MEMORIES
She dreamed her parents, they were going camping to the hillside near their house and watch meteor shower. It was really warm july. She was 13 years old, and it was her first camping trip. She was so excited. Her dad promised he won't help her building her tent. Only if she asks him.
She was almost finished, but she just couldn't tighten the ropes on her tent successfully. Mom watched her with a smile, and dad waited for her to call. And then she called him. She confessed herself that she won't be able finish it. She was too weak to tighten the ropes.
From the top of the hill there was a beautiful view on the valley around the city. She closed her eyes and spread both arms. She was enjoying in the warmth of the sun that splashed out its rays on her face and arms. Only a light wind would bring a feeling of cooling on the skin. It was blowing her hair, but she did not mind. In fact, she liked that feeling.
Nearby was a beautiful forest. Small stream was hiding in it. She ran to it and soaked her legs in it. Water was so refreshing. Clear, transparent, like the windows at their house when her mother washed them. A smile appeared on her face.
Mother is calling her to eat.
Darkness fell all around them. Sky was full of glowing stars. Dad was talking old stories about the visitors from sky. He said these stories have been conveyed by many nations from generation to generation. Some of them are even written down, but nobody believes in them anymore.
"Do you believe, dad?" she asked.
"Well, look at it this way, the universe is too big for just us." he answered with a smile.
She looked up, upon the sky. Several meteors flickered in full glory. "Everything's looks better here," she thought with a smile on her face.
She dreamed she was talking with dad at the fire. Her mum was hugging her. Tears started to drop on her pillow. Lots of memories have gone through her mind.
"I'd love to see the stars, sail away." she said with a longing in her voice.
"And you will!" He whispered in her ear while she was sleeping and talking in her sleep. He was careful not to wake her up. Scare her.
She returned with a smile, "Thanks."
Surprised by her response, he moved away from bed she slept and sat down at the end of the table where he put his mask. He was extremely tired.
After a while Elli woke up. Still, with a smile on her face, and few tears she slowly brushed away. Watching the unusual walls around her, she quickly realized where she was. She looked in the direction of the table and saw him sitting with his closed eyes.
'' Is he asleep? '' She asked herself.
So, she, half-dressed, came closer to him. She did not feel fear or shame. He did not move or open his eyes. '' It looks like he's really sleeping. ''
She caught a little bit of courage she had left and decided to look him closer. She came so close that she almost touched him with her hair.
His skin was bronze, like after long insolation. She felt the heat of his skin, radiating. Pleasant heat. Her body reacted to that feeling. Unconsciously, she approached even closer, absorbing it. Their bodies almost touching. With her shaking hand she touched his skin. It was soft, with no hair at all. He had firm body. Kilograms of pure muscles.
His arms firm.'' Strong arms. Warrior '', she thought.
''He could break me in half in a second if he wanted to.' 'Her hand was exploring his body. Her touch light, like feather. He didn't feel it at all.
She was observing his head. It was unusual. Somewhat frightening looking. Especially his jaws. Mandibles. He had an unusual hair, dreadlocks "or whatever it is."
She touched it.
He moved his head and started to purr, like cat when someone cuddles it. ''It looks like he likes to be touched there. You one big ... ''
Her attention was drawn to a decoration on his "hair". It was blue, like crystal. It was beautiful. Different from others.
She continued to observe his unusual head. Then she saw the same symbol on his head. Just like the one on his mask. '' What does it mean? Is it a sign of belonging to someone or something? ''
Realizing how close she was to him, and what he could do to her if he catches her observing him like that, she quickly returned to bed.
" Where do I belong? ... '' she asked herself.
The old fear and feeling of solitude returned again. ''Why did this thing brought me here? He did not kill me, did not hurt me in anyway. Why then? What does he want from me? I can't give him anything. "
She felt as if she were lying. But she put that feeling away, far away.
'' Will I belong to him? '' She did not like that idea.
With anxiety in her heart she was imagining people preparing for the upcoming Christmas. "I have to get out of here if I ever want to have a normal life, family, home ..." she told herself and began to think about how to get back to Earth.
He started to wake up. She quickly went to bed, started to pretend she was sleeping. He came closer to bed. He leaned over her, and moved her hair of her face with his hand to look at her. He was watching her for a few minutes. It seemed to her as eternity.
He waited for her to wake up ... to look at him without fear.
She could not pretend for long. Slowly, she got out of bed and dressed, feeling his look on herself. ''I'm hungry. " she told him. And she really was.
He just nodded and approached the bed where she was sitting. He touched her cheeks with his hand. She felt the warmth of his fingers. It was a pleasant touch, gentle. It didn't bother her. She even liked it.
He was examining her face with his fingers. Like he wanted to remember it's contours. He brushed her lips with his fingers, and then, his hand was gone, leaving a feeling of emptiness in her.
He sat at the end of the table on which he left his mask. "You didn't ask me." He quietly told her.
''Ask what?!''
'' Why was I calling you, for years? ''
"Why did you call me?"
He was silent. Watching her. Then he said, "Actually, you called me. I was just replying . ''
She watched him. "How could I called him?"
"How long have you been visiting Earth?" she asked.
''Very long.''
''Why?''
'' Because of the hunt. ''
"What hunt? What were you hunting?" she asked, even though she knew the answer to that question.
"I think you already know the answer." He looked at his mask.
Fear started to form in her, "Why?"
'' To gain honor. ''
"How can honor be gained by killing?!" She could not believe what she was hearing.
"We weren't killing, we were hunting! Only those most capable of surviving. Death was just the ultimate outcome of the hunt. Many have survived it, earning respect and honor from our elders. '' He started to feel angry.
"What honor, there is no honor!" She replied with a feeling of choking.
"Only your kind kills without honor, and any respect for life, we are not like that!" He began to speak with anger. "We are bounded by strict rules."
She remembered the scenes she saw as she touched his mask, he was telling the truth, but, he still enjoyed hunting.
"Why did you bring me here?" She asked.
'' You will be mine. ''
Elli stayed in complete shock. "I will not!" She screamed.
He got up angrily from the table he was sitting on. Elli clenched in the corner of the bed in fear, wrapping her arms around her legs.
Seeing her so frightened he stopped and said "You will."
She couldn't look him in his eyes, she was too ashamed, afraid. ''How did I get here? In this situation? All I wanted was normal life. Not this.''
He got out and after a few moments he returned with a bowls full of fruit and water. He offered them to her.
She took the fruit and put it greedily in her mouth. She was hungry. She almost forgot her fear while she ate.
''Why is this happening to me?''
She remembered Annie. They worked together. After death of her parents, Annie and her grandfather, who had been living with her for some time, were the only company she had. How many times she helped her with paying the rent and other bills when she was in trouble.
Suddenly she was overwhelmed with fear, "What if they take her or do something to her?"
''I have to get out of here! "she thought. But, she felt somewhat sad because of it. She did not know why she felt that way around him.
Rejecting this feeling, she thought of slipping into one of those small ships that she saw entering Earth's atmosphere.
Then she remembered. She never asked him his name.