THE ROCK

”What is this thing?” Jake wondered. It looked like a rock about four inches long and two inches wide. It was gray like concrete but one side had strange symbols on it. He took it to the counter and asked the barista if she knew “ No, never seen it.” “Do you know who was sitting there before me and left it on the table?” “This is a busy coffee shop so I have no clue.” Jake went back to his table set the object down and continued his work. He swore he could see a faint light from the object, but that can’t be possible, could it? He thought. When finished he packed up his laptop and the strange object and put it in his messenger bag. That night the nightmares started. There were beings surrounding his bed just staring at him they seemed to be floating. He woke startled. Heart racing. He sat on the edge of the bed trying to calm himself down. Then he noticed on the night stand the object from the coffee shop was sitting there. He couldn’t remember taking it out of his bag. How could it be sitting here? He thought. Now, there appeared to be a faint glow to it like what he seen in the coffee shop. Where is this light coming from? What is making it glow? He wondered. The next day he showed his co-workers, asking if they knew what it was. But everyone said no. One guy asked “ Where did you get it?” Jake replied “It was just laying on the table at the coffee shop down the street.” After work he went to an antique shop but they didn’t know anything. Then he tried a pawn shop. The guy behind the counter said “ No clue what it is, but I’ll give you twenty bucks for it.” “No thanks, I’ll keep it.” That night the nightmares started again. The beings surrounded his bed, some tall some short they had a light gray shiny skin. Huge black eyes, arms that were longer than normal and a slit for a mouth there didn’t appear to be a nose. One said “ Let’s take him now.” But another said “No, we must wait a few more nights.” That being bent over and was inches from Jake’s face. He kept turning his head like he was examining him. The huge eyes just piercing his soul. Then Jake woke screaming, heart racing and beads of sweat rolling off his forehead. He looked around, the beings were gone, his room empty again. He sat on the edge of the bed trying to catch his breath. He looked over at the object on his night stand and it was glowing even brighter. That’s it, I’ve had enough of this. It stops tonight! He got up got dressed and put the object in his pocket. He felt the warmth emanating from it. He drove the five miles to the lake. He walked out on the long wooden dock. Took the object out of his pocket. Now the thing was pulsating like crazy! The light from it even brighter. As if it were alive and knew what he was going to do. Jake drew his arm back and as hard as he could he threw it. Splash! The object sank deeper and deeper till it rested on the bottom of the lake. Then, a strange gray fog swirled on top of the water. Jake took off running to his car. When he arrived home he walked up to the porch and there on the step sat the object still dripping wet! How is this even possible? He said aloud. He left the rock sit on the steps. He wasn’t bringing it back inside. That night the nightmare started again. This time only one being was there. Again, he was inches from Jake’s face, peering at him with those huge black eyes, telling him “You can’t just throw it away, we’ll always come back. Now, your coming with me.” Jake was lifted from his bed and out the window where a craft awaited them. Jake tried screaming but nothing came out he tried moving but was paralyzed. Inside the craft were bright lights and a sterile looking room. He was laid on a cold metal table. More of the beings surrounded the table. They used instruments probing his abdomen then his chest. He wanted to scream but couldn’t. As he looked around the room he noticed familiar symbols on the wall. Still no clue what they read or stood for. They were just like the ones on the rock! He must have fallen asleep and now awake he could move. He was in another room. Laying on the floor. He yelled “ Help! Where am I!” No one answered. He started pounding his fists on the wall. “Let me out of here!” Jake yelled. Finally, one of the beings appeared in the room, no door he just appeared there. The being looked at Jake and said “We will return you shortly in the same spot you threw us.” “What the hell is he talking about, in the lake?” The being just disappeared. If they dump him in the lake he's going to have to swim back, he thought. Jake just sat in the room for what seemed like hours. He could tell the craft was moving. A low hum from an engine. Suddenly, it stopped. The floor where Jake was sitting opened up. He fell out, he could see the dark sky above and water below him. He hit the water hard. Came back up, took a breath and started swimming back to shore. His arms and legs tired his ribs hurting but he knew he had to make it back. As he did, he lay on the grass his lungs burning and heart racing. He looked up to the sky, the craft was gone. Thank god he thought. He stood up and walked back home. He never seen that object again or the beings.