Chapter Six: Rats in the Kitchen

"Does it hurt?" Michael asked.

Maria groaned and rolled her eyes. He had been asking her that ever since they had left the Crash Down, and he hadn't left her sight since and it was extremely annoying.

"For the last time it only hurts if you touch it." Maria said.

"You should have had Max heal it." Michael said.

"You don't even know if you can heal it since I got it in a dream and again when you touch it, it hurts." Maria said.

"Fine but you're not staying alone tonight." Michael said.

"I'm a big girl I can take care of myself. And how did you know my mom wasn't home I didn't tell you that." Maria said accusingly.

"You're kidding right?" Michael asked. "It would take an idiot not to know about the huge alien merchandise convention. Even Kyle's dad had to go because they thought they might need police protection." He shrugged at the last comment.

Maria looked at him accusingly for a second then turned away.

"You're still not staying alone tonight." Michael said.

"I'll be fine." Maria said.

"I still think you should stay with me or Liz." Michael said.

4 A.M.

"What are you doing here?" Michael yawned opening the door and seeing Maria standing there.

"I had another nightmare. And Liz's is too far." Maria said brushing past Michael.

Michael closed the door and locked it.

"I'm taking the bed and you're staying on the couch." Maria said.

5 A.M.

Maria turned around and saw it. "What do you want with me?" She asked. "You'll find out soon enough." It growled. It moved close to her so his mouth was inches away from her ears. "Just remember. If you do anything to mess up my plan, I'll kill them all." She saw images of Liz, Alex, Michael, Kyle, Isabel, Max, and Tess all around her. "No matter what they can do."

Maria woke up with a start. Her cloths were drenched in her sweat. Her breath was huffed and made her sound like she was hyperventilating. Her throat felt dry. She got up and went into the kitchen without waking up Michael. She went to the refrigerator and got something to drink. Just as she was pouring something in her glass she heard something. It was almost like a scratching on the floor. She turned around and saw nothing. She drank from the glass and heard it again, but this time it was almost in multiple and it was so much louder. She turned around, and then saw them. They had the same eyes as It. There were almost fifty of them maybe even more. Maria dropped her glass then called Michael. Because in the kitchen running up to her were rats and they were about to get her.

Tess rubbed the sleep from her eyes. Something had woken her up, but she had no idea what. She got up and was about to open Kyle's door when he opened it himself. "Did you hear that?" She asked. "Yeah what was that?" Kyle said then yawned. They both heard the loud cawing of a bird. They both walked over to the see through sliding doors. Something flew by the window. "Oh my God. Was that a vulture?" Tess asked. "I don't know is that the one that flies around dead bodies while they are decomposing?" Kyle asked. Tess didn't answer instead they looked at each other and seemed to reach a silent understanding. Kyle opened the door and Tess slowly moved behind him and she turned on the light as she passed the switch. The vultures flew around their back yard mainly encircling one specific area. Tess lifted her palm towards them and they all moved away. Tess covered her mouth and Kyle gasped as they saw the terrible sight before them. Where the birds had been encircling was a dead body of a teenage boy, a teenage boy who had gone to their school. But, the most disturbing thing was that his body was covered in blood and his arm was separated from his body. And next to him drawn in blood was the word MARIA. As soon as Tess and Kyle had both read it, it disappeared, without any trace that it had been there.

Michael ran into the kitchen after hearing Maria's call. "What is it…" Michael's voice trailed off as he saw the rats scurrying towards them. "I don't think we should stay here." Maria said shaking her head. Michael grabbed Maria's hand and ran out of the kitchen slamming the door behind them. Michael let go of Maria and grabbed the phone. He dialed Max's number almost five times before he heard a pounding at the door. "Michael, I think they're breaking down the door." Maria said. Suddenly the door jerked off the hinges and the rats came barging in. Michael stuck out his hand towards them as Maria ran behind him. "What are you waiting for do something!" Maria yelled hysterically. "I am its not working!" He yelled back. Maria and Michael ran out of the apartment as fast as possible.