This isn't good.
Man, I look like a mess.
I stared in the mirror and what stares back is the face of 19-year-old, George McCullen, student at Grossaint University of Arts, Troisine. My coal, black eyes were sharp but sagging from the few hours of sleep I had last night, although I should say this morning. I swept my hand through my black unkept and messy hair to ensure that it had been swept back, just how I like it.
Although, a shower would probably do me some good
Now fresh, it's time to tackle the day. I opened the bathroom door, revealing the place most comforting to me, the room was small and crammed full of my most prized possessions leaving very little room for anyone to manoeuvre in. The place is not what you would call pristine, some would even call it a pigsty, but a home is a home and comfort, nonetheless.
I stepped out of the bathroom fully immersing myself in the room. The whole room was in view now, on the desk stood a photo of the McCullen family My mother and daughter embracing closely, my father stood towering over smiling contently, bearing the air of paternity, and a little bit to the right but still close enough to be considered a member of the family by an unknowing observer was me, smiling awkwardly and gesturing a piece symbol with my index and middle finger. I sort of miss them, even though they're not gone it's still strange being in a new city and not having them constantly around pestering me.
But moving on, beside it, was a record player, a very dusty one but regardless, still much loved. I haven't really had the time nor the desire to sit and listen to music recently, mostly due to my side gig and university to focus on, plus records are expensive these days and I'm broke. Damn, I need to start asking for donations.
Actually, speaking of, why do they have to pick the other side of the country to appear. First Okopo, now Neppon, on the other side of the world. Hopefully next time it's closer. As I ranted, I slipped into my red corduroy jacket on top of the white shirt and grey jeans I had fitted onto myself prior. Now dressed, it was time to tackle the day head on.
Click, I unlocked the door and swept it open. The corridor ahead of me was musty, the green carpet stretched all the way out to the end, the flat was cleaned frequently but there's a limit on how clean student accommodation can be. Ahead of the door I just exited from, were 4 more doors, two more rooms for my flatmates a communal kitchen at the end and an exit just before it and as I walked towards said exit, the nearest door creaked open.
"George? What the hell were you doing at 3 in the morning?"
Krista Hopkins was a beautiful young woman, with long silky blonde hair that had been dyed bright blue at the tips. and honestly, were it not for the fact that we were flatmates, we probably would never have spoken to each other in any normal setting. Furthermore, for we wouldn't have been close enough for her to come out like she'd just gotten out of bed. But I guess I should respond before she gets suspicious.
"errm, Walkabout Wednesday some friends from uni wanted to go out short notice oh and uh since you said you didn't like it there, I thought there's no point in inviting you." I bumbled out a lie, it wasn't as smooth as I'd hoped but it should work except, under the knife, I'd forgotten one key detail:
Krista let out a mocking giggle "erm George, Wednesday is today, so Walkabout Wednesday is tonight. If you're going out to meet a girl, you don't have to hide it from me. Also, I don't hate it, I just think there's better places to go." I felt like an idiot, all that just to get the day wrong, although it might just be best to go along with the booty call route.
Now that she's here, It would probably do some good to get some R&R in.
"Krista, do you wanna go shopping or something"
"Sure but haven't you got lectures today?"
I averted my eyes to the side as my expression faded into subtle disappointment, not in the response but in myself, I guess I have been making a bad habit of missing quite a few lectures recently but honestly I don't think I have it in me to go to one right now. I feel a bit shitty but what's the point.
"It's one lecture it's more effort to get there than it's worth just to have a guy read out what I can just read myself online on the module resources." as true as that is I'm most likely not going to read it.
However, Krista smiled and agreed and after almost an hour waiting for Krista to get ready, we left for the city.
The city was bustling, bodies passed by each with their own goals and reasons for being out I saw friends walking together, couples holding hands as they spend the day in each other's company. It's funny seeing this sight after what happened over in Neppon, I wonder how things are going over there, how many lives were taken in such a small amount of time, what would happen if they came here, what if they attacked multiple places at once, I would have to pick which lives I would have to save, I would have to... allow hundreds of people to die to prioritise another. My eyes had become blank, staring aimlessly at nothing in particular, thinking of things that could happen. I need stop thinking about things like that it does me no good to think about things that could happen. Although, come to think of it, spirits seem way to high considering what happened. Last time a UFO was sweeping Okopo so it's fair enough that it's kept quiet but this time? A whole city was attacked by aliens and yet no one seems to care?
"Woah have you seen this?" I feel a tap on my shoulder as Krista shows me her phone.
Rengappon, Neppon Invaded by Unknown Alien Force
I guess it would only be a matter of time.
Krista looks at me in shock, "apparently it happened around late noon to the early evening, which means it would've been the early morning here."
I was confused about how that's relevant, there's other things she should be focusing on than the time here.
The two continued about their day trying to not think about the unfortunate events. Meanwhile, in a tall office building, reaching over the city sat a young man folding a piece of paper up into an aeroplane to subdue his boredom.
Perfect.
I threw the plane right in the shiny bald spot of the bore of a human being Alan, Head of Marketing, thus saving another female co-worker from the punishment of listening to another one of his stories.
Not that there's anything in the way, he definitely felt that as he marched towards me. The annoyed expression permeated his face.
"You're creeping her out you creepy old man. I thought you liked 'em on the younger side anyway."
"Tom, is there something I can help you with." I had him hook, line and sinker, the grinding of his teeth almost muting the words he spoke was a clear indication that he was fuming.
"Alan, don't you think we're wasting our lives away geezer"
"Tom for the love of god-"
"I wonder how many champions leagues I would've won by now if-"
"Oh yeah spew the same old story I almost signed for Man United's academy, but my parents couldn't afford to move. We've heard it before, shut up and get on with your job."
Who does he think he's talking to? He's not even my boss we're in two different departments.
"I'm sorry Alan from marketing am I interrupting you? Just because you sucked the boss' dick doesn't give you a pass to be a smart arse." He turned his back on me thinking he was the bigger man, but I knew he couldn't resist getting one last word in:
"You're lucky the boss hasn't fired you yet but we know you'd just end up on the stree-"
"Woah hold on Alan, I think your hairlines getting away- never mind, it's escaped." Alan's expression dropped and moisture started to collect on his eyes it's a sore subject for him; he'd even been trying some new oils to help it grown back, makes sense considering we're both only 32, if he hadn't gotten gobby that wouldn't have happened.
"I-" Trying to get one last word in but failing miserably, he stumbled back to his office defeated, closing the blinds before, one would assume, rolling into a ball and crying in the corner like a bitch.
I leaned back and stretched making a long and loud sigh as I did so. Even with my eyes closed I felt multiple eyes piercing me, who cares, they're all a load of boring idiots who tried their best but the best they could come up with is the sales team, we're all in the same boat.
There was nothing that could stop the mundanity of corporate life, or so I thought as just on cue, whilst swivelling on my chair.
The sky had been removed from the backdrop, the city almost drowned out by the cascading shadows of what was an object I hadn't never seen before, as before my eyes beheld a large metal, or so I assumed, object floating above the city.
It was...
A spaceship.
What the fuck.