Human Blend (27 page)

The bird calls had seemed to escalate in
volume and intensity as Julie was healing Vinnie. Now, the forest
was quiet.

“What do we do now, boss?” Joey asked.

“Get the money from the truck. We are gonna
wait for backup,” Luke answered before pointing to Austin. “You
help her,” Luke instructed him. “Everyone else... stay alert,” he
added.

Luke called Steve. “Everything set?” he asked
him.

“
Ready when you are
,” Steve
replied.

“Wait for my signal. If you don't hear from
me within one hour... dump it,” Luke ordered. “What about the
chopper?” Luke asked.

“
On its way. Should be near your location
in about ten minutes
,” Steve confirmed.

“Good work,” Luke praised before hanging
up.

Austin helped Julie to her feet. He wanted to
tell Luke that she needed more rest, but kept quiet. He was quickly
learning that only bad things happened when he challenged Luke.

“You okay?” Austin whispered to her.

“I will be,” Julie replied, holding tightly
to him.

“What were you doing before, with Luke?”
Austin asked. “I felt something... strange,” he recounted. Before
Julie could answer, the bird calls started again.

This time, the bird calls were accompanied by
other animal sounds. The surrounding forest sounded more like a
jungle as leaves began to blow furiously around the stranded group.
Austin and Julie embraced each other to shield their faces from the
sharp-rimmed leaves.

“Stop!” Joey yelled as his anxiety caused him
to fire randomly into the trees.

A small but powerful draft swept through the
group. The draft seemed to target Joey, pushing his body backwards
until he was pinned to a tree. The draft swirled around the tree,
pelting Joey with rocks and debris. A vine seemingly caught up in
the whirlwind wrapped itself around the tree, entrapping Joey.
“Hey, hey! Get me out of here!” he yelled until the vine cut off
his air supply. The vine tightened once more and all struggle
ceased.

Julie and Austin were stunned at what had
taken place. The trees grew silent once more.

“Get the bag,” Luke ordered Vinnie.

The sounds of the forest began once again.
Luke pulled Julie in front of him with his gun pointed at her head.
The sounds ceased. Vinnie took note and did the same thing with
Austin. “It's got something to do with you, alright,” Luke said in
a hushed tone.

Four figures suddenly emerged from the
densely grown forest. Julie recognized one of the people as
Marcus.

“Who the hell are you guys?” Luke asked. He
knew that they were not the same things that were in the trees.

“I am the uncle of these children you have
wrongly imprisoned,” Uncle Gregg spoke.

Julie looked at this man claiming to be her
uncle. She tried hard to conjure up a memory of him. She saw
fleeting images of a very tiny girl running around and laughing as
this same man playfully chased her. “
Come and get me, Uncle
G,
” she heard her tiny self giggle.

“Uncle G,” Julie said as the memory
faded.

Uncle Gregg smiled, “Yes, Laney. I'm your
Uncle G,” he replied. “I've been searching for you a long time,” he
added.

“Aw, now isn't that sweet. We have ourselves
a family reunion. Sorry we can't stay for pictures, but we have to
go. Now, call off your pals in the trees and we'll be on our merry
little way,” Luke said.

“I'm afraid that's not possible,” Uncle Gregg
replied.

Luke pointed the gun at Julie's head. “Want
to rephrase that?” Luke asked.

“You know that won't kill her,” Uncle Gregg
reminded.

“It'll cause a lot of pain, and in her
weakened state, my hunch is you wouldn't want to take that chance,”
Luke surmised.

“May I approach so we can talk about this?”
Uncle Gregg asked. He was seeing first hand just how volatile this
man was.

“Yeah right. You think I'm stupid?” Luke
laughed.

A rattling sound reverberated through the
forest. Vines snaked their way down a nearby tree.

“Suron and I have an arrangement. I suggest
you talk to him before going any further,” Luke shouted above the
noise. The vines froze where they were. Luke smiled.

Orel: Eli, Suron has sent word to halt all
efforts.

Eli: What sort of arrangement could this man
have made?

Orel: Suron is on his way. We must wait. I'm
sorry.

Eli: I'm not going to just wait around.

Eli jumped down from the trees and began to
approach Luke.

Orel: Ill advised, Eli. We cannot
interfere.

Eli ignored Orel's advice.

Julie swayed in Luke's grip. She knew that
she was not going to be able to stay awake much longer.

“Release them now,” Eli ordered.

Julie snapped her head up at the sound of his
voice.

“Who the hell are you? Where is Suron?” Luke
asked.

“I said release them,” Eli commanded, taking
a step closer.

Julie was speechless as she took in Eli's
appearance. The clean cut doctor had seemingly transformed into
this rugged, bare-chested creature before her. Even his perfectly
groomed hair appeared mussed. If the situation had not been so
dire, she would have smiled.

Luke placed Julie in front of him and held
her in a death grip around her neck as he pointed the gun at
Eli.

Eli was about to summon the earth to do his
bidding when an elder intervened.

Suron: My orders were to not interfere,
Eli.

Eli: You don't understand, Suron. This man is
holding these people hostage.

Suron: This is not our concern. Our
allegiance is to the Earth, not its inhabitants.

Suron entered the clearing.

“'Bout time you showed up,” Luke said. “Your
pal here was about to break our agreement,” Luke added.

“I have received word that you are about to
do that yourself,” Suron spoke out loud to Luke.

“Insurance,” Luke responded. “Your people
took down one of my men,” Luke gestured toward Joey.

“That is most unfortunate,” Suron replied.
“Rest assured, Eli will be reprimanded for his actions,” Suron
promised.

“No, you mustn't! This isn't his fault!”
Julie pleaded.

“So, this is the famous doctor you've been so
protective of?” Luke laughed, tightening his grip.

Julie watched the interaction between Luke
and Suron. There was something familiar about the tall man; she had
seen him before. Her mind drifted back to that memory.

In this memory Julie saw herself about
fifteen years old. She was with Luke and they had just come from
collecting lottery winnings when he received a phone call.

"Who the hell are they?" Luke shouted into
the phone. "What the... never mind, I'm on my way." Luke finished.
"Idiots!"

Julie saw herself cringe at the anger in
Luke's voice. She remembered keeping quiet the rest of the car
ride. Julie watched as they crossed the state line into Utah and
turned down a road called "Skull Valley." The name alone made her
shiver.

Luke skidded to a stop, causing gravel to
spew around the car from the unpaved road. Two of Luke's men
shuffled over to him as he stepped out of the car, slamming the
door. Heated words were exchanged but Laney concentrated on the
image she saw in the distance. A man appeared to be standing by a
container truck. At first the man seemed to be without clothing,
but Laney then noticed that he had a strip of cloth across the
lower part of his body.

The realization hit her: this was where she
had first seen Suron. The image faded quickly as she stared at
Suron in present time.

The sound of a helicopter could be heard
overhead. “That'd be my ride,” Luke said and took out his cell
phone.“Bring her down,” he ordered.

Uncle Gregg and Marcus came closer as the
helicopter began it's landing. Luke pointed his gun in their
direction, “Reunion has been canceled,” he said and moved with
Julie toward the helicopter. Vinnie followed with Austin.

Julie kept her eyes locked on Eli, hoping to
convey how sorry she was for causing him trouble.

“As long as my people hear from me within one
hour, no dumping will happen. I suggest you keep your people away
from that area. We wouldn't want any of them getting splashed on,
now would we?” Luke grinned. He knew that they could not go
anywhere near the toxic waste; it was like Kryptonite to them.

Eli: Suron, please reconsider.

Suron: Eli, they are not our concern.

Eli: She... is my concern.

“Excuse me... Suron, is it? May I speak with
you?” Uncle Gregg asked as he watched Julie and Austin being herded
onto the helicopter.

“Speak,” Suron spoke aloud.

“I am friends with Percone. He and I have
spoken at great lengths. My people have done good work in helping
take care of your Earth,” Uncle Gregg reminded.

“I am aware,” Suron answered.

“This man is holding two of my people and
using their abilities for his own agenda. Can you not lend us a
helping hand as we have done for you and your planet?” Uncle Gregg
questioned.

“I believe we have already helped you and
your people by allowing them to seek refuge on this planet. We do
not interfere in the lives of the creatures that call our Earth
their home unless they mean to do our planet harm,” Suron
stated.

Suron: Eli, you and others have been given
the freedom to humanize yourselves and live among the inhabitants
of our Earth. This does not mean that you are free to use the Earth
and her energy as you see fit. In the past, when called upon, you
have served this planet well. I will not tolerate misuse of our
home. This is your only warning. There must not be a next time. Do
I make myself clear?

Eli bowed his head.

Eli: Yes.

Suron: A proper punishment will be decided at
a later date.

Suron disappeared back into the trees.

Although Marcus and Uncle Gregg were
incapable of hearing the exchange between Eli and Suron, Eli's
demeanor spoke volumes.

Austin and Julie were shoved into the back of
the helicopter. “Get me out of here,” Luke ordered the pilot once
Vinnie and he were safely aboard.

Austin hugged Julie tightly as the helicopter
rose high into the air. “Someway, somehow, I'm going to get us out
of this,” Austin whispered. He then had an idea. “Jules, if we
jumped from this helicopter... we'd just get hurt, right? But not
die?” Austin asked quietly.

“I... I don't know,” Julie frowned. “I'm not
sure. Neither of us are in a strong state, I don't think it would
be wise to try,” Julie answered.

“Shut up back there!” Luke yelled.

Austin and Julie looked at each other. Julie
shook her head no. She didn't want to chance it. Austin placed a
finger over her lips.

Luke grabbed Julie's arm and pulled her up.
“What did I tell you?” he yelled at her.

“Leave her alone!” Austin shouted and stood
up.

“Sit down and shut up,” Vinnie said and
pushed Austin back down in his seat.

“So, this Doc Eli is one of those crazy-ass
nature guys, huh? Is that the little secret you were trying to
hide?” Luke asked, grabbing her hair and pulling it back. “Let me
guess, you played Jane to his Tarzan,” Luke laughed. “Guess that
makes you Cheeta,” Luke teased Austin.

Austin charged at Luke, grabbing his gun.
Luke pushed Julie to the floor as he struggled with Austin for
control of the firearm.

Vinnie pulled out his gun. Julie reacted by
grabbing his legs and pulling them out from under him. A shot rang
out as he fell to the floor. The bullet hit the instrument panel of
the 'copter, causing it to lose power. “What the hell?!” the pilot
yelled. Vinnie stood up and lunged at Julie, but the helicopter
began spiraling out of control. He lost his balance and fell
backwards out the door of the helicopter. Everyone else dropped to
the floor as the spinning of the machine disoriented its occupants.
The helicopter leaned to one side and Julie slid out the door. She
barely managed to grab a hold of one of the landing skids halting
her descent.

Austin peered over the side and saw Julie
clinging to the skid. He attempted to climb down next to her as
Luke grabbed his ankle. “Let go, Julie! Just let go!” Austin
yelled.

“I can't!” she shouted. Austin kicked Luke in
the face and was able to scramble down to the skid next to
Julie.

“Julie, trust me,” Austin said, wrapping his
arm around her waist. “Let go,” he said once more. Luke peered over
the edge at them. He reached down to grab for Julie. She knew it
was now or never, and finally found the courage to release her
hands and grab a hold of Austin. “Happy landing,” Austin said to
Luke before releasing his own grip on the skid, sending he and
Julie in free fall toward the ground.

Julie and Austin clung tightly to each other,
despite the shearing wind trying to tear them apart. Julie was
surprised that she did not lose consciousness during the fall, but
soon wished she had. They felt branches breaking along with bones
as their bodies traveled through trees. One bounce separated Julie
from Austin. The last thing either of them remembered was their
bodies impacting with the ground.

Chapter Thirteen-- Rescue

Back in the forest

“I'm not giving up on getting her back,”
Uncle Gregg said.

“I know where they are going,” Eli
responded.

An explosion could be heard in the
distance.

Orel: Eli, the helicopter has crashed. Three
bodies were seen falling from it before it hit the Earth.

“Head to the crash,” Eli said and took off in
the trees. Uncle Gregg and the others began running back to their
cars.