WHEN CARIAD WOKE, SHE had no idea how many hours had passed. Rene’s bed was empty so she guessed it wasn’t night time yet. She swung her legs over the edge of the bed and stood up, rubbing her puffy eyes. The settlement seemed unusually quiet. Cariad went out into the corridor. Nobody seemed to be around. She walked along the narrow passage, passing open doors that led to empty rooms. Where had everyone gone?
She walked on, making her way to the nearest entrance. Soon, when the window of the aliens’ earliest expected return opened, movement above ground would be severely restricted. Up until that moment Cariad wanted to spend as much time outside as she could. Who knew how long it might be before they could go outside freely, if ever again?
The flat double doors at the top of the stairs
