Response Protocol

A tapping noise woke Alley. Blinking away the fog of sleep, he yawned and stretched, turning toward the connecting kitchen.

There, he saw both of his parents in their usual positions, and it formed a wearied yet relieved smile on his face.

After securing the blanket on his brother, Alley approached the dining table.

"Morning, we waited for you last night. Was work too much?" His voice carried a husky undertone as he settled across from Stephen, who was engrossed in his morning papers.

"You could have texted me. I had to lie to Ash," he added, but his words hung unanswered.

His eyes darted between his parents, waiting for a reaction. In a few minutes of silence, he started fidgeting with his hands, self-doubt creeping in as he questioned if he had somehow misbehaved.

He recollected his recent memories, but none were anything about the smoke. Then, a scene from yesterday dropped his shoulders down.

"Did the school call you?" his voice faltered. "None of it was my fault. I only gave her handkerchief back," he frowned, "...and she just..." Words trailed off as he looked down, but still, silence.

He stood and leaned to peer at his mother's face. Fiona's body turned toward the sink as she chopped something up.

"Ma?" Alley wanted to search for answers in her expression but couldn't quite see.

Glancing at the fridge for the notes, he reassured himself that he had done every task he was left with. Bought every grocery item on the list, and the porch was clean.

"I also followed up on the report for the porch yesterday. A-and I made sure Asher took his vitamins," he glanced at the living room area. "A-ah, sorry, I'll clean the mess in a bit."

"And I also have a copy of my grades. I can go get them now if you want..." he tried again, hoping to spark their usual interest in his academic performance, "The moving-up ceremony is tomorrow too. Sir Kino said it's okay if I don't attend."

Not getting a reaction, he turned to his father, reaching toward his arm. It felt oddly cold, and the sensation coursed through his fingers.

"Pa?" The call came out with a hint of concern.

The newspaper blocked his gaze, and he stumbled over something odd.

"Pa, this paper is a week old..." He pushed his arm down, and as the paper lowered, a cold wave ran down his body.

His father's eyes were all white. The once familiar eyes were now an unsettling trembling of white. Motionless in his reading position, cryptic murmurs escaped his mouth.

Alley abruptly shot up, and a soul-deep shiver of disbelief coursed through him. He snapped his gaze—to his mother, only to realize she was the same, as her knife tapped at the wooden cutting board, cutting none.

Their bodies were both 'empty.'

He stood in a speechless stupor, ears ringing, head shaking in futile denial. A step back in retreat, he stumbled, amplifying the piercing drag of the chair over the wooden floor—a grating call of distress.

His entire body stiffened—a marionette pulled taut—yet his mind raced, rushed, riffled through files of trust, with no margin to shelve back the disappointment, his initial response. The evidence, undeniable, demolished whatever foundation he so deemed as righteous.

"No..." he murmured, almost inaudible.

Yet no soul was in control, and should the demon win in the body ownership brawl, it would all be over.

One: Do not engage the anomaly. Refrain from any direct interaction.

He retreated, breaths quickened, and darted directly to the sofa, with Asher in mind. Forcefully seating the child, he then fumbled through the blanket, wrapping him with it like a cloak.

"Brother?" The child furrowed his eyebrows, disoriented from waking up. "What are you doing?" Asher asked, as his brother continued to wrap him hurriedly before answering his call.

Two: Personal safety is to be prioritized. Seek shelter in a secured location immediately.

"Let's go to our room," grunted Alley, carrying the child up in his arms. "I know you don't like falling asleep here. Sorry for waking you up." He minimized the urgency in his voice, covering Asher completely with the blanket as he walked briskly to their room.

He placed Asher down on his bed and grabbed the keys to the door from the bedside table. "Go back to sleep. I'll wake you up for breakfast." A smile escaped his lips, and he hurriedly exited, locking the door from the inside.

Alley went back to the sofa. A few brisk steps, but a rustle of paper sliced through the air, freezing him in his tracks. He stole a wary glance toward his motionless parents, hoping they had not stirred.

After a few agonizing heartbeats, Alley released a slow, deep breath and hurried to where his phone was.

An abrupt movement—his father stood—sent a chair scraping the floor with a grating screech. He flinched, and in panic, crawled toward the front of the sofa to hide.

Footsteps. He bit on the flesh from inside his mouth, lowering his head, feeling it throb. Frozen as furniture, he hoped he was out of sight.

Three: Alert the relevant authorities promptly using the designated emergency hotline (112). Report pre, active, and post-possession cases. Do not leave a potential case unreported.

After a few long breaths, the footsteps ceased. He began the search for his phone, fingers fumbling over the sofa's crevices in a frantic search. When he finally found it, the time flashed before his eyes when he turned it on—3:55 AM. He cursed under his breath and proceeded to dial for help.

The help would likely take half an hour due to the distance from downtown, but he was determined to try. A single ring, and it pulled through.

Four: Comply with the official safety directives. Stay on the phone and follow the instructions of authorized agents closely.

"112 cases, what's the address of the emergency?" an urgent voice spoke through the phone.

"Hello?" said Alley, ever so softly. In a breath's pause, he continued, "Plows district, 76th Street, Sweet Home Apartments, unit 2."

"Is that your home and current location?"

"Yes…"

"What's the number you're calling from?"

"987-432-733."

"What is your name, and how old are you?"

"Alley Ressula. I'm 17. Please hurry."

"Okay, Alley, I'm Janet. Tell me exactly what's happening."

Alley tried to control his breathing over his words. "Our parents… they're empty. I-I woke up from a nap, and they're here… they've been like that, for, I don't know… I went over to the kitchen, where they are, and just… just saw their eyes…"

"I see. Are you with someone?"

"Where I am, no. My little brother, he's 9, he's sleeping inside his room. I- I locked it. I locked it from the inside…"

"And where are you right now, exactly?"

"In front of the sofa. In the living room. From the back is the... connecting kitchen a few meters away, where my parents are."

"Are there any available exits from where you are?"

"Yes... the main door is near, but I don't know if it's currently locked, and I don't have a key."

"Can you get a hold of it?"

"No, I think it's in my father's car keys, hooked in his pocket."

"I see. So, Alley, officers and priests have been dispatched to your location. They're on their way, and I want you to stay on the line for me, okay?"

"Okay."

"What's your brother's name?"

"Asher."

"Alright, do you have any more options where you can hide?"

"I don't think so…"

"Are there any more small rooms, or a cabinet close to you?"

"No…" He looked around while lowering his head.

"I see. The last time you saw their eyes, what color were they?"

"Completely white."

"Okay. Keep on looking around and tell me if you have any more places you can hide from, okay? Do not try to engage. Do you have any weapon with you?"

"No, but I have my baseball bat a few meters away..."

"That will be our last resort. Stay hidden as much as possible. I will be updating you with our officers, so stay on the line with me, okay?"

"Okay…"

Alley grew more and more restless. His grip grew stronger with his phone, and he glanced up, his mind running through distressing scenarios.

"Okay. Our officers are only a few minutes away. Keep calm and stay hidden. I'm right here with you."

"Okay..." he nodded, but he could not keep calm, nor stay hidden.

He had to look. After a few minutes of slow breaths, he climbed to the sofa and peered over.

Five: Exercise extreme caution and maintain a safe distance. Until authorities have arrived, contact with the possessed individuals has to be avoided at all costs.

Slowly, he lifted his head over the backrest and was about to scan…

The last crumb of hope shattered, as a looming shadow cast over his face.