I didn’t know where I was or how I got here. I felt like I was in a dream. It seemed like a bad dream although not the terrifying kind of bad. Maybe more confusing and mysterious. I waited a few moments to get my bearings. My head hurt. So did my arms and legs. In fact everywhere of me hurt. Why? Also, I couldn’t move, like something held me down. At least I was lying on carpet, making my position more comfortable. And it was bright, but not blinding, and there was even a bed in the corner! It’s been a while since I’ve laid in one of those.
Hmmm, it feels like something is missing, something I haven’t realized…but what? Why am I having trouble remembering? Hold on. Something’s coming to me. Fleet! Exactly! Where’s the rest of my fleet? Did they already retreat to Rianes? Without me? No. They couldn’t. They’re probably on the ship, refueling. Yeah. That has to be it. I have to get up. My ear hurts now because I’ve been lying on it for…I don’t know how long. I need to get up, but I can’t. Hey! I can pick up my fingers! That’s a start…what to do, what to do. I can create an escape plan out of here, but that’s not entirely possible because the only view I’ve had of this place was the underside of a bed.
I’m obviously in someone’s bedroom, but whose? The bed sheets are red so either a boy or a girl. I can see several pairs of dirty…smelly socks underneath, so it’s definitely a guy, most likely around fifteen. Maybe the time’s around noon, with the sun shining as bright as it is, and burning hot too. Huh. I’m just going to pass the time with a poem…

Help!
I’m lying on my ear,
With dirty socks in view,
Nothing’s very clear,
I don’t know what to do.

Yuck. That sucks. That rhymes! Let’s face it, I couldn’t write even if it’d save my life.
Click! What was that? A door? Oh no! I can hear something swinging open! I need to hide! Oh man, I can only move my head and arms, and that’s still not very helpful. I spotted the blanket on the bed right above me and had an idea. I tugged as hard as I could at it and tried my best to cover myself up.
I heard a male voice yell, “I’ll be right down! I need to get my cleats!”
Even though it’s pretty cold in here I’m beginning to sweat under this heavy comforter. I can feel footsteps, darting here and there, and then they suddenly stop.
“What’s this doing on the floor?” he mumbled.
I cross my fingers, hoping beyond all hope that he does not discover me. I press myself against the floor until my entire body is so numb, I couldn’t move even if I wanted to. I cannot hear anything except for the sound of his ragged breathing. Then I feel a bony hand glide past my shoulder and I almost screamed in surprise. Fortunately, a sock was being stuffed beneath the bed instead of me being exposed. Whew, close call.
My heart was now beating a gazillion times faster causing my breath to come more rapidly, which I tried to get under control. As I was trying to do this (and failing) a distant voice hollers, “Let’s go, Michael! We’re going to be late!” Yes! Please go! As soon as I got the chance I was out of here.
“I can’t find my other shoe!” The guy (supposedly Michael) says, right over me.
I hear more scrambling around, doors closing and things being thrown to the floor. Ooohh! I did an impulsive intake of breath as something hard and very heavy landed right on the back of my head. My skull was pounding like mad and I just wanted to rub that area but I knew if I moved then I would give myself away.
Suddenly, a great gust of air rolls off me, and my sweat dries almost instantly. My eyes are temporarily blinded by the piercing brightness. It took me a few seconds to realize what had just happened and by then the idea of running was totally out of the picture.
He had found me.
This seriously can’t get any worse. Crap, I am caught in a serious predicament… but on the bright side I can move all of my body parts.
I look up and see him clutching the blanket, eyes wide with shock. I pick myself up slowly, unsure of what to do next.
I searched for a conversation starter to occupy the awkwardness. “Ouch. What exactly did you throw at me?” I said, finally being able to massage my head.
He stepped back a few feet, totally ignoring my question, mouth agape, and using the blanket as some sort of shield, maybe surprised that I could talk. But he shouldn’t know that I’m from a different planet because I’m wearing normal Earth girl clothes: ripped jeans, sneakers, and a blue t-shirt. I raise my hand up to my chest and waved. He flinched, probably thinking I was going to pull out a gun or attack him.
I greet him with a slow exaggerated wave and address him innocently, “Hello…uhhh…I’ll just be going.”
I didn’t wait for a reaction so I casually glided around him to a door. When I opened it, it didn’t lead outside, but to the bathroom. I quickly closed it, went to another door and yanked it open. The closet. Dang. I must be looking like an idiot right now, not being able to escort myself out. I headed toward the last door in the room, ignored this “Michael” who was still standing there like a statue, and passed through the doorway. He was actually allowing me to escape without an explanation!
Then he yelled unexpectedly, “Wait! Who are you and what are you doing here?”
I bit my lip to keep from swearing out loud and responded, “Look, sorry I was in your room, but I’ll leave and we can pretend this never happened before. Ok? Bye.”
I know I didn’t want to be as harsh to someone who did not call the police on me, but I desperately needed to find the rest of my team.
“Stop!” Didn’t this guy ever listen? “You still didn’t answer my questions.” I might as well cooperate.
I was barely out of his room, apparently on the second floor, with maybe his friends downstairs hearing our entire conversation. They will probably be making their way up any second now.
“If I answer your question, can I go, and we will never mention this to anybody?”
My back was to him the entire time, and I never really got the chance to actually study his face when he found me, so I turned around. He was smiling and not looking at me out of shock anymore, but out of curiosity and friendliness this time.
Wow. Earth people were cute. Or at least better looking than the descriptions I’ve heard. This one had dark brown hair that fell across his forehead, a deep tan, tall, athletic build, and a smile that made you just keep staring at it. Like, he had straight, white teeth and, I don’t know, it was just…dazzling.
“I think I’ll have trouble doing just that,” Michael answered, pulling me away from his mouth and to his eyes (which were a unique shade of green, that were almost as pretty as his mouth).
“Doing what?” Now I’m the one confused.
“ I’ll have trouble not telling anyone. Not everyday that some random girl shows up in your room hiding under a blanket. But yeah, if you answer my questions then you can go. Oh, and sorry about the dictionary that accidentally landed on you.”
He threw the comforter back on his bed and stuffed his hands in his pockets.
I sighed with relief. “ It’s Kendra. Bye now!”
I dashed down the stairs, knowing I hadn’t answered his other question but I couldn’t come up with a good enough alternative explanation. Scurrying down, I caught a glimpse of his friends, who were all wearing soccer shoes, and froze when they saw me. I didn’t meet their gaze and pushed past them.
A large mahogany door loomed before me and I didn’t even hesitate before I pulled it open. A hot, blistering atmosphere met me and incredible light zapped across my eyes as I took my first outside view of Earth. And boy, this was not at all what I expected.