Chapter 3: Lost in thought

Chapter 3: Lost in thought

The classroom buzzes with the low hum of murmured conversations and the scrape of chairs on linoleum.

Tessa sits at the back, her head down, pencil in hand, tracing familiar patterns along the edge of her notebook. To anyone glancing her way, she's just another student, lost in thought, maybe daydreaming. But for Tessa, every mark on the paper is a memory of her home, a place so far away it sometimes feels like a dream.

The shapes she sketches are symbols of her past, the world of the Kaelries—an alien race almost indistinguishable from humans, except for one small, concealed difference.

It's in these quiet moments, surrounded by the smell of chalk and old textbooks, that Tessa feels the most alone.

The sound of Ms. Caldwell's voice droning on about human history fills the room, but Tessa hears little of it. Her mind drifts to memories of her home planet, the freedom she once had, and the simplicity of existing without having to hide.

She remembers swimming for hours in the serene, deep waters of her world, unbothered by the weight of secrecy. But now, every moment feels like a balancing act, every breath carefully calculated to maintain her disguise.

"Can anyone tell me why the Roman Empire fell?" Ms. Caldwell's voice cuts through Tessa's reverie, pulling her back to the present. The question is met with a brief pause as the class hesitates. It's a simple question for some, a regurgitation of facts and dates from a textbook for a few, but for Tessa, the knowledge is instinctive. She knows every event, every detail, not because she studied it, but because she can remember everything she's ever read, down to the exact page.

She keeps her eyes low, avoiding Ms. Caldwell's gaze, hoping someone else will answer, but the classroom remains quiet, the other students unsure or unwilling to speak up.

Tessa knows what's coming before it happens.

"Tessa," Ms. Caldwell calls, her voice calm but with a hint of something more. "Why do you think the Roman Empire fell?"

Tessa's fingers tighten around her pencil. She has become adept at answering questions without drawing too much attention, but it's never easy. Slowly, she lifts her head, meeting Ms. Caldwell's eyes briefly before glancing around the room. "The Roman Empire collapsed because of a combination of internal weaknesses, such as political corruption, economic troubles, and overexpansion," she begins, her voice steady. "There was also pressure from external forces like barbarian invasions. The empire became too vast to manage, and its leaders couldn't address the growing problems. The fall was inevitable."

Ms. Caldwell nods, satisfied with the answer, but Tessa notices the subtle look of recognition in her teacher's eyes. Ms. Caldwell knows there's more to her than meets the eye. She has known for some time now.

As the class continues, Tessa feels a pair of eyes on her, different from the curious gazes of her classmates. She looks up cautiously, her heart skipping a beat when she spots Mr. Rudbick standing just outside the classroom window. His dark, calculating eyes are fixed on her, watching with an intensity that makes her skin crawl. He's been lurking around the school more frequently, always nearby, always observing.

Mr. Rudbick works for the Special Security Group (SSG), a government agency tasked with uncovering extraterrestrial threats.

At first, Tessa thought his presence was a coincidence, but it didn't take long for her to realize he was here for her. He suspects something, though he doesn't know the full truth yet. But with each passing day, she feels his net closing around her.

Ms. Caldwell continues her lecture, but Tessa can't focus. Her mind races as she wonders what Mr. Rudbick has already uncovered. His son, James, is in her class, and though she's been careful, it's hard to remain invisible when you possess abilities that no human could.

Tessa forces herself to look away from the window, her gaze returning to her notebook. She pretends to be engrossed in her notes, but the weight of Mr. Rudbick's stare is suffocating. He's watching, waiting for her to slip up, to reveal what she truly is.

After class, the bell rings, and the students shuffle out of the room, eager for their next break. Tessa lingers behind, knowing what's coming. She senses Ms. Caldwell's eyes on her, and sure enough, her teacher speaks up.

"Tessa, could I see you for a moment?"

The classroom empties, leaving the two of them alone. Tessa reluctantly approaches Ms. Caldwell's desk, her stomach churning with unease. She knows Ms. Caldwell has figured out more than she lets on. Ever since the incident in gym class months ago, when Tessa's body had moved in ways no human body should, Ms. Caldwell had been watching her closely.

"Tessa," Ms. Caldwell begins, her voice soft but serious. "You've been careful, but not careful enough. People are starting to notice."

Tessa's heart races, her mind flashing back to that day in gym class. She had let her guard down during a flexibility exercise, her body twisting too far, too effortlessly. Ms. Caldwell had seen it, and since then, there had been no escaping her scrutiny.

"I don't know what you mean," Tessa replies, though her voice betrays her. She knows exactly what Ms. Caldwell means.

Ms. Caldwell sighs, leaning back in her chair. "You don't need oxygen to survive, do you?"

The question cuts through the air like a knife, sharp and direct. Tessa's breath catches in her throat. She feels a chill run down her spine, her instincts screaming at her to deny everything, to run. But Ms. Caldwell's knowing eyes tell her it's too late for lies.

Tessa remains silent, her hands clenching at her sides. Ms. Caldwell stands, walking around her desk until she's face to face with Tessa. There's no malice in her eyes, only concern. "I've seen the way you move. The way you can hold your breath longer than anyone else. The way you seem to always know the answers, no matter the subject. You're not like the other students, and I don't think you're like any other human, either."

Tessa swallows hard, her mind racing. She's been so careful, so cautious. But Ms. Caldwell has seen through her disguise.

"I promised I wouldn't tell anyone," Ms. Caldwell says, her voice softening. "And I'll keep that promise. But there's someone else who's getting suspicious."

"Mr. Rudbick," Tessa whispers, her voice barely audible.

Ms. Caldwell nods. "He's been watching you, and I'm afraid he's starting to put the pieces together. His son, James, has been talking about you at home. He's noticed things too. And Mr. Rudbick is not the kind of man who lets things go. If he finds out what you are…"

Tessa's stomach drops. She knows exactly what would happen if Mr. Rudbick discovers her secret. The SSG doesn't take kindly to extraterrestrial life. If they catch her, they'll treat her like a threat, an anomaly to be studied and contained. She's seen what they've done to others of her kind.

Her mind flashes to memories of her friends, fellow Kaelries who had come to Earth with her. Cale, Mari, Kion—they had all been captured, hunted down by humans who saw them as a danger. They were powerful, but they had a weakness: salt. Humans had discovered it, and they had used it to devastating effect. Tessa had watched in horror as her friends were taken, one by one, their bodies weakened and destroyed by something so simple.

Now, she's the last of her kind, the only Kaelrie left on Earth. And if Mr. Rudbick finds out…

Tessa clenches her fists, her mind racing. "What do I do?"

Ms. Caldwell sighs, placing a hand on Tessa's shoulder, a rare gesture of comfort. "You need to be more careful. You can't afford to slip up again. But more than that, you need to decide how far you're willing to go to stay hidden."

Tessa bites her lip, her thoughts a whirlwind of fear and uncertainty. She had come to Earth to blend in, to live quietly among humans, but now that life is slipping away. Every day, the walls are closing in around her. Mr. Rudbick is watching her, waiting for the moment she makes a mistake.

Outside the window, Tessa catches a glimpse of Mr. Rudbick again, loitering in the hallway. His eyes scan the students as they pass by, but Tessa knows his attention is fixed on her. He's waiting for the moment she slips, for the moment her alien nature betrays her.

"I won't let him catch me," Tessa whispers, her voice firm.

Ms. Caldwell's eyes soften. "I believe you. But you have to be ready for anything."

Tessa nods, though inside, she's filled with dread. She knows what's at stake. She's seen what happens when humans discover the truth. The Kaelries are powerful, but they aren't invincible. They have weaknesses, and humans are ruthless when they find them.

As Tessa leaves the classroom, the weight of her secret feels heavier than ever. The world is closing in on her, and Mr. Rudbick is getting closer. She knows her time is running out.

"Tessa!" "Tessa!" A calming voice like a stream of water sounds out from somewhere before her, pulling her out of her thoughts. She had been day dreaming about the day Ms Caldwell found out about her secret, and because of that, she didn't pay attention for the entirety of the class session.

"Tessa, are you okay?" Ms Caldwell asked with a tone full of concern. She had discovered the absent minded state of Tessa in recent days, ever since her race on the tracks

"I am fine, but can I use the bathroom?" Tessa asked politely to which Ms Caldwell nodded after staring at her for a short while and reluctantly giving her consent.

Tessa gets up and moves hurriedly to leave the class, only to come face to face with those eyes that brought dread to her very soul.