"Sera 1" by Leighann Harvey

I got so pissed off at Alan that day. He was bugging me and asking me to have sex with him again. I was thinking of slapping him when he jumped back as if I had. He stared at me in shock, and a bright red hand mark appeared on his cheek.

"What the hell did you do, Sera?" he screamed. "You didn't move or anything, but I swear you slapped me!"

"I didn't do anything you bastard," I said. "I wish I had never met you!"

The weirdest thing happened then. He blinked and shook his head as if he'd been hit. Then he stood staring at me, not showing any recognition at all.

"Who are you?" he asked. "And why did you slap me? Did I miss something?"

I got really scared at that, and I ran from the room. Unfortunately, the station is only so big, and they don't give leave passes to everyone. They wouldn't give one to me, so Alan found me easily. I just stood there as he approached me. He looked both angry and confused.

"I asked you a question!" he yelled as he came to the spot where I stood. "Why did you run?"

"Listen, Alan," I said. "I don't know what kind of sick little game you're playing now, but I don't think it's funny. You know very well that I would never ever consider going out with you, let alone sleeping with you, so just leave me alone!"

"How do you know my name?" he asked. "I've never met you before in my life." With that he stalked out of the central office.

I just stood there in shock. I couldn't figure out what was going on, and I didn't notice that there was anyone else there until I felt Kaila's hand on my shoulder.

"Are you okay, Sera?" she asked worriedly. "You look awful."

"I'm fine," I said. "It was nothing."

"Are you sure?" she asked worriedly. "I saw Alan storming out as I came in, and I'm afraid he might have done something to hurt you."

"He didn't hurt me," I said. "I said it was nothing, and that's what I meant!" With that, I ran out of the room. I headed toward my family's quarters.

I went to my room when I got to our quarters. I found my mother on the bed, and I almost walked right back into the hall. I knew Kaila had told her about what she had seen, and Mother was going to get the whole story whether I liked it or not. Unfortunately, she saw me before I saw her.

"We need to talk Sera," she said calmly. "Kaila just called me. She was worried about you. Do you want to tell me what happened?"

"Not really," I said.

"Please," she said. "Kaila said that she passed by Alan storming out of the central office, and when she got in, she found you standing there as if in shock. Did he hurt you? I know how he bothers you, and I just want to help."

"It was nothing, Mother," I said desperately.

"Sera, would you please cooperate with me," she said. "I'm worried for you. You've never acted like this, and I don't want anything to happen to you. Please tell me if he did anything at all to you."

It finally got to be too much for me, and I broke down into tears. Mother reached for me, and pulled me next to her on the bed. She held me for a while, and when I stopped crying enough to talk, I told her all of what had happened. She looked concerned.

"Are you sure he said he'd never met you before?" she asked. "And you didn't slap him at all?"

"I'm absolutely sure," I said. "What happened? I was so scared, but I think he was even more scared."

"It sounds familiar," she said distractedly. "But it couldn't be. They're dead. All dead."

"Who's dead?" I asked. "What are you talking about Mother?"

"Nothing," she said. "I think I'll call Alan's parents and see how he's doing."

Then, she left my room, and I sat on the bed thinking. I felt strange, as if I hadn't had enough to eat, but I had had a really big lunch. I remembered how I had felt when the stuff happened. I hadn't felt hungry after it happened, but before I had.

I went to bed shortly after that; I was really tired. I slept until noon the next day, and Mother did not wake me for school.