Excerpt: Always Darkest Before The Dawn

Chapter 10: Ray Gunn and The Zombie Women on Mars

“I don’t believe it,” said Sara.
“Where are we?” asked Proty.
“Is this possible?” asked Erika.
“What’s going on?” asked Proty.
“Of course it’s not possible,” said Sara. “But given the fact that we are here, then it must be possible.”
“Am I invisible here?” asked Proty.
“Oh sorry, Proty,” said Sara. “We’re just trying to adjust to what’s happening.”
“Which is?” asked Proty.
“We’re inside the movie,” said Erika.
“What, Zombie Women on Mars?” asked Proty.
“That’s right,” said Sara. “This is the opening scene. The science fair at Apple Valley elementary school. The grand prize is a rocket trip to Mars with Ray Gunn.”
“So we’re inside the movie?” asked Proty.
“Yes,” said Erika.
“And how do we get out?” asked Proty.
“I’m not sure,” said Sara. “We may have to get to the end of the film.”
“Which means we have to have the winning science fair project,” said Erika. “If we don’t win the trip to Mars, we could be stuck in here forever.”
“But we don’t have a project,” said Sara.
“Yes we do,” said Erika. “We’ll take Tommy Sanders and Freddy Johnson’s project.”
“But they don’t win,” said Sara. “In the movie their project was eliminated form the fair because Freddy was out sick and, according to the rules, both kids needed to be present for the judging.”
“Exactly,” said Erika. “We know that their project was suppose to win but eliminated. So if we take their place…”
“We will win the science fair,” finished Sara.
“You think this will work?” asked Proty.
“Sure,” said Sara. “We’ve seen this movie dozens of times. You will have to play our father.”
“But I’m already formed like your father,” said Proty.
“Yes, but you’re clothes don’t fit the era of the movie,” said Sara.
“Oh,” said Proty, “of course.” He switched his form into that of Simon Fairmont. “How’s this? It’s Simon Fairmont.”
“Better,” said Sara.
“Hey, I have a question,” said Erika. “If Simon Fairmont was in Cuba, how idd you copy his form?”
“Actually it wasn’t him,” said Proty. “I found a Henry Monroe who fits his description and went with that. I figured if Bill would describe me, he would be vague enough.”
“Okay,” said Sara. “Now we need to put our names on the project.”
“Wait isn’t that Tommy Sanders over there?” asked Erika pointing to the bleachers.
“Yes it is,” said Sara. “Although they were eliminated, he showed up to see who would win.”
“Which was Scotty Henderson and Ricky Morton,” added Erika.
“We’ll need to get rid of him,” said Proty.
“Wasn’t he a fan of The Lone Ranger?” asked Erika.
“Yeah,” said Sara. “At the end of the movie when Scotty and Ricky return to Earth to brag about Ray Gunn, Tommy says he prefers The Lone Ranger.”
“That’s perfect,” said Erika. “What was the name of the actor who played him?
“I don’t know,” said Sara.
“Apparently Henry knows,” said Proty. “I’ll handle this.” He walks over to Tommy Sanders and talks to him for a moment and suddenly he runs out the door.
“Problem solved,” said Proty returning.
Sara and Erika put their names on his project. Two people start walking towards them.
“It’s Mrs. Hathaway and Mr. Phillips,” said Sara.
“They’re the judges for the science fair,” added Erika.
“Uh girls,” said Proty. “Do you know how the project works?”
“No, why?” asked Sara.
“Because you will probably have to give a demonstration for the judges right?” said Proty.
“Oh. We didn’t think of that,” said Sara.
“I suddenly feel a rumbling under my feet,” said Proty.
“I can’t feel anything,” said Sara.
“Is there an earthquake in the film?” asked Erika.
“No. I think--.” Started Sara but then something strange happened.

“First Prize goes to Sara and Erika Hamilton for their project on The Earth’s Rotation,” said Mr. Phillips. Everyone applauded as the girls were handed a ribbon.
“Wait, what happened to the demonstration?” asked Sara.
“It’s already over,” said Erika. “We won.”
“That rumbling must have been the movie jumping,” explained Proty. “Sonny did say that the copy was pretty old.”
“If you’re able to sense them Proty we can try to prepare for them,” said Sara.
The girls and Proty walked out of the gymnasium.
“Now what do we do?” asked Sara.
“According to the movie,” said Erika. “The trip to Mars takes place in two days.”
“But we don’t have a place to go home to,” said Sara.
“We could sleep here,” suggested Proty.
“For two days?” asked Sara.
Mrs. Hathaway game out there where they stood.
“Congratulations again girls!” she said. “You’ve made Apple Valley very proud.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Hathaway,” said Sara.
“I wonder if you would like to come over to my house for dinner this evening,” said Mrs. Hathaway. “I’m sure my husband, George, would like to meet the winners. Since you’ll be going into space together.”
“That would be neat Mrs. Hathaway,” said Erika.
“And bring your father along as well,” said Mrs. Hathaway, “so we can all celebrate.”
“I appreciate the offer Mrs. Hathaway,” said Proty.
Mrs. Hathaway wrote something on a piece of paper.
“Here’s my address,” she said. “I’ll see you at six sharp.”
“Thank you Mrs. Hathaway,” said Sara.