Since Ridley left to fight in the Union, it was only Samantha and her father working in their workshop. The demands were high but Samantha loved every minute of it and with a high demand that meant there was an excessive amount of supplies and resources at the workshop. At night Samantha was drafting up ideas for new types of machines and how they could be built and later she would often sneak back into the shop and attempt to make her designs a reality. Sleep was not really a concern for her as she was driven by her inspiration but that did leave her often exhausted when the morning came.

One morning her father had come down with an illness and therefore couldn’t work that day, leaving Samantha to fulfill his and hers tasks at the shop. A man entered the shop in the late morning. He was dressed in a black suit with a bowler hat. He looked around curiously for the owner.

“Hello? Mr. Lorn?” He called out. No answer. The sound of machine parts hitting the floor could be heard and the smell of burning oil hit his nose. He decided against his better judgment and proceeded to walk further into the shop.

Deep in the back of the workshop he saw papers scattered on the floor with pools of ink staining the wood. Books opened with text underlined were seen tossed about on the tables with tools next to them, covered in grease. The sight was completely unorganized. Then a mechanical sound was heard. It sounded like grinding metal wheels. Then a loud whistle was heard. He followed, ever so carefully.

He entered the room and was stunned at the sight. It was a large mental construction. It had several large metal wheels turning with a chimney and a funnel at the top spewing out steam. Large thick rubber tubes were connected to the machine and they ran across the floors and the ceiling leading to a large collection of copper batteries all lined against the wall. In front of the machine was a block of metal and above it was little pieces of metal with words on it. The machine roared once again and the little metal pieces started to come down in a sequence onto the metal block. Over in the corner was Samantha. She was carefully looking at the batteries when the man behind her started to talk.

“Excuse me.” The man said. Samantha turned around in shock and backed into the wall of batteries. A static shock could be heard and she jumped away from the wall. The batteries swayed but didn’t fall. Samantha pivoted around and recomposed herself.

“Uh, yes? I’m sorry. How can I help you?” She said in a quiet and nervous tone. The man sighed and pulled out a piece of paper from his coat pocket.

“I am Mr. Lester and I am a lawyer. I need to speak with the owner of this establishment Mr. Lorn right away.” Mr. Lester said as he held the piece of paper in his hand. Samantha dusted herself off and wiped her glasses.

“My father has taken ill today and left me in charge. Anything I can assist you with?”

Mr. Lester’s shoulder slumped. “I’m afraid you can’t. I have a letter here specifically for Mr. Lorn.”

“What is the context of the letter? I can deliver it to my father.”

Mr. Lester folded the piece of paper and placed it back into his coat. “Unfortunately, miss, that I cannot do. This business here is to be seized by the United States government.”

For a moment it was if the rug was pulled right under Samantha’s feet. SHe was taken aback by the statement and was left speechless. Mr. Lester turned and started to walk away.

“Please have your father reach out to me to discuss the situation.” Mr. Lester said as he walked out of the shop. Silence engulfed the area.

“No…” Samantha said quietly to herself. This couldn't be right, she thought to herself. In a moment of panic she bolted out of the shop. She ran down the street, heading home. This is all flopdoodle, she thought to herself as she continued to make her way down the street.

Her heart sank even more as she approached her house. There was Father Murphy standing outside. He had a sad look on his face. He was standing on the side of the front door that was wide open.

“Father…?” Samantha said as she approached him. Her eyes wandered from him to the door. A look of desperation was painted on her face. Father Murphy looked at her with sorrow in his eyes. He didn’t say anything. Samantha rushed into her house.

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The door was wide open. Papers and books were tossed about on the floor. Furniture was turned over and there were little droplets of blood on the wooden floor. Samantha ran for her father’s bedroom. It was empty. The sheets were stripped from the bed and torn. The window was shattered and there was glass on the floor. Her mind suddenly went blank. She couldn’t form any words. She wanted to scream but she was also terrified beyond measure. She quickly made her way back to the front door where Father Murphy was still standing there. She wanted to say something to him but couldn’t find the words. Father Murphy could only guess. She gestured with her arms towards her empty house. A look of sadness covered her face.

“Soldiers, my child. They came here and arrested your father.” Father Murphy said as he placed a hand on her shoulder. “Have faith, child. I’m sure it's all a misunderstanding.” Samantha could feel a rush of emotions building up inside her. She swatted Father Murphy’s hand and took off running. She had a rough idea where they would hold her father.

The city jail wasn’t built for holding prisoners in there long term. It was a fairly small building with several windows carved into the stone walls. Samantha ran up to the wall where the windows were and called out.

“Father?” She hollered. It didn’t take long before she heard a grunt and a moan. Then her father’s face appeared.

“Samantha? My little one. You shouldn’t be here.” He said in a hush tone.

“Father, why…” She started but was cut off.

“Shh… It was your brother. Ridley. He didn’t report and is assumed either dead or he fled. They didn’t find his body and assumed the latter.”

Samantha’s heart sank.

“What do I do now? The shop was seized.” Samantha said in a panic. Her father looked upon her with a look of despair.

“I do not know.” He said. Samantha buckled under the stress and dropped to her knees with tears flooding her eyes.

“Samantha. Please. Dear.” Her father started. “Be strong. I won’t be here for much longer. They’re going to be taking me to New York City soon enough. After that…” He let out a sigh. “Samantha please listen to me. There is something I want you to have. It was your mother’s. A memento of some sorts. It is upstairs in my room. Please take it and hold onto it.”

Samantha wiped her tears and took a deep breath. It was unclear whether she heard any of what her father said to her.

“It was your mother’s and she wanted you to have it.”

“I don’t want it! I want you here! I want Ridley back! I want this stupid war to end!” Samantha called out as she buried her face in her hands. Her words trembled off her lips in terror and anguish. Her father looked down at her with sympathetic eyes. It was hard for him to see his child breakdown like this, even harder telling them that they may never see them again.

“One last thing.” He started. Samantha’s head looked up at him. “When you see your brother, if he’s still alive, tell him I forgive him. I don’t blame him.” Her father said. He gave her a weak smile. The sound of the cell door opening was heard from behind her father.

“Go now, Samantha. Run. Remember, your mother’s gift to you. I love you.” Her father said as he disappeared beyond the window.

This couldn't be happening to her right now. She felt weak and helpless. She wanted to reach out to her father but he was gone. Replaced with darkness and the whispers of voices. There was a great pain in her chest and an even greater pain in her head. A mixture of grief and anger boiled inside of her. It wasn’t fair that her brother was taken away. And now her father is being taken away as well. She stood up, feeling light headed. Then a gunshot was heard. Her eyes widened and her mouth was left agape. Tears flowed from her eyes and tarnished the soil at her feet. The world around her seemed to fade in nonexistence.

She stared at the empty window for a few more minutes. Nothing. It was haunting. She wanted to hear her father’s voice one more time. She wanted to know he was alright. But nothing greeted her but silence.

As Samantha crossed the threshold of her home she was greeted with an overwhelming surreal feeling. What once was considered home no more than a few hours ago, now felt foreign and empty. She walked through spaces where she would expect either her father or her brother to be occupying. But nothing was there. She sauntered over to her father’s bedroom. The sheets were still torn and the glass was still scattered on the floor. It felt wrong, even more so. She began her search. She didn’t know where to start. Her father in the past didn’t talk much about her mother, nor did Ridley for that matter. It was a family topic that no one wanted to discuss. Maybe it was for the better. As Samantha started to dig around there suddenly was a humming sensation. It wasn’t making a sound but she could feel it humming and it was coming from the bottom shelf of her father’s dresser. Inside, behind the clothes, was a small rose wood box. She reached out for it and grabbed it. She could feel a rush of energy flow through her. It was magnificent. Her curiosity peaked. She slowly opened the box.

Inside, resting on pink cloth, was a black crystal with a white spot in the middle. As she picked it up she could almost feel a rush of energy and emotions. It was a calming feeling but energetic nonetheless. As she raised it towards the sun she saw strange patterns inside the crystal pulsing and vibrating. But as she brought the crystal downwards in the sunlight a spark flew and landed on the floor. She paused for a second. The spark startled her. Her curiosity got the better of her once again and held it out towards the sun. More sparks flew. She was so captivated by the display she didn’t notice that several of the sparks had landed on the floor and started to burn. Flames shot up from under the floorboards and Samantha tightened her grip on the crystal and ran for the door.

As she fled into the street she saw the flames reach into the sky from her house. People all around started to panic and yell out for the fire department. Samantha tucked the crystal into her pocket and hurried away from the scene, face red with embarrassment. She made her way down to the Hudson River and rested on the sand.

Millions of thoughts raced through her head. She lost so much in one day, it was incredible. She didn’t know what to do next. She took out the crystal and with much care this time around, looked at it.

“Mother...what do I do?” She asked the crystal with desperation in her voice. Of course she didn’t expect the crystal to answer her back. But something out there did. A ship’s horn blasted through the air. Samantha quickly looked up to see black smoke billowing up into the sky coming from the river. A large steamship cruised down the Hudson. And suddenly, she got an idea.