1/25/2020 5:00 AM

Beep! Beep! Beep! Ryan Davis peeled open his eyes and groggily rolled out of bed. Padding down the hall he slumped down the stairs.

“Good morning!” his sister Lucy Davis chimed happily as Ryan entered the dining room.

“Hm” grunted Ryan as he plopped into his chair and blinked stupidly, the fatigue of the morning just wearing off. Humming cheerfully, Lucy slid a plate of eggs, toast, and bacon in front of him.

“Happy birthday!” Lucy chirped.

“Thanks Lu!” replied Ryan using his affectionate name for her “Happy birthday to you too!”

“Thank you”

“Mmm” Ryan commented agreeably as he dug into his delicious morning meal. “I assume mom and dad have left for work already?” Ryan asked.

“Yes” Lucy said as she bustled around getting ready for school. “By the way, I packed your books in your backpack for you.”

“Oh, thanks” Ryan half mumbled, still disappointed his parents did not even bother to stay to wish him a happy birthday. Lucy sighed, let down by Ryan not noticing her going the extra mile in helping him get ready for school. Finished with breakfast, Ryan, slightly more awake now, thumped up the stairs to the hallway bathroom. Combing his black hair, he then crossed the hallway to his room and threw some clothes on before he hustled back downstairs, snatched up his backpack, and rushed outside to catch the bus.

Struggling to pull his books out of his backpack, Ryan hurriedly threw his backpack into his locker and scurried through the halls to get to his math class. Nate, loitering near the door of his class spotted Ryan coming down the hallway and tripped Ryan with his leg. Falling hard and spraining his left ankle, Ryan tumbled to the floor. Ryan’s books flew everywhere and Ryan’s binder burst open, and scattered papers everywhere.

Nate, spying Ryan’s homework, nonchalantly picked it up and strolled back into his classroom. Ryan scrambled to gather all his papers together and pick up his books. This task accomplished, Ryan hobbled down the hall. Hearing the bell ring, he tried to move faster to his class. Five minutes late, Ryan quietly entered the classroom.

“Ah, Ryan Davis how nice of you to join us” Mr. Lee said in a condescending tone. Flushing with embarrassment, Ryan stumbled to find his seat…in the front row’s middle desk.

“Great” thought Ryan “I get to walk the gauntlet.” Fuming by now, Ryan opened his binder to find his homework missing. “Oh well,” thinks Ryan, “things can’t get much worse.”

Looking around the classroom, Ryan cannot find his one and probably only friend Michal. Figuring Michal was sick, Ryan settled down for a lonely and boring day.

Sinking deep into a gloomy mood, Ryan only vaguely heard the PA chime announcing an incoming message. “Ryan Davis could you please report to the principal’s office?” the speaker seemed to blare as Ryan was jolted awake. Being called to the principal’s office is almost never a good thing.

“My 16th birthday is just going fantastic” Ryan grumbled as he limped down the hallway. Entering the principal’s office, Ryan sat down in the chair across from the Principal’s desk with a feeling of apprehension. The principal looked up from her papers, her hazel eyes filled with empathy. Ryan, startled by this unexpected look on her face wondered what it could be.

“Ryan,” she began, seemingly clueless on how to start, “I just got a call from Michal’s mother. Michal was late waking up this morning and missed the bus. While she was driving Michal to school, a semi truck hit a patch of black ice and crushed the back of the car where Michal was seated. By the time the firemen pried open the section of the car Michal was in, he was long gone. I am so sorry this happened.” Ryan was too shocked to hear anything else she said. His best and only friend, who he saw as a brother, was gone. He hadn’t even got to see him in the hospital and say goodbye.

“Would you like to go back to class?” the principal asked him. Ryan vaguely nodded, exited her office, and numbly tottered down the hall, into his math class and sat down. The rest of the day passed in a blur for Ryan. Before he knew it, it was time to go home.

Nate and his band of thugs, drawn to Ryan’s emotional injuries like sharks to blood, flocked to Ryan in an empty hallway on the way to the school doors. “Hey shrimp, lose this earlier today?” Nate taunted, dangling Ryan’s math homework in Ryan’s face. Failing to provoke a response other than a benumbed stare, Nate decided to kick it up a notch. “Hey I heard that odd friend of yours finally bit the dirt. So glad we only have one wimp left to deal with in this school. I can’t wait for you to be removed from the gene pool as well.”

With these last barbs, something inside of Ryan broke. Screaming angry curses, Ryan sprang at Nate with all the force his scarce 120 pounds of weight could muster. Smashing Nate’s nose with his fist, Ryan was finally wrestled against the cold hard metal of the locker doors. Wiping the blood from his nose, Nate growled angrily, “You’re gonna pay for that, runt.” Thrown to the ground by Nate’s friends, Ryan was kicked in the ribs and stomped on over and over. Ryan received a savage kick to his bruised and sprained ankle, and cried out. After a few more kicks, the bullies, satisfied with their work, dragged Ryan down the hall.

Ryan, knowing it was useless to struggle, let them tie him up and stick him in a closet. Listening to the bullies laughs and receding footsteps, Ryan struggled to get untied, but found he could not. After a few hours, Ryan heard footsteps approaching. The closet doors swungopen and there stood the janitor, Mr. Cain. “Oh hey Ryan” the janitor says “You ok? You look pretty battered”

“Yeah I’m fine” said Ryan struggling to get up after Mr. Cain untied him.

“Would you like a ride home?” the janitor asked, seeing the pain reflected on Ryan’s face.

“Yes please” Ryan said gratefully.

1/25/2020 5:30 PM

Once in the car, the janitor asked tentatively “Did Nate and his gang do this to you again?”

“Yes, but please do not tell anyone I don’t want to get in any more trouble with them than I already am.”

“Ok, are you sure you don’t want someone to report this, Ryan?”

“Yes” Ryan replied

“Alright,” Mr. Cain paused for a moment, “What did you do to get them so mad at you?”

“I would rather not talk about it” Ryan said, his voice indicating finality to this discussion. The car ride home was rather quiet after their exchange. The janitor sensed Ryan did not want to talk and respected his wish. Ryan said nothing until the car arrived in front of his house. “By the way,” Ryan said getting out of the car “Thanks for the ride” I appreciate it.

“No problem” Mr. Cain said.

Ryan then shut the car door and watched the janitor drive away. He then painfully limped up the path to the door of his house and knocked. Opening the door, his sister Lucy stood in the doorway, her long ebony black hair hanging down her back. “Ryan?” Lucy asked, sensing his pain “are you okay?” exhausted, Ryan stepped into the house. Before he could speak, his sister quietly inquired “what happened to you?”

“I got in a fight with Nate and his gang” Ryan responded. Lucy, concern and empathy displayed clearly in her emerald green eyes, gently slid her arm and shoulder under Ryan’s leftshoulder to support him. This accomplished, she slowly and carefully helped him walk through the entrance hall, past the dining room door from which emanated sounds from the kitchen, and up the stairs. Ryan, hearing the sounds, thought, “Mom and dad must be home.” Once in Ryan’s room, Lucy carefully eased Ryan onto his bed.

Lucy then strode across the hall, and into the bathroom to grab the first-aid kit. Reentering Ryan’s room, she opened the first-aid kit and began cleaning and bandaging Ryan’s visible cuts. Once done with this, she had Ryan unbutton his shirt so she can treat the cuts on his chest, shoulders, and back. She then opened his shirt drawer and pulled out a new, clean, not torn shirt for him to put on. Ryan watched as Lucy gently probed his ankle with her delicate fingers to make sure it was not broken. Lucy then deftly wrapped Ryan’s ankle with a bandage to provide support for his injured ankle.

Ryan’s physical wounds taken care of, Lucy set her mind to find out what happened and help heal the emotional wounds she sensed in him. Timidly, Lucy asked “So, what happened to you today?” Ryan told her everything from waking up, to being called to the principal’s office, but when he got to the part where he was told of Michal’s death, his walls holding back all the tears of the day broke. He wept. In response, Lucy sat down and hugged Ryan tight. Feeling her embrace made Ryan cry all the harder, Ryan held her tight, clinging to the one solid refuge in his sea of misery.

When his tears finally subsided, Lucy released him. With tears in her vibrant eyes, Lucy asked him “Ry, what’s wrong?” So, with trembling voice, Ryan told her of how Michal died in a car accident. He now had no idea how he was going to cope with school and Nate and his gang was now after him. Lucy sat for a moment with anguish for him in her eyes. She seethed with anger after hearing how Nate and his gang had treated Ryan, but she knew if he wanted the fight reported he would do it himself. Lucy leaned forward and embraced him again. Feeling her tears on his neck, Ryan heard his sister kindly whisper to him, “I love you Ry, no matter what and I will always be here for you.”

Ryan’s emotional wounds taken care of, Lucy suddenly said “One minute, be right back” She returned holding something behind her slender form. “I know you are probably not feeling the best right now but here is your birthday present.” She handed him a beautiful new Swiss army knife with a gorgeous walnut wood handle. His name was carved in it and a gleaming stainless steel blade extended from the handle. “D-do you like it?” she asked shyly.

“I love it” Ryan exclaimed softly looking at all the tools in the knife. “How did you get my name on there?”

“I had it custom made and ordered online just for you” Lucy responded, blushing with pleasure at Ryan’s obvious admiration of his birthday present.

“Oh, here is your present.” Ryan said, pulling it from a drawer beside his bed. It was three front-row tickets to her favorite rock band’s upcoming concert. Lucy gasped with astonishment, her eyes lighting up. She was obviously thrilled with his gift. “I bought three tickets so you can take your best friends. I know you guys all love that band.” Lucy, at a loss for words threw her arms around Ryan and gave him a kiss on the cheek.

“Thank you so much” she managed to eke out.

“No problem, glad you like it”

“I FRIGGIN LOVE IT!” she squealed happily.

“I’m glad” Ryan said.

Her emotions finally under control, Lucy asked “Ry, are you ready to go downstairs for dinner?”

“I am now thanks to you Lu” Ryan said.

Her shoulder and arm supporting Ryan’s left side, they exited his room and strolled to the dining room to enjoy their birthday dinner. “Remember Ry,” Lucy’s soft voice said in his ear, “I will always be here for you.”

1/26/2020 --:--

“Oh shoot I’m late!” Ryan thought as he rushed to get ready for school. Ryan hurriedly shoved his textbook into his backpack and rapidly brushed his teeth. Hurtling down the stairs, he rushed to the door and opened it to see the school bus driving away. In desperation, Ryan tried to wave down the bus as it disappeared into the distance. Glumly, Ryan let the door close behind him once he trudged back inside.

Suddenly, he remembered his mom, Mrs. Davis, was not going to work that day. “Hey mom,” Ryan asked “Could you drive me to school today?”

“Sure” Ryan’s mom replied “I have to go run errands today anyway”

“Thanks” Ryan sighed, relived he might arrive on time.

Mrs. Davis grabbed her coat and car keys as Ryan rushed out to the car. Starting the ignition, Ryan’s mom swiftly backed the car down the driveway and headed towards Ryan’s school in the icy January morning. Driving quickly, Mrs. Davis said “I hope school goes well for you today, I understand you have been having a hard time there.”

“Mmph” grunted Ryan in sullen acknowledgement of his mother’s gross understatement.

“Ryan,” his mother began hesitantly, “I know your father and I ha--“

Ryan would never know what she was going to say as a semi-truck, hitting a patch of black ice slammed into the right side of Mrs. Davis’s small car where Ryan was seated. With a horrible crunch of the aluminum car body, the glass windows of the car exploded as the airbag failed to deploy. Ryan’s ribs shattered with a snap. The shards of bone from Ryan’s ribs pierced his lungs and heart as his face and eyes were cut by the flying glass shards.

Ryan’s head slammed against the dashboard. The last things Ryan saw and heard was a warm red flow filling his vision and a horrible mangled gurgling/screaming from punctured lungs…his own scream. Everything went black, cool and comforting darkness.

Ryan woke in a dark, dusty and wet place. He struggled to his feet, but found he was uninjured. “Where am I? What happened?” thundered through his brain. Immediately after these thoughts, Ryan heard a deep rumble, like a cat’s purring except this rumble was deeper, menacing instead of comforting, and it was warped somehow. Warped like when an audio device or toy is low on battery. Ryan felt a shiver skitter up and down his spine. It was a primal, evil sound.

Unable to pinpoint the direction the sound was coming from, Ryan began to look around frantically. By now his heart was pounding and his mouth was dry. The air was laced heavily with fear, his fear. Ryan suddenly spotted movement out of the corner of his left eye. He turned and looked in that direction. It was then that he spotted the eyes, goopy, black-red eyes. They were color of dried blood except more black.

The creature snarled and rushed at him in the dark. Ryan fell back hard onto the ground screaming in terror and pain as his flesh was shredded under a storm of slashing blades, claws and teeth. Ryan let loose a final agonized scream that echoed into the darkness. Ryan woke with a gasp.

Sweat drenched his sheets, shirt and pillow. “It was just a nightmare” Ryan said, relived “A horrible, vivid and terrifying nightmare.” He rolled over and looked at the clock on his bedside. It read 3:00AM. Ryan rolled out of bed and changed sheets, shirts, and his pillowcase. Still very tired, Ryan eased back down into bed. Unable to sleep, he began to think about his nightmare. This led him to remember his best friend’s recent death.

Ryan was not able to push the thought away fast enough and he started thinking of all the times his friend Michal had shared with him, the good and the bad. Michal, his friend for ten years on whom he could always depend. Ryan began remembering all the times he had a

birthday and only Michal had shown up, but it did not matter because of how deep their friendship was. Ryan remembered how things never really felt lonely when Michal and he were together.

Even though neither of them had any other friends, Michal was to Ryan better than ten friends. Michal had been a comrade and a brother whenever Ryan needed him. “Now,” thought Ryan “all of that is gone and I am alone.” These hard and painful thoughts brought back Ryan’s emotional turmoil, and Ryan wept. Hard, bitter gut-wrenching sobs shook his body as tears streamed down his face and onto his pillow, and cries of a wounded soul poured into the lonely night. Until at last exhausted, Ryan found sleep.

1/26/2020 9:30 AM

Ryan awoke the next morning with a tearstained face and sore eyes that felt like they were glued shut. Prying open his eyelids, he rolled over to look at his clock. It read 9:30 AM. “It’s a good thing today is Saturday,” Ryan mumbled to himself, still half asleep. Ryan clumsily rolled off his bed and almost fell on the floor. As he stood up, a sudden wave of dizziness hit him and he flopped back into a seated position on the bed.

Forcing himself to stand more slowly this time, Ryan again rose to his feet. Thumping barefooted to his bedroom door, Ryan fumbled for the doorknob. Finally opening his bedroom door, Ryan saw something white catch the bottom of his eye. Ryan bent down and picked up a note. Opening it, Ryan found his sister’s neat handwriting gracing the note’s surface.

Dear Ryan,

I heard you crying last night through my bedroom wall. Are you okay? I am going shopping this morning with mom. I will be back later today if you want to talk about anything. I am always here for you

With all my love,

-Lucy

Ryan’s eyes teared up at his sister’s loving concern. She cared for him so deeply. He did not deserve her. “Where would I be if not for her?” Ryan wondered. Drying his eyes, Ryan clumped down the stairs and prepared breakfast, then went about doing his homework.

Later that morning, Ryan heard the front door open and close. Wondering if his sister and mother were home, Ryan slowly crept to the dining room doorway and poked his head around the corner. Spotting Ryan’s inquisitive face, Ryan’s dad, Professor Davis, called out “Is Mrs. Davis home?” His bright green eyes were brimming full with excitement.

Now, it is important to know Ryan’s relationship with his father had always been anything other than loving. For starters, The Professor was always more interested in science and his work then raising his son and daughter. Mr. Davis pretty much let Ryan and Lucy fend for themselves, never really involving himself in their lives. In fact, Ryan’s dad frequently forgot when their birthday’s were and did not care anyway. To Professor Davis, his children were simply two more people to forget about as he pursued his “all-important research.”

“No,” Ryan replied in response to his father’s earlier question “Mom and Lucy are out shopping.

“That’s unfortunate,” The Professor replied, his mind clearly on other matters. “There is something I wish to tell her about.”

“Come into the dining room and you can tell me about it,” said Ryan as he strode into the dining room with his father in tow. Ryan waited for his father to take a seat then took his seat while listening intently to his father.

“You know what we have been working on at the lab right?” asked Mr. Davis.

“No, I don’t believe you have ever told me,” said Ryan.

“Oh, well we at the lab have been working on an inter-dimensional portal.”

“Cool!” exclaimed Ryan, his interest now genuinely piqued. “How does it work?”

“It is supposed to be pretty secret so I can’t tell you all the details. However, I have recently made a breakthrough in the final calculations. We successfully made a tear or rift in the fabric of time and space through gravitational warping. We can now send a small person through with a weight or mass of a little less than 130 lbs.”

“Wait,” interjected Ryan “since it is a tear through space-time could you send a person through time?”

“Y-yes theoretically,” hesitated Ryan’s father.

“Could you test your device on me to send me back in time?”

“We could, but time travel is extremely risky and complicated… how far back would you want to go?”

“Just one day.”

“Ok, I suppose that would not change much since it is only one day and we do need to send a person through to report what traveling through space-time is like. But are you absolutely certain you want to go?”

“I am.”

“It is incredibly risky for you.”

“I know.”

“Alright, when you’re ready to go let me know, but we should go today.”

“I want to write a letter to my sister before I go.”

“Okay… and son?”

“Yes?”

“Why would you want to do this?”

“My best friend is dead, a group of people at School want to kill me, and almost no one loves me. If I stand a chance at reversing these things, I have to take it.” Leaving his father mulling over his words, Ryan pulled a piece of paper from his binder on the table, and wrote a letter to his sister.

Dear Lucy,

Dad just told me about what he and the people at the lab have been working on. They have created a device that can send a person through time and space, allowing for inter-dimensional travel, or to let a person time travel. That’s why I have decided to travel back one day to prevent Michal from dying in the car crash. I am sorry for not consulting you, but if I even have a chance to save Michal I have to take it. However, the device is just a prototype still in testing and it may not work. In other words, you may not see me again. If that happens, I just want you to know I have always loved you and always will.

~Sincerely,

Ryan Davis

Folding the letter and placing it on his sister’s bed, Ryan’s eyes blurred and he felt tears course down his cheeks. Swiping them away and taking a deep shaky breath, Ryan turned and strode to his room, taking with him his wallet and a photo of his sister along with the knife his sister gave him. Briskly walking down the stairs, Ryan told his father he was ready to go. He then was driven away from his house in his father’s car and rode toward the lab.

The car ride was a silent one. The professor was silent, mulling over Ryan’s decision and the preparations to send Ryan back in time. He had already called the lab to announce that he had found a subject for their test. Ryan was buffeted by doubts, and regret leaving his sister like this, but he was excited for what the future might bring.

Finally, Professor Davis’s car arrived at the lab. It was a tall, sprawling, industrial steel and glass building. Ryan’s dad strode to the door with Ryan following. The Professor then typed a code into a keypad on the door, and verified the code with his fingerprint. With a quiet hum and click, the door lock disengaged and the door powered by motors swung open. Ryan then took his first step into the unknown.

1/26/2020 10:00 AM

Professor Davis led Ryan through a series of brightly illuminated white hallways. The inside of the building had a filtered, sterile smell. Mr. Davis finally arrived at his and Ryan’s destination. The Professor again typed in a code into a keypad then opened the door.

Inside this room, Ryan saw a rack of radiation suits inside a closet. “This is where you will change into one of those suits and wait here until further instructions. First, we ask that you sign these liability papers and these documents swearing you to secrecy about what you witness here.” Ryan quickly signed the proffered documents.

Ryan’s dad then exited the room through the door he and Ryan had entered. Ryan, hearing the door close and lock behind him knew there was no turning back now. Nervously, Ryan stood there for a while fidgeting before donning one of the Radiation suits that fit his small frame. Ryan felt a shiver skitter up his spine as he sat there waiting.

Suddenly, Ryan heard a voice blare through a speaker in the room that made him jump. “Ryan Davis,” the female voice blared over the intercom, “Please proceed through the door marked red.” Ryan hustled through the door and found himself on a scale. “Please hold still” the voice asked Ryan.

After a few seconds a light above Ryan turned green. “Okay, you are cleared for transport.” Another door in front of Ryan slid open with a hiss. Ryan then stepped through the automated door into a giant reinforced chamber. The chamber was huge and spherical in shape. In the center of the chamber was a large, reinforced, spherical capsule. On either side of the capsule were two giant projector-like devices.

“You may now enter the capsule” the voice over the PA intoned. Ryan complied and found upon opening the heavy capsule door how tiny it was inside, there was barely enough room for him to roll over in. After he lay down, the capsule door closed and locked behind him. “Ryan,” the voice said, “Please buckle yourself up.” Ryan found the straps resting on the seat on either side of him. When connected, the straps formed and X over his body.

“You might be wondering how we will send you through time.” The voice said. “We are going to fold the fabric of space and time via gravitational warping then rip a small hole or rift in it. We will then proceed to send you through the rift.”

“What?” Ryan asked, befuddled.

“We basically fold the fabric of time, tear it, and then send you through the tear into the past. If you are still having a hard time grasping this concept, please look at the diagram displayed on your monitor.” Ryan looked at the screen in front of his face.

“Imagine time as a line which runs infinitely in each direction” the voice said. “Now, when we bend time it is like folding that line at any point. We then break the line at your location and send you through the break down into the past.”

“Oh I think I understand now” Ryan said with sudden realization.

“Alright, your job is to go one day into the past, and do what you want to save your friend. Then go to our lab, and use the card we gave you in the pocket of your radiation suit to get into the lab. You will then talk to a lab associate and identify yourself by handing him/her the card. You will then explain what your journey was like to your father.

“Okay.”

“By the way, if you see yourself or any of your family members, make sure not to make any contact. In fact, it would be better if you do not make any contact with anyone who knows you.”

“Got it.”

“We are going to warp gravity to make a small black hole. Are you ready?”

Not giving himself time to rethink things, Ryan said yes. Ryan then felt a rumbling. Wondering what was going on, Ryan watched the image on his monitor projected from the cameras on the outside of his pod. He watched as the cameras showed the giant projector things beside the pod start to rotate and glow.

Suddenly he felt a jolt and vibrations as a black hole started to form around his pod. Everything went dark outside the pod as the black hole began to suck all available matter and energy to sustain itself, including light. The capsule creaked and groaned. Ryan’s monitor screen went blank as the cameras were destroyed by the intense gravitational pressure.

Ryan also lost all available communication to the lab as he felt himself tumble around inside the capsule. With a heavy jolt, the capsule ended its journey, and Ryan was knocked out by the airbags deploying. When he came to, Ryan found himself inside the capsule with empty airbags all around him. Finding a glowing button that said “Open,” Ryan pressed it. The door to the capsule fell off with a hiss.

Unsteadily climbing out of the capsule, Ryan glanced at his watch which read 11:30 AM. Since arriving at the lab at 10:00AM, and hour and a half had passed. Wondering where he was, Ryan looked around him. He stiffened with fear; he was in a dark, dusty, damp building. Ryan started to feel his heartbeat accelerate. It was then that he started to hear the purring growl.

1/26/2020 10:15 AM

Mr. Davis checked his watch. It read 10:15 AM. “Okay Mrs. Davis, you may begin instructing test subject number 1A.” Mr. Davis said to the operator in the sound-proof booth.

“Alright” she replied. Standing near his wife, Mr. Davis could hear everything that was said between Ryan and Mrs. Davis. “Ryan Davis” she said “Please proceed through the door marked Red.” Ryan obeyed quickly and followed through instructions perfectly.

He works well as a test subject thought the professor. I will be sorry to lose him into the past or lose him if this test fails, in which case he will certainly die. Mr. Davis smiled at hearing all of Ryan’s questions once he was in the capsule. He reminds me of myself Mr. Davis thought. Like him I was always very intelligent and always asking questions.

Yes, I will be very sorry to lose him, Mr. Davis continued to muse. Oh well, if he dies and the test fails I could always get his sister to follow him if she thinks he could still be alive. Ah love, it is so easy to use it to manipulate people. Besides, just think of the millions one could make off of time travel! I will make so much money that the sacrifice of my two children will be well worth it.

Mr. Davis quietly exited the soundproof room where Mrs. Davis was, and went to watch the technicians at the control panel. The Professor watched the pod through the monitors displaying what was going on in the test room. The giant turbine-nozzles began to rotate and glow as one of the techies turned a dial to increase power.

Once the turbines reached maximum speed, one of the technicians flipped a lever which activated Artificial Gravity (AG) panels lining the test room to create a “Gravity Well” or an area of lower or almost no gravity around the pod. Another technician hit a button to send a huge pulse of matter and electric energy from the turbines. When the beams collided, it created a black hole where the pod was located. The monitors went black as all available light, matter, and energy went into sustaining the black hole.

One of the techies continued to increase gravitational strength and increase energy output. Suddenly, the instruments signal broadcast from the pod was gone. The technicians immediately shut down the turbines, the black hole, unable to continue to sustain itself, collapsed. “Did it work?” Mr. Davis asked, breathless at the amazing spectacle.

“The computer info says the capsule and Ryan were likely vaporized,” Replied one of the four technicians, a man named Dax.

“Okay” said the professor. “Test one failed, on to the next test subject.”

“What happens if someone finds out about this project?”

“We will just have to eliminate them” Mr. Davis replied evenly.

“Don’t worry” one of the techies, woman named Jacky, piped in “we won’t tell a soul”

“Oh I know that” Mr. Davis said smiling like he just thought of something funny. He then pulled a revolver out of his right lab coat pocket. With the same smile, he aimed at the stunned technicians and pulled the trigger. Four shots rang out in the empty lab.

“Nice shooting” Mrs. Davis said smiling while walking up behind Mr. Davis. She looked coldly at the four bodies laying on the floor, their blood pouring from holes between their eyes to pool on the cold metal floor. “I did not know you could shoot like that, but didn’t we need the technicians?”

“You don’t know everything about me, and besides, I figured out how to control everything myself.” Mr. Davis said while turning around to face his wife and walking toward her, putting the revolver back in his pocket whilst walking forward.

“Mm, well feel free to tell me more” Mrs. Davis said before planting her lips on her husband’s as he wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close. After a few moments, they parted. “Well we better dispose of these” Mrs. Davis said gesturing to the bodies.

“Right” replied Mr. Davis.

“By the way,” began Mr. Davis “How are you going to get another test subject?”

“Oh don’t worry, I have the perfect one all lined up” the Professor chuckled.

1/26/2020 9:50 AM

Lucy and Mrs. Davis arrived at their house by 9:50AM, five minutes after Ryan left with his father to the lab. Mrs. Davis, feeling her phone buzz in her pocket, pulled it out and checked her text messages. “Hey hon,” she said to Lucy, “it turns out I am needed at work today so I gotta go.”

“Okay mom,” chimed Lucy “See you later!” Mrs. Davis drove quickly away without another word. Lucy stepped up to the door, pulled out her key and entered the house. Immediately after stepping inside, she felt something was wrong. “Ry?” she called, “where are you?”

Fearing the worst, she ran up the stairs after checking the dining room. Bursting into Ryan’s room, her fears were confirmed. Ryan was missing. What could have happened to him? Lucy thought. I know he was very upset and stressed. Did something happen to him or… the thought was almost too horrible to finish.

What could he have done to himself? Horrible, unwanted thoughts came flooding into her head. Images of Ryan’s body hanging from a tree by its neck, his head skewed at an odd angle, or images of his bloated, fish-nibbled body floating down a river or some other body of water.

Thoroughly scared now, she rushed into her room with tears in her eyes. Something white on her bed caught her attention. It was a note. With shaking hands, she lifted the not from her bed and began to unfold it.

What was it? A suicide note or a note telling her he had run away? With trembling hands, she opened his letter. After reading Ryan’s letter, she burst into tears.

She would never see Ryan again and her dad just let Ryan go? Didn’t he even care? Making a valiant effort to pull herself together, Lucy pulled her phone out of her pocket and called her mom. Mrs. Davis did not pick up.

Panicked, Lucy anxiously sought a solution. Call the police? No, they would only shut everything down and she would never find her brother. Calling the police was obviously out of the question.

Since her dad had something to do with Ryan’s disappearance, she decided she would wait for him to come home then question him. Trying to pass the time, she started to work on her homework for the weekend but found herself unable to focus. Suddenly tired, from worrying about Ryan, she fell asleep on her bed.

Lucy woke from a fitful sleep hearing the faint sound of the door downstairs opening and closing. Groggily, Lucy opened her eyes and looked at her watch. It read 2:15 PM. Why would her dad be home so early? Her mom must have come home.

Lucy trudged downstairs and was surprised to find her dad home and eating lunch with her mom. Fighting down the hostility that rose within her, Lucy casually asked “What brings you home so early?”

“I was no longer needed at work today so I came home early.”

“Oh, by the way,” Lucy asked “Do you know where Ryan went?”

“No why, is he missing?” Mrs. Davis asked, alarm creeping into her voice.

“No, I’m sure he just went for a walk or something.” Lucy input quickly, not wishing to alert her mother yet.

“Okay” her mom said, visibly calming down.

“Alright, well back to homework” Lucy said. “Hey dad, can you see me in my room upstairs to help with a math problem I have?” She inquired.

“Sure hon.” he replied smiling. “I’ll be right up.”

Lucy briskly walked up the stairs to her room. Once in her room she pulled a three inch assisted opening knife from a drawer in her desk. She also got out her phone and had 911 on speed dial just in case. Hearing her dad’s heavy footsteps thumping on the stairs, she hastily sat down at her desk and seemed to be busy with math homework.

“Hey” said Mr. Davis standing in the door. “You said you needed my help?”

“Oh, yeah” she replied, scooting her chair sideways at her desk and towards the door. As anticipated, her dad strode to her desk and came to stand beside her chair on the opposite side of the door. Perfect she thought. Springing to her feet, she leapt towards the door and quickly, but quietly shut it.

Stunned, Mr. Davis just stood there in surprise. “What are you doing?” In response, Lucy pulled her phone out of her pocket and flipped it open, poising her thumb over the dial button.

“I know you are responsible for Ryan disappearing.” She said to the professor, voice shaking. As she talked, she pulled her knife from her back pocket and flicked it open behind her back. She hoped her voice would drown out the soft click sound the knife make as it opened.

“How do you know that?” Mr. Davis asked, surprise still showing plainly on his face. In response, Lucy gestured toward the note from Ryan on her bed. Carefully lifting the note, Mr. Davis unfolded and read it. Anger and apprehension replaced the surprise on his face.

“Don’t do anything we are both going to regret” Lucy said seeing the anger on his face. “One wrong move from you and I will call the police”

“What do you want from me?” Lucy’s dad said quietly.

“I want you to send me where you sent Ryan.”

“You mean back in time one day?” The professor asked relief showing in his green eyes.

“Yes, and if you refuse, you can look forward to spending at least several years in prison for child endangerment” Lucy replied evenly.

“Okay, I will do as you ask.”

“Good, now we leave immediately.” She said motioning her dad towards the door. Together they walked down the stairs.

“Honey” Mr. Davis called to Mrs. Davis in their room down the downstairs hall, “I am needed at the lab again ok?”

“Okay, take care!” called Mrs. Davis from their room in the downstairs hall.

While in the car, Mr. Davis told Lucy he would text the lab to let them know of their coming. He then carefully pulled up Mrs. Davis’s number on the phone and said “Test subject two is en route, test number two is go.”

“I am coming to find you Ryan” Lucy breathed softly. “I hope you are still alive.”

1/26/2020 11:30 AM

There is was. It was the growl from his dream. Blind, overwhelming fear welled up within Ryan, filling his being with terror. Ryan then spotted the eyes, the goopy, dried-blood red eyes.

Ryan turned to run as the creature pounced forward. Sharp claws dug into his back, slicing and tearing. The creature released a feral snarl. Ryan screamed in terror and pain as many needle-like teeth sand into his shoulder.

Suddenly, Ryan heard a shout and a sound of sliding metal. He then heard something that sounded like a shovel piercing wet clay and sand. The creature on top of him unleashed a wailing yowl of pain. Ryan felt the creature jerk off of him and felt some gooey liquid spatter on the back of his neck.

The creature fell to the ground and was silent. Ryan felt strong hands seize his upper arms and haul him to his feet. “Well, you look alive and that’s good,” said a confident, baritone voice with and Irish lilt. Ryan turned around to face his rescuer.

Ryan found himself face-to-face with a muscular male who towered over him by several inches. He had fiery red hair and bright blue eyes with a sparkle of friendliness and humor. The figure radiated power and confidence. “The name’s Robert Brightling” said Ryan’s savior, “Nice to meet you.”

Ryan, remembering his manners said numbly “Hi, I’m Ryan Davis.”

“Nice name.” Robert replied.

“Thanks.” Ryan turned to look at the creature that attacked him. However, all he found was a pile of a black ash-like substance.

“Yeah these suckers disintegrate pretty fast after you kill them. Consider yourself lucky it was just a small one and a male at that. Otherwise you would be looking at poisoned wounds. Although if it was a large one you would have been killed before I could save you.”

Ryan shuddered. If that was just a small one, what would a big one be like? Ryan thought “Thanks for saving me.” Ryan said, just remembering he had forgotten to thank Rob.

“Ah, no problem” said Robert with wave of his hand. “We can talk about how you got here after we treat your wounds.”

Ryan then felt his shoulder and back begin to sting like crazy where he had been bitten and clawed. Ryan also felt a trickle of blood down his back. He reached back to touch it.

“Don’t touch it” said Robert. He then pulled off his backpack and opened it, taking out a roll of bandages. “Please remove your shirt” he asked, unrolling some bandage. Ryan complied wordlessly.

Robert then took some salve out of his backpack and applied it to Ryan’s back wound before bandaging him. Wordlessly, Ryan put his shirt back on gingerly, since any movement caused him to wince in pain.

“It is a bit of a walk to the nearest safe-haven. Why don’t you tell me about what you were doing in that building on the way?” inquired Robert.

“Okay, what do you want to know?” replied Ryan.

“What was that pod-thing near where you were?” So Ryan launched into the explanation of what brought him to where he was starting with his birthday and Michal’s death. After hearing Ryan’s story, Robert was silent for a while. “Wow, man I am so sorry, that sounds pretty rough.”

“You mean you actually believe me?” Ryan asked.

“Hey, it checks out with everything I saw.”

“Still, I wonder why I did not time travel.”

“Well you said that your dad said the machine could provide time travel as well as inter-dimensional travel. Maybe they accidently sent you to another dimension, in other words here.”

“That would fit in with how things are so different here then what I am used to.” Ryan replied.

“Yeah… well we made it! Let’s finish our conversation inside. It’s getting pretty dark out. The Eviscerators will be out soon.”

“What are Eviscerators?”

“You know the thing you got attacked by?”

“Yeah”

“That’s one of them.” Robert led Ryan up to a metal gate attached to a stone-brick wall topped with barbed wire and torches. On top of the wall were guards armed with crossbows loaded with metal spikes.

Inside the walls were many stout buildings made from solid stone bricks. On top of the buildings were more guards with crossbows. Ryan walked with Robert through the town. Ryan gawked at the impressive fortifications.

“Welcome to Fort Stalwart Ryan. This is one of the strongest safe-havens in this continent even if it’s not the biggest or prettiest.

“Wow” said Ryan, awestruck. It all reminded him of some crazy post apocalyptic war movie. How terrible those monsters I got attacked by must be to require fortifications such as this Ryan mused.

“The outer walls here are solid stone three meters thick and fifty feet tall. There are five-hundred soldiers all extremely well trained and experienced in combat against the monsters we face. In addition to the guards, we have two-hundred citizens all of whom know how to fight well. Our children learn to fight in hand-to-hand and ranged combat from five years old. From age seven, they are trained in advanced combat strategies.” Robert bragged.

“It’s quite impressive,” said Ryan, staggered at the strength of the fortress.

“Oh, and we are home,” said Robert, leading Ryan into a stone home almost exactly like all the others.

1/26/2020 5:05 PM

“Julia! I’m home!” Robert called out upon entering his home.

“Okay, be out in a minute!” called Julia, her voice coming from the kitchen.

“Who’s Julia?” asked Ryan.

“She’s my sister,” replied Robert. “Oh, by the way Julia, we have a guest!” Robert called out.

“Who is it, a neighbor?” Julia replied, her voice growing closer. “Who is that?” Julia asked upon seeing Ryan.

“Julia, this is Ryan. Ryan, this is Julia.” Robert said, introducing the two.

“Where is he from, and why is he so small and weak?” Julia asked.

“He is from another dimension. Apparently things are not as tough where he comes from. He is stranded here and so he is going to live with us for now.”

“Provided he lives that long. He is easy prey for the Evicerators.” Julia said with a cynical edge to her voice.

While Robert and Julia talked, Ryan took the opportunity to study Julia. She was slim but muscular, with Reddish-blond hair, blue eyes and a soft alto voice with a pleasing Irish lilt. However, her voice was the only thing soft about her.

“Granted, he may not seem like much, but I think he can learn to be quite effective at defending himself,” Robert replied, coming to Ryan’s defense.

“Alright fine, but he is your responsibility. I will not be accountable for his survival.” Julia replied.

“Fair enough,” Robert said. “Come on Ryan, let’s have dinner, it is too late to train you tonight. During your stay, you can lodge in my room.” Julia, Ryan, and Robert all trooped into the kitchen, where they sat down at a rough wood table on wooden chairs. Julia walked over to the pot hanging over the fire in the stone-brick fireplace and took it down with white hot pads.

She then walked to the table and set the pot on a stone slab in the middle of the table. Striding to the cupboards, she pulled out an extra wood bowl for Ryan. Setting it before him, she picked up the pot, and removing the lid, she ladled out the soup inside the pot. Waiting until Julia sat down to begin eating, Ryan then dug into his food with an appetite.

Ryan listened to Julia and Robert talking about how he got to this dimension while he thought of Lucy. I wonder how she is doing. Ryan thought. I hope she understands. The thought of his sister in anguish was nearly unbearable to him. Unable to control himself, Ryan felt tears seep into his eyes.

Spotting Ryan’s tears, Robert suddenly said, “Well, it’s been a long day so I think I should help Ryan get settled in my room.”

“Oh-ok” Julia stammered with surprise. “I will just start cleaning up then.” She then got busy picking up all the bowls and washing out the dishes with water from the hand pump in the kitchen sink.

“Are you ok? What’s wrong?” Robert asked once Ryan and he were in his room.

“I was just thinking about my sister. I left her behind and I will never see her again.”

“You haven’t told me much about her. Would you like to?” Robert asked gently while pulling up two wood chairs and motioning for Ryan to sit down.

After flopping into a chair, Ryan continued in a shaky voice. “She is my twin and she has black hair like mine and vibrant but soft green eyes. She was always very kind and supportive of me.” Ryan said as a few tears found their ways down his cheeks.

“She sounds wonderful.” Robert said softly. “So, why did you leave her?”

“After Michal died I just couldn’t take it. I was not satisfied with what I still had, and so when I heard that my dad found a way to time travel, I selfishly took it. I would not blame Lucy for hating me now.”

Robert was silent for a few moments before replying. “Well, if your sister is who you said she was, I think she would forgive you in a heartbeat if she could just have you back. I know she did not deserve you just leaving her, but hey, you’re human. Making mistakes is in our nature, and that does not mean you can just give up. You need to let your mistakes teach you and improve who you are.”

“Thanks”

“No problem, I hope you feel better soon. For now, just rest there while I get my room ready for you.” With that, Robert stood up and gave Ryan a friendly clap on the shoulder before walking away.

1/27/2020 --:--

Ryan climbed over the next rise; the cold, damp winter night air chilled him to the bone as he clutched himself to ward off the chill. The hazmat suit he was still wearing no longer did much to help keep him warm. Where am I? What am I doing miles from any shelter? Ryan inquired of himself.

Ryan knew from a nagging thought that he was desperately searching for someone, but he could not remember who. There was some fog shrouding his thoughts and he only needed to peer beyond it to find answers.

So…tired, must keep going. Ryan could barely move his fingers and hit feet were numb blocks of ice. Shivers convulsed his body as the water soaking his clothes sapped energy and warmth from his stumbling form.

Several hours earlier, the pod he was in had landed in a lake. Ryan had needed to take off his mask and swim to the surface of the lake where he crawled out into the freezing air and blasts of cold wind to avoid drowning. Now he faced a different danger… freezing to death.

Must… keep… moving Ryan thought desperately. So… tired, just need a few minutes his rebelling body cried out as he stumbled forward in the wind. Without warning, Ryan’s feet tripped and his knees buckled as he tumbled face first into the cold frozen ground.

Get up! Ryan’s mind screamed at his body. His limbs would not move. Who am I looking for? Ryan struggled to remember. His vision blurred and he felt his muscles relax. Why am I out here? Why am I not at Fort Stalwart? Ryan wondered.

Ryan slowly lifted his head over his shoulder. His body looked… different. His body looked almost feminine, but he could not tell because of the baggy hazmat suit that covered him. Who am I? Ryan looked forward. He saw a puddle one foot in front of him. With a monumental effort, Ryan dragged himself to the puddle and looked into it.

There was a different face that looked back at him. The face was feminine, with long black hair tied back in a bun and eyes that were bright green although they were dulled by fatigue. It was Lucy’s face. I am in my sister’s body and mind this must be a dream or a vision. Ryan realized.

“Ryan Davis, where are you? I hope you are safe.” Lucy’s voice whispered softly and she succumbed to the cold and drifted out of consciousness.

Ryan woke with a gasp, sweat drenching his body. Cold shivers ran their icy tendrils across his back. Lucy is here and in danger Ryan thought. He checked his watch for the time, but it was broken from his fight with the small Eviscerator.

“Wakey Wakey!” Robert called cheerfully. “We let you sleep in enough already.” Robert’s face suddenly became serious once he spotted Ryan’s expression. “What’s wrong? You look pale and frightened.”

“My sister is here and in trouble.”

“How do you know?”

“I had a vision last night. We need to at least try to find her to see that she’s ok.”

“Are you sure? We need to train you so you can fight effectively if you run into an Eviscerator.”

“There is no time to train. Please Robert; this is really important to me.”

“Okay, but first we need to equip ourselves.” With that, Robert led Ryan down the hall outside his room and to a door that had a descending flight of stairs behind it.

“Where does that lead?” Ryan asked.

“It leads down to my armory, come on.” Robert quickly descended the stairs, Motioning for Ryan to follow him.

Once they were down, Ryan looked at the weapons and armor hanging around him. Swords, daggers, spears, javelins, lances, and throwing knives all hung on finely carved wooden racks, their edges gleaming silver, sharp and ready. On another wall hung a few crossbows and quivers filled with the metal bolts that the crossbows shot.

On another wall there hung shields of engraved metal and shields of wood. The wood shields had designs emblazoned on them, some bold colors while others had designs with muted colors created to camouflage rather than stand out. Next to the shields there hung armor. Leggings, breastplates, boots, helmets, and gauntlets made of many different materials.

There was armor made from leather, chainmail, or metal plates. Some armor was made from a mixture of materials. It was this last kind of armor Robert selected for Ryan. It was a set of armor made from leather and chainmail with no gauntlets for better hand dexterity.

“This is a set of my sister’s armor since it is more your size. I have adjusted a few straps to make it fit your frame better. The armor is mostly leather so it is fairly light. How does it feel?” Robert asked.

“It fits fine and the weight is pretty manageable.” Ryan replied.

“Good, later we will have to fit you for your own armor, but that will work for now. Now here comes the fun part, weapons.” Robert walked to the wall with the melee weapons and took down a pair of daggers about eight inches long. “These should work for you.” Robert said, handing Ryan the daggers in their leather weapons belt.

Next, Robert strode to the wall with the crossbows and took down a small crossbow with a strap. He also took down a quiver full of metal bolts which Ryan attached to his belt next to his thigh. Robert then began equipping himself with a set of chainmail and leather armor, dual broadswords, a crossbow with quiver, and a few throwing knives which he tucked into his belt.

“Now we need to head upstairs to eat and pack food. By the way, can you describe the area Lucy was at in your vision?”

“She was near this lake… the lake looked familiar. She was also near these woods with strange, dead-looking trees. Oh! The lake was near where you saved me. I saw it and the woods outside of the building that my pod landed in.”

Hearing this, Robert stiffened and paled a little bit. “You describe the lake of the lost. It is near the twisted wood which is a hotbed for the Eviscerators. If you are right about your sister’s location, she might have more problems than cold and exposure.

Ryan felt his stomach grow still and cold. “Why is it called the lake of the lost?”

“Maybe I will tell you sometime, but not now. For now we must hurry to pack and hope that your sister is still alive.”