The woman tilted her head to one side. “He’s your man, isn’t he?” she asked.
CJ started. What? “Uh, kind of.”
The woman smiled a knowing smile. “I’m Georgina,” she said, offering her hand. “Those fools think those insect aliens are a hoax. Everyone else evacuated to shelters in the city, but they stayed behind.”
“What about you?”
“I can’t leave this place. It’s been my home for forty years. It’s all I have left apart from my boys. They’re in Space Force, protecting us,” she said. She smiled grimly and gestured upwards toward the stars before patting CJ on the shoulder. “Here.” She handed CJ a set of keys. “Take the old truck and get out of here.”
“Not without—”
“He’s coming.”
“What?”
“I gave him a knife. He’ll be out in a few minutes, I’m sure.” She turned around to the truck and picked up a bag that had been placed in the footwell, handing it to CJ. “There’s food, water and a first aid kit in there. The truck is charged and should get you well away from here.”
CJ took the bag and looked from it to Georgina, mouth open. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. Now keep an eye out for that man of yours and get out of here before that fool Tom realizes I’ve sent him on a wild goose chase.” Georgina gave a chuckle.
“Are you sure you won’t come with us?”
“Not a chance.” She smiled and turned, walking away and disappearing around the corner of the building.
CJ stashed the bag behind the seats in the truck and stuffed the keys in her pocket. She jogged to the edge of the building and peered around it.
Come on, Domik.
From her vantage point, she could see the side of the barn, which was out of sight of the house. If Domik had escaped, he would need to make his way past the house where the men inside might see him. The sound of laughter drifted toward her from the house.
I can’t believe these fools believe the Xakul are a myth!
She barely restrained a growl, instead turning to stare out into the night.
Domik, where are you?
A slight breeze pulled at her clothing, the cool night air making her shiver. An enormous shadow loomed on the far side of the barn, and CJ’s heart skipped a beat as the shape materialized into the familiar outline of Domik.
She waved her hand back and forth to get his attention, and he lifted a hand in reply, holding his palm up toward her. Stay right there, he motioned.
Another peel of laughter from the house and the bang of the screen door reached her ears, and she looked from Domik to the house where Tom had stepped onto the porch, the screen door slamming behind him. She was frozen in horror as Domik stepped out into a pool of light that had spread from the house. If they looked now, they would catch him.
She frantically gestured for him to stop and go back, but he ignored her, dashing across the yard to reach her.
“Tom, I need to speak with you!” Georgina called from inside the house, and he turned, opening the screen door once more, his back to the yard.
I’m going to have a heart attack.
CJ held a hand to her mouth as she watched Domik sprint across the yard, faster than a man his size had any right to be, arriving at her side just as Tom turned around and walked down the steps and into the yard.
A moment sooner and Domik would have been seen.
“I don’t know if that was stupid or brave,” she whispered, her heart in her throat. “Come on.” She clutched his hand in hers and dragged him around the shed, only letting go as they reached the old truck.
She opened the driver’s side door carefully, wincing at the creek of the hinges, then slid onto the seat, shifting her hips so she could jam her fingers into her pocket to fish out the key. CJ reached up to flick the light off, not wanting to draw any attention to themselves.
Domik opened the passenger door and slid onto the seat next to her, turning as much as his large frame would allow. He reached out with shaky fingers to touch her arm, pulling back at the last second as if hesitant.
