They came out of nowhere. Penetrated our cities and filtered into our streets. Like ants they multiplied. Earth was crawling with them: an invasive species that flourished in our world. Our resources appeared to have rejuvenated them. Most people had welcomed them with open doors. They even went as far as sharing their very own homes. Together, aliens and humans slept under the same roofs. In harmony, we coincided. It was an once in a lifetime event! You'd be foolish to pass such a thing up. It was the latest trend. Aliens from another world: they do exist.

Peaceful. That was what they claimed to be. Harmless. It was what we thought of them as we shared our hopes and dreams. Refugees; their own planet destroyed. And wonders of wonders, they looked just like us! Albeit their skin was more greyish in hue. So of course, by our very own nature, we took pity on the poor souls. What kind of people would we be if we sent them away? Not human, that was for sure! Compassion surpassed logic.

They'd arrived here starved. Children and babies with tear-streaked faces, and women lost in anguish. The men were hopeless and desperate. You would've had to have been some heartless bastard to send them away. Finally, the ultimate question was answered: no, we were not alone. The universe was so much bigger than we could've imagined. How did they find us? Some conspiracist talked it up to the famous 'wow' signal. That indeed these were the very aliens who sent the signal. While others, however, quite simply just didn't care. Nor were they concerned with how they were able to reach us. Time, distance, and galaxies were just minor details, then. Neither did they worry over the thought: how did a species with such advanced technology, allow their own planet to be destroyed?

Because In the end, why did all that matter, when in fact, they were actually here? Hurt, homeless, and defenseless. All other details had appeared irrelevant during that time. No questions asked about what truly happened to them, or their planet. Of course, whatever was said, we'd have to take on blind faith. We couldn't offer proof otherwise.

As for me? I never trusted them from the start. It was their eyes, I think. No irises, just foggy-white orbs. How could you trust what you couldn't see? There was no way to look into their eyes and know what they were thinking. No way of knowing where their focus really was.

I knew I was late, on my way home from work. The sun had already started to set. I missed that. Staying outdoors to watch the sunset. I guess that was a risk I thought worth taking. Odd what little things you miss after having your free will taken away. I was nearing the house, thinking it was funny how everything still looked the same. Our streets were still paved. Cars were parked in driveways. Houses were lit up by tv's while reruns were aired.

It all looked the same, but wasn't. It was them who now lived in our homes. Who drove our cars. Did they really wish to be just like us? And for that matter, why would they want to be? Look at what has become of us. We were becoming extinct. I think it was more of a superiority complex.

"Name?" one of the Eyeless, as I liked to think of them, asked. He held the sleek computer readout in his hand.

"Caitlin N. Rowena."

"You're late." he said after a few moments, which I guessed he used to scan the data. Hard to tell with their eyes. "Grab a bottle and go in."

I rolled my eyes as I reached for the bottle of water. It was a little ironic that we were now the exiles. On our own planet no less! It really didn't take long for them to take over. Should've known that with a foreign species came diseases we never knew of. Ha! And we were so worried about the bird flu. The end of the world. It looked like our world had come to an end. It just happened to be one that was unforeseeable. No good deed goes unpunished, eh?

Now, what remained of us were kept in 'safe houses'. For our own good, or so they claimed. Food and water was rationed as resources began to deplete. During the day we were allowed out in safety zones, or rather quarantined areas that separated us from them. It was where we could continue to work and have a normalcy of life. Though, there was nothing normal about it anymore.

I think it was more so they could watch us. Monitor and learn what information they could gather. Why? Perhaps curiosity was a trait we both shared. Maybe they were bored and simply didn't have anything better to do? After all, they'd already destroyed their own planet. Why not go wreak havoc on another? What was that saying, be careful of what you wished for? We'd constantly had our eyes to the sky, inevitably wondering what was out there. It couldn't just be us, could it? Was it our own fault? Our search for answers, hoping to make first contact. Looked like they'd reached us first.

"Caitlin! I was worried about you!" Haley ran up, throwing her arms around me in a hug.

That was another thing. They kept the men and women separated. As it turned out, the Eyeless were actually rather strong. Not only had they brought their illnesses along with them, but their weapons as well. Which were far superior to our own. How eager were we- to meet our own demise? I guess, pretty eager from the looks of it.

"It's okay, Hales. Don't think I'd leave you now, do you? Here, have my water." I placed my water in her little hands as I scooped her into my arms.

"But, that's your water, Caitlin." She looked at me with uncertainty. I knew how she felt: fear to hope. We were all afraid to dream. To dream that this nightmare would be over, because we couldn't have our last shred of hope destroyed. It was all that kept us from ending our own lives.

"I'm not thirsty." I hadn't failed to notice how light she'd been getting. The weaker one became, the more acceptable they were to the Eyeless's diseases. Those who were sick were taken away. There was no chance for them.

I laid her down, tucking in her sandy-blond hair behind her ear. The same color as her mother's. Her mother. She'd been taken away a few weeks ago. And I had promised her that I would look after her daughter for her.

"Tell me a story, please?" She stared at me with green eyes. Eyes that you could trust. Human.

Smiling, I sat beside her bed. Made myself as comfortable as I could. "It all started with an encounter. A little girl was left alone, swinging on her play-set in the backyard. Her mom was in the house, most likely cleaning somewhere. There were few clouds lingering about in the sky. The wind rushed at her as she swung upwards, and at that precise moment, she saw something. Something odd. She couldn't grasp what it was. When she tried to explain it to her mom, she thought she was making up another story. As the girl was known for her wild imagination."

"That girl was you! Wasn't it?"

"Yes, it was me." I smiled, remembering the good times. "After a while, the girl thought perhaps it was her imagination. But then, strange things started happening. She started having nightmares. Seen images she couldn't explain. Over time, she saw more odd things in the sky. Just like the one she'd seen before. There were strange people in them. Always watching and staring. But then, something had changed. They'd grown restless, hostile. Like something had provoked them. Angry, they started entering the girl's room. She fought them off, for a time. Scared and frightened. There was no explanation for the cuts and bruises that appeared on her body. The girl's mom just chalked it up to kids being kids."

"Tell me about the encounter of the fourth kind! Please, Caitlin?"

I leaned over, kissing her head. "Another time. Right now, you need to go to sleep. Night, Hales."

I stayed by her bed until she'd fallen asleep. Hearing the soft, steady pace of her breathing, I blinked as I fought back the white fog that threatened to take over my vision.