Chapter 8:

Twenty Years Ago. Upstate New York.

Jack stepped into a classroom. Students walked past him, heading toward their seats. One girl sat on top of her desk, talking to two of her friends. A few guys sat in the corner, cracking jokes and looking at the girls. The teacher brushed past Jack and moved over to the blackboard. He dropped his briefcase onto the chair and looked at the clock on the wall. Class was almost set to begin.

"So, this is school, huh?" Jack grinned, looking around the classroom and at the people near him.

"Yeah, I tried this new apple juice, and it was organic. And it was sweet, but there was no sugar added. And you would think that it would be bitter, but it was sweet. But there was no sugar added," the girl sitting on her desk said to her friends.

"And now I'm in Clueless." Jack shook his head.

"Lia!"

Jack jumped. A young Lia walked past him. She hurried over to her friend waving to her. She took her seat near the window. She was smiling, and Jack couldn't remember seeing Lia smile like that since he met her. She was happy.

"What are you so happy about?" Lia's friend laughed.

"He said yes," Lia exclaimed.

"Tommy?"

Lia blushed, looking at one of the boys in front of the room. "No. He didn't ask me to prom. Yet." She looked at Tommy, and he smiled at her. She blushed again. "My father. He said yes to the party."

"Lia, your father doesn't say yes to anything unless he gets something in return. What did you give him?"

Jack edged closer. Lia was practically glowing. She was still smiling. What happened to her that made her into the person that he knew?

"Okay, Jamie. You got me. I agreed to find a job."

"Lia."

"I know, but I want this party. It's my party, and you only turn eighteen once."

"Lia, we could go out and do something for your birthday," Jamie said.

"I know, but I wanted to throw a party. And he said yes."

"So, you're going to work during the summer then?" Jamie watched Lia turn away. "Oh, Lia. How soon?"

"After the party," Lia said.

"Great, so you'll smell like burgers like your brother?"

"No. I am not flipping burgers. I'll work in the mall or something."

The teacher cleared his throat. Lia realized that everyone was staring at her. She sunk back into her seat. "Sorry," she said to the teacher.

"I know you don't care for history, Lia, but you really need to pay attention." The teacher moved away from her. "Unless you want to keep your D," and the other students laughed.

"Sorry, Mr. Schneider," Lia said, sitting up in her seat.

"What a dick," Jack said. He knelt down beside Lia. "What happened to you?"

After class, Lia quickly reached into her school bag. She pulled out the invites. She gave one to Jamie. She raced over to Tommy and handed him one. He took the invite from her but not before touching her hand for a long moment. Lia smiled and gave out more invites.

"How many people are you inviting," Jamie asked her as they stepped out into the hallway. "Oh, don't look now, but your stalker is behind us."

Lia turned around. There was Wilson Donalds standing behind her. His black, curls hung around his chin. His face cratered. He always wore all black. He stared at the invites in her hand.

"You're having a party?"

"Don't be too excited. You're not invited," Jamie said, stepping in front of Lia.

"So, can I come?" Wilson focused on Lia. "I would like to go to your party."

"No," Lia said. She watched Wilson frown. He looked like a dog that had been kicked. "I'm sorry." She moved away from him.

"Please, Lia," Wilson said. "I would love to come to your party."

"Lia, don't. It's a bad idea. Ever since his family moved here a year ago, he's been following you around. Don't do it." Jamie pulled Lia away.

"But did you see the look on his face when I said, no?"

"Lia, as your friend, I'm telling you not to do what I know you're already thinking."

"Come on, Jamie. It's just a party. What's the worst thing that can happen?" Lia ran back to Wilson and gave him an invite. "I swear if you do anything, my brother will kick your ass. Got it?"

"Got it. See you this weekend." He smiled, and Lia did not like his smile.

"That was a mistake," Jamie said.

"Come on. We're going to be late for our next class."

"What? English? Please. You are the teacher's pet."

"And don't you forget it."

Jack watched Lia and Jamie disappear down the hall. He turned to look at Wilson. Something felt off about him. He started to follow Wilson when the hallway blurred. He stumbled, falling against the wall, which turned into a locker.

Someone was shouting. It was Jamie. Her clothes were different, so was Lia's. They were yelling at each other. On Jamie's locker was a word written in red lipstick. SLUT.

"How could you write that? I trusted you, Lia," Jamie cried.

"That wasn't me, Jamie. I didn't write that on your locker."

"You were the only one that knew that I slept with him."

Students gathered around. They looked from Jamie to Lia. Tommy pushed his way through. In the back was Wilson, and he was smiling. Lia saw him and pointed at him.

"He did it. He was outside the bathroom at my party when we were talking. He overheard us."

"Look in your bag, Lia."

"What?"

"Your bag. Give me your bag." Jamie grabbed the school bag away from Lia. She tore it open. She pulled out the red lipstick.

"That's not mine. I didn't put that in there, and I don't wear lipstick. You know that."

"So, what? You told him to do it, and then he gave you the lipstick?"

"Jamie, I would never do anything like this. Never. You're my best friend."

Jamie dropped the school bag. She threw the lip stick at Lia. "We were best friends, Lia. We were until you did this. This! I don't want anything to do with you. I told you that it was a bad idea inviting him to your party, and you're responsible for this."

"What's going on here? Break it up." A teacher pushed his way through the students circling Lia and Jamie. "Is there a problem here?"

"No," Jamie said. "I'm done with her. We're done, Lia."

"Jamie."

"You heard her, Lia." Tommy led Jamie away from her.

"Tommy. What about prom?"

"Are you kidding me?" Tommy disappeared into the crowd with Jamie.

"Did you do this?" The teacher picked up the red lipstick and looked at Lia. "Let's go. Principal's office. Right now."

"I didn't do it," Lia yelled at the teacher.

"Now, Lia. Principal's office." The teacher grabbed her by the arm and led her down the hall.

"You did this!" Lia glared at Wilson. "Stop smiling, you freak. I hate you!"

Wilson smiled as the teacher pulled Lia further down the hall. The other students ignored him. Jack stepped closer. He continued to smile.

"Why," Jack asked. "Why did you do that? Why did you push her friends away?"

The hallway blurred again. Jack fell to the ground. Everything flashed white. Grass touched his hand. He stood up and realized that he was outside. Behind him was a fast food restaurant.

"Where are you," Lia said into her cell phone. "You were supposed to pick me up."

"It's not my fault that you failed your driving test. Twice." Her brother laughed on the other end of the phone.

"You're high right now. Aren't you? Where's Mom and Dad?"

"Dad's working, and Mom is out doing whatever. You want me to come and pick you up?"

"No. Not if you're high. I'll walk. Never mind."

"It's a long walk, Lia."

"Like you care, Matt. You're unbelievable."

"Well, you're the one that lost her friends. Biggest loser in school."

"Fuck you!" Lia hung up her phone. "Fuck!" A couple walked out of the fast food restaurant and glared at her. "Sorry." Lia looked behind her and saw the manager inside was staring at her. "Sorry," she said again. "Fucking unbelievable. Lazy high piece of shit."

"Kiss your mother with that mouth?" Jack walked beside her. "So, you're really going to walk home from here?"

Lia crossed the street. A car turned, narrowly missing her. They honked, and she flipped them off. She continued to walk, and Jack followed her.

Lia stopped walking. She looked around. She felt like she was being followed. She took a few steps forward. She spun around. There he was. Wilson Donalds.

Before Lia could say or do anything, a loud sound filled the air. Lia's shirt felt wet. She looked down and saw blood. She looked up and saw the gun in his hand. She watched him raise the gun toward her, but a man across the street ran by with his dog. And Wilson Donalds tucked his gun under his shirt and hurried away.

Lia fell towards the ground. Jack tried to catch her, but she fell through his arms. She touched her shirt. She stared at the red on her hand. She tried to speak, call for help, but she couldn't. She coughed up blood.

"Help," Jack screamed. "Someone, help! Help her!" Jack saw a man standing nearby, using his cell phone. "Okay. Okay, Lia. He's calling for help. Just hold on. Please." Jack watched the man glance at Lia. He placed the phone against his ear and laughed. He walked away. "Are you kidding me?" He looked back at Lia. "Lia? Lia, stay with me. Someone, someone with a fucking spine will come help you. Come on, Lia. Come on." Lia closed her eyes. "Lia. Lia? Come on, Lia. Stay with me!"

A jolt of electricity sent Jack flying backward. He landed on the ground. He looked up and saw Lia sit forward. She gasped, clawing at her shirt. The bullet hole in her chest closed. She looked around. Her eyes were dark gray.

"Oh my God. Are you okay? Henry, call for help!" An older woman said to her husband as she hurried over to Lia. "Don't move. Help's on the way. Your eyes…"

Lia's eyes turned normal. "He shot me," she cried. "He tried to kill me." She burst into tears.

"He did kill you." Jack stood up from the ground. "You were dead, Lia, but that alien inside of you saved you. You just don't know it." He stepped closer to Lia. "It's keeping you alive, and that's why the aliens want you."

…

Present Day. Cardiff.

Inside the silver orb spaceship, the seven-foot being dressed in silver with a sphere helmet sat on a gray slab. Its head moved back. Its body divided into two more beings. They moved toward a panel that flickered and melted into a screen. They stared at Lia and Jack.

"We found them," one being said.

"Time to collect," said the second.

"Not yet," the third stated. "Activate the Scouts. All of them."

"What about them," the first asked.

"We have their location," said the second.

"Set the beacon. They'll come to us."

"If they don't," the first and second asked.

"Then, she dies."

The beings merged into one. The panel flickered back into a wall. The seven-foot being moved away and sat on the gray slab. It leaned forward. A hint of a smile stretched across its metal face.