“Collector.” A woman of similar build and appearance came up to her.
She automatically put all thoughts to the back of her mind. “Yes,” she answered.
“You have an arrival at portal thirty-seven.”
The Collector moved back into her world once more.
Sam pulled up outside his garage; the door opened smoothly at the push of a button. He entered the house through the kitchen
Why had he let himself fall for her again? If the first time hadn’t been painful enough, here he was four hundred years later and still no wiser. He lifted his top to check his bandages. His skin was still badly bruised. Why had he interfered? She didn’t need him. She had Zac who was a good hunter, if a little unpredictable, but that was good: he matched Val’s irresponsible side. Together they would get into endless trouble.
He had thought he might have to blow his cover tonight, thought she was lost to the Warden. Things had got out of hand too quickly. When he came across Flo again, she would feel his full power. No one took a guard’s bracelet and got away with it. He dabbed his scars with a damp t-towel from the kitchen. Getting to Val in time had been sheer luck. Excariot hadn’t been expecting him and the element of surprise was all he had needed to get her out. She had literally had minutes before the Summari would have left her in a coma for life.
However, he needed to move with more caution in future. He was spending too much time with them and he couldn’t afford to be discovered. If he was, he knew what the consequence would be. That wasn’t an option.
He also needed a bigger car. He would go and look on the internet. He loved having money and cars were his passion. He would concentrate on finding something new, and that might help him to stay away from Val. He nodded to himself as he poured a glass of water from the fridge and took his tablet. Hopefully this problem would be resolved soon and things would go back to the way they were before.
Val woke to find Zac sitting, back completely rigid, on the end of her bed. His eyes were shut and he was obviously asleep, but he was looking very creepy. She pulled herself up quietly and crept to the bathroom. A shower would go down a treat and she could count bruises for a laugh. She locked the door behind her, throwing her clothes on the floor along with all the others that had accumulated over the past few days. Luckily for her she still had some clean ones, but she was going to have to get some more soon, or possibly work out how to get this lot washed. She showered and dressed quickly, ready for another day of fun and antics, and poking at her new tattoo. “Needy,” she grumbled.
When she exited she was greeted by Zac who was awake and ready to serve her a very odd-looking drink.
“Morning,” she greeted him as he passed her the steaming liquid. “Should I ask what this is?”
“If you want,” he answered, heading into the bathroom.
“Ok, what?” she called through the crack in the door.
He shut it in her face and raised his voice so she could hear him through the solid wood. “It’s what I consume to stay in peak condition. It has a mixture of what you call herbs and leaves. It helps clear out all blockages and returns energy to the person drinking it.” She heard the water starting to pump again.
She moved away and sat on the bed to consider whether she should drink it. She stuck her nose in the mug. Sewage came to mind, but if Zac said she would feel at the top of her game for drinking it, then he must be right. She sipped, holding back the urge to gag. “Ok, Val, pinch your nose,” she told herself. She pinched and tipped and within a few short gulps she had downed the lot. “Zac, that’s officially the most disgusting thing I have ever drunk in my life.”
Zac emerged from the bathroom. “It’s probably the best thing you have ever had.”
“No, my mum’s hot chocolate with...” Val stopped herself, fighting the surge of sadness that came hot on the heels of the memory.
“Hot chocolate? What is this?” he asked sitting on the edge of the bed.
“Just a hot drink that I like.” She raised a smile hoping he hadn’t heard or understood what she had been talking about. “I wonder where everyone is. It’s nine o’clock and I haven’t heard any noise from downstairs.” She stood, placed her mug in the sink and, followed by her hunter, made her way to the shop.
“There is no one here. Do you think they’re in danger?” Zac’s expression was one of genuine concern.
“Let’s go check the computer before we panic.” Pulling up the lid of the laptop she waited impatiently for it to load. The welcome screen lit up and she realised straight away that they would need a password. “Let’s get my phone.” She headed back to the counter just as her mobile sprang to life. She could hear the Star Wars theme music through the cloth. She fumbled with the zip. Maybe they had all been captured by Delta.
“Yes,” she said in a breathless tone.
“Morning Val. I have a problem,” said Wendy.
“Are you hurt? Does anyone have you?” Val asked, her imagination running riot.
“No! What are you talking about?”
“There’s no one here. Zac and I are worried about you all. What’s happened?”
Val heard Wendy giggle on the other end of the line. “What?” she enquired frowning.
“Val. It’s Sunday. Unless you need my help to save the world, it’s my day off.”
Val let out a sigh. “Thank goodness for that! I thought I was going mad. So what’s the problem?”
“Daniel wants to take me to the cinema today and I really want some support, so I was wondering if you and maybe Zac would like to come. Then he would be there if there were any problems and you could go.”
“Alright, we’ll come - as long as it’s not a sloppy love film, I hate them.”
“Yes, anything. We’ll pick you up at ten. Thanks Val.”
“Right Zaccy boy, you and I are going out,” Val announced, tucking her phone away and grinning at her hunter.
“Is there a problem? Is Wendy safe?” Zac’s concerned expression made Val feel sorry for him. He was so single minded that he never thought about relaxation or enjoyment.
“No. I completely forgot it was Sunday.”
“The seventh day of your solar cycle.”
“Yes. The shop doesn’t open today so we’re going to town,” she chirped, patting him on the back.
“I’m sorry, why is the shop not opening?” he asked, once again confused.
“Because today is the day of rest. Don’t ask any more questions.”
“Just one more. Why a day of rest? You hardly do anything, then you sleep. Why do you need rest?” The worst part of this was he was deadly serious.
“When God created the Earth and the Universe and everything in it, it took him six days, ok. Then, on the seventh he was a tad on the worn out side and decided to have a day off. So out of respect for his hard work we take a day off.”
Zac started to laugh. “Are you telling me because someone in your mythical history worked for six days creating the universe you all think you deserve a day off?” His shoulders were shaking with suppressed laughter.
“Listen to me mate,” Val poked him in the chest, which brought him to a stiff halt. “I need a day off and you are going to spend it with me, without laughing about my God or anyone else.”
“Fine, as long as I’m with you, let’s go and rest.” He shrugged, then shook his head, clearly still mystified by the strange ways of this alien planet.
Val got her things ready and shoved them all into her bag. Zac came down to the bookshop wearing his trusty black uniform. “We need to get you some more clothes,” she told him.
He looked down at his attire. “I see nothing wrong,” he responded indignantly.
Val headed out, locking up behind them. “You see nothing wrong with anything,” she murmured.
They were still indulging in their verbal jousting when Wendy arrived with Daniel already in the front of the car.
“Look, just try and behave normally. Daniel knows nothing about us and I want it to stay that way.”
“I am normal. You’re the one with the issues,” he responded.
They were both grinning like Cheshire cats as the car doors opened.
“Hi Guys. Zac this is Daniel,” Wendy introduced them, wondering why they were wearing those frozen grins.
“Welcome Daniel.” Zac thrust out his hand. Wendy turned with an expression of panic across her face. Val hunched her shoulders and got into the back of the car praying silently that they would survive. Why, she wondered, had she been stupid enough to think that this would work?
“Welcome back at you Zac,” Daniel shook his hand seeming unfazed by this odd young man in fancy dress.
“He’s foreign,” Wendy whispered over the roof to Daniel.
“Oh, that explains the clothes.” He gave her a thumbs up.
The journey to the cinema was going well, Val thought. If she could just make sure no one spoke for the whole way then it would be perfect.
“So Wendy, are you, like Val, also resting in the name of your God’s job?”
All eyes turned on Zac; even the car swerved.
“I’m sorry Zac.” Wendy pulled the car straight again. “I’m not sure what you’re trying to say.”
Val stared out of the window wondering whether it would be better to simply throw herself out of the moving car, or teleport again. Even extraction would be better than this.
“Today is also your day of rest....”
Someone had to shut him up.
“Zac, I don’t worship God as such. I worship the Goddess, and I don’t think she took a day off like God did.” Wendy smiled into the rear view mirror.
If Val thought it was already bad, Wendy had just ranked it up a notch. “Well guys what film are we going to watch?” she asked, trying to bring them back to something that might sound normal.
Daniel turned to face her, looking strangely calm. “Wendy said you liked nerdy films so I got tickets to the new Transformers movie.”
“Thank you Daniel, and thanks for the nerdy,” Val jokingly pushed Wendy’s seat. At least she would be able to enjoy the film, a good film, as her world fell apart and her sanity dribbled out of her ear.
When they arrived at the cinema Zac’s face lit up. He had never been anywhere like this before. It was like taking a child into a real sweetshop for the first time. He walked around touching the posters and watching everything people were doing. Val kept a good grip on his arm. Her concern was that he might attempt to talk to a stranger about how they didn’t have this on his planet, or did they worship the God that gave you a day off?
Daniel collected drinks, popcorn, nachos and candyfloss. He obviously liked Wendy a lot and Val needed to remember that this was her moment and try to keep Zac to a minimum of weirdness, and pray that no prisoner took form before the end of the film.
“This way.” They followed Daniel to the screen and took their seats. Val made sure Zac was positioned on the aisle seat.
He was hopping around in his seat, looking backwards and forwards like an over-excited kid. Val grabbed his wrist and pulling him down. “Look, I know you’re excited, but you need to calm down. We really don’t need you bringing any attention to yourself at this point, ok.” She patted his arm.
He took a deep breath. “Val, this is a wondrous experience.”
“I know and I want you to enjoy...” Val stopped as the lights went down and the curtains went back. Wendy handed her two pairs of 3D glasses. “It’s in 3D!” she grimaced. “Zac you need to wear these glasses to watch the film.” She handed him a pair.
“No. I have no ocular problems, but many thanks.”
“It’s not because of your eyesight; it’s in three dimensions. Oh, just put them on.” She forced them onto his nose, which sent him off on another ‘Where’s Wally’ moment staring at everyone through his new glasses.
The film started and everyone went quiet. For a couple of delusional moments, Val thought that it could be possible to actually relax. She settled in her seat, sipped her water and grabbed a nacho off Wendy’s lap. Through the darkness the Transformer on the screen came hurtling towards them. Zac Jumped up, his feet on the chair and his hand over his face.
“Stop it!” Val grabbed him.
“I must keep you safe.” He threw himself over Val. What a stupid time for him to get the idea of saving her. She had almost got a broken nose yesterday and he hadn’t flinched, and now a 3D image pops out a screen and he’s her knight in shining armour. Her drink went flying into the air and everyone in the cinema seemed to jump with them. Water spilled all down her trousers.
She stood up, “Zac, out, now!” Grabbing him by the arm she pulled him out of his seat and into the aisle and down the steps as another character leapt out of the screen at them.
There were hissings and mutterings directed at them from all over the cinema. Disturbingly some people looked at her with sympathy as she dragged her clearly dysfunctional charge up the aisle.
“Are you angry? I’m so sorry about the mess,” he apologised as they exited the screen.
“No, but you’re drawing far too much attention to us.” She pulled his glasses off with a furious jerk. “It was crazy of us to come here. Let’s just go home.”
Wendy hurried through the doors after them. “Hey, are you ok?” she pulled on Zac’s hand.
“Yes, I’m sorry I have let you down. Please tell Daniel I am unable to stop and need to return to the bookshop,” he said in a heartbreakingly sad voice.
“Val, stop being so mean. You come with me, Zac.” Wendy held his hand as she dragged him back to the film.
Val flapped her arms in frustration. “Seriously, someone is going to end up in tears here,” she warned.
Wendy placed Zac next to her, pushing Val out to the edge. Daniel smiled awkwardly across at her. She actually felt quite sorry for him. He was stuck with them. Well, if he stuck with Wendy after this he really did like her.
The beeping of a mobile phone rang out; Val looked around in annoyance. She hated nothing more than people who didn’t switch off their phone. It only took a second.
“Is that you?” Zac whispered.
She looked down at her bag. “Yes! Sorry, sorry,” she apologised. Now everyone was looking at them again. She quickly pulled it out. She had a text. She needed to see what it said. It couldn’t wait and anyway, everyone there already wished they had chosen a different day and time to come to the cinema; opening a text wasn’t going to make them hate her any less. She flipped it open. The message had come from an anonymous caller. Maybe it was Sam. She opened it.