Without conscious thought, I dropped the phone from my hand while simultaneously unholstering my pistol. I raced downstairs, taking them two at a time. I rushed into the living room where I had last seen my sisters. Luckily they were still there and they seemed unhurt. They were huddled around each other in obvious distress, staring at the television screen.

I quickly glanced around the room, not immediately seeing a cause for their reactions; until my gaze landed on the television screen. In a second, I took in the scene. The camera was focused on the newsroom of the local studio, but instead of two anchors behind a desk, it looked as if someone had knocked over an anthill. Crew, holding onto clipboards and headphones–forgotten in their hands–swarmed around the news desk; crowded around two people. The first was a pregnant woman in the foreground of the camera who I recognized as the local favourite anchorwoman. She was sobbing softly, while female crewmembers hugged her, moving her away from the other group of people in the background. I couldn't tell much of what was going on with that crowd. It seemed that several male crew were restraining a struggling figure underneath them. All I could see was under the dogpile was a single hand clawing at the ground in vain. Then the screen changed, and a 'please stand by' popped up for several seconds before it was replaced by the national news.

"What happened?" I asked.

I heard the door to the cellar burst open, and the sound of quick, short strides coming closer to the living room. A quick glance out confirmed it was my mother, a look of severe concern on her face.

It was Rachel, my younger sister, who answered me, "One of the news anchors attacked the other one! He was getting really nasty, and when she said something to him he just went off and attacked her!"

She had her arms around herself and was rubbing her arms; the twins held each others' hands in a white-knuckled grip. This, on top of the scenes that had been playing out across the television for some time, seemed to really effect them. I was going to try to comfort her, but as soon as she saw Mom, my sister raced around me to hug her. Mom barely had time to swing the rifle on its strap across her back, safely out of the way, before her daughter was in her arms.

Looking up at me she simply said, "Go help your father."

I quickly glanced at the twins conversing between themselves then looked back at her and nodded. Walking away, I heard her start to comfort Rachel.

Walking back down the stairs and into the cellar, I noticed the blue alien looking up at me.

"Well, it sounds as if things are unfolding nicely. And it seems that there are more of you to hunt in such delicious proximity." He finished his taunt with a wide grin.

I took a deep breath, then deliberately ignored him. Turning to Dad I said, "I guess there was a fight on the tv that frightened the girls, everything is fine. Moms comforting them now."

Dad's concerned look retreated as he nodded at my statement.

"Any luck with the hotline?" He inquired.

I sighed and shook my head, "I just got a voicemail to leave a message. Didn't even get anyone that wasn't a robot."

He nodded as if that was within his expectations. "I figured. I'll have to make some personal calls then. Hopefully someone local can do something. Are you good to watch our guest?"

I took a quick glance at our so-called 'guest', took another calming breath, and nodded.

"Yeah, I will be."

Dad patted me on the shoulder and replied, "Good, I need to grab my cell phone. I'll be right back down."

"Alright."

The sound of Dad's heavy footsteps going up the staircase, then into the kitchen, filled the cellar before silence claimed the room once more.

The alien and I stared at each other in the silence. He was still chained up. I expected him to say something else, perhaps try to get another rise out of me. I was looking for the opportunity to try to ask him some more questions. But he stayed quiet, seeming to be content with his situation.

Besides the incident where I told him about my hallucinations whereupon he lost control, he had maintained a demeanour that seemed unconcerned with his well-being. I wanted to ask what made him so confident. But I refused to be the one to break the silence first. I know it was a technique Dad liked to employ when one of us kids got into trouble. He just let the silence stretch uncomfortably until we cracked. Mom never had the patience for the technique. Well, she had the patience, just not the temper for it. I felt like a similar situation was happening between us now. And I wasn't going to let him take the upper hand that easily. Instead, I studied him intently for something, anything, I might be able to use—

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I mentally waved away the window in irritation and resumed my inspection of his features.

The cut on his temple was still bleeding, and a small pool of blood had formed underneath him on the cellar floor. I looked at the blood pool, but it didn't seem to be caustic, so I wasn't worried if any more got on me. Of course, that didn't say anything about any possible diseases. And I realized I really needed to talk with Mosshead's mom as soon as we dealt with the blue alien. If not for the hallucinations, then to simply determine how the nanites had healed me so effectively. And if there were any lingering side effects to that healing. If that was something she could determine anyways.

We had been staring at each other for a few minutes when I heard footsteps above us in the kitchen; the door opened and I heard both my mom and dad come down the stairs.

"–umpkin. He can handle himself, there wasn't any danger. He made sure of it."

"I know babe. I still don't like it." Mom finished saying as she reached the bottom step. "I still don't like it," She repeated, talking to me now. "It's obviously affected you somewhat. I get to worry. I'm your mother."

"I know, and I love you. Thank you for worrying, Mom. But I've got a lid on it for now. I'll just feel better when he's outta here, ya know? I really don't like him being here."

"You and me both, baby." She turned to Dad, "Who do you plan to call first?"

"Let's try the obvious. Nine-one-one first."

Mom and I waited quietly while Dad put his cell on speakerphone. A busy signal was heard from the other end, prompting him to hang up.

"I'll try dispatch." Again he dialed a number, this time it rang. And rang. And rang.

A minute later, Dad hung up. "Does Ethel have a cellphone, cupcake?"

"No, she never needed one." My mom replied, brows furrowed. "She is almost always at the office. I don't know why she isn't picking up." Mom looked concerned about her friend's unusual behaviour.

"Do you think she's just busy, Mom? With everything going on I mean."

"Could be. She definitely wouldn't be sitting this out, even if it killed her. God, at her age, it very well could."

"It'll be fine, sweetheart. We just need to find someone near there to check on her. Who else can we call?"

"Well, there's Mayor Jim. His place is close to the dispatch. And Pastor John and his church are downtown as well. John Argave in the hardware store across the street. Of course there's Bill. He'll likely run down there if I call and ask. Do you have any of the deputies' or troopers numbers?"

"I have Deputy Horns' number. Deputy Fletcher is still quarantining with his family upstate, if I remember right. What's the new deputy's name? Cindy something? Haven't had the chance to meet her and get her number because of Covid. Have you?"

"Nope, never had a chance. Deputy Horns' number should be good enough, call him. Maybe he'll be near Ethel."

Deputy Horns picked up on the second ring. "Joseph? Good, we've been calling everyone and making sure they're home safe. You guys live on county road 4, right? We're trying to check up everywhere we can bu—" We heard a loud crash and some screams and yells on the other end. "SHIT! I gotta go, be safe." He hung up.

"Well, that was helpful." Mom said without any real bite to her tone. Dad ignored her words. I glared at the alien.

"You know, I think Kyle still has Trooper Jay's number from when he caught that guy trying to break into work. Let me call and ask."

Dad input his boss' number, leaving the phone off speaker. While Mom was focused on one side of the conversation. I made sure to keep an eye on the alien, whose name I still didn't know. He had his eyes closed, leaning back against the beam. I still didn't understand why all this was happening.

Some time later, dad hung up. "Well, I got the number. Kyle told me he's going to his church tonight. His minister is calling the congregation up for a meeting. All the church's in town are doing the same thing. The whole town's organizing to get people accounted for; I guess there's been attacks in town."

"I don't like this, I need to call the kids and get them to come back to town. But we gotta focus on our situation here, for now."

"Sorry," I reflexively responded.

"No baby, I'm not mad at you. I'm glad you're safe. I'm just worried about your siblings. I just wish they were here with us along with your sisters and you."

I felt like shit, I had been so worried about the here and now, I didn't even think about my older brothers and sisters, grown-up and moved-out. Some of them multiple states away from us.

While Mom and I had been talking, Dad was one the phone once again, "—lling you. My son found one in the woods behind the house. Someone was in one… No… No… It's going to sound strange, it's an alien… Yes… No…. Yes… He's blue… I know, I'm not… I know… Like a pale blueberry… I thought the same thing… It is… Even his blood is blue… Nope, I'm serious. He's got some injuries and they're bleeding… So far we're fine… Yeah, not a scratch on him. And the SOB looks tough… Yeah, I am. He's chained up here in the cellar. Aiden did it himself… I am proud. But we really need you to come down to our place and take a look. And you'll probably have to call your superiors afterwards. We can't have him in the house… Really? I heard. Are you going?... I don't think we can get any deputies down here, and you know we don't have a police department… You will?... You will?... Yeah, we already called him, but he was busy… Oh? Is everyone alright?... Good… Is it? Well, you'll have one more." Dad gave a quiet chuckle. "Alright, well we'll watch out for you… We are… Goodbye." Dad hung up and turned to us.

"Good news. Him and Trooper Hoss are stopping by. I guess they got called to go up Koldewen City to reinforce law enforcement up there. From what he said, its a mess up there. They'll be stopping by before they make the trip."

"Port Harbour isn't much better from what the news is showing." Mom added.

'I don't think anywhere is better anymore.' I wanted to add, but refrained from voicing my pessimism.

"We need to tell the girls what's going on; find a place for them while the troopers take him." Dad spoke thoughtfully, glancing at the alien.

"I agree." Mom said. "But, I don't want them to see him. They might get nightmares."

"I don't think that's a good idea. From what he's said," I tilted my chin to indicate the alien. "There'll be a whole lot more running around before too long. Rachel and the twins need to see him to know what's going on."

"They don't need to be down here to see him. Have them go to Gwen or Brad's room, those face the driveway. They can watch from there." I acquiesced to Mom's plan.

"And don't think for a second that I forgot about your abridged story, Aiden. You will be telling your father and me the full version. Are we clear?" Shit. I'd hoped she had forgotten.

"Yeah, I will Mom."

"Good, go get your sisters and have them stay up stairs and out of sight. Your father and I will stay here for now."

"Okay." I agreed, before taking a long look at the blue alien, sitting calmly with his eyes closed. "But holler if anything happens, okay?" I added.

"We'll be fine baby, now go."

Part of me resisted, but I knew from years of experience that arguing would get me nowhere. Even if just the idea of turning my back to him and leaving him out of my sight was giving me a huge spike of anxiety. My stomach was warm, my arms felt numb, and I was tempted to reflexively swallow at nothing. Instead, trusting my parents, I turned around and walked stiffly back up the stair with soft steps, afraid I'd hear a sudden commotion at any second.

It was easier, earlier; until I heard my sisters screaming and saw how shaken up they were from the events on the television. Their reactions had had an impact on me.

And now I'd done something stupid like bring a violent alien into my house.

Around my family.