Night Light

Rumbling came from the back door. I slowly walked to it, careful of the creaky pieces of wood beneath my feet. Regardless of my efforts, Luna’s head popped up, her floppy ears perking as I made eye contact with her. “Luna, you better be quiet,” I whispered.

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She flopped her head back down on the pillow she stole from the couch. God, I have to get her an actual bed. 

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I grabbed a flashlight from the shelf next to the door, turned it on, and put it in my mouth. I don't care how unsanitary you might see this as. I used my free hands from the free hand I had a flashlight in my mouth- to put my puffy jacket on. I unlocked the door flashlight still in my mouth. The cold air hit me hard. I should be used to it by now but I'm not. I finally moved the flashlight to my hand for better control of where the light was facing. 

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“Hello, is anyone there?” I said to no response. The flashlight shone around the huge yard. I still don't know why I haven't sold this place or at least gotten help to take care of it. It's not like Nova would care. She's most likely dead anyway. But living here made me somehow feel closer to her so I guess this would be my life.

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I walked to where the cattle most of the time got tangled in the fence. But there were no cattle. They were all in the barn stealing themselves from the cold. 

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As I started to walk back I saw it. Well, that's dramatic I couldn't care less there was a big ol space looking alien ship on the farm. I started walking back unphased by this huge metal thing.

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Look, as much as I want to care about it there are better things to waste my time on. Like planning Nova's funeral, finding the money for it, or maybe even finding her body. It has been 6 months since her disappearance. I guess some part of me still had hope she could be alive. 

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So I turned back to the spaceship and knocked on what I thought could be the door. I stepped back to make sure it wouldn't crush me like the ones in movies would probably. The metal door opened to a purple glow. My stomach turned and I felt the leftovers I had just consumed flutter up my body.

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A gray humanoid creature stepped out. Its body was skinny, almost Flesh Pedestrian-like. I froze in place not wanting to be devoured by this thing. I should have brought Nova's old hunting gun with me, why did I go alone?

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“So,” I said carefully, “are you an alien or a Navajo tale?” I said trying to sound on their level by making a poor attempt at a joke. “My point is, are you here to kill me or study me?” Honestly, I just wanted answers on my dead sister so I kept standing waiting for a response, any response. 

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The closest to me creature was the first to speak. “Translating to English, yes yes.” The creature's voice was husky, deep, and brittle sounding. 

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Another one spoke behind the first. “We are here to take you too now, more pets we love.” It spoke in broken English but I wouldn't expect it to be a God in English saying that they were not human. 

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“RUFF RARH RUUF RAHHHHRUF.” Luna came bolting out of the door I had forgotten to lock. She jumped up and pushed all her body weight on the creature only for it to stumble about then fling her off like she wasn't a 68-pound German shepherd. 

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“Luna, Luna are you ok. Hey, you hurt my baby.”

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“Huh? Your baby appears to be a different species than you. How is that?” The creature asked.

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“Well she's my pet dog, but I love her like she's my baby.” I feel like you have to spell everything out for these creatures.

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“Pet. Our pet gets a pet.” The creature turned to the others with a grin on its face. 

 

The next thing I knew I was in the purple glowy ship with Luna. They gave me this weird room with no bed but some blankets. It felt so late at night so I just decided I would sleep and then figure out a plan to either find Nova or get out of here. As I'm not so sure getting abducted by aliens was my smartest move.

I closed my eyes trying to adjust to the new place I might be forced to call home. My eyes got heavier the longer they were closed. My mind drifted off into the darkness of sleep.

 

I woke up somewhere big light blue-white lights shone over me. One of the creatures let out a scream and others bolted into the room.

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“How. How are you alive?” “She's awake!” They all gathered as Luna appeared out of nowhere yipping like she did when I woke up back at home. 

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“OK, I need an explanation now. Where am I?” I laid my head back down craving more sleep but knowing it wouldn't come.

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“You died.” One of the creatures said. 

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“No, I fell asleep. there's a difference.” 

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“Sleep? What is sleep?” The creatures turned to face each other, a puzzled look sweeping across them all.

“You know part of all living life,” I said now also puzzled by them being puzzled. My sentence was also puzzling because of their puzzling English rubbing off on me. Well, that last one was a bit of a lie but come on the world feels fake now so let me have my not-so-funny funny sentences. 

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“Sleep.” The creature repeated saying it would make more sense.

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“Yep, sleep,” I said with a pause releasing that it would be good to explain. “It's where you close your eyes and rest, all living things on my planet do it.” My planet, I wonder how many other planets there are.