7.

Doctor Frederick Williams had been driving for about twenty minutes in his nearly new black Lexus after having left Melvin's home when he gave into the thoughts with which he was still having that there is something more to Melvin's story than what he has come to know or believe. If anything, he knows very little and this does not sit well with him. Something is up and he would like to know what that something is.

He had somewhat of a feeling about Melvin ever since their 'chat' from much earlier that day and the unannounced visit to Melvin's home just moments prior to now only served to enhance that feeling.

The sun was setting and the evening was well setting in by this point. The road was travelling freely, traffic is not an issue, and Frederick was moving at a quick and steady pace, and that feeling he had for most of the day was about to become much more than just a feeling.

Driving along minding his own business, considering what his next move should be, Frederick heard a sound which did not last long at all. To him it sounded like a groan, and it was so quiet, so low that he could not be sure as to where this sound was coming from. He thought to himself that there was no way that this sound could be coming from within his car, but Frederick checked his radio anyway. The radio had been and still is off.

A second groan sounded, this one being much louder than the first and this time it definitely sounded as if it was actually coming from somewhere within the car. Frederick checked his mirror but could not see what could be creating that sound. A moment or two passed and just as Frederick checked his mirror for a second time, he would see something that would very nearly make him crash.

Movement inside the car behind Frederick would almost cause an accident. He would hear this movement before seeing who or what was creating it. Frederick would see it in his mirror before turning his head right round to see something humanoid but most definitely not human sitting right up in the back of his car. Not only that but what it was he saw, what it is he could see ... was huge, it is huge. How did he not know of it prior to now?

As soon as he had turned right round, he also swerved across three lines of road, almost colliding with another vehicle, before coming to a complete halt.

'Oh, my head' spoke this creature, in English no less, as it tried to steady itself before grabbing its enormous head; this is what was said at the exact same moment that Frederick had turned right round inside that Lexus of his.

'Holy hell' shouted Frederick out loud just before he did bring the car to a halt, and as soon as it stopped, he got out of the car, stepping away a few feet but no further.

One or two other cars swerved to avoid hitting the black Lexus, plenty of horn blowing being accompanied by plenty of abusive language from passing drivers. Frederick may have got out of his car though indeed ... he did not move too far away from it. For this can't be happening. He has dealt with many meltdowns in many of the patients he has seen before now that it might actually be possible that he is having one himself.

The rear car door on the left-hand side opened and Frederick would hear a deep and slightly echoing voice speak once more.

'Do not be frightened, please. I will not harm you. If anything, I need your help.'

Oh my ... he thought to himself. This is really happening.

'Who are you? What are you? ... And ... and ... and why would you need my help?' called out Frederick, still keeping his distance.

'You are a doctor, aren't you?'

'Yes ... but ... what is wrong with you?'

There would be no reply to this last question, so Frederick attempted to get closer to that open rear door, but fear prevented him from getting close enough to see into the car. Retreating backward to what he felt was a safe distance from the car, Frederick remembered his chats with Melvin.

'Is this the alien Melvin was talking about?' he spoke to himself out loud; 'surely, he had been only joking or having a laugh? He told me such himself.'

Traffic at this point was passing at about one or two vehicles every ten to fifteen seconds or so and if it weren't for the few roadside lampposts scattered at the side of the road, Frederick would be standing in quite a bit of darkness. Night was coming in fast.

At this moment he done the only thing that he could do and that was to call Melvin. His mobile number had been on file, and it is just as well that he took note of it. With the job he was hired to do, the doctor was indeed privy to all employee files from which he recorded all numbers listed for Melvin, not just the mobile, prior to heading out to see him. So, contacting Melvin via phone would not be a problem.

Speaking with a panic in his voice, Frederick gave Melvin directions to where he was, along with no other information other than to come quickly. Melvin travelled as quickly as he could and arrived as soon as he could, presuming to know what this may be all about. He stopped his car right by where Frederick was standing.

With Dan no longer being in his house, Melvin was eager to try find him. Frederick's call may be related to what may have happened to Dan though Melvin certainly hoped not.

'So, what's up?' asked Melvin getting out of his car, trying to play it cool. 'I have one or two things that need my attention.'

'I bet you do, though this right here may just be relevant to what needs your attention most.'

'Alright, so what have you got?'

'When you told me that you had an alien staying with you, you did mean an actual alien as in a being from outer space, some sort of an extra-terrestrial, right?'

'Why? What do you know?'

'Well, I think you friend hitched a ride with me.'

'What?'

Frederick pointed over to the open door of his own car. Melvin looked right into Frederick's eyes before beginning to make his way over to that open door. 'The darn thing spoke to me ... it spoke in plain English.'

'There is nothing here' spoke Melvin looking inside the black Lexus, 'hey wait are you trying to test me or something? Is this some kind of trick?'

'No, not at all, there was this big guy, if guy is the right word, large bald head and a strange deep voice.'

'Yeah, that's Dan, and you are right. He is not of this world. So, where is he?'

'I don't know, why should I? I didn't see him leave the car, I swear.'

'Well, what did he say to you? Did he say he wanted to go anywhere?'

'No, he asked me for help. I think his head may have been hurting.'

'We have to find him; he may be somewhat ... ill, will you help me?'

Melvin sounded desperate and Frederick hesitated but responded positively. Whatever the situation Frederick had found himself in; he was definitely part of it now. Their search for Dan would not however get underway just yet for as both men stood by the black Lexus a dark circular hole would appear in thin air by the side of the road right next to them both.

That dark hole, it opened like as if it were some sort of spinning vortex and appeared up at least a foot off the ground and would become about three feet in diameter. Both men needed to stand back to prevent being pulled towards this ... Vortex.

'What the hell?' asked Frederick, shellshocked beyond belief.

'I think that I have already seen something like this, though it was nowhere near as big as this and it didn't hang around for long at all.'

From within this vortex, a voice began to speak. It sounded as if it was coming through on some kind of radio frequency and the voice was calling out for Dan, as if it was asking Dan directly to if he was there and as of if he could hear the voice speaking. Melvin would respond to the voice.

'Hello. Is there someone in there?'

'Yes, but not directly, I am at the other end of this connection. My name is Robert Stanford. With whom, may I ask, am I speaking to?'

'My name is Melvin and I have a Doctor Frederick Williams standing next to me.'

'Medical doctor?'

'No, I am a psychologist' spoke Frederick.

'If I were to mention the name Dan, would either of you know of whom I may be speaking of?'

Melvin responded with a 'yes, of course' while Frederick just looked confused, though Robert being on the other side of the vortex, could not see Fredericks confused expression.

'Is he there with you now?' asked Robert.

'He was apparently here a moment or so ago, May I ask as to how you know Dan?' responded Melvin.

'He is a friend and has been for quite some time. Myself, Dan and another friend share a residence together and I believe I am the cause as to how Dan came to be where he is now, can I ask ... is Dan alright? Is all well with him?'

'I came across him less than twenty-four hours ago. He has been staying with me and even though I have known him for a short period of time, if I can say I know him at all, I do not think he is quite himself at the moment. He said he was dizzy, and moments ago he said his head hurt. And to add to that, I do not know as to where he has got himself to.'

'What do you mean, not quite himself?'

'He was at my home, and he appeared to be intoxicated, he fell more than once. I got him to bed but before I could do anything else, he had got himself into Frederick's car who not so long ago left my place of residence. I came out to meet up with Frederick and when I arrived at their location just a few moments ago, Dan was not here.'

'Alright, to keep things short, Dan went through a transportation device which should have sent him the length of a field, something went wrong and he did not materialise where he should have. I have set up this link specifically to track and find Dan. Tell me where you are and I will make arrangements to get to your location.'

'Difficulty may lay with that, for when I came across Dan, he was unaware that he was on Earth, and he also mentioned that he is not when he should be.'

'You are on Earth? Dan is on Earth? ... What is the date?'

'Friday July 5th, 2013, I take it that you will not be able to make it out to this location anytime soon?'

'Listen, my new friend ... friends, we are about to lose this connection. I would really appreciate it if you could do whatever you can to find Dan and do all that you can to keep him safe.'

'There was and is no need to ask. Finding Dan is most definitely a priority.'

The vortex began to close in on itself. Robert would get to speak once more to Melvin and Frederick.

'Watch out for another vortex like this, we'll be in touch again soon, take care and be safe.'

The speed at which the vortex was decreasing picked up until it disappeared completely.

'Right, let's get to finding Dan' spoke Melvin looking at Frederick who was only a couple of feet away to Melvin's right.

'Uh-huh, no can do buddy ...'

'You have to ... please. I have no one else to rely on ...'

'What have I got myself into?' asked Fredrick of himself shaking his own head, struggling to believe the validity of all this.

The good doctor closed the rear car door and used his clicker to lock it, Melvin had already begun to move off in search of Dan, so Frederick moved quickly to catch up with him. Indeed, just what has he got himself into?