Chapter Four
Isabel, Alex, Maria, and Michael sat up straight in their chairs, leaning towards the others in order not to be heard. Max stiffened at the look on his friends' faces. "Is there something I should know?" Max threw the question out, looking at each face around the table. Michael spoke up, "I got a call from Katrina, Max." Max made a face. Katrina was another alien friend on Earth. She lived in a town close to Roswell, Carrizozo. Although they didn't know how many, Max, Isabel, and Michael knew there were at least twenty other aliens on Earth. They had been coming every now and then. The people of Antar were curious about humans and some had decided to live here as humans. In order to keep the alien's identities safe, an organization had been set up in a warehouse in Carrizozo, as Roswell would be too suspicious. They called themselves AOE, Antarians on Earth. Not many people knew about the organization, as it was very exclusive and secretive. However the special unit of the FBI was always on the lookout. Messages from Katrina usually meant bad news about AOE or the FBI.
"So what did she say, Michael?" Max whispered.
"Well, she said that the FBI is getting pretty damn close to blowing our cover. Apparently, an Antarian kid told a human the truth but the human was untrustworthy. Told something to the FBI. And although he's just a child, we know the FBI see him as a link to further evidence. If we aren't careful, we could be in for some serious crap."
Although the three aliens were equal friends, Max had always been the leader, the one who stuck out from the group. He usually had the final word in decisions, and so that was why everyone now turned their heads to Max to see what he thought.
Max hesitated, not knowing exactly how much trouble they were in for. This whole situation could possibly turn out fine. But if everyone was discovering that aliens really did exist in Roswell, well then, they were in for a rough ride. "I think we should lay low. Like always, there's no reason to draw attention to ourselves. Let's just keep in touch with Katrina for now and see what happens later on." The rest of the group nodded approvingly as the tension of alien news began to disappear.
The rest of the evening proved light and fun. The group talked lightly and laughed. Isabel unsuccessfully tried to convince Max to date a new friend of hers and Michael talked to Alex about his new computer.
When Max went home that night, he slid into bed exhausted. The second he hit the pillow his eyes dropped and his breath evened out. He began to dream.
Heat overwhelmed his senses. Deep smoke encircled around him, clouding his eyesight. "Max? Baby, are you there?" A soft voice floated out of nowhere. It was thick and soothing, romantic and desirable. "Liz? Is that you?" The black smoke that had clouded his view was now gone. He sighed at the sight of his beloved, sitting in the sand of a deserted beach. The mist in the air swayed to and fro for Liz's hair to follow. The ocean crashed lightly onto the shore as the sun shone down on Liz and Max. "Max…" Liz sighed his name as he sat down next to her. "I've missed you so much!" Max nodded, looking at the ocean, "It's torture living out these days without you by my side. I wish we could always be together." Liz stroked Max's cheek lightly as she mumbled, "Me too, Max. I wish too." They kissed. Liz's hands came up to Max's head, wrapping her fingers through the hair on the back of his neck. Max's hands wrapped around her waist, pulling Liz closer until she was so close, any closer would be inside him. Mmm, inside him, Liz thought grinning against Max's lips. How she wanted to make love to him! Max, knowing her thoughts, picked Liz up onto his lap until her legs were straddling his. He brought his tongue across her lips, urging them to part. Liz did, and they kissed deeply, oblivious of time or reality. Only slightly aware that it was only a dream and that they would wake up soon, sad that their love had to be lived through dreams.
*
He shivered. The air was hot and moist all around him, but his body was still overwhelmed with cold fear. His mind raced back and forth with possible escape routs. Nothing seemed possible. He felt a new wave of doom pass over his bound hands and feet. He shivered again. The ropes around his wrists and ankles carved deeper with every movement, every shake of his body. No one seemed to care. Wasn't this the part in movies when the victim was unsuspectedly rescued? The part when the hero rode in on his horse, through the desert sands and into the cave where the victim was being held?
A faint rustling in one of the cave entrances brought the victim back to reality. The rustling was fast growing louder. More noises could be heard: a shuffling of feet, heavy breathing, the shifting of small rocks, and finally the words of his captors.
"Will you just shut up?" One voice snarled, "He knows something. He was best friends with our little Robert. He has to know about them."
"But what if we're wrong," another voice spoke up. It sounded more timid than the first yet none-the-less determined. "We'd be blatantly killing. If someone found out it would be murder. Do you know what would happen if the law got involved with this? Everything would be blown! The FBI can't handle the whole fucking world!"
"Shut up! He might hear us. We have to follow protocol."
The victim boy slumped down onto his back so as not to draw attention. He didn't want them to know he'd heard. Any kind of advantage would be helpful later. He opened his eyes slightly to see two men walking in slightly shabby gray suits. They stopped when they were about too feet from him. One of the men took a lighter from his pocket and palmed it. The other man took out a tape recorder.
The taller man spoke. His voice boomed with authority. "I know you're awake, Josh. The drugs would have worn off by now."
Josh knew it would be no help to pretend he was asleep. Better to act strong, maybe he had an upper hand that he could play. He needed to stall time, to develop a plan, to keep Rob safe at all costs.
"So, Josh. We're going to ask you a few questions, if you don't mind," the taller man spoke. "And while we do this, we're going to play a little game. My friend Mr. Bob here, has a lighter." He paused, obviously hoping to see a reaction on Josh's face. No such luck, Josh's face was impassable. The man continued however, "If you lie to us, Mr. Bob will make you boil." As if to prove their point, the smaller man flicked the lighter on and brought it close to Josh's leg. The heat seemed to sizzle in the already hot air.
"Now, let's get started. The first question is easy: Josh do you know someone named Robert Stein?" The men peered at Josh. Josh gritted his teeth, "No."
"No?" The tall man mocked. You don't know your own friend? How sad. I guess we'll have to prove you wrong…Mr. Bob-" He nodded his head to his accomplice.
Josh stared at the floor as the lighter came closer to his paralyzed body. Mr. Bob lowered it to his bare feet and brought the flame against Josh's big toe. The skin sizzled but Josh kept his composure. He had to endure this, he could make it. Josh knew this was part of something bigger. If he had to die in order to save thousands of other people, then her would gladly.
Isabel, Alex, Maria, and Michael sat up straight in their chairs, leaning towards the others in order not to be heard. Max stiffened at the look on his friends' faces. "Is there something I should know?" Max threw the question out, looking at each face around the table. Michael spoke up, "I got a call from Katrina, Max." Max made a face. Katrina was another alien friend on Earth. She lived in a town close to Roswell, Carrizozo. Although they didn't know how many, Max, Isabel, and Michael knew there were at least twenty other aliens on Earth. They had been coming every now and then. The people of Antar were curious about humans and some had decided to live here as humans. In order to keep the alien's identities safe, an organization had been set up in a warehouse in Carrizozo, as Roswell would be too suspicious. They called themselves AOE, Antarians on Earth. Not many people knew about the organization, as it was very exclusive and secretive. However the special unit of the FBI was always on the lookout. Messages from Katrina usually meant bad news about AOE or the FBI.
"So what did she say, Michael?" Max whispered.
"Well, she said that the FBI is getting pretty damn close to blowing our cover. Apparently, an Antarian kid told a human the truth but the human was untrustworthy. Told something to the FBI. And although he's just a child, we know the FBI see him as a link to further evidence. If we aren't careful, we could be in for some serious crap."
Although the three aliens were equal friends, Max had always been the leader, the one who stuck out from the group. He usually had the final word in decisions, and so that was why everyone now turned their heads to Max to see what he thought.
Max hesitated, not knowing exactly how much trouble they were in for. This whole situation could possibly turn out fine. But if everyone was discovering that aliens really did exist in Roswell, well then, they were in for a rough ride. "I think we should lay low. Like always, there's no reason to draw attention to ourselves. Let's just keep in touch with Katrina for now and see what happens later on." The rest of the group nodded approvingly as the tension of alien news began to disappear.
The rest of the evening proved light and fun. The group talked lightly and laughed. Isabel unsuccessfully tried to convince Max to date a new friend of hers and Michael talked to Alex about his new computer.
When Max went home that night, he slid into bed exhausted. The second he hit the pillow his eyes dropped and his breath evened out. He began to dream.
Heat overwhelmed his senses. Deep smoke encircled around him, clouding his eyesight. "Max? Baby, are you there?" A soft voice floated out of nowhere. It was thick and soothing, romantic and desirable. "Liz? Is that you?" The black smoke that had clouded his view was now gone. He sighed at the sight of his beloved, sitting in the sand of a deserted beach. The mist in the air swayed to and fro for Liz's hair to follow. The ocean crashed lightly onto the shore as the sun shone down on Liz and Max. "Max…" Liz sighed his name as he sat down next to her. "I've missed you so much!" Max nodded, looking at the ocean, "It's torture living out these days without you by my side. I wish we could always be together." Liz stroked Max's cheek lightly as she mumbled, "Me too, Max. I wish too." They kissed. Liz's hands came up to Max's head, wrapping her fingers through the hair on the back of his neck. Max's hands wrapped around her waist, pulling Liz closer until she was so close, any closer would be inside him. Mmm, inside him, Liz thought grinning against Max's lips. How she wanted to make love to him! Max, knowing her thoughts, picked Liz up onto his lap until her legs were straddling his. He brought his tongue across her lips, urging them to part. Liz did, and they kissed deeply, oblivious of time or reality. Only slightly aware that it was only a dream and that they would wake up soon, sad that their love had to be lived through dreams.
*
He shivered. The air was hot and moist all around him, but his body was still overwhelmed with cold fear. His mind raced back and forth with possible escape routs. Nothing seemed possible. He felt a new wave of doom pass over his bound hands and feet. He shivered again. The ropes around his wrists and ankles carved deeper with every movement, every shake of his body. No one seemed to care. Wasn't this the part in movies when the victim was unsuspectedly rescued? The part when the hero rode in on his horse, through the desert sands and into the cave where the victim was being held?
A faint rustling in one of the cave entrances brought the victim back to reality. The rustling was fast growing louder. More noises could be heard: a shuffling of feet, heavy breathing, the shifting of small rocks, and finally the words of his captors.
"Will you just shut up?" One voice snarled, "He knows something. He was best friends with our little Robert. He has to know about them."
"But what if we're wrong," another voice spoke up. It sounded more timid than the first yet none-the-less determined. "We'd be blatantly killing. If someone found out it would be murder. Do you know what would happen if the law got involved with this? Everything would be blown! The FBI can't handle the whole fucking world!"
"Shut up! He might hear us. We have to follow protocol."
The victim boy slumped down onto his back so as not to draw attention. He didn't want them to know he'd heard. Any kind of advantage would be helpful later. He opened his eyes slightly to see two men walking in slightly shabby gray suits. They stopped when they were about too feet from him. One of the men took a lighter from his pocket and palmed it. The other man took out a tape recorder.
The taller man spoke. His voice boomed with authority. "I know you're awake, Josh. The drugs would have worn off by now."
Josh knew it would be no help to pretend he was asleep. Better to act strong, maybe he had an upper hand that he could play. He needed to stall time, to develop a plan, to keep Rob safe at all costs.
"So, Josh. We're going to ask you a few questions, if you don't mind," the taller man spoke. "And while we do this, we're going to play a little game. My friend Mr. Bob here, has a lighter." He paused, obviously hoping to see a reaction on Josh's face. No such luck, Josh's face was impassable. The man continued however, "If you lie to us, Mr. Bob will make you boil." As if to prove their point, the smaller man flicked the lighter on and brought it close to Josh's leg. The heat seemed to sizzle in the already hot air.
"Now, let's get started. The first question is easy: Josh do you know someone named Robert Stein?" The men peered at Josh. Josh gritted his teeth, "No."
"No?" The tall man mocked. You don't know your own friend? How sad. I guess we'll have to prove you wrong…Mr. Bob-" He nodded his head to his accomplice.
Josh stared at the floor as the lighter came closer to his paralyzed body. Mr. Bob lowered it to his bare feet and brought the flame against Josh's big toe. The skin sizzled but Josh kept his composure. He had to endure this, he could make it. Josh knew this was part of something bigger. If he had to die in order to save thousands of other people, then her would gladly.
