Alien Bride

This is a normal occurrence. I can get over it. Right now, I need to get my mother out of this city.

The news shows a drone aerial view of the highways throughout America. From California to the New York Islands, vehicles fill the highways like clogged arteries.

To my extreme horror, cars are at a standstill. People step onto the pavement, eyes toward a blackened sky.

The mothership looms, expanding over several states. It’s so massive, it’s almost unbelievable. Almost. But I report on this type of crap everyday. I should be prepared.

My voice wavers, but I know it’s not the time to be weak. I have to stay strong. “Mom, I need you to listen to me. Something very bad is happening. I need to get us out of here,” I say.

My mom sits at the kitchen table, exhaling like she just worked a ten-hour shift. “Did you forget to pay your water bill again? Is that what this is about?”

I can feel my blood pressure spike. “No, mom, it’s not the water bill. Now, get up. We need to leave,” I say.

My mother continues, wagging her finger at me. “Your father used to ‘forget’ to pay his IRS taxes, too. You saw what happened to him,” she sneers. “But don’t you worry. The water companies will give you an extra few days to send the money through. I’ll take care of the check.”

God, what century is she living in? This isn’t 2020. This is 2093, and we solved the water crises years ago.

I lose my temper, pointing at the live footage of the invading mothership. “Mom!”

Finally, she seems to recognize the danger we are in. Her jaw drops in terror. “Lord, what has congress approved now?”

Face palm.

A reporter on the scene tells us that the Navy is now on standby. Ground troops surround its circumference. The Air Force circles above. As more countries recognize the global threat, they all come together on this.

But it’s not quick enough.

Deep in my heart, I know there’s no way we can win this war. Whatever these beings are, they are not primitive. They are primal and futuristic, ready to take and kill an entire planet.

Once we attack them, it’ll all be over. There is no winning this fight.

There is a strange silence before a hum vibrates over the sky. The noise grows louder as a large circular door opens in the center of the craft.

Here it comes...

The troops tell them to stand down. If they do not comply within ten-seconds, they will open fire.

“Ten...”

The hum turns into a piercing dissonance. A bright light forms in the center of that opening.

“Seven… Six… Five...”

The light grows brighter. The sound becomes so overwhelming that even my mother is protecting her ears with her palms.

“Emma, what is happening?” she cries.

Before I can answer, the sound cuts out. And that’s when I realize they are establishing a dialogue.

They want to talk to us.

Maybe they want to be our allies!

My mind starts to race. I think about my job at the Daily Star. My career could skyrocket. Who knows? Maybe they’d give me Ryan’s job.

They speak in a language nobody can understand. It’s a heavy, throaty sound that cuts like glass against the ear drums.

This is not a welcome speech. It’s a warning.