When They Come
11

It had been a long few hours in the car and everyone needed a break. Alex was feeling carsick which was weird because she never did and Addir was getting restless hiding under a tarp.

John seemed to be on edge as well and called for a pit stop at the next highway exit. Alex was thankful that John had pulled over and rolled up to the of the gas station. It seemed a little shady, but Alex couldn’t care less. She felt like she was going to be sick again.

As everyone unloaded, Alex walked out into the field behind the gas station and hurled. She hated having this sickness. If felt like she was drunk and groggy all the time. She frowned when she saw that she left more silvery liquid on the grass. Addir this better be worth it.

As Alex returned, she saw Addir and John waiting for her. John looked at her anxiously while Addir seemed to have a look of expectance.

“And the results from our latest episode of ‘What’s That Substance’?” John asked nervously.

“Still silvery stuff,” Alex said shaking her head.

“That’s good then,” Addir said. “It means it’s working,”

“Don’t make me sick again,” Alex whined.

“My apologies,”

“Does anyone want anything to eat? I’m heading inside,” John said, thumbing to the gas station behind him.

“Anything,” Alex answered.

“Freshly killed anything,” Addir replied.

John and Alex looked to the alien with shocked faces.

“Do your food areas not have fresh meat to devour off the plate?” Addir said, cocking his head.

“It’s always cooked, Addir,” Alex replied. “And there’s nothing like that in a gas station,”

“The best thing I can get you is a hotdog,” John said. “Don’t worry, it’s really good,” He winked and walked off.

“I have never had your human food,” Addir said quietly. “Besides sneaking livestock from farms. Us Saimiens eat fresh meet. Much like your wolves,”

Alex nodded but kept her mouth shut. She didn’t need to speak, she felt her stomach upset and didn’t need anymore gruesome/gross stuff at the moment.

“You never said that’d I’d be sick to my stomach,” Alex muttered.

“You never asked,” Addir replied, eyeing her curiously. “You do not look well,”

“Because I’m not,” Alex moaned. “I’m sick to my stomach, I have a headache, and I’m nauseated! It’s not a fun experience,”

Addir sat puzzled and Alex sat down. She needed a nap and food and all this to go away. The stress and pressure was killing her. She never did well in tests. And well, this was the biggest test of her life.

She hugged her knees and laid her head on them. Alex felt her breathing slow and steady unlike a few hours ago. She felt like she needed some sort of stress-relieving therapy for all this. But she couldn’t let herself waver. She made this mess and she had to clean it up.

Addir came over to Alex and laid down behind her, like a dog trying to comfort his master. He seemed to make a semi-circle around her. His muzzle was to her left and his tail was to her right.

“I’m sorry,” He said softly. “I never meant for you to be so uncomfortable and stressed,”

Alex smiled weakly. “It’s just how I am. The stressed part, I mean. I’ve never done well under pressure. But I’m gonna have to if I want to save the world. And you’d think that’s for stuff only in movies. Saving the world from the impossible, but here we are! Impossible Station, going down Crazy Road. Next stop, Impending Doom with a side of transformation,” Alex said half laughing. It was funny.

Addir laughed weakly. He didn’t get it. She didn’t expect him to. Addir’s head raised suddenly. His sleek, wolf-like ears perked up as if hearing something.

“What?” Alex said panicked. She suddenly felt sick and nauseous and it wasn’t because of anything Addir said.

“There’s a ship coming our way,” He said seriously.

“Oh crap! A ship? Like a Saimien ship?”

“Yes,”

“We need to get John!”

“You called?” John said walking up. His hands full of all the stuff.

“Get in the car, now!” Alex cried, fear wrapping around her chest.

Addir, John, and Alex sprinted to the truck. John tossed everything into the side seat as Alex and Addir vaulted onto the bed.

“Alex! Get in the—“

“John, just drive!” Alex hollered.

John shoved the keys into the ignition and turned them. The vehicle hummed to life. He was thankful that he had refilled the gas tank as he stepped on the gas and the truck sped forward.

“Where are we heading?!” John yelled, leaning out of the widow.

“Where we’re going!” Alex yelled back. She cursed herself for being so stupid as to jump in the back with Addir, but she was here and there was no going back.

The truck sped down the highway and Alex and Addir braced themselves for the ship both knew was coming. Alex didn’t know why but her nausea seemed to ebb then grow, shifting her vision into a high-definition state. Her ears picked up the near-silent motor she had never been able to hear until now. Her nose detected the fuel the ship used.

It came as a large mass of white and grey, emerging from the trees. It was pretty big and bulbous—though probably not as massive as the ship parked in the middle of the continent. Alex braced herself for what was to come, her muscles vibrating with a new-found energy

Addir looked back at her. “Are you ready?” He asked, giving a quick smile.

“Uhh, sure,” Alex replied with a weak grin.

“We can’t attack the top of the ship—it’s reinforced. But the bottom of it is left vulnerable. If we damage the bottom, it’ll leave,” Addir explained swiftly.

“But how will I even get to it?” Alex cried over the rushing air. “It’s low but I can’t jump that!”

“Trust me, you’ll know,” He said.

The ship came sailing through the air, speeding toward them while turning other drivers’ heads. Alex prayed that John would remain focused. A Saimien voice spoke over a speaker.

“Alex Nunes, please stop your vessel and come with us. You’ve escaped us once, you won’t do so a second time,” It called from the ship.

Addir threw his arms out to the sides. “If you want her, you must go through me,” He hollered.

“A traitor!” The voice gasped. “Once we figure out who you are, you too shall be punished!”

Addir leaped at the ship and used his sharp claws to try and tear through the ships hull. His nails ran deep gashes in the metal. Addir then fell onto the asphalt, stopping the cars coming in that direction. He tumbled to the ground and stayed there, not moving.

Alex gasped. “Addir!” She cried and narrowed her eyes at the ship. She’d avenge him. Even if he wasn’t dead.

She steadied herself and leaped through the air with surprising strength. Everything seemed to go in slow motion. Her bones felt like they were lengthening, snapping and clicking, forming into longer, more agile limbs. Her teeth seemed to sharpen and hone themselves into blades as her senses fully opened.

She ran her now long nails through the hull, making an even deeper slice in the hole than Addir before falling to the ground, landing on her Saimien feet. She was now a Saimien. Or at least part Saimien. Her head and torso were still the same.

It was her arms, legs and part of her hips that were long, sleek limbs—just like Addir. Oh my gosh, Addir!

Alex ran over to him and hauled his arm over her shoulder and started pulling him along. She groaned under his weight and her cheeks warmed because she was making a major scene.

“Come on, Addir! I really need you right now!” Alex gasped.

He suddenly groaned and began to help her by limping along with his feet. They quickly made it to John’s pickup truck which had stopped and got in. Alex gave John the signal and he started driving again. She turned back to see the spacecraft retreating and she smirked.

Alex looked to Addir to congratulate him but gasped at what she saw.

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