Alright! So I quickly posted a prologue to this fanfic in what was kind-of a rush, and I had to actually sort out a storyline of what would actually happen after the big cliffhanger event. I'm happy to say I have the plot fully planned out as far as chapter 7! I wasn't sure when I started to write the story what rating it would need to be so I gave it a mature rating just in case. Now, And I know how the entire overall story is going to go. Now that I actually know whats going to happen in the story, I can remove the mature rating. In comparison to the prologue, I am much more satisfied with my writing than the intro. I hope you enjoy the first chapter as much as I enjoyed writing it.

Also, here's a short character list that might help spark memories.

Joe Lamb -The main character

Jackson Lamb- Joe's Dad

Alice Dainard -The main girl

Louis Dainard-Alice's Dad

Cary- The pyro kid

Charles- The director kid

Martin - The 'dumb' kid who got hurt

Preston - The fearful kid who stayed at the evacuation.

Chapter One: EMP

A sense of elation filled Joe Lamb as the massive alien craft began its ascension into the sky. He felt his father's arm draped over his shoulder and Alice's hand enclosed in his. He felt full, and holding Alice's hand was enough assurance that something was right. It just felt right. At the same time, he had never felt so close to his father before. They finally shared something, an experience, the experience of witnessing the first encounter of alien life and the final moments of its time on Earth. His dad was here for him, Joe could feel it, and he finally understood Joe for the first time since either of them could remember.

Jackson did not watch the space ship once the initial lift-off commenced. Instead he looked down to his son, whose eyes shone due to the reflection of the bright blue unnatural light of the alien's ship rising up into the sky. God I love him so much, he thought, he may not know it, but I love him more than anything in the world. But thoughts of regret plagued his mind. He had a duty to fulfill to the town. He had to get to the bottom of the mystery of the train crash but in the process he neglected his son at a time he really needed. If I had just listened to him before, all my answers of what was going on in the town would have been answered. Preston showed me the video at the train crash. So he knew what happened there. He got here before me and somehow found Alice. Meanwhile, I still feel like I have no idea what's going on while my son seems to comprehend everything that's occurring. I could have lost him…

The craft began to gain speed, rising higher in the atmosphere as its brilliant light refracted in all directions. Joe felt Alice squeeze his hand. All that occurred that day flashed by at the speed of light. So much had happened: the evacuation, discovering Alice was gone, sneaking out of the Air Force base, solving the mystery behind the monster, dodging the mass firepower, Charles helping out Martin. Oh my God! I forgot about Martin! We have to get him to a doctor. Maybe the Air Force could help. Wait… no. Joe looked at the military forces around him. Earlier they captured them and were possibly going to kill them! He couldn't go to them. A sense of dread filled Joe as he began to wonder what exactly was going to happen after the ship was gone and the military noticed the group of civilians clutching hands amongst them. Joe noticed his father must have been thinking the same thing because Jackson tapped Louis and Alice and turned to Cary mouthing the words "let's go" before slowly sneaking the group away.

They didn't make it far though as all the streetlights suddenly burst, followed shortly by a massive boom that knocked everyone down. Everywhere, sparks jumped and sputtered as every electric machine remaining in the town died. Joe looked up dazed to see the bright blue light of the alien space craft black out, followed immediately by the craft's decent. It was going to crash! After all this, Joe thought, it's still not going to escape.

Joe was immediately yanked up by the collar by his dad who shouted, "We have to go, now!" Joe quickly found his feet and began to run alongside Alice as his father shouted directions from behind them. He was quickly drowned out by the deafening sound of the ship crashing into the ground and the consequent raining of metal debris from the sky. Why do I have to dodge explosions all the time, Joe wondered as the crushed remnants of an alien transformed washing machine whizzed over his head into a nearby house, sending splinters of wood crashing over them. Joe shielded his eyes and uncovered them in time to see what used to be a frying pan glance off of Cary's head. Cary immediately went limp and tumbled to the ground like a sack of potatoes. Alice's father swooped down mid-stride and hoisted Cary over his shoulder all in one swift motion while maintaining all of his previous momentum. Joe found himself running behind them, watching Cary's head bob up and down, this way and that. It flopped around in such a disturbing fashion that Joe sprinted to run by Louis' side so he did not have to see his friend's seemingly lifeless body in such a way.

Finally the raining debris ceased and the group managed to jog a safe distance away from the crash zone. There, they spied an nearby house they could enter through a broken doorway. Louis carefully set Cary onto the ground and Jackson did a quick check of his vitals.

"He seems like he's going to be ok. But he probably has a concussion", Jackson announced.

Everyone seemed to relax a little and Louis gave a half smile of relief before his eyebrows furrowed. "Why did they shoot it down? I bet it just wanted to get away," he said.

"That is all it wanted to do," Joe replied, drawing his father's attention.

"How do you know so much about it?" Jackson asked, his mind clearly concocting a plan.

"We, uh, found Mr. Woodward's research in the school."

"So is the research there?"

"No, they confiscated it." Joe said, "But I think it's on the bus they were transporting us back in."

Jackson nodded and he seemed to come to a conclusion. "Alright, I'm going to go and find as much of that research as possible. I think the people will want to know what happened to the people who went missing and why all their homes are gone."

The others all nodded in agreement, believing it was the right thing to do.

"Joe, you and Alice stay here with Cary. I don't want you guys running around with that thing still out there. Just lie low until he wakes up. Me and Mr. Dainard will probably be back by then. Ok?"

Joe looked at his feet and nodded his head, causing Jackson to bend down and embrace his son, telling him, "I'll be back before you know it," before the two fathers quickly left.

Joe looked to the side and gave a half smile to Alice, who slumped down to the floor. Joe sat down a few feet away. The two sat in silence, occasionally stealing glances at one another and quickly looking away in an effort to keep the other from noticing. Cary was still unconscious on the ground on the other side of the room.

Alice was the one who finally broke the silence, softly saying, "Thanks for coming back for me Joe." Joe smiled briefly at the comment before awkwardly returning to an emotionless face.

"I'm sure anyone else would have done the same. I, uh, I just was the one to find out about it", Joe blushed, giving another brief smile as well as a shrug, averting his gaze from her face, her smile, her lips. Alice scooted a bit closer, and touched his arm saying, "you don't understand, I really glad you came back for me." She paused. "I was scared. But as soon as you were there, I wasn't."

Joe felt his arm tingle where she touched him as goose bumps erupted. He looked up into her eyes. They were shining and looked as though she could see past his eyes and read his thoughts. Joe knew what he wanted to do, but it seemed crazy. No. I can't possibly do that, she's too perfect, she wouldn't want to, he thought. But then he remembered what Charles said back in his house during what seemed like ages ago, 'the thing is, I can tell she likes you too'.

But does she really? Joe thought, it seemed impossible, but he realized that if she didn't like him this could possibly be his only chance. After a short mental battle, Joe finally made up his mind as he began to slowly lean forward, consistently reminding himself of what Charles said. She likes you too. She likes you too. She likes you too. She likes you too. Joe continued to slowly lean forward, it felt like everything was moving in slow motion and he could feel every nerve in his body in some sort of heightened state of awareness. Alice continued to stare into his eyes. Oh why do they have to see into my soul? She rubbed her lips together as one would do after applying lip balm, causing Joe's mind to go into a frenzy. Is she preparing to kiss me? She couldn't be preparing to kiss me. My God! I think she's going to let me kiss her! Joe could not believe how close he was getting to Alice without actually touching her. Finally, he closed his eyes and felt their noses softly brush past one another. He was right there.

"Where am I?" a voice moaned, causing Alice and Joe to whip away from one another to look at Cary, who slowly propped himself up and turned to look at Joe and Alice, his eyes blinking furiously, trying to establish their focus.

"What happened?" He asked groggily.

"You were hit in the head with a piece of the space ship," Alice responded swiftly, looking down while twiddling her thumbs.

"Cool!"

"But it was a frying pan."

"Awww man."

I was so close, Joe thought, I was so close but I didn't get to do it! Joe glanced angrily at Cory for a moment for spoiling the mood but then softened, realizing that Alice was going to kiss him. She was going to do it! She wanted to kiss him! Joe's heart did a leap of joy as a smile curled from his mouth. He was still sad that he didn't get to kiss her, but the knowledge of knowing she would kiss back kind-of makes up for it.

"Hey, do you think you can walk?" Joe asked, causing Alice to look at him in alarm.

"Yeah, I think I'm ok," Cary replied.

"Ok, we have some unfinished business," Joe said.

"What is it?" Alice asked apprehensively.

"We have to find Charles and Martin."

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