Laura grabbed Sebastian by the sleeve and led him over to the trailer as Alex joined them shortly after. Laura told her brother to lay Sebastian down on the couch and wrap him up in a blanket like a butterfly in a cocoon, so he didn’t escape and avoid getting the treatment.

Alex just rolled his eyes and laid the blanket down on Sebastian while he rested his head on the couch pillow.

Sebastian tried to make himself comfortable; he looked around the room; it’s unlike any house he had seen before. Basic looking compared to what he was used to back at his home.

He turned and peeked into the kitchen where Laura was in. She seemed to take a lot of stuff out of the pantries and place most of them into a big, plastic-colored bowl. She took out a weird-looking blender with a spoon attached to it. Laura poured the contents of the container into the blender and mixed the ingredients into a strange concoction before pouring into a frying pan and then dancing around the kitchen. Sebastian turned over to Alex, who responded that she was performing a chant to improve the medicinal effects, at least according to her.

That’s the medication!? Sebastian thought and gulped.

“Hey, you almost finished with the Ethosys?” Alex asked from across the rooms.

“Almost, just putting a few more finishing touches on it,” Laura shouted back.

Alex turned to Sebastian with a reassuring look. “Don’t worry, that concoction won't kill you, quite the opposite...”

“Well, I guess I shouldn’t judge it yet...” Sebastian mumbled to himself.

“Make yourself comfortable. I know this place doesn’t look like a lot, but it’s what we have...” Alex said.

“I think it’s fascinating...” Sebastian replied.

“You think so?”

“Ok, it’s done.” Laura entered the living room with a white bowl filled with colored liquids inside. A hard lump lingered in Sebastian’s throat. “Now drink slowly. It should kick in two minutes. Do you understand sir, um, what was your name again?”

“Oh dear, where are my manners? I cannot believe that I forgot to introduce myself to you. I must apologize.”

If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

“No need. At least you’re nice about it,” Alex replied.

Sebastian cleared his throat and introduced himself. “My name is Sebastian; how do you do?”

“I’m Alex, and—”

“Wait, where did you come from?” Laura interrupted, “I’ve never seen you around here before.”

“Sorry, but I cannot tell that to you...”

“Perhaps if I guess your origin story or make it up for you, you can tell me if I’m getting hotter or colder.” Laura scratched her chin and made a big grin.

Alex felt uneasy. “I don’t think that sounds like a- hey what did you do with your bowl?” He asked, pointing at Laura’s hands.

“I gave it to Sebastian so he could drink it up and I could ponder using both of my hands.”

Sebastian quivered inside his blanket with the now-empty bowl sitting right beside him. Alex mouthed an apology to him without his sister looking.

“So, did you gulp it all down?” Laura asked as she placed her hands behind her back.

“Well, yeah, but it tastes awful... no offense,” Sebastian replied weakly.

“Well, that’s medicine for you,” Alex replied. “It may taste bad, but it really can get the job done if it—”

“I got it!” Laura interrupted. “What if you were a creature that looked human so you could come to our planet to learn from our—?”

“Wait, how did you—?” Sebastian started, but stopped himself. He hesitated and stumbled over his words a bit before going back again with a different question. “I mean, what made you come to that conclusion?”

“Aliens wouldn’t know how human fashion sense would work for starters...” Laura explained.

“Laura, don’t be rude,” Alex said.

“But I wasn’t trying to be.” Laura tried to defend herself.

“Uh, pardon me, is it all right with you if I ask some questions?” Sebastian brought up.

“Not at all, go ahead.” Alex replied, “What exactly do you have on your mind?”

“Are you guys’ humans? What planet are you from that has ‘The Junkyard Sir’ in it?”

The question, in particular, made Alex chuckle. “Ok, are you trying to act like some creature from a D- list movie now?”

“I don’t understand?”

“Well, allow me to enlighten you, mister,” Alex said with a tease. “You’re on a planet called Earth.”

“E-Earth!?” Sebastian almost ran out of breath when he heard that. “You mean you’re... and I’m...?”

“No offense, but you’re a little weirder than I thought. Are you all right?”

“Yeah, but could you excuse me? I need to rest up a bit longer...”

“Sounds good.” Alex turned to his sister. “Hey, Laura, let’s cook up some dinner.”

“Yeah, on it, Alex,” Laura replied.

As they left Sebastian to think for himself on the couch, he stared at the ceiling for a bit before turning his attention to the two siblings, who were taking random fruits and veggies and placing them into a blender.

Sebastian never thought he’d be able to find the planet inhabited by ordinary creatures, especially not before his classmates, but what should he do now? And why did Lauren push him here in the first place?

How he wished to ponder some of these questions and think up some reasonable deductions to answer them, but alas, his head burned hot, and his whole body ached. So Sebastian, instead, pulled the cover over his head and shut his eyes tight, hearing nothing but the sounds of his stomach and the oven.