10 years later

Ali stepped out into the dark, outside world; holding her two-year-old son’s hand tightly. David had the delicate blonde hair of his father with light blue eyes. He wore a light blue shirt and white pants. He held, clutched tightly in his hand, the headless bear that had once belonged to Ali. Ali’s husband, Mike, stepped out next and wrapped his arm around her shoulder. There were triangle-like scars on his forehead and hands; that story was a popular bedtime story. The sound of laughter split the quietness of the open air as two six-year-old twins ran around their mother. Timothy, the older twin had long, black hair that covered his eyes and touched the collar of his short-sleeved black shirt. He wore simple black pants and a dark blue headband that matched his eyes. His twin, Heather, was similar in appearance with longer hair; she wore a black dress that came down to her knee. Last to exit the orphanage was the Runner Alien, TJ; the gash on his head was still noticeable but was slowly becoming a thinner and thinner scar. He hissed happily and ran after the children, tapping them gently with his head so they would lose their footing and fall into the soft ground. Ali smiled and called out in a motherly voice, “TJ, not too rough.”

TJ hissed, pretending to be upset. But then Heather jumped on to his back and he let out another hiss, this time a joyful one. Ali watched as her two children played with her old friend.

Even though all of her kids had the ability to communicate with the Queen by means of telepathy; David was the only one without alien speed and acidic blood. He was too young to know about it yet but Ali dreaded the day when he would know. She didn't want her son to feel left out. Also, each of her children would inherit an alien Hive when they got older. Timothy, being the oldest would get the Imperial Hive at the orphanage, Heather, the middle child, would get the Lesser Hive located in the mountains, and David would get the Hive that was along the border of North Dakota and Montana.

“Alright, that’s enough,” Mike said, cutting into Ali’s thoughts, “Heather; say good-night to your mother.”

“Ah, why can’t I go hunting with you and Timothy?” Heather asked, turning to her mother and pouting.

“Maybe when you’re older,” Ali replied.

“You can’t pull that one on me Mom; Timothy and I are the same age!” Heather said.

“Yeah, but I’m still older!” Timothy said, sticking his tongue out.

“By a few seconds!” Heather snapped back.

Ali smiled at her daughter and then crouched down to her youngest son and said, “Good-night David. You be a good boy, okay?”

“Okay Mommy!” David said with a giggle.

Then Ali turned to Heather, “Good-night dear.”

“Yeah, whatever,” Heather said, still upset about being left out.

Then, TJ walked up. He placed his head on Ali’s shoulder and hissed gently. Ali smiled and said, “Bye TJ, I’ll see you in the morning.”

Mike took David’s hand and gave Ali a kiss on the cheek, “Don’t stay out too long, okay?”

“Alright, dear,” Ali said and then smiled.

As TJ, Heather, Mike and David returned to the orphanage, Ali turned to Timothy, “Remember, my son, the key to hunting humans is stealth; you must sneak up on your prey before they have a chance to know what is going on,”

“Stealth,” Timothy repeated, “Got it!”

And together, mother and son took off toward the city and disappeared into the night.