LIQUID SKIES
By
James Aa. Keister
SMASHWORDS EDITION
PUBLISHED BY
James Aa. Keister on Smashwords
Liquid Skies
copyright 2011 by James Aa. Keister
This book is a work of fiction and any resemblance to persons, living or dead, or places, events locales is purely coincidental. The characters are productions of the author's imagination and used fictitiously.
Your support and respect for the property of this author is greatly appreciated.
Prologue
She paced herself as she made her way across the yard of her lighthouse home. Opened the door of her cherry “65” Chevy impala and drove below the speed limit into town. She was stopping at local post office. She had no other errands to run in town but this one. So she was in no hurry. Parking the car out front of the post office steps, she shut the 327 down and exited the car.
She made her way up to the post office doors. With a box full of post cards in her hands,” On them a picture of the very lighthouse she lived in. Everyone of the postcards were addressed to the different light houses spread throughout the U.S.A. Spading every shore from east to west, north to south and any that were in between. She set the heavy box up on the counter. While waiting for the clerk. “Hello, Mrs. Edington, how are you today?” He asked, looking down at the box she had brought.
“I’m fine, thank you. Could you please see that all these get mailed out?”
“Sure, are they all stamped?”
“Yes I've checked them twice.”
“Good... Good. I’ll make sure they get out personally,” smiling at her. She half smiled back, turned and walked out the door. Not saying another word. She got into her car. Started the small V-8 engine and disappeared. “Vanished,” like she had never existed, Only” glittering red dust, like rusted speckles mixed with bone white powder, fell to the ground where she and her beautiful cherry red car had once stood.
Around the corner of the post office he ran. Out of breath, and breathing hard, Making his way past the steps, of the post office. He was headed across the street, but tripped on the edge of the curb that stuck up slightly out of tune from the others.
Down he fell, face first, hitting hard. He was somewhat able to catch his fall. In one hand he held a 9mm, in the other a bag that clearly read National Bank Plummeting down and rolling into the pile of red colored rusty powder he fell, it puffed up around him in feathery whiffs. His lungs heaved from running, drank in the dust with each breath. Feeling the sting as it entered his lungs. His face was covered with the redness mixed with the bone white powder making his face, hands, chest, legs and hair look pinky painted.
He bounced back up to his knees then stood as quick as he fell. Briefly brushing off the thick dust, Looked over his shoulder as he continued his running across the street. He had to get away and fast. Running at break neck speed was as fast as his tired legs would carry him. He made his way crisscrossing out of town and down a one way track that he hoped would take him some place safe.
He stepped off the small lane into the trees and rested, listening to the sirens wailing, behind him. He knew now that he could not stay in this town. The bank he just robbed had been an easy heist, but they had seen his face and would surely be out to find him. Up he got and again he headed down the lane. Around bends and turns he made his way, until he saw the light, high in the air. Circling like a beacon, one flash then another. Sending beams of luminescence out across the bay. “Shit!” He thought. I needed to be on the other side of the town. That’s what I get for not reading the damn map right. I’m out by the damn ocean and now I have to go back through town to get to the main highway.” He was trapped.
Liquid Skies
Chapter One
He continued down the lane, closing in on the light house that stood out on the edge of a rock cliff, tall and leering up toward the twilight sky.
Slowly he approached the out crop building. Creeping in shadows, quick and quiet like a cat on the prowl. In through a window he could see lights, but could not see any-one inside. Around to another window he peered in side an again he saw on one. He made his way to a door at the side of the small house. Reached out and twisted the handle. It opened. He pushed it slowly and peeked inside, his gun at his ready.
Inside no one was there. It looked as if an elderly person had lived there. Old out of date colors, furniture, nick knacks, pictures, and rugs littered the rooms in an orderly neat fashion. Tip toeing through the five rooms the house contained, he found no one inside, much to his relief. He checked for food, he checked out the windows to make sure no one was coming up the lane.
He could hear the waves crashing up against the rocky shore. Darkness set in and out beyond the sparkling waves, lighting streaked through performed clouds. Ray watched as waves of rain swarm through the darkened skies, lit only by the lightning and the full moon that glowed it’s ominous lure.
Winds forcing pelting drops, caught in the strings of a marionette. Whipping them to and fro, refusing to let them go. Huge plumes of spraying water burst up above the rock formations. Creating clouds of moisture that splashed inland, helplessly caught by the beating winds. The storm raged on.
Chapter Two
Ray was stuck here for the night, or so it seemed, due to the raging storms that were blowing in from off shore. He turned off the lights, making it easier to see any movement out side, leaving only one light in the kitchen on. because it was dimmer then the others.
He sat at the kitchen table and took an apple out of the bowl that sat in the center of the old oak table. He set his gun down and threw the bag of money up next to it. Eating the apple, and thinking what to do next. Once he hit the core of the apple he tossed it over his shoulder oblivious to where it had landed.
He looked around, jumped up and quickly peeked out the windows again, seeing nothing out there, but the storm that blew the rain in like sheets of steel waves. He sat back down, checked his gun again, slowly,” opened the money bag. He unzipped it across its top, and slowly forced the opening wide. Inside the stacks of bills lay piled upon each other.
He reached his hand into the bag and slowly withdrew one of the stacks. He sat it on the table then continued to do the same with the rest of the stacks, until all the money, had been taken out of the bag. He dumped the bag on the floor. He picked up the first stack of bills. Looked it over, then slowly reached into the leaflets of bills with his finger tips and pulled out the tiny paint packet that was set to explode when the money band got broken.
Instead of it going off, he pinched the tiny trap with his fingers then walked over to the counter and found some tape. He tore off a piece with his other hand and wrapped it around the trap, tossing it into the trash can, just in case it went off. He went back to the table with the roll of tape and proceeded to decommission the rest of the stacks of bills. It took all of an hour to make sure the stacks of money were debugged. Some of the stacks had more then one trap. Once he finished he began counting his take. It summed up to well over two hundred thousand. Smiling to him-self, he was proud he had done so well.
Ray found a small leather bag, big enough to hold all his money, in one of the small rooms that were used for storage. He packed the cash into it and left it sitting on the table in case he had to make a quick get away. The gun how-ever went where he went, added security.
Chapter Three
He finished scoping out the rest of the place, then stopped at a door that had a master lock on it. He looked around the area of the door for the key but could not find one. So he searched further.
Out in the kitchen, by the back door, was a key hook. He fingered through the sets of keys that hung on the hooks in small clusters like grapes. He found the key with the master lock logo on it, than snatched it off the hook. Took a quick glance out the rain streaked window, turned back to the locked door and smiled to him-self. He reached up and put the key into the lock, twisted it and heard the click as it opened.
He pulled the lock from its holding. Flipped the latch open and twisted the door handle. He pushed the creaking door open and peered in-side the dark that waited beyond. Beside the door was a light switch. He flipped it up and a light exploded inside the stairwell. Ray looked back over his shoulder then down the steps. Walked back into the kitchen and grabbed the money filled leather bag, toting it with him.
He headed down the six steps, closing the door behind him. He moved down the old wooden steps until he reached the stone basement floor, than flipped on another light switch, which illuminated the rooms just beyond the darkness.
Down there, were old bikes and tools, a washer and dryer. Usual basement items of old furniture, paint cans and the musty smells of mold soaked wood. He searched both rooms quickly then came upon another locked door. Both the lock on this door was nothing he had ever seen before or knew existed. It was old looking, very old and flatly placed against the doors frame. It looked as though it needed to be opened with some sort of special key.
“May-be an old skeleton key,” He thought. No, it had to be some thing else. He reached up and gently placed his finger tips upon it, feeling its cold metal impressions. As if it was made of solid gold. He jerked his hand back. Some thing had cut his finger, drawing blood.“Click” the lock opened and the door swung wide as Ray stepped back in surprise. He stared at the darkness just beyond the threshold. Blinked and begun looking for a light switch.
Just inside the door he found the switch and flipped it on as a river of light bulbs flickered to life. Again he glanced back over his shoulder an up the steps. But curiosity pushed at his will and forced him through the door. Once he entered past the door it slowly closed behind him. Locking as it closed. He followed the cob web laced hallway down the slanting slope that led off into the vast darker ends of the room that was waiting just yards ahead of him. There the light ended and darkness begun.
He could smell the salty whiffs of the sea. He heard the thundering crashes of waves as they beat the rock en shores. Further he pushed through the webs that hung like cotton along the walls. Reaching the dark that loomed ahead. He found another switch and hit it. Again lights exploded in front of him lighting his way. He felt a chill and pulled the 9 mm, waving it around at nothing. It was his paranoia that crept up on him. He moved in through the room and up a small set of steps, Than came to the hollow part of the tower, looking upward at the spiraling staircase that spun the spans of the hollowed tower, ending at the foot of the roof floor, where an opening, hid just out of sight. Ray sighed deeply. Looked up the steps and begun to ascend.
Chapter Four
Round and round he went. Four stories later he made the opening and slipped inside the hatch. Behind him he shut the trap door to the stairway and looked around the open room, there
in the center, stood the light house lens and mechanical devise that turned it. And as the lens passed in front of the 10,000candle light it sent a beam of glowing luminous scene out across the raging waves. Strong enough to break through the tyrant sheets of rain, driven by quail force winds.
Every three seconds the lens brings an arc of light. While the storm outside tried to dampen its effect, to no avail Ray stood watching the arc of light as it pushed out over the waters. His hand went to his forehead to wipe away the sweat he perspired while climbing the steps to the light towers peak. He felt the sting of the sweat as it dripped in to his eyes. He looked at his hand and saw the reddish pink powder that coated his hands. He stood looking over him-self in the light as it passed by him. It made the reddish color glow with ominous effect. As if he was some sort of alien. “Damn, what is this stuff?” He said out loud, trying in vain to brush it off of him-self.
I've got to hit a shower.” He ended, lifted the trap door to descend back down to the house. But movement at the window caught his eye. He looked up and saw a huge black raven. Larger then he had ever seen or known. It hit the glass then fell to the cat walk just out-side.
Ray walked to the window stared out at the bird that seemed to twitch from the damage it had inflicted upon itself from the crash. Ray found the door that led out-side to the cat walk and opened it against the raging wind that was trying to push it shut as he was trying to push it open. He heaved hard and forced his way out. The door slammed shut behind him. Holding onto the railing, he inched over to where the bird lay. Saw it just laying there pinned against the building by the wind. He knelt down and picked up its limp body. Cradled it in his one arm, then with his other, he fought with the door to pull it open and forced his way inside.
Once inside he laid the bird down on a small table that sat against the back wall. The bird was larger than it looked from outside. Its wing span was a good six feet. Raven black feathers that had a bluish green sheen to its black color. Ray laid the bird on its back. It lay there unmoving, just staring up at him with its onyx black eyes. He checked its neck. Thinking that it may have broken it in the crash it had against the window. Also thinking that the glass must be pretty strong and thick for such a big bird to run into it and not even break it.
The bird just lay there staring at him. Ray stood looking down at it. He reached down and stretched out one of its wings, then the other, checked its neck, lifted one talon, then the other. Still the bird lay there staring. So he turned to walk away, saying, “ Lay there if you want. I don't see anything wrong with you.”
He walked to the trap door and lifted it open, started to descend, when he heard a scraping from behind him. Turned and saw the giant raven propelled up on the railing, waiting for him to get through the opening so that it too could head down behind him.
Ray cleared the first twist of the steps and saw the beast floating down in a lazy spiral. Wings spread full, leaving mere feet between them and the rail of medal that followed the stairs downward. Ray paced himself down ward to the bottom taking time to pause at the small port size windows that dotted the building. Trying to see if any-one had come to the house or any-where near the place. Finally at the bottom of the steps he was about to retrace his steps to the house.
“Shit!” He thought as he looked back up the steps. Knowing he had forgotten to grab the bag of money.
“That bird threw me off.” He continued, thinking that he wasn't about to trudge back up there to get it. He shook his head. Then from behind him the bird flashed by. With strong flaps of wings that blew Rays hair into his face. The bird lifted off and flew back up to the trap door. It was gone for only a moment then reappeared in its laze spiral, floating down ward toward him. With in its talons the heavy bag hung, held by its handle. It floated down, all the time staring at ray. Then it landed still perched atop the bag.
“Thanks!” Ray said.
“Welcome!” It returned.
Ray was stumped.
“Did I hear that right?” He thought.
“Yes you did!” He heard in his head as if some-one was talking to him.
“Who said that?” Now looking around!
“I did.”
“I who?.
“I the raven, you know the one you saved from the storm. Stupid human,” It threw you for good measure.
Ray stood staring at the feathered beast. Shook his head, then in his mind he said, “Well, I wasn't the one crashing into a light house window. Now was I?”
The bird stared back at him then told him, “Well it was the only light I could see from over the water. So I headed toward it.
I did not mean to run into the window. The wind had pushed me into it before I could land and catch the rail.”
“Are you okay then?”
“Yeah, I'm fine.”
“Good then, what did you want to eat? You must be hungry.”
“Yes.”
“Then what else is there, you want?”
“All in due time, human.”
“So until then you are just going to what...?” Ray asked. “Follow me around.”
“That's right! I guess you are a smarter human than I took you for.”
“Yeah, well I don't go around smacking into windows, trying to break my neck.”
“And I don't go around stealing from my own kind either.” It said back.
“Oh,” so now your here to judge me?
“No,” just observant.
“I see and you observed me what?”
“Stealing,” It replied.
“Yeah well, I needed the money.”
“And I need some-thing to eat.”
They talked as they made there way through the tunnel and back up into the house which was still void of any presence. Ray set the money down on the table as the raven perched on the back of a chair. 'Waiting' Eying Rays every move, waiting for any morsel of food, Ray found some bread and gave it a slice, then was asked to be given some meat, cheese, and tomato. Ray just stared a moment and tossed the contents onto the table.
“I'm not making you a damn sandwich. You know.”
“No this will be fine, Thanks.” It returned as it pecked at the meal, downing it in gulps.
“Listen, Ray said I need to get a shower. Can you keep watch and screech real loud if any-one tries to come in?”
“Sure.”
“Good.” Ray said as he made his way in toward the bathroom to start his shower, and he went
Down the stairs to put his clothes into a washer. Then back up stairs naked. And finally off into the hot shower after a quick look out the windows at the storm outside.
“So where did you come from?” Ray asked the bird as he climbed into the waiting hot shower and begun to soak his skin.
“From a place very far away, a place you don't want to go to.”
“Well I know I don't want to be staying here either.”
“You are safer here,” than out there, I have seen the others looking for you on the other side of the human nests, far from here.”
“Really,”
“Yes.”
Ray finished his shower of washing off the reddish powder that seemed to fight him every inch of the way.
“What was that stuff?” He wondered, “Stuck to me pretty good,”
Dried off and wrapped a towel around his mid, he went down and put his clothes into the dryer, Came back up and shut the basement door against the cool damp air it let in.
Chapter Five
Out beyond the battered panes of glass, raged the peak of the storm. Rain pelted down behind whipping winds that helped to beat the panes of melted sand to their limit. Stuck In the house for the night, Ray found the bed calling his name and readied him-self for the night. He took time to throw extra blankets across the windows and a chair in front of each door.
He sat the cash bag next to the bed and laid down to crash. Felt the breeze of the raven’s wings as it entered the room and found a place to perch, stirring up the old scents of perfumes that lingered amid the antiques.
He and the bird talked a bit then he fell asleep. But sleep came in spurts of uneasy tides, stirring his body in tossing turns. Then he shot straight up in his bed. Sweat rolling from his forehead. Pulled his pistol and looked around the room. Seeing nothing out of place, he lay back down, watched the wind driven rain slap against the window, and the lighting that accommodated it. Only for a few moments until he fell back asleep. This time sleep came a little easier, letting him at least rest his body. Maybe not his mind that raced with thoughts of the day’s events, but his body.
After a few hours he awakened to the sound of the roaring waves. He stumbled out of bed. Went down stairs to the dryer and pulled out his clothes, throwing them on, and then headed up to the kitchen for food. He walked through and peeked out all the windows. Checking to make sure he was still alone. Secure, he found some-thing to eat, sat with his back against a wall and thought on the memories of yesterday’s events, trying to plan his departure from this place so he could get back on the highway.
Chapter Six
Glancing up, he saw a radio. Not one used for listening to music or the news, but a police band radio that must have been used to listen to reports of storms and the like. He tipped forward in his chair, got up and went over to turn it on. He flipped its switch up as small led lights came to life, panning their throbbing dance back and forth. Then it stopped as a voice came across the speaker.
“Central 10-50 on Wave Avenue,”
“10-4, 303 Ambulance in route,”
“10-4 Central,”
The strobe L.E.D. lights again flashed their waving dance, Ray sat listening for any talk of the robbery, but as for the time being, nothing. Then something struck him funny.
“Where’s that damn dumb bird?” He wondered. “Hey!” He said in his head, but heard nothing. So he walked back to the bedroom. On the chair where it had perched for the night was only his leather jacket, left to dry. No bird, not even a feather. He searched the rest of the house. But found not a thing.
“I know it couldn’t have gone back down stairs. I close that door. Hmm,” He shook his head. “It must have been all in my head. Being I was so tired and out of it.” He tried justifying.
He sat eating a slice of toast and made a pot of coffee to help to clear his head. After two cups and a few paces back and forth from window to window, he headed out toward the door, moved the chair that blocked its way from any-one getting in. Cracked opened the door and peeked out-side. The night’s storm had left its toll among the trees that had shrew their branches all over the yard, and down the one track lane. The sun was coming up across the low laying clouds that hung just over the vast horizon. He opened the door and stepped out into the warm day. He could hear the crashing of the waves against the rocky cliffs. He could hear the baying of the seagulls that
circled the pluming whiffs of sprayed water, searching for their morning meal. Watching them as they marionette up and down on the winds strings that carry them. Some just floating as if they were waiting for the puppeteers hand to move them.
He walked out toward the waters edge, and was watching the waves as they lapped in over the rocks, frothing into foamy obscurity, washing back out to sea. Down beneath the gulls, he caught a glimpse of some thing shiny, lying upon the rocks. It wasn't floating in the water, but lay unmoving upon a rock.
Getting to it may prove to be quite the challenge with the cracking waves that plummet against them. But he wanted to know what the shiny object was. So he began to make his way down toward it, slowly crawling over the sharp and jagged rocks that stand in his way to that which he sought to obtain. It was only a few yards ahead of him, but caught in a place where the water itself raged the hardest.
With each surge he waited, then as the water subsided and retreated back out for mere seconds he needed he advanced closer to the object. He could see its sparkling lure and the glittering of the reflected light, but could not make out what the thing was. He was able to gain a closer footing and when he was in reach of the object, He reached out his hand and submerged it under the surface of the water. But pulled back just as a wave crashed in, almost making him lose his footing. He held on until the water ebbed out and reached down beneath the waters surface to retrieve the item. His fingers found the metallic item and enclosed around it. But it was a little stuck. So he wiggled the thing and it finally gave way just as another wave hurled into the rocky shore. With it in his grip he still needed to hold himself from falling in or being beaten against the rocks by the crashing waves. So he slid the item into his pocket and begun his ascend back to safer ground.
Chapter Seven
Back on land and away from the spraying ledge of water, he shook off some of the wetness that clung to him. Looked back toward the house and saw a garage attachment that was hid in back of the house. So he wondered his way back there, all the while, curious about the treasure he had rescued from the sea. He pulled the small trinket from his pocket and rolled it over in his hand a few times to look it over. It was light gold in color, in the shape of an odd type key that glittered in the morning sunlight. It had three gems that were embedded in the length of its shaft. One was red, one black, and one blue.
“Maybe ruby, onyx and sapphire,” He thought as he shoved it back into his pocket, figuring that he'd look it over in more detail later. He made the garage and paced around to the door. Stopped and looked around him-self. It was as if he could feel some-one or some thing watching him. He tried to peek inside, but it was too dark with the noon sun just over his shoulder. He reached in and fumbled until he felt what he thought to be a light switch and turned the knob. A dim light came to life, giving him just enough light to be able to see that the place was empty. There was nothing in there of any use except tools, parts and a place to park a car. So he closed the door after turning off the light and walked around to the front of the house, looking the place over. Then off toward the tower.
There he found that there was no door in which to enter. Not from the outside. No steps to take you to the light lens housing or cat walk, only the bleak dark tunnel from within the house that had required a strange key. “Key,” He thought as his hand went to his pocket, feeling the treasure was still there. He rounded the light house tower and inspected its exterior, but found nothing of any usefulness. So he wondered his way back toward the house, looking out over the water. The waves were some two to three feet and crested into white lines that stretched out along the shore line for miles. Wrapping them-self around the small peninsula the light house stood upon as if they were a lace veil that waved in the wind.
The gulls had all but flown off, taking with them their crying calls. He walked the length of the peninsulas shore line and headed back up to the house, looking over the rest of the property as he went. He noticed that this place was well hidden from view of the rest of the world by the trees that grew inland. Except the light that beamed out over the water. He checked the lane and saw nothing. Rounded the house and went back inside, shutting the door behind him. He went into the kitchen and made a sandwich. Sat listening to the police band radio, eating the meal and poured a glass of juice.
Suddenly the phone rang. He jumped, pulling out his pistol at the same time. Waving it around as if some-one was hiding in the house. But it was only the phone. He looked over at it hanging on the wall and tried to ignore its ringing. It continued to ring for all of ten minutes. Ray thought it was never going stop. But as suddenly as it started it stopped. He continued staring at it for a few more seconds then reached up and picked up the receiver and put it to his hear. All he heard was a dial tone. He replaced the receiver into its cradle and turned back to the table.
“Ring...Ring.” The phone exploded again into its ringing madness. Ray twisted and grabbed the phone brought it up to his ear to listen.
“Raymond.” The voice said.
He listened as it again said, “Raymond.”
He
was about to answer when, “Raymond have you found the key?” The
sweet old women s voice asked.
“Key,” He asked
“Yes, the key with the gems.”
“Yeah, I found it out by the water.”
“Good boy
Raymond.
It will help you. Don't you ever lose it. You will need it to find
your way. Do you understand?”
“Yeah, who is this?” He asked.
“Oh, don't you worry yourself about me. You just stay there and find my journals Raymond, there downstairs in an old box. You find them, they'll help you.”
“Wait”.
“Listen Raymond, I have to go now. The house and the tower are yours now. Watch over it. Keep them locked or they'll get in.”
“Who the police,”
“Oh no, they never come out there to bother. They never come to the light house. What will come is much more dangerous than the police. You watch now. Keep it locked. You hear? Don't let them in...Her words faded.
“Wait...Wait. Who are they?”
“Journals...” He barely heard. Then the line went blank.
“What the hell?” He thought as he hung the phone up. Trying to remember what she had said.
“Danger from them, keep it locked, journals, don't let them in.” He said out loud wanting to know. He tapped his fingers against the counter top for a second while he was thinking. Then as an idea caught his attention he reacted. He looked over at the basement door, at the lock that lies on the floor, nodding in an understanding sense. He went down to the basement and started digging through the small piles of items that littered the floor and the one bench. There he found the box she had told him to find. In the box were three small thin books. One red, one black and one was blue.
The red book was thicker and its cover read some name in gold leaf letters. Ray had never heard of before. The black was smaller yet and read another name he could not pronounce. The blue simply read “Earth” and was the thickest.
He went back up toting his find and set them down upon the table. He made a pot of coffee after dumping the burnt tasting coffee out of the pot from earlier that morning. While it was brewing he sat and stared at the three books spread out on the table.
Chapter Eight
Picking up the book titled Earth and leafing through its pages, the words he begun reading started to take on images and a life of their own. Filling his head with thoughts and images of things he had never known about this planet, both in the real realm and the spiritual realm. He sat reading its pages as they filled his head with fantastical ideas and a few dark ones.
Once he was finished, he set the book down along side the others, then picked up the red one, and as he opened its cover, leafing through its pages he found them all blank. The black book was the same, empty pages. He looked at the lettering on the red cover. It read, “Gilseous!” The black read, “Nyxjckitjc!” Shaking his head he sat them down. Reached into his pocket and pulled out the key that he had found earlier and flipped it over in his hand as he closely inspected it, thinking to his-self that the old woman told him not to lose it.
“If I had a chain or a hole to where I could hang it on a chain then... He looked at it again and a loop appeared. His eyes went wide, his brows rose. “Damn!” He thought, reached up under his collar and pulled out the thick gold chain he wore. Held the key up to it to see if the loop would fit and as he did, the key attached itself to the chain. Raymond was surprised, no astonished. He stood staring at it for a moment then placed it over his head to let it hang there next to his heart. Walked over and relocked the basement door he had left open.
After reading the earth book, he began to understand what the old woman meant. However he had yet to meet one of the creatures she said would come. Where they come from he had no clue. He would figure all that out once he met one.
“Beep...Beep...Beep...” The radio b lipped, he snapped out of his thoughts and crashed back to reality, listening to the male voice that spoke over the transistors. Telling of a storm that was blowing in from out over the sea. It was said to have up to 50mph winds and torrential rains.
Every light house in that region was to be on high alert, and they were directed to have their light pattern changed to an occult flash, which meant that there were periods of light and dark flashes with the light flash period longer than that of the dark.
Ray was puzzled at first but knew that he would figure it out. So he got up once the message started repeating itself and went off toward the basement, he unlocked the door. He noticed that there was also a latch on the opposite side of the door so that it could be locked from either side.
As he went into the basement, he turned and locked the door from his side, so that anyone or anything that entered the house could not enter the basement area. He stepped over to the other door. The one with a strange looking mechanism drew out his key and as metal touched metal, the lock disengaged and the door swung open. Closing as he passed through. Nodding, he was beginning to under stand all this, or at least the jest of it.
He got to the tower and ascended up to the lens room. It was quiet except the humming of the motor that drove the gears to turn the lens. He searched the tower to find the means of changing the lights oscillating flash, circling around the lens and the light, to the mechanism that turned it. He found a set of levers and as he begun to experiment with them. He found that moving them either forward or back, he could change the length of light, speed, flash or color.
After a moment of playing with the levers, he found what was needed to make the lights flash longer and was also able to intensify the lights strength. He sat back watching the beam of light reach out across the waters darkness. He could see the low lying clouds that painted the edge of the world far beyond reach.
Chapter Nine
Streaks of lighting began to lace the blackened skies across the dark horizon. The storm looked bad and very large. It covered most all of the sky that could be seen.
The bay that sat just right of the lone peninsula he stood on was busy with trying to set their boats and making sure they were all tethered down enough to fair the on coming storm. Every dock was a flurry of activity. He could see the last few boats coming in from their day’s worth of fishing. Two freight liners had found their refuse near shore with anchor chains pulled taunt.
The town was bliss with frantic people. He turned back toward the advancing storm and was surprised at how close they were. He could already see the rain that drifted on the winds, giving the sky the appearance of being liquid.
He stood watching the storms lightning show as it came closer, then when the rain begun to pelt the light house tower windows, he decided that it was time to head back toward the house. After making the tunnel and back into the small house, he stood at one of the small windows that looked out at the tower and sea. Noticed the small window had a steel shutter. All the windows did. So he closed it and latched the lock across it. Then went to the other windows and did the same there.
He again put chairs up under the door knobs to the front and back doors, sealing up the house from the pending storm. He made something to eat and sat listening to the scanner. It was warning people that the storm was just off shore, and expected to last well into the night, maybe the next day as well. He would have to wait it out and hope that he had enough food in the house to do so. Which prompt him into checking what food was available? He found all the cupboards full and the refrigerator was supplied with enough to last for weeks if needed be.
His money bag lay on the table and began to irritate him, so he toted it off into the bedroom.
“Ring...Ring...” The phone exploded, breaking his silence. He rushed to it and lifted it to his ear, but said nothing.
“Raymond?” The soft old woman’s voice asked.
“Yes.”
“Raymond, have you locked up everything? Yes.”
“Good boy Raymond, you are such a good boy. Now listen Raymond, They will come and they will come strong. But don't you fret them. If you are locked in, They cant hurt you. Have you changed the tower light?”
“Yes, to a long slow light and a short dark period.”
“Good...Good... Now you have plenty of food, and a warm bed. Let them scream and yell. You don't listen to their pleas, you hear me?”
“Yes.”
“Okay, cause they want in and will tell you anything to get in.”
“Okay.” Ray said.
“I have to go did you find the three journals?”
“Yes, they helped.”
“Good... Now Raymond, I've done all I can, the rest is up to you. Please be careful.
Find the magical lock in the tower, you learn how to use it...” She faded and disappeared as the phone went blank and Ray stood staring at it.
He hung it up as he heard the wind pick up outside, it was whistling and howling. Pushing and pulling at the window panes. He sat listening to the scanner. Hearing that all the boats that were going to dock had safely been tied down and covered waiting to brave the storm. Through the window he watched the storm, after unlatching the window shutter and pulling one side open slightly. There the rain made it hard to see beyond the lights at the end of the rocky face
Chapter Ten
Lighting struck out over the water, hitting the waves with such an intense force, it exploded the water into the air and sent stacks of plummet feathered stream high into the atmosphere, only to be laundered back down as more rain. The light towers beam stretched out across the raging waves that were breaking at 10 feet, smashing against jagged rocks that lined the shores. And with the thunderous pounding waves, crashes of white hot lighting and raging winds came... Ominous and dark, bellowing in low tones of black and gray, riding the savage currents of rain, wind and waves, darkening the already blackened night skies, with an ever inky spilled liquid color that hid even darker shadows. Had it not been for the tower light that broke the night and sliced it like cake, they may never have been seen by Rays naked eye.
He watched the eerie shapes as they floated just over the waters edge, looming just out of reach. Dodging the beam of light as it pass by them. Too afraid to touch its glowing eminence yet they had continued to circle around the peninsula, searching for a place to enter. They could taste the presence of a human in the dwelling and the smell of the rich coppery blood that flowed within him only heightening their sense of wanton.
Shrek of piercing voila littered the winds that battered the old house and howled its whistling voice through the near by trees. Ray stood glaring out a window. The weak light of the kitchen glowed looked soft embers. He turned to the other side of the room and turned the worn out switch off. And as the light seized to exist he heard a thump at the window, twisted quickly around he saw nothing there. He raced over to the glass and begun looking outward. Without the glare of the light to his back he was able to see a little better.
“Please...Please...Help me.” A voice spoke, with soft attire. Was it in his head? Or real, remembering what the old woman said about them using any tactical means to gain entry.
“Who's there?”
“Please... Help me wont you please let me in?” The raspy voice again said.
“Who are you?”
“It’s me, your friend.”
“I don't have friends here in this town.”
“Please it’s cold and wet out here. Please let me in.”
“Show your-self to me and I will decide if you may enter or not. Show your-self now!”
“Please” The voice said as Ray watched a dark figure move away from the edge of the window.
It stood just beyond his field of vision, distorted by the rain and wind, cloaked in a dark shrouded veil of shadowy Persona.
Please” it continued to beg.
“No... I think not. You don't want to show your-self to me, I can’t let you in.”
“Can you not see me from there?”
“No, I can’t.”
“Then come out here and you may see me clearer.”
“No... I can’t go out there.” He told it.
He could hear other voices crying, sounds of women and children, crying, begging, and pleading to be let in.
Ray backed away from the window to shut it. Then a horrid face appeared in the glass. To such as he had never seen. Nothing of this world or of any horror movie or science fiction creature any human had ever created. He slammed the shutter shut and latched it. Their howls and cries turned to blood curdling screams and bellows, drowned at only by the thunderous booms that followed flashes of lightning.
Chapter Eleven
They pounded at the windows, doors, and he could hear their clawed feet click and scratch at the roof titles as they walked upon the roof, searching for any means of entry. Raymond went from one room to the other searching for any tiny hole or crack that may allow them to get in. And with each he found, he had sealed him-self in. Now all he had to do was out wait the storm.
He went to the bedroom and pulled a couple pieces of tissue to stuff into his ears, so he did not have to listen to their constant crying, then came back into the kitchen, but then a knock at the door. He froze.
Thought for a second, where he had put his gun, then bolted to get it. He edged toward the door, stood listening. Then realized he still had tissue in his ears. He pulled out the wad from one ear. Put his ear to the door and listened. Staring at the door knob that began to slowly twist and turn.
He raised his pistol toward the door. He could feel a warming upon his chest. That grew warmer. Then Hot. Then it got hotter. He reached into his shirt and pulled out the golden key. It was all a glow and very warm to the touch, As he lifted it up and out of his shirt the room around him begun to light up with glittering hues.
From outside he could hear their screeching crying screams heighten. Then fade as the house itself continued to glow. He walked back into the kitchen and set the warm key on the table. The glow of every thing around him was as bright as any mid summer day. In this darkened night full of storming rage, it must have looked like a glowing beacon.
Looking around himself he noticed that there were some items that did not glow as the others did. He walked to the door that led to the basement and lifted the lock that kept the door sealed, Looked it over, then begun looking around for other items that were like the lock, checking each of them out as if something was wrong with it. Had noticed to that the gun in his hand glowed but the ring on his finger did not. “What’s the significance in that?” He thought to him-self. He would have to try and work on figuring that out later, So he made a mental note of a few of the items that did not glow in case the light faded away.
Out-side he could still hear the howling of the storm and the raging winds that beat the waves against the shore. He could hear the cries and the moaning pleas of the voices trying to get in.
The knock at the door had stopped and for a long moment it seemed as though they had all but given up. The glowing key went dim, followed by the rest of the house.
Ray unlatched one shutter and peeked outside. The light towers beaming ray was still reaching out across the waves, arching from right to left. Almost encircling this peninsula the house and tower stood upon, from one edge of the tree line to the other. He could see them flying above the lighted beam, circling the tower.
“The tower,” He quickly thought. “Is it sealed?” He pondered. So he unlocked the basement door. Turned and grabbed his key from off the table, not wanting to forget that, raced to the basement locking the door behind him. Went to the other door that lead to the tunnel and pushed through it. Ran the length of the tunnel, pushed through the tower door and as he half jogged up the steps to the lens room he paused only slightly at each small port hole window to glance out-side, got to the top and through the hatch to the lens room, stopped to check that the door that led to the outside walkway was closed.
He quickly pulled it and threw the latch across it. He could see that it also had two hooks that held a metal bar that crossed the door frame, giving it added strength from any intruder. He dropped the bar into its sleeves and stood catching his breath as he stared out over the sea. Watching as the beam of light forced its way through the dark skies, penetrating the waves of liquids that danced on the winds in this ink colored sky.
His eye caught something that flashed by his peripheral vision. He turned and saw one of them, staring back at him. Its tongue flickered in and out as if it was testing him in the air. Its eyes unblinking like liquid pools of inky glass. With the black back drop and the storms flashing electrical arches, it was hard to see what the thing actually looked like. Only glimpses of the thing could be seen. And what Ray saw, He did not like.
Again the voice begged to be let in. Shadowy figures walked along the outer catwalk dodging the lights beam as it passed them. They begged and cried. Threatened and offered riches beyond any if only he would let them in. But Raymond refused and ignored their cries.
Chapter Twelve
He sat against the window railing and watched the storm out over the sea. It was bad and from the far distance, streaks of lighting told him that the storm was both wide spread and as far as the eye would allow it to be seen. After an hour or so Ray headed back down the spiral staircase and in through the tunnel that would lead him back into the house. In the basement, he begun to walk up the few steps that lead into the house, up stairs he heard something moving in the house. He reached down into his belt line for his gun, but it wasn't there. He patted himself down looking for the gun. No gun.
“Shit!” He thought. “It’s on the table.”
He looked around and found a broken ax handle. Snatched it up and went up the steps, slowly, creeping up to the door. Touched the old master lock with his gold key and heard the faint click as it opened. Unhooked it from its latch and slowly eased the door open. He could see something moving in the kitchen, it passed the door and went into one off the other rooms. He quickly drew the door open enough he could slide out, turned and closed it as quick and quite as he could, replacing the lock. He paused to listen as the intruder was in the bedroom searching. He glanced over at the kitchen table for the gun but it was gone.
“Shit!” He thought again. Made his way into the kitchen and stood around the corner. Waiting for who or what ever was in the house. He heard it coming, lifted the axed handle up over his head, ready to swing down. Its steps were heavy and as it came into view, Ray almost sliced down on it, but froze half swing. The momentum of his swing and the grunt he made, startled the girl. She was taken off guard, wide eyed and full of fear.
Ray stood looming over her, staring down into her face with deterred offense. She stared back at him then quickly pulled up the gun, his gun, pointing it at him. With one hand he let the axe handle slowly fall so that she could see it. And as her eyes begun to follow it down, Ray reached up with his other hand and took the gun out of hers. She gasped, protested the arrest Looked back up at him as he smiled back down at her. She tried to turn and run but he dropped the wooden stick and snagged her arm in one fail swoop. Stopping her from where she was.
“Let me go!” She proclaimed, struggling to get out of his grip.
“How did you get in here?” He asked,
“I could ask the same of you.” She countered
“This is my place.”
“Huh...”
“It was given to me by an old woman.”
“Yeah well, that old woman was my dear grandmother.” She stated, staring at him. He let her arm go and walked to the front door to check it and the other doors and windows. They were all closed and locked. His eyebrows scrunched together in thought. He knew he had checked every inch of this place, “So how did she get in?”Again he turned to her and asked, how did you get in here?” She stared at him. He shook his head then walked past her He unlatched a window shutter and glazed out at the night sky.
“Don't you'll let them in,” She exclaimed.
“They can’t get in unless I let them in and I don't intend on doing that.”
“I... Her words
“You what,” He said looking back at her.
“Your not one of them, that much I know,” He said nodding at the window. And if your grandmother was the old woman, then... He stopped.
“Then I'm here to help her.”
“Well its too late, you cant, she died.”
“When,”
“I think it was only a few days ago.”
“How,”
“I don't know!”
“Where then,”
“Don't know that either.”
“But you said that she gave the house so you must have talked to her.”
“Yeah she called me on the phone, told me about the creatures, not to let them in. Gave me the house and told me about the key...”
“Key,” She cut in.
“Yeah and her three journals,”
“You have them?”
“Yeah why,”
“Can you show me?”
“I could but how do I know your not some creature playing the cute little granddaughter?”
“I swear I'm not.”
“Not what, her granddaughter?”
“No...No... I'm not playing around. I'm not a creature, that's what I meant.”
“Okay, Then tell me something that only your grandmother would have known.”
“Like what?”
“Like anything, After all you say you were her granddaughter, so you must know something that only you two knew.”
“I know about the key.”
“Yeah well, any demon or thing out there probably knows about that. They fear it.”
“I know about the journals.” She said.
“And what do you know about them?”
She paused, staring at him, seemingly trying to read him.
“I know that the blue book is for earth.”
“That's too obvious.
The
names are on the covers. Try again.”
“Okay then, I know that the other two have blank pages in them. Cause you cant read them here.”
“What do you mean? Can’t read them here, In the house.”
“No on earth. You can only read the earth book here on earth. The other two you have to read on that planet.”
“Oh...I see.”
“You have to go there, than you can read them.”
“And
you know how to get there?”
She nodded her head, never letting her eyes off him.
He stood staring at her waiting for her to answer him in detail, not just a nod of her head.
“And ...” He said.
She pointed at the tower.
“Outside,” He queried.
“No... The tower, that's how you get there, but it’s dangerous. Have you learned to travel to the other light house towers?”
“Didn't know that I could,”
“You must learn that first. Then you can get there.”
“Get where?”
“To the other planets,” She expressed. This time it was rays turn to nod his head.
“Will you help me learn how to use the tower?”
“I can but I only come here when they come,” Point at the window. “But Ill try.”
Chapter Thirteen
“How long can you stay?”
“Until the storm passes, then I must leave.”
“Then let’s go and do this.” He said as he walked to the basement door and took hold of the lock. She gasped and stopped, then stepped back. He turned to look at her.
“What’s wrong?”
“I can’t...” She sadly said.
“You can’t what?”
“I can’t go down there, Grandmother wouldn't let me, Said it would kill me.”
“I think it’s a little too late for that don't you?”
She stood staring at him in a glaring way. He waved his arm to show her the way
“I’ll look out for you. Besides you are helping me out. I think that your grandmother would understand.” She nodded then followed him through the door. He turned and locked the door before they moved on.
“See nothing to hurt you in here. Come this way.” He led her to the second door and as he put his hand up to the lock it clicked and opened. She stood watching his every move.
“Is this the way to get to the tower?”
“Yes why?”
“Cause I've always walked there from above and would meet my grandmother up in the light room. She must have taken this way. Said, I had to go the other way so they don't find out.”
“She’s probably right. She was most likely afraid that if you knew how to get there this way then the others, those creatures might force you into showing them the way in.”
“I would never tell them”
“Well it’s too late to test that theory. Besides tell me why she said they should never get in.”
“Because If they got in to the tower they can travel through the light house into others and destroy all the lights. They fear the light and want to kill it, so they can be free to wreak havoc on the earth. They'll chase the night and destroy every living thing.”
“Why don't they do it now,” They’re here!
“Only with the storm that has captured them but the light house tower will free them.”