Chapter 2
chapter in history that wouldn't affect their lives. Aeliana knew better. The alien forces might not have reached Willow Glen yet, but it was only a matter of time.
"Do you really think they'll come here?" Tara asked, her voice breaking the heavy silence that had filled the kitchen.
Aeliana met her gaze, forcing a smile she didn't feel. "We're too small. They're focused on the big cities, Tara. We'll be fine."
She wished she believed it.
Tara looked away, her brow furrowed. "It's just they keep saying more cities are falling. I don't understand what the aliens want. Why are they doing this?"
Aeliana didn't have an answer. None of them did. The only information that trickled in from the outside world was filled with rumors-stories of brutal takeovers, entire populations disappearing, and strange alien technologies that no one could explain. The broadcasts had become erratic, and each one brought more fear than answers.
"I don't know," Aeliana finally said, her voice quieter. "But we'll get through it. We always do."
The words felt hollow, but she wasn't going to add to her sister's anxiety. If anything, Aeliana needed to keep the facade of normalcy as long as she could-for them, if not for herself. There wasn't much left to cling to these days, but she could at least give them that.
After a quick breakfast, Aeliana left the house, the warm morning air brushing against her skin. The road that led to the store was a familiar path, one she had walked hundreds of times. Willow Glen was the kind of place where everyone knew everyone, where strangers were rare and new faces even rarer. It was a place people either stayed forever or left as soon as they could. Aeliana had always dreamed of leaving, of seeing the world beyond the fields and forests that surrounded their town. But now, leaving didn't seem like an option. There was nowhere safe to go.
The invasion had changed everything, even if their town remained untouched. Every step she took toward Denny's, every friendly wave she gave to the neighbors she passed, felt surreal. The world had shifted, but here, people still mowed their lawns and children still played in the streets. It was as if they were all pretending that if they just ignored the danger, it would pass them by. But Aeliana could feel it-the creeping fear in every glance, the way conversations would drop into uncomfortable silences whenever someone mentioned the aliens.
She reached the store, a small, unassuming building with peeling paint and an old wooden sign. Inside, Denny, the store's elderly owner, was restocking the shelves. He gave her a nod as she stepped behind the counter to start her shift.
"Morning, Aeliana," he said, his voice as gruff as ever.
"Morning, Denny," she replied, forcing a smile. It was the same exchange they'd had every day since she started working there.
The hours passed slowly, the minutes stretching as Aeliana restocked shelves, sorted through inventory, and helped the occasional customer. But even in the stillness, she couldn't shake the unease that had taken root in her chest. Every now and then, a few townspeople would come in, exchanging whispers of news they had heard from the outside.
"They say more cities have fallen," one woman murmured to her companion as they browsed the aisles. "The aliens are sweeping through the continent now."
Aeliana pretended not to listen, but the words settled heavily in her mind. She wondered how long it would be before those whispers became their reality.
By the time her shift ended, the air outside felt different. The breeze that had been warm and gentle that morning had grown cooler, sharper. Aeliana walked home, her mind spinning with the rumors she'd overheard, the uncertainty pressing down on her.
The sky above was still clear, but for how long? Somewhere out there, cities were burning, and alien ships hovered like dark omens. She could almost feel the weight of it in the air-the fragile peace of Willow Glen ready to crumble.
For now, life went on. But deep down, Aeliana knew the truth.
Peace never lasted forever.