Edna


    "Menno, drive the vehicle to the designated area." Tekita instructed.


    One of the aliens with pointed ears and shing green eyes stepped out.


    He nodded and took the keys from Kain.


    "We should be able to reach the capital tomorrow. It would be a few hours journey from this ce." Kain said.


    "Yes. Our nonstop ride saved time." Tekita replied.


    "I can see money smiling at me." Kainmented.


    "Me too." Tekita smiled.


    His eyes twinkled.


    The inn we stopped at was big.


    It was a storied building. It had three floors.


    An old signboard hung above the huge door leading to the interior of the inn.


    The writing on the signboard had faded and it was hard to read the correct words. The area around the inn was remote.


    There was no houses or other establishments around. We were in the desert.


    The only thing here was sand and more sand.


    Thankfully, we had always been in the vehicle. We didn''t encounter any mishaps.


    When Kain mentioned this desert previously, I thought we would encounter misfortune surely.


    I am d that we were safe.


    I don''t think I can muster any strength to fight an unknown beast.


    Tekita walked in. Kain was behind him.


    The humans followed and the two other aliens were at the rear.


    The first floor of the inn had arge lobby. There was a sleepy receptionist behind the counter. Tekita went straight to the counter.


    "We would like to book a room." Tekita said.


    The sleepy receptionist straightened her posture and stared at our group with hooded eyes.


    "How many rooms? Do you need food and hot water?" She asked.


    "We would like to book tworge rooms. If the two rooms are side by side, it would be a bonus. I want food for this night only and there is no need for hot water." Tekita exined.


    "Okay." Thedy said.


    She opened a draw below the counter and brought two keys out.


    She slid the keys towards Tekita.


    "The two rooms are side by side. Since food is included, your total billes to 300 pinkas." Thedy said.


    Tekita didn''t waste any time.


    His hand dug into his pockets.


    He brought three crumpled bills out andid it on the counter.


    "Your fee." He pushed it to her.


    Thedy put the money away.


    "Your keys have the room number inscribed on it. Room 1 to 10 is on the second floor. Your rooms are on the top floor. The room doors also have numbers on them." Thedy sighed before leaning her weight on her chair. She went back to her sleeping position without adding any extra actions.


    Tekita''s eyes scanned the room.


    The stairs leading to the upper floors was near the lobby.


    Tekita didn''t make a move for a while.


    Finally, Menno, the alien that was sent to park the vehicle walked into the inn.


    Since the person he was waiting for was here, Tekita stopped waiting in the lobby.


    Tekita brought us to our floor.


    "Take the key." Tekita said to me with an half-smile on his lips, "I believe none of you would try to escape again. The next result of a failed escape won''t be light punishments alone, I will destroy you."


    A chill ran down my spine when his threats graced my ears.


    I ignored the chill and received the key.


    Tekita walked to the room beside me and opened the door. He and his group entered the room.


    The sound of the door closing broke the silence hanging over the human team.


    I inserted the key into keyhole and opened the door.


    All the humans present filed in.


    I closed the door.


    There was arge bed at the center of the room.


    A smaller mattress was on the floor beside the bed.


    "So, how are we going to do this now? I don''t really care about the arrangements. All I know is that I am not sleeping next to Habiba. I don''t want her to stab me in my sleep. She''s capable of something like that and more." Yulia snorted. Her arms were folded across her chest.


    I understood her concerns.


    Yulia was like a little firecracker. She didn''t permit the little grain of sand in her eyes at all. Habiba was a grain of sand in her eye.


    Habiba rolled her eyes.Content held by N?velDrama.Org.


    "You guys shoulde off this! You nned to abandon me in the first ce, why are you ming me for dragging you along with me?" Habiba questioned.


    She folded her arms too.


    There was a hint of grievance hidden in her eyes.


    Humans are social beings.


    Ignoring Habiba would have an effect on her. I can''t me the others too.


    Because of Habiba, a good escape failed.


    I am the kind of person that tries not to care about my impression in other people''s eyes and mind. Even with this, I don''t want to be ignored.


    The humans present were the only familiar people I know.


    The other people in this are aliens.


    No one would expect to share the woes and pains of the human race with aliens. It is highly likely that they would not understand.


    "I told everyone before. You have to try your best. If you get caught, it is on you!" Yulia argued as she red at Habiba.


    I rubbed my brows, "Yulia, Habiba, enough! Instead of arguing, we should get quality rest. The situation in the capital is unknown and probably dangerous, we should try to keep the infighting to the minimum." "You are right." Yulia sighed as she let her arms fall to her side, "I still don''t want to sleep next to her though."


    "Yulia!" I said, "I will sleep next to Habiba and you would sleep next to me. Gianna would be near you. Thedies should sleep on the smaller mattress. The ratio of the females to the males is substantial." "Alright, I''ve heard you." Yulia put her arms up in yful surrender.


    Habiba didn''t say anything.


    A gloomy air enveloped her.


    My forehead ached.


    I don''t know what she expected. Did she think the humans she betrayed would wee her into their midst with open arms after what she did?


    Even with the pity I felt for her, I can''t trust her with anything again. The people I can give my trust to in this human group are few.


    "Habiba, you acted rashly. When you called for help, I was already on my way back. I thought both of us would be able the keep up with the group after measuring my speed. I did not expect your next action." I exined.


    "I didn''t know. I thought you guys abandoned me. I didn''t want to take the punishment for our collective actions alone. I am not a saint." Habiba muttered.


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    I was not a saint too.


    Still, I don''t think I can do what Habiba did.


    "Thank you." Habiba said.


    She walked straight to the mattress.


    She choose the side of the mattress that bordered therge bed.


    Yulia didn''t move.


    The other humans didn''t chip in.


    Yulia voiced the thoughts in their hearts though. Anybody that ims they were not resentful of Habiba''s move was lying with their eyes open.


    I walked to the bed.


    I was ready to get more rest.


    Suddenly, the ground shook.


    My mind strayed to the earthquake on earth.


    My heart skipped a beat.


    What is happening again?


    Yulia tensed and the others went into wary mode immediately.


    The ground kept shaking violently.


    Habiba stood up.


    Something hit the door to our room.


    The door shook and dust spilled everywhere.


    We stared at the door.


    The unknown assant behind the door hit it again.


    This time, the door failed to stop the hit.


    The wooden door shattered and red vines rushed into the room.


    A nce at the scene outside the broke door revealed mayhem.


    Vines were everywhere.


    The guests in the inn was battling against the vines. Tekita and the other aliens started using their superpowers to repel the carnivorous vines.


    The red color the vine carried signified danger.


    Some kind of mutant nt was attacking us.