Stranger Of Outer Space
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“I’m not sure what you’re talking about, sir,” said the man. “But I can assure you that we have no intention of harming anyone.” He looked at me with a mixture of curiosity and suspicion in his eyes. His voice was calm but firm as he spoke to us.
He had dark hair cut short on both sides and slicked back over his head. The rest fell down around it like an oil slick. A thin mustache ran across his upper lip; there were two small lines above each eye which gave him a slightly angry look. There was something familiar about this guy…but where?
It wasn’t until I saw the name badge pinned to his shirt pocket that my memory clicked into place: Dr. John Smithson, Chief Psychologist for the UAC’s Project Prometheus.
The doctor stepped forward again and extended one hand toward me. “My name is Doctor Smithson,” he said. “And if you’ll just come along quietly…”
“You don’t understand!” shouted Eliza. She took another step closer to the scientist. Her hands balled up into fists as she glared at him through narrowed eyes. “We’ve been kidnapped! We need your help!”
Smithson didn’t seem fazed by her outburst or our accusations. Instead, he turned away from us and began walking slowly back towards the door leading out of the room. As he did so, he pulled a pistol from inside his lab coat and held it pointed straight ahead between himself and us.
When he reached the doorway, he stopped and waited while we all stared at him expectantly. After several seconds passed without any movement on his part, I decided enough was enough.
“What do you want?” I asked angrily. My tone made it clear that I expected some sort of answer. “Why are you doing this? What does the government know about us?!”
Dr. Smithson sighed loudly before turning back to face me. “Look, Mr. Collins,” he started. “This isn’t exactly how I wanted things to go. But when you came bursting into my office demanding answers, well…it kind of put me in a bit of a bind.”
Eliza gasped softly behind me. I could tell she was trying hard not to say anything else, but after seeing the gun aimed directly at her chest, she couldn’t hold herself back anymore.
“That’s right,” continued Smithson calmly. “It seems someone has gotten wind of our little project here and they aren’t happy about it. They sent three men dressed as police officers to kidnap you and bring you to them. If you hadn’t shown up when you did, then they would probably be dragging you off somewhere now instead of having this conversation.”
“Who is ‘they’?” demanded Eliza. “How much do you know about us? How long have you known about this place?! Why haven’t you told us about it sooner?!”
Smithson shook his head sadly. “I wish I knew more than I do, Miss Evans. Believe me, I really do. Unfortunately, I am only privy to information regarding those who work under me. And since you are technically still employed by the company, I cannot discuss matters related to your employment with you. That being said, I will try to explain everything I know as best I can. Please bear with me.”
As he talked, he walked past the three of us and opened the door. Once outside, he motioned for us to follow him down the hallway and into a large conference room. Inside were six other people seated around the table. All of them wore matching white jumpsuits emblazoned with the logo of the United States Air Force.
Two women sat next to each other near the middle of the group. One woman appeared to be in her late thirties or early forties. She had shoulder-length brown hair tied back in a ponytail. Her skin was pale and smooth, almost translucent. She seemed to radiate confidence as she glanced briefly at me before returning her attention to the man sitting beside her.
The second woman was younger-looking. She had black hair that hung loosely down below her shoulders. Her features were sharp and angular, giving her an intimidating appearance. She also had deep blue eyes that glittered dangerously beneath thick eyebrows. Both women stood up as soon as we entered the room. Their faces lit up brightly as their gazes swept over us.
“Miss Evans!” exclaimed the older woman. “Thank God you’re okay!”
She rushed forward and embraced Eliza tightly. Then she released her grip and stepped back to give her friend a quick hug.
“Oh, thank goodness you got away safely too!” added the younger woman. “They must have followed you here somehow. I tried calling your cell phone, but it went straight to voicemail. Did you get any messages?”
Both of the women looked relieved to see us safe. It wasn’t until later that I realized why. The two women weren’t actually friends. In fact, they hated each other. They worked together because they needed to, but neither of them liked working alongside the other very much.
After the initial greetings, Dr. Smithson led us to sit across from the four military personnel. He introduced us to everyone there, including the two women. There was Colonel Jameson, a tall, muscular man in his mid-forties. His jet black hair was cut short and combed neatly back.
A small scar ran diagonally along one side of his chin. Next to him was Major Anderson, a young, handsome man in his twenties. He had dark blonde hair and piercing green eyes. Like most of the others, he was wearing a crisp, clean uniform.
At last, Dr. Smithson took a seat at the end of the table. We all remained standing throughout the entire meeting.
“Now, let’s start at the beginning,” suggested Smithson once we’d finished introductions. “You’ve both been through quite a lot today. So please, take whatever time you need to rest and relax while you’re here. You’ll find fresh clothes in the bathroom if you feel like changing. Also, there should be food in the kitchen. Feel free to help yourself.”
He paused for a moment to look at us expectantly. When no one spoke, he cleared his throat and resumed speaking.
“First, I’m sure you have many questions,” began Smithson. “But unfortunately, none of these people here are authorized to speak on behalf of the U.S. government. As such, I won’t be able to answer any of your specific inquiries. However, I can assure you that what happened earlier today was completely unexpected.
Our team members never expected anyone to show up at the site. Nor did they anticipate that you would escape so easily. Frankly, I don’t think even my superiors anticipated either of those things happening.”
Dr. Smithson sighed heavily. “Unfortunately, I believe the person responsible for sending you here knows far more than we do. Whoever sent you has access to classified information that our security teams simply didn’t possess. This means whoever is behind this whole thing could potentially cause serious damage to national security.
This brings me to another point: I want you to understand that we are doing everything possible to track down the individual or individuals responsible for this mess. But right now, I’m afraid I can’t tell you anything else. If I do, then someone might learn something important that could jeopardize our investigation.”
Eliza nodded slowly as she listened intently to the doctor. Meanwhile, I stared blankly ahead, trying not to appear impatient. After several seconds, however, I couldn’t hold back anymore.
“Okay, fine,” said Eliza after a few moments. “I guess we know enough already anyway. What exactly does ‘this’ mean? Who’s responsible for sending us here?”
Smithson hesitated for a long moment. Finally, he responded by saying, “We still aren’t entirely certain who is involved. At first, we thought it may have been some sort of terrorist organization. But now, we suspect it’s someone within the United States government itself. Unfortunately, we haven’t yet identified the culprits. All we really know is that they used advanced technology to send you here.”
“Advanced technology?” asked Eliza. “Like what kind of tech?”
“Well, that part isn’t clear just yet,” replied Smithson. “All I can say with certainty is that it involves quantum entanglement. And since you escaped from the facility without being detected, I assume you encountered the same type of technology. Am I correct?”
Eliza nodded again. She appeared confused, though.
“What does that mean?” she wondered aloud. “How did you come to that conclusion?”
The doctor shrugged uncomfortably before responding. “It’s hard to explain. Basically, when you were inside the facility, you probably experienced an extremely powerful form of quantum entanglement. That’s how you managed to escape undetected. Now, I realize that doesn’t make sense to you. But trust me, it’s true.”
“So…what happens next?” inquired Eliza. “Do we get to go home soon?”
“That remains to be seen,” answered Smithson. “As I mentioned earlier, we’re currently investigating the incident. Once we determine the source of the problem, we will decide whether or not to release you. Until then, I suggest you try to enjoy your stay here. Relax and unwind. Take advantage of the amenities available to you. Eat well, sleep regularly—that sort of thing.”
After watching him leave, Eliza turned toward me. Her expression had changed dramatically over the course of the conversation. It seemed almost as if her mind was racing.
“Are you okay?” I asked.
She shook her head slightly. Then, she looked away. “No, I’m not. Not really. I keep thinking about what happened back there. How I got separated from you. The fact that I wasn’t able to save you…”
Her voice trailed off into silence. For several minutes, neither of us spoke. Instead, we sat quietly together, staring out the window at the city below. Eventually, Eliza broke the silence.
“Hey, wait!” she exclaimed suddenly. “Didn’t you hear what Dr. Smithson said? He told us that we weren’t supposed to talk to each other! We shouldn’t be talking to each other right now, especially considering all the secrets we learned today. Do you understand what I’m telling you, Alex?!”
My heart sank. I knew where this was going. I’d heard similar arguments dozens of times in the past. In most cases, I always agreed with them. But this time felt different. Somehow, I couldn’t bring myself to agree with Eliza.
“Look, I know what you’re getting at,” I muttered. “And I’ll admit that I should’ve kept quiet during the meeting. But I also need to ask you something. Something I feel like you deserve to hear.”
“Go on,” she urged softly.
“Why do you think I came up here with you?” I asked. “You don’t even remember my name. You barely know anything about me. So why would I risk so much just to help you? Why wouldn’t I let you die instead?”
For a second, I watched as Eliza struggled to respond. Then, finally, she took a deep breath.
“Because I love you,” she whispered. “Alex, I care deeply for you. More than anyone else ever has. Ever could. And I want nothing more than to spend the rest of my life with you. To share everything with you. Even our deepest, darkest secrets. Because I believe that no matter what happens, we can overcome any obstacle. Together.”
Tears began streaming down Eliza’s face. They fell freely onto her cheeks, leaving wet streaks behind. As I gazed upon her beautiful visage, I found myself unable to speak. My throat grew tight. A lump formed in my chest. And I realized that I loved her too. Just as fiercely as she did.
But I didn’t tell her that.
Instead, I reached across the table and gently placed my hand atop hers. Then, after taking another deep breath, I leaned forward. With one last look at her tear-stained eyes, I kissed her tenderly on the lips.
***
I awoke hours later. When I opened my eyes, I saw that the sun had already set outside. Outside, the sky glowed orange against the backdrop of darkness. From somewhere nearby, I heard the sound of running water. At first, I thought it might have been raining. But then I remembered: I was still in the underground facility.
Slowly, I rose to my feet. After doing so, I glanced around the room. There, sitting neatly beside the bed, was a small wooden box. Inside it lay three items: two pairs of glasses and a pair of earbuds. All four pieces bore the logo of a company called “Sightline Industries.”
Curious, I picked up the box and examined its contents closely. One of the sets of eyeglasses resembled those worn by the guards who escorted me to the conference room. The other appeared to belong to someone named “Dr. Smithson.”
Next, I removed the earphones from their packaging. Unlike the glasses, these devices were made entirely of metal. Each piece featured a single button located near the top. Pressing it once activated the device. Pushing it twice brought up a menu screen featuring five options: “Listen,” “Speak,” “Watch,” “Read” and “Write.”
Finally, I pulled out the third item—a thin sheet of paper folded into quarters. On it, written in black ink, was the following message:
Dear Mr. Anderson,
Thank you for your interest in Sightline Industries’ products. Unfortunately, due to recent events, we are currently experiencing delays in shipping orders. However, we hope to resume normal operations soon. Please check back again tomorrow.
Sincerely,
The Management Team
As I read the note, I noticed something strange. It seemed odd to me that they would refer to themselves as “the management team.” That wasn’t how companies operated. Usually, there was only one person in charge. Not multiple people.
Then, suddenly, an idea struck me. Maybe they meant “management” metaphorically. Like, maybe the whole thing was some sort of game or simulation. Or perhaps it represented a test. Either way, I decided not to dwell on it. Instead, I tucked the note away inside my pocket.
Afterward, I slipped on the glasses and put the earbuds in place. Instantly, a new window popped open before my eyes. This one displayed a list of instructions. Written below each heading was a brief description of what I needed to do next.
First, I selected “Listen.” Next, I pressed the button on the left side of the device. Immediately afterward, a voice spoke directly into my ears.
“Welcome to the world of Sightline Industries,” said a man’s familiar baritone. “Please select which language you wish to use today. We offer English, Spanish, and Mandarin Chinese.”
There was a pause. Then, without warning, the speaker continued speaking. His words sounded like he was right in front of me.
“We’re glad you’ve chosen to join us. Now, please follow the directions listed above. If you need assistance, simply press the blue button labeled ‘Help.'”
With that, the audio ended.
Now, all that remained was to choose my destination. In order to do this, I had to click on the map icon located in the upper-left corner of the screen. Doing so revealed a series of dots scattered throughout the city.
When I clicked on any of them, the dot disappeared. But when I moved my cursor over the remaining ones, a short text label appeared beneath the image. These labels included things such as “Conference Room B,” “Administration Building 1A” and “Maintenance Facility 3B.”
At first, I assumed that these locations corresponded with the buildings where the guards took me during our escape attempt. But then I recalled that Dr. Smithson mentioned something about “administrative offices.” And based on his comment, I realized that the building I’d seen earlier must have belonged to the company itself.
So, instead of selecting a specific location, I chose the option marked “All Locations.” A moment later, the map changed. Suddenly, several more dots appeared within the city. They were arranged in a circular pattern, centered upon a large red circle.
According to the information provided, the center of this ring contained a building known as “Sightline Headquarters.”
In addition, I learned that the rest of the dots circled the perimeter of the city. Their names indicated that they were located at various points along the outer wall.
I stared down at the map for a few moments longer. Eventually, curiosity got the better of me. So, I tapped on the word “Headquarters” to learn more.
Immediately, another window opened. This time, it showed a detailed diagram of the structure. At the very bottom, I saw a caption reading “Sightline Industries Corporate Office.” Below that, I found a list of rooms and hallways.
This is it! I thought excitedly. Finally, after everything we went through, I’m going to get answers.
But just as quickly, I felt a sense of dread wash over me. What if I couldn’t find anything? After all, I didn’t know much about the layout of the building. And even though I knew how to navigate around town, I still hadn’t figured out exactly where we were.
Still, I tried my best to remain optimistic. For now, I focused on finding the entrance to headquarters. Once I did, I could figure out the rest from there.
To begin, I zoomed in on the map until I reached the area surrounding the central building. From there, I used the scroll wheel on my mouse to pan across the entire section. As I scrolled, I began noticing other structures. Some of them looked like office buildings; others resembled warehouses.
Eventually, I came to a point near the edge of the map. There, I spotted two small rectangles connected by a line. One rectangle was white, while the other was black. The lines reminded me of railroad tracks.
The closer I examined the symbols, the clearer their meaning became. Each symbol represented a different room. When combined together, they formed a single path leading straight toward the corporate building.
My heart skipped a beat. Could this really be it? I wondered. Was the answer finally here?
Suddenly, a new message flashed onto my computer screen: “You are approaching your destination!”
It was true—I was almost there. All that stood between me and the headquarters was a set of train tracks.
As I watched, the map shifted again. It now displayed an overhead view of the building. To my surprise, I noticed that the entrance wasn’t actually located inside the main structure. Instead, it was situated behind a chain link fence.
And judging by its size, I guessed that the gate probably led to some sort of underground tunnel system.
Once I arrived at the site, however, I discovered that the gates weren’t locked or guarded. Apparently, Sightline employees trusted each other enough not to worry about theft.
After passing through the metal bars, I entered a narrow alleyway lined with trash cans. Beyond the walls, I heard the sound of rushing water.
Then, suddenly, I stopped dead in my tracks.
What am I doing?! I screamed inwardly. Why did I come here? I should turn back before anyone sees me.
Before I could make up my mind, however, a voice spoke directly into my ear.
“Hello?”
Startled, I turned around. Standing right beside me was a man wearing a gray suit. He seemed familiar somehow… but I couldn’t place him.
For a second, he simply gazed at me expectantly. Then, without warning, he smiled. His teeth were perfectly aligned, giving off a dazzling glow.
His eyes glowed too—a deep crimson color that made me feel uneasy. Even worse, his skin was covered in dark scars.
He’s a vampire! I realized. That explains why I recognized him so easily.
A chill ran down my spine. Instinctively, I pulled away from the stranger. But when I glanced down, I saw that he had already disappeared.
Just like that, the mysterious man vanished. In his wake, only silence remained.
The End