PART 6:

Trip and Liana sat on a blanket in the garden outside the compound. Beautiful huge colorful flowers, tall green trees and green grass surrounded them.

Looking around Trip was amazed. "This kind of reminds me of home," Trip said. "Well except we don't get flowers as big as these."

"Do you miss your home?" Liana asked.

"Sometimes," he replied looking at her. "But being out here exploring I wouldn't give that up no matter how homesick I'd get."

"You have family back home?" Liana asked.

"My parents and brother," Trip explained. "There's also my nephew."

"Nephew?"

"My brother's son."

"I see," Liana said. "They much be very proud of you."

"I hope they are," he said with a smile.

"Did you have enough to eat?"

"I had plenty," Trip replied. "Not what I'm use to having on a picnic, but it was plenty."

"I did my best," Liana said.

Trip took a hold of her hand. "And it was just fine."

Liana smiled and Trip couldn't help but smile himself.

God she's beautiful, he thought. Then he realized he was starting to fall in love with her. He continued looking at her wondering if this should be happening.

"What are you thinking about?" he heard Liana ask.

Trip stood and held out his hand. "I'm thinking about you giving me a tour of this garden."

"Okay."

Liana took his hand into hers and Trip pulled her up a little too fast. She pumped into him, and they remained close. Trip looked into her eyes and smiled again. She lifted her face in anticipation of his kiss, he did not disappoint her.

The figure stood behind a tree watching.

Something has to be done, he thought. And now, I can't let this relationship go any further.

They finally broke their kiss but continued to stare at one another.

"I think I better start showing you around," Liana said as she walked away from him.

Trip closed his eyes. God, I'm falling in love with her, he thought.

"You coming?" he heard her ask.

Trip turned around. "Lead the way."

*****************************

They walked through the garden holding hands.

"My people said this garden has been here for many years," Liana said.

"Must be a lot of work to maintain it."

"Everyone has their own section they take care of," Liana explained. "But we all help each other."

They happened upon a cave and Trip walked over to the entrance and peered inside.

"Look's interesting," he said.

"I've been told when this garden was being made," she walked up to Trip and stood next to him, "people went in there to explore but never came back out. Since then no ones ever gone inside."

"Really."

"But there is something I would like to show you," she said motioning to inside the cave.

Trip started to say something but a rumbling noise from above stopped him. He looked up to see rocks falling from the top.

"Watch out!" he yelled at Liana as the rumbling grew louder.

Before Liana could do anything she felt Trip push her out of the way. She landed on the ground and quickly covered her head with her arms as the rumbling noise continued.

Trip tried to move out of the way, but it was too late. The last thing he remembered before the darkness was a figure standing on top of the cave.

No sooner did the rumbling noise start it stopped. Liana slowly moved her arms away from her head but she couldn't see Trip. Sitting up, she finally saw him by the entrance of the cave. He was on the ground surround by rocks and not moving.

"Trip," Liana called out. Fear striking her heart when she received no answer. She got up and ran over to him. "Trip," she said kneeling down next to him and brushing off the rocks that had landed on him.

"Trip, please answer me," she begged but still she received no reply and that's when she noticed the cut on his head. "I'm going to get help Trip. I'll be back, I promise." And with that she ran off.

The figure stood on top of the cave. He smiled, the human was hurt, maybe even dead. He didn't care, he knew his plan worked and now the human would be out of Liana's life.

End of Part 6