The Brain Invaders

Chapter 3

As I walked home alone in the dark, I thought about what I had seen and the things Zach, Ryan and Kate had told me.

I still couldn’t believe that this invasion started with a diving trip, but that’s what Zach had said. His uncle Ted and some other divers discovered the wreckage about two miles down. They explored the site using a submersible and when they returned to their ship, the sea slugs were clinging to it.

None of the crew was familiar with the species and someone suggested they take them back to study. So, that’s what they did. Or intended to do. But the slugs  got out of the holding tank and crawled into the sleeping divers, all except Zach’s uncle. He escaped after waking up to see one squeezing into his bunk mate’s ear. He jumped ship and survived at sea until he was picked up by the Coast Guard.

Just thinking about these things living inside people’s brains and controlling them made my skin crawl. And Kate said they never come out, except at bingo. Then they all come out. That’s when they rejuvenate. I was drowning in my thoughts and didn't hear the footsteps behind me.

“Alex? Alex? Is that you?"

I turned around.

It was Mrs. McGee.

"Does your mother know you’re out this late?" she asked.  “It’s almost 11.”

I told her that I was at Cassie's house. And, yes, Mom knew I was out this late but she was waiting for me at home.

"How’s school going?" she asked, putting her hand on my shoulder.

My body quivered. Ugh! One of them had touched me! Gross!

“Are you cold?” she asked, removing her hand.

I nodded yes.

The street light illuminated her face. I tried looking her in the oily eyes, but I kept imagining that ugly creature stuffed inside her head. The slimy body. The tentacles. Could it see me? Did it know that I knew it had taken over Mrs. McGee’s body? I wished I could pull it out and strangle it.

My gut hurt. My birthmark burned. I felt like I was going to throw up. I so wanted to get away from her. But I knew that I couldn’t run away. I had to act as normal as possible. I took a deep breath and told her that school was going well. That I played field hockey and joined the Harmony Club.   

“Aren’t you out sort of late Mrs. McGee?” I asked.

“It’s bingo night,” she said.

“How was it?”

"Fun," she said. "It's always a lot of fun. I didn't win any money, but it's good to get out."

Yeah,get out of Mrs. McGee's head, I thought. You slimy creep.

"Your mother is coming along next week,” she said. “I know she’ll enjoy a night out, and it’s a great group of people."

My mother! I thought. I can’t allow Mom to go to that fire hall with Mrs. McGee.

"You could come, too," she said. “We’d like more teens to play. Some young blood would be good. Keep us older folks young and alive.”

I gulped. Not this young one, I thought. No one is going to put one of those gruesome things in my mouth so it can crawl up into my head and control my brain! No way, no how.

There was a pregnant pause. “Well, I’d better run, Mrs. McGee. Mom is waiting for me, and I don’t want to worry her.”

She waved goodbye, and I sprinted the last block to my house.

“Alex,” Mom called as I walked in the door. “Where were you? It’s late.”

I told her that I needed some fresh air and went for a walk.

“Mom,” I asked. “Do you like playing bingo?”

“Love it,” she said. “Just never seem to find the time to go. Funny you should ask because Mrs. McGee just invited me to go with her next week. Do you want to come along? If you win, you win money. A lot of money. And you’re always lucky.”

I wanted to scream, to tell her there was no way she could even think about going with Mrs. McGee. But I stopped myself. Now wasn’t the time to freak. I’d save that for later, after I found a way to prevent Mom from going to bingo and help those already there.

“So what do you say, Alex. Interested?”

My eyes rolled back. “I have better things to do then hang out in a fire hall with my mom all night. No offense, Mom. But...”

“I know. I know. You’d much rather spend it hanging out at the mall. But if

you change your mind...”

“Don’t worry, I won’t.”

I kissed Mom goodnight and went to bed. As I lay there, I couldn’t stop thinking about the invaders. How could I keep Mom from going to bingo? How could we stop these creepy crawlers?  There had to be some way to kill them and save the humans they had taken over.

“Sweet dreams,” said Mom, popping her head in my door.

“You, too,” I said.

 As I closed my eyes, I hoped for sweet dreams, but had only nightmares. Nightmares of spotted, slimy, slug-like creatures wrapping themselves around me. Holding me down. Trying to get into me!