21 I squeeze my eyes closed but when I open them there are still two Aidens They turn toward each other perfectly in sync One’s expression turns to a glare and the other’s freckles begin shaking If I had freckles mine would be shaking too You didn’t tell me you had a brother I say I don’t they both reply without even looking at me Maybe I’m dreaming I mean what’s more likely that I ate too much pizza and had a nightmare about my new neighbors or that I actually saw a bunch of human-looking robots in my neighbor’s basement and then met one You aren’t supposed to be out the angry looking one says Now Lucas has seen us both 1
Please don’t tell Mom the other one says voice wavering to see for herself I don’t have to She’ll be back here in a second At that moment Jessica calls Aiden where are you and all three of our heads snap around My skin prickles and I know I’m not dreaming this Whatever this is it’s happening and I need to get away I scramble to my feet and press against the side of the house If I’m fast I can make it past the Aidens before Jessica comes around the corner They turn to face each other again looking more alike than ever they both look scared What do you think she’ll do one asks I’m not sticking around to find out I take off running and I’m almost to my back porch when I hear Lucas wait A chill runs down my spine as I realize I don’t know which Aiden said it 2
22 I slam my bedroom door shut and lean against it as though that’s going to keep me safe I try to slow down my breathing but every time I picture that basement it speeds up again I tap my keyboard to wake up my monitor It’s only two thirty Dad won’t be home for hours and who knows where Mom and Matty are As soon as one of my parents gets home I’m telling them everything They’ll think I’m making it up but once they see what’s in that basement they’ll have to believe me I wish I’d gotten some answers out of Aiden either Aiden before I ran away How can I explain this to my parents when I don’t understand it myself There’s no way I’m going back over there to ask questions but maybe 3
