Page 21 of Alien in the Attic

“I could get used to this,” Carmen mused while cutting herself another bite. “Maybe I should sleep in more often.”

“Don’t you dare! Look at the mess I made!” Sofia yelled, her hands in the air. The countertop was covered in flour and sugar with far more dishes than necessary for pancakes. But the end product was, to Carmen, completely worth it.

“Aren’t you going to have some?” Carmen asked Arccoo.

“I did, your sisters and I ate earlier.”

“Oh…” Carmen felt her face go red in embarrassment and regret. Here she was desperately clinging to what little time they had left together, yet she was wasting it by moping in bed. She vowed not to make that mistake again.

“Hey, dude, is your battery running low?” Elena asked, pointing at Arccoo’s wrist.

“Hm?” Arccoo took a look at the electronic device strapped there. His gentle smile fell immediately, his violet eyes setting into a somber expression. “It’s… my communicator. If you will excuse me, ladies.”

Carmen held her breath as Arccoo stepped out of the kitchen. She dropped her fork and knife on the plate with a loud clatter and stood up, dragging the chair across the linoleum floor. Carmen had many good qualities, but being sneaky was never one of them. She hurried to the door and lingered by the frame, trying to eavesdrop on the conversation being held around the corner.

Sofia tiptoed over to join her. Elena stayed still and waited with wide eyes.

“Ah. I see. Yes, the same coordinates I sent previously. There is no threat of danger.”

Carmen could swear a bucket of ice water had just been poured directly into her stomach. It spread through her veins and into her limbs, making her feel heavy with sorrow.

“How long until your estimated arrival? …All right. Yes, I will be fine spending one more night here.”

Sofia squeezed Carmen’s shoulder as the enormity of those stilted words crashed onto her. She pressed her back against the wall and slid down to the floor, gathering her knees to her chest and resting her head on them.

One night. Arccoo was going to be here for one more night, and then he’d be gone forever. This was their last day together, and somehow, she’d wasted at least an hour of it oversleeping and lingering in bed. How could she have been so selfish? So stupid?

Sofia kneeled at her side and continued rubbing her shoulders. Elena stood and joined them there on the floor. Both sisters put their arms around Carmen, holding her while she let out the tears her heart wouldn’t allow her to ignore.

“Oh my god,” Carmen cried out, muffled by her hands. “They’re coming for him. They’re coming right now.”

“I’m so sorry, Carmen,” Sofia whispered.

“How could I be so stupid? As if he’d just stay here with me forever.” Carmen choked, not for the first time, as hot tears of heartbreak rolled down her cheeks. She cursed her heart for stringing her along once again. For making her fall for a man who was always destined to leave her, no matter how hard she tried.

“You’re not stupid,” Elena whispered. “Don’t ever say that.”

“We can’t choose who we fall in love with,” Sofia said wistfully. “You guys were cute together. It’s not your fault he can’t stay here.”

Carmen sat back up, wiping the tears from her cheeks. There was simply no getting around the truth. Arccoo needed to help his people. And he certainly couldn’t do that sitting around with her all the way out here on Earth. And there was no way Carmen could go with him.

Space wasn’t made for humans. They needed stuff like water and oxygen to survive, and space notoriously did not have those things in it.

“Hey. We’re here for you, no matter what,” Elena said. She placed her head against the side of Carmen’s.

“Anything at all. We’ll do it.” Sofia gripped her tightly.

Carmen sniffled and swallowed hard in a bid to calm down before Arccoo returned. Too late, she realized, as his form materialized in the corner of her eye.

“I… see you heard the news,” Arccoo said gently. “I’m sorry. They’ll be here tomorrow, around mid-morning, our time.”

Carmen bit her lip and nodded.

Sofia jumped to her feet, hands on her hips. “Is that all you have to say to her?” she asked.

Carmen grabbed the hem of Sofia’s shirt and tugged on it. “Sofia, please, it’s okay.”

Elena stood and took Sofia by the arm. “Let’s give them a moment,” she said quietly. The two stepped through the door, leaving Carmen and Arccoo alone.

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