First to Rise - Book cover

First to Rise

B. Shock

Unwanted Guest

ALITA

I dusted off the old worn store mattress and sat back. It’s not as clean as my sleeping bag, but I suppose it’s better than sleeping on the ground. I glanced at the front of the store where I had covered the windows and doors. Now no one could peek in, and hopefully, the stuff in front of the door would deter anyone from trying to enter.

It’s not uncommon to find barricaded buildings like this since some people thought staying in the city while gunfights and bombs were going off would be better than getting to safety.

Looking down at myself, my body feels so constricted under all these layers. I should be safe tonight... I haven’t seen anyone else in the area, and the aliens don’t just randomly search buildings like these...

I slipped my coat off and set it down with my bag. I walked over to a broken mirror in the back of the store to look at myself. I wore a long-sleeve turtleneck that was two sizes too big, some baggy pants, and military boots. My white hair had grown out by 3 inches, and without the mask, I just looked like an immature young boy. I think most people in my camp do think I’m just a teenage boy.

Pulling off the shirt, I could see the bandages I had wrapped tightly around my torso to practically pin my chest down to make it as flat as possible. That adds to my lack of muscle from slight malnourishment, making me look small and immature.

I removed the wraps and sighed happily at how it no longer made my body feel so constrained. Sometimes it makes it a pain to move around and breathe, but I rarely get the chance to take a break. Even with how torturous bras used to be, I still would prefer one of those than having to bind myself with wraps all the time.

Why couldn’t the aliens be after something more convenient like puppies or kittens? We could have supplied them with enough animal companions to keep them happy and avoid this stupid war! I flopped down onto the mattress and sighed.

Who am I kidding? That’s a stupid idea... they probably didn’t have many choices when it comes to their situation. But still, did they even consider the effect this would have on humans? And the fact that they are literally kidnapping women and children, separating them from their families? I can assure you that a lot of us would rather not become alien baby makers!

I groaned into the mattress and reminisced over the past. What would dad have done if he were still around?

Crickets were the only response I got to my question as the night settled in. I quickly grabbed my bag and dug through it for my small portable lantern. I eyed it unsure if I should risk having a light on or even if I should waste the battery life on it. Sighing, I flipped the thing on and relaxed as it illuminated the small area around me.

I hated the dark. Roaming around the forest and streets at night wasn’t nearly as bad as staying inside a pitch-black abandoned building. At least outside, you have the stars and a bit of moonlight, but here it’s nothing but darkness, and it terrifies me...

Heh, I really am helpless.

Setting the lantern next to me, I used my coat as a pillow and closed my eyes to drift off to sleep.

—hours later—

I woke up to a strange sound and opened my eyes. It was still dark, and my lantern hardly lit up more than a few feet around me. I sat up, rubbing my eyes as a loud banging sound made me jump. It came from the front entrance to the shop.

Someone’s trying to break in!

I scrambled to hide my bag and grabbed my lantern, running to the back of the store to hide behind some cover. I flicked the light off as the banging sounded again, and whoever was trying to break in finally pushed through the blocked door.

Peeking around the corner, I could see moonlight pouring in through the open door and the alien figure that had just walked in. It was a different one from before but still just as terrifying, and just as big.

He stepped out of the light and disappeared into the darkness of the room, out of sight from me. Don’t tell me these suckers have night vision or some crazy shit.

I stayed in my hiding place, trying to calm my beating heart as the creature scoured the building. I worried he might hear my erratic heartbeat, making me even more nervous than I already was. There’s no way anyone saw my lantern’s light from outside, so why are they here?! I quickly realized I also was no longer in disguise and cursed to myself. Shit! If I’m found now, I have no chance of tricking anyone into believing I’m a guy!

I held my breath as the sound of his footsteps came closer to where I was hiding. He can’t see me. He can’t see me! I silently prayed.

Staring ahead at the darkness of the room, there was nothing but pitch-black darkness and the faint outlines of certain objects reflecting the moonlight. The glint of a blade caught my attention as the alien’s tail came into view.

He was standing right there. Right in front of me with his back turned towards me. I covered my mouth to muffle myself and waited. He moved around again in the darkness, disappearing from my sight.

After what seemed like forever, the creature growled like an animal and stomped back outside, leaving the store completely. I let go of the breath I was holding and leaned my head back against the wall as my heart raced in my chest. That was close.

I could hear some faint noises outside in the street and hesitantly came out of my hiding spot and snuck over to the store front. Going up to the window, I looked through a crack to try and see outside. It was still dark out, but I could faintly make out 5 figures going down the street.

Two separated from the group, going into the buildings they hadn’t searched yet. After a few moments, they came back out and moved on to the next as if they were searching for something? Or someone.

Surely the one from earlier didn’t call over a whole search party just to find me? Why would they go through so much trouble for a scavenger? Something else must be going on…

As I watched them, a chill ran down my spine at the sight of a girl running out of one of the buildings. She screamed as two of the alien men went after her. I watched as one of the men in the street jumped in front and nearly tackled her to the ground. She screamed for help as he pinned her to the ground and did something to her that made her suddenly fall limp.

I couldn’t tell if she was unconscious or dead as they crowded around her for a moment before one picked her up, slinging her over his shoulder.

She looked like a total mess and was limply slung over the alien’s shoulder as he casually spoke to his fellow soldiers as if nothing happened. There was nothing I could do against them to try and help; all I could do was watch as they carried the poor girl away.

Soon enough, the aliens moved on out of sight, and I quickly covered the door with a blanket so no light would peek through and went back to my bed with the lantern in hand. Turning it back on, I relaxed once more, finally having light again.

I turned my attention back to the front of the store, trying to wrap my head around the possible reason for them being out here and what they might have been searching for. Had they known one of us was out here? There’s no way the alien from before should’ve been able to tell I was female. I’ve managed to evade detection with this disguise many times before, so why?

Sighing, I hugged my knees tighter and stared at the lantern. That girl very well could have been me. She was so scared, and they literally chased her down like a pack of animals…I don’t even want to imagine what they’ll do to her, especially with all the rumors I’ve heard.

They probably won’t come back through this area tonight, but I’m not sure I want to take the chance... Sighing, I laid back on my makeshift bed. Guess sleep is out of the question for the rest of the night.

—Hours later—

Once morning came, I wrapped my chest once more and redressed. Throwing my coat on and my face mask, I double-checked myself in the mirror and grabbed my backpack.

Removing the blanket from in front of the door, I tentatively peeked my head outside, looking for any signs of alien men or possible thugs.

Everything seemed normal, and I made my way outside. Looking at the gas canister in my hand, I set out to fill it up.

After searching a few empty vehicles, I got lucky and completely filled my canister. Deciding not to test my luck further, I started making my way back to camp. As I passed through the suburbs, I stopped to check a few promising-looking houses.

I was happy to find three cans of food and a few items I could trade off at the camp for goods. Going through one house, however, I found something far more interesting than food or consumer goods.

Opening a drawer to a dresser, I found a Glock with half a box of bullets… Hesitantly, I grabbed the weapon, feeling its weight in my hands, and gulped. My father taught me how to use guns a long time ago, but I had never actually used one against a living creature.

Weapons like this were worth a lot, considering how scarce they were. I rubbed my thumb over the pistol, wondering if I could ever use it against someone else. I never carried anything more than a pocket knife because I always hated the idea of hurting someone else, even if it meant saving my own life.

But if it came down to it, would I be able to pull the trigger?…

I found the gun’s holster and attached it to my side before safely putting the gun away and stuffing the ammo for it in my bag.

The thought of using it plagued my mind the entire trip back to camp. My walk through the forest seemed to calm me some; I always enjoyed the outdoors when I didn’t have to worry about aliens or thugs potentially kidnapping or murdering me.

With winter coming just around the corner, I could only pray things weren’t going to be too bad. Hunting would be near impossible, and trips to or from the city were going to take twice as long if I had to travel through snow.

I’m already dreading the coming cold. It was already bad enough trying to survive out here as is. Varin suggested stocking up on goods, but we can barely feed ourselves each day.

After several hours, I finally made it to camp and found Varin sitting outside anxiously waiting for my return. He was sitting on a broken-down car outside of the camp wall, clearly nervous about something.

Once he noticed me approaching, he perked up and jumped off the car. “There you are!” He exclaimed. He rushed over and hugged me. “You had me worried sick, what took so long!” He grabbed me by the shoulders, looking me over.

I glanced at the guards fidgeting at the entrance. “I ran into some trouble and had to sleep in a shop…what’s going on?”

He looked back to the camp with a worried face. “We got some visitors overnight…it’s not good…”

“Did they raid our food stores?!” I walked towards the camp entrance, only to stop when he grabbed my wrist. I looked back at him, confused.

“Not quite…they haven’t left yet…” They haven’t left yet? Why would they be staying if they aren’t raiders here to steal supplies? Then who are they? Don’t tell me it’s the aliens…

“Varin, who is it…” I looked at him questioningly, worry stirring in my stomach.

He grit his teeth before looming back to the camp, and I paled at his response. “It’s a group of purifiers…the same guys who’ve been going around the north zone killing people…”

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