The Visitors by Katy Newton Naas Page B

it’s dark in order to really see it. You’ll see why when we get there.”
    She looked around at the other humans nervously. Since no one seemed to be listening to our conversation, she relaxed a little. “Sure. If you’re sure it’s safe.”
    â€œIt’s safe. I’ve been many times. But Jady, could we keep this to ourselves? As in, just the two of us could go? I’ve actually got something I would like to discuss with you, and it’s private.” I wasn’t sure how to tell her that it was against the rules for me to be alone with her; I knew that would turn into a whole new set of questions.
    She breathed a sigh of relief. “Absolutely. In fact, I probably shouldn’t tell anyone that I’m going out alone with you. My dad worries,” she whispered as she glanced toward him.
    â€œThen it’s our secret.” I tried not to show my relief, or the excitement I felt about being alone with her. I would finally get the answers I was after, hopefully.
    By that time, we were at the dining hall. Jady sat next to Luke, once again changing his emotions to bliss and hope. I sat across the table from the captain, taking a place next to Sir Andrew in order to help him field the questions about our educational system. Formulating my responses was difficult due to my excitement for the night that was to come. Mentally, I scolded myself, knowing that part of my excitement was not because of the fact that I would be able to discuss her gift with her, but just because I got to spend time alone with her. These new and unusual feelings she caused were creating quite a struggle in my mind. I had to find out why and how she used this gift over me, because as far as I could tell, she was not using her powers with any other member of our society. In fact, the only other person who seemed to be so enamored with her was Luke. It was impossible to make sense of her methods. But, I knew one thing for certain: I would make sure I found out tonight.

Chapter Six: Jady
    I had no idea how I was going to sneak out with Noah to see the waterfall. Since I had arrived on this planet, I could barely remember a moment alone. How could I ever find a way to leave the crew and get out of the visitors’ chamber without being seen?
    I considered this all through dinner, but to no avail. Butterflies formed in my stomach at the idea of the night that was to come. The invitation replayed over and over again in my head. What could it possibly be that he wanted to talk to me about? At that moment, his reason for asking me didn’t matter – one look into those green eyes and I would have followed him off a cliff. It was extremely ridiculous and pathetic, I knew, but I couldn’t help it. There was something about him that I was drawn to.
    When dinner was over, we all headed back to the visitors’ chamber. I racked my brain for any excuse to get away, knowing I had promised Noah I would meet him just down the path from our chamber at ten-thirty p.m. While I was hoping that would be late enough so that everyone would be asleep, I knew that wasn’t something I could count on. Luke rarely went to sleep before midnight, no matter how tired he was. I had to think of something. My palms turned cold and sweaty from the pressure.
    Luckily, fate gave me the small window of chance that I needed. As Sir Andrew walked us back to the visitors’ chamber, he made an announcement to our crew. “I would like to extend an opportunity to you all. Tomorrow morning at three - thirty a.m., there will be a striking galactic show. Once every thousand years, the star constellation closest to us aligns just right with the moon that orbits our planet. It causes a magnificent display of lights in the sky. As I said, it only takes place every thousand years, so it is a rare opportunity. I can guarantee you will never see anything so spectacular from Earth.”
    The entire crew buzzed with excitement.