The Alien and the Cursed Star

Sabrina was already dressed, but she stood frozen in the living room, unsure what to do. Her hands tugged nervously at the hem of her skirt. The evening was closing in — and she knew, soon, she would no longer look like herself.

The transformation was coming.

Her phone buzzed on the coffee table. Haein.

"See you! I'm on my way now." He texted, followed by a call.

But she did not pick up. She just kept walking in slow circles in the living room, glancing at the clock, the window, the mirror.

A sudden knock at the door startled her. She opened it just a crack.

Two men stood outside, badges hanging from their coats.

"Good evening, ma'am. We are with the police investigation unit." One of them said politely. "We would like to ask you a few questions regarding Julia's death. May we come in?"

Her heart jumped. "Julia?" She repeated, then slowly opened the door wider. "Yes. I knew her. We were in the same industry… rivals in modeling."

They sat on the couch while Sabrina remained standing, arms crossed protectively.

"There are reports of a conflict between you and Julia. Can you confirm?"

She exhaled. "There was competitive tension, sure. But that is common in our field. Beyond that, we were not close."

As the investigators asked more questions, her phone buzzed again. Haein.

She declined the call this time and texted him quickly:

"I cannot go now. I have investigators here. Something came up."

One of the officers leaned forward slightly. "Did you ever notice Julia acting… unstable? Was she drinking heavily at the event?"

"I was not paying attention to others that night." She said, keeping her tone even. "Everyone was busy. Focused on their own people."

"Do you know anything about Julia's relationship with Nathaniel?"

That made Sabrina blink. "Nathaniel?" She asked carefully. "Why?"

"We were told he was at the event. Were you aware of that?"

There was a pause. Her mind drifted — a strange memory tugging at her. A faint image.

A dim hallway.

A door closing.

Strong arms helping her into a room.

Nathaniel?

Had he really been there that night?

But she had written it off as a dream. Something blurred by fatigue and champagne.

"No." She said at last, steadying her voice. "I do not remember seeing him. And I know who Julia was involved with — it was not him."

"Who then?"

"James Harrington." Sabrina answered. "They were talking privately during the event. She was excited. Said she wanted to announce something that night."

The investigators took notes, thanked her for her time, and left quietly.

Once alone, Sabrina shut the door and leaned against it, breath shallow. The question still echoed in her head.

Was Nathaniel really there?

Before she could think further, she felt it — that tug, that shift deep in her bones. Her skin itched. Her muscles ached. Her reflection blurred slightly in the mirror across the room.

The transformation had begun.

She rushed into the bedroom, her body changing rapidly into that of an older woman. Wrinkles replaced smooth skin. Her voice deepened. Her hair grayed. She grabbed an old cardigan and covered herself, slipping into flat shoes and glasses.

She could not stay. Not like this.

Not when Haein might come by.

And just as she opened the door to slip out—

Haein stood right in front of it.

They both froze.

"Oh—oh! Good evening, Ma'am?" He said, startled. "I—uh, is Sabrina home?"

Sabrina's breath caught.

Her best friend did not recognize her.

"Sab?" She echoed with a rougher voice. "She just stepped out. She had an interview with the investigators. I thought she told you. I heard you two talking earlier on the phone."

"Oh. Yeah, we talked. I just wanted to see her in person." He paused. "Do you know what the interview was about?"

She nodded, careful not to over-explain. "Still about Julia's death, from what I overheard."

Haein hesitated, looking her up and down. "Sorry — if you do not mind me asking… what's your relation to Sabrina?"

"I'm her aunt." She replied quickly. Her best friend really likes to question people. For a long time, she did not mention any aunt to him. He only knows her father. He might be suspicious if he will ask many questions. She needs to escape as soon as possible. Less talk, less mistake.

He smiled a little. "Ah, okay. I've never met you before. You must be her oldest aunt."

Sabrina fought the urge to roll her eyes. This guy, she thought to herself. Is she really look too old in this version?

"Well, I'm heading out for a bit." She said, stepping past him. "Going to grab something downstairs."

Go out please, go ahead and leave me alone Haein.

"Oh, okay. I will leave too. Let's go down together, aunt." Haein said cheerfully. He was naturally extroverted—easy with people, warm with his smile. On a more serious note, she knew she was lucky to have him. If her own mother couldn't bring herself to love her, at least she had a best friend who always stayed.

But even now, she could not bring herself to tell anyone her darkest secret. Not even him.

She forced a polite smile in return.

I'll tell you soon, Haein.

Someday.

At the lobby, Haein waved goodbye before getting into his car.

Sabrina watched him drive away, her eyes following the taillights until they vanished into the night.

Not long after, her phone rang again.

It was him.

She did not answer.

She did not know what to say. Deep down, she was certain Haein would understand—he'd probably go out of his way to help her if she asked. But she wasn't ready. Not yet. She wasn't ready to open up that part of herself, not even to the one person who had never left.

So she walked. Alone, under the quiet evening sky.

The wind brushed gently against her now-thinner frame.

The world felt heavier when she was like this—slower, quieter, as if holding its breath with her.

She bought a tub of ice cream from the convenience store and made her way to the nearby park, settling onto a bench to eat it slowly, spoon by spoon, watching the lights flicker across the darkening city.

"Copy, sir. She is living with an old lady now. Should I go in?" A figure with a headset whispered into a small comm device.