Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Pascal typed up paragraphs to Nervous. His fingers frantically dance around the keyboard. Each word adds onto the block of text. The clicking and clacking of the keys were so loud Lazlo could’ve sworn he heard them from the tower. The computer screen illuminated Pascal’s face as he overlooked each sentence. He made sure there were no spelling mistakes or grammar errors. After a minute he was satisfied and pressed enter.

Nervous on the other hand scrolled through the Strangetown forum. He saw posts and replies from all the neighboring residents. He never replied to any post. The only reason he responds to Pascal’s rants is because he’s his friend. He would be lying if he said he completely understood everything the scientist posted. Nervous’s attention centered on the envelope icon. He hoovered his cursor over it to be greeted by a wall of words.

Pascal was proud of himself. He comprised the theory himself. He titled it the Alignment theory. The essay that he presented to his online pal wasn’t simple. The information spilled over this AOL chat log said that; when center constellations were close to each other, it signaled that Aliens were to make an appearance. Such as when Lynx appeared on the other side of Ursa Major.

Meanwhile Nervous squinted at the screen. He couldn’t help but skim through a paragraph or two. Yet, when he did, Nervous found himself more lost. He was a slower typer than Pascal but managed to form one question.

NERVOUSSUBJECT: Can you actually prove that?

He meant no malice by it but Pascal was taken back. In retrospect he didn’t really test it. A failure on his part. A good scientist always makes sure the experiment is an actual experiment.

DRCURIOUS: I will, brb.

Nervous sighed and hung his head as Pascal went offline. He looked over as he heard his captors talk about their work.

Pascal swirled out of his chair and rushed out his room. If he was correct tonight he would see aliens. His youngest brother, Lazlo, was in the kitchen whipping up some mac and cheese. Vidcund, the middle brother, could be found in the Garden room. Where Pascal could see he was taking care of his African Violets.

“Are you heading up to stargaze?” Lazlo questioned, Pascal stopped midway up the first set of stairs. He looked down at his brother. The green lens tinted the sclera. “Isn’t it a bit late for a whole thing of mac and cheese.” with that Lazlo nodded and no longer questioned him. Yet, Pascal felt that he was somewhat correct. The night was shifting further into the next day.

Just a few glances, he told himself. He didn’t stop at the one closest to the ground level. No, Pascal made up four more flights of stairs. The further up he got the more his nerves bit at him. Making the butterflies in stomach thrash around in him.

A few pearls of sweat dripped down Pascal’s face as he took a breath. Felt weak and excited. The telescope sat there as if it waited for him. He approached it and looked up into the sky. After a couple minutes the sky was calm. Nothing out of the ordinary. Until a shooting star crossed the sky. Except it wasn’t going on a set path. Pascal lost sight of it as soon as he saw it.

Nervous fidgeted with random objects on his desk. He felt his body jolt and twitch uncontrollably. He felt his mind wonder. He tried to type another message but was interrupted. In the corner of his eye he saw Circe and Loki standing up there. Staring into the pit labeled as a makeshift bedroom for their permanent guest.

Circe smiled, and talked in a misleadingly warm tune, “Sorry to cut your free time early, but we have a few new toys to try out.” Nervous nodded slowly as he turned off his computer.

Pascal looked up into the sky. There it was. A UFO, of course he knew aliens existed. He stared in disbelief. His theory was correct. A green glow surrounded him as a purple beam engulfed him. Being correct was now the least of his concerns.

He yelled as he lifted up into the air. He attempted to hold onto the telescope. The force pulling him into the air was much stronger than his grip. He called for his brothers as he was finally sucked into the hovering aircraft.

Lazlo and Vidcund stared at each other. Lazlo spoke up first, “Was that Pascal?” and as soon as he said that a terrifying thought crossed their minds. “I’ll check the yard, you check upstairs.” Vidcund told his brother and the two split ways.

Vidcund walked outside, not knowing what to expect. Yet, he had a perfect image of what he was going to see. It made his stomach churn as he turned the corner. When he was greeted with a sight of nothing. It was the same odd patterned yard. He walked back in to see Lazlo rushing down the stairs to him.

“Where is he?” Lazlo shouted, as he was halfway down the stairs. Vidcund placed a hand on his younger brother’s shoulder. “Okay, there’s a few possibilities,” He began, “One, He’s either fucking with us, two been abducted by aliens, or three, blipped out of reality.” but clearly Lazlo wasn’t calmed down by these options.

After half an hour of arguing the brothers sat quietly in the living room. Vidcund stared out the window. Hopefully hoping to see Pascal emerge from somewhere. Lazlo leaned over the kitchen counters. He had his head in hands. They couldn’t call the police, what would they do? Anytime an alien abduction or strange disappearance happens usually they do nothing. It was late. Late enough that everyone was still asleep.

Lazlo looked up at his older brother. “Do you think it was Alien abduction?” Vidcund asked, he turned around from the window. “He’s likely asking him a bunch of questions, we’ll probably never hear the end of it once he gets back.” Vidcund said, but it sounded like an attempt to distract Lazlo, or even himself. Lazlo frowned and replied, “What makes you think they haven’t dissected him.” It was cold. As much as Lazlo was invested in Alien he wasn’t obsessed with them like his brothers. Vidcund stared blankly and returned to looking outside.

Nervous groaned as Circe dislodged the needle from his arm. His pale body laid limply on the table. Loki jotted down notes as his wife proceeded to pick up another needle. “Now, we are inserting this into…” Circe was cut off by the telephone ringing. The two mirrored annoyed looks as Loki walked out of view. Nervous looked up at Circe but the bright lighted turned on him obscured his view.

“Vidcund, I've told you not to call here!” Loki hollered, Circe hummed as she rearranged the medical instruments on the table. Her bloodied gloves picked up a scalpel. Nervous attempted to focus on Loki’s conversation in the background instead of current procedure. “No, we haven’t seen any strange activity, now please it’s late!” He walked back into view.

“What was that about?” Circe asked as she made a cut into Nervous’ skin. “Ugh, seems like one of the Curious brothers has been ‘abducted’ by aliens.” Loki and Circe shared a chuckle over their subject’s body. Nervous knew it was Pascal. The blonde doctor wrote down more odd notes the further the operation went on.

“If we’re lucky those aliens keep him, one less Curious in the world.” The words swirled around in Nervous’ mind. What if he didn’t come back? The next moments would be a blur. The cold metal was the only comfort to him.

Lazlo and Vidcund pace around each other. It’s now been hours. The two conjure up many other theories. Each one sounds more insane than the last. Vidcund and Lazlo called everyone they knew. Only two people picked up. Then the phone started ringing again. Vidcund rushed to pick up to hear Jenny’s voice. Clearly tired and confused. “Vidcund?” She asked, “Why are you calling me at 3 am?” he twirled the cord around his fingers as he struggled to explain. “And, now we… we don’t know where he’s at." There was a silence over the line.

Lazlo stared at Vidcund who looked more distressed than he was. “It’s going to be okay, listen, the worst thing that can happen is that they impregnate him.” She said it so casually that Vidcund thought he misheard her. He sniffled as he asked her to repeat herself. Lazlo got closer to listen in.

Before Jenny could explain anymore, there was a loud whooshing sound. A bright green light filled the yard. Vidcund dropped the phone. Jenny’s voice was still audible on the other side.

The two ran out to see a UFO. The air smelled of sulfur and noises that radiated off of it sounded like a misshapen turbine. It was so close that Vidcund and Lazlo could’ve sworn they saw themselves in the reflective metal. An entrance slide opened and pushed out Pascal’s body. In an instance the brothers only cared about one thing: it was the oldest. Who dropped to the ground. They were around him not realizing they were both crying. Pascal was back and alive.

Pascal struggled to get himself up off the ground. As soon as he was up the UFO had zipped off. His younger brother wrapped an arm around him to help with balance. He attempted to speak to them but everything he said was a jumbled mess.

Loki lifted Nervous up from the table. Circe had disposed of her gloves and washed her hands. He took him into the pit. Circe overviewed these actions. He had delicately placed him into his bed. Tucked into place as if he was a child. Nervous had lost consciousness hours ago on the table. Loki marched up the stairs and two overseers left for their bed chamber.

Chapter Text

Ophelia had begged her Aunt Olive to let her go out past curfew. It was Friday and her boyfriend had a basketball game. Ophelia thought because she got all As on her test this week that Olive would’ve lightened up. Except she forgot that it’s Olive Specter she’s talking to. Now the teen girl sits angrily in her room.

Instead of listening to her Aunt, Ophelia had plans. She memorized Olive’s nightly routine. Sit in the garden, come in, say a prayer, and then go into her bedroom. The girl waited for the house to settle as her guardian did the same.

She slips out of her bedroom. Dressed up for the game she pops open her window and hops into the bushes below her window. She looked back worried that her Aunt would appear and drag her back in. That didn’t happen and Ophelia ran out of sight.

Ophelia arrived at the game. She wasn’t used to being in crowds but wanted to cheer on Johnny. She sat down to a familiar face. Ripp Grunt, Johnny’s friend, Ophelia wasn’t sure how to feel about him. She sat down and he turned around to her.

“Woah, I thought you weren’t coming?” He asked Ophelia and grinned, “I found another way here, what’s the score?” Ripp caught her up so far. A crowd was loud, Ripp pointed out why the other team was trash as if Ophelia herself couldn’t see why. Yet as loud the crowd was, Ophelia's presence was not unnoticed. She could hear the whispers in the sea of yells. Her mind hooking onto them. “Surprised her Aunt let her come out,” “Surprised she hasn’t killed her yet.” snickers come from strangers. Maybe other students or parents, never anyone Ophelia even interacted with. “Who knows, we might see her on the news tomorrow.” Ophelia hugged herself. Ripp nudged her shoulder.

“He just scored a three pointer.” He said, Ophelia nodded and tried to focus more on the game.

The game went faster than Ophelia thought. She was soon rushing towards Johnny as he stood next to his partners. She had met them a couple times but often she tried to stray away from social interactions. She wrapped her arms around her boyfriend who gladly reciprocated. “Oh, Ophelia, it’s good to see you,” Jenny said, Ophelia letting go of Johnny is a swift move. She awkwardly smiled, “It’s nice to see you too Mrs. Smith.” she replied, as Johnny reached over to hang around her.

“I realized I never introduced you to my dad,” Johnny said, as the attention moved to his dad. Ophelia rarely was let out enough to encounter both parents. She had often caught glances of Johnny’s dad, it seemed like Jenny was more extroverted than her husband. As she always managed to say hi to her whenever they crossed paths.
Johnny’s father was older than his mom. Way older, his face wrinkled like her Aunt, and slouched over when standing. His skin was the same green as Johnny’s which made it evident whose parent he was. He wore a Hawaiian shirt and cargo pants. Ophelia put out a hand to greet him.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, sir.” his dad shook her hand, he didn’t say anything but shared a wide smile.

The rest of the night took place at Johnny’s house. Ripp had to go home due his curfew so that meant Ophelia and Johnny could be alone. Except Jill had other plans. She was interested in the teen girl and flooded her with personal questions. Some questions were easy to answer, “What’s your favorite color?” and “What kind of food do you like,” Ophelia answered with ease. She looked up from her homework and narrowed her eyes. “Why do you never come around?” Ophelia sensed that this question was rather a make or break of her reputation with Jill.

“My aunt doesn’t like me being out for too long, or even out of the house when it’s not for school.” Ophelia said ending with a slight chuckle, Jill had the opposite reaction. “Is it because she’s a murderer?” Ophelia and Johnny’s eyes widened. Ophelia rubbed the back of her neck. “Jillian Kitty Smith!” Jenny called out as she approached the living room.

“What, everyone says that Miss Specter is a killer!” Jenny placed a hand on her temple. “Cut it out, Jill.” Johnny stepped between his sister and a clearly overwhelmed Ophelia.

“Jill, rumors like that are harmful, Miss Specter is a normal old lady.” Jenny jumped to Olive’s defense, which surprised Ophelia. She watched as the two tried to sway Jill’s opinion.

Soon enough Johnny and Ophelia moved up into his room. Before he could shut the door Jenny called out. “Keep that door cracked open young man, I’m too young to be a grandma!” Johnny’s face became a darker shade of green. He yelled back and did indeed like the door open a bit.

“Ugh, sorry about my sister and mom.” He groaned, she laughed, “Don’t sweat it, you also don’t have to defend my Aunt, she’s weird.” Johnny over to Ophelia. The two’s lips pressed against each other. Johnny pulled away and smirked, “Are you saying she is one then,” He joked, Ophelia stretched her arms around him. “No, or if she is, she likes me enough to keep me around.” kissing him again.

An hour passed before Ophelia realized the time. “What time is it?” She asked, Johnny picked up the clock. “11 pm.” He read a loud, with this Ophelia jumped out of his bed. Johnny needed no explanation why she was rushing out. She ran downstairs to see Mr and Mrs Smith watching a movie. Jenny turned her head to see Ophelia running down.

“Your Aunt isn’t picking you up?” Jenny questioned, Ophelia froze up and confessed, “Well, she doesn’t know I’m here.” Jenny’s worry painted her face.

“You shouldn’t have snuck out but at least I can drive you home.” Ophelia denied her request and ran out the house. She dashed down the sidewalk. As fast she could run,

her thoughts were faster. She knew. That thought bounced against the walls of her mind. She knew, and she was waiting for her. Each house she passed she gritted her teeth. How nicely dressed up everyone was.

It was Strangetown. Everyone here harbors a darkness here. Either one internally or one everyone can see. Eventually she ran out of steam. She took a moment to collect herself.

The rest of the way to her home was agonizing. The slower she got the more her anxiety rose. Heartbeat became faster and louder. It felt like it was attempting to break out her chest.

The hill that the house made Ophelia hike up to it. The palm trees watched over her. She huffed, and caught herself on the short stone wall that surrounded the building. She slipped through the fence. Everything was quiet. No shouts, no silhouette, no furious eyes latched onto her. Nothing.

Ophelia pulled herself up into her room. She carefully closed her window and laid down. She tried to sleep but her growling stomach prevented that. She sighed and got out of bed.

She opened her door. Darkness engulfed everything. She didn’t want to take the chance of waking her aunt after everything she got away with. She gently opened the door and tiptoed into the abyss. Ophelia was in a void of nowhere. She stuck out her hands to feel for any objects in her way. Ophelia snagged her hip against a side table. She holds in a curse and inhales through nose.

She opens the fridge for leftovers. The light flooding out of it revealed the kitchen. Ophelia pulled out a plate and before turning to see Olive sitting at the kitchen table. She had been in the dark the whole time. “Turn on the light, Ophelia.” The door shut and in momentary darkness Ophelia wanted to run. Her body was frozen in place.

Olive was the one who turned the lights on. “You disobeyed me, get to your room, you are grounded.” She uttered, Ophelia didn’t say anything and went to her room.

Ophelia laid in her bed. One day Olive will be gone and Ophelia will run as far she can. Run and never look back.