Page 2 of Orange Town
Back home, many people would wish for this tranquil space where you own a small part of the world. Zirc said no one will harm me here because this is a safe zone. Having a safe zone does not make me safe. I see no garrison or fort or any weapon that will make this into a safe zone. Plus, does it mean there is war going on this planet? Or are they at war with another alien race?
So many questions, no one to answer them.
“Hmm.” I tasted the water, and it was just about right. I still remember my high school project on how to purify water. Raised in a mining town, the school taught us how to make safe water in case we get lost in the mountains or caves. I do not want to experiment with rocks and sediment so heating it up is the safest that I can think of. Though the taste is not as near as pure as the water from the wells. I found five more of them. The solid metal on top I thought looked really like a sewer cover except for the strange writings on it. Unfortunately, I’m not strong enough to lift any of them. I am surprised the two wells that are open stayed clean. No rain in the past days since I've been here. But why the cover?
“What are you doing?”
I screamed and felt like I jumped three feet high.
I scrambled away from where I was kneeling. I should have run back to the cabin, but I ended up leaning on the post of the water mill.
My eyes are enormous and staring up at the other wall. All the blood pooled at my feet. I feel so light-headed. I remember this scene as if I was Alice staring at the Cheshire cat.
His long body is actually lying on the top wall, one of his arms is supporting his head. His other arm remains at rest along his lean body. But his tail is swishing back and forth.
When my eyes recalibrated against the suns, I can see that he has the same coloring as –
“Zirc!” I exclaimed happily.
But I realized my mistake at the same time he stiffened. I tried to plaster myself against the wall again.
The man continued to look at me, but I couldn't tell the color of his eyes. He has stripes on his hands and neck that are almost black, not metallic silver like Zirc. His clothes are almost the same as well.
He did not move from his position on the top wall. But continued to gaze at me.
I noticed his tail was twitching in sync with the beat of my heartbeat. Was he there the whole time since Zirc left me?
Maybe he is tired of watching me, so now he made his presence known.
I waited a beat, then held my breath as I saw him move upright, then jumped.
I felt that twinge in my gut as he cleared the twenty feet wall. I should be used to it by now. People here are not like me. They can jump really high, suffering no fracture. They can change shapes.
And as I gaze into his eyes, they have claws and sharp teeth that can kill me instantly. Or slowly, torturously.
I tried to shift away from him, but he stopped. Just three feet away from me. I should have run sooner. I know he can reach me almost instantly when he wants to. They are fast. Really fast.
“Who are you?” he asked. His tone was friendly, but his eyes were shrewd.
How to answer?
I tried to evade his eyes, which reminded me of Zirc.
“Look at me.”
His sharp voice made me look at him.
“I asked, who are you? And where did you come from?” He looked relaxed, his arms at his side, but I could feel the tension coming from him. Like in any wrong move, he can grab whatever weapon he has under his cloak and shoot me with it. I barely noticed his cloak that fit him like a second skin. In fact, from this distance, what he wore looked like a genuine sheepskin leather jacket.
Suddenly I felt dowdy wearing this tunic, my leggings worn out. I need to get my head out of the gutter and think sharp. Hello, there’s an excellent reason we should not talk to strangers. But it’s hard to think straight when faced with a stranger who looked eerily like a Dolce & Gabbana model.
“Do you not speak? Look me in the eye.”
Duh, can’t a girl just look first at his magnificent physique? I cleared my throat. “My name is Brynn Anderson. I’m from,” I stopped. It felt weird to say it, but I had to say it. “I’m from Earth.”
He just narrowed his eyes at me.
“Say that again?”
