A GIFT OF TIME

Episode 29

I was dozing by the time we were zooming into Lebanon. It was already 6 and I knew I hadn't really had a decent lunch. My stomach grumbled and I was forced to check the cabinets and the boxes for anything. Charlie threw me a pack of cookies which I was glad to have. Checking the back I realize I was practically the only person awake. Except from Charlie though. 

"Thanks Charlie" I muttered tearing the nylon wrap. 

"No thank you" he sighed and I turned to him briefly not knowing exactly what he meant by the expression of gratitude. 

"thank me for what?" I asked completely clueless about his intentions as he had a wide grin on his face. 

"you helped me out with Tanya. I never thought you would do that for me though. Thank you for butting in and saving my a*s" he chuckled softly and I sighed. 

"Charlie are you sure about this?, I mean you are not so sure she loves you" I said turning back back Tanya was asleep. She had her head placed on Tony's shoulders. 

" you know she loves me Claire. You said so yourself-

"it's could be my imagination" I blurted and Charlie snickered at my antic of changing my statement. 

"I know you're just looking out for me Claire. Just worried I might get hurt but...I really love Tanya. I might not be able to admit it before but now I'm damn confident about it-

" it was quite obvious really. When and when not you admitted it. You had it plastered right in front of your forehead. Everyone in the villa noticed-

"really?" Charlie furrowed then pale up in self embarrassment. 

"it's not a big deal Charlie. Love is a silly thing" I said with a mouthful of cookies. 

"she said she love me Claire. She said she loved me after you left the van on our way to the store. 

" and you believe her?-

"Claire-

"if I were you. I wouldn't believe her or I'll set some boundaries. A person really into you wouldn't call you clingy Charlie-

" maybe I was a little clingy-

"well you're drunk so, there's nothing I can do about it but trust me I'm gonna make her like me if she hurts you?-

" like you you mean?-

"I'm gonna make her die and come back" I explained briefly and Charlie chuckled. 

"seeing you being protective of me is weird Claire-

" actually, I am weird. I am a freaking walking mummy Charlie" I reminded adding to the smile on Charlie's face. 

"you look very much alive to me. Still annoying as always-

" thanks Charlie " I muttered grabbing the magnifier. 

" Charlie. Wait " I halted my brother looking into the lens. 

" did you see that? " I asked pointing to the huge shadow that seem to have covered a distance more than 40km. 

"guys. Guys" I whispered my call waking almost everyone up. 

"we are here" I announced and Charlie silently moved the car to the edge of the street. Everyone seem a little inconvenient to have gotten woken from their short sleep but not quite short.

"Are you sure?" Tony sleepily muttered. 

"I think so. The only thing huge enough to cast this much of a shadow is the driller. It only means we are very close. So guys let's move. We shouldn't move the car too close. It might draw attention. So we walk" I declared and many groaned since the environment was quite dusky, I couldn't make out who did.

"which side do you guys think the driller would be?" I asked looking at the shadow casted on the road. 

"it's facing the right direction. It should be at the left" Danny put in and I nodded before walking on with others behind me. Trust me I regret my decision to walk the way down. After 30mins there was no sign of the driller and the group were starting to complain. Tony mostly. He was carrying a duffel bag with a smaller repulser and few of his gadgets which he thinks might be of use and that I could tell was inconvenient for him. After 45mins we saw the drilling bit of the driller. 

"God Claire. That was a good plan" Tony sarcastically complained and I frowned. If I knew it was this far. There was no way I would have decided to walk either. I signed and decided to ignore his comment and moved towards the huge object. 

"f**k this thing is huge" Brian muttered as we stood right in front of the image. Hero started to sniffle and all of a sudden made us all bend down. We were forced to lay flat on the floor while we study the surrounding with the magnifier lens. 

"I thought the lens in our eyes was enough" Brian voiced as the magnifier was passed to him to have a view if what we've all seen. 

"what did you see?" I asked Danny and he was a little quiet humming silently like he was meditating on what to tell me. 

"I saw 9 boys probably all defenders. A giant ship and the huge driller. I think they are trying to get the driller into the ship but seem to be having a hard time" Danny finally answered and I gruffed. 

"I don't think there is a way we can stop that thing. We'll be walking right straight to them if we are supposed to walk there-

"I'll go" Hero volunteered and I arched my brows at him in question. 

"I will make them go away" Hero assured and I pondered on it for a while before he made his way into the field. We watch as he joined the other Ghafils in directing the object into the large ship. I noticed that moment the object wasn't directly touching the ground. It was placed on a above the ground with what looked like metal rollers so the object could be rolled into the ship. There was a long chain attached to the hoisting system. It seems it was placed horizontally before that was why it was casting so much shadow and now that it had been successfully placed on the roller I doubt there was any shadows anymore. Who cares about the shadows anyway. 

"Hero is gesturing for us to come" Brian informed as she passed the magnifier to me. Hero was turning to our direction and moving his hands as if gesturing us forward. 

"we need to move" I declared but I stopped them from moving with my hand. 

"Danny, Nicholas and I would go. You should stay back and keep watch. It'll be a disaster of we all go at the same time. I have a feeling there are more Ghafils there than we noticed" I pointed out and they all nodded. 

"Nick please grab the tools we might need to cut the wire inside that thing please. Let be quick about it because right now I'm extremely exhausted" I implored and he opened the duffel bag Tony had on him to grab some tools which he shares with Danny. I wasn't really concentrating on their actions as my eyes were fixed on the large object being forced to move into the ship. Slowly and quietly I moved with Danny and Nicholas beside me. As much as I wouldn't like the idea of going there with two Nicholas. It seems my option are kinda limited here. 

"Hey" I whispered to Hero and he smiled not meeting my gaze. I guess he still like me. Unfortunately. I already have a boyfriend I thought examining the huge thing. 

"Tony asked us to move into the chamber. You brought the tools?" I asked Nick and he nodded. 

"good" I muttered quietly as we tried to find the perfect way to get into the chamber. We heard some noise and we needn't be told some Ghafils were headed for our direction. 

"go, go, go" Hero urged and we were forced to go under the drillers and scout between the rollers. That was a terrible experience really because all of a sudden the rollers started to move and we we forced to move with it. Extremely uncomfortable because we were scouted and I hit my head at intervals as the driller move above us. As the driller moved above our heads the chambers rolled up to my side and I opened it moving inside the driller immediately. Danny and Nicholas joined seconds later. 

"wow, this is one hell of a system" Danny remarked as he watched every wires fixed together in an extremely disordered state. 

"try not to touch anything" I instructed as we bend trying to pass under the wire which current was ridiculously oozing from. 

"which exactly are we supposed to cut?" Danny asked confused at the large number of connections in the driller. 

"the connection between the hoisting system, electric drive and mud cycling device-

" why don't we just cut all of them? " Nick asked and I shook my head in disapproval. 

" we can't, we might draw unnecessary attention one and two we don't really have that much time" I remonstrated studying the connections for a while. 

"Every of these wirings is connected to each other we just have to find the one connected outside the chambers of the hoisting system" I prompted looking around with Danny and Nick. 

"guys, check this out" Danny called and we moved hastily to him though avoiding and bending across the huge connections that lay carelessly everywhere. 

"this-" Danny pointed to a group of cables bounded together leading away from the hoisting system. 

"I think that should be it" I ventured as we all grab a lineman pliar pressing down on the wire. We were doing a pretty good job at disconnecting the cables before we slumped against the hard surface all of a sudden, we lost contact, hitting our head against the hard steel as the Driller suddenly moved. 

"f**k!" Danny silently caused regaining his composure. 

"that's not a good sign" I frowned straightening my neck. 

"you okay?" Danny asked sounding worried and I nodded. I stood and moved to peek through the chambers lid. We were in the goddamn giant ship. 

"this is not good. We have to find a way to get out of here" I announced and try opening the lid completely but it seems something was holding it up. It was Hero and it seems he was in front two other Ghafils conversing in their whimpering language. 

"we can't go out. They are right in front of the lid. We have to wait" I explained and Danny quietly groaned. We sat back into the chambers and waited for some time but I could see hear voices of the other Ghafils. Suddenly the dim light was ceased out and I heard footsteps suddenly retiring from the front of the lid. 

"We are in the ship and they are closing the ship deck. They are around here. you cannot come out. They will kill you" I heard Hero whispered to me in front of the lid. I softly hit my head against the lid. 

"congratulations guys. You get to visit Egypt for free. Sit tight and enjoy the ride" I announced with a forced smile moving to the free side of the compartment to sit. 

"my mom is gonna go crazy if she hear this" Danny muttered as he resumed severing the cables. 

"my dad too" Nick muttered slowly sitting on the floor and placing a hand over a retracted knee while completely stretching the other. 

"Charlie would be insane before getting the news to my parents. This is so not my day" I muttered before Danny moved next to me. 

"but the good thing is. We are still together right?" Danny asked moving to my side sitting next to me and smiling at me and taking my hand in his as he stared deep into my eyes. 

"yeah, yeah" I replied smiling warmly back at him before he decided to place his lips on mine. 

"you really think this is the good place for that?" Nicholas frowned as Danny tried deepening the kiss. We were forced to pull away and I declared to myself, this was not going to be a very good flight. I was certain Danny was going to make advances and Nicholas wouldn't be comfortable with it. 

" bad you don't have your girlfriend at your side in times like this. It could romantic though" that was a joke, even I couldn't help but laugh at but Nicholas expression was quite blank. 

"I don't have a girlfriend" his announcement made my hair stood on end. I mean few hours ago we were talking about his girlfriend. Now he's single. I don't think I could believe him on that. 

"we broke up some hours ago. Before we decided to come here" he explained. Now I get why I didn't quite see him and Hailey until the end of the Mr Stewart presentation. 

"oh, I'm sorry man-

"no, I called it off myself. I don't love her any more. I love someone else" that got Danny frowning. Couldn't help mine too. Why would he f*****g say that to Danny. Oh shoot this isn't going to end well. 

"really?, that's cool man. Wanna talk about it?" Danny asked and Nicholas snickered. 

"maybe. I don't know how to make her mine though I know she loves me but she kept denying it even if it's so evident on her face. I knew she was special the moment she walked on me into the restaurant which was our third meeting. I tried to be cold to her but it didn't work out because I couldn't. I love her man" he smiled watching as his every single statement affect me. I tried not to look affected though but I knew he could see straight through me. 

"that's really cool man. It would have been a good idea to bring her into the villa if you want her to be safe but Hailey. I can't say much for her. She won't like the idea of staying in the same place with someone you like Nick. But with all these crazy things out there. She's not safe. Good luck with her though" Danny sincerely wished shooting Nicholas a smile. I knew he was disturbed too. Because he definitely couldn't remember loving any other girl apart from Hailey. And with Nicholas claiming to love someone else. He seem a little disturbed about it. I pretended not to notice though. 

"Thanks man" Nick forced him a smile as well. I pretended to be falling asleep as Danny turned to me. I knew Nicholas knew I was pretending because he was watching me closely. I ignored him though. Maybe I was pretending to fall asleep at first but I did fall asleep and woke up when I noticed the lid quietly moved. I put my hand behind my back readying my g*n until Hero moved in. 

"you scared me" I sighed immediately our eyes met. 

"you can not go back. They are returning to The Chief ship to join the rest of our race. We cannot take the ship either. It is controlled from the Chief ship. The only option is to-" Hero paused and I exhaled deeply knowing very well the answer to that at his sullen face. 

" our technology is quite advanced than yours and they can see everything going on in the ship. You cannot come out until you are dropped to the location. I will come with you-

" I can't let you. That place is quite dangerous for you Hero. We'll be fine but I'm more worried about you. How are you going to leave if you returned back to the ship?" I asked sounding quite worried. 

"I will leave. I can leave. I'm a Ghafil. I will be fine there" he assured and I groaned. I can't believe we'll be splitting again. 

"but-

" I think it's quite a good idea" Nicholas intervened making his appearance obvious. Didn't know he was awake though. 

"We are yet to know the location of their chief. We need someone in the inside. I think it's a good thing if you ask me" Danny added and I met his eyes. I don't think I could quite trust Danny with Hero. He never likes the alien. 

"I agree. We need someone in the inside" Nick assented standing to join us. I realized that time he was a little taller than the compartment. I sighed and turned back to Hero. I'm a little scared for him but he smiled in assurance seeing the concern in my face. 

"I will be fine Claire. I will come back" Hero assured grinning widely. Really wish he could control his green glow though. He was glowing so bright and when he noticed he had an embarrassed look on his face. 

"of course you would" Danny mumbled his sarcastic remark under his breath as he got uncomfortable with the glowing Hero. 

" here, it's a tracking watch. Me and Brian shared it. You know in case emergency. But you can have it. It'll make getting to you a lot easier" With that said Hero. Stopped glowing taking the watch from Nick who patted him with a smile. Thankfully I was starting to worry. 

"be careful Hero" Nick earnestly pleaded and he nodded giving me one last look before making his way outside. 

"do you think he'll be fine?" I asked Danny who ignored the question and move to back to sit on the floor. 

"don't worry Claire. He would be fine. He's a tough one" Nick assured and I smiled. 

"yeah right he is. I've noticed that" I softly chuckled. But turning back I saw Danny giving me a skeptical look, oh not me. He was studying Nicholas because he had his intense gaze on me and he was twitching his fingers. Something Danny knew he does when he's trying to control his nervousness. I really pray this ends well. He moved his gaze. Immediately Nick turned back at him. 

"come sit here" he said gesturing me right next to him. I was going there before he asked though. I mentally scoffed moving next to him but I stilled as he moved me even closer with his hand on my waist only to rest his head on my shoulder. Okay this is weird. I thought. 

"you're holding your breath, you want me to kiss you?" Danny asked and I stilled even more. He knew. He could sense it. Why was he suddenly acting so weird?. I wondered as I inhaled and relaxed not giving him the satisfaction of him taunting me. But I couldn't help it after he slipped his hand into my top to draw circles on my waist. Who in the world wouldn't be affected with that?. I wondered as I stilled again. His touch was tickling and I was holding back my laugh by sucking in my lip. I bit down on my lower lip as he continue his silent t*****e on me. And when my eyes met with Nick. I knew he was very much close to snapping. Oh God this is not good!

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