The five friends watched Zhandia walk away; each lost in their own thoughts. What did she mean by that? Was she an enemy? Was she just a new girl? Or another alien, perhaps? How were they to find out?
Max looked over at Michael and his sister. "What do you think?"
"I don't think there is such a place as X'nthar. At least not on Earth. I wonder what she was talking about 'look to your past and those you considered friends.'" Michael answered first, his eyes distrustful.
"I agree, but I'm not really sure if she's evil, though. She seemed sincere when talking about her people and what was happening to them. She has yet to make move on us or threaten us. As I see it, she didn't invite herself into our group. She was invited in by Maria." Liz responded quietly, trying to remain neutral in this whole situation.
"Speaking of which… Maria, why did you ask her to sit with us, when you knew how we felt?" Isabel glared over at her, her hands on her hips.
"Because she looked lost and alone. Because I don't think she's as bad as you three are making her out to be. I agree with Liz that she hasn't threatened us in any way. You guys wanted to know more about her, so I figured you could meet her and ask her questions. In a civilized way, rather than accuse her and rudely, at that." Maria returned Isabel's glare with one of her own, before looking over at Max.
"This isn't going to solve anything; each of us at each other's throats. We'll continue watching her, and find out who she is."
They all separated to go to their classes, all wondering the same thing. 'Who was she?'
****************************************
Zhandia walked through the desert, her mind on her quest and her outburst at school. How were things at home? Was Astlar handling everything? Did she even have a home to go back to? She couldn't imagine being stranded on Earth, with no real friend except for Tarik. What about Maria, she asked herself? Once the truth came out of what she really is, their friendship was at an end. She never thought herself to care about other's feelings, especially a human. But she did. The thought of betraying someone, even if they had met only since that morning…. It upset her.
She couldn't believe the things that she said back at lunch. She almost laid bare her whole struggles and mission, but thankfully the bell saved her from that. She was so lost in her troubled thoughts, that she didn't even hear the car behind her. The sound of a door being shut brought her back to reality.
She turned around, readying her powers to attack, but blew out a breathe as she spotted Maria walking towards her. 'How long has she been following me?' Zhandia wondered.
"Hey, I followed you from school." Zhandia arched a brow, wondering if this petite girl could read minds. "I wanted to apologize for my friends."
"You do not have to… I am aware that they do not like me. And after the way I acted, I am sure that I did not leave a good impression."
"I admit I was surprised by what you said, but I don't think you were wrong for saying it. They had no right to talk to you that way. It's not that they don't like you, it is just that they don't know you and don't trust easily. With everything that has gone on, it isn't surprising."
"Gone on? What do you mean?"
"Ahhh, just the person we're looking for. Maria DeLuca!"
The two girls turned to the unfamiliar masculine voice. He was tall and muscular, and every bit as intimidating as his smooth, icy voice. He stood before them with his arms crossed over his chest, his eyes hidden behind reflective sunglasses.
"Who are you?" Maria arched a brow, trying too look unaffected by his appearance and stance, but failed. She wished she had a sniff of cedar oil to calm the nerves that were on full alert. This guy was up to know good, and there was no one around to help them. She should have told the others where she was going.
"I've been looking for you and your friends… What a stroke of luck that you are here, without them. This should be easy. Seize her!"
Four guys came out from behind a boulder that wasn't far from where they stood conversing. Before anyone could react or run, they were held in vise-like grips of the guys.
"What should we do with this girl?" One of them men that was holding Zhandia asked.
"Leave her, she's of no use to us. We're just here for Maria…"
"Wait, who are you? Why are you doing this?" Zhandia demanded in her most authoritarian voice.
"Let's just say we're FBI." The man gave a chill laugh, before turning away and heading to the jeep that was hidden behind the boulder as well.
Zhandia's last thought, before she was knocked unconscious, was how she was going to get Maria out of this without revealing who and what she was.