Free Visitors by R. L. Stine

biggest egg. “Soon you will feel his magnificent energy.”
    I did feel something. It wasn’t magnificent, but it was powerful.
    I felt wave after wave. And then I heard a voice. A voice deep inside me.
    “ You are my host body now ,” it said. “ You will receive my thought waves. You will do all you can to protect me .”
    My own brain struggled against this. No! I thought. I’ll fight you! I’ll fight you!
    But I could feel the alien’s power growing stronger and stronger.
    “I tried to warn you not to meddle with our plans,” Jeff told me. “When Summer took you skating, I trashed your room. I left that message on your computer to frighten you.”
    “And we sent you that e-mail, warning you to stay away,” Summer said. “But it doesn’t matter now.”
    “You’re free to go,” Rikki told me. “Now that you have one of us inside you, there’s nothing you can do to stop us. You are on our side now. You will help us.”
    “You can help us tomorrow,” Summer said.
    “Tomorrow?” I choked out. “What is happening tomorrow?”
    “You’ll see,” Rikki replied. A cold smile spread over her face. “Tomorrow will be a wonderful day.”
    “But—but—” I sputtered. “Tell me. Tell me about tomorrow.”
    “Go home,” Jeff said. “You are one of us now.”
    “ Yes ,” the alien voice inside me said. I could feel it getting stronger, louder, taking over my brain. “ You are one of us now. You will follow our wishes. And you can’t do anything to stop it .
    “ You are powerless ,” the voice roared inside my head. “ Powerless .”

25
    I hurried out of the darkroom, through the photography room, and into the hall. The halls were empty. Classes had started.
    I didn’t bother going to class. I ran outside, climbed on my bike, and pedaled for home. Leaning forward, gripping the handlebars for dear life, I fought the waves of alien energy that surged through me.
    I’ve got to tell someone, I thought desperately. Mom and Dad?
    Can I trust them?
    Or have they swallowed aliens, too?
    But then I felt my brain arguing with me. “ It’s not a horrible thing. It’s wonderful thing. You are a hero.You are saving an alien life .”
    Oof! A sharp pain stabbed my stomach. I tried to keep pedaling, but the pain forced me to stop.
    I bent over, clutching my stomach.
    “ What are you doing to me ?” the voice demanded. “ Stop! I order you to stop causing me pain! ”
    Huh? I’m not doing anything, I thought.
    After a short while, the pain eased up. I continued on my way home.
    Hurry! I told myself. Hurry!
    But to my horror, my body began to slow down. I struggled to pedal faster, but I couldn’t.
    I leaped off my bicycle. A sharp stab of pain shot through my stomach again. I crouched down, moaning, rolling on the ground and holding my stomach.
    “ What are you doing to me ?” the voice called. “ You are not allowed to cause me pain .”
    “I—I’m not doing anything!” I cried out loud.
    “ You are not cooperating! ” the voice boomed. “ I will make you pay for that! ”
    Somehow I made it home. I staggered into the kitchen. Mom and Dad were still home, cleaning up the breakfast dishes.
    “Ben! What are you doing home?” Mom demanded.
    I can’t tell them, I decided.
    I can’t trust them.
    “I’m not feeling well,” I said. “The nurse sent me home sick.”
    I felt another stab of pain. “ You must suffer the way you are making me suffer! ” the voice inside me boomed.
    I suddenly felt so weak.
    “You do look pale,” Dad said. “Why don’t you go upstairs and lie down?”
    “Good idea,” I said. Holding my breath, I walked upstairs to my room. Another sharp pain seized my stomach again. I collapsed on the bed.
    What is this pain? I wondered. Why is the alien doing this to me?
    I lay huddled on the bed as the pain grew sharper, so intense I could barely breathe.
    I’m…dying, I realized. And suddenly, I knew it was true.
    I was dying! Disappearing.
    I was vanishing as the