THETA part 1

1: Early Eviction

Friday, 20th November 2009, A city in the south of England

The wind sighed through the autumn trees. The sky was grey with cloud, and it was beginning to rain. Joshua Gad pulled up his coat hood, and bent down slightly to shield his face. It had been a good day as school days went, but it was good to back. Besides, Dad was coming home tomorrow.

Joshua Gad was 13, short, with brown skin and short, spiky hair. He attended year 7 in Beachside Secondary. He lived in a tower block down Melbourne street, with his mother and grandmother. His father served in the navy, only coming home for special events like Christmas, along with occasional leave like this weekend.

He went through the usual routine; Press the buzzer outside, take the lift to floor 12, walk along to room 3, knock on the door and have mum let him in. Dumping his bags on the shoe rack, mum took him into the living room, where grandma sat doing the crossword.

"I have some bad news for you." She sat him down on the sofa. "This came through the door this afternoon." She picked up a piece of paper titled 'Notice to Quit,' and showed it to Joshua.

"Next monday? I can't believe it. What happened?"

"Doesn't matter."

"Have you told dad?"

"Yeah, I called him up before you got back."

"What are we going to do?"

"We'll figure it out in time."

...

"Brrrrring! Brrrrring!" Josh groaned, rolling over in bed. "Brrrrring! Brrrrring!" He climbed out of bed, opened and walked out of his room. The phone was ringing in the the hall. Out of curiosity alone, he picked up.

"Hello?" 

A woman's voice, stern and strangely clear. "Run. Come to the park. Now. They are coming."

"Is this some kind of prank? James, is that you?"

"I can confirm this is not a joke. Run now, while you still have time."

A noise, something between a helicopter and a swarm of bees, came into his ears. Bright red lights shone from behind the curtains.

"What about my family? Dad's coming tomorrow and-."

"They are not your family. Run, NOW!"

Slipping on his mother's sandals and the red raincoat hanging on the door, he burst out of the door onto the landing. No time for the lift. He bolted down the stairs, footsteps echoing through the block. A loud bang noise, as though someone had hit the building with a giant hammer. Dust fell around him. 

People were already evacuating; Footsteps and shouts echoed around him, and a crowd began amassing. 

"Josh? Josh!" 

No time to think about it. Chunks of rubble and more dust fell through the centre of the staircase. They were nearly at the bottom. He forced the doors open. The crowd ran out behind him, shouting and screaming into the night. There was no way of telling if his mother and grandma were among them. From the the outside, he could see a huge crack in the wall near the top, with what looked like a giant red stealth jet, hovering just behind. A huge chunk of building fell from above, scattering the crowd and shaking the earth ground. He ran behind the building, to the park behind the. Glistening gold in the streetlights a strange craft sat. It was around the size of a large car, sleek and angularly designed with a sweeping bar of light at the front. Two huge thrusters lay out back, with massive, sword-like wings. A single, darkened window, wrapped around the front, above the light bar. A door in the side swung upwards, revealing a brightly lit interior. A voice, the same one on the phone, called out; "In here! Quickly!" Another loud noise. Looking behind him, Josh saw the building beginning to collapse, the red spaceship backing away. With one final look back, he bolted towards the open door.