The Star Caster Read Free

he is and what he’s doing down here with me. He doesn’t appear to be like the men that so desperately pulled me into their vehicle; he seems different, somehow, and I can’t help but feel the connection with him once more.
    He looks at me for a moment before turning around again. He shoves his hands in his pockets, and I hear him begin whistling the soft melody of Beethoven again. I make my decision before thinking, and speak. “Wait,” I whisper.

 
     
     
     
     
    Chapter 2
     
    The man turns around slowly, seemingly afraid that I’ll just tell him to leave again. He waits where he stands, somewhere beyond the orange glow, and I have to swallow to gather my courage. It’s even more awkward talking to someone that I can’t see.
    “Who are you?” I ask.
    “I am like you,” he says.
    What does that mean? Of course he’s like me. We’re both human. Or does he mean something else? Does he mean that he was captured as well? Is this the life that I’m going to lead as well? Will I forever be a face on a milk carton? I guess it’s time to stop asking myself these questions. “Did you help them capture me?”
    The man begins to walk back over to me. I can tell that he knows that my questions are going to continue. He sighs as he sits back down on the cold, hard ground. His grey eyes stare at me as he figures out what he is going to say to me. “I aided them,” he admits. “However,” he adds when he realizes that I’m not going to freak out, “I did not plan your kidnapping.”
    I nod, understanding. They must have forced him into it. Whoever these men are, they disgust me. However, I figure that this man doesn’t trust me enough yet. I can’t ask him if he’s been kidnapped. He could have some sort of wire or microphone. He might not want to tell me, considering I will end up in the same life. I sigh, wondering where to go from here.
    “What more do you want?” he says after a m inute.
    “I don’t know,” I say . “I guess I want to know why I’m here, in this cage. I could be in a cell, in a room with a lock on the outside.”
    “It is safer to keep you there,” he says. The man leans back again, waiting for me to process this information. Was it safer for them – my kidnappers – or me? And how would this prison be safer for me anyway? It could never be safer than a simple cell.
    “Why me?” I ask before my brain can catch up to my mouth.
    “You are the person they are after. That is all there is to it. I do not know who you are to them. I suppose neither of us will until after the metamorphosis. Don’t you agree?”
    I shrug in understanding; I did see his point. “What is your name?” I ask him a moment later. I almost feel rude for not introducing myself but realize, once again, where I am. How could I have forgotten? Oh, because we were actually having a nice conversation. I didn’t think that kind of stuff happened in times like these.
    He smiles. “My name is Sterren. And what is your name?”
    “Danika,” I state.
    Sterren stands suddenly and does something very unusual and unheard of in this time period. He bows to me. His hand, palm first, touches his stomach, and he just bends in half. I almost laugh, but blush instead. This was not a normal kidnapper-kidnapped relationship. He must have been forced to help them. But didn’t I come to that conclusion moments ago? Why am I pushing so hard?
    “Do you know if I’ll be here forever?” I finally ask.
    Sterren shrugs. “I do not know what they want with you,” he repeats.
    I sigh and whimper as I accidentally lean against my enclosure. I watch as Sterren moves so that he is squatting in front of me. H is grey eyes stare at me and his brow furrows. In one swift movement, Sterren is standing over me, his grey eyes sad and angry. He turns away and leaves me staring after him, my mouth open.
    What the heck was that? He is one strange guy. Why would he be so polite, and then just walk away with no acknowledgement of my