The nighttime was once the Sheerian’s nightmare. Some were even too afraid to fall asleep, since they didn’t know if they would get crushed to death by the rocks fallen from the sky. They also didn’t know if there would be some bloodcurdling tentacles and a malodorous mouth waiting for them when they opened their eyes.

No one knows.

No one knows where the Star Creatures were from, and no one knows when they would come. But if they showed up, disasters accompanied. Every time a dazzling spark of light swipes across the sky, either someone dies, or a whole town gets wiped out.

Once, this was the kind of life every Sheerians has. However, this kind of fear is almost completely forgotten by the people. It has slowly disappeared from the new generation of Sheer. Not because the Star Creatures were no longer showing up, but that their appearance was no longer threatening.

Zoe rinsed her plate, suddenly remembering the stories she had heard from her great grandparents. She couldn’t fathom how terrified people were of the monsters before. Until Jim’s death, until the accident.

Why?

Zoe often asked herself, since the Star Creatures’ appearance shouldn’t have brought anymore death and calamity, except to the Star Chasers that battled against them. She placed the clean plates onto the racks, lifted her head, and took a good view at the wheat field under the night sky through the window. There was an electromagnetic wave emitter not too far away that had a tiny glimmering light. A giant, hemisphere shaped dish was attached on top.

That was the key to stop the Star Creatures from invading Sheer. However, that was the scar in her heart that she couldn’t seem to be able to recover from.

The Star Creatures didn’t have the concept of language. They couldn’t speak, but will react to a certain frequency of electromagnetic waves, and hence deviate from their original falling path. This gave the surviving Sheerians a glimpse of hope.

People abandoned their former homes, started to gather once again, and constructed ‘Citadel,’ which was protected by the electromagnetic waves emitters. The waves that they sent out wouldn’t kill the Star Creatures, but could lead them somewhere else than areas that were congregated.

This method was relatively safer, and more reliable compared to hiding. However, as the civilization resuscitated, one citadel born after another, it soon progressed to one highly-populated society. The need for food increased drastically. In order to expand the crop fields, humans need to guide the Star Creatures scattered near the city further away. Or, choose a more efficient way of doing this—kill them. The establishment of the S.D.A had made this option possible.

Those gigantic electromagnetic waves emitters didn’t get shut down when the wastelands were getting transformed into farmlands. The farmlands require someone to manage them, at the same time the farms need someone to run. On the other hand, compared to the metropoles, these types of vast and sparsely populated areas were definitely still more suitable to be the landing spots of the Star Creatures..

Zoe continued rinsing the dirty dishes in the sink. The Gamond Region was a crops section, pure and simple. The people mainly grow wheat and corn there, and it was also the food supply source for the neighboring citadels. Including Rodenzel, where she was born.

The Star Creatures would be drawn towards signals sent by the emitters, then land at the crops or stock section in between cities. The Chasers would also arrive at the same time to kill the monsters, in order to avoid any casualties. As the guiding signals are sent, the emitter will also set off the alarm, warning the residents and farmers nearby to evacuate soon. The owners of the farm might lose an entire field of crops or cows just for this. But they won’t die, for the very least.

Liars.

Zoe thought, her eyes directed to a S.D.A flier held on the fridge by a small magnet. The advertising slogan didn't consist of too many words, but it was quite intelligible.

The author's tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

‘Be a Chaser, Be a Hero!’ was printed on the flier. The goal was to urge them to be enthusiastic for rebellion.

She wasn’t sure the reason behind Hanister wanting to join the S.D.A was because of this, but she was definite about how the organization didn’t keep their promise of protecting every single Sheerian.

At least not to Jim.

She told herself.

Zoe placed the last bowl on the racks, then wiped her hand dry. She turned off the light, left the kitchen and walked out. She stopped at the porch, with a cigarette lit between her fingers as she stared into the dark field.

She never really smoked in front of her daughter. She didn’t want Hanister to develop a habit of smoking, or have some health issues due to the secondhand smoke. On certain aspects, she was glad that she decided to do that. Since the S.D.A had special requirements for the new Chasers’ cardiovascular functions. Her persistence allowed Hanister to safely pass their examination.

On the other hand, she couldn’t be sure whether sending her daughter there was a good decision or not. Should she have forced her to stay? Or maybe stay as she is now, respecting her choice?

Jim, if it was you, what would you think?

Zoe lifted her hand, and took a quick glance at her wedding ring. It has been so many years, and she still wears it. The ring was from the man she loved dearly. From Jim, from Hansiter’s father.

Eleven years ago, Hanister was only seven.

It’s been eleven years.

Zoe recalled She still remembered, Hanister was in the fields working alongside her father until dusk that day, just right near that emitter. That evening, the sun was extra fiery, like an invader that shot across the skyline with blazing fire wrapped around it. That evening, the emitter did not sound the alarm. ‘It’ fell from the sky, landing right on top of the wheat field.

Zoe only found out later that it was supposed to be the other section’s emitter that sent out the leading signal, but the emitter’s operator messed up. They accidentally sent out the signal from the emitter in this section, and the alarm did not go off with it. It was too late when she sprinted out from her house, too late when the S.D.A had sent out another Chaser team. Everything was too late already. Even Hanister’s survival was a miracle.

The S.D.A lost a great fortune after this event. It was enough for the mother and daughter to buy themselves an entire apartment building in the most flourishing area in Rodenzel. But Zoe didn’t want the money. No casualty’s family would want the money. She wanted Jim to be alive, she wanted Jim to watch Hanister grow up with her.

Zoe sighed, letting out a puff of smoke. She didn’t know who to resent, that Star Creature? The S.D.A? Or the person who turned on the emitter that day? The darkness did not respond to her. Perhaps she should have accused every single one of them, accuse them for taking away the one she loves.

All of a sudden, a small beeping noise came from inside of the house. Zoe doused the cigarette and went back inside. She walked to the coffee table in the living room, and picked up the old laptop she left on the couch. Opening her email, she saw a new mail in her box. An email that came from the S.D.A base in Rodenzel.

Zoe slowly sat down, sinking into the couch as she read over the lines.

Silly girl.

She smiled softly. When she first heard that her daughter wanted to join the S.D.A, she was furious. She knew how dangerous the job is, and she wasn’t ready to lose someone she loves dearly once again. She wasn’t ready to lose Hanister.

No, Zoe could never accept something like that happening. She just couldn't stop her own daughter, or more like how she knew that she shouldn't stop her. Just like how her parents weren't able to stop her from marrying Jim.

We're so much alike, right?

Zoe thought. So she learned to move on, to be positive, and also to respect Hanister. Although that means she might not be able to see her again someday.

At least she'll be happy when I see her.

She assured herself, and that was her sincere thoughts.

Zoe continued on reading the letter, smiling to herself once again. Jim was no longer around, but their daughter is still alive. As long as Hanister lives and breathes, she will remain to be her mother. She will have chances to teach her, to advise her. She will have the chance to love her.

Nightfall in the Gamond Region, right in the center of a boundless stretch of wheat field. A single two story country house was still lit from the light. A woman covered in a blanket was sitting on the couch in the living room, staring at the bright screen, smiling delightfully.

Soon after, the woman placed her hand on the keyboard, fingers dancing on top of it.