“Damn it. What is happening tonight?” Jim beat his fists against the sides of his legs. He abruptly as leaped from the couch and kneeled in front of Carol; his hands clasped pleadingly over her lap.

“I had an argument with Ian and Guy, right? I mean, they were here earlier tonight, right?” His voice lowered, gaining a near childlike whisper.

Carol looked at the actor and had to force herself to remember the man had no recollection of the real meaning of this night’s activities. “They were here.” She replied guardedly.

“Why aren’t they in the house?” Jim’s eyes were wide as his hands sought Carol’s.

“They’re dead,” she cleared her throat, defying the silence that had descended on the conversation. “You argued with them. They went on the porch and died.”

“I almost remember that happening.” he slumped until his head rested on Carol’s knees. “It is like I am trying to remember a dream.”

It was stunning. The man still thought Carol was his mother and tried to find solace in her touch. Simultaneously, she felt repugnance at the man and an attraction to the situation; she had dreamed of having children but not of gaining a grown son within a few brief hours.

“I saw the blood,” a small voice said from Carol’s side. Defying her sanctuary, Marie had moved the camera until it was clear of her eyes. Unshed tears built, but did not flow down her youthful face.

“That’s why I want to see what is on that video,” Carol said to the girl, impressed by the strength Marie was showing.

“We know what’s happening,” Marie replied earnestly. “The aliens are killing us one by one. They are taking us from the house and they are killing us.”

“Aliens?” Jim asked, the color draining from his face.

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Sally raised her face and regarded the people on the couch, her cheeks wet with tears. “The bastards took John.”

Carol plunged into the insanity, fell headlong into an abyss of double images and multiple reality. Until now she had only been reminding herself that the people in the house had no history, that they were mere creations for Turner’s night of fun. With the sight of the childish faces looking to her for help, she was no longer the outsider pretending to be a family member. She had to be the mother if they were to survive. These people were now her children by demand and need, and if she did not remember any of the hurts that had plagued them as children and young adults, that was of no concern.

It was as if Carol woke from a trance and understood all she beheld and accepted the dire necessity of claiming these poor children.

“We’re wasting time.” Work needed to be done before the aliens came again, and she was certain the monsters would indeed return, as certain as she was that Turner was no longer in charge of the situation.

“Marie, you keep recording in case we need to use the video to remember.” The young girl smiled wanly at the order, putting her eye once again to the camera.

Jim was a problem; the man was near insane with confusion and terror. He needed to be brought back to earth. Carol looked at him and found she could give him a smile a mother would be proud of. “Start locking the doors, Jim, and the windows. Stay down here for now. I want us all to stay together.”

She stood and helped Sally from her seat, then brushed away the tears with soft fingers. “Help Barb” was the simple order.

“The aliens were in here,” Carol said as she moved to the dining room. “They set the table.”

Marie and Jim joined Carol at the table, each gazing at the bizarre setting, the imitation of normalcy as seen in an alien mind. A shotgun lay at the center of the table. Were the aliens trying to say something? Were they trying to frighten the remains of the family? Carol suspected the aliens were exploring the minds of the people in the house, gauging their reaction to different stimuli, as if this was all one big test.

What did the winners get as a prize? Did they get to live?

“We’ll never come out of this alive,” Jim muttered, reading Carol’s mind. She placed an arm around his shoulders and gave him a hug.

“Yes, we will,” Carol raised her voice so children could hear her. “We need to plan a way out of here. First, we close the house and protect ourselves, then we leave and run. We run like the devil himself is after us, because if he catches us, we will disappear. Do you understand me?”

A thump came from upstairs, then several steps that sounded loud in the silent house.