Riley and Sally’s laughter rose up from the garden and filled the room. Lisa smiled. She had no idea what kind of game they were playing down there, but they seemed to be having fun. It appeared as if they had spent the past few hours chasing each other around in circles. Then they had tried climbing the apple tree. Now they were rolling around in the grass and shouting.
Lisa shook herself and turned back to the book in her hands. She really needed to stay focused. Sally appeared to be able to understand some of what she said. That was a good sign, but she needed to work on her pronunciation a lot.
“What are they doing out there?” Jorden asked. Lisa laughed.
“I was just trying to figure that out. I’m not sure, but it sounds like they’re having fun. I can’t believe that I never thanked you for letting me bring them here.”
“You don’t have to thank me. It seemed like the best thing for them. Surely, they’ll be safer here.”
“I hope that’s true,” Lisa sighed. “Riley has been telling me more about their past. It sounds like they’re running from someone in particular. Someone who’s rich and powerful. But she’s only telling me a little at a time. I don’t know what that person wants from them.” This had been eating away at the back of Lisa’s mind. Had that person given Sally those injuries? If so, there was a heartless monster coming after her girls. “I don’t know. It’s just easy to be paranoid. I’ve learned so much about humans recently. I think I’m starting to question everything around me now. It’s like nothing can be trusted.”
“I know that feeling well. I understand your concern. I don’t want to add to it either, but there have been some rather concerning rumors going around lately.” Lisa frowned.
“What rumors?”
“Right… I take it that you haven’t had much time to watch the news lately,” Jorden asked.
“No. I haven’t had access to a TV or newspaper or anything like that for weeks. What’s happening? Why should I be worried?” Her heart was racing now. Did this have something to do with the sisters?
“A few weeks ago, a group of Forma attacked a small village on the outskirts of Illinois. They killed every single human they found there. After that, attacks of the same kind kept happening all over the world. China, Egypt, England, India, Spain-- you name it. Each attack became larger, attacking whole cities. That was until one of these groups was wiped out by human soldiers.” Lisa’s heart was sinking deeper with every single word. “It’s only a matter of time before these conflicts turn into…” Jorden trailed off.
“War,” Lisa breathed. The word felt heavy in her mouth. Not another one. Could the world take a tenth war? Shivers raced through her. There were so many things that she wanted to forget about the ninth war. There were still so many memories that kept her up late into the night and burned in the back of her mind. If people had their hearts set on war, there was nothing she could do to stop it from happening. But she couldn’t stand the thought of Sally or Riley going through what she had gone through. She just wanted to hide them away from the horrors of the world. She wanted to take them somewhere far away where they would be happy and safe. But what would happen to them if war broke out? They would be surrounded by their enemies. In a way, they already were.
This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it
“Yes. We cannot see the future, but that is a possibility,” Jorden sighed. “So many lives have been lost thanks to these ongoing fights. War comes; peace comes. It seems like ever since we came to this planet, there has been war.” That filled Lisa’s mind with more questions. She had been told the story of the Formas many times. She had studied their history as a little girl. She had been told many times about how they had come here and saved the humans. How much of that was true? Had her people’s history also been a lie? What was the truth? How much pain and suffering had the Formas inflicted on the humans? A pang of guilt stabbed at Lisa’s heart.
How many humans like Sally and Riley were out there? How many human children had been taken from their homes and families because of the Formas? Was there a way to undo the damage that had been done to them? Now she was thinking about the handful of humans who she had cared for before meeting the sisters. They had looked at her with such fear and horror. Now she understood why. She understood what they had seen her as. She was a monster in their eyes. Maybe they were right about her.
“I’m sorry,” Lisa said suddenly. “I should have listened to you about the humans. You were trying to tell me the truth. But I didn’t listen to you,” she whispered. Jorden smiled.
“I can’t blame you. I might have done the same thing if I had been in your place,” he said. No, he was saying that to make her feel better. He didn’t turn his back on friends who needed help. He didn’t let people down the way that Lisa always had. “Anyway, it looks like things worked out well all things considered,” Jorden added. Lisa nodded and forced a smile.
“I’m just glad you’re okay. I was worried something awful had happened to you. But clearly, you’re doing just fine.” Lisa gestured around. In fact, he looked happier than Lisa had ever remembered him looking. But she could still see the dark rings under his eyes and the constant trembling of his hands. Jorden laughed.
“Yes, well, my work does pay surprisingly well, even though the writing itself is a little controversial. But there are Formas out there who want to hear what I have to say.” They wanted to know the truth. The truth about humans and about themselves. That made sense to Lisa.
“I know we can't see into the future, but if war does break out, what should I do? I can’t let anything happen to the sisters. Those poor girls have been through enough already,” said Lisa. A strange look crossed Jorden’s face.
“I’ll think about it. I… I might know some people who could help take care of them. Humans who could take care of them and give them shelter if push comes to shove.” Lisa stood up.
“Humans?” But before she could ask another question, Riley called out to her from the garden.
“Lisa! Look at what we found! Hurry up! it’s amazing!” The child cried. Lisa leaned out the window.
“Okay, I’m coming!” Jorden smiled.
“They really like it out there, don’t they?”
“They have a thing for gardens,” Lisa agreed. She made her way down the stairs and out the door. Soon her worries and fears faded away.