Across Space to You: Book 1 of the Across Space Trilogy

By Emma Curry

All Elizabeth has ever wanted is the truth—until she finds it.

Seventeen-year-old Elizabeth Turner is different from the kids in her small town on the outskirts of Sydney. She’s fast, strong, and intelligent, but by how much remains a mystery. She’s never been allowed to test her limits. She only knows that her parents won’t let her participate in class, play sports, or pursue Eric (the boy she likes). But when a mysterious new guy, Tarel, shows up in her class, his presence sends a searing pain into her chest, testing her limits. She must stay away from him. But Tarel feels it too, and he knows more about her than he lets on. He’s willing to teach her more, but she can’t stand his presence—literally. He’s now left with no choice. He kidnaps her.

When she wakes up, she’s on another planet. She does not expect what have been waiting for her on Zoorer—her biological father, marriage, leadership, and a pending war.

Across space to you is book 1 of the Across Space trilogy.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris AU
• Release date: Jul 27, 2018
• ISBN: 9781543408287

Book preview

CHAPTER 1

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The sun was peeping out over the low range of the mountains. I stood, unable to move from the stunning view.

As the only child, I had a room to myself on the second floor. The rays from the orange sunrise came streaming in and highlighted the planets that were painted on my ceiling. On the weekends, I would let the rays move across my body, giving me new life as the day dawned.

I reluctantly turned away from the beautiful view, walking past the unmade bed I had left a few moments ago. The day was too beautiful to let my fears paralyse me. I quickly changed, moved around the house quietly, and then went out through the front door for my morning run. The route was one of the harder ones. There were many trails around my home that I could pick and choose from. In recent months, I had been seeking longer and harder tracks almost as if I was restless in some way. My morning run had always been the best time of the day for me.

I walked through the small still-sleeping town before I started to run. It was truly incredible to live in a small town within the outskirts of Sydney near Blue Mountains. Blue Mountains had close to fifty small cities, towns, and villages. I lived in a very small town called Hawkesbury Heights. The town only had close to four hundred people living here. The best part about the town was that it had the most amazing running paths. In autumn, the place transformed magically into another world, with beautiful golden-red leaves covering the entire town. It was my favourite time of the year.

Now we were almost into summer, and the days could be hot, but the mornings remained cool. The air was fresh as it hit my face while I ran with Sia’s ‘Cheap Thrills’ playing in my ears.

I will enjoy this run, this moment, and I will not think about my worries right now, I mentally instructed myself, and then I did the exact opposite. I had two things weighing on my mind. One of my biggest worries at that moment was crucial for the rest of my life. It could make or break me – HSC. The past thirteen years of schooling were all mounting up to this: my final high-school exams.

No! I told myself again, more harshly this time. I am not going to think about my worries right now. Back to ‘Cheap Thrills’. I took in a deep breath and let it out. I could smell the eucalyptus trees that surrounded the tracks. I looked up briefly at the tall trees to see if I could find any koalas, as I had done many times before, but I saw the warm mornings sunrays streaming in through the leaves instead. I noticed where I was and how far I had come already.

I quickly and consciously slowed my pace. I turned about to see if anyone had noticed that I had been running at an unusual speed. Thankfully, no one was around. It was another good thing about living in a remote town. You could walk for hours and not see anyone at all. I slowed my pace even more and started to walk as I approached the town again. I slowed my pace to a stroll as I turned into our small street, and my home was now in sight.

My parents, Daniel and Suzanne Turner, and our dog, Sassy – that was my happy home. My parents were what my friends called ‘cool’, not for what they did for a living but for more: their attitude towards life and me. My dad was a criminal lawyer, while Mum was a dentist. My parents were ‘cool’ about all things but for one.

Back to reality – it was Monday morning already. The weekend had gone past so quick. I was stuck indoors for both days doing what I could before the trial exams, which were to start in two weeks. Coming down this close to HSC, it all seemed to hit me at once – the future, the uncertainty, the unknown of the course I picked, and the worries if I would get enough marks to enter the course. Usually, I was not this nervous about school and exam results. I was what my teachers called ‘gifted’. Despite my better intention, I would ace most exams, but in the past few weeks, I had been getting a feeling that something was about to happen and I was not going to like it. I couldn’t shake the dark brooding feeling.

I suddenly felt a pang of unease, the same strange feeling that had been haunting me the past few weeks. Someone was watching me.

I slowed down my pace even more and was very conscious of myself and my surroundings. The trees on the sides of the road were the only things moving gently to the morning breeze. I turned around and saw that no one else was about. It was still early hours, but the sun was out now, and enough light came through the trees, showing that no one was in sight.

Warned by an instinct I didn’t understand or challenge, I moved forward quickly, feeling the urge to get home soon. I could not shake the feeling of being watched, and it did not leave me for the rest of my way home.

I walked up the small pathway to the front door and let myself in after taking one last look around to ensure no one was watching me.

I nearly tripped as I stepped into the house. Sassy was waiting at the door, wagging her tail. Sassy was a Beagle and not on the large side. She was clearly waiting because of her morning nature call. I let her out quickly and followed her back out of the house. She never needed a leash, even as a young puppy.

Sassy led me around to the small park at the end of the street and looked for the perfect spot near a tree. I kept my eyes alert and looked out for any movement among the trees. The strange feeling that I was being watched was still lingering. Sassy was uneasy too. She looked about and started to bark as she too could sense something was amiss.

When we both returned home this time, Dad was in the shower singing – badly, I would have to add – a song I had never heard before. It must be from the sixties. Or he could just be singing it so badly that I couldn’t even recognise it.

‘Good morning, sweetie!’ Mum called out while coming out with a hot steaming cup of coffee from the kitchen and gave me a quick peck on the cheek.

‘Morning, Mum. Dad is singing again.’ I couldn’t help smiling.

‘Is that what you call it?’ she asked.

My mother and I looked at each other and laughed. I ran upstairs to take a shower, and I checked the time to see that it was just after six o’clock. I had plenty of time before school started, but it was Monday, and that meant I’d want to be at the school early – to see Eric.

Eric. He brought me to the other biggest issue in my life right now. Eric was not an issue if you call a friendship of years going nowhere I wanted it to go. The simple fact was that I had known him since we were kids, and I had been madly in love with him since we started high school. However, nothing was simple about that fact. Eric was completely oblivious to this, and my parents completely hated that I was crazy about Eric.

Eric was in the school’s and the club’s rugby teams, and Monday mornings were his practice times at school. I made up excuses every Monday to be at the school library very early, only to watch him practice through the window.

As sad as that sounded, it was my holy hour of the week. Unfortunately, I was not the only one in love with him. Half the school was. He was absolutely gorgeous. He was just perfect for me, over six feet tall. Taller than me. I had always been tall, something I inherited from both my tall parents. Dad was about six feet and three inches. Mum was just an inch or so shorter than me at five feet and nine inches.

Eric was perfect in every way, and most importantly, he was perfect for me. He had the most amazing hair. It was a rich light brown, tousled with blond highlights. It wasn’t just his physical looks that I was crazy about. He was genuinely a down-to-earth, boy-next-door nice guy.

I took my time and got dressed in my school uniform and did my long hair up with more care than I usually did. I glanced at the clock to see that I was running late now. I came down to see that my parents were also both ready. Dad was eating his usual morning breakfast, bacon and eggs. Mum and I usually had cereal.

‘Morning, Dad.’ I bent to give him the kiss he was waiting for.

‘Good morning, honey. Going early again?’ he asked, giving my mum a quick glance that was not lost on me. They both knew of my obsession with Eric, and they both hated it. It was the only thing about my parents I could not understand. They were the best parents anyone could ask for but for their unreasonable dislike of Eric. They didn’t even have a valid reason for hating him.

‘Yep, I have some maths work to finish off. So what’s that song you were singing?’ I asked quickly to change the topic in case they started to question me more, even though in the past year or so, I thought my parents settled at the thought that nothing would ever happen between Eric and me and they had eased off from all the lectures.

‘It’s one of Billy Joel’s. Finish your breakfast, and I’ll drop you off at school.’ Dad brought me back to reality.

‘Thanks, Dad.’ I sat down and ate quickly.

‘Darling, don’t forget Dad and I are going to the charity dinner this Saturday. Are you going to be okay on your own?’ Mum asked, getting her things together for work.

‘Yeah, I have a history assignment due next week. I would be busy.’ I ate quickly and was ready to leave a few minutes later.

The short drive to school with Dad was always pleasant. I went to Springwood High School. I normally walked, but sometimes I got a lift with one of my parents. Usually, when Dad offered a lift, he wanted a moment with me alone. It was when we talked. I had always been close to both my parents, being their only child. It was easy enough to get all their attention, sometimes too much of it.

‘You know, honey, there is more to life than HSC. Just do what you can. You know your mum and I would be proud of you no matter what.’

Dad seemed to worry about me these days more than ever. Maybe I seemed more stressed? I didn’t think I had changed much over the past year. It had been years since I’d seen him worry about me this much, other than about Eric, of course.

‘Yeah, Dad. I just want to do my best, that’s all,’ I rushed to reassure him.

‘You are going to sports meet this week?’

Another worrying question. I nodded, not saying anything more.

‘Please be careful.’

The warning came loud and clear, the problems that we did not talk about. So this drive was not about Eric after all. I didn’t know if that was a good thing or not.

‘Yes.’ I kept it short.

It was strange. Even after all these years, he warned me about my unspeakable problems: my uncommon speed, my unusual strength, and my remarkable IQ level. I wished I could take their worry away. I just wished I knew how. Having a high IQ level didn’t really help with the emotional side of things though, which was a pity. It would be a good thing to actually put one of these freak traits to use.

Dad drove to the school front gate. I gave him a quick kiss and jumped out of the car. I waved him goodbye and watched him drive off. The unspoken warning was left hanging between us.

CHAPTER 2

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Monday morning at high school was as normal as could be expected. There were only a few seniors around by this time of the morning. Usually, kids arrived by eight forty-five for the nine o’clock bell. I made my way up to the library quickly. I did have some maths work I could run through before school started. So it wasn’t a complete lie to my parents.

‘Good morning, Lizzy,’ Mrs Brown greeted me as I walked into the library.

She gave me a knowing smile. I guess she knew all about my unhealthy obsession with Eric. Everyone knew but for Eric. I suppressed the sigh, and I gave her a quick wave before wishing her good morning. I hurried my steps past her, a little embarrassed.

I moved to the back of the library quickly. They should have just started the training. I sat in my usual spot and peeked out quickly to confirm my thought.

It was not hard to spot Eric, even in a crowd of boys with the sports uniform on. I settled myself down, got my books out, and peeked out again. It was the best position to be, covering most of me but just enough space for me to look out without being noticed. I settled myself down to enjoy the next hour or so.

The morning went past in a haze. I spent most of the time looking at him than I did my maths work. There were only so many things I could go over in trigonometry. I glanced again at the so-called challenging questions and worked it out in less than a minute.

The cheer from the boys downstairs made me focus back on Eric again. They actually had a match today. He made it look all too easy. Sometimes I wished I would play with him. I wished I could just play some sport, any sport. But I couldn’t, given my unusual unexplainable traits. No one even knew about my morning runs.

It was almost time for the bell, and the match was over. I left the library to meet my best friend at our usual spot.

Cathy was on the phone when I approached her from behind. I could tell that she was on the phone with her mum and she was upset. She was having more intense fights with her mum these days. Her mum had a new boyfriend, and for some reason, Cathy was not too crazy about him. She had not yet said anything other than he was a fat old fart. Cathy was usually very open about her thoughts, so I knew I would get the whole story soon enough. I moved away to give her some privacy, not that it did a lot of good because her voice rose as she seemed to have got over the last thing her mum had said.

‘I said no, Mum. Just leave me alone already.’ Another sigh. ‘I said no! For god’s sake. If you want to go, you go. I am not coming! My trails starts in two weeks, remember?’

I heard her walk towards me, and I turned and smiled at her, hoping she would calm down.

‘Yeah, yeah, whatever. Anyways, I have to run. The answer is still no.’ And she hung up. ‘God! My mum can be a real pain in the arse,’ she told me, something she said often these days.

‘You okay?’ I asked, not too sure if she was ready to talk or not, but I left it to her.

‘She wants us as a happy family to go away this weekend to Kiama,’ she explained.

Kiama is beautiful, but two weekends before HSC trails? I guess Mrs Jones’ priorities have changed a little. ‘Well, why don’t you crash with me? My parents are going out on Saturday. We’ll have the house to ourselves,’ I offered.

‘Yeah, that would be great. I’ll check with Mum and let you know. Thanks, Liz.’

She was always an effervescent person. This was what I loved about Cathy. Life was ever practical with her, and she didn’t dwell on unpleasant things.

We moved to our first lesson for the day, maths. My teacher, Mr Khan, had an Indian background, and at times, it was difficult to understand him through his heavy accent. He was one of my favourite teachers though. He had a way of explaining things that made sense to me. Sometimes it was like he was explaining things to me alone in the classroom.

The class was noisy as always when we first walked in. Cathy and I took our normal seats near the side window.

‘Did you finish your homework?’ Cathy knew me well enough to discern that I would have done it, but she still asked.

‘Yep.’ I took out my textbook and placed it in front of me. I was a little distracted as I slowly felt that strange feeling settle over me again.

‘You all right?’ She must have picked up something was not right.

‘Yeah, I’m good. I just have this . . . creepy feeling . . .’ I drifted off, not knowing how to voice my concerns without scaring Cathy.

‘What feeling?’ she asked, glancing outside the window past me.

‘Like . . . like I’m being watched,’ I blurted out.

‘What? Since when?’ Cathy leaned into my seat to get a better view past me.

That was the best thing about Cathy; she didn’t even think I was crazy for saying that. She just believed me. She had always known I was a little different but just didn’t know how different.

‘Only in the last couple of weeks . . . just an odd feeling. I can’t seem to shake it off.’ The hair on the back of my neck stood up as if I was doing something terrible by telling Cathy this. ‘You are going to ask Derek for the year 12 formal?’ I changed the topic, feeling very uncomfortable.

‘Yeah, as soon as you ask Eric out.’ Her sarcasm kicked in.

Unlike Eric and me, Derek and Cathy actually were a couple for more than a year now. Cathy would ask him out for the year 12 formal, but I knew she was waiting to be asked out by Derek. ‘Let him be a man in the relationship for once,’ she had explained her reason for waiting. I wondered what he was waiting for. It was not like they would not go together.

‘I don’t know why Derek doesn’t even talk about the formal at all,’ she sounded out my thoughts.

‘Hmmm . . . maybe he is waiting for the perfect moment,’ I suggested, feeling guilty that my thoughts were just that.

‘I am not after a marriage proposal, Liz.’ She sounded frustrated. Patience was never Cathy’s strength. ‘Hey, look, Eric is coming, I wonder why he is coming here.’

Eric didn’t share maths class with us. In fact, Eric didn’t have any class with me. He spent a lot of time in the field, which left him with little time for the books, and like most athletes, his subjects were varied towards more physical education, not that he was a real airhead. He did really well in business studies. His mother also insisted that he got the best tutors for all his subjects.

I watched as he jogged casually over to my class. I could hear my heart beating so loud. God, it’s a crime for him to look this good. In the past, he had been filling out a lot too. His muscles were bulkier, and a lot of the girls from the school took notice. He was never without some girl or another trying to hit on him. Luckily, he had been too busy to have a serious relationship.

He saw us looking at him through the window as he approached the class and he smiled. We had been friends for years now, but you would think someone who knew me for as long as he did would have known how I felt about him.

Mr Khan also walked in at that same moment. Damn! Eric stopped beside our window, still out of sight to Mr Khan.

‘Good morning, class,’ Mr Khan said in his usual happy way.

‘Good morning, Mr Khan,’ we all sang in chorus.

‘Liz, I need a favour,’ Eric whispered.

‘Sure, what’s up?’ I asked, trying to sound casual.

‘I want to ask Megan out for the formal. I don’t know if anyone has asked her out yet. I don’t want to look like an idiot. Can you find out?’

He looked at me, and I was glad he could not notice the pain as it shot through me.

‘God save us all!’ Cathy’s voice was loud enough for Eric to hear.

I sat frozen, not able to breathe anymore. I didn’t know if I responded to his request or nodded. All I knew was someone was choking the life out of me.

‘Thanks, Liz.’ And he was off.

Cathy glared at me but said nothing. The rest of the class went by in a blur. I fought with my shaking hands, my breaking heart, and tears threatening to spill out.

The bell rang for the end of the class, and I was oblivious to everything Mr Khan had been saying in the class. The rest of the day was just as bad. I left the school feeling defeated, and I started walking home, still unable to accept the reality.

‘Liz!’ Cathy must have been calling for some time as she ran after me. She was out of breath by the time she caught up with me.

‘Sorry, I didn’t hear you. Was I meant to wait for you? Sorry, I . . .’ Cathy usually got a lift with her mum as she lived a little farther out.

‘No, but I told Mum that I would be going over to your place to finish an assignment,’ she said, smiling.

‘Thanks, Cat.’

And we both started walking again. We walked in silence.

‘Don’t even think about it.’

I looked up to see what she was talking about.

‘Don’t even think about asking Megan,’ she answered my unasked question.

‘Do think about it.’

I looked up at her again.

‘Do think about coming clean with Eric.’

CHAPTER 3

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I felt the strange feeling of being followed, watched, and hunted all the way to school. I walked faster. It didn’t leave me alone. I could not run, although every fibre of me was screaming for me to do just that. I walked as fast as I could and was relieved to finally see the school with kids being dropped off or walking. I took a moment to calm myself down mentally and walk the last few steps to the school’s front gate.

Cathy was waiting for me. She had a determined look as if she was on a mission. I had seen this look before. Once she decided on something, she would not rest until it was done. I had a feeling that this was going to be about me.

‘So?’ she started. I was not wrong.

‘I am going to tell Eric.’ I rushed out before she even had to tell me what she was talking about.

‘Cool ’cause here comes your big chance.’ With that comment, which she threw over her shoulder, she left me quickly.

Eric was jogging towards me, wearing his usual ‘I am to die for’ sexy grin.

‘Hey,’ he said as he came to a stop. ‘Where’s Cat going?’

‘To find Derek, I think,’ I answered, not really giving too much thought on what reason I came up with.

‘So how’ve you been? I feel like it’s been ages since we caught up, with HSC and my games.’ He fell into step with me as he belonged there.

‘Tell me about it.’ My mind was racing. Is he going to ask about Megan again? Should I beat him to it and tell him before he asks? What do I say? How do I say it? When? Now? My thoughts tripped over one another.

‘You want to catch up for lunch today?’ he asked. ‘I don’t have practice.’

‘Sure. The usual spot?’ It had been months since we met for lunch.

‘Yeah. See you then,’ he said as the bell rang.

We moved to go to our classes quickly. I found Cathy waiting for me again at the roll-call class.

‘How did it go?’ she asked calmly.

‘I have not told him . . . yet,’ I finished lamely.

She rolled her eyes and gave me an angry look.

‘There wasn’t enough time. We are meeting up for lunch today. Maybe I’ll tell him then.’ I needed her to believe that I would do it so I knew I would actually go through with it.

‘Not maybe. Definitely. You tell him, or I’m going to tell him that I love him,’ she warned me. ‘Don’t look at me like that. I’ll tell him I love him. I’ve been in love with him for the past five years, and I’ll even marry him. You can be my maid of honour, and when we have kids, you can be their godmother.’

She grinned as I stuck my tongue out like a kid.

The morning was busy. I had science lab and then physical education. Both needed some concentration. I could not slip up my unnatural problems. Normally, I could hide it well as long as I concentrated in the classes, but today I was distracted as my mind kept wandering off to lunchtime and Eric.

When lunchtime finally came, I walked quickly to our normal seats behind the tennis court. Usually, this area was empty. It was a small area. Not many could fit, and so most of the students ignored it. It was the perfect spot for us. Eric, Cathy, Derek, and I would hang out a lot there in years 7 and 8. Then we drifted apart. The boys got busy with sports, and I also stayed away as my parents were not too happy about my obsession with Eric.

As I was walking by the gymnasium, I saw Shannon and Lea. I had known Shannon and Lea from primary school as well, but we became closer later in high school after we all took Japanese as an elective subject in year 9. These days, it was the four of us girls hanging out together.

‘Hey,’ I said, walking up to them.

‘Hey, hun,’ Shannon said, giving me a quick hug

‘Where are you going?’ Lea asked. ‘Aren’t you coming for lunch?’

‘Ummm, no. Not today. I am having lunch with Eric,’ I confessed, unable to stop the smile spreading across my face.

‘Ohhh!’ they both sang with big grins.

‘I’ll see you guys later.’

I moved on quickly because I knew the teasing would start. And I didn’t want to be late. I had hidden behind one excuse after another, why the timing wasn’t right or the place wasn’t right to tell him. Here it was, the perfect opportunity, just me and him away from the rest of the school’s peering eyes and ears. No more excuses. I have to tell him.

The tennis court was at the far end of the school. There was open grass for the playing area. Usually, the area would be filled with some kids practicing for rugby or touch footy at lunchtime for their upcoming games and matches. I slowed down my walk a little to get my head around what I was going to say to Eric and how I was going to say it to him.

Then suddenly, my focus changed. The feeling of being watched came on again, hard and fast this time, and it was strong, so strong that I stood still. Right there, a sudden heat ran through me. It started off slowly and then increased rapidly. I felt the field start to spin. I wanted to run. But my legs wouldn’t move. My breath came out short and sharp as if I had been running for miles. My legs ignored the command to run, to move. I felt paralysed. And I felt as if I was on fire.

‘Lizzy!’ I heard my name from far away.

The sudden feeling of being held paralysed fell away. Everything came back into focus. My legs started to move with ease. I turned my head to see Eric running up to me.

‘Hey, you okay? You kind of looked like you were frozen there for a minute.’ He laughed.

‘Yeah, sorry, I was thinking of something.’ I could not begin to explain to myself what just happened, let alone to him.

We started walking towards the tennis court together. My hands were still shaking, and I tried my best to calm my heart down. What the hell had just happened?

I followed him, and we sat in our usual spot. I told myself to relax and focus on Eric. After a few minutes, I managed to actually focus on what he was saying and listened to him before my mind went drifting off to what had happened to me.

‘I can’t get over how crazy this year has been.’ Eric took a bite out of my wrap and took the rest of the wrap from my fingers. He passed his pasta to me. He must have bought the pasta at school. I didn’t usually see him eat anything that the coach would not recommend. He was careful about his diet. He needed to be in the best shape, and that meant watching everything he ate as well as hours and hours of physical workout.

‘Have you thought about moving to Sydney?’ he asked. Sydney was two hours away, and that was where we would all be next year for universities.

‘I have not even started to look for a place yet. Cat and I will look for one together,’ I said and then wondered at the thought of Derek and Eric sharing our apartment with us. My heart skipped at that thought. My parents would love that. I started to eat his pasta to keep myself distracted.

‘Are you going away after the exams?’ He leaned back against the seat, and I could not help gawking at his form. Focus!

‘Not sure. My parents have