Aria's POV

The second he said the word NASA, I remembered the logo on the name of the satellite with those letters on it when I first entered the atmosphere of the planet. So humans could monitor things from the skies...interesting. They have become more dangerous than first perceived... Entering Tina's memories were a waste of time. She just about only knew about astronauts because she had one time dated one.

Richard was my only chance at getting the information so I simply reached through his head and got it. Too bad I had to make him pass out. That way there was no chance of pain. Wait a minute...why do I care? In this form, I am not supposed to feel at all, just leakage from Tina's memories. He has some interesting things in his head though, but I refused to accept those 'other' memories. I only made copied memories of what was needed to survive and left his mind alone.

Looking down at him I frowned a bit. I was actually starting to feel bad about him passing out. I know I wasn't hurting him... The bigger question was why was I feeling anything at all? This could be a problem. I must have been in this body too long.

Shifting into shadow mist, I surrounded him with my molecules and picked him up. Moving up the grand staircase, I faced the long end of the main hall where there was roofing gone or that huge hole in that giant glass window... Closing off much of my core energy, the gravity center of my being, we began to rise up and out into the night sky. There was a slight breeze in the air that felt slightly chilled. The stars are so bright in the sky above, it was all I could do but think that the humans should enjoy such simple things. In the big city, Tina did not, so I don't know if they do... Though they may not see it, I could tell them for sure, that such things do not last for long. Nothing does.

Finally, I see light up ahead. It's another small town bordering on Black Lake with a small motel surrounded by thick trees and foliage. Set up into three separate buildings, Mike's Motel was flush up against the still water of the lake. Two buildings held people, which I could tell due to where their cars were parked, but the third building had no cars at all, the water almost right up to the long shared balcony, with tree growth at the far end. From here, we would see if the government agencies that drive-in lines of cars headed in the direction of Calhoun Manor. Slowing down into the gravel and dirt parking lot, I touched down on the soft earth and began to pull my molecules back into my developing body of Tina. Easily I caught my dress from a tendril that held it as I had switched into my 'real self' earlier. These tendrils were like my version legs, of hands, and fingers. To humans, they could be invisible, but to me, they shimmered beautifully with life. Even in the moonlight or in deepest space, they were visible to me. My shimmering molecules pulled back and away from the prone form of Richard's body completely as I laid him on the gravel. If anything, the loud sounds of the crickets should wake him up. My core settles into place and my chest begins to close, the skin knitting quickly while I put my dress on by sliding it over my head.

Bending at the knee, I set my fingertips to Richard's temples and wake him up slowly. After a second or two of looking around with his wide, yet deep brown eyes, he sits up as fast as he can. Placing a hand lightly on his shoulder to steady him, he shrugs my hand off. Looking into my eyes, he growls out, "What the fuck did you do to me?" He paused and ran his fingers through his hair. Better yet, where the hell are we?" He was disoriented a bit, which was totally understandable. But being a man, he'd want to get up on his own, so I let him.

Standing up from my crouched position, I offered him a hand which he never took, so I placed it at my side. "I needed your information on NASA, so I took it. Considering how things were at the time, I wasn't sure if I could trust you enough to tell me all I needed to survive. Don't worry, I didn't go looking around..." He shook his head as if to clear out all the cobwebs.

Looking down at me his brow furrowed, "So you know now, that they are going to be on your trail, and it will just be a matter of time... Plus, why the hell did you bring me here with you when you could have left me behind at the mansion?" He was staring at me so intently that I turned and looked out over the nighttime black waters of the lake.

A lonely crescent moon reflected at me, as I thought about what he'd asked me. "They will catch up to us soon enough, yes. Which is why I will need you nearby. To help teach me what I need to know about humans and their interactions, so I can deal with them." Folding my arms across my chest, I looked out in the direction of the mansion.

Taking me by the shoulders, Richard turned me around to face him. "So you plan on taking me, prisoner? What if I refuse?" He dared to look me in the eyes at such proximity.

There more in his searching eyes, but I did not know what it was. "If need be, then yes I will take you as a prisoner. Though I would prefer you to come of your own accord. The decision is yours." Closing his eyes he let out a groan of frustration.

"Look, this is just getting us nowhere right now. I suggest we find a place to sleep first, then I'll decide." As he pulled out his wallet and started counting the money there, I walked toward the room on the far left with the numbers 101 stood out starkly against the white paint of the door. One calculated kick to the lock and we were in.

His head shot up when I kicked the door open without breaking the lock. Walking toward me he shoved his wallet into his back pocket. "Must you always go into a situation with guns blazing'?" Shaking his head he walked inside, I followed only seconds behind.
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Hello, my friends!

Sorry this chapter was a bit of a short one, but at the time, real-life decided to butt in, only I just couldn't leave you all with nothing to read, so--

Anyway, I promise that won't happen this next time around

So! Anyone with any ideas about what Aria might do next?

How do you feel about the characters so far?

Come on, guys! I need your input here, please?

Thank you!

Lots of love to my awesome readers!

Chloè
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