Page 16 of A Million Stars and Shadows

Realizing that I had held my breath the entire time after the creature vanished, I finally breathed.

Thomas seemed to catch his breath too. Then I was in his arms as he held me tight. “Jana,” he said so softly like a prayer. “Jana, my girl,” he leaned in to kiss my forehead. “Are you alright? Are you…” he stared into my eyes for the longest time before he groaned, “Oh screw it!”

Then his lips were on mine. And I was kissing him back.

How long were we kissing, wrapped in each other’s arms, I couldn’t tell. But that night, when we emerged out of the Atrium, it was way past dinnertime.

SEVEN

JANA - 5 Months Later

Dear Journal,

I apologize for not writing in here more often. Since my last entry, things have become even busier. Not just because Thomas and I had become a “thing” but because the creature that had attacked us was a wake-up call to everyone onboard that we had not truly escaped the problems on Old Earth.

We have Monsters onboard.

We didn’t know where the one who had attacked us came from. We didn’t know if it was the only one. But the reason Thomas had visited me in the Engineering room before I saw the Monster in the Atrium was because he had suspicions that there was a Monster onboard.

Without wanting to panic everyone so that the Monster would attack, Thomas came to me to ask whether we had enough fuel to get to New Earth faster. Now I knew why.

Shortly after being attacked by the Monster, Thomas showed me the body of a woman who had died mysteriously onboard the Red Genesis. He kept it in a frozen vault, away from all the passengers, in a room that was specifically built to isolate someone or something from the other passengers. “Do you think it was the same creature who attacked us?” I asked. “Any evidence that it could be anything or anyone else?”

“I did an autopsy myself,” Thomas said.

I raised my eyebrows. “Don’t tell me you’re a doctor too? I’m impressed.”

“No, but I watched enough surgeries and spent enough time as a volunteer medic out in the field to learn all about the human body,” Thomas said. “I’ll know something is not normal when I see it. And everything about this woman was normal except for the swollen heart and the tremendous terror in her eyes.”

“Most people couldn’t even look into a monster’s eyes or at it at all without becoming so terrified that they shrivel up with fear and die on the spot, like this woman,” I said. I turned around to look at her. “That is it, isn’t it? The swollen heart from the heightened heart rate and beating…and the look of terror on her face. This woman did die the same way most of the human population on Old Earth did…the Monsters.”

Thomas looked at me then and said, “If we announce this to everyone onboard, their combined fear alone will attract the Monsters onboard.”

“That’s why you had all these activities, events, and even your singing and other entertainment like our basketball games, planned.”

“When you’re busy having fun or keeping busy with things that you love or find funny,” Thomas smiled, “you stop being fearful.”

“Good plan,” I said. “Keep everyone occupied and busy with fun activities.”

“You’re part of the plan, too,” Thomas said. “It’s been three months since we left Earth, but already you have the most-liked ratings on the ship, and you know there was a poll on me where the passengers have been shipping me with you.”

“So, this is your way of asking me to date you?” I asked.

Thomas grinned, “If it works…”

“Depends,” I said.

“On what?” Thomas asked.

“If you’re hot boyfriend material or if you’re just a player,” I said, crossing my arms. “I’m sure you can have your pick of ladies onboard…”

Thomas wrapped his arms around my waist and pulled me close, “But I want you, Jana,” he kissed me gently at first. Then he started kissing me more passionately.

*****

Five months later, I couldn’t believe I would be where I was standing right now.

In front of the altar at the Good Shepherd Church that was onboard the Red Genesis. Dressed in a beautiful white chiffon strapless gown embroidered with silver lace and pearls, I stood facing Thomas as he wore the full uniform of the Captain of the Red Genesis. He was so handsome; I couldn’t believe I was marrying him.

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