The people of Upper Harmony decided that, from then on, if someone spotted the Rift anymore, no one would report it to the police or the investigators. It would simply end in more destruction, more deaths, and more chaos. That couldn't happen again. Who would be next? A child? They couldn't let anyone get hurt again by this empty, emotionless monstrosity. Soon, a patrol was formed, in order to look out for any other Rifts. They had started to figure out the pattern of these otherwise unknowable cracks in time and space. The first time the Rift opened, it was large enough for a truck to fit in, and vanished the moment Mr. Pellis drove into its depths. The second time, the Rift was much larger, at least twenty feet tall, thin, with jagged ridges all around.

The Rift got taller and wider with each occurence, a very bad thing for the citizens of Upper Harmony. The next time, the Rift could be hundreds of feet tall. An uneasy dread filled the patrolmen, as they looked around nervously for that odd break in reality that resembled the tear you get in your clothes. The Rift also seemed to need a sacrifice of sorts. However, it wouldn't settle for any inanimate object. The tourists had tried to throw their shoes and garbage into the Rift, only for it to dissolve in an instant. No, the Rift required a human sacrifice. They were complex beings that took seconds to decompose in the void. Only they would satiate the Rift's ravenous hunger for matter.

Soon, others started to make plans about the Rift. Paranoia began to grow. Around every corner, a random Rift might appear. One could have been formed right behind you and you wouldn't even know until screams were heard. Many people were finished with this fear every time they took a single step outside. A town meeting was held one day to discuss the obvious problem they had. It was a bright summer day, but darkness overshadowed Upper Harmony like a thick rain storm. Everyone, even the children, had gathered around into the town hall. The citizens took their usual seats, as the Mayor took his up front, facing his nervous, panicked citizens. Mayor Crawford was a thin man, tall and handsome, but the recent crisis had left bags under his eyes from stress and sleepless nights.

"Hello, fellow Upper Harmonions. I think we all know why we are here today. A recent phenomenon unlike any other has targeted our town. We must stay strong, yet cautious if another Rift shall appear. We know that these grow larger with each happening, and we also know that they need..." Mayor Crawford paused, a sinking gut feeling in his stomach," a human sacrifice." At those three last words, the town erupted in outrage. "Quiet down, quiet down," he said, waving his hands in the air as the noise silenced. "We, by no means, will sacrifice one of the members in our community. I have gathered you all here to discuss plans on how to deal with the Rift." Everyone seemed reluctant to offer ideas, looking around at others to see if they would answer instead. However, one lady immediately raised her hand.

That woman was Ms. Margaret, whom all of the adults thought was crazy and whom all of the children thought was a witch. She must have been a lovely woman in her prime, her looks weathered by age. She was in her late thirties, with long brown hair that contained one or two gray hairs, but otherwise, she looked completely normal. She also had a son, a young boy named Matthew, who must have had quite an abusive life. Matthew would also come out of her house with bruises on his face, but he was never brave enough to confess his mother had been hitting him. "Ms. Margaret Plum, the floor is your's," Crawford said, the slightest hint of doubt in his mind. "Yes, thank you, Mayor Crawford." she said, as she stood. Her voice was uncannily sugary, in an odd, eerie kind of way. "Hello, everyone. I think we all know what is causing this little accident. It is a punishment. A punishment from above."

Small groans filled the air, as Ms. Margaret turned around to see who had groaned at her words. "You there," she hissed. Her nimble finger pointed at a small boy, about five or six. The boy looked at Ms. Margaret in fear. "Yes, Ms. Margaret?" he said, his face trembling.

"Little boy, do you know what is happening?" Without a sound, the small boy shook his head from side to side. "You don't?" she said, "Because your parents are fools, child. They will not listen to my truth. You will die because of their wrongdoings, boy." Mayor Crawford interrupted, "Ms. Margaret, that is a child! Please, carry on without targeting individuals of our community!" Ms. Margaret rolled her uncaring gray eyes. Matthew sat there, cupping his face on his hands.

"People of Upper Harmony! Listen to my words before you all die horrible deaths! We must form an allegiance to end these Rifts. Every time that one of those unholy cracks in reality appears, we shall take a child and toss them in!" Gasps were heard, as children started to cry. Once more, Mayor Crawford stepped in, rage in his eyes. "Ms. Margaret! Please sit down now! I have already said we will not sacrifice anyone!".

Yet still, Ms. Margaret stood, looking the Mayor into the eyes. "You cannot stop the children from fulfilling what they were meant to do," she hissed. Matthew tried to put his mother back into her seat, whispering, "Mom, don't embarrass me again!" Ms. Margaret rolled her eyes once more and sat down.

The meeting went on without many ideas. No one could really understand how to deal with the Rifts. They came from nothing and nowhere. How were you supposed to control something like that? Soon, the meeting was ended and everyone started to get up. But when the first person opened the door, there it was: the Rift was a couple of feet in front of the town hall, towering at fifty feet tall.