The Brain Invaders

Chapter 13

         “Alex,” Mom called. “Are you feeling better?”

I turned around and walked toward the door a few steps. “A little.”

I could hear her jiggle the door knob. “Why did you lock the door?”

 “I didn’t. Cassie did. She likes it locked when she sleeps.”

“OK. Well, goodnight then. See you in the morning.”

“Yeah, goodnight.”

I climbed out the window and lowered myself. “That was a close call.”

“Tell me about it,” Cassie whispered. “This better be good, Alex.”

As Cassie and I snuck behind trees and bushes, through yards and across town, I felt like a fugitive. I’ve never lied to my mom before, and I felt like crap doing it now. But I also knew that I had to in order to save Cassie. I had to meet with the others and figure out a way to stop this invasion. Besides, she wasn’t totally my mom. She was part sea slug. So maybe the lying only half counted.

Zach was sitting on his front porch waiting for us. Ryan and Kate were inside.

Zach had told Kate and Ryan what had happened. They agreed that telling Cassie was the thing to do. But, they said they were concerned because they had never told someone before. People either knew because they were Knowers, like us, or they didn’t. Telling someone who didn’t possess our gift was tricky because it required faith that we are telling the truth. Luckily, Zach said he also had proof.

Cassie sat on the burgundy sofa and I sat next to her, my arm around her shoulder. Zach did the explaining.

Cassie cried hysterically. “You’re crazy, Alex. You’re all insane. I don’t believe anything you’re saying.”

“I figured you wouldn’t,” Zach said. “So I brought this. We all have copies in case something happens to one of us.”

Zach opened a gray metal box and took out a DVD. “Proof,” he said, putting it in the player and turning on the TV.

“I recorded this a couple of weeks ago during a bingo game. It shows them implanting slugs into people’s heads. Watch, Cassie, and you’ll see that we aren’t making this up. It’s real. We couldn’t make up something this weird. Who has that kind of imagination?”

          “Please, Cassie,” I pleaded, trying to pull her hands away from her eyes. “You’ve got to believe us. I won’t ask you to do another thing if you at least watch the DVD. Then we’ll go home.”

Cassie took her hands away from her swollen eyes. Her face was puffy and red. The film rolled, and even I couldn’t believe what we were seeing. Cassie screamed the bloodiest scream I have ever heard. I thought for sure the neighbors would run over to see who had been slashed to pieces.

There, on the TV, were possessed humans prying open Cassie’s dad’s mouth while a sea slug squirmed inside. Of all people catch on film, it had to be Cassie’s dad.

“That’s enough,” I told Zach. “That’s Cassie’s dad.”

Zach looked at Cassie. “Sorry. It was just a random someone. I had no i…”

Cassie interrupted. “Let me see it again.”

Zach looked at me, then at Cassie. “Are you sure?”

Cassie wiped her wet eyes on her pink shirt sleeve. “I’m sure.”

Zach played it again.

Cassie didn’t scream like she did the first time. She buried her face in a throw pillow, and it muffled her cries.