So Scary 7- A Rift in Space
Two astronauts have ventured out into space after volunteering for the shuttle mission. The stars looked beautiful for David, but his thoughts were on his wife and daughter, who were currently waiting for him to come home. After all, it had been two months now. It sounded like he may not able to see them if he didn't survive this mission.
But being a scientist, whose major on astronomy have allowed him to get what he wanted. The trouble was that he might be gone for too long. His wife recommended him to take a teaching position at the Miskatonic University. But he wanted to take an adventurous journey into the unknown.
His partner named Sean had been best buddies, ever since the high school days. Sean was a technician, who used to work at an oil company. If anything went wrong with the shuttle itself, he could work things out, even with the help of his dear friend. But the fact remained clear that both astronauts were in for a surprise that they would never forget.
"Holy Christ," Sean said as he floated above the shuttle. "This is beautiful... You can see the stars, and even Earth from up here. I wish my old folks could see this."
"You're telling me," David said. He was currently adjusting the communications equipment. Then, he saw something and stopped. He didn't know what to make of it. Sean have noticed his friend's stare. "Hey buddy, what's up?"
"Huh?" David turned back towards his friend. Then he said, "Oh... I thought I saw something."
"Like what?"
"Over there..." David pointed towards the space. But Sean sort of laughed at it, and then shook his head. "You've been watching too many sci-fi movies, David. You need to loosen up a little."
"I'm trying to, okay?" David focused on the job at hand. But it wasn't the astronomer's hallucination. It was about his wife.
"Um... Is everything okay with Cheryl?" David didn't answer him. Of course, it wasn't okay. Besides, David had been forced enough to stay with his family, which was far more important than his work. He needed to do some research on intelligent life. This was the sole reason why David and Sean were hired to perform their main task. By doing that, they brought the communications equipment along with them.
"I'm sorry if I had to ask that question," Sean said. "It's not my business, anyways."
David looked at him and said, "No... I'm sorry. It's just... Cheryl thinks that this is a waste of time. You know how she is."
"Yeah... I know what you mean. She wanted you to be a teacher."
"That's because she wanted me close by, so she didn't have to worry about me coming back home." David stopped. He looked at the stars, and thought he saw something earlier.
"Come on, David. She's a woman. What do you expect? If I was married, my wife would have said the same thing."
"Yeah, but you're not married. I guess you're lucky."
"I don't know about that. My folks told me to settle down, once this mission is over. They figured that being out in space could be dangerous enough for them to worry about anything else. I was like, What's the worst thing that could happen? But yeah, they still cared for me."
"So... you haven't found a woman yet."
"Nope. But they're finding one for me. Can you believe it? I thought Indian parents would do something like that. It must be the influence. Who knows?" At that statement, David laughed.
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David began to see visions. He found himself back home where he wasn't supposed to be. But there he was, lecturing in front of his students. Then, they asked him questions about the universe. He was familiar with the idea of alien life. That some form of intelligence could exist out there, and what it could also bring to humanity. But there were some things that shouldn't be talked about.
He had heard stories about the creature known as Cthulhu. It was based upon the idea that such a creature could exist in modern fiction, and this came from his former instructor at the Miskatonic University.
"He does exist, David," the teacher used to tell him. David was entirely alone with the teacher himself. She was a beautiful woman, which he couldn't help forget. Her pretty eyes, and her skin... Her skin felt like softness to the touch. It was wrong for him to know that an affair could happen between a young man and a woman. But fate had been sealed on that day. David never wanted to see her go, after the board members have found out about their forbidden relationship. He even felt responsible for his actions. But he was young at the time, and didn't even know what love was.
Until he met Cheryl in his second year. One time, they both went to the observatory, looking at the stars with that huge telescope. Someday, David thought he could end up there. But Cheryl said it was a waste of time. And she never believed in alien life.
Then David found himself back in space. Only this time, it wasn't the shuttle. He was drifting away, alone. He cried out for help, Even Sean couldn't hear him. Then he saw something that was opening up in space. Like a tear in the fabric of space and time. Eventually, David would find out what happens on the other side of the universe. He approached it, and gasped.
He woke up from the bed, breathing heavily. He never thought he could see something like that. But it seemed real to him. He thought, Maybe Cheryl was right. There's nothing out there. He went to the washroom, splashing water on his face. He stared at the mirror. I have to get back home. He truly missed his daughter, Samantha. The girl was a smart kid, and that David was proud of her.
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David and Sean went back to work. Sean was complaining about his parents, asking him to get home as soon as possible. But he told them the job wasn't finished yet. David understood his parents very well. Ever since he met them, they wanted Sean to be happy, and they also wanted to become grandparents someday. They were too worried about him.
In his childhood years, David's father was never there for him. He was often gone on a business trip. And he understood that being responsible in his line of work, was far important than anything else. But his mother told him, "You're a smart kid, David. Yes, we do need to work at some point. But you need to also realize that family is too important." And looked how that turned out. His parents got divorced. Could he blame his father? After all, he was an important businessman.
His thoughts got the better of him. He sighed. Maybe, finding alien life might have been a waste of time. But there was something else. The space opened itself. He could see some form of white light, coming out of it. He had never seen anything like it. Sean called out to him.
But David didn't listen. He was drifting away... drifting...
"DAVID!" That familiar sound disappeared. The scientist found himself, staring at the most beautiful sight of all. The beauty of mankind itself. He was drawn inside, and smiled.
End of Volume 7.
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