The Watchers

by Ruth Ann Nordin

  Maybe she didn’t want to know. She’d already found out more than she wished. Part of her envied those who seemed blissfully unaware of the danger lurking around the corner. However, if something serious was about to happen, if the aliens weren’t bringing them into a utopia, then did she have a responsibility to find out? And then what? Tell others? But who would believe the aliens weren’t who they were pretending to be?

  Alex cleared his throat, directing her attention back to him. “I want to know what happened to me at Area 51. We lost an entire day down there. I have flashes of memories.”

  She straightened in interest. “You’re recalling what they did to you?”

  “Nothing concrete. It’s all like a puzzle, and I get one piece at a time. All I know is that aliens were there and they were using me like a lab rat.”

  She shivered. That didn’t sound pleasant. But then, she shouldn’t be surprised. Nothing in that underground place was pleasant. “Do you remember any people?”

  “No. Should I?”

  “Well, I did see a man and a woman in your room. They inserted something behind your ear.”

  “They did?” He reached up and traced the skin behind his ears. “I don’t feel anything.”

  “Let me see.” She brushed aside the hair from his ear and squinted, but she didn’t see a mark anywhere. “That’s odd. It was behind this ear.”

  “Is it possible you thought you saw it but was asleep?”

  She shook her head and eased back into her previous position. “No. The angel was there, and I know I didn’t dream him up.”

  “You really think you saw an angel?”

  “Yes.”

  He simply nodded and glanced at his watch. “I have to get back to work. I just wanted to stop by and give you that letter.”

  “Thank you, Alex.” She stood up with him. “And I hope you can get on with your life.”

  “Thanks.” He slipped his hands into his pockets. “Is it alright if I keep in touch? You’re the only one I know who realizes there’s more going on than the media’s telling us, and I’m tired of feeling like I’m alone in this.”

  “Of course, it’s alright. Let me know if you do figure out what’s going on. I’ll keep my ears and eyes open too.”

  He smiled before he turned and headed back to his car.

  Autumn glanced at the mall entrance. She knew she should go back to work since she’d used up all of her minutes for the break, but she wanted to see what her sister had written. Pulling the envelope out of her pocket, she took out the letter and unfolded it, careful not to tear it since it was her last ‘contact’ with her sister. As she did, tears came to her eyes, especially when Marianne wrote, I’ve idolized Autumn ever since we were kids. I’m sure she thought I was a pest. I’d try her clothes on and listen in on her phone calls, but it wasn’t because I wanted to be a snoop. It’s just that I wanted to be like her. She’s always gone out of her way for other people. I admired her for that. There’s no one else I’d rather have as my maid of honor than her. If we have children, I’d like her to be the godmother.

  Autumn finished the letter, rereading parts of it, and then neatly tucked it back into the envelope. She looked up at the clear blue sky. Why her? Marianne had a husband and children to look forward to. Autumn didn’t have anyone to stay for. If anyone had to go, Autumn should’ve been the one. It didn’t seem fair. Marianne had so much to live for.

  The watchers are watching you.

  Her head snapped up. A familiar car drove through the parking lot. It was him. The man she’d seen three times. Once at this mall, once at the Bismarck state capitol building, and then at Area 51 when he injected Alex with something. As the man drove, a dark shadow flickered in the passenger seat. She blinked, but the image was gone.

  Him. He knows something. Somehow, he’s a part of this whole thing.

  That was when she made her decision. She’d have to keep an eye out for him in the future. Maybe then, she could start getting some answers.

  Chapter Three

  Autumn sat on the bench in front of the Bismarck capitol building. Was this a good idea? She glanced at her watch. It was her third Sunday here, and snow scattered the ground. She’d wasted two weekends already. Did she want to waste another one? Just what did she expect to see anyway? What were the chances that the strange man with that alien would return in that limousine?

  She’d spent a good half hour here. Last time they came at two. It didn’t look like that was going to happen again. If she had any other idea on what she might do, she’d abandon this silly notion. But this was her only lead. Alex was hard at work trying to figure out what was going on. The least she could do was follow her gut instinct, and her gut was telling her to start here.

  With a heavy sigh, she opted for one more lap around the lawn. If the man and alien didn’t show up during that time, she’d give up this crazy plan. She made it halfway around the perimeter of the lawn when she heard the familiar words, The watchers are watching you.

  She looked up and saw the limousine drive into the tunnel beneath the capitol steps. Excited, she ran forward, hoping she wouldn’t get there too late. If they went in before she could see where they were going, then she’d lose them. By the time she reached the tunnel, she was out of breath. Careful to keep hidden from view, she peered around the tunnel’s entrance and saw the limousine pull out of the tunnel.

  The door to the entrance that had been closed off since 9/11 swung shut. Waiting until the car was out of sight, she hastened to the doors in time to see the two men and the alien enter an elevator. Squinting, she realized that the down arrow above the elevator door was lit up. Good. So now she knew they were going down. Once the elevator doors closed, she reached for the door handle and pulled the door open. Then she stopped.

  Was this a good idea?

  Her mind flashed back to the night almost six months ago when she and Alex went to Area 51. The angel had warned her not to go, but she had anyway. Maybe this was a bad idea. Maybe she should leave well enough alone and turn back.

  “Go.”

  She jerked and glanced behind her.

  The angel stood in front of her, but he wore regular clothes, as if he were an ordinary man.

  Blinking in surprise, she asked, “Where are your wings?”

  A slight smile crossed his face. “We do not always have wings. Sometimes we appear as humans.” He motioned for her to go into the building.

  “But...? Is this like that time with Alex?”

  “No. You need to be here. I was due to tell you five minutes ago, but the power over Bismarck delayed me.”

  “Power over Bismarck? You mean, an alien?” Or rather, a demon?

  “There are forces at work that you know nothing about but will soon learn. You are needed here.”

  She knew better than to argue with him. Reaching for the door, she asked, “Are you coming with me?”

  “I’ll join you shortly. There are things I need to tend to out here.”

  She glanced around them but didn’t see anything. Even so, she didn’t doubt him. Something was there, and even though she didn’t know what or where it was, she could feel its presence. Eager to get away from it, she entered the building.

  Silence. Eerie silence. Shivering, she pressed forward and made her way down the empty hallway. Her shoes echoed softly off the linoleum floor. Once she stood in front of the elevators, she took a moment to gather her courage before she pressed the down button. Then she crossed her arms and waited. She had no idea what she was doing or what she’d find.

  I’m losing it. I’m completely losing it.

  That was the only reason why she’d do something this stupid. But the angel wouldn’t lead her into something that would hurt her. Would he?

  The ding from the elevator brought her attention to the doors that parted for her. Before she could change her mind, she stepped into the elevator. She got ready to press a button, but the one to take her down lit up and the doors closed. Gasping, she jerked
and backed into the wall.

  Okay. That was spooky.

  She waited for an agonizing thirty seconds while the elevator descended. As soon as the doors opened, she ran out of it, glad that nothing else supernatural happened. She looked behind her, but nothing had followed her out. At least, she didn’t think something followed her out.

  The doors shut and she became aware of the dim corridor. All the lights were off except for a few in the ceiling. To her left, she heard the sound of people talking. She took a deep breath. Okay. So now she knew where to go. Despite her slight trembling, she moved her feet.

  I can do this. I can. The angel said it would be alright.

  Her steps came to a halt and her eyebrows furrowed. Wait. Did the angel say it would be alright? She mentally ran over their conversation and realized all he told her was to go.

  Oh great. He never said I’d be okay!

  She turned to go back to the elevator, but a dark shape hovering in the corner of a nearby doorway stopped her.

  The watchers are watching you.

  With a small squeak, she bolted down the hallway toward the people. She reached the only room with its lights turned on and instinctively came to a stop right outside the door. Still shaken up, she crouched down so that she could hide behind the table along the back of the room. A quick look behind her assured her that the...thing...hadn’t followed her.

  She found a group of chairs located at the end of the table and hid between them. Peering through the chairs, she saw a group of three men and the alien in the front of the room. She recognized the one named Devon—the one who’d injected Alex with something. She also recognized the governor of North Dakota. That left the other man and the alien.

  “So things are going according to plan?” the governor asked as he wiped sweat from his forehead with a neatly folded cloth.

  “Don’t be weak,” the alien said. “Only the fit will survive.”

  Survive? Autumn gulped. Survive what?

  “Nothing must compromise the plan,” the alien continued.

  Devon leaned forward, placing his elbows on the table they were all sitting at. “You and your family will be fine as long as you cooperate.”

  “The sound wave frequencies are only a short-term plan,” the unnamed man spoke. “It won’t control the masses for much longer.”

  “Which is why we need to get their attention onto other matters,” the alien said. “The sooner, the better. You humans are slow in getting things done.”

  “I had a couple of phone calls and letters this past week. People are asking questions,” the governor said. “I don’t believe they’ll be fooled much longer.”

  “Get their minds off of why we’re here,” the alien replied. “Threaten their security.”

  The governor winced. “North Dakota is a relatively peaceful state and—”

  “So do what you can to limit the number of casualties,” the unnamed man barked. “This isn’t why we put you in this office, governor! You served in the Gulf War. You’re supposed to be trained to deal with stress.”

  “I was protecting life over there.”

  The man laughed. “Protecting life? I got news for you, Governor West. That war and the one over there right now have absolutely nothing to do with protection.”

  At least not human protection, the alien thought.

  Autumn blinked. Was she the only one who heard that? She examined the somber looks on the three men’s faces as they continued to talk about the plan. The alien wasn’t looking at her, but she had a clear view of its profile. She recalled the alien she saw at Area 51. When the angel touched her, she caught a glimpse of its true identity. She wondered if the same thing would happen if she focused on this one. Taking a slow, deep breath, she concentrated on its face, and after a few seconds, its features darkened and eyes turned red.

  Then its head began to turn in her direction.

  She quickly ducked so that the entire chair blocked her from its view.

  “Governor,” Devon said in a firm enough tone that made the others quiet. “This is not about the world as we knew it. It’s about surviving in the new age. If things get out of control, we have a safe place for you and your family to go to, but you have to play by the rules if you want to make it. My boss will see to it.”

  Autumn dared to peek back through the space in the chair and saw that the alien had its attention directed back at the men. She breathed a soft sight of relief. That was close.

  Devon nodded in satisfaction. “Good. We’re all agreed. We’ll vamp up the frequency in all the electronic devices enough so that people will go back to sleep. It’s a temporary fix but it’ll work.”

  “We’ll need a suitable distraction too,” the unnamed man added. “We can’t afford to take our chances.” He looked pointedly at the governor. “You know what you need to do, so I expect you to do it.”

  People will go back to sleep? A suitable distraction? Just what did all that mean? Autumn was really beginning to wish she hadn’t ventured down here. This thing went deeper than she thought...or wanted to think. She rubbed her forehead. Her fingers itched for a cigarette, but there was no way she could light one up—not here...and not now. So she subconsciously grabbed for something, and that something happened to be her sister’s cross necklace that hung around her neck.

  “I have to get back to DC,” the unnamed man said as he stood up. “I do give reports on what the governors in each state do or don’t do to cooperate with the New World Order.”

  Governor West closed his eyes for a moment but nodded his understanding before he stood up.

  The others followed suit, and soon, they left the room.

  When she was alone, she exhaled and released her hold on the necklace. She was safe. Now all she had to do was wait for a few minutes until they left and get out of there. Then she could talk to Alex.

  She counted to two minutes before she slipped out of her hiding place. Just when she stood up, someone turned the lights off. She gasped and spun around.

  Devon frowned, his hand still on the light switch, and narrowed his eyes at her. “What are you doing here?”

  She waited for her “guardian” angel to appear and hide her like he did before, but he didn’t. Oh great! What was she supposed to do? The angel told her to come here, she did, and now he abandoned her? It wasn’t like she was being careless this time.

  Devon put his hand down from the light switch and stepped into the dark room lit only by the lights in the corridor. “I asked you a question.”

  She immediately stepped back, looking for something to arm herself with. She gripped the chair. It wasn’t light. She hid her aggravation. Where was her angelic helper? Clearing her throat, she said the first thing that came to her mind. “What are you doing here?”

  He glanced over his shoulder before he took out a small rectangular device from his pocket. After adjusting something, he placed it on the table by the door. Then he headed in her direction.

  Startled, she picked up the heavy chair and got ready to throw it at him. “Stop!”

  He was in the middle of the room, just a few feet from her. “You think this is some kind of game? You follow people into buildings and listen in on their conversations?”

  She swallowed the lump in her throat. “You’re one to talk. Telling the governor to harm some people so you can put the ignorant masses back to sleep.”

  “You’d do well to find other things to do with your time.”

  He took another step forward, and she flung the chair at him. It missed him. She grunted. She didn’t even get close! Why did she have to be such a lousy aim?

  She noted the concern on his face. “Look, I don’t want you to get into trouble, alright? You shouldn’t be here. My suggestion is that you leave and forget what you saw and heard.”

  She shook her head. How could he expect her to do that? Whatever he and those with him had in mind wasn’t right. It wasn’t decent. She knew it.

  “Either you forget it or they’ll kil
l you,” he said, his voice solemn. “Do you want to live?”

  “Of course, I want to live.”

  “Then you know what you need to do.” He motioned for her to go to the door. “I’ll let you off with a warning this time.”

  She debated whether it was wise to stay there and insist he tell her exactly what the men had been talking about, but a movement in the hallway caught her attention. The angel waved her forward. She rolled her eyes. Oh sure. Now, when she’d been caught and scolded, the angel decided to show up.

  With a heavy sigh, she strode out of the room. She went over to the angel and wanted to ask why he took so long to get to her, but Devon closed the door behind him and faced her.

  “You’ll have to go out another way,” he said.

  She glanced from the angel and back to Devon. Didn’t Devon even see the angel? Devon took her arm and led her in the opposite direction from which she came. Nope. He didn’t see the angel. Her gaze drifted to his hand, and she saw he was holding that strange device.

  “What is that?” she asked, keeping her voice low.

  “Let’s just say it ensures no one knows this conversation took place.”

  His steps were hurried so she decided not to press the issue. Instead, she walked with him to a staircase and climbed a flight before he led her out into a vacant corridor. The entire time, the angel followed, and none of them spoke. Something in Devon’s movements were anxious, so she decided the sooner she got out of there, the better.

  They reached a door and he opened it. The bright sunlight made her squint as she stepped outside, the angel close behind. She turned, expecting Devon to leave too, but he shut the door and the lock clicked into place.

  “What just happened?” she asked the angel.

  “Exactly what needed to,” he answered.

  “What? That I would hear the governor’s going to stage something?”

  “No.” The angel smiled. “It wasn’t you that needed to be reached this time.”

  Then he vanished.

  She groaned and threw her hands up in the air. Of course, he spoke in weird, cryptic words. Why wouldn’t he? He was supernatural, after all. Not once did he give her clarity on anything. Why would he start now? Deciding she’d had enough, she darted across the lawn spanning the side of the capitol building and headed for her car.