Destroy

CHAPTER I

On planet Earth there are approximately 7.3 billion people. Half of the population believing that there are people besides us. That we are not alone. The others deny this fact.

In the Milky Way galaxy alone are 100 billion or more planets.

There are 100 billion galaxies in this whole entire universe. Some are discovered and others are to be discovered.

But in all of this, no sign of life is found except on Earth. Hopes are still there of finding life, but after so much of research the result is. Nothing. Either they are hiding from us because they are scared or preparing to invade our planet Earth.

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I am so absorbed in this topic that I became deaf to my surroundings and don't hear the ball ring. Mr. David snatched the book from my hand which snaps me into reality.

"Miss Claire McClain, I hope you were not paying attention in class." I look up at him. "Hmm," he says reading the book, "It is a really interesting book, I will take it." I started to say something, "You can collect it before going home." With frustration and anger I violently get up, collect my books and head out to the cafeteria.

☆☆☆

"Now do you believe in aliens?" My friend Mark says sitting beside me with his tray.

"No, I don't. I will never ever believe them."

"Fine. . .Give me back my book." He opened his palm infront of me.

"I don't believe in aliens but I do believe in a teacher named Mr. Davis, who took your book." I looked at him with an innocent face and blinking continuosly.

"Then, you should go and take that book from him." He lowers his voice.

"After school, then."

☆☆☆

After school, I went to Mr. Davis' office. I knocked on the door, "Miss Claire. Here is your book." He hands me the book. "Quite interesting though." He flipped through his paperwork as the words reflected on his glasses.

Interesting, how? It's about something fictional, I thought and asked him, "What was interesting in this book?"

He looked up at me. His brown eyes fixed on me with a queer face, I think I shouldn't have asked the question. "The topic. It fascinates me."

"But it's about aliens. Which are fictious. And you discourage us to read fiction and you yourself don't like fiction." My voice becomes really low like all my confidence vanished into thin air.

He furrows his eye brows and his mouth turned into a frown. "It's a thing which I shouldn't share with students especially. . . you." My heart pounds as I curse myself over and over again that I shouldn't have asked him. "I work for NASA as a meteorologist." I breathe a sigh of relief as I thought he would give me detention. "Don't you dare tell anyone, I am trusting you."

"I won't." I said. Is it a threat to him to share his thought?

"Now, will you excuse me I have work to do." I nodded and ran out of the room.

Mark stood outside the school building with his hands shoved in his pockets. "Here you go." I handed him his book.

"What did he say to you?" He asked as we walked.

"Nothing much. Just said, don't read in my class."

"That's what every teacher says." He rolls his eyes. We walked to the bus stop, I told him that I would prefer to walk rather than take the bus like always.

It was one of the May hot, summer day with no wind. I felt like I was being roasted on a campfire so I scurried my way home.

As soon as I entered my room, my hair and clothes were completely drenched and my skin felt sticky, without wasting any time I hopped into the shower which sent coolness and a burning sensation through my body.

After changing in my clothes I walked to the kitchen to meet my mother. I took an Apple from the fruit basket and took a bite of that fresh, red, juicy fruit. "What are you making for dinner?" I said walking up to her.

"I am making burgers." She said frying the patties.

"Any special occasion?" I hopped up to sit on the kitchen counter.

"No, I wanted to eat that's why I am making them." I took another bite of the Apple with a crunch.

"Mum, can I talk to you about something." I looked at my skin which had become red.

"Yes, anything, dear." She said as she washed her hands.

"From a few days. Well, not from a few days but from my sixteenth birthday, whenever my skin comes in contact with cold water, it stings and then turns into red. Why does this happen?" I pointed at my arm which had turned into a shade of magenta.

She took a deep breath and runned her fingers through her hair which were naturally red from the scalp and faded into blond. Almost on fire. "Honey, I think you've got an infection, that's all."

I still don't believe her, I think something is wrong with me. "I will try to take care of myself." I jumped off the counter and went to the living room.

My brother had his eyes glued to the television. "Hey, Zee." I say on the couch beside him.

"Hey Clay, how was school?" His blue eyes twinkled at me through his glasses.

"And, why would you ask that?" I looked at his blond hair which was slightly damp.

"You came home late."

"I had to take my book, from Mr. Davis." He nodded. I couldn't help but notice that he has his face just like mother.

Which made me think, Is she really my mother? There are many differences which set me and my mother apart. Her skin is pale, even though she is not sick. Her cheekbone and jaw are clearly defined with her piercing gold eyes. Which is really odd. Me, on the other hand, I have a round face with tanned skin and brown eyes. Zee, also had some differences such as he and I shared the same skin colour but mother didn't.

"Clay," Zee said. "What were you thinking?"

"Did your skin also turned red after you took a shower?" His skin had turned soft pink.

"Since last year. Got to say you don't observe things much."

"When you turned thirteen." He nodded. "I have been experiencing since I turned sixteen."

"It's so unusual. Don't you think."

"Yes, what were you watching? Animal Planet. Boring." I flipped through the channels when a news bulletin caught my eye.