Joe’s enthusiasm was hard to cope with. Kaden had to stop thinking about Joe being inside him or he’d go insane. He took a box of Crunchy Nut Flakes from the cupboard, poured out a bowlful, added milk, then sat at his desk to eat.
Ooh, that’s good. Really good. Yum!
That sounded just like him. Kaden wasn’t going to be able to ignore Joe. He might not have invited him in, but Kaden understood what it was like to feel lonely and desperate, and how that could lead you to do stuff you wouldn’t usually consider. He’d written about it, seen it. Didn’t mean he was happy to be a victim of it, but he had to deal with what had happened or he’d go mad.
He let out a shaky breath. “It’s my favourite cereal.”
I love it! Do you need to go to work? Are you late? I didn’t know whether to wake you.
“I work from home most of the time.”
Explain what you do.
“I’m a freelance journalist. I write articles for newspapers and magazines. I’m a ghostwriter as well, helping others write books and I’ve written three books of my own. Plus, I perform stand-up comedy every few weeks, though that’s more of a hobby. I’m not trying to make a living at it.” He wondered if he’d ever find anything funny again.
Do you have a family?
Kaden tensed. “Why do I suspect you already know everything about me?”
I want to be your friend. Friends talk about things like family. Please tell me about your family.
Maybe it was easier to pretend Joe didn’t know anything about him, to treat him as an invisible friend. Kaden had one as a child. His name had been Simon. When he’d been caught doingsomething he shouldn’t have done, he’d blamed Simon.Simon said I had to…The memory made him smile. Briefly.
“I have a dad who lives about forty miles from here. No brothers or sisters. My mum died when I was fifteen.” The pain in his heart was immediate. As was its disappearance.
You miss her.
“Every day.” Kaden hesitated. “She always said we’d go on a grand adventure together before I left home, but she died before we could. I’m close to my dad. He’s great. Do you have parents?”
Dead.
“I’m sorry. Brothers or sisters?”
Not exactly.
Kaden put his empty bowl and spoon in the sink. He drank a glass of water and put his glass in there as well. “Do you need anything to eat or drink? Are you getting what you need from what I consume?”
Yes.
“Do I need to eat more to sustain you?”
Maybe a little more.
Kaden felt that invisible hand stroking his back.
I know you don’t want me, but everything will be fine. I promise.
How was that possible? He had an alien inside him, one that he might never be able to get rid of. His heart raced, then slowed.
Don’t be mad with me. Think of this as a grand adventure. I’ll protect you. Always. I’m sorry I couldn’t protect you from Harris.
Joe sounded upset and that worried Kaden. He wanted Joe to stay upbeat. If Joe got angry, what might he do?
I’m not going to hurt you. I keep telling you that.
Kaden noted the edge to Joe’s voice and backtracked. “Okay.”
As he began to put his bedsit back to rights, he realised that even if he’d reconsidered telling the police about Harris, it wasno longer an option. Kaden showed no signs of being attacked. No bruises, no cuts. His stuff had been tossed around but nothing was broken. Much as he’d suspected that he wouldn’t go to the police, it irked him now that he couldn’t. He didn’t want Harris to get away with what he’d done.
