Chapter Twenty

The storm was a lot worse than any of them thought it would be. Thunder cracked like a boom as lightning clashed in the night, brightening the sky with vivid white light every so often. But the worst part about it was the rain and wind. It was coming down so hard that it whipped at the windows and pounded against the roof like hammering nails. The wind was blowing so hard and fast that branches were being ripped right off the trees and the power wires were dangerously being pulled from their poles.
The power went out within an hour of the thunderstorm’s arrival, and they sat in the dark with lighted candles all around the house.
“My goodness, I can’t believe how cold it’s gotten.” His mother says huddled on the couch in the living room with a blanket wrapped around her. “How long do you think this is going to last?” She asks looking to her husband who was trying to start a fire in the fireplace.
Ry grabbed the wood from the garage before it had started just in case, and he was glad that he did. He also made sure to sandbag the garage door and side door as well. They had an entire outdoor patio set in the backyard that both him and his mother had put away right as the rain started.
Now it was coming down in torrents and the sounds were deafening and ominous against the house. Nasia sat in the center of the living room with her eyes closed, listening. Ry couldn’t help but sit against the couch on the floor of the other end from where his mother was sitting, staring at her. What she had said to him stuck in his mind on repeat and wouldn’t go away.
She said she wasn’t from this world, that she was some sort of alien, an energy being from another galaxy. He had been so amazed and enraptured with the things she was able to do that it never occurred to him to ask why she was here on earth in the first place. He vaguely remembered her telling him that she had been sent on a mission. But what mission and what did it consist of? If she wasn’t here to learn about humans, because she spent seventy years on their planet and hardly knows anything about them, then what was she here for?
That unsettling feeling in the pit of his stomach came back with a force. Truth be told, he was afraid to even ask. Would she even tell him the truth of it? He may not have known her for very long, just a few days really, and yet he knew without a doubt that she would. Because that was just the type of being she was.
The problem was whether he wanted to believe her or not. He didn’t understand why but he wanted to believe she was here for a good cause. But with her not seeming to be surprised of what was going on out there right now scared him. And made him worried.
“Nasia, were you able to tell your family that you’re safe here with us?” His mother asks, looking at the girl in question.
She slowly opens her eyes and looks to her with a small smile. “They know I am here, Mrs. Starling.”
“And where are you from? Your accent doesn’t seem to be around here.”
Ry starts coughing at that moment, making a show of it. Staring hard at Nasia, warning her not to continue with that answer his mother comes to him, concern written all over her face as she hands him her glass of water.
“Are you alright? Can you breathe now?” She asks, rubbing his back once he took a big gulp of the water.
“Fine, mom. I accidentally choked on my own saliva.” He tells her.
“I never understood how people manage to do that.” His dad laughs, kneeling by the flames that finally came to life and was adding more wood to keep it burning.
“It happens. It’s not like I meant it too.”
“Don’t worry, Mrs. Starling, Ry’s not in any danger. I would know if he is.” Nasia goes back to closing her eyes and focusing on the sounds once more.
They couldn’t help but stare at her with that statement. Both of his parents look to him with raised brows, but he just shrugs, smiling a little with uncertainty. But he looks back at her wondering what she had meant by that saying. Especially since it wasn’t an answer to his mother’s question. In fact, it was an answer none of them were even thinking about. What had prompted her to say something like that? Unless…
“How bad do you think this storm is going to be?” He asked her, waiting to see if she’d open her eyes again.
She doesn’t as she simply says, “It’s currently at it’s peak. It won’t be long before it moves along hitting the next city. The damage will be great, but no lives will be lost.”
“What is she talking about?” His father asks, looking suspicious now. “How would she even know something like that?”
“She’s…a major in…Meteorology.” He quickly thinks, not knowing what else to say.
“Oh. Really? That’s interesting.” His mom quirks up with that new information.
He suddenly stands up. “Yep, it is. I’ll show her where she can sleep for the night.” He takes two steps, grabs her hands and pulls her up to stand in front of him.
She doesn’t blink an eye as she tilts her head at him, something she does quite a lot he noticed. He doesn’t wait for his parents reply as he quickly walks her back into the hallway and into his room. Once he shuts the door he whispers in a rush,
“What’s really going on out there, Nasia? I know you know, and I know you’re not just here to have a lengthy vacation from your home world. You mentioned a mission. So tell me the truth.”
He takes a deep breath. “Why are you really here on earth?”