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they disappeared. He had
no idea where they went. None of this made sense.
    It doesn’t
make sense unless those weird dreams I have aren’t dreams , Gideon thought, heart
in his throat. Unless those dreams are truly
memories… He thought of the sand towers and the lights in a desert that
didn’t exist on Earth. The feeling of unutterable sadness when his mother
kissed him goodbye, black armor shifting around her neck to cover her face. Her
shouting… No. Now is not the time for a
flashback of something that doesn’t exist. Gideon forced himself to
concentrate on the here and now.
    Theo caught his attention. What the fuck, aliens? he mouthed and
Gideon touched his fingers to his mouth— no
talking. Theo nodded. They began to move across the parking lot, quiet and
careful.
    I really don’t want those things to
see us, Gideon thought, trying to wrap his brain around the idea that there were aliens
on Earth. At one point, they had to stop and crouch behind a car when one of
the creatures grabbed a body not five feet from them. Gideon’s heart pounded so
hard he was sure the thing would hear, but instead it simply lifted the body,
scales sliding over its limbs as it moved. A dark airborne vehicle swept them
up. All of this was accomplished in near silence.
    Gideon stared at the empty spot on
the ground. What the hell had he just seen? He didn’t have time to speculate.
Theo was already moving again, toward his truck, thankfully one of the few left
untouched in the devastation.
    You mean somewhat untouched, he thought wryly as he
unlocked the door and opened it. There was a huge gouge down the side panel and
the bed of the truck had been dented somehow, as if a giant hand had punched
it. Even so, it was upright and all the tires seemed fine. He scrambled inside,
dragging Bea behind him. Theo slid in and eased the door shut, wincing as he
settled himself.
    “I still can’t believe you drove my
truck to pick me up. You hate this truck. What’s wrong with your car?” Theo
bitched.
    Gideon sighed. “It’s in the shop,
remember?”
    “Are you okay?” Bea asked, glancing
down at Theo’s groin.
    Gideon remembered Theo’s wound and
looked too, but it was too dark to see anything.
    “I’m fine. Just sore,” Theo
replied, handing Gideon the gun in exchange for the keys. “The anesthetic’s
wearing off.”
    Bea frowned, the eerie light from
the burning hospital casting shadows on her face. “I’d feel better if I could
check it,” she murmured, then glanced at the hospital. Her expression went from
concerned to blank.
    Gideon understood. All her
coworkers were probably dead and she knew it. The fire was too extensive for
hope. “I’m sorry,” he said, still not quite able to believe what was happening.
    She swallowed, but didn’t look at
him. “Yeah, me too.”
    “Is there anyone waiting at home
for you?” Theo asked, hand poised over the keys. “We could drop you off—”
    She laughed harshly. “No. My sister
died years ago. My older brother is in the military. Overseas.” She stared out
the window. “He’s likely dead, given the scale of this, this…” She trailed off,
clearly unable to describe the devastation.
    Gideon clasped her hand,
understanding completely. “I’m alone, too,” he said. “Grew up in foster homes.”
    She smiled grimly at him. “We’re
all orphans now.”
    Theo started the car. “The hell we
are. I need to check on Ivy and then find my sister.”
    “Shit, I’m sorry,” Gideon said,
feeling terrible.
    “Don’t be sorry. I’m taking you
both with me,” Theo said, pulling out and weaving around the debris on the
ground.
    “Who is Ivy?” Bea asked.
    “My niece. She’s fourteen. I moved
in with my sister, Ella, after her husband died a few years ago.” Theo drove
slowly, careful not to run over anything that might make a lot of noise.
    Gideon prayed the sound of the
truck wouldn’t bring any aliens. Not like we have any choice, he mused,
looking at the uprooted