My 8 E-books written over the years by Alina Udrea - HTML preview

Chapter 4: Two rotten apples and an

unexpected confession

He was so happy. He was having the adventure of his life. Terra had

proven by far the most interesting planet he had visited so far. People were so complex and complicated but they could also be so kind and sensitive. He decided to try gather materials to fix his ship in case he ever wanted to go back to his former life. Maybe with Delia by his side as his wife and soul mate. So he figured he needed a car, a truck to transport the materials back on the mountain to his ship. Delia had a car but it wasn’t large enough to transport materials. He needed a truck. But how to make enough money fast to buy one? Maybe Delia’s Mom had useful information again. So after dinner he figured to pay them a visit.

He had dinner and then headed towards Delia’s home. He knocked on

their door and waited for an answer. Marcel opened the door but when he saw him he had a worried look on his face.

- Hello, Marcel said. I thought it was our daughter. She should have been home from work by now. Dinner is on the table, we were waiting for her. Won’t you join us?

- Is she usually late from work? Al asked as he began to worry for Delia too after hearing Marcel and reading his mind and worries.- No, she is almost never late… Mom also intervened clearly worried for her daughter. Her shift was over an hour ago. And I can’t reach her on her phone.

- OK, I waited enough. I will go to the restaurant and see if she is still there, said Marcel. Maybe they had lots of customers and she is still cleaning or something. And he took his coat from the peg ready to exit the door when Al stopped him. He put his hand on his shoulder and induced a state of calmness in him by just touching him and talking to him.- I will go look for her, Al said. She would probably be embarrassed if her pa came looking for her like she was a child. But I can go and pretend I was having an evening stroll, how does this sound?

- Al is right, Mom said already a lot calmer. Let him go. If there is nothing wrong, I guess he can indeed say he was just out for a stroll. Just be careful

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Al, the streets can be dangerous at night. There are many kids who went rotten due to harsh life conditions or who knows why. Many thugs out at night ready to jump anyone who is alone. This city needs more policeman to patrol at night especially in dark alleys.

- No worries, I will get her home, and Al left towards the restaurant. When he was far from their house he sat on a bench and focused his mind to try read the minds of the other people as he couldn’t read Delia’s mind. He figured that if she was in trouble it must be from some males whose hormones had gotten to their heads. So he filtered the thoughts of the females and then focused on those of men. Then he focused on those who were anxious leaving the calm ones alone. He heard thoughts of men worried about being seen with their mistresses and hoping their wives wouldn’t find out, he heard a man worried that he had drunk too much and couldn’t remember where he had left his bike and then he heard them. Two men worried not to be seen by anyone while attacking a young woman. He quickly focused on the two and he could see Delia in their mind. So she was in danger on a dark alley with the two ready to jump her. Al hated what those two had in their minds and what they meant to do to her. He had to find her fast. He focused until his temples hurt but then he saw a shop sign in one of the two men’s mind and he knew where that was. He got up from the bench a little dizzy from focusing too much to read so many people’s minds at the same time but he quickly came back to his own self. He started running as he had never done before, his feet barely touching the ground due to the difference of gravity from his own planet. It almost looked like he was flying or floating above the ground. He was on the dark alley in less than three minutes. He saw the two men cornering Delia and he could see the panic in her eyes. He heard their voices as they thought there was no one there besides themselves and the poor girl.- Come closer, said one of them grinning in expectation. We don’t bite! And they both started laughing.

- Yeah, how come a beautiful thing like you is all alone at this hour? Said the other guy wanting to make sure that the girl wasn’t expecting company to deter them from their plans.

- She is not alone! Delia heard the voice clearly, she was sure of it but didn’t know where it came from. Who had said that? She couldn’t see anyone besides the two bullies. Then from a dark corner behind the bullies she started to distinguish a shape coming closer. She couldn’t believe her eyes!

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Al?? Was she just imaging him, was her mind playing tricks on her? Because it wasn’t funny if it was just her imagination. She was sure the two would probably kill her after they would be done with her so she wouldn’t go the police. Maybe her panicked mind was hallucinating in her final moments. But then she clearly saw and heard everything. It was all real. It was a miracle.

- You two had better go if you want to wake up in the morning with all your limbs intact! She heard Al saying while he came closer, standing in the neon light of a closed shop. It really was him!

- Ha-ha, listen to this sucker! The two laughed. Go back home skinny man until it is too late. Or you want a piece of her too?- Suit yourselves, said Al while already breaking the first man’s legs with a quick and powerful blow that left him crawling in the dirt unable to get up. Then he dodged a blow from the other guy who was trying to hit his head with a brick he had picked up from near an old and derelict house. He then touched his forehead with his palm and the man bent to his knees and started crying as if he was in tremendous pain. Delia couldn’t believe her own eyes. The man was acting as if he was really hurting although Al had just touched his forehead gently. She was sure now that there was something odd about Al, their new neighbor, but who cared? He had just saved her life. If he had secrets, he could rest assured she wouldn’t blow the horn. She was sure that those had been her final moments on this earth until he appeared practically out of nowhere and saved her life. She got up from the corner where she had been waiting for her doom a few moments ago and hit the man’s face with the phone she was holding. At least it did something right, leaving a dark mark on his face where it touched his skin.- I will have to buy a new phone. This one’s battery sucks. Couldn’t use it when I needed it most. Said Delia with the color coming back to her cheeks. Then she approached Al and she kissed him. It was her first kiss and his as well. For a brief moment she thought she could see the night stars in his eyes. It was a magical moment.

- Thank you for saving my life! I don’t know why I went down this alley this evening. I usually go on the other street but I had a lot of work this evening and didn’t want to be late for family dinner and thought to take the shortcut. It almost cost me my life. How did you find me?- Uh, Al mumbled, not wanting to lie but he couldn’t tell her the truth either. I was having a stroll and then I saw the two guys and I realized they were up

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to no good. Then I saw you and you looked like you needed help so …you know the rest!

- I know that if it wasn’t for you I wouldn’t be going home right now… speaking of which, please don’t tell my parents about any of these. They would just worry to death about me. Let’s just tell them I had to work a lot because of some late customers and we met by accident and you decided to walk me home, OK? It is just a white lie… I don’t want them to worry for me every time I get out the door, OK Al?

- OK. Just glad I was here in time. And he took her hand and they both headed for her home while the two bullies were both on the ground in pain. It served them right, Al thought to himself. Then he walked Delia home and they both entered as her parents invited him for dinner, too.- Oh my God Delia! Cried her mother at seeing her daughter unharmed. You scared us to death. Why didn’t you answer your phone?- The stupid thing’s battery died. Sorry, I just had so much work and didn’t realize it got so late. Al was strolling by and he offered to walk me home.- Uh, said her father, after dinner go look on the internet and choose another phone. I will pay for it!

- Wow pa, you don’t have to. I will be able to afford one on my next salary, Delia said trying to calm her father. If he offered to buy her a new phone it meant he had really been worried about her. He was very strict about spending money as they were always short on money.- Nah, you deserve a better phone. No worries sweetheart, and Marcel hugged his daughter relieved beyond words to see that she was OK.- I’ll go change into something more comfortable and then I’ll be joining you for dinner, Delia said already in the doorway.

- Thank you so much for bringing her home, Mom whispered in Al’s ear when Marcel wasn’t paying attention. What really happened?

Al thought for a moment what his answer should be and decided to tell

her the truth, she was her mother and deserved to know, especially as she had sensed that things hadn’t been as Delia told them. He thought about how to tell her and then he decided to tell her his own way: he touched her hand and looked straight into her eyes and flooded her mind with the vision of what had happened earlier. So he let her see what had happened without even using words, just the power of his mind. He liked this family too much to lie to them anymore. He decided to tell them who he really was and where he came from. He was sure they would keep his secret safe.

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But he waited for Delia to return from upstairs first so she could also hear him. Meanwhile Mom was not sure what had just happened. She had seen images in her mind of her daughter attacked by the two men and also how Al had saved her. She didn’t know what was going on thinking that maybe she had lost her mind. Then Delia joined them for dinner. It was time for him to come clean. It was the best thing to do.

- There is something I need to tell you, Al started still wondering if it was a good idea. But he had never in his life been wrong about anyone and he was 100 percent certain that they would keep his secret and wouldn’t run away terrified. They were smart and honest people, just the sort he liked.- Anything wrong with the pancakes? Asked Marcel thinking that maybe his wife had put too much jam in them and were too sweet for Al’s taste.- I don’t think it has anything to do with the food… said Mom who was now sure that she hadn’t lost her mind and that the stranger in their home had put those images in her head. But as weird as it seemed, she wasn’t afraid of him. There was something about him, she couldn’t put her finger on it, but she felt safe in his presence.

Delia stopped eating and started to bite her lips nervously thinking that

maybe he was going to tell her parents that she had kissed him. Maybe he was just another boor thinking that if she kissed him he could propose to her or something. Maybe he was just like the other guys from her town. Her ears were red to their tips waiting for Al to speak and embarrass her but what he said was not what she had expected to hear.- I really don’t know how to say this so it won’t sound crazy or something…Al started and waited for their reactions so he would know how to go on. Delia was all red although he had no idea why as he couldn’t read her mind, her Mom was listening very carefully as she knew that there was something weird about him although she didn’t know what and Marcel was still wondering about the pancakes thinking that maybe Al really thought Mom had used way too much jam in spite of the fact that he had repeatedly told her not to put so much jam or they’ll turn diabetics.- I come from far away… he went on.

- We know that, said Marcel. But by the look on your face it must be something serious. I don’t think you want to complain about the pancakes, do you?

- Uh, what’s wrong with my pancakes? Asked Mom upset that her husband was criticizing the way she cooked in front of a stranger.

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- Uh, nothing honey, just that you put too much jam, that is all… .and Marcel was already sorry for having said that as he was sure she would scold him later on when they would be alone in the bedroom.- No, your pancakes were a real delight. Stop worrying about the way you cook, the food is great. What I meant to say is that I come from another planet.

- Ha-ha, laughed Marcel with both his hands on his belly as he couldn’t stop laughing. That was a good one. Did you also put poison in them? He said still laughing but then he saw that he was the only one laughing and he saw that Al was dead serious. So he thought that maybe the kid was soft in the head. He stopped laughing anyway.

- Nope, I am not soft in the head although your reaction is quite normal. I guess you don’t hear this every day.

- Whoa, I was just thinking that, said Marcel a bit afraid. How did you know?- Told you, I am not human. I look like you but I am not one of you.- Oh my good God, said Delia not believing her own ears. You mean you are… an alien??

- Yeah I guess so, although to me, you are the aliens. But as I am on your planet, you are right.

- And I thought I was losing my mind earlier, said Mom although Marcel and Delia didn’t know what she meant by that. I knew there was something weird about you but this is too much.

- Well, I am a friendly alien. And he put on his nicest and most seductive smile. There are a lot of other races out there who are not this friendly. But my race is a peace- loving race who never starts a war unless it is absolutely necessary. We love peace and harmony and never attack unless attacked. But don’t get me wrong, we are very powerful.

- Oh God, said Delia again, I hear what you are saying but my mind can’t seem to process what my ears are hearing. Prove you are an alien before you go on.

- OK. And Al took her hand and gazed into her beautiful blue eyes and let her see images from his own mind, memories of his home planet, of his journeys to other planets, of the wonderful as well as dangerous things he had seen so far and ended with showing her the image of his small cargo ship crashing to earth. Then he slowly let go of her hand and waited for her reaction whatever that may be as he never knew what to expect of her, she was unpredictable because her mind was a mystery.

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- Oh! !! It is true! I can’t believe this!

- Huh? As Al didn’t know how to take her words when…- Oh my, oh my, oh my! I am so excited I could almost kiss you again! I have an alien friend, how cool is that? Oops…and she blushed for having reacted the way she had and for admitting to have kissed him already!- This went better than I expected, Al thought to himself. Wow.- What? Kiss again? And Marcel acted upset then he burst out laughing. See? He said addressing his wife. Told you she would find her prince charming….or charming alien… and he hugged Al to his utmost surprise.- We’ve been through so much emotions today from worrying about our daughter’s safety to… well …discovering we have an alien in our home, said Mom. Oh and what was that about the kiss?

- Mom, dad, Al is an alien and all you two think about is the fact that we kissed?

- Well to tell you the truth, yeah. I thought you would never marry, honey. So who cares he is an alien? We get to have grandchildren someday. Thank you lord for sending him to us.

- Now it is my turn to be speechless. I think I’ve shown you that I really am a friendly alien but still I am an alien. You took the news pretty well.- I was sure there were other creatures in the universe besides us. There had to be or there would have been such a waste of space for us to be the only living beings and all the rest of the universe to be just dead space with dead planets. I knew it! Told you pa but you would never listen to me.- I never gave it much thought until now when we have an actual alien in our house. So tell us more about you, about your life.- Hmm, there’s not that much to say. I crashed to your planet up in the mountains and came down looking for materials to repair my ship. I am a merchant and I pilot my own ship. I buy and sell different stuff but the most precious of all is something which it appears you have plenty of: pure water. Water is life. My first intention was to fix my ship and go back to my life but then I met you all and this changed the course of my life. You, Delia, have changed my life.

- Pinch me, said Mom, I can’t believe my daughter has a boyfriend!- I can’t believe he is an alien! Said Marcel ignoring his wife who was jubilating. We have a genuine alien in our living room.- I was convinced there were aliens out there, Delia finally said, but I always thought they were grey and ugly and with huge black eyes and no eyelids.

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Spooky sort, like in the movies. Instead you look just like any normal human. You could go for somebody’s neighbor and nobody would notice that you are different unless maybe at a close look. But now that I know that you are different I look at you with different eyes and I can see small things which could make a difference. The shape of your eyes for starters and the fact that you hardly blink at all. I don’t know how you do it. And your hair is so black. And you are a bit taller than the average people I know.

- Yes, there are some differences but we are not that different. I didn’t know what to expect when I crashed to Earth. I thought humans were savage. But that is so untrue. You aren’t technologically as advanced as our race but you are far from being savages.

- Savages? Oh my God! Said Mom feeling offended on humanity’s behalf. We may not be as advanced as your race but we are far from being savages.- I see that, said Al smiling sincerely.

- Then how come I have vague memories of you being an old acquaintance, Al? Asked Mom puzzled.

- Oh, sorry about that. It was a harmless trick for which I really am sorry but it was late and I was tired and hungry and in need of shelter. Couldn’t have said I was an alien, right? So I hypnotized you to believe that so you would trust me and offer me food and shelter.

- Yes, said Mom seeing things from his perspective. You are right and no harm done. So it was a fake memory…

- Yes, but will never deceive any of you again about anything. You know you can trust me and understand my reason for my little trick.- Strange enough but I really feel that I can trust you, said Mom. And as I said, I understand why you did that. So are you going to fix your ship? And if you fix it, will you go back to your old life?

Delia’s eyes were fixed on Al’s and she was so attentive not to miss a word of his answer or a gesture that might betray his real intentions.- Yes, I will try to repair my ship. Doesn’t hurt to have an advanced functional ship, right? As for going back to my old life… no. Not soon anyway. I really like it here. It is an adventure and a break from my job. It is new and exciting. I will be staying here for a good while, said Al thinking of Delia. He couldn’t leave without her. He was sure she was the one for him. So either he remained on Terra or maybe she would go to his planet with him. But first he would have to win her heart. He had thought that being an alien

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would be a major drawback but now after having seen her reaction to his confession he thought that maybe, just maybe, instead of being a drawback as he had believed it turned out to be an advantage as she not only wasn’t afraid of him but she seemed thrilled with the idea of having met an actual alien.

- Dinner was great but it’s getting late and I got to wake up early for work so I’ll be heading home. Have a good night, and Al left them wondering about all he had said.

- Let me walk you to the door, Delia offered. When they were alone, she whispered in his ears in the sweetest voice: thank you Al for saving me from those guys. And she leaned in and placed a kiss on his cheek. It was so gentle that he barely felt her lips touching his skin. But it sent shivers of pleasure throughout his body.

- Sleep well and don’t let that one incident affect your beautiful nature. Trust me, it is not worth your time. And I assure you those two will never attack anyone again. Have a good night!