Under the Blood Moon (The Stargazers Trilogy Book 1) (9 page)

Chapter Twenty-one

January 4
th

Second Year

Christmas and New Year’s Day had passed so quietly that Sybil did not recognize either. Without Eric, there was nothing to celebrate.

The radio and television were her closest companions. Hopefully, she would hear of Eric being rescued. “Now for other news, The radical claim of many religious theorists is that a massive asteroid or comet, large enough to spell the end of the human race, is about to collide with Earth. Although the details are still a little fuzzy and the claims lack credentials, the massive popularity of the prediction has forced NASA to respond.

“The agency has clarified that the world will not end in September, and humanity will not be destroyed. The possibility of such a major collision with a comet or a large asteroid is minimal,” said a NASA spokesperson. “They dismissed the theory as unfounded.

“However, many theorists say that the governments of many leading countries around the world take the threat seriously. They have information and knowledge about a comet strike on its way toward Earth. They say that other countries are prepared to protect the elite ruling class in their country, but not the poor. Those governments in other parts of the world are keeping the information about this comet strike a secret, to allow the more affluent class to be safe. This is also to prevent mass panic.”

Sybil got a call from Robert, and he asked if she would like to go out to dinner. “I’m not sure what is going to happen tonight if that asteroid strikes,” he said. “I don’t want you to be alone.”

“You are very kind.”

“May I come pick you up in a couple of hours and take you to dinner?”

“Sure. I’d like that. I’ll be ready. How should I dress? What kind of place will it be?”

“What would you like to eat?”

“A big juicy steak and baked potato.”

“We’ll go country western. Wear your blue jeans and cowgirl hat.”

“Will do. Thank you.”

Ten minutes later, Robert honked in front of Sybil’s home. She ran out to the truck and climbed in. Robert patted her leg and said, “You look great, girl.”

She kissed his cheek and thanked him for the compliment.

Going inside the Silver Saddle, they were led to the back of the room by a server. They walked past those dancing on the floor to a table in the corner. Robert ordered drinks. When they came, he ordered two big steaks and two loaded baked potatoes.

Sybil put her elbow on the table and placed her chin in her hand, showing she was tired. “Thanks. I really needed to get out.”

An oversized television was on in a corner showing the news. Many eyes were glued to it. After they showed pictures of the blood moon from the early morning hours, they showed pictures from outer space of the coming asteroid. “It is approaching rapidly, traveling at 26,000 miles an hour,” said the newsman. “It is headed right toward the wilderness east of Portland.”

Unexpectedly, a thunderous sound filled the air, as everything vibrated and banged to the floor. The television cameras picked up on the comet as it slammed into the open country. “It has landed! Everybody take cover.”

The asteroid landed hard, shaking the entire state. As the breathtaking collision of an asteroid slammed onto the Earth, the ladies in the Silver Saddle screamed. There was a lot of static and noise. Sybil felt fear.

Another announcer joined the first one, as they always do in these situations. “Do you recognize that area, Don?”

“It does look familiar, Buck.”

“We were filming out there recently,” said Buck. “That is where that cabin burned down when the first blood moon was overhead.”

“Right. What a strange coincidence!”

“If it was a coincidence.”

“You don’t think so?”

“No, I don’t.” He shouted into the TV camera, “Everybody out there, take cover!”

Those on the dance floor at the Silver Saddle, raced to the edges and hid under the tables. Sybil and Robert scooted under their table as well.

Sybil was shaking. Robert asked if he should get the steaks to go. “I’ll stay with you at your house tonight. I’ll sleep on the couch.”

“Yes, please.” With their food packaged up to go, they went back to Sybil’s house.

“Let’s just put music on,” said Sybil as she sipped her soda. “I need to keep my nerves settled.” With soft music playing, they ate the steaks and baked potatoes.

Robert sat down on the couch, and Sybil got a blanket and walked over to him. “May I sit by you for a while?”

“Of course.”

Sirens resounded throughout the night. Every once in a while, the Earth would move in a jerking motion.

When morning came, Robert put the news back on. Don and Buck were still on TV talking about the back to back events of a blood moon and an asteroid strike. “I guess those two did not sleep all night,” said Robert.

Sybil smiled and agreed.

Don, the announcer said, “Here is the latest news about that asteroid that struck the Earth last night. The impact created a tremendous crater of approximately one mile across, and twenty-four miles in circumference. The strange thing was the depth. It was over nine hundred feet deep. It then disappeared into the Earth.” Cameras were scanning the area. Sybil was at home on the edge of her seat.

The news continued. “The explosive fury of the super heated trip into the Earth’s atmosphere caused the asteroid to collide with the Earth with overwhelming power. The collision rocked most of the west coast with the power of twenty million tons of TNT.”

Robert’s cell phone rang. He answered it quickly. “Gotta go.” He stood and kissed Sybil on top of the head. “You’re going to be alright, pumpkin.”

“You find Eric and I’ll be happy again.”

Robert walked out and Sybil watched him drive away. She turned back to the television and watched closely. She saw the crater made by the asteroid and she saw the crater created when the cabin imploded. “How strange,” she muttered.

She saw something else on the other side of her TV screen. A small shed among the trees. A van was going down a small dirt road, heading toward the shed. She dialed Robert on his cell phone. “I’m watching TV. I see an old outbuilding about five miles from where the cabin once stood. It is on the other side of the crater. Try to find it.” She choked out the next sentence. “Eric might be in it.”

Sybil called Solomon on her cell phone. “What do you know about the comet that hit the Earth last night?”

“It had been out there for awhile, babe.” Solomon spoke in a quiet voice. “I’ve seen it through the telescope here at work. I guessed it would hit Earth, but not around here.”

“What should we do about it?”

“Let it go. You have enough on your plate.”

Sybil did not know how to let it go. When Eric first told his dream to her, she knew it was going to involve others. And then they were at Isabella’s cabin during the full moon that turned red. Isabella’s home blew up. And now an asteroid landed on Isabella’s property. “Try to figure that one out.”

“We don’t know why now. Just relax. We’ll learn soon.”

“I’ll try,” she said quietly.

“Tell me what else is bothering you.”

“My friend, Robert, took me to dinner last night. That is where I was when the asteroid hit. I went home immediately, but this morning I was watching the scenes on TV. It was hard, because that was where we were when my brother was kidnapped.”

“I know that is hard,” said Solomon.

“I saw a shack on the property.” She started to cry.

“You think Eric is in that shack, don’t you?”

“Yes.”

“Where are you right now?”

“I’m home.”

“They probably know where you live,” said Solomon. “You need to get out of there.”

“Where will I go?”

“A hotel. I’ll give you an address.”

“What about my research papers?”

“Take them with you.”

Chapter Twenty-two

February 1
st
, 10:00 p.m.

“Dust and sulfur dioxide in the Earth’s atmosphere can affect the size of the shadow spreading across the moon’s surface. The moon has to be full for the total lunar eclipse to occur. In order to be complete, the Earth’s shadow must cross over the last bit of reflected light on the moon’s surface.” Sybil turned the radio off and sat back down on the side of her bed. Several papers were spread out over every inch of where she slept. She was only missing one piece of the puzzle, which was Eric’s birth certificate or his adoption paper, whichever fit him. She had to find it before she could move forward.

She called Solomon. “I’m here in in Portland with a box of important papers, but have nothing about Eric’s birth. Not sure what to do next.”

“We’ll just pray for God to help you through this.”

“What do you know about the comet?”

“Many believe that the end is near! Accounts of such a disaster agree that a comet would bring about a climatic catastrophe. But people are just spooked. Some people claim that the actual doomsday will be associated with the number ‘666’, rather than an asteroid. Others say that it is the sign of the beast in the circle. NASA has contradicted the prediction of apocalypse by an impending comet strike.”

“What do you think?”

“I think people are spooked.” He paused and she could hear him breathing hard into the receiver. “Sybil, dear.”

“Yes.”

“Just go to sleep.”

“I’ll try.” Pushing the papers to one side, she climbed on top of her bed and fell asleep. She slept until she was awakened when her bed slid across the floor and slammed her into a wall. Before she could think what was going on, the room tilted and she was shoved across the room again; this time to the other side of the room.

A dresser tipped over, and a lamp broke. The hotel continued to shake for another minute. She heard windows breaking and dishes falling all over the place. “Earthquake,” she called out, but no one was there to hear. A large mirror dropped on top of her, hitting her on the head. She was knocked out, momentarily unconscious, and thought she had also passed away.

“Oh God. Help me,” she cried. While unconscious, Sybil saw it all. She saw heaven and hell. They both seemed to be real.

When she came to, the radio was playing. “Now for other news. The agency has clarified that the world will not end in September, and humanity will not be destroyed. The possibility of such a major collision with a comet or a large asteroid is minimal,” said a NASA spokesperson. “He dismissed the theory as unfounded.

“However, many theorists say that governments of many leading countries around the world take the threat seriously. They have information and knowledge about a comet strike on its way toward Earth. They say that other countries are prepared to protect the elite ruling class in their country, but not the poor. Those governments in other parts of the world are keeping the information about this comet strike a secret, to allow the more affluent class to be safe. This is also to prevent mass panic.”

Chapter Twenty-three

March 20
th
, 10:00 a.m.

Sybil lay on the bed in the hotel resting when the next earthqu6:21 amake started. The bed rolled into the dresser and the mirror fell. It fell on her head, causing a bloody mess.

Sybil had a lump on the back of her head. “That mirror fell on me and broke.” She grabbed her head with both hands and fell onto her bed, sobbing. “I can’t do this anymore, Solomon! I have every bit of information I need to prove he is mine, except for Eric’s adoption papers. I mean, I know it’s hard to track down his blood parents, because they signed some sort of don’t contact me contract. Eric was always as much of a brother to me, as he could ever be. I never wanted a sister or another sibling of any kind, when I got to know him. We were just like every other brother and sister, except for the fact that we were great friends. We really liked each other. After a while, I forgot he was adopted. Can you imagine…?”

“Enough, already!” he said firmly, with a provoked look on his face. Sybil was shocked at seeing him lose his temper for the first time since she met him. She felt bad for meandering.

“Let me tell you this. I think I was dead for a minute. I had a strange vision.”

He shook his head and looked extremely disgusted with himself. “I apologize, Sybil. You were rambling and it bothered me. Also, I could see
that
you were headed into a very bad place.”

“I was injured in the earthquake.”

“I’m so sorry.”

“There is something wrong with me.”

“Maybe it was the solar eclipse of the sun.”

“What do you mean? A sunstroke.”

“Not necessarily.”

“I am glad you came.”

“I came here to see if you were okay.”

“You could’ve called.”

“I didn’t expect an earthquake.” He clasped her hands. “I think I need to take you with me. I have something at my house for you that I think you will like. Will you come with me to see it?”

“Sure.” She laughed. “How will I get there. I walked here.”

“I would love to escort you.”

“Thanks. This earthquake and solar eclipse has me rattled. I think the stress has given me a fever.” She placed the back of her hand on her forehead.

He gave her a look of surprise and then said, “Just come with me now.”

“Where to? Your place?”

“Sure.” He examined the papers scattered at the foot of her bed. After looking them over, he asked, “Are you studying dreams or blood moons?”

“Both.” She grinned. “Should I bring the papers with me?”

The smile returned to his face, as he nodded in agreement. “I think
that
can be arranged.”

She gathered them up and stuffed them back into the plastic bag. They walked out the door together.

After Sybil and Solomon arrived at his mother’s house, he immediately went into the basement for undisclosed important business. He insisted that she visit with Callista while he prepared a secret project for her.