tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-54547893211697375142024-03-19T14:03:58.658+11:00Milana V. Mystery Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11901304444624308674noreply@blogger.comBlogger60125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5454789321169737514.post-53092950320402590442013-11-29T22:30:00.000+11:002015-08-20T15:01:26.609+10:00Evelyn Earth Part 55 "THE FINAL CHAPTER"<div style="text-align: left;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj33FP7u-3QGtKwa237mssntnM7LLGMcoW9pwff4MPSupxx1nRbzS6y1j4noRssxS7qxdKLhcpedluuJdMTfWUxJin7M1k6YCX95oGzkY_P5Qjq5_h3EDsqAOVTyEyHmZYTTsyB4IlTe8Q/s1600/SPARKLE_1_BLOG.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="274" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj33FP7u-3QGtKwa237mssntnM7LLGMcoW9pwff4MPSupxx1nRbzS6y1j4noRssxS7qxdKLhcpedluuJdMTfWUxJin7M1k6YCX95oGzkY_P5Qjq5_h3EDsqAOVTyEyHmZYTTsyB4IlTe8Q/s320/SPARKLE_1_BLOG.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“Evs?” he sighed.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Yes,
yes it’s me, are you alright? Are you in pain?” I said too quickly, my tongue
stumbling over the words as they spilled out of my mouth.</span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“I…I
can’t see. It’s so...bright.”</span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“It’s
me, I’m sorry I don’t know what it is” I looked down at myself, at my hands
that were gripping onto him so hard that my fingers ached. Reluctantly I disentangled
my fingers from his ripped shirt and awkwardly tipped backwards so that the
blinding light wasn’t covering him. </span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Evs,
I think I met the Mother. She was…fat.”</span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Yes”
I laughed as tears streamed down my cheeks, “she’s not what you expected huh.”
I wiped the droplets from my face with a harsh swipe of my glowing hand. As if
in unison Bas raised his own hand and rubbed at his pallid face. He turned his
head to face me and narrowed his eyes before covering them.</span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“You’re
shining” he said, “what the fuck happened, why are you shining?”</span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“I
connected with the Mother and she made me ...she made me into the
same substance as her heart.”</span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Like
a diamond? I don’t get it” he coughed. It started off as a few haggard breathes
and then escalated to a coughing fit that made him seize up into a foetal
position. Small droplets of blood studded the ground around him.</span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span></span><br />
<a name='more'></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> “Bas…”
I reached out for him, but he flinched away from my excruciatingly bright skin.
It did look sort of like a diamond except diamonds were clear rocks that
reflected light. I wasn’t reflecting anything. I was producing white light that
seemed to burn the air. As I concentrated on my surroundings I noticed that the
air rippled around me as if I were an intense flame giving off heat.</span><br />
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<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Are
you God?” Grigori’s small voice cut through the atmosphere. Sebastian’s eyes
met mine and for a moment I wondered if he was trying to tell me something. I
felt like I should have kept looking at him, but instead I turned away.</span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Yes”
I answered slowly as I turned to face the boy. He was still sitting next to
Zadkiel’s body, his fingers covered in brain matter. The sight of him disgusted
me. How did a child so young become so twisted and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">corrupted. </i>The Mother’s voice echoed within my head and something
inside me clicked. Tumblers and gears shifted inside me falling into places
that I couldn’t identify. I felt the world around me lose focus and then come
into perfect clarity. </span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I knew there
was something behind me that I needed to reach for and my inner self turned to
it and fell into a deep chasm. It felt like the base of my stomach and as I
landed there the fluid skin of my dragon brushed past me as it and my snake
energy switched positions with my conscious mind. </span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I
looked through my eyes like a stranger looking into a movie screen and marvelled
at the ingenuity of the director. </span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I
stood up in one fluid motion and raised my arm up in the air. The essence of
Grigori’s body tickled the tips of my fingers as his small form rose up like a
mirror image of my hand. I curled my fingers inwards and he glided across the
space between us. I felt myself completing these actions, but they seemed in no
way connected to my spirit. </span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Where
are the others?” I asked him.</span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“What
others?” he squeaked.</span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“The
other angels. Take me to them” my voice cracked in the air like lashes of
thunder. </span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“I,
I don’t know where all of them are, just a few.” His eyes were bulging in his
little head. My skin crawled at the idea of keeping company with something as <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">vile </i>as him.</span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Take
me to the ones you know of, the rest we will find.” I looked at him expectantly
and lowered my arm until his tiny feet, which had hung suspended in the air,
touched the ground. He hesitated for a moment, his eyes scanning something
behind me. My eyebrows knitted together and with a frightened jolt Grigori
brought his palms together in a gesture of prayer. A warm orange glow spread
from his palms to his body until it lapped at the edges of my fierce white
light.</span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I allowed for his power to wash over mine, not
diminishing it for a second, simply overlapping it and allowing for him to beam
me away. As my physical body broke apart into miniscule light particles that
were to be whisked away to a far off location my spirit screamed in the pit of
my stomach, unheard and unnoticed.</span></span><br />
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> Just as Sebastian was left behind in the dust, unheard and unnoticed.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">THE END OF BOOK
1 <o:p></o:p></span></span></b></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11901304444624308674noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5454789321169737514.post-15957375176663762192013-11-22T23:14:00.001+11:002013-11-22T23:14:17.812+11:00Evelyn Earth Part 54<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ2EElJG4jGgdUxT6zebUUkvvCvepPtkirfI5CV1O2ajRWkc-eEgYTP_qikzW9D221Pf0LAgw7mdbnwhCiOsVTX5qoe_e9MFECpazeIXI5RET4xRnjYJsYAslwQpAFdf3NivXmPEg1CBo/s1600/Cave.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ2EElJG4jGgdUxT6zebUUkvvCvepPtkirfI5CV1O2ajRWkc-eEgYTP_qikzW9D221Pf0LAgw7mdbnwhCiOsVTX5qoe_e9MFECpazeIXI5RET4xRnjYJsYAslwQpAFdf3NivXmPEg1CBo/s320/Cave.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My first instinct was to fling up a wall of
darkness between them, but as I summoned up the last dregs of my energy I
realised that it wasn’t enough. The force-field had taken every last drop of
power that I had. I cried out as she collided with Sebastian. I expected a
surging blindness, a bright flash of light or something supernatural, but
nothing happened. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The next few moments
flew past so quickly that I barely registered them. My body was on autopilot.
My eyes saw that Bas had grabbed Ariel by the throat and transferred some of
his miasma into her. Her face intertwined with dark slithers of power stood
motionless against a background of chaos. Grigori howled and launched himself
at the pair. I intercepted him midway swinging my arm across his face as hard
as I could. His tiny frame went flying off to one side leaving me to face a
furious Zadkiel. He was no longer the image of Zen and tranquillity, no golden
showers rained from his fingertips; instead he clasped what looked like a blade
made of sunlight. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></span></div>
<a name='more'></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Behind me I
heard Bas cry out and I barely restrained myself from spinning around and
seeing what was going on. Zadkiel advanced on me, his army fatigues swallowing
the light that was emanating from the knife that he brandished before him,
which as he came closer I realised wasn’t a blade at all, but a steadily
controlled ray of light. Despite the fact that I knew that it wasn’t corporal I
understood enough about divine power to know that if it touched me I would be
in big trouble. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I spun around
to the side giving myself a wide berth between him and Grigori who had picked
himself up of the ground. Bas flickered in my peripheral vision and I glimpsed
the blinding rays of light that I had initially expected. This time Ariel’s cry
pierced the air and it sounded triumphant rather than despairing. At the same
time Zadkiel ran towards me with Grigori on his heels. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I
didn’t have time to think or to see what had happened to Sebastian. I dropped
down to my knees and placed both palms flat onto the soft cool ground. No
matter how much I resented our Mother for wanting to sacrifice us for her own
needs I knew that self-destruction would be a better way to go then getting
pierced by a ray of light brandished by a zealot. Maybe I could destroy the
angels and Bas would somehow survive. I squeezed my eyes shut tight and sought
out the Mother’s presence.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I
felt the peace of the connection slip over me as if I had just entered a warm
pool of water. Time slowed down to normal speed and then to no speed at all. I
saw tiny grains of earth shift around my fingers as my hands pressed harder
into the ground. Small flecks glided over my wrists as the wind picked them up
and transported them to their next destination and suddenly I was kneeling at
Her feet in the deep underground chamber where all things returned to after
death. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">You are in the midst of a great battle. </i>Her
voice whispered around me. “We are about to be killed” I said as I raised my
head, but somehow I knew that that wasn’t the battle she was referring to. She
looked the same as I had last seen her, regal yet alien. Her bulging belly and
thick legs seemed to be twisted with branches and veins of stone. Even her eyes
looked like they had been carved out of hardened lava. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">My brother’s messengers have become
corrupted, just as you have become corrupted. </i>A heavy sigh vibrated
throughout the chamber.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">We have fought over the love of man since
the first man could love. We have been worshipped and despised, we have been
many things except forgotten. To watch your creations wreak havoc upon your
flesh whilst thinking it is their own personal property is unbearable.<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span></i><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">“What are you
telling me?” I asked in desperation, “We are about to die, I don’t understand…”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Life is fleeting yet it is what sustains us
all. All of my creatures respect me except man, you are the only ones who
dismiss my existence, who call me rock and dirt and spit on me. You look up to
the sky and you call it heaven. You see my brother’s brilliance and you think
of god. I AM A GOD AND I WILL NOT BE FORGOTTEN!</i><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“You are a god”
I answered breathlessly, “no one can deny that, not after they’ve seen the
power you have given us. Help us to survive this battle and we will make
everyone remember who you are.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You are cunning. Just like the first humans were cunning…and vile.
This has not been my first attempt at destroying your kind. Each time you have
swayed me to either reconsider or have gathered a greater power to compel me to
cease my destruction.<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“You’ve never
shared your vengeance with us before. We are your vessels, please believe me
when I say that we share your vision” I pleaded. A great tearing sound
thundered through the cavern as Her thick legs disconnected from the bedrock. I
fell back onto my elbows as She rose to tower before me. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have never succeeded in obliterating humanity because it cannot
be done by me. I have understood this for a long time, which is why I gave you
part of my divine spirit. It has changed you Evelyn Kohl, but not enough for my
plan to have succeeded.<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My name sounded
odd being uttered by a god. My mouth hung open in shock and I knew that I
should slam it shut and look more awed than daunted.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You are a part of me, and that part will always do what I believe
to be right. The other part though, that is unpredictable and only Fate knows
how you will use my power. Go now Evelyn of Earth, spread my vengeance the way
you see fit. It is my only chance at resurrection.<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“The sun
soldiers...” I stuttered.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I will make you as hard as my heart. No light can penetrate what
you will become. <o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I craned my
neck back to look into Her face to see if her stony expression had changed to
one of sincerity, but with a sickening jerk I was propelled back to
consciousness. I felt the soft earth beneath my fingers once again and I felt
the presence of someone sweep over me. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Heaviness
pressed down onto my back and I shrugged it off as I pushed myself to my feet.
My head was clouded with images of the Earth Mother and I put a hand to my
temple as if to steady my inner thoughts. Had she spoken to other Earth Warriors
the way she had spoken to me? I couldn’t be the only one. I had never been
special enough to be noticed by anyone important let alone the most important
entity of the Earth, Mother Nature herself.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Another heavy weight pressed into the side of
my shoulder and I lifted my arm to swat it away. That’s when I realised the
eerie silence that had fallen over everything around me. I hadn’t noticed it at
first because the Mother’s cavern had been deathly quiet, but when I had fallen
to my knees chaos had surrounded me. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I pressed the
palms of my hands to my eyes and let my vision adjust to the light, letting the
cloudiness dissipate. It was unnaturally bright and at first I thought the Sun Soldiers
were giving off the radiance, but as I looked into Grigori’s chocolate coated eyes
I saw him shield his vision from the searing whiteness. As I turned to the side
I saw Zadkiel splayed on the ground, his spear of light gone and his head
cracked open oozing thick red blood and white stringy chunks of brain tissue. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I
looked down at my arm and realised that it must have been him that I had carelessly
swept away. Instead of darkened skin though what greeted me was a shining limb
so pure and crystalline that my natural instinct was to shade my eyes from the
brightness, although it would have been pointless as I was the one who was
glowing. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Mary
mother of mercy” Ariel muttered under her breath. I turned at the sound of her
voice and found her expression to be reverential. She clasped her hands
together before her and tried to take a step forward, but with a cry she fell
to her knees and her hands gripped onto her wildly messy hair. She tugged on
the long plait like a mad woman. I frowned and my gaze swept over her to look
for Sebastian. I scanned the air at my eye level and saw no one else. I shifted
my gaze down and found him.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>His
body lay behind Ariel. It was as still as a stone. I placed one foot in front
of the other and moved towards him, my mind still trapped in a dream state
where everything was surreal and imaginary. Ariel grabbed onto my legs as I
inched forward while Grigori leaned over <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Zadkiel’s carcass, his fingers probing his
skull. A wailing sound pierced the dream and it was coming from my blood encrusted
lips. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I
dropped down before Sebastian and my hands hovered over his body. His black
t-shirt was ripped open to reveal the chest that I had laid my head on every
night for the past six days. Ariel hovered above me and her shadow cast
darkness over his skin that was no longer tinged black.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Arghh!”
I screamed savagely, my hands still unable to touch his body. They caressed the
air above him illuminating every inch of him with their brilliance.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With lighting speed my hand darted out and
clamped onto Ariel’s braid. I spun it once around her neck and placed my other
hand on top of her head to stop her from slipping out of my grip. I kept my
eyes on Sebastian as I strangled her to her last breath. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>As
she sucked in the last morsel of oxygen she was ever going to get I exhaled with
a gasp and flung her body as far away from me as I could. It flew over the
cleared patch of earth landing with a smack that shattered bones. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>His
eyes were closed and it gave me hope that life hadn’t fled from his body. I
bent over his face and let my lips touch his ever so slightly. I held my breath
hoping to feel his but there was nothing. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“No,
no, no Bas, Sebastian no, no, no” I chanted. I dug my fist into the earth
reaching for the connection with the Mother, but she wouldn’t allow me to enter
the cavern. Was he there? Had he returned to the place where all things went
after death?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“SHOW
ME WHERE HE IS!” I screamed, “I NEED HIM!”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Life is fleeting. </span></i><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Her voice
whispered inside my head.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“NO!
Not his life” I cried out. “I can’t do what I promised without him! Bring him
back to me or I swear I will use your own vengeful power against you.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I will return his soul to his body.<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span></i><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Tears dropped
onto his pale face as I sobbed hysterically. “Thank you thank yo…”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">For a price.<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span></i><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Her words
fizzled around me as if they were charged with electricity. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Your life will be mine. Not just one part,
but everything that belongs to Fate. You will be my vessel, wholly and truly. </i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Yes,
yes, just do it! Bring him back!” I didn’t care what she asked for. Nothing
would matter without Sebastian. How could I possibly carve a new path in this
world without him by my side? I couldn’t create a new world order alone <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I needed him. </i><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>A
shudder ran through his body and I clutched frantically at his shoulders. As
his eyelids fluttered open revealing the jade green irises below the Mother’s
voice receded into the back of my mind. She was laughing, her voice like a tiny
bell ringing in the wind. </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11901304444624308674noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5454789321169737514.post-49652724812324094522013-11-15T22:46:00.000+11:002013-11-22T23:14:44.713+11:00Evelyn Earth Part 53<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4Ztkh_YTZXfVSSgIL5IqYxp3HI321BtkDF1L9bKalwHLr5WYetBvLxyP5yQCIAsOUVxX4iZXT4iw38h8AHJ_qIu75rh6djWJvLa-6rrK3q_C-JJmbBQBpqwRk416cU_UJYTDWbITQztM/s1600/angel,child,arts,angelic,bw,gothic-ca193aef8b148095c857a9e5536af036_h.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4Ztkh_YTZXfVSSgIL5IqYxp3HI321BtkDF1L9bKalwHLr5WYetBvLxyP5yQCIAsOUVxX4iZXT4iw38h8AHJ_qIu75rh6djWJvLa-6rrK3q_C-JJmbBQBpqwRk416cU_UJYTDWbITQztM/s320/angel,child,arts,angelic,bw,gothic-ca193aef8b148095c857a9e5536af036_h.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“I’ve never
seen something like that before” Grigori said. He spun around on his heel and
pierced me with his deep brown eyes, “how did you do that?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I looked from
him to Ariel to Zadkiel and waited for one of them to make a move, but all
three stood their ground. Ariel looked more frantic than before. Her hair had
puffed up around her head, slipping out of the braid and resembling a frayed
mop rather than a rope, which gave her an altogether mad scientist appearance. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“I asked you
how you did that <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">demon</i>” Grigori
growled at me.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“I did it
because I could. There’s a lot more that I can do that I bet you’ve never seen
before” I replied, my voice cold as ice. I was still holding onto the mass of
darkness around Izzy and Travis and it was taking its toll. Anything I said
from now on would have to be a perfect bluff because that force field was
draining the last remains of my power. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“You said you
wanted to talk” Sebastian interrupted mine and Grigori’s standoff, “so talk.”
His clipped tone had finally seeped through and I could tell that losing all
three of his friends in the space of one minute had really pissed him off and
ground him down. We both knew that we could die, but if I knew Bas well enough,
he’d rather die angry and fighting than desperate and fighting. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“What are you
doing?” Ariel asked after a long stretch of silence that involved all five of
us exchanging mixed glances. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Yes, what is
it that you are doing exactly?” Zadkiel chimed in. He had continued to smile
despite the fact that the situation had escalated to preposterously tense
proportions. Maybe that was his way of easing his stress? Or maybe he was just
manic. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></span><br />
<a name='more'></a><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“What do you
mean <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">what are we doing</i>?” Bas replied,
his voice dripping with sarcasm.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“That” Grigori
pointed at the expanse of cleared land that stretched out to our left. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“What the fuck
does it look…”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“We’re cleansing the earth” Sebastian
interrupted me. His eyes locked onto mine for a split second and they flashed
with a warning. I ground my teeth in frustration. We were in an impossible
situation and all he wanted from me was to keep my mouth shut? He had another
thing coming. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Why?” Ariel
asked.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“It’s what we
were made to do” Bas said slowly. The confusion that was emanating off the trio
was palpable, even Zadkiel’s smile faltered.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“We know what
you were made to do, to ravage humanity and feed on their blood” Zadkiel said
after a moment’s pause.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Blood? You
think that we’re what? Some kind of vampires?” <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“You could be.
How do we know?” Grigori chimed in.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“As Earth
Warriors we were created to cleanse the earth’s surface of all harmful properties.
To bring it back to a state of purity” Sebastian said quickly before I could
pick another argument with a ten year old. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Both Zadkiel
and Ariel exchanged glances that made a shiver run down my spine. They didn’t
believe us. They actually thought we were crazy.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“So let me get
this straight. You think you three are angels, sent from heaven?” I said
cautiously. You never knew how real crazy people would react.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ariels brow creased and Grigori sucked in a
large breath of air in preparation for what looked like an outburst. Before he
could erupt though Zadkiel placed a hand on the boys head and a shower of
sparks rained down over him. One moment he looked like an overripe beetroot and
then he was simply calm. He blinked a few times and wiped a hand over his eyes
as if rubbing away the last remnants of sleep. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“We serve God”
said Zadkiel with an air of iron certainty, “It doesn’t matter who you are or
what you are doing because you are not one of God’s creatures. We’ve witnessed
your kind before, murdering and vandalising cities. The only reason we agreed
to speak to the both of you is because we have not witnessed this before” he
swept his hands around him. I shot a look at Bas. How many cities had they been
to where Earth Warriors had gone rogue and abused their powers? Were we truly
the only ones who understood our destinies?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“You’re lying”
I said. I wanted to sound indignant, but my voice quivered. Throughout all of
the time that I had spent analysing our situation, thinking of theories to
explain what was going on, I always thought that there was someone out there
who had come to the same conclusions as I had. To think that I was the only
one, that Bas and I were the only ones to realise what our destinies were was
something that I couldn’t get my head around. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“We’ve met one
other Earth Warrior who was as twisted as you describe, but that was just one!
We were given the power to cleanse, to destroy…” I faltered again and I knew
that they could see it. We had been given the power to destroy and kill and
that was something that I couldn’t deny. The Mother’s plan for the rest of
humanity had always been death. It was only recently that we had come to
embrace a new reality, one that didn’t involve genocide.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“You are
demonic monstrosities. You were given the power to kill and we were given the
power of the Lord so that we could stop you, and we will” Zadkiel said
vehemently, “we will stop you.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“If you know as
much as you say you do, then you know that you cannot fight us without
destroying yourselves” Sebastian said. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“We cancel each
other out” I added just in case they didn’t quite grasp the situation.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“We are not
afraid to die” Ariel spat at us, “In the name of the Lord we will smite you!”
With those last clichéd words she lunged at Sebastian.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11901304444624308674noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5454789321169737514.post-17999459963457705512013-11-08T17:26:00.000+11:002013-11-09T17:26:35.413+11:00Evelyn Earth Part 52<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs5g1DViIIb-7siEQoKsCPkFHZPYepLdwgZL36kbvYYM8rNxPgiHv_rdiW2a1oQ0wJC3fIX_xyC-nt7w8pYms95ubOQWuZWUOA_JmRqFCJNP4iZQSsrovWHS02oHcb-z_-pz2i1C-XV_Y/s1600/30-100-02816.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs5g1DViIIb-7siEQoKsCPkFHZPYepLdwgZL36kbvYYM8rNxPgiHv_rdiW2a1oQ0wJC3fIX_xyC-nt7w8pYms95ubOQWuZWUOA_JmRqFCJNP4iZQSsrovWHS02oHcb-z_-pz2i1C-XV_Y/s320/30-100-02816.jpg" width="236" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I crawled
laboriously over to the edge of the pillar and stuck my head over the edge. I
felt Bas’s hands on my shoulders making sure that I wouldn’t tip forward. Below
us Sloan was standing with his feet apart talking loudly to three people that
were shimmering with unearthly light.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">One of them was
a woman, I could tell from this height because her hair was braided into a
thick rope that rested over her shoulder. The person next to her was too small
to be anything other than a child or a dwarf. I remembered what Audrey had said
about some of the Sun Soldiers being children and I gasped. I hadn’t believed
her at the time, but there was proof standing right below me that the Sun
picked its army because of their simplicity of mind. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The third
person was a man, but that was all I could tell from this point of view. Sloan
raised his voice another octave and was waving his hands around as if
describing something to the trio. I slid backwards and rested my head on the
surface of the pillar.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“I can’t
believe it, but I don’t think he’s told them that we’re up here” I breathed
out.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“He’s covering
for us” Bas said.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Why?”</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“There’s one
thing about Sloan that you don’t know and that’s despite his vileness he’s as
loyal as a dog. I’ve saved his life numerous times, and I have no doubt that he
hates me for it, but he has never forgotten it.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“I never knew
that” I frowned, “I thought you said he had resented you from the moment the
darkness entered you and not him.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“He did, but he
still wanted power even if it was association with it and not possession. I
think if the chance presented itself and he could take the darkness from me he
would, all loyalty forgotten.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“But he wouldn’t
give you up to the Sun Soldiers?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></span></div>
<a name='more'></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“We have all
seen what the angels can do” Travis spoke up “at least Roth has never forced us
to do anything we didn’t want to do, or take us anywhere we didn’t want to go.”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Or hurt anyone
innocent” Izwan added, “We are lucky ones. Not like ones trapped in camps.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“I think that’s
why your group hasn’t fallen apart” I whispered, “you have seen something worse
than the darkness, whereas I was the worst thing my group had ever seen.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“That’s no one’s
fault.” <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“If I hadn’t of
joined them at the shipping yard they would all still be living there together,
Marla and Toya, Old Mal even Tod and Jack.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Don’t forget Owen” Bas said. His
face was expressionless as he said his name, devoid of any resentment or
jealousy.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“We
were heading past the shipping yard, to the industrial areas anyways” said
Travis, “we, I mean Roth, would have probably cleared that land anyways. At
least this way you know your friends are still out there.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Do
I?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Should
I interrupt now? It seems like a good time to interrupt them doesn’t it?” <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I
whipped my head around so fast that I felt the Earth tilt under me and begin to
shift from side to side. The woman with the braid was holding the hand of the
child and floating mid-air next to our pillar.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“I
think we got their attention” the kid answered the woman. His voice was small,
but hard edged like a shard of glass that cut through our reverie. Sebastian
moved to stand between me and the Sun Soldiers while Travis swiftly ducked down
to lift me to my feet.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I
held on tightly to his arm as I steadied myself. Despite my weakened state I
could still feel my dragon stir in the pit of my stomach. It seemed that no
matter our state of mind, whether we were drunk and overloading on power or
fatigued and damaged, our darkness awakened in response to the light.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Easy
now, we just came up here to talk” the woman said blandly. Her voice though did
not match her appearance. Her eyes were wild, darting from Bas to me and back.
Her hair was a dirty blonde and it swung ever so slightly as the pair hovered
above the ground. They were both wearing similar clothing. It looked like army
survival gear, the type that resembled the colour of mustard and grass with lots
of pockets and hidden straps. It struck me as odd since the child didn’t look
any older than 10. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The
boy had wispy brown hair that floated around his head like a halo, but his eyes
were a deep chocolate brown that hinted at a maturity that he couldn’t possibly
possess. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“They
are both demons” the boy muttered.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“I
can see that” the woman responded impatiently, “that is why we have to speak to
them.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“I
hate demons” the boy spat out at us with such vehemence that I was taken aback.
Great, so we were the demons fighting the angels and we all know who wins in
those kinds of stories.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“And
we dislike your kind” Sebastian said calmly, “but we are willing to talk.” All
five of us stared at him in surprise.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Well,
good” the woman replied in a haughty voice.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“On
the ground then?” Bas said inclining his head to where Sloan and the other man
were standing. The Sun Soldier had Sloan’s hands behind his back and a thin ray
of light encircled around his neck. It looked like they hadn’t bought whatever
tale he had spun them. Instead they had come up to the top of the most
unnatural looking pillar of earth to investigate for themselves. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Without
a response the pair glided down to the ground in a mass of warm light. It
reminded me a bit of jet packs, if they were soft and slow and not roaring fire
powered machines. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“What
are you doing” I said grabbing a hold of his hand. The connection only revealed
the fact that he was scared out of his mind, not for himself, but for all of
us. “Talk to me!”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Talking
is the only thing that will save us right now” he turned to us, “so let me do
it, understood.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I
let go of his hand. Maybe the others were used to him ordering them around, but
I sure as hell wasn’t. It didn’t help that my dragon had been revived from its
state of exhaustion and was churning my insides into a rage that I soon wouldn’t
be able to control. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Evs,
I love you” he said before leaning forward and planting a kiss on my chapped
lips. The show of affection, especially in front of the boys startled me so much
that I forgot I was angry. He let go of me too soon though and the feeling didn’t
hold. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>As
he manipulated the pillar to retract into the ground I steeled myself for what
was to come. If Bas couldn’t talk his way out of this I would most likely hurl
myself at the three Sun Soldiers and try and go out in a blaze of glory, not
that I wanted to act like a suicide bomber, but I just knew that’s what would
happen. Sebastian probably sensed it too and he gave me one last reproachful
look before we became level with the so called angels. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Before
we begin I just want to clarify that we are not demonic” Sebastian said with
the same controlled tone he had used before. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The
child began to laugh uncontrollably. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“That’s
enough Grigori” the man snapped and the boy seized laughing so suddenly that I
wondered if the whole thing had been an act. “We are angels and you are demons,
everybody knows this, why try and deny it. Look at yourselves.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I
looked down at myself involuntarily before realising that he meant the darkness
that had stained our skin. I had become so used to the phenomenon that I forgot
how it must look to others. Black skinned people with black eyes and veins
darker than even the surface on which they pulsed. Compared to the trio before
us who shone in what looked like a heavenly light we looked very much demonic.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“We
are children of the Earth and you of the Sun. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Everybody </i>knows that” he said in a slightly more mocking tone that
sounded more like Bas, but he quickly righted it before he continued. “Demons
and angels have nothing to do with what we are.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“They’re
insane” whispered the woman to the child with raised eyebrows that almost disappeared
into her hairline. Grigori grinned at her and the whole picture took on an
eerie vibe. I looked from them to the man holding onto the Sloan and noted that
he too wore the same ugly army style gear. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Are
you a family?” I asked. Bas shot me a look that said ‘shut up, I’m the only one
supposed to be speaking’, but I ignored him.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Zadkiel
is my brother as is Grigori” the woman answered, “I am Ariel” she added as an
afterthought. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“My
name is Roth, this is Evelyn, Izwan and Travis. The man you are holding hostage
is Sloan and I would like you to release him” Bas said before I could open my
mouth to comment on their strange names. I wracked my brain as to why Zadkiel
sounded so familiar and it dawned on me. They had chosen angel names for
themselves. Zadkiel was a Hebrew angel of mercy and Ariel was from the Book of
Enoch, I remembered studying a bit of theological history for an assignment and
reading about different types of archangels. Who knew that it would actually be
useful knowledge and not just more useless facts that crowded my brain? Grigori
though was a name I couldn’t tie in with anything I’d read and I assumed it must
be angelic, since that’s the theme they were going for. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“As
you wish” the man smiled. The way his grey eyes glinted I instantly knew
something was wrong. Bas took a step towards Sloan expecting him to be released
into his care, but I knew better.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“No!”
I yelled, but it was too late, Sloan’s body ignited with a light so fierce that
a shield of darkness was rapidly flung over my face. I swiped it away so that I
could see what was happening, but Sloan was gone. I turned to Sebastian to see
if I could gauge what had happened from his face, but his jaw was clenched so
hard that I could see a thick inky vein bulging on his neck from the force. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Where
did you send him?” he asked deathly quietly. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“I
released him just like you asked” Zadkiel continued to grin. Without waiting
for a response from Bas I threw up a shield over Izwan and Travis.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Run”
I called out to them, “I’ll shield you for as long as I can, just get out of
here.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Grigori
let go of Ariel’s hand and moved towards the dark mass.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Please!
Bas can’t lose both of you as well, we’ll find you I promise!” I cried out
desperately. If Grigori came in contact with my shield his light power would
cancel mine out and then we would be pitched into a fight that we would lose.
Three against two was hardly good odds. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I exhaled in relief as the broiling darkness
began to swiftly move backwards as the boys began to move. I heard Travis’s
voice call out to us, he said one word “Portugal” and I understood.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We would see them again when we saw Manoel and
Owen. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If we survived. </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11901304444624308674noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5454789321169737514.post-86612130126640650212013-11-01T17:04:00.000+11:002013-11-03T17:06:44.497+11:00Evelyn Earth Part 51<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0Uo22uCeAq9lAEqDVmX378oYPeLzjccu2euRpia8_6LwNIEdraTFfc13BdUUEgsFjJ_7ZoS3anbG5lF1pOO6m8oRJiqePWrGLuZg6r-vScuu_R7IALwvIqkpBHwXs8O1WjltAP1t1pE8/s1600/testing_html_1cdf2c30_thumb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0Uo22uCeAq9lAEqDVmX378oYPeLzjccu2euRpia8_6LwNIEdraTFfc13BdUUEgsFjJ_7ZoS3anbG5lF1pOO6m8oRJiqePWrGLuZg6r-vScuu_R7IALwvIqkpBHwXs8O1WjltAP1t1pE8/s320/testing_html_1cdf2c30_thumb.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“This
revolution will be the first of its kind. We can only learn so much from
history, before we hit a road block of difference” I muttered to myself.
Everything that I had read about ancient civilisations and their downfalls was
whirling around in my head. In almost every case that I had studied humanity
had exhausted the natural resources around them, which lead to their inability
to continue living in the way that they were accustomed. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Slowly, step by
step though civilisations re-built themselves and made the same mistakes as
their predecessors—in our case on a global scale. There had never been a check
and balance system that had extended to every living person on the planet. What
if we, as Earth Warriors could create such a system?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Everything
depends on the actions of others” Bas said, “the actions of others with power
to be more specific. If there are more Earth and Sun soldiers like Audrey then
to put it lightly, we’re all fucked.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“So we do what
we can” I shrugged. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“We do what we
can” Bas echoed softly. His fingers squeezed mine tightly and I felt the build-up
of power coursing through him. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></span></div>
<a name='more'></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The first block
of houses fell before us. They crumbled silently in mid-air, pieces of mortar
floated on the cool breeze before they too were sucked into nothingness. As we
moved closer towards the city we became more eager to consume larger and larger
blocks of land. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The boys
scouted the area before us calling out to anyone who could hear them.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Show
yourselves or be killed! Danger, danger! We are sweeping this block, come out
now or be crushed in the demolition!” They tried all sorts of tactics, making
it sound as if tradies were levelling the area, or that there was a bomb in the
vicinity, but no one came out. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In the first
day we never did know if we had killed anybody. We could have been killing
people at every stop, but we didn’t care. By the time the sun had begun to set
we had cleared an immense amount of land. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“I want to see
how it looks from high up” I panted. I was out of breath and my head was
pounding. Every time I lifted my arm to brush the sweat off my forehead I saw
that my hand was trembling and that my skin had taken on a leathery texture. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Hold onto me”
Bas said. His hand felt course and scratchy like paper that had been soaked wet
and then left out to dry in the sun. His eyes focussed onto the ground and the
familiar tingle of his miasma spread underneath our feet. His pupils shook abnormally
as he concentrated harder and I felt my own eyes zone in on his to examine them
further. They were pitch black in a sea of gun metal grey and they vibrated
ever so slightly. I was about to comment on this before someone interrupted me.
<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Can we see as
well?” Travis asked. He was sitting on the ground holding onto his side. Out of
all the boys he had done the most scouting. While Bas and I rested between each
cleanse, he Izzy and Sloan would spread out in the next area and call out to
anyone that was there to listen. Travis scouted inside buildings, searching
likely places that people would be hiding while Sloan simply slunk around
yelling out warnings of doom and destruction. Izwan had good intentions, but he
really was like a helpless baby lamb that needed to be guided in order to
survive or succeed. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Bas nodded his
head without breaking his gaze with the ground. Izwan who had been standing
behind Travis helped him up off the ground and they came to stand beside us.
Sloan didn’t move. He stood cradling his injured arm with an expression of
fatigue and defiance. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I was worried
about him as well. I wasn’t sure how we would spend the night. Both me and Bas
had pushed ourselves to the point of fainting and we were in no condition to
sleep with one eye open, figuratively speaking. Frankly I was surprised that he
had stuck around after I removed his finger, which made me question his
motives. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The ground
beneath us undulated and rumbled as Bas coaxed it to amass beneath our feet and
raise us up into the air. I had to stop thinking and concentrate on not falling
off. We had to stand with our feet wide apart to compensate for the roiling
motion of the pillar as it extended itself higher and higher into the sky. With
a laboured breath Bas clapped his hands together and the pillar solidified.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Wow” I sighed.
It was as if we were on the bank of an ocean. To one side waves and waves of
crushed metal and partially destroyed buildings lay motionless while on the
other liberated trees swayed in the wind amongst fields of grass and freshly
exposed soil.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“It still looks
so neat” Bas said.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“You know what
quote keeps popping into my head?” I said.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“What?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“I’m sure I’ve
said it before, but ‘God doesn’t build in straight lines’”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Hmm I know
what you mean. The grass is still in squares and the trees are mostly in line
with each other. It doesn’t look as natural as I thought it would.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Are you disappointed?”
I asked.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“A little bit”
he mumbled.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Everything
takes time. You can’t expect the Mother to reclaim everything in a day.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“This is the
part where you say the most overused quote ever.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Nope, not going
to go there” I smiled and leant into his chest. I felt his heart beating
spasmodically and mine instantly sped up to match his. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“We’re not okay
are we?” I whispered into the sweet skin of his neck. I felt him shake his head
from side to side. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“How many more
days do you think we can do this?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“If we rest
maybe five or six before we die.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Die?”
Travis exclaimed. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“It’s
not as simple as it looks” Bas chuckled. My head moved up and down with the
motion of his chest. I pressed myself closer into him and closed my eyes. After
my last episode I had felt as if I were burned out. I knew that it had damaged
me somehow, but I hadn’t dwelled on it. Now with so much sustained exertion I
could feel something was terribly wrong inside me. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I could feel a
cough bubbling up inside my throat and I tried to supress it but it came
out<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>with a harsh splutter. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I clamped a hand over my mouth and doubled
over in pain. My lungs constricted painfully and I felt warm fluid running down
the back of my throat and filling up my nasal cavities. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Evs spit it
out, you can’t force it back in.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Eughh” I
coughed as thick globules of blood escaped my lips. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Has this
happened to you before?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Something
similar, when I destroyed the light barrier at one of the angel camps.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I nodded
wonkily. It felt like my insides were liquefying and I could barely keep my
mind focussed let alone control my motor functions. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Izzy do you
have any of that powder stuff you had back then?” Bas turned to Izwan who had
crouched down before me. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“No, lost all
in swim from collapsed bridge to container camp.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Dammit. What
was in the stuff anyway, can we get some more?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Ancient
Chinese herbal remedy, old lady give to me in camp. No idea what inside” he
sighed. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“I don’t think
a herbal tea will be able to fix this” I groaned as I wiped more blood from my
lips with my shaky fingers.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“It could make
you feel better. I don’t understand why you’re affected so much more than I am.
You’re not pushing yourself more than I am, are you?” he narrowed his eyes at
me.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“No” I laughed,
but it ended in another horrible coughing fit, “you’ve got to remember I’ve
cranked out a hell of a lot more power in the last few weeks than you have. It’s
taking its toll.” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“You need to
stop. I’ll go on tomorrow alone. You can scout with the lads.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Don’t be
ridiculous. If we did that then we’d never get this done.”<br />
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“I thought we had gone
through this. We’re not sacrificing ourselves for Her anymore. Do you
understand me Evelyn?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“It’s not about
that” I groaned. I rocked back onto my heels and then slumped onto my ass. My
hands were covered in rich burgundy blood and I wished that they were clean so
that I could run my fingers through my hair. “I want to do this. The faster we
get it done the better. What if the Sun Soldiers find us again? We can’t fight
them in this state and you know it. I’d rather die knowing that I had cleansed
the city than die at their light blasted hands while I was recuperating.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“They won’t
come after us.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“That’s bullshit,
come on Bas, they came last time because they sensed our power, and that was
just the transference, not us actually using it to destroy blocks of land.” <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">While we were
talking up on the pillar Sloan’s voice reached us from down below.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Eyyy! Trouble
coming our way!”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“What is it?” I
asked as I tried to push my hair out of my face with the backs of my hands.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Speak of the
devil and he shall appear.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“The devil?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“It’s another
quote. Basically we’re screwed”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Angels!” cried
Travis.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“No” I
whispered, “right now?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Right now” Bas
said icily as he stood up. My heart untethered itself from my body and sunk
deep into the ground. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“How many?” I
dared to ask.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Three” Bas
replied. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“So basically
we’re screwed” I repeated with resignation.</span> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11901304444624308674noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5454789321169737514.post-19844551785471081382013-10-25T16:17:00.000+11:002013-10-27T16:28:14.960+11:00Evelyn Earth Part 50<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM8C1iLKI-m1DsoTpwu4tJ_5hi3dyOHUIk3rEcA9_kBgQnYJo2SP5Kg3CGGYWSeUPW-pGlD4nOq3QstGHQ88rSIrjBxCcELLVUHJBuSP2b9dPJKvTuFW2OIO0ZmvEzqWuJ679b8LY_sk0/s400/Ec5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM8C1iLKI-m1DsoTpwu4tJ_5hi3dyOHUIk3rEcA9_kBgQnYJo2SP5Kg3CGGYWSeUPW-pGlD4nOq3QstGHQ88rSIrjBxCcELLVUHJBuSP2b9dPJKvTuFW2OIO0ZmvEzqWuJ679b8LY_sk0/s320/Ec5.jpg" width="241" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It was not lost on me that I sounded like an
extremist, someone who believed in an ideology to the extent that they wanted everyone
else to believe it too. Not only believe it, but live it. Be trapped within it.
I groaned inwardly. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>How
did political leaders make these sorts of decisions? I had read about militant
tyrants and fervent religious masses doing things that were at complete odds
with each other, but were thought to be utterly correct. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I
couldn’t stop thinking about what the world would turn into if what we did
turned out to be wrong. People were suffering all over the globe and they had
been suffering for as long as anyone could remember. A select few nations had
overcome obstacles as simple as clean drinking water, medical aid and
education, which led to a new and improved way of life. And here I was saying
that I was going to take us back to the pre-historic age where hunters and
gatherers foraged for berries and chiselled arrow heads out of flint. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A new Earth meant no hospitals, no
agriculture, no infrastructure and nothing of anything really. Was that
something that sounded right? It sure as hell didn’t sound logical. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></span></div>
<a name='more'></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Bas”
I started to say, but the words I wanted to express wouldn’t come out. I didn’t
want to sound like I doubted our mission, especially when he could misconstrue
it as me backing out because of Owen.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“It’s
alright Evs” he held out his hand and I felt our connection establish. I series
of scenes danced around in my head—scenes of barren nothingness, scenes of
people living in hovels, scenes of hundreds of corpses and a scene of me and
Bas sitting on a throne.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We were having
the same doubts and running outrageous possibilities of the future. Neither of
us had a solid grip on the theory of running a new world order. We weren’t
revolutionaries we were foot soldiers with unimaginable power. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“We need a
leader” I said out loud. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“What?” Sloan
grumbled. His hand was still wrapped up in a bandage, where his finger had once
been.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“I was just
thinking out loud.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Keep going”
Travis said. Bas looked at me with a questioning expression. Having a
meta-physical connection with someone was amazing on so many levels, except for
conveying coherent ideas. Nothing could beat the expression of words. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Um well, how
can I say this, it’s not in our nature to be completely autonomous” I looked
around me and saw that all the boys were listening intently so I continued with
my random train of thought, “I mean there are some people who would be
perfectly happy living the life of a hermit, but once people gather together things
happen that are out of their own personal control. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I can’t tell
you for example to not wear the colour purple because I don’t like it. You would
say that’s ridiculous, but if I was your leader and I said to you that wearing
the colour purple was illegal and had repercussions, you would think twice
before putting on something purple. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There would
probably be a minority that would rebel against such a restriction, but it
would only be a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">minority.</i> That’s
because people aren’t all happy to think for themselves. Most people would hate
to be hermits. They would rather live under the rule of someone else who banned things like colours, than be alone
and ruled only by their own actions. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The majority of people won’t question the reason
behind the ban on purple they’ll just obey it because it’s <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">easier </i>than dissenting.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What we need is
someone who can make these sorts of rules and make the people believe that what
they are saying is the law and must be followed.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“You want
someone to be able to ban a colour without having people question them?” Travis
said. His small eyes had narrowed down into slits and I could tell that he was
desperately trying to make sense of what I had said.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“We need a
leader” I repeated, “clearly someone with better communication skills than me.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“No one can ban
a colour that’s just stupid” Sloan growled, “if you told me not to wear bloody
purple I’d say ‘fuck you, you purple cunt’ and chuck on something fucking
purple.” Every time he said the word ‘purple’ his face changed colour to more
closely resemble what he was saying.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“I didn’t just
pull that example out of thin air you idiot. In Ancient Rome only the Emperor
was allowed to wear purple and you know what? People obeyed him.” <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“So you say we
must have Emperor?” Izwan looked doubly as confused as Travis. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Yes, I mean
no. I mean we can’t just wipe the slate clean and let people run wild.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Isn’t that the
point? To return to the wild?” Travis looked at Sebastian for confirmation.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“It is, but
what if a bunch of engineers got together and starting recreating the very
things we destroyed” he answered.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Oh you mean we
need someone to say ‘you can’t build stuff’ and if they do build stuff then you’d,
like, come and kill them and break whatever they built?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“That’s one way
of putting it.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“So wait” Sloan
pointed his finger at me, “if I want to build myself a house, one of you
bastards will come and destroy it?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“We’d need to
figure out the finer details. If you didn’t
cut down any trees, but only used dead wood then it would be okay for you to
have a wooden house. It’s tricky with Mother Nature, everything is linked, part
of an ecosystem. If you have man-kind ignoring the natural order and tramping
around felling trees then yeah it would be a problem and we would have to go
out and make an example out of whoever’s been cutting down trees.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“How would you
know though? The wood would be dead by the time I build the house.” Sloan
looked smug. His thin lips had stretched over his teeth and the thing that
passed for a smile illuminated his face.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“You can’t
trick this” Bas gathered a solid cloud of darkness in his hand and held it up
before Sloan. The smile fell of his face and I could swear I heard it hit the
ground. Thin tendrils of black smoke detached themselves from the ball and reached
for Sloan's head. He jerked backwards so suddenly that he lost his balance and fell
onto his ass. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“The difference
between this revolution and every other revolution that has ever taken place on
Earth is that the leaders and enforcers of the new world order won’t be human.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You could be the most charismatic and genius
military leader to ever live. You could amass an army of thousands and try and
seize control of the new world, but I would obliterate you with a wave of my
hand” he clenched his fist and the darkness re-absorbed into his skin.</span></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11901304444624308674noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5454789321169737514.post-43363742330361894082013-10-18T23:24:00.000+11:002013-10-18T23:24:57.399+11:00Evelyn Earth Part 49<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://amidatrust.typepad.com/.a/6a00d83451b0bb69e201675eca7532970b-800wi" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://amidatrust.typepad.com/.a/6a00d83451b0bb69e201675eca7532970b-800wi" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I wanted the feeling of contentment that I
received from that moment to live on inside me forever. I wanted it to be
something that I held close to my heart until the day that it stopped pulsing
with blood. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I
woke up in the middle of the night and gently got out of bed. Bas, I had
started calling him that incessantly as a substitute for ‘baby’ which irritated
me to no end, was sprawled across the sheets and breathing softly. He never
snored, nor did he like to grab me and press his hot body against mine while we
slept. It was so comforting knowing that I could move around and do what I
wanted in bed, without the constraints of cuddling. Most of the time I slipped
off to sleep easily, but tonight something had kept in a state of barely awake
consciousness. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>As
I lay in bed I could hear the sound of insects and the sway of trees. It was a
chorus of things that didn’t allow me to move onto the next stage of deeper
sleep. I padded my way over to the window and swung it open. They were old
style French glass windows with six panes on each side and two ornate handles. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span></span></div>
<a name='more'></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> I
had gone to bed in a large white t-shirt that had belonged to the resident of
this house and it didn’t do much to keep the chill out. The nights were
gradually getting longer and as I looked out over the star encrusted sky I knew
that soon summer would be over and the long nine month Melbourne winter would
kick in.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I
hated winter, I wished that it was a season that would never come to pass, a
season that would always be forgotten and kept hidden somewhere far away like
Antarctica. Melbourne winter was especially maddening with its lack of snow,
incessant rain and blustering winds. It had none of the perks of winter and all
of the shitty downsides. Come to think of it that was always an assumption I
had made before, at least the temperature didn’t drop below zero and we wouldn’t
all freeze to death without houses and things. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Imagine
how the Earth Warriors were doing in a place like Antarctica. There wouldn’t be
much for them to destroy, but once they did wipe out a village or a base of
some kind it would pretty much be game over for any humans who lived there. Probably
game over for them too. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>It
would have been a different story if it was Eskimos, igloos were made from ice
after all and all their clothes were made of animal furs. Those people probably
wouldn’t even have seen an Earth Warrior. Maybe one of them was standing out on
the snow fields and looking up at the stars completely oblivious that a new
world order had taken place. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Bas
stirred behind me and I glanced back at his half naked form. Despite the
temperature he always insisted on wearing pants, but the shirt was usually
optional and I was fine with that. I looked back at the moon, which had just
revealed itself from behind a cluster of clouds. It was crystal clear and at
its most vibrant even though it was only three quarters full. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>It
would be a different day tomorrow, different in more ways than one. I leaned
over the window sill and grabbed onto the handles. It was time I went back to
sleep—proper sleep.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I
woke up late. I could feel the depressing thud of my head which was filled to
the brim with stagnant blood. I groaned and rubbed at my eyes. I could feel the
lack of Bas’s presence and wondered why he hadn’t woken me up. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“You’re
awake” his voice startled me. I opened my puffy eyes and immediately shielded them
from the glare of the grey sky. He was standing in the same spot that I had
occupied last night.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Whatteryoudoin”
I mumbled. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“It’s
going to get colder soon” he said under his breath, “do you think the Sun Soldier’s
powers wane when there is no actual sunlight?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“It’s
a possibility.” I slid off the bed and felt around on the floor for a pair of
trackies that I had discarded a few nights ago. They were three sizes too big
for me, but that was just the way I liked them; baggy and soft. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“I
think we should start today” he said firmly. I froze one leg half inserted into
the pants leg and the other wobbling mid-air.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Today?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“You
don’t think so?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“No,
it’s just last night I was thinking that something was going to change today
and I guess this is it. We’re finally doing it.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>We
looked at each other, both with our own apprehensions. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Have
you been thinking about how to get around your…dilemma” he asked me. His voice
was still tinged with slight distain, but at least it wasn’t venomous. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“I
was thinking instead of doing a mass blanket sweep of the city, that would
leave us completely drained and vulnerable, we do it section by section. Before
we clear an area we should announce it and see if any people do wander out of
their hide-outs and bunkers. What do you think?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Have
you tried amplifying your voice?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“I
don’t think that’s one of our assorted capabilities.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“We
could spread out with Izzy, Trav and Sloan and all yell out at the same time,
but fuck Evs would you come out of your safe bunker if some British lad and a
bird were screaming out “come out or die!”” <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Good
point” I muttered. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“It’s
worth a try though, you never know once the rubble starts disintegrating before
their eyes they might wake up and come out of hiding. I’m going to go next door
and get the lads. You pack anything we need for this trip and meet me by the
well.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I
nodded in agreement and watched as he strode out of the door looking the part
of a determined general. He had his usual attire of black t-shirt, black jeans
and black Converse chucks on, but I also noticed that he had tied up his hair.
It made him look more severe, but also more in control.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I breathed a sigh of relief for the fact that
he hadn’t mentioned Owen. We both knew that these safety measures weren’t for
the stray groups of people hiding out in the city’s depths, but it was nice not
to talk about it. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I
rushed around the house packing walking gear, the small amount of food we had
left over and plastic bottles to fill up at the well. Once I was ready I took
one last look at the bedroom where Bas and I had spent so many steamy nights
and waved it all away. Literally. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Starting
early?” He called out as I crossed the road and walked to the well where our
small crew had assembled. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“It’s
like a band aid” I shrugged. The spot where the old Victorian house had stood
was now a strange looking block of land, dotted with various lines of plants,
weeds and overgrown grass that had covered the stones of a path that had once
led to a shed. The whole world would look like that after we were done, before
Mother Nature took a firm hold of it and re-shaped it to her liking. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>It
irked me a little bit that she was allowed to do all these things while
humanity couldn’t create metals and such without being condemned. After all we
lived in a closed system. Everything mankind had made had come from the Earth.
It was just the way things were shaped and meddled with that was the problem. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I
wondered who the first person to change an atom had been. Had they modified an
atom? I realised sheepishly that I didn’t even know. I knew there was such a
thing as an atom bomb so surely some man or woman had tampered with the raw
material of the Earth to create something akin to an abomination. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I
also realised that I was wandering into shady territory where questions like “is
cloning okay” and “is stem cell research ethical” wanted to present themselves
like over eagre students in a class room, begging to be picked to speak in
front of their peers.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One thing was for sure, I was no scientist and
I had never possessed a scientific mind. My brain was filled with myths and
legends, with ages long past and philosophical thoughts of the universe that
had no logical grounding. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>One
thing I did want to affirm to myself was that at some point in our evolution
mankind had gone astray. They had been influenced by an outside source and
given a seed of knowledge that was not meant for them. With that one tiny seed
a huge cancer had spread that blanketed the world and it was this cancer that I
was going to destroy. Not because the Mother told me to, or because she wanted
vengeance against humanity, but because I could feel it in myself—the need to
change to world, no, to <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">revert </i>the world
back to its purest state. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Then,
and only then would we be able to see where we went wrong and take a different path
that would not lead to our mutual destruction.</span> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11901304444624308674noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5454789321169737514.post-80796354567209683472013-10-11T20:43:00.000+11:002013-10-13T20:43:52.015+11:00Evelyn Earth Part 48<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://8tr.s3.amazonaws.com/i/000/495/782/couple-3335.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="301" src="http://8tr.s3.amazonaws.com/i/000/495/782/couple-3335.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Inadvertently we had faced the enemy and won,
but now I wasn’t so sure about who was the enemy and who was simply <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">other</i>. For the past few months my life
had taken a trip down the strangest road. Things had been revealed to me that I
never thought existed, things that I had wondered about, dreamed about, but
never dared imagine to be tangible. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I
was given a purpose by a divine entity. I had been <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">chosen </i>just like all the books I had read about heroines being
selected for adventures filled with vampires or werewolves. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">How stupid. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>This
was the real world. It wasn’t filled with fantastical creatures that fought for
good or evil, it was filled with humanity who was all of these things wrapped
up into one tight bag made of flesh and bone. Humanity was disgusting and
beautiful all at the same time. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span></span></div>
<a name='more'></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I
had deluded myself into thinking that I was the Mother’s instrument of justice
when I was simply a tool of her revenge. I knew all along that She wanted to
obliterate all human life, but I never consciously considered that that
included all of her Earth Warriors as well.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There had been moments when I would have been
happy to sacrifice myself for the greater good of Her well-being, but I had
thought that it was my own doing, my own decision to end my life and not her
grand design. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>With
clear eyes I could now see that she had planned for all of her Warriors to fall
on their swords after their destinies had been fulfilled. Well I was no samurai
and I intended to keep on living.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The
boys had moved us in our dazed states to one of the houses near the well. Three
days passed by, one after the other while we recovered. I kept finding myself
in the bathroom staring at my reflection willing the darkness to subside from
my skin, but it persisted to undulate beneath the surface. Sebastian was the
same his skin swirled with matte black curves and wisps. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">On the fourth
day the inky markings began to shift slower and slower, until some of them
ceased to move for hours at a time, only creeping along an arm or a cheek when
we became overly active. <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Some of our
activities included raiding houses for more food, others were held in the bedroom.
Even though my body felt bruised and sore after the inner onslaught of power,
having Sebastian run his hands over my inner thighs made my nerve endings spark
and fizzle until all I felt was bliss. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Every now and
then Owen’s face would surface in my mind and I would bite the skin around my
nails until they bled. I was terribly conscious of how I had betrayed him. He
was probably with Manoel and his people waiting for me to return, thinking that
we would be together like we had when this all began. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It was because
of this that I was anxious about the plan to destroy the city. We were in prime
position to do so and if we waited a few more days we would be fully recovered
and ready to take on the task. It was true that a lot of Audrey’s power had
been spent on defeating the two Sun Soldiers, but all the excess had settled
within us on the surface of our skin. We were powerful enough to cleanse the
city on our own.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But what if
Owen had gone into the city with Manoel to find me? They would have seen that
something wasn’t right because the city was still standing. These moments of
doubt crept over me when I was alone and I desperately hoped that Sebastian wouldn’t
pick up on them. I didn’t want him to be jealous of my thoughts, of my worries
for a man who had been his rival. I dreaded the moment when he would ask me if
I was ready to begin the cleanse. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">On the sixth
day Sebastian and I were lying in bed. I was stretched out over his chest and
his hand was slowly caressing my back. I could stay in this position for hours
as long as his fingertips kept trailing up and down my sensitive skin. We were
talking about our past and some of the wild things we had done while we were
growing up.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>After
every conversation I had with him I marvelled at how much we were alike despite
all of our differences. We had led such different lives, but the decisions we
made and the way we viewed things were backed by the same innate qualities. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>It
was an uncanny thing that I had never experienced with anyone and it made me feel
justified in loving him.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I
brushed my lips against his flat stomach and emitted a small moan of pleasure as
his fingers glided over the base of my neck. He had stopped talking and in the
silence my mind began to wander back to the same worries that had been
bothering me throughout our whole stay in this house. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>At
first I didn’t notice that he had stopped scratching my back, I was so absorbed
in my thoughts, but then I felt his chest stiffen. I lifted my head off of his
torso and was faced with his brilliant jade eyes. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“So
that’s what you’ve been going crazy over?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“I’m
not going crazy” I replied puzzled. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“This
whole time you’ve been worrying yourself sick about <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">him</i>” he replied. He grabbed my hand before I could protest and
showed me my raw fingers. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“You
think I don’t notice when something is wrong? I knew you were bothered by
something. Here I was thinking it was the fact that our whole lives are
uncertain, that the Mother could turn on us at any moment, but that’s not it at
all. You’re bloody worried about your ex.” He sneered at me and I felt a sharp
stabbing pain in my chest. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Don’t
look at me like that.” I sat up and pulled my knees up to my chest in a
defensive gesture. I didn’t want his next words to hurt me. I didn’t want his
expressions to injure me. “You know that I don’t think of him romantically. You
can see that.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Fuck,
that’s not the point is it. If you were worried you should have told me, hiding
it from me is what’s making me question…” he trailed off, unable to find the
word he was looking for.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Question
what? Us?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“No,
that’s not what I meant. Question your loyalties maybe. I don’t know!” He threw
his hands up in the air in pure frustration and I flinched. He had been
questioning our relationship? God, was this even a relationship? I floundered
for something to say, anything to fill this maddening silence.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“I
don’t know what to be loyal to anymore” I began, “I can’t be blindly loyal to
the Mother after she abandoned us in the moment when we needed her most. I can’t
be loyal to Her cause anymore since now I understand that I’m not special or
apart from humanity. If I’m human then I should be loyal to mankind, but I
still hate all the things they are capable of. I still want to destroy all the
bad people in the world. That hasn’t changed one bit! The fact that I have
darkness all over my body means that I’m still capable of that and it also
means that I’m different.” I paused and waited for a response, but Sebastian
merely watched me, waiting to hear what I really meant to say.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Before I thought that Owen and I
were suited to each other and that the only reason I was so drawn to you was
because of our shared darkness” I rushed on in case he stopped me there before
I got a chance to explain, “the destinies that we had were intertwined, but now
that’s all changed. Now I’ve spent this past week with you and it’s the most we’ve
ever been alone, the most we’ve ever talked and we just fit together, you know?
Now are destinies are connected in a more simple way, do you feel that too?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“So
if I were to go up against an angel and lose all of this” he pointed at the
swirling mass of darkness that had lazily crept up his collar bone, “who would
you be loyal to then?” <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I
stared at him in panic. He was putting me on the spot and it was completely
unfair. He had swept aside everything that I had said and reiterated his own
question.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Bas”
I whispered. I opened my mouth again, but I didn’t know what to say. If he had
been an ordinary guy I probably never would have crossed paths with him, let
alone fallen in love with him. Now that we were here though and if he were to
lose his powers the fact that I still loved him wouldn’t change. I couldn’t say
it now though, we had only spent one week ‘together’ in that sense of the word.
You can’t say ‘I love you’ after one week for crying out loud.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“You
won’t admit it will you” he said, “if it was just me and him and we were both
normal mundane lads you would run into his arms in a heartbeat.” His voiced
dripped with venom and it cut me to the bone. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“That’s
not true!” I cried. Tears had filled my eyes and I was blinking furiously to
keep them at bay. He swiftly swung his legs over the edge of the bed and
grabbed his pants. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“No
wait, you haven’t let me explain” I lunged after him, but he side stepped my
hand. The look on his face both broke my heart and angered me. How dare he
think so little of this! The past six days had been something out of a twisted
fairy tale, but one that was real. He turned his back to me and strode towards
the door. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“You
can’t walk away from me!” I yelled. I felt my dragon uncoil itself and growl in
my veins. I waved my hand and sent out a snaking length of darkness that
wrapped itself around his waist. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“You’re
using your power on me?” he growled, “I can walk away if it fucking pleases me!”
He sliced through my darkness with a touch of his hand and I felt it lash back
at me. I fell onto my back on the bed with the force of the backlash and let
out a sob. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Tears
were streaming down my face freely now. I stared up at the white ceiling with
its intricate pattern of shadows cast by the open window. After a moment Sebastian’s
face blocked out my view.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“What
are you doing?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Crying”
I sobbed. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Stop
it.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“No.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Come
on love, stop it.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“No”
I sobbed harder. How could he call me ‘love’ at a time like this? He sighed and
lay down next to me on his stomach. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Evs…”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Go
away.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“I
thought you didn’t want me to leave?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Argh”
I moaned and covered my tear streaked face with my hands. I felt his hand close
over mine and move it away from my face. I kept my eyes closed and felt the
shift in the bed as he moved on top of me. The weight of his body felt so solid
and right that I squeezed my eyes shut tighter. I knew what he was trying to do
and I wouldn’t let him connect with me to read my thoughts. I’d be damned if I
told him I loved him now with my subconscious. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Evelyn,
stop blocking me. Let me in.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Fuck
you. If you were normal you wouldn’t have this option” I groaned. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“I’m
not normal though am I?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“No
definitely not <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">normal</i>” I opened one
eye and a slight smile escaped me. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Gotcha!”
he grabbed both my palms in his and interlaced his fingers with mine. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Bastard”
I frowned. I was waiting for the familiar twitch of the connection, but it didn’t
come. I opened my other eye and let myself float on the surface of his leafy
green irises. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“I’m
not sure if I want to find out now” he said softly. I unlinked my hands from
his and brought them up to cup his face. I could feel his sharp cheek bones on
the pads of my fingers and it was just one more thing that I loved about him.
He leaned down and our lips touched gently. I closed my eyes once more and let
my mind run wild with all the thoughts of him. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Images
of his smile, his grin, his face sleeping, the curve of his shoulders, the
touch of his hands, the way he made me feel alive. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“I
love you too” he said, his lips barely apart from mine.</span> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11901304444624308674noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5454789321169737514.post-72266015567944061272013-10-04T15:43:00.000+10:002013-10-05T15:45:56.127+10:00Evelyn Earth Part 47<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://images.fineartamerica.com/images-medium-large-5/faded-lisa-knechtel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://images.fineartamerica.com/images-medium-large-5/faded-lisa-knechtel.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It coursed through us like electricity. Every
capillary, every tendon absorbed the darkness. I shook my head back and looked
upwards towards the blue sky. The power was overwhelming me the same way it had
after I took in the vengeance from the railway line. The greed that was within
me then still lurked inside my body, it didn’t want to stop the connection and
spill a drop of darkness. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I
needed it all.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I
screamed up into the sky and shook my head harder. My mind had to be stronger
than this. I was my own person. If I let us self-destruct now we would have
accomplished only one part of our destinies. I wanted to live to see the new
world. I wanted to be part of its reconstruction. Who would be there to stop
people like Audrey? Who would be there to monitor mankind’s intentions? <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I
felt Sebastian’s vice grip tighten. He had less power within him so logically
he should be able to hold more. I forced my head to the side and looked at his
profile. His jawline was clenching periodically, I could see the muscles spasm
under his layer of ebony skin. He wasn’t doing any better than I was.</span></span></div>
<a name='more'></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The darkness swirled on the surface of his
body, undulating in and out of his pores. I closed my eyes and summoned the
image of the Earth Mother once again.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Don’t
let us die, not yet” I whispered. It was useless though. She had relinquished
all control of our destinies the moment she allowed us to link with her
vengeance, we were on our own.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I
let out a cry of pain. The amount of power that we were taking in had been so
condensed and thick that it felt like we were being cemented from the inside out.
No wonder Audrey couldn’t get it to leave her body, it would have taken
tremendous effort just to coax it out of its dormant state, let alone
manipulate it to do what you want. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Once
again I willed myself to disconnect, to let some of the power go, but the greed
was so deeply ingrained into my DNA that I simply couldn’t do it. We were
programmed to want this kind of end—to want to burst with vengeance and use our
bodies to create a new world. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>We
both dropped to our knees at the same time. My hand fell away from Audrey’s
forehead. We had absorbed everything she had. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Sebastian’s grip slackened. I
tried to hold onto him, but I had lost all motor control. We fell. I went
sideways and he tipped forward. My mind was becoming numb. Why had I decided to
take Audrey’s power? I knew that we had needed it, but in the back of my mind I
also knew that there was no way I could absorb any more of the Mother’s
vengeance without bursting.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As my eyes rolled into the back of my head and
delicate foam came out of my mouth I realised that it had been Her intention
that drove us to the point of suicide. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>We
were not special. Our lives were not different to the lives of regular human beings;
we were disposable tools to be used to fulfil Her angry purpose. I let out a
despairing sob and choked on the fluid build-up in my throat. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I
had been so willing to do everything she wanted. I had felt so aligned with her
thinking, so in touch, but that was why she had chosen me wasn’t it. She had
chosen someone who would sympathise with Her plight so much that they would
never stop and question Her.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I
wanted to live. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I
didn’t want to die for her pain.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It was the one
thing that connected all humans, the hunger for life and the fear of death. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Images
of my life began to systematically wind around me spinning me into nostalgia.
My first pet, the first time I could tie my shoe-laces, the first time I ran
away from home, the first boy I had ever kissed and the first rose I had ever received. The last time I would eat an
apple, the last time I felt loved, the last time I slept peacefully.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All of these images started off so vividly,
but as they wound and wound around me they began to be punctured by faded
yellow holes. Each hole grew in size until it shone through the image,
obscuring it completely until I was surrounded not by my life, but by a ring of
sickly yellow light. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I
grimaced at the ugliness of it and tried to escape to another recess of my
mind, which was tinged with colour, but I found that it wasn’t in my head. My
eyes were seeing mustard light and my brain rebelled at its presence. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Later
when Travis, Sloan and Izwan told us what had happened I didn’t believe them. I
wasn’t one to believe in coincidences; not in the way that they told it. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In the moment
when Sebastian had impaled Audrey and all three of our powers had combined two
angels materialised before the maple tree where Izwan, Travis and Sloan were
cowering. They all knew that this was the end and they had pressed themselves
up against the tree, hugging it and each other. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>When
Sebastian and I fell to the ground the angels sought to protect the three men
by beaming them away from us. As their illuminating powers manifested
themselves we had stopped convulsing and lay perfectly still. Hesitant, the
angels turned to us thinking we had died—fizzled out before blowing up. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I
remembered the feeling of a foreign entity it incited an anger in me that was
all too familiar. The darkness that was ripping me apart now had a target other
than my soul. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The
boys having seen the calm before the storm turned and ran as far and as fast as
their legs could take them. First one angel and then the other were destroyed
in an over-abundance of dark energy that had matched and cancelled out the
light. Where the two powers of equal might and divinity met they both
obliterated each other leaving nothing in their wake. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>If
we were to have gone up against these two Sun soldiers on a normal day, a day
when we weren’t bursting with power, we would have used up our own stores of
darkness—leaving us high and dry. This was the perfect coincidence. You could
even call it Fate.</span> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11901304444624308674noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5454789321169737514.post-82082515797526190362013-09-27T12:10:00.001+10:002013-09-27T12:10:26.779+10:00Evelyn Earth Part 46<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-y7EaK4JrXxU/UPcUnw-t8HI/AAAAAAAACUc/SJtngsww73M/s1000-fcrop64=1,00000000fef0e60e/maple-tree-shelter-1280x800.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-y7EaK4JrXxU/UPcUnw-t8HI/AAAAAAAACUc/SJtngsww73M/s1000-fcrop64=1,00000000fef0e60e/maple-tree-shelter-1280x800.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></b></span></div>
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
I was torn
between scenarios. If I made myself known and confronted Audrey then we would
most likely end up in a stand-off. I couldn’t guarantee that I would prevail in
a one on one fight with her so that was out of the question. I couldn’t risk my
life for someone that was already dying especially when I had an important job
to do.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
I could
simply turn around and walk away, pretend like I hadn’t even come up here to
look for them, but I had already gotten rid of the front door—a dead giveaway
that someone had been in the house. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
The only
thing I could really do that would cause the least disturbance to our plans was
to combine the two scenarios. I slowly made my way back down the stairs and
stood in empty doorway. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
“HELLO!” I
shouted, “time to get up lovers, everyone is waiting for you back at the well!”
I placed my hands on my hips and assumed an annoyed expression, which
fluctuated between nervous anticipation and worry. Audrey’s flame red hair
flounced down the stairs followed by a flowing summer dress and ending in the
slap of bare feet. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
</div>
<a name='more'></a>“Is it time?”
she asked casually. Her Asiatic features were perfectly controlled and didn’t give
anything away.<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
“Yes” I
answered. I hoped that my own features mimicked hers and after a moments
silence she seemed to accept that everything was as it should be. I hesitated
before asking her if Gerard was with her. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
“After I wouldn’t
sleep with him he stormed off. Boys” she sighed, “always want one thing.” I
nodded in feigned understanding and turned to walk down the pathway away from
the horror filled house. I heard her fall in behind me and we quietly made our
way back to the well. I chanced a look at the house and thought I could see
Gerard’s face in the upstairs window. I clenched my fists and quickly looked
down at the road.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
I was doing
the right thing. There would be time to deal with Audrey after we had
accomplished the cleansing of the city. The fact that I had left Gerard alive
and not put an end to his tortured state ate away at my insides with every step
I took. The first blast of power I sent out would be directed at that house.
Freeing him from life would be the first act of my cleanse. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
Everybody
else was waiting for us next to the well. No one said a word as Audrey and I
joined them, only Sebastian’s eyes asked the question; where was Gerard? </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
“Did Gerard
tell you which house he would be spending the night in?” I asked Audrey before
he could.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
“No” she
replied curtly. Even though her looks were ice cold her voice gave away the
fact that she was a bad liar. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
“We can’t
start until we’ve found him” Sebastian said.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
“I’m sure he
would have gone into one of the houses on this street” Audrey said, “as long as
we don’t touch them he’ll be fine.” She smiled a megawatt smile, but Travis was
the only one to return it. He seemed to be dumbstruck by her allure, but
Sebastian looked like he was about to protest. Before he could say anything I
took hold of his hand “you ready?” I asked. In the nanosecond that we were
connected I showed him the scene of the bedroom. I felt his grip tighten, but
he composed himself admirably. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
“Let’s do it
then. Okay lads stay under that tree there and don’t move.”</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
“That’s it?”
Sloan said.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
“Yeah that’s
it. Just stay out of the way and don’t bloody move unless you want to get
killed.”</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
“Yes boss”
Izwan whispered before going to sit beneath the large maple tree that grew on
the nature strip of the street. The whole road was lined by them and I could
imagine how it would look after the cleanse—beautiful. Travis followed and
after a moment of silent rebellion Sloan slunk off as well. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
Sebastian was
angry and I could see the edges of his black miasma emanating from his body. In
a way it was good. He could utilize that anger to strengthen his power. Audrey
looked positively ecstatic. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
“How are we
going to do this?” she asked excitedly. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
“The obvious
thing would be to connect to the Earth first and then to connect with each
other” I offered, “once we establish those connections the Mother’s vengeance
should become one entity within us and then we could use it to clear the city
of all man-made materials.”</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
“Should being
the key word” she replied chirpily.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
“Do you have
a better suggestion?” </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
“No no it was
just an observation” she smiled slyly. She stepped towards us and held out her
hands. The way she did it was just a tad too eager for my liking. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her upturned palms had slowly begun to develop
black threads that ran up her life line and towards the calluses at the base of
her fingers. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
Sebastian
raised his left hand to place it on top of hers, but I slapped it away. I took
a step backwards and he followed my lead albeit with a confused expression on
his face. Something wasn’t right about this situation. Audrey cocked her head
to the side and took a small step towards us. We took another step backwards.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
The air
fizzled with tension. It cracked audibly as Sebastian’s miasma inched outwards and
my dragon reared its head. Audrey’s face maintained its benign expression, but
a slight shift in her stance alerted me to her next move. She sprung up on the
balls of her feet and lunged out to grab us. My power had already spread around
my body and as a reflex it hardened around me creating a type of body armour. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
As Audrey’s
hand tried to close over my arm my left hand gripped Sebastian’s and the force
field spread to him. I pushed the energy outwards and knocked her off her feet.
She landed heavily on her back and her shrill voice screeched out into the
distance. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
“Her power
only acts through her touch” I said, “She’s useless otherwise.”</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
“USELESS!?”
she yelled, “you can’t do this without me and you both know it.” Her voice
changed mid sentence from the high pitched honey tinged voice we knew to a
grating menacing voice that better reflected her real personality. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
I bent down
and slid off my boots with my free hand, Sebastian’s dry warm fingers gripped
mine firmly as I moved. I felt the hard Earth beneath me and I closed my eyes.
I pictured the Mother how I last saw her, sitting on her throne of roots and
soil. Her presence flowed into me and I breathed out with her breath. I opened
my eyes and I knew that Sebastian had felt the same serenity. He had never had
such a deep connection with the Mother and he looked at me with wonderment. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
Audrey was no
contest for us after all. I felt sheepish for being so afraid of her. As long
as she couldn’t touch us she couldn’t hurt us. The only thing was, that she was
right. We couldn’t do this without her, but that’s what the Mother’s wisdom was
for. Audrey was so fixated on destruction and the corrupted nature of the Earth
Mother that she completely missed the essence of the world—life and
transference after death. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
In death we
all returned to the Mother. We returned to her body to become nourishment for
future life. If we ended the life of another Earth Warrior their power would
essentially revert back into the Earth, unless we intercepted it.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
Sebastian
made a gripping motion with his left hand and I felt the ground rumble. Audrey’s
eyes widened in shock as she realised what was about to happen. She turned to
try and run, but Sebastian pulled at the air above the ground creating a mound
of hard packed dirt that he sent out towards her in the form of a pointed,
jagged peak. It pierced her spine with a subtle crunch that sounded so satisfying
to my ears. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
I consciously
thought of moving next to her leaking body and the air morphed around us until
we were standing before her. I placed my palm over her forehead, not touching
it, but hovering above her; waiting for the life to leave her body. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
She raised
her eyes to mine and even in the throes of hatred and anger they stayed the
same dull brown. Our Mother had definitely not created her children equally. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
As the last
of her life blood slid down the Earthy pillar I felt the Mother’s vengeance
un-root itself from Audrey’s soul. I placed my palm onto her forehead and let
the power transfer into Sebastian and I. </div>
</span><br />
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11901304444624308674noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5454789321169737514.post-26712589549197565312013-09-20T14:08:00.002+10:002013-09-20T14:08:15.849+10:00Evelyn Earth Part 45<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d6/2009174507_1_FS.jpg/220px-2009174507_1_FS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d6/2009174507_1_FS.jpg/220px-2009174507_1_FS.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Our movements were becoming more
frantic, desperate even. He rolled me onto my back; our hands still locked
together above our heads and kissed me with such ferocity that I was plunged
into a well of inescapably good pain. It felt like we were spinning around in
space amongst the stars he had been studying moments before. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I
opened my eyes and gasped in pleasure and surprise. His hands unclasped mine
and travelled down my body removing items of clothing as they went along. A
swirling liquid mass of darkness had formed around us, escaping from our hungry
bodies and wrapping us in swaths of black fairy floss. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I
pulled on his long hair and yanked his head back to look into his eyes, which
were burning with ebony fire. Even his lips had become rimmed in darkness. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>We
were terrible monsters making love.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span></div>
<a name='more'></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As we slipped into a pulsating rhythm I
screamed in satisfaction. Every frustration, every indecision, every doubt I
had about myself and my destiny was being pounded into the ground and pounded
into non-existence.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">His teeth
sunk into my chest and I moaned in perverse pleasure. I goaded him on,
scratching his back and leaving ribbons of darkness all over his skin. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It was an
endless euphoria that threatened to overwhelm us. We both began to move faster to
grasp at each other harder until we both felt what seemed to be the edge of the
universe.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I bit his lip
and as I tasted the saltiness of his blood coat my tongue we came together. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I felt the
wind caress my damp back. Sweat glistened on his torso and the cloud of dark
energy that had surrounded us was beginning to subside and slip back into our
bodies. For a brief moment I couldn’t tell whose energy was whose, but the
familiar weight of my dragon had settled into the pit of my stomach and I knew
that Sebastian hadn’t taken any of my power. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Just
as I was expecting to feel the sting of cold night air I felt the burning heat
of the rising sun. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“That’s
impossible” I whispered. Sebastian whistled and sat up while shielding his eyes
with his hand.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Everything
about what just happened was impossible” he pulled me in towards him and
planted a soft kiss on my parched lips. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“We
should get dressed before the others come back” I said into his mouth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Come
on then, the lads will want to rip you apart if they saw you naked” he replied
with a laugh. We got dressed and walked over to the well where we got our fill
of ice cold water. I was half expecting things to be awkward between us, but I
felt a deep seeded satisfaction that eradicated all other feelings that could
have vied for my attention. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“I
can’t believe that it’s morning” I said as I downed another gulp of water.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“There’s
no way that time was flowing properly.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“No
way” I laughed, “I was expecting something out of this world, but I never
expected something out of this time.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Gives
a new meaning to the saying ‘time stops when I’m with you’ don’t you think” he
smiled at me with his famous enigmatic smirk. I couldn’t help but laugh.
Everything about this morning was other worldly and fantastical. My whole body
felt different, more alive.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Wait
a minute” I smoothed my hands over both my thighs, “my wounds are gone.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Looks
like I can heal you after all” he winked at me.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“With
your magic stick is that what you’re saying?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Hey,
love, you said it not me!” he put up his hands and threw his head back with
laughter. It was the strangest thing. It was as if I was peering into a
different life where Sebastian wasn’t troubled, wasn’t dark, but simply happy.
I must have looked the same because when his jade green eyes locked onto mine
they sparkled with the same mirth that I felt.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Hey
by the way, did you see where the lads went? Izzy and Trav?” </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Oh
shit. The last time I remember seeing them was by the well before I came over
to talk to you and we...”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“You
don’t think the darkness that surrounded us had swallowed them?” he interrupted
me, and instantly reality slammed down onto us. His eyes took on that harder
edge that I was so used to and my expression changed to one of deep thought. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“The
bucket is still here and so are all the surrounding houses so we know that if
it did begin a cleanse it didn’t get any further than the immediate area around
us” I replied.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“OI!
LADS!” Sebastian hollered, “BACK TO THE WELL, ALL OF YOU!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Don’t
forget Audrey” I mumbled as I clapped my hands over my ears at the unexpected
outburst of sound.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“And
Miss red head!” he added with a teasing expression, more for my benefit than
any hope that she would hear him.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>We
waited for approximately five minutes before Travis and Izwan emerged from the
house directly opposite us, rubbing at the sleep in their eyes. They both mumbled
an awkward greeting that instantly revealed that they had seen something before
the curtain of darkness had shielded Sebastian and I from prying eyes. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Sloan
was nowhere to be seen and apparently Audrey and Gerard had gone into the last
house at the end of the street. I let Sebastian go to look for Sloan while I
trudged my way along the road hoping not to catch the two in the act. Why else
would they have chosen to go so far away, if not for privacy?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I
walked up the steps leading to the front door of the old Victorian house and
was about to knock when I heard the dreaded sounds of moaning. I cringed. I
knew that I must have made similar sounds last night, but it didn’t mean that I
wanted to hear them coming out of someone else’s mouth, especially someone I
detested. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I
shifted my weight from one foot to the other. I could hope for them to stop
soon or I could walk all the way back to the well and wait for them to finish
there. It was completely out of the question to march on in there and interrupt
them.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The moaning had gradually increased in pitch
and now I could clearly hear that it was a male voice. I cringed again, I never
liked it when men moaned and groaned during sex, it always put me off and
reminded me of bad pornos.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I
flashed back to last night and the guttural noises that Sebastian had made when
he slammed into me. Now that was hot. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Another
high pitched groan escaped from the confines of the house and in my reminiscent
state of mind I attributed it to really good sex, until I heard it a second
time. There was something unpleasant about the sound. A shiver started from the
bottom of my feet and raced up to the base of my neck. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I
placed my hand on the door and melted it away; quietly I tip-toed down the
narrow corridor and up the stairs, which wasn’t an easy feat in platform boots.
At the top of the landing I could now not only hear the painful groans, but I
could hear Gerard’s laboured breathing. My blood pressure had risen to
dangerous heights and for the first time in a long time, I was nervous to the
point of shaking.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Audrey,
according to Sebastian, was incredibly fast, and although we couldn’t hurt each
other by using our darkness directly she could still use it to slam me into a
wall or a sharp object that could render me unconscious...or worse. The only
time I had ever felt truly scared of someone after taking in the Earth’s
vengeance was when the Sun soldiers had me in their trap and even that didn’t
count as they weren’t tangible to me. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I
slid along the wall of the master bedroom, and it was from here that the noises
were coming. The door was closed and I hesitated before the door handle. If I
turned it she would see me coming from a mile away. Instead I opted for
dissolving a finger sized hole in the wall through which I could see exactly
where she was in the room and what she was doing to Gerard. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I
crossed the fingers on my left hand and hoped that she wouldn’t notice the hole
and that I would see something kinky, but as I put my eye to the peep-hole my
hopes plummeted. The carpet was drenched in blood. Gerard was lying on the big
king size bed—what was left of him anyway. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I
almost gagged. I clasped my hand over my mouth and forced myself to keep looking,
to make sure that Audrey was still in the room with him. The scene was
something out of a slasher film. The ones like Saw or Hostel where no laws of
human decency existed. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Fat droplets
of blood splashed onto the already heavy carpet from the now crimson bed. By
the looks of it, it was covered in cream and pink roses before being spoiled by
Gerard’s bodily fluids. His body reminded me of a more extreme version of
Marla’s after I had accidently dismembered her.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His legs had been split apart into two neat
rows, as had parts of his left arm. Slithers of skin lay scattered over the bed
spread and dots of what looked like bone glistened all over his chest where the
morning light hit him. He looked like a piece from a Damien Hirst exhibition,
but one that moved and breathed in agony. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Every time he
let out a painful gurgle of sound more blood slid out from his unattached body
parts, but somehow he wasn’t dead. That somehow was Audrey. She moved into the
scene from a part of the room that I couldn’t see and took vigil over his bed. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Her hands
were pitch black and she used them to caress his raw wet flesh. Wherever she
touched him the bleeding would subside, but not because it was healing, but
because she must have been obliterating blood vessels or vein pathways. I
couldn’t explain what I was seeing, but I knew that the Frenchman was as good
as dead. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I backed away
from the peep-hole, my hand slowly sliding down from my mouth to hang at my
side. This was a disaster. Before this I had hated Audrey, after this Sebastian
would loathe her, but we were both expected to work with her in order to begin
the huge cleanse of the city. We didn’t have the luxury of waiting around for
another Earth warrior and I knew we couldn’t cope with the cleanse on our own.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With no communication system we could be
waiting forever, at a standstill, while all around the world fellow warriors
were completing their destinies. Not only that, but Manoel and Owen wouldn’t be
able to keep the seven hundred Portuguese people from staying out of the city
limits for long.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It was all
about time and right now it felt like our time was running out. At any moment
the angels could swoop down on us and destroy us before we even had a chance at
destroying the real evil on this Earth. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">No matter how
fast my mind raced I couldn’t think of what to do. </span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11901304444624308674noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5454789321169737514.post-40610230160867337642013-09-13T12:47:00.000+10:002013-09-14T12:53:49.513+10:00Evelyn Earth Part 44<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlz598gM9tFtC037WUPR01ofCxAWTc8LgMbncE1jv-BqcRk7MaAXwpWZGFeRGw7EJbNoMEFtFCcSoSovzargzuNRL29JhTYtUUn2_KAXyyPzSy1eZmFxsB9NwmsyPKqzi7Nem8wH7mljA/s1600/7234395622_2781c5c265_thumb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlz598gM9tFtC037WUPR01ofCxAWTc8LgMbncE1jv-BqcRk7MaAXwpWZGFeRGw7EJbNoMEFtFCcSoSovzargzuNRL29JhTYtUUn2_KAXyyPzSy1eZmFxsB9NwmsyPKqzi7Nem8wH7mljA/s1600/7234395622_2781c5c265_thumb.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">He had been an only child living
in a big house, so big that he had gotten lost under all the clutter that his
parents kept. By the age of fifteen Sebastian had seen nothing interesting in
his life. By the time he was eighteen he had still seen nothing worth mentioning.
It was as soon as he packed his bags and moved out of his cavernous home in
Wales that he began to live his life. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>From
that point forward he swallowed everything with abandon. First it was the
alcohol, the women and then the drugs. He moved from Wales out to London into a
flat with four other guys just like him; young and fearless, but only out for
themselves. It was only a matter of time before life seemed to be going down the
drain with the left over beer so he packed up again and took a trip down to
Australia. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span></div>
<a name='more'></a><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>It
turned out that he had been up at Surfers Paradise before getting transported
inland. Then he spent the next month making his way down south, searching for
answers and cleaning up every major power source or land mark he came across.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>He
had accomplished a hell of a lot more than I had and as I sat listening to his
stories I felt ashamed in front of the Earth Mother. She had given me so much
potential and I had wasted it by sitting on my ass and thinking. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>We
tried in vain to heal the burns on my body, but no matter how much dark energy
we focussed on them they wouldn’t go away. I sighed in resignation, it was
getting late and I wanted to get a decent nights rest so the experimentation
had to wait until later.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“I
think that house over there is empty if you wanted to take it?” Sebastian said,
pointing down to the left. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“I’m
going to sleep here” I patted the dense ground, “I want to be as full of power
as possible for tomorrow and that means no beds and maximum connection to the
Earth.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“I
was hoping you’d say that” he grinned at me as he stretched out on the ground.
I laughed and looked down at him. He had his arms propped up behind his head
and was looking up at the stars.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Have
you noticed how much brighter they are now” he said. He was wearing a black
t-shirt and black faded jeans with black and white original converse shoes. It
was something so simple, but it reflected him completely. He was lithe and fast
and never craved to be the centre of attention, and that was because he was
smart, smart enough to stay under the radar and do what he needed to do. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“I
can’t believe I’ve never asked you how old you were” I said. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“What
does it matter?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“It
always seemed like such an important question, you know, before.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Twenty
three.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“We’re
the same age” I smiled, “when’s your birthday?” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“September
first.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“What?”
I said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“September
the first” he repeated.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“That’s
my birthday.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Really?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Yes,
really.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Do
you think that’s a coincidence?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Let’s
ask Audrey when her birthday is, if she says the same date then we know that we
were chosen by the Mother not only because we were loners, but because of when
we were born.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Imagine
that” he muttered, “She’s crafty our Mum isn’t she.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Yeah.”
I moved back a bit and lay down next to him so that our heads were at the same
level. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Goodnight
Evs” he said while still looking up at the stars.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Goodnight
Bas” I said with a little smirk. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Bas?”
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Yeah,
Bas” I giggled, “if you get to use nick names then so do I.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Seems
fair.” I saw him smile from the corner of my eye. All it would take would be
one touch, if I reached out and touched his arm, his chest, anywhere. I lay
completely still. To me it sounded like my breath was so loud that I was puffing,
so I held it. I tried to inhale small snatches of air, but I couldn’t concentrate.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Evs?”
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Hmm”
I replied. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Do
you love him?” I lay there stunned for a moment.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“No”
I said barely audibly. I didn’t, I loved a lot of things about Owen, I loved
the way he cared, I loved his eyes, I loved his ability to forgive and his
strong sense of morality, but I didn’t love him, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“No” I repeated more solidly. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>He
turned his head and so did I so that we were looking at each other. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“You
know that I’ll be able to see if you’re lying” he said slowly, painfully. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“I
know.” I turned onto my side and held out my palm. He hesitated before doing
the same thing. We were suspended in limbo, both of us facing each other,
breath mingling and palms almost touching. I could feel the heavy pull coming
from his body. It was a mixture of desire and darkness, both instinctual things
wanting to slam into one another. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I
didn’t even make the conscious decision to connect with him, one second we were
suspended and the next out hands were entwined and he was pulling me on top of
him. Our lips locked together and I felt how soft his mouth was, how it parted
for my tongue and responded kiss for kiss.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>My
other hand searched for his and we grabbed onto each other, I pushed his arms
above his head and felt the rush of life in my veins. I was seeing everything
that he was feeling, sensation after sensation. I felt the lust he had held
inside him for so long and he felt my need for a connection higher than
physicality. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I
was swimming in pleasure and all we had done so far was make out. My whole body
tingled with expectation because I knew that nothing I had experienced before
could compare to what would come next. </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11901304444624308674noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5454789321169737514.post-7403074917705319932013-09-06T21:58:00.001+10:002013-09-06T21:58:24.172+10:00Evelyn Earth Part 43<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3PWPxqjCxYnE3rWsv6Sjftr8gg8HYg1swFXDOqvdXR70wc7nBo5EWqR-Jvcs5tGtbnDvpkCm97Wn-jN3NnVk7pQsumEBMgb7b8JdUT7OEInjA7Bf_D96dQSbofN8B-c84bs883xBbV4M/s1600/gaia__the_earth_goddess_by_turk1672-d5427cc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3PWPxqjCxYnE3rWsv6Sjftr8gg8HYg1swFXDOqvdXR70wc7nBo5EWqR-Jvcs5tGtbnDvpkCm97Wn-jN3NnVk7pQsumEBMgb7b8JdUT7OEInjA7Bf_D96dQSbofN8B-c84bs883xBbV4M/s320/gaia__the_earth_goddess_by_turk1672-d5427cc.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I turned back around and looked
at the group of people I was left with. One of them I could kill right now,
another I wouldn’t trust with my left shoe, three of them were useless and
Sebastian was my only friend and I didn’t even trust him completely. I sighed. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Are
we done fighting kids?” Sloan said sarcastically. I shot him a death stare and
bared my teeth a little. Actually, make that two people I could kill right now.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Are
we?” I looked at Audrey who had taken to twirling tendrils of her flame coloured
hair around her finger. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“For
now” she cooed. I grimaced in annoyance. Who even spoke like that? It was a
cross between the voice of a child and a whore. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Can
I speak to you alone?” I said to Sebastian. He nodded in response, shot Sloan a
reproachful look and followed me behind a slab of fallen concrete. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“So
she wasn’t what we were expecting” I said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“If
you were expecting help then no not at all, that one’s like wild fire. She
flares up and burns out unpredictably. When she first appeared your power
outburst had already run its course through most of the city. She questioned me
about it and before I could even reply she grabbed me and pulled out all my
bloody memories. Everything she touches is instantly under the command of her
power, and I mean instantly Evs.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></div>
<a name='more'></a><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“So
she’s faster than me?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“In
terms of destruction love, she’s a cheetah and you’re a cat.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“What
does that make you?” I grinned.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“A
fucking sloth that’s what” he growled in annoyance.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“If her power’s
that fast then why didn’t she use it?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Beats me,
maybe she’s biding her time, waiting to launch a surprise attack? I wouldn’t put
it past her.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Did you get
a look inside her head? When she connected with you did you see any of her
intentions?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“That’s
the thing innit, I tried, but it was like a dark empty room, absolutely nothin’
to see. Every time I tried to ask her about what she knew she’d go on about
destruction and how that’s all there was. That thing she said about talking to
an angel, Gerard got that out of her, not me.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Fuck.
So how are we supposed to unite with someone like that?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Look,
convincing her to destroy the city won’t be an issue. Convincing her to let
people live…” he shrugged. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“That
boy that was with me” I lowered my voice, “he’s Portuguese, like literally
beamed here from Portugal, along with seven hundred other people.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“What?
So these daft angels are transporting people into cities now? What for?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“I
was thinking the same thing, what Audrey said, they’re not rational, some of
them are fucking up. Before they were brought here the angel had them in a
desert with no food or water for God’s sake” I raised an eyebrow. Sebastian
puffed out his cheeks and blew out the air in a long blustering sigh. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“So
what do we do now? We can’t bloody well kill seven hundred people can we?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“They’re
in a park up north, it’s far enough away for us to clean out the city without
catching them in the cleanse.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Are
you up for it now?” he looked at me and his eyes sparkled with mischievous
excitement.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“I
don’t think I could take on the rest of this today” I looked around me, “plus
my leg and shoulder are killing me. I was going to see if you could help me
heal it?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“I
don’t know about healing, I could give it a shot. Come on lets go back I don’t feel
good leaving her alone with the lads for so long yeah?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I
followed him back onto the path where the others had settled down in the shade.
Sloan was sipping out of a water bottle that Travis and Izwan were eyeing with
jealousy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“How’s
our food and water situation going?” I asked no one in particular.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“We
lost our supplies in the Asian grocery store after your latest temper tantrum”
Sloan said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“He
the only one who find water and not share with rest of us” Izwan glared at
Sloan.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Find
your own water you squinty cunt.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Hey!”
Sebastian turned on Sloan, “since when do you fucking talk to any of us like
that?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Sloan
continued to sip his water as if nothing had happened. Sebastian continued to
stare at him and I was eyeing up Audrey who was sitting next to Gerard and
stroking his arm. They were whispering to each other and I strained to hear
what they were saying, but I couldn’t make it out. I cursed the fact that I couldn’t
amplify my hearing once again. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Since
it’s my fault that your supplies were destroyed I’ll find us all some water
okay?” The only person who acknowledged what I had said was Travis. He smiled
at me shyly as if he were a little kid smiling at a teacher who was about to
reward him with some candy. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I
moved off behind the concrete block again and placed my palms and forehead on
the ground. The Earth opened up to me and I was delving into its depths with a
purpose that I had never had before. We needed clean drinking water and maybe,
just maybe, Owen was right and this was what my terrain vision was for. My eyes
flew over rocks and clay, mounds of bones and old decayed plastic. The ground
was filled with things that I had never thought to look at. All the foreign
objects stood out to me like sore thumbs, but none of them were water. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I
delved deeper. I cleared at least a hundred metres of land underneath me, but
still nothing. I cast my vision out wider and gradually stumbled upon damp
looking ground. I followed the soft earth deeper until I hit the jackpot, an
underground well. It wasn’t far either, just a two kilometres to the west. We
would be out of the CBD and in prime position to sweep the whole city. Once we
had our fill of water and we were all well rested we could tackle our
destinies. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Alright
guys, let’s move, there’s an underground well about twenty minutes’ walk from
here. We can all get nice and hydrated and sleep off all this tension.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Who
the fuck says we have to follow you” Sloan sneered at me. I narrowed my eyes at
him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“You’ll
do what you’re told or I’ll make you disappear” he looked over to Sebastian, “don’t
look at him, he won’t be able to stop me, in fact” I raised my voice so that
the whispering duo could hear me too, “you will all do as you’re fucking told.
I’m sick of this aimless wandering, the chit chat and the arguments. I’m making
it really simple. You either fall in line or I’ll push out into oblivion.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Sebastian
went to open his mouth,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>but I interrupted
him with a look that said, if you contradict me I’ll slam you into the ground
before you can get your slow miasma one metre in front of you. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>One
by one everyone got up from their shady respite and began the fairly short walk
to the well. I deliberately fell back behind everyone so that I could keep an
eye on them. As I had begun my rebuff to Sloan I realised that I really was
sick of the ambling around. It had been months since the Mother released her
vengeance and we were only mobilizing now. It wasn’t good enough and I knew
that it was our complex human nature that had delayed us for so long.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I
had at first wanted to live in a secluded bubble, amongst my precious clothes
and precious furniture then when Owen came along I had wanted to stay beside
him, denying what I was. With Sebastian I had been so overwhelmed by power and
new abilities that I had absolutely no control over my destiny. It was high
time that I took my life into my own hands and tuned out all outside influences.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Audrey’s
single mindedness must be nice. To know exactly what you need to do and having
it coincide with what you want to do. I was a tangle of contradictions and it
had driven me mad. I was done with the nuances of this group and with
everything else. With every step I took towards the underground well my resolve
hardened. Every step I took away from Owen hardened my heart. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>When
we reached our destination I got Sebastian to manipulate the ground and create
the hole through which we would collect the water. Travis and Izwan went
hunting around the nearby houses for a bucket and rope and by the time the sun
set we were all satiated, except for Sloan. When the boys had found the gear
needed for the well they had also stumbled upon some jars of conserves in a
garage and when Sloan went to grab one I took off one of his fingers. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>He
screamed and moaned until I told him to either shut it or lose his vocal cords.
Audrey had gone off with Gerard into one of the houses after they got their
share of water so I didn’t need to maim anyone else who tried to move in on the
boys’ food supply. Throughout this whole display Sebastian sat quietly and
watched me. His eyes were hooded and I could tell that his mind was working in
over drive. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Before
I had taken in my second batch of vengeance Sebastian and I had been almost
neck and neck in terms of power. Now with my dragon ready to burst out of my
body at any second Sebastian was no match for my abilities and he knew it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>In
the glimpse that I had taken into his mind earlier I had seen not only his time
with Audrey, but the time where he and Sloan had travelled together. How they
had come across large concentrations of vengeance that Sebastian simply couldn’t
absorb for fear of bursting with darkness. There was only one small piece of
darkness that had nestled into an old power generator that he had been able to accommodate
into his body, and that was a meagre pittance compared to my raging storm—a
storm that he had eased and taken into himself as well. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>As
I looked at him now I could tell that these things were playing on his
consciousness, sinking it. I moved over to sit beside him. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Tell
me what you’re thinking about” I said quietly.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“You
already know” he replied without looking up. His fingers were intertwined and
he squeezed his palms together until the edges of his skin turned white.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Think
about the time you saved me from self-destructing.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“I
did that for my own personal gain” he ground his teeth together, “it wasn’t enough
though. You’re still the stronger one aren’t you?” He looked at me bitterly and
it was the first time I had seen raw emotion on his face. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“It
doesn’t matter who’s stronger. Imagine how strong we would be together.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“It
don’t feel good to be strong <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">together </i>it
feels good to know you have someone’s back, to know you can defend yourself if
your own backs against the wall. When I lived in London yeah, I got pushed
around by guys who were bigger than me, guys with guns. Now I’m getting pushed
around by a bird who happens to have a bigger gun than me. Tell me how that’s supposed
to make me feel better?” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“I’m
not pushing you around” I said taken aback. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“What
do you call it then?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Leading.”
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Leading”
he snorted. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“The
world we are about to create won’t be a democracy. It’ll be led and controlled
by us. Think about what life will be like when this is all over. It will be a
new world, with a new system. No governments, no churches, just us and the Sun
soldiers. You will be able to push around whoever you please, lead however you
please.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Unless
you disapprove is that it?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“When
the Mother created us we were all scattered far apart. You, you’re meant to be somewhere
else entirely. Audrey too. We were called to unite only because of the new
threat from the Sun. Once it’s all finished, we’ll all go back to where we came
from and lead from there. I won’t be around to tell you how to run your piece
of the Earth.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“You’ve
thought about this a lot haven’t you?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Too
much” I smiled. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“You
think any of it will come true, all your theories.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Tell
me what I’ve been saying hasn’t sounded logical?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>We
continued our talk well into the night, debating over things and sharing every
detail of what we had missed in each other’s absences. Where once Sebastian had
been unwilling to reveal his so called <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">mysteries
</i>he now told me everything. </span><o:p></o:p></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11901304444624308674noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5454789321169737514.post-53081919207566497582013-08-30T16:21:00.000+10:002013-08-30T16:21:31.837+10:00Evelyn Earth Part 42<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ4cb1tK_vSy0bPy9tsbeM5qjM_4-C_hrMSk-Rh2__70gUoFVnltb0fG2rs0Jn7NBXOQNWa93vHQsHIllYnTcICf2-J6PoNBNnwWs628HrNpIz7LHFKwWKvsF7HtY2ZBzTIQz5Bhk4c5o/s1600/closeup+eyes+green+eyes+1920x1080+wallpaper_www.wallpaperfo.com_8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ4cb1tK_vSy0bPy9tsbeM5qjM_4-C_hrMSk-Rh2__70gUoFVnltb0fG2rs0Jn7NBXOQNWa93vHQsHIllYnTcICf2-J6PoNBNnwWs628HrNpIz7LHFKwWKvsF7HtY2ZBzTIQz5Bhk4c5o/s320/closeup+eyes+green+eyes+1920x1080+wallpaper_www.wallpaperfo.com_8.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As they approached us I was
tempted to send out a slither of my darkness to brush up against hers, to see
what she was thinking, what she was like, but I restrained myself. She would
most likely see it as an intrusion on her psyche, and she would be right. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Evs
you’re alright” Sebastian said smiling as he came up to me. He was about to
embrace me until he saw Owen and Manoel standing behind me. Instead we stood
facing each other awkwardly.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Not
as alright as I wish I was” I replied, “but good enough.” My voice wasn’t as
warm as it usually was, it was tinged with cold caution and Sebastian picked up
on it instantly. After being connected so many times we seemed to be able to
sense each other’s emotions without even delving into our darkness.’ He frowned
and glanced behind me once again falsely assuming that my discomfort had
something to do with my companions and not his.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></div>
<a name='more'></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“We
received your message” the woman said. Her tone was soft and almost musical and
took me by surprise. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Yeah
if it wasn’t for you love, we both would have got sucked into that burning
light, but before we get into that this is Audrey, the other Earth Soldier we
had been waiting for” he stepped aside to allow Audrey to come forward and
greet me. She stepped up before me, but made no move to shake my hand or
perform any kind of greeting action. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“I’m
Evelyn and this is Manoel and Owen, my friends.” I looked into her eyes as I
spoke and they flicked over to the two boys briefly before coming back to me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“I’ve
heard a lot about you, Sebastian has shared almost all of your interesting
experiences with me” she replied silkily. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Sebastian?”
I looked over at him with a raised eyebrow and felt the anger ripple over him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“I
don’t like secrets and Roth was a stupid pseudonym” she whispered before her
full lips stretched over her glossy white teeth into a wide smile.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I looked over to the others and could
instantly tell that there had been a shift in dynamic. Sloan was standing with
his feet apart with a smug expression on his face whilst Travis and Izwan were
off to one side, as far away from everyone else as they could get without wandering
off into the rubble. Gerard was closest to Audrey and by the way his eyes kept
sliding over her backside I knew that he was either setting his sights on her or
they were already together. I wouldn’t put it past the Frenchman two nights
would have been plenty of time for him to work his seductive magic.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I see I’ve missed quite a bit while I was
away” I said slowly.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Seems
like we all have” Sebastian muttered; his eyes set on Owen. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“The
trap that was laid for us by the Sun soldiers wasn’t an amateur one” I began.
The best way to get through an awkward situation like this one was to get right
down to business. “Any of our kind who tried to access the light web could have
been lured in by a false cry for help and killed simultaneously with whichever
Earth warrior they held captive. I was lucky enough to be pulled out of my connection
by Owen” I looked back at him and gave him an encouraging smile, “otherwise I
was mentally and physically trapped. And as you can see I didn’t get away scot
free either, I got two gaping burn holes to show for my efforts.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Have
you seen an angel before?” Audrey asked me, her gaze penetrating mine.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“No.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Then
you don’t know anything” she laughed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“I’m
not implying that I know everything about them I’m just recounting what
happened to me” I bristled. Who did this bitch think she was? “Is there
something that I said that was wrong?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Oh
darling, don’t get mad. I’ve spoken to one of the angels before and they’re not
rational creatures.” She looked at me with a trace of condescending pity that
made my dragon stir deep within me. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Audrey
has shed some light, no pun intended, on the angel situation” Sebastian said, “when
we were speculating about them we assumed that they were like us, free-willed
human beings with divine capabilities.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“So
what they’re not human?” I replied quizzically.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“They
do not think like us. They are driven solely by the Sun and His will, kind of
like…robots” Audrey cut in, “they were weak people originally, and some of them
are even children. Their minds needed to be slightly underdeveloped to be able
to be controlled as they are. They get…urges” she paused before continuing
slowly as if she was dumbing down a profound theory in order for us to
comprehend it. “They have the urge to relocate people, to keep them contained.
They also have the urge to kill us. We are their enemies you see. The enemies
of humanity and the Sun it needs humans for some reason that I do not fully
understand.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“It
doesn’t <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">need</i> humans” I said. Finally
I was able to contribute something that this prissy know-it-all didn’t actually
know. “It <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">wants </i>humanity to worship
it. Just the same way that the Earth Mother <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">needs
</i>humanity to respect and worship Her. That’s the key difference” I looked
around at everyone to make sure that they were really listening to what I was
about to say.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“The Mother is dying, we; the wielders of
darkness, are her last resort. It is our destiny to save her and to do this we
must first unite and then begin the cleansing. This doesn’t have to mean simply
killing people, it could mean converting their way of thinking, making them
understand the Mother’s need to be respected. The Sun got involved in Her
vengeance in the first place because it didn’t want the Mother to destroy
mankind because that would mean there would be no one left to worship him. He doesn’t
really care about mankind’s survival, living conditions or way of life, He just
wants their adoration.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“That’s heavy
man” Travis mumbled, “but it makes sense yeah.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“You think
this is a war based on theology?” Audrey giggled. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Why
the fuck are you laughing!” I yelled. My voice bounced off the surrounding
crumpled walls. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“It’s
funny” she continued to chuckle, “you’ve come up with these ridiculous theories
when all along our purpose has been simple—destroy.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Calm
down Evs, we all have our own opinions on what’s going on in the world, and
beyond” Sebastian waved his hand up towards the sky.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Opinions!?”
I shouted, my blood was circulating through my veins at a rapid speed and I
could feel my eyes bleeding out with darkness, “that’s not a fucking opinion,
an idiot could have worked out that we’re destroyers. What I’m trying to make
you all understand is how we can make the future fucking plausible!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“The
future has nothing to do with us you hyped up little bitch” Audrey took a step
towards me and I saw the deep fury in her eyes as they too were consumed with
darkness. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Before
she could take another step I gathered a round mass of energy into my hand and
flung it square in her face. The surprise she experiences was palpable as her
head snapped backwards and she was sent reeling into Gerard who deftly stepped
aside and let her land on her back. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Jesus
Christ Evs we’re all on the same team here” Sebastian sounded exasperated, but
he made no move to help Audrey up. I looked into his jade green eyes and he was
worried. I walked over towards him and heard Owen protest as Manoel moved to
follow me. I held out my hand, palm facing up and he hesitated before placing
his hand down onto mine.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>My
mind delved into his from our point of fusion and I saw the last two days flit
by. I saw Audrey’s power in action and Sebastian’s worry was justified. She was
a whole different breed to us altogether. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“You’ll
regret that darling” she said behind me. I turned to her and looked her up and
down. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“I
doubt that <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">darling” </i>I mimicked her irritatingly
sing song voice, “you know about me, and now I know about you and there is no
way in hell I’m ever letting you get close enough to me to use your grubby
little hands.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>What
I’d seen in Sebastian’s memory was Audrey’s literally instantaneous destructive
powers. They were nowhere near as far-reaching as mine or his were, in fact the
only way she could transmit her darkness was by touch alone.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“The
problem with that, pet, is I don’t need to go after you to piss you off” she
grinned at Owen and Manoel who had moved off back along the path we had taken
only moments ago. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Come
on girls, no need to fight” Sebastian piped up, but before he could finish his
sentence Audrey dashed down the path. She was unbelievably fast, my eyes
widened in terror as she gained ground on Owen and Manoel. My eyes locked with
Owen’s and I put my palm up to signal for him to stand still. His arm enclosed
around Manoel’s shoulder as a layer of thick swirling gloom materialised around
them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Audrey
came up against the wall of liquid night and spun around to look at me. I was
standing very still, my right arm was extended before me and my muscles were under
so much strain that my hand was almost shaking. There was no visible link
between me and the mass of ebony cloud, but it was without a doubt my black
energy. I could feel the dark vengeance spreading down my shoulder and across
my face creating a fearsome mask. I stared down at the woman who had within the
space of ten minutes become the most hated person in my life and I grinned. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“No
use trying red, no matter how fast you run I will always be faster.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Uppity
bitch” she said matter-of-factly, “have it your way then.” She slowly strolled
back to where the rest of the group was standing open mouthed and wide eyed.
Even Sebastian was looking at me with a new kind of respect. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I
pulled back the darkness and it re-absorbed into my body like water in a
sponge. Owen was still gripping onto Manoel’s shoulder and the expression on
his face was steely yet fractured. That’s when I realised that they couldn’t be
a part of what came next. Audrey was like a well-spoken rabid dog, if she got
the chance she would lay her hands on one of them and make them disappear. If I
was distracted for just one second…I didn’t want to think about it, they would
have to leave. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I
walked up to them and turned my back on the rest of the group. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Manoel
needs to return to his people today. It’s the fifth day” I said quietly so that
no one else could hear us. Owen looked into my eyes, which had returned to
normal and nodded in understanding.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“I’ll
go with him and make sure he gets there safely” he said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“When
you get to Albert Park make sure you keep the people there. Under no
circumstances are they <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">or you” </i>I
emphasized,<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> </i>“to go into the city. We’ll
begin cleansing it as soon as possible, do you understand?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“What
about the groups scattered around the place? All the people I saw after your
last eruption of cleansing power?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Let
me worry about that. There was what, roughly fifty, sixty people?”<br />
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Yeah something like that.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“So
you’ve got a much larger group of people to worry about, you focus on the seven
hundred and I’ll focus on the fifty okay?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“I’ll
see you soon right Evie?” he looked down at me with worry and longing in his
eyes. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Right”
I smiled up at him. Before he could lean in for a kiss I turned to Manoel and
said my goodbyes. We parted reluctantly.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11901304444624308674noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5454789321169737514.post-21773349195889621472013-08-23T15:12:00.001+10:002013-08-23T15:12:13.007+10:00Evelyn Earth Part 41<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.hairstylesdesign.com/img/hairstyles/215/4221.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.hairstylesdesign.com/img/hairstyles/215/4221.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“You can’t compare our agenda to
the Sun soldiers. We don’t even know what it is, we’re just speculating at the
moment” I grumbled.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“But
you do know that they have the ability to teleport large numbers of people. To
trap people in these <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">flocks</i> and to
burn people from a distance” he re-capped.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“If
what the visions me and Snow saw from the other two warriors are anything to go
by then these angels are leaving destruction in their wake. Not the clean
destruction that I can create, but the fire and brimstone type. We saw charred
bodies, burned fields and leaping walls of fire. Now what would you prefer?
Being consumed by my darkness or being burned alive?” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Neither”
he said firmly, “I’d like to continue on living thank you very much, but I see
what you’re getting at. Have you considered that these Sun messengers might
want to turn the Earth into a similar, what’s the word” he paused, “habitat, as
the Sun?” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span></div>
<a name='more'></a><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> “Nothing
would be able to survive though, what would have been the point of them coming
here to save the humans if they wanted to kill them in the first place?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Exactly”
he smiled.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Oh
so you’re using reverse psychology to get me to see your point of view huh” I laughed,
“look what me and Snow concluded was that we are all human to begin with. When
you give man a power that is divine he will struggle with it. I’m struggling
with my darkness and I’m making mistakes. We can only assume that the Sun
messengers are doing the same thing. Some of them could be the saviours they
were meant to be and others could have gone rogue and decided to use their nifty
fire power as just that—fire power.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“These
immovable beings, the Sun and the Earth, it doesn’t seem as if they thought
this out properly does it?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“They
had millennia to think this out, they did exactly what they intended to do except
as soon as they distributed their power they left the fate of the outcome in
our hands. In the end we still govern our own destinies.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“So
if you chose to say; protect the seven hundred Portuguese people at Albert Park,
then you could do it and it wouldn’t clash with the destiny the Earth has
planned out for you, because you make your own destiny?” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“As
long as those people then chose to revere the Earth, then yes, I guess I could.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“That’s
all I’ve been waiting to hear” he smiled at me, “come on we need to get moving.
You need to get to Snow and convince him of the same thing.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>We
packed up the rest of the food and set out once again. This time though I was
feeling a lot more energised. I could feel the darkness within me and it was at
its former strength. I couldn’t say the same thing about my body though, but I
knew that if I had to fight I could. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>We
were walking for only ten minutes before we came across our first obstacle; a
collapsed building. Without hesitation I stepped up to it and raised my palms
to the rubble. The darkness slid out of my hands and quickly sped up and around
the building. The process <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">wasn’t anything like Sebastian’s,
his miasma would have first needed to cover the whole structure before it could
slowly eat away at it, my process was instantaneous. As soon as the ebony
liquid made contact with a man-made surface it disintegrated it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I
turned back to Owen and Manoel and smiled. Manoel’s eyes were wide with awe and
for the first time since we had discussed man’s need to worship the Earth I
could see how it could be possible. He looked as if he had seen a miracle and there
was no doubt in my mind that if he was taught to revere the Earth and its power
he would do it wholeheartedly. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>As
we continued to walk I stopped every few minutes and cleared a small patch of
land. I used these pit stops to check the terrain and see if I couldn’t sense
Sebastian. It was useless though; my geographical vision could only see the
undulation of the Earth’s surface and not the darkness of the Earth’s soldiers.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“What
are you doing?” Owen finally asked after I stopped to check the terrain once
more.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Stupid
fucking ability” I muttered under my breath, “I can see the terrain. I was
hoping to see Snow, but it doesn’t show me anything besides the ground that’s under
our feet.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Can
it see water?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“What?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“That
would be handy in your new world, if there’s no plumbing you’d need to know
where all the underground wells are, where all the fresh water reserves are.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“I
never thought of it like that” I scratched my arm. It should have been
something I thought of straight away, but my mind was focussed on the present
not the future. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Olhar!</i>” Manoel shouted. He was pointing
off to the right where a just moment ago a line of low-rise apartments were
standing. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“That
must be them” I said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“You
don’t sound as enthusiastic as I thought you’d be” Owen looked at me sideways.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Snow’s
power is slow” I mumbled, “this is the other warrior.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Do
you think they might be a danger to us?” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Stay
behind me, directly behind me. If anything happens I’ll protect you.” He nodded
and grabbed Manoel’s arm.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Come
on mate you have to stay right here okay?” he pulled him in behind me and took
the rear. We set off in a straight line—picking our way through the rubble
until we saw a group of people moving towards us doing the same thing. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I
stopped and sharpened my vision. It was definitely Sebastian and his men and I
sighed with relief that they were all there, safe and sound. The woman who was
walking next to Sebastian though was someone I had never seen before. She had
long bright red hair with streaks of orange at the front that reminded me of Leoloo
from <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Fifth Element</i>, but where Milla
Jovovich was pale this woman was dusky. Her eyes had a distinct Asiatic slant
to them and the rest of her features echoed Pocahontas. Her irises were
drenched in darkness and I could tell that she was sizing me up the same way I
was doing to her. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Evs!”
Sebastian called out to me and waved. I smiled back at him and raised my hand,
but my smile didn’t reach my eyes. There was something about this woman that
screamed <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">ruthless</i> and I just knew
that she hadn’t come to join us to protect anyone or anything. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I
remembered the moment when she had sent us the message that she was coming,
right after she had seen Marla’s slaughtered body. </span><o:p></o:p></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11901304444624308674noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5454789321169737514.post-13652323062467823402013-08-16T16:48:00.000+10:002013-08-16T16:48:38.109+10:00Evelyn Earth Part 40<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkV5EG6mb435C-_3sq1R0PTvuAZhfyEJlVHH8lDwsYL_f5no0GvDF3npE6yS8LuGU0f7zBbMbJ-eEklZ0S9koxd9Fc-DYtrUW_7zuDx3BP1cUASA_HcR9Z8ZnPCpXybUmsNIyiifXfxas/s1600/moongoddess.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkV5EG6mb435C-_3sq1R0PTvuAZhfyEJlVHH8lDwsYL_f5no0GvDF3npE6yS8LuGU0f7zBbMbJ-eEklZ0S9koxd9Fc-DYtrUW_7zuDx3BP1cUASA_HcR9Z8ZnPCpXybUmsNIyiifXfxas/s320/moongoddess.jpg" width="217" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Manoel cleared the way into the
building, which turned out to be shoe store. No wonder it had been left intact,
who wanted to loot shoes? Thankfully there was a line of leather ottomans
against the back wall and we settled down on them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Ah
this feels like heaven” Owen sighed as he stretched out on his back, “I’ve
missed cushioned surfaces.” I smiled faintly.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Do
you remember all the trouble we went through getting my mattress down to your
container?” I asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Mm
seems like a life time ago.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Everything
happened so quickly” I whispered, “It all went by so fast. I don’t think I got
a chance to process it all before it was gone.” Owen sat up and I felt his eyes
on me. The torches were propped up in a shoe rack and spluttered with every
passing minute. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“I’m
sorry about how I reacted to you that day” he said barely audibly, “you were
right, I had known all along that something was happening, something big. I
just didn’t want to believe it. You have to understand Evie, the world had
ended I had lost my family, I was so far from home and I couldn’t go back and
then there you were. You were a shining light in my life and I didn’t want to
believe that you were a part of the darkness. I still don’t.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"></span></span></div>
<a name='more'></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> “I..”
I stuttered, “I know.”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“When
I saw you, you looked like you had been dipped in tar, you were completely
black and you looked…”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Evil?”
I finished his sentence. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Yeah.
Some of the things you say now still make me cringe. I don’t have the same
understanding of this, this darkness as you do. To me it looks bad it acts bad
so therefore it must be bad.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“But
it’s not!” I cried.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Look
I know you don’t think so” he moved in closer to me until his right leg was
behind my back and his left leg was still on the ground. He put his hands
around my waist and I leaned into him with a sigh of resignation. We were at a
stalemate and I knew that there was nothing I could do about it. Owen thought
killing people and destroying everything they had created was bad. He couldn’t see
the bigger picture, just how every other human being who had contributed to the
Earth’s destruction hadn’t seen the impact they were having on Her.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“When
this is all over, you’ll see it from my point of view” I said softly. My head
was leaning against his chest and I could feel his breath on my cheek. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“I’m
afraid there’ll be nothing left to see.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“You’re
wrong” I said. Tears welled up in my eyes and I tried to blink them away, but
my lashes just pushed them down my face. Wet streams slid down my cheeks and
silently dropped down off the precipice of my chin. I couldn’t remember the
last time I had cried. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Owens
arms tightened around me and he pressed his lips to my temple.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“It’s
a scary world out there.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“And
I’m the monster.” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In the
morning I woke up alone. There was a note on the floor in front of me and I
stretched out my hand to grab it without getting off the ottoman.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“We’ve gone
to find some food. Don’t worry. Be back before you know it. Xx Owen.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I dropped the
note back on the floor and struggled to sit up. My head was throbbing and my
wounds, which now had a hard layer of dried blood covering them were excruciating.
I took a look around. We were in a pretty high-end shoe store. I picked up one
pair of heels after another.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Roberto
Cavalli, Brian Atwood, Dolce and Gabbana” I whistled. I would have been over
the moon if I had of stumbled into this unguarded shop four months ago. I
looked down at my dirty bare feet and decided that I needed to get myself
cleaned up. The singlet dress I was wearing was basically a tattered rag and
the last time I had worn shoes was when me and Owen were still back at the
shipping container camp. That place didn’t even exist anymore. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I
walked into the back room and began to rummage around for cleaning products. I
found a bottle of Windex and paper towels and set about cleaning up my feet. At
first I thought that my soles must have been caked in dirt, so much so that
they had turned black, but it turned out that even with vigorous scrubbing the
bottoms of my feet stayed black.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Huh”
I mumbled t myself. I wasn’t even concentrating any power onto my feet, but
they were definitely emanating a layer of darkness. No wonder I never felt any
pain whilst walking. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Once
my feet were done I scrubbed at my arms and legs. I smelled like a freshly
cleaned window though and my nose itched from the chemicals. I pictured
Mystique from the X-men movies and how she could send ripples of change over
her skin and wished that I could do the same thing. The more I thought about it
though the more I wanted to try it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I
stood in front of a mirror and concentrated on my skin. I summoned up a thin
string of ebony energy and imagined running it over my body, from my toes up to
my head. A slither of darkness shimmered just below my skin. I pulled it out
slowly and then released the power. A black halo effect covered my whole body
and I let it run up and down the length of me until my dress shrivelled up.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Shit”
I cursed. I quickly re-absorbed the darkness and checked myself over. The
chemical smell was gone. Just as I had wanted it to the darkness had swallowed
it up, but it had swallowed my clothes too and now I was standing before the
mirror stark naked. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I
dashed back into the store room and looked over the stock. Some of the boxes
were covered in a beige sheet and I grabbed that and wrapped it around myself. Feeling
a little less exposed I relaxed. It was time to pick out some shoes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I
walked around the whole shop and settled on a pair of black wedge boots by
Zamagni. I had never heard of the brand and I didn’t really care, I was looking
for practicality. They were pure leather and I felt slightly better in putting
them on my feet than something manufactured in a lab. I read the label—calf skin,
hand-made. They fit perfectly. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I
couldn’t walk around in a sheet all day though I needed to find some clothes. I
pushed open the door and stepped out onto the street. It was unrecognisable and
I had no idea where I was. I peered down to my left; nothing, to my right; more
shops.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I
walked past <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">John Cavill </i>and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Sarti </i>before I came across <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Kenzo. </i>I had never had a big enough pay
check to be able to afford anything by this designer brand and now I definitely
knew where I was—Little Collins Street. I hesitated before walking in. This was
the old me, the new me didn’t need designer clothes, but like I said before I couldn’t
go around fulfilling my destiny in a beige sheet. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I
spent longer than I intended picking out something practical. I kept
gravitating towards the more whimsical and colourful pieces. In the end I chose
a pair of khaki coloured shorts and a cream silk shirt with a black leaf-like
pattern. Thankfully there were bras in stock and I slipped on a creamy floral
number. For underwear though I was out of luck. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I pulled on
the shorts and moved around a bit. They didn’t feel bad at all. Before I put on
the shirt though I grabbed a white cotton scarf and tied it around my torso and
over my shoulder to keep my wound from being irritated by the material, and to
keep blood stains off the shirt. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I
inspected myself in the mirror. Coupled with the boots I looked like a mix
between someone going hunting in the jungle and a girl at a beer garden. The
most important thing though was that I felt comfortable. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Evelyn!”
Owen’s voice echoed from outside. I stepped out onto the street.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Over
here!” I called out. He and Manoel were standing in front of the shoe shop and
they looked worried. I jogged up to them and did a little twirl. “What do you
think?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“I
think you shouldn’t ever do that again, we thought you had run off on us” he
frowned.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Don’t
ruin my moment” I punched him in the shoulder, “do I look nice or what?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Manoel
said something in Portuguese and gave me two thumbs up.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“See
he likes it” I teased. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Come
one there’s food inside.” He was trying to keep the smile off his face, but I
knew he was on the verge of laughing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Alright
Mister Grumpy let’s go eat” I pushed open the shop door and made my way inside.
As we ate we tried to communicate with Manoel, he wanted to tell us something,
but every time we tried to guess what it was he started laughing at how wrong
we were. It turned into a game of charades where Owen and I were yelling out
things that Manoel probably couldn’t understand while he was jumping around
trying to act out whatever it was that he wanted to tell us.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>In
the end we figured out that he had promised his friends that he would return to
Albert Park five days after the time they parted. It was the fourth day
already. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“So
what I’ve got out of the kid so far is that his family and friends are at a
lake and that there’s something happening with the sun?” Owen said after we had
all settled down and stopped laughing. I nodded in agreement. This was probably
the time when I should tell Owen everything that happened since the last time
we saw each other.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“I
don’t even know where to begin” I started, once I was finished he was sitting
up against the wall wide-eyed. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“So
now there are not only Earth soldiers, but Sun soldiers?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“It
sounds so cliché when you say it” I grimaced, “but yeah that’s basically it.
Except unlike us the Sun messengers only seem to have one goal and that’s
stopping the Earth from fulfilling Her vengeance.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“So
essentially they want to protect man kind?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“They’re
going about it pretty strangely though” I countered. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Mm
they’re herding people like cattle and transporting them to god knows where,
just to get them away from you” he looked up at me intently.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Don’t
look at me like that, it’s not my fault! I haven’t done anything.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Not
yet” he said quietly.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11901304444624308674noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5454789321169737514.post-64223382384851116982013-08-09T17:25:00.001+10:002013-08-09T17:25:23.626+10:00Evelyn Earth Part 39<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://publicdomainphotos.files.wordpress.com/2009/09/eye-in-colors-by-photos8.jpg?w=480&h=319" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://publicdomainphotos.files.wordpress.com/2009/09/eye-in-colors-by-photos8.jpg?w=480&h=319" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Are they all
as deluded as you?” he asked blandly as he stood up, “all of these people with
these horrible powers. Do you all think that you can magically change the
world?” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“You’re an
idiot” I spat back at him, “it is people like you who have allowed our world to
get to this point. This is not magic! This is nature, nature at its essence. It
is tangible and it is real and it will be the thing that saves us all.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“How can a
power that kills, destroys and disintegrates things save us? That’s like saying
a nuclear bomb is a good thing for fucks sake. When has force ever brought
about peace? You should know about history Evelyn, tell me that please, when
has war or global destruction, ever brought about world peace?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“If a nuclear
bomb targeted everything that was wrong on this planet and left no traces of
its presence then it would be a fair comparison to our power, and it would be a
good thing. A GREAT thing!” I threw my hands up above my head, “I’m done
talking, we’re leaving, Manoel lets go.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“You’re just
going to walk away from me again?” he said in angry disbelief.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></div>
<a name='more'></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“What do you
want me to do, sit here and debate the state of the world with you? You saved
my life Owen. If you want to come with us, to really be with us, then come.”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“I don’t want
to be part of a killing spree. I don’t want to see you destroy…everything” he
sighed. I shook my head from side to side.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“You need to
believe. Believe in the goodness of what we’re doing because if you don’t then
you fall into the category of people that stand against us.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“And you will
kill those people right?” his eyes took on a desolate look, the kind of look a
trapped animal gets after it realises that there is no way out.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Humanity is
insignificant in comparison to the life of the Earth” I said again. There were
only so many ways you could say it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“I’ll come
with you, not because you’ve convinced me, but because I don’t think you have
completely convinced yourself.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I shook my
head again. There was no turning back now no matter how much Owen might try he
would never make me believe otherwise.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Fine, let’s
go.” I turned towards the fallen rubble of the city and tried to sense where
Sebastian might me. I let my intuition guide me and set off. I would have to
deal with my leg and shoulder when we were all re-united. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We walked for
what seemed like hours. Every street we turned down there was a fallen building
or rubble in our path. Every different road we took there was more debris and
fires to stop us in our tracks. If this had happened to me two days ago I would
have simply concentrated on my darkness onto whatever was blocking our way and
made it disappear, but my body wasn’t the same as it was two days ago. With
every step I took shooting pains ebbed throughout my leg and back. Every time I
felt tempted to reach inside and coax my dragon out I felt the overwhelming
weariness that had sunk into my bones after yesterday’s expenditure of power.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Owen had made
two torches for himself and Manoel to carry, but I continued to rely on my
enhanced eye-sight. If there was one thing I was willing to spend my energy on
right now it was seeing danger coming from a mile away. That and seeing
Sebastian. It was strange having Owen next to me once again. The way he walked,
the way he sometimes looked at me as if he was making sure I was okay. There
was something about his presence that mellowed me, that had always mellowed me
and I think that was one of the reasons why I had pushed him away. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If I had
never been chosen as one of the Mother’s warriors I wouldn’t have hesitated a
second if it came to choosing between him and Sebastian. Now though, now things
were different and Owen didn’t believe in me whereas Sebastian was like another
part of my very being.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We barely
spoke as we walked, but as the hours grew longer and the detours made things
ever more discouraging we both needed to speak, to keep ourselves from going
crazy. I managed to pry out what had happened to Toya. She was staying with a
small group of people near the beach in South Melbourne. Owen had stayed long
enough to make sure she would be fine before heading back into the city. He
said that he didn’t know why he had decided to go back into the danger zone,
but the way he looked at me when he said it made my heart beat faster. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">He had been
by the river when he saw my cloud of darkness snake its way through half the
city. He knew that I must have been at the centre of it and tried to get
closer, but groups of people had emerged onto the streets. The places where
they were staying must have been hit by the darkness and forced them out into
the open. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Everybody
looked panicked and on edge, any interaction was a possibility for disaster so
he had decided to wait it out. When it got darker and colder he sought out the
fires that had erupted all over the disintegrated area. That’s when he had seen
Manoel and me inside the room. Sheer coincidence. Or fate. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“What about
you? Are you going to tell me what happened when you almost died?” he asked
quietly. I stopped walking. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Maybe we
should camp out for the night. It doesn’t look like we’re getting very far and
I’m…”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“In pain?” he
interrupted me, “I thought that was the whole reason for rushing, so that Snow
could fix you.” I nodded in agreement. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“I need to
rest, I can’t walk anymore.” Manoel said something as well and motioned towards
a fairly intact looking building not too far down the road. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“The kids got
the right idea, come on.” Before I could protest Owen handed his torch to
Manoel and scooped me up like a child. My first instinct was to struggle and
demand to be put down, but as I rested my head on his arm I felt better, better
than I had felt for a while. </span><o:p></o:p></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11901304444624308674noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5454789321169737514.post-43351242304274432102013-08-02T23:33:00.000+10:002013-08-02T23:33:23.454+10:00Evelyn Earth Part 38<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_FZ9suMGNs_13mQQMgNwClLXQIUKvNskPL1IGOlJwuxbNlFZn0uBrP2mF2tHCn1wNy2xXeDht4SNTZ7akBbIjgo7skkGWq4Ic6qN9oIl0lo3XvSLNgg_VuiaXJA6KGYpEkw6LQ9hYzVA/s1600/6993ba5ec8de5df26eb1b5101c7bfe43.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_FZ9suMGNs_13mQQMgNwClLXQIUKvNskPL1IGOlJwuxbNlFZn0uBrP2mF2tHCn1wNy2xXeDht4SNTZ7akBbIjgo7skkGWq4Ic6qN9oIl0lo3XvSLNgg_VuiaXJA6KGYpEkw6LQ9hYzVA/s1600/6993ba5ec8de5df26eb1b5101c7bfe43.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Evie I don’t
know what to do, what do I do? Tell me what to do goddammit!” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“I
don’t…arghh!” The searing pain ripped through my shoulder and I tasted blood as
I bit my tongue. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Hold on
okay, just hold on. Hey you! Yeah you mate, get water. WATER!” Owen yelled at
someone behind me. A familiar voice yelled back in panic and Manoel’s face
appeared above Owens. His eyes widened in horror before he stepped out of my
line of vision. All I could see now were the orange and ochre spots. They were
multiplying all around me as if they wanted to smother me in their warmth. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“You’re
on fire, you’re on fire Evie and I don’t know what to do, its burning two holes
right through you and I don’t know how to stop it” he said frantically. I felt
his hands touch my face and I tried desperately to focus on his yellow eyes,
but everything was so blinding. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"></span></span></div>
<a name='more'></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"></span> “Put
me back on the ground” I choked out, “Owen please, on the dirt.” If I was going
to die I wanted to die feeling her soft crumbling body beneath me. He picked me
up and lowered me onto the soft patch of land again. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Manoel’s
panicked voice penetrating my reverie. I was falling in and out of
consciousness. Owen’s face was upside down above me. A cold sensation splashed
over my body. Droplets of water touched my lips. More frantic yelling and then…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“ARGHHH” I
screamed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Hold her
down!” Owen commanded. I felt cool hands grip my head and torso. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“What are you
doing?!” I screamed as the searing pain surged through my shoulder and thigh
once again. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“It’s the
only thing I could think of, just hold on and focus on my voice.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Jesus
fucking CHRIST” I shrieked. Flecks of mud fell into my mouth and I spluttered.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Focus on me,
look at me! Don’t close your eyes!” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“I’m trying”
I blubbered, “I’m, oh fuck, I can’t it feels like I’m being fucking tortured.”
I clawed my hands into the dirt and felt myself being drawn into Her. For a
moment it felt as if her cool arms had drawn me into an embrace and the pain
eased. I squeezed my eyes shut tight and honed in on that feeling of tenderness,
a feeling that allowed no room for burning agony.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Evie can you
hear me?” Owen’s voice echoed around me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“It’s okay
whatever you’re doing is working. Its okay…” I opened my eyes and found myself
lying in a damp chamber. All the walls were made of soft brown dirt. I reached
out with my hand and watched as my fingertips left four small trails in the
wall beside me. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Do not fear this is the
place of birth for all things.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></i>I
turned my head to the side and saw a woman sitting in an alcove within the
chamber walls. The roots of a tree supported her feet and hands whilst her
hair; long and thick fanned out around her and disappeared into the earth. In
the gloom her features were indistinguishable, but her figure resembled ancient
figurines of mother goddesses—voluptuous and soft. She looked so familiar. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">You, my child, have been the most promising
and most disappointing of my children. </i>Her voice blew past me like a soft
sigh. I opened my mouth to speak, but no words came out. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">You possess so much of my will, but lack the strength to use it. </i>I
shook my head in disagreement. I was ready to use all of her vengeful power, I
was!<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> Your body is only a vessel. Remember
that once you die you will return here to me and your bones will make my flesh
thicker—until then you will deliver to me my former state of being.</i> I knew
that, why was she telling me something I already knew? <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I am immovable, a force of the cosmos that can give life; never have I
been able to take it away selectively.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></i>Selectively?
As if she read my thoughts her words rolled on.<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> Hurricanes, storms, diseases and plagues effect all of my creatures to
maintain balance, but mankind has spread like the locust plagues of old
devouring every innocent life form that comes before it. All of your kind can
die and I will still remain immovable, but if my state of being is altered you
and every other living thing will all die with me. </i>I stared at her,
sitting, embedded into the earth around her. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">That is why I have given you my bitter hate, to stop the destruction of
everything I have ever given birth to, if it is at the sake of man’s survival
then so be it. Never forget that. You are a vessel. Never forget the
insignificance of humanity. Remember the power of the immovable beings…<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
sucked in a mouthful of air. It tasted like summer; warm and dry and sweet. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Help me get
her out” Owen’s voice floated up above me. I felt hands grazing my body and a
weight being shifted off my limbs. I moved my hand to my eyes and brushed dirt
off my eyelids. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Here, sit up.”
His arm slipped around my shoulders and gently lifted me up. I blinked away the
rest of the dirt and saw a plastic water bottle being held up before my mouth.
I opened my lips and let the slick liquid trickle down my throat. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“What
happened?” I coughed. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“We buried
you.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“For how
long?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“The sun’s
almost down.” I looked at the horizon and saw the familiar tinge of pink and
baby blue washing over my wreck of a city. I used to love how the sun set over
the sky scrapers. How each ray of light was reflected off of the millions of
windows creating mirror images of the setting golden orb. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Remember the power of the immovable beings…beings…beings.</i> I also
used to wonder what stood there before, what Melbourne used to look like. Was
it a forest? Or bush land? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Ow” I
reached out to my thigh. It was caked in mud, so was my shoulder. I picked at
the thick layer brown layer until the pieces came crumbling off. A circular
welt stared back at me. It smelt like burnt meat and looked like over-cooked
pork skin; black and charred, but covered in cracks. The pink flesh of my thigh
peaked through the cracks, oozing blood and puss. I turned away sharply and dry
retched until green bile burned the back of my throat. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“It looks a
lot better than it did earlier” Owen said before handing me the bottle of water
again, “we managed to scrounge up some food for you, even though you probably don’t
feel like eating right now”. I turned to him and studied his face. I needed to
forget about the monstrous burns on my body for just a second so that I could
collect my thoughts. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">You are just a
vessel.</i> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">His face hadn’t
changed one bit, but then again the last time I had seen him was only a few
days ago. It felt like years. So much had happened. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“We?” I
managed to ask after a few more gulps of the water.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Yeah me and
this kid of yours” he nodded at Manoel who was crouching down on his hunches
behind me. He looked worried and said something in Portuguese. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“He keeps
talking, even though I’m pretty sure he knows I’ve got no idea what he’s saying”
Owen frowned.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“It would be
weirder if he said nothing” I smiled at Manoel, “where’s Toya?” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“She’s
waiting for me somewhere safe” he replied cautiously. I hated the way he said
it, as if I were some sort of criminal waiting to get my hands on her. The
familiar tingle of anger stirred at the base of my stomach. Some of the clarity
returned to my vision and I dared another look at my burned leg. If I could
concentrate some of my energy onto it…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Where’s your
new lover?” Owen’s bitter words snapped me out of my thought process.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“You should
have left the city” I answered coldly.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“And done
what? We have no idea what’s out there.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Better the
devil you know huh” I said sarcastically. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“I just saved
your devil ass. I could at least get a thank you.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“I’m grateful,
don’t get me wrong” I shot him a penetrating look knowing full well that my
iris’s had turned black, “but why did you do it?” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Should I
have just left you on the ground screaming?” He looked intently back at me, “I
know you Evelyn, no matter how out of control your insane supernatural powers
get you can’t stop yourself from caring about people that matter to you. You
saved that kid and all of his friends, I don’t know why, but they must have
meant something to you.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“They were innocent”
I cut in.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“You tried to stop Marla from shooting Snow,
and I know that you didn’t mean to…to kill her like that. You can control
whatever’s inside you and use it to help people! People like us!” he pointed at
himself and Manoel. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“You don’t understand.
People are the problem. I am me, but I am also Her” I slapped the ground, “I
have a job to do! If that involves killing people I have to be okay with that.
I have to be better than okay, I have to be ruthless about it because at the
end of the day humanity is insignificant! If I don’t do my job then no one will
survive. It might take hundreds of years, we might not see it, but at the rate
mankind is going the Earth will die. Can’t you understand that?!” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“So you’re
telling me that you would rather kill millions of innocent people than help
them?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Help them do
what? Build more pollution machines, more nuclear weapons, more cars, more
jets? Do you want me to use my powers to help them get back on their feet, to
get the electricity back up and running so that we can all contribute to the
destruction of our atmosphere? I’ll tell you what I’m going to do” I stood up
and looked down at Owen, “I will wipe out all manmade things, starting with
this city. Then I will make sure that no one tries to re-build it, or anything
else.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“That’s ridiculous.
Don’t look at me like that, it’s ridiculous and you know it! How in the hell
will you be able to do all that?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“I never said
I was going to do it alone.” </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11901304444624308674noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5454789321169737514.post-88970027410034116572013-07-26T23:49:00.000+10:002013-07-26T23:49:56.097+10:00Evelyn Earth Part 37<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.turquoisebranding.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/flight-path-visualisations-feat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="185" src="http://www.turquoisebranding.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/flight-path-visualisations-feat.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Earth shook, one thunderous
boom after another sent seismic waves throughout the area. My eyes would focus
on one falling building before losing sight only to regain the vision of
crumbling walls. Sounds swam in and out of my consciousness, voices, screams
and gentle whispers. I couldn’t feel the sun on my skin anymore. The darkness
churned inside me, restless, but unable to break free. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>My
throat felt dry. I tried to swallow, but my tonsils were so swollen that only a
rasp of air made it through. I summoned up as much saliva as I could and gulped
it down only to choke. A coughing fit took hold of me and I clutched at my neck
in pain. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I
felt a hand on my back and instinctively shied away from it. Where was I? It
was dark and the ground I was lying on was freezing. I barked out the last
remnants of air left within my lungs and inhaled deeply through my nose. The
hand returned to stroke my back and I shrugged it off before rolling over. I
was expecting to see stars, or feel a breeze on my skin, but a decaying ceiling
stared back at me sending wafts of mould to overwhelm my senses.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span></div>
<a name='more'></a><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"></span> I
brought my hand to my nose and mouth and looked around me. I was in a storage room.
Papers and cardboard boxes were piled all along the walls and ancient metal
filing cabinets acted as seats around one large metal table which had been
turned upside down and piled high with burned debris. Left over embers cast a
feint red light over everything, making shadows seem more sinister than they
already were. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Você está bem?” <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I
turned at the sound of his voice and saw in the dim light that it was Manoel.
None of the other boys were around. I struggled to sit up, but another coughing
fit ensued, which left me doubled over with specks of blood on the floor.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Fuck”
I wheezed, “where am I?” I looked at Manoel and he was quick to answer me with
a jumble of words that I did not understand. I motioned for him to help me up
and he hauled me onto my feet. The ground swayed for a moment, but I kept my
hand on his shoulder until my equilibrium returned. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">He led me
slowly to the door and waited as I struggled to stand on my own two feet
without his support. I nodded once I was sure I could continue on my own and he
turned the handle. My first thought was that we were in the belly of a large
office, but a gust of wind whipped my hair away from my face and revealed the
drastically changed landscape before me. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Directly in
front of me lay a wasteland of building carcases, half destroyed cars and empty
fields of dirt. I took a few hesitant steps out into the open and turned to
look at the building I had come from. I recognised the tall double towers as
being what used to be the Sofitel Hotel on Collins Street. I had been inside
once for a dinner date and remembered how impressed I had been by the space,
well now I could see right into it. Half of the building was missing, leaving
its insides exposed and protruding. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Shit” I
whistled. As far as I could see things were either damaged or falling apart. In
some areas there was nothing at all. This time around it seemed that I had
stretched my darkness pretty damn far, but hadn’t held out long enough for it
to consume everything in its path, just bits and pieces.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Manoel said
something and pointed to my left. A tall tower had collapsed blocking off any
path that led to the west side of the city. I looked towards the east and saw
only destruction. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“We go north
then?” I asked pointing ahead of me. Manoel shook his head in an “I don’t know”
gesture and pointed at himself and then at me. He said some names that belonged
to the other boys and gestured behind him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“They didn’t want
to stick around huh, I’m surprised you’re still here” I said sarcastically. I
did save all of their lives, destroyed gods knows how much of the city in the
process, but I probably looked like the devil doing it so it was no wonder they
split. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We stood
there for a while basking in the awkward silence until I began feeling light
headed. I looked up to the stars and felt as if I could reach up and touch them.
I stretched out my hand and tried to grasp one in between my thumb and my
forefinger. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Manoel caught
me before I hit the ground and carried me back inside. In my fatigued state I
watched through half open eyes as he struggled to get the fire going again. I
was surprised that he had managed to start one in the first place and I
marvelled at the resilience of man.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Rays of sun
danced across my eyelids. They made orange and ochre spheres that swam in and
out of focus. I smiled and opened my eyes and the small circles of light
quickly turned black and made my head spin. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Urghh” I
moaned as I covered my eyes with my hand. I leaned up on my elbows and saw that
Manoel had built us beds made out of paper. With the lack of fire the
insulation from the scattered sheets was probably the only thing that had kept
us warm all night. My throat was still sore though and I didn’t relish the idea
of catching the flu in the midst of our Earth revolution. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I got up
quietly so as not to wake my protector and stumbled through the half open door.
That’s strange, I thought, why would he go through so much trouble to keep us
warm and then leave the door open? I shielded my eyes from the glare of the sun
and looked around. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The
destruction looked even worse in day light and the smell was horrible. There
must have been a load of flammables that were set off when things began to
topple down. I counted at least twelve smoke spires in the distance and three
burning cars that I could clearly see. Why didn’t Manoel just go out and bring
back some fire if he couldn’t start his own. Idiot. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I picked my
way through the debris that lay before the hotel until I found a patch of soft
dirt. I sank down onto my knees and pressed my forehead into the ground. The
world fell away until all I saw was the terrain. Undulating mounds of Earth
spread out before me and I traced the way that I had come. It was easier than I
thought, I didn’t even need to think, the Earth already knew where I had been
and She showed me the way with a thin silvery line. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Seeing that
made me think of Her web and I wondered if I should try and access it, to get
into contact with Sebastian. The other warrior would have arrived last night
and I had no idea what was going on beyond my own fuck ups. I needed to find
out if they were still in the same place where I had left them. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I pressed my
fingers deeper into the dirt and sunk my consciousness in with them. An image
of the world materialised before me and I zoned in on myself. Glowing lines
intersected everywhere and I was careful not to tap into any of them. I simply
wanted to see, not to interact. It still seemed suspicious to me that the
Mothers web wouldn’t look anything like what she had shown me in my vision. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My pulsating
darkness was evident straight away, as I expanded my view two more beacons of
pitch black appeared. They were moving side by side and I assumed that it must
be Sebastian and the other warrior. Just as I was about to disconnect another
flash of darkness caught my eye. It was not too far away from me and seemed to
be fading before my eyes. I hesitated before reaching out to it, but what if
this was Sebastian and he was in danger?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A deep
sensation of pain filled me as I connected with the faded beacon. I cried out
in agony as images of searing white light and burning bodies rushed before my
inner eye. The pain was unbelievably strong and as much as I wanted to I
couldn’t disconnect myself from it. It had trapped me like a fly in a spider’s
web and that’s when it clicked. If you captured and tortured an Earth soldier,
anyone who tried to make contact with them would fall into the same loop hole
of pain. We were all connected in the web after all, all part of the same being,
able to feel each other’s pain. The Angels had used the Mother’s web against us
and now that they had me they could kill me by proxy. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I cried out
again as I felt a stabbing pain in my left shoulder. One scream, two screams,
another stab; to the thigh. A familiar presence tingled at the edge of my
thoughts and with the last remnants of my will power I sent out an image of my
face screaming ‘disconnect’ before two strong hands yanked me off the ground
and slammed me down onto solid concrete severing the connection with the web. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“No, no, no,
no, no” I cried as tears welled up in my eyes and fell down my cheeks. It had
been Sebastian, reaching for me, knowing that I was dying. Images of burning
bodies and death were a warning to us, a warning not to connect from the poor
warrior they held captive. I just hoped that he received my message and
understood how imperative it was to disconnect.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Evelyn
what’s the matter, talk to me, Evie!” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My tears kept
flowing and the panic in my heart wouldn’t subside long enough for me to
register what was happening around me. My thigh and my shoulder were still
burning in pain and I clutched at the two spots in desperation. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The
strong hands grabbed at my wrists and pulled my arms apart.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Calm
down!” a voice yelled.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Make
it stop! Oh fuck, fuck, fuck, make it stop!” I moaned. I felt the dress I was
wearing being ripped off me and the sharp intake of breath as the person on top
of me looked down at me. For a split second his upper body blocked out the
blinding light of the sun and I saw his face.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Owen?”
I cried.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11901304444624308674noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5454789321169737514.post-83569843948622352882013-07-19T20:54:00.000+10:002013-07-19T20:55:54.503+10:00Evelyn Earth Part 36<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://au.deuscustoms.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/Surfing_a_River_005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="232" src="http://au.deuscustoms.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/Surfing_a_River_005.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As the last
remnants of his flesh evaporated into the wind my mind caught up with my body
and I realised that there were still two guns trained on all of us. In that
moment I knew that my reaction would have to be faster than the scavenger
scum’s and for that I had to let go. So I did.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Two gunshots
boomed mere metres away from me, but they sounded oceans away. I felt time
stand still as my black dragon burst its way free out of my chest, thrusting my
arms outwards and snapping my neck back almost to breaking point.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Everything became still and quiet. I tried to
open my eyes, but my lashes fluttered freely—it was simply pitch black.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Is this
death?” I whispered to myself. My voice broke the silence and I could hear
Luiz’s wailing, diminished to a scared whimper, overshadowed by the rapid
voices of frightened boys. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Five more
gunshots fired off in quick succession. They sounded muffled and delayed, but
there was no mistaking them for what they were. I felt each of them hit me, one
after the other after the other. They entered the embodiment of my darkness and
were swallowed up by it. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></div>
<a name='more'></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Instantly I
sharpened my vision and allowed it to see past the wall of liquid vengeance
that had formed before me. I had created a flowing yet steady force field
around all of us—protecting us from the remaining three Jeff’s who seemed to be
trying to shoot their way inside.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The
frightened voiced of the boy’s escalated, reaching a crescendo of panic. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Shh” I said,
but no one seemed to hear me, “shut up! I need to concentrate” I yelled. Their
voices fell away to mere whispers. I took a deep breath in and flexed my outstretched
fingers.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Shoot it
again!” yelled shot-gun Jeff.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“How the fuck
did that thing just appear?” yelled back sniper Jeff. He was sweating and
scared. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Who cares,
just shoot it again!” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“This is
fucked up man do you think they’re inside?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Let’s just
get the fuck out of here!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Yeah screw
this shit it’s creeping me out.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sniper Jeff
disappeared inside his window. I flexed my fingers again and exhaled. The
barrier churned, allowing rays of light to penetrate its cocoon. The boys were
huddled together in the centre around their dead friend. All wide eyed, all
looking around in fear. I could feel Manoel’s gaze on me as I closed my eyes
and let out a powerful scream. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The darkness
rushed out of my mouth, out of my pores and out of the palms of my hands. It
connected with the energy of the force-field and distributed itself around its
circumference. I opened my eyes and imagined my dragon launching itself into
flight. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A supersonic
boom resonated around us as the darkness sped through the surrounding streets.
Shot-gun Jeff was the first to be consumed in its path, followed by the other
Jeff and finally sniper Jeff who was just about to exit an already
disintegrating building. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The darkness
had spread so fast that I couldn’t even see its edges and I didn’t care. I
could feel my whole body pulsating with power, the asphalt beneath my feat had
melted and I stood on the Earth’s warm flesh and conducted her wrath with all
of my being. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A bell
sounded in the back of my mind. It was a familiar sound, which made me pause.
It tinkled again and again and suddenly my consciousness was flying down one of
the paths that my darkness had taken until it was at its end and facing
Sebastian. His face was clear in my mind.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Stop” it
mouthed silently as the bell continued to sound. I clenched my hands into fists
and let out a shriek of pain as I summoned the Mother’s vengeance back to me.
Even in this state of utter power I could remember how close I had come to
destroying our group the last time I relinquished control. Sebastian was too far
away to help me, but my darkness was on his heels and I had to be the one to
restrain it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I let out
another primal roar and brought my hands to my chest, physically pushing the
darkness back inside me. It came rushing back like a sledgehammer, each segment
of misty darkness slammed into me with such force that it made my knees buckle
underneath me. As the final pieces slithered back into my pores I let out a cry
of relief and dropped onto all fours. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I wretched
onto the ground and by body heaved in response to the physical onslaught it had
been put through. I knew that any second now I would pass out as my body shut
down. This wasn’t a matter of replenishing my power with the Mother’s; I could
do that instantly as I was connected to her right now. It was her power’s
effect on my mortal body that had me doubled over in pain. I had never once considered
my body to be weak after I had absorbed the Earth’s vengeance. I had never once
thought that it could damage me. It was logical now that I was experiencing the
pain. How could a mortal body contain and withstand such power? It couldn’t. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I tried to
hold onto my consciousness, but it stubbornly slipped away until all that was
left was nothingness. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">She had wished for things to happen
differently, better. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">She had waited so very long in order to make
herself heard, but it seemed that her voice was not strong enough. Her warriors
were faltering in their paths, unsure of the destiny she had bestowed upon
them. Their mortal minds rebelled against the nature she had imbued them with—the
nature of destruction. All the humans ever did was destroy and kill and harm. Why
they should now hesitate when they had the power to destroy all was beyond her.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She
breathed a deep sigh of regret, it swept through the fields and the trees
making every wayward leaf and every outstretched blade of grass sway. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">She had picked her soldiers for their
sympathy towards her, their love and it was this very compassion that stood in
the way of her vengeance. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her brother’s
messengers were felling her at every step. Each warrior’s death was like a stab
to her heart. They carried her emotions inside them, they breathed her own life
and losing them was saddening her. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">She came upon a river. Its water’s glistened
in the sunlight. They were all intertwined; nothing was as beautiful when it
stood alone. She had thought that by ridding her body of the pestilence she
would restore balance and life, but any sort of extinction was harmful to the
fabric of life itself.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mankind had driven countless creatures and
life forms to extinction, but when it was their turn to face the bottomless pit
of non-existence they struggled against their fate, or at least the fate that
she had imagined for them. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">She looked up towards the stars. She had
never seen Fate before; she drifted from second to minute to eons to days
leaving traces of her intensions to be picked up by some humans, but never by
the Mother. It must be because there were so many different fates to be dealt
out to all the billions upon billions of humans born throughout the ages. Fate
must grow tired, she might need respite every few centuries or so, but she
would never want to be cheated of her purpose.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The end of mankind meant a considerable
decline in fates.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">She sighed once more.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If only the humans had continued to treat
her body with care and respect. She would never have had all this pain and hate
in her soul. It would never have overflowed. Death would not have rejoiced so,
at seeing so many people crumble. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></o:p></i> </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11901304444624308674noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5454789321169737514.post-65798542447819476712013-07-12T23:05:00.000+10:002013-07-12T23:05:52.450+10:00Evelyn Earth Part 35<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.akmarshall.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/shotgun-barrel-gun-looking-down.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://www.akmarshall.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/shotgun-barrel-gun-looking-down.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I needed to
get back to Sebastian and tell him everything that I had learned. I knew that
he would feel the same way about this as I did because as much power as we had
within us and as much reverence as we held for the Earth we weren’t willing to
begin a genocide of the human race. There were no two ways about it, if we
started on the slippery slope of killing whoever was in our way then we would
end up not caring about killing everyone. The fact that this was not only a
possibility, but a probability made me shiver.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I relished
the idea of being an Earth Warrior, but I didn’t want to lose my humanity in
the process. I couldn’t just become a mindless destruction machine because the
Mother had found me compatible with her ideals. It wasn’t who I was. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I stood up
and brushed the chalk-like remnants of the rock from my fingers. All the boys
were looking at me expectantly and I realised that they were counting on me to
help them. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“I have to go
and find my friends” I said pointlessly, they all stared back at me blank
faced, waiting for me to do something, but it was bloody impossible to mime
that out so I just turned and started walking away. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></div>
<a name='more'></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I heard loud
exclamations and then a hand darted out and grabbed me by the arm. It’s hard to
explain the instant rage that gripped me in that moment. It was like a hot
flush that went all through my body and straight to my head. Luckily none of
the boys saw my reaction and I was able to shake off the hand and get myself
under control before turning around to face them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Before I
could say something in anger the boy who had grabbed me put his hands together
in prayer position and began saying something frantically. I shook my head and
tried to open my mouth again, but another boy joined the first and clapped his
hands together. Why did they think I could do anything for them? For all they
knew I was just a lone female who happened to be from this city. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“I can’t help
you” I said loudly, drowning out their strange supplications, “I have to go.”
As I turned to walk away once again I was expecting to see another hand come
flying out to grab me, I was waiting for it, but it didn’t happen. I continued
to walk until I noticed that they had fallen in behind me. I stopped and turned
around. The first boy shrugged his shoulders and motioned for me to keep
walking. It looked like I had gained an entourage. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As I
continued to walk I bit the dry skin around my thumb nail. There was one sure
fire way to get them off my back and that was to expose my darkness to them. If
they saw that then they would surely run for the hills and leave me alone. On
the other hand if I led them to Sebastian then he would be able to make a
decision based on what he saw in front of him and not just off of what I had to
say. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I spat out a
piece of skin and ran my tongue over my teeth. Without toothpaste or basic hygiene
they had begun to form a furry barrier that disgusted me. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The boys had
begun to chat amongst themselves and every once in a while I would turn my head
and catch glimpses of them smiling and joking with each other. They all looked
scruffy and un-kept, but despite the bizarre situation they were in they still
managed to look half happy. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">One of the
boys broke off from the group and came up to walk beside me. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Eu sou o Manoel” </i>he said pointing at his
chest.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Evelyn” I
said blandly.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Eh-veh-line”
he pronounced slowly and then smiled. I smiled back. These boys were just innocent
kids. I could only imagine the people they had left behind in Albert Park—700 innocent
people thrust into a city that was about to be consumed by an idiot of an angel
who clearly couldn’t do his job. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In the next
ten minutes I had been introduced to the eight other boys, shaken hands with
most of them and learned that three of the group were as young as fifteen. They
were all best friends from the same village; Alvito and they were all on the
same football team. I was laughing at one of the boy’s Luiz’s interpretation of
a winery when a loud bang startled all of us. Some of the boys who had wandered
ahead immediately moved back and formed a tight bunch together, with me in the
middle. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Hey stop
squashing me” I said annoyed, but at the same time touched that they had moved
to protect me from a loud noise. Manoel simply shook his head and continued
staring straight ahead at something I couldn’t see. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“What is it?”
I asked, shoving my way past two boys and coming up right behind him. Two men
were making their way towards us, one with what looked like a shot gun in his
hand. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Move” I said
quietly yet sternly to Manoel.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Nao” </i>he began to protest, but I placed a
hand on his shoulder and squeezed. He turned to look into my eyes and I could
see the palpable fear that had built up within them. He was a country kid, bred
on a winery with jolly old people and hard working mothers. Violence was not
part of his everyday life and neither he nor any of the other kids knew how to
deal with it. It was plain to see.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Move” I
repeated softly and he stepped aside to let me stand beside him. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Hands in the
air” one of the approaching men called out whilst the other cocked his shotgun
at us. I looked behind me and raised my hands to make sure that they all
understood what to do. One by one they lifted their palms to the sky. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Looks like
we found ourselves a pretty girl Jeff” said the weapon-less man. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Looks like
you’re right Jeff” answered the other man. Now either both their names were
Jeff or it was some sort of code word they used between each other. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“A girl with
so many guys, looks a bit suss don’t you think Jeff” another voice called out
from behind us and I closed my eyes in exasperation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Sure does
Jeff” called out another voice from above us. We were surrounded by scavengers
called Jeff, which was exactly what I didn’t need to be dealing with right now.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I opened my
eyes and looked up to search for the fourth voice. He was leaning out of a
third floor window and hefting a rifle the size of a small child. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“This is how
it’s going to work” said weapon-less Jeff, “you’re going to lead us to your
pretty little hideout, we’re going to help ourselves to a few things and then
we’ll be on our way, right Jeffs?” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Right.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Yeah.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Mm.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“We don’t have
a hideout” I said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Did I
fucking give you permission to talk!” yelled weapon-less Jeff. He was a
middle-aged man with an angry red face and as he yelled I could see the spittle
building up in the corners of his mouth and turning white, like foam. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I put down my
hands and Manoel looked at me in alarm. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“We do not
have a hideout” I repeated slowly, sounding out the syllables as if I were
talking to a five year old, “we don’t have any possessions for you to rob. It’s
just us” I spread my hands out wide to encompass the whole group. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Just you is
it, well we’re going to just have to settle for just fucking you aren’t we!” he
lunged at me. Whilst I had been talking the darkness had crept its way
throughout my whole body, just under the surface of my skin. I had allowed it
free range within me and my blood throbbed with the aching energy it produced.
I was ready for his move. I was waiting for him to act so that I could
disintegrate him on the spot. What I hadn’t anticipated was Manoel stepping in
front of me to block the attack.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Weapon-less
Jeff’s face contorted in rage as he came into contact with my would-be rescuer.
He unceremoniously elbowed Manoel in the face and shouldered him out of the
way. The rest of the group exploded. One of the older boys rushed Jeff, but
before he could get past me a loud pop resonated around us. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Wetness
splattered my cheek as his body hit the floor making a sickening crunching sound.
A wailing sound had begun behind me. Someone pushed me to the side in order to
kneel over the dead boy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“The next one
of you cunts to fucking move gets it in the head” said one of the Jeff’s, I couldn’t
even say which one; everything had turned into one big blur. Manoel was crying
on the floor clutching at the other boys body, his own nose releasing blood in
a steady flow down his chin. Weapon-less Jeff was kicking Luiz; who was making
the uncontrollable wailing sound and the others had either dropped down to the
floor or stood completely stark still—in shock. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I looked down
at my fingers and realised that they had begun to turn black. My mind was
working in slow-motion, but my body was reacting on its own. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I stepped
forward and placed my hand on weapon-less Jeff’s back. His brown t-shirt was
drenched in sweat from all the exertion of kicking Luiz and I could feel his
heart beat; <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">boom boom boomboom boom boom
boomboom</i>. I slid my hand in through his back, melting the muscles, the
sinew, the bones of his spine, until I felt his heart in the palm of my hand. I
squeezed it with all the strength and anger that I had within me and watched as
the darkness spread through him like termites—eating his flesh and leaving
nothing behind.</span> <o:p></o:p></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11901304444624308674noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5454789321169737514.post-63769858949787423732013-07-05T17:10:00.001+10:002013-07-05T17:10:41.322+10:00Evelyn Earth Part 34<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZJi6JhyphenhypheniI1akYNklsP-qT4DVVvVlwsqd8-4V3BlHzZptsZJ5gUsI0JSO2UvOBX98qWUISW5PAOteb4PTB_wltp2G-V6f373N1LydVIKERy1v8HngLermIKOZs97ajnkGVOzXchPdqjQQ/s408/pb-121004-nato-protest-jsw-735a.photoblog900.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="201" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZJi6JhyphenhypheniI1akYNklsP-qT4DVVvVlwsqd8-4V3BlHzZptsZJ5gUsI0JSO2UvOBX98qWUISW5PAOteb4PTB_wltp2G-V6f373N1LydVIKERy1v8HngLermIKOZs97ajnkGVOzXchPdqjQQ/s320/pb-121004-nato-protest-jsw-735a.photoblog900.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">After a moment’s pause though I
realised that it would be useless to track down Sebastian and the others as
they could be anywhere. Frankly it would take too long. My best option was to
follow the group of men and find out what they were doing. It was my job after
all. If they had ill intentions towards the Earth then I would need to
neutralize them. How did you even determine such a thing though? It was all so
confusing. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I
grumbled to myself as I paced up and down the roof of the shop. I really didn’t
want to get into a fight, but my inner instincts were telling me to run after
the men. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Dammit”
I whispered before taking a step towards the edge. I concentrated a small mass
of darkness in my legs and the balls of my feet and stepped off the barrier. I
landed with a thud on the sidewalk and a rim of concrete dust billowed out around
me. I left two size seven foot imprints behind me as I launched into a run. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></div>
<a name='more'></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">At
the end of the street I stopped and looked both ways. I had come out somewhere
near Chinatown and thankfully the street sloped downwards so I could clearly
see the group of men as they moved closer to Russel Street. I slunk into the
shadows as I followed their footsteps. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>They
had continued what seemed to be the same line of conversation as before. Lots
of laughter and shoving was involved as well as loud exclamations and arguments
where some of the men jumped up and down and made kicking motions with their
feet. I imagined that if only they had a ball they would be kicking it up and
down the city streets instead of roaming them and reminiscing about sports. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I
sharpened my vision and began to slowly examine the group. There were nine of
them in total and they all seemed to be around the same age group; barely
adults, probably around eighteen or seventeen years old. I had mistaken them
for men because of their fairly masculine builds and sharp angled features. Their
clothes looked like rags and a few of them were wearing faded baseball caps
that looked like they belonged to ancient tradies.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>One
thing was for sure, they weren’t from Melbourne. The longer I followed them the
more confused I became. They had somehow managed to get lost and wander around
in a circle until they came out next to Chinatown once again. The group stopped
and some of the boys split up, coming back empty handed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The
conversation between them had also changed to something more sombre and their
expressions harboured a tinge of fear. One of the boys sat down on the curb and
put his head in his hands. They held no weapons, not even a simple stick to
defend themselves and they seemed completely and utterly lost. Definitely not scavengers.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Hello”
I stepped out from my hidden position in a shop alcove. The boy sitting down
jumped to his feet as the others all moved closer to each other. We stared at
one another until he said something in their language.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Do
you speak English?” I asked. Almost all of the boys shook their head in unison,
“Portuguese?” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Sim</i>” they all echoed, followed by a
jumble of words I didn’t understand. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“What
are you doing here?” I pointed to the ground and made a puzzled gesture. One of
the boys stepped forward and began explaining something to me followed by
frantic hand movements which ended with him yelling “boom!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I
frowned at him and put a finger to my lips. He looked apologetic and mumbled “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">desculpe.</i>”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“So
you’re all from Portugal?” I asked again. They all nodded and repeated “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Portugal sim, sim</i>.” I pointed to the sky
and mimed an aeroplane, but the first boy shook his head “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">nao, atraves da luz!</i>” he pointed at the sun and my eyes widened. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>They
must have come here with one of the angel flocks, but why would they be in the
city? They should have been transported somewhere completely off the grid if
all of our theorising was correct.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Why
here?” I asked again, pointed at the city and the few skyscrapers still left
standing, “why aren’t you in the forests, or the bush?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The
boy stepped forward once again, but I made no move to back off. If anyone
should be afraid it should be him. He crouched down and motioned for me to
look. He took a fragment of stone out of his pocket and began to trace lines
onto the side-walk. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">First the sun
was formed, with wavy heat lines. Then dots of sand and a tree, which he
pointed at and then crossed out, which I understood to mean there were no trees
where they were, only sand.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He then drew more wavy lines for water and
crossed them out too, while looking at me he said “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">sem agua, sem comida” </i>he mimed eating and made a cross on the
ground. He then began to draw many stick figures all crowded together followed
by one figure apart from the rest, which he surrounded by the same heat lines
as the sun. He pointed at it furiously and then made flashing light motions
with his fingers finally followed by an outstretched hand pointed in the
direction of the huge looming buildings around us. `<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So it looked
like an angel had taken a large group of Portuguese people into a desert,
realised that they were in a bloody desert and then transported them here. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Where are
the rest of your people?” I pointed at the group of stick figures. The boy
shook his head and mumbled something. I motioned for him to give me the stone
with which he was drawing. He handed it over cautiously and watched me as I
drew up a rough map of the city.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“We’re here”
I pointed to the middle right of the gridded square I had come up with, “this
is the river here” I pointed at the wavy line I had drawn underneath the
square, “and this is the beach” I made more lines with small houses on them
roughly where Port Melbourne should be. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">More of the
boys had crowded around me while I drew to get a better look of the map. One of
them pushed past the one I had been talking too and grabbed the stone out of my
hand. He traced a line from the river down away from the city, but stopped
before hitting the water of the sea and drew a new circle of water. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“They’re in
Albert Park” I said to myself and nodded to confirm that I had understood what
he had shown me. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“How many of
you?” I took the stone back and wrote the number nine, pointed at them and then
pointed at the stick figures and put a question mark next to them. A couple of
them began to argue amongst themselves before agreeing on a number, he took the
stone and scribbled out “700.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Fuck” I
swore. If there were seven hundred Portuguese refugees in Albert Park then they
would soon start to wonder into the city, just like these boys. If they were in
the city when the other warrior arrived and we began our cleansing then they
would all die. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As I looked
at all of their frightened faces I didn’t know how I felt about that. Certainly
not good. </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11901304444624308674noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5454789321169737514.post-25113092331995197652013-06-28T23:51:00.000+10:002013-07-05T17:13:47.365+10:00Evelyn Earth Part 33<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5009/5276430255_43d8814535_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5009/5276430255_43d8814535_z.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“It’s people like
him that we can’t rely on” Sebastian seethed, “I don’t even know if I can rely
on myself. We are all human after all. Our emotions could change what we
believe in in a split second” he spun around to face me “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">we</i> aren’t reliable Evelyn, how could She have trusted us with so
much power?” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Calm down” I
put a hand on his chest and a flicker of my power transferred to him. I felt
the fear and indecision that was broiling inside him. We weren’t much different
after all, not on the inside. We were both caught up in something so
tremendously huge that our tiny human minds couldn’t full comprehend everything
that was going on.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“I think we’ve
talked enough for today—too much actually. The other warrior will be here by
nightfall, all we have to do now is wait, wait and not worry about all of this.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">He nodded in
agreement, but his face was still creased with concern. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Travis,
Gerard and Izwan came into the clearing led by Sloan and Sebastian’s features
instantly resumed their previous hardness. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></div>
<a name='more'></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Alright lads”
he said and I smiled at the typical English expression.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Sloan says
something new has come up?” Travis mumbled up while rubbing the sleep from his
eyes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“We’ve made
contact with another fighter. Two actually” Sebastian answered.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“One is on
his, or her, way here. They should arrive when the sun sets, but the other sent
out what you could call a distress call” I added.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Distress
call?” Gerard repeated.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“We received
images of a lot of dead bodies and fire, the fighter was scared, but Evs here
thinks it might be a trap.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“I’m not
sure, but it seemed way too convenient. The plan is to stay put until the other
warrior arrives and then we’ll take it from there.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“I’m not even
going to ask how you two did, whatever it is that you did. As long as you’re
sure Snow then that’s all I need to know” Travis said sombrely. The others all
seemed to agree, even Sloan although I thought I could detect a trace of
annoyance emanating from him. I guessed that it had something to do with my
sudden inauguration into their group. It had been all well and good when
Sebastian was the only one he had to defer to, but now that I was here it made
him seem even more insignificant. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“What we do
until it get dark?” Izwan spoke up.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Whatever you
like boys. Just stay out of trouble and be here when the sun sets.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I took that
as a sign to disperse and began to walk back to the Asian grocery store. My
stomach was rumbling and I needed to fill it with something solid. It looked
like I wasn’t impervious to all human needs after all. I ducked through the
hole that Sebastian had created and began roaming the aisles. I grabbed a bag
of shrimp crackers, a huge bottle of jasmine green tea and what looked like dry
Goji berries, but I couldn’t be sure since all the writing was foreign to me. I
didn’t relish the idea of eating inside this dank store so I made my way back
outside. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Izwan was leaning
up against the wall and gave me a slight nod as I marched past him. The others
were nowhere in sight and I breathed a sigh of relief. I had been surrounded by
people continuously for days and I desperately craved alone time. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I walked for
a few minutes before I found what I was looking for; a relatively small
building with a flat roof. I placed my food haul carefully on the ground and
craned my neck backwards. I needed to get up onto that roof, but how? I could
knock down the adjacent building and use it as stepping blocks to get to the
top, but it could attract unwanted attention. We still had no idea if there
were scavengers still roaming the city streets and I did not feel like
disintegrating any human beings this morning.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I walked up
to the shopfront and placed my hand on the smooth wall. Closing my eyes I
concentrated a tiny amount of energy into my palm and felt the solid mass melt
away under my touch. I could do this quietly and effortlessly I realised.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I placed my
other palm on the wall and allowed my power to flow through me, slowly and
steadily. With no one around to distract me my dragon seemed much more pliable
and less volatile. He uncurled his long tail and stretched languidly through my
fingertips. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I opened my
eyes and frowned. The whole shop was gone. I placed my hands on my hips and
took a step backwards. The whole street was lined with similar shops and my
ebony tinged hands itched to obliterate each and every one of them, but I was
hungry dammit and I needed to conserve my energy for tonight’s meeting.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sighing I
stepped onto the soft dirt that had appeared from under the confines of the
concrete building and took another look around. By eliminating this shop I had
revealed a hidden access ladder that led to the roof of the shop behind it. I
quickly grabbed my food and began the awkward climb to the roof. Once I was at the
top I made my way to the front of the building and swung my legs over the edge.
I had a pretty decent view of the city and the sun was shining right onto the
spot I had picked. I popped open the shrimp cracker packet and dug in. If only
I was sitting atop a grassy mountain, with trees billowing behind me and birds
soaring overhead. I grimaced at the mental thought, which sounded like a badly
composed line of poetry and laughed out loud at my own ridiculousness.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">No matter how
much I wanted freedom and green grass I belonged here, amongst the mess that
man had created, where my power crackled within me waiting to cleanse
everything around it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Just as I was
scooping the last crumbs of the shrimp crackers from the packet and feeling
content a movement in the distance caught my attention and made my blood slow.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A group of
roughly ten men were making their way along the street below me. As quickly as
I could I scampered backwards, swinging my legs under me and landing flat on my
stomach. It didn’t look like they had spotted me and I cursed myself for not
seeing them sooner. They were practically under the shop I was sitting on top
of and as they moved past I caught a glimpse of what they were saying, for all
the good that it did me. They were speaking another language.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">One man
laughed loudly and pushed one of the others as he exclaimed something in what
sounded to me like Portuguese. The others replied in the same easy going tone
and continued ambling down the middle of the road. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I rolled onto
my back and listened harder. If I had far-sight then I should have abnormally
good hearing as well. I listened until they had turned a corner and jumped up.
I had to find Sebastian and fast, if this group of scavengers, if that’s what
they were, stumbled on Izwan or any of the others they would be in trouble. I
knew that I didn’t need to worry so much about his group of men, but something
of the old Evelyn still remained inside me and that something wanted to help
her friends.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11901304444624308674noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5454789321169737514.post-2429733633283835472013-06-21T16:33:00.000+10:002013-06-21T16:33:18.473+10:00Evelyn Earth Part 32<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-65FZT7CSQPQ/UWL7wb5azLI/AAAAAAAAD3E/CQhK4BD10-A/s320/Ancient+Egyptian+Creation+Story21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-65FZT7CSQPQ/UWL7wb5azLI/AAAAAAAAD3E/CQhK4BD10-A/s320/Ancient+Egyptian+Creation+Story21.jpg" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Why did you disconnect?”
Sebastian growled as he himself extracted his consciousness from the Earth’s
web. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“There’s
no point in standing around now playing Pictionary when the other soldier can
make his way to us and we can speak in person” I replied. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“You
can be a real piece of work sometimes. You bloody well know that we could have
continued searching for more warriors. We could have seen the full potential of
this glowing map She’s made for us.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Do
it yourself if you fucking want! You speak as if you’re so sure about
everything. Why do you think the second warrior tapped into our connection at
precisely the time when we were connected? And for only a split second for that
matter! They knew we were there somehow, and I for one can’t feel the web if I’m
not connected. What if it was a false cry for help?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“You
can’t know that. It could have just been a coincidence.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Why
does our Mother’s web glow Sebastian? Why does it fucking glow? What I saw in
the vision she sent us was silver, it was fucking silver and hard like ore
trapped within a rock” I exploded with irritation. He refused to analyze the
information that was in front of him. Maybe he did just see things clearer than
I did, he saw what he thought he was meant to see whereas I was bombarded with
contradictions and confusing flashes of facts. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I
watched his face as he worked through what I had just said. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></div>
<a name='more'></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> “If
what you’re saying is true then our communication system, which we have only
tried to use once for fucks sake, is a fake?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“It’s
not fake it’s still the same thing. We know that because we can access it. The
way it glows though, it makes me think of these angels. It looks like what their
light power might look like if it had tapped into the Mother’s. I know it sounds
ridiculous” I sighed, “but think of it as a hijacking or a phone tap.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I didn’t know
if what I was saying was right, but in my head Tetris pieces were falling into
place one by one. I always had an uncanny ability to remember things and
connect events together, which had given me an edge during my time studying
Classics. Right now it was giving me an edge on life, which I never thought
could have been possible since Classics majors all lived in a world of fantasy,
a world filled with myths and stories told by people long dead. In a sense our
world had morphed into one of these stories and all the creation epics I had pored
over during my research could now hold real tangible truths. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Have you
heard of Ra?” I asked my eyes alight with clarity.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Egyptian
god?” he answered confused.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Exactly, Ra
was the Sun god, worshipped Egyptians almost five thousand years ago. The sun
was recognised as a fearsome being, something to be idolised and revered, which
it was until the fall of the Egyptian Empire. One of the Kings idolised the Sun
so much that he created a new religion abolishing all other gods in the
pantheon and renaming Ra to Aten.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“What does
that have to do with us?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Don’t you
see Sebastian! The angels are like messengers of Ra, they come from the sun. We
on the other hand come from the earth. How can I explain this” I mumbled, “In one
version of Egyptian creation mythology everything came out of dark water called
Nun, the primordial mound was the first thing to emerge on top of which a tree
grew to allow a falcon to alight on it. The falcon symbolises Horus, who
through syncretism became known as Ra. So basically our power originates from
the primordial mound—our Mother, whilst the angel’s power comes from Ra—the falcon.
They are equally powerful entities; both have been worshipped by many different
civilisations and religions and it’s hard to say which came first or if one is
more powerful than the other. It’s just I never thought, before, that any of it
could actually be true.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Okay” he
said slowly. Too slowly to signify that he had actually understood anything I
said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“I don’t know
about all this” he waved his hands around, “but I had a similar thought a while
ago when I had a vision from the Mother. It was just a flash of men standing
around in a circle holding these staff or sticks or whatever and it made me
think of the Celts.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“That makes
sense since The Celts believed in an Earth Mother, they believed in her power
to give life and they worshipped her. That’s what the image must have been,
memories from when humans still revered Her” I nodded in understanding. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Do you think
that’s what she wants us to return to?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“That’s the
answer!” I shouted. I couldn’t help myself, the final Tetris block had just
fallen into place and everything suddenly became solid and clear. “We don’t need
to kill thousands of people if they agree to worship the Mother. Once we clear
all the urbanised places we can explain to everyone why a clean start was so
important. They will understand that they need to preserve the Earth and give homage
to the creator of...”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“If they don’t”
Sebastian interrupted me, “what if they don’t understand? What if right this
second the angels are convincing them to worship the Sun?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“I don’t know”
I said, deflated, “in that case the Mother’s cleansing could turn into a holy
war.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“If we take a
look at history, holy wars have raged on since, fuck, forever” he threw his
hands up above his head. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“But people
fought those wars. God or Yahweh or Allah had people imbued with faith to carry
out their message. We on the other hand carry our deities’ actual power in
ourselves.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Does that
make it better or worse? One jihadist could kill fifty infidels with a single
bomb, while we could wipe out thousands with a single sweep of darkness.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“I don’t know
about better or worse, but it would certainly make things quicker. In any case
if all the players of the game got wiped out there would be no one left to
pollute the Earth and we would have won by default” I shrugged.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Unless we
were all destroyed, then the remaining population would continue to build
structures that touched the sky, for religious reasons though—to be closer to
their Sun God.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Fuck” I
swore, “how did everything become so messed up.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Humans,
love. Without us there would have been peace on Earth since the beginning of
time until the end of time.” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“What are you
two gossiping about” Sloan’s voice startled us. He was standing at the edge of
our cleared circle of dirt. He looked like a ragged soldier with his dark grey
cargo pants and black singlet, which was much too long for him and bunched up
around his hips. He had a bottle of milk tea in his hand and took a swig of it
as if it were beer. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Wake up the
others, everyone needs to hear this” Sebastian said. His tone had changed from
teasing and melodic to harsh and drill-like. Sloan took another swig from the
plastic bottle, but didn’t make a move to do as he was told. There was a power
dis-balance here and all three of us could feel it. Before Sebastian was forced
to repeat himself with more force and possibly a tinge of darkness Sloan threw
the now empty bottle onto the dirt between us and walked away. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sebastian
turned around and I could see that his fists were clenched. I still had some
power built up in my fingertips so I flicked it at the plastic bottle and
watched as it fizzled into oblivion. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11901304444624308674noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5454789321169737514.post-23841230237450843412013-06-14T21:22:00.000+10:002013-06-14T21:22:42.392+10:00Evelyn Earth Part 31<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://free-wallpapers.info/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/Earth-in-space.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://free-wallpapers.info/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/Earth-in-space.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Wait, I have
one more thing I wanted to ask you” he looked at me intently, “when you think
of killing thousands of people do you feel as if it’s the right thing to do?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“When
I’m in tune with the Mother I think my own beliefs get hijacked by her. I feel
like I should do anything, anything at all for her benefit and that includes
killing.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“But
when you are just you, just Evelyn…”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“I
don’t know” I shook my head from side to side, “when I think about my friends,
your friends, people I actually know I don’t want to kill them, but what
happened with Marla that was just wrong, but here I am the next day and I can
already feel the memory of her fading.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“It’s
the same with me. I can’t help but want to protect my friends and if I had
family I think it would be a completely different story.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“What
do you mean?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Are
you close with your parents? Brothers? Sisters?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“No.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Maybe
that’s why we were chosen by the Mother, because we had no real familial
connections of our own. No real long lasting friendships.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span></div>
<a name='more'></a><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> “I
never thought of it like that” I murmured. It was true though, if I had amazing
connections with other people I would be more hesitant in destroying anything
even associated with them—their hometown for example, let alone killing them.
If my birth mother loved me more would I be in an angel camp right now being
raped by dirty men like Izwan’s sister? I shuddered at the thought. Being alone
had turned out to be the best thing that could have happened to me because it
led me to become an Earth warrior.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“What
are you thinking about?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Nothing,
come on we have to clear a patch of land if we want to have a proper connection
with the Mother.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I
reached towards my darkness and caressed it gently out of its slumber. At least
I thought I was being gentle, but the black dragon reared its head and tried to
push itself out of my body. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Whoa”
I stumbled, clutching at my stomach.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“What’s
wrong?” Sebastian took a step towards me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Wait”
I gasped, holding out my hand to stop him. If he touched me right now I knew
that the darkness would react to his and send both of us into another power
tail-spin, “I’m still getting used to all this new energy.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Take
your time then” he stepped back, “I’ll clear the area.” His eyes clouded over
before he even finished his sentence and his dark miasma seemed to crawl out of
his pores. With a slight circular motion of his hands he had a wide section of
the footpath and road ahead of us cloaked in the darkness. Slowly bits of concrete
and bitumen began to pop inaudibly. They dislodged themselves from the Earth
and popped into oblivion right before my eyes and my heart was glad. I knew
that I would be sure to burst with happiness when I had levelled this whole
city. For that though we needed to find the others. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>While
Sebastian was finishing off the area I slowly crept up to my dragon and coaxed
him out of the pit of my stomach. It helped to visualise the power as an animal
because it allowed me to act like a ring master. After a few more hits and
misses that left me winded and the dragon slammed back into its cage I was
finally able to draw out enough power without it knocking my self-control out
of the park. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Ready?”
he asked, with one arched eyebrow. I could tell that he had enjoyed watching me
struggle. No matter how much our Mother wanted all of her warriors to get along
now, she had initially programmed us with a competitive streak that reared its
ugly head every once in a while. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I
kicked off my dirty Nikes and pulled off my even dirtier socks so that I could
get a better connection with the Earth. Sebastian did the same and we stepped onto
the cleared patch of land. I closed my eyes and tried to call up the Mother’s
web. I didn’t have to try very hard it was right before me, just under the
surface. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Do
you see it?” I whispered to Sebastian.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“It’s
gigantic” he answered awestruck. We were looking at the whole world, laid out
to us in the guise of an intricate web of pulsating light. It would have been
less of a shock if it weren’t constantly moving. It felt like the beginning of
a Star Wars movie with the words constantly rushing away from you into the
abyss. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Can
you pull back?” Sebastian asked nervously, “I feel like I’m going to barf if I
keep looking at it like this.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“I’ll
try.” I recalled an image I had seen once of the Earth from space. It had hung suspended
in nothingness, this perfectly round blue and white ball. I took this image and
melded it with the ever-changing web that lay before me. The two elements came
together seamlessly to form a floating orb made up of spidery white lines. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Picture
a globe Sebastian, mould it together with the web and look at it as if you were
in space, it will still move, but it will spin slowly.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>A
few moments passed before I heard his reply of “got it.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“What
do you see?” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“I
see loads of black dots” he laughed, “I just have no bloody idea where they
are, or where we are for that matter.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“This
is stupid, pull out.” I released my connection and took a deep breathe.
Suddenly I could feel the warmth of the sun and the cool breeze. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“You’re
a bit impatient aren’t you love” he growled. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Let’s
connect together, that way we can save time and locate the others quicker.
Agreed?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Agreed…captain”
he saluted me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Just
give me your hand” I said impatiently.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Oh
I can do better than that” he grinned before darting behind me and putting his
arms around my waist. His whole body pressed up against mine and I could feel
his breath on my neck.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Come
on then, let’s start” he breathed out. My power stirred deep within me and I
barely held it in check. My breathing came out rapidly and all I could focus on
was that I could feel his crotch pushed up against my ass. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“I
can’t concentrate like this” I managed to choke out. He let me go instantly and
stepped up beside me. Instead of feeling relief I felt rejected. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Fine”
he said sharply before grabbing my hand and forcing me into the connection with
the web. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>We
dove into the image together and piece by piece sorted out the puzzle. The area
we were currently in shone brightly with spidery lines because it was
urbanised. We stood out like two dark splodges, side by side. Sydney to the North
shone just as brightly as the other major cities. Where there was nothing,
there was nature. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I
zoned in on my former residence and a feeling of pride gripped me. In the
middle of a sea of webbing there was a clear spot. Clear and new and created by
me. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>We
scanned the area surrounding us and stumbled upon another dark splodge. It was
surprisingly close by.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Where
are they?” Sebastian asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Looks
somewhere close to Epping” I guessed. Before we could make any more assumptions
the other warrior’s darkness flared up. It sent a shockwave throughout the web and
we could feel his or her power as if it were brushing up against us. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Images
of old houses and barren fields swam up in our consciousness. Our minds responded
with snapshots of the partially cleared street we were on, the ruined city and
unintentionally the image of Marla’s dismembered body. The foreign power surged
at that last picture and we received a clear message; “Stay. Coming. Nightfall.”
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>As
we were about to disconnect another shock of darkness slammed into us. This was
much more frantic and less calculated than the first. Images of dead bodies,
burning woods and intense flashes of white light assaulted us. I sent out
probing thoughts, worry gripped me. Sebastian’s darkness tried to blanket the
frantic warriors mind, but it was gone just as quickly as it had arrived.<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span> The presence of the first
soldier still lingered. It also sent out worried vibes along with images of a
vast corn field. This field was there one second and gone the next, replaced by
one of the angel’s flocks of humans. The grain around their landing was seared
by their light and licks of flame leaped out at us. In response Sebastian
pictured his encounter with the angels and I witnessed their ‘beaming’ ability
first hand. All three of us remained silent and seething. The fourth warrior
was in danger and it looked like we were going to test Sebastian’s theory
sooner rather than later. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Can darkness
really swallow the light?” I said in my mind before ejecting myself from the
web. </span><o:p></o:p></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11901304444624308674noreply@blogger.com0