Afraid of the Dark

by Chris Hechtl

  She moved out through the crowd to find Jen and the others. They needed to know. More importantly, they needed to plan. Unlike the others she'd realized right away, if this was as widespread as it sounded they were on their own.

  “What's going on out there?” he asked as he looked at the screens. “All quiet now?” he asked. An hour. Nearly an hour of quiet. For some it was too much.

  “Nothing much,” Bill said leaning forward to check a split screen. He shook his head. Since it had quieted down he'd had time to think, to let things come apart and let the inevitable why me questions bubble to the surface. Eventually he'd run through them all and realized he didn't have many answers. And the answers he did have only caused more questions.

  “When they first landed I thought it was hail or something. Jimmy went out to check and never came back,” he said. Jimmy had been his junior partner on the night shift. A good kid, fresh out of school and in the RCC law classes. “Boss there was nothing I could do,” he said looking up at Shane in raw appeal.

  “I saw,” Shane said quietly, patting his friend's shoulder. “It was quick,” he said quietly. Bill gulped and nodded. Apparently Shane had viewed the video of the incident. Bill had only checked when he realized Jimmy hadn't reported in after he'd picked up Wayne.

  Shane sat back in his own chair, resting his elbows on the arm rests as his fingertips came together. After a moment he rested his chin on them. “I watched these things land. Apparently they make quite a splat when they hit concrete,” he said smiling a little.

  “Yeah, I saw the mess,” Bill said wrinkling his nose. “At least at first. But then some weird looking aliens with two trunks came along and sucked up the mess.”

  “I saw that too, about an hour ago right?” Shane asked. Bill nodded. “At least they clean up after themselves,” Shane muttered. “Walking garbage disposal. That will have Jen interested.”

  “That supposed to be a good thing?” Bill asked. He stretched. “What the hell are we supposed to do boss?” he demanded quietly, shifting his eyes to the monitors covering the inside of the mall.

  “Survive,” Shane grated out quietly, trying hard not to clench his jaw. He'd been getting that question a lot for the past few hours. More and more people were looking to him for answers. Answers he didn't have. At least not yet. “Right now, survive plain and simple. We'll see what the morning brings.” Two more hours until day break.

  “Boss something's happening on the West side. We've got activity,” Bill said, studying the screen intently.

  “What?” Shane asked turning and sitting up straight. Other people in the room tensed up as well.

  Bill took a moment to identify the situation and then sighed in relief. “People,” Bill said, pointing to the monitor. Shane checked. People were milling around the Macy's side entrance trying to get in. There were dozens of them, it looked like they had come up through the parking entrance that was near the back entrance to Lowes. They looked like a mob, some were carrying improvised weapons. A few were shaking badly though. He watched as they picked their way through the parking lot and started banging on the doors. “Shit man, they make too much noise we're in for it. They'll bring everything down on our heads!” Bill said.

  “Let them in. Come on.” They rushed from the security office, through Macy's to the doors. They could see the people through the glass on the other side. The guards they had stationed nearby were confused. Bill waved them to a side entrance and going over there himself hit the bar, opening the door.

  People piled in, practically falling over each other as they looked back in terror. “Inside, get inside people, keep calm, move, keep moving,” Bill urged at a whisper.

  “You're safe for now folks. Get to the back,” Shane said patting a red haired guy on the shoulder. The guy was wearing a Lowe's apron. A few of the people had makeshift weapons. Pitch forks, machete knives, and a chain saw on a pole. He shook his head.

  “Thanks man, geez, I thought we were cooked. These things...” the red haired guy started to gush, eyes tearing. A few of the women were crying quietly. The door hushed shut and they flinched.

  “Aliens,” Shane said. “They came from outer space. The meteors,” he explained.

  “Whatever man, damn...” the guy was tearing up.

  Shane patted him awkwardly on the shoulder. “Pull it together man, we've got to get you and these people in.” He huffed in surprise as the guy hugged him fiercely.

  “I'm Art,” the guy said as he released him. “Thanks man, I mean...”

  “No problem Art, we'll get you folks sorted out. Anymore?” he asked.

  “No, the others...” A woman gagged hand over her mouth.

  “What?”

  “They got torn apart,” Art said shuddering.

  “Okay, don't mention that to the kids,” Bill said looking at the others. He did a quick head count, there were about forty people. “This it?”

  “I can't check the outside to be sure without getting to a camera, no way am I sticking my head out now,” Shane said firmly.

  “You and me both, come on folks, this way,” Bill said. He led them to the inner mall courtyard.

  They nervously looked at the glass doors. Bill directed them to the sports store where others were milling about.

  “Okay folks, we'll get you some food and water, use the clothes and stuff from upstairs as bedding. Try to stay calm. Anyone with military or weapons experience or medical experience, let us know,” Shane said. A few tentatively raised their hands. He pointed to them and then to Bill. “Bill take them and get them armed. You folks will work with us to make sure the others are safe. Don't worry folks, we'll do our best.” He nodded to his wife then to the others. Jen was already patting people on the back and handing out sports drinks. He smiled to her and then followed Bill and the others out.

  Chapter 5

  “You got up?” Jen asked as he looked out into the predawn dark. She nudged his arm and he looked. She handed him a Styrofoam mug of coffee. It was nearly five thirty, and he knew from being with Jen that predators hunted most around dawn and dusk. He was definitely awake.

  He grunted and took the coffee, wincing and shaking his hand as he touched the hot bottom. His wife never ceased to amaze him. Take the coffee. Where did she get that? He nearly spilled it when they both jumped at a high pitched screech from somewhere out in the dark.

  “Something tells me the nights of sleeping all night are over sweetie,” he said giving her a peck. She nodded shivering a little. He hugged her close for a moment.

  “This'll keep me up for years to come,” she said with a shaky laugh.

  ...*...*...*...*...

  As dawn came closer the noises ceased. When dawn finally broke in a glorious display of color people woke to sun on their faces. In the early day it was eerily quiet.

  “Watch the windows,” Bill cautioned. He looked around. “Where did they all go?” he asked.

  “There's some,” a woman pointed. He turned. There were some weird looking aliens bumbling along on the ground near the plants along the outside of the parking lot. That was it.

  “Is it safe?” a tentative voice said.

  “Sure, you go first,” someone said, sounding annoyed and a little sarcastic. There was a growl and then a shaky, bitter laugh.

  “We'll find out,” Shane said looking around. He had a feeling but he couldn't quite place it. He went to the guard office.

  “Boss, um, I ah... it’s quiet out there,” the monitor guy said, hands cradling a cup of coffee.

  “Yeah I was wondering about that,” Shane admitted.

  “It’s weird. Right around when the sun started to come up the predators, you know the ones eating people and stuff... they, well, they sort of started to growl and howl and then head off. Sort of slunk off really.”

  “Really?” Shane asked. “Interesting.” He was starting to form a hypothesis, and he was curious to see if he was right or not.

  ...*...*...*...*...

  “I got ano
ther!” the teen with the phone said. Blearily people opened their eyes, more to glare in her direction. She waved excitedly.

  “Go do that somewhere else,” a querulous voice said. A few people yawned, others were too scared to sleep. They were darting their eyes around, hiding under their blankets, clutching at their weapons or loved ones.

  “Come on...” the girl said and then went to the IT department of the store. A boy with her fumbled with a TV and then they went out back. They started playing with controls until the TV’s came on loud.

  People screamed and thrashed in sudden fright. “Easy!” Jayne said coming at a run. Shane was on her heels. “What the hell's wrong with you!” she demanded.

  The girl looked chastened but then pointed to the screen. Shane didn't even pay any attention to her, like many other people his eyes were drawn to the televisions. A news broadcast was underway.

  The television reporter looked dog tired and more than a little frightened. She was in a studio, sitting behind a desk. Some of the set behind her had been torn up. They could see where claws had shredded a section of a set piece and the counter she was sitting behind. There was blue and red blood splattered near the edge of the screen.

  “As you can see the aliens, one can only describe them as such, landed worldwide. What we know for sure is that the comet was some sort of vessel that blew up like a shotgun blast, peppering our planet with these invasive creatures in some form of drop pod container. Authorities, those that are still alive, urge everyone to remain indoors and arm themselves the best they can if possible.”

  She paused and turned to the prompter but someone waved her on. “Um okay, we don't have a lot to go on at this point ladies and gentlemen, what we do know is the expected meteor shower that arrived, sprayed the aliens indiscriminately across the planet's surface. We're getting reports of many different alien creatures, dozens of different species apparently but unfortunately we only have a few here.” She looked at someone off screen. “Bobby can you show them the tape?” she asked.

  The view switched to a cameraman taping an attack outside. A cat creature, something Shane had seen before was eating a person. Someone was screaming. The cameraman edged closer. When he got to within a dozen or so yards the thing turned. Crests flared on its back and head. They could hear the cameraman mutter a terrified curse and then turn to run. The camera bobbed as he ran, focusing on the ground. They heard a screech and then clicks of claws on concrete.

  “Run!” someone was yelling.

  “I'm trying!” the man said and then screamed as the camera was thrown to the ground. The lens cracked. A few people in the audience gathered around the television and stared in mute, appalled horror as the cracked view showed the man fighting for his life. Fighting and losing as a second and third creature arrived. Some in the audience turned away as they heard gurgling and his feeble thrashing stopped.

  Four eyes glared as one of the animals stared at the camera, still holding the man's shredded neck in its mouth. Someone behind Shane gagged and ran out of the room. Jayne turned to look but then went back to the view.

  The animal growled for a moment and then released the neck. The cameraman's blood dripped from its maw. It growled again and then lunged. The view froze as it tore into the camera.

  “The face of the enemy folks. We can only hope that we can stop them,” the news anchor said as the view cut to her. The editing was choppy and there were a lot of mistakes. She shook her head and shivered a little.

  “The invasion is into its seventh hour here on the East coast. Some people, survivors, are calling in. We're getting scattered calls but our media center is down. For some reason the aliens attacked machinery as well as people. We're not sure why.”

  “I know why, it’s an invasion dork! They're taking out our stuff so we can't use it!” a guy in the crowd growled. A few muttered in agreement as well.

  “We're on generator power here folks so we can't broadcast for much longer,” the reporter said glancing to the side. “Only a few of us are left here in the station. No one else has replied.” She sounded like she was on the verge of tears. She seemed to rally a bit though.

  “Reports from the government are just beginning to come in. It doesn't look good. We're... mankind is now beginning to react to the invasion. I urge all of you to remain calm, arm yourselves, and help anyone you can. Stay indoors, and listen and obey what the authorities tell you to do. It could mean your life and the lives of your family.”

  She turned to a hand drawn picture of a house. “If at all possible board up your windows and doors. Use heavy gauge plywood or steel. Turn on your tubs and gather as much fresh water as possible. Bottle it in any clean container you can find. We're not sure when or for how long the utilities will last.”

  She seemed to gulp and then nod. “I'm being told that we're down to less than five minutes so we're putting the warning on a loop for as long as it lasts. Good luck ladies and gentlemen.” After a moment the signal was cut and the emergency broadcast message kicked on again.

  “Damn,” Shane said shaking his head. Others were talking, a few were weeping. One woman was shivering, a man was trying to comfort her but her eyes were just... gone. Vacant. Unreachable. He continued to stroke her arm though.

  “All right,” Shane said clearing his throat. “Folks,” he said looking around. Others looked at him but most were torn into pieces in their own little hellish world.

  “Folks,” he said getting onto a nearby box. “Can I have your attention please?” he said louder looking around. People who had gathered to see the broadcast looked up. There were hundreds he realized. Hundreds of people.

  He cleared his throat and then waved. “Okay folks, here's the deal. It’s Armageddon, or as close as we'll get to it right now apparently. The authorities are urging everyone to stay inside and to remain calm. We're going to get people fed here in the food court. This building is secure. Keep a cool head and we'll get through this. If you've got a weapon or can shoot, let Bill or me or someone else who is in charge know. We're going to fort up here some more and work out our next steps in a bit. Just try to...” he stopped and paused. “Try not to panic okay? Focus on teamwork folks. We can and we damn well will get through this.” He nodded and then jumped down.

  “Jayne,” he said turning. Jayne raised a hand in the crowd and then shouldered her way over to him.

  “Yeah?”

  “Get some volunteers to open the restaurants and get the food moving.”

  “What about the locks?” she asked.

  “Break them,” someone said sounding a little annoyed.

  Shane glanced that way and then nodded. “He's right,” he said. “Grab a tool and open the doors. Drill them out, I don't care. We've got plenty of tools here, use them. Just get someone on it. We need to get people fed and then working on the next step.”

  “Which is what?” a guy asked.

  “You are?” Shane asked. He was a Hispanic male, black hair, goatee wearing an A's shirt and shorts. The shirt still had a tag sticking out of one sleeve.

  The guy jutted his chin out and hefted a rifle. “Lois man. Lois Mendoza. Security concepts limited,” he said. “I know how to use this.” Shane nodded, examining the rifle. The man had a pistol stuffed down his shorts too.

  “Ah, well, Lois, we need you and people like you to report to Bill to secure this place. We're going to fort up here if we can't find something better. I'm hoping something better comes along.”

  “Me too man, no offense but if something does I'm out of here. This place is a sieve,” the man said shaking his head.

  “Then we need to make it less of one,” Shane said as Jayne moved off, softly talking to a few people and gathering a few in her wake. “You have experience in security. So do I. I've got a couple of contractors running around here. Think you can lend them a hand? Figure out some ways to block doors and set up fences and stuff? Cameras? Alarms?”

  “Yeah man, sounds good,” Lois said, nodding. He grimaced as his
stomach growled. “Sorry man.”

  “It’s why I sent Jayne off to get food. People are scared and hungry. Low blood sugar doesn't help. Getting them fed and focused will help them work through the grief and survive,” he said nodding.

  Lois nodded and walked off. When no one was in earshot Shane moved off on his own. “I hope,” he muttered.

  ...*...*...*...*...

  Shane ventured outside to take a look around, it was eerily quiet, still not quite six thirty AM. There were some weird alien things ambling around. A few cars parked every which way all over the parking lot. It seemed like a maze out there and the aliens weren't in the mood to try to solve it. At least not some of them.

  He was amused to see a few people had actually parked in parking spaces. Weird. They must be people who were either anal retentive or cars that were left here overnight. He recognized a few, the Taurus, the Yukon, yeah, the norms. He was curious about the people who were in the mall at night. The night cleaning crews. He hadn't heard anything from Bill about them. He hoped some were still alive. It would suck if one or all of them had died dumping the damn trash.

  He looked out at the condos across Towngate circle. The buildings were splattered with purple alien goo. Windows were smashed out. A few of the second story places he could see movement in the shadows. He wasn't sure if it was human or not though.

  “What?” Jen asked poking him. He nearly jumped out of his skin. He glared at her. “Sorry,” she said looking contrite. “See anything?”

  “No, it’s quiet,” he said. He went through the door and outside. He had to see more.