Interlopers

Bear and I have spent two weeks in the bunker. I have been trapped with my thoughts and my fears. Is my mom alive? What about my boyfriend Liam and my best friend Alice?

I learned from Mom’s research journal. To think, all this time I thought she was gardening in the shed. I learned we are not alone in the universe. Aliens are real. Earth has hosted many alien species, some helping civilizations and others, stealing, abducting, and murdering. The monsters that ravaged my little hometown of Wadsworth, Ohio are a new species from an unknown galaxy. Mom believes that they are interdimensional beings that she calls Interlopers, and they are labeled a Level Red Threat to Earth. Within three months of their discovery, five of scientists have “gone missing”. Did this have anything to do with Dad’s death? Is there any hope of saving Mom? I wish more than anything that I could apologize to her for the awful words I inflicted upon her. I know now that she has been hurting just as much as I have over Dad’s death.

Mom left me everything I needed. Bear whines at me, laying his head on my lap. I pet him reassuringly. I have packed a backpack with supplies and my Bo staff. I have been taking Karate for ten years now and learned how to use my staff. Who knew I would need it against aliens?

Two Weeks Ago

The day started just like any other. I woke up to the crisp, autumn breeze through the window and the sound of my alarm blaring. I hit snooze, then hear mom shout, “Alexa, wake up! You have a test!” I get up, my stomach grumbling to the aroma of waffles and coffee. I slide into my jeans and hoodie, grab my book bag, and slowly walk to the kitchen, wiping sleep from my eyes.

“Are you ready for your math test?” Mom asks.

“Ugh.” I suddenly remember I forgot to study. “Yeah.”

“So you will be home after Marching Band?”

“Yes.”

“No staying out past curfew.” She says sternly.

“Yeah.”

“You need to do better at school Alexa.” She persisted.

“I know, ok!?” I said, tired of her criticism.

“Watch your tone with me!” Mom says through gritted teeth.

“Why are you constantly judging me? I’m not you, I’m never going to be like you! Some perfect NASA scientist. Dad never judged me like this; I wish you had died instead of him!” She looked at me, stunned.

I ripped off the necklace mom gave me for my birthday last year, and threw it in the living room. I ran out to my car, fiery tears streamed as I drove to school.

After school I was walking Bear, my sable German Shepard. He was my Dad’s K-9 police partner, and was retired after Dad’s death. Suddenly I heard piercing howls from our emergency sirens and saw neighbors running into their houses. What is happening? I wondered. Then I was startled by an inhuman shriek from the distance. Mom’s car shrieked into the driveway and she rushed to me grabbing my arm. “Alexa! We need to get in the house!”

“What is going on!?” I said, my heart raced as Mom rushed me inside. She started frantically packing up all the food and water she could into bags. “Mom!?” I yelled, fear boiling inside of me.

“Alexa, there is information I have been sworn to keep secret at my job, my division’s research and discoveries. But now the world is about to know. I’m sorry, I wish I had more time to prepare you for this.” She paused, holding my head in her hands. “I love you Alexa, but we need to go.”

The sirens howled again and Mom and I looked out the window. Screams erupted from our neighbors. I watched as cars crashed and people scrambled out of them. Then I saw it, a large, multi-legged dog creature with tentacles thrashing out of its back. It started hacking and slashing Mrs. Johnson, sucking out her organs. “OH MY GOD!” I shrieked.

“Follow me!” she said. Mom, Bear and I rushed to the shed in the backyard. She shoved the lawn mower out of the way and lifted plywood off of the ground. Underneath was a giant metal door.

“What is this?” I whispered.

She heaved it open, “your father and I had this installed after I started working at NASA.” She grabbed my shoulders, looking at my neck.

“Alexa, where’s your heart locket!?” she said, shaking my shoulders. I remembered I had ripped it off in anger earlier.

“It’s in the living room, why?”

“Dammit! I have to get it,” she panted.

“No Mom! Those things are out there!” My begging fell on deaf ears, she was already gone. I waited with Bear, then I heard my mom scream. I saw her running out, her arm slashed and bleeding. “MOM!”

She ran across the yard and back to the shed. “You will find answers in my research journal in the bunker. I love you more than the stars in the sky, sweetheart.” She kissed my head, tears streaming down both of our faces. We heard another howl in the distance. She looked at me with a fierce gaze in her emerald eyes.

Mom began to close the hatch. “Mom, NO!” I cried. She thrust the locket into my hands.

“Be safe Alexa,” She said, closing the door. It locked with a timer set for 2 weeks. I pounded on it.

“Mom! NO!”

I heard otherworldly screams, then a deep voice speaking to Mom. “You can’t take me! Get off!” I heard Mom arguing with it. Shivers went down my spine. Then, all went quiet.

Present Day

I put on my backpack, looking at my reflection. A scared teenager, with auburn hair wrapped in messy buns, Bear by my side. Thirty seconds remain between us and the unknown. Are the creatures waiting for me? Are they still in the area? Are there any survivors? My palms begin to sweat.

BEEEEEEP, CLICK! “Here we go Bear.” We ascend the rickety steps. I push the heavy metal door open. Sunlight pierces my eyes, tears welling up to soothe the burn. The shed door swings in the breeze, shredded with claw marks. We walk out slowly, feet crunching the frosty morning grass. My breath seeps out, smoky in the air. I grasp my locket, wondering why Mom was so concerned with it. In her research, I found that she never could finish investigating her theory. An old story from the people of the Himalayas and the “Interlopers”…

My town was destroyed. Cars crashed, trees knocked down, power lines slithered like snakes on the ground. Pieces of houses ripped out. And so many bodies. Mrs. Johnson, my old neighbor, ripped to shreds. Terror frozen into her cataract eyes. Brown bloodstains flowed towards the storm drain. Arms, legs, torsos, heads, and feet. All scattered about.

I saw our neighbor Amy and her baby Andrew. They were hollowed out carcasses strewn on the pavement. There were no organs left inside them, some chunks scattered, but the majority eaten. Amy was frozen in rigor mortis, holding Andrew.

My granola bar and coffee churned up to my throat and I couldn’t keep it down, it all comes up in a gritty puddle. I wipe the sick off my lips with my sleeve. I can’t believe they are dead. Andrew was an innocent little baby, his life taken before he could even live it.

There is a blanket next to Andrew. I drape it over Andrew and Amy, the only funeral they may ever have, and me, the only witness. Even with the blanket covering them, their image will be burned into my memory forever.

“Let’s go Bear.” We walk past the Café where I shared coffee dates with Liam. I pass the used book store, where my friends and I used to find our treasures. I hope they survived, but my nagging gut says otherwise. Tears well in my eyes at this realization. “They’re gone Bear!” My knees hit the pavement and I feel the tendrils of helplessness choking me from the inside. Bear lays his head in my lap, licking my hand.

Suddenly, rustling comes from inside the Café! I jump up, heart pounding.

“Alexa!” someone shouts.

We turn around to see Mr. Richards, the Café owner, standing behind us. “Mr. Richards? How are you ali-?”

“I hid in my freezer until the screaming was over.”

Bear begins growling at him. Mr. Richards looks at him warily. “Bear, be nice!”

“Why don’t you come in?” Mr. Richards smiles.

“Ok.” I say to him, walking inside. Ripped flesh is everywhere and rotting dinners still on tables. The iron scent of blood, moldy food, and sweetly pungent scent of death overwhelms me. Bile rises in my throat. I feel sick, and walk forward to the counter.

“Where is Mrs. Richards?” I ask. My stomach churns as I see that the freezer has been ripped apart, I saw pieces of Mr. and Mrs. Richards in the sink, the fryer and on the floor. Their heads were on the flat top grill, flies buzzing. What were once kind, old smiles now solidified in horrified anguish.

“Oh, she’s around!” Mr. Richards chuckles.

My heart drops at the realization that the Richards’ are dead. Bear is growls behind me. I turn around and see It. It has Mr. Richards’ legs but its face is made of gnashing teeth and large eyes. It has four long, extra-jointed arms and slimy, indigo skin. Bear barks, attacking its leg. It knocks Bear away with a swoop of its arm. Tentacles begin to emerge from the back of its skull, coming closer towards me. Its eyes turn a glowing orange, like a beautiful sunset. For a moment I am entranced, my body frozen. My staff drops out of my hands. Its tentacles are suctioning to my skull. It raises me off the floor. I can think but I can’t move.

“Did you think we are all like those rabid hellhounds? That was the first wave of our invasion. This must be an Interloper. Its small nose breathes in my scent, drool slipping from its mouth.

“You are correct. We are the chosen. We will harvest all of Earth’s delicious flesh and resources.” It can read my mind!? The tentacles start to push their way through my skin. The pain so excruciating I emit a scream of anguish. The Interloper smiles, relishing my pained wails.

Then, the sun catches my locket. “What is this?” The Interloper touches the locket, and shrieks in pain as it releases me from its grip, dropping me to the floor. Its skin is shriveling up and melting. I touch my necklace, remembering the stone is Himalayan salt! Grabbing the counter, I pull myself up and whip a salt shaker at it. Its skin begins to bubble and boil, seeping through its flesh, down to the bone, shriveling like a slug. It howls in a foreign language, unable to keep imitating a human voice. From behind, Bear leaps up and latches onto its throat, ripping and thrashing until he wrenches it out. The Interloper gurgles and spurts, grabbing at its neck. The life leaves its eyes and it drops to the ground.

Bear, sits by me, panting. I sink to the floor, heart racing. “What the hell just happened!?” My trembling hands reach for my locket. My body pumps with adrenaline. I grab a wad of napkins and frantically wipe my slimy head. A Hellhound shrieks in the distance. “We can’t stay here Bear.” I pull myself up, grab my staff and gather salt. “I know a place that will keep us safe.” Bear looks at me and cocks his head. “We can do this, and we will find Mom.” I follow Bear outside, into the unknown.