Battlefield by J. F. Jenkins Page A

wish you would take me seriously for once. You don’t listen to me,” she whispered.
    â€œLet’s not think about the politics of all this then. We can at least enjoy the moment for what it is while we have it.”
    She touched his bracelet. “You still wear it?”
    â€œHow else was I supposed to find you?”
    She laughed softly, running her fingers over the glowing metal. “I suppose you’re right. I was forced to take mine off, but I keep it near me so you can find me.”
    â€œNear? Where is near?” he asked as he leaned in to kiss her lips.
    â€œMaybe you should find it.” She was so good at teasing him. He should have minded more than he did, but she had a way of making him forget how to think.
    â€œMaybe I will then.” He kissed her once more and then sighed happily against her. “Have you ever thought of running away?”
    â€œI believe you asked me this back before I left. You wanted me to run away to live with you at your home, yes?”
    He shook his head. “No, I mean, both of us run away. Far from here. Be our own people.”
    â€œYou know that’s not possible.”
    â€œI know, but I was hoping that maybe you would indulge my imagination for a moment. Can’t we just pretend for a moment that it is just us?”
    Alona’s eyes met his own. “I suppose. Pretending is the only way we are ever going to get along. Isn’t it? So for a few more minutes, I can pretend I still love you, and that we can be together. After this, you will be my enemy, and there isn’t anything you can do or say to change it.”
    Before Alan could reply, she kissed him again and then pulled him along in the tunnel back toward what the Earth humans referred to as a school. He almost stopped where he stood when she said it, but her pull kept him moving forward.
    â€œWhat do you mean you will pretend you still love me? You aren’t pretending to love me. You do. Don’t lie.”
    â€œFine, maybe I do, but I’m going to stop after these next few minutes. I’m going to stop, and there’s nothing you can say about it. Don’t make this harder than it needs to be.”
    â€œI don’t want to fight with you.”
    â€œThere’s a phrase here. Shut up.” She pulled him out of the tunnel, and he found himself in a large storage facility for what looked like instruments. He’d seen pictures of them before and studied them briefly once upon a time, but how they were used and what noises they made were beyond his recollection. It was empty of people now. The students had left the premises of the school for the day. How long had he been lingering in those tunnels? Perhaps he had traveled further than he originally thought.
    His eyes searched hers for some kind of rational explanation, but he found none.
    â€œIs something wrong?” a voice asked from nearby.
    Alan had completely forgotten that he was no longer invisible to Earth humans not affiliated with his cause. He faced them, ready to tell this student to move along because it wasn’t their business, but when he saw the small black mask resting over their eyes, he knew that wasn’t going to work. It was their business. They were a follower of Alona.
    â€œEverything is fine,” Alan said.
    The student interrupting was a male, and not far behind him was a female who guarded the door. Both were blond and in similar uniforms that matched what were referred to as the “school colors”.
    â€œHe’s bothering you, isn’t he? I’ve been looking for a good reason to practice, if I may great leader?” the girl said through gritted teeth.
    â€œReally, violence is not necessary,” Alan said.
    Alona didn’t even acknowledge him. “Yes, you may, my follower. Practice as much as you’d like with this one, though I’m sure he won’t put up much of a fight.” She glared at Alan. “He is pathetic.