THE NIGHT THE STARS FELL FIRST CONTACT

There was panic in the towns, people flooded into DIY shops, supermarkets, and anywhere they could find food. Stripping shelves of their produce, it looked like a war zone. Managers and staff hid in their offices they were not going to stand in the way, they were more afraid for their own lives. Riot police were trying to control the crowds, taking hard measures to stop the fighting that had broken out. DIY staff struggled to keep doors closed as people started throwing bricks at the entry doors. They were after wood, machines and weapons. It was chaotic! “YOU ARE TOO LATE!” the manager shouted. “THEY ARE HERE GET TO THE SHELTERS!”

A huge light lit up the store, in shades of purple, pink and yellow. The chaos stopped as the people watched the Lizards invade the store. Men snatched tools from the shelves to defend their selves with, but they were no match for the lizards. People watched in horror as a terrible massacre began, many dragged away injured by the Lizards. They ran for cover hiding behind or under shelfs; only a few managed to get out of the store running for their lives.

Paul Mathews stood at the edge of the field with tanks, and army personnel watching as Alien oblong spaceships fell from the sky, a shining mass of metal littered the ground, as they carefully approached the wreckage; guns drawn to drag the occupants out, most of them dead but there were some survivors, who were dazed or injured and were in no fit state to argue. They handcuffed and shackled their feet and took them away.

Paul could hardly believe what was happening. He looked up at the sky that was lit up by extra-terrestrial fireworks and watched the RAF fighter jets just knocking them out of the sky. The only advantage they had was they could move faster than the alien ships, but they were much smaller but deadlier, and, it seemed to Paul, exactly accurate.

Loudspeakers toured areas telling people to go to certain ‘pick up’ points and Radio broadcasts instructed people to get to the nearest army station where army trucks would transport them to places of safety. People gathered their belongings and pets and got to the pick-up points.

Two more huge Alien ships belonging to the masters landed near to the sea, they had room to take a hundred people each. At first, people were frightened, but escorted by Army personnel and assuring they were safe, and they were there to help, the people started boarding the ships; awestruck at the sight of this new friendly race of Aliens.

A young woman walked up the ramp carrying her beige and white pure Persian cat in his carrier. One of the Aliens stopped her, he investigated the carrier. “What is that?”

She studied him briefly before answering. “It’s a cat! A feline, that’s the species.”

He jabbed a finger into the cage and the cat rubbed its fluffy head against it. “It is nice, it is attractive, I like it.”

“Well, thank you.” Smiling she walked up the ramp.

***

They drove down the beach to the end of the dune, the sky was becoming lighter, and a small team of sun peeked through upon the horizon. They looked up at the caves, some embedded into rocks, and some had openings, the grey stone looked easy to climb. Lasko stopped by a cluster of moss covering the huge rock underneath it. It must have been hundreds of years old when the salt and water had made enough slime to house a village of snails. He jumped up onto the rocks, looked down and said, “There is a path leading up, it seems to be made by humans maybe for people to reach the top, be careful you don’t slip.”

Valadon, Shirak, and Zyrian appeared at the top motioning for them to be quiet and ascend silently.

“They are below here, under the ground.” Only Lasko could hear them. They started the climb up carefully keeping to the path as they got nearer. They finally got to the top and were pleased to see, that there were thirty or more of Valadon’s people all dressed the same, in white suits of a shiny material.

“We need to find a way in.” Brian looked at Valadon his heart was pounding.

Valadon turned to Todd. “Todd, I’d like you to stay here with Lasko.”

“No! way, I want to come with you, it’s my mother and sister, please.”

“NO! Valadon replied loudly. “It is too dangerous young man, if anything should happen this will have been all in vain.”

Brian turned to Todd. “He’s right son.”

Valadon pointed to the rocks behind them. “There are rocks there to keep you safe and shelter you until we get back, Lasko will look after you.”

“Come on Todd, trust them, they will be safe, and so will you.” He trotted over to the large rocks behind them. Todd had a sinking feeling in his stomach, but he knew they were right.

“I could be left orphaned if anything happens to Mum and Dad and Pixie!”

“You won’t, that I promise you, nothing will happen to your family,” Valadon spoke with conviction. “We will bring your mother and sister back, and protect your father and Kevin, trust me?”

“I do. I do Valadon.”

Everything will be all right Todd.” Kevin smiled reassuringly. “I want to go with them, your Mum has done a lot for me, and I can never repay her, and helping to rescue her is my way of saying thank you.”

Todd had tears in his eyes, he was so scared with a multitude of feelings welling up inside him. Lasko rubbed against his side and looked up at him with his beautiful brown eyes that Todd hadn’t seen in a while. Lasko trotted off towards the rocks. “Hey Todd, come here, there’s a hole to hide in.” Todd reluctantly walked towards Lasko who had a big grin on his face.

***

Lilly woke up shivering, to find herself in a cold damp cave. Water ran down the slimy mottled grey walls and it smelled of mildew. Looking around, she realised she was strapped to a metal gurney, and the straps dug into her ankles. Struggling she tried to turn and free herself, but she was shackled so tightly she knew it was hopeless. Her head hurt like hell as if a little man with a jackhammer was drilling into her brain. Lilly lifted her head to see if the kids were there and saw the metal clasps shackling her ankles together, the same for her arms, she was spreadeagled like a lab specimen. Lilly screamed so loud she thought her throat would burst. “HELP, HELP, SOMEBODY PLEASE.” She struggled, tried to kick, and lifted her torso as far as she could in desperation but there was never going to be an escape. She felt claustrophobic and this was going to be the end of her life, they were going to rape her, and these vile disgusting creatures were going to abuse her! She would rather die now! “DARYL.” She sobbed. Lilly wondered if he were still alive, and Carina and Christian, if they were dead then her life would be of no purpose without them, she could hardly bear it.

She could just about lift her head, and pain travelled from her nape to the top of her head, ignoring it she squinted trying to see the door in the dull light of the room, but nothing, no one was there, the door was firmly shut, even if she could escape she would never get that metal bolt to slide across the door. A Hopeless stream of despair suffocated her, she could hardly breathe, and in one desperate attempt to suck in a lungful of breath opened her mouth.

“YOU BASTARDS! WHERE ARE MY KIDS?” she screamed, but all she could hear were the hollow echo of her own desperate voice. The lock turned and the door opened on stiff hinges as the lizard padded into the semi dark room, the only light came from cracks in the rocks but enough to be able to see. Lilly stiffened as she saw the creature come towards her with a sneer on its face. He leaned right over her, and she could smell him, he stank of decaying fish. Lilly screwed up her face in disgust as he lowered his head and licked at her face, trying to move her head she shouted. “STOP!” but he laughed in a guttural sound that she would never forget.

Memories came flooding back. It took her to a market where she was doing some shopping when a man had his pet Iguana on a table in the market, he was feeding it lettuce and odd bits of vegetables. Fascinated she went over to talk to him, suddenly the lizard licked her hand, she laughed. “Why is he doing that?”

“That’s how they smell, he won’t hurt you. And she liked the feel of the lizards tongue and stroked his back.

But this was not like the soft smooth touch of a lizards tongue it was rough like broken shreds of glass rubbing against her skin, it made her feel sick, it was slimy, cold, and obscene. Lilly shook her head from side to side. “PLEASE!” she yelled, wishing that if she had the courage she would ‘bite’ it off! The creature enjoyed her torment.

Ellen tried to sleep but it was too cold, every time she closed her eyes and tried to drift off Pixie would jump in her sleep. It was her anxiety that kept her alert, terrified one of the lizards would come in the night and take Pixie. Finally exhausted she dropped off into a deep sleep with her arms around Pixie.

She dreamt of giving birth to a baby with two heads, one like her, and one like a reptile all slimy and cold, it’s tongue snaked out of its obscene mouth, and she sat up with a piercing scream.

Daryl shot up from his uncomfortable position on the cold hard floor, they had not been given any blankets to sleep on. Jumping to his feet and banging his head on the roof of the cage he shouted “Ellen! Are you ok?”

Pixie had woken up screaming, the terrified child clung to her mother. “It’s ok baby, it’s ok Mummy’s here no one is going to hurt you.!”

“Yes,” she called to Daryl, had one hell of a nasty dream, I scared the hell out of Pix.”

“She wasn’t the only one you scared the hell out of!! You ok now?” There wasn’t much Daryl could do if she weren’t anyway.

“Yes, I’m ok, sorry I scared you Daryl.”

***