Chapter One: The Creatures from the Unknown
Chapter One: The Creatures from the Unknown
Bobby Jacobs and his friends worked on his lake cabin, racing the approaching storm. Each hammer swing brought with it a desperate plea to finish before the sky unleashed its fury. At the first sign of hail, the guys opted to head inside to avoid the bizarre purple pieces of ice that fell from the sky.
They stopped working to watch the hail and drank the rest of their time.
Mesmerized by the sight, they drank more and more. The purple hail didn’t just puzzle them; it also scared and intrigued them—an unprecedented experience for all.
“I knew when that blinding purple fury erupted, those icy pellets couldn’t be any good,” Bobby said.
Bobby thought the world, for him, blurred into chaos at that point, but he kept that to himself. Thinking if the hailstorm passed through Thompson, Michigan, he figured if it did it caused a blackout and left residents in darkness. His friends couldn’t understand the intensity of the problem and its context. Bobby, the first to wake the following day, sat and looked at it from the lake-view window.
The other two boys awoke ready to continue measuring, cutting, sawing, and nailing. They saw the plants everywhere the soil lay.
The final touches were nearly complete, except for minor details; Bobby could finish by himself.
They finished their work and had a successful evening together. It allowed the men to fish for their supper and appreciate the sunlight. They caught enough for them to eat well. They saw the grey, heavy silence replace the usual cheerful camaraderie between Ray, Francis, and Bobby,
Francis’ mouth hung open at his glimpse out the lakeside window. None of the men believed their eyes. Everywhere they looked, they saw cornstalk-like plants. Bobby wondered about their town; was it overflowing with cornstalks, too? Leftover storm stuff was hiding in the cornstalks, which had grown super tall overnight. Yet these plants lacked the
characteristic ears of corn; instead, they had larger capsule-shaped ‘ears.’
“What the hell is going on? Bobby, look at this.”
“Those corn stalks weren’t there yesterday.”
“Yeah, guys, I know. I saw that stuff this morning already before you awoke. I’ve never seen
any crop in my life grow overnight like that.” Bobby shook his head and headed outside. He
scrutinized the leaves, the stem, and the stalk, along with the capsule-looking things Bobby was positively held something but were now empty. He ran inside, “This isn’t good, fellas; whatever it is looks big. The one I ripped apart had no sign of an ear of corn trying to grow or having been there, but something else, way larger and with hair.”
“Strange,” Ray offered. “Maybe the government’s experimenting again, but this time they aren’t telling people about it.”
“Why? Why Ray, would the government do something like this? They’d have to know people’d freak out.”
“Who knows? In this rural area, we have our share of government stories we could tell, right?” Bobby said.
“Imagine fellas, last night, thousands of tiny seeds must’ve fallen from the sky inside that hailstorm. When they hit the ground, they turned into green-leafed plants resembling corn.”
Laced with fear and uncertainty, Francis’s tension rose to high alert. All the men reacted to the odd event, their anxiety intense. The unknown entity looms, its presence as a chilling weight in the air. The disturbing events compelled each character to grapple with their deepest fears and the new view of reality, friendship, and safety. Dread—thick in the air—from the loo of the cornstalks alone.
The guys breakfasted and finished the cabin, leaving plenty of time to fish for dinner. They cooked the fish they had filleted over the open fire. After dinner, the men enjoyed beers by the fire as they waited for the sunset.
Bobby pulled on the rust-coloured patches of his otherwise brown beard as he broached the subject of the corn-looking plants again.
“Those corn plants have been on my mind since this morning,” Bobby said. “Seen nothing like it or heard anyone in my family speak about it. Yesterday’s hailstorm likely caused this.”
Francis responded, “I do not know. It’s a plague, although I’m not ruling out what Bobby’s saying either.”
“A plague? Are you kidding? You can’t be serious, Francis?” Ray said. “What the hell? A plague? Like you mean the plagues from the Bible? With Moses and the Pharaoh?”
“Easy. We need to think. A public release may have caused them to abandon the government crop,” Ray said. Bobby couldn’t believe Francis, saying the government organized a purple hailstorm and didn’t tell anyone. — What an idiot! Bobby and his insatiable thirst for a more profound meaning had been there since he saw the plants this morning. It clashed with it being a mere coincidence. But he knew better than to mention it, and he concealed his doubt and worry with a noncommittal expression. Francis sensed a growing unease with his lifelong friend since daycare at Bobby’s mom’s house. He knew Bobby’s temperament well enough to see the atmosphere thick with uncertainty.
"This is unsettling," Ray whispered, his body twitching as bile coated the lining of his stomach and then filled in the rest.
“Think about it. Designed to mimic corn, it’s America’s favourite crop. Imagine tiny creatures dwelling where kernels should grow.” Ray paused in his fictitious story to see if they liked it.
“And now they’re invading the earth. Shit’s right out of a Stephen King novel, man.” Ray showcased a more imaginative and fearful disposition than Francis. Ray slipped into a gloomy reverie, envisioning a terrifying supernatural invasion. He rubbed his hands together at the sight of the purple hail and this overnight corn.
“Not to change the subject, Cujo, but look at the beautiful sunset!”
“Yes, Ray, I see it. I never thanked you two for helping me out this weekend. Please tell me when I can return the favour,” Bobby said.
“Bobby, I could use another beer. Ray, how about you? You need one, too?”
“Yes, I do. Bobby, thanks.”
“Sure. I’ve got plenty more in the truck for us. Listen, guys, I’ll be back right after a leak and a hand wash, and then I’ll be back with beer.” He drew on his cigarette hard as the lit end flashed on his face in a red glow; his cheekbones were high and chiselled, his eyes were close together, and his nose was long, but a trimmed beard. Then he disappeared up the hill with his helmet light on.
Bobby used the light headband to lead him into the bush. Just as he finished, he thought he heard a rustling of leaves. He looked back, uncertain.
What was that? I think it was a big one; ahh, I just saw a shadow cast on those trees from the fire. That sucker was huge. He laughed to himself for thinking it. He grabbed the rest of the beer from his truck and headed back to the fire.
As he drew closer to the fire, he said, “Okay, fellas, the first guy to answer this question gets the first beer. Who lives at 1313 Mockingbird Lane?”
But when he arrived at the fireside, he found the chairs scattered and the guys gone. An instant flutter of butterflies let loose in his stomach as his hair stood on end.
“Okay, you guys. You got me. I’m freaked out here. Come out, come out, wherever you are.”
Bobby smiled, believing he would see one or both of his best friends' faces.
After sunset, darkness was immediate, and when nobody showed their faces, Bobby panicked.
With his voice dry and hoarse, he accepted the harsh reality that the guys were gone and Bobby was right to be scared.
With a population of 2500, Thompson, Michigan, was a small town. Halfway up the Mitt on a map of Michigan, and west, just south of Holland, Michigan, lies the town of Thompson. During the summer, Thompson becomes overrun with tourists on their way elsewhere. The town offered souvenirs and beaches, birding plus a successful national park. Hikers and birders flew through the place
to view their share of birds: A black-chinned hummingbird in flight or a glimpse of a silver-spotted skipper kaleidoscope of butterflies. Butterflies contract their bodies to make a slanted figure-eight pattern with their wings.
Yet, despite its small population, not everyone knew everyone. Knowing someone through a chain of acquaintances isn't the same as knowing them. He thought back to Ray’s “fictitious story” and his “alien creatures,” and their responsibility for having grabbed up his friends became a reality. He pulled over and threw up, and after he drove a little way, he dries heaved for a spell. He pulled over again as he sat in the bright moonlight; he thought of his two friends, and it kept his mind focused on what he should do next.
His trembling hand wiped his dry mouth, and he returned to the road. A concentration of sweat broke out on his forehead and the small part of his neck. He tried his cell phone, but it had no bars; his mind jumped into a different mode. What if an actual attack occurred in the United States? And if people in wide open spaces vaporized, leaving the smell of ozone? Perhaps it is coincidental. But how would Francis know that? Bobby thought. He floored it, the engine roaring, and ended up outside the police station, his heart jumping high from his chest like a pole vaulter at the bar. He felt a prickle of unease and considered, hmm, maybe I should check in with the police.
Two perks of being a volunteer fireman for Bobby included the adrenaline rush of emergency calls and the feeling of being a part of community involvement. When he pulled in front of the police station, Bobby’s body shook. Nobody was in sight; the doors to the station were wide open and banging in the wind. He went inside and hollered,
“Chief Bloodstone? Are you here? It’s me, Bobby Jacobs.” He paused from hollering to see if anyone was going to answer him.
Again, no answer. He could hear their generator working on his way in.
Bobby eyed the guns in the cabinet and retrieved the keys from the chief’s office. He loaded up on firearms and ammunition, putting the last bit in his truck bed. He tried his cell phone again as he lit a cigarette. Bobby, once again, found himself without the constraints of rules or restrictions, free to act as he pleased. The first time he gained freedom from rules; it wasn’t the best way to get it. His parents died in an interstate accident on a weekend visit to a friend’s home. Bobby was 14 and his sister, 16.
Bobby sat in the front seat to finish his smoke before driving. He tapped his steering wheel and looked around. The memories of his parents; tragic deaths struck him and fuelled his fears of isolation and loneliness. Bobby believed volunteer firemen taught him how to look and remain calm while, on the inside, a crisis erupted. are protecting others. He thought, am I up for an ambiguous challenge? Why should I think I am? My god, what a nightmare. First Francis and Ray, and my sister, Dana, too? I got to pull myself together.
Voices reached Bobby’s ears. He lifted his gaze upward, looking to the sky above him.
Who are they? Are they responsible for all this strangeness? He wondered. He sat still and lowered the cigarette to observe them since he was downwind.
One of them spotted the truck and saw smoke rising from the crack in the window. So much for looking inconspicuous, Bobby thought.
“Lucky for us you were smoking. We saw the smoke. Otherwise, nobody would have noticed this truck. There are cars parked all over town. You should see it. Oh, sorry. Hi, I’m Betty.”
“Hi Betty, I’m Bobby.”
“Bobby, I’m Raif, and she's Trudy.”
“Where’d you come from? We’ve been through this town street by street, and we have never seen you or your truck anywhere before now. Are you involved with this whacked corn stuff?
Raif asked, "Why are you here?”
“Raif, I could ask you the same questions you asked me,” Bobby answered. “And no, I have nothing to do with this—whatever we’re experiencing.” Bobby shrugged his shoulders and raised his upturned hands in the air.
“We’re glad to meet someone else. Is there anyone else like us here?” Trudy asked.
“No. I know about only you three. I live here in town; what about you?"
“Bobby, maybe we should plan for what's next,” Betty suggested.
“Bobby, sticking together is our best chance, don’t you think?” Trudy, with curly black hair, said, her eyes fixed on Bobby.
“Of course, I do.” Bobby said. “We can go to my place. It’s just around the corner.” He smiled and said, “Hop in.”
“Cool.” Raif told them how he was born and raised in Thompson. His parents and grandparents had lived in Thompson, too. Yet his shaky voice stemmed from a desire for safety. He must’ve asked questions of Bobby, eager to connect.
Bobby pulled into his driveway. They all exited Bobby’s truck and were in the side mudroom where they ditched their shoes. They sat in the kitchen at the table.
Bobby said, “I know things don’t look familiar and that surroundings have changed, which is unsettling, but we’re all that’s left in this town. That much we know.
“Maybe we should stick with you, Bobby,” Betty, with the short, cut blonde hair, said.
The desperate-for-a-connection trio looked to Bobby as that guy.
“Tomorrow let’s go to Holland to see what happened in their town,” Bobby said.
“I like the idea. Trudy stated.
“I agree with Trudy,” Raif said.
“Okay, it’s the first on our to-do list for tomorrow.”
Bobby’s house looked like it came from a Better Homes and Gardens magazine since his sister decorated it. The girls loved it.
“This looks like a first-class joint,” Raif said.
“Thanks, man. My sister, Sarah, decorated this place. We own it together,” Bobby said.
Since they had already eaten, Bobby offered them all a cocktail. Then, they sat down to debrief and discuss the next steps.
“My parents are dead; otherwise, I’d call them to find out what’s going on in the rest of the state,” Bobby said.
Betty said, "I'm sorry," Bobby caught on Raif wasn’t the only one who wanted to connect with him.
“Yeah, me too,” Raif agreed.
“Bobby, horrible, sorry," Trudy said.
“Yeah, it’s okay, thanks. Several years have passed. A weekend trip ended with a snowstorm-related accident. They died when another vehicle struck theirs. Trudy, what about you?”
“Well, I moved here because of my internship at the law college, but when they told me they
didn’t have a job, I found an online gig and stayed. I fell in love with the small-town pace of things here,” Trudy offered.
“I grew up here.” Raif smiled and gave a nod.
“Me too,” Betty said.
“You know, it’s just me and my sister, but she doesn’t own a landline, so I can’t get in touch with her,” Bobby said. “My phone has no bars, and I can’t use the landline.”
“Oh, my grandmother lives in Detroit. I’ll call her. Just a sec.” Trudy fished around inside her purse for her cell phone.” Trudy said.
Bobby shook his head. “It’s no use, Trudy. There’s no cell phone service.”
“What? No bars? That’s not good,” Raif said.
“Just a minute, please. I do. I have someone we can call,” Betty said. “My neighbours in the Air Force; I can call him.”
Raif flashed her a smile. Trudy nodded her head.
Betty blushed as she and Bobby made eye contact. She was tall, with blonde hair cut short like a boy and sharp blue eyes.
As she nursed her drink, Betty went straight to the phone and called Steve at the Air Force base.
Thank you for calling Selfridge Air Force Base, this is Corporeal McBlade speaking, how may I direct your call?"
“I need to speak with Lieutenant, Steve Banks. It’s an emergency.”
“What is the nature of your emergency with the lieutenant, please?”
"The girl next door is calling to report that Steve's parents have gone missing."
“Betty? Steve here. Have you been drinking or doing drugs?”
“My God, no! I’m telling you there’s something wrong here.
"We should contact the FBI,” Bobby said. Bobby added. "Perhaps they can tell us the reason for all of this."
“What do I tell them? The entire town disappeared. Nobody will believe me, Bets.”
“I wouldn’t believe it either, but I’m here witnessing it,” Betty said. “They should be wary and look for corn-like plants sprouting in unusual locations.”
“Okay, I'll see what I can do. I’ll be as convincing as I can be,” Steve said.
“I’ll be at 2693 Jacob House waiting for your arrival,” Betty said.
“Okay, got it. We should be there in less than thirty minutes. If we don’t show up by then, call us back or follow up with the bureau. I look forward to seeing you. Bye, Bets.”
After 45 minutes without hearing from Steve or seeing him, Raif demanded, “Call your neighbour and see what the hold-up is.” Raif, a former high school football player, was tall, with muscular arms and large hands. His eyes were chestnut, and his hair was brown.
Betty dialled the base. The phone rang and rang and rang.
“No one is answering. Oh my God. Someone has taken over the airbase. Now, what are we going to do?”
“I guess nobody is coming, so we need to pull ourselves together," Bobby said. “Whoever can call the FBI, I suggest we make it now instead of waiting longer.”
“There’s nothing we can do about it tonight. It’s time for us to sleep. Tomorrow, we’ll call the FBI,” Trudy said.
The next day, as the sun peeked over the horizon, Bobby put the coffee on, the rich aroma filling the kitchen as he made breakfast. He thought about his parents, his friends, and his sister.
He wanted to keep everyone safe, and the pressure caused him to become a smoking fiend. His mouth tasted like an ashtray, and he knew he needed to slow down on his smoking. Everyone looked to him for guidance and leadership. I’m one guy; what if I make a mistake or my hunch about heading northwest is incorrect? I mean, one night, thousands of tiny seeds fell from the sky like hail. When they hit the ground, they bounced up into green-leafed plants. Whatever fell took root over two nights. They looked like corn stalks but without corn husks. They flourished wherever soil existed.
“There’s not much food in this house,” Bobby said as the others entered the kitchen.
“We should go shopping,” Trudy said.
The four hopped into Bobby’s truck, and he drove to the shopping centre. The two girls entered the grocery store. Bobby asked Betty to get him some cigarettes. Raif raided the liquor store while Bobby walked into the hardware store. The four reconvened a half hour later.
Bobby plus the girls loaded groceries into the truck.
“Raif, did you find anything useful?” Bobby asked.
Raif exclaimed, looking at his liquor. "So much liquor!"Raif struggles with loyalty and a desire for safety. While he is eager to connect with Bobby and band together for protection, he also displays apprehension about the unfolding situation. Raif's familiarity with the town creates a sense of belonging and apprehension.
Bobby laughed. I picked up a couple of shovels, a pickaxe, and a long-handled axe. They’re in the truck bed.” As they returned to the truck, Bobby lit a cigarette and sat on the tailgate.
The silence of the town filled the air. Not a bird, nor an engine, nor a plane anywhere.
Notice anything odd? Bobby asked.
They all shrugged.
“There are no birds in the sky.”
He's correct.” Raif looked around, darting from one spot to another. Let's return home.
As a precaution, they stayed off the main street. Bobby halted by the truck.
Bobby declared ample corn.
“Ooh, I don’t like the looks of that,” Trudy said.
Raif sat shotgun, and the two girls sat in the back.
Its origin: any ideas?”
Corn is growing in every backyard; did you notice?
“Yeah. It's a fright zone at this point.”
“What’s your take on this, Bobby? Hailstorm-related inquiries?” Raif said.
“I don't know, but if I were a betting man, I'd put my money on it,” Bobby expressed.
They returned to Bobby's house and ate a late lunch. Afternoon sunlight intermittently shone through the clouds. The silence left everyone to think about their precarious dilemma with the creatures.
“I need a drink,” Raif said, opening a bottle of Scotch.
Outside, after finishing his drink, Bobby said, “Pour me a glass, too,” before lighting a smoke.
Have you pondered this town's people and what has befallen them?” Trudy asked.
“Right now, we need to focus on staying alive ourselves. Why think about anyone else? We must think about survival now,” Bobby said as he returned from his smoke break.
“Yeah, we need to figure out what we are dealing with and how they operate. Maybe at night?”
“Raif’s right,” Betty said, entering the kitchen. “Knowing the airmen won't be arriving to assist us, we must maintain our composure and maintain hope.”
“We should drive to the next town to see if they have the same problem,” Raif said.
“I think it’s better than sitting around here,” Bobby said.
“I don't know. I’m not sure it’s a good idea,” Betty said.
“Togetherness, Betty, is what we need now,” Trudy said.
“I guess I'll go if everyone agrees,” Betty said.
Trudy asked if they could borrow Betty's car. “The truck bed is murder on my ass.” Trudy's laughter was infectious.
The four piled into Betty's car and drove away. They went along Chelsey Road, passing farms surrounded by picket fences and beautiful ponds. Thompson's scenic drive is this one.
Lake Michigan's eastern shore had Thompson on it's shores which offered various amenities, including restaurants and shops. The children's anxiety soared as they walked past the empty areas, now sprouting what looked like purple corn stalks—the leftover confetti from two days before. What they could not figure out as they drove was how the creatures attacked unseen and why. What aim?
Past that, Saint Mary's church sits across the street, from Sansone's funeral parlour. The barbershop adjoined the hair salon. Finally, there’s a plaza with three stones: Ajax supermarket,
Harry's liquor, and Dunlap hardware.
Corn-like stalks grew on the side of the road, and a sea of yellow leaves rustled in the wind.
The sun shone on the endless fields of yellow, while a consistent breeze whispered through the swaying stalks. Their heartbeats, the sound dominated, and the eerie silence raised their heart rates as they drove on without direction of where to go.
“This is strange. It's like we’re in a Twilight Zone. All this corn? What does it mean?” Trudy asked.
“Hey, can you pull over, man? I must pee,” Raif said.
“Where are you going to go? In the cornfield?” Betty said.
“Yeah, why not? You need to go, too.”
“Raif, don't get lost in there. You never know what’s lurking among the corn tassels.” Betty laughed.
“We should all go pee together,” Trudy said, laughing.
Bobby exited the vehicle, stating he also needed to leave. He hit the field first and walked quite a distance until he paused and stared in horror at troll-like creatures with large, muscular, hairy arms and craggy faces. They were dragging dead bodies and stacking them up. Their mouths were full of razor-sharp teeth and they had big, bulbous eyes. Six of them were squatting in a circle, tearing the flesh from human bones.
“Christ!” Bobby said in a hushed voice. Run, Bobby, run. He sprinted forward and grabbed
Raif, giving him a sarcastic look.
“What is it? What’s going on?” Raif whispered.
Bobby hid among the cornstalks. A bank of storm clouds loomed on the horizon, turning the sky grey.
“Where are Bobby and Raif?” Betty asked. The girls were standing beside the car.
Raif didn't answer.
“Someone could get lost in here,” Trudy quipped.
“What happened to us sticking together?” Betty asked Trudy.
You're correct; however, their actions suggest unusual circumstances.
“Where you go, I go,” Trudy said. We should return to the vehicle.
“Not me,” Betty said. “I’m watching the fellas, so they won’t disappear, too.” As the ladies discussed their reality, Trudy’s eyes were in and out of focus. Betty held her head for her as she vomited. Betty felt it too. Her mouth was cotton. She saw Raif coming their way. Raif asked them to stay behind him as they trekked through the cornfield. When they reached Bobby, he pressed a finger to his lips.
“Oh my God, what are those things?” Trudy whispered.
“Ew, how disgusting!” Betty said. “Hey, wait. The deceased individuals appear to be the ones who vanished from town. Do you think they are the ones who disappeared from town?”
“Yeah. I think they are,” Raif said.
“We should get out of here. Before they see us.” Trudy pulled Betty's arm, and they stepped on a fast-paced walk out of the cornfield. The two guys stole back to the car, following the girls.
Bobby hopped behind the wheel, and they sped off down the road.
The four hit the road and screamed, and yells filled the car as they struggled to process what they had witnessed. Bobby banged the steering wheel, and Raif hit the edge of the side passenger window because the window was down. Betty and Trudy stared after their initial screams of horror.
The car screeched to a halt in front of the house, and they hurried inside.
“What do we do now?” Trudy asked. “Other than creatures eating people they’ve killed; there’s nothing else to think about or watch around here.”
Raif proposed a toast. "Sambuca, okay for you girls?”
The two girls nodded.
“What about you, Bobby? Another Scotch?”
“Yeah, why not? Thanks!”
The four clinked glasses and toasted to new friendships.
“I saw what they looked like; their teeth were like piranhas, and their strength was unlike anything I've ever seen in something so small,” Bobby said. “They’re hairy, but they leap. Their sense of smell may not be keen, but their advantage is in numbers. They are mighty,” Bobby said. A mixture of envy and frustration in his voice.
“Bobby, how do we fight this?” Trudy said.
"It involved significant planning," Bobby explained,"and careful observation from a concealed location."
“The creatures? How?” Raif said.
“Just like we just did,” Bobby said. He grabbed a marker and large pieces of paper and began writing what he observed when he was in the cornfield. The piles were already there. No creatures lingered near the fire. They acted like they were afraid of the fire. They worked in synchronicity, like a gear clock—never slipped a gear.
Bobby wondered if they didn’t know he was watching them and allowed him to do so. He realized he was at war. It scared him because he wasn’t a soldier. Bobby had to be since he faced a kill-or-be-killed situation. Those creatures were ripping at the intestines of the person they had captured.
A callous, cold transaction left them satisfied for a moment. The image wouldn’t leave his brain for a time as he thought about Francis and Ray. His eyes welled with tears, and he put the marker down, grabbed his drink, and headed outside for a smoke. I’m vital to these guys. I owe it to my buddies, too. It’s just up to me now. I must be smart. I can do this. We need the FBI. I believe they are the key to us. I can sell it. Necessity breeds ability. He threw his butt to the ground. With a stomp, he crushed it. He picked it up—this is garbage. Once inside, he poured another drink and asked the others to gather around at five.
This job requires difficult communication. Let me be direct. I need all of you to listen and be team members because we are a team.” Bobby paced while he spoke, not looking at anyone, on his list of things he knew about the creatures. “We must wage war. These creatures are dangerous, and we must be prepared to kill them,” Bobby said. “I’m not a soldier by choice, but by no choice. The creatures transformed me into a soldier, and I adopted the posture to outwit and outplay these tiny creatures, too,” Bobby went on. “I believe you are just the people who keep me alive. So, let’s do this.”
Betty paced as she took in every word.
“One more drink for everyone, and try not to think about it," Raif said, reaching out to her.
“We’ll be fine as long as we stick together.”
“You think, Raif? I’m scared.” She bit her nails and paced, not looking at anything.
“I’m scared, too,” Raif admitted. A tight, nauseous feeling clenched my stomach.
“Whoa, would everyone just get a grip?” Bobby said. He was the tallest of the group, with thick, rust-coloured hair and pale hazel eyes. He is the lead scientist at his biopharmaceutical company.
Raif poured himself another drink. “Someone is bound to come and help us.” His anxiety and uncertainty about the world and his place in it hit him hard. Bobby’s words sunk in, and Raif knew he needed help. Raif drank his loss every night after he lost his support network overnight.
The alcohol kept him numb and unable to focus deeper on his predicament.
“I think we should call the FBI to ensure someone does come,” Betty said.
“I’m for that,” Bobby agreed. He took Raif aside and asked if he heard the bells ringing.
“St. Mary's church?”
“Yeah.”
“I didn't hear any bells ringing.”
“It must have been my imagination.”
Raif turned to Betty. "Betty, before you call the FBI, can you get ice from the fridge in the garage? There's none in this fridge."
Betty used the overhead door to access the garage. While bent over the ice tray, she heard a loud thud behind her. With a look behind her, the ice bucket dropped from her hands, and she ran out of the garage.
“Where’s the ice?” Raif said.
“There's a creature in the garage.” Betty shut the garage door with the remote.
“Everyone stays calm,” Bobby said. He picked up the long axe. He locked the house door for protection. Bobby opened the side door. The axe fell out of his hand. It crashed on the kitchen tile floor and lay still.
Bobby rushed to the kitchen, gasping for air.
“What happened? You look like you've seen a ghost,” Raif said.
“What’s going on?” Betty yelled. “Did you see it?”
“Yes, I saw it,” Bobby said, and he flopped down on a kitchen chair.
“What the hell?” Trudy shrieked.
Raif embraced her. “What are those things? Where do they come from?” Trudy said it between tears.
Bobby picked up the two shovels from the kitchen floor.
“What are we going to do, man?” Raif said.
Bobby gave Raif a shovel, opened the side door, and peeked in. The creature was bent over the chest freezer. Bobby raced up behind it and whacked it in the head, stunned by the blow. Raif slammed the creature again with his shovel. It fell headfirst into the freezer. Bobby closed the freezer door and trapped the beast inside. The guys pulled and shoved three new winter tires on the lid.
They returned to the kitchen and crowed about their accomplishment.
“I think it’s time we call the FBI.”
“Federal Bureau of Investigation, Agent Mason speaking, how may we help you?”
“Yes, hi. My name is Betty Green. I live in Thompson, Michigan. Everyone in our town except for the four of us disappeared. I called the Air Force Base. They were supposed to show up hours ago, but when I called back, there was no answer. We need your help.”
Madam, in all our years of experience, we've encountered nothing similar. To proceed, I will require additional details and information.
“Ugh, I’ll just let Bobby speak to you.” She hands the phone to Bobby, who says, “Hello. We have seen these creatures, and they arrived after we experienced severe hail two days later, which grew into cornstalks. The creatures are man-eaters and savages. We are at war, sir, so come with a vehicle that can resist tampering and weapons.”
“I took down all the information I could, and I’ll take it up with my superiors and return a call to you. Is this the number I can reach you at?” The agent asked.
“Yes, sir.” Bobby said, “Please hurry.”
The special agent, Dick Mason, wasn’t sure what to do. He called the Air Force base, but he got no answer. He also tried the Thompson police station and got no answer. Regardless of what the director said, he and Charlie may have to drive near Thompson to help those poor kids.
Bobby sounded desperate, Dick thought, as he rode the elevator up to the director's office on the second floor. Dick detailed the situation, then sought volunteers to accompany him to Thompson for a site visit.
“It's the sign of the times, Dick; everyone has a conspiracy,” his boss said.
“Yes, sir. I verified two pieces of information the woman reported to me,” Dick said.
“You don’t think it's a hoax?” His boss asked.
“My gut feeling is no; I don't think so,” Dick answered.
The director of the FBI concurred something suspicious was happening in Michigan's western region. It would be ludicrous to send Dick and another agent to Thompson. Missing-person cases remain untouched by other agents.
The director said he “Couldn’t make anyone report to thecall.” He shrugged and said, “Good luck, fellas.”
“One SUV Hummer and guns. This is all he gave us. Jesus Christ. Dick complained to Charlie, “Tell me he gave us gas masks and the like to counter air attacks.”
“Sorry, Dick. He’s an asshole. He didn’t give us our pay either. I’m starved. Let's grab a bite before we leave the city for Booneyville. Sound good?” Charlie P. Scott laughed and rolled his eyes. “Now, you know, getting hot under the collar isn’t good for anyone.”
What's our plan upon arrival?” Dick said.
“Dick, we must be on high alert. Those kids need us,” Charlie said.
“We’ll have to kill, so get those guns ready. The vehicle is our best defence; understand,
Charlie?” Dick’s sweaty armpits looked like jugs ballooning out into the front of his shirt.
“What’s going on, Dick? Why this agitation over these creatures?” Charlie said.
“I don’t know. I have a feeling about something. I hope I’m ready,” Dick said.
“Me, too,” Charlie said.
When they reached the outskirts of town, they saw creatures lined along the roadway. They approached the town line, but creatures attacked their vehicle as they tried to enter. Dick shot right away, but Charlie had trouble shooting his gun.
“Dick, Dick, help me.” Charlie got off two shots, and then his gun jammed. Dick didn’t see what Charlie faced because he had his creatures to deal with for his life. The stench of decay and damp earth clung to the hairy, troll-like creatures as they closed in on Charlie, their relentless assault leaving him no respite. They chomped on his arm; next, they chomped on his chest, and before Dick knew it. Creatures pulled Charlie from the car and attacked him.
Dick, awe-struck, moved without grace to a spot where he could see another person inside the town limits. He waved to him, saying he needed him to shoot the creatures so he could join him on the other side.
“I can’t get through. It’s the creatures,” he yelled. “They’ve set up a kind of barrier around the town perimeter.”
He jumped back inside his vehicle and shut it to the outside creatures. Creatures covered Dick's Hummer after he drove toward the town line and crossed without issue. As he crossed the barrier, he killed every creature in his car.
Dick could see troll-like creatures had roamed the town and destroyed everything in their path.
He called his supervisor from his car phone to tell him about the barrier and the creatures.
“A barrier?” the director said in disbelief.
"Yes, sir," the words quivered from their lips, eyes wide with dread as they recounted the harrowing ordeal only Charlie braved. A hollow ache remains, a constant reminder of the loss that haunts me. The room fell silent as the news of his death spread. He sacrificed everything, allowing me to escape. "Sir, I apologize. There was nothing I could do to save him.”
“Then come back,” the director said.
“Yes, sir,” Dick said.
“Yeah, maybe we should try to get a sample,” the director suggested.
“I don't look like a scientist, do I?” Dick challenged his director.
“You need to do your job, Dick, and not at all, sir.”
“Why doesn’t the FBI alert the Armed Forces? If what these kids tell us is true, we'll need the Army,” Dick suggested.
“I’ll do my best here. You find those kids. Round them up and bring them here with you,” the director said. We possess the tools to defeat the enemy.
“Yes, sir. We’ll see you. I’ll call again when we’re heading back,” Dick said.
“Right, goodbye. Dick,” his director said.
“We should hear from the FBI,” Bobby said. “I think we’re going to need them.”
Betty stated, “You are indeed right.” Even when her father took her to a firing range, she refused to handle a weapon; instead, she walked out and waited for him in the car.
“We've got rusty old farm tools and those police guns I liberated on day one, when things started getting weird,” Bobby said, his voice low.
“Drop the subject, please? I don’t feel like talking anymore,” Betty said.
“Betty, don't worry,” Trudy said.
A creature passed through the barrier and attacked Dick’s car. Dick pulled out his pistol and shot the beast in the back. The creature rose, wheeled, then lunged at Dick's vehicle. He hit it three more times. The beast fell inches from his feet and died.
Two creatures lumbered out of the cornfield and up the road toward Betty's house.
“I need fresh air,” Betty said, walking out the front door. She reached the end of the driveway when she saw the creatures. They were about a hundred yards away. She dashed inside, relaying the news.
“How far are they?” Bobby asked.
“I don't know how far, but they’re getting closer.”
Bobby shouted, "Quick, to the truck!" He got in and drove away. He ran into Dick at the town’s edge, near the weathered signpost marking the boundary.
Charlie’s body lay on the ground, dead, bleeding from the face, neck, and arms.
Dick grabbed a pump-action shotgun from the trunk and snatched a handful of shells. He shoved them in his jacket pocket. Dick loaded the gun. He went under the car and emerged beside the passenger seat.
The second creature rushed towards the car. He shot it twice in the head. Another being breached the barrier, heading straight for him. He hit the beast, and the monster toppled over.
When the monster raised its head, Dick fired a single shot, killing it.
Dick approached the spot where his partner's body should have been, only to find it gone.
As two more creatures barrelled through, Dick raced to his car and hid behind the front fender.
He watched as creature after creature filed out and lumbered up the road toward the city. There was a break in the action. No more creatures came through.
He stood and leaned on the car. Time to mourn, Charlie; he had to fight for his life. Dick was a 35-year-old FBI career man who had a wife and two babies at home. He prioritized his FBI work over his family. Dick never could discern why his wife married him. He worked; home was never his destination. He put his optimism into his shared love for making the best out of every situation. His dealings with the creatures and the last residents of Thompson, Michigan, renewed his belief that good always triumphs over evil.
An idea popped into his head. Dick contended with opposing forces. The goodness tilted the balance. The dead creature nearest him smelled like a carcass rotted in the sun. He gagged as he opened the passenger door to find the box of masks and picked one.
Dick draped the creature over his back. He breached the barrier. Dick picked up the beast. He lifted it on his back. It looked light. Dick moved with ease. He held the hairy, thick-armed dead creature around his neck. Dick looked awkward, holding on with the shotgun in his hand. He didn't have far to go. He headed straight for the barrier. It worked, and he passed through with no problems.
On the other side, inside the town line, was another clue about dealing with humans' horrible advantage of using the creatures to their advantage. Advantage? Creatures? Could they be in a sci-fi movie and not know it?
“Hey, you must be Dick, the FBI agent. I thought they were sending more than just one guy. I’m Bobby. If you like, you can follow me back to the house.” Bobby flashed him a smile, and Dick could see Bobby smoking out the driver’s side window, flicking his ash all over the place.
Dick nodded and said, “Sounds good, Bobby. They noted creatures inside houses during their journey. When they got to Betty’s, a creature broke a window and crawled inside.
Bobby plunged a shovel through the creature's neck and killed it.
The agent exited his car with his shotgun and approached the house. Dick shot another creature as it crawled onto the porch. It fell to the ground with its head split open. The third creature slammed Dick to the ground. He dropped the shotgun with impact, and it skidded across the road.
Raif, within the house, assaulted the creature from behind, using a pickaxe to strike its neck. It dug deep into the creature's back. The beast turned and clawed Bobby across his chest. Bobby fell. Dick scrambled to his feet, picked up the shotgun, and shot the creature in the head. The beast fell dead atop Bobby. Raif stood frozen at the sight.
Betty went to Bobby’s side. “You, okay?” Betty said to Bobby, “The creature scratched you.”
Raif helped Bobby to his feet.
“Get to the barrier; we’ll drive to the city,” Dick said.
“Why go there? We know we can't get through,” Raif said.
“I know how to penetrate the barrier,” Dick told them.
“Okay, let’s go,” Bobby said.
They loaded the car with groceries in the trunk and left for the city. On the way, they shot at creatures going through the invisible barrier. Some passed by; others followed. Dick stopped the car yards away. He handed one of the confiscated rifles to Raif. They stepped out and blasted away, killing all the creatures they had not gone through. Dick drove up close to the dead creatures. He explained his success to the group.
“Ew, you want me to put one of those on my back. No way!” Betty said.
Trudy grimaced.
“No, no. We’re going to take a different approach. I think it might work,” Dick said.
“Raif and Bobby, can you please help me cover the car with those monster carcasses?”
They sped up and crashed through the barricade. They laughed to hone their skills as vicious killers and endured destruction and death.
On their way to the city, the sunset turned the clouds pink and lavender. The car was silent and eerie at the new reality, as dread settled over them as they witnessed the devastation.
Trudy said, “I can't remember the last time I saw a sunset.” Silence permeated the vehicle as everyone’s adrenaline subsided. Nobody wanted to discuss anything serious at this point—getting to the city would be a welcome change. At least it lacked corn and creature nonsense, Bobby mused. Upon reaching the city's suburbs, the five were in disbelief. Betty emitted a loud yowl.
“What’s going on here? This is an improvement," Betty shrieked. “I don’t like this one bit. We are in terrible danger here.” Her observation of a creature crawling out of the window added focus to the immediate danger. Their interactions show they are part of a team facing a dire situation, reflecting trust and reliance on one another amid chaos.
“I know, Bets. I know. Currently, Dick told us his boss was waiting for us at the FBI building. Okay? We’ll wait and see,” Raif said.
Dick pulled up in front of the FBI building. Someone had smashed the windows, and flames engulfed the broken glass higher up.
"Anyone surviving inside?” Bobby asked.
Bobby and Dick’s relationship, characterized by concern, was born out of Dick being a firm support for Bobby. His question, filled with genuine concern, revealed empathy for the potential victims trapped within the FBI building, highlighting his deep respect for human life. Dick’s position in front of the building is also leadership or responsibility, as he takes charge of the situation when Bobby can’t. This dynamic suggests Bobby might look to Dick for strength, resilience, and guidance in crises.
“There’s another one,” Betty yelled as she pointed to a spot on the building. The creature crawled out of a broken window and scaled the building walls like a spider. Dick drove to the
underground parking, where he dispersed the vehicles for the FBI agents. He asked Bobby and Raif to find two cars they could use on their westward journey. Betty and Trudy noticed a couple and invited them underground.
"No. We can’t help them. Sorry,” Raif said without looking up. Raif looks sad as he tells the woman they can't take her with them, which reflects his compassion and a sense of moral conflict. He understands the harsh reality of their situation and feels sympathy for the woman despite their need to leave.
When Dick drove the car out of the underground parking garage, he saw a man and a woman walk towards them with blood all over them. They walked as though they were drunken sailors, taking up the entire expanse of sidewalk with each step. The woman fell and struggled to stand.
The man continued walking.
“We should help the poor woman,” Betty yelled.
Dick pulled up to the woman and stopped his car. Trudy and Raif jumped out and helped her to her feet.
“Can you walk?” Trudy asked. Trudy's question shows she is practical and concerned about the woman's ability to escape the situation. It suggests she is cautious and assesses the risks of taking someone with them.
The woman shook her head.
“I’m sorry, we can’t take you with us. Raif said the car was too small.
“We’ll be fine. We carry fire. The creatures are afraid of fire, so they leave us alone,” the woman said. “We’re looking for a car with keys. Once we find one, we will head west.” The woman’s response shows resilience and resourcefulness. Despite her condition, she remains hopeful and focused on finding a vehicle to continue her journey. Her mention of fire as a means of protection shows her awareness of the dangers in her environment and her determination to survive.
Dick threw her the keys to a car parked on the street. “Try that one,” he pointed, “those keys should work.” Dick’s action of throwing the keys to the woman reveals a more pragmatic and decisive side. He offers a potential solution to her plight, seeing it as help without compromising their safety.
“We should’ve taken her with us,” Betty said. We were incorrect. Her empathy and moral conscience surface as she feels the weight of their decision. Overall, the characters exhibit a mix of practicality, compassion, and moral complexity in a tense and desperate situation, highlighting the struggles between self-preservation and helping others.
Trudy turned to see the creature leave the building and enter the road. Right behind it came another. They hurried toward them. She shouted, "We have to split, pronto!"
Trudy is proactive and urgent. Her instinctive reaction to the sight of the approaching creatures and her willingness to protect herself and others appeared in the shrill urgency of her voice.
It cut through the din, each command precise and strong, a testament to her decisiveness. The air crackled with her authority. A discord of sounds with movements and her keen observation skills came through. Despite shouts and crashes surrounding her, Trudy's ingenuity was clear.
A unique creature emerged from another, shattering a first-floor window. A growing multitude of creatures, their scents mingling in the air, converged.
Dick grappled with minor internal struggles he shared with Bobby. Dick wrestled with conflicting emotions; his duty to support Bobby clashed with his empathy for the injured couple, making him dismiss Betty and Trudy's offers of help, and his focus on the mission and team safety.
Faced with the sight of the blood-covered woman, Dick’s moral dilemma gave little time for thought. He shared that the struggle with Bobby is a testament to his compassion; he shows his awareness of the perils of aiding strangers in their precarious circumstances, each ragged breath a reminder of the risks, each whispered plea a burden on his soul.
Dick's assessment of his growing responsibility and the chaos of the moment clashed. His decision to stop and help the woman was a clear shift from self-preservation to recognizing shared humanity, a powerful act in the face of adversity. His strength in reflection marks a momentous turning point for Dick, demonstrating the struggle between self-preservation and altruism.
With creatures pursuing them, Trudy and Raif made it to the car. With moments to spare, Trudy and Raif rushed into the car, and as a beast collided with the trunk, Dick pressed the gas pedal. Raif and Trudy turned to see a wave of creatures moving in their direction. They watched in horror as the creatures attacked the woman.
“We have to get off the main roads,” Betty screamed.
“Holy shit!” Bobby exclaimed as he looked out the rear window. “I wonder about their original place of origin.”
“Who knows?” Dick said. He suggested they create as much distance between themselves and the other creatures as possible.
“Yeah, I have decisions to make about whether my leadership skills are enough for our survival,” Bobby said.
Dick's emphasis on escaping a threat highlights the urgency and need for an immediate action plan that Dick understood he and Bobby would have to create. Bobby's awareness of the leadership responsibilities suggested he should reflect on his role and the decisions he needs to make for the group's survival. This key interaction underscored the group's need for safety, effective leadership, teamwork, and strategic crisis planning.
THE END
