The Turn Of The Night

Chapter 15

Bright blinding light from the above filled the forest. It felt as if the sun itself came hovering over the sky. A low humming sound filled the forest. The temperature increased. Though the two boys tried earnestly to view what was above them but they could not even open their eyes. Their eyes had been accustomed to the dark setting for hours and such a bright light scorched their pupils. Both of them ran towards the forest and took shelter under a bush covering their existence. A fierce wind started blowing across the land. For long minutes it felt as if the trees would be uprooted and blown away across the horizon. The bright light still loomed however by now Aarush and Darsh's eyes had somewhat acclimatized to the searing brightness.

They tilted their heads to see what appeared overhead and it seemed as if the lights streamed towards the darkness from an oval shaped flying saucer. It had four propellers, two at the sides and one upwards and the other up. The wind coming from those propellers wreaked havoc. The scarce sounds of distraught yells could be heard scarcely in between the humming sounds coming from the mysterious flying object which became louder by each passing moment..

'Dude UFO.' Darsh exclaimed. 'Nah bro I absolutely don't know what this is. It seems futuristic, the design..' Darsh whispered. 'But whatever the hell is it doing here , hah? We thought we are the only living things here..well apart from the trees and moss that is..' Darsh whispered back. 'But what is this thing? It's scouring the place it seems . Someone must be controlling them.. I mean ghosts can't fly an aeroplane.' Aarush said quietly. 'Not an aeroplane bro...it's cool.' Darsh replied. 'Technically it is...but what if there's people on that thing .' he exclaimed. 'Well then we go and wave our hands and the humans see us and they come down and we tell them our story...that is except they are chinese because then they will try to eat us..but probably not them.'Darsh said as he started to stand up intent upon following what he said.

'No heck!' Aarush pulled Darsh back.'What if they are the ones who have broken the links...best option for us is to stay put here and observe what the flying saucer does.'

'Well..didn't think of that...makes sense though.' Darsh grimaced as he flopped down on the moss.'Probably you are right, there's the scant but audible noise of those terrifying yells..'

The two boys hugged close together among the bushes. The flying saucer slowly made its way to the land ..just beside the place where Aarush and Darsh had been resting. The boys felt immensely insecure.

The front door opened mechanically and a metal ladder streamed downwards. Men in lab coats and helmets with protection gear filed down the ladders. Each of them had a torch fixed at the top of their heads and carried a weird machinery with both of their hands. Several instruments were strapped to their belts. They also wore gumboots and gloves. Not a portion of their face or body were visible.

'Hey Aarush...dont they look like those stupid scientists from Stranger things, with all their profesional wears..ghosh where the heck are we man.' Darsh whispered. 'Well..umm lets not approach them , they don't seem friendly at all to me. And hold your breath they mustn't get a clue that someone's here other than them.' Aarush whispered back.

Momentarily one of those masked men looked towards the bush where they were hiding but soon got distracted as one of their members called the others. He carried a jar which had a green gluey liquid. Everyone seemed to nod in approval and seemingly happy with themselves, the men started to file back to their flying saucer.

Aarush and Darsh were relieved. They had not been found…

The last person to climb the metallic ladder however slipped along the way and came thrashing upon on the soft earth. One of the other men came down to help him. But as he got up, he picked a glittery thing from beneath him..

'What's that?' wondered Aarush. 'Welp...I..it's a wrapper...a chocolate wrapper..' Darsh gulped. Aarush turned to glare at him. 'Come on I know I don't need to eat but I still can taste ..and that chocolate tastes awesome…' excused Darsh. Aarush grimaced. 'Look if they see us and come towards us..my gut says that we should take a run...through the forest..cuz that's the only place where we have any chance of losing them.' advised Aarush. 'Okay bud.' Darsh replied as the two of them squatted on their haunches ready to sprint the moment those masked men came towards them.

The one who had got his hands upon the wrapped smelled it and called his comrades back down. The others took a look at it and holstered something out of their belts which looked a lot like guns. The quickly and professionally spread out across the stream bed. Unfortunately for the boys, the wet earth still retained the impressions of their feet.

One of the men tracked them and crept towards the bushes stealthily. Aarush and Darsh's heart thumped over their chests. Their breath was laboured. They feared that those masked men would hear their heart beating before they would see them. ' If we run now they will shoot.Wait for my mark.' whispered Aarush as quietly as he could. Darsh nodded in approval. When the masked man would come closer to their place of hiding, his view would be decreased and focused only on the hedges, making it easier for the boys to dash in another direction. It was something Aarush had learned playing video games. Darsh cautiously counted the number of men, there were seven of them, all in different directions but with their aim straight at the bushes.

The saucer still streamed lights but the propellers were still. The screams could no longer be heard. It seemed as if the spirits too had joined in on the fiasco ..

The man was just another five feet from the boys. Aarush took a last glance at the other men. If they shot now they would strike their comrade. It was their best chance, if not their only chance.

'RUN' he yelled...