there are eyes in the woods out behind the yard
they come out late at night and they glow like stars
and they follow our every movement
as We slip down to the basement

kept away from the trees for a couple weeks
until our fear turned into curiosity
so grab the flashlight
it's after midnight
they'll come alive soon
and we're going to find out why

when We found those books under the floorboards
and We built the machines that they describe
that can see beyond our mortal world
We didn't fathom the trouble we'd invite

so now we're creeping along in heavy dark
with the beam of your flashlight reaching out
among the gnarled oaks with their skeleton fingers
searching high and low for our silent tormentors
I'm starting to hope tonight's a wash
that our presence alone as scared them off
but now your light is out and the forest is silent
not a second more and We are surrounded by eyes

-

now We are stumbling through the trees
bloodying our knees
when We stumble
as the eyes beam and blaze behind
swiftly gaining ground
full of fury

I thought We were goners when they had us surrounded
spinning ever faster 'round us
cutting off escape
the light they shone was blinding like a photon machine gun
I began despairing but You didn't accept that fate

no You dug your heel and You set your jaw
and with a yell You launched your body into
the nearest eye
with your arms wide
this unexpected and illogical move
seemed to strike them momentarily confused
a gap emerged
You pulled me through

-

emerging from the dark wood
trampling the damp earth
crashing through the back door of our home
pounding down the stairs
into the basement where
we're flipping all the switches on our machines

the power flows
the engines groan

We were sharing desperate words
as We ran away from angry monsters
coming up with a plan
if our machine was meant to pull
paranormal things into our world
what if We just reverse what it does

some batteries were here
now they're going there
the coupling was forward
now it's back
a careful wire cut
rejoined in a new spot
there's no time to ponder consequence

-

lightning
is surging 'round our heads
and its flooding the wires
systems
are nominal
and We exchange a little look like maybe things will be alright

they're coming through the trees
our blood from wounded knees
is guiding them along
to where they'll drag us down

slick hair
we're cooking in the heat that our engine creates
the grid cannot keep up with all the power that we're sucking from the stations miles away

We hear our wooden door
smash under ghostly force
rampaging through the home
we've known since We were young

and it's fine
even if We don't succeed
'cause at least we're digging deep
fighting hard to find relief
from all the doubt
and the questions unresolved
We will rip them from the dark corners of our hearts

times up
the fury once overhead is now descending the stairs
must act
they know we're trapped
We turn the dials punch the buttons and unleash our final stand
a flood of brilliant lights
explode from our device
our power flashes forth
against a startled foe

-

the lights went out when the bulbs exploded
with sockets spitting fire
we're lit by the glow of the floating plasma
still spilling from our device

the eyes flood in to the room like water
through a broken dam
and rage their way through the narrow basement
right into our plasma defense

We hope to see a reaction
a sign of some sense of loss
but they only burn brighter
and my heart drops through my chest

We shield our eyes from the deathly brilliance
and cover down to prepare for violence
the seconds pass yet We are still awake and alive
the waiting is too much for You to bear
You spring up in a mix of rage and fear
grab my arm and pull me to my feet

-

everything's calm
in the basement we're side by side
pondering the scene before us
of frozen floating eyes

the danger's gone
a remarkable twist of fate
did our engine really do this? if it did i can't explain

it turned our foes
into stone
and hung them all
around the room
I look at You with a big smile
but see your mood is much more dire

You said

"what have We made?
a machine that We don't understand
first it drew these monsters to us
now it hangs them in the air
and We can't say
what else it might decide to do
We must destroy it quickly
and destroy the old books too
I'll get the axe
and hope it's sharp
enough to tear this all apart
it's been the work of countless hours
but now We see it's too much power"

I am pulling at your arm but You are possesed
with the strength of one who understands their task
with the fire axe We keep up on the wall
You are raising it up high to let it fall
You let fly through metal
live wire
and glowing screen
sirens ring
systems crashing
but your face seems so serene

-

your final blow
was the last of many
it took to break
our engine apart

You didn't know
'cause You weren't so careful
that still inside
was a powerful spark

so as You followed through that final strike
the air was shocked by a flash of blinding light
somewhere in the rubble wires met that never should
and I felt the universe shift underfoot

the power short
flooded through the system
but in reverse
with dire effect

I couldn't help
as a portal opened
and pulled You in
while I was thrown back

I scrambled to my feet and dove headfirst
to try to grab your hand which had emerged
from down inside the portal where You struggled to escape
but You lost your fight and I arrived too late :(

-

on the ground
where I fell in dispair
after You snapped
and the portal collapsed

not a sound
and no danger around
but neither are You
and I don't know what to do

you're a long way
from here
that much
is clear
I'm calling your name but You don't respond
are You on some new world beyond us mortals?
are your molecules tired of keeping You whole?

I suppose
I could try to rebuild
everything You destroyed
to reopen the void

but I doubt
I could do it myself
We always worked as a team
too inseparably

and you're a long way
from here
that much
is clear
I'm calling your name but You don't respond

I hope You
are still alive
with some will
to fight
whatever You found on the opposite side