The Leader smirked at the black-winged fallen angel before saying, “Be gone. Your purpose is served.”
The creature faded into a faint blue mist until it left no trace of its presence.
The Leader took in the simple humans who claimed to be the best of all mankind and said, “Engage the war between Israel and Iran. It’s time I arrived.”
Chapter Twenty
Autumn turned to Alicia two days later at work. They stared at the cell phone in Alicia’s hand and watched the morbid details on the news via the internet.
“Why aren’t the aliens stopping this?” Alicia asked, looking at her friend.
Autumn, who felt frozen in fear, could only stare at her. “This is World War III, isn’t it?”
Gulping, she returned her gaze to the phone and watched the video on the live news feed. Israel and Iran were actively preparing to strike each other, but the question was who would do it first. There was no longer a question of if they would go to war but when. And here Autumn and Alicia were sitting in a department store as if this Christmas season was going to be like any other.
“Maybe it’s just talk,” Alicia weakly said. “How many times have we been hearing about a breakout over there?”
“Yeah, but this time troops are getting ready.”
“The aliens have to intervene. They can’t let us destroy ourselves. They have to stop it.”
Autumn knew her friend was trying to convince herself of this since she spoke to herself. Not knowing what else to do, Autumn watched the news on the cell phone. Hampton had been warning them that a Middle East breakout was going to occur at any moment, but up until now, she’d hoped he was wrong.
“Tensions are mounting as Israel is asking the United States to be an ally. So far the president hasn’t given an answer. It looks like if Israel engages in an attack, it might do so on its own,” the newscaster announced.
Autumn decided she’d heard enough. “Mind if I smoke?”
“No. Go for it,” Alicia replied.
Autumn stood and numbly grabbed her coat from the employee lounge before she went outside. It was undeniable. Her life had become a horrible nightmare that never got any better. One bad thing happened right after the other, and it was becoming clear that things were only getting worse.
She reached the bench outside and sat down. Her hands shook and she didn’t know if it was from the low temperatures or from her nerves.
A warmth came from her right, a warmth which by now had become familiar enough to be comforting. She knew no one else saw the angel as it appeared next to her, but she spoke aloud anyway. So people passing by to enter the store might think she was nuts. So the security guard who checked IDs might glance over and think she was off her rocker. So whoever manned the security camera that scanned the entrance might take a look at the recording and think she was a loon. So what? What did any of it matter anymore?
She lit her cigarette and inhaled before she spoke to the angel who decided to show his white wings today. “Is it possible that I can die from lung cancer before I’m nuked into oblivion?” she asked, realizing her joke was too morbid to be funny.
“You will not be nuked,” the angel assured her.
She looked at him, noting the peaceful expression on his face. “I guess if you’re immortal, you can’t fear death.”
“Death only frightens you because it’s an unknown.”
“You don’t know fear, do you?”
“I do, just not on the same level you do.”
“What do you have to fear?”
“The choices humans make.”
Out of the corner of her eye, she was aware that a woman gave her a bewildered look before passing by. Autumn took another puff from her cigarette. “You mean whether or not we’ll blow each other up?”
“No. I mean, whose side you’ll choose.”
“Side? What side?”
“God or Satan. I can only be a messenger. I can’t make you choose, nor can I make you talk to Devon.”
She rolled her eyes, fighting off her frustration. “You’re upset because I wouldn’t talk to him at the hospital.”
“No. I’m not upset. I’m worried.”
“Worried he’ll make the wrong decision?”
He nodded.
She gave a bitter laugh. “I got news for you. He’s already made his decision. He works for them. One of the demons lurks around him.”
“Not by his choice.”
“He’s in league with them. He sets off bombs. He tells the governor to put people back to sleep. He was at Area 51 inserting something behind Alex’s ear.”
“But he hasn’t made the choice.”
She shook her head. “Don’t you see that thing that hovers by him?”
“It’s by him. It’s not in him. There is a difference. Influence and possession are two separate things, and until he makes the choice, it will not leave.”
“Unless he makes the wrong choice, right? Then it enters him?”
“Yes.”
Frustrated, she took another puff. “Why don’t you talk to him like you talk to me?”
“I tried.”
She rolled her eyes. “Tried? You’re an angel. That makes you powerful enough to do more than us mortals can.”
“Angels are limited. I cannot will myself to contact Devon. He has to be open to it. He needs help getting there.”
“And I’m it?” She laughed again. “Last time I told him about the spirit realm, he said I was nuts. He doesn’t want to talk to me, nor do I want to talk to him.”
“He needs to talk to you, and he does want to talk to you. He’s trapped. He doesn’t know how to get out.”
She finished her cigarette and put it into the trash can. “What about Alex?” When he didn’t respond, she took a good look at his solemn expression. “Has he made a choice?” she demanded, aware that as her voice rose, her body grew tense.
“No.”
“So why don’t I spend my efforts trying to help him? At least Alex is a nice guy who doesn’t go around hurting people.”
The angel sighed and stared at the man who walked by. “Devon’s open. He wants help.”
“Just not enough so you can talk to him.” She tucked her hands into her coat pocket and fought off the blast of wind that blew around them. “How is it you could talk to me in May? I wasn’t seeking out angels. I didn’t believe in God.”
“You were looking for answers, and you know your sister believed in God. She made her decision. She was sealed.”
Finally. Now they were getting somewhere! She turned to him and asked, “Where is she?”
“It’s not the end, Autumn. It’s just the beginning, but the world is going to pass through some tribulations before it can enjoy peace. Your sister and others who made their choice before the aliens arrived have been spared the suffering to come.”
She rubbed her forehead, closed her eyes, and groaned. “Are you ever going to tell me where she is?”
Silence.
Glancing at the space next to her, she saw that he had disappeared. She rolled her eyes. Naturally. She should probably be grateful that he bothered to answer any of her questions.
“I need to talk to you.”
Surprised, she looked over and saw Devon standing in front of her. Standing up, she said, “I have to get back to work. Hampton will dock my pay if my break goes too long.” She didn’t care what the angel said. She had nothing to say to Devon, nor did she want to have anything to do with him.
“I’ll reimburse you.” Devon stepped in front of her so she couldn’t move forward. “Please?”
“No.”
She tried to step past him, but he grabbed her elbow and whispered. “Fine. Let’s bargain. You want information about what’s going on, right? You want to know what’s going on and why?”
She almost said that she didn’t want to know anymore, but then she remembered Alex and the mess he was in. Maybe Devon knew something that would help Alex. After a quick debate, she n
odded.
“Meet me at Sertoma Park by the zoo entrance. We’ll talk there.”
“When?”
“When do you get off work?”
She couldn’t believe she was doing this. If it’d been anyone but Alex, she’d never meet up with Devon. “Seven. I can be there at 7:30.”
“Good. I’ll see you then.”
The shadow appeared next to Devon’s shoulder and snarled at her. In the same instant, the angel appeared next to her. The demon hissed but shrank back until it disappeared.
Autumn decided not to dwell on it. World War III was about to erupt into full force. She had bigger things to worry about than Devon and his problems, whatever those were. Without another word to Devon or the angel, she took her ID out of her pocket and went into the building.
The security guard checked her driver’s license, nodded, and handed it back to her. “Have a good day, ma’am.”
She tried to smile but couldn’t because as soon as she scanned the mall, she became aware of the spiritual world around her. Dark shadows hovered around some people while beams of light hovered around others. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. When she opened them, they were gone.
I don’t want to see any of them. I just want to forget this is all happening.
She hurried back to work. The safe and familiar world around her, where she avoided Hampton as much as possible, was the only comfort she got anymore. She hung up her coat and returned to the counter where she took a moment to gather her bearings. She wanted everything to go back to normal. But she had a sinking sensation that nothing would ever be normal again.
Chapter Twenty-One
Devon checked his watch as he waited for Vanessa to get the clean bill of health from the psychiatrist. He sighed and rubbed his eyes. The day had been a long one, and tonight, he would have to fly out to Area 51. First, he had to talk to Autumn and find out what she spoke to in that hallway. Something about it was important. He sensed it was the key to what he’d been desperately searching for but had been unable to find.
Realizing, he’d been staring at the wall, he returned his attention to the magazine in his lap. The headline warned of an approaching war between Israel and Iran. Beneath the headline was the question: Is this the beginning of the end? He wanted to laugh at the absurdity of it. If only people knew... This wasn’t where the real action was taking place. But soon after he’d begun to work, he learned that the media reported on events that masked the more pressing issues facing mankind.
The front door opened, so he glanced at who was entering the building. As soon as he recognized Alex Cameron, he looked away, too ashamed to make eye contact. Devon’s business at Area 51 had to do with what he and Vanessa did to him there. He took a deep breath and pretended to be interested in the article in front of him.
Alex went to the receptionist and checked in for his appointment.
Devon purposely kept his head lowered so Alex couldn’t see his face too well. None of the people ever recognized him after the experiments at Area 51, but there was always that chance they’d wonder if they saw Devon before. Devon wondered if Alex went to see Dr. Reyes because of that night. It wouldn’t be the first time someone visited a psychiatrist afterwards. Pushing aside an onslaught of self-accusations, Devon checked his watch again.
Alex sat three chairs down from him and picked up a Reader’s Digest. Good, Devon thought. Alex wasn’t the type of person to make conversation while waiting for an appointment.
Vanessa came out of the office with Dr. Reyes a good five minutes later.
“Here’s the prescription,” he told her as he handed her a piece of paper. “Remember to call me if you notice any negative side effects, alright?”
She nodded. “Thank you, doctor.”
He smiled at her before he looked at Alex. “Mr. Cameron, are you ready?”
Alex said yes, put the Reader’s Digest down, and stood up.
Vanessa blanched for a moment when she saw him. She shot Devon a startled look.
Devon slightly shook his head, a message he hoped she’d understand meant that Alex shouldn’t know where he’d seen her before. Dr. Reyes glanced from one person to another, making Devon apprehensive. Something didn’t seem quite right about the psychiatrist. His gaze lowered to the paper in Vanessa’s hand. She shouldn’t take those pills. Where the thought came from Devon didn’t know, but he’d learned that his instincts were too important to ignore.
“Come on,” Devon told Vanessa. “I’ll take you to the pharmacy.”
She nodded and practically ran past Alex who shrugged and turned to the doctor who smiled at him and waved him into the office.
Devon waited for Dr. Reyes to close his office door before he led Vanessa outside. Once they were in his car, he asked, “Can I see that prescription?”
Eyes wide, she nodded and handed the white paper to him.
He didn’t recognize the medication, but he knew someone who would. Tapping the steering wheel with his fingers, he wondered how much he should tell her. The less she knew, the better. Obviously, knowing too much would drive her to the point of suicide again. He took a deep breath. “If I pay the bill, will you see someone I trust?”
She narrowed her eyes. “I’m no longer into psychics or any weird stuff like that.”
“No. This is a medical doctor. He found some implants they put in me.”
“Who? The aliens?”
“Yes. You remember our trip to Dulce?”
“Only a little.”
“The first time I went there, they put an implant in me.”
Her eyes grew wide and he caught a tremble in her lower lip. “Are you saying...?” She brought her hand up to her neck.
“Probably around the same place we injected Alex,” he softly replied.
“But I didn’t think we were doing anything to hurt him,” she whispered, her face growing pale.
He started the car and backed out of his parking space. “I know. You were told he volunteered for the experiment.”
“But...” She gulped and shook her head. “I don’t understand. Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Orders. I couldn’t.” Just like his mentor couldn’t tell him. Then his mentor had an attack of conscience and leaked some of the information to the reporters. Shortly after that, his mentor had a heart attack, or at least that was what the autopsy claimed. “Orders,” he repeated, the word barely audible.
“What else don’t I know?”
He waited for a long moment before answering. “I can’t tell you.” When she looked like she was ready to demand he tell her, he asked, “Do you want a new partner?”
Understanding lit her eyes. “Oh God.”
Oh God, indeed. He turned onto the main road and shifted in his seat. “All I can do is take you to someone who can remove the implant and any others you might have.” His gaze drifted back to the paper. “And I can tell you that whatever you do, don’t take these pills.”
She turned forward in her seat and stared blankly ahead.
Knowing there was nothing else he could do or say, he picked up his phone to make the appointment with his doctor.
***
Dr. Reyes glanced up at Alex from the doctor’s report. “He says it’s safe for you to take the pills.”
Alex shifted in his chair and ran his hand through his hair. “Yes. He said the pills had nothing to do with the heart attack.”
The psychiatrist waited for Alex to continue, but when Alex didn’t, he asked, “Do you disagree?”
Letting out a long sigh, Alex scanned the wall where the man’s diplomas and awards were neatly arranged. Finally turning his eyes to the doctor’s, he said, “I’m twenty-nine. How can I have a heart attack?”
“Young people get heart attacks. Sure, it’s rare, but it happens. Just like young people getting diabetes or cancer. These illnesses trouble our bodies regardless of age.”
Alex couldn’t argue that point. His gaze lowered to his hands. Despite his better judgment,
he’d taken the pills as soon as he got home. Nothing bad happened since then. In fact, his life finally had a sense of normality it hadn’t had in a long time. So what was troubling him?
“Have you had any more trouble with the alien?” Dr. Reyes asked.
“No.” Taking a deep breath, he said, “You know that man in the suit that was just here? The one who left with the blonde woman?”
“Of course, I do. I saw him in the waiting room.”
“Yeah, well, I think I’ve seen him before.”
“How so?”
Alex shook his head. “I’m not sure. I mean, he seems familiar and yet he doesn’t.”
“Maybe he looks like someone you’ve seen before?”
“Maybe.”
Alex didn’t think so, but it was a possibility he ought to consider. Still, there was something that tickled the back of his mind, as if his subconscious mind was trying to tell him something.
“If you’d seen him,” the doctor began, “do you have any idea where it would have been?”
“No. I don’t.” He rubbed his forehead. He couldn’t be sure, but he thought he was developing a headache. “I don’t.”
“It’s okay. Give it time. It might come back to you.”
“I guess.” He let go of the urge to fight through whatever block was in his mind, and his headache eased. That’s odd. Glancing at the clock, he realized his time was almost up. He breathed a sigh of relief.
“Did you read through the list of symptoms to watch out for when you take the pills?” Dr. Reyes asked.
“Yes.” He’d read through it several times and couldn’t find anything that would explain voices from the TV, a heart attack, a humming sound... “Yes, I read the list.”
“Good. Did you also get the psychiatric testing I ordered?”
“Yes, I did that too,” Alex softly admitted, wondering what those tests would find. Was he going crazy? Hearing voices, seeing an alien that attacked him, and having a heart attack. None of those could mean good things. “I did it earlier this week.”
“Good. I’m glad to hear it. We’ll get to the bottom of what’s going on and take care of it.”
Return of the Aliens Page 12