-Side of a road-

      Liam walked for a while in silence. No pondering on the food he should eat today or complaints about how bad the rabbit meat taste. It wasn’t his intention to stay silent, he was shocked. Amusingly hesitant about the human-looking alien girl, but still he didn’t know or want to know what is happening or why is he heading home right now.

He just walked. It was possible to take the bus but he decided not to, not concisely but because of habit. It was his habit to walk when he is upset or lost. He would walk till he couldn’t anymore. This day was one of those days. He was walking, but just walking.

After two hours of walk, he just stopped and sit under the tree near the road. There weren’t any cars using the road, so it was silent. He whispered,

“What did she said again? ‘Aliens coming, and they will enslave us.’ Uh! I don’t want to believe her. I don’t, but she is somehow invading my brain and she is doing that to just to speak to me. I don’t know if she can alter my brain but don’t want to know anyway. Ship, don’t forget the ship. Creepily black surfaced and small ship. There this thing too, what is this thing anyway? Oddly heavy and transparent ball. Is that enough to explain it? No. it’s just weird, just like everything that’s happening a couple of days. I can feel it that it’s on my chest. I know that it’s there I can feel it like it is a living being and I don’t know how I am feeling that. Am I going crazy? I feel like I am. What, is alien invasion real? I don’t know, it’s more likely I am going crazy.”

While he is rambling on, he ate a little bit of rabbit jerky and take a sip from his canteen. After 15 minutes of rest, he quietly continued walking. The rest of the trip was eventless.

“Hmm, now what? What am I supposed to do? Save the earth, no I am not an altruist. I don’t believe one bit of it. There are always reasons and probably a goal in mind. So if I were to say ‘I want to save my family’ is this hypocrisy. NO, a big NO. I wouldn’t be doing it for them, at least not entirely for them.”

“Uh whatever, I need to think a way to get her away or should I escape? Like where I don’t have a ship like her or my family isn’t rich, so when they come I would be maybe fine in the woods, but mom or my sisters… I don’t want to think about it. Maybe I should convince them to come to the dwelling of mine. When they see Octavia they would probably believe me. Octavia, right don’t forget to bring the old TV for her. I finished the last storybook mom bring last time she come, so a book would be nice too.”

While Liam considering what should he bring he was already at home. Like always, he rang the bell two times consequently. After a while door opened.

“Mom”

Her mother hugged immediately Liam after seeing him.

“Sorry I couldn’t come to see you, is everything okay? Did you need something? No, come inside don’t wait there like a stranger.”

“Don’t worry mom, I am okay. Just exhausted, after some sleep, I will be okay.”

“Are you hungry? There is some meal left from last night, I can heat it for you.”

“No, I did eat something I am not hungry. I just need to rest.”

“Okay then, if you need something I am in my room then. “

“Okay”

After that, he headed to his room. Everything was as same as ever he left. His textbooks were organized unlike he left, probably his mom couldn’t have left it like that. After checking out the room he laid on the bed and sleep asleep. It was just 8 pm but he was exhausted to care about the time.

When he wakes up it was 6 am. After rolling on the bed a couple of times, feeling the softness of the bed he realized there was a blanket on him. He was a little bit sweaty but nothing he can’t handle. When he felt he was hungry, he opened his bag. When he was about to eat the jerky he remembered he was at his home and he doesn’t have to eat the hard rabbit meat.

When he was heading towards the kitchen he heard some sizzling. His mother was frying an egg and there were two bread in the toaster. ‘It would be nice to have some egg in the mornings. Maybe I should buy a chicken’

“Egg will be ready in a minute. Now, did something happen yesterday? You haven’t come home since you left, I was happy and worried when I saw you.”

She couldn’t say what she wanted ‘horrified expression, weary eyes, and the bloodstains, It’s a wonder nobody suspected you and called the police.’

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“I guess something happened. I don’t know how to explain this but, mom could you hand over the rights of the field I am staying.”

“Is someone threatening you?”

“No mom it’s not something like that. Yeah, there is something I want to talk about but land ownership isn’t related.

“So someone is threatening you, but he or she isn’t related to this matter we are speaking.”

“Yes, and I want you to come to my dwelling after we complete the process. This is about the matter I want to talk with you. The problem isn’t about money and I don’t know if you believe me, I am not the only one in danger. Not just you and my sister but a good portion of humanity, I know it is ridiculous but you will believe me when you see her.”

“Who?”

“Uh, Octavia and I met with her a couple of days ago. She was in a wrecked chunk of metal when I saved her. Of course, I wouldn’t believe her if there wasn’t something to prove herself and I want you to come because of her mental state.”

“So she is mentally impaired.”

“Yes, no she isn’t crazy. But she is in a bad condition and I didn’t know what to do. There is this thing too, don’t freak out when you meet her the way she speaks is kind of freaky and when I met her I thought I was going crazy.”

“How so?”

“She speaks to your mind, and I don’t know how to explain this too. This couple of days too surreal for me to stay sane.”

His eyes become watery. ‘Oh no, he is about to cry.’

“Don’t rush it, I am here all day. Take your time to explain it when you are ready.”

With watery eyes, he continued,

“Mom she reads my mind, I couldn’t even think maybe she gets offended and does something to me. She is a freak. After the crash you should have seen her, I thought she will die for sure even if I were to call someone to come. So I just did a first aid, after the bleeding stopped she just sit after a while. She was about to die mom; she was half dead on the bed but she didn’t. “

“Are you sure she was about to die? Maybe you just panicked.”

“No mom I know what I saw and her wounds weren’t normal. There was a hole on her left side of her abdomen and the blood was flowing profusely. Just the amount of blood she lost along the way I carried her should have killed her. While she was wounded she wasn’t even worried, she kept talking about the ones that will come and I shouldn’t be scared of her but the ones that will come. She said they will kill humans and enslave humans and- “

Emma hugged her son. They stayed like that till Liam calmed down.

“Don’t worry she didn’t harm you that’s all that matter. I don’t know how to judge what you said but I can come with you and speak to her, or we can call the police.”

“Mom I don’t know if everything she said is true but I know that not all of it nonsense. Just the wreck I found her in is good enough proof.”

“Okay, you were talking about land ownership.”

“I know what you mean, but she didn’t want the land to be hers. She said it is beneficial for her, but I can use it to get stronger. Ah, there is this thing too look at this.”

He revealed the core on his neck.

“What’s that?” she asked, confused.

“This is the thing she gave me after I saved her. Just touch it you will understand.”

She slowly stretched out his hand to touch the core, but the moment she touched it she backed her hand away.

“What was that? Some high tech display? It said something about core.”

“Yes, this thing is a core. She said it was to start the evolution.”

“Evolution?”

“I don’t know either mom. All she said to survive when they some I need to be strong and she wanted a TV so she can learn how to speak.”

“I thought you did speak with her.”

“I did, and not the way you think. Like I said she was speaking to my mind like she was inside of my brain. It was invasive and discomforting.”

“We can give her the one in the attic, I don’t mind. But after I see her If I still not convinced that she isn’t indeed a scammer, I will call the police.”

“What about land ownership?”

“I don’t mind giving it to you. It was for you and your sisters anyways. Give me a hug and it will be yours.”

“Thank you mom”

He hugged his mother. After that they looked for the old TV they were talking about. When they found it, they plugged it; and it was still working. Liam carried it to the garage and put it in his mother’s car. When he finished he found his mother in his room and rummaging his backpack.

“I still can’t believe you are making this on your own. How do they taste?”

“Try it, I wouldn’t mind.”

She took a bite and soured her face.

“Too salty, how do you it this.”

“Often with potatoes. They are salty because I don’t want to get sick due to the lack of salt. I generally cover them with rock salt.”

“I can use them at dinner if you want?”

“No thanks, I had had my share. They won’t spoil, so leave them in the backpack.”

“I will, with some wrapper of course.”

“Okay.”

The rest of the day was waiting and Liam had nothing to do. While he was thinking what he should do afternoon a box appeared, scaring him again.