Finding ourselves on a beach side. The coloration of the water tinged with a slight orange hue as the sun set behind the feigning clouds of the sky.

As if to mock us of our earthly problems–the sun, the sky. They all just look down with disgust; showing me a beautiful dream that seems unachievable.

CHRIS: …Derel, you all good?

I looked over to Chris–she stood only a couple of feet away in her new set of casual clothing. As if telling me to judge her new look–I could only feel apathetic, knowing the secrets of my father–and her assumed past.

I then looked away–back at the sunset.

DEREL: Yeah, just processing some things..

Gazing at me with an understanding sympathy. For what felt like the first time, Chris tried breaking the tension.

CHRIS: Well…even through all of what we’ve just seen, and heard–you still somewhat have a sense of style.

Looking at her with slight surprise and confusion–I then looked down at my opened summer jacket as well as my cartoonishly reddened shorts and limited edition t-shirt of battle faction heroes.

I chuckled a bit–finally realizing what kind of reality I was in.

DEREL: Hah..! That’s funny–I’d say the same thing, if your choices weren’t so bland.

Looking at her sage green hoodie, lighter blue jeans and gray polka dotted pony t-shirt. I couldn’t help but lighten up the mood.

CHRIS: Hey…! I’ll have you know–polka dotted ponies are way more commercialized across the world..!

Laughing again–not entirely in cynicism but in genuinity.

DEREL: Pfft! Hahah!

CHRIS: Hahah!

DEREL: Ahah..haah..

DEREL: . . .

The silence though–eventually wormed its way into my throat once again.

DEREL: . . .

DEREL: Hey, Chris..you ever think about your sister?

Chris turned to me–then as if to hide a somber expression–she now looked towards the ocean waves.

CHRIS: I…I do.

CHRIS: . . .

CHRIS: I always do.

With the waves crashing onto the sandy beachside–the shade of the sun hid behind the clouds–giving the sand a much needed rest from its scorning rays.

CHRIS: What about you? I mean I know you’re an only child but..

She cut half way–not really knowing where she was going with the conversation.

DEREL: . . .

DEREL:..I do…or at least I did..

Now with a surprised expression–Chris just looked at me.

CHRIS: W-Wait, you have a sister..!?

Somehow childlike–Chris’ eyes lit up with a singe of curiosity.

Apathetically–I stared off into the sky.

DEREL: Yeah, apparently her name was Ciara.

DEREL: I didn’t know her much since she died a year before I was born.

Now with an understanding eye–Chris’ expression grew more serious than curious.

DEREL: Apparently, my parents had a hard time getting children–but ever since Ciara was born–it was the happiest and worst days in their lives.

DEREL: The same day she was born–she suddenly died due to an early birth..

Chris just sat in silence, listening to the revelation that I wasn’t an only child–or at least in its technical terms.

CHRIS: . . .

CHRIS: I-I’m sorry…

She only looked with an empathetic somber.

Feeling the cold sands despite the warming sun, I said.

DEREL: ..Thank you…

As we made our way back towards the hotel–news about giant war machines were all over social media and government cited websites.

Despite our suspicion of the government having their involvement in all of this–it was a genuine surprise when even the government themselves had no idea where these things came from.

Eventually–the researching and data analyzing of these monster mechs concluded in a recent article published to the governments illustrated world wide web.

JEREMY(DAD): “As our data collection of these unidentified mechanical machinery hypotheses is of an unknown material–based on its metallic structure. It’s concluded that these things–aren’t from any known form of earth bound materials...”

Sighing a heavy breath–my father just fell back onto the reformed bed.

JEREMY(DAD): Alien robot killing machines huh..?

Placing the laptop onto the hotel desk–my father just opened his phone, somewhat cautiously looking at whatever was on his screen.

Paying no mind–the eventual running water stopped as I waited my turn for a shower.

MOM: Alright, Derel–honey, you can go now if you want..!

Despite it being only a day after the flight from my nameless hometown, life in Trinidad seemed–normal.

CHRIS: Hey–you gonna go or what? I gotta shower too you know?

Putting down my phone I just looked back smugly.

DEREL: (Scoff) Still salty about rock-paper-scissors?

Making a face of playful annoyance–Chris just gestured me hurriedly towards the bathroom.

CHRIS: Yeah..! Yeah! Just hurry up won’t you?

With each trickle of water droplet dripping down my skin–the steaming warmth only made me think of my other friends back in my hometown.

Unsure if they were safe or not.

Getting out–I put on some new clothes as I dried my hair with a neatly placed towel.

DEREL: Sheesh, I guess they must love the rich…

Cynically talking to myself, I then heard a familiar voice from behind.

MR. CARLTON: Well, what’d you expect? Having a view next to a beautiful beach and five star meals each day–it's all thanks due to money.

Quickly turning around I soundly shouted.

DEREL: A-Ah..! U-Uncle..I mean Mr. Carlton.

Almost breaking a laugh–uncle Carl just looked on with amusement.

UNCLE CARL: Please–just uncle is fine, since we aren’t in public.

As I tried composing myself I was then caught off guard with his sudden question.

UNCLE CARL: Say, Derel–

He gestured to ensure I was comfortable with him saying my name.

I nodded.

UNCLE CARL: Don’t you…have any questions? You know, specifically about the things that were hidden from you for most of your life?

Exactly knowing what he was getting at, I just looked on with a conflicted answer.

DEREL: . . .

DEREL: I mean..I do, but–I think it’d be insincere to keep it to myself..

Somewhat making a face of slight surprise–uncle Carl then smiled contentedly

UNCLE CARL: Well, well–how very noble.

He then looked at me with a question of his own.

UNCLE CARL: Then–if you won’t mind, I just want to ask a simple question–nothing too big.

I nodded for him to give him the “go ahead”

He too then nodded

UNCLE CARL: Hm–haven’t you noticed that your last name isn’t part of my family nor your mothers?

I peeked my ears–then thought about it for only a second before realizing what he meant.

I nodded once again.

Uncle Carl–now sitting in a chair, he crossed his legs with a certain mannerism to his noble status as a man with unwavering confidence.

UNCLE CARL: I was just curious–as to if your father chose ‘coales’ for a certain reason.

Knowing what I knew, I couldn’t give him a certain answer.

As I gazed at the ground for some time before remembering a memory where my father and I went camping.

I suddenly remembered a specific question I asked a long time ago.

I then looked at uncle Carl.

DEREL: It probably had something to do with a man my dad met a long time ago.

Uncle Carl raised an eyebrow.

DEREL: He said that the day he met that man–he was trekking in some nearby woods on a honeymoon with my mom.

DEREL: Then he suddenly ran across a rabid cougar, he said it freaked wildly and seriously gave him the chills.

DEREL: After that–if that certain man didn’t do what he did, I don’t think my father would have been alive to this day..

Now with a raised eyebrow–uncle Carl asked another question.

UNCLE CARL: Hm. What about this man? Can you tell me more about how he saved your father?

Thinking again for a moment–the air around us stilled as the bathroom shower still kept on filling in the silence.

I think he said something about how the man lifted the full weighted cougar above his head before throwing it off a cliff.

Surprised, uncle Carl seemed even more intrigued–though somewhat hesitant to push further.

UNCLE CARL: Well, is there anything else? Like what he looked like or what his name was?

I thought for the last time, for how my father told me about the man's incredible strength and gruff clothing.

DEREL: Well…my dad said he had somewhat shaggy long black hair that seemed like a lion's mane…and how his clothes were somewhat torn but taken care of.

DEREL: But he also said that the man looked super young, not even twenty, nor even a single beard hair on his face..

DEREL: My dad didn’t specify his name–probably because the man didn’t tell him but just gave him the alias, “coales”

Putting a finger to his chin–uncle Carl looked to be deep in thought.

UNCLE CARL: And you said this was all on your fathers honeymoon with your mother?

I nodded–confident that I didn’t have a single lying bone in my body at that moment.

Now somewhat seemingly understanding the situation, uncle Carl stood up and walked towards the door.

UNCLE CARL: Well now, I think I have all I need–please if you have anything else to share or a favor to ask–just come to me anytime.

Leaving with a mannerism I’ve only seen in movies–it made me feel somewhat special.

Childish I know–but seeing killer alien robots that tried killing you and your entire family as well as your friends–I’ll indulge in my ego just for some time.

Click!

Walking out of the bathroom, her towel was the only thing covering herself from me and embarrassment.

CHRIS: D-Derel..!? I thought..!?

CHRIS: I–I thought you went down to dinner..!?

Feeling slightly embarrassed of unironically seeing a girl in a bath towel–I wasn’t going to play this game.

Shrugging as if I had no care in the world–I just turned around to look at the window.

DEREL: Yeah…about that–I was going to but then uncle Carl wanted to ask me some questions.

Hearing her breathe a sigh of annoyance and slight irritation–Chris quickly puts on some clothes while I stare towards the stars in the night sky.

As the both of us walked down towards the diner area, the harsh neon bar contrasted the smooth aroma of the friendly tables.

Without us saying a single word–for my sake, I didn’t want my neck strangled in the middle of the night; as for her, I can guess many reasons.

DAD: Ah..! Derel–just in time for dinner, what took you so long?

I only stared at my father–still suspicious but all the same he was my father.

DEREL: Just had a talk with uncle Carl–he just wanted to know why we changed our last names.

Stopping mid drink–my father stilled his cup of water to his lips, then looked at me somehow knowingly.

JEREMY(DAD): I-I see, did you tell him certain things?

Knowing what he meant–I shook my head side to side as I took my seat.

DEREL: No..

Was all I said.

As we finished our dinner–we made our way back towards our room before sleeping in our respective beds.

My parents shared one bed while I shared the other with Chris.

Keeping my eyes close–I tried entering my dream forcefully as thoughts of the passing days flashed through my head.

Though seemingly all of it was in vain as I suddenly felt a soft touch on my shoulder.

With cold blood flowing through my body I jittered awake.

Turning towards Chris–I did my best to hide my surprised expression.

DEREL: H-Hm..? What?

Chris only stared up into the ceiling–finding the darkness within the room, the light of the moon glinted her face.

Somewhat looking ominous–she said.

CHRIS: So, why did your dad change your last names?

Her sudden question sort of shocked me–still as a teenager, I was even more surprised she was already over the whole shower thing.

DEREL: W-Well…I dunno, really I guess I didn’t think to question it since I thought it was all settled when I went camping.

Looking back at Chris I then asked.

DEREL: Why? You some sort of secret agent or something?

Trying to crack the slight tension–it came out more cynical than I would have hoped for.

CHRIS: . . .

CHRIS: No, I just had some questions…

I stared to listen.

CHRIS: I mean–even if a stranger saved your life–you wouldn’t go out of your way to take their alias as your last name..would you?

Taking her words into consideration–I suddenly had my own questions I needed to ask.

DEREL: Hm..I guess you're right…it wouldn't make any sense…

DEREL: But–I dunno, I guess there was a situation where we don’t know what happened.

DEREL: Doubt my dad would say anything about it..

With a silence falling over the room–our whispers to each other eventually stopped.

Still staying in the same position–I only looked forward towards my parents–who seemed to be already sleeping.

As minutes passed by–the both of us stood awake as we had a lot on our minds.

Feeling movement from Chris–her feet softly touched the carpet–lending some leeway of the bed frame from a burdened weight.

Getting up shortly after–I whispered.

DEREL: Seriously–are you going out right now?

Chris just shrugged her shoulders all the while giving me a small gesture to join her.

I did.

Putting on our shoes and light jackets for tiny semblances of warmth. We soon headed outside towards the moonlit beach.

Despite the average temperatures being warm or cool during the night–it was somewhat chilly, a bit more chillier than I expected. But knowing how hot it has been for a day–I didn’t exactly reject it.

CHRIS: It’s strange…

I cocked my head confusingly

DEREL: Keep me up to date Ms. Vague.

CHRIS: Well, what I mean is–the man…from how you described him–he sounds sort of familiar.

Now even more confused–I just looked at Chris with a certain expression.

As she looked at me–she then looked away before explaining.

CHRIS: I mean–well what I mean is..

CHRIS: I think I’ve seen him before–

Narrowing my brows, I kept up my look.

CHRIS: I dunno, I mean–I–I guess it was a long time ago? And…

CHRIS: Well…it was probably when I was nine or eight.

CHRIS: We had a strange visitor and at the time my sister was one of the only people in the house besides my grandad.

I listened intently.

CHRIS: I think it was spring when it happened since I remembered the first time polka dot ponies aired.

Internally chuckling–I couldn’t help myself but smile a little bit.

CHRIS: When the doorbell rang–my sister went to go see who it was and when she opened the door–I saw a man in a gruff but cleaned jacket.

CHRIS: I dunno..something like a uh–

Chris paused for a moment–trying to think of something to say.

CHRIS: Something like a–uh..

Snapping her fingers–it looked like she tried to concentrate her thoughts on a show or movie she’s seen.

DEREL: Like a nomadic character?

CHRIS: Yes..! Yes! Exactly like that!

Surprised in her sudden explosion of energy–it looks like Chris loves talking about mystery.

CHRIS: But what was strange is that the way you described him was sort of perfect–well almost, since from what I remembered–he had a scar across his face.

CHRIS: It was strange because he was probably about the same age as my sister. nineteen or eighteen..

Unconsciously bringing a finger to my chin–I just rubbed the texture of my skin before I was snapped out of it by a singular sight.

Looking up–strange lights appeared from the sky.

CHRIS: Hm? Shooting stars?

DEREL: . . .

I only stayed silent as to my astonishment as well.

Despite the contradicting anxiety in my gut–the night sky was calmingly beautiful with the addition of the strange lights–if anything they’re like mocking stars.

Feeling the winds gathering the sands–and the ocean curving its way towards the surface–we ultimately headed back.

Now knowing even less about who this ‘man’ was.