"We interrupt your regular scheduled programming to bring you breaking news," the newscaster explains as the lights shine on her face. Still in disbelief, she reads the teleprompter as she addresses the citizens. Her eyes are wide as she tries to stare into the camera and ignore the large photo projected onto the green screen behind her. Never in her seventeen-year career did she ever think that she would be breaking this story.

Her counterpart fidgets in his seat next to her, also focusing on the lens in front of him. They take a dramatic pause before she continues. She falters as she reads the words before repeating them. Surely this was a prank pulled by the studio.

"An unknown object has been seen flying across the city landscape. Witnesses describe the craft as a large spiral shell with tendrils spilling from the craft. Reports show that the tendrils have been lethal, disintegrating people as they pass over," the host explains, unable to keep her voice steady. Stealing a glance, she can see the photo taken of the craft. She blinks only once as she swallows, hoping her horror isn't evident. "It appeared from what locals are describing as a black spinning cloud."

"The craft flew over the city for a mere thirteen minutes before disappearing again before the public's eyes," her partner continued, holding his hands together in front of him. "We have some first-hand footage of the incident, but we warn you. These images are disturbing, and discretion is advised."

~A~

The smell was the first thing Piper noticed when she began to come back to her senses. She could smell a certain acidity in the air combined with a strong metallic scent that turned her stomach. She opened her eyes slowly, forcing herself to wake as she remembered the panic. She had been on her way to work when she heard screaming. She stopped walking as people around her stared up at the sky while others were running. The memory of seeing what she could only think of as an organic spaceship hovering over shot her body into action.

Her arms slammed against something hard and sturdy as she realized that she was trapped. What she could only describe as metallic ribs caged her in with her wrists and ankles secure against the wall behind her. Piper blinked rapidly as her sight became clearer and her panic rose. She was in a room surrounded by similar bone pods with other people in them. They were still asleep from what she could tell, and she wished that she hadn't woken up to this nightmare.

The wall across from her hissed as a circular opening formed, and she shrieked as she saw a purple alien with tentacles on its face float into the room. It was unphased as it continued to the strange bud in the center of the circle. Piper struggled as her voice broke into a sob. The bud flowered, revealing more of the acidic smell. The creature reached in and pulled out a white worm, letting it crawl around its hand.

"Please please please please," Piper begged as the alien drew near. As it reached out to her with the worm on its finger, the metal ribs around her face parted for better access. She turned her head to look away from the monster, but she felt a pull as if her head was attached to a string. The creature made her face it, bringing the worm to her eye.

Piper shook her head as she felt the slimy coolness climb closer to her eye, but the worm wouldn't fall off. It reached her eye and pulled the eyelids open. Piper screamed again as the worm pushed itself passed her eye and into her skull. The pain was instant as she felt the worm crawl around underneath her forehead before the pain was gone.

Her sobs grew as the metal closed around her again and the creature went to the next victim. Piper pleaded with the alien as she was forced to experience the others wake up to the same horrors she witnessed. She heard several different languages, none of which she could place, as they shouted and screamed.

Eventually the alien had finished as Piper started to feel drowsy, spiking her terror. She wanted to stay afraid and awake, but something pulled at her brain as sleep beckoned her. An explosion sounded as a bright orange light engulfed the room. She saw a figure fall out of a pod in front of her before the abyss claimed her.