Read The Alien for Free Online

“We’ll see you later, Cassie. Time for first —”
    Just then, a terrible, mind-shattering sound!
    BBBBBRRRRRRRIIIIINNNNNGGGG!
    I spun around. I raised my human arms, ready to use them for defense. I wished I had my tail. It’s a terrible thing to be without a tail in a fight. But I was ready to do the best I could with my human body.
    â€œAx! I mean, Phillip. Relax.”
    BBBBBBBRRRRRRIIIIIIINNNNNGGGG!
    â€œThat noise!” I cried. “What kind of beast is it?”
    â€œAx, it’s just the bell for first period,” Jake said. “Take it easy. People are staring.”
    â€œIt’s not a threat?”
    â€œNo. It’s not a threat. It’s depressing, but not dangerous.”
    I followed Prince Jake as he led the way down the hall. It was difficult to forget the horrible noise. When humans are threatened their bodies are flooded with a chemical that makes them hyperalert, fearful, and aggressive. The chemical is called adrenaline. My system was now flooded with adrenaline. It was very distracting.
    We entered one of the large doors. Inside were approximately thirty humans arranged in small, confining seats. At the front of the room was a large table. An older human stood there.
    â€œEveryone, get to your seats,” the older human said.
    Prince Jake said, “Mr. Pardue? This is my cousin from out of town. His name’s Phillip. He’s just hanging with me today, okay?”
    â€œJust sit. Sit. Be quiet and sit.”
    I could tell from Prince Jake’s facial expression that he was troubled. He took my arm and led me to the back of the room.
    â€œTake that desk,” Prince Jake said.
    â€œTake it where? Wheh-err? Where?”
    â€œI mean sit in it.”
    I understood sitting. I was getting pretty good at passing for human.
    Once, for two days I had to morph Prince Jake and pretend to be him. I was successful in fooling his parents and brother. Although I later learned that his parents believed “he” had become mentally ill. When the real Prince Jake returned, they took him to see a doctor.
    â€œSitting in this desk is unpleasant,” I said.
    â€œYou got that right, dude,” a human I didn’t know said.
    â€œWhat is going on back there? Quiet down,” the teacher demanded loudly. “What is . . . what . . . wha . . .” Suddenly he clutched at his head with both hands. “Everyone be quiet! Quiet!”
    Now Prince Jake looked very troubled. “Mr. Pardue, are you okay?”
    All the other humans stared at the teacher, too. Everyone was very quiet.
    â€œOkay?” Mr. Pardue demanded in a loud, angry voice. “Am I okay? Am I — aaaaahhhhh!”
    Without warning, Mr. Pardue pitched forward. He fell on the floor. He clawed at his head with his hands.
    And he cried. “Yeerk! Get out of me!”
    He clawed at his head till blood began to flow.

A aaaaarrrggghhh!” the teacher cried as he clawed at his head.
    One of the humans began screaming. “What’s happening?! What’s happening?!”
    Someone else ran from the room into the hallway and began to shout, “Help! Help! Help!”
    Prince Jake and I sat very still, side by side in the back of the room.
    â€œStop damaging our body!” Mr. Pardue cried. Then, as if he were answering himself, he said in a slurred voice, “Get out my head! Get out of my head! You’re finished!”
    Prince Jake’s gaze met my own. We both knew what was happening.
    â€œThat makes two,” Prince Jake whispered.
    â€œTwo that we’ve seen. Something is going wrong for . . . for them.”
    Mr. Pardue began crying. He began cursing. All the while he writhed on the floor, and the other humans stood around horrified, helpless.
    â€œDid you know this teacher was a Controller?” I asked Prince Jake, making my voice very quiet.
    â€œNo. He always seemed like a nice guy. I can’t just sit here and watch