The Last Green Valley: A Novel Novels & Stories

The Forty-Eighth’s eyes widen. Because she finally understands. She doesn’t have four pieces. We have forty-three. And love, stories, and a valley that breathes with us? That’s the forty-fourth. The end begins now. Monday, March 13, 2028 – 6:11 a.m. The valley becomes a crucible. Steam turns to glass. Glass turns to lightning. Lightning turns to blood. The Forty-Eighth tries to run (she actually tries to dissolve back into the steam).

"You like that don't you? See? We weren't that bad." He didn't say a word, just stood up and started walking. He didn't retaliate but I saw that small smile as he stride away. ________ The green meadows, dancing of the leaves with the rythmm of the breeze filled my heart with calmness. This could be a picture of a perfect village. Who would have thought that this was indeed a refuge. Yes, everyone here were striving to survive, to continue to exist. They were the last of their kind. And maybe, there were some out there, hiding, afraid to get involve with the war that's going on.

The moment Pastor Alozie’s black leather bound Holy Bible gently shut on his thigh, her Utmost Prosperity’s eyes slowly opened. She knew she was far away from her ‘territory.’ She could sense it. Her weak eyes were able to catch the sight of golden vases and jars inches away from her head, while the rest of her body lay motionless. She lay on a white surface and discarded the thought of being in heaven. Apart from the two feet high surface which she was laid upon, and the white table upon which the golden jars and vases stood, there was nothing else in the space around her. The entire place was sparkling white, while her naked body was clearly out of place with her new surroundings.

Brenda could barely breathe through her sobs during the prayers, and she kneeled before the gravestone, apologizing profusely. Just then, I shot the person conducting the prayers a look. It was time for us to put on a good show. As planned, the person shuddered. He acted like he sensed something supernatural and said that Timmy had one final wish. Brenda believed him and nodded vigorously, promising to fulfill it, no matter what it was. The person said, "'I want to cut ties with you for good. I don't want to have anything to do with you anymore! I don't want to see you, and I hate you, Mom!'"

I yelled her name, turning to face her. My fingers crawled into my palm, nails digging deeper into my flesh, but I pacified my heart, reminding myself that the Green Valley was built on the malicious energy from the rogues that died back then in the war. If this argument continued, the Valley would feed on our malice, and that would awaken the curse in me. “There is more to this… Pearl… Leave.” Silence settled into the air, and for some seconds she glared at me with eyes that could pierce through steel.