With his back pressed against the limestone wall, Faron Rothschild sat watching the shadows dancing in the candlelight over the petroglyphs. An outcast from each world, though an emissary for both, Faron's kind took up the role of protecting humans, whom the Anunnaki abandoned and later warred with, while also keeping the Anunnaki secret from the world that forgot them. Not an easy task, and a great burden.
"Something went wrong long ago," he whispered. "The world wasn't supposed to be like this."
Flannery Birch knelt down beside him, leaning her face toward his and taking the initiative to brush her lips over his— not caring who or what he was. To her, he was her own personal guardian angel. Not a monster, but a boy her age. A cave guide with blondish hair and gray eyes, who challenged her to take on what frightened her. Emotions simmered like magma when he responded with gentleness.
To ruin the moment, men's voices shouted out commands above, each taking their position around the vertical cave. Fee closed her eyes, knowing what this meant. Soon, Black Ops would descend into the hole. There was nowhere to run. Sharing in her conclusion of the situation, Faron grasped her closer, stealing a final kiss.
"They're coming. They want to seal the cave."
"Tell me it's going to be okay."
He held her close, stroking her long hair while trying to quell his anguish. Nothing could do that now. He kissed the crown of her head, knowing it was goodbye. "They'll keep us apart...unless they get what they want."
"We won't let them."
His face didn't seem so sure.
"Your spirit honors this cave and its secrets. Never forget them."
On a count of three, Black Ops rappelled down the ropes on a belay system, traversing the sloping walls with ease. As soon as their boots touched the ground, they spun around, ready for action. Dressed in black with facemasks—making them all the more terrifying—they seemed over-prepared to handle two kids. Faron jumped in front of the cowering girl, ready to take them on bare-handed. Three larger, muscular men assessed the situation, guns ready to unholster. One agent held up his fist, and the others held their positions while he spoke.
"We're blowing this cave up. You better leave, now."
Faron turned to the teen in jean shorts and a summer T-shirt. "Go."
"Not without you."
His face was etched with pain. There was nothing he could do. Then, one of the agents secretly made a triangle sign with his gloved fingers, which Faron understood. The ancient symbol was bound to an ancient allegiance.
"Please, Fee," he told her as gently as possible. "They won't hurt you."
Faron stepped aside, but she clung to him, to his arm, her eyes demanding, Why? But the pale boy tilted his head to the shadows where he belonged.
"No!" she cried, gloved hands yanking her away from him. She kicked an agent's legs, but he didn't even seem to feel it.
"Don't make this difficult," the one gripping her said, while another focused on Faron.
Faron quickly moved against the wall, feeling with his left foot for an opening in the cave floor leading to a deeper chamber. He found the edge of it, so he quickly squatted down and inserted a foot, trying to get a good toehold in the rock to climb down. He mentally mapped the tunnels, planning his route.
"Hey," one barked. "Get the boy."
A man in black cautiously approached the blond-haired boy, saying, "Easy now. I'm not going to hurt you."
In a split second, a clawed hand reached up from the pit, encircling Faron's ankle. With one sharp tug, he was pulled into the darkness. The shorter agent jumped forward, landing on his stomach with an outstretched arm in a last ditch effort to reach the boy. He was too late. The Reptilian descended into the depths with Faron. Neither a sound nor anything but darkness remained.
Fee tried to free herself from the agent's hold, but she was dragged toward the ropes, as the taller agent held a flashlight over the cave paintings. Ancient petroglyphs depicted wars with star beings on earth that were long forgotten.
"This is a problem."
"What is it?" the third one asked.
"Secrets we can't ever let get out."
"What about the girl?"
"Get her out of here. Let's blow this place back to hell, and then we'll go from there."
Fee crumpled to the ground, heartbroken. They were going to bury this last link to human history, and there was nothing she could do about it.