November 21, 2036
9:47 am
To Faye, Simona’s mother, the creatures gathering in her backyard were something that should not exist anywhere outside of a bad dream. She felt herself begin to tremble as she held her daughter close, determined to protect her only child however she could. But then Simona tilted her head to the side as she leaned forward.
Simona was seeing something else entirely. What she saw were large, multi-colored parrots with feathers so brightly colored they seemed electric. Parrots had always been Simona’s favorite bird, but she knew enough to know they didn’t belong in Michigan – and parrots never grew that big. She started to raise the question, but then…
Comfort…?
Where was that voice coming from? Simona wondered.
“Simona? Baby? What is it?” asked Faye, who hadn’t heard a thing.
Simona looked up over her shoulder at her mother, her eyes questioning and confused.
“Simona!”
Simona knew that mother’s tone all too well. A reflexive, biological response was in the process of being formed…but then she heard it again.
Are you comfort? We want all of you comfort. Important.
“All of us?” asked Simona, turning away from her mother.
Not alone. You. Mother. All Comfort.
“Yes,” she said, then giggled, as if someone had told her a joke.
There came a sound like a roomful of hissing snakes, growing steadily louder until Faye was forced to loosen her hold on Simona as she squeezed her eyes shut and clamped her left hand over her ear. Simona shrugged free of the remaining grip and took a step forward toward the parrots with their huge wings outstretched in welcome.
“No. I’m not scared.”
Faye couldn’t hear herself scream as her hands reached out after her daughter, her feet somehow locked in place. But soon the hissing ceased and Simona was gone. So were the birds.
Faye was still screaming.
I have to admit ... I'm gripped.