Part 14 (2/2)

Lee had her eyes closed. Kaila knew she went to church only to please Nan, that she found her solace through yoga and meditation.

Kaila folded her hands, closed her eyes. Help me find my way. I don't know who I am anymore. Everything has been going too fast. I shouldn't have let them come and wreck the house. It doesn't matter that Nan, Mom, Mike, and Paw Paw don't remember. I really like Jordyn. Is that bad? Am I a bad person for liking him so much?

She sighed. Deep down, she knew that their mission was not for the benefit of humans. But what could she do about that?

And, Kaila prayed, I'm really sorry about Melissa and Pia. They should be able to remember. I'm not trying to play G.o.d or anything. It's confusing. Please forgive me. Lastly, please protect us. I don't know what we're dealing with. Some of it feels good. And some of it feels bad. Please guide me. Give me answers.

The organ played the hymn, ”Holy, Holy, Holy.” Everyone stood and sang. Kaila looked around the church. There, across the aisle sat Priscilla Snowden. Her long white hair was unbound, hanging to the middle of her back. She wore a white blouse and black skirt and sang: Holy, holy, holy! All the saints adore Thee. Casting down their golden crowns around the gla.s.sy sea; Cherubim and seraphim falling down before Thee; Who was, and is, and evermore shall be.

As she sang, she glanced at Kaila and smiled, her blue eyes angelic. Kaila detected a light radiating from Priscilla. She blinked. The light disappeared. Was she seeing things?

Kaila nodded to Priscilla. Was this a sign? Or was it coincidence that Priscilla Snowden was in church and she just hadn't noticed her before? Idiot, ostrich, Kaila thought. Wake up!

She kept her eyes on Priscilla during the rest of the service. Priscilla took communion, bowing her head. When the service ended, Kaila was determined to talk to her. But she was blocked by Nan.

”Florence,” Nan was saying, taking the old lady's hand in the pew in front of her. ”So nice to see you. How'd Bob's prostate surgery go?”

Kaila was exasperated. Of course, Nan had to talk to everyone in the church.

”Nan, move. I gotta pee.”

Her grandmother was a large woman and getting around her was no easy task. Kaila squeezed into the aisle and went to where Priscilla had been seated. But of course, she was gone.

”Go, go, go! Git him!” Mike sat in his living room recliner, screaming at the New Orleans Saints' defensive team. For Mike, Saints' football was Sunday religion.

”The Falcon's offense is off,” Paw Paw said, wringing his hands. His dark eyes were bright and he sat erect in his recliner, still in his pajamas.

The New Orleans Saints' arch-rival was the Atlanta Falcons. The two men wanted to see the ”dirty birds” get whipped, and get whipped good.

Nan sat in her armchair, crocheting. Lee practiced in her yoga studio. Kaila fluttered around the house, bored.

She and Mike had fed and groomed the horses and taken them for a ride. She had helped Nan clean up the dishes after lunch. Had checked Facebook, posted her status as bored. She had a message from that Valdyr Lawless person.

Glad you're in our school now, he wrote.

Who are you? she wrote back. This had to be Jordyn. But why was he playing a game?

Melissa and Pia texted. They were bored too. Kaila could tell they didn't remember anything, for the only references they made were to their sleep over, that they were a triad and bound in secrecy.

They both added they had a headache and were exhausted.

Kaila's shoulders slumped in despair and guilt. A heaviness weighed upon her. It felt oppressive and dirty, like she needed a bath to cleanse it away.

”Miss it, drop it!” Mike screamed, jumping up and down as the Falcon's quarterback threw a long pa.s.s.

The ball sailed through the air and a New Orleans defensive lineman jumped up and caught the ball.

”Intercepted!” Paw Paw shouted. He shot up, jumping up and down.

”Go, go, go!” Mike shouted jumping, his hands on his head. The defensive lineman ran down the field with the ball. ”He's gonna git it . . . the field's wide open!”

Mike hopped closer to the television but didn't see Lucy on the floor.

”Touchdown!” Mike screamed as he tripped over Lucy and tumbled to the floor. Lucy yelped and scrambled out of the way.

Mike cried out in pain.

”Touchdown!” Paw Paw yelled, putting his hand out to Mike. ”Take that, you b.a.s.t.a.r.ds!” He looked at Mike. ”You okay?”

”Ugh. No.” Mike winced. ”I think I broke something.”

”Well, try and stand,” Paw Paw said.

Mike tried to get to his knees. ”Ugh. This hurts like h.e.l.l.”

So, with the whole family in the emergency room, Kaila furiously texted Melissa and Pia as they waited for Mike. Then as more time pa.s.sed, she played Words with Friends with Pia.

Finally, the doctor emerged and related that Mike had a fractured tibia. That he likely needed surgery and would be on crutches for at least six weeks. He gave them an orthopedist's card.

”I've heard of fanatic Saints' fans,” the doctor said. ”But this takes the cake.”

Mike hobbled in the waiting room on crutches. ”This p.i.s.ses me off,” he said. ”I gotta be able to work. And take care of the horses. Can't do nothing no more.”

Nan set down her crocheting. ”I'll get my church prayer group to pray for you.”

Prayer. G.o.d. Aliens.

Kaila didn't know what to believe anymore. She typed in ”BELIEVE” in her Words with Friends game with Pia on her iPhone. Seven-letter word. Ha. She won.

She paused, biting her lip as she noted the word ”LIE” that lay in the middle of the word ”BELIEVE.”

In advanced physics, Mrs. Bourg waited for Kaila. ”Kaila,” she said, taking her by her arm. ”I need a word with you privately.”

Kaila freaked, thinking Mrs. Bourg knew about the hive getting drunk. She bet she'd be p.i.s.sed.

Mrs. Bourg's nails dug into her forearm as she led her outside the modular unit to the rear of the unit, where the air conditioner expelled its exhaust.

Mrs. Bourg wore a sky blue blouse and tight black skirt. Her nose was red, like she'd consumed too many c.o.c.ktails the night prior.

”I am very proud of you Kaila,” she whispered.

”You are?” Kaila stepped back.

Mrs. Bourg's cologne was pungent. Kaila stuck her hand in the back pocket of her black jeans. She wore a black t-s.h.i.+rt, black jeans, and a black leather wrist band today with heavy black eyeliner. The blonde wig was pulled back in a long ponytail. A new look.

”Yes, dear. I was informed that you did your first mind-screen.”

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