[Koi]

He'd heard about it, mainly through random people and reports that had been filed for missing person cases. People were dropping out of their work or disappearing altogether in some cases. People were also catching sight of strange things. As a policeman, he was of course tasked with finding out what was going on. Antonio was a policeman in a small, not very eventful city... Not that many really knew of the situation as most just brushed it off as idle conspiracy chatter. It had started in the spring of last year. Supposedly within the less densely populated areas of the city where one could clearly see the stars and such, strange lights had supposedly been spotted above by a few, mainly while driving or camping. Others claimed to have seen space crafts and been abducted by aliens, but they had been ignored or written off as crazy. Today, he'd been asked by his colleagues if he believed all the hype. Of course, he said no. He was one of the many nonbelievers. He didn't think that aliens were already hiding among them and doing... Well whatever it was they would do in such a scenario. He personally though it was a bit foolish to think that people had been taken by aliens rather than providing a more rational explanation like some crazy person or a serial killer.. Or even people just leaving because they didn't want to be found. 


He found himself working late with a few others, still sitting in his office and comparing a list of alleged 'alien abductions'. To be honest, he just though it was some killer running around snatching people up but he was pretty sure everyone else in the office believed that more so than this alien abduction thing that some local crazies had offered up. It was almost time for him to make the trip home anyway and he was honestly ready to do that. They had got nothing but reports of missing people and they had yet to get any real leads at this point. About seven people were missing so far and in the quiet town of Autumn Ridge that was a big number.


Looking back, he saw that one of the officers, Frank, was returning from his outing. He was back with a few snacks it seemed. "Hey, hey." He went to sit everything down on an open table. The remaining few officers in the building allowed their attention to be torn from their files and lit-up screens. "Come get your food. We'll consider it a needed break." And it was. Antonio got up and moved to grab the little hamburger he'd had his colleague get for him. He nodded his thanks and moved to take a seat, throwing his legs up on his desk and leaning back in his chair.


"I can't believe people think it was aliens. What technologically superior race would want to land in this dump?" Frank muttered as he moved to join the gathered officers. "Maybe that's why they're here. Since no one comes here, of course they'd want to invade a no name town like this one." One of the younger ones, Tyson, pointed out. He was a rookie and he had been here for a few weeks now. This drew some groans and eye rolls from a few other cops.


That was when the phone began to ring. Antonio set his burger aside and moved to get it. "911, what's your emergency?" The voice that answered was the meek, quiet whisper of a woman. "I... I." She was stammering, seemingly unable to talk. "Ma'am?" Finally she managed to get it out. "I think someone just broke into my house." She said. "I-I'm on Klein Street." She gave her address as well as quickly and quietly as she could. "Find a good place to hide and wait for us to get there. We'll be over in a few." He set the phone back down and looked towards the others, frowning. Because of how small the town was, this wasn't much of a police force really. It was nothing like the big offices one might see in a city but it was all they had. "Come on. We've got a break in on Klein Street. You three stay here though." He gestured to the two rookies  and one of their more experienced officers to stay behind and watch them. Antonio turned to leave the office, grabbing his coat on the way out. Hopefully that lady would be alright.