authorities had done here was wrong.â
Mr. Kull stepped forward.
âThatâs where we come in,â he said. âWe are part of a specialized extraction team from Earth. Weâve been here a long time, waiting and watching.â
âWho are you?â Tim asked pointing at the woman.
âYou know me as Ms. Duvall,â she answered.
âBut youâre young,â he stammered. âMs. Duvall is old and in a wheelchair.â
âThe magic of makeup,â she said. âAnd as you can see, I walk just fine.â
Mr. Kull suddenly ran to the window.
âSomeone is out there,â he said.
He quickly made his way outside, and when he returned to the room, Nina was with him.
âNina!â Tim called out as he ran to hug her. âYou wonât believe what theyâre telling meâweâre all from Earth!â
Rusty moved closer to Nina and took her gently by the arm.
âNo, Tim,â he said. âNina was born on Indus. She is not one of you.â
Chapter 11
Escape
âItâs unfortunate that you followed him,â Mr. Kull said sternly. âSheâll have to be detained.â
âWhat?â Tim asked looking him straight in the eye. âWhat are you talking about?â
Rusty let go of Ninaâs arm, motioning for her to sit down on the couch.
âWe have to go,â he said facing Tim. âWe are leaving for Earth today.â
Tim looked over at Max who having learned the truth just a day earlier still seemed in a state of shock and unable to say much. Then he looked at Nina.
âNo way, I canât leave. I wonât leave Nina or my parents,â he pleaded.
Luke and Max came to stand by their friend.
âYour parents will come later,â Luke said. âBut your Earth parents are waiting for you. You donât belong here.â
Tim tried to stay calm as Rusty explained that their parents from Indus would make the trip to Earth later. Another team would be sent for them.
âI have to go,â Ms. Duvall said. âEmilyâs parents are bringing her in through the tunnel. Weâll see you at the station. Donât be late.â
And with that she was gone.
Timâs mind was racing.
âWait, we are all from Earthâexcept for Nina?â Tim asked as tears of frustration began to form in his eyes. âNina, did you know?â
Looking up from the floor where her eyes had been focused, she faced Tim.
âYes, I knew. But the planet needed you . . . we needed you.â
Rusty turned to look out the window.
âShe was told to keep an eye on you and the others, make sure you adjusted to life here,â he said. âHer parents are the people who came up with the whole idea . . . to save the planet from eventual extinction.â
Nina looked back at the floor, then jumping up from her seat, ran to Tim and flung her arms around him.
âBut . . . I . . .â she mumbled. âI grew to care about you so much . . . all of you.â
Timâs arms remained at his side. He was numb. Everything he thought was real was just a lie.
She eventually let go.
âOkay, time to go,â Mr. Kull said.
âWait, where are you taking her?â Tim shouted at him.
âDonât worry, Tim. Sheâll be just fine, just going to take a little nap is all,â Kull responded with a wink. âSheâll wake up good as new but without any memory of this conversation, or this entire day for that matter.â
Timâs heart was breaking, but he knew what he had to do. He wanted to get off this planet and get back home, his real home on Earth.
âCome on,â said Max holding out his hand. âWeâll do this together.â
Luke and Tim both placed their hands on top of the otherâs in a gesture of brotherhood.
Max had already said a tearful good-bye to his parents, and Rusty promised Tim his parents would meet them along the way to the station so he could
Learning to Kill: Stories