"Holy shit!" Zak yelled jumping from his seat. He wanted a closer look at them but this was way too close for comfort. And the whole glowing factor didn't help too much.
"Well this sucks," said Doyle only seeing the ones in front. The ones that had no glow.
"Too bad that this isn't equipped to capture astro-jellyfish," said Van Rook. Zak just stared at the ones near him. His eyes felt like they were on fire. No, like he was at the Saturday house all over again.
"But are they supposed to glow?"
"Glow? The hell you… Holy crap!" yelled Doyle looking back and jumping out of his seat. Zak felt confused.
"Put this thing on auto Rook! We've got to get to another room!"
"What fo…, Alright," he said pressing the auto button. They both to Zak to the other room in the ship. The lights weren't on, but a strange glow filled the room. Similar to the Jellyfish.
"Why is it glowing in here?" asked Zak. Doyle pulled his knife from his bag. He moved it so Zak could see his reflection. It was him. His eyes were glowing. He jumped back and the light left. They turned on the light and Zak looked up at them.
"How?" was all he could muster up to say. Doyle reached down and patted his shoulder.
"I don't know kid," said Doyle.
"Your family heritage is a mystery. So quite possibly you were a kid to a shaman or were a child of a village and were "blessed" by a magic man. Or you could have some cryptic blood in your family," said Van Rook.
"So what? I'm a human flashlight?"
"That's one way to put it," said Doyle with a smile.
"But then why were the jellyfish glowing too?" he asked.
"I don't know," said Doyle. Doyle was concerned. His little nephew always did have a thing for attracting the most unique cryptids to their house. Was that connected to his eyes? The glowing, both had it. But Zak seemed safer with the glow than he did without it. As if they were there to protect. Not to hurt. After a few minutes they went back to their seats. The jellyfish were gone, but tension and fear lingered in the air. Or was it tension because of fear?
Zak stared out the window. He was terrified. Something he hadn't felt in a long time. True gut wrenching fear. Fear for what was happening to him. He might not have known as much as other people on the path of growing up, but he knew that glowing eyes was only normal if you were a poison tongued flashlight frog. And he was pretty sure he wasn't one. Or any of his ancestors. And if they were, how the hell did he look human?
Hours later
They land in the mountains. Zak gets out first.
"It is so freaking cold out here!" he yells.
"You get used to it," said Van Rook. They go inside. Zak is shown his room when a mission is pulled up. He and Doyle looked at each other.
"We'll be back mini man," said Doyle. Zak believed them. They left as he got acquainted with his new home.
Two days later
He saw the ship return. He waited inside. To his surprise, only Van Rook came inside. He had pain in his eyes. Something he seldom showed. He hugged Zak. Something he never did. Something happened.
"What's wrong? Where's Doyle?"
"Doyle, has left us."
Zak felt a lump form in his throat.
"He's dead?"
"No."
"Then…"
"He has found his sister."
"He had… a sister?"
"Yes."
"What does that have to do with him being gone?"
"He chose her."
Zak's heart fell. Tears swelled in his eyes. The promise, broken. Like so many other people, he had proven blood was thicker than water. Zak looked at Van Rook. He never lied. He was just never fully honest. He was the only person he could trust now.
"Who's his sister?" he finally asked.
"Drew."
"So our friend was taken by our enemy which was family to our friend. Life sucks."
"Yes. It does."
Zak walked off to his room. Tears staining his face. Van Rook thought back to what Doyle said before he left.
"Zak is as much my nephew as he is yours. I'm taking him with me."
Van Rook wasn't the nicest guy. But he knew who he cared for. He cared for Doyle, but now it was mostly pain. And he cared for Zak. His young and energetic nephew without a mother or father to call his own.
Wow. My head comes up with weird things. Review please!