The twelve year old scientist at number twelve was excited about his project.
He had been tinkering with his matter-transfer machine for several weeks, and was only too happy to explain the intricacies of it to anyone prepared to listen. It involved the very careful placement of a cardboard control panel, an old TV antenna, a large grapefruit and several elastic bands. When the elderly couple from number fifteen showed a passing interest in what he was doing, he was only too pleased to tell them about it.
So, when they expressed a degree of thinly disguised doubt, followed by tiny smirks, the kid from across the road knew that he was being ridiculed yet again. He also knew that a demonstration was in order. He told them he could transport them to a planet in the Horsehead Nebula and proceeded to twiddle a number of bottle caps pinned to the control board. Asked if they were ready they nodded their consent without a second thought. They were patient enough to go along with it.
In the blink of an eye they found themselves standing in a vast, flat landscape of very loose, dark grey sand, close to what appeared to be an open pit. The air was cold and moist with an unusual odour that seemed to be drifting up from the hole. Despite the fact that they were finding breathing difficult, they made their way forward and peered down into the blackness. Suddenly, they were looking at two very large, bright orange, evil-looking eyes looking up at them.
As the slimy cold tendrils slid up over the edge and tethered their ankles, the elderly neighbour did her best to scream. This caused whatever was down there to begin tugging at them…