Seems Alien To Me

"Is it true?" Betty asked with an eagerness to a fault.

Jackie arched her eyebrows in confusion, even though she had a pretty good idea as to what Betty was referring to. "What do you mean? Is what true?"

Betty rolled her eyes. "Come on honey you know damn well what. Is it true that Jake was put in a mental hospital? I hear he had to be taken out with a straight jacket because he thought some evil being was trying to kidnap him." she finished with an amused laugh.

Jackie crossed her arms. "Oh really? And who told you that?"

Betty puffed out her chest and said, "I'll have you know I heard it directly from the deputy. He came to my house after the whole thing and came to me for comfort. Perks to dating an officer of the law I suppose!"

Jackie chuckled bitterly. "I thought you were dating the Sheriff."

Betty's face then blanched. "Oh...right...well you know what I mean. Deputy, Sheriff, same thing to me."

"Mhm. I understand. So what else did Mr. Deputy-Sheriff tell you about Jake?"

Betty actually had the nerve to pout. "Nothing much after that. Just that one of his neighbors called complaining about the noise and once my baby and his partner got there, all lights were on and Jake was throwing things at the glass windows. Kind of like when Ms. Lyle found out her husband was cheating on her with some young thing from Chicago when he said-"

"We were talking about Jake, Betty. Focus." Jackie reminded her neighbor, growing impatient with the constant detours.

"Oh right! Well anyway. They run inside and find the entire house just torn to pieces. My baby said it was like a caged animal decided to tear everything apart. So they find Jake in his bedroom in the corner rocking back and forth talking back and forth. One of the officers come to him and ask what had happened. Couldn't make out what Jake said but suddenly Jake went after the officer to hug him."

Jackie coughed on her own spit, not quite sure she heard that right. "I'm sorry, but are you sure you got that right? He hugged the officer?"

Betty shrugged her shoulders and tried her best not to show a creeping smile. "I made sure that's what i heard too. Ahem-anyway. My baby said Jake looked too tired and scared to do any harm to them so they decided to just put him in the back of the police car and take him to the hospital. apparently...that's where it gets interesting." She said wiggling her eyebrows.

"What do you mean?"

"The minute the nurse went in to check on him, he started throwing a fit and was screaming on the top of his lungs. Same thing over and over again apparently. Kept saying, 'You're not here! You're not here!'. They finally sedated the poor thing then the police left after they restrained him to the bed and put him in the crazy parts of the hospital."

Jackie clenched her jaw, biting the words she so desperately wanted to say. This poor human being could not comprehend the seriousness of the situation. Instead she asked, "So they just left him there in the hospital after the doctors drugged him?"

Betty nodded. "Yep. After that, not much else they could do. The boy needs help, that's for sure; especially after what my poor baby saw after he passed out."

Jackie's heart began to beat harder in her chest, nervous of what Betty will say next. "What did he see?" she asked trying her best to hide the tremor.

Betty suddenly looked all around the two until she leaned forward to whisper in Jackie's ear, "From what I understand, he might have been exposed to some kinda poison. Said when his body relaxed, he could see Jake's body and his veins along his arm and they were a bright glowing green. Strangest thing. They also found a weird mark on the back of his ear that looked like a star punctured the skin. he told me not to say anything but I figured you should know cause...you know he's your twin brother and all. Best I prepare you in case the sight frightens you."

Jackie felt nauseous and was doing her best not to show that her entire body wanted to shake its way out of her skin. She couldn't let Betty see her like this; especially now.

She nodded slowly, hugging her chest and offered a half-smile. "I appreciate that Betty. Truly. I hate to end it here but I better get home. Let the family know I'm here and to see if I can see Jake."

Betty gave Jackie an un-asked for but warm hug. "Of course sweetie. Let me know how everything goes. Jake is in my prayers and in the towns peoples too. He's a good boy. We all know that."

this time Jackie found herself smiling genuinely, but walked away still fighting the urge to shake.

Once she got in her car, she let out a loud sound that resembled a woman giving birth to a set of twins. Her hands were punching the wheel and the tears would not stop streaming.

Suddenly, the inside of the car started to glow a light green. She looked down at her arms and saw her veins were beginning to show. She hurriedly grabbed a spare sweater from the back seat and placed it over her, now hiding the illumination.

In the midst of her episode, she noticed her phone had a voice message. Jackie accordingly picked it up and put the phone on speaker for her to listen.

'Jackie it's me, your brother. We can't stay any longer. I know you probably hate me but i couldn't control it. It's getting worse. We have to leave once and for all. I'm in the hospital. Get me out as soon as you can. Make sure to destroy this phone once you here this. I love you."

Jackie rested her head on the car seat, eyes closed for a moment of peace. She knew this day would come but it still hurt. This was the only place she knew; even if it wasn't perfect.

Now, they have to leave Earth; resuming their venture as alien refugees.