“Why don’t you tell Henry what you saw at the mall last week?” Julia suggested, still giggling.
Kara turned towards Henry. “So, you were detained by the military when you tried to leave the mall?”
“That’s right... They were asking if we had witnessed the roof collapse.” He said, trying to ignore his sister’s mischievous grin. “They seemed to be rounding up anyone who had been in that part of the mall, but since we weren’t there they didn’t make us stay. It was freaky to see a bunch of guys in gas masks, but when we asked they just said that it was to keep out the dust while they cleaned up.”
“I can’t imagine a hole in the roof would require a military hazmat crew. The whole thing seemed really weird...”
“I was there with Ben when it happened.” Kara explained. “The roof was smashed in by a pod thing. Seemed harmless until some security guy poked at it. It hissed and started glowing green. My theory is that it released some kind of infection.”
“But... That probably sounds crazy...”
“No... Actually, that’s pretty much what Cody told me when he called into work.” Henry said. “He was there too.”
“Why did Cody call in?” Julia asked.
“Said he was sick.” Henry shrugged. “I guess that might not be the case in hindsight...”
“I don’t think anyone has actually been sick... Just changed.”
“We just watched one of my neighbors grow a new leg...” Kara added. “I’d probably call in to... if something like that happened to me.”
Julia shot her a knowing glance before saying, “I don’t think this is going away... Seems to me that alien pod was a blessing and a curse. It cured disease but inadvertently messed with our biology...”
“Uh...” Henry groaned. “I feel... Strange...”