Sight Unseen

I rolled over with a groan, sensing what was about to happen. Despite this, I jolted from the alarm clock blaring through the quiet of my room. After struggling to find my phone in the tangle of sheets, I finally silenced the unwelcome noise.

As had become routine for the past three months of my life, and likely the lives of every other human being on the planet, I proceeded to fumble for the remote to my TV. I turned on the television, which emitted a brief crackle of static before the program appeared. My heart raced as the anchor's voice filled the room.

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BBC WORLD NEWS

The news anchor sits at the desk, an alarming expression painted across his face, as the cameras start rolling.

NEWS ANCHOR: Good morning, viewers. We start with an update on the extraterrestrials that have captured the world's attention since their discovery was made publicly known. As authorities continue to investigate and study these enigmatic predators, we bring you some of the warning signs that may indicate their presence.

On the screen, a list of warning signs appears, accompanied by graphics and footage.

NEWS ANCHOR: First, there have been reports of unexplained power fluctuations in various regions across the globe. Authorities are urging citizens to be vigilant and report any unusual electrical disturbances. It is also advised to immediately vacate any area where these fluctuations may be occurring as a precaution.

Cut to footage of city lights flickering and dimming, and people looking up at the sky in puzzlement.

NEWS ANCHOR: Next, we have received numerous accounts of strange lights in the sky, captivating witnesses with their extraordinary and erratic movements.

Bright orbs appear to be darting across the night sky in the footage, leaving trails of light behind them.

NEWS ANCHOR: Authorities have also raised concerns about the increasing number of missing persons cases. While not all missing person reports are related to the alien presence, they are taking these incidents very seriously.

Footage shows police investigators searching for clues, and families holding pictures of their loved ones.

NEWS ANCHOR: Now, we understand the desire to learn more about these unwelcome visitors, but it is crucial to remember that seeking out these extraterrestrials can be dangerous. The extraterrestrial beings remain a relatively unknown entity, and caution is advised.

On the screen, a sign reads "Restricted Area" with a silhouette of a stereotypical alien figure, cautioning against trespassing.

NEWS ANCHOR: For those who may encounter any of these warning signs, authorities urge you to keep a safe distance and report your observations immediately. The global community is working together to better understand these visitors and ensure the safety of all.

Cut back to the news anchor, who looks directly at the camera with a solemn expression.

NEWS ANCHOR: We will continue to keep you updated on any developments and further information. In the meantime, let us remember that while the presence of extraterrestrial life is unsettling and even fascinating to some, we must proceed with caution and respect the boundaries set by the authorities.

The anchor nods, concluding the segment.

NEWS ANCHOR: Stay tuned for more news after the break.

The news anchor takes a deep, uneasy breath before the cameras stop rolling and the program cuts to commercial advertisements.

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The news ticker at the bottom of the screen continued to display a list of warning signs, a relentless reminder of the unnamed alien presence that had now become known to the entirety of the world three months prior. I couldn't help but be captivated by the gravity of the situation, my fascination pulling me towards curiosity as well as despair.

I glanced at the clock and realized I was already running late for work. Hastily getting dressed, I grabbed my bag and dashed out the door. The streets were unusually quiet, an unsettling calm that mirrored the hushed atmosphere of the news program. My interest lingered as I contemplated the alleyway shortcut that beckoned to me. Against my better judgment, I decided to take the path less traveled. It would be quicker, after all.

The alley was dimly lit, shrouded in a thick fog that seemed to swallow sounds and distort reality. As I ventured further, I became aware of a faint glow emanating from an obscured figure lurking in the shadows. The lights seemed to drift into the sky like a feather riding the fog.

My heart pounded in my chest, and an inexplicable sense of unease washed over me. The silhouette of the figure appeared human, but something was off; something uncanny that I couldn't quite put my finger on. I hesitated, my instincts warning me to retreat, but an irresistible curiosity urged me forward. L’appel du vide.

As I approached, the eerie glow became more pronounced, revealing the face of the figure. It looked almost human. I may have even thought it was another human being if not for my scrutinizing gaze but, upon closer inspection, the subtle differences became evident. The figure’s skin was pallid and unblemished, mirroring the texture of human flesh, but with an otherworldly sheen that betrayed its true nature. And its eyes. Its eyes, large and hauntingly black, seemed to absorb any light that dared to touch them. At a casual glance, they seemed almost ordinary, like dark voids in a sea of white. But upon closer inspection, something was terribly amiss.

Then, with a sudden and calculated movement, the figure's eyes transformed. Within the obsidian depths of its eyes, sinuous black tendrils snaked and coiled, barely visible at first, as if they were hidden within the depths of its being. But then, with a slow and deliberate movement, those unnerving tendrils started to emerge. Like dark serpents, they slithered out, searching for their next prey.

More disturbingly, each tendril extended further, revealing smaller branches that resembled twisted, contorted fingers. Each of the branches hosted countless minuscule, barely perceptible eyes along its length. These tiny eyes, black as the void itself, were mere pinpricks, yet they emanated an ominous aura that seemed to pierce through the very fabric of one's soul. Their gazes were haunting, empty of any emotion, devoid of the humanity they now sought to possess. They stalked through the fog like a legion of watchful sentinels, searching for unsuspecting victims. It was as if the alien had evolved to exploit the most profound fear of humanity; being watched, scrutinized, and ultimately ensnared in a malevolent web of possession.

A chilling realization dawned upon me, but it was already too late. The tendrils shot forth with terrifying speed, seeking out my eyes with unerring precision. Before I could react, they latched onto my ocular orbs, and an icy shiver of violation washed over me, as the pupils of the extraterrestrial and my own were linked through these snakelike branches. This link caused my body to become numb, paralyzed by some power I did not understand.

At first, it was a mere discomfort, a sensation of intrusion. But the tendrils' presence seeped deeper into my consciousness, spreading like an insidious virus throughout my mind. The alien's essence melded with my thoughts and emotions, an invasion of my very identity.

Reality began to warp around me, the alleyway twisting and distorting into a surreal nightmare. The once-familiar surroundings morphed into a nightmarish canvas, painted with foreboding signs of the alien's presence. The fog seemed to clutch at my every step as if the atmosphere itself was manipulated by the malevolent entity.

With each passing moment, I could feel myself slipping away, losing control to the alien force. The tendrils, now fully entrenched in my being, extended deeper, their tiny eyes watching, absorbing my memories and emotions. It felt as if the interior of my body was now only a shell for these tendrils to make their home.

I tried to resist, to claw back control over my own body, but it was futile. The alien's power over me was absolute. My eyes, once windows to my soul, now mirrored the cold, abyssal gaze of the entity that had ensnared me.

The transformation was agonizingly slow, like the ebb and flow of a tidal wave, a relentless process that engulfed my consciousness. My once-clear thoughts were possessed by an evil presence, and my emotions became mere echoes of what they once were.

As the alien's possession deepened, the alleyway came alive with haunting whispers, each voice a chilling echo of malevolence. Shadows danced with a vile life of their own, and the walls of the alley bore grotesque graffiti that seemed to twist and writhe. Much like my own body, the shell of the world was now a host to all that is wicked.

I had become a mere puppet, my actions manipulated by the abhorrent force that now controlled me. Every step I took was no longer my own, and with each passing moment, my sense of self faded further into oblivion.

A sense of despair enveloped me. I was now lost and trapped in a nightmarish reality that was not my own. My screams of desperation echoed within, unheard by the world outside, a futile plea for escape. The alien entity had woven its sinister tendrils into the very fabric of my being, leaving me a mere husk of my former self.

Beware the nearly human figure with eyes of darkness, for its uncanny appearance hides an insidious force that seeks to possess and control. Once ensnared by its tendrils, your fate is sealed, and you'll be forever condemned to wander the shadows, a vessel for the nefarious entity that lurks within, hidden behind a facade of humanity. The boundary between human and alien dissolves, and in the depths of the alleyways, their malevolent machinations thrive.