Vrayner the Alien (special preview)

The Benbow Inn was this kitschy little beachside rest spot that hadn’t changed in the millenia that it had been opened. It was one of those places that the locals claimed was cursed due to how many hands it had changed through. Not very many owners had it for long, and the place remained closed more than it ever opened.

It was a few years ago when your grandmother Daisy had come to own the Benbow Inn, and in her short while of owning it she mainly used it to house friends or host parties. She had never done much with it. Now she decided she was sick of the decor and had asked you to come take care of things for her.

Your grandmother had been a raucous socialite back in her days, and you gave her credit for never letting age get to her. She was still a party girl at heart and insisted you call her ‘auntie’ rather than granny.

Before you arrived at the Benbow Inn you had worked up a small portfolio of ideas on how to revamp the age- old inn. You had done your research on the area, and found several shocking details about the Benbow you weren’t sure your grandmother knew about. Granted, she’d seen her share of scandalous things, so nothing would probably bother her.

“I was thinking we could take down this wall and put in a bar.” This was the fifth bar she had suggested as she gave you a tour.

“But this is a load bearing wall. If we tear it down this all becomes a porch,” you said as matter of fact as possible.

Daisy looked around, mimosa in her perfectly manicured hand. “No. I don’t think I want more porch. It’s been raining far too much to enjoy a porch.”

Thunder boomed outside, which was such a shame. You were excited to enjoy the beach while you stayed with Daisy, but it had done nothing but rain since you arrived.

Daisy strut through to the main entrance and waved her hand at the front desk. “I don’t know what to do with this. I don’t like it. How can you make me like it, baby?”

“Well, I actually had some ideas.” You flipped through your notebook. “I did some research on the place, and apparently this used to be a room where this infamous captain used to stay. So I thought-”

Daisy turned to you. “What sort of infamous, baby?”

“Well, he vanished out on the sea. But he continued to pay for this room even after he vanished. Some say that-” Lightning flashed so bright outside it lit up the entire room. The thunder that followed had no business being that loud. But that wasn’t the most shocking thing that happened.

The door opened upon the lightning, and a tall figure walked in to the boom of the thunder. They stood there, draped in a black raincoat and dripping onto the floor.

“Is that him?” Daisy murmured.

The tall, dark, mysterious figure walked into the room then shed his hood, revealing dark pink skin muttered with black smudges and spots.

“I’d like to rent a room if I might,” he said with a small laugh. He smoothed his hand along the back of his head where long tendrils hung like hair.

You and Daisy exchanged looks before she pushed you forward towards the alien. There had been a conference nearby called the Interstellar Exchange Program, so seeing aliens and the like around wasn’t such a shock.

The alien was tall, almost taller than the doorway. He had slanted eyes that were completely black, then two small ones below them. When he blinked, the lids went sideways.

“I’m afraid the inn isn’t open,” you spoke unsurely.

“I’m willing to pay anything,” he replied. “Name your price and I’ll pay it.”

Daisy nudged you again and you glared back at her in exasperation. “I’m sorry, but we’re currently remodeling and the rooms are-”