Sanctuary by Pauline Creeden

and shoved her hands into her pockets.
    She headed back for her Civic, feeling empty handed without Mickey clinging to her. As if he could keep her safe. Was that it? Or, was she worried about his safety?
    She slipped behind the wheel and turned the key. The starter turned but refused to catch. She pumped the gas pedal a few times and turned the key again. “Come on.” Her hands shook.
    In her review mirror, she could see her dad’s minivan had already pulled out of the drive. Her heart caught in her throat. What if he drove away without her? Thankfully, the minivan pulled to a stop and waited on the main road. She turned the key again and got no response. Looking at her gauges, she saw the light for the gas was on and the needle buried below E. “Really?”
    Yet, somehow, she was glad to be reuniting with her dad and brother. She hoped her dad wouldn't make her go to the gas station and fill up. She shook her head and jumped out of the car. Her father had gotten out and headed around the front of the minivan, “What’s wrong?”
    “I’m out of gas.”
    Her father nodded and waved toward the van. “Don’t worry about it. Get in. We’ll get your car later, when things settle down, okay?”
    Jennie nodded in relief and pulled the passenger door handle of the van. She hopped into the seat and started to buckle herself in.
    “How come you’re coming with us?” Mickey asked from his car seat in the back.
    “I ran out of gas.”
    “Oh! Cool.”
    Jennie shook her head and looked out the windshield. Ever since the aliens came, she’d felt like she was losing more and more of the adulthood she’d gained. Her parents had become increasingly protective and treated her like a child. Somehow, in the midst of all of this, inside she felt more like a child. She didn’t want the responsibilities of adulthood. Even riding in the van to go home was preferable to the responsibility to driving the Civic.
    The minivan’s engine was already running, so Dad only needed to shift it in gear before turning back onto the road and heading for home. He checked all his mirrors and changed lanes. Why would he bother? Newport News was like a ghost town. At least he didn't wait for the light to change. He simply came to a stop and looked in both directions before driving through intersections. Why wait on nonexistent traffic?
    Shadows from the trees made Huntington Park ominous and unwelcoming. Too many places existed for the victims of the aliens to hide and attack without warning.
    Shopping center parking lots resembled the concrete plates of a starving child. No cars, no customers. In the windows of several stores, the red “Sorry, we’re closed” signs hung like crooked reminders of the obvious. The sun and emptiness whitewashed the three-mile trip home and left everything grey.
     
     
     
    Brad
     
    Brad ’s heart raced as he considered his options. The droning of the aliens increased, vibrating in his chest. The narrow alley didn’t give him much of a chance of escape. Shadows from the setting sun covered him, and he took his only option.
    He turned the latch to the dumpster that kept out wild animals and hoped it would keep out the aliens as well. Used coffee grounds and the putrid remains of leftover food from the Starbuck’s filled his nostrils as he lowered himself into the dumpster. At least, if the aliens hunted by scent, he’d be covered.
    The continued hum increased, vibrating the lid which latched him in. He breathed through his mouth in order to keep from retching, but it didn’t help much. Even the walls of the dumpster vibrated with the rumble from the aliens. They had to be close.
    With a bang, one of them landed on the lid of the dumpster, making snuffling noises as it circled the top of the can. Brad bit down on his knuckle to keep from screaming. Every fiber in his being wanted to make a run for it. If he was less of a man, he would have peed his pants.
    Less of a man? Was that even possible?
    What kind of