Author’s Note: At this point in the original story, I had no idea where things were going to go. The first season of this series is more solid than the second season, and it took a turn here. I wanted something big to happen in the next part - the finale - that would really make the second season interesting. In this part, the character's reconciliation was important to me and in the original, Cody never really told Michael about Crow. This was such a big thing that I had missed in the original and it really wasn't common knowledge so it didn't make sense why Michael just knew about it. While this quick fix is not the best - Michael takes the news rather well, it closes up that holes in the story and still leads into the Finale like I had originally intended.
This story was originally posted as part of the Summer Season (2015) titled "A Talk"
I heard the door open and slithered around to hide behind the coffee table leg. Out of guilt, I abandoned Cody after sending Dylan on his way. He was confused at first, not understanding where he was, but I managed to play it off with a lie. That would have been the last we would see of him if all went well.
When I looked up at the open doorway, I hoped that it was Crow to finish what he had come here to do, getting rid of me like the hunter he was and ending the way I felt about everything. Heartache is an unfortunate emotion given to the humans and despite discovering the feeling, I immediately never wanted to feel it again. Giving up was the best way I could go about it.
“Why are you out of his body?” Michael’s familiar voice boomed above me. He was tall in the doorway with his head inches from the frame. I couldn't tell if Michael could feel the guilt emanating from my body, but I felt dead inside and wallowed next to Cody's body in hopes of the end.
“The silent treatment? I see.” He took a seat next to Cody, making sure to avoid crushing me.
“I’m sorry for going crazy the other day. I just didn’t know how to handle the fact that this person just ceases to be human without you. I just didn’t know what to do or how to take it all in,” a brief pause, “After some thought, I decided that you were an alien. Well, I didn’t decide that you were an alien I just…well, you know what I mean. I knew the consequences when I first came to your apartment so I should take as much of the blame as you.” While he was talking I managed to climb up onto Cody and dive into his open and drooling mouth. He gasped to life as I took control and I needed to stretch his legs.
“You don’t need to take the blame.” I leaned against a dresser and shrugged. “I had no idea what I was getting into. I mean my species literally abandoned me on this planet to fend for myself and I have no idea why or if they are going to come and get me, but I would say the chances are slim. I mean, with the Crow around I've just been feeling like my time is about to end with you and I don't want that at all. Also, Cody is still here. I've preserved all his memories and paid careful attention to how they have to go back."
"What is the Crow?" Michael's head tilted slightly.
"I have to tell you something," I moved into him, my hand grazing his leg as I sat down, "there is an alien being on this planet that does not want me here. He's been chasing after me since the beach and I didn't want you to know because I thought I could hide and forget, but I'm not even sure what he knows."
"You didn't tell me this sooner?" While his tone was slightly upset, he looked happy. I could tell he was joking to avoid the panic that was making the hairs on his neck stand.
"Look, when you found me and actually helped me, I felt safe. I never felt safe back on the ship. I didn’t actually belong up there with the others which is probably why they sent me and countless others on exploration missions.” Michael hugged me, snuggling his head into my neck.
“Well,” he parted and then took my hand, lifting it with his and then sliding his fingers between my own, “I promise to do my best to keep you safe. I mean, I’m only human, but I can try.” He squeezed my hand a little and then I kissed him again.
“I promise to keep you safe. I’m only an alien but I can try my best.” I made him smile.
“So, about this crow guy, how dangerous are we talking about?” Michael leaned back on the pillows.
“Basically, he sucks the life out of people for sustenance. Every creature tastes different, but I have a feeling he has a bias towards human.” Michael's face dropped, surprised by the bluntness.
“How exciting. How is he going to kill me on another planet. Isn’t that illegal or something?”
“In the movies maybe, but Crow can do what I can do except he kills his vessels immediately. That’s how it looks like a normal human murder when he abandons the vessel. It’s happened before and I've seen it done to my own people. They once used it as propaganda to scare us, but there were moral implications I suppose."
"Where is he now?" Michael asked. Just as he finished there was a knock at the door, much more aggressive than a normal knock. I slowly looked through the door peep to find Dylan standing on the other side.
"It's just Dylan." I opened the door and before I could open it all the way, Dylan shoved himself through with so much force that I was knocked across the room and into the wall.
"Hello, 323," Dylan said, his voice distorting as it floated out of his mouth, "and hello, Michael." His eyes darted toward Michael who was backing up into me, panicking for his life.
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