Chapter 10: Communication

Time seemed to go much slower than usual during the ride in the trailer. Even after I woke up from my slumber, McKenna kept driving on and I was questioning where he was taking up but I knew for certain that he wasn't going to take us to a death trap. With his son with us, I doubt it.

There wasn't really much to do since Rory was still sleeping but I couldn't blame him. The whole night was filled with terror, fights and blood. My body was exhausted as well but I couldn't make myself go back to sleep. It was nerve-wracking.

The only thing I could do was watch my companion who hadn't moved since we left with his massive chest rising and descending repeatedly like a routine. It gave me comfort to know that he was alive but I expected him to wake up earlier. That larger predator must of really done serious damage to him.

Just as I was about to adjust the jacket laying on my companion, the trailer makes an unexpected stop and I almost smacked my head on the metal wall behind me. I stayed silent so that I wouldn't wake up Rory or my companion but if I knew that Nebraska was going to swing the doors wide open, ranting on about how they were going to move a huge alien, I would have punched him in the nose, satisfied if I had broken it.

"Rise and shine! We made to our pit stop and we are going for some R&R. Hurry up!"

I flipped him off for that. "Fuck you, Nebraska."

"Now, don't be so mean. I just want to make sure that our guests of honor are well taken care of. Especially our beautiful, blue-eyed raven with a nasty aura around her."

I grunted in disgust but was amazed that he paid attention to my appearance. However, if he thinks that flattery would work on me, then he has another thing coming. Good thing that McKenna comes behind Nebraska and pulls his shoulder so that he was in the front, barking for him to leave and get some supplies before facing me.

"Hey, Anya. Sorry for the sudden stop. The guys were becoming restless and haven't eaten for a couple of days so we stopped near a restaurant."

I began to fill with worry about the group stopping at a public place while having my companion in the back, still passed out from the recent events. "Do you think that is a good idea with everything going on right now?"

McKenna already had a plan before I could even figure it out in my brain. "It's alright. We parked far enough that no one will find the trailer so he's safe for now. Besides, we've checked to see if anything was following us and so far, we are clear."

I didn't remember holding my breath until relief flushed over me while I led out a huge breath. "That's good."

After a few pauses, McKenna makes a suggestion to me. "Do you want to come with us? We got enough money to order food for you." I opened my mouth to ask an important question but McKenna beats me to it. "And . . . Lynch could stay here and watch over him while we get food . . . so do you want to come?"

At the thought of getting some warm cooked meal, my stomach begins to growl but something else tells me not to leave my companion alone. I had a responsibility to make sure he was safe since I owe it to him. Besides, if I left him with one of the guys, they might kill him before I return.

Making my decision, I shook my head at McKenna. "No, it's okay. I'll stay here to watch over him. Take Rory with you since he might be up for some food too."

McKenna looks at me, understanding why I wanted to stay and that made me trust him a little more than before. Walking over to Rory, McKenna shakes his son slightly to wake him up, getting a groaning sound from him.

"Hey, Rory. Get up so we can get some food and drinks."

Rory opens with tiny, brown eyes at his father, rubbing the sleep out of them so he can get a better view of his surrounding. Still sleepy, Rory gave a small nod and that is all McKenna needed to pick him up and place him on his back. With one small glance at me, he walks out of the trailer with Rory, leaving me alone with my companion.

It was awkward for me since my companion was still unconscious and had no one to talk to but it gave me time to study him in more detail, especially with his face. His forehead was covered with blotches of brown that were surrounding another area of blotches except darker in color, forming a v-shape in the middle. Near the ridges of his forehead, I noticed that small spikes covered it and stretched to the side of his cheeks or at least I believed they were cheeks. Looking at his mouth, it was the strangest part of him with his four mandibles that crossed over each other and shielding his inner mouth. In my opinion, I didn't think he needed mandibles since the inside of his mouth had teeth that looked deadlier than the tusks on each mandible.

The only part that I liked about him was his eyes. Even though they were closed, I could remember the piercing, golden eyes that stared into my soul for some reason. It did scare me at first but looking deeper into them, I could see something that made him look . . . human.

I couldn't explain it but they were the only things that were keeping me close to him. My mind was telling me to ignore it and leave but the nagging sensation in my chest was stronger, putting me down on my knees when I came to his side.

For unknown reasons, I raised my hand out to him again, wanting to feel his skin on mine like the last times. However, my inner thoughts kept fighting my actions.

What the fuck are you doing?!

My hand stopped midway from him, pausing briefly before resuming my approach.

Stop it! Do you not remember what happened last time? Do you want to go through it again?

Flashes of my memories at the times that I touched him came into my mind. Not wanting to relive them, I tried to will my body to move my hand away but they wouldn't respond. Instead, my hand kept getting closer to his face, curious about what his mandibles felt like. There was nothing to stop me and all I could do was wait for the painful memories to come back as my hand was only a fingertip away.

All of a sudden, my companion's eyes shot open in my direction, shocking me and letting my hand return quickly as if I touched an electric fence. I stumbled back on my knees, thinking that any moment he would come and smack me in defense. He tried to lift his upper body from the floor but quickly fell back, shrieking in agony. The sound wasn't pleasant to my ears but I kept myself still, staying just far enough that he would need to take steps to reach me.

Once he was back down, his breathing became erratic as if trying to get a full breath of air but failing. I figured it was due to the pain of being smashed onto a car by a 10-foot predator and I wanted to help him feel better but my instinct told me to hang back before doing so.

After my companion's breathing slowed down a bit, I spoke out to grab his attention.

"Um . . . are you alright?"

He rotated his head and gazed at me with his eyes, making me shiver like last time. Why does it always happen when he looks at me?

Then the clicking noises came but I had no way of understanding him. I lifted my eyebrows in confusion and he seemed to be getting frustrated by this language barrier. He kept clicking to me again but I gave him the same reaction as before.

"Okay. I don't know what you are saying but I'm here to help. You're badly injured."

He grunted at my response and turned his head back to face the ceiling, closing his eyes from view. I wanted to get some communication formed between us but at this point, I began to think that it was impossible.

I raised my hands in defeat and slightly turned on my side, sitting on my hip since my knees were beginning to hurt. I rubbed my face and eyes, feeling the drowsiness seeping into me.

"Well, you probably don't understand me either. You have no slightest clue in what I'm talking about."

"I know what you're talking about."

When the low sound of his voice reached my ears, I snapped my head to him so fast that the bones in my neck popped but I ignored it. My eyes widened in shock, trying to understand that he could speak the human language as clear as day. I had to take a moment or two in order to sort out the chaos in my brain, which was trying to comprehend the recent event.

"What did you just say?"

"You know what I said. Guess oomans are more stupid than I thought."

I was still frozen as my companion turns his head to gaze his eyes at me, waiting for my response. I didn't know what to say to him but when I heard him growl in frustration, I forced my mouth to open and speak out.

"How can you talk like that?"

"I have my ways to speak your inferior language. Besides, it's not hard to learn from oomans."

"Why do you keep saying ooman?"

My companion snorted and clicked for a moment, turning back to look up at the ceiling.

"It's what our kind called yours instead of the word 'human' that you use. Appropriate name for you."

For some reason, I became offended by his words but I had him talking to me for the first time and if I did anything stupid, then he would stop and we would be back to where we started. I needed him to keep talking and maybe might explain what the fuck was going on.

"Why didn't you talk to us sooner? You could of let us know about your 10-foot friend back there."

All of a sudden, he began to growl but it wasn't like the other ones. It had a menacing tone to it as if to tell anyone who was around him to stay away. I leaned back a bit but didn't move an inch. I didn't know if I was getting used to the noises he makes or that I was too zoned out to understand his warning.

"Don't compare me to that filth. He's a dirty hybrid who tried to cheat his way in becoming a strong hunter. He's a Bad Blood."

Hybrid? Bad blood? What is he talking about?

"What do you mean?"

Before he could answer my question, a scuffling sound was heard from outside the closed door of the trailer followed by clicking sounds from a gun being loaded. At first, I thought that it was McKenna and the guys returning from eating and drinking but the snarling of my companion told me otherwise. I stood on my feet slowly and leaned my ear on the closed door, trying to catch anything that would give a clue to what was going on. I got my answer as clear as day.

"Is this the trailer? The license plate matches the description from the reports."

Immediately, my body tenses up into a huge ball of nerves. It wasn't McKenna, Brackett, Nebraska or anyone else's voice but a deeper one filled with a serious tone . . . like a soldier.

"Copy, copy. We have found and identified the vehicle containing the escaped specimen. Waiting for orders."

I couldn't hear the response from whatever the soldier was using for communication but it wasn't hard to figure out what they wanted.

"Copy that. Proceeding to check the vehicle for the target."

I realized that whoever was outside wanted to find my companion who is still weak and unable to defend himself. I gave a side glance back to him and can see his struggle of trying to raise himself off the ground but the only results were his grunts and hisses due to the pain. Now, I was his only protection and I needed to make sure he was safe. He was my responsibility and I was determined to fulfill it. I drew my knife and held it up in my hand, poised and ready to strike at any signs of danger.

The scuffling from before became louder and finally reached towards the door where we were hiding.

"Permission to open door of the vehicle?"

From this point, I could hear more soldiers coming to the door. If McKenna and the others don't make it, we're fucked!

"You have permission to enter."

"Affirmative."

The metal groaning and creaking signaled that they were opening the door and all I could do was wait for them to come. I heard my companion growl low from behind and I believed that if even injured, he would try and fight them with all his might. The only doubt was how long he would last before they subdue him. Some moonlight was starting to seep out of the cracked door and my heart was racing with anticipation of what will come. Come on!

Out of nowhere, gunfire was shot, hitting the metal wall of the trailer. The sounds of the soldiers became loud and full of panic. I imagined that they must have gotten attacked by some one.

"Men, return fire! Return fire!"

More gunfire shot out like a hailstorm of deadly projections. I could only hear chaos everywhere with soldiers yelling and screaming around. My curiosity wanted me to peek out and see what is transpiring but the smarter part of me told me that I should wait inside until it died down. With my companion injured, I couldn't risk going out there right now.

Soon, it became quiet and my eyes kept scanning the door in front of me, waiting for anything at this point. Then the door began to open and instinct moved my body to raise my knife and go into a fighting stance.

As soon as the door opened, my body relaxed immediately at the sight of Rory came into my view. I managed to take a deep breathe when I realized I was holding it in anticipation. They made it.

"Anya! Are you okay?"

All I could do was smile slightly. "I'm alright, Rory. I'm glad you guys made it."

Without warning, Rory runs to me, wrapping his tiny arms around my waist and placing his head on my abdomen. His grip wasn't tight but I knew that he was holding me with all his might as if I would disappear in front of him. I returned his actions by wrapping my arms around him, assuring him that everything was okay. We stood there for a minute or two before the same annoying voice echoes out.

"Man . . . I wish I was in his place with your arms wrapped around me."

I looked behind Rory and saw Nebraska leaning on the door with the same, evil smirk. I swore that the smirk was permanently on his face and that it was the only thing it could show. Like the Joker except worse . . .

I coughed a little to clear my throat and both of us released each other. I changed my facial expression so that I could show Nebraska my displeasure, leering at him and squeezing my eyebrows closer to each other. He didn't get the message and kept smirking but I had enough.

"Leave me alone. I've had a long day of fighting and people killing each other so would you mind?"

"As long as I can get a kiss on the cheek from you?"

I turned away from him, ignoring for my sanity's sake. Soon, McKenna comes into the trailer, followed by Brackett. Coyle, Baxley, and Lynch were just outside the trailer with their guns out and ready for any more surprises. I could only see a little further from the guys but I saw many bodies of dead soldiers lying on the ground like a war zone. I suspected who the soldiers belong to.

"What happened? Was it Stargazer again?"

McKenna answered me right away. "Yes but there's more coming. We just saw a couple of their trucks on the way here so we need to move now."

I nodded but wanted to ask one more question. "How did they track us?"

"It's my fault."

I glanced at Brackett who spoke out and instantly, my anger grew inside me. "What do you mean?"

"I took a sample from the lab when the predator that is with us escaped. I didn't know that it has a tracker attached to it so they must have used it to find us."

I didn't understand why Brackett was still with us. She has shown to become a liability and only interested in the science of our journey. She stole something from the lab out of scientific curiosity and now, we are paying for her mistake. I wanted to pull out all my hair from the frustration at Brackett but it wouldn't do much good now. She wasn't worth the time right now.

"Alright. We need to stop chit chatting and take off. Who knows how far Stargazer is now. They could be here any moment."

"Alright. I'll stay in the back with my friend back here and make sure they're not following us."

McKenna understood and was about to walk out of the trailer before asking me something. "Did the alien do anything to you while we were gone? Anything at all?"

When he asked me that question, I contemplated whether I should tell him about my conversation with my companion and the revelation that he could understand us. However, he barely spoke to me and if I did mention it to the others, then he might not speak to me again, not to mention that Brackett would have a field day in trying to gather information from him. I shrugged at McKenna as part of my response.

"No, we're good. He did wake up but he's in so much pain right now that he can't move yet. He couldn't do anything to me, even if he wanted to."

McKenna looked deep into my eyes as if trying to confirm that I wasn't lying to him. I kept strong and after a few seconds, he turns around and exits the back of the trailer to join the others in the front. Now, it was only me, my companion and Rory in the back of the trailer.

"Are you sure you're alright?"

I became confused, wondering why Rory would say that after I told his father that I was okay. I walked back to my companion's side as Rory moved near the door, waiting for an answer.

"I'm okay. Why do you ask?"

"Cause I could tell that you are holding something back."

I was amazed that he noticed the difference in my behavior and tone of voice. However, I couldn't tell him about me and my companion. I wasn't ready to reveal it as I'm still trying to gain my companion's trust so I gave Rory the best answer I could possibly give him.

"Something did happen but it's not the right time to explain. I'm still trying to figure it out but I promise that when the time comes, you will be the first to know. Okay?"

I tried to give him my best smile but I didn't know if it was convincing. But Rory looked at me with innocent eyes and sighed, knowing that I won't give him any more than that. "Okay."

I kept my smile and Rory gave me a smile back and I had to say that it was cute for a child, filling me with happiness that I thought was lost to me. Then, this tender moment was shattered when a dark figure grabbed Rory by his jacket and yanked him backward. My eyes widened when I realized that one of the soldiers survived and held Rory in his grip with a gun pointed at his head. I stood up between my companion and the soldier. I tried to take a step towards them with a knife in hand but he gripped Rory even harder and I stopped in my tracks.

"Alright, Miss. You have caused us a lot of trouble and all we want is the specimen behind you. Just let us take it and we'll let the boy go. If not, then . . ."

The gun in his hand cocked and Rory's face turned into one of terror. It was facing that I recognized a long time ago when I was young. The same, deep despair that was on Rory's face right at that moment. The anger that was still inside me began to mix with my fear, making my chest feel heavier. I turned my head slightly around to see my companion on the floor, lying still but had his golden eyes on me. I was stuck but then a thought came to me and I knew what I had to do.

"Alright. You can have him but let the boy go."

"Then drop your weapon and back off."

Slowly, I placed my knife on the ground and took a few steps backward, keeping eye contact with the soldier and Rory. After he sees that the distance between him and me was enough, he pushes Rory to the side roughly and I gasped silently. The soldier then kept his gun pointed at me while moving closer to my companion. I kept watching him, waiting for the perfect moment. That moment came when my companion growled at the soldier, startling him and turning his head in his direction. This is it!

Quick as lightning, I sprinted at the soldier, grabbing my knife on the way. He didn't have a chance to retaliate as I leaped on him, making both of us crash to the floor with me on top. I managed to knock the gun from his hand but he was scrambling to reach for my knife that I was just about to plunge into his body.

We both struggled to gain the upper hand over the other. The soldier kept trying to pull the knife out of my grip while I tried to push his hands away, hoping that a break in his strength would allow me to gut him and end his life. I was so concentrated on getting the knife to connect with its target that I didn't realize the soldier picked his feet up, connecting it with my abdomen and kicking me off of him with such force. I rolled on the floor, holding my stomach with one hand while having the knife in the other.

I didn't have time to adjust when the soldier kicked me again, pushing me far until I stopped in front of my companion, having my face close to his. I glanced at Rory, who was hiding in the corner while watching with concern. When my eyes moved back to my companion and making contact with his golden ones, I felt the blade of a knife on my neck, pressing against it enough that it began to burn my skin. His chest was right against my back and I froze as his lips were right in my ears.

"You're strong. I give you that but stupid as well. It's a pity that someone as beautiful as you has to die. It's such a waste."

His lips pressed against my neck and I shivered with disgust but something else caught my attention. My companion, who was watching as well, began to growl and open his mandibles a little bit and I could tell he wasn't pleased. I didn't know why he was doing it but one thing I knew was that the growl was almost the same tone as before, filled with anger and displeasure.

Why?

A moment passed before the soldier removed his lips and licked them. I wanted to throw up right then and there but the blade of his knife was still on my neck. He chuckled a little bit before speaking.

"You taste good. I wish I could have you but I have my orders and you are as good as dead."

The blade pressed more into my neck, making it harder for me to breathe but I wasn't finished with him. I was going to make his pay with his life.

Without warning, I headbutted him and he screamed in agony, releasing the hold on me but not before the blade of his knife plunged into my forearm, cutting the fabric that was covering it while making a deep gash into it. I screamed a little but I grabbed his shirt and threw him on the ground beneath me.

I raised my knife in the air and was ready to strike when I saw his eyes widened in realization. He wasn't looking directly at me but at my forearm that was bleeding the same neon green color as before. I didn't pay much attention to it as I was focused on killing the soldier beneath me but I froze as he began to speak.

"Those numbers . . . I know those numbers!"

I followed his sight and saw that he was looking at the tattoo of numbers that were just above the gash. They were one of the many physical markings that indicated my life as an experiment with Stargazer and for one of the soldiers to recognize it, I was shocked beyond anything else. He knew the meaning of my tattoo so I had no choice but to kill him.

"Are you—"

Those were his last words as I plunged my knife into his chest and through the heart. Blood squirted out uncontrollably but I didn't stop there. I took out my knife and plunged it back into his chest again as more of the crimson red blood squirted out. I repeated the action over, and over, and over again, blinded to everything else around me. I wanted him dead and gone.

Just die. Die. Die. DIE!

When my strength began to fade from me, I stopped for a second to do one final motion but then I saw Rory. The look on his face scared me more than anything. His eyes widened in fear while his body shook violently. It was then that he put his hands on his head, hitting it while moaning loud as if he was in pain.

Was he hurt? Did I do something?

I was able to clear my senses when I looked down and saw my handiwork on the dead soldier. His chest was completely shredded with blood continuing to spill out. His face was contorted in agony while his eyes glazed over, showing no life in them. I looked down at my hands to see his blood all over them and touched my face to feel more blood. I was completely covered in crimson red color.

For me, the world around me stood still and I had no idea what was happening to me. I was used to killing soldiers but with Rory involved, it was different but I couldn't understand why. Slowly, I looked back to my companion to make eye contact. His mandibles were pulled tightly into his mouth and his eyes were widened but weren't sure if it was out of surprise or shock. I couldn't look away from him. Something inside of me wanted to stare at him forever but my mind couldn't' contemplate it. It was foreign to me.

Then, a hand was placed on my shoulder and I quickly turned to see Rory standing over me. He didn't have the same fear as before but the concern on his face was still there. I didn't move a muscle, fearing that he would flinch from me if I did.

"Anya."

I shook my head so that I could think again as he continued on. "Are you okay?"

When I took a moment to gather my thought and have my heart return to normal beating, I sighed. "I'm okay, Rory. I'm sorry I scared you."

It was all I could think of but I'm glad that Rory was okay. He came down on his knees and rubbed his hand on my shoulder for comfort but stopped when he noticed something.

"Your arm . . ."

I looked down and saw that the gash was still bleeding profusely with the green color. I realized that Rory now knows about this so my mind was spinning, trying to find an explanation for this but there was none. I needed to find another way but I trusted Rory so I asked him.

"Rory . . . please don't tell anyone about this."

After listening to what I had to say, Rory nodded and I knew that he would keep this secret. Until I could find out why I would keep it hidden as I ripped off a part of my jacket and wrapped it around the gash while covering my tattoo.

I got it covered just in time as McKenna slammed the door open to see the aftermath in the back of the trailer. His eyes told me that he wanted an explanation to what transpired here while Brackett came behind him, eyes widened in shock at the scene before her.

"What the fuck happened?"

I stumbled with my words but couldn't get anything solid but thanks to Rory, I didn't need to tell him.

"There was a soldier who can in and threatened us if we didn't give him the alien but Anya saved us. She fought and killed him. She saved us, Dad."

McKenna drew his sight from Rory and into mine and then to my companion, ending at the dead soldier at my feet. He looked back at me and gave sigh.

"Thank you for protecting my son. I owe you."

I nodded back to him. "You're welcome."

He twisted around to Brackett and pushed her out of the area while I heard her asking questions about what happened but McKenna and I were not in the mood as I could hear him telling Brackett to get into the front of the trailer.

"We're taking off now. Stargazer is only a few minutes behind but we'll make sure to lose them. Just hang on tight."

"Okay, but can you dispose of the body and take Rory with you?"

"I can take care of the body but why take him?"

I glanced at Rory for a moment and he looked like he wanted to protest but I shot him a look, telling him to listen. He looks down onto the ground and I continued to talk to McKenna.

"It has been rough for Rory and he needs to be with you. Besides, I don't think you want him around a room with blood scattered all over. Please, take him for my sake."

McKenna looked between me and Rory. After a moment, he motioned Rory to come with him and Rory goes without hesitation. They both looked at me before the door closes behind them.

There was nothing left to do but sit back down next to my companion, who remained unusually quiet. I didn't look at him as I caress my hand that was wrapped with fabric.

What the fuck is happening to me?

I covered my face with my hand, rubbing them as my eyes threaten to spill tears. Everything I knew was going down the drain and I was helpless to stop it. My heart sank in despair.

Then, a purring sound rushed into my ears, giving me the comfort I needed but also wanted. I removed my hands and saw my companion looking into my eyes but they showed concern for the first time. I breathed deeply and he purred again, making me feel calmer and it soothed me greatly. It was the sweetest sound I've ever heard.

When I noticed him trying to reach out for me with his hand, I flinched from him. I didn't want any more problems for today and if he touched me, I would have a deja vu of my past again and I didn't have the strength to go through that. When he noticed me flinching, he pulled his hand back and turned his head so he was facing the wall, closing his eyes for a much-needed rest. All I could do was close my eyes and wonder.

What the fuck do I do now?