Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Alternates

Sunday, pt. 2

Oddly enough, the TV had a news station playing. I realized something was wrong here because Rowley never watches the news. Despite this, I looked at the broadcast and listened to what the woman was saying.

"Greetings citizens of Plainville. Please take the following statement seriously. This is no laughing matter. Scientists have recently discovered a new kind of species, called alternates. They are very dangerous and can look exactly like humans if they wish to do so. There are factors you can use to tell the difference between us and them."

The moment the word "them" was said, the atmosphere in Rowley's living room went from dread to horror. I spaced out as the lady went on about the qualities that make us different. Mrs Jefferson was quietly sobbing and Rowley just kept staring at the screen, with no emotion on his face. Mr Jefferson was nowhere to be seen, and I suspect they had already got to him.

This was bad. I started thinking of all the ways I could survive this when I realized;

My family. Mom and dad.

The hairs on the back of my neck started to stand up as I thought about all the things they could have done to them by now. It was only 7 minutes since I had left my house, but I didn't wanna take any chances.

I quietly dismissed myself from Rowleys living room and walked outside, shutting the front door behind me quietly. I don't think Rowley or his mom noticed me leave.

I sprinted towards my house as fast as I could, running past Fregleys house and into my front yard. My first instinct was to yank the door open, but when my hand hovered over the doorknob I paused. All the curtains were pulled shut, and there wasn't a single sound coming from the house that I could hear.

Roderick was also nowhere in sight. I chalked it up to him just hanging at one of his friends' houses, but I still had a strange feeling in my gut not to open the front door.

I took a step back from the door when a voice came from inside the house.

"Oh! Greg! Your back! I was waiting for you! I made some cookies that you can eat while playing your games! Be a dear and come inside!"

My heart skipped a beat as I heard that. That voice didn't belong to mom. It sounded like mom, but wasn't her. Don't get me wrong, I love cookies and video games, but when your "mom" kicks you out for the day then offers you sweets to come back inside, it's... Weird.

I took another step back onto the lawn when I noticed it. In one of the windows, the curtains were moved slightly. Call me crazy, but I swear I saw an eye look at me through those curtains.

Fortunately, my flight or fight senses kicked in and I noped it out of there before I got to see what thing that eye belonged to.

I ran to Rowley's house again, and he immediately let me inside with no questions asked.

I don't know what that thing in our living room was. I don't know where Roderick is and I don't know if dad is safe.

I'm currently staying at Rowley's house with him and his mom. She's going to get more groceries tomorrow. I hope this weird thing ends soon.

I talked about it with Rowley, and he says that the eye I saw was probably me being so scared I hallucinated it.

I half believed him, cause if I spent another minute there I would have peed myself. But then again, the curtains were moved. So even if there wasn't an eye something still moved those curtains. It scares me to think about, so ill just end this here.

I don't think i'll see mom again.