Donny sat on the couch flipping though each channel whether it was a cartoon, news program, or an infomercial. He was bored after three unsuccessful days of searching for Max. The police had called each day to let him know how the search was going and every time it was the same. Nothing. In fact they could not even find a Max Devontia in their area and those they did find did not match the description Donny had given them.
But the part that concerned Donny the most was that the only evidence the police had to go one was Donny's word. The chair had no DNA finding, no fingerprints or stands of hair, the cup was the same, no prints, and whatever was used to put Cindy to sleep vanished from her system. It was almost like he was never there.
But Donny still remembered everything that was said to him and Max's smile, his evil, malicious grin. He still remembered the fear he felt when Max pulled out his gun and the desperation he felt at Max's threatening eyes coupled with the weapon. That couldn't have been imaginary.
The phone rang and Donny jumped to his feet, still on edge from the encounter. He snatched up the phone and pushed the "talk" button and was informed of yet another failed lead.
Donny sighed and resumed sitting on the couch, once again flipping though the channels until he stopped on the news.
"Breaking news. Two 16-year old boys yesterday both collapsed at the exact same time at a local supermarket. The strange part of this event was that they were taken, by what witnesses say, by a transparent man..."
"What!" Donny yelled bolting upright, sending the remote flying, that man, he said to himself but before he could continue thinking, the band on his wrist began to squeeze harder and his vision became blurred. The television in front of him began to sway and rock as his sight began to cloud up with darkness and before he knew it, he fell to the ground, unconscious.
"Donny." a far off voice called, "Donny wake up." It sounded familiar but Donny could not focus on where it was coming from, "Wake up!" He felt someone lift him upright and sat up, feeling his head bob up and down.
Donny felt cool, moist grass was under his bare feet and hands as well as wind breezing over his face. Slowly he opened his eyes and stared straight at Sean's own face, which was marked by extreme fear.
"What?" Donny asked, groggy.
"What?" Sean mimicked, "What is this place?" Sean was scared, his voice portrayed that.
“Where do you think...?” Donny began when his mind finally pieced together where they were. They were outside.
“What's going on?” Donny inquired as he whipped his head around to see where they were. He said that they were on a grassy hill overlooking a long wasteland of dirt and rocks and a great tree smothered them under its shadow.
Sean growled and spat, “I just asked you that!” Donny shoved Sean aside and saw the blue band that was previously on his wrist was replaced by a muddy-brown, torn leather gauntlet with a matching one on his other arm. He was also dressed in a same color single T-shirt with matching shorts. Sean was dressed similarly and both didn't wear any shoes.
Donny got up and took a good long look of the surroundings as Sean protested to being pushed. The large wasteland had no plants at all, in fact, the grass on the hill ended at a sharp border line that ran around the hill.
The great tree that stood over them had a near perfect trunk. It neither leaned or had any splintered although there was on mark on it. Four lines running parallel to each other but at a receded length pattern all intercepted a single line that ran in another direction.
The mark intrigued Donny who asked, “What is that?” But his question was forgotten as light began to grow from a spot under the tree. Both Donny and Sean jumped back as the light grew and receded leaving two figures lying on the ground.
“Bobby? John?” Donny asked hesitantly. One figure moved and groaned a bit then began to sit up. It was them. Bobby sat up and blinked a few times then asked, “Guys. Where are we?”
“No. Idea.” Sean replied putting emphasis on each word while John gazed around and closed his eyes, “I'm dreaming.” He whimpered, “I was just now inside eating dinner. I am not here.”
“Come on John. Get up.” Sean said to his brother. It took a moment for John to relax and when he did rose to his feet but didn't say anything.
“I don't think this is a dream.” Sean said, “It's too real.” And after he said that the sun seemed to get brighter only it wasn't the sun.
Some one else was appearing.
“Charles.” The professor called, “How many transmitters did you take?”
“Only six dad.” Charles responded.
“But I am missing seven...” The professor said, thinking, “Are you sure?”
“Of course I'm sure, I know how to count.” Charles said, his voice edged with a bit of anger from the accusation.
“Where is your sister?” The professor asked.
“Somewhere...” Charles said, “Now that I think of it, I haven't seen her in a while... You don't think?”
“I don't know what to think anymore.” He closed his eyes for a moment as a steady beep, beep, beeping sound started from his computer.
“They're inside finally.” He said, “Now I need to explain to them the situation... what's this?” The beeps kept going after the four appeared.
“Someone else is appearing.” Both father and son looked at each other and immediately knew who the intruder was.
The veil of light began to recede in a waterfall pattern dissipating around Sharon wearing a wide grin and asked, “What's up?”
She was wearing similar garments to the boys except she had a small dagger at her waist and leather shoes.
“Enjoying Cyberspace?” She asked.
They were stunned. She looked nothing like at school. She had her hair the same but her eyes displayed a raging fire and an unbreakable will. Before she seemed shy and passive, now she appeared aggressive and ready for anything.
“Is that you Sharon?” Sean asked, apparently dazed.
“Of course Sean.” She replied sweetly it looked as though Sean was going to fall over. Donny almost thought about it. But he remembered they had a more pressing matter to attend to.
“Where are we?” He asked Sharon who frowned and replied, “This is Cyberspace, a world inside my father's computer.” Bobby immediately yelled, “What! But that's impossible! Isn't it?”
No comments:
Post a Comment