Alone

Chapter 19: Trusting Someone New

Alicia POV

"Wow, who and what the hell are you people?"

That is what the alien that ran into Shepherd yelled out and now I'm frozen to the spot staring down at Shepherd and the strange alien both still lying on the ground. I have no idea what to say. We have obviously been caught although we tried hard to stay hidden. I don't know what we were thinking, curiosity got the best of us and now are face to face with this thing and I am terrified!

I watch as they both pick themselves off the ground and Shepherd stands in front of me, guarding me from anything the alien might do next.

The alien lifts his hands in the air and slowly backs away from us like he's the one that needs to be afraid. "Hey guys, listen, I don't know what you are or what you want but please don't hurt me. I beg you, just let me pass by and I won't say anything to anyone. I just want to go home!"

Now, I am so confused and look to Shepherd for an answer but that's when we hear another voice from further down in the alley.

"YOU STUPID LOSER! I KNOW WHERE YOU LIVE AND I WILL COME GET YOU AND MAKE SUCH AN EXAMPLE OF YOU THAT NO ONE WILL DARE STAND AGAINST US EVER AGAIN!" The man laughs maniacally and we are all frozen in fear now.

The alien lifts his finger to his lips and gestures us to be quiet, then he proceeds to point down the alley and gestures us to follow. For lack of any other option we decide to follow him.

I'm unsure where we are going and I am still terrified but I stay close to Shepherd, knowing he will do everything to keep me safe.

The alien leads us through many more dark alley ways and trash covered streets until we finally break through the village limits and find shelter in a small wooded area. We continue to follow him through the woods until we reach a small hut that is completely hidden by the trees and bushes, if you didn't know it was there, you would miss it.

The alien waves us inside but I'm still scared of him and we don't know what his true intentions for us are. Shepherd looks back at me and smiles and waves me in ahead of him. I trust him so I do as he asks, for now.

Once we are all safely inside, the alien walks over to a corner of the small hut and lights a candle which bathes the hut in its soft glow. As soon as he turns around he is now face to face with Shepherd's g*n.

"I don't know what you had going on with that guy back there but we don't want to be involved. Tell me now if we are going to have a problem with you. "

The alien holds his hands up again and I can see him shaking like crazy. "Please listen to me, I won't hurt you, I don't even know what you are! And I just helped you both, that other guy or anyone else in this village would have killed you or sent you away to be studied. I only want to go home and forget about this whole night," he sighs and leans back against the far wall. "Then again, that guy did say he was gonna find me and definitely kill me in the most horrific way possible so...if you want to do the honors and use whatever that is to kill me, then so be it. I'm never getting out of this village and I'll never live my dream so just do it." He slowly rises and pushes Shepherds g*n against his forehead. He closes his eyes and takes a deep breath and waits for his end.

I step forward and put my hand on the g*n and lower it back to Shepherds side. Shepherd looks at me like I'm crazy but I wave him off. "We are not going to hurt you either. My name is Alicia and this is Shepherd, do you have a name? Something other people call you?" I raise my hand in a gesture to shake his. I know they do this as a greeting here as well after we watched them for a full day.

He cautiously lifts his hand to mine and gives me a strong hand shake. "Yes, we have names here as well, my name is Burbick. It's a pleasure to meet you both." He attempts to shake Shepherds hand as well but Shepherd just looks at him with an angry glare and leans against the opposite wall of the hut. Burbick shakes it off and turns back to me. "Not to be too forward, but, what are you?"

His curiosity makes me smile which makes him smile in return and Shepherd just makes a grunt noise behind us. I flash him an angry glare and we both roll our eyes. I turn back to face Burbick and answer his question, "It's OK, we are called humans and we come from a different planet that is very far away from here."

He nods and asks another question, "Wow, another planet?" I nod and he proceeds, "That is amazing! I'm sorry but I have a million questions but my first is, if you're from another planet, why are you here?"

I explain to him the short version of how we both ended up in this strange, faraway galaxy and by the end of my tale his eyes are wide and he has a look of wonder glued to his face. I can't help the giggle that escapes from me and Burbick laughs a little too.

I look back to Shepherd and he has his arms crossed over his chest and he's staring at our new friend like he wants to kill him and I don't understand why. Burbick has been nothing but nice to us and he seems more afraid of us than we are of him. Plus, he was willing to risk his own life to get us both to safety.

I heard what the other alien yelled to him and I'm worried about him now. If he goes back home, they will surely find him and kill him. He said he has dreams and that he will never be able to fulfill them, I want him to elaborate on that. "Burbick, you said you have dreams you want to fulfill, what do you mean?"

He steps forward and replies, "Well, I don't want to sound like I am bragging because trust me, here in this village it's not a good thing but I'm a genius. I built my own machine when I was very young and have read every book and parchment I could get my hands on. I have always wanted to travel to the Impirial City where my intelligence would be appreciated and I can make a better life for me and my family and someday even make this village better."

"Wow Burbick, that's amazing!" I tell him and smile.

"Yeah, but now I'm going to be hunted down by those thugs and I'll never achieve anything, " a small tear rolls down his cheek and he sobs very quietly.

Shepherd steps forward like he wants to say something. It's about time, he has been way too quiet during this whole conversation. "Yeah, what's up with those thugs? What did you do to wind up on their bad side? How do we know you're not the real bad guy in the situation? Tell us the whole story... now." I give him a small slap to the side of his arm and he just continues to stare at Burbick waiting for an answer.

Burbick looks back at him and explains the entire story about the thugs, the village, and his family. By the end, I can start to feel the tears build up in my eyes. I try to hold back the water works and look to Shepherd to reply to Burbicks story.

"OK, that's explains alot about this place."

"That's all you have to say!? Burbick, I am so sorry you have had to go through all of that and you can't get to the Impirial City. What are you going to do now?" I stare into his eyes which are now filling up with tears and he is trying to hold them back as well.

"Honestly, I have no idea. I can't go home, they will find me and kill me and possibly hurt my family. My family are jerks but they don't deserve that. I suppose I'll head into the woods further and keep going until I can find a new village that might take me in." He looks towards the ground and I can see how lost he is. He is lost just like me and Shepherd and so I make a decision.

"Burbick, would you like to come with us?" Shepherd stands up and gets between us, "No, he is not coming with us. We don't know him and he can't help us so no."

I shoot Shepherd a deathly glare and turn back to Burbick. "Don't listen to him. If you would like to join us we have a spaceship and we can get out of here and although it's not the Imperial city, it is the universe and if you really are smart and like to learn you can learn so much more with us! Plus we could absolutely use your help. You're from this solar system and you can probably help us find a way home. Please Burbick, come with us!"

He looks at Shepherd with hope in his eyes, silently asking him for permission. "Fine," Shepherd finally grunts out.

"Thank you both so much! I swear I will do everything I can to prove myself to both of you." He stands and tries to hug me but Shepherd immediately blocks his path. Burbick apologizes and backs away. All I can do is roll my eyes and laugh. Now I'm stuck with two stupid boys and I'm just hoping they don't start some kind of pissing contest.