Part 7

“Let him go!” a scream came from behind him, startling everybody. Dan’s mouth dropped open when he saw Michelle bravely run toward them, cursing at Ben and the others. Ben frowned. “Grab her!”

The two men were fast and viciously grabbed each of Michelle’s arms, jerking her to a stop. She kicked and screamed at them, pleading for them to release her love.

Dan had to make his move. Swiftly he pulled out his revolver he had in his pocket and pointed it at the two men. “Let her go!”

Everyone wore a look of shock as the man who they thought couldn’t hurt a fly, was now holding a deadly weapon, and his face proved he could use it.

“What are you doing, you fool!” Ben asked, his voice angry yet scared.

“I’m doing what I should have done a long time ago.” Dan’s voice sound different even to himself. His fear was gone. “Now let her go, before I have to shoot one of you.”

The men quickly released Michelle, who ran to Travis’s side. She had tears running down her face as she cupped his face in her hands and cooed loving words to him.

“Michelle, release him and follow me.” Dan ordered, motioning with the gun for the two men to join the scientists.

“You’re fired, I hope you know!” Ben shouted as Michelle swiftly unbuckled the leather straps. “I will make sure you never get another job in this state again! You hear me!”

“I hear you so plug you mouth!” Dan shouted. He turned toward Jean and the other helpers. “I don’t know how you can live with yourselves. Look at him!” He pointed to Travis and Michelle with his other hand. “He looks just as human like you or me. So what if he has some alien inside? That is no reason to treat him like some rat in a cage. I don’t know about you, but I am so sick that I could throw up.” He saw Jean look away and some of the others seemed ashamed. Ben was the only one that held his cold gaze on Dan.

“IT is not one of us.” Ben growled. “Who knows what this alien has that could save all of human kind! Cancer could be cured. AIDS and Leukemia! You’re going to take that away from the dying people in this country?”

Dan smiled and shook his head. “No. That is what You are taking away from them.”

His eyes were reverted back to Travis and Michelle. The young girl could barely carry Travis and as soon as his feet touched the floor he collapsed, bringing her with him.

Dan grimaced and cocked the barrel of the gun, making everyone flinch. “Help them.” he said, motioning to Jean. The lady looked scared but nodded and slowly made her way towards them. She supported Travis’s other side and helped Michelle carry the half conscious young man towards Dan. He motioned the gun at her, telling Jean to back away, then he followed Michelle and Travis out the doors, never taking his eyes from the people inside.

“You’re never getting away with this!” Ben shouted as Dan slammed the doors shut and locked them.

“Come on, this way!” Dan said, wrapping Travis’s arm around his shoulders to help support him and they took off at a trot down the hall. He could hear the banging on the door and angry shouts. “That door won’t hold long. I’ll get you to safety then I’ll call the police.”

“I..can’t thank you enough, for what you are doing.” Michelle said.

“Hold the thanks for later. We have to get out of here first.”

Dan took them down endless halls and through steel doors. “What about the horse?” Michelle asked as they went through another set of doors.

“That’s where I’m taking you. Luckily Ben hasn’t done anything with him yet. He was going to kill Travis then do the horse. He’s just kept him sedated.”

Michelle nodded worriedly. She just hoped Star would be awake enough to carry Travis. His body was getting heavier and he was groaning in pain.

A few turns later, they came upon a huge set of steel doors. Dan fumbled for his keys and unlocked it. Michelle smiled as she saw Star’s head fling up. A joyous whinny bounced off the steel walls as Star saw Travis. Dan unlocked the stall and flung the door open. Star trotted out and nickered to Travis. The young man’s blue eyes opened and he mustered a smile.

“Now, just let me make a call, and I’ll take you outside.” Michelle nodded silently as she watched Dan run to the phone and dial 911. It only took him a few minutes to give the operator the address, then he slammed down the phone and signaled them to move.

Star stayed right by Travis’s side, helping support the young man. Travis’s hand weakly grasped some of Star’s white mane but Michelle knew he had been given some tranquilizers. Star looked confused and she wondered if it was because the big horse couldn’t hear Travis. He couldn’t get into Travis’s mind to communicate and it frightened him. “Come on Star, Travis will be all right. Let’s just get out of here.”

“Here, hurry.” Dan said, opening a big steel door. The cold night air hit Michelle in the face, but she didn’t care. She was outside! Had it been three days they had been trapped in the building? She could hear cars from a near by road. “You get to the road as fast as you can. The police should be hear any minute.”

Michelle nodded and held out her hand. “Thank you so much for everything. I don’t even know your name.”

“It’s Dan. Dan Desoto.” he said shaking it firmly. “I’m sorry I didn’t help sooner.”

“I’m glad you helped at all.” Michelle said tears of happiness blinding her vision. “I can never thank you enough.”

Dan nodded, looking emotional himself. “Get out of here.” he said, sniffing. “I’ll stand guard and make sure nobody comes through.”

Michelle already could hear the feint sounds of a wailing siren. She felt her heart burst in happiness at the thought of seeing her parents again. They must be worried sick. “Come on Travis.” she said softly to the silent figure next to her. He was trembling again and his skin was a pasty white but his eyes sparkled. A feint glow caught her eyes and she looked down to see a soft blue hue coming from the jewel. The light was getting feinted! She had a bad feeling that if Travis didn’t get help, he would die.

Star snorted nervously and half reared as three police cars with lights and sirens blazing, started down the dirt road towards them. One pulled of next to them while the other two raced towards the building.

“Are you guys all right?” the cop asked, stepping out, with a hand on his gun.

“Yes. I..I need to call my dad.”

“Okay, I have an ambulance coming shortly. You can call them from the hospital..”

“No! I..I mean I don’t need to go to the hospital. I just want to see my parents.”

“Well, that young man looks to need some medical attention.” the cop said pointing to Travis, who was barely standing on his own.

“Please, I can’t go to the hospital. Just call my parents and have them pick us up. Oh and tell my dad to bring the horse trailer.”

The cop looked ready to argue but he sighed and sat back in his car and after getting the number from her, dialed. “Nobody’s answering,” he said after hanging up.

“What?” she fought back panic. Now that she knew the truth about Travis, she couldn’t have him taken to a hospital. He would freak out in the van taking him after what he had been though!

“Want me to try again in a few minutes?”

Michelle nodded numbly. She heard Travis murmur something feint and she gently eased him to the ground, letting him lean against her. “What is it, Travis?” she whispered, brushing back a piece of sweaty hair.

“No...hospitals....”

“I know honey. I won’t let them take you.” she murmured and kissed his forehead.

He swallowed and tears welled up in his blood shot eyes. “I...want to go...home.”

Her heart thudded against her rib cage. “What?”

“Please Michelle. Take...me back.”

Her lips trembled and she knew her whole body was shaking. She hadn’t realized that even though they had survived, she might still lose the man she had grown to love. “Okay, Travis. I will.” She forced the words out. It wasn’t fair for him to stay here. He was dying and maybe going back to his planet would revive him. But would she ever see him again?

“Still no answer.” The cop’s deep voice interrupted her thoughts. “Look, when I’m done here, I’ll take you home, okay?”

Michelle managed a weak smile but she didn’t feel like smiling. She felt like crying all over again.

A pair of headlights caught her eyes and a true smile broadened her face. She recognized the familiar blue truck and trailer.

“Dad!” she called.

Travis touched her hand and she looked down at him. “Star will watch me. Go...say hi to father.”

Michelle smiled and gently leaned him against Star and ran into her father’s arms. She was surprised to see tears in the big man’s eyes. Her mother wasn’t far behind and Michelle was sandwiched between them in hugs.

“Please,” she said breaking their hold. “We need to get Travis back to the place where I found him. I’ll explain later.”

“Now wait a minute,” Mr. Hill said frowning. “He really should go to the hospital. I mean, look at him. He can’t even stand!”

“Dad...please. Remember when I brought him in from the field? He grew frantic when I mentioned the hospital. I know the reason now. Please..do it for me...and him.”

Mr. Hill seemed torn. Mrs. Hill gently laid a hand on his arm. “Honey, I think Michelle is serious about this.”

“Fine. Lynn, give the cop our address so we can answer his questions later. Come on Mich, let’s get Travis into the truck and his horse in the trailer. We have a long ride back.”

Michelle smiled her thanks and ran over to Travis. “Okay, sweety. We’re taking you back.” It broke her heart just thinking about it but when Travis managed a weak smile in gratitude, she knew she was doing the right thing. With the help of her father, they gently got Travis in the back of the truck. Mr. Hill gave her two blankets and she quickly wrapped them around the shivering body. Star nickered worriedly and Michelle turned to the white horse.

“We’re taking you two to safety. Please get in the trailer.”

Star shook his head and easily went up into the two-horse trailer. Mr. Hill quickly shut the door just as Mrs. Hill came jogging back. “He said he’d contact us.”

“Okay, lets get going.” Mr. Hill started the engine and slowly pulled away from the hell that Michelle and Travis had lived in for three days. Only when they were far away from the place did Michelle relax.

The sky was clear and the stars shone happily above. But Michelle was too worried about Travis to pay much attention to the sky. He was getting worse and when she took a look at the jewel, it’s glow was almost out. “Hurry, Dad!” she yelled into the hatch window on the back of the truck.

“You have to remember I have a horse behind me. I am going as fast as I can.” But Mr. Hill sped up a little. Michelle kept her mind on Travis, talking to him and making sure he didn’t pass out. He didn’t give much response but she knew he was listening. Even though the thought of losing him made her feel like she couldn’t breath, she knew it was the only way. Travis couldn’t go to any hospital and neither she or her parents could save him. Although her mom was a nurse, Travis was too far gone. The only sensible thing to do was let him go back to his home, where ever that is, and pray he would get help. Travis’ low groan brought her out of her dismal thoughts and she bit her lip and ran her hand softly over his pale cheek. His eyes were shut and his lips were blue. He looked dead already. Just the slow beat of his pulse under her fingers told her he was struggling to stay alive. She sniffed back her tears as she softly began to talk to Travis. Her voice seemed to soothe him and his pained expression became one of contentment. She was surprised when her dad finally braked the truck and trailer and told her they were at the farm.

With the help of her dad, they gently got Travis out of the truck bed and with him being supported on each side, waited for Mrs. Hill to get Star out of the trailer. The horse eagerly neighed to Travis but the young man was barely conscious. With Mrs.. Hill leading the way, flashlight in hand, the four of them slowly made their way back to the place where Michelle had first seen Travis. The moon was full and cast an eery light on the tall grass. Everything looked strange and Michelle was surprised at how unfamiliar her home seemed in the middle of the night. The field that she use to play and ride on her old pony and Gulliver now seemed like a strange land full of dangers and at the other side she would lose the person most dearest to her.

It seemed like a miracle that they found the spot but Star helped. The huge white horse seemed to glow in the dark as he galloped on ahead of them and reared up, screaming into the night. That’s when Michelle realized the time was swiftly approaching. Mr. and Mrs. Hill helped set Travis down and after giving Michelle a encouraging squeeze on the shoulder they left her with Travis and Star.

Travis kept one arm swung around Star’s neck, letting the big horse support his unstable legs. “Thank..you Michelle.” he whispered, gently cupping her cheek in his hand. His face was pale and sickly

looking but his blue eyes shone with love for her. “Oh Travis. I’m sorry...” her sob broke off her sentence and she closed her eyes and kissed his hand.

“Don’t...be.” His voice was barely audible but Michelle could hear the emotion behind it. “Mich, I love you...I always will...”

Michelle forced a smile and nodded. “Me too.” She then leaned forward and softly kissed his pale blue lips. She wanted to envelope him and show him how much she loved him back. She wanted to make him stay with her. She wanted to feel his arms around her. But even her kiss made her feel like the pressure would crumble him into a million pieces.

A feint blue glow started to surround Star and Travis. Michelle slowly backed away until her fingers slipped from his. Then a bright flash of light blinded her and when she looked back, Travis and Star were gone.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The sun shone brightly through the glass window, casting the room in a soft morning glow. The birds chirped happily outside and horses neighed for their breakfast. The day seemed so perfect, yet Michelle groaned and flung her covers over her head, shutting out the light. For the past week she had felt miserable. Her parents thought she was sick and Michelle didn’t admit she wasn’t. She wasn’t sick physically but mentally. Her heart ached everytime she thought of the handsome young man. She felt tears slid down her cheeks as she thought back to that horrible night. After Travis had disappeared she couldn’t remember much. She did remember her dad caring her back to the house and the next day she had explained everything. She had fought the tears until after making her parents promise not to tell anything about Travis. Then she had ran up to her room and locking the door cried until she couldn’t cry anymore.

Her dad had taken over her lessons for the week and her mom had taken off of work to look after her. Several news reporters had been by, including the policeman that had helped her that last night. Michelle made herself talk to them but her parents did most of the talking, keeping up their bargain and not revealing anything about the mysterious young man. She knew both Mr. and Mrs. Hill were having trouble believing that Travis had been an actual alien. But she also knew that they would keep their word and when Travis was mentioned, her parents just shrugged and said that they didn’t know what happened to him.

The sound of her bedroom door being opened made Michelle tense up. She didn’t want to get up and she didn’t want visitors.

“Honey, are you up?” her mom’s sweet voice said softly. The sound of the curtains being pushed open made her cringe and groan again, but she slowly stuck her head out from the covers. The sun nearly blinded her and she blinked several times, brushing the sleep and the tears from her face.

“Are you feeling better?” Mrs. Hill asked, taking a seat in the chair next to the bed.

Michelle just nodded, not trusting herself to speak.

“Look, I know that it has been a tough week for you. But you should really go outside. Gulliver

is wondering what happened to you.” Michelle didn’t say anything. The thought of going outside and seeing the barn without Travis to greet made her want to cry all over again.

“You know, a ride always mended my broken heart.”

Michelle turned in surprise at her mother. She had known her mother use to ride but what surprised her was that she knew. She knew about her love for Travis.

“Trust me, I’ve had my share of broken hearts before your dad.” Mrs. Hill laughed, her eyes dancing. “But when I would straddle my paint mare with no saddle between her and me, all of my miseries and aches disappeared. It was just her and me, together.”

“Really?”

“Yes, really. I think that if you took Gulliver out you’d know what I am talking about.”

Michelle managed a weak smile. She did miss riding. Maybe her mom was right. But then Travis’ face came into her mind. The way his blue eyes danced. The way his body had felt close to her, his smooth skin on hers. The way his lips kissed hers, stealing her away. “Oh mom, I miss him so much!” she suddenly cried out and the tears came in another flood. Her mom made soothing sounds as she took Michelle in her arms and held her daughter close, letting the loss of love poor out.

“I know honey. Believe me I know. I’ve never told anyone this, not even your dad. When I was sixteen, I fell in love. Oh he was the most gorgeous guy. With silky brown hair and hazel eyes to die for. We hit it off instantly.”

Michelle sniffed and laid her head on her mother’s bosom, letting herself get lost in the soft words and the gentle strokes of her mother’s hand on her back.

“I was happy. I loved him with all of my heart. A year later, we had planned to go out to celebrate out one year anniversary of when we first met. But when he didn’t show up, I got mad. Why of all nights had he stood me up? Yet I knew deep down that something was wrong.”

Her mother’s voice caught and Michelle looked up to see tears in her eyes. “I found out later that night that he had been killed in a car accident. He had been driving to my house to come and get me when a drunk drive hit him head on. Killed him instantly they said. I thought I had lost my whole life. I was miserable for weeks. The only thing that kept me sane was my horse.”

“I...I’m sorry.” the words sounded lame even to her but Michelle didn’t know what else to say.

“Don’t be. I’m not. I still miss him, yes. But then I think. I would never had met your father and had you if that tragic thing hadn’t happened.”

Michelle smiled and hugged her mother. “Thanks mom.”

“You’re welcome. Now get dressed and get outside to ride that horse of yours.”

It didn’t take long for Michelle to dress in jeans and a soft cotton tee-shirt. Nobody was in the barn and no classes were scheduled for today which Michelle was glad for. She couldn’t face anyone just yet. Gulliver stuck his finely sculpted dark head out of his stall and nickered when he saw her. “I know, boy. Let’s go for a ride!”

She quickly put on his bridle and once outside, lept onto his strong back and walked off towards the field. She had to admit the day was beautiful. Not a cloud in sight and the sun was warm on her shoulders. Gulliver snorted, eager to go faster and Michelle let him. She laughed as they took off at a gallop down the grassy field. The wind stung her cheeks and she could feel Gulliver’s surging muscles under her legs. Her mom was right. The joy of being on a horse swept all of her problems away.

Chuckling she slowed Gulliver back down to a walk and that’s when she realized where she was. She could make out the grouping of trees where she had first found Travis and Star. Her throat caught and she slid down off of Gulliver’s back. The long grass brushed at her jeans as she took a couple of steps towards the trees. “Travis...” she mumbled and collapsed in the grass, feeling the tears cascade down her cheeks for the hundredth time that week. She closed her eyes, trying to wish the bad feelings away. But all she could see was Travis’ handsome face close to hers.

“I wish you would come back to me.” she whispered, opening her eyes to look at the blue sky. Her heart ached for him and she wondered if it would ever stop hurting.

A feint rumble made the earth gently shake but Michelle thought nothing of it. She was too lost in her thoughts of Travis to notice anything around her. Gulliver lifted his head from where he had been grazing, ears pricked towards the trees. The movement startled Michelle and she frowned when she saw Gulliver’s flared nostrils. She licked her dry lips as she made herself look back towards the trees.

At first she thought she was imagining it. A wind wipped up, causing her hair to fall into her eyes. She brushed it away to see a figure dressed in white immerged from the trees. Was she going insane? She blinked and looked back but the figure was still walking towards her. His silky white shirt blew in the breeze and his blond hair framed his handsomely tanned face. She heard a loud neigh and a huge white horse galloped from the trees, bucking and galloping across the field. No...this couldn’t be happening. Her voice caught in her throat and her heart hammered in her chest. Why was this happening to her?

“Michelle!” the figure shouted. She shakily got to her feet. It was him! Travis had come back! With a cry of joy, she took off towards him. Her feet thundered with her heart, and she wished she could run faster. Travis had started to jog towards her and when they met, he yanked her off her feet in a wild hug. Michelle was laughing and crying as he spun her around and then gently set her back on her feet.

“It’s really you!” she cried, tears of happiness fell down her face. Travis smiled and nodded, brushing a tear away with a finger.

“Yes, it’s me. Of god, how I’ve missed you!” He enveloped her in a huge hug, squeezing her against his finely muscled chest. Michelle wrapped her arms around his waist and held on never wanting to let him go again.

“I’ve missed you too.” she said, her voice muffled against his soft shirt as she buried her face into his chest. Fear suddenly surrounded her and she looked up into his smiling face. “Please don’t leave me again. Take me with you if you go again.”

“Oh Mich..I’m not leaving you ever again.”

“You mean that?”

“Yes, I do.” He lightly kissed her on the cheek and motioned to the ground. “Let’s sit and I’ll explain.”

She did as he told her to, glad to be off her unstable legs. She couldn’t take her eyes off of him. He had no bruises or marks of any kind pertaining to his incident with the scientists. He looked healthy and strong again. She smiled as she leaned against him and he wrapped her in his strong arms, laying his chin on her head. “You see, when I got back to my planet, everything was gone. My house, barn, everything. When only a few days had passed here, a few years had passed there. My past was gone. And that’s when I realized that I wanted to spend my life with you. It took me a few weeks to get up enough strength to get back to Earth but it was worth it. The thought of seeing you again kept me going.” He paused and ran a hand through her silky hair. “That is, if you want my to stay. I will need to be taught everything pertaining to your planet, but I’m a fast learner.”

Michelle frowned and turned to look at him. “Well, I don’t know.” she said. She saw his smile waver and she forced herself to remain serious. “I’ll teach you and put up with you under one condition.”

“And what is that?” he asked raising one eyebrow.

“You have to promise to love me. To stay with me and love me unconditionally.”

Travis smiled and kissed her forehead. “I..” he trailed his kisses on her cheek. “promise.” His lips met hers and she opened up to him, wanting him to enter her like before. “I love you,” he whispered as their lips came apart for a second.

“I love you to.” she whispered back and their mouths met again. Their bodies joined together and no one was there to see them except the two horses, one dark bay and the other silvery white. And only the two horses saw the bluish glow surround boy and girl.

Nobody would know about Travis. Michelle vowed her life to his secret. She closed her eyes in bliss as Travis ran his soft hands under her shirt, her skin tingling with his touch. From another world she had found love, and together they would enter into a whole new life. One with new discoveries and hardships. Yet one they will face together.

Forever.

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