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.