2 Minutes to Midnight

2 Minutes to Midnight

Strange Tales of the Unusual

STEVE LANG

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

Please find this and other work by Steve Lang at:

http://SteveDLang.com

and at your favorite e-book retailers.

Copyright © 2015 Steve Lang

All rights reserved.

ISBN: 151746157X

ISBN-13: 978-1517461577

This is for Nicholas, my son, friend, and why I write.

___________________

My editor on this book was

Mr. Charlie Michener. His contribution to

this book has been great, and much appreciated.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Thank you to my wife Brandy and son Nicholas for their endless patience as I sat behind my computer day after day, night after night, to create the world of short stories you are about to read. I love you both very much, and Nicholas, you are my ideal reader and who I write for. Thank you to April M. Reign, my friend and fellow author, for your support and friendship. Please, go check out her work she's a phenomenal writer. Thank you Charlie Michener for your editing expertise. I'll keep you busy, because we have a lot more work to do.

I would also like to thank the rock band Iron Maiden for the lyrics to their legendary songs. The emotion and strength in many of their albums were an inspiration for much of my work in this novel, and in the stories to come in 2 Minutes to Midnight Volume II.

Thank you also Great Spirit for your guiding hand, and my gift for writing.

TO THE READER

2 Minutes to Midnight was inspired by my love of history, science, and science fiction. In November, 2014 I decided to write a story a week for a year to hone my craft as a writer. This proved to be a challenging adventure, and one I am glad I dug into, because I was afforded the ability to walk many unexpected paths. At first the writing was for me alone, a chance to spread my literary wings in private, but as the people, places and events began to unfold I realized I had at least one book of good short stories waiting to be published, and it turned into two.

When I was sixteen stories into my personal challenge I watched an interview with Ray Bradbury that appeared out of the blue in my YouTube list of suggested videos to watch, and in that interview he said: If you want to be a writer, write a story a week for a year, and then you'll be a writer, and write what you like to write about, so I did. I began to write two stories a week, sometimes three at one time.

I am delighted to present my first anthology in the hope that you take something away from the words, emotions, and crazy situations my characters get themselves into. Thank you for reading,

STEVE LANG

Time travel was once considered scientific heresy, and I used to avoid talking about it for fear of being labeled a 'crank.'

~ Stephen Hawking

War is a racket. It is the only one international in scope. It is the only one in which the profits are reckoned in dollars and the losses in lives.

~ Smedley Butler, 1935, Major General, U.S. Marine Corps and highest ranking officer of the time.

Contents

The Watch

Strangers in a Bar

The Basement

The Mars Tetrahedron

The Day Satan Quit

Traveling Salesman

The Petrified Man

The Horror of Stanton Manor

2 Minutes to Midnight

Transistor Radio

The Ducks

The Good Fight

Dark Planet

Thanks Given

Mirror World

The Legend of Lightning Foot Jenkins

Up on the Mountain

The Draco Crystal

The Gate

Teenagers From Zeta Reticuli

Princess Amon and the Rift Pilots

The Long Dark Road

Weird

Human Trials

No Rest for the Wicked

Blue Skies

THE WATCH

Life's greatest experiences are contained within tiny moments. The gold pocket watch Phillip’s mother gave him had always been a mystery, but Phillip was about to understand its meaning.

Philip McSwain strolled along Peach Orchard road, his hand in Lucy's Struther's, his girlfriend of three years.

Where are we going? Lucy asked.

I thought I'd take you to my grandfather's place. It's just up the road from here.

I thought he was dead. Didn't your family sell the house? Lucy asked.

Warm summer sunlight danced on her long blond hair giving Lucy an ethereal glowing appearance as they walked close together.

Technically, we have no idea what happened to him, so my mom didn't want to sell the house without knowing for sure if he was ever coming back.

How long's he been gone?

About three years, and I've wanted to come up here and check his house out a few times to see if I could find any clues. The police investigated but it's a cold case or whatever now. Phillip answered.

So, why are we going now? You too chicken to go alone? Lucy laughed.

No, of course not. I just thought it would be a cool walk for us.

She smiled, and shook her head.

Trevor McSwain, my Grandpa, was kind of the black sheep of our family. He traveled a lot and had collected a bunch of rare artifacts from around the world. He's got a small museum of freaky stuff up there. My mom stopped visiting him when she said a demon chased her through the house.

A what? I'm calling bullshit on that one. Lucy said.

Hey, it's just what she told me. I've got no reason to lie. Anyway, that's why I have not come up here before.

I think big tough Phillip needs his girlfriend to go into the scary house with him. Lucy said.

I'm glad you're with me, yes.

They continued down the empty street, and aside from the McSwain residence there were no more houses on the road. Tall green trees lined each side of the street. The sound of summer insects calling to each other made the teens feel less alone, but the farther they walked the more legitimate Phillip's story sounded. They were half a mile from the closest house.

There's the front gate. Phillip said.

A black wrought iron gate about seven feet tall, appeared around a bend, and beyond it sat the two-story house, across a field of weeds, waiting for Trevor's return like a lone sentry.

Yikes, I don't think I'd go here alone either. Spooky house, Phillip. Lucy said.

Yeah, it's creepy. Wait till we get inside.

Phillip produced a ring of keys from his pocket. One of them was long and black, and had a head shaped like a human skull.

Let me guess, that's the gate key? Lucy asked.

My grandpa had a flare for the dramatic.

Phillip pulled the gate open, cringing as it creaked on rusty wheels.

Let's go.

Trevor's house towered over the two teenagers, growing larger as they approached.

I always thought this place looked like it was alive, breathing, you know? The windows seem like eyes looking down at me. Phillip said.

If you want me to go in there with you, you had better stop describing how you feel about the house. Lucy smiled.

The two walked up the cracked and dilapidated asphalt driveway. The lawn had not been mowed in years and was now a field of tall wild grass. A black cat darted out of the weeds.

Oh my god! That thing just scared the shit out of me. Lucy said.

The cat stopped for a minute, hissed at them, and then bolted out of sight. In the distance they could hear dog barks approaching. Something small and black skittered through the weeds.

What's that, another cat? Phillip asked.

You tell me, this is your neck of the woods.

The creature in the weeds bolted across the driveway, chasing after the cat. It was neither a cat nor dog, but something not of this world. It stood on two legs and was about a foot tall, with bat like ears and long black claws at the end of tiny arms. It stopped for a moment, grinned at the two teenagers with a mouth full of needle teeth and cackled as it ran out of sight. The dog was getting closer as the little monster disappeared in the direction of the cat.

I'm leaving, man. That thing is where I draw the line. I love you, be safe!

Let's just get inside. I'm pretty sure there's nothing in the house like that. Whatever it was. Phillip said.

Lucy turned to leave as a large snarling dog that resembled a Rottweiler walked through the gate, blocking her exit. This dog had a single glowing red eye in the center of its head, and waves of heat rose from its back like a midsummer desert road.

"Jesus, what is this place? Did you bring me to the doorway to Hell?

The dog stood watching them for a moment, and then began to saunter forward. Phillip pulled out a pocket knife, and extended the two inch blade.

I think you're going to piss it off with that thing. Lucy said.

They were five feet from the front door, and Phillip could feel his mouth go dry as panic began to overwhelm his ability to reason.

I've always been afraid of large dogs. As a boy two wild Doberman’s chased, and bit me in the butt as I tried to escape. Sixteen stitches on the left butt cheek later and I have a permanent reminder of that day.

This isn't a dog, Phillip. Maybe your mom was telling the truth after all. You got the key to his house? Get it out!

The cycloptic Rottweiler stood his ground, snarling at them.

It's herding us toward the house. Lucy said.

Phillip turned and put his key in the front door, and as he heard the lock click open the snarling dog turned, ran down the driveway, around the black gate, and vanished like a ghost.

The interior reeked of old cigars and dust. No humans had entered this place in years. Clinging cobwebs hung from the ceiling, waving, blowing in the breeze brought in by Phillip’s entrance. He stepped inside first and the floor let out a loud creak.

I think the house knows we're here. Lucy whispered.

I don't really want to think about that, but thanks.

Come on! We just saw a dog with an eye in the middle of its head. I don't know if it can get much freakier. Lucy said.

They walked into the living area where stacks of books lay strewn about as if a bookstore had been dumped inside his house. Thick dust covered most exposed surfaces, causing Lucy to sneeze when she picked up a book.

"The Futility of War, said Lucy. Here's another one. Demonic Possession and You: What To Do If You Are Possessed. Interesting collection of books." Lucy shrugged.

He was an oddball. Kept talking about alternative dimensions, time travel, and reincarnation. He harped on it so much that Mom got scared for us. She was afraid his insanity would rub off.

This is a strange place. I'd be nervous too. You see the shelf of shrunken heads over there? Lucy said.

Grandpa gave me this watch. Phillip said.

He took the small gold watch out of his pocket and opened the face to show Lucy the inscription.

‘For those who dare to dream, the stars are only a moment away.’ That's a cool inscription. Lucy smiled, rolled it over in her hands. What's with the gear hole on the back?

I've never been able to figure it out, but do you see those planets inside the face? Earth, the moon, and Saturn? If you turn the little dial on top the hands move, and so do the planets, but the thing that drives me crazy is that I can never get them to align. All three chase each other around the face as you wind the watch and look at the nine--it's jade and glows bright under a lamp. The whole thing is kind of a puzzle.

They explored Trevor McSwain's house, looking from one room to another at the strange assortment of oddities. One room contained a series of caskets stacked with newspaper articles from around the world. Crystal balls lay here and there mounted on shelves and another room Trevor had dedicated to anatomically reconstructed animal skeletons in glass cases.

What was he doing in here? Lucy asked.

She felt as if curious eyes were watching them as they continued.

He was trying to figure out where we came from. You know, humans. That's what he told me when I was little.

We evolved from sea creatures, and monkeys, right? I mean that's what they tell us in school. Lucy said.

I don't know. That's a whole Darwin thing, and I think Darwin was guessing. He said that given enough time a bear could transform into a whale if conditions were necessary for it to do so. How in the hell does that make any sense to anyone, and yet they teach us that natural selection crap in school. Phillip said.

Well, what do you think happened? Lucy asked.

You're going to think I'm crazy.

No I won't. Try me.

"I think we were put here by someone, or a race of people. Humans are not indigenous to this planet, and we're refugees from somewhere else.

Where do you think we come from?

Right here, somehow, and don't ask me why, because I can't tell you.

Phillips tapped on the Saturn symbol on his watch.

You think that's nuts? Phillip asked.

No, I don't, but I wouldn't go around telling a bunch of people that. We don't exactly live in the most open minded times. Lucy answered.

Hey, no problem. I didn't want to tell you.

Phillip was holding his hands defensively in the air.

If I remember correctly, there was some cool stuff in the basement. Want to go see? Phillip said.

Not a chance, I'm done here, and I think I'll go home. Lucy said.

Awwww. come on! Let's go look.

I've already seen two weird creatures, some shrunken heads, and caskets filled with moth eaten news articles, and I think the fun is over. Besides, the sun's going down soon and that road back has no lights.

OK, I'll walk you to the door. Philip said.

When they reached the door both teens could see that the big black dog had returned. It was sitting on the porch blocking their way and facing the gate. As if it sensed her plane, the dog turned its head baring rows of sharp white teeth, and glared at them with the unblinking red eye.

What is with that dog? Lucy said.

It looks like we may be trapped here, unless we can find another way out.

Let me guess, there's a storm door or something in the basement? Lucy asked.

I have no idea, and the dog from hell was not in my plan when we were coming here.

A pawing came at the door.

Think we should let it in? Phillip asked.

Lucy raised her hand as if to smack him, and he saw the warning in her eyes. Phillip laughed, but the shadows were growing longer across the room, and he did not want to spend the night in his grandfather’s creepy old home.

To the basement, then?

Something big and loud bumped on the floor upstairs, and then began to roll.

Let's go. Lucy said.

Phillip brought out the small penlight he had carried on his keychain, and opened the basement door. Darkness was all he could see until the tiny LED bulbs illuminated the stairwell. Trevor McSwain's basement was a maze of winding corners and little rooms crammed with artifacts.

There's a difference between being a collector and a hoarder. Lucy said.

It looks like he never threw anything out. My god, what a mess. Phillip replied.

At the back of the labyrinthine passageways the concrete basement wall had been cut in an archway about seven feet tall and three feet wide. A brick wall lay beyond the concrete, recessed about three inches.

There's nothing else here. I wonder what possessed him to cut the wall out like that.

Look at that. Phillip shone his light on a pedestal.

Beside the recessed brick doorway was a white ceramic pedestal with a tiny gear protruding from the top. Phillip removed the watch from his pocket and turned it over to reveal the gear shaped inlay.

I wonder... Phillip said.

He placed his watch on the pedestal. Suddenly the planetary hands began to move independent of the minute and hour hands. They aligned at the jade nine, first Earth, then the moon, and finally Saturn, and all three began to glow with a supernatural light.

Phillip, look at the brick wall! Lucy screamed.

The mortar had been replaced by intense white light and the bricks were shaking with a violent rhythm. With a sudden whoosh the bricks were sucked into a dark vacuum where a vast field of stars, and gasses swirled in a celestial show of brilliance.

Phillip! Turn it off, turn it off. Lucy screamed.

No, my god! It's, it's... wonderful! Phillip was breathless.

The teenagers were staring into space from Trevor McSwain's basement. The view began to shift and change before their eyes like a movie out of focus. A city in ruins began to form before their eyes, until it was right outside their window.

Is this real? Lucy whispered.

From behind them the dog was walking down the basement stairs with his teeth bared, and snarling. His saliva burned little black holes in the wooden stairs. The hound's toenails clicked like the sound of a death clock ticking in their heads.

We could probably step through. Maybe the dog won't follow us? Phillip whispered.

Are you crazy? We just saw space and stars in a void! What happens if we step out that door and fall into nothing, and die? Lucy said.

The dog began to bark, and leapt forward until it was no more than two feet from them.

Time to go! Phillip screamed.

He pushed Lucy through the door and followed after her. The two tumbled onto a grassless field surrounded by trash, burned out hulks of cars, and animal skeletons.

The watch! Phillip yelled.

He dived back around the corner and grabbed the watch as the black dog dived for his arm. Phillip retrieved the mystic timepiece and rolled back through the door before it could close behind him. He landed next to Lucy, his hand held high with the watch clutched tight in his palm.

That was insane. Where the hell are we? Lucy asked.

Phillip opened his eyes and propped himself on one arm and when he raised up he could see an old man shambling toward them from the city. He was clothed in tattered rags, limping, and had the gaunt malnourished appearance of a man who had not eaten well in years.

Thank the Lord, you made it, Phillip! The man said.

Grandpa? How did you get here? Phillip asked.

Phillip's mouth hung open like a flytrap, as Trevor embraced his grandson for the first time in over five years.

You keep that open, a bug's going to go right in, and trust me bugs are about all that's left.

Behind Trevor McSwain rested the hulking, ruined skeleton of what was once a great city.

Where are we? Phillip asked.

Welcome to future New York! He waved his hand around. A far as I can tell they blew each other up sometime in the year 2230. The newspapers I found in a library basement describe the political turmoil going on at the time, and what led to the shelled out wasteland you see in front of you.

What happened to your leg? Phillip asked.

Oh yeah, that's a good one, he laughed. I almost died! I was out hunting for food one day and saw a small pig running through the street. I chased it through a department store a weak section of floor crumbled under my feet. I fell to the floor below and landed on a weight set. I'm no doctor so, I have no idea in how many places I broke my leg but I was in agony for months.

Are there any other people anywhere? Lucy asked.

Not here, as far as I can tell, unless they live in the sewers, and there may be other cities with people, but I have had no way to reach them since all the cars have been destroyed. We'd better get inside; wolves come out to hunt around this time of day.

Phillip and Lucy surveyed the dismal scene. The catastrophe had blown out windows, broken buildings in half, torn the roads like tissue paper, and collapsed at least one bridge that they could see. Vegetation had taken over. Long hanging vines were draped over skyscrapers like the clinging arms of some horrific green monster, devouring the structures. Giant oak trees had grown strong, and tall through cracked concrete department store floors, and rain, like a waterfall, poured in from destroyed roof tops watering the decaying urban jungle.

Were you trapped here, or did you just decide you liked the place and wanted to stay?'Cause this is jacked up, here, grandpa! Phillip said.

Did you happen to see a little black animal with long claws around the house? I'm not talking about a cat either.

Phillip and Lucy exchanged a glance.

Yeah, it was chasing a cat through the weeds in your yard. What the heck is that thing anyway? Phillip asked.

Cyril and I picked him up on one of my time travel adventures. He's a pain in the ass, that one, and got me stuck here.

How? Lucy asked.

When I came through the door, Cyril was right behind me, and normally he's a good boy, but that day he decided to climb up the pedestal where you put my watch, and when he did he lost his balance, he knocked the pedestal over, and the door closed behind me after my watch fell off the gear. Your mom must have been down there at some point to have found that watch.

Trevor led them to a fire escape in an alley beside one of the least damaged buildings.

This place is pretty safe from predators. The whole bottom floor is a disaster and the stairwell fell in during the explosions, so once you're off the ground not much can get to you. After I broke my leg it took me almost six months to get back up here.

Trevor grunted as he climbed hand over hand up the short ladder to a landing above their heads.

Come on, let's go.

A long, mournful howl echoed through the city.

Wolves! Climb, Lucy. Phillip said.

After she was up he followed just as a pack of emaciated, mongrel wolves ran by the alley. One of them spotted Phillip and trotted into the alley.

What is it with canines lately? Phillip said.

You must be talking about Spot. Trevor laughed.

Yeah, oh by the way, you have a large hell hound or something living in your house. It's got one eye, a red one. Phillip shivered.

He's harmless; in fact, Spot's the reason you're here. Trevor said.

He climbed through a window into a luxury apartment that had sold for over a million dollars in the real estate market long ago.

Nice place. Phillip said.

Thanks. Spot is a hologram, and I sent him to herd anyone who came looking for me down to the basement and that door.

How'd you do it? I mean, this place is a disaster, and it doesn't look like you have any electricity, much less...how? Phillip asked.

"At some point people found a way to safely time travel without creating paradoxes, but it takes a ton of power to pull it off. You're right, there is no electricity, but I was able to wire a series of solar batteries together to one of their time travel machines, and hook it up to a computer. The 3D dog program came with the operating system, so, after monkeying around with their technology for more time