Chapter 74: Racing Against Time

It was a weird, horrid time that had been encumbering Eldridge Falls, but little would matter against what was to come. A new kind of hope brewed this time from the most unlikely place. There was just something off about this young Lucas Turner, 23 years of age. An endless fascination with machinery, gears, and contraptions that moved in ways most people just didn't understand. While children were playing outside, most of them, Lucas was building. His room had been a treasure trove of sketch pads, tools, and inventions in all manners of states. But after all that went on in Eldridge Falls-the ancient evil, the benefactor in the dark, then tension in town-Lucas finally got it. Not just an idea, but one that not only would heal the breach in his town but eventually heal the world. "Finally, I think I have it," exclaimed a very excited Lucas to Emma and Ethan, pure excitement shining in his voice. They had come to his workshop-great garage on the outskirts of town to hear him say words about his latest invention. The room was a mess of parts and tools, wires hanging down from the ceiling, bizarre devices sitting on every surface. At the centre of the room sat Lucas' latest creation under a great sheet. Emma looked from the contraption to Lucas and cocked one of her eyebrows. "You've been working on this for months, Lucas. What exactly *is* it?" Lucas yanked the sheet away with a flourish to reveal some sort of large metallic structure beneath. Sleek, it had a network of wires running through it, and in its heart, there was a glowing core that pulsed softly in a blue light. It's an energy source," he said with lights playing in his eyes. Not any energy, this may give unlimited clean energy. No pollution, no burning fuel, none of that. It is from the old designs I found combined with some things I have been messing with over the years. It would power the whole town, maybe the world. Ethan leant forward toward him, face encrusted with disbelief. "And you are sure this thing is safe? We have had enough disasters here lately." Lucas nodded; it was a confidence that wasn't dented in the slightest. "I have tested it a hundred times. It works, and it is stable. It's not just an idea, but real, and it could change everything. Eldridge Falls could be leading in new technology, the kind to change the way the world uses energy. Emma folded her arms, and her mind was already racing with words like: "But what of the implications? This could be dangerous should it fall into the wrong hands. We already know what happens once such people of unscrupulous intent gain control of things.". The solemnity had fallen upon Lucas' face as he spoke in a low tone, "I've thought about that, Emma. I'm not blind to the risks. It's just that I am unable to hide it; it's bigger than me, it's bigger than any one of us. We have gone through hell, but maybe this is that chance for us, a chance to move on, and create a future with no ghosts from the past haunting us.". Scarcely were the words out of his mouth when it seemed that time, at least in that room, was standing still, while everything else did flow in some slow motion-something of realization going through. It was as if the electric feeling of the air now, knowing what lay in front of them, was about to rewrite history. Finally, Emma spoke up, her voice low but clear. "If you're going to move forward with this, we need to take care. There are still people out there, the benefactor-who would stop at nothing to get their hands on something like this." Ethan nodded in agreement. "Yeah, Lucas, you can't just think about what this could do for good. We have to protect it. Lucas was heavily breathing. "I know that, and that is why, of course, I have instituted a process for putting some countermeasures in place. It's not just building something brilliant; it's protecting it from the ones who are going to misuse it for their evil designs. Suddenly, the front door of the workshop burst open and Oliver came running in, panting hard. His face was as white as snow, and much fear shone in his eyes. You guys, you need to come with me right now, he panted, something is happening in the square. You won't believe it. Emma just flashed a quick look at Ethan and then at Lucas before all of them exploded out of the workshop, following Oliver in the general direction of the town centre. By the time they did so, the crowd had already reached there, murmuring restively to themselves and staring up at the large screen set up in front of the town hall. On the screen face so familiar by this time mysterious benefactor spoke smoothly yet unset­tlingly. ".and so I offer all of you a choice," he says, "Proceed into the future I will create for you or nurture fear and apprehension as your life. My vision for Eldridge Falls is one of progress of transformation of power. But if you stand in my way, this is something that should be understood: I will not hesitate but to take what belongs to me." Restless, the crowd fidgeted; some talking in low tones, others silent, their features masked with a look of unease. Emma's heart did a little somersault in her chest. "He's back," she whispered low. "Of course, he is," Ethan growled low, flashing his eyes and clenching his fists. "Now that he knows about Lucas's invention, he's trying to turn the town against us." Lucas's face had turned ashen as he looked up to the screen. "He gets that in his possession, it's all over. He'll have what he needs to take over." Oliver shook his head. "We can't let that happen. We have to find some way of stopping him. The screen flickered; his benefactor's face was cold. "I know what you're planning, Lucas Turner. Let me make one thing clear for you: there is no hiding from me. I give you until sundown tomorrow to deliver your invention over to me. If not, well, let's just say that Eldridge Falls won't be standing much longer.". The screen turned black as chaos exploded into the crowd: screams, out of fear and anger; nobody knew a thing to do. Emma turned to Lucas, wide-eyed. "What are we going to do?" Lucas swallowed hard; his mind was racing. "I don't know, but less than twenty-four hours to figure it out.". They'd all stood in the square, mute, and within that air, the tension was thick: the benefactor's threat weighing high above them, the weight of this choice quite insupportable. "We need to go back to the workshop," Lucas finally said, his voice shaking. "We'll figure something out." They hastened their pace back, entangled in his or her different thoughts. By now, the benefactor had time and again proved that he would stop at nothing to have his way, and now it seemed he wouldn't also stop at anything to be in control of what Lucas had come up with. The soft humming emitted from it, much like quiet beating hearts, cast a faintly pulsing light of blue hue as they sat huddled around its glowing core in the workshop. "There has to be some kind of protection for it," Ethan said, pacing the floor. "We can't just turn it over to him." Emma scowled, trying to puzzle her way out of this one. "What if we should get it and hide it? Move it somewhere he wouldn't think to look for it." Lucas just shook his head. "He already knows where it is. And even if we hide it, he'll come after us. He won't stop until he gets what he wants." Oliver finally spoke, having hitherto been hanging in the corner. "What if… we use it against him?" Everybody stared at him in surprise. Oliver pressed on, undeniably calm, "Devastatingly powerful it sounds like. If so, maybe we can just turn it into a weapon for us. Something that can stop the benefactor once and for all." Not so sure, Lucas said, "That wasn't what it was designed for. It's supposed to help people not hurt them. "I know," Oliver said, "but right now it is the only thing we have that might stand up to him in any kind of way. We can't just let him take it and use it for some nefarious end." Again, the room fell silent as minds racked over Oliver's words-perverse as it was their only hope was making a weapon out of Lucas' invention: Finally, Lucas nodded. "Alright. Let's do it." Her heart was racing in her chest, while down to work her whole body coursed with adrenaline-a piece each one of them would play in what felt like the last stand of the town against the benefactor. The minutes ticked by, dragging the urge with every second. By sundown, they made those changes, and the silent machine whirred with a different kind of life-powerful and dangerous. "We have very little time," Lucas announced, and with the phrase went the tight tug of nerves. "Let's just hope this pays off." They huddled around the apparatus, their faces set in grim reflections of what was to come: benefactors on the way to them, Eldridge Falls hanging in the balance. "We've come this far," Emma breathed. "We can't let him win." And as the last light of day guttered out, they steeled themselves against what would prove to be the fight of their lives. The future of Eldridg­e Falls and perhaps the world was about to be decided. His voice came from a distance, the grim warning of the benefactor, while night first wore a blacker hue, and the rattling of earth and ground announced his arrival.