Chapter Two
1809 Words
ZACK walked over and pulled his sister off of Miley. “Sorry about that.”
"Hey! Let me go! No fair you can't just walk in here with your wife-to-be and not expect me to get excited!" His sister snickered.
"She's not my girlfriend." Zack shouted.
The woman waved her hand dismissively. "Yeah, sure. Not yet anyway."
She leaned forward and looks into Miley’s face with curiosity. "Hi, my name is Tahmika. The ‘I’ is silent. So what's yours?"
"Her name's Mil-" Tahmika puts a hand over his mouth. "Tsk, she can talk."
She looked at her with an awkward face. “Miley.” She looked at Zach asking for help.
Tahmika stepped back. "Miley is it? Aw, what a cute name. I'm Tahmika. The ‘I’ is silent."
"You already said that." Zack pointed out with a hint of irritation in his voice.
"Who the hell is all that noise?" A tired male voice said, walking out of the back room.
Miley hides quickly behind Zach. “Who the hell is that?”
The new person walked up to Zack. "Move." he said casually pushing him out of the way.
"And where'd you find her?" He asked.
"Well, she was just laying out there and-"
"You know we don't have enough supplies for another mouth to feed."
The other guy glared at Zach.
"This is my brother Je-" his brother shove him lightly away. "And stop giving out all our information. For all you know, she could be working for the opposing Core." he then looks at Miley. "I'll be the one asking the questions. Who are you and where did you come from? Answer quickly and I might not call the SNS, you ass."
Miley looked at Zach for help then to the other guy again.
”I’m…” she sighed deeply to reduce her nervousness then looks at the back at him. “I came from the Earth. Miley is my name. And I don't know who you guys are and why the hell I end up here. I need your help to get away from this place. “She stared at him not knowing she can get answers from the man.
The man looked at her without saying anything for a moment. "Earth huh?" Zach then walked up and pushed his brother out of the way.
"Nice work pissing her off genius." Zach turned towards her. “Sorry about that. His name was Jerryn. He's kind of a jerk."
She stared at him for a while then nodded. “Is he your elder? “She tilted her head to the side.
Jerryn shoved Zack back. "And you’re kind of a blabber mouth. I told you not to tell her."
"And what’s the difference would that have made? It's not like you're in some important position." Zack shot back, his eyes narrowing.
Tahmicka casually walked over and pulled Miley to the side. "Well, while they talk peacefully, why don't we go over here where you can hear yourself think? It just so happens I was about to make dinner. Would you like to help?"
"Oh and to answer your question, yes, Jerryn is the older one. He may seem tough, but actually he's quite nice." She answered, winking at her.
Miley nodded slowly then followed her. “I think they might end up killing.”
Tahmicha smiled. "Eh, they won't do that. They love each other too much. And besides," she grinned evilly, "If they get too out of hand, I just don't feed them that day and the way food works around here, you can't keep it for long, so I end up throwing it out while they watch and they can think about their actions... in the dark."
Miley smiled a bit then shook her head. “Well... What's for dinner?”
"Hmm let's see...." She opened the cupboard and peered inside. "Ah here we go... sorry, it's not much." She pulled out a can and poured what looks to be a light brown substance into a pot. The substance kind of looks like a melted chocolate and vanilla ice cream sundae.
She handed her the pot. "Can you sit this on the stove and light the match please?" It is an old fashioned looking stove that uses a lighter that is connected to the stove.
She lighted the matches then put it below the pot after she putted on the stove.
Tamicka takes two dried vegetables that look kind of like cucumbers and begins to cut them up. "Have you ever had Chocklate before?"
“You mean, Chocolate?” She watched her as she sliced the veggie. “Well, in our place, they have lots of it so yeah.”
Tamicka pauses for a moment. "Hmm... Well great then. You'll feel right at home!" She putted the vegetables in and stirred for a few minutes while humming. “So, what's Earth like? And what part of the world is that in? I've never heard of it." She looked at her and smiled.
"I'll admit, I've never heard anyone pronounce chocklate quite like that.” She added.
Miley looked at her, thinking for an answer. “Earth is a beautiful planet to live with. Water and lands are there. No wars. Well, except for the other countries. There is also air that you can breath and food to eat.” She smiled as she talked about the things on Earth.
"Wow that sounds amazing. A planet? Hmm, with a description like that, it must be a planet because there’s only one place on this one that's kind of like that, and it's extremely far away."
Miley looked at her, confused. “What is it?”
Tamicka stares in front of her. “This planet is very strange. It's not extremely dangerous... well in some parts, but thousands of industrial plants have started springing up all over the place which started messing with the atmosphere. So towers have been erected in certain locations to keep the air clear. There are stories that there was once a blue sky here, "Tamicka looked up with sparkles in her eyes. “Can you imagine that? A sky that is all blue? That'd be so.... strange." Tamicka stared at the ceiling for a bit kind of spacing out as the pot begins to boil and steam started to rise.
Miley blinked then poked her quickly. ”Hey! The pot!”
"Huh... Oh right!" She takes the pot of and peers inside. "Hmmm." The smell of something that smells a bit like gravy and maybe a slight hint of what can only be described as a mix between beef and saw dust fills the kitchen. She sprinkles in salt and stirred a bit more before calling the others. "Hey guys, dinner's ready!"
Zack runs in and sits at the counter. Jerryn follows. "Time for some chalk-grate!"
Miley snorted as she saw them coming. “What's with the face?” she whispered Zach.
Zack looks over. "What face? Chalk-grate normally tastes like rocks, but Tamicka makes it taste somewhat like food."
He digs in. "Hey, you got all the grit out this time too!" Zack said with a mouth full. “Thanks, Tamicka."
Tamicka smiled. "Glad you guys like it. Don't listen to them Miley. Try some. It's really not that bad."
Miley looked at them then at the food and took a spoon on it then eats. “Well, it taste good anyway.”
As she eat, she noticed it tasted like a rather thick gravy with small veggies in it. Imagine thick soup broth.... not like chocolate at all.
"Glad you like it. So Miley, will you be staying the night? It is getting dark after all."
Miley looked at Zach then at the window checking the weather. “Well...”
"I know it might taste funny, but there are actually a lot of minerals and protein in it." Tamicka explained.
Miley then heard a soft clanking sound outside the window.
"Looks like it’s raining.” Zack points out. "You might as well stay here."
Tamicka clasped her hands together in excitement. "Oh! Our first guest, and it is with an adorable girl! Don't you two get up to any funny business? I don't think I'll be able to spread the chocklate any thinner with a fifth mouth to feed."
Miley frowned as she heard Tamicka said. “Well, if that so then I'll find someplace that can protect me from the rain.”
"Really funny, Tamicka." Zack says unamused.
"There's an extra blanket in the closet. Could you bring it out for her Zack?" Tamicka told him as she was about to get up.
"Sure." Zack gets up to retrieve the blanket.
"If you don't know where you are going tomorrow, you may attend classes with Zack. Unfortunately Jerryn and I have to be out and I'm afraid I can't leave you here alone." Tamicka looked at Miley.
She nodded as she received the blanket from Zack. “I didn’t know Zack go to school. How old are you by the way?” She asked Zack.
Zack goes into his room. "I’m 150 years old. I’m sleepy and will talk to you tomorrow. Night."
Tamicka started to go but then turned towards Miley. "Is something wrong?" she asked with a concerned look in her eyes.
She looked at her like she saw a ghost. “Are you like? A vampire?”
Tamicka chuckled. “No dear. It’s our age on this planet. I’m 267 years old. How about you? How old are you?”
“I’m turning twenty one this May.” Miley still can’t get over about the fact that she was living with an old creatures.
“Really? Well, you seem quite familiar. Are you sure you‘re not from here?” Tamicka leaned towards her.
Miley stepped back and grinned awkwardly. “Nope.”
Never will be. I’ll be very old then. She thought.
"Alright then. Night Miley." Tamicka walked into the back and closed the door. Miley was lying on the sofa as the soft pitter patter of rain rocks fall quietly against the window.
Miley hear voices talking quietly.
"Are you sure we can trust her with Zack?" She heard Jerryn said.
"Jerryn, she's just a kid." Tamicka replied.
"So was Senka."
"Jerryn! Please, don't bring that up right now."
"We’ll just keep an eye out."
She looked at the door behind those voices and narrowed her eyes as she heard the name Senka.
“Who is Senka?” she thought to herself until she didn't mind that she fell asleep.
TBC
- Writer
