Sentilia

I was still frowning when K sat me down in his car, and drove off down the street.

He knew I was waiting for yet another explanation. I never knew what to expect on his part. “I’m taking you to see William.” He smiled a tiny crooked smile.

Now what was this about? He knew how I felt about William, and I also knew how K felt about him. I wasn’t sure what his motivations were, but I couldn’t help feeling slightly guilty after what happened in the cave. However, I didn’t say anything since I really did want to see William. For once, I wasn’t excited to see him in particular, I was just curious to see what I would feel being near him again.

As we drove through the city, I recognized almost every building I saw. The city was exactly as I’d seen it in the dreams, and I was starting to know it pretty well. It all made sense, now; I had seen it through K’s eyes.

The weather was somewhat bright to the north, but it got a lot darker to the south. We were going south, so we were driving towards the darkening clouds and the brisk wind that always came as a pair.

The drive seemed never ending, but we did finally got to his house. Wait. It was Elis’s house. So who owned this house in reality? I realized I’d have to go through the whole questioning process again with William, this time. Why did his parents know about this place? What was he planning to do now that he had found his sister? Would he still show interest in me? Would I ever get a chance to tell him how I really feel? Maybe I would end up with K after all, which almost relieved me. It seemed easier, more natural; all in all it seemed like a safer bet.

I wondered for a second if K was able to influence my thoughts, my feelings in a way that I would fall in love with him. I tried to think about other things at the same time not to awaken suspicion. I had to learn how to intentionally block my thoughts. I knew that it would quickly become my highest priority.

“Actually, Max, you’re able to do it already. A few moments ago, just after thinking about the weather, all I got were thoughts on the dashboard, and I really doubt you had so much to think about of a piece of black carbon. Sorry for prying, by the way.” He had concluded that I was thinking about William, and even if he tried to hide it, I could feel his heart sink. He squeezed his eyes shut for a moment of concentration, and even though I couldn’t exactly read his mind clearly before, when they were open again, I could no longer feel a thing coming from him. I reckoned the more your feelings were intense, the harder they were to hide. All I had to interpret his feelings now was his body language, which I was getting better at reading. I was realizing with time that K might like me more than I’d originally thought. His candidness always downplayed the intensity of any moment.

“You know, there’s a better way to do it than to concentrate on something else. I like to call it radio silence. The other person feels or reads nothing at all; that way you’re less likely to let a thought slip while your concentrating on...the dashboard.”

Then he stepped out of the car and came to open the door for me. I was used to it now. He took my hand and helped me out, and I started forwards. I didn’t hear any other footsteps than mine so I turned my head around only to see K leaning against his car. “Aren’t you coming with me?”

“Um...no. I’ll let you handle this one alone,” he said, with an undertone.

“Okay...” I turned back slowly. Suddenly the huge house seemed intimidating. It reminded me of the calming effect K’s presence had on me.

My hand trembled very lightly as it lifted to turn the handle of the swing door. Would his sister be here? What would I say to her? From the pieces of information I was now scrambling through in my head, she would be the same physically—a beautiful, tall blonde who was a splitting image of her brother—but she probably would not recognize me. I turned to look back at K, but he wasn’t beside his car anymore. I made an unsuccessful attempt not to suspect him of eavesdropping, and wondered from what distance could he read my thoughts. Could he read me through a window, or through a wall? Did he have to look at my face at all? I felt stupid even asking these questions in silence. I pivoted to face the door and jumped when I saw William standing in its place.

His beautiful, inviting smile had me melting at once. My heart thumped in my chest. He gestured me into the house, and my head was swimming in his fresh scent.

I realized I had my answer about the way he made me feel. I didn’t understand it, but I couldn’t control it either. I couldn’t help it. But even throught the whole emotional medley, I was still in a complete state of bliss, and I’d endure it happily for the rest of my life.

I sheepishly smiled at him before taking a look around.

On the inside, it was exactly the same house.

I tilted my head to the side; up on the wall facing the door, there was a small artistic sign that read Welcome to the Colton’s.

I was surprised by the acute annoyance I felt as I deciphered what it meant. Did he, or did he not lie to me about not knowing this place? I walked a pace faster, following him to the living room.

I opened my mouth to speak, but he interrupted before any sound escaped. “I owe you an explanation.” He sighed.

I waited, expectant. “This is my parents’ house. They...grew up here. I was barely a few months old when they went to live with our society.”

Wow...that was not the answer I was expecting. They lived here, even if they weren’t Sentilians?

William continued: “They knew some people from the mainland, so it made it easier for them to blend in. As you saw at my apartment, they never totally adapted; like many others like them.” He knew the obvious question on my mind, and he answered it. “My parents are 100% human. But they were born here. I don’t know why my ancestors lived here, and I don’t know why my parents decided to leave. Anyway, I had no idea about any of this. I’ve just been filled in by some of their ‘friends’.” I could hear the quotation marks on the last word.

“And your sister...”

“Yes, she’s here. She came with this “K” guy. Apparently she had just left on a provision trip when we got here, so I won’t see her—or get any further explanations about all this—until she gets back.”

I stifled the pang of jealousy I couldn’t help feeling when I was reminded she was the only reason he was here. I shook it out of my head.

“Oh, I thought you were with her while I was away...” That’s what K had said.

He hesitated for a split second, and asked: “So...are you...Sentilian?” I guessed he hadn’t been told about me in particular, then.

I collected myself before answering. “Yes,” I whispered, “half.”

It was at that moment that it hit me. In the presence of a human being, reality shocked me. I was an extraterrestrial. I was from another planet. I was not from the same species as William. My ancestors were not born here; this planet was not entirely my home.

But then again, I was different from every human on this planet. Different like I’d always wished to be, like I’d always seemed to be. I had something more; something I could use to my advantage.

For the first time, I tried to read William thoughts.

It was surprisingly easy, probably because I had been sort of practicing on Sentilians. My eyes squinted involuntarily as I concentrated.

I could feel multiple emotions coming from his mind; he was disappointed that I had something more than him. Scared that I would not have any interest in someone normal and boring. Then his thoughts went to K, and he felt spite and jealousy. He was clearly unaware that, to me, it was the other way around. I was happy to have something to hold his interest. My lips twitched before behaving themselves in a straight line.

I continued exploring his mind, wondering momentarily if I was the one imagining all of this.

I could feel a submerging glowing sensation from his whole body when he looked into my eyes. A sentiment of well-being? No, it was stronger than that; it was passion, infatuation. I recognized it only because I felt the same way. I couldn’t lie to myself, it wasn’t as strong as the way I felt about him, but still. His thoughts couldn’t lie, and I felt a thrill up and down my spine. I was sure of what he felt in my presence, but I was still hesitant as I leaned in and took his hand. I could feel his heart accelerating at the same rate as mine—I was still somehow connected to his mind. He then took my hand and placed it on his cheek. It was warm and soft, and it felt exceedingly right.

“I must seem so boring to you, now,” he whispered.

“No. You’ll keep me grounded; you represent what’s normal, you represent my past, my whole life—who I thought I was. I need someone like you to guide me through this new reality. You can be my home, so I never forget who I am, and where I’m from in my heart. Will you do that for me?”

His eyes were lit up as he leaned down deliberately to kiss my cheek, cradling my face with his hands. His lips lingered, and our breaths accelerated. I felt so light-headed, I thought I would actually faint for the first real time—I had to process twice the passion, and twice the nervousness. I lifted one hand to his neck, just as I tilted my head and closed my eyes, I heard an ear-splitting screech coming from right outside the house.