The Beginning of Nothing Page #2

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This retreat was part of a much needed break from what had turned into repetitive routines in his career. The time off had also been highly recommended by his immediate supervisor due to several mishaps in reporting errors that had occurred over the past three months. Many of his nights had been spent gazing through the telescope at the Middle Tennessee State University Observatory in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.

He starts to fire up a cigarette from a pack he had purchased earlier on the long drive up, buts sees a wooden toy horse in the corner of the porch that his daughter Melody had helped him to make several years before she disappeared at age 13. He thinks about how habitual his smoking had become and how Melody had asked him to stop because she did not want to lose her dad early in life.

He throws the pack of cigarettes to the floor of the porch, takes a deep breath and looks slightly teary eyed into the sky when he notices what appears to be a moving bright spot in the distance.

The object begins to move quickly to the extreme right then left on its approach as if it was trying to make an emergency landing.

From his experience as an astrophysicist, he was well aware of the differences between celestial objects and planes.

He leans forward in the chair then abruptly stands up at attention in a silent stare. The object turns a glowing green as it comes into a position over the lake downhill from the cabin. (Unseen, smaller objects fall from the larger object into the lake and scurry into the surrounding woods).

GARY BRYANT:

What in the world.

The only means of communication he has at his disposal is a cell phone, but it does not work. Gary knows that he has to get to town, Gary scrambles to find his keys and runs to the garage for his car. On his way down the road he runs over something. Then the left rear tire blows out. He struggles to regain control of the car as it tries to come to a stop. Gary, still holding tight to the steering wheel pauses for a minute.

GARY BRYANT (CONT’D)

What was that.

He looks in the rear view mirror and briefly sees something shadowy moving quickly towards the ditch. Realizing he does not have a spare tire, he knows that he will have to make it the rest of the way by foot. Hesitantly he exits the vehicle and begins the walk. As he gets about a half mile down the road, he sees the welcome sign entrance to a small town. Two light post next to him start to blink then go out. Luckily the moon light provides just enough light to see. In the field off to the left, the stalks start to move as if they were making way for something. As he looks, numerous openings appear. He begins to walk faster and faster. His heart races and now he is fully running. As he makes it pass the welcome sign, he sees an open sign light at a local bar. He runs in and shuts the door. Everyone inside is gone. It looks like a small war zone. Torn clothing, broken items, trash and blood is everywhere.

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