They Walk Among Us

By T.A. Chase

Zach agrees to help Raven and finds himself drawn into a world he never knew existed.

Zach Harleigh was a baby when the aliens arrived. He doesn't remember much about those months, except his parents fighting and his dad leaving. His father died, destroying the aliens, and his mother died when Zach graduated from medical school. He's alone in the world and working hard to get his career going leaves no time for any kind of relationship.

One night, a beautiful man is brought into the ER. Raven Sanderson has been severely beaten and seems unsocialized. Raven and Zach hit it off when Zach takes over his care. Raven can't speak but writes notes to Zach, letting him know the man is in the city to find his sister.

Zach agrees to help Raven and discovers a world he never knew existed. A world full of alien creatures that read minds and heal with a simple touch. He realizes there is more to the world around him, and the aliens he thought were destroyed weren't. Their offspring walk among us.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Pride Publishing
• Release date: Jul 2, 2017
• ISBN: 9781786515346

T.A. Chase

There is beauty in every kind of love, so why not live a life without boundaries? Experiencing everything the world offers fascinates TA and writing about the things that make each of us unique is how she shares those insights. When not writing, TA's watching movies, reading and living life to the fullest.

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They Walk Among Us

ISBN # 978-1-78651-534-6

©Copyright T.A. Chase 2017

Cover Art by Posh Gosh ©Copyright January 2017

Edited by Rebecca Scott

Pride Publishing

This is a work of fiction. All characters, places and events are from the author’s imagination and should not be confused with fact. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, events or places is purely coincidental.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any material form, whether by printing, photocopying, scanning or otherwise without the written permission of the publisher, Pride Publishing.

Applications should be addressed in the first instance, in writing, to Pride Publishing. Unauthorised or restricted acts in relation to this publication may result in civil proceedings and/or criminal prosecution.

The author and illustrator have asserted their respective rights under the Copyright Designs and Patents Acts 1988 (as amended) to be identified as the author of this book and illustrator of the artwork.

Published in 2017 by Pride Publishing, Newland House, The Point, Weaver Road, Lincoln, LN6 3QN

Pride Publishing is a subsidiary of Totally Entwined Group Limited.

THEY WALK AMONG US

T.A. Chase

Zach agrees to help Raven and finds himself drawn into a world he never knew existed.

Zach Harleigh was a baby when the aliens arrived. He doesn’t remember much about those months, except his parents fighting and his dad leaving. His father died, destroying the aliens, and his mother died when Zach graduated from medical school. He’s alone in the world and working hard to get his career going leaves no time for any kind of relationship.

One night, a beautiful man is brought into the ER. Raven Sanderson has been severely beaten and seems unsocialized. Raven and Zach hit it off when Zach takes over his care. Raven can’t speak but writes notes to Zach, letting him know the man is in the city to find his sister.

Zach agrees to help Raven and discovers a world he never knew existed. A world full of alien creatures that read minds and heal with a simple touch. He realizes there is more to the world around him, and the aliens he thought were destroyed weren’t. Their offspring walk among us.

Dedication

Thanks to everyone for hanging with me.

Prologue

I was a baby when they came. All I remember from that time is the loud words, though I didn’t understand them. My mother explained it was her and my father arguing about his determination to go and fight them. Mother didn’t want to be left with me, the one creature she hated far more than those alien beings that had appeared overnight.

Father didn’t die until three weeks later, but he went out as a hero. He helped kill the leaders and never came back from that mission. The truth was I became an orphan the moment the door closed behind him, since my mother couldn’t function without him.

She lasted until I graduated from medical school, then she decided it was time to go. I stood next to her grave and wondered how life would have been different if he’d never left or if the aliens had never come.

Everyone believed that all the aliens had died. Little did anyone know some had survived, sheltered by humans who didn’t see the alien children as a threat. They were raised by humans and taught to assimilate into the strange, violent world they found themselves in.

Standing in the portal room, waiting for another lost group to arrive, I’m thrown back to three years earlier when I discovered that they walk among us.

Chapter One

Zach

The general chaos of the emergency room no longer registered with me as I went from room to room, checking on patients. I glanced at each file before I entered and tried hard to be personable, focusing on each individual, though I’d rather be in my bed sleeping. I’d worked a sixteen-hour shift already and it didn’t look like I’d be going home any time soon.

Leaning on the nurses’ station, I sighed as I ran my hands through my hair.

Long day, huh, Doc?

I glanced up to see Jackson, one of the nurses, grinning at me from where he sat, filling out forms.

You could say that. I sure hope this flu or whatever it is goes through quickly. Covering for people is all well and good, but when I’m asleep on my feet, I don’t think that’s good for the patients.

True. He pushed a cup toward me. Have some coffee.

I grimaced. No, thanks. I drank my fill of coffee during my residency. Can’t stand the stuff now.

He looked surprised. A doctor who doesn’t mainline caffeine? You’re a rare find.

So I’ve been told.

A commotion down the hall outside one of the rooms caught my attention. I shoved away from the counter before heading in that direction. Sally, the head nurse, raced from the room.

Sally, what’s wrong?

The EMTs just brought a guy in. I’m not sure what’s going on with him, except he’s been beaten pretty badly. He’s panicking and doesn’t seem able to talk.

Let me check him out.

I walked into the room and froze just inside the doorway. The man on the bed was dirty and bloody, yet he was the most gorgeous guy I’d ever seen with shoulder-length black hair, so dark it gleamed almost blue under the glaring fluorescent lights. His skin was pale, but that might have been because of the trauma he’d suffered. His eyes were wide and panicked.

The patient whipped his head from side to side, trying to keep his gaze on everyone moving around him. People were touching him and asking him questions without letting him answer. One of the interns reached out to take his arm, trying to put in an IV. He jerked away from her, almost falling out of the bed.

Sir, you have to stay still or we’ll have to restrain you.

His eyes widened even more as fear grew in them. He tensed and I knew he was going to make a break for it.

Okay, everyone, is our patient stable for the moment?

They all looked at me, even the injured man.

Yes, sir.

Then I need you all to give me the room for a second.

But, sir, the intern spoke up, he needs fluids, and we need to clean out his wounds. He has to be assessed to see where else he might be injured.

There’s no internal bleeding that we know of, right? I moved closer.

Not that we know of, sir.

Good, then leave. I’ll call you when it’s okay to come back in.

They all filed out of the room. The patient studied me as I stepped to the side of the bed. I tried not to crowd him. Something told me he wasn’t used to a lot of people or to having his space invaded. I smiled, and he relaxed slightly.

I’m Doctor Zachary Harleigh. I held out my hand.

He offered his hesitantly, and I shook it, firm but soft enough not to hurt him.

Can you tell me your name?

Shaking his head, the man gestured to his throat. I frowned.

This isn’t caused by whoever beat you, is it?

He shook his head again.

Okay. Can you write?

He nodded, and I pulled a small notebook out of my pocket, handing it to him along with a pen. What’s your name?

He wrote something on the paper before holding it out to me.

Raven Sanderson. That’s a nice name.

It fit him in many ways. Of course, the color of his hair made the name obvious, but he also seemed fragile, like a bird. I’d never really thought of ravens as delicate birds, though I did see them as wild, and Raven gave off that same vibe. If I made the wrong move, he would fly away, injured or not.

He ducked his head and a little bit of pink tinged his cheeks.

Do you have any family I can call?

The notebook was drawn close again, and he scratched something down while I inventoried his injuries. Someone had attacked him brutally. Raven must have been in a great deal of agony.

Do you want medicine for the pain?

Glancing up at me, he frowned like he didn’t understand what I meant. I reached out, stopping inches away from the bruise on his right cheek. He didn’t flinch, which gave me an inordinate sense of accomplishment. For some reason, he didn’t find my presence upsetting. I snorted to myself. More than likely, it was simply because we were the only two in the room, not because of any special power on my part.

All those bruises have to hurt. I gestured toward his multiple contusions, scrapes, and cuts.

He lifted his arm, staring at them in fascination.

Your family, I prompted him.

Not taking his gaze off the various marks upon his pale skin, he gave me his note.

There is only my sister, but I don’t know where she is. That’s why I came to the city. I need to find her, I read the note aloud then sighed.

It would figure he wouldn’t have anyone I could call to come and sit with him. I glanced up in time to see Raven had laid his hand over the worst cut on his arm.

No. You shouldn’t be touching the wounds. Your hands are dirty and you could get infected.

Raven tilted his head, listening to me, but I wasn’t sure he understood what I said. He allowed me to peel his hand away and my mouth dropped open. Where there had been a gaping wound, deep enough for me to see the white gleam of the bone, now there wasn’t anything. Not even a pink scar hinting at an injury.

I reached out to run my fingers over his slender arm, and he jerked away from me. I realized that, even though I was being nice to him, he didn’t completely trust me not to hurt him.

I won’t hurt you, Raven. I’m a doctor, and that means I heal people, not hurt them.

He stared at me with his dark eyes, and I swore he could look all the way into my deepest soul, seeing all my secret hopes and dreams. Raven blinked, letting me go from whatever spell he’d put on me.

As long as I stay in the room and take the lead, will you let the nurses come in and check you out? Keep the pen and paper. Write notes if you need to, and I’ll make sure they listen to you.

Nodding, Raven relaxed back against the pillows. I checked that he had my pen and notebook before I called the others back into the room. I remained calm, and like the professionals they were, they followed my lead. Most of their questions required a yes or a no, and Raven didn’t have any problem answering them.

Sylvia, one of the ER nurses, pulled me aside and gestured to Raven. I could’ve sworn his injuries were far worse. There’s a lot of blood on his clothes for the simple cuts and bruises he has.

I shrugged, scrambling to come up with a good enough explanation to satisfy her when I couldn’t even believe it myself.

Mr. Sanderson was panicked when he came in here. Maybe there was too much commotion for everyone to get a good look at them.

Shouts came from the entrance of the emergency room, so Sylvia shot me a skeptical glance before she raced off to see what was going on. Sighing, I scrubbed my hand over my face and turned back to see Raven scribbling something on the paper. He ripped the piece of paper off and held it out to me.

I took it from him and read the note. Afterward, I glanced up at him and shook my head.

Your injuries might look like they’re minor, but I’d like to keep you overnight to make sure there’s nothing we haven’t caught.

Raven waved a hand at me, and I held up the paper.

I know you have to find your sister, but I don’t think one night will make that much difference. It’s a big city, and she could be anywhere. Unless you know where she is?

As Raven shook his head, I found myself distracted by the liquid blackness of his hair. I stared at Raven, wondering what made him different from the other beautiful men who rolled through my hospital. It wasn’t just his looks, even though those were amazing.

His pale skin glowed and his features were almost foxlike in their angles and curves. A sudden thought hit me, causing my heart to skip a beat. When the aliens had arrived all those years ago, I’d been a baby and had never interacted with any of them before they’d been destroyed. Yet I’d seen pictures since then, in history books and on the ’net.

Something about Raven’s features reminded me of the creatures who’d arrived from space and caused so much chaos and destruction. There was no possibility of Raven being one of them—the world government had ensured all the aliens had been wiped out. They’d showed no mercy to the invaders, and I understood why.

Some part of me couldn’t help but wonder why the aliens had had to die. To be honest, from what I’d read and the research I’d done, the aliens had never actually attacked any of our countries or people. They’d simply appeared and seemed interested in trying to communicate with us.

Of course, what did I know? I probably should have been angry with the aliens since they were the reason my father had died, but I didn’t dwell on the past. He hadn’t been there for me while I’d been growing up, and I didn’t know what I’d missed, though my mother had never hesitated to tell me all about what a no-good man he was.

A throat clearing brought me back to the present, and I blinked. When I looked toward the door, I saw Jackson standing there. He must’ve seen me staring at Raven and believed I was ogling him. I rolled my eyes at him, and the nurse grinned.

Can I help you, Jackson?

I’ve come to take the patient up to his room. Jackson sounded purely professional.

Raven whimpered and shook his head, reaching out to grab my arm. Panic and fear ripped through me, like I felt every emotion running through him. Gasping, I almost went to my knees. I braced my hands on the mattress next to Raven’s hips. His eyes widened and he yanked his hand away from me, whining low in his throat.

I took a deep breath and gathered myself. After straightening, I patted him on the shoulder, not letting my touch linger.

You’ll be okay. I’m on shift all night, so I’ll stop by every hour to check on you. It’ll be fine.

I could tell Raven wanted to argue, but not having a voice caused problems. Finding his sister was important. I couldn’t let him go, though. Not without knowing beyond a shadow of a doubt that he was okay. Admittedly, I usually wouldn’t argue with a patient who wanted to leave, but everything inside me told me not to let Raven out of my sight.

With a silent sigh, he settled back and nodded. As Jackson rolled Raven out of the room, I overheard the nurse say to Raven, You’re lucky. Dr. Harleigh is the best doctor in the hospital. He’ll keep his word and visit you throughout the night.

Raven grunted, and I smiled. Something told me the young man would believe that when he saw it. I set an alarm on my watch for an hour from now, so I could remember to go and visit Raven like I’d promised.

* * * *

My alarm buzzed and I sat up on the small cot in the doctors’ break room. Running my hands up and down my arms, I tried to orient myself. The sounds of the hospital rushed by outside the door, and I could hear voices murmuring. It was a slow night in the ER, and if I hadn’t promised Raven I’d stop by to check on him, I would have kept sleeping. As a doctor, I took the opportunity to sleep whenever I could.

I headed to the bathroom to piss. After emptying my bladder, I washed my hands and splashed some cold water on my face to wake up.

Jackson looked up from where he sat at the nurses’ station as I shuffled by. He shook his head.

Here, Doc. Looks like you might need some of this.

I glanced at the mug he held out to me. You know I don’t drink coffee.

I remember. It’s chai. Has enough caffeine in it to wake you up but won’t do a number on your stomach like coffee. Jackson saw my skepticism. It’s tea, and Sylvia is addicted to it.

Am not. Sylvia strolled down the hall, sipping from her own mug. She smiled at me. Going to check on Mr. Sanderson?

I nodded. I promised him, and with him being mute, I think it’s best if he trusts someone here.

Sylvia frowned. They did tests on his throat and didn’t find any injury to cause his muteness.

I got the impression he was born that way. He told me it wasn’t the attack that caused it. I took the chai from Jackson and held the warm mug in my hands. Has he said anything about who did it to him?

Not yet. The police are coming in the morning to talk to him.

I’ll make sure to let his nurse know to call me when the police get here. I don’t think he’ll react well to them. I sipped and a marvelous cinnamon flavor burst over my tongue. I gasped, and the nurses laughed. This is wonderful.

Another convert, Sylvia crowed while she and Jackson high-fived.

I shook my head and headed toward the elevator. Page me if you need me.

Will do, Doc. Tell Mr. Sanderson hi from us, Jackson called.

I will.

After entering the elevator car, I punched the fifth floor button before leaning against the back wall. I closed my eyes and breathed in the tantalizing smells wafting from the mug while my mind danced back to the observation I’d made in the ER.

Something about Raven drew my thoughts back to the pictures of the aliens I’d seen in books. Of course, I was pretty sure the aliens didn’t really look like that on their own planet. Our government had captured a few of them and managed to get information from them.

They’d said they’d come seeking sanctuary. The aliens had had no interest in taking over our planet. They’d simply needed some place else to live, but after watching decades of space invasion movies, humans hadn’t been inclined to believe that.

The aliens had been studying Earth for decades, and they’d arrived in a form that should have been more acceptable to us. Unfortunately, they hadn’t counted on our inability to accept anyone different, even though they looked the same on the outside. They’d been strange creatures with powers we’d never seen before.

Yet they were beautiful, and Raven reminded me of them. Most of the adults had been killed during the months following their arrival. The aliens might have come in peace but they’d been perfectly capable of