Conquering the Shadows

Chapter 2

Hazel relaxed to some music on the loud and panicked bus ride home. The freshmen were freaking out while the seniors were just shrugging it off.

Hazel, a junior, was in the middle. Her stop approached and she gathered her things before running up her driveway and into her house.

"Mom! Dad! Alex?" Hazel called into her home before rushing to the living room.

"Sweetie, is that you?" A woman asked and her mom turned the corner.

"Mom!" Hazel cried and ran into her mother's embrace.

"Oh honey, no need to be scared," her mom reassured.

Hazel pulled away, "But we have no clue who or what these invaders are!"

"Or if they are invaders at all," Hazel's Mom smiled gently, "your father is almost home and your brother left the middle school ten minutes ago and should be home any second."

"I'll go gather a bag," Hazel sighed before jogging up the white carpet stairs.

Hazel crashed on her bed and stared at the ceiling. Why did this have to happen to me?

Hazel felt the tears form in her eyes but refused to let them fall. She would not let fear take control. She would survive with the rest of her family.

Hazel stood up, grabbed a drawstring bag and started to gather. Three pens, a notebook, her favorite book, her phone (she didn't really ask why since it would die) some clothes, a hat, a blanket, and picture of her family.

Hazel brushed her thumb over her face in the picture and let a single tear run down her cheek and splash on the photo. But tears would have to wait.

Slinging the bag over her shoulder, hazel rushed to the basement to get one last thing. Was it overkill? Possibly. But she grabbed three of her fathers guns and every round of amo. Always best to be prepared.

Hazel shook her head to clear the dark thoughts closing in and rushed back up the stairs.

Alex had thrown his backpack onto the floor and ran upstairs. Hazel's Dad opened the door and rushed in behind him.

"This is all over the news Amy," her dad panicked and turned on the tv.

"A mysterious and believed to be dangerous air craft is hovering over eastern Massachusetts and heading south towards Boston. Other have been spotted in Raleigh , New York, and las ángeles. Not much is known besides they claim they are from a different universe and are not aliens but government forces have been deployed.  Police and authorities recommend to stay indoors and to stay up to date with the story."

Dad turned off the tv.

"They will be harmful I bet, no one who means good hovers over major cities and waits, no one," he grumbled before running up stairs.

Hazel watched him dash off and saw her mother's worried expression.

"You don't need to worry dear. We will keep you and Alex safe, your dad taught you to hunt and the good plants to eat, you two will be survivors," Mom sighed and pressed her thumbs to ear temples and pointer fingers to her forehead.

Hazel went to look out the window. What would happen? She couldn't help but wonder.

"I don't get why everyone is freaking out," Alex retorted as he stood next to her.

"Because they are strangers to earth!" Hazel shouted.

"But they are from another earth! Anther universe! I've seen it in the flash!" Alex exclaimed.