Darkthorn’s Blog

Sarah approached the tattoo shop warily, it was in the corner, right at the back of the shopping center. It certainly didn’t fit in with the rest of this place, it even seemed to exude menace, warning people away from it. The skulls painted on the walls outside did nothing to quell my anxiety. It was squashed between the furniture and coffee shops next door, their bright signs welcoming others in.

At first impression inside, the little shop was crowded and dark, filled with unknown horrors. Sarah’s eyes adjusted slowly, revealing an interior that seemed to penetrate backwards into the darkness. There was more to this shop that it looked. She wondered if her friend had known this when they referred her here. This was Sarah’s last chance, she had to find a job today or she would be out of the flat.

A woman hurried in from a side door Sarah was sure hadn’t existed before. She hadn’t heard a bell either, to indicate she was there either.

“What do you want? You don’t look like our type.”

Sarah looked down at what she was wearing self-consciously. Nice black shoes, a little scuffed by the walk here, but otherwise ok, comfortable old jeans that were a little faded, and a grey and black T-shirt. She didn’t think she looked too bad actually; it was neat, even if it was all well worn. Sarah nervously cleared my throat. The sound that came out was too quiet, and she had to try again.

“I’m here for a job.”

“We don’t take strangers.”

Sarah proffered her results letter, and another referral. There was nothing really personal there, just some background, it was the results that would matter. Pity she had actually tried to be law abiding in high school.

“Huh. I’ll take you to the boss.”

The woman walked off into the back, passing through a bead curtain. Sarah walked ever so slowly following her. She had the feeling that once she passed that door, she couldn’t come back. She swallowed, suddenly it felt like her tongue was taking up her entire mouth.

The woman stuck her head out, “He doesn’t like to be kept waiting.”

The designs on the cabinets crawled out of the gloom, and Sarah saw heads floating, their eyes rolled back. She winced. Sarah hoped this wasn’t a display of those who had come before her and been unsuitable.

“Sit.”

The man behind Sarah forced her down into a chair was shorter than her, and she could feel him straining against her. Sarah sat, there wasn’t anything else to do now.

“Why are you here? No, don’t answer that. Jeannette told me you were looking for a job. What makes you think we have a place for you here? Do you know what we do to those we reject? And we reject everyone, we don’t need more cowards.”

The words came as a barrage against her, forcing her to cower in the chair. He didn’t seem to actually be looking for answers from Sarah. He just wanted to see her reactions.

“I’m here for a job, as you said. I don’t know what happens to those that fail, but in my own mine, things can’t get worse. I’m not afraid of death. I was told by a friend that you might have a place for me. My results say I’m suited to a job like this as well.”

The man trotted around to see her face. He was indeed short, and his black hair was even longer than he was tall, the dreadlocks dragging on the floor.

“What kind of job do you think this is?”

“I was informed you needed people to test an idea of yours. I was not informed of what exactly that was, only that with my practical grades I would be ideally suited to it.”

Sarah stared him in the eyes, willing him to see her determination. She had to get this job.

“Fine. Come with me.” He talked rapidly. “I am Tom. You are no-body. You follow everyone else’s rules, but I am always right. Now, the idea. I am creating a light which will improve the lives of the world. It is illegal, because of what must be done to create it. Endless snow and ice must first be created, then the air particles will need to be expanded into space. They wont escape, because there is nowhere for them to go, think of outer space as a kind of blanket, protecting us. Others say that it wont work, that the blanket effect isn’t possible, but it should.”

Jeannette took over. “If we can make the space big enough, the sun will be able to travel easily through the thinned air, to all parts of the world. Not everyone wants us to do this. In darkness, all those illegal activities can be performed. In the light we shall create, everything will be revealed. There will be no need for electricity, except to run appliances. And with the sun’s energy bearing down more closely on us, solar power will be so much more possible. No one will need to pay for electricity. You can see why that too would be unpopular.”

“Your role in this is to test the idea in controlled microclimates and inform us of problems you encounter.

We will be implementing our idea in less than a week. Be prepared. You’ll meet the rest of the crew now. There is no escape either, you are with us now, until you die. Which, as you might expect, is very likely.”

Jeannette showed Sarah to her workstation. It was bloodstained, and a little untidy, evidently the last occupants of the space had gone violently. Sarah wouldn’t be like that though, she was better, she was stronger.

“These are the principles and intended instructions of the ritual. Study them, and then use them to invoke the conditions on the worlds. Good luck.” She turned away. “I hope you do better than the last girl.”

Sarah looked down at the instructions, they seemed pretty simple. The key would be to be able to focus the power properly.

To remove the heat, first reverse all of the air conditioners present,
then reflect the sun’s energy back towards it.
Expand the air by forcing the bonds between molecules apart to create space.
This should form a visible mushroom shaped area in the air,
which is lighter than the surrounds.
Allow the sun’s energy to return.
Warning: this step is highly flammable.

They weren’t exactly easy to follow after all. She doubted her employer would appreciate any questions until it was time to test it however. He seemed set on his ideas. Strangely, he wasn’t looking for glory, he was actually trying to improve the lives of others. Sarah doubted it was possible though, an idea as incredible as this could never work.