Tomorrow's Gone (#Wattys2015)

Chapter 4: Visions Become a Reality

The next day was absolutely hectic. My parents packed and took out all of our savings from the bank, which were roughly around 200,000 dollars. Dad met up with Daniel's dad, Joel and they came to an agreement. We were to leave on Saturday. It was Thursday.

I met up with Daniel that day and we went down to the park and bought ice cream and chips.

"I can't believe we're leaving together," Daniel said for the billionth time, grinning.

I smiled at him around a bite of ice cream. "Yeah, I know. At least I won't be losing a best friend," I shrugged.

"Best friend? Who said I was your best friend?" he teased.

I playfully swatted at his arm, glaring at him. "The universe did," I stuck my tongue out at him.

I was about to take another nip at my ice cream when Daniel snatched it from my hands and took a lick out of it.

I glared. "Idiot," I grumbled.

"What did you say?" he mock-reprimanded me.

"Nothing," I raised my hands up in defeat.

"That's not what I heard!" Daniel joked and smeared ice cream on my face, causing me to jerk back in surprised. Chortling, I was about to do the same to him when my eyes suddenly wandered over his shoulder.

My laughter died down as I spotted a hooded boy off to the distance. He wore a dark blue sweater with the hood pulled over inky black, chin-length hair. His skin was unnaturally pale.

He was looking straight at me.

And I swear his eyes flashed orange like molten lava.

As soon as he caught me looking, he turned around and hastily walked away.

"What's wrong?" Daniel asked, looking at me strangely.

Shaking myself out of my stupor, I met my friend's concerned eyes. "Sorry... I've been seeing strange things lately," I confessed sheepishly, rubbing my forehead wearily.

Daniel frowned. "What did you see?" he asked warily.

"That guy..." I trailed off, realizing the guy was no longer there.

He'd disappeared.

After coming home from the park, Daniel walked me home. I spent the better part of my day trying to decipher my visions. They weren't visions at all, I decided. No, I'd actually seen the owner of the voice and eyes.

There had to be an explanation for this... why was I seeing and hearing this strange boy?

Then it hit me like a dodge ball to the face. The truth had been staring at me all along. The Astron family we'd been assigned to was spying on us! That guy had to be Atlas' brother, the one he'd mentioned before.

But why was he following me around?

Why was I having visions of him?

So many questions, so few answers. After the initial shock of my realization, I went to my parents and told them my theory. I told them that I thought the Astron family that was assigned to us was conspiring against us.

My parents believed me, thankfully.

"And who do you suppose this boy—er Alien is?" my mother asked me.

I shrugged. "Maybe the guy's brother. I think they're scheming something, mom. We're not safe. We have to leave as soon as we can before they realize we want to leave without them," I said anxiously.