Out of This World (18 page)

“What?” said Nivek in disbelief. “Of course. How could it be otherwise?”

Zachary nodded. At least now he knew what he was up against. Nivek had good reason not to trust him. He had to find a way to open his mind to the idea that worlds existed on which creatures from different species cooperated, or at the very least left each other in peace.

Zachary thought about it longer, and decided that convincing the alien to trust him over the next few days was his only chance. Even if he could escape, which would take a miracle, without being able to see he was as good as dead. Nivek had said everything on this world was different than on his: including the native animals. This had confirmed Zachary’s worst fear: there were definitely bats and other creatures in this cave. He and Jenna just hadn’t run across any yet.

“Jenna!”
he whispered in horror.

He had been relieved when he had caused Nivek to release her, thinking he had saved her from certain death. But just the
opposite
was true.

He suddenly found it impossible to breathe as fear for his sister constricted his throat like a massive python.

He
could count on protection from Nivek, at least for now, but Jenna was alone and helpless. He pictured a living sea of alien bats descending on her like fanged locusts, tearing her to ribbons. The vision was so real he almost collapsed to the ground in grief. “We have to go back for my sister,” he croaked. “Right now!”

“Oh really? And why is that?”

“Because she’s totally
helpless
. She’s at the mercy of the bats and other cave creatures.” The absolute panic in his voice was unmistakable. “
Please.
I’m
begging
you. We have to go back for her.”

“Nice performance,” said Nivek with a smirk. “But you don’t think you can lead me into a trap that easily, do you? You know as well as I do that there aren’t any bats or other animals within ten miles of here. They all live near the cave entrance.”

Zachary’s eyes lit up. Nivek was telling the truth. He was sure of it. Which meant that Jenna was definitely still alive, and in no immediate danger. Right now she was probably travelling the relatively short distance back to the Glow-tree they had been near when Nivek had snatched them.

Zachary’s suffocating panic melted away, and he took a deep, relieved breath. “That’s fantastic!” he said. “But I
didn’t
know that. I don’t have any idea where I am, or where the entrance is. My sister and I arrived here just like you did, very close to where you found us.”

Nivek didn’t respond.

The cave became utterly silent, making the darkness even more unsettling. Zachary knew he had to find a way to gradually open Nivek’s mind to the idea that he wasn't dangerous and didn't mean him any harm. He began to describe Earth, and everything he and Jenna had gone through since the portal had first appeared under their parents. After several hours of this, he was finally able to get Nivek to open up a little also. Nivek passionately described his home world and Zachary grew to believe that he was probably a decent . . . being. Zachary felt sorry for him. Nivek hadn't asked to fall through the portal and leave his world, and everyone and everything he knew, behind. If anyone could understand what he was going through, Zachary could.

Finally, Nivek announced that he would be taking a nap. Although he was slightly less suspicious than he had been, Zachary knew he still had a long way to go to gain the alien’s trust.

Zachary heard his captor sit down against the cave wall at the end of the rock bridge. The location of Nivek’s gleaming eyes changed also, verifying his position. His eyes were all that Zachary could see—and only then just barely.

“Remember,” said Nivek. “I'm a light sleeper. So don't think for a second you can grope your way across the bridge before I wake up. You don't have a chance.”

“Don't worry. I'm not going anywhere. Enjoy your nap.”

Nivek’s breathing became regular and he was soon asleep.

Zachary had been fascinated by Nivek’s ability to see clearly in the dark and during their discussion he had learned why the cave dweller didn't have any eyelids. His eyes were always open, even during sleep. Not only did they gather light, like a telescope, but they also stored it, like a battery. This was the reason they glowed faintly. Zachary couldn't even imagine what it would be like to sleep with his eyes open.

As Nivek slept, Zachary continued thinking about how to convince him he was friendly, trying to ignore the ocean of darkness and the sound of his own heart pounding far more loudly in his ears than should have been possible.

The absolute darkness was suffocating his spirit. It would be such a relief to see again.
Anything
. Just to believe he still could. Perhaps the faint light given off by Nivek’s eyes would be enough. His own eyes had adjusted as much as human eyes could to the dark, and would now pick up light with greater sensitivity than ever before.

He took out the purple crystal in his pocket—the language transformer that had served them so well. Perhaps the small amount of light would reflect off its glassy surface and be amplified. If he could only see the crystal, at least this would be a start. He strained as hard as he could, but he couldn’t see it, even when he held it just a few inches from his face.

He continued staring at the crystal in his hand, as though through the power of his will alone he could force his eyes to see it.

Zachary gasped as an image appeared in his head. Not of the crystal, but of him and Nivek in the cave, as though seen from above and in perfect lighting.

The scene disappeared an instant later.

Had it even been real? Or was his desire to be able to see so strong that his mind had fooled itself into believing he could see the entire area, and even himself? As if he were having an out-of-body experience.

He tried to capture the image in his head once again, but failed. He could bring back its memory, but the memory was just the shadow of the crisp image that had appeared for just a fraction of a second. Or at least that he
thought
had appeared. But maybe not. Darkness and fear were probably driving him mad.

He heard a faint shuffle in the distance.
What was that?
His mind was playing even more tricks on him.

No, there it was again.

A chill shot up his spine. Nivek had said there were no other creatures in this part of the cave. Was he wrong, after all? Should Zachary awaken him for protection? Or was his mind snapping like a dry twig under the strain and the darkness.

Zachary strained to see, but of course it did him no good. But wait. Now he
could
see something. A faint halo of light coming closer. Light?

Closer. Closer.

It was Jenna
.

She was slowly, stealthily, walking across the narrow stone bridge.

He stifled a gasp. She was trying to rescue him. And it was her hair that was glowing.

Her hair?

And then he realized what she had done. She had crushed hundreds of the tiny glowing leaves from the miniature trees they had discovered and put them in her hair. Her hair glowed ever so faintly, just enough so she could see a few feet in front of her.

She was barefoot so she would make less noise. One tennis shoe was tied by its laces around her waist and the other was tied like a necklace around her neck. A sock was stuffed inside the shoe hanging from her neck, and the end of the sock brushed against her chin. She wore an expression of total concentration and determination.

Jenna had come back for him
. What bravery.

When she was a few yards closer he would be able to see well enough to move toward her, and together they could return to the other side of the bridge. With the light from her hair guiding the way, they could escape Nivek and attempt to find a way out of the cave. Zachary held his breath as she moved steadily closer.

Nivek bolted awake
.

One moment Zachary heard him rise and the next he saw him on the bridge, outlined in his sister's faintly glowing halo, with both tentacles wrapped tightly around her. He was amazingly quick. Turning his face away from Jenna, Nivek used the tip of one of his tentacles to quickly rub her hair until all of the leaves fell out, once again leaving them in total darkness.

“Is this sneak attack an example of how I can trust you, Zachary the Human?” he growled. “This is proof of your treachery. She is here to kill me in my sleep. And just when I was starting to believe you when you said you meant me no harm.”

“But you don't understand—” began Zachary.

“Silence!” roared Nivek in fury. “No more talk. You’ve both just signed your death warrants!” he said with finality.

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

Light

“I don’t think so,” said Jenna defiantly.

Nivek had a firm grip around her arms, but in one quick motion she lowered her chin and clamped her teeth onto the sock that was stuffed into her shoe. She yanked her head back, pulling the sock plug completely out. Inside the shoe she had crammed thousands upon thousands of tiny leaves, collected from dozens of Glow-trees, and their combined glow produced the illumination of a dim light bulb.

Nivek screamed in agony.

The sudden light was painful to the humans, but to Nivek, a being whose eyes were thousands of times more sensitive to light, the brightness was blinding, overloading his eyes and causing searing pain. Worse still, the alien didn’t have any eyelids to close to protect his eyes. He let go of Jenna and dived backwards to get away from the light.

And he missed the bridge.

He began plummeting toward the cavern floor far below. He was just able to reach up as he fell and grab onto the bridge with four suction cups on the very tip of one of his tentacles. He continued moaning in pain, even as he struggled to cling to the bridge.

Jenna looked down at the struggling creature triumphantly.
She had done it
. She had defeated this monster. She had found the one weapon that wasn't effective against a blind person but was very effective against a creature who could see: a bright, blinding light in the eyes. She had figured out how to turn the creature’s strength—its vastly superior night-vision—against it. She had
wanted
it to catch her. That was part of her plan. She needed it to be close enough so the surprise package of light in her shoe would have its maximum effect.

And it had. She had sprung her trap flawlessly.

The creature was at their mercy now. Two of the four suction cups holding it on had come free with a loud pop. In only seconds now it would complete its fall.

As soon as Zachary’s eyes adjusted to the light coming from his sister’s shoe he dashed forward and knelt down on the bridge above where Nivek was clinging.

“What are you doing?” said Jenna. “Come on Zack! Get up and let's go!”

He ignored her. Instead, Jenna watched in disbelief as her brother reached down and grabbed the thing's tentacled arm and pulled with all his strength.

“Jen, help me!” he shouted. “Quick! We have to save him!”

Jenna’s eyes widened in shock.
Zachary wanted the creature saved? The same creature that had promised to kill them?

“Jenna!” yelled Zachary. “
Hurry!
”

Jenna knew she had no time for questions. She had to trust her brother. She quickly bent down to help him. Together they were able to pull Nivek enough of the way up that he could reach up with his other tentacle and pull himself the rest of the way onto the bridge.

He laid on the ledge, panting from exertion, as Zachary hastily removed Jenna's shoe from around her neck and covered the opening with his hand to block the light.

“Are you okay?” asked Zachary.

Still grimacing in pain, Nivek nodded. There was a long silence as he regained his breath. “Your sister’s weapon blinded me. I don't know if I'll ever see again.” His eyes had absorbed a considerable amount of light and were glowing more brightly than ever.

“Yeah, well, sorry about that,” said Jenna, not sounding at all sorry. “But you attacked
us
. And I thought you meant to hurt my brother.”

“Actually . . . I did,” admitted Nivek. “I can’t blame you for what you did. And I’m the one who’s sorry. Your brother saved my life,” he said in amazement. “After I kidnapped and threatened him. I never would have believed it. He was being honest after all. You are
not
my enemies.” Nivek paused. "Thank you, Zachary the Human.”

“You’re very welcome,” said Zachary with a smile. "Jenna—meet Nivek. He's from a cave world and came here by accident. His world is like Tular's; extremely dangerous. He isn't really a bad . . . guy. He just thought we were out to get him.”

“I’m sorry for what I did to you and your brother, Jenna,” said Nivek. “On my world we learn from a very young age that
everything
is dangerous. But this isn’t my world. I should have taken that into account.”

Zachary nodded. They had somehow managed to dodge yet another bullet. “Well, now that we're past that awkward stage of our relationship—you know, where we both try to kill each other—maybe we can work together.”

Nivek agreed.

Zachary considered what to do from here. Nivek needed total darkness again if he was to fully recover—if a full recovery was even possible. Zachary was still blocking the light from exiting Jenna’s shoe with his hand, but he had had more than enough of total darkness.

“Nivek,” he said, “I have an idea. I need to talk to my sister, and you need to recover in total darkness. So I think we should take our Glow leaves into the next section of cave for a while. We’ll come back in an hour to see how your recovery is going. Would that be okay?”

“That is a wise idea, Zachary. The farther those leaves are away from me, the better, as you guessed.” He paused. “And Jenna the Human, congratulations for defeating me in battle. I had never before imagined that so much light could be stored in such a small space. The power of your shoe-weapon was astonishing. And your strategy of using yourself as bait to draw me close was truly impressive. You are almost totally helpless physically, and yet you beat me. Because of this, you should know you are the finest warrior I have ever known.”