Source...
During the time Nathan hid out in the lower part of the mountain, news on his emergency radio reached him that the city was in turmoil. Possessed by the chaos, residents fled from the cities and towns, retreating to safety newscasters finally broadcasted. The reasons weren't disclosed. He'd had no contact with Ophelia or any of the others in their group. But then, telephone service was disrupted. For some unknown reason, sirens discontinued their warnings.
The date was now past June 20th, with the time Olivia and the male were to be handed over to the authorities. Even worse, emergency preparedness instructions were issued three days ago for low-lying areas, including Nathan and his neighbors' farms due to forecast of torrential flooding. He as doubtful due to the drought conditions.
But the waters did rise.
However, his current problem with the children far outweighed any damage that might be inflicted from the flood. Thankful he was now on high ground, he checked his battery supplies.
The end of the five days approached. Cautiously, Nathan left the mountain to check on his farm. Standing at a distance, he could see that his farm suffered extensive damage. However, the farmhouse remained partially intact.
Broken trees with limbs scattered about carved a path through his farm. His favorite shade tree rested squarely in the middle of his house. Surveying nearby farms, debris and devastation lay as far as his binoculars could see. His thoughts turned to Matilda as he contemplated his future. We've probably lost everything we worked for these past thirty years. But then a voice returned, quieting this worries. "We don't need lots of material things.
He glanced up to check the fading skyline. A dark cloud quickly rolled past, leaving a few drop of rain that landed on his beard. It's starting again, he assessed. But it wasn't the only thing dark.
Remembering Matilda's words brought about a loneliness that attacked that he hadn't experienced since she died. His shoulders heaved, then thoughts returned to the two alien children in the cave.
Beyond the devastation, the skyline presented a foreboding figure that stretched the breadth of the sky. Nathan cocked his weapon and aimed. As he studied its outline, what appeared ballooned as though a parachute had been activated. The figure emitted a yellow glow that filled the edge of the skyline. And it wasn't a fiery sunset. It was the image of the male child fully grown when provoked. But this figure was at least three times as large. Sensing all wasn't aligning in its order of the planet, he drew a sharp breath, then turned and scurried back up the mountain to the cave.
There he plopped down and placed his head in his hands. He cried for his plight. He cried for what he must do. And he cried for the consequence of the world. And all because of that fateful day when he discovered the unusual-looking female child in his pasture. Now, his adopted daughter, Olivia.
Nathan sat in a curled position for over an hour. But his next move was already fixed. See for himself what was happening in his city was the only option left.
Under the cover of the moonlight, he eased down the mountain with Olivia and the male in tow. He stopped short of heading toward the front of his property. The dilapidated barn beyond the point of repair provided the perfect cover for surveillance. From what he was hiding he didn't fully know or understand.
He peered through the wooden boards, but waited behind the barn until he could wait no longer, then stepped around the corner on the left side. Immediately, voices he didn't recognize spewing words he couldn't decipher grew louder. Wide cracks made spotting the trespassers easier.
As the barn's front door creaked loudly, five of them spread out, their forms undetectable. With a pounding chest, he sprang from behind the boards. His long rifle targeted the gigantic being he spotted in the skyline.
Eyes bloodshot, he screamed, "you'll not take my daughter this night!"
It was hell waiting to die, he thought, shifting his weight from one foot to the other. A prickling sensation shot up spine as a branch in the distance broke, crackling in the dark. It triggered his otherwise quiet hound. Nathan placed his hand over the dog's mouth. The dog then made quiet whimpers.
Blood drained from Nathan's face as the figure approached. He felt imprisoned by fear, but his fear spurred him into action. He cocked the hammer, then rushed from the shadows. Underneath, exposed roots entangled his feet, and he fell to the ground. The imposing figure's eye sockets pierced Nathan's face as he drew near. Blisters rose quickly on Nathan's body. He screamed in agony as he fell to the muddy ground.
From out of nowhere, Ophelia appeared in the glow of the moon's light. A long shotgun clasp in her hand and two large hounds at her side barking incessantly, she yelled, "leave them alone, you monsters!"
The shotgun, maybe; but little good the hounds will be in this situation, Nathan thought. But he was extremely happy to see a friendly face. Instantly, Herman appeared along with several other neighbors bearing weapons. Their indignation evident as though they'd decided to protect their own children and not relinquish them to the authorities.
Suddenly helicopters materialized on the horizon. Lights flashed and sirens blasted. Was this the attack he'd feared? Nathan and the other adults formed a circle.
"Ophelia, away from the truck. Quick!" Nathan ordered, his hands flailing in an attempt to gain her attention. But she and the male child didn't respond.
As if unafraid, Ophelia instantly stepped in front of the men. The others rallied around Olivia and the male. But all was to no avail. Their weapons melted like plastic toys being recycled. Except Ophelia, the men threw down their weapons and fled from the farm. They wanted no part in the battle.
Olivia ran from the truck and stood in front of Nathan and Ophelia. The alien figure cast fire in their direction. Olivia raised her hands as if to thwart off the attack. The alien male cocked his head and stared at Olivia, his eyes menacing.
The alien attempted again to decimate Nathan and Ophelia. Again, he failed. Olivia extended her hands, exposing the crystals and white powder. The huge apparition backed away. Olivia grabbed the male's hand. Instantly, they levitated toward the alien figure. It opened its palm and accepted them.
It didn't matter that Olivia had recently appeared into his life. Although no words were ever spoken between them, he could sense she understood his actions and appreciated the care he extended. That she needed protecting is a parent's instinct.
They wouldn't take her without a fight.
"Quick, help me up, Ophelia!" Nathan shouted. He staggered to his feet and pulled the trigger of his shotgun.
Olivia turned and captured the bullet in her hand. It disintegrated.
This time, he received an answer. She smiled and waved back as though mimicking his actions these past six months whenever he'd leave to go fetch supplies.
As she disappeared into the bosom of the giant figure, the male followed. Instantly, a craft visualized above. Hundreds of beings were lifted from the pastures of the surrounding farms in a thunderous roar and ascended into the hovering craft. The sky glowed yellow and white, then settled back to a dreary rainy night on the farm.
Nathan, Ophelia and Herman stared up at the sky.
Olivia understood.
If not, it was a nice illusion.
Part 14 - Conclusion:
With the aid of Ophelia, Herman eased Nathan up and into his truck. The next moment, they were headed down the soggy, dirt road dodging high water on their way to the hospital. Three neighbors who'd experience a life-changing event on a life-changing night shot short glances at each other, not one of them wanting to speak on the events of that night.
It was late, past ten o'clock when they reached the hospital. But Herman and Ophelia expected delays due to the flooding event.
Upon arrival, emergency personnel wheeled Nathan into the emergency room.
Herman and Ophelia refused to leave until they spoke with the doctor about Nathan's condition. But how were they going to explain the burns on his body, especially his arms? They stood huddled in the corner of the waiting room.
Confusion crossed their faces as they stared wide eyed watching the procession of bodies on gurneys stroll past. Herman frowned, wondering what occurred for the mass casualties they witnessed being admitted.
Herman flagged a doctor and demanded a report on Nathan. The doctor waved him off. Frustrated, Herman approached the nursing station. Slamming his fist on the counter, he again demanded an update on Nathan's condition.
"Nathan Adelson. What's his condition?" Herman attempted to keep his voice low, but his agitation couldn't contain it.
"Sir, we've got a city-wide emergency on our hands," the nurse retorted. If you want to wait, it'll be hours before non-emergency patients can be tended to."
"But I brought him in on an emergency basis, didn't you see that!" Herman yelled.
Ophelia stepped in front of Herman and spoke. "What type of city-wide emergency are you dealing with? Is it related to the flood?"
The nurse kept her head lowered and refused to answer.
"Come Herman, let's just wait; even if it's all night." Ophelia's raised voice caught the nurse's attention. She raised her head, but remained silent, just stared at them both.
Ophelia and Herman backed away from the station and returned to the waiting room.
"Look, Ophelia, Nathan is in intensive care. We won't be able to see him in any event. It's best we go home and return tomorrow."
Reluctantly, Ophelia nodded. Even with only one eye showing, Herman could tell she was worried, and not just about Nathan. What could the city-wide event mean? he wondered.
During the drive home, they listened intently to newscasts in order to ascertain the problems facing the city. Nothing was reported. He then remembered the flashing lights of the helicopters earlier during the encounter with the beings on Nathan's farm.
The next morning, they returned to find a more compassionate nursing staff. She advised that Nathan was released from intensive care, then led them to his room.
Before they reached the room, Isiah picked up his pace and joined them. "Thanks Herman for alerting me about Nathan," he nodded.
All three, together with the nurse cautiously entered Nathan's room. The nurse took his vitals and checked some equipment, and wrote notes in his chart, all the while keeping her head lowered, as though listening intently. Nathan couldn't see her face.
Meanwhile, the visitors located chairs.
Nathan was groggy, but able to speak.
"How are you feeling?" Herman moved in closer to avoid speaking loudly. Nathan spied the nurse until she left the room.
"Somebody's got to explain to the world amidst the other chaos happening in the city." Herman muttered into his handkerchief. "We have no idea what's going on. Can't get any news?"
"Has the staff mentioned anything peculiar, or have you overheard any calamity that befell the city? Ophelia queried.
"No. But I've been sedated until a few hours ago to relieve the pain from the burns," Nathan replied, not understanding what they were asking.
"We think an attack happened, and now the government is covering it up. Probably has something to do with the beings invading Earth," Herman stated matter-of-fact.
"Did they ask you how you got the burns?" Ophelia asked.
"I told them it was during the flood," Nathan responded weakly.
"Good. Let's keep this under wraps until we figure out how we're going to tell what really happened last night," Herman beseeched.
"AN-15," Ophelia blurted. "Who would have thought that the glow was attributable to that element. Why those beings needed it and how it would benefit them is beyond me. It does sort of account for why those two children were digging in the ground. We'll never know what they were fully capable of," she concluded.
"We have a pretty good idea what that race of beings is capable of. And they can wipe out Earth in an instant. No. It won't be me explaining to the world what happened to us!" Nathan denied furiously, but stopped short as a sharp pain in his side reminded him of last night's ordeal.
"Now Nathan, on Matilda's grave, you should at least honor her for her bravery in visiting you. It led you to me. And you gained a ton of knowledge along the way." She turned and eyed the handkerchief, then continued, "and brought us Herman with a piece of the puzzle."
"I can say the entire ordeal ended on a peaceful exchange." Nathan attempted to adjust his position in bed.
Herman, Isiah, and Ophelia let escape a hearty laugh.
"You call that a peaceful exchange!" Ophelia pointed at Nathan's busted head and legs and burnt arms.
"Well, Olivia and the other children have been returned to wherever they came from. He hesitated....AND...We Are Alive."
"True, we are alive. But the rest of that story if told and found not to be true will be one hell of a nice illusion if I ever heard of one," Herman chuckled.
The business of spreading the truth as he knew it could wait. The idea didn't bring excitement. Fame wasn't in his future plans. Relieved that the whole incident was behind him, Nathan bid his friends farewell, then drifted off, confident they'd done the decent, human act of kindness given the dangerous situation in which they were placed.
His last thought was of Matilda before he dozed off. Although she wouldn't be part of his future, she'd given him a more peaceful existence to look forward to.
An hour later, a gentle knock on Nathan's door woke him.
Groggy from the medication, he roused slightly. The nurse circled the room, avoiding his gaze.
At the foot of the bed, she raised her head. Nathan jerked his head back as he clenched the bed rails with both hands.
There stood a familiar face.
It was Olivia. It wasn't Olivia. Not the child he knew and had come to love the last time he saw her descend into the spacecraft.
"Is this some sick trick?" he uttered, as loud as he could, chest heaving, out of breath.
"Hardly, Nathan Alderman."
She rounded the bed and came to rest near his head, fluffed his pillow, then leaned closer and whispered, "Don't tell anyone. Ever."
Shocked, Nathan started to reply, then paused. His eyes widened. He'd never felt more vulnerable than at that moment when knowledge flooded the room and landed gently on his bed. It dawned on him that the whole fiasco was just a joke. Probably invented by Ophelia for not believing in her and Matilda's group all those years.
"Perhaps the medication induced hallucinations," Olivia offered gently. You've been really low sick, sir. And we didn't think you'd make it through. Your nightmares scared the other staff."
Blood drained from Nathan's face as his countenance went blank. At that moment, his world split in two.
The day of his and Matilda's anniversary a week ago.
Speeding down the dirt road, Nathan's truck swerved as he took a sharp right to merge into traffic. What he didn't know was that a drunken driver plowed into his vehicle at the same time.
Screeching sirens penetrated his thoughts as he reached for Matilda's hand.
A gentle, beautiful face in the form of Olivia with a soothing voice carrying a worried expression leaned over him as she compressed his chest.
"You'll be fine, sir. I'm a nurse, and I've called an ambulance. You've been burned, and they had to pull you from the vehicle, but you'll be fine," Olivia assured a bleeding Nathan.
"Matilda," Nathan murmured repeatedly, listening for a reply. None came.
A low buzz went off in Olivia's pocket. She retrieved the item, glanced at it for a long moment, then moved away from the bed. With her back turned to Nathan, she opened his room door.
In slid Ophelia without his notice. She advanced toward his bed and stopped at its foot.
It was Ophelia, but it wasn't Ophelia. Gone was the eye patch. In its place was the face of a woman aged no more than forty. Her eye perfectly normal. And gone was the cane and slumped shoulders.
This is Ophelia. She's the second-shift nurse who'll be tending to you. I'll see you tomorrow, Mr. Alderman." She turned to Ophelia, "Take good care of Nathan. He's important to us."
Nathan glanced back and forth between the two women before scouring the room. Immediately he remembered Herman's words, "don't trust anyone and don't relax."
Of course, Ophelia wanted Nathan to see her. And see her with Olivia.
Of one thing Nathan was certain. His wife, Matilda, died over a year ago from a heart attack.
He hesitated, unsure of the answer he'd receive. "Where's my wife?"
No one answered immediately as Olivia gathered her paperwork and headed toward the door.
Once gone, Ophelia turned to Nathan and frowned. "I hate to bring such bad news, but your wife didn't make it through the accident. She died at the scene."
Nathan fell back on the pillow, his shoulders heaving as his chest pounded. To himself, he lamented, I'm not crazy. I'm not crazy. This isn't true. My wife died last year. What's happening to me. I didn't dream the past year. I didn't. I must get in touch with Herman immediately.
The Directory of Lost Things in the Museum of Odd Things. I didn't imagine it. Herman, Isiah, and the others. I didn't imagine them.
Ophelia moved to his side and took his hand into hers. She squeezed it, and with understanding eyes, she confirmed his thoughts as though reading his mind.
In that moment, he desperately wanted to ask about AN-15, his farm, and the entire year of his life, but kept silent, understanding that the network of conspiracy comprised a global reach.
"You're being moved to another facility where you can recuperate and sort things out in your mind. Understand, Mr. Alderman? But don't worry, I've been assigned to escort you there and help with your transition. You'll find friends with whom you can identify."
With that, Ophelia nodded. The meaning of the encounter was lost as surely Ophelia was as deep as the others in the fold.
I must not go to that place, he promised himself. I must tell the world what happened this past year. I must.... he trailed off as Ophelia hadn't finished speaking.
"But remember, Nathan, it was a nice illusion, so tell no one until our mission is complete, and your life will be spared."
For my theme, I was inspired by and utilized the @daily.prompt's publishing of 6 february 2025, @mariannewest's Freewrite Writing Prompt Day 2639: a nice illusion;
30 May 2025, @mariannewest's Freewrite Writing Prompt Day 2752: split in two
25 May 2025, @mariannewest's Freewrite Writing Prompt Day 2747: in the fold
23 May 2025, @mariannewest's Freewrite Writing Prompt Day 2745: global reach
9 May 2025, @mariannewest's Freewrite Writing Prompt Day 2731: familiar face
28 May 2025, @mariannewest's Freewrite Writing Prompt Day 2750: a stray bullet;
18 May 2025, @mariannewest's Freewrite Writing Prompt Day 2740: knowledge
6 May 2025, @mariannewest's Freewrite Writing Prompt Day 2728: don’t relax;
28 february 2025, @mariannewest's Freewrite Writing Prompt Day 2661: directory of lost things; and
25 february 2025, @mariannewest's Freewrite Writing Prompt Day 2658: museum of odd things
SOURCES:
a) JustClickindiva's Footer created in Canva utilizing its free background and images used with permission from discord admins.
b) Unless otherwise noted, all photos taken by me with my (i) Samsung Galaxy 10" Tablet, (ii) Samsung Phone, & (iii) FUJI FinePix S3380 - 14 Mega Pixels Digital Camera
c) Purple Butterfly part of purchased set of Spiritual Clip Art for my Personal Use
d) All Community logos, banners, page dividers used with permission of Discord Channel admins.
e) Ladies of Hive banner used with permission of and in accordance with the admin's guidelines
f) Thumbnail Image created by me in Canva.
g) "Flames." What is Apophysis 2.09. https://flam3.com/
If translation included, I use DeepL to assist my readers.
Thanks for your patience an understanding.
Si se incluye traducción, uso DeepL para ayudar a mis lectores.
Gracias por su paciencia y comprensión.