Submitted for the July 2025 prompt: Aliens Among Us

The menu’s handed out; there’s only two items: Blue Pill or Green Pill.

 

Idyllic is the latest restaurant in our area, and it’s so popular my friends had to book four weeks in advance. Five star reviews all across the internet from people saying it changed their lives. It sounds too good to be true, and yet here I am — ready to pay $100 for a tiny coloured pill.

 

“Are you ready to order?” asks the waiter.

 

He’s been standing at our table for five minutes, waiting, while we’ve been cracking jokes.

 

“Josh was really wanting a Pink Pill, weren’t you Josh?” Dave says to me, taking the piss.

 

“And I’m on a diet,” says Lucy. “Is one pill more fattening?”

 

We laugh. We’re so clever. And all the while the waiter… waits, his smile a straight line.

 

Finally, an order is placed. I’ve gone for the Blue Pill, for no other reason than it’s my favourite colour. Lucy also the Blue, and Dave the Green.

 

After the waiter leaves our laughter subsides.

 

We settle back into the leather of our private booth.

 

“This’ll be fun,” says Lucy. Her voice rises at the end making it sound more like a question.

 

“Yes,” agrees Dave. “Everyone at work raves about this place. And it was so hard to get a booking.”

 

And yet, Dave drums his fingers on the tabletop, Lucy’s leg won’t stop jamming up and down, and I can’t help looking around.

 

All three of us keep looking to the door, expecting the waiter to come back at any moment.

 

“You think it’s weird we can’t hear anything?”

 

We listen for kitchen noise and the muffled sound of people laughing and being clever and having oh such a good time from their private booths.

 

But there’s nothing.

 

The door suddenly swings open, and the waiter enters carrying a silver tray with our three pills, two Blue, one Green, and three glasses of water.

 

“Enjoy,” he says, and leaves.

 

“I think I’ll need cutlery,” says Dave, but none of us laugh.

 

“This is going to be so fun,” repeats Lucy, trying to smile.

 

I touch my Blue Pill and push it around the plate.

 

Lucy does the same.

 

“Who’s going to go first?” asks Dave.

 

“It’s safe, right?” I ask. “I mean, there’s not any drugs packed in there?”

 

“Just dehydrated ingredients,” says Dave. “Oh hell, I’ll go first.” And just like that, Dave swallows his Green Pill, following with a glass of water.

 

Lucy and I stare.

 

“So… what does it taste like?” I ask.

 

“Well, nothing at the moment. Just like a pill. But you have to wait for the casing to dissolve, and—”

 

His words falter, and his eyes positively glow. “Oh shit… that’s good.”

 

Lucy and I crane forward. “Good, how?” Lucy asks.

 

“Like… I’m filled with energy and… shit, my whole body is tingling. Everywhere. God, guys. You’ve got to try this.”

 

And Lucy does, she takes her Blue Pill, and knocks it back with a relish. Soon, she’s in the same state as Dave — her eyes, even her skin glowing. She looks radiant. “Oh wow, this is so good.”

 

Dave’s still smiling. “Come on, Josh. Take your Blue.”

 

And I try to, I really do.

 

But I keep playing with it. This pill doesn’t even have a split where you can pull it apart and see what’s in it.

 

“I don’t know, guys, I’m not sure…”

 

“But you must,” insists Lucy.

 

“Yes, you must,” agrees Dave.

 

Their eyes turn to me, and I feel a little weird. “C’mon. Join us,” they say together.

 

Something about the way they’re looking at me makes me feel uncomfortable.

 

“I… I’ve got to go to the bathroom first.”

 

And I leave.

 

The waiter is standing outside the door.

 

“Anything I can help you with, sir?”

 

“The… bathroom… I just need to go.”

 

“Down the hall and to the right.”

 

I stumble down a hall filled with silent booths. I glance backwards and the waiter’s still standing there, watching me.

 

Inside the bathroom, I splash my face with water, and tell myself to get a grip. I take out my phone and scan the reviews, telling myself I’m just being stupid. It’s all 5 stars. Nothing less. Everyone loves this place. And so will you, Josh. You just gotta take that damn pill, I tell myself.

 

I walk out of the bathroom.

 

And end up running out of the restaurant.

* * *

 

Later, I get a phone call from Dave at my home. “Hey, what happened, mate?”

 

“Sorry. I just…” got a feeling. “Had to go. I’ll pay you back”

 

“Oh man, you missed all the good stuff. It was amazing. You really should’ve taken the pill.”

 

“Yeah?”

 

“Yeah. Lucy and I have already placed our reviews.”

 

“5 star?”

 

“Nothing less.”

 

The doorbell rings. “Someone’s here. I’ve gotta go.”

 

“That’ll be Lucy.”

 

“Lucy?”

 

But Dave’s already hung up.

 

Sure enough, it’s Lucy standing on my doorstep with the biggest smile. She still looks radiant — her hair, her skin, her eyes.

 

“Hey, Lucy. I didn’t—”

 

“It’s okay, Josh. I know you were nervous. I was nervous too. But luckily, the restaurant does doggy bags. I bought something back for you.”

 

She holds a Blue Pill in her hand.

 

I back away.

 

“Dave, you must.”

 

“Lucy—”

 

I never finish my words. She tackles me to the ground, pinning my arms under her legs.

 

How’d she get so strong?

 

“Get off—!” I yell, and she drops that pill into my open mouth. I try to spit it out, but she clamps my jaw shut.

 

She bends forward and whispers in my ear. “Green’s a male. Blue’s a female. Soon she’ll rehydrate inside you.”

 

I try to scream, but it’s swallowed inside me as the pill casing slowly dissolves.

 

Lucy’s eyes have never looked brighter.

 

* * *

 

Idyllic Restaurant Review by Josh Adams, Washington

 

I cannot recommend this restaurant enough. Incredible experience!! I feel like a different person entirely. 5 stars!