When
the Night Comes Out
by
Bryan Alaspa
Genre:
Horror, Short Stories
What
happens when the night comes out? When the darkness comes in from the
sides and closes in all around, what lurks within?
BONUS:
Foreward by Patrick C. Greene, author of Progeny and The Crimson
Calling
An
elevator in a high-rise building becomes a gateway for terror and
madness
A
German U-Boat during World War I becomes a haunted nightmare
A
radio signal in the middle of the night reveals the horrors lurking
beneath a simple, small, peaceful town.
A
little girl with a best friend you would NOT want to cross finds
herself in mortal danger.
And
a couple moving into a new house discovers an old abandoned well that
may have no bottom, or it may just be a portal into Hell
itself.
These
are tales of unrelenting horror and terror from the mind of Bryan W.
Alaspa, author of RIG, Sapphire, Storyland, S.P.I.D.A.R. and other
tales of horror, terror and suspense. Five stories that will make you
wonder what lurks - when the night comes out.
The
U Boat
Subject: U-Boat
42
Hello Bill,
So, here it is. I have to tell you that this has been an amazing
process. I still cannot believe that you found U-42 in the waters off of
Scotland. The boat has become infamous. To find it virtually intact this many
years after it sank during World War I is nothing short of amazing. I read with
great interest the probes and drones you sent down there and the material you
were able to gather. The metal tests showing that there was very little damage
is both amazing and baffling. Of course, my expertise is documents, not
metallurgy or how the ocean deteriorates things.
The theories have been interesting, however. From the coldness of the
water to the lack of current to the salination content in the place where it
lays, it seems that everything has been tossed about as a possibility.
I think, however, these documents may provide a very different
explanation.
When you announced that you had found documents from when the U-boat
was built and the situations behind its building, I found that fascinating. It
certainly had quite the story before it even hit the water. Then the tales of
the testing. I can certainly see how U-42 got the reputation for being cursed
from the start.
When the drone found the sealed container that had the captain’s notes
and, surprise, surprise, a separate, personal diary, I was thrilled. When you
chose me to review, translate it and see if I could restore it for a future
museum exhibit, I figured this was the chance of a lifetime. You know what a
fan I am of World War I history. Your plan to try and bring the submarine to
the surface and put it on display is, to say the least, ambitious.
Well, after months upon months of work, I am presenting what I have
found here. Bill, the captain’s diary is, well, there’s no other way to put
this, terrifying. I have done what I can to put the story of U-42 into some
kind of narrative order here, from the first reports from the men who built it,
to the diary by the captain, to the reports from the British naval ship that
saw it go down.
It is quite the tale. Bill, I have to tell you that I hope you read
this with an open mind. I also hope you read this as a warning. I am the
documents guy, but I am also a man who thinks that there may be some truth
hidden in here.
I think U-42 might be dangerous. I think, just maybe, it should stay
where it is. I know, that sounds crazy and unlike a man of practicality and
science that I have always claimed to be.
All, I can say is to read on. Let me know what you think. If it haunts
you the way it’s haunted me since I first started reading, then I know you’ll
be smart enough to do what’s right.
Look, I don’t know what happened here with this U-42. I cannot fathom
why. I have checked on the location where it was built and I see nothing in
particular about the land. Perhaps, it was just the fact that World War One was
one of the worst conflicts in history and the first time that the world turned
warfare over, almost entirely, over to the machines. Perhaps that energy had an
effect on one of the machines. Perhaps something broke through from something -
nearby? I know, that sounds crazy, but it’s all I can think of to justify what
happened.
Thank you for this opportunity. Call me with any questions.
Steve Hansen
Director of Historical Documents and Restoration
Research Institute, Inc.
Research Institute, Inc.
Date: August
15, 1914
From:
Heinrich von Sturmm
To: Kristoff Volksburg
Memo: The
accident on U-boat 42
Dear Mr.
Volksburg,
I
do apologize to you for the formality of the opening of this letter. However, I
am documenting this for myself and the men here at the shipyard as much as to
reach out to you for an explanation. I wanted to correspond with you personally
about the accident that happened here two days ago. By now, you and your office
have probably read reports about what happened here, but the fact is that I was
there and saw things with my own eyes.
I
am a foreman in the yards. It was a great promotion and honor to be put in
charge of the building of what is now known as U-boat 42. I personally picked
the entire crew that would be working on her and putting her into shape so that
she can serve Germany during this conflict.
It
started out like any other project. The men were excited to get started. We
began assembling the skeleton of the boat and things were going well. The men
were happy to be working and the morale was good. None of the men were
drunkards or lazy. I pride myself on being a good German and doing a good job.
I oversaw the initial work and was pleased to report that the base metal
framework that would form the bones of this fine ship were coming along nicely
and without any major incident.
That
lasted for almost a week. Then came the Monday in question.
All
of the workers showed up on time and ready to work. No one appeared sick or
drunk or unwilling to work. I must stress to you that there were no incidents
that day. In fact, nothing was weird or abnormal until that afternoon, after
lunch.
Six
men were manning the cranes to bring the beams into the basic structure. These
were heavy, sturdy beams means to support the outer hull and quite long, going
lengthwise across U-42. We had one in place and this was to be done before the
end of the day, but there had been no delays and no one was rushing.
I
am unsure what happened. Herbert Reins was the crane operator and we have
questioned him. He says the crane was operating perfectly and without problems.
He had been using it all day and it had performed optimally. He himself, just
after lunch, checked the chains, hooks and ropes and found them all to be in
working order.
However,
as the beam was hoisted and being brought into place, something happened. One
moment the beam was there, moving along just like it was supposed to be moving,
and then the beam was falling. The six men who were crushed beneath it never
had a chance. They were killed instantly.
I
still do not know what happened. Any reasonable man would assume that the crane
operator was to blame. However, we checked him and he was not drunk and did not
appear insane. Then, and here is the biggest mystery, we checked the ropes and
found them to be in perfect working order. So was the crane. We have no idea
how the beam fell. We also are unsure of how the beam was able to fall in such
a way to kill six workers.
Needless
to say, we have been through a lot here at the yard. There has been quite a
period of mourning among the workers and the town. There are already rumors
that this is a haunted boat. I do not claim to be among those who believes this
and do hope that we will push forward with the construction and testing of the
submarine. I think it will do well to serve Germany during this war effort.
Ultimately, however, it is your decision if this boat is abandoned.
I
have been building ships and boats here for almost a decade, sir. I have never
seen anything quite as awful as this accident and never have there been so many
fatalities as with this accident. I have a heavy heart telling you this, but
the official reports, I fear, will not adequately convey what happened. The
fact is, we just don’t know what happened or why it happened.
I
look forward to your reply.
Sincerely,
Heinrich
Bryan
W. Alaspa is a Chicago born and bred author of both fiction and
non-fiction works. He has been writing since he sat down at his
mother's electric typewriter back in the third grade and pounded out
his first three-page short story. He spent time studying journalism
and other forms of writing. He turned to writing as his full-time
career in 2006 when he began writing freelance, online and began
writing novels and books.
He is the author of over 30 books of
both fiction and non-fiction and numerous short stories and
articles.
Mr. Alaspa writes true crime, history, horror,
thrillers, mysteries, detective stories and tales about the
supernatural.
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