THREE

Chapter 6: The Dark Past

In April of 1865, the United States was at the end of its gruesome Civil War.   The President of the Union, Abraham Lincoln, was witnessing a horrible battle between the Confederates and the Union.  The Confederacy consisted of most of the southern part of East America.  The Confederates believed in using black people as slaves.  The Union, which mostly consisted of the northern half of East America, believed slavery should be abolished.  This disagreement led to what was and still is one of the bloodiest wars of American history.  Two years after President Lincoln gave the Gettysburg Address, he was about to witness the worst event in American history at that time: his untimely death.  Five days after General Lee surrendered his Army of Northern Virginia, ending the Civil War, Lincoln was shot.  This is when a man named John Wilkes Booth appeared in the Civil War story.  And, boy, did he end it with a bang. (Literally) This is the time period Emmet Robinson entered.  Little did he know what he was going to change to the future of Abraham Lincoln, and most importantly, to the future of the United States of America.

In the morning of April 14th, 1865, life was going pretty well for President Abraham Lincoln.  For some reason, he felt happy.  His wife, Mary, was awfully concerned.  Lincoln would tell everyone how happy he was.  Mary told her husband that saying such things is bad luck.  Indeed it was.

Emmet Robinson did not appear where Lincoln was when he entered the past.  However, he entered somewhere else, somewhere just as important: The National Hotel.

All of a sudden, the ground started to shake, and flashing lights started to appear everywhere, and a bright figure of a man and a computer appeared.  Then, a big boom of sounds and lights blasted all over the street.  That is when Emmet Robinson entered 1865; he successfully traveled through time.

“I don’t think I’m in Juttingburg anymore.  In fact, I don’t think I’m anywhere near Juttingburg.  Where am I? Or maybe, when am I?” asked Emmet out loud to himself.  “Well, I might as well check into this hotel.  I might be here awhile.  And…why am I talking to myself?”

            Emmet walked inside the hotel, noticing the architecture that was so much different than what he was used to.  Then, he walked up to the hotel receptionist to get his key and room number.

            “Thanks for the key.  By the way, what’s today?” asked Emmet.

            “April 14th,” said the receptionist.

            “Oh, April 14th? Of 2012?”

            “2012? Boy, are not from this place?  This is 1865 we’re talking about.”

            “1865?? I must have really gone back in time,” said Emmet, sort of talking to himself.

            “Just go to your hotel room, you’re creepin’ me out, boy.”

            “Okay, thanks.”

            Emmet started to find the elevator, not realizing that electric elevators weren’t invented until years later.  So, like a real man, he took the stairs up to his room.

            “217….Hmm, here’s 214. 215, 216. Ah, here we are.  217,” said Emmet, trying to find his room.  Before he walked into his room, he heard a noise in room 216 right next to him.  It sounded like some groaning.  Then, he heard banging and some more groaning and some more banging.  Emmet wanted to find out what was going on.  I am a lawyer, thought Emmet.  I might as well use my talent to my advantage.  So, he knocked twice on the door.

            No answer.

            Then, he tried knocking again.  This time, he heard footsteps coming towards the door.  Then, the door opened slowly.