**************************
CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE:
Two hours later, the children of the Evans, the Whitmans, the Valentis, and the Guerins, were being piled into vehicles belonging to Mr. and Mrs. Evans, Mr. and Mrs. Whitman, and Amy Valenti. The parents kissed their children goodbye, and the grandparents kissed the parents goodbye.
"Call us, every day," said Mr. Evans, to Isabel and Alex. "We need to know you are okay."
"We will," said Isabel, giving her Father a hug.
Then, Mr. Evans looked at Alex. "Alex," he said. "Look after my daughter."
"Always," said Alex, as he and his Father-in-law embraced.
"Son," said Mr. Whitman. "Are you sure you shouldn't send Isabel with us? If she is the one in danger..."
"I was overruled on that," said Alex, somewhat bitterly. Isabel looked at him with a downtrodden look.
"Look," said Mr. Whitman. "Alex, you've shown in the past you can protect your wife. But this....this seems completely different."
"He won't be alone," said Sheriff Valenti, coming onto the scene. "Isabel will be well protected, and Alex will have a lot of help with that job."
Mr. Whitman nodded, then he and his wife said goodbye to their son and Daughter-in-law.
"My parents will meet you in Santa Fe," said Liz. "They'll be coming from Colorado, so it will take them longer."
"They have the address of the hotel where we will be staying?" asked Amy.
"Yes," said Liz. "They know where to find you."
"Good," said Amy. "We'll need all the help we can get, considering how scared the kids all are. I mean, even though they don't know why we are leaving, they just know we're leaving..."
"And their parents aren't coming," said Maria. "We understand."
A few minutes later, last goodbyes were said, and three vehicles were heading down the road outside of town. Alex, Isabel, Max, Liz, Maria, Michael, Tess, Kyle, and Sheriff Valenti, all went inside of Alex's and Isabel's house.
As Alex closed the front door, he looked at the others with a worried look. "I'm still not convinced Isabel shouldn't be in one of those cars, getting out of town, before this...alien terminator can come after her."
"Alex, we talked about this," said Kyle. "I don't like putting her in danger either, but if we send Isabel out of town, it will only make it harder to find this guy. With Isabel here, and with our plan to make sure she is visible and noticed by this thing, we can draw him out and kill him."
"I still don't know how we are going to do that," said Tess. "I mean, Larek said that guns will work...eventually. But this Lashallal can take a lot more hits than a normal human."
"Tess," said Michael. "You were on Antar, with Khivar. Do you know anything more about this Lashallal than what we've been told? Anything at all?"
"No, Michael," said Tess. "Nothing. When I was on Antar, I had just given birth. Khivar was totally focused on my child as a tool. He was interrogating me. I didn't have free run of the place. I was more like a prisoner. I couldn't tell you where Khivar's bathroom is."
"Look," said Max. "I still think it might be a good idea to send Liz, Tess, and Maria to safety. There is no reason to expose them..."
"No, Max," said Liz, in a determined fashion. "We all decided. We stand with Isabel, and with our husbands."
"She's right, Max," said Maria. "We have always beaten our enemies by standing together."
"Besides," said Sheriff Valenti. "I've been thinking of an idea. And it will need as many people as possible. Tonight, we'll all hunker down here. We'll take shifts at keeping watch. I may need to leave, though, if this Lashallal strikes at someone else."
"What about that?" asked Isabel. "I don't want to see any more girls killed because this thing mistakes them for me."
"I've put out the word that this killer might be striking at blonde women between the ages of 20 and 30," said Sheriff Valenti. "That should keep the women of this town who match that description indoors. I've also doubled the night patrols. Look, I need to know something here. How many of you, besides Michael and Kyle of course, know how to use a gun?"
"I do," said Alex. "I HAVE used one. Remember."
"Yeah, I know," said Sheriff Valenti, understanding that the fact that Alex had to kill a man to protect Isabel once still haunts the young man a little bit. "What about the rest of you?"
"I've never believed in guns," said Maria.
"Isabel and I have always had our powers to protect us," said Max.
"Which are now useless," said Tess. "Kyle has taken me shooting target practice before, just for fun."
"I've never used a gun," said Liz.
"Well," said Sheriff Valenti. "First thing tomorrow, all of you get a crash course on using firearms. My plan involves bringing as many guns as possible to bear on this guy when he strikes. Hopefully, combined firepower will bring him down."
**
Another hour later, everyone was settling down for the night in Alex's and Isabel's house. Kyle was taking first watch, along with Tess, while the others attempted to sleep on air mattresses, in the kids' bedrooms, and on the couch. Alex and Isabel retired to their room on the second floor.
When they got there, Isabel went to the window and closed the drapes. She stood there for a while, just peeking out of the drapes at the empty back yard below. Several of Kevin's toys were still in the yard, sitting there waiting for the child to come out and play with them. She saw them, and thought about how she already missed her babies.
Meanwhile, Alex was staring at the pistol Sheriff Valenti had given him to use. He just looked at it, analyzing it and his thoughts, as the gun sat on the nightstand.
"I never thought that I might have to use one of these again," said Alex. "I hoped that I would never again have to take a life."
"I know," said Isabel quietly, still staring out of the window. "Alex, I'm sorry."
"For what?" said Alex.
"For...preventing you from having a normal life," said Isabel. "We were so happy, and now...the alien crap just pops its ugly head back into our lives again. It never ends. Your life is in danger, once again, because you know me. Because you love me."
Alex walked over behind Isabel. "Isabel," he said quietly. "Look at me."
Isabel turned around, as tears began running down her cheeks. "Alex," she said. "I almost wonder if it might be better if I leave. If you and the kids go on without me, because I'm just a danger to you and them and..."
Alex immediately pulled Isabel to him and kissed her passionately on the lips. Then, holding her close in his arms, he said. "Don't you even think that!" he said. "If I were to loose you, I would have no life. I wouldn't want to live without you."
"Alex, don't say that," said Isabel. She pulled back and looked at him. "Despite our best efforts, I may still get killed by this thing. If that happens, you have to live! You HAVE to go on...for our babies. For Kevin and Amanda! Promise me, Alex. If I don't make it..."
"Don't!" said Alex, grabbing her by the shoulders. "Don't say that, please!"
"IF I DON'T MAKE IT!" said Isabel, in a more determined voice. "PROMISE ME! PROMISE ME YOU WILL LIVE! FOR OUR BABIES!"
Alex looked at her for a long moment, before he finally nodded, tears now forming in his own eyes. "I will," he said. "But I'll hate it!"
Isabel smiled. "I know," she said.
He pulled her back into his arms, and she cuddled close to him to feel his love and protection. "Isabel," he said. "Those children need you, too. Remember, when Kevin was two, and he had that fever from the flu. We couldn't get a hold of Max to heal him, and the Doctor said the flu just had to run its course. You sat up all night with him, cradling him in your arms when he'd cry from the pain. Keeping cold compresses on his head. Singing him a lullaby to put him to sleep. You are SUCH a good Mother! You are the anchor of this family. So, you fight, Isabel. You fight to beat this thing! And never, NEVER, intentionally leave us! Promise ME that!"
"I do," she said. "Don't worry, Alex. I'm not letting this Lashallal take me from my family without a fight!"
"That's my Isabel," he said, with a smile.
End of Chapter Thirty-five. Chapter Thirty-six coming soon.
Ready for some action? Well, stay tuned for the next chapter, because some action and surprises are on the way. In the meantime, please do keep those reviews coming. Feedback is always appreciated.
CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE:
Two hours later, the children of the Evans, the Whitmans, the Valentis, and the Guerins, were being piled into vehicles belonging to Mr. and Mrs. Evans, Mr. and Mrs. Whitman, and Amy Valenti. The parents kissed their children goodbye, and the grandparents kissed the parents goodbye.
"Call us, every day," said Mr. Evans, to Isabel and Alex. "We need to know you are okay."
"We will," said Isabel, giving her Father a hug.
Then, Mr. Evans looked at Alex. "Alex," he said. "Look after my daughter."
"Always," said Alex, as he and his Father-in-law embraced.
"Son," said Mr. Whitman. "Are you sure you shouldn't send Isabel with us? If she is the one in danger..."
"I was overruled on that," said Alex, somewhat bitterly. Isabel looked at him with a downtrodden look.
"Look," said Mr. Whitman. "Alex, you've shown in the past you can protect your wife. But this....this seems completely different."
"He won't be alone," said Sheriff Valenti, coming onto the scene. "Isabel will be well protected, and Alex will have a lot of help with that job."
Mr. Whitman nodded, then he and his wife said goodbye to their son and Daughter-in-law.
"My parents will meet you in Santa Fe," said Liz. "They'll be coming from Colorado, so it will take them longer."
"They have the address of the hotel where we will be staying?" asked Amy.
"Yes," said Liz. "They know where to find you."
"Good," said Amy. "We'll need all the help we can get, considering how scared the kids all are. I mean, even though they don't know why we are leaving, they just know we're leaving..."
"And their parents aren't coming," said Maria. "We understand."
A few minutes later, last goodbyes were said, and three vehicles were heading down the road outside of town. Alex, Isabel, Max, Liz, Maria, Michael, Tess, Kyle, and Sheriff Valenti, all went inside of Alex's and Isabel's house.
As Alex closed the front door, he looked at the others with a worried look. "I'm still not convinced Isabel shouldn't be in one of those cars, getting out of town, before this...alien terminator can come after her."
"Alex, we talked about this," said Kyle. "I don't like putting her in danger either, but if we send Isabel out of town, it will only make it harder to find this guy. With Isabel here, and with our plan to make sure she is visible and noticed by this thing, we can draw him out and kill him."
"I still don't know how we are going to do that," said Tess. "I mean, Larek said that guns will work...eventually. But this Lashallal can take a lot more hits than a normal human."
"Tess," said Michael. "You were on Antar, with Khivar. Do you know anything more about this Lashallal than what we've been told? Anything at all?"
"No, Michael," said Tess. "Nothing. When I was on Antar, I had just given birth. Khivar was totally focused on my child as a tool. He was interrogating me. I didn't have free run of the place. I was more like a prisoner. I couldn't tell you where Khivar's bathroom is."
"Look," said Max. "I still think it might be a good idea to send Liz, Tess, and Maria to safety. There is no reason to expose them..."
"No, Max," said Liz, in a determined fashion. "We all decided. We stand with Isabel, and with our husbands."
"She's right, Max," said Maria. "We have always beaten our enemies by standing together."
"Besides," said Sheriff Valenti. "I've been thinking of an idea. And it will need as many people as possible. Tonight, we'll all hunker down here. We'll take shifts at keeping watch. I may need to leave, though, if this Lashallal strikes at someone else."
"What about that?" asked Isabel. "I don't want to see any more girls killed because this thing mistakes them for me."
"I've put out the word that this killer might be striking at blonde women between the ages of 20 and 30," said Sheriff Valenti. "That should keep the women of this town who match that description indoors. I've also doubled the night patrols. Look, I need to know something here. How many of you, besides Michael and Kyle of course, know how to use a gun?"
"I do," said Alex. "I HAVE used one. Remember."
"Yeah, I know," said Sheriff Valenti, understanding that the fact that Alex had to kill a man to protect Isabel once still haunts the young man a little bit. "What about the rest of you?"
"I've never believed in guns," said Maria.
"Isabel and I have always had our powers to protect us," said Max.
"Which are now useless," said Tess. "Kyle has taken me shooting target practice before, just for fun."
"I've never used a gun," said Liz.
"Well," said Sheriff Valenti. "First thing tomorrow, all of you get a crash course on using firearms. My plan involves bringing as many guns as possible to bear on this guy when he strikes. Hopefully, combined firepower will bring him down."
**
Another hour later, everyone was settling down for the night in Alex's and Isabel's house. Kyle was taking first watch, along with Tess, while the others attempted to sleep on air mattresses, in the kids' bedrooms, and on the couch. Alex and Isabel retired to their room on the second floor.
When they got there, Isabel went to the window and closed the drapes. She stood there for a while, just peeking out of the drapes at the empty back yard below. Several of Kevin's toys were still in the yard, sitting there waiting for the child to come out and play with them. She saw them, and thought about how she already missed her babies.
Meanwhile, Alex was staring at the pistol Sheriff Valenti had given him to use. He just looked at it, analyzing it and his thoughts, as the gun sat on the nightstand.
"I never thought that I might have to use one of these again," said Alex. "I hoped that I would never again have to take a life."
"I know," said Isabel quietly, still staring out of the window. "Alex, I'm sorry."
"For what?" said Alex.
"For...preventing you from having a normal life," said Isabel. "We were so happy, and now...the alien crap just pops its ugly head back into our lives again. It never ends. Your life is in danger, once again, because you know me. Because you love me."
Alex walked over behind Isabel. "Isabel," he said quietly. "Look at me."
Isabel turned around, as tears began running down her cheeks. "Alex," she said. "I almost wonder if it might be better if I leave. If you and the kids go on without me, because I'm just a danger to you and them and..."
Alex immediately pulled Isabel to him and kissed her passionately on the lips. Then, holding her close in his arms, he said. "Don't you even think that!" he said. "If I were to loose you, I would have no life. I wouldn't want to live without you."
"Alex, don't say that," said Isabel. She pulled back and looked at him. "Despite our best efforts, I may still get killed by this thing. If that happens, you have to live! You HAVE to go on...for our babies. For Kevin and Amanda! Promise me, Alex. If I don't make it..."
"Don't!" said Alex, grabbing her by the shoulders. "Don't say that, please!"
"IF I DON'T MAKE IT!" said Isabel, in a more determined voice. "PROMISE ME! PROMISE ME YOU WILL LIVE! FOR OUR BABIES!"
Alex looked at her for a long moment, before he finally nodded, tears now forming in his own eyes. "I will," he said. "But I'll hate it!"
Isabel smiled. "I know," she said.
He pulled her back into his arms, and she cuddled close to him to feel his love and protection. "Isabel," he said. "Those children need you, too. Remember, when Kevin was two, and he had that fever from the flu. We couldn't get a hold of Max to heal him, and the Doctor said the flu just had to run its course. You sat up all night with him, cradling him in your arms when he'd cry from the pain. Keeping cold compresses on his head. Singing him a lullaby to put him to sleep. You are SUCH a good Mother! You are the anchor of this family. So, you fight, Isabel. You fight to beat this thing! And never, NEVER, intentionally leave us! Promise ME that!"
"I do," she said. "Don't worry, Alex. I'm not letting this Lashallal take me from my family without a fight!"
"That's my Isabel," he said, with a smile.
End of Chapter Thirty-five. Chapter Thirty-six coming soon.
Ready for some action? Well, stay tuned for the next chapter, because some action and surprises are on the way. In the meantime, please do keep those reviews coming. Feedback is always appreciated.