The Call of the Others

Chapter 22

Scott had hoped that shooting Alien #1 would make the boys fear, or even just respect, him more. It didn’t.

“Scott! Hey, Scott! Hey-hey-hey-hey Scott!” Cary yelled, although Scott was right next to him.

“WHAT?!”

“Can I shoot the next one?”

“Wha—NO! Oh my God, are you all kindergarteners?!”

“Cary failed kindergarten, if that helps explain things,” Martin offered.

“Shut up, Smartin! You failed it with me.”

“QUIET! We need to dispose of the carcass!” Scott bellowed. He instantly regretted it, because civilians were around. Civilians who obviously didn’t hear “We need to dispose of the carcass!” on a daily basis. He ushered them like a herd of cattle further down the alley and out of sight.

“That can be your catch phrase in the movie!” Charles said, with an excitement only writers or movie directors can understand.

“A movie? A movie?!” Scott started imagining ways to commit suicide. “Why?”

“Well, you see,” Charles started, “I’m an amateur movie maker. I’ve made one movie, The Case… Have you heard of it? It’s about this detective—”

“I don’t want to know,” Scott interrupted.

One alien down, Scott, he reassured himself. One down, seventeen to go… He looked at his hostages, who were fighting over who was the “stupiderest” one. And maybe three more…

Alice didn’t know what was going on, let alone what to do about it. Three of her friends were unaccounted for, and she had no idea where they were. Mr. Robinson quickened the pace of the group into a slow run. Or a fast jog, Alice supposed. Why are we moving so fast, though? The sky seemed dark, so maybe a storm was approaching. I hope Charles, Cary, and Martin are okay. Alice assumed Mr. Woodward simply hadn’t found the school group yet. And besides, wasn’t she done with them anyway? So Alice simply forgot about her friends and followed the group in its hasty exit of the city.

Mr. Woodward and Preston got out of the hospital with a little difficulty. They had been held up by the elderly woman from the bathroom, who was trying to report an escaped patient. Mr. Woodward quickly shushed her, and they went on their way.

“So we have to locate and potentially save that blonde girl from earlier and the rest of your friends?” Mr. Woodward asked, checking his information with Preston.

“Well, no. Joe’s still in the hospital,” Preston remembered, pointing to the hospital doors.

Mr. Woodward’s face hardened. “Why didn’t you tell me that before?!”

Preston shrugged. “It didn’t come up?”

Mr. Woodward sighed and muttered, “Well, we can deal with that later.”

“Oh, and by the way? He’s with an alien.”

“WHAT?!”

“But other than that, that’s everyone,” Preston said sheepishly.

Joe was indeed with his alien, still. However, it did not look like he would be for long. Frog’s face seemed to be paler, and he wasn’t talking as much.

“Are you in pain?” Joe asked, although he obviously was.

“There’s something I didn’t tell you,” Frog said weakly.

“What?”

“That gash…underneath my leg,” Frog gasped. “It was inflicted by my cell mate, and his species is venomous.”

“What.” Joe knew what it meant, he just had to hear it again to be sure.

“I’ve been poisoned, and I’m afraid it’s turning out to be very fatal.”

“Fatal?” Joe’s throat closed up.

“I didn’t want to tell you until now because… Well, there’s been so much death already.”

“You’re going to die?” Joe started blinking back tears. It was ridiculous to start crying. How long had he even known Frog? Two days? And they were leaving Monday…

“Just..” Frog coughed. “Just make sure you stay safe.”

“I’ll try.” Joe had stopped tearing up, but he felt as if they would strike again at any moment.

“You’re a nice kid, but next time someone asks to free a bunch of aliens, SAY NO.”

Joe couldn’t help but laugh. “I will. Say no, that is.”

“And please dump your girlfriend.”

And with that, Frog died.