Artificial Heart
21

‘Thank you for picking me up,’ Prisha told her sister as she opened the back door and shoved in her suitcase and camping equipment. She kept Alf’s box sealed as she shoved it in after.

Renee watched her quietly from the front seat, looking pale. Her long hair was pulled up into a messy bun. Her sunglasses were lopsided. Her shorts and t-shirt were rumpled, as though she’d pulled them out of a pile of clothes. She was frowning. ‘You’re going camping again? You think that’s a good idea?’

Prisha shut the door and climbed into the front seat. ‘I have no idea what I’m doing. Let’s get moving.’ Prisha searched the street but it was empty.

Renee pulled away and Prisha watched sadly as her house disappeared into the distance.

’Why couldn’t you drive?’ Renee asked.

‘They know my car and number plate. They’ll follow me.’

‘And they won’t follow me?’

‘Not yet. Maybe. I don’t know. I’ve never done this before.’

‘I can’t believe you, Prish. You’re an utter nutcase.’

‘I know.’

‘How many times?’

‘Four.’

‘And you’re the woman they’re all talking about.’

‘Yes.’

Her sister released a whistling breath. ‘So … what’s going to happen now?’

‘Alf is supposed to come back.’

‘Who?’

‘Alf—the alien.’

’His name is Alf?’

‘No. I called him that. He doesn’t really have a name.’

Renee shook her head. ’Alf. Trust you.’ She shivered. ’Part alien, part machine. This can’t be real. Jesus. Jesus. Jesus. But I don’t understand. What exactly is he doing? Why is he abdtu—taking you?’

‘You mean why am I so damn special?’

‘It’s not funny, Prish. You’re in lots of trouble.’

‘I know.’ She did her best to explain but it sounded confusing even to herself. ‘He wants to help us.’

Renee glanced at her suspiciously as Prisha turned towards her phone and flicked through Alf’s pictures again, keeping it angled away so her sister wouldn’t see.

‘What have you two been up to? What do you both do while on that ship?’

’Lots of things. He takes me places. I’ve been all over the world! He tells me things. He explains about the ship. He … he … does things to me—’

Her sister’s hands jerked on the wheel. Renee peered over her sunglasses at her. ’He does things?’

‘Experiments. With my consent!’ She added quickly when her sister’s hands jerked upon the wheel again. ‘It’s just data collection.’

‘You were in hospital, Prish!’

‘He fixed my heart, Nay. And I feel better. I feel stronger. Whatever he’s doing to me, it’s making me better.’

‘You can’t know his intentions. He took you against your will, Prish.’

They fell silent. Prisha turned towards the window, lips pursed, face burning. What would her sister think if she knew the whole truth?

‘You’re okay, though, right?’ Renee said. ‘You’re not hurt.’

‘No,’ she said, still facing the window. ‘But it might hurt my life.’

Renee asked her more questions as they drove down the highway. It was a clear route, the traffic not too thick. Prisha kept glancing in the rearview mirror, looking out for potential pursuers. Her heart took a nosedive when she saw flashing lights. But the police car zoomed past them.

They were quiet by the time they entered her sister’s suburb. It was a rich area. Lots of large homes with high fences. Lots of trees and parks and wide open spaces. Lots of places to land a spaceship. Renee’s fists were tense around the wheel. She was stiff. She kept darting looks at her when she thought Prisha wasn’t looking.

They turned down her street. Renee spun the wheel, pulling up into her driveway. Prisha was about to open the door when her sister stopped her. ‘What else?’

‘What else what?’

Her sister gave her a sardonic look. ‘I know you, Prish. What else have you been doing?’

‘Nothing. What do you mean?’ Her heart started to beat fast.

‘You like him.’

‘It’s impossible not to like him.’

Her sister pursed her lips. ‘Have you been physical with him?’

‘N-no. What gives you that impression? He’s a frickin alien!’

Her sister was silent. Then, ‘Fucking hell, Prish, you really take it to a new level, don’t you?’

‘I’m telling the truth!’

Her sister’s sardonic look deepened.

Prisha’s cheeks burned. She took up her phone. ‘Do you want to see him?’

Renee’s eyebrows shot up. ‘You have pictures?’

Prisha nodded.

’He let you take pictures?’

‘Why not? He’s got nothing to hide.’

Renee lifted up her sunglasses, dark eyes bright with amazement as she took Prisha’s phone. ‘Jesus.’ She swiped again and again. ‘How many have you got on here?’

’Not too many.

‘Do you know what people would give for these pictures?’

‘I know. Maybe I should sell them.’ She laughed grimly.

‘This is no joke, Prish.’

Prisha snatched her phone back. ‘I think it’s funny.’ She smiled as she swiped through his pictures. Renee was watching her again.

‘What do you think they’re going to do when they replace you?’ Renee asked.

‘God knows. Nothing good.’

‘Let’s go inside. Grab your crap.’

‘Have you told anyone else?’ Renee asked once they were safely inside.

Prisha dragged her “crap” into the spare bedroom. She studied the street through the window, then pulled the curtain closed. ‘I’m not stupid.’

‘You were stupid enough to tell me.’

‘Well, you kind of already knew.’

Her sister dragged her hands down her face. ’I can’t believe this is happening. I must be dreaming. This is just so … ridiculous. What do you expect me to do?’

‘Nothing, Nay. I just want company. And maybe someone to help me hide, if I need to.’

‘Hide where?’

Prisha gestured at the camping gear.

Renee snorted. ‘Be real.’

‘I need Alf. I wish I could contact him.’ She touched the back of her neck with a sigh.

‘Will he know you’re here?’

‘Yes.’

Her sister gazed at Prisha but didn’t ask how.

‘I miss him,’ Prisha said, quickly turning her face away.

‘Maybe you should just tell the police everything. You’re not going to get away.’

‘No.’

‘Why not?’

‘I don’t trust them. Besides,’ she smirked, ‘it might be a little exciting, being on the run.’

Renee snorted. ‘I think you’ve already had enough excitement for a lifetime.’ She held her hand out. ‘Can I have a look at those photos again?’

*

Scott

‘So … what’s the verdict?’ Rick asked upon Scott and Michelle’s entrance into the staff room. ‘Do you think it’s her?’

‘Possibly. Very possibly. She fits the description too perfectly and the dates align,’ Scott said.

‘If any of this is true, of course,’ Michelle said with a roll of her eyes as she sat on the edge of the bench beside the sink. She was looking tired and annoyed.

‘Just do your job. Make sure to email your report ASAP,’ Rick said. ‘They’ve sent me an email, anxious for more information.’

‘What will happen, do you think?’ Scott asked.

‘No idea and it’s not our problem.’ He paused. ‘What’s she like?’

‘Normal,’ he shrugged. ‘I suppose. She wasn’t forthcoming when I first picked her up after her reappearance.’ He gazed at Rick. ‘How could she have been—’ he cleared his throat, embarrassed to say it, embarrassed to think it ‘—abducted without anyone knowing. Surely, someone must have seen something. Other than her sister, I mean.’

Michelle huffed. ‘Use your imagination, Scott. Alien technology could mean anything.’ She laughed and snorted. ’Aliens. What a big fucking joke. How could ASIS be this stupid?’

’Get that report rolling, constable,’ Rick interrupted.

Scott left the room with a nod. Thirty minutes later, it was done and he sent the file away. He stared at his screen, waiting, as though they were going to reply immediately. As though they were going to reply at all. Scott frowned at a twisting sensation in his stomach.

‘Constipated?’

‘What?’ Scott turned towards Michelle as she stood in the doorway of their office. Grinning, she was twisting her police cap between her hands. ‘The look on your face. You look in pain. What’s wrong?’

‘Nothing. Just … thinking.’

‘About that woman?’

He looked at Michelle squarely. ‘Don’t you want to know more?’

Michelle smirked.

‘Right. I forgot you have no imagination,’ he said.

‘I can’t believe you do.’

‘I’m worried about her.’

‘It’s none of your business.’

‘She hasn’t done anything wrong.’

Michelle shrugged. ‘What are you going to do about it?’

Scott turned away without answer.

*

‘Could you stop moping?’

‘I’m not moping.’

‘Mmm hmm. All you do is drag yourself around the house, eating and sleeping and shitting and playing with your damn phone. You’re like a bloody teenager.’

‘Isn’t that what most people do when they’re home? Eating, sleeping and shitting and playing on their phone?’

Renee rolled her eyes as she dropped her handbag onto the bench. ’I’m going to have a shower. Because, you know, I worked.’

‘I work too!’ Prisha called after her as she disappeared into her bedroom.

Prisha smiled at their banter as she flicked through Alf’s photos again. She’d been five days at her sister’s home—and nothing. No police. No weird agents. No aliens. It would probably be another week, or even several weeks, before Alf picked her up again. The thought made her sick to her stomach.

Her sister was right; she was moping.

She couldn’t help it.

She was a teenager—with a Goddamn teenage crush.

Fuck, she missed him.

She would have liked to explore the nearby parks and clearings—but that probably wasn’t a good idea. There are people looking for you. So, she resolved herself with her sister’s large backyard. It was good. At least she could circle the fence and see the stars. But there was not enough room for a spaceship.

And her sister was right again—she couldn’t stop with her phone. Not only because she scrolled through Alf’s photos constantly but because she was searching for the usual rumours and conspiracies. And then there were the comments. What was wrong with her? Why couldn’t she stop reading them? Most were good. Most were plain. But some were downright cruel.

If she were a man, they wouldn’t say such things. The ironic thing was, if she were a man, Alf may never have had the heart to help them in the first place.

If only they knew.

Wednesday night, Prisha stared up at the ceiling, fingers intwined over her chest. Moonlight gleamed in through the window. She was sleeping in Renee’s spare room. It used to be Rebecca’s room (her daughter’s). Still was, by the look of it. Most of the furniture remained. The unicorn statues. The stuffed animals. Her guitar and violin. The bookshelf filled with Goosebumps and Nancy Drews.

It was strange that her sister hadn’t changed it into something different. Like a gym or a games room or even a storage room. It was sad to think that Renee missed her kids that much. Prisha supposed it made sense—her loneliness—particularly after Luke died.

Prisha should have called more often. Hung out with her more. And now she was taking advantage of her. Putting her into a position that might prove to be dangerous.

There are people looking for you.

Renee rolled onto her side and gazed through the window. It was a clear night, the moon bright, the stars twinkling. The crickets were louder here. There were even frogs. She thought about Scott and the police woman, wondering if they believed her at all or were just simply doing their job.

Prisha rubbed the back of her neck with a wince. She rolled over onto her other side and shut her eyes. Her eyes snapped open again at another annoying prickling. Sitting up with a start, she slapped a hand to the back of her neck. She whipped off her blanket and looked through the window, heart hammering. She could see some of the street. It was quiet. Late. There was a coolness to their air now that made Prisha shiver. Autumn was quickly closing in.

At another prickle, she hurriedly got changed, throwing on a light jumper this time. She slid her phone into her pocket. She paused briefly as she entered the hall, staring down towards her sister’s room. Her door was closed. Prisha rocked on her heels. She should wake her up, inform her that she was leaving. She could be gone days. But she couldn’t make herself move her feet. Instead, she quickly hunted around for a pen and scrawled on the notepad stuck to the fridge.

Don’t worry. I’m with Alf. Be back soon. Smiley face.