New Enemies

by Melony Paradise

  Holding a trembling hand over his brow to shade his eyes, Bas squinted, trying to focus on the tiny black outline in the middle of the hazy beam. As he slowly moved toward the market, the whispers became clearer, words reached his ears, making his heart pound.

  “Bas… Come to me, Bas… Help me…” The beautiful voice got louder with each urgent step he took.

  Crossing his arms over his face, Bas tried to see through the beam of light, knowing in his heart his love waited for him, called him.

  “I’m coming, Becky! I’ll be right there!”

  Suddenly, the ground beside him erupted with a fiery explosion, blowing chunks of cobblestone against his side, knocking him in the opposite direction. Regaining his balance, Bas stumbled back as a second explosion rocked the street on his other side.

  “Bas! Help! It hurts!”

  “I’m coming!” He yelled, staggering from one explosion to the next, making his way toward the bright light.

  A blanket of black silence fell over the war-torn street. Blinded by the lack of light, Bas fumbled forward, determined to find her, unable to give up.

  Two bright flashes of orange lit the way for an instant, and Bas got a brief glimpse of Becky falling to the walkway in front of the empty fish market. A wall of fog hung behind her, making the broken display cases and demolished ruins of the nearby shopping stalls look faded and ghostly.

  Rushing forward blindly, he called to her, begged her to hold on. As he raced over the never-ending road, the sky appeared above, a clear twilight with bright stars to light the way. Within a few feet, Becky lay waiting, reaching out, her eyes terrified. Blood pooled beneath her prone form, a dark stain growing on the front of her white T-shirt.

  Bas forced every ounce of strength into his legs, pushing himself forward, grasping for her bloody hand. Inches away, fingertips nearly touching, he howled as he tried to grab her shaking hand.

  “Sebastian!” Becky shrieked, tearing his heart to pieces.

  The ground underneath him bucked, tossing Bas back away from his bleeding girlfriend. A scream echoed throughout the city block that lay beyond the shadows. Losing his footing, he fell to the crumbled street. The earth below rose and fell in waves, the sound of water drowning out the screams.

  “…up, dude. You alive?” A deep, gravelly voice blared through the blackening city block. “Come on, wake up.”

  Bas grumbled, rolling to his side, digging his head into the soft pillow. A hand shoved at his shoulder, pushing him onto his stomach.

  With a gasp, Bas grabbed the kitchen knife and stumbled to his feet as he spat out a mouthful of sand, shaking his head. Blinking wildly, Bas searched for his dying girlfriend, only to find a bright, sunny beach, and a scruffy, bearded man staring at him.

  “Hey,” the heavily-tanned, blond man said with a quirked eyebrow, his hand stuffed into the deep pockets of his cargo shorts.

  “Who the fuck are you?” Bas backed away, scrubbing the dry sand from his face and hair as his feet dug into the sand, nearly tripping him.

  “I should ask you that, kid,” the man said with a chuckle. “What’re you doing sleeping on my beach?”

  ***

  Since the man made no aggressive moves, Bas took a few minutes to relieve himself, keeping the knife in hand, and grabbed a bottle of water to rinse the residual sand from his dry mouth. All the while, the guy sat cross-legged in the sand and watched with curious interest, wearing a frayed, gray thermal shirt, faded green pants, and dirty, white sneakers. A brown, knit beanie covered most of his straggly, blond hair.

  When Bas leaned against the front of the Mustang, he narrowed his eyes and studied the man as he lurched over the soft sand to stand nearby, aloof but watchful.

  “I’m Tuff,” he said.

  “Uh, okay. Should I be scared?”

  “No,” the man said, chuckling. “That’s my name, kid. Tuff, Tuff Spence.”

  “Oh, uh, sorry. I’m Bas.” He stuck his hand out for Tuff to shake, pulling it back when he realized his still gripped the knife, and shrugged at the smirking man.

  “So, what are you doing out here all alone on my beach?”

  “Your beach?”

  “Yeah,” Tuff said, looking down and scuffing the ground with his shoe, “this was mine before the war. I had a resort here, and this was part of the private beach. Now, I just stay in town and hang at my private beach all day.”

  “Anyone else live here? It looked deserted when I drove in last night.”

  “Nope. Aliens took everyone to a camp. ‘For their safety.’” Tuff rolled his brown eyes and shrugged a shoulder.

  “You don’t believe them?”

  “I went with them, at first. Didn’t like the treatment, so I came back. I like it better out here.”

  “What’s wrong with the treatment? My mom and brother went to a safe zone. Is that the same as a camp?”

  “Oh, yeah. They came around after about a month and started rounding people up to take to those ‘safe zones’, but they’re more like internment camps, if you ask me.”

  “I don’t understand.” Bas tilted his head and narrowed his eyes at the guy.

  “Well, it seemed good at first. Safer, you know? Then, they started separating the men from the women and children. When I noticed some of the men go missing, I got my ass out of there.”

  “What’re they doing with the men?”

  “Not sure. I heard rumors they were being sent to work as laborers, but not like the paid kind.”

  “You mean slaves?”

  “Don’t know.” Tuff shrugged. “Maybe.”

  Bas snorted. “Why would they need slaves? I thought they had all this wonderful technology that fixed everything.”

  “Supposedly. From what I saw, their ships look high-tech, and they seemed to be miracle healers or some shit, but they aren’t sharing too much. At least, it didn’t look very ‘sharing is caring’ at the Oregon camp.”

  “Is there a camp in Washington?”

  Tuff crossed his arms with a sigh. “Possibly. I didn’t ask, but it seemed like everyone I talked to was from Oregon, so it’s possible they have one in each state. Maybe more.”

  “I got to find out. I can’t leave my family to be slaves. How do I find out if there’s a Washington camp?”

  “Go to the one I was at and ask.”

  With a furrowed brow, Bas cringed. “I don’t want to be a slave, man.”

  “They let me go,” Tuff thumped his chest, “but that was three months ago. I don’t know if the slave thing is true, dude. It was a rumor.”

  “I guess I can check it out.” He brushed his fingers through his tangled hair. “What about you, though? You been here alone for three months? Aren’t you going to run out of food after a while?”

  “Pfft. It’s nearly gone now. This place was dying before they arrived. They only had to take three busloads of people away.” He dropped his head back, closing his eyes. “I guess it’s probably time to move on. Maybe go to Cali and see if my buddy, Zach, still has his bar open.”

  ***

  With directions to the alien camp and the California bar in hand, Bas left the peaceful beach, and dreams of an ocean-side life with Becky, behind. Driving northeast to the camp only took a couple of hours, and as soon as he caught sight of it, he felt anxiety scratching at the back of his mind.

  The same kind of fencing that blocked the coastal highway also surrounded the camp, which appeared to be backed up to a forest. Aliens patrolled the perimeter, with guards posted at a large, open gate, while humans went about their business inside.

  Canvas tents of various sizes sat in long rows, with canopies set up over cooking grills and tables. Children ran around while adults cooked, cleaned, or sat at the tables chatting. Everything seemed calm and safe from what Bas could see, like a refugee camp. Maybe Tuff’s just a paranoid crazy.

  Parking near the gate, Bas left Lenore and approached the aliens with strange colored skin and eyes like precious metals or gems. A gate guard stepped
forward to meet him as he wondered about weapons. He hadn’t seen any weapons on the guards when he first encountered them, and he didn’t see any now. Huh. Maybe they’re hiding super-powerful tiny weapons in their super-sleek, body-hugging— he snickered —unitards.

  “Are you here for safe harbor, boy?” This alien towered over Bas, with a voice that grated in his ears, high and whiny, vibrating low in its throat.

  Staring up at the pale blue alien, marveling at the pale gold eyes, Bas gulped and sucked in a strengthening breath. “Uh, actually, I was hoping you could tell me if there is a safe zone in Washington. I’m looking for my family.”

  “There is a safe zone in Washington. Each state has at least one location to provide safety, food, and medical assistance to those in need.” The strange creature stooped to look into Bas’ eyes, giving him an eerie feeling that urged him to run. “Are you in need, child? Can we provide you with assistance?”

  Stepping back, Bas shivered as a chill zipped down his spine. “N-no, thanks. I’m just looking for my family.”

  “We can provide you with a map. It is safer if you follow a designated route. We have not repaired all the roadways.” The alien straightened up, tucking its chin down to gaze at Bas with those freakish eyes. “We have not completely eliminated the threat to humanity. There are areas that you should avoid… for your safety.”

  “Is that why you have that place on the coast closed up and guarded?”

  “We have many areas contained to protect humans from danger. You should not concern yourself with this. I will get you a map.”

  Watching the imposing creature march off, Bas considered the alien’s evasive response, but shrugged it off. I have my own problems to deal with. I’m not getting involved in this crap.

  The big, blue goon returned with a sharply drawn map with one route provided in red to guide him. Holding it open, this Szu’Kara being held out a single, twig-like digit to point out the red line.

  “Follow this route, please. We are only able to ensure your safety this way. You will find checkpoints along the route. Szu’Kara will provide you with supplies, should you need them on your journey.”

  “Okay.” Bas carefully took the map and held it flat, worried the alien might take offense if he folded up the meticulously drawn map. “Thank you, si—uh… Thank you.” How do you tell if it’s male or female? Frank never mentioned that…

  Chapter 8

  September 5, 2020

  “Bas!” Jordy squealed, pulling Judith along behind him. Bas moved to step towards his little brother, but large hands dropped on his shoulders, one blue in color, the other a steel-gray. He glanced up into the long face of the gray Szu’Kara guard, stern ruby red eyes glaring down at him.

  “Oh, Bas, you’re here,” his mother said, reaching for him as Jordy latched onto his leg. “I’m so happy you’re alive.” She squeezed Bas into a tight hug while giving the alien a simpering smile.

  “This is your child?” the blue alien asked, his ivory eyes roving over Judith as Bas clenched his fists, his face flushing with anger.

  “Bas!” she whispered, shoving him behind her. “Yes, sir, this is my son. Thank you for letting him in.” She spun around, snatching Jordy’s hand and Bas’ arm, rushing them away from the gate.

  “What was that?” he asked, letting his mom herd him deep into the Spokane settlement, passed canvas tents similarly aligned as the ones in the Oregon settlement camp. “That alien was looking at you like, like… yuck.”

  “Oh, he was not, but they are kind of beautiful… you know, for aliens.”

  “Seriously, Mom,” Bas said, “That’s disgusting. How do you even know if they’re male or female, or, uh, other?”

  “Oh, they were definitely male. You can tell with those tight outfits they wear.”

  “Ugh, Mom, I’m so grossed out, right now.”

  “Bas, Bas!” Jordy bounced around them as they walked through a large path with market stalls lining each side.

  “I thought they provided food and supplies. Why are people selling things?”

  “Our saviors are very generous. They give us everything we need, but we are still human, and we need more than the basic supplies. These people are selling extra blankets, clothing, household items, and trinkets to make our tents feel more homey. Plus, it will help us rebuild our economy.”

  “Where’s our tent?”

  “Jordy, show Bas where we live.”

  “Okay,” he said in his sweet little voice full of excitement, his blue eyes dancing between his brother and mother. Jordy led a laughing Bas to a large tent, about the size of a small bedroom. Inside, they had two cots, a clothing rack, a basin with a pitcher of water next to it on a small dresser, and a small, round table with four chairs.

  “Mom, this is really small. Why would you leave our house to live in this?”

  “Oh, Bas, we would have starved if we didn’t come here. The Szu’Kara give us what we need to live, but they can’t do that if we’re all spread out throughout the country. It’s easier if we’re all together where they can protect us and deliver supplies to centralized locations. Their commander, Kayn, has promised to help us rebuild our world, but in the meantime, we need to stick together.”

  “Winter is coming, Mom. What are they going to do to keep us warm?” Bas peered around the sparse shelter, wondering if he should go out to scavenge for a heater. It’d have to be propane, I think.

  “They’re already bringing in supplies for us to upgrade all the tents into houses,” Judith said, settling Jordy in at the table with a bowl of dry cereal. “You’ll have to help out with all the other able-bodied people.”

  “The almighty saviors aren’t going to magically do it for us?”

  “Don’t be silly, Bas. We are perfectly capable of building homes for ourselves.”

  “Well, I suppose it’ll be good for me to stay busy. Less time to think about Becky.”

  Judith gasped, turning big, worried eyes to Bas. “What happened to Becky?”

  A lump formed in his throat and a weight settled in his chest as tears flowed down his cheeks, pent up emotions bursting forth as he dropped into a chair beside his little brother, who stared at him with the innocence of a child. “She’s gone, Mom.”

  ***

  Over the next few months, Bas helped with housing upgrades, happy to do something to keep his mind occupied. After his neighbors realized how handy he was, they had him working non-stop doing odd jobs as well as his regular job of building homes. With the aliens bringing in a constant supply of building materials, everyone able to pitch in worked around the clock to get all the tents replaced with houses before the snow started.

  “I feel like a dog in a cage,” Drew Kinney said, as two Szu’Kara guards marched past the house he and Bas were working on, putting shingles on the roof.

  “Yep, they’re everywhere. Seems like we get more ‘protectors’ every week.” Bas hammered a shingle in place, talking around the nails clamped between his lips. “Mom’s got a new alien boyfriend every time I turn around. They’re always bringing stupid presents, and she gushes over them like they’re angels gracing her with their heavenly presence.”

  “They are our saviors,” Drew said, with a derisive snort. Sweat drenched his dusty-blond hair, dripping down his tanned face, a result of many hours spent installing shingles or siding.

  “Pfft, those saviors almost killed me,” Bas said. “I’m supposed to be eternally grateful for them saving my life after blasting me into the side of a building, not happening. I can’t wait to get the fuck out of here. I’m tired of them trying to make us into perfect little pawns, always looking down their noses at us.”

  “You’ve only been here a few months. Where you going to go?”

  “People are starting to go back to their old homes, and they need help fixing them. I’ve learned as much as you have in this trade, so why not go out there and help the people the aliens won’t?”

  “What about your mom and Jordy? I know my pops cou
ldn’t make it without me.”

  Bas set his hammer aside and rolled onto his back to gaze up at the clear, blue afternoon sky. “They don’t need me. Mom’s always yelling at me for being rude to the Zooks she brings home, says they provide for us better than any of the losers she used to bring home—” Bas spat over the edge of the roof “—like I don’t provide for our family with all the work I do every single fucking day. Whatever… Besides, all our fighting just scares Jordy. He’ll be better off without me here to cause problems.”

  “Well, I guess it’s better if you leave on your own, not like, you know, the missing…”

  “Oh, you mean, all the people who left to ‘work’ on the compounds or got detained for ‘violent behavior’? I met a guy once who mentioned people going missing but thought it was just a rumor.”

  “Doesn’t seem like a rumor to me, but who am I to speak against our magnanimous benefactors?” Drew shook his head, grabbing another shingle to hammer in place. “Just watch your ass, and stay out of their way.”

  Chapter 9

  February 15, 2021

  Bas kept his head down, avoiding the aliens as much as possible, continuing to work constantly, some days managing not to think about his lost love. One evening, after a long day repairing woodstoves and chimneys, his mother started whining as soon as he walked in the door. She was in between alien lovers and quite cranky about it, taking her frustration out on him, so he’d gone the only place she wouldn’t follow—the roof.

  Bundled up in his warmest jacket with a mug of hot cider, he watched the snow drift down from the dark night sky, startled out of his reverie when he heard hushed alien voices. Sitting up, he peered over the edge to find two of the settlement’s nastiest aliens hauling a man between them, gagged and bound. Soon after, two more aliens carried a gagged and bound woman as she struggled in their arms.

  Realizing he knew the humans, who lived only four houses away, Bas scurried down the ladder and rushed in to find his mother. He nearly ran her over with his lanky legs, a recent growth spurt making him look awkward, even with the muscle he’d built up working around the settlement.