The Alien

The Alien - Chapter 6

Costumes

Only one day had passed and I was heading up to the attic again. I cringed inside at the thought of it.

Another car had arrived, this time with two strangers inside. That couldn't be good.

Did Mae see me after all? Did she tell someone? It didn't seem likely that she would have seen an alien in Jarath's house and not bat an eyelid. I pushed those thoughts away as I climbed the ladder once again.

There was a knock on the door just as Jarath closed the attic's hatch. I moved silently toward the front of the house in order to hopefully hear what was said.

I could hear the door open and then a male alien's voice as he greeted Jarath. If I put my ear to the floor, I could hear more clearly.

He told Jarath that they were from the government and introduced himself and his partner, then asked if Jarath lived alone.

"Yes, it's just me here."

The alien cleared his throat. "I see. What do you do here? On this property."

"I breed horses. Working horses. I also run some cows and chickens."

"I see."

He asked a few more routine questions, then got down to business. "Has there been anyone staying with you or have you seen anyone in the area recently?"

My heart rate accelerated. They knew something.

"No. Why?"

"We have reason to believe that a group of youths have been stirring up trouble on the outlying properties."

"What do you mean?"

I strained to hear them better.

"Well, they have been dressing up in costumes and scaring the public."

What the? What's that got to do with anything?

"What kind of costumes?"

"Alien costumes."

Oh no. Not good. Did someone see me? Did they find the ship?

Jarath chuckled. "You mean, they're dressed like little green men with big heads and bulging black eyes?"

"Not quite. More like blue body paint with black spots all over, and long black wigs."

My stomach sank. No.

Jarath laughed. "Wow. They sure have an imagination."

The man ignored him. "Have you seen them?"

"No."

My heart pounded in my ears.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes. I'm pretty sure. I wouldn't forget an outrageous costume like that."

They exchanged a few more words that I didn't really pay attention to, and then the man left. I felt numb.

It was a long time after the sound of the car's motor had faded before Jarath dared to open the hatch. He looked worried. "They're looking for you," he breathed. "They're trying to make out like it's some local kids dressed up so no one suspects anything and panics about it, but their description was dead on."

I tried to calm my breathing as I climbed down, concentrating on one rung at a time. It didn't work. My breathing was shallow and I felt sick. "Yeah, I know. I heard them."

He sighed loudly. "What are we gonna do?"

"Um, not panic?"

He ran a hand through his hair. "But what if they find you?"