The Devil Welcomes All

Jessie makes a mess

Life is such a fragile thing. I know because I've seen life leave someone's body. The smallest thing can kill somebody. I learned that in school. Bullets are very small but can kill very easily.

Death. What a wonderful way to start. But we all die. No matter how much we avoid it; death will always come. I'm not afraid of death. I'm afraid of how I'm gonna die. I could die a fast, painless death but I could also die a slow, painful death.

**********

My name is Percilla Fire. I'm 13 and I like pizza. I live in California. I have to keep a secret or many people will die. I'm only one of the thousands of people who know the secret. They're watching me. They're watching you, too. Watch out.

The earth was invaded by aliens. They are shape shifters. They can't control it. Whatever thing inhabits the planet they are about to invade, they change into those things. There's almost no way to tell the aliens from the humans apart.

A secret group of people called the AONPS (Association of Normal People Survivors) try their best to kill the aliens. You can kill an alien with a liquid called "Hustelle Acid". It melts the skin of anything.

There is that problem of not telling the people from aliens apart. There's one known way though. The aliens act different. They don't really know much about the way we act but they're developing quickly so we must act quickly.

The aliens know about the AONPS but don't know who's in it. Not everyone knows about it. My parents are part of the AONPS and told me a year ago. It's a secret I must hide from everyone. You never know who will betray you.

I go to a school full of kids that have parents of the AONPS. I know it sounds dangerous but we know not to talk about the association. We train in a underground room sometimes.

Of course, there's my mom and dad. My parents don't have siblings so I don't have aunts or uncles. All my grandparents are either dead or live very far away. I used to have an older brother but his friends and he died in a "freak" bus accident.

**********

I wake up in the morning and groan. I hate school. It's literally the worst thing ever invented. Why can't I just be born smart?

Waking takes forever but I finally sit up. I get out of bed and get ready for another "exciting" day of school. I still have about 30min to do whatever I want before I walk to hell.

"PERCILLA! ARE YOU AWAKE," my mom yells from across the house.

"YES, MOM," I yell back.

I rush downstairs to the kitchen. Great. Mom made breakfast today. Her cooking isn't the best. Usually dad makes the meals but it seems he went to work early.

I practically devour my breakfast and head out. I still have 15min but I want to be early today. I don't have any motivations for being early except the fact that the only thing my mom talks about is politics.

I spot my friend Jessie near the lockers. Jessie is a year older than me and in high school already. We don't get to see each other much as we did when we were both in the same division.

"CILLA! Wendy was just telling me that Alive's parents were killed last night in a shooting," Jessie said.

"Jessie! You know we're not aloud to talk about those things so openly," Wendy exclaimed.

"Rules are for losers. I live by my own rules."

"One month into high school and you're already a pain in the ass." Wendy rolled her eyes. "So Cilla, how's junior high without us? I bet your lonely."

"Defiantly. But I'm making friends with this new girl. She just transferred from another state. I'm helping her get from class to class," I said.

Wendy, Jessie, and I have been friends since forever. Our parents were in the same league so we basically grew up together. Although Wendy and Jessie were older than me, we always made it work.

"ATTENTION ALL STUDENTS: THERE IS A SURPRISE ASSEMBLY. PLEASE GO TO THE GYM IMMEDIATELY."

"I wonder what it's about," Wendy said frowning. "But whatever it is, thank you for getting me out of math."

I should tell you since I already know you've probably figured it out. I like Jessie. He's funny and nice and everything in hope in a guy. But unfortunately, Wendy likes him too. Wendy has a much better chance at Jessie than I do because she's in the same class as him. I know I'm only in 8th grade but hey, a girl can dream.

Jessie, Wendy, and I make our way to the gym and I sneak into the high school part to sit with them. Jessie sits in between Wendy and I. He smiles at both of us and whispers something in Wendy's ear that makes her smile. Jealousy burns though my body.

"I wonder what the assembly is for," Jessie whispers in my ear. I can feel the smile on his lips.

"Maybe someone had a big accomplishment or something. This school is always unpredictable," I whisper back.

Jessie smiles at me and I smile back. We stare at each other until Jessie falls down and makes a pool of blood