The Swirl: Chapter One

The night was quiet and chill as I stepped off the midnight train that had just brought me home from a very long shift at the Trayton Organization in Trayton Fields. My work was top secret as we studied the mysterious ongoings of the universe, including what was known as 'Black swirls.' The company knew they existed, though we weren't allowed to announce it to the world because Mr. Stevenson, the boss was afraid that it would cause unwanted panic in the streets. I, on the other hand, had never witnessed these swirls as he called them, and neither had my colleagues who worked night and day to unravel the weird mysteries of this universe.

Tonight I didn't want to think about it. All that I wanted to do was have a glass of red wine, a shower, and a good night's sleep.

The telephones in my office had been hotwired all day, constantly ringing with the deputies and media winging because we refused to leak the latest story. It had given me a real headache, and I was shattered.

If I got one more call tonight, I would rip the plug out of the wall and let them believe that I'd been swallowed by the so-called 'black swirl.'

I headed into Butlers, my local corner shop to pick up a bottle of red wine, and then I head straight to my house on Low Avenue. I kick off my shoes and run a steaming hot shower before settling for a movie and devouring my bottle like chocolate.

I hadn't been out of the shower long before someone started banging my door down, almost as if they were trying to break it off its hinges!

"Alright! alright, I'm coming. Jeez give it a break will ya!" I complained.

I answer the door to find Andrew, my co-worker on the doorstep.

"No...No and NO!" I cry.

"Evening Lacy," Andrew greets me with that smug smirk on his face.

I just want to punch him straight in the mouth, if only to wipe that smirk straight off him! I was hoping for a quiet night,

but no! they always show up at the wrong time.

"So. Whats' up Andrew?" I ask, feeling unamused at my disturbed peace.

"You're needed at the Office. I insisted on not disturbing you, but Mr. Stevenson won't have it. He says that he needs to see you, and he needs to see you now!" Something to do with a black swirl he has caught on Camera," Andrew explains apologetically.

"Oh great!" I snap as I get my coat.

"He couldn't have waited until morning? That man has no patience!" I complain.

"Well, you know Mr. Stevenson. Bossy as ever, when he gets his mind set on something," Andrew tells me.

"Ya! A real pain in the arse!" I reply sarcastically as I usher towards Andrew's car, frantically slamming the door.

"Hey, steady on girl! I just paid $500 to have that door repaired." Andrew cries.

"Whatever!" I tell him, rolling my eyes."

 ...

I step into the Office with Andrew, not smiling, and not feeling the slightest amused at having my night disturbed.

'Mr. Stevenson better have a good reason for this.' I think to myself, as I take a seat before the Boss tells me to.

"Good evening Lacy. I called you in tonight because the Saturn Telescope has picked up something that we find rather strange." Mr. Stevenson explains, not even bothering to show any acknowledgment at all, for ruining my night.

"This better be good," I snap.

The Saturn Telescope is some super technology that Mr. Stevenson and our Department of Space Tech developed together. It is a fascinating piece of equipment that can even pick up stars, planets, black holes, galaxies, asteroids, and all space activities, even if they are millions of light years away.

"Take a look at this image." Mr. Stevenson tells me while loading the digital data from the telescope into the computer hard drive.

After waiting for twenty minutes, the images appear on the screen, and I am just staring at a huge deep swirling black hole above the Earth's atmosphere. I watch in amazement as it swirls faster than a super tornado, and grows bigger, then just disappears.

"We need to keep an eye on this, in case it cuts through the Earth's atmosphere," I tell Mr. Stevenson.

Andrew stands in the corner arms folded, then finally speaks.

"What are we expecting, Aliens?" he replies sarcastically.

I throw him a very stern look. Andrew's attitude towards his work stinks most of the time; he never takes anything seriously.

"If we don't watch this thing, there will be no Earth. That 'thing' you just saw on screen is a black hole, and it is the biggest that we have seen in decades." I tell Andrew, firmly.

"We don't know that yet. It could be a supernatural occurrence too. We may need to speak with the Supernatural Intelligence Corps and ask for assistance. One thing is for certain; we can't afford to let this get out to members of the public yet." Mr. Stevenson tells us both.

Come on, will ya! The public probably already knows something. We have had mini black holes, strong winds, and day turning into the night during the afternoon for the past few weeks; they aren't stupid Sir!" I tell Mr. Stevenson.

My boss raises an eyebrow, and then replies with,

"What will you tell them? It's the end of the world? I'm sure they'll buy that story well!"

I just shake my head.

"We'll think of something, though we have to do it fast!" I tell Mr. Stevenson.

...

The drive home is a quiet one until Andrew starts with the stupid questions.

"There could be aliens out there. There have been talks about UFOs and other sightings for years, you know. Don't you think it's possible?"

"Andrew shut the fuck up, will ya! I have had enough tonight. My brain can't take any more questions or thinking. I'm pissed enough with having been called into work. I'm tired; I just want a warm drink and a bed." I snap at him.

"Oh. Sorry!" Andrew replies.

"No, I'm sorry. I have the kids tomorrow as Ralph is working. I haven't had a break from work for a while, and now this!" I respond, apologetically.

Andrew drops me off at the door, and I bid him good night.

I spend the entire night tossing and turning; worrying about work and the kids. Tomorrow, I have the kids from 6 A.M to 7 P.M. then I'm expected to be at work by 8:30 P.M. It feels like tomorrow is going to be a nightmare before it happens.

I finally fall asleep at 4 A.M. dreaming nightmares about black holes and Aliens.

I guess I'll have to wait and see what tomorrow brings.

To be continued...

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