78. Marcus Keeps Disappointing

Carl

Marcus had come back from the basement talking to Qadir a while ago. I didn’t have much time. Thinking about Charlene. Whether they were okay. I had to ask.

Me {Hey Chars} I waited for a response. It came quickly.

Charlene {Hi}

Me {Have you and Ben talked?}

Charlene {Yeah} My breath caught. Thinking that she might have changed her mind staying with him...

Me{And?}

Charlene {He left.} My eyes closed. That was not what I was hoping for. She was all alone there. I wanted to kill Benjamin. How could he do that to her? Didn’t he know how scared she was?

Me {Is he coming back?}

Charlene {No. Facepalm emoji. But don’t worry. I’m figuring it out.}

Me {What do you mean?}

She didn’t reply.

Me {Put on the news. Marcus is going on worldwide}

She went offline. I stared out over the interview room. Marcus was being prepped by a lot of people. He was dressed semi-formal. Just like a normal human being.

Three people sat under the limelight. One reporter, an alien, and the American General.

“This broadcast is coming to you live from Washington DC inside the white house… We have with us Marcus Ahmed, joined by the General of the Army. They are going to clarify what is going on in the world. Many people have hidden themselves in their homes. Fear is rampant. Gun sales have skyrocketed.” Jennifer made her introductions. “Let’s hope talking to Marcus can give us more inside information.” She turned to him. “Marcus…” Jennifer said, taking a breath. “Who are you? And why did you want to address the world tonight?”

Marcus’s eyes cast down for a second. They came up quickly. He bobbed his head in a friendly manner. He was like a different person. Smiling. Engaging. Making eye contact with Jennifer and the General. The scowl was gone… The constant menacing behind his eyes. I shudder to think what a good actor he was.

“This might come as a shock, Jennifer. People have not been alone on earth for the last two hundred years. The American government has had a tight-knit relationship with… Aliens.” Jennifer gasped. Her eyes flickered over to the General.

“Can you confirm that, General?”

“It is true, Jennifer.”

There was a murmur behind me in the room of reporters that didn’t get the seat Jennifer got. My father came to stand next to me. Marcus continued when she sat stupefied. “The thing is, Jennifer. My father wants to take over the Earth. Rule and make the society both human and alien.”

Jennifer was stunned into silence. She bit into the air trying to figure out what to ask... “So you are an… alien?” Both men nodded. Jennifer moved around nervously in her seat.

“For two hundred years, we have been living off human… blood and eating people.” Marcus’s face was as dead serious as it could be. Without being a threat. Still trying to keep Jennifer calm. He and the general were non fluxed. Their composure stayed reassuring. So much so that no one would doubt that Marcus was telling the truth.

“May I ask you a question?”

He waited in anticipation.

“Why are you here?”

“Thank You, Jennifer… Like I said, my father is a bit of an entrepreneur. Being the youngest of nine children, there wasn’t much space for him left on our planet. He came… and now we want to stay. Have a good relationship with people.”

There was the first lie.

“And you eat people?”

“Not just people. We want to stop doing that… Bring food from other planets here to earth. Have people farm with these beasts for us. Creating jobs. Bringing technical and technological advancement from an alien race.”

Marcus never fidgeted. At that moment, he was playing nervously with his hands. It was all an act.

“Unfortunately… This hostile sign or biochemical attack from Qadir... My father. That started here in America… is proof that we are superior in every way. We would expect everybody to just go on with their lives… Bluntly put, I don’t think there is really time for negotiations. I don’t agree with everything my father is doing. I have some human friends of my own. So, to save human lives, I want to end this era of older generations as quickly as possible. My father’s release from custody will be the immediate stop of the attacks across the world.”

“What about the law that we do not negotiate with terrorists anymore, general? Will there be war?”

“Everything he said is true, Jennifer... At nine, every president, prime minister, and Shaik will address their nation. There will be a confession to the people.”

He sat quietly for a while.

“It was a worldwide decision. All the countries signed this treaty so many years ago. The opportunity was just too great to pass up… People have to consider that no one knew they were among us. The population of the earth had not diminished in any way… It proves the necessary evil of the situation.”

Marcus took the reigns to take the focus off the humans. “Most of the government officials in all the countries are aliens already. No one knows. We all look alike. Aliens don’t even know that the person next to them is from another race until… as we all call it… they manifest.”

“Different races?” Jennifer exclaimed nervously.

“Yes… All stronger in various ways. All presented as human.” Marcus said lastly.

“I think we should end tonight, Marcus, by saying… Our planet might not last forever. If people can keep in mind that interstellar travel is all of a sudden possible. Space and other worlds are open for us to explore. It’s not only a reality but happens in a matter of seconds.”

The two men stood up. Shook hands and walked out together.

Jennifer turned her swivel chair to face the camera. Stunned for a moment, stuttering. “Thank… you… Marcus. Thank You, General… Let’s break and let the elect address the nations later today. Thank You all for joining me. I don’t know about you, but I would like some proof…. Maybe have one of these aliens manifest on television. Let us all know what you think.”

The red light cut out. Jennifer stood up shakily making her way out of the room. There was an instantaneous commotion of the staff behind me. It was almost unbearable. The comments of the injustice. Talking turned to a bustle when my father turned around, shoeing everyone back to work.

It was an earth-shattering moment. Everything would change. It’s not like they could ever take it back. No one knew what way the wind would blow. My phone rang. I answered quickly.

“What was that?” Charlene asked.

“I don’t know.”

“Can we talk? I’m a little bored… Wished I went with Juliet to the compound as a second wife.”

“Can you imagine…? Then I wouldn’t see you again,” I said softly.

Charlene was quiet. “Will you let me know what’s…” Her voice trailed off.

“Of course. Will stay in touch every day. Stay safe.” She wasn’t saying anything. “Charlene?” I pulled the phone from my ear. The call was dropped.

***

Marcus

Stepping out of the interview room, they let me take the night. Qadir was still in the holding cell. I was on my way to the hotel they booked us into. All of us were staying in the same place. I needed my phone…

I tried to shake off the feeling I had. Acting like that went against everything I stood for.

“Marcus.” Carl stopped me. Kubra was short on his heels.

“Hey. What’s up?” I rubbed my eyes.

“Well, first of all. Ben left Charlene alone at the house.”

My eyes widened in surprise. “I don’t like that, Carl.”

“He did what?” Kubra exclaimed out of the blue. Muttering something under his breath and gritting his teeth. “I’ll take care of her.” He spats out, walking away quickly. Carl was worriedly staring after him. “Not good enough for you? If you run, you could catch up.”

His eyes cast to the floor. He took a deep breath. “Just like you, I’m stuck here… Anything anyone can do… would be great. My father isn’t really any help at this stage. Or in that department.”

“I trust Kubra with my life, Carl. Don’t worry. He will see her settled somewhere safe or even bring her here.”

It seemed to calm the boy down. Carl wanted to leave, still deep in thought. Kubra’s reaction was bizarre… even to me. “Hey, Carl! Secondly?” I asked as he turned back.

“Oh yeah… I can’t find Michael anywhere.”

I chewed the inside of my lip. Rubbing my chin with a finger. Trying to calculate how long it’s been. Caleb left two weeks ago. The buttons weren’t in the safety deposit box because as soon as Caleb left… Michael was taken… What else could possibly go wrong? I called him over. “Where are you going?”

“To the hotel.”

“I think we should stay together… what do you think?”

He smiled. Relief washed over his face. Strangely it made me feel better too. We made our way in silence. He walked with me to my room and came in. I picked up my phone. There was nothing. No messages. No calls…

“Hey, do you have reception?” I asked, sitting down.

“Yeah… Well kinda. Not when we first came. But I talked to Charlene for a few moments when you were on the air… Want to use my phone?”

“Please. I want to talk to Louis… here is mine. See what you can do.”

I dialed Louis’s number.

Me [“Hey… I thought you would never answer.”]

Louis [Sorry, we were watching you on the TV. My phone was somewhere in the room. Why are you calling from Carl’s number?]

I heard Juliet in the background. My insides churned from jealousy. Why was she there?

Me [And? What are Liam and Cindy saying?]

Louis [I get it. We have to stay… We all get it, Marcus.]

He was being so clipped with me.

Me [Can I talk to her?]

Louis [Yeah, here she is.]

His voice was accommodating. I heard them fighting in the background. Louis struggled to get her on the phone. Liam and Cindy were also trying. Silence.

Louis [S- Marcus she left.]

Me [What do you mean? Why was she there?]

Louis [She walked here this morning.]

Me [She what?]

Louis [Invisible, of course.]

I blow out a breath.

Louis [We need to get her a phone, Marcus. Why did you not let her bring hers?]

Me [Louis… things are like this because my father isn’t back yet. It will be worse when we have to take it away later.]

He was quiet.

Louis [Why did you tell me to go to your house. They wouldn’t even talk to me at the gate…]

Me [It was worth a shot, I supposed... I felt guilty.]

Louis [Yeah. Okay. We better get used to it… I’m sorry I’m so hard on you.]

Louis’s words meant something. Cut me to the core. They were trying. But just like me, no one could do anything. I couldn't relieve all their worries. It was building up… slowly.

Me [Why did you not answer my message?]

Louis [I did.]

Me [There is something wrong with my phone Louis. Just bear with me, okay.]

Louis [Bye, Marcus.]

Me [Bye.]

“You figure out what’s going on, Carl?”

“Seems fine to me. I’ll try to call you.”

Nothing happened.

***

Juliet

I could get used to it. I had freedom… Just invisible freedom. I laughed at my own joke. It was late when I eventually made my way back to Marcus’s house. The window in the kitchen was luckily still open.

I felt stupid for running away when Marcus called. My thoughts were consumed by seeing him like that… How he could change in an instant. It scared the crap out of me.

I climbed through invisible and walked towards my room. I didn’t see Damian, wondering where he could be. I left Marcus’s door open a little to come back from my invisible state inside. I didn’t want Damian to see me disappear. He was nowhere. I threw my veil on the bed. I had taken it with me just in case

The other guard is constantly sitting at the gate. He hadn’t introduced himself yet. I sat on the bed thinking. Red lights going off. Damian was out looking for me. “Shoot!”

I heard his low voice echo through the place. He had just come through the gate. Talking to the other guard. He was stomping up to my room, slamming the door open. It almost went off the rails.

“You better be here.” He was visibly startled seeing me. Confusion written on his features. It soon turned to fury. “Where the hell have you been? How did you get out?”

At first, I didn’t answer.

“Answer me!”

“I snuck out… the kitchen.” I hesitated, but lying wasn’t going to work.

“If you do that again, I will have to sort you out.”

I was a little tired of this big guy bullying me. His tone was unnecessary. The cruelty in his eyes scared me. Chris’s words came to mind too late. “her biggest problem is that mouth of hers.”

“I can’t help you’re doing a piss poor job dude,” I said… stupidly.

The fist came at me so quickly I couldn’t even dodge. It was hard planting in the side of my face. I landed on the floor in front of my bed. Gasping.

I lifted both hands in surrender. “My mistake.” My hand jumped to my cheek. Damian towered over me. Hunching down, he grabbed my chin in his hand. Twisting my face left and right.

“You’ll live. Don’t talk to me like that again. If I ask you a question, answer me properly.”

I nodded. Damian turned and left, closing my door and Marcus’s. I could hear him moving his chair to a better vantage spot. Groaning I fell down on the bed. Screaming into the pillows. Caleb’s little face flashed in my mind. His little fingers around mine. Chris… that was so gentle with me. Louis that morning. Charlene and Miné… Carl. My parents and the fact that they also had to come back. The thing was… Caleb wasn’t dead. Chris wasn’t dead. I mourned their loss. But they were safe… I had to be happy about that. If I had to go through it to keep Miné safe, I would just have to suck it up...

I was lying on my bed for the longest time, waiting for the tears to come. They didn’t. Louis wanted me to talk. I couldn’t. I was pushing everything down again. The flesh was ripped on my cheek. It stung when I touched it. I walked to the bathroom to ascertain the damage in the mirror. Eyeing the bath and whether it was going to be worth it.