Banished To Earth Book One (37)

Beth watched the two of them walk toward the downstairs bathroom by the front of the house. “Okay, now we have three superheroes. That’s a good thing.”

    Nikki tugged at Pry's wet denims, “Did you see any monsters?”

   “I am afraid so.” Her bright blue eyes dimmed a bit.

  “We did too!”

  “What!” Chased dropped to his knees. “Where?”

  “On TV,” Beth injected. “It was all over the news, until.” She looked away.

  “Nikki didn’t see the worst of it…it was bad, really bad. We managed to snatch her away before…”

   “Looked kinda like a big snake ate somebody.” The little girl chimed in.” I never seen a monster before. But it was so far away and so dark, didn’t see no blood or nuthin’, just shadows. Didn’t look real at all.”

  “Oh my God, Nikki.”

  “It’s okay Mommie. We got our own super people, they won't let nothin’ bad happen to us.”

    “You are right Nikki.” Pry kneeled by the spunky little girl. “I promise we will keep you safe, no matter what.”

   Beth pried her baby from the alien’s damp denim-clad leg. “Oh sweetie, I didn’t know, you musta’ been lookin’ over my shoulder, just before it went out.”

   “Yeah, no TV.” Nikki huffed.

   “So, you lost your WiFi,” Chase said, rising from the floor. “Phone’s probably dead too?”

   He snatched it from his back pocket. “No signal. Not surprised.”

136

   “It was like watching the end of the world.” Beth bit her lip. “I’m putting you to bed, young lady.”

   “My cookies!”

   “And this mess,” Beth said, setting Nikki down as she surveyed the milk-splattered furniture and carpet.

   Pry smiled at the pretty, petite young mother, dressed in her white short-sleeved blouse, tan shorts and penny loafers. “I could bake more cookies,” she offered, “but I don’t know how. I have never cooked anything.” A wistful glaze crept across her face, just as Trudy and Tucker returned.

   “We got more cookies coolin’ in the kitchen,” Trudy said, walking up to them. Ya’ll just settle in, ain’t got no shortage of comfortable places to plant your butts.”

   “Yeah,” Said Tucker, “this place is sumthin’ else, reminds me of the lobby at the Hilton hotel I used to work.”

  “Took you for a cowboy,” Chase said as they took their places on the cushy overstuffed couch and recliners.

   Yeah, I worked a ranch in Texas for a while, then kinda found myself in South Carolina. Long story.” 

 Trudy listened for a bit, then headed for the Kitchen. “Ya need some help?” He asked, rising from the couch.

   “Not really but wouldn’t mind some company.” The others exchanged smirks.

  “I wanna help Trudy too.” Nikki begged.

   Tucker rose and started to scoop her up from beside Pry, who was sitting hip deep on the couch. Then glanced over at Beth, who was still standing at the far side of the spacious great room. “You don’t mind, I mean, we did just meet and all…”

 “Oo, kay” She hesitated, then relented and thought to herself, ‘she's safer with you than me,’ “It’s, it’s fine, go ahead.”

  “Let’s go little lady.”

  “What about Pry? You like cookies too, don’t you?”

  “I, don’t know, but you go ahead. He is safe.”

   “Now that’s a ringin’ endorsement.” Tucker laughed as he bundled her up and followed Trudy through the arched passageway on their right, which led toward the well-appointed dining room and kitchen.

   “It’s just the way she talks.” Said Nikki…

137 

  After two glasses of milk, three cookies, and a double handful of tummy tickles, Beth finally managed to carry Nikkie upstairs to their new bedroom. “Wow, this is nice.” Beth said just before she glanced down at Nikki. She lay limp against Beth’s shoulder, sound asleep.

   A queen-sized bed jutted away from the wall on her right. It faced a large bay window. replete with a white, deeply cushioned window seat. “Nice.” She murmured as she lay the sleeping moppet onto the pale-yellow bedspread and hoped she wouldn’t dribble sleep slobber on it before she could pull back the covers.

   Moments later, she had Nikki neatly tucked away in one of the nicest beds she had ever seen. “This does not feel like the apocalypse, doesn’t look like it either.” She whispered when she admired the beautifully crafted oak chest of drawers, vanity and nightstand holding a gorgeous antique lamp.

   “Oh, and she’s got a balcony.” She said, easing up to its’ French doors, draped in sheer white.

   She started to open them but instead grabbed their golden door handles to make sure they were locked. Noticing a light switch off to her left, she pushed it up. Soft white light flooded the wrought iron-railed porch. Its warm, gentle glow illuminated two white wicker chairs flanking a glass-topped table. She made sure she turned off the light before she left.  

   Chase and Pry’s upstairs room was identical to Beth and Nikki’s.

   Two similar bedrooms were located downstairs. They were on the opposite side of the house where a concrete patio fanned out.  Doors in each room led to it and a spacious backyard. And, of course, each bedroom had its own full bath.  

   Feeling foolish for being so easily impressed and distracted by her new surroundings, Beth joined the others.

   “Fast asleep,” she said as she reentered the great room. “Don’t know if any of us will be able to do the same this night or any other.”

    Chase looked up from their conversation. They were all huddled around the coffee table, trying to hash out what to do next.

138

     “You didn’t record any of the ‘monster footage, did you, Trudy?”

   “Yeah, got most of it. I don’t know why I recorded it, but something told me to hang on to it, just in case.”

    She noticed Tucker's approving expression. “Big stuff, bad stuff, needs to be kept, I figure. Never know what you might learn. And memory…” she swallowed hard, “some things you forget, but sometimes those are the very things you should hang onto, despite the pain.” They nodded yes, even as they wondered what she was really talking about.

   “Smart move,” Tucker said, standing up when Beth returned.

   “Let’s see that footage.” Chase’s tone was glum.