Noah Jordan vs. The Aliens

by Tyler Wild

  Floyd had left nothing to chance. He had stockpiled damn near everything a person would need in a survival situation. He had placed cameras around the property that provided a continuous video feed to security monitors. The perimeter was lined with motion sensors. He knew we had arrived before we even knocked on the door.

  "How did you build this?" I asked in awe.

  "Uncle Floyd doesn't do anything half-ass,” Madison said. “He may look like a country bumpkin, but that's by choice. Floyd was a software developer. He wrote programs that maximized oil well productivity. Every major oil company bought his software."

  Floyd smiled. "I retired and moved out to the country. Bought a farm. Went back to the simple life." He paused. “Why don't you get yourself settled in, grab something to eat, then we’ll take care of your friend," Floyd said.

  18

  I never thought I’d have to do something like this. You’re not supposed to bury your friends until you’re older. Much older.

  Floyd and I dug a grave underneath a majestic oak tree. Our shovels gouged the soft earth, carving a pit. A mound of dirt piled up beside the gravesite. The task took my mind off the tragedy, to some degree.

  “Madison said you saved her,” Floyd said.

  I shrugged. “Something like that.”

  “Well, I am indebted to you. She has always been dear to me. Now we’re the only family each other has.”

  “How long have you lived out here?”

  “Maybe five or six years? My parents used to own this property all the way down to the river. They fell on hard times and had to sell. I bought it back a few years ago after my wife passed away. We had always wanted to retire together and move out into the country. In a way, it’s my little tribute to her.”

  “I’m sorry. What happened?”

  “Car accident. Drunk driver.”

  “That’s terrible,” I said.

  “It took a long time to get over.” Floyd sighed. “You never really get over something like that, but you’ve gotta take the good with the bad. Life doesn’t come with a guarantee of happiness. You’ve got to take control of that, no matter what happens.”

  “I like your attitude.”

  “Well, it’s not always easy to stay positive, but it beats the alternative.”

  My hands were raw, and my back ached by the time we finished digging the grave. I wasn’t used to this kind of manual labor.

  “I’ve got some plywood in the barn. We can build a casket, of sorts. It won’t be pretty, but it will do the job.”

  The sun dipped down, hanging close to the horizon. It had broken through the clouds momentarily, painting the evening sky in vibrant shades of pink, blue, and orange.

  I followed Floyd as he ambled to the barn. I helped him move a piece of plywood onto the sawhorses and used a radial saw to trim the pieces. The sharp teeth dug into the wood, spewing a steady stream of sawdust. The high-pitched whine was deafening.

  Floyd was handy with tools, and it didn’t take us long to make a pine box. We nailed it together, then loaded it onto a trailer attached to his ATV. The pine box was heavier than it looked, and neither one of us wanted to wear ourselves out carrying it across the field.

  The ATV was a black and gray two seater Solaris Adventurer XT. It had an aggressive, angular design with headlights and a front grill that belonged on a transformer. The performance package had enhanced suspension, close ratio on-demand all-wheel-drive, giant knobby tires, cast aluminum wheels, an engine braking system with enhanced descent control, and power steering. It had cup-holders, side mirrors, scratch resistant paint, and an integrated passenger seat. The four stroke single overhead cam twin cylinder engine provided 112 hp and had a towing capacity of 1600 pounds.

  It was a beast.

  I hopped on the back and Floyd drove to my SUV. We carefully removed Oliver’s body and placed him in the makeshift casket. I folded his arms over his chest and tried to put him in a position of peaceful repose.

  Tears dripped down my face as we nailed the lid shut on the casket.

  “I reckon you should get the others and we’ll have a little ceremony. We should get him in the ground and covered up before it gets too late.”

  At the gravesite, Floyd and I lowered Oliver’s casket into the ground.

  “Why don’t you say a few words to honor your friend?” Floyd said.

  My throat grew tight, and I couldn’t think of anything to say. I knew Oliver my entire life, and we were practically inseparable. Now I was at a loss for words.

  I cleared my throat and swallowed hard. “Oliver always wanted to be a doctor. He had already been accepted into Vanden College. He wanted to go into orthopedics. He was fascinated with joint mechanics and the possibilities of regenerative medicine.” I paused, getting choked up. After a moment, I continued. “We met in second grade, and we had been inseparable ever since. We had the same sense of humor, and could communicate with a simple glance. We always knew what each other was thinking. I don’t think I’ll ever have another friend quite like Oliver. I will miss him.”

  A single tear streamed down my cheek and dripped from my chin.

  The girls cried, and they all hugged me. I tried not to sob again, but I couldn’t help myself.

  When the tears ran dry, Floyd and I covered Oliver’s casket with dirt, and filled in the grave.

  “Maybe tomorrow we’ll make him a marker,” Floyd said.

  I nodded.

  Over the treetops, you could see the glow from the city and the burning fires. Black smoke filled the sky. The alien mother ship hovered over the city, and the strange fighters dominated the sky.

  “I think it’s time we get ourselves back into the bunker,” Floyd cautioned. “There’s no telling what tonight will bring.”

  19

  I didn’t feel much like eating, but Floyd fixed us dinner. “You need to keep your strength up,” he said.

  Floyd pan seared some steaks, then finished them in the oven. He made roasted garlic potatoes and sautéed mushrooms. Floyd was a good cook, and my steak was cooked to perfection. We ate like kings. Floyd had a subzero freezer with enough meat to last us a year.

  We gathered at the table and Floyd said grace. "Lord, we are thankful for the blessings we still have in this difficult time. We pray for the souls that have departed and ask for your protection. Amen." Floyd glanced around the table. "Dig in!"

  My taste buds rejoiced at the flavorful meal. I didn't have much of an appetite when I sat down, but once I began eating, my stomach felt like a bottomless pit. Nobody said a word during dinner. We are all too busy stuffing our faces.

  Floyd served apple pie for dessert, then he broke out a bottle of whiskey. "Would anyone like to join me?"

  There were nods all around.

  Floyd grabbed glasses and set them on the table. Then he divvied up the amber liquid.

  "Do you have anything to mix this with?" Hannah asked.

  "Young lady, that is fine sippin’ whiskey."

  "Well, I'd like to sip it with some cola."

  Floyd frowned at her and grabbed a bottle of soda from the fridge. Hannah and Skyler mixed their drinks.

  Floyd lifted his glass, making a toast. "To survival!”

  We raised our glasses. "To survival!"

  The warm whiskey burned my throat and warmed my stomach. Pretty soon, the tip of my nose felt numb. My body relaxed, and the weight I had been carrying on my shoulders lessened slightly.

  "I've got a ton of movies," Floyd said. "Help yourself. My casa es su casa.”

  Madison perused his collection of Blu-rays and DVDs. She raised a curious eyebrow at one of the titles. "Seriously, Uncle Floyd? Naughty College Nymphos 2?"

  Floyd's face flushed red. "It's got a really good plot."

  Madison rolled her eyes.

  She pulled the movie Alien from the shelf, and it was met with a resounding, “No.” It was one of my favorite monster movies, but in light of the situation I didn’t know when I’d be able to make myself watch
it again.

  Madison picked out a comedy for us to watch, then took a seat next to me on the couch. We all needed a lift in mood.

  “Thanks again for saving me,” Madison whispered. She kissed me on the cheek, causing Skyler to arch a curious, and somewhat jealous, eyebrow.

  Madison’s full lips felt amazing. And I couldn’t help but smile. She grabbed my arm and purposefully wrapped it around her shoulder. It was a dramatic gesture, and she was probably marking her territory. She cozied up to me and we settled in for the movie.

  Floyd kicked back in a recliner and was snoring within 15 minutes.

  Madison stroked my chest, and it was hard to concentrate on anything else but her. I was a little nervous, and I was sure she would feel me trembling.

  I finished my drink, and Madison hopped up right away and took my glass. "Anybody else want another drink?”

  Hannah and Skyler nodded.

  Madison collected their glasses, moved into the kitchen, and mixed more drinks. She made two trips, then settled into her position next to me. I watched as Skyler and Hannah exchanged a curious glance, wondering what the hell was going on.

  I sipped my drink and watched the movie. Madison put her hand on my thigh, innocently. She began to caress me gently—almost absentmindedly. It certainly caused my blood to flow south. Suddenly my jeans felt crowded. I was as hard as carbon steel, and Madison knew it. A sly grin curled on her lips. She enjoyed teasing me. She knew exactly what she was doing. I didn't know if she had any intention of following through, or if she was just amusing herself.

  The movie ended and Skyler launched from her seat. “I’m picking the movie this time."

  I was hoping they’d go to bed and I could fool around with Madison on the couch, but Hannah and Skyler weren't going anywhere. They were intentionally cock-blocking me. I'm not sure why. They hadn't ever shown any interest in me until now. But I was one of the last available men on the planet. I guess they were reconsidering their options.

  20

  Madison nibbled on my ear. Her hot breath sent a tingle down my spine and made my root stretch.

  Skyler and Hannah had finally nodded off.

  Madison kissed my cheek, and I turned my head to meet her luscious lips. Our mouths collided with a passionate kiss. My heart thumped and my body vibrated. Nerves fluttered in my stomach. I couldn’t believe this was really happening. She was gorgeous.

  Our hands discovered each other’s bodies. I caressed her perky breasts and her firm ass. Her hand traced up the inside of my thigh and grabbed onto me.

  My soldier stood at full attention.

  Her lips were pillowy soft, and I could have kissed them for hours. But she had other plans for them.

  Her delicate hands tugged on my zipper. I suddenly had room to breathe. Before I knew it, my pants were around my ankles, and Madison plunged south, wrapping her lips around me.

  Holy fucking shit!

  Madison demonstrated her expertise, and I ended up having to think about baseball statistics to prolong things.

  Skyler slept at the other end of the couch, and Hannah had curled up in the recliner. They were right next to us, and I was sure they were going to wake up at any moment.

  Madison’s head bobbed up and down for a few moments. All I could see was her shiny red hair. She finally came up for air with a devilish grin on her face. She licked her plump lips like an insatiable demon.

  She pulled off her shirt and unsnapped her bra. Her gravity defying assets bounced free. My eyes were transfixed by the site. Her smooth, creamy skin was enchanting.

  Flawless.

  She shimmied out of her pants pulling them down over her round hips. They pooled at her ankles, and she stepped out of them. She displayed her form with pride, letting me take in the magnificent sight. She wore cute pink cotton panties from Victoria’s Secret. They were tight, and almost sheer, and hugged her smooth mound.

  She straddled me and slid her hips against mine. She rocked back and forth and shoved her glorious breasts in my face.

  It may have been the apocalypse, but this moment was a slice of heaven.

  Madison whispered in my ear, “I’m totally on the pill. And I’ve just been tested.”

  I had never been this far with a woman before in my life. It was probably stupid to trust her, but this was the end of the world. I didn’t know if I would live past tomorrow. Besides, it was doubtful she had more than a 30 day supply of birth-control pills. Might as well enjoy it while it lasted.

  She pulled her wet panties aside and sunk down against my hips. I grabbed a handful of her pert ass as she undulated with sublime perfection.

  A rush of endorphins and oxytocin filled my brain. I felt like I was almost high. We embraced each other with burning desire and soon her body quivered with orgasmic ecstasy. Madison struggled not to scream.

  I exploded with pleasure and Madison collapsed atop me. It was a wonder we didn’t wake up Hannah and Skyler. We probably did, and they were just faking it.

  Madison held on tight. She felt good in my arms. I didn’t want it to end, but I figured we should probably get dressed. The last thing I needed was her uncle walking in on us.

  21

  “I hope you don’t think that was too soon,” Madison said.

  “No, not at all,” I said. “Why would I think that would be too soon? Is that even possible? I mean, who in their right mind would complain about that?”

  “I just don’t want you to think any less of me. We just met.”

  “Yeah, but we’ve been through a lot together already. More than most people.”

  “True.”

  We left Hannah and Skyler on the couch and slid into a bunk in the guest room. Madison wrapped her body around me and she quickly inspired thoughts of a repeat performance.

  “What about your uncle?” I asked.

  “What about him? I’m a grown woman. I can make my own decisions.”

  “Yes, but he has a shotgun.”

  Madison chuckled. “It’s not going to be a big deal if he finds me in bed with you.”

  “Easy for you to say.” Madison could be very persuasive. We went at it again, and I thoroughly enjoyed her pleasures.

  We woke up in the morning to the smell of bacon and eggs and coffee. I peeled my eyes open and saw Skyler and Hannah crashed on the neighboring bunks.

  I climbed out of bed, pulled on my clothes and ambled into the kitchen, wiping the sleep from my eyes.

  “Have fun last night?” Floyd asked.

  I stammered, “Uh, yeah. The movie was good.”

  He smirked at me, knowing better. I wasn’t sure if I was busted or not. The conversation didn’t go any further. I think he just wanted to rib me a little.

  “How do you like your bacon?”

  “Extra crispy.”

  “I knew you was good people.”

  I grinned.

  Floyd served me a plate, and I devoured it within seconds. It tasted better than any breakfast I had ever had. I suspected everything about this new life was going to come with an amazing amount of gratitude for even the simplest of pleasures. You couldn’t take anything for granted anymore. It made me realize how precarious life is.

  Daisy crunched on her dog food as the others staggered to the breakfast table like zombies. We were all a dysfunctional family now.

  “Have you heard any news?” I asked.

  “Zip. Nada. Nothing,” Floyd said.

  I frowned. No news was probably good news, but it was unsettling not knowing the status of events. Had we been defeated yet? Were the aliens our evil overlords?

  “I figure we ought to go over the house rules,” Floyd said. “In my book, anyone who stays less than three days is a guest. Anyone who stays longer than three days is a resident, and residents have to earn their keep. Now, what’s mine is yours, but I’m not your maid. I expect you to clean up after yourselves, keep the place neat and tidy, put things back where you found them, and do your chores. We’ll do rotations on the dishes and
taking out the trash. I don’t mind cooking, but if any of you know how to make a nice dish, then have at it. With five of us living here, trash is going to pile up quickly. We separate the trash around here into stuff that can be composted and stuff that can’t. I’ve got a trash pit on the south side of the farm. Once we get full here, you can load the trash onto the trailer and drive the ATV to the pit and cover the refuse with lime. It doesn’t take a lot. Just sprinkle it on top. That will minimize bacteria growth and odors. Does everyone think they can handle these new responsibilities?”

  We all nodded.

  “Good. Because you don’t have a choice.” Then he added, “And for the love of God, please make sure Daisy doesn’t get out. After being cooped up in here, she’ll want to get out and run. And I don’t want to let her out of my sight while those things are creeping around.”

  22

  “I’ll do the dishes this time,” Skyler said. She grabbed my plate and smiled. “Are you finished? Is there anything else I can get you?”

  It seemed like she was flirting.

  Madison took notice.

  I grinned, not minding a little healthy competition. “No, thanks. I’m full.”

  Skyler scooped up the plates and sauntered to the sink and began to wash them.

  Madison seemed amused by Skyler’s attempts to flirt.

  After breakfast, Floyd fiddled with the ham radio, trying to get information. He’d been corresponding with a guy named Virgil in the next county over the last several days. “You hear anything, good buddy?”

  “Nothing official,” Virgil said in a slow drawl. “But I talked to a feller that escaped the city. The Army pulled back, and the aliens have complete control of the area. It looks like they’re rounding up civilians and taking them prisoner. He said they were transporting them up to the flying saucers.”