Miguel skimmed through the acceptance email on his laptop.
“Congratulations on your enrollment to Shasta Community College!
We are excited to….”
The email went on. It wasn't exactly his first choice, but Kathy had convinced him, Victor, and Jarrett to move 3 hours north so they could all be together.
Vic was immediately onboard, but Jarrett took some more convincing, even after USC and five other football schools rejected him. Miguel, though, didn't really mind. He knew community college was the only thing he could realistically afford, barring a full-ride somewhere else, and Shasta was one of the few community colleges in California that had a bachelor's program.
The program was only in Health Information Management, but Miguel was looking to get into the medical field in some form. He considered nursing, EMT, and even dentistry, but still hadn’t fully decided. Honestly, he wasn't entirely sure it's what he truly wanted.
Managing health records wasn't what he pictured he'd be doing with the rest of his life, but that picture wasn’t crystal clear to begin with, so Shasta was as good as anywhere else. Most importantly: he loved his friends, and that would have been enough on its own.
Jarrett, by comparison, injured his back his sophomore year of high school. Badly.
An almost-guaranteed football scholarship shattered about as quickly as his spine during a particularly hard tackle from a kid somehow even larger than Jarrett.
He hoped to get back into the sport, but between surgery, recovery, and the ongoing pain… his budding football career was unlikely.
He applied to USC and a few other schools, regardless, with footage from his freshman and sophomore football games. It was a Hail Mary, at best. When the rejections inevitably came, Jarrett took it on the chin. He sighed, then cracked a joke, saying, “maybe they would have considered me if I sent in footage going all the way back to my pee wee days.”
That was Jarrett. He never seemed to stay down for long.
Miguel met him about a year after the injury, when Vic convinced Jarrett to join an OM session one random weekend. They bonded over scar stories, although Miguel didn't go into great detail about the event that caused his. Jarret's infectious personality made them fast friends soon after.
Kathy, being a year older, graduated Elk Grove High ahead of the three and pursued her dream career with the Forestry Service, landing a gig near Redding.
Vic called her the world’s first “Granola Goth” much to her chagrin, and Miguel recalled her retort.
“Yeah, well you're almost too gay to function,” she said, quoting a movie the two loved.
“Nah, and actually, you had zero clue I was gay. You literally didn't believe me until I showed up to prom as Trevor’s date.”
“Ugh, don't remind me.”
“No one knew, so don't beat yourself up about it,” Vic continued, “anyways, I meant it as a compliment. I don't understand how you keep your makeup perfect even after a full hike.”
She twirled her fingers, “that's just the power we Granola Goths command.”
They all laughed.
Miguel remembered their banter fondly as he scrolled on the campus map’s webpage. He found the campus dorms. Kathy said that they were going to open up a brand new residence hall that year. It was apparently three times the size of the existing dorms. Bigger rooms, and single units too, which was unheard of. Miguel hoped he could snag one of those. He didn't really want a roommate, not a stranger at least.
He kept scrolling until he found the library. I wonder if they have private study rooms we can reserve. That would be perfect for OM.
He zoomed in on the library and clicked the building icon. An image of large, glass front doors appeared to the right of his cursor. He clicked on the image to get a closer look.
*****
Miguel burst through the library doors, then fell to his hands and knees in exhaustion. After a two minute sprint, ignoring any and all shapes in his peripheral vision, he made his way to the front of the library. The doors were locked, but pure adrenaline had him ram straight through regardless.
He caught his breath, stood back up and closed the doors behind him. He doubted they would lock now, but he didn't plan on staying long. He just needed somewhere indoors. Somewhere he could catch his breath and decide what to do next. The library was what his panicking mind decided.
Making his way further into the library, Miguel walked with as quiet steps as he could manage. It was dark in here, too, and he relied on memory to get through the shadowy building.
He wanted to call out, to see if anyone else was around, other people, survivors of whatever was happening here, but at the same time Miguel knew he shouldn't give his position away. Not if more monsters were out there, or more robed men wielding strange powers. The giant creature that tore his dorm in half spoke for itself, but if the bearded man had aimed a little higher, a little sooner… Miguel would probably be dead.
He skulked to the computer lab, pushed open the door leading into the room, then held still for a full minute, listening. When no sounds were forthcoming, he passed into the room. The large windows along the opposite wall illuminated the rows of tables and computer monitors. As he entered further, the lab technician’s desk came into view. Miguel walked to it, and grabbed the landline phone. It was dead.
Should've figured.
He made his way behind the desk and found a large cabinet. Miguel knew it housed laptops students could check out for up to a few weeks at a time. He considered using the service himself, but found that his cheap laptop actually worked better than the outdated school’s. He tried to open the cabinet, but the handle wouldn't budge.
Miguel stared at it for only a few brief seconds, before using his armored right elbow to break the handle and lock.
Grabbing a laptop from one of the slots, Miguel hunkered down beneath the tech's desk out of sight, powered it on, and waited. And waited some more. And this is exactly why I chose to just use my old and busted one.
Finally turning on, he tried opening the web browser, only to remember that the power was out…. which also included the library’s wifi.
He felt foolish. How could he miss something so obvious? He tossed the laptop aside.
Now what?
He needed to contact the police.
There's no way they don't already know about all of this, right?
He heard sirens earlier. He was 99% positive that was the sound. Or maybe he hoped it was. Regardless, the authorities had to know what was happening. The people on the roof…. He leaned his head back against the desk, took a calming breath, then resumed his reasoning.
They would have called the police. You don't choose to stay in a building until it's way too late to leave unless it's the only choice you have.
Assuming they’ve already been contacted, then where are they? I was out for, he looked over at the discarded laptop, 4 hours or so and they still aren't here. Hell, where’s the national guard or army or swat, for that matter? Someone with big BIG guns.
For almost an hour, Miguel contemplated and thought. He often went in circles, panicked, even cried a bit, but eventually thought of two possible answers.
One: they didn't know. Somehow, communication to the outside world had been cut off, and the government as a whole didn't know. Possible, but unlikely. The men and creature in his room seemed just as shocked as he was. Miguel figured this probably wasn't some intentional and planned attack where communications had been targeted. Probably.
Two: they did know, and they still weren't here. Why, though? Well, if it wasn't isolated to Miguel’s room, and it wasn't isolated to Shasta College, and it wasn't isolated to Redding, then…
That would be really, REALLY bad.
What if this was happening in other places? What if it was happening around the world?
That would make some sense, he thought. Maybe the military or police weren't here because there were other monsters. Other attacks and other magical nonsense happening in other places.
This was too much speculation. He could be right, he could be wrong - he didn't know.
Well then I'm back to exactly where I was: what the hell do I do?
Miguel banged his head softly against the wooden desk.
Vic, Jarrett, Kathy. His friends. Pretty much the whole reason he was at this school to begin with.
He lifted the red scarf around his neck to better cover his runny nose and cold ears.
Are they… are they okay? Alive? Why did it take this long to even think of them? What the hell is wrong with me??
His stomach sunk into worried knots. Many hours had passed since last he had contact with the group.
Jarrett and Vic’s apartment is at the center of town, near the river, and Kathy’s trailer is up by the dam. Maybe a 10 minute drive from here to the apartments, then a 20-ish minute drive from there to her trailer. Maybe 30.
There was a tiny problem with his math, though: Miguel couldn't drive. He didn't own a car and didn't have a license. In fact, he was deathly afraid of riding in cars in general. Something his therapists said he needed to work on.
So at least quadruple the time to the apartments if I somehow manage to sprint the entire way there, then we can use Jarret’s car to drive to Kathy’s.
This was all assuming they hadn't already left… or worse. What if they had similar experiences as Miguel had tonight? Would they survive? He doubted everyone happened to find themselves between some.. spell or whatever.. that granted them magical items.
Miguel looked at the gear covering his body. It was crazy. He was wearing magical items from a board game he and his friends played, and had screens popping up like from a video game or some fantasy story. He didn't want to acknowledge it, but he had to. Miguel was tired of feeling like nothing made sense, but how else was he supposed to act? It DIDN'T make sense. Yet here he was, and here the items were.
He stared out in front of him, not focusing on anything specific.
Menu? Messages? Open?
The pink box returned in a shimmering mist.
The same messages were visible on the screen. One informing him that the player sheet had been generated, one telling him he gained a level in Myth Maker, and one telling him about the items the creature had gifted him in her final moments.
Continue? Next?
The letters disappeared before new ones, along with a different layout, appeared.
Player Character Sheet
Name:
Miguel Amador-Patel
Race:
Human
Class:
Myth Maker, Level 1
Mana Points:
2/2 (+1/minute)
Stats:
Intellect = 6
Agility = 3
Might = 2
Fortitude = 2
Insight = 5
Presence = 4
Perception = 3
Passive Abilities:
* Mind of The Myth Maker
Active Abilities:
* Milestone
* Creation
Equipment:
* Reiner's Wrapping Ribbons (equipped)
* Grieves of Infinite Levitation (equipped)
* Handhold Bracers (equipped)
* Slicing Silver (equipped)
* Druvir's Iron Pauldrons (equipped)
He gazed at the floating box, astounded by how similar it looked to the official digital character sheets one could find on the Of Myth website. There was some information missing, sure, but the layout and style were spot-on. There were no Health Points, movement speed, no Armor Rating, and instead of Ability Points he had Mana Points.
And then the obvious: there's no Myth Maker class in OM. What does that even mean? How can a player character be the Myth Maker? The Myth Maker is the game master. It’s contradictory.
It had three starting abilities at level one, just like any other Of Myth class. One passive and two actives. He focused on the class, then thought open.
Like before, a new, smaller box appeared beside the primary.
Myth Maker, Level 1
0/200 exp
Primary Stat-
Fortitude
Description:
Teller of tales, weaver of wisdom, Maker of Myths.
The Myth Maker holds domain over heroes, monsters and legend alike.
Through His power, Story Of Myth is told.
Class Features:
Passive Abilities-
Mind of The Myth Maker:
As The Myth Maker, you command a deeper understanding of all things. You understand any spoken language, and can use Identify Item and Identify Creature without expending Mana Points to do so.
Active Abilities-
Milestone:
You bestow Blessings of power unto champions, allowing Myth to be born.
Touch a living creature and grant it the Title of Player. You may give the creature a Player Character Sheet and may increase its Class Level by up to your Myth Maker Level - 1, minimum of 1 Level and capped at Level 19.
Each Level granted requires 2 Mana Points to cast and decreases your Mana Point Maximum by 1. Each creature that gains this Blessing decreases your Mana Regeneration Rate by ½, once. If the creature dies or the Blessing is lost, your Mana Point Maximum and Mana Regeneration Rate return to normal.
If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.
A creature may Level Up independently by earning their own Experience Points, but must receive permission before reaching their next Level. Leveling in this way does not cost Mana Points, but still decreases your Mana Point Maximum and your Mana Regeneration Rate. The creature cannot exceed your Myth Maker Level.
Creation:
You can weave Mana into creatures or artifacts from Stories of legend.
Spend Mana Points determined by a creature’s Difficulty Rating or an item’s Rarity and Gold Point value and create a Mana Construct of the chosen creation. If a creature or item’s Description is altered, the Mana Point cost doubles for each word added, removed, or changed. If the Description is changed too far outside the Construct’s preset parameters, the change will be deemed Invalid and the Construct will not be created.
You may create a creature with a Difficulty Rating equal to ¼ of your Myth Maker Level, or an item of Very Common Rarity. These increase at higher Levels.
The Mana Construct lasts for 24 hours.
A lot to unpack. It explained some of what he'd done, like identifying the medallion he'd lost.
It's like someone homebrewed the MM into a playable class. There's a lot of wording and phrases that I don't remember being in Of Myth, though… but a class that grants levels and classes… and that can make, well, literally anything is incredibly overpowered.
Miguel sometimes allowed the group to make their own classes or class archetypes, but this would downright break the game.
He closed the window with a thought, then conjured the word Creation in his mind.
Another screen. This one had a list of .25 DR creatures and very common items to choose from, separated into two tabs that Miguel had to “think” to navigate to see. It was really bizarre. It was like he was using a computer with only his thoughts.
The lists were lackluster, as expected. All things from the intro pages of items and monsters from Myths of Monster and Myth Maker’s Manual.
Rations, candles, bedrolls, inkwells, parchment, etc. on the one side and Poison Beetles, Horde Mice, Whisper Maggots, and more weak monsters on the other.
The items and creatures could be useful, sure, creating ANYTHING from nothing was inherently useful, but the issue arose from the Mana cost.
For example, a single bedroll cost 5 Mana to create. A single Horde Mouse cost 15. A horde of Horde Mice were a menace to deal with, with packs of hundreds being a challenge for even level 10 characters, but a single mouse? They were no stronger than a normal mouse. Their power came from their Hive Mind ability, and Miguel couldn't even make a single mouse, let alone hundreds.
That wasn't the only issue, though. Even if he could, hypothetically, create a small pack of ten to twenty Horde Mice… what then?
A better example: a single Whisper Maggot. A weak monster with a seriously deadly ability. According to his ability, 25 Mana to make.
Let’s assume I had enough Mana.
Miguel looked at the creature’s information page in the box.
Whisper Maggot
Type:
Tiny Abomination
DR .25
Stats:
Intellect = -1
Agility = 10
Might = 0
Fortitude = -2
Insight = -1
Presence = -2
Perception = 1
Description:
A tiny, foul-looking white worm with a small proboscis that protrudes from the tip of its mouth.
Thought to be the unholy experiments of a mad mage long ago, the Whisper Maggot infects a host’s brain through their ear canal and slowly drives them to lunacy, eventually taking over the host completely as an insane puppet.
Passive Abilities-
* Maddening Whispers
* Sense Vibrations
* Feral Ferocity
Active Abilities-
* Ear Infection
Miguel finished reading, then considered. If he created the Whisper Maggot, it would seek a host to infect. That's what Whisper Maggots do, after all. Nowhere in his Creation ability did it say he could direct or control the creatures he made.
It may even try to infect ME, Miguel realized.
His eyes lingered over the Whisper Maggot 's description again. He looked at the top right corner of the box, where there was a small quill and parchment icon. He thought edit.
After a few moments of rewriting, the description read:
A tiny, foul-looking white worm with a small proboscis that protrudes from the tip of its mouth.
Thought to be the unholy experiments of Miguel long ago, the Whisper Maggot infects a host’s brain through their ear canal and slowly drives them to lunacy, eventually taking over the host completely as an insane puppet except Miguel.
Six changes total. Miguel looked at the new Mana cost.
1600 points. Ridiculous.
Maybe there were better words to add or remove in order to maybe make the creature obey Miguel. It wouldn't matter. Even a single change increased the cost to 50 points. Far, far outside the measly two points Miguel currently possessed.
On paper, Creation was a ridiculously overpowered skill. In practice? He couldn't afford anything useful. Maybe he could get creative with description changes for the only thing he could afford - rations.
Rations
Very Common
1 GP
Description:
A dried piece of meat that can be consumed in place of a single meal.
Pretty basic. Items like these were mostly roleplay-related. Don't want to worry about what the party is eating for a month? Buy 30 GP worth of rations and call it a day. They didn't really have an in-game effect beyond convenience and flavor.
It costs 1 Mana, the next cheapest item being utensils at 3.
Miguel decided to try it. With a thought, he confirmed his choice. Pink wisps of smokey vapor coalesced into a palm-sized bit of jerky in his right hand.
Okay that's actually pretty cool.
His Mana Points reduced to 1 of 2.
Miguel sniffed the hunk of meat. Nothing off there. He pinched it between his fingers. Still fine. Slowly, Miguel stuck out the tip of his tongue and gingerly touched the aged flesh.
It tasted salty. Mentally shrugging, Miguel plopped the entire thing into his mouth and chewed. The meat squished around in his mouth, salty flavor basting his tongue.
Right when Miguel was about to finally tear through the piece with his teeth, the salty morsel shattered in a quiet ‘pop’ and pink vapor wafted from his mouth. The taste was gone all at once.
Perplexed, Miguel blinked rapidly several times, then felt around his mouth with his tongue.
The description did say it was only a mana construct. So if the item is broken it dissipates? Then I can't even keep myself fed with the power, and there goes my plan for adding the word ‘poisonous’ to the rations’ description. Can't even use it as poisoned bait.
He just didn't have enough Mana. His eyes hovered over the class description box again, lingering on the Primary Stat section. Fortitude.
He had two points of Fortitude and two Mana Points. He realized that was probably like Ability Points with other Of Myth classes. They each had a primary stat, and that stat governed how many Ability Points they had.
Fortitude was the stat that represented a character's constitution and overall health. It helped determine their Hit Points, their Armor Rating, and even their ability to combat diseases and poisons. The average Level 1 character had starting stat values between 5 and 10, with 5 being in the lower range of an average human and 10 being in the upper range.
Miguel wasn't shocked that his was so terribly low, at least for Fortitude. He'd undergone many surgeries at a young age that left his body compromised. So all of his physical stats being what they were wasn't a surprise. He was a little disappointed he rated on the lower end of average for Intellect, and downright gobsmacked that his Presence was below average. I'm not that unsocial, right?
He let the disappointment fade. None of that was important right now. He needed to focus on what he had, what he could do, and how he could reach his friends.
The items I currently have are far more powerful than anything I could possibly create anytime soon.
Reiner’s Wrapping Ribbons (Soulbound)
Rare
1700 GP
Description:
A Mana Construct created by the Lordling Miz’rah for The Myth Maker in her final moments.
Effect:
Spend 1 Mana Point per day to gain access to the following item effects-
The ribbons can automatically use Catch Projectile and Bind Wounds without the wearer’s input.
Additionally, up to 50 ribbons can be controlled by thought to articulate, move, pull, push, or grab objects/creatures within 20’. Each ribbon is capable of lifting 5 pounds.
Current Duration-
18 hours 42 minutes 30 seconds
Grieves of Infinite Levitation (Soulbound)
Rare
1250 GP
Description:
A Mana Construct created by the Lordling Miz’rah for The Myth Maker in her final moments.
Effect:
Spend 1 Mana Point per day to gain access to the following effects-
Upon activation by thought, the wearer floats 1’ off the ground in a standing, vertical position. The wearer cannot be knocked over or forced to the ground when floating. This effect can be deactivated by thought.
Current Duration-
18 hours 42 minutes 30 seconds
Handhold Bracers (Soulbound)
Rare
925 GP
Description:
A Mana Construct created by the Lordling Miz’rah for The Myth Maker in her final moments.
Effect:
Spend 1 Mana Point per day to gain access to the following effects-
The wearer may reach out in front of them and will a stone handhold to appear up to 10’ away, on either a surface or in air. The handhold is molded in a way that fits their hand perfectly and holds the wearer's weight + 150 pounds. Only a single handhold may exist at a time, and only while the wearer focuses on the handhold.
Current Duration-
18 hours 42 minutes 30 seconds
Slicing Silver (Soulbound)
Rare
2600 GP
Description:
A Mana Construct created by the Lordling Miz’rah for The Myth Maker in her final moments.
Effect:
Spend 1 Mana Point per day to gain access to the following effects-
Whenever the wearer says the activation word “slice” this sword will leave its scabbard and wildly fly towards the point that the wearer is currently looking. It will attempt to take the most direct path, and contains the force of a very powerful strike.
After hitting the point of focus, the blade will attempt to return to its scabbard, unless the wielder has activated the blade again.
Current Duration-
18 hours 42 minutes 30 seconds
Druvir's Iron Pauldrons (Soulbound)
Rare
2350 GP
Description:
A Mana Construct created by the Lordling Miz’rah for The Myth Maker in her final moments.
Effect:
Spend 1 Mana Point per day to gain access to the following effects-
With a thought, the wearer’s body becomes as strong and heavy as pure iron for 3 seconds. The wearer is frozen in whatever position they are in upon activation for the effect’s duration.
Current Duration-
18 hours 42 minutes 30 seconds
So the creature’s name was Miz’rah?
Miguel felt an ache in his chest. He shook it away. Not now….
The items cost Mana to use, but I regenerate Mana at 1 point per minute, so the effects will only be slightly staggered. They're Soulbound, which in OM meant only the one they're bound to can use them…
This was something. Michael’s character had used this weird set to great effect in their game, and Miguel had already seen how powerful the sword was against a human. It didn't do much against the behemoth from earlier, but Miguel didn't want to go anywhere near something like that again.
Float, create handholds, pull and maneuver with the ribbons, attack with the sword, and counter attacks with the pauldrons.
He felt, just ever so slightly, more confident. It felt like he had a plan, and the tools to make it happen.
Thank you, Miz'rah, for the gifts.
Float.
Less than a minute later, Miguel came barrelling through the computer lab’s large windows, shattering a whole pane in the process.
“STOP!!!” he screamed, large cuts having formed all over his body. The grieves deactivated.
His momentum carried him face first into the ground, tumbling end over end on the grass outside the building. Halfway through the roll, his body seized into statuesque stillness. His head and limbs tore large chunks into the lawn as he bounced. He finally came to an abrupt stop, like an anchor stiffly slamming into ocean sand. A second passed and his body loosened and went limp.
Miguel let out a soft groan. Ribbons bound bleeding cuts, and he sat up in the divot his tumble created.
As it turned out, controlling your trajectory while simultaneously willing stone into existence and mentally directing autonomous clothing to drag you around like Doc Ock wasn't exactly easy.
He wished he'd kept the medallion. He couldn't tell how bad the cuts were, but his head pounded. Probable concussion aside, Miguel looked around to see if the commotion drew anyone, or things, attention.
It had.
He could see ominous eye shine coming from the darkness ahead… and to both sides. Yipping yowls created a cacophony of sound in the night as the clouds overhead parted. Moonlight revealed the surroundings, and Miguel’s breath caught in his lungs.
They were about the size of large dogs. Maybe a little bigger. They had sets of eyes on either side of their gnarled heads, like bundles of spider eyes - all reflecting the light. They were covered in horribly matted fur that made them look more dead than alive. Road kill, was the mental image that came to Miguel.
The largest of the bunch ahead stepped forward on thin legs that looked much too long for its fat body, and with each step the legs gained length, yet the body stayed the same size. It rose five, ten, fifteen, then twenty feet into the air, covering the moon overhead from where Miguel sat. Its body hunched down slightly, a seemingly new set of leg joints being created with a sickening “pop” sound.
The silhouette resembled a giant, furry harvestman spider.
It’s head and body swayed upward, screeching in the moon’s glow.
The others, maybe fifteen by Miguel’s count, followed form and began rising into the night air.
Miguel could see something in those beady eyes. Something inhuman. Like staring into a mindless insect’s eyes. It was hunger, ravenous hunger, and not much else.
The leader swayed back and forth in a hypnotic pattern. Its body glowed a soft blue as it did.
Miguel smelled peanut butter. He drooled slightly, face going slack.
The creature swayed on spindly legs.
He couldn't look away. There were barely any thoughts coming from his head. Something was closing in from the sides, one of the few thoughts told him.
H-...
It swayed in the moonlight. Closer.
Har-..
It swayed in the moonlight. CLOSER.
Harden…
Two sets of fanged jaws closed around Miguel’s head and torso. The needle-like teeth penetrated the skin, but went no further as his body hardened.
The creatures’ heads retracted and they stood at half height on their long legs. They screeched in anger at their prey, causing the leader to stop it's movement.
Miguel snapped out of it the very next instant.
HOLY FUCK
FLOAT.
He was forced into a standing position a foot off the ground. Blood oozed out from the large pinholes dotting his face and body.
The two monsters on either side of him began another lunge. Miguel stuck out a hand to his left while whipping his head to the right. The leader opened its mouth and lunged from the front.
SHIT
They closed in on all sides.
“SLICE!”
In a single moment, three things happened.
A sword flew to his right.
A stone appeared to his left.
50 ribbons shot out at his front.
The creature on his left smashed its snout into the stone, causing the stone to crumble… along with its nose and skull.
The creature on his right suddenly no longer had a head at all.
And the leader in front of him, moving twice as fast as any of the others, found it's legs entwined by thick, black ribbons that pushed backward, away from Miguel, causing it to topple head first.
With a thought, Miguel again became hard as iron.
The falling creature’s head smacked Miguel's own. Miguel heard a horrible crunch, then his vision was filled by a viscous, green liquid.
A, brown?, light filled his vision.
A few seconds later, Miguel could move and he wiped his face with his scarf. The green cleared from his sight.
x3 Creatures slain, +300 exp!
Level Up!
You have gained one level in the class Myth Maker!
He dismissed the message. There were still twelve more of these things surrounding him, and Miguel hardly knew how he managed to kill those three. Pure luck.
He could feel his heart pounding. His bloody wounds throbbed in pain. A car horn wailed. His mom screamed. Antonio couldn't scream - he had been sleeping on the drive home. His father’s face, twisted with anger. Why?
Miguel’s hands shook slightly as tears fell from his eyes. I… don't have time… for this… Kathy, Vic, Jarrett…
He repeated their names over and over in his head.
He readied himself once more. All twelve rushed towards him, gangly legs eerily silent as they traveled.
“Sli-”
*****
“Did you get through?” a frightened voice whispered.
The two sat in a dark living room lit only by candlelight. The curtains were drawn tightly shut, as if the act would keep things that go bump at bay.
“Nope. The police lines are still busy and Miguel's phone keeps going straight to voicemail.” Jarrett replied, a distressed expression plain across his face.
From the phone in Victor’s hands, a voice on speaker added, “well it may just be dead. The powers been out for hours so he wouldn't be able to charge it. He’s okay, I know it. Miguel is okay.”
Kathy’s voice didn't sound so sure. Victor fixed his glasses with his left hand, “I'm sure he’s okay. It's Miguel, guys. You know how he gets. He's probably still in his room in only boxers, writing the campaign and totally unaware of any of this,” he joked.
Jarrett forced a chuckle, “Right. I bet he's trying to figure out how to shoehorn the Grinch into the campaign as we speak.”
“We’ll do like the alerts said. Stay indoors and wait until the police get here. Miguel is doing the same.” Victor reassured the two.
BANG, BANG, BANG.
Jarrett and Victor, eyes wide, looked at each other.
“Guys, what was that??” Kathy asked in a panic.
BANG, BANG, BANG.
“Maybe we should check? It could be a neighbor, Vic.” Jarrett said.
“Absolutely not. You heard the warnings.”
BANG, BANG, BANG.
“I'm checking it, Vic. They might need help.”
“That's a stupid idea Jarrett, even for you,” Kathy chided.
“Wow, Kathy, that's… mean.” Jarrett replied, hurt clear in his tone.
“I'm sorry, but I just don't think it's a good idea. You saw the pictures and videos online, Jarrett.”
Victor nodded in agreement.
“I'm still going. I doubt an alien would knock like a person.”
“Sound logic,” Victor said with a roll of his eyes, “and we already agreed they aren't aliens. They're government experiments that broke free.”
“Nope, there's way too many for that. This is a full on alien invasion, man.”
Jarrett stood up, stretched, and grabbed the metal baseball bat sitting on their couch.
BANG, BANG, BANG.
He rushed to the door, Victor following a ways behind.
“If you get me killed, Jarrett, I'll-”
“Shhhh!” Jarrett replied, “I'm opening it.”
Slowly, he unlatched the door, bat raised ready to strike, and opened it.
“Slice!”
-they both heard a figure on the other side yell in a hoarse voice. Something whirred past the figure, a squelching noise resounded, then flew back. The figure, sporting longish hair, wearing metal armor on his legs and arms, a red scarf around his neck, long socks with gingerbread man cookies, and baby blue boxers dyed partly red and green, slowly turned around to face the duo.
A horribly mangled and injured hand raised in greeting.
“Hey, guys.” Miguel said, then fell into the doorway.