DeniseZen Read online

  “Powers? Help?”

  “Yes.”

  “Before we get to the powers thing, help you with what?”

  “Help us find crew members and dear friends.”

  Denise looked at her warily. “Forgive me, and I mean no disrespect,” she said, reaching into her handbag for her sunglasses and her iPhone, “but this morning’s sun sheds its grace a little too brightly for these rather sleepless eyes.” She also made it quite obvious that she turned off the recording device on the phone that she had activated in the car prior to sitting down with Nola, before deleting the file of the recording made.

  “Thank you.”

  “If you can find me, find out all about me, a single human female, why would you find it so hard to locate your friends?”

  “A very good point. As advanced as we may seem being able to travel from a distant star, we do not have the means to communicate with or locate them. We are certain of a few things. They were taken, but we do not know by whom or where they are being kept. We can sense them occasionally but it disappears quickly. I suspect they are being moved when this occurs, but we have no way of pinpointing the location it is coming from. What we can be certain of is that they are being held within a four hundred mile radius of where we are sitting.”

  “Where would I come in? What could I possibly do that you are not capable of to assist you?”

  “You can lie.”

  “Lie?”

  “Yes. You can lie, and will need to be able to do so convincingly to assist us.”

  “Are you trying to tell me you cannot lie?” Denise said.

  “That is correct. Our species has no concept of lying. We have evolved quite differently than yours on this world. We could not lie, or be taught to lie convincingly in time to find and save our friends.”

  “I’ve yet to understand how one lying human female is going to be able to help you secure the release of your friends even if they can be found. If the government is involved it would be hard enough, but down here, in Southern Illinois? They would stand out like a sore thumb.”

  “Perhaps.”

  “On the other hand, if it were someone else. Well, I dread thinking about that possibility since the faction of my species capable of such is twisted beyond trust or one’s personal safety.”

  “You speak of what you call your private sector?”

  “Yes, well that’s the politically correct version. I prefer to refer to them as greedy ruthless, heartless bastards.”

  “We are a peaceful space faring group of explorers and scientists. The members of our crew were taken not far from here. I can fill you in on the details if you agree to help us.”

  “I am still at a loss for why me?” Denise pondered, the sound of a woodpecker hammering away in the distance.

  “Because of what you are capable of with little training in little time.”

  “Capable of? You can read my mind. I can read my friends mind, sort of, and I can lie. How can that help you?”

  “I cannot lie. When I say that with a little training you will be able to help us, it is true.”

  “I’m enrolled in an intensive summer schedule at school, and after that, I need to head to work, everyday, to pay the bills. Where would I find the time to be of any use to you?”

  “Excuse me a moment,” Nola said, walking over to the Oldsmobile, returning with a large canvas shopping bag from the back seat. She placed it on the table between them.

  “Nola, I,” Denise started to say before Nola spread open the top of the bag and pointed it in her direction.

  “This is but a down payment if you agree to help us.” The bag was full of banded new one hundred dollars bills.

  “You’d be asking me to in essence drop out of school, quit my job obviously?”

  “Yes. You would be well compensated, to the point of not only being self-sufficient but independently wealthy for the rest of your life.”

  “Or dead, taking all things into consideration, that has to be an option.”

  “I cannot rule out the possibility of danger, or the need for excessive force. That is where the training comes in. Actually, it is more of an awakening.”

  “And where exactly is this facility for Advanced Extraterrestrial Rescue?”

  “Very near, and very private.”

  “I have to take this,” Denise said, seeing from the caller-id that Layla was calling her. “She’s probably concerned I have not even sent a text to her since Makanda.”

  “Let me give you some privacy,” Nola said, standing up and walking over to the Oldsmobile.

  “Hey,” Denise answered.

  “Are you ok?” Layla asked.

  “Yes. I am being propositioned.”

  “Should I be jealous?”

  “At this point in our relationship you should NOT be jealous,” Denise giggled. “It is all very interesting to put it lightly, and I am seriously thinking of taking her offer.”

  “Does that mean I have to return the key to your trailer?” Layla sighed.

  “Only if you want to.”

  “I think I’ll hang on to it for now. Ooh. I have to run. Old fart blossom is giving me the evil eye and you know how they feel about unscheduled breaks.”

  “Go, go, I’m alright, I’ll be alright. I’ll see you at home.”

  “Nola,” she called, motioning that she was through with her call. The Cardinal that was resting in her hand flew away, and she walked back to the picnic table.

  “There is an abundance of beautiful life on your world,” Nola smiled. She looked like she had just returned from mentally being miles away.

  “That was my love interest, as I am pretty sure you already know. I’m going to have to be honest with her about MOST of what I might be doing; well maybe a few little white lies would not hurt if needed. Does this meet with YOUR approval?”

  “You are a bright woman who after your training, is going to get much brighter. We trust your judgment and yes, it does meet with our approval if you agree.”

  “And if, before we leave this beautiful place, I do not agree to help you?”

  “You will leave here not remembering a thing about this conversation or ever having met us, and you can go about your summer higher learning existence.”

  “Will I ever know where you are from?”

  “Of course you will.”

  “When do we start?” Denise grinned.

  “You will need this day and the next to put your life in order. Thursday morning?” Nola smiled.

  “Thursday has always been my favorite day of the week, especially for getting things done or making important decisions.

  Denise stood up, as did Nola. She walked over to her and gave her a hug. “You must really love your friends. I know it’s what I would do.”

  “Yes we do love them, very much.”

  Denise turned to walk to her car. I’m sure you’ll be in touch, she thought.

  Denise, you’re forgetting something.

  She turned to see Nola pointing to the bag full of money still sitting on the picnic bench.

  Nola picked it up and brought it over to her. “I believe this now belongs to you.”

  “It will make it easier,” Denise said, folding the handles over the top of the bag and placing it on the floor behind the drivers seat.

  “I hope I can make a difference, and soon.”

  “As do I,” Nola smiled.

  Denise noticed the Oldsmobile behind her when she drove down a steep hill that would take her back into Makanda, but it was no longer there when she reached the bottom of the hill.

  “This is going to be one hell of a training session,” she sighed, waving to a few people sitting on the boardwalk in Makanda as she drove by. “I think I am going to need to rent a good sized lock box at my bank,” she giggled.

  Good idea, she heard Nola whisper.

  Til Thursday

  Chapter 7

  Independence

  Denise was sitting on the couch in her living room taking a
drink of ice water when Layla opened the door and walked in.

  “It’s too early for lunch no?” Denise said looking up at an unhappy face. Heavy in your Arms by Florence and the Machine was playing on the stereo.

  “The fat fuck fired me,” Layla said.

  “I am sorry to hear that, I know how much you loved that job,” Denise grinned.

  “Yeah, well it paid the bills, and jobs are few and far between down here.”

  “I just quit my student job today. Gave good old boy Ed a full day to find someone but he said I need not worry since the labs are closed for another day, and there is an abundance of students waiting for a position.”

  “You quit your job? Why?”

  “The same reason you need not worry, at least about money. Come here darling,” Denise said tapping on the cushion next to her on the couch.

  “I have some money in the bank so I am good for a few months, vacation money I’ve been saving.”

  “I’d like to hire you,” Denise smiled. “Here, you look like you need a cool drink.”

  “I was more than a little hot at tub of guts I can tell you,” Layla laughed. “You want to hire me?”

  “Yes.”

  “Is she a Madame?” Layla laughed.

  “Honey, you’re not going to believe this.”

  “Really?”

  “I want you to keep half of this in a lock box in your name for me,” Denise said, opening the shopping bag she’d been leaning against showing Layla the contents.

  Layla drove them into town in her car where they each chose lock boxes in separate banks, keeping one banded stack of hundreds each for expenses. Denise explained as best she could what she had agreed to do and why. Surprisingly to her, Layla was not only supportive but also willing to help in any way.

  With the banking business out of the way they both felt a tad less stressed and headed over to La Bamba’s for a Mexican lunch.

  They both agreed not to talk about what was going on in public, or private, if it was even remotely possible other human beings were around that might be listening.

  After downing their burritos, they headed back home where they could speak in private. As they chatted, Denise ordered each of them new Macbook Pro computers. “Don’t worry, I think we are REALLY going to need them,” she laughed.

  “Do you believe everything she told you?” Layla asked.

  “Yes. I got the impression that she would truthfully answer any question I put to her, unless of course she simply declined answering at all.”

  “Powers? I can hardly wait. I hope you don’t get too buff, I kind of like you the way you are,” Layla giggled.

  “Then again.”

  “Go on.”

  “When I asked her what if I refused her offer she said I would simply have left Giant City without remembering the conversation or ever meeting her.”

  “Flashy thingie, do you think she has a flashy thingie,” Layla laughed.

  “No, I have a flashy thingie,” Denise cooed leaning over to kiss Layla deeply.

  “Indeed you do.”

  After hours in bed and the need for another shower, Denise decided the best thing for her would be to remain occupied doing ‘stuff’ as she put it, to keep her from dwelling on the coming events and what she had agreed to be a part of. Question after question kept rushing in, and without some distractions she knew it would drive her bonkers. She did not want to be a sleepless wreck on Thursday morning. A movie.

  “Loved that movie. I wish our travels had us working out of Paris,” Denise said as they walked down Main Street to the Dairy Queen.

  After a few banana splits they returned to Denise’s trailer and settled into an air-conditioned lovemaking session. They slept in each other’s arms like newborn babes.

  Denise turned the air conditioning off when she awoke and opened the windows. She loved the sweet smell of the country air, especially in the pre-dawn hours. She put on a small pot of coffee and got in the shower. Midway through shampooing her hair the image of a blonde female flashed in her brain. It resembled a washed out image like those she would create at times when experimenting in Photoshop with exposure and filters. Who are you? she thought as she rinsed her hair and stepped out of the shower. She reached for a towel and began patting dry her hair when the image flashed in her mind again, this time accompanied by a single word she clearly heard, under.

  Denise planned on letting Layla sleep in. She poured her first cup of coffee for the day in a mug, packed up her backpack and headed out the door.

  The sun was just coming up, a glorious orange and golden sky. She headed into town for breakfast at Mary Lou’s. It was not yet packed with customers, but undoubtedly would be soon as it was every day. The restaurant served up nothing short of the very best breakfast she could imagine anyone creating.

  “Good morning sweetie. Coffee?”

  “Oh yeah, good morning.”

  “Need some time?”

  “I’ll have an order of biscuits and gravy, two eggs over easy with wheat toast, and I’d better wait on a dessert decision,” Denise smiled.

  The woman poured her coffee and gave the order to the cook.

  She heard two truck drivers eating at a table behind her talking about the mysterious lights on the 4th of July that no doubt had people buzzing at breakfast, lunch and dinner tables across the area. Hope I get a ride in them, she thought, sipping on her delicious cup of restaurant coffee.

  The biscuits and gravy plate arrived first, three homemade biscuits covered in Mary Lou’s own gravy, and cooked with 100% love. Mmm. I hope the food is good at this training facility, she thought. Her eggs and toast were delivered still steaming, and her cup of coffee topped off. Midway through buttering her second slice of toast a different image flashed in her mind, clearer this time, accompanied by one word as clear as if she were in the room speaking, Nola. There was clearly a gridded shadow on the woman’s face in this image. Bars? Denise thought.

  “Something wrong with your toast honey?” the waitress asked.

  “No, the toast is perfect as usual. I was just thinking about all I had to do today.”

  “We try,” the waitress giggled.

  “I’ll have a slice of peach cobbler if you please.”

  “You bet.”

  She finished eating, left a twenty-dollar bill and told the waitress to keep the change. Where are you? Try to focus on letting us know where you are. I can see and hear you. I am a friend. I am, pausing for an instant, Denizen, she thought as the Mustang pulled away from a red light and headed towards campus. “Denizen. The name fits and doesn’t reveal who I really am,” she said to herself. “I am Denizen.”

  She sat in the television room on the main floor of the Student Center waiting for the library to open.

  FINALIZING THINGS ON CAMPUS TODAY. she texted.

  TRACKING SHOWS OUR MACBOOKS WILL ARRIVE THIS MORNING BEFORE 10. SIGNATURE NEEDED.

  The scent of pine was lusciously overwhelming as she walked to the library. She deposited all the books she had taken out and was about to stroll across campus to the Campus Lake when she thought, Bikes, we need bikes.

  She left campus and headed over to get an oil change, then stopped to get a few lattes before she drove back home.

  “They’re here,” Layla said as Denise walked in the door.

  “Here, when don’t we need a latte?”

  “I did not touch them, wanted you to pick yours out first.”

  “I think we need bikes, what do you think?” Denise asked.

  “It’s a great bike town and campus that’s for sure.”

  “I know. Actually when I was finished on campus I wanted to head over to Campus Lake but I did not want to drive or walk all the way there.”

  “There are a few decent bike stores in town.”

  “Would you like to accompany me into town in a little while?”

  “Sure. You seem a little distant. Are you ok?” Layla said.

  Denise went on to tell her about the visi
on and names she experienced earlier. “I think that for some bizarre reason, they are able to communicate with me. Perhaps there is something to it, you know, everything I was told yesterday.”

  “I’d be a little spooked, but I’d get use to it and would undoubtedly find a strength and resolve to find them. I can only imagine the people who took them. Or, to put it another way, I would get really pissed off, as I am simply listening to you.”

  “My sentiment exactly.”

  “Well, I’m going to hop in the shower quickly. Wanted to wait until the delivery arrived.”

  “I’ll be here. Have you become attached to either of those?”

  “Nope. Leaving it up to you.”

  Denise reached in her bag for the trusty Olfa Touch Knife she kept in it and carefully opened the 17 inch Macbook Pro whose serial number ended in a odd number. This may be one of the wisest purchases I’ve made in a long time, she thought.

  In the middle of creating a name and password for the computer in the setup process, she heard a voice in her head again. Denizen.

  I am here, I am Denizen, she replied.

  An image of a person strapped to what looked like an operating table flashed before her. Who are you? Who is that on the table?

  I am Myla. Must…

  Myla. Who is on the table?

  Nothing.

  Denise heard Layla singing in the shower, got up and stepped out into the yard for some fresh air.

  Nola. Nola are you there?

  No one.

  “Fuck. Am I doing this right? Do I even know what I’m doing?”

  She heard the shower stop. “I don’t want to have to explain right now.”

  Nola. Who is Myla? Is one of your friends a male with black hair? Nola.

  Yes. Yes to everything.

  The male was strapped to what looked like a surgical operation table.

  He is Aren. Thank you. Was he?

  Yes, he was moving. He is alive. Let me know where to meet tomorrow. I have a lot to share.

  I will. Thank you.

  “Did you say something?” Layla asked when she walked back into the living room wearing black panties and a black tank top.

  “I had an incoming message, nothing to speak of.”