond anything I had ever thought anyone was capable of. That was my best guess as to what happened anyway. She had been a test subject of theirs and had escaped during the fire. That was going to bring trouble right to my door. Once they cleaned the place and realized her body wasn't there it wouldn't be a very big jump for them to guess that she was still alive. That would lead to a search of the area which would lead them right to my door as the nearest resident where they would find her, take her back, and most likely shoot me in the head. And just like that I was about to go into panic attack mode. Time to take a deep breath, calm down, and think this through rationally.
There was no way I could hide her, she would not understand why she was hiding in the first place and even if it worked once. They would just come back later when I wouldn't have any warning. I didn't even know when they would show up at my door. The only thing I could do to give her any real defense was to come up with a legit reason for her being here in my home. That would mean doing some seriously creative lying. But No! That wouldn't work. Any story I gave them they would just check and come back the moment they found out I lied to them. There was only one way I was getting the both of us out of our predicament.
The beginning of a plan were coming to me. It was stupid, crazy, not to mention highly illegal. But I had done it once, just under a lot less duress. I just had to make one call. I pulled out my cell phone and punched in the appropriate number. The phone rang twice before it was picked up. "Hello" a female voice said.
"Hey Veronica, it's Alek."
"Alek? *sigh* What do you want?"
"Hey, can't a friend call another friend who works for the CIA he hasn't seen in..."
"No"
"Ok fine, I need your help."
"Of course, so again I ask what do you want?"
"I need you to set up another profile"
"What!" she exclaimed
"It's not for me, is for...someone in need." I trailed off lamely
"Alek, do you know how dangerous that is for both of us! I already risked too much when I set up Xander Robins, if I do that again I could go to prison, or at the very leased loose my job"
"Oh, you mean the job I got you." It came out more rudely that I intended but I was desperate.
"Don't start this with me Alek. You already used that chip when you had me set up Xander Robins."
"Well if we're keeping score now, I believe I have eight more chips I can cash in."
I could here Veronica on the other end trying very hard not to reach through the phone and strangle me.
"How long are you going to hold those times over me!? I get it, you saved my ass on multiple occasions, but.."
"You're free!" I said, interrupting her mid sentence. I had just thought of a way to get Veronica to help.
"What?" she asked.
"If you help me now you owe me nothing! Do you here me V, nothing!"
There was a pause. "Seriously?"
"Of course Seriously. I don't joke about debts and you know that."
I could almost here the wheals turning in her head. It was almost a full minute later that Veronica sighed and said "Oh fine I'll do it. Send me a picture and anything else you want in the profile and I'll get it up before days' end."
"Thanks V, your the best!" I said relieved beyond words.
"I know. And don't you forget it!"
I hung up and breathed a sigh of relief. All I had to do was come up with a good enough story and they couldn't touch the girl. Despite Veronicas' worry, I knew she could do it. The only thing left to do was come up with a name. I should probably talk to her about it. After all, she would have to used it until this mess was cleared up.
I returned to the parlor with the intent of broaching the subject of names and I found the girl exactly where I left her. Music still echoing from the stereo, the girl had her eyes closed and her head swaying to the beat. The sight of her just acting like a normal teenage girl enthralled by music drove the importance of names clear from my mind. It made me pay attention to the scene itself. That's when I heard the lyrics.
Dirty dancing in the moonlight
Take me down like I'm a domino
Wait a minute I though to my self. Wasn't that song playing when I left the room. I went over to investigate. The girl must have heard my approach because she opened her eyes and gave me that sweet and warm smile that said plane as day that she was happy to see me. "Hey" I said returning her smile. "Have you been listening to that song since I left you here?"
"Yes" she replied.
"You really like that song?"
She smiled again and said "Yes"
If I live to be a hundred I'll never understand why I did what I did next. Maybe it was an outlet for all the stress I was feeling, maybe it was God whispering in my ear. All I know is that the next moment I said "Come here" and pulled her to her feet. Then I pushed the replay button and the song started again.
I'm feeling sexy and free
Like glitter's raining on me
You're like a shot of pure gold
I think I'm 'bout to explode
I can taste the tension like a cloud of smoke in the air
Now I'm breathing like I'm running cause you're taking me there
Don't you know? You spin me out of control
Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh
We can do this all night
Damn this love is skin tight
Baby, come on
Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh
Boom me like a bass drum
Sparkin' up a rhythm
Baby, come on!
Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh
Rock my world until the sunlight
Make this dream the best I've ever known
Dirty dancing in the moonlight
Take me down like I'm a domino
Every second is a highlight
When we touch don't ever let me go
Dirty dancing in the moonlight
Take me down like I'm a domino
You got me losing my mind
My heart beats out of time
I'm seeing Hollywood stars
You strum me like a guitar
I can taste the tension like a cloud of smoke in the air
Now I'm breathing like I'm running cause you're taking me there
Don't you know? You spin me out of control
Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh
We can do this all night
Damn this love is skin tight
Baby, come on
Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh
Boom me like a bass drum
Sparkin' up a rhythm
Baby, come on!
Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh
Rock my world until the sunlight
Make this dream the best I've ever known
Dirty dancing in the moonlight
Take me down like I'm a domino
Every second is a highlight
When we touch don't ever let me go
Dirty dancing in the moonlight
Take me down like I'm a domino
Ooh, baby, baby, got me feeling so right
Ooh, baby, baby, dancing in the moonlight
Ooh, baby, baby, got me feeling so right
Ooh, baby, baby, dancing in the moonlight
Ooh, baby, baby, got me feeling so right
Ooh, baby, baby, dancing in the moonlight
Ooh, baby, baby, got me feeling so right
Ooh, baby, baby
Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh
Rock my world until the sunlight
Make this dream the best I've ever known
Dirty dancing in the moonlight
Take me down like I'm a domino
Every second is a highlight
When we touch don't ever let me go
Dirty dancing in the moonlight
Take me down like I'm a domino
As the song played we danced and spun around the room like we were little kids. To this day I don't really understand why I felt the need to do it, all I could focus on was her and the music. She was smiling and giggling and clearly having the time of her life. To be honest I was to. I hadn't had so much fun in years. And I don't just mean the dancing, this entire day had been more fun that I'd had in a long time. Sure it had been scary and freaky, but I had never felt so exhilarated. Finally, I had a challenge to overcome, a chance to be a hero, a story of my own to tell one day. I may not know why it happened to this day, but I sure am glad that it did. Without this small knowledge of what joy the girl could bring into my life, I wouldn't have been nearly strong enough for what was coming later down the road.
When the song ended she tripped over my foot and kicked my shin which sent us both tumbling to the ground, her on top of me. We were both panting and giggling like the five year olds we were acting like. Our eyes met and held chocolate brown looking into chocolate brown. In that moment, I swear she was glowing. The moment stretched much longer than was necessarily a good idea. Warning bells went off in my brain and a voice screamed "Get out of there Alek!" I cast around wildly for a change of out of the jack, cutting off the new song that had begun to play, and looked up the song.
"Jessie J" I said. "One of her best I think." That's when inspiration struck. An epiphany that made my face go black. I had found the perfect name for her.
"That's it" I breathed
"What?" She asked looking up
"I've just come up with a name for you, Jessie! What do you think?"
She looked down then, thinking about it. Then she looked up smiling and said "I love it". Then she tackle hugged me. I decided to just enjoy it before I explained the situation.
Yey, Jessie finally has a name! I can stop calling her the girl!
Here is the song Alek and Jessie danced to: Youtube watch?v=tR03OxzOuZk
I should probably have written this before- I in no way own the Kyle XY franchise. All rights go to the creators and ABC.
Please comment, review, suggest things, ect.
