“Crashed” Part 5
It was a quick dinner. Neither of them was really hungry, but they knew they had to eat something.
They cleaned up the dishes in silence.
Then Ken spoke.
“Patty… what we saw — it wasn’t human.”
“I know,” she said softly.
He hesitated. “So… what are we going to do about it?”
Ken was hoping she’d say what he was thinking. The military was still swarming the property, combing the woods behind the shed. Searching for what they already knew was out there.
But something tugged at Ken — a deep, urgent feeling. Like he knew not to tell them. Not yet.
Patty looked up.
“Honey… I’m going to leave it up to you. Whatever you decide, I’ll back you. But I’ll say this — for some reason, I don’t think we should go to the military. Not yet. I can’t explain it, but something tells me this creature is in trouble. I don’t feel like it came here to hurt anyone.”
She paused. “It’s just a feeling. But it’s strong.”
Ken nodded slowly. “That’s exactly what I needed to hear.”
They exchanged a look.
“We’ll keep it quiet for now,” he said. “I’m going back out there… to see what happens.”
Ken was about to step out when the knock came — loud, sharp, and urgent.
He froze halfway to the door, a cold weight settling in his chest.
He already knew who it was.
He opened the front door to find Lieutenant Hayes standing on the porch, his posture as rigid as ever.
“Lieutenant,” Ken said, voice flat. “Let me guess. You’re here to commandeer the house now.”
Hayes gave the faintest smile — more practiced than amused.
“No, Mr. Miller. Not yet.”
A dry chuckle followed. “We’re trying to avoid that.”
Ken said nothing.
Hayes cleared his throat. “There’s been a development. I’m sure you heard the weapons fire the other night?”
Ken nodded slowly.
“Well,” Hayes continued, “my commanding officers have decided it’s time to bring you into the loop. This has become more than a simple crash. It’s now a matter of national security — and it’s happening on your property.”
At the table with Patty present, the Lieutenant went on to explain that there was something in the craft when it crashed and they have reason to believe that it escaped, we shot something out there but it got away, which brings me to why you need to be aware. We aren’t sure what this thing is, or what it’s intentions are, or, for that matter, where it is now. We feel that for yours and your wife’s safety, you need to be aware of it,” Hayes said.
He added the usual: top secret, do not share with anyone.
But what truly disturbed the Millers was his final line —
they weren’t to leave the property. Not until further notice.
After Hayes’ truck disappeared down the gravel drive, Ken stood there for a minute, thinking.
Then he turned toward the woods — and froze.
At the edge of the trees, just beyond the shed, she stepped into view.
Slender. Tall. Watching.
And though she never spoke, Ken heard her voice clearly in his mind:
“You chose not to betray me.”