Starlight Language

Eli couldn't sleep that night. The warmth in his hand where it had touched the glass—where Kael had touched the glass—wouldn't fade. How had Kael known he was there? Dr. Kane said the glass was one-way. It should have been impossible.

But nothing about Kael seemed to follow the rules.

The next morning, Eli arrived at the observation room before anyone else. His heart raced as he swiped his card and stepped inside. Kael was already awake, sitting cross-legged on the floor. Those violet eyes looked up instantly when Eli entered, as if the alien had been waiting for him.

"Good morning," Eli whispered, knowing full well that Kael couldn't hear him.

Kael tilted his head, then raised a hand in what looked like a greeting.

A shiver ran down Eli's spine. It was happening again. Somehow, Kael knew he was there.

Eli looked at the cameras in the corner of the room. They were always recording, always watching. If Dr. Kane saw him trying to converse with the "specimen," he'd be in trouble. But something inside him couldn't stop.

He grabbed a notebook and a pen from his desk. On a blank page, he drew a simple picture of the sun, then pointed to the lights overhead.

Kael watched, his violet eyes widening. The stranger stood gracefully and walked to the glass. With one long silver finger, he traced the shape of not one but two suns on his side of the glass.

"Two suns," Eli whispered in wonder. "Your planet has two suns."

He quickly drew a stick person and pointed to himself.

Kael nodded, understanding flowing between them. The alien then drew a similar figure but taller, with wavy lines coming off it that looked like waves. He pointed to himself.

"Yes, that's you," Eli said, his voice tight with excitement.

For the next hour, they swapped simple pictures. Eli drew water, trees, animals from Earth. Kael reacted with strange shapes and creatures Eli had never seen before. Some had multiple legs, others seemed to float in the air. Kael's world was nothing like Earth.

Their silent talk flowed easily until a beeping sound from Eli's computer made him jump. It was a reminder—Dr. Kane would be checking in soon.

Quickly, Eli hid the notebook under some papers and turned to his computer, pretending to work. When Dr. Kane entered a few minutes later, his heart was still beating.

"Dr. Carter," she said coldly. "Any observations to report?"

"The subject seems to have adjusted to our atmosphere," Eli said, trying to keep his voice steady. "Its vital signs are stable."

Dr. Kane nodded, but her sharp eyes noticed something.

"What's this?" She picked up the marker Eli had forgotten to hide.

"Just making some notes," he said quickly.

She frowned but didn't push further. "We're planning more thorough tests tomorrow. Prepare the lab tools for tissue sampling."

Eli's stomach twisted. "Tissue sampling? Will that... hurt him?"

Dr. Kane's eyebrows shot up. "Him? Dr. Carter, I hope you're not getting attached to the subject."

"No, of course not," Eli lied. "I just mean... if the subject is in pain, it might affect the test results."

"We'll sedate it," she said, her voice like ice. "Be ready at 9 AM sharp."

After she left, Eli looked back at Kael. The stranger stood motionless, watching him with those deep violet eyes. Had he understood what Dr. Kane said? Could he sense Eli's fear?

Eli pulled out his notebook again and drew a simple clock face showing 9:00. Then he drew a needle and a sad face.

Kael's silver skin rippled with what Eli now recognized as feelings. The alien put a hand against the glass, and Eli felt that strange warmth again, even before he raised his own hand to meet it.

This time, the sound in his head was clearer, almost like a voice, but made of music rather than words. It felt like relief, like someone saying, "I understand."

Eli drew a key and a door with an arrow pointing out.

Kael's eyes glowed brighter. He understood.

But how? How could Eli possibly help Kael escape from a high-security facility? Where would they go? The questions whirled in his mind like a storm.

As if feeling his thoughts, Kael began to draw something new on the glass. It was a design of stars—seven points connected in a shape Eli had never seen before.

Eli stared at it, confused. Then, without knowing why, he found himself drawing the exact same pattern in his diary. His hand moved as if guided by something outside himself.

When he finished, he looked up in shock. His drawing matched Kael's exactly.

The alien's eyes shone with joy. He pointed upward, then to the pattern, then to himself.

"It's where you're from," Eli whispered in awe. "That constellation."

Kael nodded eagerly.

For the rest of the day, they continued their silent talk. Eli learned that Kael wasn't just any alien—the way he drew himself always included a circle above his head, like a crown or halo.

"You're important where you come from, aren't you?" Eli asked.

Around noon, Dr. Marcus Reed, Eli's friend and coworker, stopped by the observation room.

"Whoa," Marcus said, looking at Kael. "I've heard rumors, but seeing it—him—in person is something else."

Eli tensed. "What have you heard?"

"Just that we have a non-terrestrial visitor," Marcus said, his eyes wide with wonder. "Kane's been keeping it super hush-hush." He leaned closer to the glass. "Amazing. Is it really intelligent?"

"He," Eli corrected before he could stop himself. "And yes, he's bright. More than we might be."

Marcus gave him a strange look. "You okay, Eli? You seem... different."

"I'm fine," Eli said quickly. "Just tired. It's been intense."

Marcus nodded, though he didn't look convinced. "Well, don't burn yourself out. And be careful around Kane. She's on the warpath lately—something about a big presentation to the troops next week."

Eli's blood ran cold. "Military?"

"Yeah, generals, government officials, the works." Marcus dropped his voice. "Word is, they want to study its technology and biology for weapons development."

After Marcus left, Eli couldn't shake the dread that fell over him. Weapons development. Tissue sampling. These people didn't see Kael as a live being with thoughts and feelings. They saw him as a thing to use.

He looked at Kael, who stood watching him with those knowing eyes.

"I won't let them hurt you," Eli whispered, pressing his hand against the glass again.

This time, when Kael's hand met his, the link was stronger. Images flashed through Eli's mind—a silver city under twin suns, strange ships that glided through the sky, and Kael standing before a crowd, wearing something that shimmered like stars.

When the link broke, Eli stumbled back, gasping.

"You showed me your home," he said in wonder. "You showed me who you are."

Kael nodded, a sad smile on his face.

That night, as Eli prepared to leave, he noticed Kael drawing something new on the glass. It was a picture of Eli opening Kael's door, then both of them running under a sky full of stars.

Eli swallowed hard. Kael was asking him—begging him—for freedom.

As he walked to his apartment, Eli's mind raced with impossible ideas. Breaking Kael out would mean the end of his career. It might even mean jail. But leaving him to be cut open and studied like a lab rat... Eli couldn't bear the thought.

He was so lost in thought that he almost missed the black car parked across from his building. Almost missed the men in dark suits watching him.

Eli's heart skipped a beat. They were following him now.

Inside his room, he locked the door and sank down against it. On his desk lay the notebook with the star design he and Kael had both drawn. Eli stared at it, wondering what it meant that they had drawn the same thing.

His phone buzzed with a text from an unknown number: "We need to talk about X27. Meet me tomorrow, 8 AM, coffee shop on Maple. Come alone. -M"

M for Marcus? But why the secrecy?

Eli closed his eyes, seeing Kael's sad smile and remembering the warmth of their link. The tissue sampling was planned for 9 AM tomorrow. He had to make a choice.

And as he sat there, caught between fear and determination, Eli noticed something that made his blood run cold: the star pattern in his notebook was glowing in the dark.