Chapter 2

CHAPTER TWO

KENZIE

" W hat the hell are you dressed as?" Tammi's eyes drag down my costume as she slides over so I can sit next to her.

"Guess," I say as I sink into the beat-up vinyl seat, glad to be off my feet finally. The bus lurches, pulling away from the hospital where I work in the E/R. The hotel where Tammi's a chef is two stops before mine.

"Frankenstein with bad teeth," Tammi guesses, flicking the fake teeth I'm wearing.

I remove the wax canines and stuff them into my backpack. "Frankenstein was the doctor. His creation had no name. He's referred to as the monster. And where did anyone get the idea he was green?"

"Is that what color this is?" She swipes a finger down my forearm, removing a layer of the homemade paint.

"Hey, watch it. I don't want to look like I have tiger stripes."

She rubs her fingers together, examining the paint. "What is this gunk?"

"Lotion, corn starch, water, and green food coloring. Which means it comes off easily."

"I don't get what you're supposed to be." She pats the pillow I stuffed under the alien uniform I bought cheap from a guy hawking war treasures . "You look like a green Santa Claus."

"I needed to bulk up. Look threatening." I hold up an arm. "I stuffed the sleeves with rags for muscles."

"Like padding your bra with socks."

I readjust the girls. "Never needed to do that."

"Lucky you! So, you're green with monster teeth, but not Frankenstein or Santa Claus with a hangover. I give. What are you supposed to be?"

I pull at the uniform that's made of some material I've never seen before. Like leather, but really thin. "An alien."

"Pff," she blows out air, even as she touches the metal spikes on the uniform's shoulders. "The only aliens on Earth are red and blue. Not green."

"The grud who invaded were green."

"No one wants to remember those beasts. The aliens the Galactic Alliance sends here are scary enough with their horns."

"Horns?"

"Damn, Kenzie, you need to get out more. When you're not working, you turn into a hermit in your apartment."

"It's safe. Calm."

"You'll never meet anyone sitting at home."

"Which is why I'm going to Josh's party."

"You're only going because I twisted your arm."

I spent my childhood locked up indoors. Being in social situations with more than two or three people makes me nervous. I can handle tons of patients with massive injuries pouring into the E/R, but a room full of people making chit-chat is nerve-wracking.

"Stop changing the subject. Where did you see aliens?"

"At the Keshi Pearl Hotel."

"The Keshi." I whistle low. "That's a fancy hotel."

"Definitely expensive. I worked the Valentine's Day Ball. Politicians, military, big wigs in the private sector. Lot of money spent on a bunch of higher ups. The aliens were VIPs from the embassies. Ambassadors, cultural advisors, that type of thing. Blue and red, Kenz. No green."

"Why didn't you ever tell me you worked at the Keshi? I mean, that's big, Tammi. They only hire the best of the best."

The instant she turns her head away from me, I know the answer.

"Rob caused a scene, didn't he? Got you fired?"

She swallows and nods. I hold her hand and give a slight squeeze. "I'm sorry. Working at a place like that was your dream job."

We fall silent as the bus turns off the main road, down a side-street. Another damn detour while they repair more of the main roads.

"A week after the ball," Tammi suddenly starts explaining, "Rob showed up and yelled at me in front of a bunch of guests. My manager fired me on the spot."

"That's not the first time he's pulled that crap to get you fired. Earning your own money makes you harder to control. You need to get away from him."

"I know," Tammi says, wringing her hands in her lap.

"We'll figure it out. Tomorrow, okay? Tonight, we enjoy ourselves." I straighten her chef's hat. "Though using your uniform as a costume is kind of lame, darlin'. You should have at least brought some cookies along for the party, for authenticity's sake," I tease her, hoping to lift her spirits.

"You'll say anything to get me to bake for you."

"What's your point?" I can blame at least ten pounds on her baking. The rest is on me for not making the time to eat better or exercise.

"I'll bake you a special batch of cookies next week. And it's not a costume. I'm catering a Halloween bash at a general's home in the Hills."

"You're going to make me go to Josh's party alone?"

"Sorry, Boo. I need the work. I'll meet you there later, if I can."

"When you're ready to go apartment hunting or to move in with me, just say the word. I'll help you do whatever it takes to leave the bastard. Job or no job."

"That's sweet of you. I'll think about it."

Tammi doesn't like taking handouts, but she really needs to get away from that control freak of a boyfriend, before he hurts her.

Avalon and E. Sepulveda flashes in big red letters on the overhead display. I pull the cord and give Tammi a bear hug as I stand up. She looks so sullen, and it's all my fault for bringing up her jerk boyfriend.

"Things will improve soon, I promise. Have fun catering. I'll see you later." I blow a kiss her way and rush to exit the bus before the driver shuts the doors.

As soon as I step off the bus, I jump over a puddle to avoid it. The doors squeak closed and the engine roars behind me as I stare out into the dark, empty lot between a bunch of bombed-out buildings.

This isn't Avalon and East Sepulveda.

This isn't any part of L.A. that I know.

Where the hell am I?

I turn to get on the bus again, but it's long gone. I was so caught up in talking to Tammi, I didn't pay attention to whatever detour the bus driver took.

Horrible thoughts run through my head as I take in the dark and isolated cement and metal wasteland. The area looks like it was target practice for the enemy.

Shadows follow me everywhere I turn. I expect to see eyes watching me from the dark recesses any minute. This is not the place a girl wants to find herself.

Clouds obscure much of the moonlight, but I can see the road that brought me here and city lights in the distance. There's no guarantee another bus will come through here anytime soon, if at all.

Nothing's worse than standing around looking like fresh meat, so I start walking toward the city lights. I stick to the road, avoiding the crumbled cement, twisted slabs of metal, and broken glass littering the area. Large foundations of decimated structures hint at an industrial area, not retail or housing.

Metal scrapes against the ground behind me somewhere.

It's the wind striking dangling scrap metal. There's no one else here. Keep walking.

The splash of water, like someone stepping in a puddle, sends shivers down my spine. I halt and strain to listen but hear nothing.

It's my imagination.

I hope.

My senses are heightened, listening to my surroundings carefully. An eerie cold suddenly chills my body.

Something's here.

I feel it.

My feet break into a run. Twice, I glance over my shoulder. There's nothing there. It's all in my head.

Except the air shifts around me, like a storm changing directions.

Something's following me!

Yes, I'm well aware that I'm thinking some thing and not some one .

I enter a maze of relatively tall structures which block out the distant lights, disorienting me. I slam to a halt, trying to figure out which way to go.

When the wind howls, my feet freeze with indecision.

Pick a direction. Any direction!

Slosh. Slosh. Slosh.

Are those footsteps?

I pivot three-sixty.

Nothing.

Hisssss.

I break into a run, dodging downed wires and rusted I-beams.

Yes! I'm out of the maze. And there's a bus in the distance!

Fuck, it's turning!

Hisssssss.

That ominous sound spurs me to run so fast that I ignore the hazards on the ground. My foot catches in a crater and I go down, hard. I force myself to keep moving, but when I look up, the bus is gone.

When I place my hands on bent knees to catch my breath, an eerie silence surrounds me.

The hairs on the back of my neck rise.

Something's watching me.

I fumble for the keys in my backpack. Why I didn't chuck the bag earlier, I don't know, but I'm grateful I didn't.

As my hand curls around my keychain, the rumble of another bus approaching catches my attention. I can make it if I hurry.

Headlights bounce off the wet pavement as I jog my way toward the bus. I'm going to make it!

That's when something huge and large tackles me to the ground.