A GIFT OF TIME

Episode 24

My eyes slowly opened adjusting to the white light that seem to be everywhere in the room. Darn it, my head hurts. I thought trying to move only to figure that I'm kinda restricted. I struggled against the chair I was clasped too. Oh f**k. So we were caught. I thought looking around to study my surrounding. I was in a rectangular white room. More like being in a box. I was clasped to a metal chair in front of a medium size table and another chair was at the other side of the table. Looks like an interrogation room of you ask me. But the funny thing is. I don't see any door anywhere. Where the f**k was I? I questioned myself but I know if I don't get myself out of the chair I might never find out. Did I say there was no doors? Pardon me because the wall just opened up and an alien just walked in. Wouldn't be able to tell if I wasn't wearing lens. The guy was clad in a complete suit. 

"Hola Claire" The perfectly dressed allien greeted and I frowned. He doesn't even sound alien. And trust me I had no idea aliens speak Spanish. Oh for goodness sake are these people running an alien clique or something. An alien organization completely kept hidden from humans. With that I recalled what Mr Anderson told me. They are all defenders. Blinding humanity from seeing them from who they truly are. 

"surprising, Alien speak Spanish, " I grinned watching the alien occupy the seat in front of me. 

 "I am quite shocked the prince would revolts about our decision to take earth-

"because as young as he his, he's more intelligent than most of you. This place isn't good for you and you know it, why do you still want to stay?, why do you still want to take our home ? These place doesn't belong to you-

" I do not understand why many humans and aliens think we cannot live here. I've been here for 20 human years and I'm alive, well and healthy. I was among the first Ghafil to step on earth. We had come to watch and study. And I'm quite healthy. I'm not dead yet " he scoffed and I frowned. Mr Anderson research clearly told us the highest a Ghafil can last on earth was 15 years. He couldn't have survived that long except..I started to laugh as the realization hit me. He stared at me bewildered at my sudden action. 

" Miss Chadwick. I see nothing funny in what I've just told you-

" wow you know my first name. That's quite impressive by the way but... How long do you think you can survive be an alien asthmatic patient? " I asked and his brows furrowed tight. 

" I have no idea what you speak of-

"oh come on, don't play dumb with me. You know what I speak of" I gave a quirky laugh. 

"I said I don't-

"how many times a day do you get Nitrogen into your body?" I asked and he flinched in surprise though he made quite a recovery. 

"I know nothing of what you speak" the gentlealian retorted and I hummed. 

"I think I see why the prince chose you. You are a bright little wench-

" wow, I'll take that as a compliment. So thank you " I smiled before clicking my tongue and winking at him. 

" so where am I really? "I asked and the alien rested it's back into the chair he was sitting on.

" my interrogation room " he replied with a smug on his face. Good for him actually. 

" I could actually make that out I'm not dumb. I was asking if I'm still inside the Toll building?" I quirked a brow at him and he smiled. 

"yeah and why do you ask?" he asked crossing his legs. Quite classic to watch him flaunt his designer shoes. I wonder how he got those. But with the smirk on his face I could tell he thought he had me all cornered. If he realized I would be out of there any minute. He would have chained me. Not clasped me to the chair.

"you really did not think you're getting out of this place do you?" he asked with a playful smirk on his lips. Wish I could punch his face but my hand is clasped to a f*****g chair. 

"I wish for that really" I smiled not giving him the satisfaction of him mocking me. 

"then dream on Miss Chadwick because right now you're a gift with a bow on its head for the chief who would be arriving in a couple of hours. We wouldn't have to get rid of him. Stripping him of his honour and title for his deceit and betrayal would be enough " he chuckled and I was tempted to roll my eyes. No I wasn't tempted. I practically rolled my eyes at him. 

" do you perhaps know where my friend is? "I asked and he scoffed. 

" that rebellious human. She's locked up in-

"oh thank you for calling me rebellious" Tanya's voice echoed in the room as she made her way in with guns in her hand and a smiling Hero behind her. 

"I hate to tell you that I knew I would be leaving this place sooner than you expected." I grinned as Hero made his way to me and with one snap remove the clasps on my hand. 

"outrageous! Guards!" he called looking into the security cam placed up but Tanya laughed hysterically at that. Then the smile on her face briskly disappeared. 

"no one can hear you, or see you now you piece of s**t" Tanya spat moving to punch his face. I winced immediately her fist landed on his face making his green blood ooze from his broken nose. 

"he f*****g beat me up. I'm so gonna have much fun giving you the beating of your life. Gear up Claire. We are leaving now" Tanya instructed throwing my belts and guns at me. 

"thanks guys. We need to take him with us-

"yeah I bet yes. I would love that" Tanya gritted roughly. What has the alien dude done to her by the way? Why was she giving him such murderous stares?, I wondered. 

"oops Tanya" I exclaimed on moving out of the room to appear in a white hallway with dozens of dead Ghafils. 

"sorry but I had to. Those motherfuckers were trying to get me killed" Tanya frowned and I nodded carefully passing by the dead aliens. They seem to be all changing back to their real form. I didn't get quite a look as we managed to move out of the place dragging the tied alien with us. He kept trying to talk into the camera which I was certain Tony pretty much hacked into. Now the aliens security was seeing me seated still clenched to the chair talking to the stupid old human alien. Wish Tony would keep it fixed till we were out of the place. 

 "Tony, we are at the end of the hallway and we are about to move out. You take out the CCTV yet?" Tanya communicated through the bud and waited a little for Tony's reply before nodding for us to make our movement. How we successfully arrived at the elevator without any aliens suspecting was a miracle but it doesn't really matter because we took the elevator to the underground parking lot and moved right straight into the van throwing the alien inside. 

" why did you have to bring another alien for goddamn sake. Like seriously we still haven't gotten rid of this one. And we've got one back home. Are you trying to create a family of alien or something?" Tony asked staring at the new gagged alien with disgust. 

" he seem like an important alien figure so he might be quite useful" I defended. 

"okay what about this one?" Tony pointed at the lady who had brought us to the place in the first place. She was looking pretty weak and pale. 

"Um, let's just drop her off now. She seem to me like she wouldn't make it home" I commented watching the green glow on the woman's forehead which was very dim to notice. 

"she is dying" Hero notified and I sighed. 

"yeah, I say we drop her off" Tanya agreed and the woman whimpered. 

" she is calling for her mate" Hero informed as we all watch the woman curiously. 

"oh" Tony pouted. Didn't know they do mates. Sounds pretty much like werewolf classic. 

"we'll bring him to you. But right now you need attention and care and only your kind can give you that." I promised and she weakly met my gaze. 

"I promise" I assured and Tony abruptly turned to me in question. 

"you're really gonna bring her whatever she called it-

"she said mate" Tanya corrected. 

"I don't care. It's too risky. We are not doing that" Tony disagreed before I heard noise in the front seat making me abruptly pointing my g*n but it was just Charlie. Warily scratching his neck as he adjust the car seat so that he could continue his sleep. I sighed and put my g*n away. 

"it's just Charlie" Tanya noted smiling as she watched my brother sleep. I have a feeling she likes him too. Okay back on track. 

"she'll die if she goes back Tony-

" she deserves to, she tried to kill you in the first place " Tony shrugged and I shot him a glare. 

" I know you are feeling remorseful for her because she looks like your mom Claire. She's not. She tried to kill you, to kill your parent. I don't think she deserves your sympathy " Tony tried to cajole me but I wasn't falling for it. No and never. 

" I'm coming back to drop her mate whether you like it or not. " I shot at Tony who flinched at my outburst. Together with Hero I helped the woman down. Placed her against one of the pole keeping the underground in place. I untied her before going back to the van. Tony still wore a frown and I was also quite upset so I ignored him and moved to sit next to Charlie. But I caught Hero harshly ripping of the tape on the alien elders mouth. It was quite shocking to see Hero landed him a slap. The alien spit his green blood from his mouth and turned to Hero with a smirk. 

"you think they will not find me...they will and I promise you will regret joining hands with the humans" the elder spat at Hero who seem indifferent nevertheless. We were quite shocked by the scene though especially when Hero hissed at him. 

"he called him traitor to their kind" Tanya translated for Hero and I nodded. He sure is. 

"Charlie, hey.. Charlie. Wake up. It's time to go" I relayed and he sleepily muttered before adjusting back the car seat and hitting the road like the sleepy head he was. 

"are you sure he's awake?" Tony fretted as he fell from his chair while Charlie roughly made way out of the garage. 

"I'm afraid he's not" Tanya groaned as she straightened up to after hitting her head on the car. I also winced as I had hit my head on the glass window.

"Goddammit Charlie!" I cursed as Charlie swerve the car roughly to turn hitting my head again in the process. 

"I think he's going to get us all killed" Tony commented standing up from the floor the second time. 

"sorry guys. I'm fully awake now". He assured yawning as he widened his eyes to focus on the road. 

"seems very much like it" I remarked sarcastically. 

"Um, guys. I think we have a tail" Charlie informed and I frowned looking out the window. To see glistening black Chevrolet cars behind us and thankfully we aren't on the highway so we'll be able to deal with them to our satisfaction this time. I saw the alien elder chuckle at one corner of my eyes and I for a reason I felt he was behind us being chased because we weren't really suspected when we made our way out. 

"do you have like a tracking device on you or something?" I asked and he stilled.

"I know not of what you speak of" he lied and I could tell because of his nervous eyes and hand. 

"he's lying" Tanya noted and I nodded. 

"I could also tell that much. You're a very bad liar Mr-

" Lucio please" he quickly filled in and Tony let out a guffaw. 

"Spanish?" Tanya chuckled setting up her. Rifle while I fill my g*n chambers. 

"Tony do make sure to get rid of any tracking device he might have on him even you have to get him n***d. Tanya and I will deal with these bastards." I Instructed and he nodded while I move, opened the car roof and climbed on a chair in the van. Tanya opened one of the back door and set her g*n. 

" now Tanya " I yelled and we started to fire. 

" Claire aim for the drivers" Tanya shouted and I did just that. I missed most of the time so I moved back into the car to get a rifle after cursing under my breath. 

"I found one. A transmitter " Tony announced after getting Lucio out of his suit. 

"search him head to bottom Tony. Make sure he doesn't have any left" I urged further climbing back on the chair to continue firing. Thankfully I was aiming right this time.

"it's not working" I heard Tanya shouted moving back into the van. I climbed down as well but so far we've only managed to turn three cars away but still had 7 behind us. I. Watched as Tanya moved to a tool box. No it wasn't a tool box. 

"how the f**k did you get grenades?!" I asked horrified at the sight of grenades lined in a box like baked cookies. 

 "I told you. It's my little secret" Tanya smirked meeting the eyes of the terrified Lucio before she removed the pin and throw it out to the car which was now closing in on us. We haven't gotten quite far away from it before it exploded the car making us jumped, staggered at the impact. 

"Charlie. There should be a street behind that building. It'll fit us and it'll slow those cars down. We have to lose them before we head back" Tanya pointed out. 

"on it" Charlie agreed swerving the car to the a corner making everyone fall at the impact. 

"You know how to use this?" Tanya asked holding a grenade in her hand. I vigorously shook my head and she sighed. 

"don't be scared Claire. You can use it. Just remove the pin here" she pointed to the grenade head which had its pin dangling on it. 

"before you throw it" she concluded and I nodded climbing back" to the roof after taking a grenade. But I couldn't remove the pin as I saw few kids in the street while the cars tried to catch up with us. 

"Tanya wait!" I shouted before she could throw the grenade. 

"there are kids. On the street-

"I've removed the pin-

" what the f**k! Throw it out! " Tony screamed and luckily we had passed where the kids where and it exploded immediately it hit the car behind us. It's created a burning blockage for other cars because the street was a single lane since we were passing between buildings. Though the car directly behind the exploded car drive right into it in speed as it was too late to stop. It stumbled at the effect and landed on it back. Another blockage. 

"I found five of it.. There's was even one in its body. Though I'm not a doctor I managed to get it out with a pocket knife." Tony grinned smugly and throw out the devices while I climbed down and close the roof. 

"you really thought you could outsmart us dimwit" Charlie scoffed from the wheel whilst Tony smirked staring at Lucio with a disgusted expression. I didn't mind. I just moved to join my brother in the front seat. 

"after I fainted? What happened?" I asked suddenly curious. 

"Tony tried to hack into the elevator control but he couldn't. It was leading straight down to the ground floor. We were picked by Lucio's men but I woke up midway. Having got fresh air into my lungs. I stopped them beat most of them to a pulp but they overcome me because there were so many of them. They tied me up and throw me into a dark room which something kept growling inside. Thankfully Tony sent the drone. It cut off the rope and burrowed hole into the lock. So. I went in search of my weapons-

"what about Hero?" I asked realizing he wasn't part of the story. 

"he had climbed up the elevator. They didn't notice he was there and because the gas had created foggy vapour. They didn't notice. They just took us out. He was looking for you when I found him. He showed me to where you were taken" Tanya's revelation made me throw a grateful look to Hero who started glowing immediately our eyes met. Lucio scoffed and talked in their whimpering language. 

"you do know I understand that right?" Tanya frowned at Lucio and he blinked, his shoulders sagging. 

"what did he say?" I asked but Tanya seem reluctant to tell me. 

"Tanya" I called but he met Hero's eyes before turning to me. 

"it's nothing Claire-

"you humans would never understands us. We are different. Advanced-

"he was telling Hero he couldn't mate human. Hero seem to like you" Tanya finally confessed shooting Lucio a glare and Charlie practically pulled the car to a halt while I stiffened at the revelation. 

"shocker" Charlie muttered before restarting the engine. I was still blinking away the shock. Extremely awe-struck by the news while I raise my head to meet Hero's eyes but his face had fallen, paled and he couldn't meet my eyes as he glowed even brighter. 

"oh please" Lucio rolled his eyes dramatically as if finding Hero very stupid. 

"I think there's still much to find out about these creatures" Tony finally talked after a while of staring in awe as well. The rest of the drive was in silence. I don't know why but I definitely couldn't relax till we get back to the penthouse. It took them some time to open the gates since they probably needed to verify who was at the entrance. My mom was waiting for us at the entrance with Tony's grandma. 

"my babies" my mom squeaked hurriedly moving to us as we moved down from the van. As much as I wish I could correct my mom for calling us baby I was delighted to see her so I received her love warmly. Danny moved out of the door exhaling deeply on seeing me. 

"Hi" he greeted and I smiled at him. I miss that smile though. He moved closer and took my lips in his after my mom left with my brother. 

"get a room" Tony groaned forcing Danny and I to let go. 

"I'm sorry" Danny muttered and I nodded. 

"you got Hero?" he asked and I nodded looking back only to meet Hero's eyes. He averted my gaze and climbed down the van with the tied and blindfolded Lucio. Thankfully he was no more glowing. 

"good to see you dude" Danny smiled and Hero returned the smile warmly. 

"let's go big guy" Tanya led Hero in while I stayed out with Danny. I sighed on relief glad to be back with him so I slipped my hands around him in a warm hug. Danny was teasing my nose with his when I met Nicholas eyes in the front door. It make shivers travel down my spine. Might as well be the cold. 

"it's chilly outside. Let's get you inside" Danny suggested and I nodded. Walking hand in hand with him. 

"Hi-" I wanted to say but Nicholas moved back inside before I could complete my statement. Rude if you ask me. Tony and Charlie were doing a great job at narrating our ordeal so I just moved to the kitchen to get some water. 

"Claire I want to tell you something. I want to tell you that-". Brian was saying after. Walking up to me in the kitchen when the lights went off. 

"they are here. The first wave have started" I muttered making everyone shiver. 

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