Page 8 of Klora (Mates of the Mylos #6)

CHAPTER 8

ADRIAN

It was hot under the tarp and every jostle that the van’s suspension didn’t stop made my face rub uncomfortably against the metal floor, the ridges digging into my flesh no matter what. If I raised my hands and placed them under my cheek, the back of my hands and fingers got it, making them throb while my palms added even more sweat to my cheeks and my teeth rattled. If I rolled onto my back, I got a telling off for moving and the back of my head thunked. Either way, the duct tape rubbed uncomfortably as the adhesive wore off thanks to all the moisture collecting beneath it, making it slide about. Unfortunately, that meant strands of my hair also got yanked about and the shop towel moved, sliding perilously down my nose. Perhaps I was being paranoid, but I was beginning to fear that by the time we reached where they’d toss me out, they’d pull the tarp off to find me staring sightlessly up, the duct tape just loose enough that it held the towel over my nose and mouth so that I’d suffocated. And I’d make a sad looking corpse at my funeral because I’d be missing tufts of hair.

It’s not that I’m vain. I’d just like my friends, family, colleagues, and students to be able to come say good-bye to me and see the guy they all fondly remembered, only sleeping. Well, maybe Shirley Templeton wouldn’t think of me quite so fondly, but everyone else? Yeah. At least I hoped so.

After what seemed forever, the van turned and came to a complete stop.

“Okay, I’m going to wash the van and switch the plates.” This was the driver.

Louise pushed the tarp off of us as she shifted to what was probably a sitting position.

“I’ve gotta pee and he was right. The kid’s got a fever. I’ll go in and buy him a Sprite and a box of Tylenol or whatever,” she said.

“I’ll go with you,” the front passenger told her. “I gotta piss too. I’ll buy us a couple new hats and road snacks. Then we can stuff the old hats in the bag and get rid of them at the clothing donation box at the strip mall up the road.”

“Sounds good,” the driver said. “I can keep an eye on these two. Where they gonna go?” he chuckled darkly.

Then we were alone in the van, with the sound of one of those hand held water jet sprayers being used.

“When they come back, tell them you really need to pee and act shy about somebody maybe seeing you if you do it in the bushes,” I told Ty. “How you holding up?”

“I’m okay,” he replied. “Us Mylos are tough. It’s why we make such good warriors.”

I smiled. “Yes, but you’re not a Mylos warrior, just a kid.”

“A Mylos one,” he corrected me. “So it’s not a fever. I wanted to tell you before, but got scared they’d hear and do something bad to me.”

Ice filled my veins. “So you’re like Mylos, Mylos? Not a human kid they adopted?” I asked, keeping my voice as low as possible.

“Yeah,” he whispered back. ”My brother is mated to Lee Ann, who adopted me along with my brother. “

“And he’s a Mylos warrior who was your actual brother? Like you guys have the same mother and father?”

“Yes. But they died. They were archaeologists and died when a tunnel collapsed on them on Omergut V.”

Oh sweet baby jeebus. If they found out the kid was an alien, I shuddered to think what might happen. I definitely needed to get him to safety sooner rather than later.

“You think you can do it?” I asked him. “Get them to let you use the bathroom? Then go to the handicap bathroom if you can, lock the door, and pull the emergency cord. It’s the red string next to the toilet. That will get an employee to come and call an ambulance or EMTs from a fire department. Stay in there until they arrive, because they can get in touch with the Fleet and NYPD.”

“I understand. But I don’t want to leave you here.”

“I’ll ask to pee too, but if they don’t let me go with you, do as I say. Oh, and if the handicap stall is inside the regular men’s and ladies’ rooms, go into whichever one the person with you can’t, lock yourself in that stall, and pull the cord. Anyone in there, tell them you’re the kid the Mylos and police are looking for and that they still have me in their van.”

I wasn’t about to mention that they’d probably take off with me, perhaps kill and dump me along the way. The kid needed hope that we’d both be okay, that he was going to be the warrior who saved us both.

I heard the rear door open. “What are you two talking about?” Louise asked, sounding suspicious.

“I need to pee, and I think I might barf!”

I had to hand it to the kid, his tearful voice sounded authentic.

“Shit! Don’t do that in the van!” she cried out. “I’ve got 7 Up and regular Tylenol for you. Damn it, you can’t have anything carbonated if you’re gonna hurl.”

“What’s the matter?” the driver asked her, stopping the water.

“Kid says he’s gonna hurl and really needs to pee.”

“Well, he can’t barf here. I could wash it away, sure, but if I so much as hear someone gag, I lose my own lunch,” the driver complained. “You’ll have to take him to the bathroom.”

“It’s inside,” she hissed.

“Here, he can wear my hat. See, if he keeps his head down, no one will see who he is as long as you don’t draw attention to yourself.”

“I want Mr. McDuffie!” the kid wailed.

“No,” came the twin replies.

Then I heard the kid pretend to gag.

“Fuck!” the driver yelled. “Just take him in too. Hurry up!”

“What’s going on?”

The guy from the front seat passenger side had returned.

“Kid’s gonna barf and won’t go to the bathroom without the teacher. Here, gimme your old hat. We’re getting rid of them anyways.”

I found myself stifling a scream as the tape was removed the rest of the way off and a blue New York Yankees cap thrust upon me.

“Louise is going with you, so don’t try any funny stuff.” Turning to Louise, the driver said, “if anyone tries to talk to you, tell them the kid is carsick and he’s your husband who’s taking him to go pee and wash his face before taking his medicine and stuff.”

She nodded and herded us towards the gas station, which also housed a pretty decent sized convenience store.

Tyrone slipped his hand into mine, holding on tight. He kept making fake little gagging noises and I had to admit, he was making my own stomach churn in sympathy.

“Bathroom is there,” she said, taking us towards the coolers in the back and pointing to a doorway. There were three doors - men’s, ladies’, and handicap, with baby changing area. I hurriedly opened the unoccupied handicap one and pulled Tyrone inside.

“Now?” he asked me with a wide grin. “Or can I pee first? I really do need to pee.”

So did I actually, so I turned my back to let him do his business and while he washed his hands, I did mine.”

“You almost done in there?” Louise called through the door.

Tyler grinned and made a loud retching sound that made my gorge rise. I managed to not lose the contents of my stomach however and heard her call back, “Fine, just don’t take too long,” just before I flushed.

“Now?” Tyer asked me as I approached the sink.

“Yep. It’s showtime," I agreed.

Tyler let out a whoop and rushed the three or four steps to the wall where the string hung down, perilously close to where you’d have to pull the toilet paper out. A loud whoop began to sound as the alarm blared.

“What the fuck!” I heard Louise shout, barely audible through the heavy door and noise.

“Now we wait,” I said.

Tyler titled his head back and laughed.

“Man, my friends aren’t gonna believe this,” he yelled, looking thrilled at the prospect.