Thrashers: E1 The Homecoming

Hal waited inside his Honda Civic, staring at the corner house off Parker Drive. He debated whether or not to arrive early for his Thursday visitation, wondering if his son would be as excited to see him. The neighborhood appeared normal in every aspect, with cookie-cutter homes only differing slightly in color and façade. Rebecca's Toyota sat out front in the driveway. Her vehicle was accompanied by a work truck with the words Calico Communications in gaudy blue box letters on the driver’s door. Rebecca and Hal had a particularly nasty divorce that dragged out in court due to ongoing disputes involving custody, financial compensation, and the string of misdemeanors Hal had accumulated when his drinking worsened. Hal found himself hating Rebecca for taking their son Brandon away from him and moving across the country. She had started a new life with her husband Edmond, essentially leaving him alone in the past. A year of therapy and a long-fought battle with sobriety helped to change his perspective, realizing that Rebecca was never the problem.

"Guess it's now or never" Hal whispered to himself, turning down the radio before putting the Civic into drive.

Hal unlocked his door and grabbed his ball cap off the passenger seat. He slapped his pockets, double checking to make sure he had the fair tickets with him. His hands rubbed against an envelope with the name Brand-Man scribbled across the face of the paper. Brand-Man was an affectionate nickname that his son had a love-hate relationship with since he was able to speak. Taking a deep breath, he decided to take his time approaching the house. The door swung open before he ever had the chance to knock and within seconds the Brand-Man was all over him.

"Dad!" Brandon shouted, tucking his face deep into his father's stomach.

"Hey Brand-Man, I'm happy to see you too. You excited for the fair?"

"Freak yeah!" Brandon said, quickly turning around to make eye contact with Rebecca, taking note of her disapproving gaze.

"I mean yeah, hold the freak"

Rebecca and Hal let out a few small chuckles that were replaced by an awkward silence when Edmond entered the doorway.

"Hal, you look great," Edmond said, slapping his palm on Hal's shoulder. "You look like you put on a little weight but in a good way."

Hal smiled, mouthing the word thanks. He knew Edmond was the kind of person who meant what he said, with no ulterior motive behind his statement. Rebecca mentioned on more than one occasion, that Ed's honesty was one of the reasons she was so drawn to him. She also added it was beneficial for Brandon to have a strong and honest male role model in his life. Rebecca gave a friendly embrace, before handing over a backpack adorned with a variety of words like cool, awesome, and radical, written in a graffiti.

"I packed some juices, water, and a couple of snacks in there for the both of you, just in case the lines are crazy and whatnot."

"Thanks, Becky" Hal replied, feeling slightly guilty at the fact his ex-wife still felt the need to pack for their son and him.

Hal knew it came from a place of love, his job at the grocery store did not necessarily provide the best income for outings. The therapist he was seeing explained those feelings were errors of the mind and only affected his ego. This was something he still needed to master. On occasion the feelings of inadequacy haunted him. Hal waved goodbye to the happy couple and placed his hand in Brandon's hair, giving it a few soft ruffles as they approached his car. Brandon popped the back door open with ease and seated himself in his booster. Brandon waved Hal off as he tried to buckle him, giving him an attitude filled side eye.

"I can do it, Dad"

"Okay Brand-Man, my bad."

Hal secretly watched his son fiddle with the buckle, eventually snapping it into place with an audible click. The vehicle started without issue, giving a dull groan as he shifted into drive.

"Wait!" Edmond shouted, slowly jogging over to the rear window and tapping the glass with a cellphone.

Hal rolled down the window and Ed put the phone in the front pocket of Brandon’s hoodie.

"Don't lose it now Brand-O, those things are pricey. Love you."

"Love you too, Dad," Brandon replied, leaning over and giving Ed a peck on his cheek.

Hearing Brandon call Edmond Dad stung. Hal felt the title of dad was reserved for him. At first, his face felt hot and a smoldering anger screamed loudly from the inside of his skull. The emotion was deafening. He gripped the steering wheel, breathing slow and intentionally in an effort to calm himself. Of course, Brandon was calling Edmond dad. Hal had been missing in action for the past year and some change. While he was sure Rebecca was happy to have him back in Brandon's life, the damage and time lost was something he could never change. His only option was to keep his cool and focus on the now. Hal gave a friendly wave, which at this point had to be his fifth or sixth repetition of the gesture, before finally accelerating and leaving the happy house on the corner in the rearview.

"Want to listen to some music Brand-Man?"

"Sure, can I pick?"

Hal grabbed the cord plugged into the USB port of the Civic. Once he was plugged in, he passed it to Brandon. The boy attached his phone and began thumbing through his potential picks. The sound of guitars burst through the speakers as the singer belted out the lyrics. The boys bopped their heads in the car, singing horrifically out of tune.

"Great choice, dude," Hal said, thrusting his fist in the air, while singing the chorus at the top of his lungs.

While most children would have been embarrassed at the sight of their father doing the fist pump in the front of the car, Brandon was only eight. That was still the age where fathers were heroes, despite their obvious short comings. As the civic came over the hill, lights from the Ferris wheel came into view. An assembly of spinning bulbs glowing in the sunset illuminated the horizon. Hal pulled into the designated parking area passing a large banner with the words Blume County Fair. The excited look on Brandon's face warmed Hal's heart as they entered the grounds. the flashing lights, the smell of funnel cakes, and the roar of laughter booming from the rides must seem like a paradise through a child's eyes. The boy pointed towards a ride with a menacing dragonhead bolted onto the front cart, its metal tracks forming an array of loops and twists. The ride seemed huge and for a second Hal was unsure if the eight-year-old could handle it. Before he could even try and talk Brandon out of the ride, he was running full speed towards the ever-growing line forming around the entrance.

"Brand-Man, wait up" Hal shouted, doing his best to keep pace.

The ride came to a stop just as Hal wrapped his arm around his son. Brandon was still dancing with excitement, bouncing back and forth on his heels. A scrawny ride operator opened the gate allowing the fairgoers to exit and move on to their next destination.

"Tickets please," the teenager said while stuffing another bite of corn dog into his feed hole.

Hal shoved his hand into his pocket, feeling for the perforated edges of the tickets, a small feeling of dread filled his stomach as his search came up empty-handed. Why did he only check for the fair tickets and not the ride tickets at the house? A mental image projected into his mind, revealing the exact dollar amount currently sitting in his checking account. He felt his heart drop into his bowel, knowing he did not have the funds to purchase another bundle of tickets. He breathed a sigh of relief after finding them in his back pocket. The operator ripped the tickets and waved Hal and Brandon to their seats. Hal pulled the safety bar down, clicking it into place just as the overhead speaker announced the rules for the ride overhead. Keep your hands and feet in the ride at all times. An operator will come by and check your safety bar to ensure you are seated in the proper position. Once the acne-ridden teen made his rounds tapping on the bars, the ride clicked into gear and Hal felt his heart skip a beat as they crested the hill. The ride tumbled downward into the next turn, barreling into the corners at an absurd speed. Brandon's hand squeezed the tail of his shirt as he let out a scream. The look on his son's face was a mix of fright and bliss. For a brief moment, Hal wished he could stop time and soak in this moment forever, relishing in the company of his son.

As the ride twisted and turned, Hal found himself reminiscing about his life with Brandon and Rebecca before alcohol had consumed him. The memories cut him to his core, forming a lump in his throat that he forced himself to swallow down before the floodgates opened. He knew if he started crying now, there would be no stopping the flow of pent-up emotions from the last few years. The screeching of the breaks clamping on the steel tracks woke Hal from his unwanted trip down memory lane. The ride came to a rough stop and a feeling of relief set in as the bar popped up, releasing them from the belly of the dragon.

"So, what'd you think little man?" Hal said, patting Brandon as they walked towards the concession stand.

"That was awesome! Do you think we can ride everything before we have to leave?"

"I think so Brand-Man, but we got to move quickly. First things first. We need to grab some grub."

The smell of the fried food soaked in butter made their mouths water as they drew closer, and closer to the stand. Hal pulled out his phone and scrolled through his social media apps, more out of habit than entertainment. A headline caught his attention, Multiple Attacks on Nuclear Power Plants, Possible Terrorist? Before he could open the link, a tug on his arm pulled his face away from his screen. A woman at the counter beckoned them with her knotted finger with a look of impatience forming on her face. Brandon hopped up and down as he pointed at the menu, picking out the funnel cake. Hal treated himself to an oversized and overpriced hotdog on a stick. The twosome enjoyed their bites and their laughs, talking about Brandon's newfound love of video games and quick to read detective stories. A sudden shadow started to form over the fairgrounds and time seemed to stand still as everything was enveloped in total darkness.

"What's that Dad?" Brandon said, his voice so low it was almost a whisper.

Hal tried to answer, but the words seemed to hang in his throat, like a poorly chewed bite.

***

Rebecca raked her fingers across Edmond's back as she climaxed, her legs convulsing with pleasure as her lover continued to drive himself deeper inside her. He breathed heavily into her ear before joining her in ecstasy and rolling over onto his back, his chest heaving up and down as he drank in the air. The couple kissed before sharing a laugh and pulling each other close.

"Maybe having Hal back isn't such a bad thing," Edmond said, half joking but also half speaking the truth.

Since moving to Texas, Rebecca and Ed had not gotten the opportunity to enjoy one another's company without reservation, due to a lack of babysitters and the constant battle to outrun the hours in a day. While she was happy that Hal had pulled his life together after years of pleading, his return still made her nervous. Deep down she knew Hal was a good man, but years of alcohol abuse had corroded her trust, and she was still getting used to seeing this new sober version of her ex-husband. She pushed the worry out of her mind and tried to live in the moment with Edmond, admiring his body as the sweat glistened off his dark skin. Rebecca ran her hands through his coarse hair, taking a moment to rub her thumb over his lips before kissing him again.

"While I'd love a round two, I think little Edmond needs time to recuperate, love bug."

Edmond hopped out of bed, walking over to the bathroom to retrieve some towels for the both of them. Rebecca took a moment to herself to shower. This was the first time in years she occupied the bathroom without somebody demanding her attention from the other side of the door. No adolescent fingers worked their way under the doorway and no husband tried to unlock the door to ruin her peace with an inopportune potty break. Rebecca dried herself off and looked in the mirror, catching her reflection. She noticed the love mark Ed had left above her nipple and laughed, reliving the moment in her mind before dressing. The day was cool enough to warrant pants and a thin sweatshirt while they finished the rock barrier for the garden. Edmond handed Rebecca a tin mug, half full of lemonade while he admired her from under the brim of his cap. Rebecca loved Edmond. He was everything her life needed, stability, strength, and kindness. She still couldn't figure out why the universe was so kind to her and at times she felt undeserving. Seeing how Edmond bonded with Brandon, she opted to not question it, afraid a higher power might take notice and strip her of her happiness.

"You mind passing me the small shovel love?"

Rebecca turned around, her eyes drifting around the mess of garden tools. She found the small shovel, leaning over to grab it off the ground. Her knees groaned, forcing her to laugh at her age. Turning back towards Edmond, she noticed a shadow creeping up from behind her heels. Edmond gasped behind her, causing concern to creep into the forefront of her mind. She felt a cold chill jolt up her spine, her vision zeroing in on a large bulbous object floating through the sky. The thing was large enough to enshroud the entirety of her home in an eerie dark. Edmond removed his hat, hoping to get a better look at whatever this was, both of their minds reeling with confusion.

"What the hell is that?" Rebecca said, pulling Edmond out of his trance.

"I have no clue, it looks like one of those, what do you call it? A hot air balloon or something, but it looks like it's breathing."

The object was a grayish purple with hints of pink, similar to burnt flesh. It pulsated as it floated through the air. It moved in a manner that made no sense. Most hot air balloons were guided by the wind, while the operator controlled its height by heating the air inside. This thing was moving against the direction of the wind flow at a frightening pace.

"I don't see a bucket," Edmond said, walking further into the yard, still squinting to get a better look.

Rebecca noticed her neighbors through the cracks in her fence, also standing in a similar fashion while they gazed up towards the horizon. A symphony of screams echoed throughout the neighborhood as objects, too far to identify, fell to the earth.

"Rebecca!" Edmond screamed, as his wife turned to face the hideous reality that was now upon them.

***

Hal's amazement slowly turned to terror as the floating object encroached on the fair, terrified screams erupted all around them as the thing unfurled. A multitude of tentacles and eyes emerged revealed themselves as the beast opened up to consume them all. The creature's head deflated allowing its decent, striking the earth with tremendous force. Dirt exploded from the ground as its tentacles thrashed, propelling itself towards the Ferris wheel. The vibrations from the impact, traveled through Hal's legs and shook him violently. He tried to run but the tremors forced his knees to give out, sending him to the ground. Hal rolled onto his belly and looked up just in time to see the monster smash into the Ferris wheel, its thick tentacles about the size of a school bus. The horrid appendages coiled around the rungs, pulling inward and warping the metal framing. The weight of the creature caused the metal to shear from the bracings, toppling it downward onto the masses below.

Hal closed his eyes as the fleeing fairgoers were pulverized beneath the mess of steel, their bodies blended and ruined in an instant. The shaking of the earth kept him off balance, pinning him down while the squid-thing tore through the fair. Its tentacles lapped people up with ease, a shower of organs and limbs fell from the sky staining the grass. Hal swore he saw gnarled mouths along the tentacles, its obsidian eyes dashing frantically as it made easy work of its victims. Brandon was frozen in fear, a look of total confusion on his face. His young mind attempted to make sense of the chaos unfolding before him, but it was too much to process.

"Brandon!" Hal screamed, timing his movements to gain ground between the tremors.

He yelled the child's name again and again until he finally took notice, making his way towards his father. They embraced and moved away from the beast, taking cover behind a collection of steel barrels that were repurposed as trash bins. Hal's pulse bounded in his ears, the dull thud, thud, thud drowning out the sounds of terror breaking out all around him. Brandon let out a cry, forcing Hal to clamp his palm over the boy's mouth.

"Shhh," Hal whispered. "We need to get back to the car."

The creature continued to make its way towards a set of power lines near the petting zoo, crushing the unfortunate stragglers beneath its body. Hal scooped Brandon into his arms and ran towards the parking lot. That's when he finally noticed the gruesome beings falling from the monster's hide. They were about the size of a well-fed Labrador, with an alarming number of insect-like legs surrounding its abdomen. The legs came to a fine point, almost like a sinister collection of knives that tapped along the ground as they scurried. They were almost centipede-like in their structure. However, instead of having a rigid exterior skeleton, they were smooth and milky white. Two fangs hung from what Hal assumed was their mouths and a hook-like stinger protruded from their rears. They made a sickly chittering sound that made his blood run cold as they weaved through the crowds, pouncing on their victims and pinning them to the ground. One of the centipede-things pinned a young deputy, no more than twenty-two or twenty-three, to the ground and sunk its maw into his stomach. The hook coming out of its backside penetrated the flesh in the officer’s thigh as it constricted itself around his frame, slurping the life from him.

What the fuck, Hal thought, his legs throbbing. He forced himself to keep running up the hill toward the parking area. The number of cars had nearly tripled since Brandon and his arrival at the fair. The sheer volume of automobiles disoriented Hal, his head spinning while he looked for the civic. He tried to find a familiar landmark, but the frantic people and giant squid-beast made it difficult to focus. The sound of gunfire forced Hal to drop to the ground, covering Brandon with his body. Hal looked up to see another deputy firing a barrage of bullets from his handgun into one of those horrible bugs. Its body shuddered before its legs curled inwards, the milky white husk dissolving into a foul-smelling purple mush. The deputy lowered his weapon, but not before another one of those things crawled up his back, sinking its legs and hook-stinger into his torso. He let out a scream, raising the pistol to his head and pulled the trigger. A flood of bone and brain ejected from the newly made orifice.

The centipede dropped the deputy, no longer interested in the wasted flesh. It turned towards Hal, slithering toward them. Hal scooped up Brandon and sprinted for the discarded handgun, the creature lunged but missed his heels by inches. Sliding down towards the pistol, Hal felt the leg of his pants rise, the skin of his leg now meeting the asphalt in a painful greeting. The thing reared up, readying to pounce. Hal was lucky, letting off several shots from the dead man's weapon, downing the bastard before it could strike.

"Brandon, get his keys!" Hal shouted, his tone desperate.

Brandon stood there frozen, unable to take his eyes off the deputy's mangled head. He was in a trance, watching the gun smoke exude from the wound.

"Brandon, grab the fucking keys!"

The added oomph of the curse word seemed to surprise Brandon, bringing him back to reality. Brandon dropped to his knees and unclipped the carabiner from the deputy's waistband. He did his best to keep away from the widening puddle of blood circling the deputy. A loud screeeee came from the massive tentacled beast as it pushed itself up with its thick appendages, elevating above the fully matured trees surrounding the fairgrounds. All the smaller creatures stopped their assault when they heard the sound emitted by the squid. Their movements were frantic and afraid. Hal pulled Brandon by the arm, making his way towards the deputy’s vehicles parked near the ticket booth. Hal sounded the car’s alarm, hoping to make it easier to find. Moving cautiously, he kept his eye on the squid-beast that was several hundred feet in the distance. The vehicle wailed rhythmically to Hal's right, giving him a brief feeling of relief when he saw the Blume County Sheriff emblem less than a hundred feet from where they were standing.

Keep running, Hal thought to himself, pumping his legs vigorously to gain momentum. The burning sensation in his thighs had faded thanks to the adrenaline dumping into his body. His surroundings slowed as he closed the distance to his target. He saw the milky creatures scattering through the crowds, while people tried to gather what was left of their loved ones. Neighbors and friends clawed at each other's throats in desperate attempt to escape the frenzy, pummeling each other to a bloody pulp. The panic was bringing out the worst in humanity, Hal felt the cool metal of the door as he popped the latch and shoved Brandon into the passenger's seat. The key twisted in the ignition causing the engine to sputter and then roar to life, rattling the interior. Hal had seen the back of a police car on more than one occasion after making the less-than-ideal choice to drive home after binging. Feeling for the safety switch under the steering wheel, he threw the car into reverse and slammed down on the gas.

"What's it doing?" Brandon said, his voice cracking.

Hal turned his head while putting the vehicle in drive, the thing was now completely erect and pulling air into its head. The trees bowed inward from the force in which the creature brought the surrounding air into its bulb. Its grotesque cephalopod-head continued to expand until it pulled itself into a ball and floated onwards toward the interstate. It released the air through vents in its skin to propel itself forward. The site was both horrifying and enchanting, but there was no time to sit and admire the sickening feat. Traveling against the natural wind current, the speed of the creature blew Hal’s mind. How could something so massive move so quickly? The smaller aliens resumed their attack, ripping their unfortunate prey to pieces. Hal had never seen so much blood in his life. Watching these things feed caused the acid in his stomach to bubble. A fist boomed into the window of the Sheriff's vehicle, startling Hal. An older man in a Hawaiian shirt clawed at the door, spittle flying from his lips with every desperate word. Hal had only seen that desperate look in his fellow addicts, when they were consumed by the hunt for their next fix. He stomped the gas, dragging the man behind them for several feet. Simultaneously the fellow fought viciously to keep his grip on the door handle until a pothole sent him tumbling to the ground. Hal felt a bump underneath the back tire and was sure it had been the man's legs but there was no time to stop. He needed to protect Brandon and get him far away from here.

The vehicle came a dirt road that led back to the interstate. Hal did his best to maneuver away from the other vehicles and human speed bumps, but the dirt made it hard to maintain control. The back end of the truck fishtailed, striking the side of a gray sedan. He managed to correct their position but nearly flipped when a woman holding a baby jumped in front of them. The vehicle missed her by a fraction of an inch, but the car speeding behind him was not so lucky. Hal tried to look away from the carnage but still caught a glimpse of the woman rolling over the hood of the car, baby in tow.

"Dad, they need help!" Brandon pleaded, the tears and snot amassing on his face.

Hal wanted to answer but he couldn't risk the distraction. He had already lost Brandon once in his life because of his own selfish mistakes. He couldn't risk losing him again. The truck turned sharply onto the interstate. Its tires screeching as Hal fought for control. In the rearview, the monster continued to glide behind them, closing the distance with every passing moment.

"Come on, go!" Hal said, slamming the accelerator pedal to the floor.

His hands ached as he gripped the steering wheel, whitening his knuckles. Brandon's face was buried in his hands, his muted sobs barely audible over the screaming engine. The ground in front became immersed in shadow as the beast hung directly above them. This is it, Hal thought, saddened by the idea that the last moments of their lives were surrounded by pure terror. A memory passed through his mind, brief but with a weight that slackened his shoulders. It was a memory from a few years before Hal's sobriety, when his drinking was reaching its pinnacle. Brandon had spilled a cup of cranberry juice in the living room, leaving a dark ruby stain on the carpet. The father lost his temper and unleashed a slew of profanities at the boy until he urinated on himself. Hal saw the same look of dread on his son's face now, wishing he could take the fear away with a few magic words.

The shadow was suddenly gone as the creature sped past them, heading directly towards an electrical substation about two hundred feet away from the road. They watched in horror as the enormous tentacles unrolled themselves and the creature's head flattened, sagging behind it. Sparks exploded from the site and the creature's tentacles spiraled around around the large metal spires, pulling them down. The electricity pulsed through the monstrosities’ body, creating dark blue striations in its hide. Its figure seemed to pulse as the electricity was absorbed into its flesh, creating a sickening collection of red boils along the engorged tentacles. Hal wasn’t sure what it was doing, but the longer he stared through the rearview mirror, the more he was convinced the beast was growing.

Taking advantage of the opening and he continued to pound his way down the interstate towards Rebecca. Part of him was still in love with her. The divorce didn’t come as a shock, but Hal always felt the universe would bring them back together. Although, he knew this was just his denial manifesting in full force. He still hoped she was okay for Brandon's sake. Hal fought the urge to look in the rearview again, concentrating on the road and hoping the creature was to preoccupied to give chase.

***

Rebecca was surprised by Edmond's shouts. Her husband was usually level-headed and slow to anger. As she turned something grabbed her attention from her peripheral. A medium-sized creature about three feet in height emerged from an opening in the fence. Rebecca froze where she stood, the shock of what she was seeing was too much. The creature stood on two legs that were similar to the hind legs of a dog. Two finger-length stocks jutted from its round head, with a pair of wet black eyes sitting atop. Its eyes were so black they looked like liquified tar. The creature stared curiously at Rebecca and Edmond. Her stomach turned as the creature chittered, a clicking noise coming from what could be considered its throat. The fiend opened its maw revealing hundreds of pinky-thin tendrils and a blackened beak. It let out a screech and charged forward, lowering its beak.

"Oh fuck!" Rebecca screamed.

She attempted to back away from the approaching monster, but her legs tangled in the garden hose, causing her to fall backward. The air was knocked from lungs as she collided with the ground. Edmond broke out into a sprint, but the creature was too fast. Within seconds the tendrils wrapped around Rebecca's thigh and the creature embedded its beak deep into her leg. Blood shot out around the beak as it forced itself deeper into the muscle. Rebecca bellowed and beat at the creature, smashing one of its eyes in her palm. A thick fluid emerged from the orb, coating her hand in a foul slime, but the demon showed no signs of slowing.

"Edmond!"

The pain was unbearable as the tendrils constricted, burrowing deeper into Rebecca's thigh. She felt herself begin to drift into unconsciousness, the pain slowly fading. Edmond yelled as he forcefully buried his pickaxe into the creature's head, pulling it back out and driving it downward until the horrid prick lay limp in a messy pool of its own filth.

"Rebecca wake up, you need to wake up."

Tears were forming in Edmond's eyes as he pulled the beast with all his might, dislodging the beak from his love. A white goop poured from her leg wound, almost seminal in its consistency. Tiny white worms swam aimlessly in the fluid. Edmond slammed his foot down, crushing them beneath his heel. Rebecca felt Ed pull her into his arms, the warmth of his embrace was comforting, but her pain quickly reemerged with a vengeance. Edmond gripped her limp body close and ran for the sliding glass door, shutting it behind him. Rebecca watched as he pushed the couch to the glass door and closed the blinds before turning back towards her. He stroked her cheek and showered her with kiss after kiss.

"Stay with me, babe."

"I-I'm here," Rebecca said, weakly.

The blood was spurting from her thigh with every heartbeat, staining the carpet cherry red. She felt herself becoming weaker with every passing minute. She heard Edmond scramble into the closet, grabbing for something to use as a makeshift tourniquet to stop the bleeding. Her husband came back, holding a belt in his right hand. The blood flow slowed but did not stop completely no matter how hard he clamped down. Her leg ached from the tightening of the belt. She wanted Edmond to stop pulling, but she knew it had to be done. The only alternative was death. Her body was feeling profoundly cold from the blood loss and a slight nausea teased her gut. The crimson puddle beneath her grew and her breathing became shallow but rapid. Edmond disappeared into the garage, shouting that he would be right back. She fought to stay conscious, desperately pulling herself back to reality to avoid the eternal sleep. A rush of relief came over her when she saw Edmond coming out of the garage with a bundle of electric cords messily strewn around his arms. Just as his handsome face appeared in the door frame, a loud pop made her ears ring. The lights in their once happy home went out, turning everything black.

***

Brandon's sobs worsened as the truck raced down the road, swerving in and out of stalled vehicles. The boy turned his head, staring out of the rear window. Hal knew he was looking for any signs of the floating squid. The substation was barely visible in the distance, but he could see the squid was still latched onto transformers, emitting its harrowing glow.

"You, okay Brand-Man?"

No answer. Hal knew he was the last thing the boy wanted at a time like this. His absence from his child's life had morphed him into a stranger over time. Sure, Brandon might have been open to the idea of rebuilding the bond with his biological father, but in a time of crisis he wanted familiarity. He wanted his mom. Hal pulled the truck into the neighborhood, his heart sinking when he realized the magnitude of the destruction that had just taken place. Bodies littered the streets and a variety of new alien creatures, different from their counterparts at the fair, fed upon the numerous carcasses. The truck decelerated and the engine came to an idle. Hal sat for a minute, trying to decide how to best navigate the mess.

"Mom!" Brandon shouted.

Hal quickly placed his hands over the boy's mouth, ignoring the pain in his fingers as Brandon clamped his skin between his teeth. It was like deja vu with a few new twists. Hal drove down the same road, which earlier was the semblance of peace and prosperity. An insect-like creature with large membranous wings fluttered near Rebecca's Toyota, the flapping creating a low buzz that hummed in Hal's ears. The vehicle came to a stop about twenty feet from the familiar driveway, and Hal turned towards his son releasing his mouth.

"Brandon, I need you to listen".

Hal stared at Brandon, his gaze unwavering as the boy's anger began to fade. When he was sure he had his attention he continued, explaining the plan in explicit detail.

"We need to get in the house and check on your mom and Edmond. I need you to listen, like really listen", Hal said, waiting for the boy to acknowledge him before continuing. "Let me take care of that thing, you run to the door and scream until they open it, okay?"

Brandon did not answer but nodded his head in agreement. Hal grabbed the pistol and released the magazine, counting his bullets. Four shots left, he thought to himself, unsure if there was one in the chamber or if that was just something they said in the movies. Hal had only fired a weapon a few times in his life and was not a particularly good shot. He prayed to whoever was watching over them, hoping they would allow his aim to ring true. Hal shifted the vehicle into neutral, rolling it steadily down the hill.

"Go!" Hal shouted, slamming the gear into the park and jumping out of the driver's side door.

The insect’s wings fluttered violently, creating a disturbing reverberation. The thing brandished a large stinger at the end of its long tail. The stinger dripped a viscous yellow fluid from its tip, the droplets bubbling as they hit the floor. Brandon cut through the lawn, moving as quickly as his childish legs would allow. Hal aimed the pistol at the monster and let off five shots, guessing the one in the chamber thing was true. The first two bullets missed, striking somewhere out of site, but the other three opened a set of holes in the creature's middle segment. It slammed into the Toyota over and over, until it dropped to the ground, convulsing. Eventually it laid still, its corpse melting into a pile of chunky filth. Hal heard the sound of Brandon's knuckles wrapping the door as he approached. The door clicked open behind him and a massive hand pulled him by the collar into the home.

***

Edmond slammed the door closed, bracing his shoulder against the door. He worked the locks into the correct position and gave the door a hard tug to ensure it was locked. Hal watched as Edmond embraced his son, squeezing him close and looking him over for any signs of injury.

"Brand-O, I'm glad you're okay," Edmond said, his voice cracking as tears pooled in his eyes.

"Where's mom?"

The look on the man's face said more than words ever could, as he bit his lower lip in an attempt to hold back his sobs. Hal got to his feet and followed them into the living room where Rebecca lay on the couch. Her skin was so pale she blended into the drywall behind her. Rebecca was drenched in sweat matting her hair and clothing to her body. She looked like she was on the verge of death, fighting hard to remain in the land of the living.

"Hey, little dude." Rebecca wheezed, her once vibrant hazel eyes were now a now a stillwater green.

Brandon squeezed her, digging his face into her shoulder, muffling his sobs as his body trembled. The air was thick with the smell of rot, worsened by the lack of airflow.

"We lost power, I-I'm doing my best to keep her warm," Edmond said, his voice still choked with grief. “That wound isn’t right, Hal. Somethings off.”

Hal feigned a reassuring smile and walked out of the living room, looking for more blankets to cover Rebecca. He knew the task was futile, the amount of blood drenching the carpet foreshadowed Rebecca’s inevitable fate. Hal was just trying to stay busy, finding something to give himself a chance to process the chaos that had ensued. A wave of shame washed over him when he found himself craving a drink to quell his nerves. He placed his forehead on the drywall and pinched his eyes shut, allowing himself a brief moment to sob. In an attempt to to ground himself, he began breathing slowly, counting to ten and then back to one.

"What the fuck." Hal whispered, repeating the statement several times until he felt his heart rate steady.

When he came back into the living room, he saw Brandon still nestled atop his mother. At the same time Edmond laid out a blanket and organized a cache of items they could use to defend themselves.

"I have one shotgun, your pistol, a pipe wrench, and whatever else I could find. It's not much but at least we have something if those things try to get in."

Everyone dealt with the looming grief of Rebecca's predicament in their own way. Brandon shut down, withdrawing into himself and Edmond found solace in preparation and preservation. Hal knew the feeling of creating your own sense of control to justify your current circumstances. He had done the same, convincing himself that he was in control of his drinking and in turn, control of his life. There was no saving Rebecca, but it was not Hal's place to be the bearer of bad news. He was a stranger in this home. An outsider who despite his best efforts to better himself had been the only recent change to their seemingly perfect lives. Hal wondered if deep down if he was to blame. Had he stayed away would he have spared this family from the torment they now experienced? He knew there was no truth to this line of reasoning, but he couldn't shake the feeling that this was still somehow his fault.

***

The night settled quickly as the sun snuck out of view. Edmond and Hal took turns watching for dangers outside of the windows. Hal took the majority of the guard shifts, giving Edmond his time to take care of Brandon and Rebecca. He knew the man was hurting, stuck watching his wife slowly pass on without the ability to intervene.

"Go be with your family Ed, I can take over. I don't really see any sleep for me in the near future."

"Thanks,” Edmond said, “You know she never stopped loving you. I thought you should know that. Not in the husband-and-wife kind of way but in the way an old friend wishes the best for someone dear to their heart."

Hal felt a heat begin to rise in his throat as Edmond stood and patted him on the back. He appreciated the sentiment, knowing Ed spoke the truth. Rebecca was a one in a million type of person. Her kindness knew no bounds and she had always congratulated Hal on his milestones in sobriety, even after all the hurt he'd brought into her life. He wished he could trade places with his ex, knowing Brandon would be better off with her and Ed. Hal shook his head, trying to purge his mind of all the terrible thoughts buzzing like persistent flies in his mind. His body ached and the craving for a drink pulsed through him. Just one wouldn't hurt, he thought to himself. Hal knew it was never just one drink though and given the current state of things, there was no way he could trust his resolve.

Outside the window a dog hobbled past, limping on its hind leg. It worked its way under the streetlamp, before pausing and sniffing the air. The dog's black fur was matted with some kind of liquid and part of its ear seemed to be missing. It's matted because of the blood you twit. Hal massaged his temples, trying to ward off his fatigue and continued to observe the pup as it moseyed on. None of the creatures from earlier were anywhere in sight. Hal wondered if even bloodthirsty aliens needed their sleep too. The silence was broken by the dog's yelps. Two of the large insectoids swarmed down, enveloping the dog with their long tails. Vicious stingers jabbed into the dog’s abdomen, injecting the yellow venom. Bubbling was visible around the areas where the stingers penetrated the pup, creating a nasty puddle underneath. The dog put up a fight, snapping at the bugs and throwing its body on the floor, rolling violently to try and create some means of escape. More of the bug-creatures bombarded the mutt until it was no longer visible under their segmented bodies.

Hal had to look away, lowering his head into his palms. The feeling of being trapped overwhelmed him. Panic permeated in his chest, making it hard to breathe. He pulled out his phone as a distraction, wondering if the event was unique to here or if these things were happening everywhere. As he scrolled his eyes were assaulted with videos and still images of the insanity taking place all over the world. Thrashers was the term coined by the public to describe the other worldly squids, but no elected leaders had acknowledged what was happening in any public address. In Europe several Thrashers, smaller than the one from the fair, had attacked a nuclear power plant. The detonation and emission of harmful radiation killed hundreds of thousands. In parts of the coastal United States, large spider-like beings had nested in apartment complexes and there were reports of missing dogs, cats, and even children. Hal came across a video that showed several of the Thrashers, huddled into a ball as they floated through the air. They looked like a grotesque planet of tentacles covered in a demonic crust. The fiends uncoiled their tentacles as they separated and crashed into the ocean, falling out of the frame completely. Hal pressed his thumb on the corner of his screen to speed up the video, nearly dropping the phone when the Thrashers emerged wrapped around a nuclear submarine. An explosion displaced the water in the ocean and shook everything in the view until the screen went black.

It seemed to be a full-scale invasion, something you only see in the movies or the over-produced television shows on any given streaming service. This wasn't supposed to happen in real life, but here it was unfolding in real-time. Hal noticed the cries of the black hound had ceased. The sight outside the window was sickening. The dog lay in a pile of crimson mush, the meat bubbling in a disgusting puddle. The pup was more bone than beast after the bugs devoured it. Whatever was in those stingers must have dissolved the poor animal. Hal realized that must be how the insectoids feed, melting their meal down to a foul slop before slurping it up through their phallic snouts.

"Does that sheriff's vehicle have a rifle in it?" Edmond asked, startling Hal who was lost in thought.

"I think so, but I couldn't figure out how to get it off the mount."

Hal watched as Edmond walked to the front of the house, pausing briefly to stare at a wedding photo of him and Rebecca. Hal had a slight idea of what Ed was going through, having lost Rebecca once himself. The difference was Hal lost his wife because of selfish choices. He was solely at fault for the failure of his marriage, choosing alcohol and loose women over his family. Edmond was nothing more than a victim of poor circumstance. He heard Ed let out a sigh when he moved the curtain to the side, peering out of the window.

"I wouldn't go out there Ed, you can't see them, but I promise you they're outside. Lurking."

Hal told Edmond what he had seen earlier. Explaining what happened to the black dog in vivid detail. However, the gelatinous puddle of meat on the black top was a good indicator of what occurred. They both stared at each other and then at the ground for a long while, contemplating what to say or do next. No words were spoken, but a mutual understanding was reached. Sticking together and protect one another was their best chance for survival. They knew in the end it was what Rebecca would have wanted. Safety and consistency was all she ever wanted for Brandon. The men nodded at one another and made their way back into the living room, taking a few seconds to pull the covers over the sleepers occupying the couch. Hal squatted down next to Brandon, running his hands gently over his face, placing a loving kiss on his cheek before retiring to the mattress near the mantel of the fireplace. Edmond kept watch at the window, soaking in the surroundings of the once-peaceful neighborhood. In the living room, Hal's breathing slowed as he drifted off to sleep.

***

Brandon slept next to his mother, visions of tentacles falling from the sky infected his dreams. The boy's face tightened with discomfort, and the feeling of suffocation overwhelmed him as the tentacles squeezed tighter and tighter. He awoke gasping for breath, sucking in as much air as he could. Brandon was relieved to find himself back in a familiar place. Looking over towards the mantel, he saw his father asleep on the guest mattress. The boy felt a wet and warm sensation on his stomach, making him wince. Something was moving under the covers, slithering itself back and forth in a rhythmic motion. He reached his hands under the covers feeling for the source of the wetness. His hands came back up covered in a red, sticky substance. Blood was the first thought that came to his mind, but it took a couple of seconds for his body to recognize he was in danger. Brandon was overcome with panic, stumbling off the couch and patting at his body frantically checking for wounds. He let out a scream, waking Hal from his slumber. Seconds later, Edmond came running from the back window to see what was causing the commotion.

"Oh fuck!" Edmond shouted, running past Brandon and pulling the covers off Rebecca.

Brandon turned toward his mother, seeing what was left of her as Edmond ripped the covers away. Rebecca lay in a pool of partially coagulated blood, her vibrant face now pale and seemingly devoid of life. Brandon heard Edmond shouting his mothers's name over and over, but it felt as if his soul was floating above his body, watching the scene unfold. Hal grabbed Brandon and pulled him away as Rebecca reanimated on the couch and let out a blood-curdling scream. The head of a large worm exited her thigh, with a terrible pop. At the sight of his mother’s blood, Brandon felt his legs go weak. A feeling of unconsciousness started to overtake him, but he managed to stay present.

"It hurts, It hurts!" Rebecca howled, her voice becoming hoarse from the exertion.

The worm slithered out further revealing a diamond-shaped head with numerous eyes. A vertical slit opened, exposing the worm’s sharp, blackened teeth. The thing made a clacking sound, its mouth vibrating as the head bobbed side to side. A bulge appeared in the woman's stomach just as another worm emerged, wrapped in a loop of shiny intestine. The visual made Brandon’s blood run cold, his emotions a mix of anger, fear, and confusion as he watched the most important person in his life become a mangled mess. Urine ran down the boy's leg, soaking through his pants. The anger faded, his entire being succumbed to pure terror.

***

"Kill me! Please just fucking kill me!" Rebecca hollered, right when more worms bursted through her skin.

Edmond raised the shotgun and pointed it at Rebecca, his arms shaking violently. He tried to steady his aim but was unable to control his breathing. The monstrous serpents continued to work their way out, flashing their teeth and striking at Rebecca relentlessly. They pulled her apart piece by piece, until her cries turned into guttural shrieks. His finger curled around the trigger, kissing the cold metal. Ed’s breathing became sporadic and the shaking worsened. He tried muttering word of courage to himself, hoping to build enough resolve to put Rebecca out of her misery. He let out a sob as the gun lowered to the floor, Rebecca’s eyes fixed upon, pleading for death.

"I can't do it." Edmond said, with defeat in his voice.

Out of the corner of his eye, Ed saw Hal release Brandon. The boy dropped to his knees and trembled with fear. He felt the man’s grip on his forearm, carefully easing the shotgun from his grip. A wave of relief flowed through his body after Hal took the weight of the gun into his own hands, in turn taking responsibility for the terrible deed that was about to take place.

"Take Brandon to the other room Ed. Please."

Edmond looked at Hal, wanting to say something but finding no words. Brandon screams made Ed grimace, as he pulled the boy into the other room. He ignored the flurry of jabs and kicks. Brandon fought ravenously to escape, doing everything in his power to stop the killing of his beloved mother. Edmond shut the bedroom door, wrapping Brandon up in his large arms. He tried to reason with the boy, telling him that his mother was going to be at peace. As much as he wanted to find an alternative, deep down he knew this was the only way. That was when he heard the shots. A deafening blast followed by another, and another.

***

"I'm sorry Becky" Hal said, raising the weapon and taking aim directly at her head.

The blast was terribly loud. Bits of blood and bone splashed onto the wall, staining the curtains a vile red. The worms continued to assault her body, paying no mind to the death of their host, too fixated on their meal. The second and third shots purged the carnivorous bastards from the world, their purple insides creating a messy mixture within the pool of gore. Hal couldn't look away, watching the worms dissolve as their bodies decomposed into a thick ooze. He prodded the still-whole portion of the worms, checking for movement. Part of him expected something to jump out when he least expected. But nothing happened. Hal looked over Rebecca, his heart sinking knowing that the woman who mothered his child was dead. He hoped he'd done the right thing in ending her suffering, knowing he would want the same thing if roles were reversed.

“I-I’m sorry. I’m so fucking sorry, Becky.” Hal said, unable to choke back the tears.

Hal stood there in silence for a what felt like ages, until Edmond came out from the back room. His dark skin seemed paler in the moonlight. This was the first time Hal had the opportunity to really look at Edmond since this all happened, the man's eyes were now sunken into his skull. It felt like time sped past, leaving them older but none the wiser. Edmond seemed to still be processing the brutal death, his demeanor overly calm. He’s in shock, Hal thought. Then again, he figured they all were.

"You did the right thing, Hal, I'm sorry it had to be you. I just couldn't." Edmond said, avoiding eye contact.

"I know. I lost her once too. I wish there was another way."

Hal couldn't help but hear Brandon's screams in the next room. His words were muffled by the door, but the words murderer and you fucking killed her were crystal clear. Hal knew this was the ultimate betrayal. He didn’t know if their relationship would ever recover from this horrific act of mercy. In truth, Hal was not even sure he could forgive himself. Now more than ever, he just wanted to drown out his sorrows with a drink.

***

Edmond wrapped Rebecca's body in the sheets from the master bedroom. The floral print was now more maroon than off-white. He still couldn’t wrap his mind around how much blood there had been. After tying the ends off with cord, he lifted his wife's corpse into his arms carrying her like a small child. Edmond made his way to the backyard, stopping when he caught a glimpse of a photo standing atop the side table. He was saddened by the irony of the ordeal, especially when he caught a glimpse of his reflection in the window. A few years prior he carried Rebecca the same way into their hotel room after tying the knot. Ed reminisced about their first night as husband and wife, spending the entire evening making love before settling down with a bottle of champagne and plentiful laughter. She was a better woman than he ever deserved, and more than anything he wished to take her place. Wishes don't come true in real life though, at least not ones like this.

***

Hal opened the door and held the shotgun close, listening carefully for any signs of movement. Rebecca’s body was carried to the fire pit and stuffed into cast iron mold. Ed reached underneath his grill and pulled out a half-empty can of lighter fluid, dousing the sheet generously before lighting the corner. The sheet went up with ease, the flame reaching a massive peak above the fence line. The sky around them was filled with frantic buzzing. A pack of the winged monstrosities took flight, swarming around the flame.

"They kind of look like dragonflies," Edmond said, his tone still concerningly calm.

"Yeah, if they fucked a scorpion."

The two shared an awkward laugh, before noticing the alien's movements were chaotic instead of intentional and efficient. They seemed scared. There was no telling where these creatures came from and how they ended up here, but one thing was for certain. These specific variants were scared of fire and maybe some of the other small creatures like the centipede-things from the fair would be too. Hal turned to see Brandon staring through the window, watching the body of his mother burn. Her skin blackened and sloughed off in chunks as the flames burned on. Hal opened the door and walked inside, Edmond following close behind.

"Let's try and get some sleep Brand-Man," Hal said, attempting to lead the boy away from the window.

"Don't fucking touch me! Just go have another drink you piece of shit. I wish you were dead instead of mom. Things were fine until you got here. You always fuck everything up. I fucking hate you!"

"Bran-".

Edmond's words were cut short by Hal. He waved a hand, signaling Ed to let it go. Hal needed no words, giving Ed a look that said it all. The look said to let the boy work through his grief and not push him. To allow him to navigate his anger surrounding the loss. A little trick from therapy and months upon months of sobriety meetings. Tonight, Hal could be the bad guy. The focal point for all of his son's hurt. All that mattered was keeping him safe. Building their relationship could hopefully come later if the world still existed. If they weren’t all dead.

Hal did his best to sleep but was unable to settle his mind. The events of the night kept playing in his head whenever he shut his eyes. When he finally did sleep, his dreams brought him no peace. Hal found himself trapped in a room no bigger than a walk-in shower, huddled in the corner. Rebecca hovered above him, the blood from her face dripping over him. Drip, drip, drip. Her guttural breathing was only inches from him. Hal kept his head pressed into his knees, fighting the urge to look. She spoke, but the words were hardly audible. Her speech was a mix of wet grunts, the partially formed words that bubbled from her throat. Finally, Hal was forced to look upon Rebecca’s gory profile.

"Grryor faulrrt" Rebecca belched through the cavernous hole of mangled meat. “Goyr faulrrt, Your fault!”

Hal woke from the nightmare, in a horrified state. His body was drenched in a cold sweat, matting his shirt to his chest. Brandon remained asleep on the couch and Ed stood staring out of the window, his eyes open but his mind still lost in thought. Hal wiped the terror and sleep from his face and pressed his thumbs into his temples. No matter how hard he massaged his head, the ache remained the same. He walked over to Edmond, stepping over the cache of weapons, and tapped him on the shoulder.

"Go get some sleep, Ed."

Ed stared off for a long time before finally speaking. The man pulled back the curtain and showed Hal the scene that was unfolding outside the window.

"There's more of them by the minute. They look like they're running from something."

Hal recalled the events from the fair, when one of the Thrashers unleashed its screech.

"Thrashers," Hal said, letting the word hang in the air.

Edmond looked at him curiously, wondering what in the world that word meant and what it had to do with the new arrivals. The two discussed the events from earlier, along with videos and images posted online. The emergence of those things outside of Blume County was news to Edmond, but his features gave no hints as to how this information affected him. The absent stare remained on his face, until Hal mentioned what happened at the substation.

"They're attracted to energy. That's what you're saying?" Ed asked inquisitively.

"I don't know. People are saying some of those things attacked nuclear power plants, electrical substations, hydroelectric power plants, solar power plants, you name it. They're absorbing it and they're growing. Like fucking huge, Ed."

"There's a plant not too far from here, less than a hundred miles north. I’m not sure exactly where, but I remember seeing a bunch of protests on the news."

"We have to get out of here, somewhere far away from all this shit," Hal said, looking to Edmond for some semblance of an idea.

"I know a place," Edmond said, the spark slowly returning to his eyes.

***

The men came up with a plan to leave in the morning, gathering weapons, ammunition, canned food, clothing, and water. Edmond said they could load the trailer on the side of the house and hope those things were too busy fleeing to pay them any mind. If that didn't work the alternative was to fight off the creatures and load whatever they could into the SUV before heading southeast towards the city of Elm. Edmond told Hal the city was a small, with a population of less than two thousand. No power plants in sight and the majority of the energy was brought in from minor substations that would hopefully not be on the Thrasher's radar. The only problem was gas. The sheriff's vehicle contained a little less than a quarter tank and Edmond's work truck would guzzle up gas faster than they could replenish it, creating an unnecessary burden. Rebecca’s car was out of the question. Neither of them could imagine being in a vehicle that reminded them of the tragedy that just unfolded. It seemed idiotic given the circumstances, but they remained steadfast in their decision.

The morning came, and Brandon was inconsolable after they told him the plan. The boy refused to leave his mother's corpse for those things to eat. Edmond and Hal loaded the trailer without any problems, the sound of Thrashers encroaching was clear from the volume of their cries. In the distance, Hal saw several bulbous figures near the cloud line, confirming their suspicions. A cold shudder ran through his spine as another screeee bellowed over the horizon.

"We're about set, I just need to grab Brandon," Ed said.

Brandon clawed at Edmond as he grabbed the boy, pinning him in the back seat of the sheriff's vehicle. Hal connected the trailer, keeping the pistol at the ready in case things took a turn for the worse. Once it was connected Hal gave Ed a thumbs up and he entered the passenger’s side door, briefly glancing at the sobbing child.

"I'm sorry Brandon, it's not safe here."

The boy fell silent, his stare piercing into Hal's heart. He tried to come up with something to say, but he knew no words would suffice. Silence followed. The journey south took several hours, the group only stopping once to siphon gas from an abandoned Suburban in a shopping center parking lot. Hal stood guard over Edmond, while he sucked on the end of a hose trying to free the gasoline from the Suburban’s tank. That was their first experience with the aliens that would later be referred to as the Mantis. Large creatures standing approximately eight feet tall, with two razor-sharp talons poking out from their upper appendages. They sported gargantuan heads with a type of hardened exoskeleton. The crown of their skulls took on the shape of a three-leaf clover. Hal witnessed them tear apart a group of less fortunate aliens, their maws opening revealing a thick serpent-like tongue that slurped up the purple goop left behind by their unfortunate prey.

"Done," Ed whispered, handing the fuel canisters to Hal.

Hal kept his eyes on the Mantises, watching as they continued to devour their meal. The creatures regurgitated an acid-like spit that dissolved the remaining tissue in the meat pile.

"Sick fucks." Hal whispered, before quietly placing the fuel in the back of the truck.

The rest of their drive was short and uneventful. Hal found himself dosing off halfway through the trip, taking advantage of the quiet peace. He was thankful for the dreamless sleep, only waking as Edmond brought the vehicle to stop at a rest station near Elm.

"I don't want to be on the road when the sun goes down, I think we camp here for the night."

No one protested the idea of being off the road after nightfall, the thought of those things waiting in the shadows as they drove gave everybody the heebie-jeebies. Hal dug through some of the bags, finding canned beans and instant potatoes. The meal was bland and a poor excuse for a dinner, but it managed to quell their hunger pangs. Night came quickly, and a thick mist settled over the impromptu campsite.

"I think we should sleep in the car," Hal said, listening intently for the sound of movement from within the woods.

"Works for me. Come on Brand-O, help me get the seats down."

Hal kept watch so Ed and Brandon could lower the seats and retrieve the blankets from one of the duffle bags strapped into the trailer. He swore he saw movement in the mist, pockets of darkened shadows moving in jerky motions under the cover of night. The fog made it difficult to see past the tree line, but Hal hoped it also provided cover for him and his party. Once everyone was settled in the sheriff's vehicle, Hal did his best to shut his eyes and fall into a slumber. Images of Rebecca continued to haunt him. No matter how hard he tried to rid himself of the morbid images burned into his mind, he couldn't help shake the feeling of overwhelming guilt. He was glad Edmond was spared from having to take the life of his wife, but he hated that it had to be him. He hated the way Brandon looked at him. The urge to drink crept into his veins and he found a nervous sweat forming along his brow. A sweat he had not experienced since detoxing. His hands started to shake, and the harder he fought the tremors the worse they became. Hal decided sleep wasn’t in the cards and opened his eyes, noticing that Edmond was also awake.

"Look," Edmond whispered, pointing with his finger into the fog.

Hal squinted peering out of the window, following the direction of Ed's finger. A fox walked steadily by, barely visible. Its fur was matted with mud, only a tiny bit of orange could be seen around its snout. A creature, resembling an elongated shrimp, with a ridiculous number of millipede-like legs tracked the fox, running a wormy appendage from its mouth along the ground.

"I think it's trying to smell the fox," Ed said, keeping his voice low to keep Brandon from waking.

Hal continued to observe, watching the fox lower its body into the earth as the disgusting snout of the creature passed right over it before retracting.

"Maybe they hunt by scent," Hal said.

"Some of them. The thing that got Rebecca looked nothing like whatever the fuck that is. Those aliens you described from the fair seem different too, but if we can observe them, then maybe we can survive a little longer."

"Maybe," Hal replied, the tone in his voice held a tinge of doubt.

The group took several days to rest, watching the creatures for a few nights. The aliens seemed to have their own ecosystem, even hunting one another when food was sparse. Ed even took the time to teach Hal and Brandon how to shoot, figuring the skill could come in handy. Hal found an old notebook in one of the duffles, along with a ball point pen in the center console. He made crude drawings, doing his best to depict the creatures he observed to scale. Time was taken to make several notes detailing their habits, anatomy and place in the food chain. Hal laughed at the idea of being a modern-day Darwin, scientifically documenting the awful species. After a few nights of rest, they decided it was time to move on, using the key map inside the sheriff’s vehicle to plot the safest path to Elm.

***

In the morning the trio woke, repacked the trailer, and continued their journey south. They hoped their luck from the previous days would carry over, but Murphy's law reared its ugly head about thirty minutes into their trip. The tire of the trailer struck a pothole, nearly causing Ed to lose control of the vehicle. He pulled the wheel left and right, trying to correct their trajectory. The weight of the trailer rattled the truck furiously and the hitch eventually sheared off, saving them from a rollover but costing them all their supplies in return. Ed pulled over and they stared out into the ravine along the shoulder, taking a moment to mourn the loss of their goods.

"We still have the guns at least, and a couple cans of food. Not to mention we're alive." Hal said, trying to keep the bleak situation somewhat positive.

Ed nodded his head, squeezing Hal's shoulder before handing him the keys and suggesting he drive for the remainder of the trip. The SUV started up with ease, and Hal threw it into gear, picking up speed along the abandoned county road. Hal wondered where all the people were. It had been just shy of a week since they left the house, and still no persons had crossed their path. The images and videos posted across the internet did show an incomprehensible amount of destruction and loss, but people were resilient and surely, they weren't the only ones with the bright idea to go into hiding. Not even the military had been spotted. No jets. No attack helicopters. Not even armed check points to guid civilians to safety. The thought of being alone in the world sent a chill through Hal's body. It was impossible to process the idea that this was actually the end of the world, but deep down he knew it was a likely possibility.

They arrived in Elm after about an hour and a half of driving. Hal eyeballed a corner store with some gas pumps whose screens seemed to still be working. He pulled into the pump station, grabbing the deceased deputy's wallet from the center console.

"Figured he wouldn't be using it," Hal said, smirking at Edmond who managed a slight laugh despite the joke being in poor taste.

Hal's luck seemed to be returning as the pump rolled on after a series of clicks and beeps from the pay screen. The card thankfully ran as credit, allowing Hal to fill the truck. It didn’t surprise him that even after the apocalypse, banks would still gladly take your money. He looked around, studying his surroundings. A few vehicles were in the parking lot, abandoned with their doors ajar. Hal spotted a lone work boot near one of the trash bins and the stained concrete beneath it. Flies buzzed around the boot, lapping up the congealed liquid off the ground. Blood. Looking back into one of the discarded vehicles, he took note of the damage done to the interior seating. It looked like someone had left a wild dog in there without food and water. The filling from the driver's seat was torn out in tufts, littering the cab. There must have been a massacre here too, Hal thought, an uneasy feeling seating itself in his gut. Click. The pump handle snapped closed, startling Hal. He let a yelp that caused his cheeks to blush with embarrassment.

"Get it together, man."

Hal racked the pump and removed the rifle from the back seat, before heading into the corner store. Ed and Brandon scoured the aisles, looking for any goods that would keep during their journey, while throwing in a few unnecessary items that were good for morale. Hal saw Ed place a twelve-pack of Modelos into a creaky shopping cart. A look of shame formed on Ed’s face when he realized he was throwing Hal’s kryptonite into the buggy.

"I can put it back Hal, sorry I wasn't thinking," Ed said, a shameful look manifesting on his face.

"It's the end of the world Ed. You're more than welcome to your vices. Besides it’s been over a year. I don’t think I want to start the habit back up now. That would make too easy for those bastards." Hal said, reassuring the man with a genuine look of approval.

They continued to move aisle by aisle, forgetting the world was in chaos just outside of the glass doors. Hal even caught Brandon smiling as they passed by the aisles containing the sweets and other assorted candies. Edmond came across a smashed bag of donut holes, one that Brandon was particularly fond of. Unfortunately, the packaging was too far gone and the aisle itself was coated in a translucent slime. Ed set the bag down and wiped his hands on his jeans, his face crinkling up with disgust.

"You see any more of those?" Brandon asked, ignoring the filth on the shelf.

Edmond and Hal looked around, meticulously searching the shelves but came up empty-handed.

"I'm going to go check the back, you guys find whatever else we might need and then we'll get back on the road," Edmond said, pointing towards the back of the store.

Brandon asked if he could tag along but Edmond said there was no light back there and it would be easier for one person to go, avoiding the risk of becoming separated in the dark. Hal backed up Edmond's claim, despite Brandon's persistent whining. The boy eventually gave up when he accepted, he was outnumbered. Edmond made his way to the back while Hal and Brandon went off to look for anything they could use to create a makeshift first aid kit.

"Found some bandaids," Brandon said.

Hal was surprised to hear Brandon's voice, considering the boy had stopped speaking to him after Rebecca's death. He couldn't blame him, considering the amount of trauma Brandon must have experienced. No child should have to witness his mother die in such a brutal manner, especially at the hands of their father. Hal shuddered at the memory, the scene replaying in vivid detail. Brandon made his way to the cart tossing a variety of bandages, duct tape, and cord into the basket. Hal made his way to the bottled water, hoping at least a couple of cases were left. An overwhelming stench penetrated his nostrils as he rounded the corner. The smell forced him to lift his shirt over his nose to avoid gagging. That's where he found the body.

The corpse wore a red polo with the logo for Gas N' Go Plus embroidered on the breast pocket. His body appeared to be in the late stages of decomposition and was adhering to the floor. A large hole occupied the area where the man's face should be. The bloody sight made Hal feel troubled. Several other wounds decorated the body. Gashes, broken bones and a mauled abdomen were just some of the few he noticed immediately. Hal found his gaze drifting back towards the man's pulverized face, the hole reminding him of the creatures from the shopping center. Those things would have been more than capable of doing this type of damage. The more Hal looked, the more his nerves began to fail him.

"Something's wrong," Hal said aloud, his voice quivering.

Hal didn't realize Brandon was standing right beside him, the boy's presence spooking him. He turned to look back in the direction Edmond had gone, standing on his tippy toes to see above the racks.

"Edm-." Hal began to say, but his statement was cut short by the sound of gunfire followed by an ear-piercing warble.

Hal cocked the rifle and used his arm to put Brandon behind him, taking cover behind a shelf packed with liter bottles.

"Ed!" Hal shouted, listening for a reply.

Two more shots went off, followed by an inaudible yell from Edmond. Hal stood up and guided Brandon back to the entrance, keeping his rifle poised at the large black double doors near the back of the store. Edmond burst through, his pale blue shirt now drenched in blood.

"Fucking run!" Edmond shouted.

Two clover-shaped heads exploded from the back of the store, warbling and chittering violently as Edmond ran towards Hal at a breakneck pace. Hal let off a flurry of shots, slowing the Mantises but not stopping their wild pursuit. Hal shoved the keys towards Brandon and told him to start the vehicle. Brandon froze, but the next series of gunshots woke the boy from his daze and he sprinted out of the store. Ed let out a scream and nearly lost his balance when one of the talons raked across his back, opening a deep ridge in his flesh. Hal let off another few rounds, nearly hitting Edmond. One of his shots found its mark, boring a hole in the mantis' body, causing it to drop to the floor and contract. Another alien roared, the sound coming from a different section of the store. A larger Mantis, much bigger than the previous two, emerged. Its massive body flailed wildly, sending down a rain of common grocery store goods, shelving, and glass.

Edmond tripped and fell onto his stomach, becoming an easy target for the pursuing Mantis. The creature took full advantage and slammed its talon through Edmond's torso, piercing all the way through and embedding into the floor. Hal screamed unloading the rest of his magazine into the creature, sending bits of purple ooze and alien organs everywhere. Before the creature died, it managed to vomit a vile sludge. The concoction dissolved Edmond's flesh in an instant, revealing his facial bones. Ed’s teeth were visible through his ruined cheek, and the majority of his lips had melted away. He still managed let out a chilling cry, his skeletal face showing signs of profound pain.

"Go!" Edmond managed to shout, despite the damage his body had taken.

Hal reloaded and shot at the final Mantis, doing his best to aim through the tears. The larger Mantis shoved its talon through the dead one, ripping it away with ease. Now that it had its blood meal to itself, it waisted no time in desecrating what remained of Ed’s body. Hal watched as the clover head slid back, revealing a striated brain. The maw opened and its thick tongue worked its way out, the tip resembling an otherworldly starfish. The gross tongue latched onto Edmond's abdomen forcing out another desperate cry. Despite all the damage that had been done to his body, Ed managed to raise the shotgun one last time, placing it directly into the creature's mouth and pulled the trigger. The creature's jaw exploded, sending bits of gore through the air. The Mantis collapsed atop of the mutilated man, crushing his legs.

"Ed?" Hal said, cautiously approaching.

Hal gasped, dropping to his knees. He pulled on his friend to try and free him from beneath the beast. With immense effort, he finally freed Edmond from under the Mantis. His breathing was shallow, and the majority of his face was gone, leaving only a fleshy grin of meat and exposed teeth.

"I'm sorry, I'm so fucking sorry." Hal cried, the tears now flowing rampantly.

Suddenly the Mantis spurred to life, striking out with its talon. The point missed Hal by a hair, causing him to fall backward. The creature pulled itself towards Hal, warbles bubbling through its ruined face. Hal grabbed the rifle and aimed directly into the cavernous mess. Click.

“Shit,” Hal said, reaching for Edmond’s shotgun.

He pulled the gun away just as the beast lunged once more, striking Edmond’s corpse with frightening power. Hal fired the final shell into the alien, ripping the clover head from its armored shoulders. Fluid spewed from the wound, painting the floor a disgusting purple hue. Hal gagged, doing his best to keep his composure while the monstrosity deteriorated into a sludge.

Hal tucked the shotgun and prayed to whatever god was willing to listen. He hoped that Ed and Rebecca had found each other in an afterlife devoid of all this shit. There was no time to bury the man responsible for raising his son over the last several years. A man Hal now considered a dear friend. A man gone too soon. He felt he should have done more. He felt it should have been him. The tears flowed until there was nothing left. Hal wiped his nose with the sleeve of his jacket and brought himself to his feet.

***

Brandon waited and waited, his nerves becoming tense with each passing minute. Shots rang out, one after the other, as he sat in the idling vehicle. What if they both die? The thought made Brandon feel uneasy. After what felt like an eternity, Brandon spotted Hal emerging from the store. He looked directly at his father, who stared blankly from parking lot. No words were needed. When Hal returned without Ed, Brandon knew that things had gone awry. Hal entered through the driver’s side door and sat, saying nothing. Brandon waited for his dad to speak, but no words ever came. In the span of two weeks, Brandon had lost his mother and the only consistent male figure he'd known. The man sitting beside him as they drove out of the parking lot was his father, but in the same respect, also a complete stranger. He wanted to cry but his body had used up all its tears. That’s one thing the two of them seemed to have in common. Brandon felt guilty for the hate he projected onto his father and tried to say something. Anything. Still nothing came, and part of him felt it was for the best. Brandon was afraid if he opened his mouth to speak, he would just scream forever until his vocal cords bled. Only the quiet remained as they drove off into the unknown.

***

Hal drove and drove, unsure of where to go. He knew they could not stay in Elm. The Mantis must have had a nest nearby, and he didn’t want to be around when they found their murdered friends. Eventually, his vision started failing him as he drifted into a waking sleep. He forced himself to stay up by delivering some hard slaps to his face. It worked momentarily. Just before he started losing the battle to sleep, the high beams illuminated a sign in the distance. Rest stop. 4 miles, exit 94.

"Perfect," Hal muttered, catching a second wind as he approached the turn-off. The vehicle stilled at the rest station, puttering in idle. Hal made his way to the trunk to grab dinner from their dwindling rations. A can of beer rolled out from one of the duffles, catching his eye. It clinked off the wall of the sheriff's vehicle, making a quiet clang. The can stared mockingly at him, beckoning him to pop the tab and alleviate his sorrows. Before he knew it, the can was in his hand, slowly making its way into the pocket of his jacket. Hal closed the door, looking over at Brandon who slept peacefully in the passenger seat. He made his way over to covered benches and sat down. Looking up at the stars, he saw a faint orange glow in the dark sky. Too exhausted to care, he ignored it and ate his meal. Hal knew sitting outside after nightfall was a risk, but he felt trapped and needed a moment to decompress.

The coolness of the beer can against his waist, continued to antagonize him. The little voice in his head joined in on patronizing him relentlessly. Just one drink Hal, take a little off the top, I know you want to. Come on Hally boy, a little tinsy-weensie sip. Hal nearly caved when he felt a warm presence within himself. A feeling of profound comfort. Images of Rebecca, Brandon, and Ed passed through his mind, the memories of their kindness nearly bringing him to tears. Hal tipped the can over and watched the amber liquid pool near his feet. Looking back towards Brandon, he saw the boy shuffling in the passenger seat, adjusting his cover. A half smile formed along Hal’s face, as he came to the realization, he was making the right choice in continuing his sobriety. His son needed him more than ever now. The weight of the world came crashing down around them and all they had now was each other. He's lost his mother. He’s lost Ed. Hal refused to be another loss in Brandon's story. He crawled into the SUV and quietly closed the door. Hal stared at Brandon for a long while before whispering I love you. Closing his eyes and finally allowing sleep to take him.

To Be Continued…