Kringl (Rescued by the Alien)

Chapter 27

Chapter

Twenty-Seven

K ringl blinked, his eyes stinging from the bite of the smoke and his ears ringing from the explosion. It was hard to see much except scattered rubble, but he could tell that the orb was gone. Or at least damaged beyond recognition.

Sudden movement beneath him made him realize his grip on a wiggling Tami, who was trying to free herself from his protective embrace.

He sat back and peered at her. “Are you alright?"

"I'm fine.” Tami grinned, seemingly unharmed. The girl did not even have a mark on her. "You don’t look so good though.”

Kringl touched a hand to his face, his blue fingers coming back marred with soot and blood. He patted his arms and chest, glad that there were no notable holes. “I think I am also fine.”

Kringl helped her to her feet. Then she swung her head around and bit her lower lip. "I need to find Snowball.”

Before he could stop her, the girl darted off over the debris. Nearby, Tom staggered upright, and Kringl let out a breath. Another person who was safe. The baker grinned at him, his teeth startlingly white against his blackened face.

"We did it," the man said before releasing a raspy cough.

Kringl couldn't bring himself to celebrate. Not yet. His mind was focused on the others—Snowball, the villagers—but mostly on Joy. He made his way carefully over chunks of roof and shattered beams into the main space of the workshop, his eyes widening.

Tami stood on a pile of rubble with Snowball perched atop her head. The snow squirrel's white fur was blackened, and he was shaking himself vigorously, chattering all the while. When Kringl walked to them, Snowball leapt to his shoulder, his arms spreading so wide they looked like wings before he landed gracefully and continued to complain in his squirrel language.

"I know," Kringl said, translating the creature's irritation and urgency. "We need to find Joy."

His heart knocked against his ribs at the thought of seeing her again. With the orb destroyed and the shield over the planet hopefully gone, Velsnickel would not be able to hide anymore or keep the humans from leaving. They would be free. Joy would be free.

Would she still want to leave with him if there was no Velsnickel and no fake holiday? Or had everything changed?

He would not blame her for wanting to stay if the village was free. She had a cozy home, a community, a life to rebuild. And what could he offer her?

He knew now that he would give up everything for Joy—his role as future leader of his world, his royal duties, all of it. He'd rather be an outcast prince than lose her. But did she want to live with an outcast alien prince?

Just as his mind whirled with questions, a piercing voice jolted him back to reality. "Show yourself if you do not want me to kill the girl.”

Kringl's blood chilled. He knew who was calling to him and which girl he meant. Without hesitation, he stepped from the ruined workshop and strode into the village square even though his footsteps faltered when he finally spotted Joy.

The elf wore his red costume, but the hat had fallen off, and he looked far from jolly with Joy on her knees and one hand curled around her throat while another held a blaster jammed into her side. His eyes burned with a rage that gave Kringl pause. Her face was pale and her eyes wide.

Time seemed to slow for Kringl. He was vaguely aware of the villagers gathering behind him and the startled whispers.

But all Kringl could focus on was Joy, and the very real threat to her life. Velsnickel looked unhinged, his cheery facade shattered. Kringl knew that in his current state, the deranged elf might kill Joy right before his eyes.

Kringl took a step forward, his hands raised to show he was unarmed. "The orb is destroyed. It's over. Let her go.”

Velsnickel snarled. “You ruined everything. We were hidden and happy before you came.”

Kringl's mind raced, searching for a way to save Joy without putting her in more danger. He could feel Snowball trembling on his shoulder, the snow squirrel's tiny claws digging into him. Behind him, Tami cried softly, and Tom sucked in a breath.

"What do you want?" Kringl asked, trying to keep his voice steady. "Name your terms."

Velsnickel laughed, a harsh, mirthless sound that echoed across the square. "Terms? I want it all back. I want to know that we can’t be found, but you made that impossible.”

Kringl took another cautious step forward. "If you let Joy go, we can talk about helping you create another shield—after the humans are freed.”

For a moment, uncertainty flickered in the alien's eyes. Kringl felt a spark of hope—maybe he could reason with him after all.

But then the creature’s face hardened. “And let you all go to tell Santa what happened here? I don’t think so.”

With that, he began to squeeze Joy's neck tighter. As the color drained from her face and her eyes rolled up into her head, something inside Kringl snapped.