DitD 15 ghost hunters

 Before going into the next bit of the story, just a side note as to why I chose to run this story for the second evening in a row. Tonight marks the halfway mark of the ghost hunters story. It is a huge milestone and Today I hit a milestone of 500 views. For that reason I wanted to get to the halfway marker tonight. The day before the first of April. The day that I marked 500 views. THANK YOU ALL for reading. I hope you enjoy the rest of the journey with me.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    INSIDE THE CHURCH Pat and I began our rounds. I started by following military room clearing methods. I walked left when entering the nave and pat went right. We both pointed the cameras searching the nave for anything unusual. When we were in front of the alter we went to check all the different experiments laid about. There was no change to the vinegar or the baking soda.
    "Hey John, over here." I heard Pat say from across the nave. I walked over to the confession booth where Pat had stopped. Each footstep felt heavier the closer I was to the confession. My body began to tense and developed goosebumps. I could feel my heartbeat in my chest get heavier and louder. I was afraid of what I would see when I got to Pat. The floor creaked under my footsteps. I was not a very HEAVY man. I was not a VERY heavy man. I started to remember in small bits the old house that I explored in my youth. I thought everything from that experience was explained but I remember a feeling of terror flooding over me. It was as if I missed something back then. Something I couldn't explain. Maybe I refused to see the terror as it would change my perception of the event. I looked up and saw the confession booth. It seemed like a million miles away. 
    "What is it Pat?" I asked as I approached. But it didn't feel like I was approaching. It felt like I was walking away but facing towards the confessional. I glanced at the jars and both were bubbling. What could have caused this.
    "The jars are bubbling." Pat said.
    "Did you touch them or pour anything into them?" I asked.
    The radio chirped, "Are you guys seeing this?" Steve seemed flustered.
    "What are you seeing?" I responded. There weren't any cameras pointed at the jars. They were just pointed throughout the room.
    "The color seems to be off. It's as if someone changed the lights to red." Steve said. "And that's not even the half of it. Every camera seems to have a shadowy figure. I can't explain it. It's as if some one dressed in black with no face were standing in front of every camera."
    "Something weird is happening but I am not seeing that. Verify it with Tom." I said.
    "I would but Tom hasn't come back from the bathroom yet." Steve replied.
    "What do you mean?" I asked.
    "Well, he left 38 minutes ago and hasn't returned." Steve said slightly worried.
    I was more concerned with the images on Steves monitors at the moment. It was as if I could see them. But how is that possible I don't have the monitors up. Pat looked over at me worried. I tried to open my mouth but no words came out.
    "Something is watching us." Pat said. I felt that as well. But what? or who? The terror continued to build. I couldn't explain any of it. I grabbed the spirit box and turned the volume as loud as it would go but rather then getting static it picked up a faint chanting. Then I heard something I didn't want to hear. Something that couldn't be explained. It was Tom's voice. He sound like he was in pain. It sounded like the same level of pain that Captain Miller was in before he passed.
    I heard a loud crash from across the nave. It caused me to turn in the direction to see a chandelier had fallen across the nave. Then another fell slightly closer to us. Then another and another. I ran towards the confession booth Pat ducked under a pew. I slammed the door shut. There was no light inside and it felt as if the walls were closing in. I am not sure what was happening but I was getting worried that I put my entire team in danger. I remembered my sidearm. A little comfort is all I was looking for. Something to grasp onto that would help keep me from losing myself. I pulled out the gun and crouched down in the confessional. Suddenly it sounded like every pew was lifted and dropped in place from farther away and approaching. I pulled the slide back and pointed the gun towards the door. I was not going to be caught in a confessional without any protection. The darkness of the confessional closed in tighter and tighter on my position.
    "Are you ok?" Pat asked.
    "Yeah... Why wouldn't I be?" I asked. I looked into my surroundings. I was no longer in the confessional. The chandeliers seemed to be hanging where they should have been and the pews were not moved.
    "You have just been standing there for the past 10 minutes not responding to me or Steve." Pat said worried.
    "Did you hear Tom on the Spirit box?" I asked.
    "We haven't pulled out the Spirit box yet." Pat said.
    "Did you say Tom?" Steve asked.
    "Yes, why?" I asked genuinely confused. What has actually happened? Was it all just a dream or did it actually happen?
    "Because Tom went to the bathroom 45 minutes ago and hasn't come back. I am starting to get worried about him." Steve responded.
    "You already told me that Tom went to the bathroom." I said annoyed.
    "No... I didn't. This is the first time that I got a hold of you." Steve said even more confused. I turned pale. If Steve didn't tell me then how did I know that Tom was missing. A prank. That's what this is. Obviously everything happened then when I passed out from fright they put me back in front of the alter and told me these lies. But somehow I don't think so.

DitD 14 ghost hunters

  I made the rounds of the nave. I checked all of the jars of baking soda and jars of vinegar. I don’t know what I was expecting. Its not like the air ph balance would suddenly change. But as a science enthusiast I want to rule out all possibilities to leave me with pure evidence. No change occurred in the last five minutes. It was time to establish our plan. I grabbed the radio and put it to my mouth depressing the button, “rally by the RV.” I grabbed a whiteboard marker and went to the side of the RV. Steve approached the side of the RV with a laminated copy of the floor plan of the church. I helped him to magnetically attached it to the side of the RV. 

I drew a circle around the nave with the marker. “Alright guys, the reports are mostly in the nave but we only have access to the nave, entryway and outside the church. The weather is slightly explained by the fact that this church seems to be surrounded by a high pressure and the church itself seems to create its own low pressure area.” I drew a few exes on the map at various locations in the nave. “There are jars of vinegar and jars of baking soda in these locations in the nave” I then drew circles with v’s. The v’s connected to the circles with the base of the v touching the circle representing the direction of view of the cameras. “These are the locations on the cameras. The will be plotted on the virtual map in the headquarters…”

“As well as a number associating the camera to the location so that we know which camera and which screen is located where on the map.” Steve chimed in very enthusiastically. This was a new piece of programming that we worked on together and we were excited to get it in use. “There is a digital copy on our phone app so you can see where you are in relation.” 

“Yes, thank you.” I said annoyed with the interruption. “We are all going to take our shifts and be vigilant. Our medium has felt strong vibes and even I have felt weird things so stay vigilant. As we know the witching hour is about zero three. So we are all going to be on shift at zero three…”

“I would feel better if we all ran through the full shift. We will sleep before we head home.” Pat said. Tom laid his head in his hands.

“Why? Are you scared of the dark all of a sudden?” Tom said angrily. A strong gust blew across and tried to take down the map. 

Pat fell to his knees, “Something is angry.” A crack of thunder with a shine of lightning struck the church. Everyone jumped. Not a drop of rain fell just thunder, which is not unheard of but was strange considering the cloud has circled the church since we got here.

I looked at the barometer and said, “Tom, say something else condescending to Pat about his suggestion.”

“Why? A little thunder drops you off your nerve? The same guy who ran head first into a room with bayonet affixed and stabbed thirteen men before the rest of us could help room clear?” Tom said getting pissed off at our demeanor. 

  “That was life or death. This is just science.” I said noticing no change to the barometer. “Now get pissed at Pat for his preference.”

“I’m already pissed. This is a pile of bullshit. Just because Pat gets a premonition we all have to miss our sleep. Just change your fucking pants and take your fucking shift of fire watch.” Tom yelled. I glanced at the barometer and it definitely spiked.

I grabbed the digital lecture recorder, “Note a high spike with a quick return when Tom mocks Pat outside the church.” I stopped the recording and looked up. They looked at my crew. They all began to look nervous. “Alright. We are going to all be up on high alert in teams of two. DO NOT lose your battle buddy and don’t be a blue falcon.” The entire team seemed relieved. 

Tom looked like he was about to act tough. “Whatever. You guys are acting like babies. Let’s just get this shit over with.”

“Steve and Tom, cover the RV cameras and keep us appraised. Pat you are with me. This is an unusual set of circumstances so, side arm up and knives in pockets.” I said picking up my vest off the chair. 

“Yup, guns are going to kill ghosts. That’s something everyone knows.” Tom said sarcastically. 

“You believe in ghosts now?!” I said laughing at Toms idiotic thoughts. “We don’t know what we are dealing with and I’m not taking any chances. If it’s Hooligans or Gangs we will have protection. Besides everyone feels safer with a gun.” I walked in with Pat to the church. 

Tom threw his gun in his locker. “Fuck this! I’m going to the pisser” Tom headed in the church after Pat and I were out of sight. 

DitD 13 metal rain

  I tried to find solace in the old man’s words and try to understand what the meaning of the premonition was about. Hell I didn’t fully understand how they would come up with the premonition in the first place. We have known since earth that magic was all a hoax. I opened the scroll but it was unintelligible. I’ve never seen writing like this and I couldn’t even read the characters. I know that when we left earth humans had many languages and that through our travels to the new land a new language emerged. Not English or Spanish but an amalgamation of all the languages. But this didn’t look familiar. There was a few words that looked to be written in our language. But the words seemed strange. I had no idea what the word “family” meant. I opened the old textbook and tried to decipher that but it seemed to be in the same weird language. Maybe it was Mercurian. I went over towards the old man but when I was right next to him a weird device began to ring.

The old man stood up and glanced over at me, “good you’re up. Time to get moving. Don’t want you to get caught.”

“I tried to make sense of your book and scroll but it’s in a weird gibberish.” I said hand them to him. 

  “Gibberish?… Oh… English… it’s a decent language though over complicated. Some words were spelled the same but had different meanings in different sentences. Some had different spellings for words that sounded the same but the spelling made them mean something else.” The old man started to explain. “Never mind. It’s an antiquated system of communication that we have moved passed as a species. But you will find that on the Mercurian side of the shadow ring, some people still use it and other languages that are just as antiquated.”

“So how do I fit in? I can’t learn this language in the time to get there.” I asked with a defeatist tone. 

“Have you learned nothing from me lad? They aren’t that different. They still speak the planet common tongue. And it’s not like everyone there speaks multiple languages. Some only speak one.” The old man said. “Now let’s get a move on. We don’t have much time left.” He grabbed a few items throwing them in his rucksack and stood up.

“What about the rest of the stuff? Don’t you need to cover your tracks better?” I asked worried about them following our tracks. 

“Yes, I need to put the decon chamber in my rucksack…” he said rolling his eyes. 

“I’m not sure that will work. Maybe a truck.” I said with genuine concern. 

“It’s sarcasm. Not to worry. I will teach you on our way.” The old man said, “the stuff I leave here was here before I came here and will be here long after I’m gone. I’m pretty sure it was an old troop contraband store.” We headed deeper into the cave. As we did the light dimmed it felt like leaving my childhood behind. The cave started to narrow and I started to get worried. But the old man just kept walking deeper in with confidence. When the darkness had become too much the old man pulled out a flashlight. The light shown right on this weird device with circles placed under the device. 

“It’s based on old schematics. It’s called an automobile.” The old man said opening the door and pointing with an open hand. 

DitD 12 ghost hunters

I started setting up some of the experiments. Starting with placing jars of vinegar around the nave. I went to place a jar by the confessional booth. As I approached the priest door of the confessional booth I started to get a chill down my spine. It was hard to even approach the door. But I needed to approach for the science. Maybe I will have Pat place the the baking soda. But he will likely throw a hissy. I placed one under the chandelier near the confessional. I placed one next to the altar. I was given strick instructions to not place one on the altar. I try to respect their beliefs. 

Steve arrived and started to place cameras around the nave. Supposedly we will be able to gain our required evidence strictly from the nave and the outside of the church. So I headed outside in the street to place a jar. I also placed a barometer on the other side of the street where there was no cloud cover. I also took this opportunity to calibrate both of the barometers with information provided by the weather channel website. The pressure on the other side of the street was high. I tried to walk around where the clouds had gathered and saw no change in the barometer. I placed it where we could watch it closely in my locked rental car. I then walked towards the church and placed a barometer on the top step and looked at the value. I was unsurprised to find the value as low. The vinegar remained calm. I then started to place the baking soda in areas near but not next to the vinegar. 

“I’m all set. How’s it going with you guys?” I asked Steve. 

Steve typed on a computer looking up only for a moment. “Well, I have several cameras left to link with the computer but the cameras are pointed where we should have them. Pat has taken to hiding in the camper… what a fucking wimp!” I looked around and saw the sweet nun sitting in one of the pews. 

“Steve, please keep the language pg… we are guests here” I said staring and nodding in her direction. 

“Steve, the link is connected here in the van. Everything is clear as a bell.” Pat squealed through the radio. 

“I’ll go check on Pat.” I said headed towards the RV. The RV was packed with equipment still. We wouldn’t be able to use all of it because we were only able to view three areas and we didn’t want to leave expensive equipment in the street. In lockers mounted to the wall was jumpsuits and camera mounted vests and hats. I felt like we should have looked into hard hats for this job but it’s too late. We had a very limited window and I wasn’t going to miss my opportunity to explore this phenomenal chance at proving the existence of the ethereal. 

“How are you feeling Pat?” I asked with genuine empathy. 

“I’m ok. Just needed to sit down and have some water. I don’t think we should be here though.” Pat said a bit more calm then when he was in the church. 

“Look man, I know you have a bad feeling. Hell, I have a bad feeling. This is not like any other job we have ever done. But that’s probably the best thing for us. It provides us the opportunity to prove the existence of the spirit realm and even possibly spectral entities.” I said with excitement. 

Pat sat up and looked me deadpan in the face. His eyes quivering with pure unadulterated terror. “I have wanted to prove that to you since the beginning however… I can’t shake the feeling that one of us will not make it out of here alive.” Pat was really starting to freak me out but he stood up and grabbed my shoulders. “This is the first time ever that I have felt something at a location we have visited.” His voice began to tremble, “This isn’t like any spirit I’ve felt in my youth. The last time I felt this was in Afghanistan. Just before…”

“This is nothing like Captain Miller…” I broke eye contact. How could Pat bring up Captain Miller. This was a man who was broken off from our squad by enemy fire and captured by the enemy. When we arrived at the his location we heard his screams as a dull and rusty serrated knife slit his throat with several attempts. The screams slowly became gargled and bloody as his dying body fell to the floor.

A single tear rolled down my face as I thought about Captain Miller. I was more surprised that Pat made a connection between then and now. We were searching for the existence of ghosts now. And back then we were entering a terrorists hideout to rescue a great man. I glanced down at my watch. 17:38. Damn it all to fucking hell, John was supposed to be here about thirty minutes ago. John decided to fly in and catch up with us today. He had a court hearing for the custody of his kids yesterday. He had already checked into the flight and told me that they had landed two hours ago. 

Suddenly a knock came from the door of the RV. John burst in with his hand holding a giant duffle. “What’s up you fucking morons?” John said glancing around the Rv. “Jesus fucking Christ! Who the fuck died?!”

Pat and I rubbed the tears from our eyes. “It’s nothing I said. Just a bit of dust in here.”

“Whatever fuckers.” John said throwing his duffle on the drivers seat. “You guys are probably crying about syncing your Menzies.”

“That’s demeaning to women.” I began to say when Pat spoke up. 

“I was just saying that the feeling in this church is the same as when we were…” Pat said looking at John.

“FUCK OFF PAT. Captain is off limits and you FUCKING KNOW IT! You god damned PRICK!” John jumped towards Pat and I had to restrain him. 

“Just drop it both of you. We have a job to do and we will do it professionally. We will combatives this out AFTER we finish with the church. In the meantime, John we have been respectfully requested to keep our language pg for the duration of our time here at the church. Please keep it that way.” I said to John.

“Fine, Professional. But don’t bring him up again while we are here.” John said. 

Dear Megs; From hell

  The rain struck the window like pebbles dropping on glass. The sky was black as tires on the work truck but it was midday. But I couldn’t lift my head to look out the window. Usually a warm rainstorm on a summer afternoon was a blessing. The sound of the rain on a hot tin roof could soothe my heart. But today it was a sad omen. I sat in a rocking chair facing the window. My hand dangling down beside the chair. In my hand a typed note. 

Megan walked in and saw my posture. She could sense the fear and anger in my demeanor. She could also sense my horror and depression. 

“What’d it say?” She asked picking up the envelope crumpled on the floor. I said nothing. I couldn’t move. It was as if every ounce of my being had been removed by a few short sentences. The straightened the envelope to see the army emblem embossed on the top left corner. 

I could here her tears and I wanted nothing more then to comfort her. She quivered and fell to the floor next to the rocking chair. Her dress flowing over her knees and stopping just above her ankle. 

“Tell me it ain’t” she begged. “Tell me that this was some sort of mistake.” She laid her forehead directly on my arm. She was feeling the darkness that I was trying overcome myself. She grabbed the envelope and tried to reread the address. “The Wilkens Mail, That’s it isn’t it? It’s just got to be.” She rarely cried. For that matter I rarely cried but this moment I couldn’t even muster the tears I felt on the inside.

I mustered the strength to hand her the letter. My name was bold on top. And it was informing me that I was to report to the bus depot of Thursday. 

“Mexico!” She said. “It’s a short trip. And when we get there we can change our names and become citizens.” Of course she would think that. It was less common to run to Mexico then Canada. But Canada was a two day drive from College Station, Texas. She stood up and rushed towards our luggage. 

“To what end, Megs? We can’t avoid our family. And what would Dad think?” I said. The southern drawl oozing from my mouth like liquor from a wineo. “Now listen, I don’t like it and you don’t like it but I will come back for you. This is our home and it needs a family. Wouldn’t do me any good to get killed before we can fill it now would it?”

“I suppose not but why do you have to go? Why can’t we run to Mexico? What would be the harm.” She asked. Neither one of us could really believe that I would be coming home. Two years of service wasn’t as safe as other things. 

“I told you. We don’t have a choice. It wouldn’t be a good life for you or any children if we run. We got to stay. And I have to go.” I had one day to prepare and I didn’t want to waste my time crying. I wanted to remember Megs. She was the only one that would help me through. 

DitD 11 metal rain

  I wasn’t prepared for the mess that was about to come. The daily update rang out throughout the raising facility. “Today a fugitive against the Galiasian government has been arrested. He was an agent for the Mercurians and attempting to overthrow the Galiasians by misinforming our youth in the schools. He was caught trying to cover for a student by the name of John Denx. His friends and counter cell members have been captured and held in custody. Please inform all authorities if your see John Denx or suspect any others of being apart of the splinter group.”

But when I saw Mr Dren on the news being seen as a traitor to the entire system I knew that I had to lay low. But where would I go. How would I escape. Everyone knew who I was and where I would go. I had to think unlike myself. I could try to run towards the Mercurians. But they would never take a Galiasian into their midsts. They were criminals. 

The best I knew based on what I had been told the Mercurians were raiders who only wanted one thing, the destruction of the Galiasians. They all had Mohawks and clean shaven so you couldn’t distinguish males from females. The Mercurians carried barbaric weapons of war like swords of steel and they used those weapons to randomly kill each other in the streets. They had no respect for themselves or others. But I had no choice. If I was to survive I would need to hide amongst them.

I gathered up my courage and my things. I’m sure I could sell some of my things at the border and procure a weapon and a haircut to hide among them. It was going to be hard to say goodbye to my long luscious black hair. At least I wouldn’t need my hair brush anymore. I hid in the vents of the raising house and when scheduled sleep hours I grabbed my mask, boots, cuffs and hat and headed out the door. I hoped that the rain would give me a bit of cover. Slipping out of town was easier than I thought. It was if they weren’t looking for me. I found a nearby cave that wasn’t labeled on any of our maps. So I slipped inside. Perhaps some sleep would help me to figure out where I would go from here. 

I was surprised to find an old man sleeping in the cave. He had everything including a decon station. I tried to hide but he spotted me. “Don’t bother running.” He said with a smile. “Rinse off in the decontamination chamber.” This was a standard greeting on this planet. The clothes remained on and you rinsed the rain off your clothes hair and safety equipment. 

“Thank you,” I said. “Do you know me?”

“Not a clue.” He said smiling. “If you are on the run from the Galiasians then join the club.” He leaned forward, “We have three rules in this camp. First, don’t identify yourself. No sense in causing unnecessary alarm. Second, don’t murder or maim. Third, don’t take what doesn’t belong to be you. Essentially, have a moral compass that faces towards true north. We can’t stay here forever but it’s a good place to rest your head until waking hours.”

“That seems fair but can I ask why this camp exists if you abandon it during waking hours?” I asked. 

“It is for people like you.” He said as he pulled out a scroll. “Have you ever heard tales of the ship travels?”

I began the decon and said, “No. Was there any interesting tales?”

“The tales read like a history book of earth.” He said.

“But the history books from earth were destroyed and left on earth when we left.” I said in confusion. 

“That’s the Galiasian’s words. The history books were kept and brought on the Mercurian’s ship. The Mercurians arrived on left over ship parts assembled by the smartest of the Mercurians. The Galiasians built there ships with new materials. The rich flew with the Galiasians. The hope was that the poor wouldn’t survive. When the Mercurians followed the rich thought they could utilize the poor for medial tasks. Much like the pilgrims who left England for religious purposes as poor individuals. And the pilgrims who left England for further riches. The separation happened again.” He grabbed a textbook out of his rucksack. As he opened it I exited the decon. I sat down in a chair near the old man. 

“This is fascinating but why did you bring up the old tales?” I asked. 

“The interesting thing is that the Mercurians speculating that a child army would be raised of both groups, rich and poor. This army would overthrow the rich group and restore earth styled equality. This is the beginning.” He said looking in my direction.

I began shaking my head. “No… I don’t think I can unite the evil Mercurians and the pure Galiasians…”

The old man let out a loud laugh. “You are running to the evil Mercurians. Maybe you should live amongst them for a year. You may change your perception.”

“And how do I blend in? Do I cut my hair? Should I carry a blade?” I said worriedly. “I don’t want to be outed as a Galiasian.”

“Carry a Blade if it makes you feel safer. However, don’t use it unless threatened first. And your hair looks like everyone else’s. But if you want a hair cut feel free. They just humans like you.” He snorted. 

DitD 10 ghost hunters

    A nun opened the door to the church and stuck her head out, “do you mind not swearing in and around the house of god?”

    “I’m terribly sorry ma’am, we are …” I tried to say but was interrupted by the nun.

    “I know who you are and what you are here for that doesn’t mean that you can use vulgar language or disrespectful gestures. This is the house of god not disco hut with grotesque individuals and blasphemy.” She said in the most condescending tone I’ve heard in my entire life. I remember nuns from my time in a Catholic school but I never met one so frightening. “Now if we are on the same page then you may enter.”

    I picked up my box of items and began to head in after giving a nod and slight bow. Once out of earshot of the nun Steve leaned towards me and said, “did you bow?”

    “I panicked.” I said. And I wasn’t lying. I couldn’t tell if it was fear or just momentary insanity. 

    “I get it,” Pat said. “This place gives me the creeps and she was terrifying.”

    Suddenly a nun popped up in front of us. “You may set up here.” She said. She wasn’t like the nun that greeted us. She was sweet and her voice matched. She couldn’t have been more than 25. “If you need anything, don’t hesitate to ask”

    “Keep in mind that you must stay in the nave, we don’t feel the need for you to wonder or investigate. The church handles all matters of paranormal. But one of our parishioners chose to call you and out of respect for her you are here.” The scary nun said. 

    “We are not trying to get in your way. We just want to discover ghosts.” I said trying to calm her down. A strange smell emanated from the pew in front of me. It smelt of onions and mold. But no one else seemed bothered by the stench. The nuns left and we began to unpack our equipment. “I want to run a few tests before we set up the cameras.”

    “Why don’t you guys set up your test and I will get the rv?” Steve said. “The cameras are all in there anyways.”

    “Can’t I go with Steve?” Pat begged. “I don’t want to be in here any longer then necessary.”

    “No I need you to walk through the nave and find the strongest spectral energy.” I replied essentially telling him to do his job. 

    “There, there and there… happy,” Pat said pointing randomly throughout. The entire church began to shake as if an earthquake was occurring. I ran towards the door and stumbled falling to the ground. The other two grabbed me and lifted me onto my feet. “What are you doing?” Pat asked with genuine terror and bewilderment. 

    “The earthquake.” I replied. 

    “There’s no earthquake man.” Pat said. Suddenly pat fell to his knees grabbing his head. The veins in his forehead began to bulge. He screamed in pain.

    Steve let go of me to try to help pat as I collapsed to the floor again. “What is going on?!” Steve yelled. Just as fast is it came it disappeared. 

    I slowly regained my footing. I’m starting to lose my nerve but this might be the first real proof of paranormal activity. 

DitD 9 metal rain

     I started heading towards the shelter but I heard the voice of Mr Dren. It was more of a whisper. “John, get over here.” I walked towards Mr Dren. “I know your worried. I know that it’s scary and that you don’t feel prepared. I’m worried for you as well. You were my best student. I always expected more from you then any other students. Which is why I recommended you for military intelligence.”

    This was very contradictory to his personality. He was always a hard ass. He had his weapons ready and damn the armor kind of attitude. But this seemed like more of a sensitive heart. I expected this from my political instructor but not military history. “Me? I’m not that special. And what’s going to happen to you?”

    “Don’t think about me Denx. Next time I see you it will be with a salute. Denx, you have been such a good student you know our history and tactics. The knowledge in your head and creative skills will make you an incredible intelligence officer. Don't let them put you in infantry. Just don’t. Now run home. Pack yourself any valuables.” He said looking over my shoulder. He pushed me behind him and stood in a blocking pose as if to hide me from a bully.

    I didn’t question his stance or his words any further. It was obvious that I needed to rush home and hide anything of value. Life was about to get hard and possibly painful. I might lose people that I loved and worse people who secretly supported me may be revealed. I just hope that I find out who supported me before they died. 

     *****

schedule of my writing

​during the week: Monday through Thursday a “dabble in the darkness” will be released after 2:30 central standard time of the United States.

Every other Friday when I have to do something undisclosed  a “dabble in the darkness” after 2:30 cst of the us

Thursdays that I have to do something undisclosed an extra “dabble in the darkness” after 2:30 cst of the us. 

Weekends will not have a guaranteed “dabble in the darkness” but I will see what happens when it happens.

Once a month I will try to respond to comments. 

I hope this helps clarify when I will be working on getting more content uploaded to help you, the read know when to check back. 

Post about comments

     I would like to thank everyone for their comments. I take the time to read them all but for some reason blogspot wont let me reply. So I guess I will do it here. Again I want to thank you all for the patronage and patience as I find my footing here on my writing journey. For those of you wondering who or what my inspirations are, it is complicated. My inspirations come from random things I see, places I have been, science and television. For the ghost hunting story I have seen various ghost hunting shows and horror movies. And as a science minded individual, I don’t personally have any belief in the occult. That being stated, I am fascinated by the very concept of the occult so I try to loop it in where I can. For the lone wanderer, I have always believed that madness would set in if alone long enough and being on a road trip with yourself (although not entirely alone) is a perfect set up for just such an event. I have driven many places throughout the United States. Some of my travels were indeed, alone. Sadly I have never experienced the madness in the story. But perhaps it’s because I had a destination. As for the metal rain story, I found out that on Venus is snows the element mercury and it got me thinking of the most metal thing I have ever heard. “So make a story out of it.” I said to myself. (After my girlfriend gave me the idea.) 

    Thank you for the questions. As for readers making the best authors. I love reading the tales written by King and Crichton.  As a kid I enjoyed a bit of Stine and a few others. Something about the horror tales always gave me a sense of being and reality. Lately I have been getting my story fix through books on tape as I write, have a full time job as an engineer and have a family to raise. 

    Finally (from my limited memory) about the chapters. I have been labeling the story’s so that you could identify the story arch’s. There are currently three. If there is a new one, I will do a notice in a post in some way stating that there is a new group of works. I’m Not entirely sure which order these story sections will be in the final product but I’m enjoying having you along for the journey. There are parts for the final work that aren’t here on my blog so that if you purchase the book you will see parts that tie the story together better. Also a little suspense never hurt anyone. 

    I want to thank you all again as this is my first time writing in any facet for a very long time. Your views and comments keep me going. When I know that you are appreciating my work it becomes a driving force. So thank you all. Keep commenting. And please keep reading. I will do my best to post daily if not twice a day. When I know that I will be elsewhere, I will try to make up for it some how. 

DitD 8 lone wanderer

     “So which is it, you condescending twat?” I said getting annoyed. 

    “Oh… kitty has claws” Brandon said. “Instead of pondering what I am and why I exist let’s just consider that I do exist and move forward.”

    “Then why don’t you leave me alone? You’re an asshole and I don’t want to talk to you.” I replied

    “Don’t be sore this can be a beautiful relationship. I can provide entertainment and you can provide…nevermind…” Brandon said dismissively. 

    “No, fuck you. If you are going to be in my cab and bothering me then you can tell me what the fuck I am providing you!” I yelled. 

    “You have no power here, you pathetic worm. You don’t have anyway to make me stop and I don’t have to tell you anything that I don’t want to. So instead let’s play a game.” Brandon said. I almost felt as if I could see his smile. It looked like a set of yellow teeth behind chapped lips. I could even sense his dried and cracked tongue behind his gross smile. But how could I see it if he didn’t exist. Was my mind fading that quick. When would I completely lose my sanity. 

    “You can see my smile because I let you see my smile. It’s not a physical smile that someone else can see. I am projecting it into your mind.” Brandon explained. “But more importantly, when’s the last time you wore an ass plug?”

    The question caught me so off guard that I swerved in my line. I began to yell, “YOU FUCKING GROSS PRICK! WHO THE FUCK THINKS ABOUT THAT KIND OF SHIT?!”

    Brandon began to laugh hysterically. “You are too fucking easy. Your mind is so weak… obviously you are a fan of metal music so don’t you respect the holy trinity of rock? Sex drugs and rock?” He snorted. Suddenly an image of a butt plug in my ass was pictured in my head. I heard the squeal of the radio but I pulled the truck over. I slammed on my brakes and threw the truck in park. I hit my head on the steering wheel.

    “GET OUT OF MY FUCKING HEAD, YOU FUCKING GROSS BASTARD!” I yelled. I heard a slam on the drivers side window. Suddenly the images stopped. I looked over exasperated and pissed off. I rolled the window down. 

    “What the fuck was that about?” The petroleum truck driver asked. 

    I looked around and didn’t see anyone or anything in the truck cab. I waited a minute and then said, “I… I… I saw a bee.”

    “FUCK! Give us a heads up on the radio would you. You nearly gave us a heart attack.” He said, “get back in front so we can get to our hotel stop for the night.”

    “Yes sir,” I said putting it back in drive. 

dabble in the darkness 7

​    I arrived at the churches doors to see Steve leaning against the churches arches. His arms crossed and next to him sat a box of supplies. The vinegar was wrapped in a plastic bag and sat on the other side of the box from the baking soda which was also separately wrapped. Steve’s shirt looked a little damp. “What’s up Steve?” I asked. 

    “I’ll tell you what’s up you asshat!” Steve exclaimed, “the bagger at checkout couldn’t understand why I said that the vinegar and baking soda should be bagged separately. When the container of vinegar came open in my car and spilled on the baking soda and ate through the box. My rental is now soaked.”

    “Does that mean that we don’t have enough vinegar and baking soda?” I asked slightly concerned.

    “I’m fine thanks for asking.” He said annoyed. 

    “I can see that. The rental car is here in one piece and you are alive so what about the supplies?” I said impatiently. 

    “I went back to the store and they replaced the supplies for free so we are good. But it would have been nice to have been asked how I was doing.” Steve said. 

    I began to tongue my teeth to find the sharp edge. I was getting nervous as this was our last real chance. If we prove with empirical and repeatable evidence then what would that mean? If we can’t prove it then it meant the end of my business. I was beginning to question all my life choices. Steve yelled out, “get over here you fucker!” 

    Pat began running over. “Did you guys learn anything?” Pat said exasperated. 

    “I learned that there is no reason this church should be haunted. The church is new as far as buildings are concerned but never placed anywhere near any burial grounds that anyone knew of,” I said just realizing that doesn’t mean there wasn’t an unmarked burial ground under the church. “And the structure is in the same shape and building materials as all other churches built around the same time frame. You?”

    “The priest here is new and arrived with his own entourage of nuns. They arrived just a few days before the strange events. And the weather is only a few days old.” Pat said pulling out three flasks of holy water. “When I spoke to the Saint Peters church priest he handed me 10 flasks of holy water. He also said, ‘load up your vehicle and run!’”

    “The locals at the grocery store collaborated that story,” Steve said, “are we sure we want to delve into the palm of satan?”

    I chuckled, “in order for satan to exist there must be a god. I have not seen the evidence of a god so we shall dabble in the darkness, my friends.”

dabble in darkness 6

     "Alright class, put away all text books and prepare for the exam." Mr. Dren said in his most excited but still gruff voice. Not this shit again. I hate these exams. They test our level of understanding of the topic but also allows them to add marks in any section they feel based on the answers on the exams... I grab the 3 inch thick 10 inch wide and 13 inch high metal tablet from under my desk and place it on top of my desk. When humans left earth, the tablets dimensions were about half an inch thick by 8 inches wide and 13 inches high but the powers at be made it thicker with more metal and rubber to make it less accessible for people who would try to crack the machine open to cheat the system. They also needed to be made out of stainless steel because gallium eats aluminum.

    First question on the exam read, "Who was The Great Stuh." My god... What is this softball city? I pulled out my stainless steel pen with its electrode tip. These pens were specially designed to be read by the tablet. 

    I started writing. "The Great Stuh was marked improperly by his teaching staff because they didn’t like him. But his intellect helped him to move up to the rank of overleader before he retired. Until Stuh no one had been a lifer and retired." Of course that was only part of the story he was also the only lifer soldier who lived past the age of 28. 

    The second question on the exam read, "In your own words, explain the three sides of the planet?" Fuck, we have learned this since day one. It must be a god damn question to back us into a political answer... So how do I make this not be political... 

    I hoped that as I was writing it would change it to a scientific. So I began to write, "The planet, Cooper, makes one full rotation as it completes one full revolution around our star, Metnoia. This means that the planet never actually has a day or night. And one side is always pointed towards Metnoia. This super heats that side of the Cooper and makes it extremely bright. The temperature in the center of that side of the planet is 2379 degrees Fahrenheit . And as you move away from the sunside you slowly get to the shadow ring. This has a temperature that is perfectly regulated as the darkside has a temperature of -2294 degrees Fahrenheit. So the temperature is a regular 85 degrees Fahrenheit. This is the perfect temperature for the gallium to turn into a liquid which is why it rains gallium on the inner side of the shadow ring. As you move to the darker side of the shadow ring you get mercury rain." 

    The third and final question on the exam was, "Which marks do you hope you received on the exam?" Really, is this exam going to placate the students? Luckily this is the easiest question. I just put in science and closed the tablet. I looked up and Mr Dren. was at his desk looking at his tablet and occasionally would let out an audible laugh... He would try to stifle it shortly after. He wasn't trying to interrupt the exam process. Suddenly, a noise rang out like an open low e string on a distorted electric guitar. That was the buzzer to go to the next class... Mr Dren tried to call out to the students but the ruffle of backpacks, and students standing up headed towards the door kept me from hearing what he had to say... I brushed my long hair out of my face with my fingers and grabbed my stuff. Next was my class "Historical Intrigue." I didn't get to sit in that class with my girlfriend. She had "Political Spike" class. So I gave her a peck on the cheek and headed down the hall. I was excited because I was hoping we would be discussing 'The southern migration.' but mostly I just wanted to be done for the day. Suddenly a chord I had never heard played on the speakers.

    I looked around and I saw the teaching staff pour out of their classrooms and run down the hall. We all just stood their in bewilderment. What did that tone mean. A voice came after the tone that said, "Students grab your stuff and head into the shelter." But why were the teaching staff headed the opposite direction. I saw Mr Drens bald head moving in my direction. He was yelling for the students to head towards the shelter and holding his hands as far out in the hall as he could... I slipped into the janitors closet. I didn't want to be seen but I wanted to know what was going on. 

    When the noise had died down outside of the closet I peaked out. Not a soul was around. So I grabbed my bag and slung it over my shoulder. I headed towards the Teaching Overleaders office. I knew that is where the teaching staff would be. When I arrived I knelt down next to the door and tried to listen in. 

    "This comes at a terrible time. Is there anything that can be done?" I heard one of the teaching staff say.

    "Time has nothing to do with it. The estimates are what they are. We need to send everyone back into their living halls until we know more. The hall leaders will ensure the children's safety. Sadly, until we have more details we are going to need to assign any seniors to their future duties based on marks starting in the morning. And all of them will be enlisted to the military into sections appropriate to their marks." The school Overleader said.

    "But they aren't ready, they just began to receive this years marks," another teaching staffer said. 

    "I am telling you what I have been told by the Galliasian Overleader. We do as commanded. finalize any outstanding marks and prepare yourselves for the military conscription yourselves. You will be enlisted in the field of your best suit." The school Overleader stated.

    "This is awful. I am a teacher of marksmenship. Does that mean that I will be training the people who will be fighting on the front lines." The marksmen teaching staffer said. 

    "I'm afraid you were assigned to be a platoon commander." The school Overleader said. "See me after for your assignments."

dabble into darkness 5

​    For the first time in years I was actually excited to get set up for the new hunting session. I felt giddy and anytime I thought of St Catherine’s I got an ominous chill. It was almost a guttural reaction as if something horrible had happened to me in that very spot. My mind was a flutter of things I needed to do. Of course I started with my list of chores. I needed the meteorological equipment if I was going to get down to the root of the situation. But due diligence required me to jump feet first into history of the church. So after retrieving the barometer and thermometer I went to the town hall. 

    Although this church was considered in San Francisco, it was a recent addition based on city growth. And some of the planning records still resided in the old facilities. I got ahold of someone to meet me there to help me find the records I needed. Floor plans, previous ownership and what facilities were there before the church may give me a clue as to the origins of the disturbances. I tried to stay professional and hide my excitement as I didn’t want to seem like the hoax ghost hunters of television. But I felt as though some of that was not entirely convincing. 

    She arrived a little after I did. Her Ford Taurus made a sigh of relief when the engine was shut off and clattered disapprovingly shortly after. She opened her door slowly. When a movie would show a slow motion of a love interest getting out of a vehicle to heighten the various features of the voluptuous women. This felt like that slow motion but because she was in her late 70s. Her skirt had a static cling in the back that she immediately pulled off like an old man clearing a wedgie. And there I was impatiently waiting to look at schematics and historical records. Somehow she walked slower than her impressive exit from her tiny car. “Well,” she said sniffling and turning her sniffle to a cough. “Shall we?”

    The records showed that the land was owned by the state prior to the church production. And the church was built in a normal amount of time with a standard amount of resources. The layout of the church was that of any modern Catholic Church I have ever seen. And I verified that with architectural plans that I had brought for reference. Everything seemed normal. The church was only 45 years old. Which meant that there wasn’t any structural issues that could have emerged. Burial site? I thought. But nope. The records clearly showed and burial sites were untouched. Plus with this church being around for 45 years the parishioners would have noticed strange events. I thanked the lady and helped her back to her car. It was the least I could do and I rallied with my compatriots. 

dabble into darkness 4

​    I hoped that the thing in The cab would leave me alone if I didn’t respond. 

    “So anyways, that reminds me of a query that I wished to pose,” it said. “Have you ever drown someone… or something for that matter?” I kept my head and eyes straight forward not responding. If I didn’t humor it then it would just go away. “No, nothing?” It asked. “Well let me tell you there is nothing that compares. You plunge the victims head in the water, which could easily be a stream, lake, water fountain or even a sink. Personally I prefer a stream. The calm surroundings of nature combined with the uninterrupted flow of water is breath taking. As the future corpse flails around disturbing the peace of the animals and in turn disturbs the plant life the water flow remains peaceful. Then the body falls into a comma. Now this is when most will give up but if you feel the blood flow in their necks then you will know when the deed is done. It’s invigorating.” It said. 

    I couldn’t handle it anymore. “Shut up!” I screamed. “I have never murdered anyone and will never murder anyone!”

    “I know but it’s fun to torment you. Besides never say never. I know your thoughts. You have considered how you would murder someone. It’s a very small step towards the act.” It jested. 

    “What even are you?” I said. “A figment of my imagination I would guess, but then where can I get a different more pleasant version? And what would I even call you?”

    “Figment of your imagination? Possibly, but unlikely. I’m more eloquent and intelligent to be from YOUR imagination.” It said with distain spilling out word by word. “I’m not sure what you mortals would define me as however, if I venture a guess… likely I would consider myself a demon… yes, as for why your puny brain couldn’t imagine a more delightful vision, I’d refer you to my previous answer and that your mind doesn’t have more then one creative cell to rub together… but as for what you can call my, how about Baphomet… no, too complex. How about Brandon…”

    “Baphomet…? Is that like a demon kind of name?” I said.

    “Although a applaud your ability to repeat my name, I’m afraid you will butcher it in the future. And yes, it was the name my mother gave me while my father ran off to impregnate other women from earth. You pitiful parrot.” Baphomet said almost annoyed at my question. “Alternatively your puny brain is creative enough to invent a demon and your self valuation is that you are a moron so I’m projected to validate your bias.”

dabble in the darkness 3

​    As we entered into San Francisco the locals were waiving and friendly. Some even asked us why we were here. I suppose that was our fault for having the window down. But I couldn’t shake this bad feeling. As if we were headed somewhere no one should go. Of course, as a science minded individual I didn’t put much stock in feelings. “A feeling isn’t measurable” my favorite physics teacher use to tell me. Besides what’s the harm in just taking measurements and examining the data. 

    The rv rounded the corner that lead to Saint Catherine’s. And something strange began to bother me. Through the window I could see a storm cloud that seemed localized over just one location. It’s as if a building somehow was unaffected by standard pressures and weather forces. We weren’t due in until tomorrow and we were staying in a motel down the street from St Catherine’s. We slept in motels because the rv was loaded down with equipment and computers. But if it weren’t affected then how could I measure that and what would it mean. I shook it off and then Pat spoke up.

    “Ok, I know that I fool around a lot and pretend that there is something there only to twist it into a joke… but does anyone else feel that?” Pat said in a worried voice. “It’s as if…”

    “Evil, yeah… I feel it too.” Steve said. 

    “Stop fucking around guys. This is a serious case and we need to be professional.” I said trying to shrug off my own feelings. Something Audrey said before I left kept ringing in my ears. When she said it I shrugged it off as her normal “don’t reach into the darkness as you don’t know what you will pull out” thing. But it just keep eating at me and repeating itself. “I don’t feel good about this one.” I heard again and again. 

    “Fuck you man. I really feel this one. This isn’t my joking nature.” Pat insisted. 

    “Seriously man. It’s like nothing I have ever felt. My heart beat feels faster and louder then normal.” Steve said stopping the rv right in front of the church. 

    I looked down at my smart watch and did a quick ekg. Steve was right. My heart rate was up. The ringing in my ear from my tinnitus almost seemed louder. That’s actual traceable data. But does it mean anything. I wondered. “I think we need a bit of new equipment before tomorrow.” I said looking at the church.

    “Yeah, I think you’re right.” Steve mumbled almost drained of the words. 

    We drove to the motel and I quickly paid and got our keys. When we got into my room I ran to the dresser and grabbed the complimentary note pad. Steve and Pat followed me. I began to write but the complimentary pen was shit. As usual. Pat tossed me a pen from his pocket. I wrote quickly; area thermometer, barometer, heart rate monitor, bottled water, flask of holy water, bottle of vinegar and container of baking soda. “Ok, who’s going to get what?” I asked. 

    “I’ll get the holy water, and heart rate monitors.” Pat said. “I have to do my due diligence and ask questions anyways.”

    “I’ll get the groceries, though I don’t understand the vinegar and baking soda. Are we making a fucking volcano?” Steve said annoyed at the shopping list. 

    “I don’t know if there is a force that’s acidic or basic so I want to see if we will get a reaction from either of those two. I’m trying to narrow down the probable causes of our…” I said and then made quotation fingers in the air, “feelings.”

   “Fuck off with the quotation fingers!” Steve yelled. “Fucking bastard,” he said under his breath. 

    “Hey, I had a weird feeling as well but I want to get some data as to why.” I said. 

    “Guys, now is not the time. Let’s just get some rest and get the supplies for tomorrow. How are you guys set for monsters?” Pat asked almost scared for the future events. 

    “I’m good.” Steve and I said simultaneously. 

    “Let’s just hurry up and get this over with. I don’t want to be here any longer then I have too be.” Pat replied. 

dabble in darkness 2

​​    I am supposed to be getting ready for school but I just can’t help watching the liquid gallium run down the window. I love watching the trail of gallium and the stain left behind on the window. The putter-patter of the gallium striking the steel roof soothing my very soul. It makes me wonder what the Mercurian people do when it rains. 

    “Get your ass to class!” The hall lady yelled. I jumped slightly from her startling voice. I quickly grabbed my armbands and threw my backpack on my back. And I ran towards the door. “Don’t forget your mask and boots” she said less abrasively then before. 

    “Yes ma’am” I sat down on the stool and threw on my boots. I only had time to do up my bottom straps and put my mask on before heading out the door. I didn’t think that I was running late but I lose track of time when I watch the rain. As I step into the airlock I pulled my mask down. The mask is mostly a formality. The gallium gas content in the atmosphere is very low usually. We get the rain but the sunside of the planet gets more gallium gas than oxygen. Occasionally we get strong winds which push the gallium towards the shadow ring. 

    When I arrive at school I place my backpack in my locker and try to slip into my seat quietly. My girlfriend slips me a note. It reads: 

‘Mr. Dren is talking about the war of Mercurians and us again. God, he is so fucking war happy!’

    I am about to respond when Mr. Dren calls on me, “Well now, young Denx, since you see fit to be tardy maybe you can tell me who struck first?”

    “The Galliasians and the Mercurians have been fighting over land since we first arrived on planet. The Merkans want closer to the sunside. Neither one of the two sides wish to be close to the darkside.” I said trying to save my ass from Dren’s gaze. 

    “Wow,” Dren said. “That’s the most politician answer I ever heard… which means you danced the topic without giving an ounce of the answer.” Dren began to mark my name on his pad. 

    “The Merkans were most likely the first to strike as we were cozy where we stood.” I said quickly hoping for a change in the marking. 

    “Much better, Denx,” Dren said with a smile. 

    Dren was a war veteran and our military teacher. He believed that knowing the history of the war between us and the Mercurians made us better warriors. He also believed that we should train to be soldiers before we learned to be anything else. Our children never got an advantage from our parents as we never knew who they were. We were all placed in a raising facility and given the same opportunities as our classmates to be the best whatever we become. Every mark lead us to be one step closer to our future position in society. I was hoping for something science based. Of course a military service gave us a boost towards our final destination. It was a voluntary position for most of us. Unless you had the warrior mark on your record. If you had no excels marked for anything else except warrior, then you would be a lifer and likely a grunt.

dabble in the darkness 1

​I turned the wheel towards the on ramp. This time I was in the front of the convoy. ‘Why did I have to be in the front of the convoy in the most barren of highways?’ I thought to myself. I grabbed my cd book from the seat next to me and put it in my lap. Then I straighten my wheel towards the California coast. I put the truck in cruise and opened the book. ‘Let’s see. Who do I need to give a listen next?’ The pages weren’t very well organized. I listed the cds in my head as I saw them on the page. ‘Metallica garage incorporated, megadeth rust in peace, Johnny cash, ooh! Pantera Cowboys from hell. Let’s play that one.’ There were four cds per page. I grabbed the portable CD player from the floor of the truck. When I sat back up I noticed I was getting close to the lines. So I knee jerked the wheel back to the center of my lane. Well what I perceived as the center of my lane.

    A shriek came from the CB radio above my head, “you a’ight?”

    “Yeah… just dropped something” I said back. 

    The shriek came again, “hey, turkey… did you hear us?”

    “You have to push the button idiot…” I heard from the back seat. 

    “Jesus! Not you again… where did you even come from?”

    “They are going to be worried if you don’t respond. Push the button idiot” the voice said again. 

    I pushed the button, “yeah. Just sneezed is all” I let go of the button putting the CB back and adjusted my mirror to the backseat.  Empty. 

    “That’s right empty. Just like your head.” The voice rang out but this time from the passenger seat. 

    “It’s not real,” I said loading the cd in the player. “It’s a figment of my imagination.”

    “Oh real mature,” it said. “You know ‘IT’ has feeling!” Even though there wasn’t anyone else in the cab I could feel it do air quotes. I pressed play on the CD player and pushed the cassette adapter into the dash board. “You can’t drown me out forever!” It yelled over the music. I started to turn the radio up when I heard the voice slowly fade into the music, “that reminds me of a …”

    ‘If I can’t hear it then it doesn’t exist.’ I said to myself. Then I remembered the CB. “Shit!” I yelled turning the stereo down slightly. “That’s better,” the voice said.