A Dangerous Connection – Chapter 7

The next day, after a night of rest and treatment for Stella, she’s recovering well. Adrian gave her a shot of antibiotics and vitamins, and after some much-needed sleep, she’s all snuggled up on the bed with me. Last night was the soundest sleep I’ve had in ages. The lingering ache in my muscles has eased after our frantic escape yesterday, and my stomach isn’t trying to eat itself. All I need is a shower and some new clothes, and I’ll be a whole person again.

I awake to soft purring and the tickle of fur against my cheek. Aw. Stella is already up and about. I stroke her head gently.

“How are you feeling today, little one?”

In response, she stretches and gives a trilling chirp, blinking her bright eyes up at me. She crawls closer, licks my cheeks with tiny kisses, and presses her forehead to mine.

A flood of images and emotions pours into my head, so vivid it’s staggering. I gasp and sit up, knocking Tiago in the face. He mumbles and rolls over, but I don’t care. Stella’s eyes are trained on mine, keen, intent. She’s… what is happening here?

Because I have no common sense sometimes, I lean in and press my forehead to hers again.

Ooooooh. The lush jungles of Rio. Wow. I’m immersed in a verdant jungle, surrounded by massive trees with vines dangling from their branches. The rich earthy scent of soil and leaves fills the air. I’m inhaling, and I know I should smell the bedroom, but the jungle is in my nose, around my head, under my feet. A burrow sits near the top of a hill, and two other creatures like Stella play at the entrance.

This is home. She wants to return to her family.

My God. This isn’t just any alien creature. This is an intelligent animal with psychic abilities. Now I get it. This is why Athens Industries wants to capture her.

“Stella, where are we?”

I’m in a rocky burrow, nestled against three other creatures that look like Stella. Her family. The warmth of their affection and bond slides through me, comforting, sweet. I love them, like I love my own family. But under their contentment runs a thread of worry and longing. She misses them, wants to be with them again.

The images change, and now I’m seeing the city, the streets and buildings flying by from above as I… No, as Stella soars overhead, wings stretched wide. There’s a sense of urgency, a desperate need to get back home.

How did she get into the city?

A dark shape lunges out of the shadows. Pain explodes through my body as massive claws slash across my back and side, tearing through flesh. I crash to the ground, blood pooling around me. Fear and agony.

My assailant looms closer for the killing blow.

No! Have to escape… have to make it home…

With enormous effort, I drag myself into a narrow alley, squeezing into a gap behind a dumpster. My pursuer lets out a roar of frustration but can’t reach me. As the adrenaline fades, the pain takes over, threatening to pull me under. I crawl along the building until I find a crack in the walls and climb inside. I climb and climb in a cramped space, getting as far away from the assailant as I can until…

Sometime later, the thoughts and feelings of humans approach. Gentle hands lift me. A woman’s soothing voice tells me it will be all right.

The vision ends, dropping me into myself. Stella gazes at me, solemn and knowing… Hoping?

There’s so much hope in her little face. I want to pick her up and snuggle her to my chest. Stella chirps and rubs her head against my hand. I stroke her fur, still stunned.

“You’re telepathic,” I whisper. “You can share your mind with others.”

She trills in confirmation. I thought it was just feelings, just her emotions making their way to me. But maybe she couldn’t send her thoughts when she was injured and weak. Now that she’s better, she has the strength to tell me more.

“Did you?” I stop to process the thought. “Did you help us escape Athens?”

She purrs and leans into my hand.

“Ah. You amplified our fear so we’d keep running?”

Stella blinks. I’m not imagining this.

“You need to get home. Back to your family.”

She meows. Maybe that’s why she came to the city. She was trying to find her way home after being attacked, but she got lost and injured? Possibly.

My heart aches for her. Poor thing. She’s been through so much. She just wants to reunite with those she loves. I know that feeling all too well now.

“I’ll help you get back home,” I promise her. “Somehow, we’ll find a way.”

She connected with me, trusted me with her deepest thoughts. I won’t let her down.

“Sora?” Tiago murmurs, sitting up next to me. “What’s wrong?”

“She’s been trying to return home.”

I sweep her into my arms as he sits up in bed and go wake Adrian, who slept on the couch last night. He yawns and stretches while scratching his belly, and my cheeks heat with longing. I remember when I used to sleep next to him several nights a week.

“We need to return her to the jungle. She’s ready to go home,” I say to him.

“What’s that?” Adrian asks, yawning.

Tiago joins us, rubbing his hands over his eyes. “How do you know?”

“She showed me images.” I shake my head. “In my brain. Like, super weird, but yes, in my head. She’s from a burrow in the jungle, and she wants to go back. She was in the jungle, then the city, and then attacked by a bigger creature.” I shiver, remembering her terror. “We have to take her back. We should leave today.” I bite my lip and glance at Tiago. “Will you come with us?”

His gaze bores into mine, searching for any hint of doubt or hesitation.

I’ve failed so many times. But I can try again. Maybe this time, with Tiago and Adrian by my side, I won’t fail. I’ve learned so much on this journey. I trust both of these men, and my old network, with my life.

“Do you want me to come?” Tiago asks.

“Yes,” I say, not sure if he believes me. “I do.” I sigh. “I think I’m ready to go back and try again. I can’t promise I won’t fail again, but I want to try.”

“You think or you will?” He glances at Adrian and then Adrian looks at me.

My emotions go to war, one side lobbing grenades while the other loads up a cannon. I want to be better. I think… I know I can do better, but what if I can’t? Ugh. This indecision is killing me.

Make a decision, Sora!

“Fuck it all. What happens if I screw up and fail?” I ask them both.

Adrian’s wry smile calms the anxiety fluttering in my chest. “Then we pick things up and try again. Failure is a part of life.” He shrugs. “We all do the best we can, and I know you can, too.”

Tiago sighs and reaches out for my hand. “I hope you don’t fail again, but if you do, we’ll be here.” He blinks and catches himself. “Your network will be there for you. I can only guess that’s why they’re with you in the first place.”

I smile at Tiago. He has no idea that I’m already attached to him. Adrian glances at me and then Tiago, then rolls his eyes at me. Adrian was my first, and he can read me like a book.

Looks like we’re adding another one to the network.

“I’ll do whatever you want, as long as it means I won’t be arrested for kidnapping,” Adrian says, scratching his chin and shaking his head. “This is such a mess.”

Tiago frowns. “We can’t keep running or putting ourselves at risk.” He sits on the couch and folds his arms over his chest. “We should work out how we’re going to move her out of the city without being caught.” His doubtful tone sets my nerves on edge.

“I know this whole situation is insane. But seeing into Stella’s mind… I can’t explain it. I’m connected to her now. She trusts me. I have to do whatever it takes to get her home.” I meet Tiago’s eyes, willing him to understand. “It’s the right thing to do.”

He holds my gaze for a long moment before nodding. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to sound skeptical. If this is what’s necessary, I’m with you.” He claps his hands together. “Let’s come up with a plan.”

Adrian nods. “We’ll need transportation. A taxi?”

Tiago frowns. “The rental crafts have security scans, though. If they detect an unregistered lifeform aboard…”

Adrian snaps his fingers. “I know some guys at the rental depot. For the right price, they can disable the scans.”

I laugh in surprise. Adrian always had useful connections.

With his help, this crazy plan just might work.

We spend the next hour completing the details. Adrian will rent a suitable rental craft and get it cleared for passage. Meanwhile, Tiago and I will pack supplies for the journey. In order to conceal her, we’ll put Stella in a crate Adrian has been using to carry produce from the local market. She’ll be safe in there.

When the transport arrives, Tiago and Adrian carry her to the craft, open it up, and place her inside. They buckle the crate in, and she gives them a pitiful look through the slats, making my heart hurt.

“Don’t worry, little one,” Adrian whispers. “We’ll get you home.”

I sigh and place my hand on the crate. Stella leans into my touch, pressing her forehead to my fingers and sending her thoughts. My skin crawls, her consciousness meeting mine. I almost hate this part of her ability. How does she bear the thoughts and emotions of others? How does she do this every day? I’d be overwhelmed with the sadness of humanity, I think. Because that’s what she’s feeling right now. Sadness. She’s sad that we’ve helped her and suffered for it. She doesn’t want to be a bother, she tells me. She just wants to go home.

“I know, I know. We’re going to take you home.”

The transport door closes, and we take off.