“Finally!” thought Cathy as she settled on the couch to read her mail from work. She rummaged past the memos and charts and graphs “What’s this?” she wondered as she spotted the envelope. Cathy sat and examined the envelope before opening it. “Why would David write a note instead of just talking to me?” Her mind was full of thoughts of “what ifs”. After a long time of pondering her thoughts, she picked it up and tore into it. She read the note very carefully, making sure not to miss a single detail. When she was finished, she set the paper down and flopped back in a state of shock. “How could this have happened?” Cathy was sure she knew her son better than to let it get this far. “I have to find him!” She grabbed her bag, got in the car, and drove to the library. The whole drive there, she wondered if David was ok, if the creatures had done anything to him, and how she was going to help once she got there. She pulled into the parking lot; well, she was there now. “It’s time to help David.” She grabbed her bible, put it in her purse, said a quick prayer, and made her way into the building. Once inside, she walked slowly down the old creaky steps. It looked as if no one had been down there in ages. Fighting fear and anxiety, she continued on. She had to save her son from whatever was keeping him.
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“Hello, is anyone here?!?” David said with fear in his voice, entering what seemed to be a lair of some sort. It was dark and small, and the air was thick, but David continued. He had to finish what he started. He called again “Hello, it’s David, I have what you want.” It was a watch and old pocket watch. To a normal person, it would have no value, but David was not normal. He knew a secret. This was something he was never meant to know and now that he knew he was here. While deep in thought about how things got this far, he didn’t notice the creature standing just few feet in front of him. He had never seen the creature. It had always stood in the dark with its face buried in the darkness. “I see you have done what I have asked of you.” The creature slithered. “YyyYes.” David stuttered. He pulled out the watch. This watch had so much power. Enough power to make this creature live forever. Enough power to take over the world. As soon as David gives him this watch, the world will never see the light of day again and will be forced to live in darkness. Just as the creature was about to grasp the watch, his mom burst through the door. Now she was involved, too.
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“Cathy” Steve called from the other room, “Where are you? I have a letter from the school that came for you in the mail.” Steve searched the house for his wife, but she was nowhere to be found. He saw the scattered pile of papers on the coffee table with an envelope and letter sitting on the couch, the word “Mom” printed on the front of the envelope. “What’s this?” Steve was just as surprised as Cathy had been when she had found the letter. He knew he shouldn’t read it, but it said from David and it might be important. Steve read the note making sure not to skip any words. When he was finished he stood in shock, looking at the wall. David, his son, was in trouble and he knew Cathy had gone after him. “What should I do” Steve had never thought something like this could happen. He decided he would go after them both. He didn’t know what would happen when he got there, what he was looking for, and most of all were Cathy and David alright? Just as Steve grabbed the car keys he remembered “the girls.” His eyes widened. “What am I going to do about them,” David was not an only child, he had two sisters, twins to be exact. They were only 7 years old. Steve didn’t want to frighten them by telling them what was going on and he didn’t want to bring them with him. He could call his mom, but then she would overreact. Aunts, uncles, no they went on a cruise for the month to see Europe. He was out of options. They had to come with him. He called the girls, “Hey girls want to go to the library to pick out a book?”
“Sure daddy” they called back. They sounded so much like their mother, it could bring a grown man to tears. The two little girls ran down the stairs, dressed in their tiny pink jackets with smiles on their faces. “Ready to go Daddy and we have our library cards!” “Alright then, let’s go.” So they all got in the car and drove to the library. The children were so happy while Steve was scared. He didn’t know what to expect, surely it wasn’t books.
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As Cathy walked in the room, she first saw David standing talking to what looked like darkness. Then she saw it; three sets of slimy green legs, the only parts you could see. Just by the legs you could tell they were disgusting creatures. She was scared, for David, her child, was holding the key for the creatures to take over the world. It’s not like he had a choice. He had to give it to them, or else. She didn’t even want to think what the “or else” was. She had to do it. She couldn’t let them get that watch and she had to save her son, but how?
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As Richard opened the door to room 228, he thought for a second (if he was in here why he wasn’t at dinner?) (Only one way to find out,) He opened the door and looked in. No one was in here, “Where was David.” If he was going out the least he could do was call. It wasn’t like him to just disappear and not tell anyone. He decided he would call David’s house and ask his parents if David was there. Richard took out his phone, and dialed the number; the phone rang and rang and rang; no answer. (They could be out to dinner, but I will go over there and see and if they are out I will leave a note.) So Richard caught a taxi and headed to David’s house. When he thought maybe he would try David’s cell phone again, but still there was no answer. When Richard reached David’s house the porch light was on, but nothing else was. (How strange,) thought Richard as he climbed out of the cab. “Keep the meter running this will only take a minute.” As Richard walked up to the house, he knocked on the door, it opened. Steve had forgotten to closes the door all the way in his hurry. Richard walked in (Kind of like a horror movie) he thought. As he walked into David’s living room Richard spotted the note. ******************************************
“MOM!!!!” screamed David! “Awww look, the little boy called his mommy to come save him. How sweet, well since you are both here, you can both enjoy being tied up!” slithered the creature. And like magic, a rope flew by, and tied them up, and they both fell to the floor.
Now not only did the creatures have the watch, but now there was no way to stop them, short of a miracle.
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Steve told the girls he was going to look for a book and left them in the children’s section. Now to find David and Cathy. Steve found the basement door and opened it casually, as if he was meant to, but enough to not draw attention to himself. He looked down at the dark narrow staircase. He hadn’t thought to bring a flashlight. He started down the stairs and closed the door behind him. He walked down the stairs. There was a little light coming from the furnace. He stopped dead in his tracks. He heard voices, but not the voice of a woman or a young man. No, these were deep crackling voices, almost unearthly. Steve listened closely. “What should we do with them?” said one voice. “Well, we can’t just let them go!” said the other voice. “It won’t matter, anyway when we are finished, the world will already be gone!!” laughed the first voice. “O my gosh!!” thought Steve. “Those creatures are planning to destroy the earth!!” Steve knew he had to go now.
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Richard climbed into the cab, frantic. “Library, please,and step on it!” The cab driver sped out of the neighborhood and towards the library. When he finally got there, after what seemed like an eternity, he paid the driver and ran inside. (Basement, basement, basement,) thought Richard. When he got to the door, he opened it, he rushed down the stairs, closing the door behind him and about halfway he stopped. “Mr. Setter,” “Richard?” They both sounded alarmed, yet relieved. “I drove to your house, but no one was home. I walked into your house, scared because your door was open. I called but no one answered. When I saw the mail lying on the table with the note lying on top, I’m sorry to say, sir, but I read it, “explained Richard. “Well I’m very glad you did,” said Steve. He explained how David and Cathy were tied up and how the creatures were planning to destroy the earth. He had a plan that he was almost sure would work. So Steve and Richard made their way into the room with the untold creatures, Bibles in hand and ready for whatever was next.
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David and Cathy were both in shock at what they had just seen. If the creatures had this much power already, the watch would only make it stronger. David told his mom how he had just been walking to his apartment when two creatures had jumped out and grabbed him. How he was told to buy a $200 watch from the pawn shop and bring it to them for an untold amount of riches and that no harm would come to him or his family. “I’m sorry, Mom.” David said with tears in his eyes.
Then, out of nowhere, the creatures appeared. You have done as instructed and we are very pleased; so is our leader,” said the one creatures.
“And therefore we are letting you go,” said the other creature. “You’re just going to let us go,” asked David in complete shock. “Yes, we meant you no harm. All we wanted was a gift for our leader, and of course we couldn’t just walk into a pawn shop!” said the creature sarcastically.
“So, you were never going to destroy the earth,”
“No we love earth and would never think of destroying it. We only use our powers for good.”
“Then why did you tie us up?!??” asked David, full of rage and relief.
“We had to make sure you got the right watch and not a cheap one. By the way here.” The creature had thrown a velvet bag and it was full of jewels. “Thank you, David. You are truly a servant of God doing things for creatures you don’t even know, with a fate unknown to you. Thank you.”
And just like, that they disappeared in a ray of light leaving no trace of themselves, but a memory that will last forever.
Suddenly, Richard and Steve charged in, holding bibles over their heads. “Where are they?! We know they are in here! Show yourselves cowards!!” Steve shouted.
“They are gone,” said David still in complete shock over what had just happened over the course of the week. “What?” asked Steve and Richard simultaneously. “Gone, They…..are…gone.” David walked out of the room slowly no one bothering to stop him. “They left, all they wanted was the watch. It had no powers, all they wanted was a souvenir,” said Cathy in as much shock as David. And she also walked out of the room with Richard and Steve following suit.
They never talked about the experience again, but it still haunts David. Now he never walks alone and he always has a cell phone with him. Yep, he will never the same kid again. He has also changed his college course. Instead of studying astronomy, he now studies law. He still has the jewels; he always thought that if he took them somewhere to sell, the person would think he had stolen them. There is also a part of him that doesn’t want to get rid of them. They are a reminder and a haunting memory of that strange week. Cathy never says a word about the experience, but she now pays a lot closer attention to her mail. Richard and Steve, well they didn’t see anything, but they still wonder what the creatures looked like and how in the world all this happened. They all continue to wonder how they all got there. Where there more? If so, how many? Would they ever return? That was a question only God and time could answer.
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