Kitchen and release

"Dixie," Kaida whispered, "we need to run."

Dixie blinked. She looked at Kaida, at the kitchen door, back at Kaida. "Run from what? Forgotten coffee?"

Something big and dark bursted through the door, leapt the counter, and pounced on Dixie.

It shredded her clothes in seconds, and got to work. She reached a hand toward Kaida. A hand whose nails were already turning black. "Please..."

Kaida stared.

Kaida said, "I'm sorry."

Kaida ran for the car.

She yanked the door open, jumped in, turned the key, and...nothing happened.

How-

Why-

She turned the key a few more times.

The car still didn't start.

Something pulled up in the next slot.

Kaida looked up.

It was a fire engine.

The "firefighter" in the cab leaned out the window.

It was one of the aliens, in a fireman's hat.

And it said "Engine trouble?"

Kaida just kept staring.

She'd thought she was full up on weird, but clearly there was a little more room in the tank.

The "firefighters" on top - also "wearing" hats - started doing something. With the hose.

"By the way," said the driver, "Her Excellency didn't tell us to find you. But she didn't tell us not to, either."

Kaida kept staring. Even as the firefighters finished their preparations, and pointed the hose at her car.

Then she closed her eyes.

Relaxed into her seat.

And waited.

Didn't even jump when the diner door banged open, and the three alien creatures poured out.

No point running. No point fighting.

Not anymore.

And she was tired. Very tired.

Maybe-

The green hit her car window.

She closed her eyes.

-maybe she didn't wake up at all.

THE END

(For now)