Chapter: EpilogueSeveral Months LaterIt's strange how people react after disaster. You see the best of people and the worst. Thankfully, it's mostly been the former. Things are being repaired, getting back to normal with the help of big companies and small. Not to mention the dedicated do-it-yourself people.Scientists have been wracking their brains to find the cause of such a global phenomenon. The best they have come up with so far is an imbalance in the eco-system and perhaps in the space around. And, of course, religious nut-jobs have been having a field day preaching about how sin and immorality is the cause. They haven't pinpointed a particular sin this time, they can't, it's too wide. So, the whole world has been tarnished. Except for themselves of course.Funny. They're actually closer than the scientists when it comes down to it. Except that it isn't the doing of the God who watches now.Mysteries come out daily. Strange creatures spotted in the sea, too rapid for anyone to get hold of, a
Last Updated: 2022-05-18
Chapter: Chapter Sixty-SevenThe dogs ran rampant through the living dead. Limbs flew, congealed blood oozed and the smell of rotting flesh permeated the air even more.Those who tried to fight back, biting and clawing were soon defeated, their blackened teeth unable to even scratch the thick skin.Blood and foam frothed at the mouths, neither willing to allow the rancid meat to drop down their gullets. They still remembered the luscious fresh meat that had been given in their best. Tender and prepared with care. What they caught now, on those rare occasions they needed to feed, was not a patch on it.And these beings were not fit for rats.They ignored the humans, save for knocking some over. None seemed injured, even if they hit the concrete hard enough to break a bone. They simply sat up, or lay there. Dazed and in a world of their own. With no voices ringing in their heads, their addled minds forged on to return to normal.They had long since given up on trying to understand anything.When they finished here,
Last Updated: 2022-05-17
Chapter: Chapter Sixty-SixYou have changed me by your love.Thus say I in my heart,In my soul, at my prayers:"I lack my commander tonight,I am as one dwelling in a tomb."Be you but in health and strength,Then the nearness of your countenanceSheds delight, by reason of your well-being,Over a heart, which seeks you with longing.Time felt as if it were slowing down as Isaac made his way over the debris and towards where the horrors had occurred. Everything frozen in eerie stillness under the decrepit skyline.Dust puffed up with each step he took, his heart beating harder as the shell of the main room opened up to greet him.Immediately he saw Atum, shifting from one foot to another as if he had a cramp he couldn't release. The look in the older God's eyes immediately heightened his anxiety and he hastened forward, only to be stopped when Atum lifted his hand.What is written on the brow would inevitably be seen by the eye and his silence said more than his words."Do not allow yourself to weaken. Your st
Last Updated: 2022-05-14
Chapter: Chapter Sixty-FiveThe door shook with the force of the crowd outside, throwing themselves against it blindly. Three had moved to the window and already, their palms were bleeding as the glass cracked and pierced their skin, staining the shards red. Mr Montford and Ash hauled a small book case across the room. The carpet and their haste making it all the more difficult. If there was something for it to snag on or get caught on, then it did. Penalty, perhaps, for dumping its contents into an unsightly pile as if they were logs for the fire. "Is there an attic?" Marie called as she leaned against the sideboard they'd positioned at the door. The drawers already flung from their cubby with the force from outside. "A basement is no good, we'd be completely trapped. But an attic...that seems safer." "I didn't see," Mr Montford answered, sweat pouring from his brow and impeding his grip. "I doubt it. I remember these houses being built. People exchanged attics for garages, easier to access." "And they didn
Last Updated: 2022-05-12
Chapter: Chapter Sixty-FourShu beckoned the mortals down one of the alleyways that cut through the buildings to the once bustling streets. People had emerged, loitering hopelessly about the abandoned cars, their eyes glazed and their ears deaf to anything but the words of an unseen being."I cannot guide you to safety," Shu said, his voice full of remorse. "I must find Atum. This battle will ricochet about the world, and you humans do enough damage without the added help. Please," he looked at the four imploring. "These humans are bedevilled. If you can avoid harming them, I would be grateful.""We won't," Isaac spoke up, still struggling with the tight ropes about him. Try and they might, the bonds refused to give. "But you must tell Atum that Am-Heh is not behind all of this. There has to be mercy in him." Tears stung his eyes. Glistening droplets he swiftly blinked back. His voice becoming soft. "I don't want to lose him."Shu gazed at him. Lost for words. No reassurance could be uttered, he couldn't read At
Last Updated: 2022-05-08
Chapter: Chapter Sixty-ThreeA shrill shriek shattered the atmosphere as Babi tore towards Am-Heh, the sword raised high. It swung down, shattering through the arm of the reaching demon.One bite from the blade meant agony. And the wail that left the putrid mouth told of it.The eyes glazed with bubbling anger, and it swung, showering the area in burning blood. All the while trying to rise further, stopped only by the undigested meal in its stomach.Mr Montford grimaced as the warm blood descended, trickling in thick droplets like the vilest of rain. It wouldn't stop him. One dig he was on, many moons ago, never stopped even when they hit a sewage pipe.Although it delayed them when trying to clean. And when the local authorities got involved to remedy it.He slipped on the gore, trying his best to avoid it as he made his way over to where Ash indicated. As he neared, the air seemed to become thicker, as if he was walking through tar or against a high wind.His breath became harsh as the pressure became stronger.
Last Updated: 2022-05-03
Chapter: Chapter NineteenNoelle had seldom had any reason to look at the reviews in the papers. He had never been mentioned unless one counted the mentions of the corps de ballet.Today, he was eager to see the reviews, despite the dampness in the grey, dreary air leaving ink stains over his pale fingers....and a new star has emerged. Flying like a falcon in the blaze of the sun. Noelle Cellier depicts Horus with a grandeur that should be beyond his young years.I, and those around me, could not draw our eyes away; even blinking was painful, as we did not want to miss even a twitch of his fingers. The music was heavenly. A composition of a true master, alas, an unknown who should be lauded for his talents.Noelle felt as if he was floating on air. The review complimented Alexandre, too, but its focus had been on him. For the first time, he felt appreciated. Felt as if he could reach the giddy heights he sought.It was easy to ignore the rain that day. It just made the first sip of morning coffee sweeter, an
Last Updated: 2025-07-06
Chapter: Chapter EighteenNoelle lost himself in the music, becoming one with it. He imagined the notes swirling about him, supporting his leaps limbs like invisible hands.He felt their warmth and Julian's words whispering in his ears, giving him the encouragement he otherwise lacked.Horus took shape. A bold, vibrant God, but one that hinted at a hidden fragileness. A God whose heart was strong and mighty but not invincible. 'Please,' he thought as he flew in a perfect jump. 'Please let Julian be watching. This is, for him, a homage to the music. He deserves more recognition, but I know he won't take it. It took courage to leave this composition out to be discovered. I will be his vessel; my glory will be his!'He barely heard the rapturous applause as he settled into his final pose, even though it echoed loud enough to be heard in the streets.Alexandre gritted his teeth as he watched from the wings. The bitterness he felt wasn't due to his acting skills. Noelle was showing hidden talents he hadn't recogn
Last Updated: 2025-03-07
Chapter: Chapter SeventeenAlexandre was a seasoned professional, but his nerves bored into his gut like heated needles. It was always the same on opening night. Visions of what could go wrong, last-minute hitches, and a plethora of irksome hiccups danced along with the music.'Think of it like a rehearsal,' he thought, stretching his leg elegantly as he peered into the darkness. 'An invisible audience. Perhaps audiences from the past that still enjoy the theatre." He smiled at the image. 'That would be what I would do, or scare those people I never liked.' Fear was strange; it was such a broad spectrum of emotions. Was it just brought on by mystery or the fear of what might lurk in the shadows? These were questions he sometimes asked when he was in a musing mood.But he hadn't any time to think about that. The conductor was moving on, and the heavy curtain began to lift to reveal the ancient sands of Egypt, golden and glorious with Godly splendour. But in the background, the shadows lurked, indicating a grim
Last Updated: 2025-01-18
Chapter: Chapter SixteenA week slipped by in what felt like seconds.Noelle was engulfed in the whirl of rehearsals and the standard fraught preparations. Despite the rush, there was a palpable dedication and passion in every meticulous detail, a testament to their unwavering commitment to the success of the performances.Each evening, he meant to seek Julian, to have him set his mind at rest, but exhaustion clawed at every inch of his body, and the only place he sought was his bed. His last thought was always on the enigmatic musician, and he hoped he was watching or, at the very least, thinking of him. For Julian, each night passed in a long and uncomfortable fashion. He never slept well, in any case, surviving on adrenaline and taking naps as and when. The longest he had ever slept was just over an hour before waking and having to settle again. It was an issue he'd grappled with since childhood, a constant struggle that often left him restless and anxious. It meant he was often about before the perfor
Last Updated: 2024-10-30
Chapter: Chapter Fifteen"Wine?"Julian pulled a bottle from near his bedding. It was an old-fashioned container, not the original. Taking it from the bar would be unthinkable, so he refilled a quarter when he could. It was tiny enough that it went unnoticed, and it was once in a blue moon. Julian rarely imbibed, fearing his skill on the violin and sobriety would be sapped. This rare indulgence surprised even himself, especially since his mother had always condemned drink.It was a hypocritical criticism. He'd seen the gin in her room, starkly contrasting her public disapproval."What kind is it?" Noelle asked and stepped closer. "I don't wish to be picky, but I find white somewhat bitter.""Claret. It's milder.""Very well."Julian poured with the skill of a footman, his hand steady and the bloody red fluid not even kissing the inner sides."Thank you," Noelle smiled when Julian handed him the glass, ignoring the slight crack etched like a spindly lightning bolt at the rim. "To your health and upcoming mag
Last Updated: 2024-08-19
Chapter: Chapter FourteenNoelle had never been into the bowels of the opera house. Intrigue surged within him as he gazed around the areas that were always hidden from sight and home only to the spiders and rats. And the inspiration for many of the eerie stories passed between the performers.Below the pomp and splendour of the velvet and chandeliers lay the dusty graveyard of forgotten scenery and costumes that had become food for moths and mice. One could imagine lost spirits lingering near their old costumes and lamenting their demise.All around him, the air was thick with dust and an unpleasant musty odour, the musk of many years of disregard. Even the spiders had given up, curled up, crisp and dehydrated in webs that had caught nothing but dirt and debris.As he descended the stairs, the wood creaking in his wake, Noelle hesitated and felt his heart begin to beat painfully in his throat."Are you certain this is the right way?" He asked stupidly, earning a wry smile from Julian."Of course. Do you reall
Last Updated: 2024-05-25
Chapter: Chapter Seventy ThreeThomas shook as he entered the cabin. A mocking voice followed him, forcing unwanted images into his mind. They played like a flip show before him, making his head ache.'He hates rats, animals and humans! Remember how he burned Allen's tongue out? Remember the keel hauling when Morris revealed something to the King's Navy?'The screams shattered his nerves, rebounding in his skull. He saw the blood, flowing in torrents from the lacerated skin, torn to shreds by the barnacles on the hull.He heard the muffled agony when the burning dagger sawed through the pink flesh, severing Allen's tongue from his mouth.Later, a gull took it, dropping it in disgust into the still sea.Blood stained the water, adding the soul of a ruby to what looked like melted sapphire.Allen had lived. Morris had languished, dying in a seizure two days later. And his eyes...they stared with such hate towards the sky, but the anger hadn't been directed at God.Not anymore. It was meant for a man who thought he r
Last Updated: 2025-08-21
Chapter: Chapter Seventy-Two The sea always seemed more sinister when the waves barely moved. No breeze was permeating the air, and an oppressive humidity engulfed the ship.Thomas felt beads of sweat tickling his forehead, trickling down his cheeks and making his collar uncomfortably damp.He set his mop aside, pulling for the umpteenth time at the pesky material. Some of the older men discarded their ragged shirts, wandering about with leathery, scarred skin and faded tattoos on display for all to see. Thomas, despite his paler skin being free from marks save for a small scar across his back, refused to do that. It just seemed unseemly. Besides, he knew they'd taunt him.Robinson, a middle-aged, balding man with breasts like a woman, would be the worst. The man was an utter slob and made no effort to curb his bad habits, using that zeal to point out everything that was 'wrong' or different about others.Right now, he was snoring in the shade, drool gathering on his cracked lips and a discarded bottle rolling
Last Updated: 2025-07-31
Chapter: Chapter Seventy-OneThe crew might have despised the dawn. Their hearts resented the bloody pink stain that wept through the blackness and stifled the stars. The ruby sheen of the sun was a curse, drawing the freedom of the moon away from them.For one woman, alone on a distant shore, it was a blessing.Her haggard form was a stark contrast to the youth in her eyes, but in those depths was a knowledge that all respected.Especially Nathaniel and Lloyd.She sensed a disturbance, however far away it was. She had sent part of her soul with Nathaniel, and the spirit that dwelt in the amulet reflected an aura to her.'They are in trouble. The discontent is rising, and soon it will hit them like a Leviathan from the depths. The dead are restless, especially those who have been recently wronged.' She rocked on her bare heels, unable to feel the sharp shingle that bore into her feet. 'I have to help, even though I swore it was up to him. His heart has changed since then, and that warmth is why my resolve has mel
Last Updated: 2025-06-29
Chapter: Chapter SeventyAbraham was one of the only men on board who could read with some eloquence. His Bible was worn out from his constant perusal, and the old prayer book he'd once had was in pieces.That night, what was required was not his reading skills but his openness to the darker forces of human nature. "I was thinking," he said when the handful of men had assembled, perching like ungainly beasts on their bunks or sitting stiffly on the floor. "I think we need to ask someone who's done this before. I've read enough in the Bible to distrust demons."The soft candlelight illuminated the severity in his eyes, the long lines seeming to be etched deeper beneath them, and looked like ragged tracks dug into the dark circles."Blake's still here. We just need to see him. His errors will be the key to our success.""How'd know it's him?" One of the men frowned uneasily. "I've seen a few things around 'ere that ain't been what they seem. And we've tried before.""We chance it. And I ain't thinking of doing
Last Updated: 2025-05-31
Chapter: Chapter Sixty-NineLloyd lost himself in Nathaniel's arms for several hours and learned that intimacy didn't have to be physical to kindle pleasure.Just lying in his embrace, feeling the strength and subdued fondness that flowed from him was as thrilling as their flesh becoming as one.And it gave them a chance to talk. For a while, Lloyd avoided the topic of the curse and Nathaniel's past, focusing on putting the world to rights and complaining about the mundane life he'd left behind.Nathaniel listened patiently, regardless of whether it interested him or not. He mentioned that he wasn't enamoured with the modern world and that his own time may not have been better; it seemed easier without the constant bother of what people called progress."I don't understand the need for all these gadgets," he said bluntly. "It seems the art of writing has vanished with many other skills. You'll regret it one day. Human skills are meant to last; these metal things ain't. And when they fail, you'll be at a loss."
Last Updated: 2025-04-29
Chapter: Chapter Sixty-EightThe power of the demon is harnessed to my very soul. I feel it is gnawing on whatever purity resided there. With each passing day, the shadows spread, but the gleam of gold keeps them at bay. I know of hidden treasure beyond the wildest dreams of other men; all the spoils are within my grasp.The crew has been silent, but I see their greed and desire grow. Their blood is intertwined with mine, and my victory is theirs.Yet, behind this, I sense some are not happy. Their souls were pledged without consent, but the riches were too tempting to refuse. They will reap the benefits, and whatever blood must flow will do so in rivers. We were bound for Hell regardless of this bargain, but the path there will be paved with gold. They should be grateful. If not, their blood can run in rivers. Whatever power the demon has, I shall match. Have I not caused the King's Navy to tremble and villages to quake as though the earth itself shifts beneath their feet?With such might behind me, I will rule
Last Updated: 2025-03-30
Chapter: Chapter Six“You can pay the rest on delivery.”The elderly owner counted the notes before slipping them into the till, his fat fingers stiff with arthritis yet still oddly nimble. He’d not let muscle aches and cramps interrupt his work and likely never would.“I have a card machine, although it does incur a small charge. Damn banks.”“It’ll probably be cash,” I said, stepping aside to allow him to pass. “Dad hates paying more for using or getting out his own money.”“Bloody right,” the man grumbled, beckoning Sarah from the backroom. “Bloody banks. They earn a shedload and expect more.”He chuntered on as Sarah led me away so she could write down the product numbers.“He can talk for England,” she said with a wide smile. “But he’s a great boss, even if he can be a jerk sometimes.”“Can’t they all?”The comment earned me a smile. I liked her, I’m not going to lie. She was one of the first girls I’d felt comfortable around, nothing romantic but pleasant. I felt she would listen without too much ju
Last Updated: 2025-05-20
Chapter: Chapter FiveI didn’t tell my parents what had happened. They’d only think I was suffering delayed effects from the drugs or that I’d flipped in some other way.In truth, I found it hard to believe myself. But deep down, I knew what I’d seen. I knew that was Matthew, and for the first time since childhood, I found myself praying—praying that he would break the chains that held him here.After all, it wasn’t meant to turn out like that. It had been a stupid, albeit fatal, error.My parents were deep in conversation about the decorating, only giving me enough attention to hear the prices and decide to order from there. I wished I could be that oblivious, but my mind was racing.“...heavy-duty paint ought to help cover the damp stains upstairs.” I heard my father say. “It’s almost as if it’s seeped up, not down. I swear it wasn’t there when we viewed the place.”“Have a plumber look,” my mother called, lifting her voice to be heard as she switched the kettle on. “It’s got an odd colouring to it. I do
Last Updated: 2025-05-20
Chapter: Chapter FourI couldn’t avoid the old bridge on my way back. Typically, workmen were making so-called improvements on the street, diverting traffic and pedestrians. I often wondered how much work got done. The times I saw them, all they were doing was chatting like washerwomen or going over the plans. I seldom saw actual work. The work, or lack thereof, was the furthest thing from my mind as the bridge loomed dark and severe before me.The tunnel looked endless as the gloom consumed the light, and the sound turned to pitiful echoes.The memory of Matthew and that fateful day surged forward and made my head throb with its aggression. I could almost feel the bile return, and my muscles twitch and contort again. ‘Be brave.’The voice returned to me, singing like the seraphim in my ears. It was so clear I turned to look to see where it had come from.But there was no one, only the leaves dancing in the breeze from the wilting trees.Nothing but weeds ever grew here, no matter how hard people tried.
Last Updated: 2024-12-26
Chapter: Chapter ThreeI can’t describe how I felt when I stepped into the house. The familiar smells, sights, and comforts were like manna from heaven after the sterile hospital. I knew such relief would be slightly short-lived since we would be moving, but heck, I was damned well going to enjoy it!The next few months passed without much to talk about. I saw odd shadows now and again—shadows that had no business being there—but I didn’t think much of it. Three weeks after my discharge, my parents took me to the new house for the first time. It was in a quieter neighbourhood, set back from the road and close to the farmland spanning green and gold in the near distance.It was a quaint building and older than the other homes, most of which had been built for social housing, so the red brick exterior and arched windows stood out.The garden was the most impressive part, at least from the outside. It was a haven for wildlife with roving roses and bushes speckled with wildflowers that poked through the leav
Last Updated: 2024-12-25
Chapter: Chapter TwoI awoke to the glare of artificial light and the rhythmic beep of a heart monitor. A tube connected the back of my hand to a drip, the bag half empty of fluid.A stiff hospital gown had replaced my clothes; worse, my underwear was gone. No doubt, because I was unable to move to the restroom. But despite everything, that was the first thing that bothered me.Then I felt the warm hand clasping my own and the tears dripping onto my skin.My mother was sobbing silently, her eyes full of relief. After holding back her sorrow, her delight at seeing me wake up had overwhelmed her, and her heart released her emotions. My father was sitting by her side. He was the more stoic type. But I could tell from the redness, half hidden by his glasses, that he hadn’t been without tears himself. Guilt flooded over me, and if I hadn’t been so tired, I would have been crying, too.“You bloody idiot.” My father spoke first, the reprimand dulled by the happiness he clearly felt. He was holding back a smile.
Last Updated: 2024-12-25
Chapter: Chapter OneThe day my friend died.The memory is clear yet also hazy. I remember sitting near the old railway bridge, breathing the toxic combination of mould and whatever substance he was smoking.Matthew wasn’t much older than me, but he had a world of experiences I could never have imagined.We both admitted these experiences wouldn’t scratch the surface of those we would have had in the city on the mainland, but they were still thrilling. Ventor was beautiful, with rolling, steep streets leading to the beaches and a virile fishing spot. We were admired for the fresh fish and seafood, and understandably. There’s nothing better than fish that has just been caught; there’s a flavour that frozen food can’t match.Couple with homegrown vegetables…it makes my mouth water just thinking about it. But as a youth, you don’t appreciate how lucky you are. The grass is always greener, or should I say the sea is always bluer.He had been a clean-cut and polite boy in public. His brown hair was impeccably
Last Updated: 2024-12-25
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