And that had been it. As suddenly as she had appeared, the strange Inaya of Nuanderra had already disappeared. But even with the occasional extraterrestrial visitor, life went on for a teenager who lived her life almost alone, so a tired Liana continued to clean up the kitchen on autopilot. She still had to take the right study books for tomorrow, check her school email, and then have some well-needed relaxation. And it was already later than she realized, alien visitors seemed to make time move quickly.

Absent-mindedly she seated herself behind an old desktop computer in her bedroom. It was not so common for her, but now she really needed someone to talk to. Someone human, someone who really came from this world and didn't know what Oranderra was or all these Nummerfil-things, and at the same time someone wouldn't laugh at her or call her crazy by default. And the only person she could harass with a story like this at this hour was mainly reachable via chat.

But even with him it was uncertain if she could actually talk about this kind of story, plus she'd texted him earlier that she wasn't going to be online today. But she had to try. She started an obscure old IRC-based chat website that few people still knew of and used, and logged in.

Luckily, just as she had hoped, Joris was indeed still online.

Are you there?

Me?

No!

Why would you think that?

So you're there.

I'm not in the mood for silly jokes for a while. I think I'm going crazy!

What's up? School trouble?

If only…

Boy trouble?

Me and boys? Romantic aspirations and me don't mix in any possible universe. The story in question is still not so unbelievable.

Though…

If you were trying to tell someone that you encountered something that doesn't exist and is impossible, what would be the best approach?

Something that doesn't exist? Have those stupid ghosts and existentially plagued pasta gods popped up on your sixth sense radar again?

That's not funny Joris. And no, if only that was just it. Stranger than that.

Do I have to guess? elves? Smurfs? Sinterklaas? Classmates with a sudden interest in something interesting?

This makes no sense. nevermind.

Oh, what am I even doing?

It's impossible. I'm going crazy.

Impossible :D

You've always been crazy…

sigh… Ever so helpful.

If you would tell me what kind of smurf you've met, maybe I could respond…

No smurf. A girl who was not human. In the industrial area. She talked to the birds.

No human? How do you know? Usually you just say that about Boys…

Not a human at all. Humanoid and female and about our age in appearance, but not human. Not even from our world. Humans are not nearly translucent with a pearly complexion and purplish eyes. People cannot make themselves invisible to ordinary people and at the same time remain visible to me. Humans don't speak to jackdaws and feral parakeets.

So one of the ghosts. Did I mention you have to be careful not to tell anyone? Soon they'll think you're crazy and then they might put you in an internment or something!

It actually happened. After school today.

She was not a ghost or spirit. A Nummerfil or Nummerfa or something, from a place called Nuanderra where they think of humans as devils. She came home with me and ate my fried rice. Ghosts can't do that.

You cooking? Maybe a good way to become a ghost very quickly…

You're not funny! I am serious.

I know that. But I have no idea how to react to a Nummerfa from Nuanderra. I can only notice that they like word beginning with "nu"; but that's all.

Joris!!!!

You are such an idiot! An idiot who made the first and the most pointless analysis of Nuanderran language in our entire world at the same time. That must be a record.

Thank you, thank you!

But seriously now. Am I crazy?

**Error: Not enough data to answer this question. Ask another question** ;)

Pffffffff

And what do those Nummerfil actually want? Eating your fried rice and talking to parakeets somehow seems a strange motive to me to come from another world to Doodzout.

She was looking for some hostile Onno-whatever but she couldn't find it. That part is even weirder. She came in the name of some council of important chiefs of her world. It has something to do with their kind who see us as devils and may want to attack our world.

Alien attacks are coming?

Nice to get a warning…

People of this world attack each other enough I would say.

What should I do now Joris?

No idea. Watch out for Nummerfa with whoknows what kind of weapons that start an invasion?

Pffffffff

When will the world ever become normal?

**Error: Normal does not exist**

Ever so helpful…

Sorry, I just don't know how to respond. Seeing each other in real life would also be more convenient for a conversation like this.

Maybe you can come over one of the next weekends? Then we'll catch up.

It's going to be difficult, my parents will think I have some other intentions if I'm going to sleep over with a girl. But I'll try to convince them.They still know you, and they know you're not out to ruin their poor innocent boy.

Sleeping would be a good idea for a change though. How does one after an encounter with a creature from Nuanderra.

Think of something else. Read some fantasy. Start a Tolkien book and by the end you'll be asleep :p

I'M ALREADY IN A FREAKING FANTASY STORY NOW! Real life!

Oops, read some online financial and economic news and stock market updates then. Sleep well.

Grml

gdnt

gdnt

Liana turned off the computer but remained in her bedroom. She put on some loud punk music and read another book to clear her mind. Fantasy wasn't such a bad idea after all. Before she went to bed she went downstairs and looked around in the kitchen again. No signs that there had been a visitor from another world. Had it all been a dream? She'd had so many strange dreams in her life that had seemed very real already.