Unexplained Invasion (part one)

It would thrill me if you would take time to read part one of my short story Unexplained Invasion. This goes outside of my usual action/adventure and crime drama stories, but it's fun to stretch my wings and try something new. I hope you enjoy it! Stay tuned for part two.

Melinda Corbin, nicknamed Mel by family and friends, heard the sharp ringing of her alarm. She blinked several times, trying to focus on the time. Seven-thirty a.m.! She moaned, and brushed back tangles of mousy brown hair from her face, and stretched her arms over her head. With a wide yawn, she rubbed the sleep from her hazel eyes and blinked several times to focus. No sooner had she flipped back her covers than her flesh raised into goosebumps. Her parents, although they used air-conditioning when needed, never allowed it to get this cold. However, it was an early fall in Sacramento, California, and it had been steadily cooling in the mornings. No matter, she needed to ready herself for school. Passing a glance at the clock, she realized she had only one hour before the teacher marked her tardy. She gritted her teeth. The last thing she wanted was to run like the Mad Hatter through the house to avoid being late.

Hurriedly, she slid her feet into her pink fluffy slippers and dashed over to the closet to take possession of her robe. In a flash, she slipped her arms through the sleeves, cinched the belt around her waist, and shuffled out into the hallway.

She flipped on the light switch, her teeth chattering. Nothing. Ah, no wonder, she thought. The electricity had gone off. Normally, the heater would have turned on and warmed up the house. Good thing she had her phone alarm to wake her or she would have overslept for sure. Without a second thought, she padded down the hall to the kitchen, struck with surprise when she couldn’t find her mother, father, or younger brother anywhere around.

“Mom!” When she received no reply, she called out a second time, louder this time. Still nothing. Thinking maybe they were upstairs and had overslept themselves, she darted up the staircase, flung her parents’ door wide. Her heart sunk when she saw the room empty, the bed already made. Her brows creased as she turned and rushed to her brother’s room, finding it vacant too. Could it be her brother may have taken ill in the night, or perhaps her mother or father? She scrabbled for her phone tucked deep in the pocket of her robe and looked to see if they had left her a message. Strangely, there was none.

Troubled, she dashed downstairs and ran out into the backyard. She called several more times… still followed by a dreadful silence. She felt numb, near panic now as she raced through the house, searching for at least a note. When she came up empty-handed, she scrolled to her mother’s cell number, poked the call button, and let it ring multiple times until voice mail picked up.

“Mom, where are you? Call me as soon as possible, PLEASE!” As she ended her call, she immediately called her father. Her knees went weak when he didn’t pick up, either. Where could they possibly be? This was not like them. Any other time, they would at least leave a note so she wouldn’t worry. Something was definitely off beam.

(Part 1. I will place part 2 on in one week. Stay tuned!)