• -- Introduction --

    Here is a story of a man whose life was twisted in such a knot that if it had gotten much tighter, his head might have exploded. His name is Anthony Michaels. He lived in Breakwater, MI with his family and he had a pleasant job there as well. He worked hard for a living just like any other normal American. He had an SUV, and could barely afford to support his family of four, because he was a small shop owner, and didn’t make a whole lot of cash like a big CEO. He had made it this far and wasn’t about to give it up easily…until one day he had to…


    -- Chapter One --

    Goodbye Life


    that day started as a good day for Anthony. He was on his lunch break and he was sitting enjoying a cup of coffee when he was joined by one of his friends. “Hey Tony,” said the man as he sat down.

    “Hey John. What’s new with you?”

    “Job’s barely holdin’ out, the mortgage is due, and I haven’t had a phone for the past month.” He replied. “So how’s your life?”

    “It’s holding out pretty well. I think I might start saving for that eventual trip to Disney world with the kids. Bu t I need a miracle for that to happen.”

    “I know what you mean, I mean look at us, two average slobs in the turmoil of life and not enough resources to go around. We need to find a better job. I think you could find something better than what you’re doing now because of your stint in the marines.”

    “Maybe your right John. I should start looking. But, it may involve relocation. That would be tough on the kids, you know?”

    “Yeah I know what you mean. I have three young ones at home and they would be heartbroken if we left the only place they know and all their friends. They’d be devastated. I’d need to move to Disney world in order to stop that.”

    “I see what you mean. I’ll start looking in the morning. See you later, I’ve got to get back to work, I’m late.” He said as he finished his coffee, placed the money on the table and left. He left the restaurant and headed for his blue Chevy blazer, when he was headed off by a small, stern, blonde man in a black trench coat. “Git outta my way you lazy slob!” screamed the violent little man.

    “And what if I don’t?” asked Anthony.

    “Then I’ll gut you like a trout you bug-eyed moron!” he said as he whipped out a jackknife.

    “You think that will help you?” Anthony said with a snide tone in his voice “little man.” His voice was like acid to the vertically challenged attacker’s ears. “‘Little man!’ That does it you slimy rat! I’m going to stab you so hard; your doctor will feel it for weeks.”

    “Just try it.” With that the little guy leapt from the ground, knife in hand, and was suddenly dangling three feet from the ground. “Let go of me!” screamed the helpless man as he flailed around. “Let me go! I’ll get you good for this!” Anthony took the knife from the man’s stubby hand and wrenched the wrist he was holding sharply so that a low snap and the resulting roar of pain erupted from the mouth of the attacker. “You broke my wrist you b*****d! When I get this fixed your a** is grass and I’ll be the lawnmower. Get it slime ball? Good.”

    “I’ll be waiting to kick your a** from here to Timbuktu. Get that?” the little man grumbled and walked off clutching his now deformed wrist. Anthony folded up the knife and stored it in his glove compartment, started his car and drove back to his shop. He finished his day at the store, and drove home to find a long brown package hanging out of his mailbox. He pulled up to the mailbox, pulled out the parcel, and proceeded to read the address label. It was addressed to him and he noticed that it lacked a return address or any marks that he might recognize. Wow. That’s bizarre. No return address, nothing to recognize the sender by… I might as well open it when I get inside. He thought. He pulled up to his house and into the garage, got the groceries out of the trunk, and went inside.

    This was a typical day for this family, dad goes to work, kids go to school, mom goes to work, kids come home, mom and dad come home, and they have dinner, the typical American family. After dinner, Anthony went into his study, sat at his desk, poured a glass of scotch for himself and proceeded to open the mysterious package. He found a small box inside the envelope which was marked in big red letters ‘TOP SECRET: FOR YOUR EYES ONLY’. He wondered what could be inside. Could it be a secret message and he would be paid thousands to deliver it, no it said for your eyes only so it wasn’t a message to deliver. The only way to find out was to open it. So he did. A single piece of paper, a small 9mm pistol and ammunition were enclosed. He pulled out the sheet of paper and read it. It said ‘meet at the light house on the northern shore of Lake Michigan on Tuesday, May first at Three forty-five P.M. bring the gun.’ It wasn’t signed and he couldn’t place the writing because it was typed on an old-fashioned typewriter. How strange he thought, and then suddenly the phone in his study rang three times. Apparently it was only in his study because he didn’t hear the usual “I got it” screamed throughout the house. He picked up the receiver and said “Anthony Michaels here…”

    “We know who you are Sgt. Michaels. We need your help. Meet us on the date on the paper you received and bring the gun. And don’t try to put us off…we know you got the package. Goodbye.*click*”he hung up the receiver and noticed a dull beeping coming from somewhere in the room. He looked into the packaging and noticed a larger black box. He pulled it out and opened it. Inside was a trench coat, a white tee shirt with a weird symbol on the front, and another single piece of paper which read ‘wear these when you meet us. Your boots are on the way.’ He also pulled out a small circuit board with a flashing red LED on it. He crushed it and threw it into the wastebasket. He knew what he had to do. He went over to his calendar, looked at the next month, and marked this new date on the first of May. He also started to put some of the old military things he had kept into places of easy access.

    Four days had passed since he had received his instructions when he got another large package. Again after dinner he went back to his study and opened his new package. It contained a pair of jet black steel-toe Kevlar and Gore-Tex boots, and one pair of wraparound sunglasses of the same color. A single piece of paper was slid in with them the same as the first package. This one read ‘Wear these as well when you meet us. We are counting on your arrival.’ He threw the paper into the garbage can and went to go on to other business when all of a sudden a white flash erupted from the small metal container and sent books and other objects flying against the walls. After the chaos was finished, a tall dark figure stood in the corner, and since the lights were out, all Anthony could see was a silhouette. “Wh-who are you?” he stammered.

    “I am the agent sent to retrieve you.” a deep voice rumbled from the silhouette.

    “But it’s only the 29th!”Anthony stated.

    “There was a change in plans. Put your clothes on, grab the gun and let’s go.” The man said hurriedly.

    “I’ll be done in a second. By the way what did you say your name was?” Anthony asked.

    “I didn’t.” growled the man. Ten minutes later Anthony stepped out of his dressing room and holstered his gun. He slid the sunglasses on and asked “by the way, how are we getting there?”

    “Like this” said the agent as he threw down a small sphere and it exploded in the same flash of light that had been in the trash can.

    The night that he went through with this, he was confused, nervous and worried about his family. He was told that during his examination his family would be taken care of, and there wouldn’t be anything to worry about. He wondered what he was being examined for. He was about to find out.