I woke up slowly feeling hungover.

Maybe.

Maybe I drank too much in the celebration of becoming a major.

Maybe I was back on earth. And everything I experienced was just a dream?

Maybe the alien invasion was part of the dream and maybe I'm still in my bed, inside my room. Maybe none of that ever happened.

"Ms Woods?" A voice called out. It was one of our maids.

I woke up quickly.

"It's already noon. Weren't you going out with your friends?" She asked.

"Friends?"

"Yes. I suppose." She looked at me weirdly.

I checked my phone. Loads of messages were on display on the Home Screen.

"Ummm...yeah...thanks for reminding me," I smiled at her and got of the bed heading to the bathroom to take a shower to clear my mind.

Friends? Did I really have any? I wasn't much of a people's person. I only focused on getting my ranks and moving up in the hierarchy.

Colleagues? Yes. But friends? Never.

Well maybe if I include my two best friends.

But they too were not gonna last long.

Suddenly my phone rang.

After calming down from the sudden panic it caused I picked it up.

"Yuri? Where are you? We're all waiting here for you." Laura screamed through the other side of the phone.

"I'm....I'm on my way."

"Please don't tell me you're still standing there on your bathrobes and not started on road yet."

"Look. Laura. Can we cancel the plans today? I'm not feeling well."

"Cancel plans? It's your birthday! Do you know how much I spent on this party?"

"I told you, I don't like many people in one place. You can continue the party if you want."

"Tch, whatever." She hung up the phone.

It was my bad luck or maybe my bad judgment to have a best friend like her.

Every time I'm around her I feel like my energy's getting drained.

And I didn't want to meet up with her because I loved her boyfriend who was also my best friend.

Again my phone rang as I flopped into the bed again.

"Yuri? Why aren't you coming? Laura's yelling out that you're being selfish or something." Damien said.

"I'm just not feeling well." I replied.

"Oh. Ok. I told Laura this was a bad idea. We'll bring the cake to you. We'll celebrate with some fever friendly snacks and some movies. You, me and Laura. No one else."

"Ohh....that's so sweet..."

"Ok then..."

"Wait! Damien. I....want to tell you something."

"Yeah?"

"I.....you come home. I'll tell you. Ok? And...please don't bring Laura."

"Why? What happened? Is it something serious?"

"I've got some news. Not too serious. But please. Just come alone."

"Ok, I'll be there in an hour." He said and hung up.

"Ms Woods. Mr Silver is here." Our butler informed as I laid lazily on the couch.

"Send him in please."

The butler nodded and brought in Damien.

"Heyyyy....nest hair."

"Too funny." I smiled at him sarcastically as I tidied up my messy wet hair.

"Soo....what's the big news?"

"Oh, we're gonna jump into that?"

"Yep."

"Ok. I'm being moved."

"Where?"

"Alaska border."

"When?"

"Friday. 19:00 hours."

"Ok."

He reacted well, because he was a fellow colleague. He understood.

"There's...more." I muttered.

"Ok. Maybe I should sit down for this one." He quickly sat down on the cosy armchair.

"I...don't want to stay in connection with Laura anymore."

"Understandable."

"You do?"

"Yeah. She's a total bitch. I was gonna—"

Suddenly loud sirens started ringing all around.

"ATTENTION. THIS IS NOT A DRILL. THIS IS NOT A DRILL. REPORT TO HEADQUARTERS IMMEDIATELY."

The message repeated over and over the army base.

Both of us immediately ran down to the bunkers and changed into combat outfits.

Report to headquarters only meant one thing. War has begun.