Artifacts and Aliens - Chapter Two - Part Three

Adriana stepped into the parking lot, her heart still racing from the chaos inside the library. The manager’s threat echoed in her ears: “Not a word about the mask, or you’re done here.” It wasn’t just the threat of losing her job that bothered her. It was what had happened—the mask had killed that man, drained the life out of him. The museum was willing to cover it up, and the police had pinned the crime on Tom and Leo. They didn’t care about the truth; they just wanted someone to blame.

As she approached her car, Adriana stopped abruptly. She could see movement inside—two shadowy figures huddled low. Her hand instinctively reached for her bag, fingers brushing the edge of the small knife she carried for protection. Just as she moved to confront them, she heard a familiar voice.

"Adriana, it’s us," came a whispered plea. "Don’t freak out."

She yanked open the door, revealing Tom and Leo cramped in the backseat, looking disheveled and desperate.

"Mi amor! Qué demonios are you doing?” she hissed, glancing around to make sure no one had noticed them.

"We didn’t know where else to go," Tom said quickly. "There are police everywhere."

Adriana sighed, her mind racing. She knew they hadn’t done it—the mask had. But the museum manager had made it clear: if she said anything, she’d be out of a job. "We’ll pin it on them," the manager had said coldly. "It’s better for everyone." She looked back at the two men, their eyes pleading for help.

Adriana shook her head, starting the engine. "Ay, qué cansado estoy. Come! We’ll figure out what to do next."

As they drove through the city streets, lights flickering in the windows, Tom and Leo exchanged a look of weary gratitude. For now, they were safe.

At Adriana’s house, a small but tidy space hidden away in a quiet alley, her friend Elena was waiting. Elena, tall and sharp-eyed, had a presence that immediately commanded attention. Her short, jet-black hair framed a striking face, and she had an air of quiet authority, tempered by an undercurrent of warmth. Dressed in a loose-fitting blouse and comfortable pants, she greeted Adriana with a raised eyebrow as the group entered.

"Querida! Trouble follows you," Elena said dryly, eyeing the two men.

Adriana quickly explained the situation, and Elena’s expression softened. She gestured for them to sit at the table, "You both look like your carry the world's problems on your shoulders. You remind me of someone I use to know."

"We're worried about our friend," Tom said. "He was taken from the library."

"You have a story to tell," Elena presented them with glasses of water before settling them down on a seat, "What is so special about your friend that they would take him."

Tom hesitated; his glass paused in the air. He glanced at Leo, who gave him a subtle nod of encouragement.

Taking a deep breath, and a drink of water, Tom began, his voice cautious, as if the words themselves might sound ridiculous once spoken. "There's something else... something I need to tell you both." He looked between Elena and Adriana. "My friend, Zeta, their... well, they are not from here. They're an alien. His craft crash in Roswell New Mexico." Elena and Adriana exchanged wide-eyed glances, their dismay evident. Elena's brow furrowed, and Adriana opened her mouth as if to speak but stopped, uncertainty flickering across her face. "There are those who want to experiment on Zeta. Slice them open and work out how they tick. We just want to make sure they are somewhere safe."

Before the awkwardness deepened, Leo jumped in, leaning forward. "Look, I get it—this sounds impossible. But after the mask, anything is possible. That mask took control of me, made me do things… there’s no denying that otherworldly things exist. Zeta is just another example, another mystery we’re caught in."

Adriana slowly nodded, the memory of the mask’s power clearly shifting her perspective. "If that cursed mask could do what it did… maybe there are other forces out there we don’t understand."

Elena, though still looking stunned, seemed to accept this because Adriana looked so resolute in her response.

Suddenly, Tom stiffened, his face going pale. His hand gripped the edge of the table, and his eyes glazed over. "I’m seeing them," he whispered, as images flooded his mind. He closed his eyes, focusing on the images that filled his mind. "Zeta… they're bound, in some kind of underground room. There’s a tunnel… crates stacked along the walls. And there’s a symbol… on the lock."

His hand shook as he reached for a pen and paper, quickly sketching out the symbol. It was a snake, coiled around a circle with a jagged sun in the center.

Elena’s face went cold as she looked at the drawing. She leaned forward, her fingers tracing the crude lines. "I know this symbol. It’s a family crest. La Familia Calderón." Elena sighed. "They’re an old, powerful family, involved in all sorts of illegal dealings—smuggling, artifact theft, you name it."

"They want to add Zeta to their empire." Tom added.

“They usually get what they want,” Elena said grimly. "Money is a very powerful tool."

The room fell silent, the weight of the revelation sinking in. They were up against a powerful family with deep pockets and no morals. The odds seemed stacked against them.

But then Tom's eyes widened, more images filling his mind, "Wait… there’s something else. I see a tunnel, a narrow passage leading out of the room. And… there’s a break in the wall. Zeta’s trying to get through it, but they're weak."

"Se me prendió el foco!" Elena quickly pulled out an old map of the city, spreading it out on the table. Her finger traced along the docks. "There are old smuggling tunnels beneath the city that meet up under the Calderone estate."

"Then that is where we're going." Adriana glanced at the young men who looked warn out, "But, mi amor, what you need now is food and to rest awhile."

********

After cleaning up, Tom and Leo sat down to the meal Elena had prepared. The scent of roasted peppers and warm tortillas filled the small kitchen, a comforting reminder of the home they hadn’t realized they missed.

Freshly showered and dressed in clothes that once belonged to Elena’s late husband, they felt an unexpected weight settle on their shoulders—a reminder of the lives entwined in this house before their arrival. The shirts were a little big, the pants a bit stiff, but it was the unspoken story behind the fabric that pressed hardest against their hearts.

As they tucked into their meal, Tom couldn't help but notice the quiet glances exchanged between Adriana and Elena, a conversation happening without words. Finally, Elena broke the silence, her voice soft yet tinged with a sadness she had long learned to live with.

Ever curious, Leo asked, "So...will we be expecting your husband tonight?"

"No! Querido," Elena gestured toward Tom and Leo, "Javier was killed in a protest years ago. He was an activist, fighting for workers’ rights during a time when the government responded with violence. It was a protest gone wrong—a massacre, really." She sighed, a sombre cloud forming above her. "I tried to get justice, but they threatened me to stay silent. They even went so far as to offer me hush money, and I took it." She paused, looking to Adriana for strength before continuing. "I used that money to open my art gallery. I wanted to give a voice to those who still had dreams, who had lost family members, or who carried the weight of our country’s struggles. But I didn’t stop there. In the back of the gallery, I continue his work… an underground newspaper. Every word I print is a tribute to him." Adriana reached for Elena’s hand, squeezing it gently. "Meeting Adriana saved me," she said quietly. "We found each other in a time of grief, and in her, I found a new purpose."

The room fell silent for a moment, the air heavy with the stories that had been shared. Tom and Leo sat quietly, realizing they were now a part of a world much bigger than they had imagined—a world full of hidden stories and forgotten voices, waiting to be heard.

********

As they made their way through the dark, narrow tunnels, Tom kept close to Leo, their steps almost synchronized. The damp air clung to their skin, and every sound seemed to echo endlessly in the old smuggler's passageways.

Elena and Adriana led the way, their flashlights cutting through the darkness. Each beam of light revealed moss-covered stone walls, old crates, and forgotten tools from an era long past, giving an eerie feeling to the entire descent.

"We’re close," Adriana whispered, stopping to look back at them, her voice barely a breath. "The entrance to the cellar should be just ahead."

Tom felt his stomach tighten. His mind swirled with the flashes of images Zeta had sent him—the cold metal bars, darkness and isolation. They shivered. Zeta felt something else...some other presence that troubled them.

They continued moving until they reached a large metal door, covered in rust and strange, ancient symbols. Elena examined the door for a moment before placing her hand on the symbol. The door groaned as it slid open, revealing a chamber bathed in an unnatural, pale light.

Inside, strange artifacts littered the space—alien in design, each one more bizarre than the last. Some floated midair, glowing softly, while others emitted low hums as if pulsing with life. The walls were lined with small metal cells.

Adriana’s curiosity got the better of her as she moved toward a nearby shelf, eyes wide with wonder. She picked up an alien artifact—a small, crystalline object that shimmered in her hand. "What do you think this does?" she mused, turning it over. As if in answer, the artifact hummed softly, producing a strange, melodic tune that resonated through the air, an eerie alien lullaby.

Elena, more cautious, hovered near her, casting nervous glances around the room. "Adriana, maybe we shouldn’t—"

Before Elena could finish her warning, another artifact on the shelf—a glass orb—glowed faintly, and delicate snowflakes began to fall from the ceiling, coating the marble floor in a thin layer of frost. Elena wrapped her arms around herself, shivering. "Mi amor, this is getting a little too weird."

Adriana, still enthralled, reached for another object, a sleek metallic cylinder.

Leo studied a wooden console with levers and knobs. He pressed a button by chance opening one of the cells. Darkness greeted them. So, he moved on to the other buttons.

Tom stopped before one of the cells sensing Zeta on the other side, "This is the one."

Leo finally managed to work out the buttons and successfully opened Zeta’s cell. The heavy, metal door creaked open, revealing their alien friend slumped on the floor, still groggy from the drugs.

Tom didn’t hesitate. He rushed inside and wrapped his arms around Zeta, relief flooding through him. "We’ve got you," he whispered, giving the alien a tight hug. But before he could fully process the moment, a low, guttural growl echoed about the chamber. They had unknowingly released something else from one of the other cells.

The creature that burst from the cell was a hulking nightmare, a bizarre hybrid of hyena and warthog, but twisted and more grotesque than anything from Earth’s wilderness. Its body was covered in thick, bristling fur, mottled gray and black, with powerful limbs that ended in razor-sharp claws, easily capable of tearing through stone or flesh. The most striking feature, though, was the stark white mohawk running down its spine, standing rigid as if permanently electrified, adding to its menacing silhouette.

Its head was broad and low, with a snout resembling that of a warthog, complete with two pairs of wickedly sharp tusks curling outward from its jaws. Saliva dripped from its massive fangs, pooling on the cold floor as it snarled, nostrils flaring in fury. But its eyes—those glowing, yellow orbs—held a cruel intelligence, as if it was not just an animal but something far worse. The creature’s hyena-like cackle filled the chamber, a chilling, bone-rattling sound that echoed off the walls and sent a shiver through the group.

The creature’s massive claws scraped against the stone floor, leaving deep gashes, its eyes locked on the group as prey. The creature had been restricted from their primal urges for so long. They just wanted to hunt once more.

The white mohawk rippled in time with each guttural hyena-like cackle, an ominous signal of the hunting instinct reaching a fever pitch. The human's scent was just so evocative.

Panic gripped the group as the monstrous creature barreled toward them, its hyena-like cackle echoing off the chamber’s stone walls, making their blood run cold.

Leo grabbed the nearest alien artifact, a glowing orb, and hurled it at the beast. It exploded into a shower of sparks, but the creature only flinched momentarily before continuing its charge.

Tom followed suit, lifting a groggy Zeta into his arms, before grabbing a strange rod from the display and thrusting it in front of him, hoping for the best. A shockwave of energy emitted from the rod, sending the creature stumbling back for a split second, but it shook off the effect, even more enraged.

"Nothing's working!" Leo shouted as he tossed another strange artifact toward the monster. This one emitted a spray of mist, making the air shimmer like a heatwave, but the creature swiped it aside with a single strike of its massive claws.

In the corner, Adriana frantically fiddled with that sleek, cylindrical object she'd picked up earlier. "There’s got to be something in here!" she muttered to herself, desperately trying to understand the strange alien technology. The cylinder began to hum softly in her hands, growing warmer as its mechanisms engaged.

Elena, meanwhile, branded a once discarded wooden chair before her like a shield, keeping in front of Adriana to protect her.

The creature advanced, knocking over ancient relics and smashing pedestals as it approached, relentless in its pursuit.

Just then, the cylinder in Adriana's hands emitted a sharp whine. Without warning, it blasted a bolt of light across the chamber, striking the other heavy metal door on the other side of the room. The door tore off its hinges with a deafening clang and flew into the corridor, slamming into the far wall. Dust and debris rained down as the door’s impact reverberated through the chamber.

"Out now!" Tom shouted, clutching Zeta to his body. "Let’s move!"

The group sprinted through the door as the creature attacked remains of the chamber to get at the humans.

The team scrambled over the debris and bolted down the hallway, their footsteps echoing as they fled the alien beast, its enraged hyena howls chasing them down the tunnel.

"Keep going! Don't look back!" Tom shouted, his heart pounding with every step.

The tunnel finally opened up into a narrow stone stairway that led to an expansive garden bathed in the moonlight.

The rescuers burst out from the entrance, gasping for breath as they stumbled into the estate’s lush grounds.

Vibrant flowers and perfectly manicured hedges surrounded them, but there was no time to admire the beauty of their new surroundings. The garden's stillness was quickly shattered by the scraping sounds of the pursuing alien creature, its snorts and cackles growing louder as it followed close behind.

"We’ve got to keep moving!" Tom urged, Zeta lying limp in his arms, as his eyes scanned the vast estate for any possible escape routes. But before they could take another step, they were abruptly surrounded.

La Reina and her troops emerged from the shadows, their rifles raised and aimed at the group. Her black, high-collared uniform and calm, commanding presence stood in stark contrast to the chaos that had unfolded underground.

"Well, well," La Reina purred, her eyes locking onto Tom holding Zeta. "It seems my prey has finally surfaced." Tom lowered the alien to the ground, preparing to fight. He made sure to place the alien behind him, "Mi amor! Don’t make this difficult."

But just as La Reina's men began to advance, a terrifying roar echoed across the garden. The alien creature, now free from the underground chamber, came crashing through the entrance, its hulking form tearing through the stone opening. It barreled towards them, eyes gleaming with excitement, its sharp, jagged teeth glinting in the fading light. There was now even more pray.

La Reina’s confident smirk faded, replaced by wide-eyed shock. She barked orders to her soldiers, but the alien was too fast, too angry. It lunged forward, attacking indiscriminately. With one swipe of its massive claws, it sent two of La Reina's men flying into a nearby hedge. Chaos erupted as the soldiers turned their attention to the monster, firing at it in a desperate attempt to defend themselves.

"No! Baboso!" La Reina barked, "The boss will want the thing alive. Do not take lethal action."

Taking advantage of the confusion, Tom grabbed Zeta, and the group sprinted toward the garden's edge, dodging gunfire and the creature's rampage. La Reina, distracted by the alien's sudden attack, could only watch as they escaped.

The woman raised her dart gun once more and blew a dart into the hide of the beast as it came at her. The serum did not work at first. She backed away blowing another and another. The creature kept coming. Yet the beast has certainly slowed its ferocity, but not enough for La Reina to escape a swipe of that might arm, before the beast fell to the ground.

********

In the scramble to escape, Tom, Leo, and Zeta dashed through the dense foliage of the estate's garden, the chaos of the alien’s attack behind them. Their breaths came in ragged gasps, hearts pounding as they darted between the trees and ornamental statues. In their panic, they hadn't realized they had become separated from Adriana and Elena.

"Where are they?" Tom wheezed, glancing around. He spun in a circle, but the women were nowhere to be seen.

Leo, wiping sweat from his brow, stopped and listened, eyes narrowing, "We have to go back."

Before they could act, the sounds of shouting and boots trampling across the estate's grounds reached them. Even more guards, La Reina’s reinforcements, were closing in. Realizing they couldn’t risk doubling back without being caught themselves, Tom gave Leo a pained look. "We can’t... not yet. We’ll have to circle back later."

Suddenly, a group of Calderón’s guards sprang from the surrounding foliage. The men, heavily armed and swift, moved like predators closing in on their prey. Leo barely had time to react before a blow landed across his head, sending him sprawling to the ground. Tom fought against the hands that gripped him, but it was useless—he was outnumbered.

Zeta, though alien and strong, was still weakened from their time in captivity, and the guards easily subdued them, forcing the alien to the ground.

They were dragged across the estate grounds like trophies, the harsh light of the mansion casting eerie shadows as they were led toward their fate.

In a clearing, Santiago Calderón waited for them, his lips twisted into a cruel, victorious smile. He was a striking figure, exuding a powerful presence that demands attention. Standing at over six feet tall, he possessed a lean, athletic build, a testament to a life lived with both privilege and a hint of danger. His olive skin is often tanned, hinting at an affinity for the outdoors and a life spent amid the vibrant landscapes of Mexico. His hair, slicked back and peppered with silver, frames a chiseled face adorned with high cheekbones and a well-groomed mustache that adds a touch of old-world elegance.

Calderón's eyes are perhaps his most captivating feature—deep brown with an intensity that can shift from warm and inviting to cold and calculating in an instant. They seem to scrutinize everyone around him, as if he can read their thoughts and intentions.

His attire reflects his wealth and status; he favors tailored suits in rich, dark colors, often complemented by a silk tie that hints at his refined taste. A subtle gold watch glints on his wrist, a reminder of both his success and his tendency to measure time in terms of power and control.

"You've ruined my museum," Santiago said quietly, his voice cold and measured. "Destroyed years of work. Millions of monedas down the drain." He stepped closer, his polished shoes crunching on the gravel as he came within inches of Tom’s face. "And now, you will pay."

Without another word, Calderón gestured to one of his guards, who roughly shoved Leo down onto his knees. Another guard forced Tom to kneel as well, gripping his hair tightly and jerking his head back, exposing his neck.

"Querido! Do you have any idea what it costs to assemble such a collection?" Santiago asked, his tone deceptively calm as he reached into his jacket and pulled out a small, wicked-looking device—an alien artifact of his own, perhaps. Its design was intricate, covered in strange symbols, with thin metal rods that hummed with an unsettling energy.

"This device," Santiago said, holding it up in front of them, "was one of my greatest finds. It allows the mind to turn on itself. It is so easy to yield compliance of those who would defy me."

Tom struggled against his bindings as Santiago placed the device against Leo’s temple, activating it with a low, ominous hum. Leo’s body went rigid, his face contorting with pain as Santiago casually turned the dial, making the machine vibrate with intensity.

Tom’s heart pounded, fear and anger surging through him, "Stop it! You’re torturing him!"

"He is getting off lightly. You defiled my museum."

Leo’s groans turned into cries of agony, his body twitching as the pain became too much to bear. Zeta slumped beside them, just watched with curiosity unable to help. Humans seemed to cause each other such pain. This was not typical of their own race.

"Menso! These are the consequences of your actions," Santiago stood, looming over the two men. “No one steals from Santiago Calderon."

"You are just as big of a thief as us," Tom gazed up with defiance, “You have what does not belong to you."

"I have receipts! Those were all bought and paid for," Calderon's lip curled in a sneer as he crossed the room, towering over him, his shadow stretching like a vulture’s wings. "Governments, powerful people, they all look the other way for the right sum." He motioned toward Zeta who sat observing proceedings. "My amigo is to be my crown jewel now that my museum is ruined. We'll learn his secrets through an autopsy, perhaps?"

*******

Meanwhile, Adriana and Elena were on the run, having slipped through the chaos in the garden undetected. They crouched low in the underbrush, breathing hard, the alien weapon still clutched tightly in Adriana's hands. They could hear the distant sounds of Calderón's guards searching for them, their voices carrying through the darkness. They ducked down amongst thick foliage. Out of breath and trying to remain as silent as possible.

"No lo creo! That was a real alien beast." Elena murmured. "How could anything be normal after all this."

"We can’t leave them," Adriana whispered, her voice thick with determination. "We need to keep looking."

Elena nodded, her face pale but resolute. She glanced down at the strange alien weapon in her Adriana's hands, "Let’s hope this thing still works."

They suddenly heard the agonizing screams of the two men. They were close by. This was their chance to rescue them before they were taken inside the house.

Following the noise, Adriana and Elena finally came upon the scene where Santiago was torturing Tom this time.

The two women winced as Tom writhed in agony, his body convulsing under the effects of the alien device. Without a second thought, she raised the alien weapon and fired. A beam of bright energy shot from the device, slamming into the guard holding Tom, knocking him to the ground.

Elena quickly rushed forward, taking the fallen guard's weapon, and firing off another shot at the guard holding Leo. The group were taken by surprise. Calderón backed away as his personal guard stepped in front taking a blast from Adriana. The guard crumbled to the ground. Calderón had made a hasty retreat.

Tom looked up, his eyes wide with shock as Adriana and Elena appeared like angels of vengeance, saving them from Santiago’s torture.

"Get up!" Adriana hissed, "We have to go!"

They ran for their lives giving some distance between them and any of the remaining guards. Adriana used the weapon to blast a hole into the stone wall of the perimeter, and they all escaped into the early morning light.

********

They burst through the front door of Elena and Adriana's house, breathing hard, drenched in sweat, their nerves still frayed from the harrowing escape. The tension in the air was palpable as the gravity of what they had stirred up sank in. Elena and Adriana quickly locked the door behind them, glancing nervously out the window for any signs of Calderón's men.

"We need to leave—now," Elena said, her voice tight with urgency. "He won't stop coming after us. I’ll reach out to my underground contacts. They’ll help us disappear."

Tom gently guided Zeta to the sofa, his alien friend still weak from the ordeal. "We need to feed them, something with sugar." He scanned the room, desperate for anything that could help.

Adriana rushed to the kitchen and returned with a basket filled with pastries, candy bars, and a jar of honey, "Mi amor! This should do."

Tom carefully unwrapped a candy bar and handed it to Zeta, who devoured it with a ravenous hunger. "He’ll need more," Tom muttered, grabbing for the jar of honey. The honey seemed to do the trick. Zeta was much more replenished.

Elena packed a small bag with essentials—money, forged documents, and a gun for protection. "We’ll head to a safe house. My contacts can get us out of Calderón's reach."

Zeta, still weak but alert, suddenly grabbed Tom’s arm. His alien eyes widened in alarm, and he made a low, urgent sound that startled everyone.

Tom froze, “The map,” He translated, piecing it together. “Zeta's worried about the map.”

Leo quickly grabbed their bag and fumbled through it, his fingers brushing past clothing and supplies until he found the crumpled map buried at the bottom. He pulled it out, carefully unfolding it on the table.

Zeta leaned in, staring at the coordinates marked on it, his expression one of both relief and worry. The map was their only navigation tool, the key to reaching the landfall location where Zeta’s people would come to collect them.

Adriana peered over Tom’s shoulder; her brow furrowed, "Increíble! Switzerland! Not exactly easy to get to."

"We need to leave! Now!" Elena, standing in the morning light that had invaded the hallway, looked at Adriana. "We don't have any more time." Her voice held a mix of fear and determination, knowing that Calderón’s wrath would not rest until they were far beyond his reach.

They fled the house climbing into Adriana's car. The engine burst into life. Adriana gripped the wheel tightly, eyes darting to the rearview mirror every few seconds, while Elena sat beside her, a grim expression set on her face.

In the back seat, Tom held the map close to his chest, glancing nervously at Zeta, whose pale skin had regained some color after devouring an entire bag of candy. Leo, sitting beside Tom, kept a watchful eye out the back window, scanning for any signs of Calderón’s men.

The narrow, winding roads led them away from the heart of town, past quiet houses and abandoned alleyways. With every mile they put between themselves and Calderón’s estate, Tom could feel the tension slowly easing. For now.

#QueerScienceFiction. #AlienEncounters #LGBTIQAAuthors. #QuickReads. #ArtifactsNAliens