The garden was much more appealing than any study. After being imprisoned for so long at St.

Christi’s and then while aboard the alien ship, Casina hungered for any part of nature she could get. The fresh, breathable air, the flowers, the chance to exercise without being confined or followed around by somebody was preferable by far.

She was careful on this particular exploratory to avoid any other aliens...or humans, for that matter. She wanted nothing to interfere with this, her first real taste of freedom in years. At least the aliens had allowed her that much, regardless of their real reasons for bringing her to their galaxy. Being alone made it easier for her to find a possible way to escape them and return home. She certainly had no reason to stay.

When she was several hundred feet from the building, she turned to observe the unusual alien structure that belonged to Kaanig Altair, a so-called galactic ruler. She shook her head, still unable to believe that any one man could rule an entire planet, much less a galaxy. Hogwash, she finally decided. There was nothing as impossible as that.

Still, the place was indescribable. Gigantic, in fact. It was palatial in all aspects that she could see and briefly considered how nice a tour might be, if she didn’t escape before then. The place was breathtaking and impressive, to say the least. She had no idea what alien architecture entailed, but she was certain that this one place was a prime example of alien ingenuity and design. Especially since it appeared to be built into the sloping sides of a mountain. The most awesome part of the entire structure was the huge dome on the roof of one of the tallest buildings. Of cut glass, it sparkled in the sunlight and sprayed prismatic streams of colored lights off in every direction. It was beautiful, and she stared up at it in wonder, never having seen anything like it.

The outer walls of the structure were of an odd material. They appeared white yet muddled with blue, like clouds, and seemed to move, to ripple in the breeze. The structure was almost transparent, yet Casina could not see through it as she thought she should be able to. Shaking her head in disbelief, she gaped at it a moment longer before moving away.

The sun was warm on her face, the breeze gentle and caressing as it stirred her hair, still damp and clinging from her bath. Turning, she surveyed the landscape, her heart bordering on the edge of excitement as she peered about.

She decided on a casual walk and soon came alongside the tall serpentine wall. Curious at what lay beyond it, she was quick to locate a nearby tree. As she easily shimmied up the full-branched poplar, she recalled how together she and Jimmy once did the same.

Fortunately, the simple dress she now wore did not confine her in any way. The matching pink slippers were comfortable and easily accommodated her footholds along the tree trunk and branches.

Once near the top, she glanced behind her, making sure she was alone, before straining to see through the thick leaves and over the stone wall, unprepared for the sight that greeted her. Her heart skipped a beat at sight of the astounding landing strip spread out before her, about a mile in the distance, along the wide, flat plain high above the scenic valleys below. It was covered with varioussized and -shaped space vessels, as well as several hundred aliens. All were walking about, busily performing work activities, loading ships and what looked like large trucks, or merely standing about as several ships were being repaired or maintained. Other vessels were darting on and off the landing pads at amazing speeds. As she scanned the moving dots and vessels, Casina’s mouth hung slack, for she was completely awed by the scene. She peered overhead, suddenly aware that spaceships were flying over the palace. She hadn’t noticed them before and realized it was because they were soundless while in flight. That, too, was astonishing.

Realizing her opportunity, she wasted no time. Standing, she moved to balance along one of the firmer branches that boldly hung out over the wall. Grinning because the aliens hadn’t had the foresight to trim back the tree branches to prevent her escape, she carefully eased herself atop the thick wall.

She stared at the field below, sparsely covered with brush, weeds, and wildflowers, estimating it was a good ten foot drop or more, when a memory suddenly jolted her.

* * * *

The barn was pitch black. All she heard upon entering were sounds of the wind soughing through the cracks of the sadly-in-need-of-repair roof overhead and the sobbing of a young boy from the hayloft.

“Jimmy?” She aimed her flashlight overhead, flicking it across the hay bales piled there, and waited. After a moment, she heard the hay rustling.

“Here,” came the familiar, trembling voice.

Without hesitation, Casina moved to climb the wooden ladder leading to the loft, with a blanket and jacket over her arm and some plastic food containers in the crook of it.

“Cas?”

“Yeah, it’s me,” his sister responded, shining the light over him when she reached the top. It broke her heart every time she had to see her eight-year-old brother shivering in the dark, huddled alone in the hayloft. “Here, take these.” She held out her hand so he could remove the containers and set them aside. Climbing into the loft, she settled herself beside him in the hay.

“I’m glad you brought a jacket.”

“I have a comforter for you, too. Here, stand up.”

Rising, Jimmy remained quiet as she helped him into the jacket then wrapped the comforter about him, hugging him a moment until he stopped shivering.

“What was the reason this time?” she asked, still mothering him.

Jimmy shrugged. “Oh, you know. The usual. I took a few minutes out to play with Jaspar before chores. Only...Only, Norman caught me. Told me if I liked him so much that I should sleep in the barn with him for a few days, to see if he was worth keeping around.”

“I’m so sorry,” Casina said, trying to steady her own voice. The outrage she felt toward her foster father was all-consuming, and his cruelty toward them, especially toward Jimmy, had grown worse every day. Only a corrupt person would make a small child sleep alone in a cold, drafty barn in the middle of a New York winter, all because of a kitten.

She gave Jimmy another squeeze, before directing him to sit. “Here now,” she said, trying to remain upbeat. “Let’s get you something to eat. I’ve brought some leftovers, since they kept you from dinner, too. I even brought you a big piece of apple crumb pie. The best I’ve ever made, if I do say so myself.” She smiled to herself in the darkness, as she opened the containers and handed him a fork. “Sorry I couldn’t bring you a glass. You’ll have to drink the milk from the container.”

“That’s okay,” Jimmy responded, his tone brightening. She kept the light on him so he could see what he was doing.

“I’ve brought your homework, too,” she said, pulling forth the backpack she had slung over her shoulder. “Come daybreak, I’ll help you get it done. But then I’ll have to return to the house before the Zacks wake up, so I can get breakfast on. I’ll try and save you some for later.”

“Are you going to...stay with me...tonight?” he managed between starved gulps of food.

“Yes. I’ll remain awake most of the time so you can sleep, then I’ll be sure to get you up come sunrise. We can’t let the Zacks know I’m out here.”

“I know,” the boy said, sadness evident in his tone. “But it’s so much better having you here with me, Cas. There...there’s rats up here.”

“I know, sweetie. That’s why I’m here,” she told him, trying not to shudder at the thought. “But I won’t let anything harm you.”

Later, after he was settled in, Casina snuggled next to her brother, keeping a protective arm about him as she shifted to a more comfortable position beneath the hay. She would have done anything to be in her own warm bed, but she knew she would never allow her brother to suffer as he was.

Bugs or rats, come hell or high water, she was going to suffer with him, regardless of what the Zacks thought of it. No matter how frightened she was either. She had to remain brave, for Jimmy‘s sake. If only they could find a way to escape...

* * * *

Casina gave herself an abrupt shake to clear her head of her painful memories, then stood there a moment, brushing away a stray tear, before again making sure no one was around. When she saw the way clear, she sat down atop the wall, breathed a quick prayer for safety, then shoved herself off of it. She landed with a painful thud in the tall weeds and thorny bristles bordering the wall. Grimacing at the stabbing pain of new cuts and bruises, she lay there a moment, trying to recover. The fall had knocked the breath out of her. But, thankfully, she had survived it.

Now, if she was fortunate, she might be able to make it to an unattended spaceship before anyone even discovered her missing.