16 finger star

What was it? Where was it?

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Copyright © 2024, Michael M Wayman

She had said it many times. What was it? Where was it? I saw it in front of me – it had sixteen. Was it what she was always talking about? The sixteen-finger star? A ventilation ceiling tile with sixteen holes?

I looked in the other rooms – yes, there were more ceiling tiles with 16 holes in a radial star pattern. But I only needed one, the sixteen-finger star containing – a something.

I found one such tile which had large levering marks on it. This one had been removed and replaced. In the same room was a step ladder, I took it and pulled off the tile and found the box.

Aha! What was in the box? A small black alarm clock, crystal-driven, DDR style. I pulled it out. I could hear the sounds of destruction.

DO NOT BOTHER TO LEAVE THE BUILDING!
IT WILL COLLAPSE FASTER THAN YOU CAN RUN.