The year is 1865. The American Civil War has entered its fourth year. General William T Sherman had completed his march to the sea. The end of the war appeared to be in sight. People were starting to feel a sense of hope for the future. For others, their lives were a constant hell with no sign of the light at the end of the tunnel. No hope for the future or even a prayer.
The factories rang out all throughout Albany, New York; as it was time enough for everyone to finally go home. Working fifteen hours a day is troubling for all who experience it. It was a cold night in late January. Even colder for those without a home. The large group of workers all filed out of the factory like water escaping a bottle. All except for one. Samantha stayed behind for a brief moment as she was untying her hair. She picked up her bag and the sound of metal rattling together could be heard. She paused for a brief moment and carefully looked around. Thankfully no one was around to hear that. For the past year she has been smuggling tools and spare parts from the factory where, after much pleading, she was hired to work as a maintenance worker. It had been a difficult adjustment period for Samantha after losing her father,her brother going missing, and her home burning down. But she was determined to change that.
As she stepped out into the night she wore a smile on her tired face. “Tonight is finally the night.” She said to herself as she clutched the straps of her bag with her hands.
The night air was cool and the stars shone brightly. She fished around in her bag and pulled out a piece of paper. It was a letter addressed to Ridley. As Samantha walked down the street she stopped at an old church. The church was fairly lit and she could feel the warmth of the candles. She walked all the way down the aisle and stopped at the third row. She sat down for a brief moment and looked up at the crucifix near the altar.
“Ridley, wherever you are. I pray that you are safe and that I will see you once again.” Samantha said as she made the signs of the cross. Her eyes quickly darted to her immediate left and spotted an old air duct. No one else appeared to be around.
Samantha quickly shuffled her way over to the air duct and kneeled down to open it. She reached in, expecting to find something. But when her hand was greeted with empty air, her heart sank.
“I guess this is it.” She said as she drew back her arm and sat up. She reached into her bag and retrieved the letter and slipped it into the air duct. She picked herself up and was about to head out of the church when a familiar voice called out to her.
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“Leaving secret messages to Ridley again I see.” A voice called out. Samantha turned around with fright, only to see it was the priest, Father Murphy. Father Murphy had a very relaxed presence, he was the kind of priest anyone in the town can confess their sins to in private. Samantha shifted nervously. But Father Murphy gave out a silent laugh.
“You children have not changed in the years I’ve been here.” Father Murphy said with a smile. The smile alone relaxed Samantha.
“Have you heard anything, Father?” Samantha asked. Father Murphy frowned and shook his head.
“I’m sorry child. But have faith.” He said as he gestured to the altar. “We will hear of your brother one day.”
Samantha looked away and frowned.
“I’m leaving, Father.” Samantha said quickly. Father Murphy raised his eyebrows.
“Oh and where are you going?”
“Away. Far away” Samantha looked back at Father Murphy. “Can you hold onto the letter until Ridley comes back?”
Father Murphy looked at Samantha with pity in his eyes. He didn’t know what to say. Father Murphy gave Samantha a calm smile and nodded. Samantha returned the smile and turned around and left.
Samantha walked ten blocks from the church to the shack on the beach where she lived. Worn out cannons jutted from within the shack, aiming directly at the ground. Inside the shack was metal plating covering the entire inside area. Along the walls were thick black rubber cables all going in and out of places. Some of the wires dipped into the chamber and others went directly in casks that were placed directly over the end portion of the cannons. Samantha took out a match and lit several candles inside. The whole place gave off an ominous fiery red glow.
Samantha took one last look around before she closed the door and locked it.
At the center of the shack was a barber chair and at the end near the bed was an empty square chamber surrounded by siverly metals. On the outside of the silvery metals were bright green tubes that curved around and into the chamber. Samantha set her things down and reached out into her pocket and pulled out a worn gold pocket watch.
“Ten minutes to one. Perfect” Samantha said with a smile. She put her watch away and walked over to the square chamber. She reached into her other pocket and pulled out the black crystal with the white spot. She placed it in the chamber. There was a familiar humming sound as the green tubes started to emit a green glow. The thick rubber wires that strung around her started to tense.
“It’s now or never.” Samantha said. She walked over and checked the chamber and the thick rubber wires. Everything was all set. Samantha jumped wildly over to the ends of the cannons. She stuck a percussion cap in each of the cannons and tied a string to the hammer. She carefully moved back over to the barber’s chair. She held the strings in her hand gently. Closed her eyes. And pulled the strings.
For a split second, nothing happened. Then a roar. An explosion. Three explosions. Woosh!
The air around Samantha felt heavy. She opened her eyes. The entire place was shaking. There was a force pushing back on her into her chair. Her vision blurred for a moment. The glass tubes for a moment flashed bright blue light. And then a feeling came over her. A feeling of weightlessness. A sinking feeling. Anxiety swam up her spine as she started to scream. She was falling. And falling fast.