Part 3

For the next week, much to everyones relief, Chad started showing some improvement. Sarah had told Tom that Chad was talking more and looking more active. She had even gotten him outside. Tom hadn't been over to see Chad since that day. The office was busier then usual as if everyone was catching up since last month.

It was Friday night and Tom was just locking up the office when he noticed a unfamiliar black Lincoln parked beside his car. Tom walked toward his car, never taking his eyes off the strange black car. As he got nearer, the driver's side and passenger's side doors opened the the two FBI agents climbed out.

"Good evening Sheriff," the smaller agent, Kevin was his name from what Tom could remember, said.

"Evening," Tom answered back, his mind reeling. Why were they back? It had been close to a month since the incident. Why appear now?

"Sheriff Ergle..."

"Tom, just call me Tom." he said, turning his back on them and dumping the folder of work in his passenger seat.

"Tom," that was Gavin now. "We've heard the boy is talking now. We've been asked to go and talk to him."

Tom frowned and stood up, looking at the two men.

"I know you don't like the idea but we have higher orders. Either you can cooperate and be there when we interview him or not. Your choice." Gavin said, his voice telling Tom that he meant business.

Tom didn't like this at all. But he had no choice. "Fine. Is tomorrow okay? Around noon. Sarah should be there then too."

"That's okay. See you tomorrow, officer."

Tom watched the two men climb back into their car and drive off. Sighing he got into his own car. That's all Chad needed right now. To have two FBI agents appear, demanding to have answers. Tom knew he had to be there for Chad tomorrow and pray these agents didn't push their limits.

~~~~~~~~~~

The day dawned dreary and gray. As Tom made his way to Sarah's house, he found himself rubbing his temples, a headache starting to make it's way into his head. He had talked to Sarah and she had told him that the agents had already called to tell her that they would be comming. She didn't like the idea of them comming over, especially when Chad wasn't talking all that much. "It's too soon." she said worridly.

"I know, but there's nothing we can do. Let's just hope they give up after this interview." Although Tom doubted that would happen.

To his dismay, he saw the black Lincoln already parked at the house when he drove up. He cursed silently and walked up to the house. Sarah opened the door and forced a smiled but Tom could tell she was tense and uneasy around the two agents, who were sitting in the living room.

"Hi," Tom said to Sarah, smiling and laying a hand on her shoulder.

"Hi," Sarah led him into the living room. The two agents stood up.

"Sheriff, glad you could make it." Kevin said, smiling. Tom nodded in return. He did not like these men.

"Can we please get this interview underway?" Gavin said, clearly not liking the loss of time. "Where is Chad?"

"He's upstairs." Sarah said softly.

"I'll go and get him," Tom interupted before the agents decided to storm into the teen's room. Sarah smiled her thanks and Tom quickly jogged up the stairs. He knocked on the door and heard a soft answer.

"Come in."

Tom slowly opened the door and saw Chad, his back turned to him, standing by the window, looking out. "Hey Chad. How are you?"

"Okay." Chad said, not turning. "They're here aren't they?"

Tom bit his lip. "Yeah. They're just going to ask a few questions. Nothing bad."

Chad nodded and turned around, walking toward Tom. Tom could tell Chad was looking better. His face wasn't as pale and the cuts and bruises were starting to fade, although Tom knew some would leave scars. But as Chad walked down the stairs with Tom following, the sheriff could tell that Chad still wasn't his old self.

"Hello Chad." Kevin said, walking up and shaking his hand. "My name is Kevin and this is my partner, Gavin. We'd just like to ask you some questions about the incident."

Tom could see Chad flinch at the word. He silently prayed that Chad would hold out for the interview. He didn't want these agents comming back. Tom sat down in one of the kitchen's chairs and watched Chad slowly sit down in another, facing the agents. Sarah looked worried but she smiled at Chad.

Chad looked away, starring down at his hands as the agents began. "Now Chad. Do you remember anything that happened to you that night?"

Chad bit his lip and shook his head.

"We've heard from reports that you and your brother were taking a short cut through the field. What happened when you were out there. Did you hear or see anything unusual?"

Tom looked at Chad. He remember Chad telling him about that night. But would Chad open up to these agents?

Chad seemed to hesitate then he looked up. "I...remember hearing this strange sound. Like a whirring noise. Then these lights....they came at us."

"How many lights were there?"

Chad shook his head. "I...I don't know. Maybe two or three. They blinded me..."

"Did you smell anything strange, feeling anything from the lights?" It was Gavin asking Chad now.

"No...no smell. Just the noise and the lights. It was windy too. Like a...helicopter or something."

"But you didn't see anything in the sky?"

"No...just the lights."

"What do you think they were?" Kevin again.

Tom's gaze kept glancing from the agents, to Chad, and to Sarah. He saw Chad tense up at the question.

"I....I don't...."

"Were they aliens?" Gavin again.

Tom frowned. Chad had grown pale. "I...I...I couldn't..." Chad stammered, clearly desturbed by the question.

"Where were you for a week Chad? Don't you remember anything?"

"No...I can't..." Chad was getting more and more uneasy.

"Look," Tom said, interupting. "Can't you see he's uneasy with these questions?"

"Sheriff, this is our investigation." Gavin said frowning. "These are questions that need answers."

"Now Chad," Kevin said, leaning forward. "We just want to know what happened. Anything you know will help. Clamming up won't advenge your brother."

Sarah went pale and Chad also turned white. That was the last straw for Tom.

"Alright that's enough!" Tom said standing.

"Sheriff, I'm warning you. This is our investigation. We're allowing you to be here, so don't push it." Gavin said, frowning, yet never letting his cool slip.

Chad was looking more and more anxious as the air became tense between the men.

"Look, all we want to do is shed some light on the subject. " Kevin said. He then turned to Chad. "Now Chad, tell us the truth. You do remember something from that night, don't you?"

The silence could be cut with a knife. Chad then slowly nodded his head.

"Can you tell me what you remember? Besides the lights. There was something else, wasn't there?"

Chad nodded again, his eyes glued to the floor.

"Were they aliens?"

Chad took longer to answer but just when Tom thought he wouldn't the young man slowly nodded his head.

The two agents looked at each other, then back at Chad. "Can you describe them?"

Chad shook his head this time. Tom could now tell that the boy was visible shaking in the chair.

"Chad what happened to you?"

Chad ignored them, not bothering to say anything. But Tom could see his skin pale and his blue eyes grow grey and frightened.

Chad shook his head, causing his blond locks to fall into his face. "No.." he whispered softly.

"What is wrong Chad? What frightened you so much?" Kevin persued.

"Leave me Alone!" Chad suddenly screamed and jumping out of the chair ran outside, letting the screen door slam behind him. Everyone was stunned by the reaction.

Sarah suddenly yelled out Chad's name but Tom put a hand on her shoulder. "Let him go."

"Um, we'll stop by later to ask more questions. Thank your for your time." Kevin said, shaking Sarah's hand. Tom watched the agents climb into their car and drive off. Sarah let out a shaky sigh.

"I'd better find him. He could be anywhere." she whispered, tears starting to appear.

"I'll find him. Don't worry. He probably just ran somewhere to let the frustration out."

Sarah nodded and watched as Tom jogged outside and towards the direction Chad had gone.

Even though the sun was high in the sky, the wind coming from the north sent a chill through Tom's body. Pulling his jacket closer he made his way through the long grass of a neighboring field. He sighed in relief when he spotted Chad huddled under a big oak in the middle of the field. Chad had his knees drawn up and his arm wrapped around them, rocking back and forth.

"Hey Bud." Tom said softly as he walked up to the boy.

"Don't make me go back to them." Chad muttered, his face turned away from Tom.

"I won't. They've left." Tom slowly knelt down beside Chad. "I can tell something is bothering you. What they said in there. You do remember something don't you."

Chad didn't respond.

"There's something more then what you told me, isn't there Chad?'" Tom pushed. He knew he was taking a risk but Chad needed to share whatever was bothering him or it would eat him up.

Chad slowly nodded his head.

"Chad, I'm sorry this happened to you." Tom said, sinking down in the grass beside Chad. "I know your mother is too. But there's nothing we can do, no matter how much we want to change the past."

Chad remained quiet but he had stopped rocking and was now picking at the grass.

"I just want to tell you that if you ever want to talk, I'll always be there to listen. Sometimes it helps if you get something off your chest."

"I know.." Chad whispered. "Thanks."

Tom sofly put a hand on Chad's shoulder, frowning slightly when Chad flinched. Tom knew something so tramatic that nobody could even comprehend, had happened to the young man. But what?

"Remember the day before the big basketball game last year. You were so nervous."

Chad nodded.

"I gave you that big pep talk saying that it's alright for you to be nervous but if you put your mind on the game and the game only, that nervousness will go away." Tom chuckled. "Boy did you really woop up on everybody. But do you want to know something?"

Chad looked up, his eyes answering Tom's question.

"I was more nervous then you were."

Chad smiled. "Really?"

"Sure. I tried to take my own advice but I didn't calm down until after the game."

They shared a laugh as they both remembered that day. After that they sat there in silence for several minutes, each lost in their own thoughts.

"Tom.." Chad suddenly broke through the silence.

Tom turned toward Chad.

"I wish...I had died...with Mark.."

Tom frowned, his heard thumping. "Wwhat...what do you mean?" he stammered, taken back by the young man's words.

Chad sniffed and a lone tear fell. "The aliens...they are real. I was surrounded by them. I couldn't move. I...could feel them touching me...poking...I couldn't make a sound. I remember trying to call out to Mark...but all I saw was the light...and the aliens."

Tom was stunned and he didn't move a muscle as Chad began to retell his experience.

"I was scared..." Chad said, more tears falling. "Something was in my mouth and I couldn't scream at them...I was so cold and I soon grew numb to their touch and poking. I thought I would die...I hoped I would die. Then, I was suddenly blinded and when I opened my eyes, I was in the dark."

"That's...when you called your mom?"

"I didn't realize where I was at first. But as I began to wake up, I started to hurt everywhere and I knew I was back."

"It's a miracle that you survived." Tom muttered.

"Mark got off lucky, didn't he?"

Tom turned to see Chad looking at him, his eyes red and teary. "Oh Chad." Tom said, and quickly wrapped his arms around the young man. Chad cried softly into Tom's jacket but Tom didn't care. He hugged the boy tighter. He wished he could turn back time. He wished he could have put his own life in Chad's place. "Everything will be fine. You'll see." Tom whispered into Chad's ear.

The days passed by swiftly and the holidays were approaching quickly. Chad was back in school but not quite his normal self yet. Sarah was back in work, struggling to make ends meet. Everything was almost back to normal. Except the FBI agents were still around. They wanted to know more about Chad and his experience but Tom knew that if they found out what Chad had told him a few days ago, they would want to run some tests. And Tom knew, after what Chad had gone through he wouldn't last very long.

It was one cold afternoon when the FBI agents stopped by Chad's house. Chad had slowly gotten better and was now outside shooting some hoops, hoping to get back to his normal life. But when he saw the familiar black Lincoln, Chad tried to push back the sudden nervousness that the two agents brought to him everytime. He tried to ignore them and shot for the hoop but the ball hit the backboard and missed the hoop, rolling away from Chad and towards the two agents.

"Hello Chad." Kevin said, smiling as he picked up the basketball.

Chad nodded and ran a hand through his damp hair. Even though it was cold, Chad only had his sweats and tee-shirt. The cold air helped him to concentrate only on what he was doing.

"How are you doing?" Kevin persisted, walking closer and holding out the ball.

"Fine." Chad muttered, taking the ball from Kevin.

"Getting ready for the big season?"

"I guess." Chad turned his back on them and started dribbling the ball on the dirt floor, praying they would take a hint. But it must have missed them because Kevin and Gavin stayed where they are. He shot the ball again but it missed the hoop and rolled towards the house.

"Look Chad, we've just come by to see if you'll come with us. We just want to ask a few questions. Shouldn't take long." Gavin said, his eyes hidden from the dark sunglasses.

"Um, I can't. I'm suppose to wait here for my mom to come home." Chad felt his heart take a few extra beats. Why didn't they just leave him alone?

"Well, we've already cleared it up with your mom. We stopped by the store before we came here and she gave us the okay." Kevin said, still smiling.

Chad felt his heat drop. Why would his mom give them permission to do anything? Something wasn't right. "I...I have chores to do." Chad was reaching now. What could he say to make these men go?

"Come on Chad. We won't keep you long. All we're asking is for you to come with us back to our van so we can ask you some questions."

"Your mom is worried about you. She wanted us to help you..snap out of it." Gavin interupted.

Chad backed away. His mom wouldn't say something like that, would she? "I..I don't..."

But before Chad could turn away, Gavin had reached for him and grabbed his arm, stopping him. "It will only take a few minutes."

"Just leave..me alone." Chad growled, trying to free his arm. But Gavin's grip got harder and when Chad again tried to get free, Gavin yanked him back painfully, causing Chad to gasp in pain.

"Now Chad this won't be bad. Do it for your mom. You know she is hurting because of you, don't you?"

Chad was taken aback by Kevin's words. "No..."

"By coming with us, we'll end her hurt. Wouldn't you like that?" When Chad didn't answer, Kevin leaned closer. "She's hurting enough with your brother's death. Why make it harder on her?"

Chad felt the familiar lump in his throat at the thought of Mark. "I..didn't mean..to." he stammered softly. Flashes of seeing Mark's body getting thrown to the ground made him gasp for breath.

"We never mean to. If you come with us, we can help you sort this all out...and help you mom out."

Something definatly wasn't right about this. Chad had to get help. He bit his lip and slowly nodded his head.

"Great, now come along with us." Kevin said and started walking towards the car. Gavin loosened his grip and Chad started following them. Now was the time. In one swift motion, Chad kicked Gavin's knee. The agent cursed and let go of Chad's arm, giving Chad his chance. Kevin had turned around to see Chad yanking free and running towards the woods. "Get after him!" Kevin yelled, running to the car.

Gavin bit back his pain and took off after Chad who already had a big lead on the agent.

Chad ran for his life. As he hit the woods he felt his insides scream in pain and the cold air made him short of breath. But he couldn't stop, not with the agents hot on his tail. The one called Gavin was rapidly gaining and Chad didn't have a chance to wonder when Kevin had gone. Luckily, Chad had youth and athleticism on his side and slowly Gavin was tiring.

Just then Chad imerged on the road, the road that led into town. It was a few miles before town but Chad would have to try. Just when he was about to start running again, a sleek black car came around the curve! It was Kevin.

Chad cursed and turned to see Gavin emerging from the woods, out of breath. He had nowhere to run! He could hear the black Lincoln slowing down as it came closer. Chad had to make a choice and quick. Just as Kevin was coming to a stop, Chad took off towards the field across the road. The fence was old and rusted but Chad didn't care. He quickly started to climb it. The barb wire bent under his weight and when Chad was about to lift his leg over it, he slipped! The sharp barbs cut into his sweat pants and Chad could feel the pain as the metal stabbed into his leg.

Kevin was now climbing out of the car and running after Chad. The teen jumped from the fence and took off running through the field of corn. Again luck was on his side and he was easily hidden by the huge stalks. After running a few more feet, Chad collapsed to the ground and tried to steady his heavy breathing as he listened for the agents.

"Shit, we lost him." Kevin cursed.

"He'll come back home, Kev. No need to worry. We'll get him."

Chad bit his lip and closed his eyes praying that they wouldn't start into the field after him. But to his relief he heard the car doors slamming and an engine reving up. He didn't relax until he heard the car drive away.

Chad started to get up but a sharp pain in his leg left him gasping in pain. Chad sank back to the ground and looked at the huge cut on his leg where the barb wire had cut him. Blood was soaking his torn sweats and running down his ankle, soaking his sock as well.

Chad then felt how exhausted he was and he felt tears in his eyes. He was scared. Not of the aliens anymore but of the agents that claimed to help him. They wouldn't leave until they had him. Chad knew they would run tests on him. He couldn't go through that...not again.

But to what extent would those agents go to get him? Would they go after his mom? With exhaustion, shock, and fear Chad burried his face in the hands and let the tears fall. Would he ever get his life back?

Chad lost track of time and it was almost dark when he mustered up the courage to start back home. His leg throbbed and he bit his lip as he limped back towards the road. Slowly climbing over the fence Chad tried to decide where he should go to head home. It was very dark out and it brought new fear in his throat. No moon or stars...just like that night...Chad swallowed and started limping across the road when he saw them. Two bright lights coming towards him in the distance. Chad froze in horror as the lights got closer. Like a deer in the headlights, Chad couldn’t move. His whole body trembled in fear as the lights grew bigger. He didn’t know what happened then, but he found that he could move and ignoring the stabbing pain in his leg took off running in the opposite direction. He didn’t know where he was going as long as he got away from the lights. Fear drove him on but the lights were still gaining.

Suddenly something caught his foot and he tripped, crashing onto the soft grass. His leg shot pain through his body but his fear of the lights kept him from noticing it. He frantically tried to get to his feet but something had tangled around his ankle. The lights were almost upon him now! “Leave me alone!” Chad screamed an painfully yanked at his leg. He had to get away! His breath was coming out in short painful gasps and he felt like he would feint. But he couldn’t feint..not with the lights behind him..ready to grab him!

“Chad? Chad!” a voice cried out. But Chad didn’t register the voice. All he could see were the lights!

Part 4