| Chapter 13

"Reports are coming in that the Pylons have ignored all attempts made by the city to ensure repairs are made to their ship. While it continues to fly, many wonder 'for how long?' And what happens if it falls? We will update when we have more information."

My mom sat on the couch in our living room, watching the sudden news update disrupting her show. She had a routine, which happened every night. After a shower, she'd place her rollers in her hair and change into her comfiest robe. Tea would follow, as well as her favorite novelas. Once sleep hit like a freight train, she'd make her way to her room.

The fact that I had come home earlier than expected didn't change that. Nor did the news and their 'Pylon updates.'

As the channel switched to commercials, I leaned against the archway leading into our kitchen. I hated when my mother watched 'disasters' on the news; it wasn't healthy to obsess over the negatives. Considering it involved her most loved and favorite topic of them all, the aliens, made it worse.

Sometimes it's good we don't live in the city.

"Mom?" I cleared my throat to get my mother's attention. When she looked at me, I pushed off the wall and walked towards the couch. "Don't watch that stuff. I told you it's okay over there."

"Hm?" With her mug against her lips, she glanced at me. "Oh, it's okay. I know. You told me."

I did.

When Gus scooped me up to take me back to my uncle's, I decided I couldn't stay. There wasn't a reason to. I'd been in the city for the fair, to learn and educate myself on the history of the Pylons. Since it was closed and I had no chance to find out anything new, what else could I do? After pieces of the alien ship fell from the sky and nearly crushed me and Vera, and her Pylon family made a scene in the street, I thought I had enough action for one weekend. For a lot of weekends.

I had to run back home to the safety of my quiet town.

"And you're so chill about it," I laughed as I sat on the armrest of the couch. I scratched the side of my head. "For someone who watches the news like crazy, I thought you'd be scared over here."

"Scared?" My mother snorted and rolled her eyes. She sipped her tea as she sighed. "There's nothing scary on the news. They always say things like this."

I looked at her, confused. "Drama about the Pylon ship? This isn't the first time it's happened?"

"What?" My mother blinked at me before placing her mug on our coffee table. "Oh, no, the ship falling apart is new; that's never happened before."

"Then?" I watched as my mother stood from the couch and stretched. I didn't stand with her. "I don't get it."

"Ah, Gus," my mother laughed, "you don't watch the news. You're so different from the other kids, you know. Always outside, outdoors. You don't follow the media."

I didn't. I also didn't have to. My mother was the one who kept me informed. She just... "Okay, I know, but you've never said this about the Pylons. You only say good things about them."

"Because there are only good things." Reaching for the remote, my mother turned off the television and stretched again. She smiled at me. "Your father and I didn't lie to you about them. They're good for us, even though a lot of people don't want to admit it."

I chewed on the insides of my cheek as she made her way around the couch. Before I could ask anything, she turned around. "At least once a year, the people really drill them in, you know? Make them out to be the bad guys. It's probably why they really wanted to leave. Who wants to deal with that?"

As I listened to my mother, I grabbed her empty mug and looked inside of it. Small tea leaves were at the bottom like stars against a clear sky.

"This was the one chance people had to forgive them. Instead, it was that." She pointed at the TV when I looked at her. "They're made out to be the problem again. And now they'll leave. Forever."

Sadness covered my mom's face. I pushed off the couch to stand in front of her, looking down into her brown eyes. The smile she gave me was weak. When she cupped my face and sighed, the light I normally saw in her faded away.

"Ma, are you okay?" I whispered.

Her thumbs brushed against my cheeks. "I never told you why I wanted you to go to the fair, did I?"

"Yeah," I shrugged, "to see the Pylons."

With a small chuckle, my mother closed her eyes. "Yes, that, but there was more to it. I should've told you the whole story."

"What story?"

When she opened her eyes again, the light returned, paired with a soft smile. "Your father always made sure to stay on their good side to save me."

"Save you?" My eyes widened. "From what?"

"Life," she said so easily I couldn't follow. Not right away. And as if she sensed that, she continued, "I was so sick after I had you, Gus. Doctors tried everything but couldn't help me. Your father couldn't lose me, either."

I slipped back against the couch, balancing against its armrest.

My mother placed a hand over her chest. "He always went to the city to get me Sapphire, to keep me going. Before he died, he said the Pylons gave him years' worth of the ether. For me." Tears rimmed her eyes.

"Ma?" I jumped from the couch and placed my hands on my mother's shoulders. "What are you saying? Why haven't you said this before?"

"Ah." Playfully, my mother slapped my chest. "You were just a boy. How could I? I think you're old enough now." A tear fell, sliding down her cheek. "I just hoped if you went to the fair, you could bring me home something."

"Something?" I shook my head. I was only going to bring her a keychain. "Ma, if you would've said it, told me outright, then I—"

"Then you would've stressed, like you are doing right now." My mother placed her hands back on my face. "I wanted you to go and at least enjoy yourself, not worry about me. I planned on calling you to see if you could buy a vial, but you came home so soon, I couldn't."

My heart broke. My chest burned. Every one of my fingers itched and I rubbed them together, trying to keep calm.

"Maybe they won't leave, and I can get some soon, hm?" My mother sighed. "I still have enough for a few more months, anyway. I can't be selfish. There are people out there who need it more than I do."

"Ma..." I watched as my mother turned, heading towards the stairs. I wanted to grab her, hold her tight, but I knew my mother. When she was like this, she didn't want someone's pity, or what seemed like it. She was a strong woman, always able to keep herself up and standing, ready for everything.

My dad was the same way.

I frowned.

"Don't do that." My mother turned around and caught the look on my face at the one moment I didn't want her to. "You look just like your father when you do that."

I chuckled. To think my dad and I had the same sad face. "I'm sorry, ma," I said, watching her take another step up the stairs. "I just... I want you to know I'll always take care of you. No matter what."

I held my breath because the moment I said it, my mother stopped, turned, and looked at me. Her smile faded a bit, softening. It wasn't loving but sad. The spark in her brown eyes faded as shadows took over her face.

"Ma?" I grabbed onto the bottom railing. "Are you okay?"

"Si, mijo," she said, forcing a smile. "It's just that your father said that to me, too."

I stepped back, lips pursed, heart falling. Crashing. There was a ball in the pit of my stomach.

"Now," she turned on the stairs, "if you need me, I'll be in my room."

"Okay, ma," I said.

She flicked off the lights in the hall, leaving the second floor of our home in darkness. I listened, making sure she made it into her room okay. She had a routine: she'd open her closet doors, turn on her TV to play the latest novela she'd missed, and once she dropped on her bed to relax, she turned on quiet salsas, humming along to the songs of her past. Once I heard it all, I turned away.

But I couldn't just walk into the kitchen. I stood at the bottom of the steps, thinking. Overthinking.

Either Holmes didn't tell a soul what I had admitted, or no one cared to listen. A big city like Chicago, I imagined everyone turning him away. Truth didn't help the news outlets, drama did. And what better way than continuing to tell citizens how horrible Pylons were, how Sapphire continued to kill anyone within its reach.

But that wasn't the truth. The ether helped thousands, millions, including my mother. And after what she said, I hoped they didn't leave. I prayed the news didn't push them off our planet. My mother needed their magical elixir, and once the drama died down, I planned on heading back to the city to grab them.

To take care of her. Like I had promised.

|||

As I made my way into the kitchen, I closed my eyes. "My dad always said to keep hope alive," I whispered to myself. "It led to miracles."

A rock hit the screen of the back door. My head snapped up at the sound. I waited, listened.

It was pitch black outside, not even a glimmer of the moon's light. Stepping forward, I tried to see if I could spot any shadows outside. But there was nothing. No movement.

Then there was another rock. And another.

I reached the kitchen table and pressed my hands flat against the surface. "Hello?" Is calling out to whatever or whoever it is a smart thing to do? "Who's there?"

Glancing behind me, I wondered if my mother had heard any of it. But there was no change to her TV, her music. It was just me and the rock thrower outside the kitchen screen door.

I looked back towards the windows, narrowing my gaze. "Hello?" I called out louder this time and pushed off the table. "Who's there?"

Of course, no one answered. For all I knew, my mind could've been playing tricks on me. But I couldn't take the chance. Sometimes crimes happen in our small town. And if I ignored it and something happened to my mother, I wouldn't be able to forgive myself.

Knowing I had to keep her safe, I rushed over towards the door and slid it open.

The night's cool air slapped against my face, welcoming the sweet taste of fresh flowers and fruits from my mother's garden. There were rocks on the ground. I recognized them. They were the very same stones I had laid out beside our house as decoration.

Chuckling to myself, I closed the door. "It's all right, Gus Gus," I whispered as I turned the lock slowly with my hand. "Just the wind."

The wind and my mind playing tricks on me.

But let the rocks tell it, there was more to it.

Three more hit my house. Instead of the screen door, they clonked against the window to my right. A quick sidestep took me in front of it, but with the sink in front of me, I couldn't get as close as I wanted to be.

Still, I reached forward and lifted it open. "Hey!" I shouted outside, staring into the darkness. "If there's anyone out there, I fucking swear—"

A rock was thrown right at my face. It was smaller than the ones outside, but shit, it hurt. Covering my mouth, I hissed as I stepped back.

I was ready to run outside but I heard a small squeal. A gasp. And at my window appeared the curly-haired Pylon who'd taken up my entire afternoon.

Slowly, I slid my hand away from my face. "V-Vera?"

It was her. No hood over her head. Her face was brightened by the light from my kitchen; a light that intensified the stars in her eyes.

"You're here." Rubbing my face, I approached the window.

"I am," she said as she leaned her arms in front of her. "I need help."

I almost laughed, pressing my hands against my kitchen sink. "Ain't this familiar." I shook my head, smirking at her. "And what's with you and windows? I've got a front door, you know."

Vera gave me the weakest smile. Her mouth opened and a sound came from her. But the words that followed weren't hers, or her voice.

I gripped the counter as I heard someone say, "Man, shit, she was at my window, too. Again."

Biting the sides of my tongue, I watched as David appeared beside her. Unlike her, he had the hood from his sweater above his head. He locked eyes with me and lifted his brows. "I don't get why your friend doesn't use doors, but here we are. Getting you."

I stammered for a moment, trying to think of what to say. My eyes bounced between the two of them, back and forth.

"Why are you here?" I asked David. But then I stepped back and looked at them. "Why are you both here?"

"Shit." David rubbed the side of his face as he looked at me. Then he laughed. "Ay, sorry about that." He pointed at my cheek. "You're bleeding, man."

Bleeding? I pressed my fingers against the sore spot. When I pulled them back, they were in fact sticky with blood. I groaned before I looked at them again. "Why were you throwing rocks, David?"

He shrugged and looked at Vera. "To get your attention," he said as he glanced back at me. "It's too damn quiet here, so I needed to make some noise." At the word noise, he stuck his tongue out and laughed.

Irritation came over me. "You couldn't use the door, man?" Without hesitating, I opened the screen door for both of them to come inside. "Come on, inside, the fuck is going on?"

"Gus." Vera came close to the door but didn't walk into my kitchen. Instead, she stood beside me, hands twiddling in front of her. She looked different without a hood and dirty sneakers. She was dressed as a Pylon, decorated in silver clothes with black gems.

I slowly counted them before I looked back into her eyes, just as she said, "We don't have time to go inside."

"You live too far, country boy," David added.

I clenched my jaw and sucked on my teeth. "Don't... call me that," I hissed before I glanced behind me, into my dark living room. There wasn't any movement. And when I listened closely, I could still hear my mother upstairs.

Looking back at the two of them, I asked, "So, what's going on?"

David looked at Vera, pressing his lips out without saying a word.

And Vera looked at me, eyes brimming with tears as she frowned. "I—" she started to say before she covered her mouth with the tips of her fingers. "The ship's going to crash. And I can't find my dad or anyone. I didn't know where else to go."

"What..." I leaned against the screen door.

David nodded, silently agreeing.

"You were able to talk to that guy last time. He listened to you. And I thought, maybe, someone else would, too."

"Me?" I pointed at myself with my thumb. "W-Why me?"

"Well, shit, can't be me," David said. "And with her outside my window for over an hour, I couldn't say no." His voice dropped to a whisper, "She wouldn't leave me the fuck alone."

I took in a shaky breath. And thought about it. My mother always told me when someone needed you, when the world cried, you'd feel it in your bones. It was an ache that wouldn't stop, an itch you couldn't scratch.

Vera needed me. I wasn't sure what I could do, but just as I'd done that morning, I would try. I'd do anything.

And if I could make the ship stay, help Vera, then maybe I could help my mother, too.

Slowly, I stepped outside and closed the screen door behind me. I looked at my cousin. "How fast can you get us back to Chicago?"

David only smiled.