Clone Earth : MELVIN

The pool of red blood mixed in snow and dirt was proof enough that a body, a dead body, had been there. Ari scratched her head, scanning the street for footprints or any obvious hiding spots where she might have been dragged. Footprints and claw marks scattered in every direction. Even an expert tracker would find it impossible to discern where her body had gone.

In the end, Robie and Lutz didn’t get a chance to ask Ari about what had happened. The street was swarmed by uniformed officials mere seconds after they arrived. They roped off the corpses and set up blockades. No one questioned who took down the creatures; even if they did, Ari wondered if they would believe her explanation. She decided they wouldn’t and allowed herself to be pulled along by Robie and Lutz.

“Let’s try and keep you off the radar,” Lutz said quietly, ushering her down the sidewalk until they came upon a crowd of civilians.

Ari looked down and realized how much of the girl’s blood had coated her own clothing. Robie’s sister’s coat was ruined. The mud and wet spots muted the crimson color of blood, but the sight was still unsettling. “I guess I don’t look very good, huh?”

“I’m positive you’ve looked better,” Robie said, trying to lighten the thick tension. Ari didn’t quite laugh, but she did feel a little less distressed. In response, she nodded and sat down on the nearest curb.

“I’ll stick here with her. You go,” Robie said, and Lutz quickly agreed. Robie quietly sat down beside her, and together they watched as civilians were shuffled from one place to another. Ari recognized a few from the cafe, but none of them seemed to remember her. She noted their looks of distress and confusion, suggesting none of them had experienced these creatures before. They’re not of this world, the thought came to her as she sighed. They should not be of any world, but they are.

A faint remnant of a name floated across Ari’s memory. It was one she had spoken before. It was strange but familiar, but it was somewhere in her mind, just out of her reach. Frustrated with herself, she ran her fingers through her muddied hair. Trevon would remember it. Trevon would also be out of his mind if he knew what she had just gone through. But she would have to tell him. She swallowed a stressed chuckle. She would have to tell him everything since the horrible was mixed with the amazing. She was on a strange planet. A planet where there were Mages. Mages were people that wielded magic, capable of doing extraordinary things with the colors emanating from their bodies. That girls color had been a brownish-red, like her eyes. Trevon’s was green. Ari wondered if that had something to do with what each person could do. Trevon heals skin, and that girl had taken a metal door and easily bent it into her hand, shaping it into a sword, a nice one too.

Ari gasped, “That was transmutation.” Ari’s eyes rolled back, and she dropped her head into her hands as she remembered why she had come to Melvin in the first place. “Why’d she have to die?”

“The girl you say died, she was a Mage?” Robie asked. Ari shuddered, realizing she’d briefly forgotten he was there.

“Within seconds, she melted metal into a sword.” She searched the crowd for the dead girl’s face; not expecting to see it, of course, but slightly hopeful. Perhaps she was a usual resident of the town, though something about her made Ari second guess that notion.

Robie nodded, “She must be very talented. That’s not easy to do.” Ari noted his voice was very gentle as he spoke; he obviously chose his words carefully before speaking, a lot like Trevon did. “Why a sword?”

Having had the same thought, Ari simply shrugged at his question and continued to watch. The crowd itself was nothing special. People were scared and confused. One man did catch Ari’s attention. He walked with great posture, a sturdy build but light on his feet. Though he wore light clothing, he didn’t shiver or stumble across the obstacles dropped around the open lot. She suspected he’d been conditioned to adapt to any survival conditions. Tough training, certainly, but - though she’d never admit it - he made her face flush slightly. However, his good looks didn’t seem to be helping him much. Ari watched him try to strike up a conversation with bystander after bystander; each one immediately treated him like he had some sort of disease and walked away before he could keep talking. After twelve attempts, his frustration was almost palpable. Whatever he was trying to get, he had no luck.

“Probably not searching for a missing person,” Ari thought, her heart fluttering slightly as she observed the mysterious man. The individuals seeking someone missing in the action were typically surrounded by a small group of people trying to help, unlike this captivating figure.

“No, I don’t think so,” Robie confirmed, his gaze lingering on the same scene as Ari’s. “I’m going to check if Lutz has found a way for us to slip out yet. Can you stay here?” His eyes met hers, a hint of concern mixed with an intensity that made her pulse quicken. “I’ll be quick. Oh, and - don’t engage with him either. There must be a reason, right?”

Her cheeks flushed as she nodded, the warmth spreading through her at Robie’s proximity. With a silent acknowledgment, Robie slipped almost soundlessly across the cold roadway and disappeared into the bustling crowd, leaving Ari to her thoughts, her heart still racing from his presence.

A sigh at Ari’s shoulder drew her attention to a woman sitting on the same small bit of curb. She looked as dejected as the man, shoulders hunched, and arms draped on her knees.

Compared to the rest of the crowd, she was dressed formally, bundled in a thick, woolen coat over slim black slacks and a cozy sweater, with a few delicate pieces of jewelry adorning her ensemble, barely noticeable under her layers. It was the killer heels on her boots that caught Ari’s attention. The only purpose those towering heels could serve was to inflict large puncture wounds in a fight. Walking? Ari thought, yeah right. Who could walk in something that elevated them five inches off the ground?

She was only distracted from her shock and disbelief upon spotting a white, laminated ID card clipped to the woman’s lapel. As Ari squinted, trying to get a better look, the card suddenly turned to face her. She glanced up; sure enough, the woman had noticed Ari’s assessment and turned the ID card in an attempt to be helpful.

“Samantha Murphy, E-LINE Media?” Ari read aloud.

“That’s me,” Samantha sighed. “Me and that walking time-bomb over there are lead reporters for E-LINE Media.”

Ari’s gaze lingered on the man as he scratched the back of his neck, a gesture of frustration evident in his movements. It seemed that his attempts to engage with the crowd were met with little success. It appeared to be a common reaction for people to avoid conversing with reporters, Ari noted, and she contemplated following suit.

As she watched, a sense of empathy stirred within her at the man’s struggle. She couldn’t help but feel a pang of sympathy for him, even if she herself was unsure about the role of reporters on planets.

The woman’s expression betrayed her confusion, prompting Ari to feel the need to explain herself. “This is my first time on a planet. Sort of. I was told I was born on a planet, but I don’t remember it. Anyway, I don’t really know much about reporters. There was one on the station once, but I was too young to really care. Why am I talking to you?” The words tumbled out of her mouth in a rush, surprising even herself with their spontaneity. Perhaps her longing for conversation with Farris had left her more eager to engage than she realized.

“First-timers usually do. They suspect they shouldn’t or are afraid of saying the wrong thing, and then adrenaline spikes, and suddenly they can’t stop talking. Don’t worry, in time, you’ll be able to ignore us like everyone else here,” Samantha explained with a reassuring smile.

Ari felt a wave of relief wash over her at Samantha’s understanding words, though they oddly fueled her desire to converse even further. Despite her efforts to rein in her chatter, Ari couldn’t suppress the grin that spread across her face.

“First time on a planet?” Samantha remarked with a small smile, her gaze drifting to the bloodstains on Ari’s clothing. “Eventful first time.”

Feeling slightly self-conscious, Ari instinctively crossed her arms in a feeble attempt to conceal the less-than-ideal state of her attire. However, her embarrassment was soon replaced by curiosity as the man she had been observing finally approached his partner. Reading his name off the laminated card clipped to his clothing, Ari noted: Chad Ling, E-LINE Media.

“We’re too late,” Chad huffed, his frustration evident. “The Military has already instructed them not to talk about what they saw. Some already have the prepped cover story.”

“That’s not surprising,” Samantha replied knowingly. “Most of the residents are active Military personnel. They’re usually told what to say in case situations occur … mage or otherwise.”

The mention of the Military and the term ‘mage’ piqued Ari’s interest. “What do you mean?” she asked, unable to hide her curiosity.

Chad’s gaze flicked briefly to Ari before he did a double-take. “That’s not yours, is it?” he inquired, gesturing towards the blood splatters on Ari’s clothing. Before he could receive a response, Samantha swiftly intervened, driving a wickedly sharp heel into Chad’s shin. The tall reporter hissed through clenched teeth, evidently attempting to restrain himself from cursing in front of the ladies.

“GAH!”

Ari couldn’t help but smirk inwardly. Yep, she thought. A weapon. With that, any self-consciousness she had felt about her appearance dissipated, replaced by a surge of amusement at the situation.

Samantha continued to berate her partner for his lack of tact. “She’s obviously been through a lot, so show a little extra sensitivity. We’ve been over this.”

“Wha--” Chad stopped rubbing his injured leg. “I just wanted to make sure she was okay and not bleeding to death while we were talking!”

“If that was the case, don’t you think she’d be screaming, writhing, and gasping for help?”

Ari shivered slightly as the memory of the dying girl resurfaced in her mind. She pushed it down, focusing instead on the argument before her. The bickering had a familiar feeling which, she hadn’t realized until now, she missed. It made her wonder about Trevon. What would he say if he knew what she had just been through?

“Who knows,” Chad continued, undeterred. “The reinforcements are so focused on telling everyone to stay quiet, they could have easily overlooked a girl bleeding to death.”

“Just like a full-grown dude watching a young girl freeze to death instead of offering her his coat,” Samantha said, then waited. Chad blinked at her, showing no sign he took the hint. “Give the girl your coat, you idiot.”

Chad was completely confused, looking back at Ari and then back at Samantha. “Give her your coat,” He insisted.

Samantha ignored him and helped Ari pull the soiled coat off. Stunned and confused at their bickering, Ari allowed her to remove the tattered blood stained object. “Coat, now, Chad!”

“Why not yours?” he barked again.

“Because this is vintage,” Samantha replied. Grumbling, Chad removed his coat, revealing an additional long-sleeved piece of clothing with a small animal decal on the left of his chest.

Ari received a new coat, number two in one day. It was navy blue with silver zippers and buttons, more for decoration than function. Though several sizes too big for her, it wrapped securely around, hiding her blood-stained clothing. It’s sleek design suggested Chad not only had style but also that his job as a reporter paid him more Credits than Ari had ever seen in her life.

She sputtered out a thank you, though she wasn’t so sure she was grateful. Uncomfortable, she quickly wished to change the subject.

“You said they’re telling people to stay quiet?” The words spilled out of Ari’s mouth before she could stop them. “I haven’t been told anything.”

“They probably just haven’t made it this far down the street yet,” Samantha sighed, returning to her spot a comfortable distance away.

“Probably,” Chad shrugged, his tone nonchalant. “To be honest, if I were you, I wouldn’t mention anything to them about where that blood on you came from. You aren’t getting any answers from them about the creatures that attacked.”

Ari’s eyebrows shot up in surprise. “Creatures?” she echoed, taken aback by the revelation. While she was aware they were creatures, for someone who hadn’t been present, how did he know?

Chad, noticing Ari’s incredulous expression, continued, undeterred, “You think that’s only human blood on you?”

“Um...” Ari hesitated, caught off guard by Chad’s directness.

But Chad didn’t wait for an answer, launching into further explanation. Ari couldn’t help but suppress a smile at how easily she had prompted him to divulge more information. “Those creatures - Deviates, as they’re called by the few who know - have a rare blood condition a lot like sulfhemoglobinemia. Basically, their blood doesn’t carry oxygen like ours, so the pigment is a bit green.”

Ari looked at the discarded coat, the bloodstains seeming like a chaotic mess to her. Besides, most of it didn’t belong to those creatures... Deviates, anyway. She rolled the word around in her head, pondering its significance. Deviates of what? The question lingered in her mind, stirring a sense of unease.