Lost Mind

Dark Nights

It was getting darker and it seemed like they weren't going to leave any time soon. I almost can't see outside. The street lights have turned on now, so visibility is pretty low. Only certain lights are on. I think the town was starting to install solar-powered lights. I don't think they got done with it though. I don't know where I am going to go, but I need to go. This place isn't safe. I crawled towards the end of the vent to look outside. It didn't look like anyone was out there, but it was impossible to tell. I rotated myself around so that my feet were on the vent cover. I don't think there was any other way to get it off unless I was on the outside. I pack my things and feed the dogs before they are put in the bag too. I knew that I would have to go fast. Once I broke open the vent cover, it would hit the ground. It would probably be loud enough for someone to hear, even if they are inside. I put on my bag and lean my legs against the cover. It was time to go. As I push against the cover, a sharp pain shoots through me. I forgot about my leg. The cover flies off rather easily and clashes against the ground and slides for a foot or two. It was now or never. I didn't care about the pain, I cared about surviving. About me surviving. And the dogs. ... And Julia...

I jump out and land on the garbage bin below with a crash as my feet hit the lid. Someone had to be coming to check this out. I start sprinting as I hear someone push open the doors. The doors clang against the wall as they chase me. I didn't know if it was one person or more or even what weapon they had or if they even had one. I just knew I had to get out of there. I sprint around the corner and book it down the street with very minimal vision. They are still chasing me. I hear more than one pair of footsteps, meaning there is probably more than one guy. I don't intend to find out how many there are though. I plan on escaping. As I'm running down the street, I realize that I am breaking one of my rules about going through the alleys instead of the streets. I only did it for safety and so I didn't get caught by an alien. I doubt one is out here though. Maybe my superstitions were wrong. It made me think more about the aliens like why they came here and if they slept. A few street lights flicker as I keep passing by them, with men close behind. I was easily at least 4 blocks away from the center by now, why would they keep chasing me? That's when I hear it.

Metal being crushed as glass is smashed, like something being dropped on a car, but what was being dropped on the car? I listen for a second and realize the steps aren't behind me anymore. They stopped, which means only one thing. An alien found them. I turn around as a loud screech echoes through the streets and men are yelling at each other, trying to hear each other over the screeching. It was pointless. I could barely hear myself think, let alone them being much closer to the alien. I wonder what the screeches were for, but I had a bad feeling about what it was. Scampering reverberates around me as more and more aliens begin to join their friend. They all surround the men though, and not me. I think I see one of the men start to cry as the rest of them prepare to fight, though, from the looks on their faces, they already know who is going to win. A shot is fired and the aliens jump on them faster than I can blink. They tear the group to shreds as crying and screams surround the area. They deserve it though. They shouldn't have followed me this far. But if they wouldn't have followed me, the alien would have gotten me. I don't want to think about it any longer, so I forget about it and turn around to run. They would be finished with the group soon and I didn't intend on being there at the end of it. I sprint towards the nearest alley. I look back one more time, just to see what happened. That's when an alien passes by the alley at astounding speeds and I can hear its claws scrape the ground as it redirects itself. Toward me.

I dash as fast as I can, but I don't think I'll be able to outrun it. It darts toward me faster than I expected and is not close behind. The end of the alley is coming up and I have an idea of what to do. I grab the right edge of the fence at the end of the alley to propel myself to the right side of the street. The alien is close behind and turns the same direction, though it passes by me. I was hoping that they couldn't see in the dark, and that answered the question. I go back in the alley and sit down. Just for a breather. The alien will come back soon and I need to be anywhere but here when that happens. I look around then rush to the next alley. It was getting darker by the minute and my vision was getting worse. I needed to find a place to stay soon. As I exit the next alley, I turn on the street. It had gotten so dark that I was sure that they wouldn't be able to see me. I started walking slowly as to not make any noise so I couldn't get caught, by anything. I started going slower and slower until I was just barely crawling along the road. I could see one street light and that was it. The only light around for what seemed like miles. I could see the flashes of red light from the radio tower. Maybe it was still working. I could find safety.

It was colder than it had been in a while, which meant winter was coming soon. I knew it was, but I didn't realize how soon it would come. Damn Midwestern weather. The wind gushed passed my face to where my hair was blinding me. It's not like I could see anyway, but this made it harder. It had been so long since I last cut my hair. I always did it myself, I was too shy to go myself. I heard a snap, maybe a twig or maybe something bigger. I stood perfectly still. I wasn't about to die. I had made it so far, that it would be pointless to die now. I heard heavy breathing that seemed inhuman. It was probably the alien that was searching for me and he got tired. Looks like he found me though. I looked around, but I couldn't see anything. It was somehow harder than it was a second ago before I heard the breathing. Then I looked around and realized I was right under the only street light working. Of course I was, that seemed to be my luck. I turned away from the alien and ran down the road. I heard it chasing after me, though it didn't seem as fast as before. I think it got tired. It was still running faster than me, and I wasn't going to take that for granted. As I run past some crossroads, I hear something I haven't heard in such a long time. A car, being driven. It felt like time slowed down. I turned my head toward the noise and I was right. A car, with the lights on and everything. I barely get past its path as the alien enters it.

I then hear the crash of the car and a body hit the ground a few feet away. It was the alien. Bullseye. The car starts back up and drives away, ignoring me. I finally slow down. I finally feel safe. It's been a while. The last time I felt safe was at my house. When Julia was there. I look up and ignore all my thoughts. The only thing I was thinking about was shelter. That's when I see it. A house with the front porch light on. Now, I don't know if they've been on all this time, but I am very thankful that they're on now. I just assume that means people, but I need to find out. Maybe they heard the car and wanted to find out what was going on. I didn't care. As long as they were good people and they took me in, I didn't care. I jog towards the house when a searing pain hits me. My leg. I forgot to cover up the wound. As I get into the yard, I fall over. My vision goes black and I fall to the ground, unconscious.