Night Owls

Jerry glanced down at the photograph in his hand, then back up again at the woman sitting alone at the back of the cafe.

“Could this really be her?” he asked himself. “I meant, really? After 30 years of searching, she just happens to be at the coffee shop I’ve been frequenting every day for the last 22 months?” He took another sip of his warm coffee and decided he would approach her.

All at once a blinding light coursed through the space. Jerry and the woman froze. And then a creature appeared, seemingly from the air itself.

“Holy Christ!” Jerry jumped back and grabbed the woman’s hand. “Mom, we have to get out of here.” “Jerry?!” The word emptied out of her mouth almost in a gag. “I… what…” The creature swiped down a menacing hand and knocked them both to the floor. The reunion was over.