Hollow Be Thy Name: An Hour for Magic, #2

By Justin Fulkerson

When everyone save the magicians of the land vanish . . . Rusty, a young illusionist trying to escape the memory of his dead mother, finds himself stranded a cruise ship headed to Alaska. He finds out that he isn't the only one aboard. He finds Mia, a mysterious girl entranced with fairy tales, and she tells him of a dark man also on the ship. Ling, a Chinese college graduate about to start a new job, arrives in Los Angeles moments before everyone vanishes. Planes fall from the sky, bursting into flames on the tarmac. After the smoke clears, Ling finds a mysterious white box with her name on it. Louis, a retired magician who recently lost his wife, hears explosions from downtown Chicago as he searches for answers. As he prepares to leave town, he also finds a box addressed to him. Jerry, a psychic that tries to keep his gift a secret, sees the horrors about to happen and attempts to flee New Mexico. The Beast has other plans for him. Drawn to the obscure Crossroads Motel in New Mexico, these magicians seek out false salvation from the mysterious Mister Hollow . . . Running parallel to the events in An Hour for Magic, Hollow be thy Name pushes the throttle all the way to the floor, shuttling humanity through its final days. Salvation is far from what is awaiting the magicians at the Crossroads. Their false prophet isn't coming for them. Doors to other realities and fire breathing dragons abound in this tale of psychological terror and mystery.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Justin Fulkerson
• Release date: Nov 18, 2020
• ISBN: 9781393116691

Justin Fulkerson

Author of An Hour for Magic, Justin Fulkerson’s literary tastes turned from science fiction (Isaac Asimov) to horror (Stephen king, of course) at the innocent age of twelve years old. His outlook on life was forever changed by the experience and his mind suffered the consequences. The creatures and scenarios running through his imagination forced him to begin his first novels while still in high school.  Twenty years later, An Hour for Magic arrived, consuming his every thought until the first 500 pages were transferred to paper. The next two in the series, Hollow be thy Name and An Hour for Maggie completed the tale. Finally, Hallowed Ground took Justin's mind into the realm of Zombie fiction. With several more novels in the works, Justin hopes that the world can survive long enough to enjoy the fruits of his imagination.

Book preview

PART 1

INVITATION

––––––––

Chapter 1

What the eyes see and the ears hear, the mind believes.

-Harry Houdini

1

"Once upon a time, the world was filled with magic, the old man said softly, the flames from the campfire dancing across his eyes. The child looked up at him, trying to comprehend the term. But gradually, it was forgotten again."

What’s ‘magic’ anyways? the child asked.

It is something that cannot be explained with words, you have to experience it.

How come mommy never talks about magic?

She wants to forget, just like the rest of them.

Why?

It’s easier that way.

You’re silly.

So are you.

Can you show me magic?

You’ve got plenty inside of you, Rusty. More than anyone ever has had. Someday you’ll see.

2

Rusty woke from the daydream, his heart aching. He remembered his grandfather, the only male influence in his life as a child. He was a tough old man who worked hard every day for his family. At least that's what his mother told him. Now that he was older, he sensed there was more to their relationship, that perhaps the man was not his grandfather after all.

After that conversation, Rusty quickly found out what magic was and spent every waking moment through his teenage years perfecting every illusion he could get his hands on. His mother, who attempted to shelter him from the gift he was obviously born with; was not happy with his obsession. Using his ability after high school, he found a permanent gig aboard a cruise ship. Seeing this as an opportunity to see the world, he did not pass it up. His mother was not happy at all, but knew she would not be able to stop him. 

Now, he wished she had.

The cruise ship had been adrift for a few days now. Rusty had no clue how a ship once holding just under six thousand people could suddenly be vacant in the middle of the ocean, no signs of foul play. None of the lifeboats were missing and none of the guests’ belongings were disturbed so far as he could tell. Everyone was just gone. He had seen news stories about stranded cruise ships before, but usually they were packed with needy people crying about their first-world problems like lack of Wi-Fi and lack of cell phone coverage. This ship had been out to sea for two days, headed from Alaska to California when everyone vanished.

He usually kept to himself anyway, saying out of the way of all the tourists and honeymooners. But, the day everyone vanished, he was thinking about the brunette he had glimpsed at the upper deck lounge the night before. There was something about her that stuck with him. With so many people upon the ship he knew his chances were slim to even see her again.

That morning began like any other aboard the ship. Rusty couldn’t function without coffee, so he threw on some clothes and headed to the galley. The breakfast buffet was usually in full swing by the time he got going.

Rusty was surprised when he exited his cabin and silence greeted him. He stood in the hallway for a few seconds, listening. Nothing but the steady whump-whump-whump of the engine as it shoved the tonnage of the ship across the vast expanse of ocean.

Everything went downhill from there. The brunette was gone from his thoughts as Rusty wandered the ship in shock. By the end of the day, he ended up frantically running about screaming for help.

Dozens of scenarios ran through his mind, each less plausible than the last. His mind went from modern day pirates to aliens from outer space. But, each theory had core problems. Number one, he hadn’t heard anything. Pirates would have been firing guns and people would have been screaming. And, why hadn’t they taken him as well? And how would pirates have room for six thousand people and why kidnap them? A huge ransom demand? Unlikely. The same thing applied to the alien theory.

There was no rational explanation. After the first few days of trying to wrap his mind around it, he decided to give up trying. There was enough food aboard to last him for years and he had electricity and water. It was like a huge floating mansion, all belonging to him.

He hoped eventually someone would come looking for the ship and they would have the answers he so desperately sought.

He only had one true worry, something he tried not to think about, he knew nothing about navigating or running the ship. He had no idea how fast it was traveling or how to change course.

Eventually, he began going through the passenger’s possessions and searching each cabin for clues. Not like he would get caught.

You shouldn’t be doing that.

He screamed out at the sudden female voice. He must have looked like a child caught with his hand in the cookie jar because she started laughing.

The brunette he'd been thinking about since this all started stood in the doorway. He looked down to see the back negligee he was holding in his hands and quickly shoved it back into the suitcase opened upon the bed.

I packed that for a special occasion. You know, you hear about those people who find true love on cruises like these or the ones that have one-night stands only to look back on it as a missed connection, searching for years for the person they hooked up with only to find out they are married or in prison. I was looking for something like that when I booked this cruise.

Rusty was agog at her. He had been alone for so long he thought she might be some sort of delusional episode his brain had constructed to preserve his sanity.

Aren’t you going to say something? she said, entering the room and leaning against the dresser across from the bed. I saw you checking me out in the lounge that night, the night before all this happened.

What is ‘all this’? Rusty asked. Any idea?

No idea. Maybe our destiny. Maybe we are the new Adam and Eve.

Rusty felt his jaw drop at the notion. The brunette laughed again.

It’s been days. Have you been hiding from me?

Maybe. A girl can’t be too careful trapped on a ship with a stranger, can she? She grinned. I had to be sure you were okay.

And catching me rifling through your underwear proved that?

Her eyes lit up with laughter again and he knew he would have no problem falling for a woman like her.

I’m Mia, by the way. I know who you are. I watched your show the first night.

I know.

She raised a curious eyebrow. A slight smirk curled the left side of her lip.

Really? This is interesting.

I saw you at the bar.

Yes, and?

And what? You said it yourself, I was checking you out.

Out of all the people there that night, you remembered me? Why?

I don’t know why. I just remember.

Because I looked good? Because I was ugly? What?

I don’t know. He felt heat rising in his cheeks and knew he was blushing. He wanted to kick himself.

Typical. Mia said, sitting on the edge of the bed. She smoothed out her long skirt and clasped her hands over one knee. Her combat boots were scuffed and dirty. So, what do you think is going on around here?

I don’t have a clue.

So, you’d be content to just stay adrift on the ocean for the rest of your life? You haven’t even attempted to find out where we are?

Rusty stared at her, taking in the truth. She was right. He had given up. In reality, he couldn’t think of a better place to be. He had everything he needed to live out a comfortable life, especially now that he had Mia standing before him. With the playing field narrowed down, he felt his chances were good. Perhaps they could repopulate the planet together.

So, where did everyone run off to?

They didn’t run anywhere. None of the lifeboats are missing. I did an inventory.

Really?

The first thing I did when I took the gig on this ship was to find out how many lifeboats were on board. Then, every time we set sail, I would count to make sure they were all here. Just a habit.

So, two or three thousand people just vanished?

Five-Thousand-Seven-Hundred and sixty-four, to be exact.

Her eyes widened. She stood and walked out onto the deck again.

This isn’t natural. You realize that, right?

Rusty came to this realization long ago but his mind couldn’t comprehend the full extent of their situation.

It’s not just us. She said, turning from him and staring out over the ocean.

How do you know? We just need to wait. Someone will eventually come looking for us.

What makes you think so? If they haven’t yet, they aren’t going to.

But . . .

I’ve been trying the main radio for the last five days. No answer, okay? There’s nobody out there. We are alone. Mia said quietly.

Rusty sat silent for a moment. Then he got an idea. Because there was nothing else they could do.

Are you hungry?

Mia looked back at him. Tears were sitting high up on her cheeks. She quickly wiped them away.

I’ll cook some supper and we will try to figure this out, okay? Rusty said.

Mia nodded. Rusty lead her to the galley.

After raiding the walk-in refrigerator, they decided upon steak for supper. Both of them had been taking food from the galley since the world went away, never visiting at the same time and never seeing one another and never noticing the others presence in the kitchen. They compared notes and laughed. Mia admitted she was scared to come out of hiding and show herself. Then, she fell quiet as the steaks grilled. She leaned back against one of the huge stainless steel tables and crossed her arms. Rusty looked back at her, noticing her distant stare as she glared at the floor.

You okay?

We’re not okay, Rusty. Far from it.

I know, but . . .

We’re not the only ones on this boat.

What? That’s impossible.

All of this is impossible, Rusty.

I’ve been searching this ship for days. What do you mean we’re not the only ones?

What does it sound like I mean? There’s someone else on the ship.

I haven’t seen anyone.

You didn’t find me either.

Rusty flipped the steaks, fuming. He spent most of his time sleeping, trying to avoid the realization of his loneliness.

Guess you’re right. A man or a woman?

A man. A dark man.

A dark man? A black guy?

Mia scoffed at him, rolling her eyes.

Not a black guy! A dark MAN.

Indian? What? 

No, not his race, there was something wrong with him. He saw me. He had dead eyes.

Okay, you’ve officially freaked me out.

He didn’t even seem to care that we were the only ones on the ship. I was on the upper deck and I saw him standing below, staring out over the water. He seemed at peace, even in this traumatic situation, like he had a purpose.

You said he saw you?

He turned to me, as if he knew I would be standing there, like he knew I was here with him. I froze, staring into him. He never blinked, just stared at me. I tried to wave to him. He just turned and walked out of my sight . . . I haven’t seen him since. She pushed her dark-rimmed glasses back up on her nose.

Maybe he jumped. Maybe he looked like he was at peace because he was preparing to end his life.

That’s morbid.

Just saying. How else do you explain that you never saw him again and I’ve never seen him at all?

I don’t know. I’m just scared. I’ve been hearing things. That’s why I decided to show myself. When I saw you going into my cabin, I knew it was inevitable.

Well, this might sound cheesy, but I’ll try to make you feel safe until we resolve whatever it is going on here, okay?

You can start be finishing those steaks. Mia said. She already had plates set out for them. What do we want to have as our sides? There’s like a million industrial sized cans of green beans back there.

Sounds great. Rusty said. Mia walked away.

He didn’t like the idea that there might be someone else roaming the ship, especially some ‘dark man’. He also didn’t like that the man seemed threatening to Mia.

He couldn’t help but admire Mia’s backside as she walked toward the pantry area. She was an attractive girl, alright. The sway of her hips was enough to hypnotize him. He let his imagination run with the images he constructed about the two of them, images filled with grasping and moaning between them both. He smiled to himself as she returned, reading the ingredients of the gargantuan can of green beans. She sighed and plopped the can down upon the steel table. The sound resonated throughout the kitchen. They both giggled.

What? Rusty asked.

Huh?

What’s so depressing about the green beans?

Why the hell do they have to use food dyes to make food look more appealing? I mean, a green bean is a green bean. Does dousing it in food coloring make someone eat more? If it doesn’t have the food coloring, is there really that person out there that says to themselves, ‘that green bean would be more appealing if it was more green’? Really?

I take it that you’re against processed food?

Normally. Normally, I’m a vegan, have been for years. But, today I’m dying to sink my teeth into that steak!

They both laughed.

Then, a loud thump overhead caused them both to pause, looking up. 

What the fuck was that? Mia whispered.

Rusty looked down and saw her fingernails digging crescents into the sides of his hand as she grasped him in fright.

Hell if I know, Rusty answered, feeling his throat close up slightly. He did know the sound. It had haunted his nightmares for years. It was something he had tried to forget about long ago. Maybe it’s nothing.

That was definitely something. Mia said, releasing his hand. It’s that man. What is he doing?

I’m not sure I want to find out. Rusty said, pulling the steaks from the grill. They looked amazing, but Rusty had lost whatever appetite he might have had.

I feel like we have to. Like we have to know.

Curiosity killed the cat. Rusty said, immediately feeling the goose-bumps stand on his arms. His mother used that phrase all the time. It became a constant in their household from the time he was an infant. He often wondered why she didn’t have a framed needlework thingy hanging upon the living room wall with the saying to remind the family not to be nosy or inquisitive. He remembered her uttering it the day she found out about his interest in magic. The look of rage upon her face as she struggled to suppress her disgust caught him off guard.

For months afterward, Rusty struggled with his own demons to sway the urge to research the things he wanted to learn. But, the more he tried, the more he felt sick. He felt sick for betraying his mother’s trust and he felt sick if he didn’t. He devoured every morsel of knowledge he could about the practice of magic and illusion.

But the satisfaction brought it back. Mia said, moving one of the steaks to her plate in a distracted daze.

What? Rusty asked, perplexed.

That’s the entire saying. ‘Curiosity killed the cat but the satisfaction brought it back.’ Didn’t you know that? Mia said, shock in her voice.

No. Rusty said. I only ever heard the first part.

Wow. Mia said, opening the can of green beans with the large crank can opener attached to the table. Well, I don’t know about you, but after I devour this steak I’m going to go investigate.

"Are you sure that’s a good