Randolph drove a blue worn Kia. His car was square shaped and small. I sat on the back seat and Brian sat himself on the passenger's seat next to Randolph. I put my seatbelt on and noticed Randolph's eyes on me, but his expression seemed fearful.

"Happy birthday," he said.

"Thanks," I mumbled back. There was an awkward moment of silence between us and then after he turned the ignition on he spoke to me again.

"For what it's worth Anabella, I'm sorry..." Randolph murmured at me. I frowned confused, but Brian interrupted us before we could exchange any more phrases between us.

"Oh, that's enough Ralph. Just take us to where dad is so that we can finish with this charade already. He said he was going to cook some lunch and I'm hungry," Brian said annoyed. I shook my head. Oh, Brian, I thought to myself, but I decided to keep quiet. Again as we drove down the street we found ourselves with that huge crack again.

"This is what happened after the alien ship crashed. Their ship hit so hard on us that it left a crack after the earthquake," Ralph said as he drove the car through the grass and sidewalk to avoid the enormous hole.

"There was an earthquake?" I asked.

"Yep. It must have been right after it crashed. Look at the smoke, it's over there, although it's not that visible anymore," Randolph said pointing with his chubby finger at the sky. He was right, the smoke was dissipating. When we had arrived, we could see it more clearly, but it now seemed to disappear with every white cloud that passed it by.

"Amazing," I said.

"Oh, you're not buying this, are you?" Brian said. I shook my head.

"No. Of course not. I know it's silly. I'm just surprised with the smoke, it's turning white and thin like mist," I said.

"We could have been mistaken," Brian suggested.

"Brian, you have to admit that it is strange. When we arrived we saw smoke coming from the forest," I said.

"We could have been mistaken," Brian said.

"I know what I saw," I responded. My brother turned around as much as his seatbelt could allow him and Randolph continued to drive on.

"Are you seriously believing this alien story?" Brian asked. I laughed.

"Of course not Brian. Don't be ridiculous. I'm just saying that the smoke is strange," I replied. Brian turned around. I could glimpse his eyes through the rearview mirror, he glared at Randolph. Randolph drove on and looked at me nervously. Then he stopped the car in a corner.

"This is it," Randolph said. My brother opened the door and I took off my seatbelt. Randolph was still looking at me with his nervous blue eyes, but there was nothing else that we could say to each other. I knew that he wasn't well, but I didn't want to be rude so I opened the door and walked next to my brother. Randolph got up and joined us.

"Maybe after you see this, you'll believe me which is a good thing. The more witnesses to this, the easier it's going to be. If you don't mind I'm going to take a picture of this thing. I didn't do it last time because after the alien robot appeared I freaked out. I shouldn't have left your father alone..."

"Shut up Ralph, it's enough. Now take us to dad and stop it. You're freaking Anabella out," Brian said. Randolph looked at me with sorrow and then he turned around. We followed my father's friend. I felt cold and crossed my arms, but Brian thought that I was nervous and he placed his arm around my shoulder.

"Don't worry Ana, he's just trying to freak you out," he said. I looked at Randolph, but he didn't turn. He headed on into the deep forest and so did we.

***

Father:

I woke up, but this time I was no longer strained to the strange bed. I verified my wrists and they were red with markings, but I could hardly see my skin right because the room was lightly lit with a strange purple light. I touched my head in hopes that my head was still there and luckily I could feel my soft brown hair on the top of my head. Whatever needles were on me were finally gone, but I still felt the irresistible sensation of fear. I stood up very quickly. I wanted to leave this place as soon as possible and for me soon was right now, but there were no windows or doors that I could see. I touched the paneled walls and jerked back when strange purple lights turned on. The lights were all over the wall.

"What in God's name?" I asked to myself. Unknown symbols appeared before me. I heard many clicks from a deep voice and wondered if that was their language. Honestly I didn't know and the more I heard the dialogue, the more scared I was and the more I felt that urgent necessity to leave this place. I didn't know what to do, so I walked towards another dark part of the paneled room. I figured maybe I could leave this place if there was a button or something that could open the door. I had seen the robot man come in and out of the room. I just hadn't seen how he had entered or left, so it was up to me to guess and find out. I ran and placed my hand on the wall, but more purple lights appeared in front of me with unknown symbols and a dialogue that I did not understand. It sounded something like sha, lapasha, and then other sounds that were very unfamiliar like pistcha or latschi with different beats and rhythms. What the hell did I get myself involved in?

I went to the other panelled wall, but got the same reaction and then after a minute of this I couldn't take this anymore. I was going mad and I started to scream and bang on the walls.

"Ah! Somebody help me! Help me! I'm trapped, somebody!" Then a door slip open upwards and the robot man appeared.

"Shush. Please be quiet. The master is working," Rox said casually placing his index finger on his mouth.

"I can't take this anymore. Rox, please I have daughter outside. I have a son. You have to get me out of here. Let me talk to your master," I begged. Rox approached me and I jerked back.

"Are you afraid of me?" Rox asked looking into my face. I didn't answer, so he pulled back and then continued talk to me with his casual, mechanical voice.

"Well, it is not I that you should fear and I do not suggest you go talk to the master and please do not touch our Parsha. You will not understand it," he said.

"Please. I'm begging you," I said hoping that I would convince his master.

"Why do you wish to speak with my master?" Rox asked.

"I just want him to let me go," I answered.

"But I have already told you that is not the master's intention."

"Because he hasn't spoken to me," I said. Rox moved his head from side to side and then he looked at me with his eyes made of lights.

"What is the difference if you speak to him or not? He has already decided for you to stay."

"Please. Just give me a chance to talk to him. Don't I deserve a chance?" I asked him. Rox seemed to be contemplating about my question, but it was taking him a very long time to answer and I was getting desperate.

"Rox?" I asked. Beads of sweat ran down my head and cheeks. I was nervous.

"I do not know the answer to your question. Therefore, I will take you to the master upon your insistence, but before I do you must make me a promise," Rox asked.

"Sure, anything," I said.

"Do not attempt to challenge my master. His physical condition is twenty times stronger than yours. He will eliminate you if you do so and I do not wish to see you crushed. You are a very interesting subject," Rox said. I swallowed hard and I thought to myself what any other man would have thought about in this moment. Brian and Anabella... whatever happens to me I want you to know that I will always love you, always and forever.             

https://youtu.be/Ht8WVgaEzaE