Chapter Ten
Two endless weeks passed.
Amy avoided Faro, even though he’d tried to start a conversation several times. She didn’t want to hear any more of his excuses or evasions. Amy wished she didn’t miss him, but she did. No matter how hard she tried to put Faro out of her mind, she just couldn’t.
So Amy threw herself into work, and her regular routine, even though it felt empty. She spent time with Comet and Cupid, tried to distract herself with Scrabble games and interesting television shows, but nothing worked, not even Doctor-freaking-Who.
Around noon on a boring Wednesday, Ivy knocked on her office door.
“Got a minute?”
“Sure.” Amy sat back in her chair, and rolled her neck to ease the stiffness. She’d been working since dawn, and hadn’t taken a break yet.
“Wanna get some lunch?”
“No, I’m not hungry.” She hadn’t had much of an appetite lately.
Ivy rolled her eyes. “Okay, I’ve backed off and let you have some space, but I’m done. You’ve been shuffling around here like one of those Walking Dead guys. What happened with you and Hottie?” She sat in the chair across from Amy’s desk.
Amy had been wondering the same thing. Had she deliberately sabotaged her budding relationship with Faro? Or had it been a preemptive strike to save herself from the pain?
People always left her—her mother, her father, and now Faro. Sometimes she wondered what the point of getting attached was at all. Amy seemed strong, capable, but she could be vulnerable, and hated showing any weakness.
Under normal circumstances, she hardened her heart, but couldn’t bring herself to do that in this instance. Faro mattered to her, and now she couldn’t distance herself emotionally, so she’d settled for ignoring him.
“We’re fine.” Even thinking about the situation was exhausting, let alone discussing it.
“No, you’re not, and I won’t leave until you tell me.” Ivy leaned back in the chair and crossed her arms over her chest, stubborn as ever.
“Ugh, all right, you win. I’d say we broke up, but since we’ve never actually gone out, I can’t.” And yet it felt like a breakup, the worst one she’d ever had.
“Thought so.” Ivy heaved a theatrical sigh. “What’d jerkface do?”
“Why do you assume it’s him, and not me?”
“Because it’s always them. Men suck at relationships.”
When it came to men, Ivy was a touch bitter. Her brief relationships aside, Ivy had always been something of a loner. There was probably a story there, but Amy hadn’t been able to figure it out.
“That’s a little cynical.”
“We’re talking about you, not me. What happened?”
“He’s not all the way truthful with me. I wouldn’t say he’s lying, exactly, but I’m not getting the whole story, either, and it’s driving me bonkers.”
She nodded. “Lies of omission, then?”
“Yeah. How can I trust him, when he won’t level with me?”
“I see your point.”
“I have feelings for him, and I don’t want to fall any deeper before I know what I’m getting myself into.” She’d already lost the one person she’d counted on, and couldn’t put herself through anymore turmoil.
“What do you think he’s hiding?”
Amy shrugged. “I don't know, it could be anything. What if he’s married? Or a serial killer?”
“Whoa. Do you think he’s all murderish?”
“No, but it’s gotta be terrible, or he would’ve told me.”
“Then cutting him loose was the right thing to do.”
Probably, but it still hurt.
“Damn. I thought he’d be fun. I didn’t know you’d get attached.”
“Believe me, I didn’t expect it, either.”
Ivy grasped her hand. “So, do you need anything? I can cheer you up.”
“Yeah, you’re pretty good at it.” After failing a test, Ivy had taken her out for tequila shots. It was therapeutic, even if she’d woken up the next day with a vicious hangover. “Maybe we’ll do something low-key, like chick flicks and popcorn.”
Although, she’d rather watch all of the seasons of Stark Trek: Enterprise back-to-back instead. She seriously doubted Ivy would be up for it, though, even if Scott Bakula was cute.
“Cool. We’ll have a marathon this weekend. Don’t worry about a thing, I’ll do all the planning.”
Amy didn’t think it would help, but at least she wouldn’t be alone.
***
Later on, when she went to feed the reindeer, Amy saw a familiar thin figure slipping into the barn. It was the skinny, silent dude she’d seen lurking around the building a few weeks ago.
She gritted her teeth. “Seriously? Can this week get any worse?”
Wait a second, don’t tempt fate.
After pulling out her phone and threading her keys through gloved fingers to create a makeshift weapon, Amy rushed to the door, ready to defend Comet and Cupid.
“Hey, this is private property,” Amy called from the doorway. “If you don’t leave, I’m gonna call the police.”
There was no answer, and no sign of the intruder, either.
Amy hit the flashlight app on her phone, and shone it into the dark corners, but didn’t find a damn thing.
Am I losing my mind? She hit the light switch on the wall, and Amy still didn’t see anyone else. Did I imagine it?
And yet, the reindeer huddled in a corner, watching her with wide eyes. Maybe the trespasser had slipped out the other side of the barn. Amy made a mental note to get a lock for the door.
“Hey guys, are you okay?”
Their ears were pricked, and their nostrils flared, still on high alert. And neither one of them rushed over to greet her.
Now, she was starting to get spooked.
“It’s all right, I’m here.” She walked toward the deer slowly, arms raised, keeping her tone soothing and even. She didn’t want to traumatize them further.
And then she heard straw crunching behind her, the sound of footfalls.
I’m not alone.
Snorting, Comet bent his head and charged toward them, trying to defend her.
Before she could turn, a heavy object struck the base of her skull, and she tumbled to the ground, falling into blackness.
***
Something’s wrong.
Faro couldn’t shake the notion. He hadn’t seen Amy in hours, which was unusual. Amy spent most of her days around the inn, and he didn’t know where she’d gone. Besides, her vehicle was still in the parking lot.
Faro should leave her alone, but he just couldn’t. He’d approached her several times, trying to apologize and offer some plausible excuse, but she’d brushed him off.
And while they hadn’t had a conversation, he’d been eavesdropping on her feelings. He knew it was wrong, but couldn’t stop himself. Faro couldn’t stand being away from her. What’s worse, he didn’t want to separate himself. Whenever he’d slipped up before and experienced another person’s emotions, he’d always snapped back into his own mind straight away.
Not with her.
When he hadn’t seen Amy in a bit, he’d tried to reach out and establish an empathic connection, but he got nothing in return. Faro couldn’t listen in on a slumbering person’s emotions since he or she was unconscious, and he’d checked her bedroom, in case Amy had taken a nap, but it was empty.
So Faro searched for her.
His first stop was the front desk. Unfortunately, Ivy was on duty. He’d been hoping to speak with Molly instead. Ever since he’d had the blowout with Amy, she’d been disdainful.
As he approached, Ivy lifted her chin. “Can I help you, Mr. Smith?”
Evidently, he was no longer “Hottie,” her charming, albeit irreverent, nickname for him.
“Yes, I’m looking for Amy. Have you seen her?”
“No, not since earlier this afternoon.” She made a shooing motion with her hand. “Have a nice day.”
“I know you’re upset with me, but I’m worried.”
“Well, she isn’t your concern anymore, because you blew it. Amy is amazing, and you’re a dumbass.”
Faro didn’t acknowledge the comment. “Perhaps, but we need to find her.”
Ivy scowled. “Why? Is something wrong?”
“I’m not sure, but I have a bad feeling. Can you please help me find her? Maybe you could call her on your communication device?”
“You mean her cell phone?”
“Yes.”
After a moment, Amy nodded. “Fine, but I’m doing it because I care about her, not you.”
“Understood.”
Ivy picked up her phone, and dialed a number. She put it on speaker so they both could hear. It went straight to an electronic answering system.
Her face paled. She tried the number again, and then one more time, but Amy never picked up.
“Okay, now I’m worried, too. Amy always answers her phone. She doesn’t screen calls like I do.”
“Tell me if you see her. I’ll conduct a more thorough sweep.” Faro searched the house from top to bottom, in case he’d missed something, and saw no sign of her. The next logical place to check was the barn, so he headed outside.
Faro knocked on the doors. “Amy? Are you in there?”
No reply.
“Amy?” He walked inside, and saw the two reindeer laying on the straw in the far corner of the room. He knew the animals couldn’t answer him, but he could feel their distress.
Then he noticed Comet’s antler was bloody, but the animal didn’t appear to be injured. There was also a red trail on the straw. And someone had switched off the heat in the barn.
Faro felt like he was coming out of his own skin.
And that’s when he found Amy, lying unconscious in the straw. Her lips were tinged blue, and her breathing was labored.
Who knows how long she’d been lying out here in the cold?
After herding the deer away from her and switching the heat on, Faro dropped to his knees. He placed a fingertip on her throat and felt for a pulse, and he found one, but it was weak.
“Amy! Are you okay?” He gently shook her by the shoulders, trying to wake her. She mumbled something incomprehensible and her brow furrowed, but she didn’t respond.
“Amy, can you hear me?”
She didn’t answer him, or open her eyes.
Her skin had a waxy appearance, and she was icy-cold to the touch. She had all the symptoms of hypothermia and frostbite. Unlike his kind, these earthly humans weren’t impervious to the elements.
She needed medical attention, but Faro didn’t trust doctors on this planet. They were far behind the rest of the universe when it came to curative technology. If he brought her onboard the ship, the medi-pod could save her life, but he’d be disobeying a direct order.
To hell with Mydon and his directives.
Faro swung Amy up into his arms, cradling her against his chest, and headed for the shuttle.
Consequences be damned.
***
“Mydon is going to lash you for this.”
Faro and Link stood in the medical bay, watching as the instruments repaired Amy’s body on a cellular level.
He’d carried her to the shuttle and then docked with their ship, over Link’s objections. The medi-pod placed her in stasis, while it slowly raised her body temperature and healed her. According to the scanner, he’d rescued her at the last possible moment. If he’d found her any later, the damage would’ve been too extensive to repair. As it stood now, the equipment needed several hours to heal her.
Faro couldn’t lose her.
“I’m aware, Link,” Faro said dryly. “Now ask me if I give a bloody damn.”
“Do you give a—”
“It was rhetorical.” He’d forgotten Link could be so literal.
“My apologies.”
Faro placed a hand on the back of his neck. “I’ve never feared Mydon’s wrath, and if he wants to lay my back open, so be it.” Thanks to the drake blood in his veins, he healed quickly, but even if he didn’t, Amy was worth any sacrifice.
“Who injured her?”
“I have no idea, but it’s most likely another earthly human.” And I’d dearly love to teach him a lesson in pain.
Once Amy woke, he’d pry the details out of her, and then exact his vengeance on her assailant. And then he’d worry about Mydon.
Hmm. Although perhaps he wouldn’t have to, if he handled this situation just right.
“Are you going to tell Mydon?”
Link pondered the question. “I must inform him unauthorized individuals were on the ship.”
“And what of your duty to me as a friend?”
His brow knitted. “I do not understand.”
“Check your social parameters. Are we friends?”
“Yes, we are.”
“Then as my friend, you’re obligated to keep my secrets.”
Link computed this for a moment, silently assessing the factors.
“I see. And this situation falls under our social contract, correct?”
“Yes, it does.” Faro was shameless.
He nodded. “I understand your reasoning, so I will not inform Mydon, but this cannot happen again.”
“Thank you, and I assure you, it won’t.” Faro felt a bit guilty for roping Link into the situation, but he shoved the regret down.
Link quirked a disbelieving brow.
“I vow it. Speaking of Mydon, I’m due at the mine, and if I don’t show up, he’ll have another reason to penalize me. Will you watch her?” He hated to leave her, but Faro didn’t have any choice.
“Of course, but I have other duties. I cannot stay here and monitor her progress.”
“Don’t worry, I’m sure she’ll be out for hours, so it won’t be an issue. After I get done at the mine, I’ll tuck her back into bed before she wakes, and Amy will be none the wiser.” Then he’d figure out a plausible lie to tell Ivy, and cover his tracks. Amy would never even know she’d been onboard his spaceship. “Thank you for keeping an eye on her. Amy’s safety is important to me, and I’m in your debt.”
“Does this mean you owe me a favor in return?”
“It does.”
Link nodded. “I have made a note of it, although I do not have a request at this time.”
“Think on it, and get back to me.”
“I will.”
“I’ll return soon.” With one last look in Amy’s direction, he headed for the shuttle bay.
***
Where am I?
Amy was groggy, and came awake slowly.
The blanket beneath her was scratchy, while she normally slept on a cozy down mattress pad. Her vision was hazy at first, and then everything came into focus. The last thing she remembered was being in the barn, and then a big nothing.
This is a peculiar dream.
Amy found herself in a glass coffin, SnowWhite-style, at least that’s what she thought it was. She placed her palms against the glass and pushed, and just like magic, the edges parted, freeing her. She crawled out and then swayed on her feet. Amy braced herself against a metal wall, frowning at the metal-and-glass bed/coffin thing.
“I take it back, this isn’t a dream. It’s the spookiest nightmare ever.”
On closer inspection, the room resembled something out of Star Trek, rather than a fairy tale. The space was metal and sterile, like a hospital. Maybe she’d watched one too many Voyager episodes with her dad. Amy squeezed her eyes shut, and then opened them, expecting to wake up in her own bed.
It didn’t happen.
Okay. I’m not gonna panic. Yet.
Maybe Amy was under a lot of stress, so she’d created this whole scenario to escape her grief and the breakup with Faro.
But when she turned around, her mouth fell open.
Along the other wall was a bank of windows, and outside was a seemingly endless night, interrupted only by a field of stars.
“What the frack is going on?”
Amy was in outer space, but it wasn’t possible, because she wasn’t an astronaut, and people in general just didn’t up and leave the planet all willy-nilly.
On shaking legs, she approached the windows.
“This can’t be real.”
Amy patted herself down, searching for her cell phone, and found it in her back pocket. She was about to dial 9-1-1, and then stopped.
What am I gonna say? I’m lost in space? Or help, I’m being held captive by aliens?
Hold on a second.
Did aliens abduct her? Amy whirled around, but didn’t see anybody else in the room.
As alien abductions go, this one was pretty good. At least nobody had done any, er, probing, at least to my knowledge.
“Hold on a second. What if they did things to me while I was unconscious? Wait a minute, why am I talking to myself out loud?”
Stop it, you’re gonna drive yourself insane.
She checked her phone and an out-of-range error message popped up. Yep, way out of range.
No, no, no, this can’t be happening, it’s just a dream.
She pinched the back of her hand and viciously twisted the skin, trying to slam herself back to reality. When it didn’t work, she scrunched her eyes shut and held it for a couple of seconds, before glancing out the windows once more.
The view hadn’t changed.
And when she got closer and looked down, Amy saw a blue-and-green globe in the distance.
Yep, there’s the Earth, and I’m no longer on it.
“Oh, that’s not good.”