Fallen + Marli & Lalo (Fallen Invasion, #3) Read online
FALLEN INVASION SERIES
Fallen
AND
Marli & Lalo:
A Fallen Mystery
BOOKS 1 AND 3
MIA MITNS
Copyright © Mia Mitns, 2015
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any manner, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the copyright owner, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.
Note: This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.
First Edition: Marli & Lalo: October 2015
Fallen: January 2015
Cover designs by Mia
*Note: Marli & Lalo now also contains “Fallen,” the first story in the Fallen Invasion Series.
Marli and Lalo stands alone from Naya's Invasion. However, if Naya's Invasion is read first the story is a little richer
Suggested reading order:
1. Fallen
2. Naya's Invasion
3. Marli and Lalo: A Fallen Mystery
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Synopsis
Marli has a few problems. For starters Lalo, an alien, fell from the sky into her yard. An alien! These things haven’t scientifically been proven to exist yet. How could she communicate with Lalo without making him upset? Fortunately for Marli, Lalo is kind. When Marli uncovers a better way to talk to Lalo, she finds out he has a problem— amnesia, he can't remember why he is on Earth. Lalo only knows he needs to protect Marli.
On the other hand, Marli feels she needs to shield Lalo from humans. Too bad her neighbor, Kallen, becomes very suspicious the morning after Lalo arrives. The news story of a possible kidnapping makes Kallen even more anxious about strange things occurring.
To find answers to Lalo's memory loss, Marli and Lalo become wrapped up in solving the kidnapping mystery. But after Lalo starts to remember and rediscover his abilities, will Marli find out that Lalo has secrets of his own?
Table of Contents
Fallen
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Other Titles from Mia Mitns
Fallen
Book 1
As soon as I got home, I felt like I had to go to sleep, so I could get up early and go to work again. I hated days like that. Days when we had to work long hours, making short nights. Barely any rest. The sun had already left me with the dark when I left our facilities. Increased activity caused us to stay late and monitor the machines. I couldn’t be too mad though. It was the activity increase in that area, Millsee, out in the middle of nowhere in Texas, which landed me my job. I finally got to use my undergraduate degree. I finally felt like an ecologist.
About a month ago, I was working at a local grocery store in Dallas. Back then, I went home to the city. Now, I came home to the open lands, the stars, darkness, silence, peace. I could get use to this type of living. I still loved the city though. My family still lived there.
I stepped outside of my house to breathe in the fresh air and catch the cool breeze of the night. I looked around. I couldn’t see anyone for miles—no one in any direction other than one. That was one of the major things that would take me some time to get used to. No close neighbors other than Kallen.
The cool breeze tickled my skin as it went on to do the same to my wind chimes. I closed my eyes and stood there for a moment, taking in the sounds. I always wanted wind chimes. Now I have them and they sound beautiful.
All of a sudden the chimes stood still. The wind vanished. It was like someone trapped both of them. Silenced them. My eyes shot open with fear. I surveyed my yard. I didn’t see anything out of the ordinary.
After locking my door, I ran down the porch stairs and into the yard. Nothing was there. I held up my hand. No wind either. Something was wrong. The gentle flickering of my porch lights caught my eye. If I wasn’t outside, I was sure I would have been oblivious.
That was it. I was going to visit Kallen and see if he had noticed anything. But before I could take off a sound, similar to a jet passing overhead, pierced the sky. I looked up into the night.
A large, black, circular object was falling, and falling fast, towards me. I took a few steps to my left to try and figure out where it would land. It seemed to be coming directly for me.
I ran east for about thirty seconds then stopped to reexamine my position, glancing to the sky. The object was following me. No way! This is impossible! How can I outrun it?
I sprinted as fast as I could until something in the grass tripped me. I hit the dirt. As soon as I realized I was on the ground, I got back up. Still in flight or fight, I stuck out my leg to run but saw a large, black rock-like formation sitting in my yard.
The grass rose high around the rock. Well, as high as the tallest grass grew. I didn’t have a chance to mow my lawn, correction, have Kallen mow it for me that week. And that specific type of grass liked to grow. In patches.
Taking a breath in, I stared. I was one woman standing only feet away from one strange rock that just fell from the sky. I knew it was a meteorite, but I was pretty sure normal meteors didn’t follow you when you try to run away from them.
My hand had a mind of its own and reached to my pocket for my phone. I couldn’t feel it. I patted a few times. Nothing was there. Shoot! I left my phone on the counter. I was only planning on being outside for a few minutes.
I patted down my other pocket, concluding with my back pockets of my jeans just to make sure. It wasn’t in my sweater jacket pockets either.
I inhaled. I was going to have to do something. I couldn’t just ignore a meteorite sitting in my yard. For confidence, I took several more breaths then walked towards the rock. Well, it was more like dragged my feet.
As I got closer, the meteorite appeared to be much bigger. It was even taller than me and I was 5’9”. I regretted what I was about to do, but I did it anyway. I reached out my hand, towards the rock. I knew not to touch it. I just wanted to know if it was still hot.
The meteorite rattled. Caught off guard, I jumped backwards and almost fell. My eyes grew larger. My heart pounded against my ribs. I heard my labored breathing. The meteorite rattled again.
Should I run or stay? Why are you even thinking!? Run!!! I tried but couldn’t move. At that point, I couldn’t tell if it was fear holding me back or some sort of force that extended from the rock. I hoped it was fear.
I heard the rock crack.
Run!!!
I can’t!
Several lines, marking the breaking points formed, covering the rock.
Another sound occurred, scaring me so much I thought I was going to pass out. I couldn’t hear myself breathing anymore. I couldn’t feel my heart pounding. But I could see and hear everything that had to do with the meteorite.
This sound was much louder than the
previous cracks. There was much more of a force behind it. The rock was grinding; some parts slid across each other, like someone or something was trying to get out.
There’s no way this could be happening. No way something is in there. Please be dreaming. Please be a human. Wake up. I don’t want to die.
Run!
I wanted to move so bad but couldn’t. I wanted to cry, scream, something, but I was paralyzed. A piece of the rock flew away from the meteorite. I was allowed to turn my head to watch the flying piece’s trajectory. Another piece flew. Then another. Another. Finally, a large piece was pushed over.
With one more push my mouth hung open. There were hands and arms... another rock gone, a head. A head rose up while the arms pushed away the rest of the rock.
The thing, the human like male thing, fell out of the rock. A black soot substance covered him. He seemed confused when he hit the ground.
Still fixed to my place I watched him. He brushed his hand across the dirt covered ground. He seemed like he had never seen a ground before. At least not our ground. He played in the dirt for a little while. He picked it up, let it fall in between its fingers, and returned his hands to the land to dig in again.
This childlike fascination with the dirt calmed me down a little. He seemed harmless even though he was a full grown human like creature. A naked full grown human like male appearing creature. I wondered if he knew I was there and that I had been staring at him all along.
I took a breath in. Hey, I had control of my breathing again! I wiggled my fingers; they moved! I felt for my heart, and it was no longer pounding.
I decided to watch the creature a little while longer, giving him time to notice me. If he didn’t, I would step up and try to get his attention.
***
About thirty minutes passed before I gathered the courage to even take one step towards him. He was really strange. I was practically next to him and he never looked at me. Okay, I wasn’t next to him, but I was close enough. I wondered if he knew I was there but was waiting for me to do something. What if he was pretending to play while reading me all along? It was possible. He was an alien. He turned around, putting his back to me.
I made a deal with myself—one breath to one step. I agreed and took one step towards him. I paused. I hoped that he would hear me and turn around, but he didn’t. I took another step. I ended up walking all the way up to him and he still hadn’t faced me. I crouched down to his level.
“Hi,” I said.
He leapt up and turned to face me. He stared into my eyes. I returned the stare into his rosewood colored eyes that switched to gold.
He opened his mouth but no words came out. Then he crawled towards me until he was inches away from my face. I focused on trying to keep breathing.
Examining my face, he studied my eyes for a moment then moved to my hair, forehead, nose, lips, then back to my eyes. He lifted his hand, reaching for my cheek.
Slowly, I moved back, but he touched my nose with his index finger and drew a line down onto my lips. He continued to move his finger across my lips slowly and gently. I felt a rush of emotion. He had a faint smile. I was a little terrified, wondering if the soot was dangerous. I hoped I wouldn’t forget and lick my lips.
After lifting his finger from my lips, he brushed my cheek. His fingers felt so warm. I closed my eyes for a few seconds, losing control. When I opened them, I squinted, questioning what he was trying to do. He squinted back.
I lifted my hand and held it into mid-air, so I wouldn’t surprise him. Then I outstretched my arm to touch his cheek. His cheek was warm too. While looking directly at me, he tilted his head and pinned my fingers between his cheek and shoulder.
I didn’t understand what he was doing, but I figured it was some sort of greeting. He lifted his head and stood up. I followed.
He smiled. “Lalo” he said.
I wiped my lips, trying to get rid of some of the soot. “Lalo?” I repeated.
“Lalo.”
I patted my chest and said, “Marli.”
He patted his chest, “Marli.”
“No.” I shook my head. I pat my chest again, “Marli.” I walked up to him and put my hand on his chest, “Lalo.”
He touched my chest, “Marli.”
I nodded.
He nodded.
I smiled.
He smiled.
I figured I would have to take him in until I could come up with a plan of how to present him to the public. Lalo seemed like he had a gentle soul. He seemed harmless. I had to raise him, at least help him to learn a little more about our world before I let anyone know he existed.
I peeked at the meteorite. It was broken for the most part. There were some gigantic pieces left. I decided I would take care of that in the morning.
As if it had a mind that tracked mine, the rock exploded without warning. I sprung back. I caught Lalo smiling. I guessed I wouldn’t have to worry about the rock anymore. And did Lalo just read my mind, or all of that was just a coincidence?
I shook my head, as if shaking would knock away some thoughts, and stepped back up to Lalo. I took off my sweater and wrapped it around his shoulders. He wasn’t too much taller than me, about 6’2,” so my sweater jacket covered him pretty well. I drew my sweater close together in the front. Then I took his hand, and made him hold the jacket together.
Lalo smiled again. I wrapped my arm around and walked him back into my home.
Marli and Lalo
Chapter 1
If someone told me this would have happened an hour ago, I wouldn’t have believed them. How could I believe that an alien would be sitting at my kitchen counter staring at me? Lalo’s appearance was exactly as most humans were, but he gave me the impression that he only understood gestures. Every attempt I made to talk with him fell short. Although frustrating this quality was good to have because if he ever went outside without me, people would just think he spoke a different language.
I sighed, for what felt like the tenth time that night, as I wondered what to do with him. He seemed so harmless. But letting my guard down and risking the consequences was too hazardous.
For all I knew he could be a killer. One who charmed his way into convincing his victims to let their suspicions go. Attacking when they least expected. Hmm, attack. Actually, if an attack was on his mind, the little lock on my bedroom door would do nothing to stop him. In fact, I should be the one charming him.
I broke contact with his large, golden brown eyes to admire the ground. Those friendly eyes were distracting, and I needed help thinking. Okay, so he was sitting there, still covered by my jacket only. Perhaps if I found him some clothes and had him lay down on the couch, he would feel comfortable and fall asleep. Then I could think about calling someone to help.
But was he hungry? I knew I wouldn’t be able to sleep if I was hungry. Sharp pains would cross his abdomen as his stomach would growl, keeping him awake. Keeping me distracted from figuring out what to do. Did he even have a stomach? What did aliens eat anyway? I hoped it wasn’t humans. Now, who should I call?
“Call?” he said.
I flinched. That had to be a coincidence. But why would he say that word? He waited until I was done thinking too. There was no way he read my mind. Was there?
“What?” I said as soft as possible. I returned my eyes to his.
“No call?” he said.
I had no idea what to say next. Was this his way of asking me if he was wrong? Agh. How would I ever find a way to talk with him? What type of language did he speak usually? Please be English. Please be pretending to not know what I was talking about or please be very shy.
Lalo continued to stare at me and didn’t move. I slowly stepped out of my petit, rectangular kitchen area, curved around the bar he was sitting at, and paused when I was aside him. His expression didn’t change when he glanced at me, so I continued to gradually advance my way through my house. I passed through my open family room/dining room area, towards the back, to my bedroom.
Even though Lalo remained harmless, I imagined living in some apartments, there in Millsee, rather than being forced to rent out a one bedroom home. I never would have met the alien, and if I did, at least my next door neighbors would have run to my aid. But no. I lived alone. The closest person to me was Kallen across the field, about a three minute walk away.
I thought this type of stuff—aliens—interested you though so why are you scared?
Remembering my ramblings about charming Lalo, I smiled at him. He did the same. I gave thought to closing my door, but I needed to check on him every few seconds to make sure he didn’t move. Make sure he wasn’t going to attack.
I whirled around and took two quick steps to switch on the light. I added a couple more steps to my left and I slid my closet door open with speed but as little noise as possible. Keeping quiet and being unintimidating was number one on my list. I wasn’t sure if loud noises would frighten Lalo or make him anxious for action.
I shot my eyes back and forth across the clothes. Hurry! What could he wear? Nothing in that closet. Oh! What? My gym clothes. They were in the drawer on the other side of my room, across the doorway.
Tiptoeing across, out of the corner of my eye, I saw Lalo still focused on something in my direction. At least he stayed where he was. I was thankful for that. He could have decided to give me more problems. Problems that I didn’t know how to deal with.
I slid open the third old oak drawer of my dresser and rummaged around. The first thing I found were some oversized sweat pants. Thanks me from the past who bought oversized clothing! Sifting through the rest of the drawer gave me a free T-shirt that I had scored from a college science conference. It was, or would have to be, the perfect match. Underneath that shirt I found a few more.
Although the shirts were free and too spacious for me to wear, they had become my pajama tops. They also became the punchline for teasing about me and my frugalness. Well, it saved me money back then and it was going to deliver me from having a naked alien sit around my house. Maybe that’s why he wasn’t talking. He was trying to decipher why this human was making him stay naked and cold.
Love, Music, Amali
Fallen + Marli & Lalo (Fallen Invasion, #3)