The Kindred by Alechia Dow

Author:Alechia Dow
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Inkyard Press
Published: 2021-10-20T21:28:36+00:00

CHAPTER 15

FELIX

Thomas Gibston lives in an old faded pink house at the end of a street, according to the directions Rashid gave me. The paint is chipped in places, and the sun has bleached the color in others. The grass is overgrown around the house as if it’ll swallow it whole, and the light blue front door looks rickety and warped. There are also all sorts of telescopic equipment strewn across the front path and a massive sundial beneath leafy vines to the side. His truck, identical to the one Owen drives, sits outside the home, shiny and bright unlike everything else. Owen shows the signs of Thomas’s descent into depression while this house shows the signs of Thomas’s neglect.

The sun beats down on me, and sweat pools on my neck. Well, there’s no time like the present. With a deep breath, I trudge up the broken stone pathway, maneuvering around broken bits of machinery to the door, and knock.

“Who’s there?” The words slur as he yanks the door open and stares at me with a pair of glasses that look like a relic from yonder year. If humanity even has a yonder year. “It’s you. What are you doing here? It’s inappropriate for you to be here.”

“I thought it best for us to talk.” I put a little sweetness in my tone, though I’m desperate and annoyed and this man is frustrating.

Time is running out. The humans are looking for our ship, the Soleil are undoubtedly on this world looking for us, and we need fuel. He should be excited to help us solve this small yet incredibly annoying problem. We are proof that the universe is large and full of life, and he was right.

“I’m not interested.” He attempts to close the door, but I wedge my foot inside and push forward.

“It wasn’t really a question, Thomas. Do you mind if I call you Thomas?” I shut the door behind us and inhale a strong whiff of dust that makes me sneeze. All the windows are closed and the room is boiling hot. He stumbles back onto a raggedy old chair, clutching a book to his chest. His hair pokes out all over the place, not fashionably disheveled, and the cut from last night still grazes his forehead.

I stride across the room, opening the drapes and find an air-cooling machine. I hit a few tabs until cool air blows out and then I take a seat opposite Thomas. The room is a library of sorts. No television as the humans call it, but books stuffed onto shelves, in piles around every piece of old furniture, and maps of the night sky hung between the cases. Everything’s thickly coated in dust.

“I know this is all a bit overwhelming for you. This existence of us.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about, but I think it would be best if you left.” His hands shake and his eyes dart to the door.

“Thomas, I’m afraid I’m losing my patience. Our ship crashed here as we tried to escape our system.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.