Alien Romance: Alien Heart (Scifi Paranormal Alien Abduction Invasion Cyborg Romance) (New Adult Mystery Adventure Shifter Warrior Short Stories)
Authors: Emma Taylor
Alien Heart
Alien Abduction Romance
By: Emma Taylor
©
Copyright 2016 by Emma Taylor
All rights reserved.
In no way is it legal to reproduce, duplicate, or transmit any part of this document in either electronic means or in printed format. Recording of this publication is strictly prohibited and any storage of this document is not allowed unless with written permission from the publisher. All rights reserved. Respective authors own all copyrights not held by the publisher.
This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to any person, living or dead, is purely coincidental.
From the Author:
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As the 38-year-old wedding photographer snapped away with her Nikon DSLR, she felt “in the zone” once again, her problems and worries melting away as her artistic eye zoomed in on the interesting, stunning details of the glammed-up garden.
A strand of her dark, brown hair fell into her eye as she was getting ready to take photos of the guests who were streaming in by the minute. She brushed it away quickly and continued to capture the lovely dresses of the bridesmaids, the smiles on the faces of the couple's family members, and the adorable little kids playing hide and seek amid the decorated trees.
“Tsk-tsk. Abby Miller, always the serious one,” a familiar voice teased beside her.
Abby turned around, causing her already messed up bun to get disheveled even more. She peeked out from behind her camera to make a face at her best friend-slash-business partner Claire. “Well, if I didn't take my photography seriously, our business wouldn't have taken off the way it did,” she retorted.
“Touchy, touchy,” Claire continued to mock her. She adjusted the straps of her own camera and smiled at the closest friend she'd ever had. “But really, Abby, I'm so proud of you and everything you've achieved.”
Abby ignored her and just went on taking shots of the romantic, beautiful surroundings. The program was about to begin so she positioned herself near the makeshift stage. She motioned for the other photographers to get ready for the entrance of the bride and groom.
Claire followed Abby, saying, “It's just that I'm concerned about you… You need to loosen up and have some fun, you know…”
Abby put down her camera and faced Claire squarely. “Claire, I am having fun. This is my life now and I’m loving it. So there's no need to worry, okay?”
Claire didn’t look convinced, but she finally dropped it as the wedding host welcomed everyone and did her opening spiel.
As the evening went on, Abby didn't have time to think about other things. She was too focused on her craft and on delivering unparalleled service to her clients. Even after 10 years of being in this business, she was still on top of her game, continually innovating, improving, and thus raking in both awards and profits.
Toward the end, the groom offered a surprise song number, followed by a short speech about what he and the bride have been through together and how he was looking forward to their new life and future children.
“So sweet!” Claire gushed.
In response, Abby just chuckled. “Haven't you gotten used to these wedding traditions and senseless messages by now? Fifty percent of our clients get divorced after just a few years, no matter how amazingly romantic the speeches were or how much they splurged on their weddings.”
“Well, there's always the other half which are still happily married,” Claire pointed out. “You don't have to be bitter just because of your failed marriage and the other scumbags you dated before, Abby. This is exactly why I want you to start dating again!”
“I've been single for five years now, Claire,” Abby argued. “I'm happy being a single mom to Kyle, with no man to get in my way. Can't you get that?”
Claire pouted, scrunching up her pretty face. “You used to be so much fun in college,” she grouched.
Abby actually laughed. “You are the most childish woman I've ever met. I can't believe we're actually friends!”
Claire laughed with her good-naturedly.
“Oh, but I forgot,” Abby added. “We don't actually get along most of the time.”
“Yeah,” Claire agreed. Giving her best friend a once-over, she was about to open her mouth when Abby stopped her short.
“Don't start with me on my appearance,” Abby interjected. She knew she'd gained some weight the last few years, but she still had a good figure. However, Claire always insisted that she try to be more fashionable or that she get a new hairdo.
At the moment, Abby was wearing their classic wedding photography uniform--- a white semi-formal blouse and khaki slacks. That had been her signature look for the longest time, plain and simple. Her long brown hair was tied up in a messy bun, with tons of black pins trying to keep all the strands in place but not lasting for hours.
On the other hand, even though Claire was dressed in the exact same uniform, she'd accentuated her ensemble with a glittery gold belt and matching shoes. Her wavy blonde hair was braided stylishly with a single white flower accent pinned on the side.
“Okay, how about this,“ Claire suddenly started. “My birthday's coming up, right? Can we
not
work on that day, please? I promise I won't ask you to hook up with anyone. I just want us to go out with the other girls, spend the day at the salon, and maybe have some drinks. My treat!”
“What about Luke?” Abby wondered, referring to her ever-loyal and loving husband. Yes, Claire was actually one of those rare fortunate ones who seemed effortlessly to get everything--- money, looks, a great guy, and wonderful kids.
“He's on one of his business trips and the kids are also gonna be staying at my parents' house for the weekend, so I’m free to hang out with the girls.”
“Cool,” Abby said, surprised that she was actually looking forward to some relaxation. She'd been working her ass off for years, pouring out all her energy into the business, and all her love toward her teenage son Kyle, ever since she'd gotten divorced. The few times she'd gone out on a date could be counted with the fingers of one hand.
When the event was done, Abby was so preoccupied hauling stuff into her SUV that she almost didn't notice the bright blue light that had suddenly illuminated the sky. The sudden radiance made her look up. Seeing the strange blue light that was probably as wide as a stadium glowing against the night sky and then blinking repeatedly as if following a pattern, her first instinct was to grab her Nikon and point it upward. She snapped away, all the while stunned and amazed by the odd display of light.
Later on as she was driving home, the incident was reported on the radio. According to the news, this occurrence seemed to have no scientific explanation which had led to speculations about UFOs and aliens. The reporter then enumerated several other similar sightings across the United States over the past two weeks.
“Weird,” Abby said to herself. Even though she didn't really believe that such creatures existed or that there was anything to worry about, an unexpected feeling of dread filled her. She then remembered to call her 18-year-old son who'd, told her earlier that he was going to a party at his classmate's house.
He picked up after the third ring. “Hi, Mom!” he greeted cheerfully, making his voice rise above the upbeat music playing in the background. “What's up?”
“How are things there? What time are you coming home?”
“We're good, thanks,” he said in a reassuring tone. “Don't worry, I won't drink much. And my friend Christian will drive me home in an hour or two.”
Abby checked the time. It was twelve midnight. “Alright, make sure you don't drink more than one bottle of beer, don't do anything stupid like drugs or sleeping with some random girl and getting her pregnant, and don't stay out too late. Stay safe.”
“Mom!” he protested, laughing. “You worry too much. I'm eighteen! And that makes me officially an adult.”
“That doesn't change anything,” Abby pointed out.
She heard Kyle sigh on the other end. But it seemed as if he was still smiling when he talked. “Don't worry, Mom. Christian brought his dad's car and he can get me home in a jiffy. And he doesn't drink, because he's allergic to alcohol. So I'll see you soon at home, 'ayt?”
“Great, see you,” Abby finally said. She put the phone down, not knowing that it was probably the last time she'd get to talk to her son.
Abby's hazelnut-colored eyes were puffy and red from crying for three days straight. Her son Kyle had not gone home as he'd promised. He'd gone missing.
At the peak of the party around 1 AM, Kyle had apparently told his friend Christian that he wanted some time alone with his crush Britney before they went home. He'd headed outside the house by himself and that was the last time anyone had seen him. Meanwhile, according to Britney, Kyle had indeed invited her to talk outside away from the noise. She'd said yes but had gone to the bathroom first, telling him that she would be out shortly. Soon after, she went outside but could not find him anywhere.
Now, three days after, the police still had no clue as to Kyle's whereabouts. They had already interviewed most of the students who were there and even some neighbors. Was it a kidnapping case? Did he go off on purpose? Was he still alive? These were some of the questions that they had no answers to yet.
Claire had just left the house at Abby's insistence. “Thank you for everything, Claire, but I want to be alone right now,” was what Abby had told her friend.
After moping around the rest of the morning, Abby forced herself to eat at least a sandwich for lunch despite the panic and depression rising within her. “I can't lose you, Kyle…” she sobbed, burying her face in her hands on the kitchen counter. “I love you so much. You're my only treasure, my only love.”
That afternoon, she took a shower and tried to get her act together. She had to stay strong for her son. She had to do something or else she was going to go insane just waiting for the police to get some leads.
An hour later, she found herself standing in front of the McCartney residence where the party had taken place. Just out of habit, she snapped pictures with her camera as she walked around the vicinity and even up and down the street. She then went to the door and rang the bell, but no one was home. It was getting late and she knew someone would be home soon, so she decided to stay and wait in the car.
“I have to find you, Kyle,” she whispered, her strength and courage wavering as thoughts of her son filled her mind. “Please let me find you.”
Sluggishly, she went through the photos she'd taken, to pass the time. She knew the police had already swept through the entire street and surroundings of the house. It was almost unthinkable that she'd find a new clue. But she continued looking at the photos, anyway, just to pass the time while hoping against hope that something significant would jump out at her and give her some sort of hint.
Her heart began pounding wildly when she noticed a strange bluish blur in one of the photos. It seemed to be coming from the tree in the distance, probably two blocks away from the McCartney residence. She zoomed in on it, but didn't find any other relevant clue. Was it just the play of light? Based on her experience as a photographer, it seemed impossible that the light could be created at this time of the day and given the angle of the shot and the location of the tree.
Immediately she fished out her cellphone and searched for the Facebook photos she'd saved. These had been posted the previous day by one of Kyle's classmates. Some shots had been taken outside the house, and two of them showed the same bluish glow around the area of the tree. The peculiar gleam was hardly noticeable, but anyone who'd seen the light that had appeared in the sky that night would think that it's connected to this same one in the pictures.
Fortunately, each image had a stamped date and time on the bottom right. The pictures had been taken before midnight, the same time that she'd been in the parking lot of the wedding venue where she'd seen the light appear in the sky.
Abby didn't know how this could help her son's case, but there was nothing else to go on with. She decided to check it out herself while the sun was still out.
She sauntered down the street quickly, searching for the tree in question. She occasionally checked the digital photo in her camera which was dangling around her neck. Soon she found what she was looking for – an old, ordinary looking oak tree located in front of a two-story brick house.
For some reason, her heart began racing as she came closer. She ran her fingers across the rough texture of the trunk as she walked around it.
What is that light and where did it come from?
she wondered.
What is the connection of this tree to that blue light in the sky?
Suddenly, after going around the tree, she felt a slight burning sensation in her hand, the one that had been touching the tree. She glanced at it and gasped. She couldn't see her fingers anymore! They seemed to have gotten sucked into the trunk! Due to her shock, she immediately pulled her hand away.
Staring hard at the exact spot where her hand had been, she noticed a glimmer of light that seemed to widen with each second that passed. She watched it in combined fear, fascination, and curiosity as it grew bigger and bigger.
By this time, the sun was already setting. As the surroundings darkened, the blue light became more evident. A few people passed by and threw her a weird look, probably wondering what she was doing. They didn't seem to notice the blazing blue spark right on the trunk of the tree.
Soon the radiance had increased into the size of a regular person. Taking a deep breath, Abby stepped forward and put her hand into the cobalt-blue light. It went through. A mild feeling of burning coursed through her arm. Slowly she moved closer, putting her entire body into the hole-like brilliance. It felt like being sunburned, but the sensation was tolerable. She closed her eyes and climbed into the light, not knowing where it would lead her or if she would even be alive after this.