Sonia glanced around at the tall trees surrounding her. Birds flittered about and chirped peaceful songs. A light breeze wafted through the leaves while sunlight filtered through the thick foliage above. She sat down on the nearby rock and placed her face in her hands. 

A young doe darted past the seated woman, followed by several rabbits, squirrels, and other small animals. Sonia lifted her head and watched the animals scurry by. Glancing in both directions, she stood up and followed the path the animals took.

The pathway narrowed until it disappeared behind a large thicket. Sonia retraced her steps to the rock, then followed a different path. She wandered deeper into the forest. The trees grew taller and closer together, choking out the sunlight.

A soft click floated down from the trees. Sonia stopped and looked up. The branches above the first three rows faded into darkness. Sonia took a few more steps. A crack echoed from the trees followed by a small ping near her feet.

A low voice rumbled from the darkness. “I would stop right there if I were you.”

Sonia stopped and looked up. “Who are you?”

“That is none of your business. The bigger question is, who are you?”

Sonia took a step back. “Why don’t you come out where I can see you?”

“That, too, is none of your business. Come to think of it, the only business you have right now is to get out of here.”

“Very well. Tell me, which way is out?”

A massive blast shook the forest. The ground shook beneath her feet. Sonia fell to the ground while a thick cloud of black smoke wafted through the trees. A tall, lanky man dropped from the trees and helped Sonia to her feet.

“Never mind that. I think it’s best you leave now.” The man stared at Sonia. “Say, you look familiar. Do I know you?”

Sonia shook her head. “I doubt that. I hardly know anyone in these parts. I just moved her a month ago.”

“No, I have seen you before.” The man circled around Sonia. He stopped and poked his finger in her direction. “I know where. You’re the one that shot Sheriff Dobbs. I saw your picture in the paper.”

Sonia looked away from the man. “I don’t know what you are talking about. I didn’t shoot anyone.”

“You did to. It was all over the news. I bet there’s a hefty reward for you.”

Sonia flinched as the man leveled a shotgun to her face. “I didn’t do it. They framed me.”

The man winked. “Sure, they did. But until I figure out what I’m going to do, you are coming with me.”
“What are you talking about?”

The man pointed the gun in the smoke’s direction. “I ain’t no friend of the Sheriff. As a matter of fact, I am happy to have him out of my hair.”

“But?”
​
“But I ain’t one to pass up money. I’m going to talk it over with my partner. Until then, I have a nice place to keep you out of trouble.”
Sonia sighed and followed the direction the man indicated. 

Lights blurred on the overhead viewer. The ship shuddered and rattled. Footsteps echoed in the hallway, followed by the slamming of a door. A man shouted from behind a door and the footsteps ran back down the hall. The ship shuddered one more time, then stopped. The overhead viewer blacked out.

Montag scratched his head. He shook it a few times. The translucent ball radiated light, illuminating the small closet Montag curled up in. A distant voice penetrated his hiding place, and he quickly returned the orb to his pocket.

He waited in the darkness while the footsteps returned to the hallway outside. A voice shouted outside the closet. Montag held his breath. His face turned red, then purple. This voices outside the closet chattered on. Montag released his breath slowly.

The ship shuddered once more. The lights flickered on, and the ship lurched forward. The voice outside sighed.

“I guess old Branar fixed the engines. Alright everyone, time to get back to work.”

The people outside retreated, and the hallway became silent. Montag looked up at the overhead viewer. The lights blurred once more. He pulled out the light orb and looked around the closet. A small access port protruded from the bottom of the wall directly below the viewer. Montag pulled the cable from port and the viewer went black. He reached into the bag near his feet and pulled out a keyboard. He plugged the keyboard into the port and typed away. 

The ship stopped abruptly. An alarm sounded and Montag pulled the connector to the keyboard from the port and replaced the cable to the viewer. Several lines of text scrolled up the screen. He placed his light in his pocket, grabbed his back, and slunk into the farthest section of the closet. 

The computer’s voice roared through the sound system. “Intruder!”

Montag continued to watch the text on the screen. His eyes widened. Outside the closet, the ship’s crew ran up and down the hall. The door to the closest opened, and a man poked his head inside for a moment, then closed the door and continued down the hallway.

He tapped the wall three times. A tube descended from the ceiling and extended a microphone. Montag leaned over.

“Bulbous breakwater. Leaky faucet. Purple hydrangeas.”

“Password accepted.”

The keyboard jutted out from the wall. Montag stretched out his arms and typed away at the keyboard. A beam of light shot from the ceiling and radiated around the hidden man. Montag hit the wall three times and the microphone and keyboard disappeared.

The door opened. Montag stepped aside and waited for the crewmember to step into the closet. Montag stepped into the hall and slammed t door behind him. He locked the door and strode down the hallway past the crewmember rushing to release their companion from the closet. He paused and waited for the trapped man to be released from his closet.

The imprisoned man jumped into the hallway. “It was a ghost. I didn’t see a thing! Something just passed by me and locked me inside.” The man’s eyes widened. “Tell me you saw something?”

The others shook their heads. Montag laughed out loud. The crowd in the hall froze. The man from the closet shrieked.

“Who’s there?”

“Who do you think is here?” Montag pushed his way to the center of the group. “What’s the matter? Can’t you see me?”

The crewmembers screamed in unison and ran out of the hall. Montag strode down the hall in their direction.

“Fear of the unknown is so much easier than hiding out.” He opened the door to the bridge and stepped inside. “From here on out, we are going to do things my way.”
​
The captain sighed and placed his chin in his hand. “Whatever, as long as we end up at our destination, what do I care how we get there?”

​The dank, rounded walls radiated noxious fumes. Solomon swung his flashlight and shone the light behind him. Water dripped from above. Solomon sighed and resumed his trek. He shuffled his feet along the narrow path above fetid water flowing through the tunnel. Rats scurried before him in all directions. 

“Stupid foreman. Why doesn’t he come down here to check things out? I don’t get paid enough for this.”

The screech of bending metal echoed through the tunnel. Solomon paused. He shivered for a moment, then continued down the passage for a few more feet. He shone his light at the ladder leading back up to the surface. Large gouges embedded in the rough metal extended into the concrete behind it. Solomon took out his phone and snapped a picture.

He ran his fingers along the grooves in the wall. “I don’t want to see what made that. That is one hell of a bite.”

A soft moan floated in the rancid air. Solomon glanced around the bend in the tunnel. A soft glow shone at the other end. Another moan emanated from inside the tunnel. Solomon pointed the flashlight at the dirty water. He scanned the stream but saw nothing.

The two-way radio in his back pocket crackled. “Find anything?”

Solomon grabbed the radio. “Oh, nothing unusual down hear. You know, stinky water, rats, odd moans, a weird glow, and something that can bite through metal and concrete. You know, the usual.”

“Sarcasm is not appreciated. Now keep searching until you find something.”

Solomon looked at the water. He closed his eyes momentarily, then opened them again. Small ripples in the water traveled from the far side of the sewer to where the burly factory worker stood. Solomon stepped back and bumped into the wall behind him. He stifled a shriek as a rat swam to the edge of the water and crawled out in front of him. 

“I’m definitely not getting paid enough for this.”

He waited for the rat to disappear into the darkness before he continued around the bend. The light at the other end intensified and Solomon shaded his eyes against the brightness. Static crackled on his radio. He paused for a moment, then took a slow step towards the light.

A loud groan echoed through the tunnel. Solomon froze. Ripples formed in the water nearby. An icy hand reached out of the water and grabbed the burly man around the ankle. Solomon screamed, dropped his radio, and bolted back through the passage, splashing through the murky water. He stopped at the ladder leading up to the surface and scrambled up through the manhole. He climbed out and jumped onto the street.

The foreman glared at the factory worker. “Well?”

Solomon handed the flashlight to his boss. “If you want to know what is down there, you go and find out. I quit!”

“You can’t quit. It’s three in the morning! Where am I going to find someone to do the job?”

Solomon walked away. “That’s your problem, not mine.”

The foreman shrieked. “You get back here and find out what is going on down there or I will have you thrown in jail!”

Solomon stopped. He turned slowly to face the other man. “Then you might as well lock me up and throw away the key, because I’m not going back there.”
​
The foreman glared at his employee, his face red. Solomon watched the man for a moment, then turned and disappeared into the darkness.

​Bertrand stood at the edge of the field. He looked up into the stands at the cheering spectators. He smiled. The camera focused on the man’s well-toned physique and flashy smile. He waved at the crowd, and they erupted in a cacophony of cheers and jeers.
He waited for the noise to die down before he looked to his left. A short, thin man with pale skin stood and shivered. Bertrand extended his hand to his opponent. 

“Name’s Bertrand. Yours?”

The frail man opened his mouth. A squeaky voice emanated from within the man.  “David.”

Bertrand laughed. “I suppose you’re a worthy opponent or you wouldn’t be here.”

David grinned. “I may not be as strong or as brave as you. I may not even be as handsome or charming as you, but I can hold my own.”

Bertrand rolled his eyes. “I hope so. It would not go well if the crowd doesn’t get what they paid for.” 

He smiled and waved at the people. The spectators roared. David looked at the man next to him, his body trembled. The sun shone down on the men, and the smaller man wiped away a drop of sweat from his forehead.

“What is taking so long? Can’t we just get this over with?”

Bertrand clinched his teeth under his grin. “All part of the show, got to make them think they’re getting their money’s worth.”

David glanced up at the crowd, then looked over at Bertrand.  “Are you kidding me?” He pointed at the people in the stands. “Did these people really pay to watch this?”

Bertrand nodded and laughed. “Crazy, isn’t it?”

“But we don’t even know what we are doing.”

Bertrand shrugged. “So?”

David sighed and looked up. High above the stadium, a small dark dot grew larger. A bright red parachute deployed from the ever-growing spot in the sky. He tapped his opponent on the shoulder and pointed up.

Bertrand shaded his eyes and turned his gaze in the direction David indicated. “Oh good, a surprise box.”

“A what?”

“You know, a surprise box. I haven’t seen one of these in a long time. I can’t wait to see what is inside.”

David stepped aside. The box glided to the ground, and the parachute covered the box. The crowd cheered. Bertrand waved to the fans, and they screamed louder. David closed his eyes. A loud screech echoed throughout the stadium, and the crowd became silent.

“Is this thing on?” the voice echoed around the venue. “Can you hear me?”

The crowd shouted in unison. “No!”

“Very well then. I want to thank you all for being here today.” The voice paused. “We have now come to the moment you all have been waiting for. Contestants, are you ready?”

Bertrand extended his thumb upward, but David shook his head. The voice boomed over the noise of the crowd.

“Then let’s get started. We will start with our returning champion. Are you ready, Mr. Vanderschoot?”

Bertrand nodded and stood next to the box. A buzzer sounded, and he pulled the parachute off of the box. He placed his hands on the lid of the box and lifted the latch. He pushed the heavy lid back and looked inside.

The voice reverberated off the walls of the stadium. “Well, tell us, Mr. Vanderschoot, what do you see?”

Bertrand scratched his head. “The box is empty.”

“Mr. Montagu, tell us, what do you see?”

David stepped up to the box. He bent over and stuck his head inside. He reached into the box and felt around in the darkness. 

Bertrand tapped him on the shoulder. “We’re waiting.”

David straightened up. He lifted his arm above his head and held a small box in his hand.  “I could see nothing, but I found this box of crayons.”

The audience became silent. David looked around. Outside the venue, a car honked while tires squealed. The sound system crackled.

“It looks like we have a new winner!”

David looked around. “What just happened?”

Bertrand clapped his opponent on the shoulder. “Looks like you won. Congratulations.”

“I don’t get it. I didn’t do anything.”

“But you did. That was the challenge. You found the box of crayons.”

David looked around. The crowd cheered loudly. He looked back at Bertrand.  “But that is stupid. Who would pay money to watch someone look in a box?”
​
Bertrand stepped closer and whispered into David’s ear. “Don’t ask too many questions and go with it. Enjoy the moment, for it may not come again.”