Shadows In The Dark
1234 Words
The proximity alert cast an ominous red light over the barn. Kael crouched by the ship’s console, his hands dancing over the controls as symbols flickered across the screen. Dahlia stood behind him, her arms crossed tightly over her chest as she tried to keep her growing panic at bay.
“How bad is it?” she asked, her voice low.
Kael didn’t look up. “They’re close. I estimate we have fifteen minutes before they arrive.”
Dahlia felt her stomach churn. She knew exactly who “they” were: her parents, armed with their state-of-the-art equipment and unwavering hatred for anything alien. They wouldn’t hesitate to capture Kael—and destroy him if he resisted.
“Can you stop them?” she asked.
Kael glanced at her, his expression unreadable. “Not without exposing myself further. And I can’t risk drawing attention to you.”
Dahlia’s jaw tightened. “I don’t care about me. We need to get you out of here.”
Kael paused, his gaze lingering on her for a moment longer than usual. Then he stood, his movements swift and precise. “The ship isn’t ready for takeoff. But there’s an energy disruption field I can activate. It will confuse their sensors temporarily.”
“Temporarily?”
“Minutes, at best,” he admitted.
Dahlia’s mind raced. They didn’t have a plan, and time was slipping through their fingers.
“Okay,” she said, taking a deep breath. “You activate the field. I’ll slow them down.”
Kael’s head snapped toward her. “No.”
She blinked, startled by the sudden sharpness in his tone.
“You can’t risk yourself like that,” he continued, his voice steady but firm. “They’re your family. If they suspect you’ve been helping me, they’ll—”
“—ground me?” Dahlia interrupted, her tone sardonic. “I think we’re past that point.”
Kael stepped closer, his glowing eyes narrowing. “This isn’t a joke, Dahlia. They could harm you.”
Dahlia met his gaze head-on, her heart pounding. “I don’t care. I’m not letting them take you.”
---
The barn fell silent, the weight of her words hanging in the air. Kael’s expression shifted—just slightly—but it was enough for Dahlia to catch a glimpse of something she couldn’t quite name.
“Fine,” he said finally, his voice softer. “But we do this carefully. No unnecessary risks.”
Dahlia smirked. “When do I ever take unnecessary risks?”
Kael’s silence was answer enough.
---
Kael moved quickly, his long fingers manipulating the controls of the energy disruption field. Dahlia watched him, a strange mix of awe and anxiety coiling in her chest.
“Does your planet have situations like this?” she asked, trying to distract herself. “Where someone’s life is on the line?”
Kael didn’t look up. “Not in the way you’re imagining. On Lumora, individual lives are secondary to the collective good. If one must fall to save the many, it’s considered… acceptable.”
Dahlia frowned. “That’s horrible.”
“It’s logical,” he countered. “Emotion clouds judgment. Sacrifices are sometimes necessary.”
She studied him, her gaze piercing. “You really believe that?”
Kael hesitated, just for a fraction of a second. “It’s what I’ve been taught.”
“That’s not what I asked,” Dahlia pressed.
Kael didn’t answer.
---
The disruption field hummed to life, sending ripples of energy through the air. Kael straightened, his face calm but his posture tense.
“That will buy us a few minutes,” he said. “You should go back to the house. If they find you here—”
“I’m not leaving,” Dahlia said firmly.
Kael turned to face her, his expression unreadable. “Dahlia—”
“I said no,” she snapped. “We’re in this together, whether you like it or not.”
For a moment, neither of them spoke. Then Kael sighed, a sound that was almost human. “You’re… infuriating.”
“I’ve been told that before,” Dahlia said with a faint smile.
---
The sound of distant engines shattered the fragile calm. Dahlia’s heart leapt into her throat as she turned toward the barn doors.
“They’re here,” she whispered.
Kael’s jaw tightened. “Stay behind me.”
Dahlia grabbed his arm. “No. We’ll face them together.”
He stared at her, his glowing eyes flickering with something she couldn’t identify. Then, reluctantly, he nodded.
---
The barn doors creaked open, and a beam of harsh white light flooded the space. Dahlia shielded her eyes, her heart hammering against her ribs.
“Dahlia Vega,” a cold voice called out.
Her father stepped into the barn, flanked by two armed agents. His face was a mask of grim determination, his sharp eyes scanning the room.
“What are you doing out here?” he demanded.
Dahlia forced herself to stand tall. “I heard something crash. I came to check it out.”
Her father’s gaze shifted to Kael, who stood motionless beside her. “And you just happened to find this… thing?”
“He’s not a thing,” Dahlia said before she could stop herself.
Her father’s eyes narrowed. “So you’ve been helping him.”
“No!” she lied, her voice steady despite the panic clawing at her insides. “I don’t even know what he is.”
Her father took a step closer, his hand resting on the weapon at his side. “Dahlia, step away from it. Now.”
Kael tensed, his muscles coiled like a spring. Dahlia could feel the heat radiating off him, the air around him humming with barely contained energy.
“No,” she said quietly.
Her father froze, disbelief flickering across his face. “What did you say?”
Dahlia swallowed hard, her voice rising. “I said no. He hasn’t done anything wrong. You don’t have to hurt him.”
Her father’s expression darkened. “You don’t understand, Dahlia. These creatures are dangerous. They can’t be trusted.”
“You don’t even know him!” she shot back. “You’re just scared of what you don’t understand.”
Her father’s eyes hardened. “Step aside. That’s an order.”
Dahlia shook her head, her heart pounding so loudly she could barely hear his next words.
“Then you leave me no choice.”
---
Before her father could act, Kael moved. His hand shot out, sending a pulse of energy through the air. The agents’ weapons sparked and fizzled, their circuits fried in an instant.
Dahlia’s father staggered back, his face a mask of shock and fury. “What have you done?”
Kael stepped forward, his voice calm but unyielding. “I have no intention of harming anyone. But I will not be taken.”
The air crackled with tension, the barn feeling suddenly too small. Dahlia looked between her father and Kael, her mind racing.
“Please,” she said, her voice breaking. “This doesn’t have to end like this.”
Her father hesitated, his hand still hovering over his weapon.
Kael’s glowing eyes met hers, a question unspoken but clear.
Dahlia held her breath, the weight of the moment pressing down on her like a storm.
And then, her father made his choice.
- Writer
