The dim light showed the fear lingering on everyone's face. If it weren't for the holes in the side of the semi everyone could linger in their own terror but the other faces brought you into a thought that you were more alone than ever before. No one made eye contact. No one said a word.

The ride was not comfortable. The 30 people cramped into the 25 by 8 foot space did not leave much room. However the reason was worth it. We were running from the Combine to freedom. Never again would we take the abuse we had to face daily, or so we believed. We were a diverse bunch from many countries yet we were members of one nation. We were strangers but siblings all the same.

The holes in the truck revealed nothing but the flickering light of a tunnel, signaling that we were almost there. The excitement bubbled inside me but I kept silent. Everyone kept silent. The truck stopped and the back opened.

"You got a lot this run," A woman said, "good last group." She grabbed the man nearest to the door's hand and pulled him out of the truck. "Welcome to Black Mesa East."

Black Mesa. That accursed place is where I would spend permanent residence. The irony of the situation was too great to handle. You see, Black Mesa is why we have the Combine. At that, no this accursed place the aliens came. Spread like a plague and forced earth to its knees. Now hundreds of zombie-like things roam the streets of the old cities controlled by aliens we have nicknamed "head crabs" due to their size and look.

I was pulled from the truck and received the greeting those before had also received.

"The scanning room is just at the end of the tunnel. Just follow the others." The woman said. I just rubbed my brown eyes and walked down the tunnel. As I opened the door I wondered if it was worth it. All the trouble caused here. Who knows if trouble would come back? How long will I live? I realized that I had not let go any of my old fear. It would be there to haunt me and torment my dreams.

I walked through the airlock they called a door and waited to be examined. A small security pad sat on a wall at the other side of the room. I walked up to it and looked into the black screen. Suddenly it flickered into life and an old woman looked at me and smiled.

"Hello my name is Anna. Welcome to Black Mesa. Can you tell me your name?" The woman said in a sincerely sweet voice, "or do you want to wait?"

I stood silently for a second and asked fearfully, "are they gone?" My childish fear showed on my face.

"I'm sorry, I'm not sure if I understand you. Can you explain what you just said?" She said ignoring the fearful look on my face. I was embarrassed. At 43 such a childlike fear is not a common thing.

"Did you get rid of the aliens?" My voice had an almost whiney feel to it. I knew it was a silly thought. They wouldn't bring me here if there were still head crabs crawling around.

"Yes. This place is alien free. In fact we have never had an alien here," the woman said in a motherly voice.

I knew this to be a lie. "Bullshit," I said forcefully, keeping the trace of that whine.

She smiled widely despite my vulgarity and said, "I think you have us mistaken with Black Mesa West. That us where the aliens originated from. You're safe here."

I smiled and told her my name and told her that before the invasion I programmed a computer as if that would help anymore. She just told me I could go in now. I walked down a brightly corridor to the address that would now serve as my home.

As I pulled open the door I was greeted by an unsuspected roommate. He was an American and was listening to what was probably rock and roll. I looked up and around the room and saw a bare but comfortable room with a couple doors on either side. I returned the Americans greeting and headed to the room marked "Beds". Although there were about 5 other occupied beds but it didn't matter to me. I was too tired to care.