HIDE: Redshift

Chapter 1

             Chapter 1

I LOOK AT LIZZY. She’s right, I almost got killed and Dad is missing, what can I do but listen? I need answers, even if it doesn’t make sense.

“Billy Roe—your dad is not missing. But they will use him to get to you.” Her tone is even, her eyes never blinking.

“I can’t believe I’m going to say this: can you please not read my mind? I got it, you have weird abilities. This,  this is not easy … what you’re telling me. Okay?” She nods. “Good,” I say and slowly kneel back down. “I’m listening.”

She begins, “We are—

 “Aliens.” The answer falls out of my mouth and the weight of denial leaves with it.

“Yes. That’s right. Now you understand.”

 “So … you’re Martians?”

She looks at me oddly, almost a laugh bubbling up, “Meaning from Mars? No, Keegan. We have visited there. On our way here. You see, I knew you would find the photo of the face on Mars. You needed to see it to believe.”

“Why?” I feel the word dangle like a worm in front of a weak baby bird needing to be fed.

“Keegan, let me explain. We don’t consider ourselves aliens. More like simple organisms waiting to evolve to a higher form. One capable of surviving on your planet. We have survived in the universe for millions of years. We are a race, like your people, also in need of resources.”

“But you’re not like my people. People are from Earth.” A tight knot turns in my stomach.

“Yes, I suppose you’re right. Our lifeforms migrated great distances, exploring many possibilities looking for what we need. But nothing came close to what is here on Earth. It was chosen. The face you saw is like a beacon for us. And when the face above us is ready, you won’t want to be here when that happens.”

Could this still be just a dream? I put my head in my hands and rub my eyes. I have to accept that it isn’t. “The town, the hospital, school, our home … it’s real, right?”

“Keegan, you have to pay attention, you can’t pretend this isn’t happening. It is real but not what you first thought.”

“But you, I thought you and I …”

She touches my arm and I jerk it away.

“Yes, there is something there. We … I have never encountered it. I am still evolving and so I don’t know where the change will take me. But this thing between you and I -- John Bruce identified the change but he never told Simon. He was afraid Simon would use it for his own purposes.”

“What are you talking about, change?”

“Keegan, you have given me a gift somehow. From it, I’m able to see what lies ahead. A future. You are in it and are very important.”

“Stop, Lizzy. Can you stop? Please? I can’t …” My eyes leave hers, confusion overwhelming me. I’m a dartboard where the darts don’t stick.

I finally look around. It’s the oddest basement, as if someone carved it out with a big ice cream scoop. “What is this place? Why are we talking here? Why not the field or in Sedona or somewhere far away?”

“Because there is nowhere we can go where they can’t find us. They see almost everything, Keegan. Don’t forget that. But here, even in Sedonia Falls, I can, how shall I say it?  Alter what they see. I can use the sand to help me protect you.”