Originally for a challenge on the WritingPrompts discord

The bus was late, the rain was not, and the man in the bus shelter perfected my misery. I huddled under my umbrella, away from him, as his raspy voice spewed a practice-smoothed tirade of conspiracies. Flat earth, chem trails, lizard people, he believed it all, and believed that all needed to know.

"You've been very quiet. It's a mind-blowing moment isn't it, man, having the curtain pulled back. Taking the red pill." Ugh. He'd taken my silence as agreement.

"I'm waiting for the bus, just like you. If walking away was an option, I'd have done that. Please, please, just let me wait in peace."

"You... you-" He stomped out into the rain, right into my face. "A chance to open your eyes, and you're just gonna ignore it? I'm sick of you people's condescension, and your fake science, and your sheeple programming. You drink up lies and mock the truth."

I craned my neck to see if the bus was coming down the street. It wasn't yet.

"I'm getting on the same bus as you, idiot, and I'm not stopping 'til you believe."

I sighed and glanced about. It seemed clear enough. I raised my watch to my mouth, "I'm begging a favor here..."

The man interrupted, "Those smart watches spy on you, not just the companies, also..."

I continued over his voice, "I know it's the middle of the day, but with the rain, there's no one looking.... Thank you for understanding."

A beam of light flashed from the sky, and the man vanished. Abducted. I shook my head as I reclaimed the bus shelter. As if aliens would look like lizards.