Unsealed environment? Luna said. What do you think that means?
I guess it means that theres no airlock on this exit? Kevin said, not sure. The words stenciled around it made it sound like something hugely dangerous to open. Maybe it was.
No airlock?
People wouldnt want one if they had to get out fast.
He saw Lunas hand go to the gas mask that shed had to wear for the whole drive over, and that now hung from the belt of her jeans. Kevin could guess what she was thinking.
Theres no way the alien vapor can get in here, he said, trying to reassure her. He didnt want Luna to be scared. Not if we dont open that door.
I know its stupid, Luna said. I know that the vapor probably isnt even out there anymore; that its just the people theyve taken over
But it still doesnt feel safe? Kevin guessed. Nothing felt safe right then, even in a bunker.
Luna nodded. I need to get away from that door.
Kevin went with her, back into the bunker, away from the emergency exit. It actually made him feel a bit safer, knowing that the two of them could escape if they needed to, but he hoped they wouldnt need to. They needed somewhere safe, right then. Somewhere they could hide from the aliens until it was safe to come out again.
Or until his illness killed him. That was a particularly horrible thought. There werent any tremors from the leukodystrophy right then, but Kevin had no doubt they would be back, and worse. Only the fact that they had bigger things to worry about forced him to push thoughts of it away, and what did it say that it took an alien invasion to make his illness look insignificant?
I think there are rooms down here, Luna said, leading the way down one of the corridors. There were. There were whole dormitories there, with rank after rank of bunkbeds that were mostly no more than metal frames, but with a few that had possessions by them, along with mattresses and bedding.
Youd have thought that some of them would stay inside, Kevin said. It makes no sense that theres nobody here.
Luna shook her head. They would have gone outside to help. And then well, by the time they worked out it was a bad idea, the aliens would have controlled them.
That made a kind of sense, but it was still a horrible thought.
I miss my parents, Luna said from nowhere, although maybe shed been thinking it all this time. The pain that had come from Kevins mom being taken hadnt gone away; it had just been pushed into the background by the need to keep doing things, by the need to get to safety, and to make sure that they would both stay safe.
I miss my mom, too, Kevin said, sitting down on the edge of a bed frame. He found that it was impossible to picture her then as shed been before the aliens came. Instead, the image that sprang to mind was of her as shed been on the doorstep of their house, controlled by the aliens and trying to grab him.
Luna sat on a bed frame of her own. Neither of them had picked one of the ones with bedding. That didnt feel right somehow. Those felt as though they belonged to someone, and their owners might be back at any moment.
Its not just my parents, Luna said. Its all the other kids at school, all the people Ive ever met. Theyll all have been taken. All of them.
She put her head in her hands, and Kevin reached out to take her hand, not saying anything. It was just as enormous for him in that moment, with the thought that everyone out there in the world might have been taken by the aliens. Ordinary people, celebrities, friends
There are no people left, Luna said.
I thought you didnt like people anyway, Kevin countered. I thought youd decided that most people are stupid?
Luna smiled slightly at that, but it looked as though it took an effort. Ill take stupid over controlled by aliens any day. She paused for a moment. Do you think do you think that people will ever be all right again?
Kevin couldnt look at her. I dont know. He couldnt see how they would. Were safe though. Thats all that matters.
It wasnt, though. Not by a long way.
***They looked around the bunker until they found more bedding, not wanting to take anything from the bunks that were already set up. Those remained as pristine as if their owners might come back at any moment, although Kevin had to hope they wouldnt, because he guessed that the aliens controlled them now.
They went back to the kitchen long enough to get something to eat. The packet said chicken, but Kevin could barely taste it. Maybe that was a good thing, judging by the look on Lunas face.
Im never going to complain about having to eat vegetables again, she said, although Kevin suspected that she probably would. She wouldnt be Luna if she didnt.
When they were done, they took turns cleaning up in one of the bunkers bathrooms. They could probably have just picked a bathroom each, or two, or more, but Kevin, at least, didnt want to be that far apart from Luna just yet. Even when the time came to pick bunks, they chose ones almost next to one another, when they had the whole space of the dormitory to choose from. It was like a little island picked out in the middle of it, and if he tried really hard, Kevin could almost pretend that it was some kind of sleepover. Well, no, he couldnt, not really, but it was good to at least try.
They turned off the lights, using military-issue flashlights to guide them back to bed. Luna hopped up onto the top bunk of her chosen bed, while Kevin took the bottom level of his.
Afraid of heights? Luna asked.
I just dont want to have a vision halfway up and fall onto the floor, Kevin said. Not that hed had any visions since the one warning him about the invasion. Not that it would do any good now if he did. He found himself wondering what the point of his visions was when none of it had helped.
Right, Luna said. I guess yeah, I guess you should be careful.
Maybe in the morning things will look better, Kevin suggested. He didnt really believe it.
Wed have to see it before it could look better, Luna pointed out.
Well, maybe well be able to find a way to see things again, Kevin said. If they did, though, what might they see? Would they see hordes of aliens out there in the world now? A barren landscape with nothing in it?
Maybe well work out what were going to do next, Luna suggested. Maybe well dream of a way to make all of this better.
Maybe, Kevin said, although he suspected that any dreams he had would be dominated by the sight of all those silent people.
Sleep well, Kevin said.
Sleep well.
In fact, it seemed to take forever for Kevin to fall asleep. He lay there in the dark, listening to Luna as her breathing deepened and she started to snore in a way she would probably never admit to when awake. This would have felt very different without her here. Even if there had been someone else there, Kevin would have felt alone, but as it was
As it was, he was still almost alone, but at least Luna was there to share in the loneliness of it. Kevin couldnt get away from the thoughts of what had happened to his mother, to everyone, but at least he knew that Luna was safe.
Those thoughts followed him down into sleep and into his dreams.
In his dreams, Kevin was surrounded by everyone hed known. His mother was there, his friends from school, his teachers, the people from NASA. Ted was there, with military gear slung all over him, and Professor Brewster, his face in a scowl that suggested he disapproved of everything Kevin had done.
As it was, he was still almost alone, but at least Luna was there to share in the loneliness of it. Kevin couldnt get away from the thoughts of what had happened to his mother, to everyone, but at least he knew that Luna was safe.
Those thoughts followed him down into sleep and into his dreams.
In his dreams, Kevin was surrounded by everyone hed known. His mother was there, his friends from school, his teachers, the people from NASA. Ted was there, with military gear slung all over him, and Professor Brewster, his face in a scowl that suggested he disapproved of everything Kevin had done.
Their features twisted as Kevin watched, becoming every alien from a sci-fi movie ever. Some of them became gray-skinned and big-eyed, while others looked more like insects with plates of armor across them. Professor Brewster had tentacles coming from his hands, while Dr. Levins eyes were on stalks. They lumbered toward Kevin and he started to run.
He ran through the corridors of the NASA institute, barely able to keep ahead of them as they poured out of doorway after doorway, and even though hed lived there, Kevin couldnt find the way out to safety. He couldnt find the way to make this better.
He dove into a lab, shutting the door behind him and barricading it with chairs and tables and anything else he could find. Even so, the transformed people on the outside of the room hammered on the door, their fists pounding against it while, for no reason Kevin understood, an alarm started to sound
Kevin woke with a gasp. It was still dark, but one look at the time on his phone told him that was just because they were underground. In the background, an alarm was sounding, the dull buzz of it constant, while underneath it, there was a dull, metallic thudding.
He knew Luna was awake, because she turned on the lights.
What is it? Kevin asked.
Luna looked at him. I think I think someone wants to come in.
CHAPTER TWO
They rushed down to the command center, the knocking louder now that they were closer to the entrance. Even so, with the airlock in the way, Kevin was impressed that the sound was carrying. What were they hitting the door with?
Luna didnt look impressed; she looked worried.
Whats wrong? Kevin asked.
What if its the aliens, or controlled people? she demanded. What if theyre going around, rounding up survivors?
Why would they be doing that? Kevin asked, but fear crept into him at the thought of it. What if they were? What if they got in?
Its what Id do if I were an alien, Luna said. Take over everything, make sure theres no one left to fight back. Kill anyone who gets in the way.
Not for the first time in his life, Kevin vowed never to get on Lunas bad side. Even so, he could hear the fear underneath her words. He could even share it. What if theyd run all the way to somewhere that felt safe, only for it to be falling apart already?
Can we see whos out there? Kevin asked.
Luna pointed to the blank screens. Theyve been dead since last night.
But thats just the signal from around the world, Kevin insisted. There must be I dont know, security cameras or something.
There had to be. A military research facility wouldnt stay blind to everything happening around it. He started to press buttons on the computer systems, trying to find a way of getting them to do what they wanted. Most of the screens there were blank, the signals from around the world cut off, or blocked, or just gone. Luna started pressing buttons beside him, although Kevin suspected that she didnt know what to do any more than he did.
Whoever it is, I dont know if we should let them in, Luna said. It could be anyone out there.
It could be, Kevin said, but what if its someone who needs our help?
Maybe, Luna said, not sounding convinced. Whoever it is, theyre hitting the door pretty hard.
That was true. The metallic echoes of each blow reverberated through the bunker. They came in groups of three, and slowly Kevin started to realize that there was a pattern to the spaces between them.
Three short, three long, three short, he said.
You mean SOS? Luna asked.
Kevin glanced over to her.
I thought everyone knew that, she said. Thats about all I remember.
So someone out there is in trouble? Kevin asked, and the thought of that brought a different kind of worry. Should they be helping, rather than hesitating? He spotted a picture of a camera down in the corner of one of the screens. He pressed it, and now the screens lit up with images from security cameras around the deserted base.
That one, Luna said, pointing to one of the images as if Kevin didnt know how to pick one out from the rest. Here, let me.
She pressed a button, and the image came to fill the screen.
Kevin didnt know what hed been expecting. A horde of people controlled by the aliens, maybe. Some soldier who knew about the base and had fought his way across the country to get there. Not a girl their age, holding what looked like the remains of a signpost and banging it against the door in a steady rhythm.
She was athletic and dark-haired, her hair cut short and a stud through her nose as if daring the world to say anything about it. Kevin could see that her features were pretty, very pretty, he thought, but with a tough edge to them that suggested she wouldnt appreciate being called that. She was wearing a dark hooded top with a leather jacket over it that seemed a couple of sizes too big, ripped jeans, and hiking boots. She had a small rucksack, like she was just on the mountain for the hiking, but the rest of her looked more like a runaway, her clothes streaked with enough dirt that she could have been out there for weeks before the aliens came.
I dont like this, Luna said. Why is there just one girl out there, trying to get in?
I dont know, Kevin said, but we should probably let her.
That made sense, didnt it? If she was asking for help, then they should at least try to, shouldnt they? The girl was looking up at the screen now, and although there didnt seem to be any sound, she didnt look happy at being left out there.
Luna pressed something and now they could hear her, microphones picking up her words.
to let me in! There are still those things out here! Im sure of it!
Kevin found himself looking past her on the screen, and sure enough, he thought he could make out the signs of people there, moving with the odd purposelessness that suggested the aliens had them.
We should let her in, Kevin said. We cant just leave someone out there.
Shes not wearing a mask, Luna pointed out.
So?
Luna shook her head. So if shes not wearing a mask, how is the alien vapor not converting her? How do we know that she isnt one of them?
As if in answer to that, the girl on the screen moved closer to the camera, staring straight up into it.
I know theres someone in there, she said. I saw the camera move. Look, Im not one of them, Im normal. Look at me!
Kevin looked into her eyes. They were wide and brown, but most importantly, the pupils were normal. Not shifted to pure white the way the scientists had been when the vapor from the rock had claimed them, or the way his mothers had been when hed gone home
We have to let her in, Kevin said. If we leave her out there, the controlled people will get her.