When I was a young boy we used to stay up late and stare at the stars. We'd wonder if any had planets circling around them. We'd wonder if we could one day walk beneath strange skies and what those skies might look like. We'd even wonder if other beings were perhaps looking back wondering the same thing.
When I was a young man, my sister disappeared. She had left a friend’s house one evening and no one knew what happened. We searched everywhere and after a while thought the worst. However, in that we were too naive. She was just one of the first.
As time went on, others were reported missing: one here, two there. Not so many as to be truly alarming but still it occurred with such regularity that we wondered what might be going on. It always occurred at night and always without a trace. Soon people began locking their doors. Eventually the town introduced the Curfew: at dusk, everyone was to be indoors.
Nothing was untouched by this as our fears inexorably took over. Even once friendly neighbors eyed each other with suspicion. Even our concept of time changed to measuring how much of it remained until night took over.
When I became older, living here on my own, I saw it. I saw the terrible manifestation of our fears. Just a few moments that is forever seared into my memory.
Something had screamed outside that night. I thought it might have been a dog so I drew back the curtains and peered out of my window, that one right there, and I saw It. It’s funny how your mind can play tricks on you. At first I thought it was my long lost sister walking through the night. But I was horribly mistaken.
In a hopeful rush I threw open the door and before me, not 30 paces away, was It. A creature that was at once beautiful and graceful, yet brimming with foul intent. I could see that It was crouched over my neighbor. Even from this far away I could feel Its hunger. Then the moon light glinted off a long slender blade, dripping with evidence of its recent work, poised for another strike. I will forever try to forget this moment but some things you simply can’t unsee.
Having heard my commotion It paused and carefully looked towards me. That's not quite right, it looked straight into me. Measuring my worth like a herder does with livestock. Then It smiled and uttered a few words: Your time is not yet but will be soon enough. After this It threw its head back and made a sound like laughter while dragging my still twitching and mewling neighbor just two short paces and was gone.
No, no, it didn’t walk away. It just vanished, as if it had never been there at all.
I slammed the door that night and locked it quick as I could. But I know that won't stop them. I don’t think anything can. It was a long time before I stopped shaking.
Now I'm an old man and I understand. I no longer dream of those ancient stars and their mysteries; for that matter I don’t even turn the lights off in the house anymore. Whatever It is has indeed looked back at us but where we hoped for partners, they saw playthings.
Our worst nightmares have come and there is nothing we can do but wait and pray they don't take us alive.
Subject: Pray they don't take us alive 
Fri Sep 26 2014, 18:35
