Read Polaris for Free Online Page B

stooped over, and placed his hands on his knees to catch his breath.
    “Look at the ground. It looks like the snow is melting,” Parker said.
    Aaron realized the sloshing sound was coming from mud and the snow was no longer deep.
    Suddenly, they both froze and panic swept over them like a flood. The ominous thump was felt all around them. The branches twitched and shook. The creature appeared and moved toward Parker.
    Aaron moved in front of Parker. “Get away from us, you alien thing!” he shouted. He bent down, picked up a fallen branch, and used it to fend off the creature. Each time Aaron swung and hit the creature with the branch part of it would disappear. The creature continued to try and reach around Aaron and get to Parker. Aaron saw another branch and went to grab it when he slipped and fell over, tumbling down a slight hill. The creature ignored him and went after Parker as he ran and hid behind a tree.
    “Run, Aaron,” Parker yelled. “He’s not after you. Go get help! I’ll keep him here.”
    Aaron got to his feet and started running but stopped when he heard Parker scream. He turned around just in time to see Parker sprawled on the ground with his arms wildly swinging at the creature. As soon as it touched him, Parker vanished.
    Aaron’s scream choked inside of his chest as he ran deeper into the wooded area. He continued running until he could no longer hear the thumping sound. As he rounded a tree, his foot hit something hard, and he fell face-first into the melting snow. He looked back and saw it was a very large boulder, partially hidden in the snow—the meteorite.
    He ducked behind it to hide, intently listening for the thumping sound or any sign of Nakal. He took a deep breath and exhaled as he allowed his weight to lean against the massive rock. He felt someone grab him by the front of his coat and yank downwards, forcing him inside the meteorite.
    Aaron found himself in total blackness, completely weightless, floating amongst millions of twinkling stars. Directly in front of him stood the old man from the gas station.

Chapter 5

     
     
    “Shh,” the old man whispered as he placed an index finger to his lips.
    Aaron barely took a breath as he looked beneath his feet and saw nothing but stars. The only sound was the rapid beating of his heart in his ears.
    Aaron stood in space, a place where time was and is at the same time. A place where darkness met light, the end and beginning joined hands in the middle of creation. It was an eerie place, but beautiful at the same time. A peaceful and still place, where life was created and death crept by.
    The old man motioned for Aaron to follow him as he turned and took a step into the darkness and disappeared. Seconds later, his hand appeared from the unseen back into the seen, his index finger beckoning.
    “How is that possible?” Aaron whispered, but fear prompted him to follow. He took a deep breath and stepped into the darkness. For a brief moment he felt as if he were in a vacuum. The darkness drew him inward. Moments later, he once again found himself standing next to the old man. This time they were in a long narrow hallway. The walls appeared to shift as if made from liquid mercury. Within them were faces that appeared to be asleep, the walls slightly moving with each breath they took. The floor looked like it was made from highly polished stainless steel that showed no evidence of recent visitors.
    He continued to follow the old man as they made their way down the hallway into a small room, and finally into what appeared to be a storage closet. Aaron watched in silence as the old man looked around before closing the door behind him.
    “We can talk here,” he said. “My name is Henry Kessler.”
    Aaron’s mind raced, not sure where to begin or what to say.
    Mr. Kessler continued. “I’m sure you have a lot of questions. Some I may be able to answer, and others I may not be at liberty to answer.”
    Aaron forced himself to speak. “What