Origin 3z6o57

Origin

Yvette Araujo

Copyright © 2013 by Yvette Araujo.

Library of Congress Control Number: 2013917096 ISBN: Hardcover 978-1-4931-0329-4 Softcover 978-1-4931-0328-7 Ebook 978-1-4931-0330-0

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Rev. date: 10/24/2013

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CONTENTS

Dedication

Prologue

The Fall

1

Eating Crow

2

Faith

3

Back In Black

4

Old Haunts

5

The Beginning Of The End

6

Voices

7

The Purge

8

Civility

9

Allies

10

Unity

11

Sacrifice

12

Control

13

Regret

14

Changling

Epilogue

Tomee’s Torment

DEDICATION

To a Knight…

PROLOGUE

THE FALL

It began in the First World where He in His dominion created the Angels. These entities were very powerful; possessing supernatural energies and penetrating physical beauty. Eight of these angels were a collective group that banded together and enjoyed their reign throughout His Kingdom. They wanted for nothing for they understood that they were His perfect creations. Being His creations, they possessed gifts of clairvoyance, telepathy, telekinesis and shapeshifting amongst others. The band of eight angels were: Morningstar, Gotian, Celon, Kozin, Petra, Zane, Tomee and Pazul. They were creatures created without navels, without conscience, gender or free will. They were translucent in appearance with wing spans as great as the range of the mountains. These entities were strong and all was well within the Kingdom. One day, as humans would understand to be a day measured in time, Morningstar approached Him and asked if he could be at His side in the dominion. After all, he, Morningstar, was the most beautiful of all the angels. Morningstar’s request was not looked upon favorably and greatly displeased Him. A thousand years ed and during these years the impatience, arrogance and anger within Morningstar grew with intensity. Morningstar appealed to the others to band together before Him and protest the rejection of his request. The others were cautious and feared his power, vanity and plot to create an alternate dominion. Morningstar again pleaded with Him and was denied the position to share in the rule of the great dominion. Morningstar was warned of plotting to go against this decision and command. This made Morningstar more

determined to create his own kingdom. The seven angels were in the shadows listening to the argument between Him and Morningstar. The seven later met with Morningstar to try to convince him that his ideas were fearful and would cause great disturbance if he continued his plight. Morningstar nodded as though in favor with the angels’ advice but he had plans of his own. First Morningstar tried to enlist Gotian, an angel of higher station in the kingdom. He tried to appeal to Gotian’s strength and beauty, telling him that together they could rule this dominion and have all power. Gotian became enraged and began to battle with Morningstar. Dark thunder booms could be heard throughout the spheres. Morningstar then went to Pazul, Kozin and Celon and asked them to him in his defection from the Dominion. Tomee’ overheard Morningstar’s campaign and told Him, of Morningstar’s plans. A large rippling was heard throughout the universe as the ears of He burned with rage. Morningstar and Zane were entwined physically and discussing Morningstar’s plans and how they could rule the spheres together. As they were discussing their plans, a hostile entity entered and Morningstar and Zane were torn apart. Zane watched as Morningstar’s beauty transformed into The Red Beast. Eyes that once glowed with brilliance, turned black and hollow and devoid of the light. Morningstar disappeared and was immediately delivered on his knees before Him. Morningstar tried to stand but could not rise. In a language only known to the angels, Morningstar was told that the name Morningstar would never be spoken again, and would be forgotten by all. Morningstar, once an angel of amazing beauty, became a stone figure that fell to ash. The ash was cast down from the spheres. The name given to Morningstar thereafter was Lucifer the Unclean. Twelve gates arose and each was made of precious elements. Six Guardians of the Twelve Gates were assigned to protect these gates, and the First World was destroyed.

1

Eating Crow

The huge, mutated, winged dragon flies above the rubble of the church and begins chasing after Aaron, Katherine, Galen, Luke, Roberto and Sydney. They look back and run down the street. Katherine is frantic. She yells at Aaron, “What are we going to do!” “How the hell should I know?” Galen looks at Aaron and snorts, “Some leader you are turning out to be!” Sydney, now enraged, addresses the group, “Think of something! I feel like a sitting duck. We are all crazy if we think that we’re not up against something supernatural.” Luke, now visibly irritated, “Something has to be done immediately. First things first; get your weapons and let’s kill this thing!” Their weapons appear. The dragon flaps his wings and the wind created, forces the five into the rubble. They tumble, almost weightlessly; smashing into cars, building and trees. Sydney grasps at a tree as she is thrown by the wind and shapeshifts into a jaguar. The dragon swoops down toward Sydney as she digs claws into the earth for stability. The wind comes rushing in and Galen, standing behind Sydney, raises his hands and concentrates; yet it has no effect on the dragon. Its power and strength are strong. When the dragon almost reaches Sydney, she springs up and claws it,

grabbing a wing in her mouth, tearing at it. The dragon attacks the jaguar with its other wing. The jaguar tumbles, falling, and Sydney shapeshifts back to human form. Luke shoots his arrows and hits the dragon. The dragon, wounded, becomes sluggish and unstable. Aaron runs up onto a utility box and leaps into the air, attempting to jump onto the dragon’s back. Galen sees that Aaron will not make the jump and raises his hands to lift Aaron onto the dragon’s back. Aaron, riding the dragon, stabs it repeatedly with his sword. “What now?” The dragon flies up through a tree and Aaron is knocked off by a branch and crashes to the ground. The huge dragon swoops down to get its prey. Roberto throws a stream of fire at the dragon and it catches on fire. Galen and Katherine run and stand in front of the dragon, waving their arms to distract it. Galen, yelling brazenly, “Hey Dragon ass! Did you see what we did to that church? We’re going to bury you and your ugly face ten feet in the ground.” The dragon turns and heads toward them. Katherine says, “Ok, now!” She and Galen take off running straight for a nearby building. Katherine holds out her hand. Galen grabs it. Katherine transports them. They disappear. The giant dragon crashes into a wall. Huge sparks spray like fireworks, shooting up into the sky. The six then see three crows appear and fly away. Katherine and Galen appear by the tree and are soon ed by the others. All six are exhausted and breathing heavily. “So was that a damn crow, the Loathing, or what? Are we done here? Is this the battle for the so-called ‘End of Days’? This is ridiculous!”

“How the hell would we know Sydney? Perhaps Gotian should have told us a little more about what we are up against. Bloody Hell! Where are we? What is the purpose of this?” Luke wonders bitterly. “Shut your mouth Luke! What are we supposed to do now?” They look at each other. “Let’s get something to drink and let’s do it now!” Following Galen at his suggestion, Aaron shows Katherine, Galen, Luke, Roberto and Sydney a Coke machine. Galen tells Aaron, “Not exactly what I was going for… .” Aaron, waves his hands and says, “Watch this.” He concentrates and pushes the buttons of the soda machine. Nothing happens. Everyone is laughing and speaking at once. Aaron tells them again, “Shut up and just watch!” He looks at them and outreached his fingers to try again. Nothing happens. “Damn it!” Aaron is embarrassed and angered. He pounds and kicks the soda machine. He begins punching the buttons. “I don’t understand, I watched Gotian do this a million times!” Luke chimes in, “You… are not Gotian!” Sydney, tired and aggravated states, “I want to go back to the warehouse. I have had my ass sufficiently kicked enough for one day.” She walks away, demanding they all go back to the warehouse. Roberto is reluctant to go. “This angel shit is not exactly what I signed up for. In fact I didn’t sign up for any of this. Including this “Touched by an Angel” as the case may or may not be.” Aaron, Katherine, Galen, Luke, Roberto and Sydney walk down the sidewalk, limping and rubbing their injuries. “Hey Aaron, I sure am thirsty for that coke! Ha ha ha!”

“Screw you Galen.” Galen roars with laughter. Aaron is infuriated. Smiling devilishly he says, “Hey Galen, you know, as a fireman I thought you were trained to save lives and buildings. Whoa! Hey! Check it out! The church is still standing! . . . And you were so quick to judge me about a freaking soda machine. What the hell are those?” Galen stops laughing abruptly. Sydney starts to shiver. “Look! Everything is different now.” “That’s not what I am looking at, well not only what I am looking at. The six walk slowly toward six individual granite erections that seem to blossom from the earth as a flower would. Each stone bearing their names, and the date of their death. The month of February and the 29th day. “Are those what I think they are?” Katherine stops suddenly in front of Aaron, Galen, Luke, Roberto and Sydney and points. They plow into her. “The church stands and those are our tombstones standing with it!” Aaron, Galen, Luke, Roberto and Sydney look at where she points. Aaron nudges Galen out of the way so he can better see. The church stands untouched, as if nothing happened. Each of the six feel a burning on different parts of their bodies and begin to examine where and why the pain is there. Each has a name burned on different parts of the body. On the arm of Aaron is Celon. On the neck of Roberto, the name Kozin. Galen’s name, burned into his neck, says Petra. Sydney raises an arm and sees the name Zane is etched on her underarm. Katherine looks to see Tomee’ burned into the bottom of her left foot, and Luke falls to his knees as the name Pazul burns into his chest. Each of the six are holding back tears from the painful realization of their deaths etched in stone and now the flesh. There is no turning back. They are dead. They mindspeak to each other about going back to their former lives to

make amends with loved ones left behind. The thoughts are quickly dismissed, as they know Gotian can hear them. Roberto, although confused and saddened by the sight of the tombstones, is grateful that the church is saved. He traces the sign of the crucifixion across his chest thinking, “It’s saved!” He redirects his attention and says aloud, “It’s a miracle,” and decides to return to the church. Luke asks, “What the hell kind of rabbit-hole have we fallen into? “This is just crazy!” Katherine agrees, “This is just wrong.” Aaron nods, “Yes, something is really wrong! Gotian is full of shit! I want out!”

2

Faith

In a ragged village in a South American jungle, a large group of people from all around the world, of all ages; even some families, huddle around a makeshift stage with a patched canvas tent over it. Jones, a large man, wearing huge sunglasses, bell bottom pants and a colorful shirt with wide lapels is about to speak. A large jewel encrusted crucifix on his chest sparkles in the sun. He struts around the stage, commanding the attention of his followers with his grand gestures and booming voice. “God has come to me in a dream yet again! The End of Days is quickly approaching. He wants us to drink the juice. It will bind us together for all of eternity.” A table is laid out with a wooden punch bowl of flavored drink and stacks of paper cups. Katherine, Galen, Luke, and Sydney suddenly appear at the table. They robotically begin to ladle the drink into the cups and them to the believers. Katherine looks around, confused. Using her mindspeak, she asks the others; “What are we doing? Why are we here? And where is Gotian?” Sydney replies in mindspeak, “Who cares about Gotian? Just out the drink.” Galen points to Jones, “Who is that man?” “They call him Father Jones. He’s convinced all of these people to leave their homes and make a utopia here. He’s full of sh…”

Katherine interjects using her mindspeak, “Oh, yeah. Luke’s right. I ing reading about this man, some preacher of peace. Telling anyone who would listen to his sermon that the end of time is near. He was emphatic that all these people give their possessions, such as their homes, bank s and other assets to him. He even convinced husbands, that they should surrender their wives to him. He would show them all the way. This Father Jones convinced most to move to this god forsaken village, and live under his reign. He is misleading people here. They think this is Utopia” The people who drank the flavored water fall to the ground, dying from the drink. Some people cry quietly, but more people stoically line up to take the drink. Katherine drops the ladle, some of the red drink spills on the table like a pool of blood. She shouts: “We are helping to kill these people! No, I can’t do this, I’ve made my entire adult life helping people.” Luke tries to calm Katherine down. He tries to explain, “No, Katherine. These people are making their own choices, ? That’s what humans do. We have to let free will run its course.” Sydney is well aware that Gotian can hear their mindspeak, “Shhh, we don’t need Gotian showing up again.” Galen ignores Sydney and tries to leave the drink area. He turns and starts to walk away but suddenly is unable to move. He is levitated and suspended above the floor while his hand is forced to continue to pour the drinks into the cups of the willing people. “Gotian, leave me alone! This is not a place for us! We can’t change anything!” No one notices them. It’s as if they are not there. Other believers have begun to out the drinks. People are writhing on the ground, dying with the cups still in their hands. Families lie dead with their arms around each other. Katherine and Sydney watch, disturbed by what they see. Katherine puts her hand to her mouth as if she’s going to vomit. Tears cascade from Sydney’s eyes as she watches the children froth at the

mouth and cry as they die. A mother holds her baby as they lie dying. She talks to her infant, “Please forgive me, my baby. We go together to the grace of a utopia that will be for us, no more pain.” “I refuse to be a part of this.” Sydney agrees, “I can’t stand it! Gotian brought us here. It’s his fault.” Gotian appears beside them. He waves his hand and Galen is released from the force. Galen, by mindspeak, cries, “Get Gotian now!” They attack him, but Gotian easily dodges them. Luke grabs on but Gotian tosses him off. Gotian laughs and mindspeaks to the others, “You forget! I can hear you, too.” Galen is thrown and lands in a nearby river. Sydney shapeshifts into an anaconda. She hisses and lunges toward Gotian with her huge jaws open. Gotian slams the snake against a tree. The impact causes Sydney to shapeshift back and she slides down the bank into the river. Galen crawls from the water; lifts rocks with his mind from a nearby pile and hurls them at Gotian. Gotian waves his hand and the rocks fall, stacking neatly on top of each other. He flicks a finger at Galen and Galen is thrown back into the river. Luke picks up a stick and hurls it toward Gotian. The stick snaps and falls to pieces before it hits Gotian. Luke is picked up and tossed into the water. Katherine looks at Gotian. Scared she runs and jumps into the river on her own. Gotian walks to the river and speaks: “The Second World is a time of tests. For humans to make choices on earth. You can’t stop it. Humans have been

given free will but the fallen Angels from the First World are powerful. We can only wait and fight when the time is right.” “When will that be?” Gotian, with confidence, “Soon. Very soon, Aaron” “We have to play a part in all of this?” Katherine is beginning to soften more like her younger self, Kate, from the foster home. She stares off into the distance, not waiting for Gotian to answer the question. She, instead, is caught in her memories of Nivan and his brutal murder: the blood, the scowl of the perpetrator. Gotian’s laugh brings her out of her past and angers her immediately. “What the hell are you laughing at?” Gotian disappears, pulled back by a greater force. As Katherine, Galen, Luke, and Sydney are swept down the river by a sudden swift current they witness the deaths of more believers. Father Jones takes the stage and addresses his remaining congregation, arms outstretched. “We must make the greatest sacrifice for our salvation! Drink! Drink the Juice. We shall be united forever!” Time es and a tragic event has now burned itself into pages of history for eternity.

3

Back In Black

The wind blows and tree branches scratch at the church windows. The ring of light surrounding Katherine, Galen, Luke and Sydney lifts and they fall on the ground. They stare at Gotian. Aaron, hearing and seeing everything that happened, although he was alone by the church, asks, “So we did things in the past to create the present?” Katherine, Sydney, Galen and Luke in angry unison reply, “Yes!” “We knew each other before?” “Yes!” Sydney, smiling seductively, says to Aaron, “We are not strangers.” Luke interrupts, “We are inter-connected in a spiritual weave of past and present.” Gotian lectures to the five, “You must just and find the lost book. It is near the lake under the Tree of Ex Libris. It will explain much. Maybe that will help you understand; be careful using your powers. No one must know that you have the book. Many seek it.” Gotian disappears and the church door opens. Roberto steps out and looks around. Aaron, Katherine, Galen, Luke and Sydney turn and head back down the street. Roberto shakes his head and goes back inside.

As night falls, Abe sleeps restlessly. He sweats and thrashes about as he dreams about his friends from the past; Russ, Marla, Henry, Sally and Manny, all 20ish. Friends sitting around a campfire. Two large tents are set up behind them in a clearing, with a lake nearby. Abe plays a harmonica while his friends are drinking beer. Abe abruptly stops playing because he hears the wind blowing and the sound of footsteps. “Did you hear that? Like some animal walking,” Marla asks. Russ jumps up, “Yeah, it sounded like…” Russ suddenly grabs her and shakes her. He curls his hands up in claws and in a creepy voice he says, “The bloody murder monster!” They all laugh. Marla slaps at him playfully. Manny says, “Seriously. I thought I heard something, too.” Henry staggers over and slaps Manny on the back, “Heck, you’re so drunk you couldn’t hear yourself think.” Abe plays some spooky tunes on his harmonica. Something lets out a moan, like from a frightened, wounded animal. “Okay, did you hear that?” asks Henry. They look into the darkness surrounding the lake. Marla looks terrified and begins to say, “I think…” A light flashes! Marla is sucked screaming into the air. She is dropped, crashing to the ground and is immediately struck by the light. She catches on fire and is burned unrecognizably. Abe jumps up spilling his beer and dropping his harmonica. Henry, Russ, and Sally run in different directions screaming with fright.

Another light flashes! Russ is sucked into the air and thrown into a tree. His head is crushed and his body mangled as he falls lifeless to the ground. Henry grabs a big stick on the ground and swings it in the air, not knowing what he’s fighting. Again a light flashes! The stick splinters into pieces and Henry is pulled into the air, falling back to the ground, his body ripped in half. Panicked, Sally runs in circles, not certain where safety lies. She holds her arms out to Abe, the only one left besides herself. “Abe! Help me!” Abe runs to her. But no matter how fast he runs he can’t reach her. Yet another blinding flash of light and Sally is pulled into the air! She is slammed into the campfire. Abe covers his ears from her horrifying screams as she burns. The wind blows with the force of a hurricane. Abe fights as the tents and campfire are blown away. He runs away from the campsite. A final light flashes and Abe is whipped up into the air. Screaming, he is pulled to the bottom of the lake; the surface of the lake is still. Abe awakens from the nightmare in a cold sweat, yelling, frightened. “No!” As Promise sleeps Serena stares at the ceiling. Outside Serena and Promise’s window, a dark figure, in a hooded cape silently watches from the street. Aaron, Katherine, Galen, Luke and Sydney walk through the City of Modos. Homeless, Oscar begs on a street corner. He carries a sign which reads: THE END IS COMING. “If I don’t get a burger and fries soon I’m going to die!”

They all laugh. “I got news for you Galen. You are already dead, dumbass.” “Hey, I like to eat! It’s a habit.” Luke scoffs, “Habits are for mongrels.” Katherine sarcastically waves her finger at Luke, “Why should we have to give up every pleasure just because we’re dead? And what’s with you shifting gears so fast, you were human not too long ago.” The five are reminded of their true names now burned into their flesh. Names that identify who they were: what they are. Celon, Kozin, Petra, Zane, Tomee’ and Pazul. They are the last called back into battle. But battle against whom or what? That is what they still needed to understand or to , and very soon. Oscar sees them coming toward him and is frightened. He backs up against the wall, “Fire, pestilence, and war! There’s no way out. We’re all going to die. It’s the Rapture!” The five stop and stare at him. He empties the money from his can into his hands. He runs up to Katherine and dumps the money into her hands. “Oscar, No. This is your money.” “Devil! Demon! She knows my name. Oh, no! I’m going to die first.” He turns and grabs his trash bag of clothes and runs off. Katherine looks at the money in her hand, “What should I do with this?” “Burgers!” Galen says as he takes the money from Katherine’s hands. A new day has Lili and Promise playing with dolls on the floor. Promise looks at Lili and Lili nods. “Thanks. I like your doll too.”

Promise smiles, “Wow! You’re good at reading minds.” “You know what else I am good at? In knowing the truth and your name isn’t Promise, it’s Vida.” Promise smiles, “You’re right again. We are sisters; you know?” “What? No way! Mama and Daddy don’t have any white children. We look different.” “It doesn’t matter what we look like, it’s about who we are. You’re better than I thought. How did you know my name was really Vida? “Well, you taught me!” They giggle. “Do you want me to show you something else?’ Lili hesitantly, “Yeah, sure.” “Okay. Close your eyes.” Lili shuts her eyes but peeks out. “Stop peeking!” They giggle and glance towards the closed door. “Hold my hand and think about your most favorite thing in the whole world.” Lilli smiles, and nods to Promise. They hold hands and squeeze their eyes shut. Promise and Lili begin to levitate off the floor. Lili’s face scrunches up and she grabs Promise’s hand tighter. “Whoa! We’re floating in the air!” “Shhh. I know.” The sanctuary door suddenly opens and the girls release their hands and

they fall to the floor with a thud. Lucia walks in, with a look of displeasure displayed on her face, “You are not to be playing in here! What are you girls up to?” “Just… Hanging out,” says Promise. The girls look at each other and giggle. Lucia looks sternly at them and Promise stops giggling and looks to Lili. “We’ll go outside.” Lili whispers to Promise; “Her name really isn’t Lucia.” Lili and Promise walk by Mr. Sander’s house. A pit bull comes running around from the back yard, heading straight for the two of them. Lili shouts, “Its Mr. Sander’s Dog! Run!” They run and scream as the dog chases them. The dog almost reaches them, snarling and barking. Lili and Promise reach the church yard with the pit bull right behind them. Promise turns around to scream and the dog explodes. Lili continues screaming while Promise smiles at the dog’s demise. As Promise and Lili are being helped by the churchgoers outside, Abe and Roberto sit in one of the church pews. Roberto asks Abe, “Did you notice anything strange tonight with the church?” “No. I was over at the shelter. Are you concerned about vandals?” “Ahh, me? That would be negative,” Roberto answers trying to avoid any further discussion. Abe asks Roberto, “Where were you?” “Helping friends… The church looks good. Maybe we should add a new addition with an extra strong foundation.” Abe advises Roberto, “We need to go slow. Greed is powerful. We need to

walk the same path.” “I’m with you Abe, “Do you want me to go ahead with the International Youth Camp for the kids we talked about?” “Yes, Lucia and Stephen can help you. It’s time.” As Abe stands up he raises his hands slightly, whispering in an ancient language, “The time is now. We must be ready. You must resist outside influences.” The front doors to the church burst open and a gale of wind blows in. Roberto stares at the door and then at Abe. “I understand what needs to be done.”

4

Old Haunts

Sal, the bartender, takes up a collection of money from the patrons. The crowd chants. “Houdini! Houdini!” Galen levitates a knife off a plate and the crowd cheers. Sal replaces Galen’s empty beer glass with a full one. “How do you do that, man?” Lael and Serah pace while Gotian stands calmly. “Mongrel! Entertaining other mongrels like a circus. These powers are wasted on these hybrids!” Lael asks Gotian, “What do you want us to do?” “Galen and the others are still afflicted with their free will. Alcohol, to his human form, is a powerful destroyer. But it has no effect now. Galen will soon learn this.” Serah reminds Gotian, “He’s still controlled by his human need for it.” Gotian shakes his head. “Go then; but don’t forget to keep an eye on Katherine and Sydney. They seem unsettled.” “I never thought we’d get out of there.” Lael looks around before commenting again, “Gotian’s too controlling. Have you talked to your friend that knows his brother yet?” “Yes. She says Gotian has no weaknesses.” “What does that mean?”

“It means they are well hidden.” Katherine and Sydney walk up to the church and Roberto sees them as they approach. He walks into his bedroom and shuts the door, avoiding them. Katherine and Sydney are wrapped in towels after a shower. “I actually feel human again. Sort of,” Katherine says as she looks in the mirror at a woman she thought she once knew: a woman who commanded a mighty ship, helping communities, villages and children in need. Sydney looks at Katherine, “You know this whole never-existed thing? I really can’t handle it. I’m going back to Harromog City.” “I don’t think that’s a good idea. Gotian sent us here.” “I have to go, especially after… what? Looking at my own gravesite? Aren’t you just a little curious about the people you left behind? Maybe they are looking for us. Maybe we can undo some things we messed up on. Come on Katherine, or should I say Tomee’ “Show me how to transport. If you don’t want to go back, I do!” “It’s still Katherine! I have no idea about this new name Tomee’, or old, as the case probably is. I don’t know if going back will solve anything, fix anything and more importantly change anything! I want to see my children again, tell them that that I am sorry I put my charities before them. I want to kiss Nathan again and feel my husband’s arms around me. Let him know that I love him. But what’s that going to do? I couldn’t even change the events that led to the death of my best friend when I was alive, how the hell will going back…” “Okay, okay Katherine! I get it, you don’t want to go back. Just please teach me how to transport, I want to speak to, or just see how my mother is. I wasn’t very nice when I had the opportunity to be. I want to see her at the very least.” “I said no, that’s my power, but… I will go with you. I will transport you there myself Zane!” “Uhhh, that’s Sydney to you. I am not used to my ancient name yet either!

Okay, let’s get out of here and find the guys. They can cover for us while we are gone.” “Gotian says we will learn each other’s powers anyway. I’ll show you how to shapeshift. It’s pretty cool.” “Okay, let’s go, but were not staying long.” Sydney smiles and nods, “Okay now, where would they be?” Katherine closes her eyes for a moment, “I think I might know where they are.” Sydney and Katherine open the door to the bar and look for Galen. Lael and Serah watch them from a table in the corner. Serah mindspeaks to Lael, “We’d better keep an eye on them.” Katherine sees and hears a crowd cheering at the bar. Luke looks up from the newspaper he’s reading. Sydney points, “That’s got to be him.” They hurry over to Galen as he swigs a beer, sets the glass down and wipes his mouth. He sees them scurrying toward him. “Hey, where’s the fire?” Galen laughingly says. “A little firehouse humor.” Katherine yelling over the crowd noise, “We’re going back home. Will you cover for us with Gotian if he shows up?” “No.” “Why not?” “Because I’m going with you. I need to check on my Pops. I want to make sure he’s okay since…” Sydney continues, “Since you died drunk in that fire you caused?”

Galen responds in Yiddish, “In drerd arayn!” He looks at Katherine, “And how are we getting there?” “I’ll take care of that,” Katherine says with confidence. “Where’s Luke?” Galen points to Luke as he pulls the newspaper down to say, “Haven’t we had enough fun for one day?” In the corner of the bar, Lael leans over to Serah. “We’d better follow them.” She nods, “Gotian will blame us.” In a littered empty lot behind a building, Galen, Katherine, Luke and Sydney try to teach each other their powers. Oscar watches fearfully from underneath a fire escape. A newspaper beside him reads: FUNDING DENIED FOR ANOTHER LAKE CLEAN UP. By Len Lewis Staff Writer Whisper Lake was once a resort haven for family weekend getaways. This will be the second lake denied a grant for cleanup since its falling into despair over the years. Harmony Lake was first on the chopping block for denial. The five are not successful at learning each other’s powers. Human emotions of frustration and failure with anger beleaguer the five. Time is running out to transport back. “We need to go.” Katherine agrees. “We’ll continue this later.” She grabs their hands and they transport. The first to transport, Aaron, rides with Sebastian who drives a large truck, heading away from the City of Modos. They are driving on a deserted road. Aaron looks out the window, a sign reading: Harromog City 12 miles, appears. Aaron breaks his stare out the window and looks at the side view mirror as he sees the miles go by. Suddenly, with the slowing of the truck, Aaron feels they are coming closer to his destination. “Thanks again for the ride. You don’t see too many people on this road at

night.” “Ahh, no worries my friend, I’m kind of a night person.” “Me too. Sebastian, right?” “Yep, that’s the name.” The truck pulls to a stop. Aaron is quiet for a moment and in deep thought. “Hey! Is this where you wanted to go?” Aaron, now focused, tells Sebastian, “Oh! Yeah! Thanks for the ride.” Aaron jumps from the truck and stands for a second while looking at the apartment building. He turns around to say something to Sebastian, but the truck is gone. Aaron is puzzled; it’s as if the truck was never there. He did not hear it pull way nor does he see it in the distance. Dismissing the oddity he concentrates on the door he is about to knock on. The door is red and he instantly re Chandra’s explanation of having a red door. She believed in eastern cultures and one tradition was to have a red door to bring good fortune. Aaron hopes good fortune is on his side as he is about to come face to face with his past, present or whatever this was or is. He just wants his life back, Chandra in his arms and being Aaron Michaels. Aaron knocks only once before the door is opened, a muscular guy is standing with a box in his arms. Aaron looks defeated. Before he can speak the big man brushes past him and heads towards a moving van. He sighs with relief as he then sees the name of a moving company on the back of the man’s shirt. Aaron, again, looks quizzical. He had not seen the van there before. He is startled by a familiar voice, still sultry, but somehow a bit lighter in tone. He is afraid to turn to see the face connected to the voice. “Hello? For the second time, are you here for the cable?” Aaron closes his eyes and turns around. As his eyes opens he sees a glowing,

beautiful woman. Her eyes greener than he ed, a smile more radiant than he had ever seen. He never could make Chandra smile like this. Her hair was shorter, but framed her face amazingly. Aaron stares trying to commit Chandra’s face to memory. Chandra begins to blush and tells Aaron: “Please come inside, I’ll show you where the disconnect box is.” It was then that Aaron could see that Chandra had a sway about her. Not the sexy sway she had when working in the office, driving all men crazy, but the sway of an expectant mother. Aaron begins to speak, but chokes on his words. Chandra quickly brings Aaron water. “Thank you. I’m not from the cable company, I…” “Who are you then?” Chandra asked. “I’m Aaron.” “Aaron? Do I know you?” Aaron, searching for an answer or an exit at this point, is confused, angry and dazed. He replies, “Umm, Aaron Michaels, we went to school together. Do you me at all?” Chandra, looks perplexed, “You and I went to school together? You look much older than me.” Aaron can hear Sydney laughing through mindspeak: “Okay, one for the home girl, bupkis for Lord of the Lies. You are an old man to her.” Sydney is laughing harder at this point. Aaron using his mindspeak, tells Sydney, “Shut up and stay out of my business.” “Chandra, I would see you around school and at our football games. Do you ?” Chandra hunched her shoulders and accepted it as truth. “Sorry I don’t

you, and if you aren’t the cable guy, I really don’t have time to visit. My husband and I are moving today. I received a promotion in Atlanta and we are moving before the baby comes.” “Little Miss Assistant makes good…” “What did you say?” Aaron is embarrassed at what he has just clearly said aloud and is now fumbling for words. “I meant congratulations. I think I should leave now.” “Yes, that is a good idea, my husband is on his way home, unless you would like me to call him now and we can all have a reunion?” Aaron is backing up to the door and finding his way out. “You kept the door red…” Chandra now standing in the doorway, “How do you know about my door? Did we really go to school together?” Aaron makes a hasty exit down the steps and sprints down the narrow sidewalk, never answering Chandra’s question. A brilliant light flashes and Aaron disappears. Katherine lands back in Harromog City. She’s mastered her power and looks around. “This isn’t where I want to be.” A crowded bus stops and automatically opens windowed doors. People waiting by the bus stop, including a woman and a wheelchair-bound young boy who looks to be the age Katherine’s son Jake would be, board the bus. The woman pushes the wheelchair on to the chair lift and then tells the driver the address of her home, “1300 Adams Lane.” Katherine jerks around and stares at the woman. It’s her friend Mary from the charity ball. A friend that helped herself to Katherine’s husband. Mary became one of many desserts on the side of Nathan’s sexual affairs. Mary

now looks worn and her flaxen hair has lost its vibrant “salon only” look. The upscale clothing, replaced with Mommy jeans and a faded sweatshirt that gives her once Pilates shaped body no shape or form. Nothing to look at, no threat to any woman’s husband. “Okay, so if this is Mary’s life, where are my children and Nathan?” Katherine is bewildered, and her mind is trying to absorb what she is seeing. “I knew this was a bad idea,” she says to herself. Katherine recognizes the address Mary has instructed the driver to take her. “Hey, that’s my house,” she calls out to Mary. It’s too late. The bus takes off but Katherine transports herself to her old house and waits. The bus pulls up and Mary gets out. The bus driver lets down the wheelchair ramp and Tyler is rolled out. Katherine stares, takes a big breath and walks up to them. “Mary?” “Yes?” “It’s Katherine. We worked together at Worldwide Charities.” “I’ve never heard of Worldwide Charities and I’m sure I don’t know you. I have nothing left to give.” Mary starts to push the wheelchair up the sidewalk. Katherine is searching for words of a redo introduction. “Hi, I’m Katherine. I saw you get on the bus with your boy. I tried to catch you, but you are quick.” Mary now completely stops the wheel chair, and looks at Katherine as victim to stalker. “Excuse me? Are you following me and my son? Just what is it that you want?” Katherine is embarrassed and realizes she is stalking them, of sorts.

Katherine gives a generous smile to Mary and begins again with her introduction. “Forgive me, I know what this must look like. No I am not stalking you. I was crossing the street, when I recognized you. My name is Katherine St. James. I don’t mean to scare you. I knew both you and Nathan.” “You knew Nathan? Nathan is… was my husband. He was killed six months ago in a plane crash. He was always traveling for business. He was coming home when the weather became turbulent and the plane went down. There were no survivors.” Katherine, not knowing what to say, stands still a moment. Mary quickly wipes the tears from her eyes. “We are a very close family. You said you know Nathan and me. Now, I am the one that is sorry. I don’t meeting you. I going to a charity ball once with Nathan that his company sponsored. Perhaps, that’s where we met?” Katherine is again speechless, but finds the words to agree with Mary about how the charity event must be where she re both her and Nathan. “I’m so sorry about Nathan” Katherine backs away, says again, “I’m so sorry.” She turns and hurries down the sidewalk. A bright light flashes and she is unexpectedly transported. Mary is left with Tyler, and a vivid memory of the night of the charity ball. She begins pushing Tyler’s wheelchair again, unaware that Katherine has disappeared abruptly. A bat is sitting on the eves of a neglected 1960’s-built house. It flies to the ground where it shapeshifts into Sydney. “Home.” This the childhood home of Sydney. A nervous Sydney walks up to the front door of the house and knocks. The door opens.

“Daddy?” Herbert, a scruffy, uncared for man in a wheel chair, with a tobacco stained chin glares at her. “Ain’t nobody’s Daddy. Whatcha selling girl? You come sit here on Daddy’s lap.” He pats his lap and licks his lips. Eyes, encrusted with yellow mucus from sleeping most of the day, Herbert is now rubbing himself, and encourages Sydney to come closer. He holds out a bottle of cheap whiskey as an offering of enticement. Sydney ignores the filthy gestures and instead re a beautiful moment with her father. Only eight years old, Sydney sits beside Herbert, her father, in a church pew. Herbert smiles at her and pats her hand. Margaret, Sydney’s mother, sits at the organ ready to play for a Sunday congregation. Herbert realizes that his charms aren’t working on the attractive girl at his door. Herbert spits in a tobacco can and starts to close the door on Sydney. Jolted by Herbert’s attempt to close the door on her, Sydney snaps out of her past memory and is barely audible, “I…” Herbert looks up at Sydney and smiles. Maybe his charms are working. Sydney is now closer and wanting to come inside. Sydney is trying to find volume for her voice. Herbert has a hearing aid he is trying to adjust when he asks “What? I can’t hear you!” “I said I am looking for Margaret.” “Margaret? Nobody by that name here.” Sydney glances up at the house, “Is this 11 Legion Street?” Herbert is now annoyed instead of interested, “Yeah, don’t you got eyes?” Sydney walks inside and looks into the house and is horrified to see a filthy

house that has posters of White Supremacy, Swastikas, and a dingy confederate flag hanging proudly on the walls. She sees empty cans of beans with flies buzzing around everything. Her eyes are fixated on an old organ that is covered in dust and the seat bench is soiled with yellow stain. Herbert follows her gaze. “This ain’t the Ritz girlie, I see you lookin’ around. I ain’t able to care for myself like I used to. Ain’t got a lotta money either, so I can’t pay you ritzy money.” Sydney now notices Herbert’s missing leg. She also notices an old photograph of about 12 guys, 20 years old or younger dressed in camouflage army-issue wear and gear. “Is this you?” she points at a soldier in the picture. “Yeah! That was me and my buddies in A Company. We served together. We was brothers. Last picture of me and those men before some gook got the best of me in the war. If I could still walk, I’d make damn sure that all those slant-eyes were returned to their own countries. Annihilate them all!” Sydney is feeling a burning in her throat. Her eyes grow dark with anger. She finds her voice. “What are you saying?” “What I am saying is I fought for this country! Fought hard. Lost a limb. Lost friends doing it. They say we was fighting for the country and for folks to have peace and equality and all that bullshit. We was on the front lines, making sure our country was safe. I come home after that with no hero welcome; protesters spitting on me. Picket signs and hostility from assholes that don’t know a thing about fighting every night and day to keep them safe while they eat, sleep and work in their comfortable houses. I got nothing! Everybody has rights in this country except good, decent white folks. I even had to fight next to niggers. Ahh… they weren’t so bad. One of them even took a bullet for me.” Herbert laughs. “Oh well, one less of those in the world is fine with me. Better them than me. Damn foreigners need to go back where they came from, we don’t need them here.” “But… .” Sydney backs up in horror and disbelief, shaking her head.

“What’s the matter with you, girl? But, but, what? Are we going to do some business here or not? If not I got to help myself in my own way. Herbert winks at Sydney. “You know what I mean?” “I must have the wrong house. I’m sorry to bother you.” Sydney runs away from the house, whispering to herself, “Where are you, Mom?” A flash of light and Sydney is unexpectedly transported. Galen is kneeling behind a garden bush watching a wedding in progress in the garden behind a synagogue. He watches a collection of family and friends gathering with smiles and occasional laughter from the attendees. Tears of sadness and rage fill Galen’s eyes and his fists are clenched as he watches his father toasting a couple, seemingly his son and his son’s new bride. Hiram, Galen’s father, says to the newly married couple, “May you always live free.” Hiram goes on to ask the question, “Did I ever tell you about the Jewish hero that helped me escape the concentration camps, when I was just a boy?” The wedding guests move in closer to hear a tale that was heard several times by family and friends. The bride is glowing and the groom is filled with pride as they listen to his father’s concentration camp story as if hearing it for the first time. Galen pounds the ground in anger, and pouts as if he is a child. His breathing becomes rapid, and he screams aloud, “He doesn’t care that I am gone, all he cares about are those damn Holocaust stories! I took care of you old man! I loved you. You never saw me for who or what I was! Look at me! See me! You never accepted me for who I am. Now you have what you want, a son that will listen to your stories, a son who follows your damn rules, a son who practices your Jewish faith and marries a woman of the same religion.” Galen gets out from the bush he is hiding behind and prepares to invade the

wedding. A hand pulls him back, and he falls hard onto the ground. Lael is standing over him, and he extends his hand to help Galen from the ground. As he rises Galen punches Lael in the stomach and delivers another blow to Lael’s jaw. Lael staggers, and then smiles. “Wow, that hasn’t happen in a few centuries!” Serah, now visibly angry at Galen’s actions, “Didn’t you learn anything while being human? Like manners . . . ?” Galen, feeling no remorse, moves nose level to Serah, “You two ancient relics are really pissing me off! Stay out of my life.” Serah’s eyes become black. “You have no life! ?” The mentors are suddenly flush with fear as Lael whispers, “Shh, he’s coming.” They turn into statues of salt. A flash of light occurs and Galen disappears. Lael and Serah are released from pillars of salt. “Very funny Gotian.” She says to Lael, “That trick gets old after a few thousand years.” A watery figure starts to form in the shape of a human on the steps of the Tribune newspaper building. Luke sees his image transform into flesh and he has a look of pride on his face. “I am beginning to like this mode of transport.” He quickly recognizes the building and looks for the entrance and enters to find a dozing security guard at the front desk. Luke makes his way past the guard and heads towards the elevator, when it suddenly opens. Luke bumps into an attractive young woman and the papers she is holding are now airborne and falling to the ground.

“Shit! Now I am going to be even more late. Is there no courtesy left? You are supposed to stand aside when a door is opening, especially when a woman is present, what the hell is your problem?” Luke is still shocked at the clash and now, as he refocuses, he begins to assist in picking up the papers on the ground. The angry woman has an unlit cigarette hanging from her mouth. He is amazed at the balance of the cigarette as the woman is still speaking rapidly and handing out insults like money placed in the collection plate during a Sunday sermon. It’s at this point Luke recognizes this woman, a reporter. Finally, an ally. “Stella?” Stella, looks up, now even more irritated because her furious rant has been interrupted. “What!? How do you know my name? Who are you? I don’t see a , so I know you don’t work here. How did you get past the guard without a visitor’s ?” Luke is trying to answer the questions but Stella is showing no mercy, and won’t allow for responses. “Wait, wait. Hold on… Shut up!” Stella, stops, cigarette still perfectly balanced on bottom lip, with her eyes now affixed on Luke. “I am Luke Nasab, I am sorry to have caused you grief but do you me? You interviewed me on my last best-selling book.” Luke snaps his fingers, to get Stella’s attention again. Stella is now signaling to the desk guard. “I don’t you. I certainly would someone so bold as to tell me to shut my pie hole.” Floundering for words, he knows he does not have much time to explain before he is kicked out of the building.

“Of course you me, I am Luke Nasab, the world’s most celebrated author. You called me, if I correctly, a true modern day religious pathfinder. Stella, come on, try to … . It’s me Luke! Nasab!” Luke follows Stella’s eyes and instantly knows that there is someone behind him. Before he can do anything, he is gripped by the throat and his right arm is twisted behind his back and he is now on his feet. Stella, stands up as well and has a distasteful look on her face that ultimately turns into a smirk and grin. Luke is still defending himself as the not so lazy guard moves him like furniture towards the door. “I am Luke Nasab! People ire me! They know my books as spiritual guide to the afterlife.” The guard, now laughing, “Afterlife huh? Well, I guess you should have seen this coming.” Luke blinks, and he is thrown out onto the steps and warned to stay off the property. Luke, still yelling, “I’ve helped millions!” He finds a rock that he prepares to throw at a window of the building he was just thrown from, when he notices the reflection of a billboard across the street. The name on the billboard reads City of Go Morrah. Luke turns around to view the billboard and now sees the name: City of Harromog. Again he looks at the glass window reflection. And once again the name Go Morrah is what he sees. Luke backs away, shakes his head in disbelief, and looks again at the name burned on his chest. Pazul. There is a flash of light and Luke disappears. The five simultaneously land in a vacant part of the City Modos. They are met by a pacing Gotian. With every step, he shapeshifts into a different creature. His mood is felt by the five that now stand before him. “You went back to your old mongrel lives, to find that they never existed. You disobeyed and are too stupid to understand the danger of your actions.”

Gotian raises his arms and the brilliant light that appeared at each disappearance reappears pulling the five together. They feel a surge through their bodies. Everything immediately goes dark and in the darkness each of the five can see, hear and fear the vision that the darkness holds.

5

The Beginning Of The End

Circa 1300. The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse gallop across the desert. Their horses’ hooves kick up a huge dust storm. Horseman of Pestilence is on a white horse and carries a dagger. Horseman of Famine is on a black horse. A tall, very thin rider, she carries scales which represents the scarcity of food. She also carries a time com, a round device like a watch with three hands. Two hands tell the time, while the third hand shows the directional location. Horseman of War is on a red horse. He carries a great sword and is tall and strong. He is a warrior. Horseman of Death is on a pale, hollow-eyed horse and he carries a scythe. “We are coming, for the last battle has begun. This marks the End of Days. We will do all that is necessary to preserve war, pestilence, death and famine. Mankind created us, and here we shall remain. We know of the prophecy and will not let mankind be destroyed. We will ride with infection to ensure our preservation. Neither side will win this battle. The earth is ours and we are what humans have created. That cannot be destroyed, the gift of free will has protected us for the ages since creation.” The five are still paralyzed as they see the four horsemen and hear their promise of survival and rage. The circle of darkness is now penetrated with a flood of water and the voices of the Guardians of the Twelve Gates can be heard: “And the land will fill with crimson. A mighty sword will be used for

destruction. The scales of injustice will make for hollow sound and starvation and there will be pale faces of death and plagues that will ravage the earth.” The water and darkness instantly disappear and the paralyzing hold on the group is broken. Gotian looks at each member of the five and scoffs, “I can smell your fear. It is pathetic. All cannot perish in this war. Do not take for granted the gifts you each possess for you are no longer the mongrels that reek of human flesh. You are, as you have felt and now see, not human. I think here, in this place, you would refer to yourselves as hybrids. Have any of you looked or felt the changes? What of you Zane?” Sydney lowers her head, ashamed, as she has felt for quite some time. She no longer possesses the ample breasts she once had, her navel is no longer there. The four also look at each other hearing the conversations through mindspeak. Aloud, Aaron speaks to Gotian. “Why, have you done this? We are monsters! We destroy lives! We have become androgynous creatures without a past to return to. No family. No friends and no free will to make a choice!” Sydney charges towards Gotian with her hand shapeshifting into a dagger. Gotian dodges her lunge and shakes his head in disapproval at her attempt. Sydney, now more angered, grabs the earth in her now normal hand and asks Gotian, “What kind of man are you? We killed children and their mothers and fathers in that god-forsaken village. We destroyed a church and some ridiculous beast that clearly didn’t die. All while the church that we destroyed now stands and we are reminded of our deaths by way of tombstone. Oh yeah, and by the way, let’s not forget how we were yanked from our ‘Mongrel’ lives only to put up with your bullshit about a prophecy foretold! I am asking you again Gotian… what kind of sick man are you?” Gotian shapeshifts into what humans see in nightmares: both as children and adults, “I . . . am not a Man!”

Sydney is visibly frightened, as are the others in the group. Luke whispers to Katherine, “I think we have just pushed the EASY button to hell.” Katherine nods in agreement and moves over next to Sydney as Sydney asks, “Why are you doing this to us?” Gotian, finding his composure, answers in many voices, “You need to witness the suffering of the mongrels and the forces that seek to destroy them. Find the Lost Book, it is buried under the tree of Ex Libris. Find it and you will know.” Sydney, now standing, “Know what? Why do we have to play this demonic game of fetch? Are we still your Mongrels? Just give us the book. If we are as powerful as you say, we can deal with the book and whatever is inside of it.” Gotian disappears, but the answer to Sydney’s questions can be heard in the air, “We cannot interfere, I am only a guide. You must find the book on your own.” The voices fade and silence is left with the five. Galen crosses his arms over his chest, “So that’s it? Find a freaking lost book, we have no clue of what this book is, or what it can do, but we are taking orders from a scary-ass ghost whisperer? Great! This makes no sense.” Luke looks at Galen, “You are a shit if I’ve ever known one. What method and to what length of madness makes any sense? I lost colleagues in many tragedies. Perhaps Gotian is correct. You, mate, are a mongrel and I do not wish to be in the same category as you.” Katherine and Sydney stand between Galen and Luke before blows are exchanged. “Everyone just calm down a minute, all right? I know this is all crazy, but maybe Gotian doesn’t know everything! Maybe he’s the deceiver. Maybe we are in an alternate, parallel universe, and we have to find our way out.”

Luke re for a moment the name of the city reflected in the glass window while revisiting his old life. He has not revealed this to the others. He turns to Katherine, “In some cultures, entities such as Gotian, are called The Knowers.” “Okay, I have seen and heard enough,” Aaron says, “I just don’t know anything anymore.” With Aaron’s words, the five begin their trek back to the City of Modos. “Luke, why are you thinking about a city called Gomorrah?” Luke grimaces at Aaron’s question, but doesn’t answer. A light glows in the church. Abe is in his study writing furiously, without pause, almost as if his hand had a mind of its own. A worn, old book rests on the desk next to him. Suddenly, there is a gust of wind and the door to his study is slammed shut. Abe is startled and quickly removes the book from the desk to a hidden drawer next to a file cabinet. “Who’s there?” No one answers. “Come into the light Oyunbileg.” Lucia appears from nowhere and touches Abe lightly on his back. “Yes it’s me. Are you okay? I heard wind and then a terrible noise.” Lucia kneels at Abe’s feet. Resting her head in his lap, much like a child. “Do you ?” Abe kisses the back of Lucia’s hand, “What a question from one who has a gift of wisdom.” Abe, then addresses Lucia’s former question. “It was just my door slamming shut. Nothing to worry about.” Abe locks the drawer with his free hand and then directs his attention to Lucia. Abe gently pulls Lucia’s head from his lap allowing her to sit on his lap. “What troubles you?” Lucia speaks as she rests her head on Abe’s chest, “I guess you know Serena found a job, so she will move out soon. It seems her prayers were answered.”

Abe abruptly gets up, removing Lucia in the process. “I want Geneveve and Vida here!” Lucia replies with defense, “I thought we weren’t to call them by their real names because they are in hiding? Besides ‘Serena’ has made a different choice for herself and her daughter. Let them go.” “She does not have a choice. They will stay here where I can keep them safe.” Lucia humbles herself to Abe, “They are on the run from a horrible situation. We cannot let their troubles interfere with what we need to accomplish. We have to stay focused and move forward.” Abe is not pleased with Oyunbileg. Abe stands and Lucia steps away from Abe, understanding that she has spoken too much and not to his liking. Abe instructs Lucia to help Roberto with the church inventory and to never mention Serena and Promise’s leaving the church again. Lucia bows her head to Abe and leaves his office with a frozen mist of her body remaining, chilling the air. Abe returns to his writings and the frozen mist of Lucia dissipates in the air.

6

Voices

The night closes in on Serena as she lies in the bathtub. She closes her eyes and lets the warm water flow over her aching body. For the first time in a long time, she feels relaxed and that things are starting to be positive. As Serena continues to relax, the feeling of the water begins to change, her eyes pop open and she gasps at the sight of her skin being burned by the water itself; almost acid-like. She struggles to get out of the tub but strong arms prevent her from escaping. Serena screams and the hold is released. She gets out of the tub and looks at herself in the mirror. She can see her skin and hair are burned away and her flesh continues to fall to the floor. Serena screams again, and catches a glimpse of her daughter in the mirror. Shaken, Serena wipes the steam from the mirror, she screams: “Vida! Vida!” The image Serena sees in the mirror is a pale, ghost-like appearance of her daughter that stares at her with a wicked grin. “Vida! Do you hear me? Come to Mommy!” The figure disappears and Serena slumps to the floor sobbing and clutching a towel. Tears flow onto her skin, which now appears to be healthy and without damage. Serena is more confused and cries out, “Am I going crazy? I know what I saw, what is going on?” Serena grabs a second towel and runs to her bedroom. She looks around in a frantic moment, wondering if anyone has heard her. Promise is fast asleep, Serena places a chair against the bedroom door and dresses for bed. She kisses Promise’s cheek and Promise stirs. She is having a dream and speaking in her sleep,

“There shall be wailing and the gnashing of teeth, and blood shall rain down upon them.” Serena whispers comfort to her daughter and holds her close. Promise begins to growl like a wild animal. Serena holds Promise tighter, until the nightmare seems to end. The comfort Serena felt only moments earlier is gone and she is back in survival mode: a position she thought she was finally free of. The abuse from her husband and all things evil associated with her marriage. Now she is uneasy once again and unsure of her and Vida’s safety. “I have to protect her. This place is not safe.” Serena finds herself crying again, but falls asleep as exhaustion takes over. The five, now back in the city, find the warehouse and sit on the floor. Each of them is very quiet, contemplating his or her fate and how to handle all they have seen and done. Dark shadows are flying around the five. They ignore the shadows and look at each other, mindspeaking suggestions of how to get the book. “Okay, so what is the plan? How do we find the tree of Ex Libris?” Katherine asks. “How the hell does anybody here know?” Aaron mindspeaks to answer Katherine’s question. “All I know is nothing is as it appears.” Sydney says exhaustively. The five close their eyes and a red ring forms around them and the shadows start to back away from them. Shadow Souls slip under the cracks of the floorboards, and window sills. The five are now one entity and each can feel his or her strength and the strength of the group as a whole. Gotian is invisible but watching and listening to the five. He is not pleased, and asks Him again, if he can be reassigned and given a new project. Gotian places his hands over his ears and is frightened at what he hears. The five remain in their trance-like state.

Another day has arrived and Serena has had a restless night of sleep after her bathtub scare and Promise speaking in her sleep. She has slept in and awakens to Promise entering the bedroom. Serena sits up immediately and notices the time, and that Promise is dressed and looks to be ready for school. “Come here sweetheart, Mommy will be ready in two minutes. I am sorry I over slept.” Lucia enters the room at this time and extends her hand to Promise. “Come Promise, it’s time for school, you will be late.” Promise breaks away from Serena’s embrace and runs to Lucia. Lucia half smiles at Promise and takes her hand in hers. Lucia scowls at Serena while chastising her, “Look at the time, you are a careless woman. You are late for work, so I will take Promise to school.” Serena jumps from bed and squares off with Lucia. Promise takes a step back behind Lucia as Serena approaches. “I have plenty of time Lucia… I will take Promise to school. She is my daughter!” Lucia, taking a less aggressive stance, keeps hold of Promise’s hand. “Of course Promise is your daughter, but I thought it helpful that I take Promise to school because you were asleep at the time. I will pick her up from school because of your new job.” Serena, now face to face with Lucia, reiterates, “I will take Promise to school, and I…” Lucia smiles at Serena while interrupting her. “Really, it is not a worry. I know you want to make a good impression the first day at your new job. It can be very stressful.” Serena has her hand out for Promise but she ignores her mother’s hand and holds firm to Lucia.

Serena, angrily, says, “I am not stressed! I have everything under control, Lucia. I just overslept! I will take Promise now. Come Promise, Mommy will get you to school.” Promise smiles brilliantly, stands side by side to Lucia while still holding her hand and says, “Mommy, guess what?” Serena’s standoff with Lucia is temporarily broken. Serena looks lovingly to her daughter. “What honey?” Promise is bursting with information, “Father Abe signed me up for youth camp! I can be a camp leader and I can swim, and…” Serena has now directed her attention to Lucia, and interrupts Promise’s enthusiasm. “I did not give permission for youth camp, besides sweetheart, we can’t afford it.” Serena is now looking sympathetically at Promise. Promise is no longer smiling, and tries to explain, “It doesn’t cost anything and Father Abe said that I would make a good leader. I want to go!” Lucia chimes in, “It’s really not a problem, all the children from the church are attending the camp and it is a great way for children to interact and learn valuable lessons, and His teachings. Besides, Stephen and I are organizing this event, so if you are worried about Promise being safe, I guarantee you…” Serena tries to pull apart Promise and Lucia’s interlocking hands, “I will think about this, Promise.” Promise is close to tears and clenching her hands into fists. “I want to go! Lili is going. Her mom said she could go! Why can’t I go too?” Promise reconnects her hand with Lucia, and tugs at her. Serena is irritated at Promise’s tantrum and closeness with Lucia. “I will speak to Lili’s mother and we will see.”

Serena looks at the clock. She will be late as Lucia indicated earlier. She turns her back to collect her clothes for dressing, “I will be dressed in a minute and we will leave for school.” Serena continues to talk, but notices the silence. She turns to the bedroom door and discovers that both Promise and Lucia are now gone. She runs to the door and sees Promise walking with Lucia down the hall. “Promise! Come back, I will take you. Come back…” Without turning back to acknowledge her mother, Promise says in a strange voice, “Better wear a coat today Mom, a storm is coming.” The two figures continue down the hall until they disappear down the staircase. Serena is left behind confused and looking out a window that shows a perfectly sunny morning, without cloud in the sky as she begins to dress for work. She is surprisingly feeling better and less pessimistic about the morning’s events as she enters her workplace for the first time. She gives herself a last look over in the women’s bathroom and notices a button missing. She is discouraged but manages to hide the fashion flaw. Stepping out of the bathroom, Serena collides with a coworker who is drinking coffee while walking. The collision causes the coffee to spill onto his shirt. He glares at Serena and has no forgiveness as he refers to her in a distasteful tone, “Idiot! Watch where you are going!” Serena’s eyes tear up and she knows it is not going to be a good day. “I’m sorry…” The words go unheard as the coworker walks away, still cursing both at the stain on his shirt and Serena. Serena walks quickly to her cubicle, and cannot concentrate on the new job. Instead she is having a memory about life before she and Vida ran away. One night in particular, a rainy night, Geneveve has been home from working a full day. She prepares food for her husband David. He likes everything in place when he arrives home. Nothing out of place, including

her. It wasn’t always this way. David was a dream when they first met. A catch for any woman. Charming, athletic, tall and very gentle. They had met in her fourth year of university. It was Geneveve’s first party she attended since starting university. She was very serious about her studies and was considered a loner. So when she was invited to, and she accepted, one of the many graduation parties going on through the year, she decided to go with her friend Ann. A handsome senior, David, caught her eye as she caught his. He walked up and asked her out for dinner the next night and after that first date they were inseparable throughout the rest of the year. After graduation, they married and that’s when the first punch to the face occurred. They were in Ibiza for their honeymoon, and Geneveve gave David a gentle slap on the butt as he left the shower. David’s face and demeanor changed immediately after his wife’s love tap and he flew into a rage. He made a fist and punched Geneveve in the mouth. David did not stop there, as Geneveve fell to the floor he continued by kicking her in the legs and stomach. Geneveve’s hair was pulled as she tried to escape this man; a man she no longer knew. David whispered in her ear, that if she tried to ever leave him, he would kill her and no one would care or know about her disappearance. David had a way of making people and things disappear. For five years Geneveve lived in fear and false pretenses of a happy marriage. David allowed her to work outside the home, but she had to be home when he called, or have dinner prepared when he arrived from work. On this rainy night, she knew David will be having drinks after work with his friends at the firm. He will be home late, but he will expect a still-warm dinner on the dining table. He will criticize the food choice and not eat. David will also want Geneveve to be waiting in bed for him. He loves humiliating her. He will come to her sweet and soft, then slap her across the face, and make her beg for more. David will take makeup from Geneveve’s purse and plaster it on her face, only to smear it to resemble a clown.

She will have to dance for him like a marionette doll and watch him laugh at her. The laughter will end, his eyes darken and then his abuse of power will take over. She will smell the alcohol as he assaulted her sexually. The pain will be excoriating, mostly leaving her with tearing and the eventually scarring of skin. Geneveve is empty, she no longer cries. Crying only infuriates David more and feeds his sadistic need for power. David will fall asleep atop of her after his drunken rage and she will manage to crawl undetected from under his weight and shower away the blood and makeup. However nothing can wash away the pain and rage she has for David. Geneveve is pregnant, and afraid to tell David. He never wanted children, and now she will have to tell him that they were going to have a baby. Geneveve places her hand on her growing belly. David in the past weeks had spoken of her weight gain. He has told her to lose the weight or he would have to find love with someone else. Like that was a threat. “I will protect you little one, Vida. You are the life that was created from this, but I won’t let harm come to you. I promise. Geneveve dries off and walks gingerly back to the bedroom. She can hear David stirring in his sleep. The room is dark and she begins to feel nauseous. She opens the bedroom door and runs to the kitchen sink where she vomits as quietly as possible. David can’t see this, not now. The storm outside rages on that evening while Geneveve speaks aloud to her unborn child. “I will never leave you, I will always protect you.” An abrupt knock on her desk interrupts Serena’s horrible memory. “Yes, Stanley?” “I said what do you plan to do about the stain you inflicted on my shirt? It cannot be washed. It has to be dry cleaned.” Serena rolls her eyes and turns her back to the coworker and begins to type on her computer.

Promise is now home from school and she enters Abe’s office. The room begins to shake and Promise is afraid. “The earth is moving!” Abe opens his arms to Promise and hugs her with confidence. “Nothing to be afraid of Vida. I promise,” Abe calms her with a age of words. “And the heavens shall open and the earth shall shake; all things have their purpose.” Promise hugs Father Abe tightly and asks, “Can you make it stop?” “All things have their purpose.” Abe’s eyes become black and roll back as he continues to hug Promise. Abe can hear the distant ride of The Horsemen. Death speaks, “Can you hear the voices of the Guardians of the Twelve Gates? Amelia, Euni, Adrian and Erryn shout in unison: “The son of man shall send forth his legion and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend! And them which do iniquity. They shall be cast into the furnace of fire!” A new day finds the five walking quickly in their quest to find the tree that holds the book Gotian has commanded them to find. Aaron lags behind and is in no hurry to find The Tree of Ex Libris. He notices a billboard and points to it, “Hey, you guys wait up.” “Why?” Sydney asks. “Look, what about this place?” An old billboard was advertising a place called Whisper Lake but now has a banner across it reading: CLOSED. “Maybe this is the place.” “Good idea Aaron,” Katherine says in mindspeak, “I thought you would pay your way more sooner than later.”

“Shut up Kate, I have been chosen leader, and it’s about time I lead,” Aaron responds in mindspeak. The group continues to walk, thinking, and their thoughts being heard by the rest of the group. They have yet to learn how to control and block their thoughts. The lake site has been barb-wired off and the outhouses boarded up. Whisper Lake looks more like a shout of despair. There are spots of quicksand where they walk and bristly brush and cactus in other spots. Sydney says aloud, “Okay, we are supposed to find life in this wasteland dump?” Luke is again trying to be voice of reason, “Perhaps life exists under this wasteland, as you call it.” “Okay, alright Mr. Spock, point taken. I just don’t know how anything can survive in this stink hole! Including us…” The group trudges forward, pushing back overgrown tree limbs and garbage left behind by those that chose to make this a dump. Through the dead trees and overgrown grass, there stands a lone tree; a tree filled with green leaves and bark a rich brown color. The tree has a remarkable shape. Shapely as if it was once a woman. Beautiful in stature. “This has to be it.” Aaron remarks, “I told you I would lead you to it.” Galen shakes his head and mindspeaks to Aaron, “Your dick would lead anywhere that resembles a female.” Aaron looks at Galen, “And yours wouldn’t know how to.” The two look at the rest of the group and go back to their find. The tree is standing there seemingly untouched by the destruction of its surroundings. The five form a circle around the tree and concentrate on a book they know nothing about in appearance or otherwise.

The most that happens as they concentrate is a small rumbling of the earth beneath them. Galen breaks his concentration and resigns himself to digging. The group looks at Galen quizzically. “What?” they ask in unison. “Time for manual labor. Obviously our so called powers aren’t the key to finding this thing.” The group agrees and now everyone is digging with their hands. Katherine screams and the others look at her discovery. It’s a box, a very old, ancient looking box. “I found it! It’s here!” There is a lock on the box, keeping whatever is in it inside. The group takes turns trying to open the box with their supernatural powers and old fashioned pulling and tugging at the box. The lock will not release. They look at each other and immediately grip each other’s hands and will the box to open. They walk slowly towards the now opened box as if it was a beast they may have to do battle with. Aaron is the first to inspect its contents and he throws the box down. The group immediately discovers that the box is empty. “What kind of bloody games are you playing Gotian!?” Luke is enraged and dares Gotian to appear. Aaron is calm, “Maybe Gotian is wrong.” Sydney adds, “Or maybe something or someone doesn’t trust Gotian. Maybe there is a greater force than Gotian working against us.” It’s nightfall and Roberto and Serena are ing out blankets to the homeless in the large common room at the church. There are several cots and makeshift beds on the floor. Roberto, checks his back pocket for an item which he discovers is still safely tucked away. He sighs with relief. His relief is short-lived when later he discovers that a part of his anatomy is missing. The transformation is starting. Abe is back in his office writing in his journal. While writing, he takes a moment to unlock his secret drawer to retrieve the book he keeps hidden.

He smiles and loudly says. “I am Ready!” Abe is now resting, lying back in his chair, taking a break from writing and he dozes off to the same dream that recurs every evening. The dream always is continual, picking up where it leaves off from the previous dream. Abe crawls from a lake, coughing and breathing heavily. He is confronted with the mutilated bodies of his friends and the destruction that was left behind. How could a campfire outing with friends, music, and drinking turn into a horror-fest? Why is he alive while his friends are dead? He begins to run but trips over a tree root and falls. He drags his body to a tree, where he places his head on the ground to rest from the attempted escape. He sees something peeking from the earth and goes closer to inspect the object. A decorated but old-looking box is partially revealed. Abe begins to dig frantically to make more of the discovery. He recovers the box, and opens the lid. A book is inside and he takes it from the box. He is now standing, fully recovered, almost transformed from the horrific events that have just taken place. “Blessed are those that believe,” he quietly says. He quickly looks around for any prying eyes, and begins to bury the now empty box back into the earth, under the tree. Abe wakes up, looking around in his office and opens the secret drawer. The book is placed back and locked up. A shower of sparks appear as the group is still at the lake wondering where the book is and why were they sent on a fools chase. Aaron is the first to speak, “This is bullshit man, fuck you Gotian! I’m not doing it your way anymore. To hell with all your prophecies.” Gotian, now standing near Sydney, “Hell is exactly what is happening.” Sydney screams, “The book is not here Gotian! We are too late, or it never was here!” “You must find the book. There are great forces going against you, and you

have to retrieve what they have stolen.” Aaron positions himself towards Gotian and is ready for another ass kicking or another test of his supernatural powers to for once and for all defeat Gotian and his ego. Gotian understands what is happening and says, “You think you can even challenge me mentally, let alone physically?” Aaron mindspeaks to the others, “Man up and me.” Aaron summons his sword and runs toward Gotian. Gotian shapeshifts into a dragon with topaz eyes. Luke’s mouth is agape, “It was you! You were the Loathing that we fought at the church.” Gotian is now towering over the group. Aaron continues his run at Gotian and as he reaches to plunge his sword into the beast, Gotian’s claws drag Sydney into his grasp and he uses her as a shield. Aaron’s Sword impales Sydney and she slumps to the ground. At last, all is silent.

7

The Purge

Black fluid pours from Sydney’s limp body as she lies in the arms of a now transformed dragon. Shadow Souls hover amongst the trees and whisper in languages unrecognizable by the group. Gotian throws Sydney’s body aside and stares at Aaron. Aaron again raises his sword to continue what he started but the sword is frozen in midrise. He struggles to overpower the sword but cannot; “You piece of shit, how could you do this? You are the devil incarnate.” Katherine, Galen, and Luke try to rescue Sydney’s body but are unable to move; frozen by Gotian. Katherine’s eyes turn black and her voice alters, “How did this happen, why have you done this?” Galen is struggling to break free of the power that has hold over them, “I can’t move. Gotian you are a son of a bitch. What have you done?” “I am the son of no human host. You tried to undermine my powers and my instruction. Sacrifices have to be made.” Luke is calm and says to the group, “You can’t die twice!” What is going on here?” Suddenly Gotian is pulled from his stance and is no longer there. Sydney is gone as well. The power is now broken and Katherine, Galen and Luke can now move. Katherine runs to where Sydney’s body once lay and falls to the ground, crying.

Galen is pacing hard with rage. Aaron, stares at his once mighty sword and bangs it to the ground. The foundation shakes. Aaron questioning with anger, “Where are you Gotian?” Galen picks Katherine up from the ground and embraces her. Katherine holds tightly to Galen. She looks up towards the sky and sees Shadow Souls flying about. Katherine releases from Galen’s embrace and warns the others; “Look! Souls. Watch out!” Aaron spins around but is too late as two of the souls flip him in the air and slam his body to the earth. Aaron is scrambling for his sword but another soul grabs his ankle and begins to drag him over the jagged, coarse earth. He swings his sword at hyper speed, leaving no impact on the shadows. He yells out, “What are you waiting for? Help me! Grab your weapons… do something!” Each member of the five summons their weapons and begin to battle the Shadow Souls. The souls over power the group and each angel is tossed about as if he or she was a discarded rag doll. They are no match for this set of demons. Galen is held to an old and battered tree, unable to move again. Katherine’s eyes are instantly black and she is chanting in a voice not of her own, “and he that deceives them was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and false prophet had been thrown.” The Shadow Souls begin to back away and recede into the trees and quickly vanish. Luke is surprised and impressed with Katherine’s abilities, “Nicely done Kate.” A restored Katherine both thanks and corrects Luke, “Thank you, and its Katherine, no one has called me Kate in ages.” Katherine thinks about Nivan again for a moment, but pushes the sight of Nivan’s cold molested body out of thought. It will always be too painful to think about.

Galen is released from the tree, “Well that was creepy as hell. Where did that come from Kate, uh, I mean Katherine?” “I don’t know, it’s like I just knew. Whatever I did it bought us some time to get out of here.” Aaron’s mouth is bleeding black fluid. Katherine touches her mouth and sees black fluid from her mouth as well. She vomits more of it. Luke backs away slowly, whispering, “The Purging…” Lael, Serah and Gotian stand over Sydney’s body in an alleyway. The jagged hole left in her body is pouring black fluid. “How did this happen?” Gotian showing no remorse states, “I miscalculated out of desperation with those Mongrels. Just fix this.” Serah looks with comion at the body, “I don’t know if we can Gotian. The injury to her is causing her essence to be released rapidly.” Gotian interrupts, “Stop talking and just fix it!” “This is dangerous,” Serah warning Gotian. Gotian is angered by her words. Lael whispers to Gotian, “You and I know that this injury is serious and the consequences are much worse. I don’t know if Serah and I can make this right.” Gotian, now humbled, “This is not of my doing.” Lael moving toward Gotian, “I said we will try.” Gotian is abruptly pulled from the ground and disappears. Lael and Serah are unaware of Oscar watching from the alley; a bottle of

whiskey in his hands. He watches and takes a big swig of the whiskey. He cannot believe his eyes as the body lying next to Lael and Serah begins to convulse as a surge of light pours from the two mentors into the lifeless body. Oscar looks at his bottle of whiskey and throws it away. “I gotta stop drinking.”

8

Civility

Around the time of the civil rights movement in the 1960’s a reverend is in a less than five star motel, lying in bed undressed awaiting an extra marital happy ending. He can hear the young woman in the shower singing a song off-key. The charming and handsome reverend is now back to his thoughts. Thoughts of the speech he is preparing to give to a large congregation of people that will hear the message of equality for all men, regardless of race, creed or religion. He knows it will be his most powerful speech. Those in the fight against racial intolerance will attend and those that are closed minded and filled with ignorance and hate will also attend. Shadows of the dark minded will want to see him dead. He and his organization have spread throughout the world their message of peace and hope for all men to be treated equal. The sound of the young woman’s singing is now in focus and reverend is ready for her touch, cheap fragrance and all things a woman like her will do for a man. After all, he is still a man. Shirley exits from the shower wearing only a smile. Her body tight and ready for what any man desires. She finds herself more than just attracted to this man. He is a reverend and his words have stimulated her, “Hey, Reverend Baby, can we get somethin’ to eat after I give you something to eat. I want to go out on the town, like a real couple.” The reverend exposes himself to her and smiles while extending his hand. “Come to me girl. Now you know we can’t be seen out together. I will order you something to eat after I get my loving from you. Then I have to finish

my notes for my speech.” Shirley, playfully pouts while walking towards the reverend, “Awww, baby I wanna go out, what can I do to change your mind?” The reverend quiets Shirley’s requests with a tussle in bed and a kiss that leaves her silent and now doing what she does best. At least for the reverend. “Sweet Hallelujah! Girl you know how to make a man come to his knees.” The young woman is pleased with herself and lays her head on the reverend’s chest. The good reverend is breathing hard and smiling at the pleasure he just experienced. He takes a look at the clock on the nightstand and knows it’s time to go. He picks up the telephone, “Hello! I would like an order of smoked ribs, some slaw, and some of your sweet lemonade. I am at the Fortune Motel, room 67. Thank you.” He then places monies on the nightstand for the food order and the young girl’s services. The girl is not pleased with the food order and wraps herself in the sheets, almost embarrassed. Her embarrassment quickly turns to anger as the reverend makes a second phone call, “I am on my way home now. I left notes for my speech at the church… sure I will pick up laundry soap, anything else? Okay, I’ll be home soon for dinner.” The reverend places his tros around his neck as he prepares to kiss the young girl draped in the dampened sheets. Shirley refuses, but not for long. She allows the sheet to fall from her naked body and the reverend kisses her breasts. She parts her legs for another session but the reverend pats her butt and turns away from her to get dressed. Shirley is humiliated. Another day, another hotel, another woman, and another precursor to a speech to be given in the next several hours to his congregation and to the masses that want change and believe in equal rights for all men. Angelica is slipping off her over-worn red dress and black hosiery for the reverend. A bible is nearby with notes from the reverend’s speech.

The reverend takes a look at Angelica and shakes his head at her exotic beauty; “Come here baby girl, you are one hot conchita…” Before he could finish telling the young woman about her physical beauty, Angelica was straddling the reverend and plying kisses all over his body. The reverend stops talking and moans in ecstasy. In a moment the reverend has completed his sexual moment. He takes Angelica by the hips and removes her off of him, “We’re done here and I’ve got to get ready for the civil rights rally. My speech needs a little polish.” Angelica, looking lost, says to the reverend, “I can help you polish anything you need.” The reverend ignores the offer and continues to get dressed and looks at himself in a smudged mirror while practicing his speech. Angelica is visibly disappointed but is excited about what the reverend is doing about human rights; “What time is the rally? I want to be there. Me and my friends believe in what you are doing.” The reverend, now fixing his tie, turns around and responds to Angelica, “The rally begins at 3pm. I am glad to hear you are part of many wanting an equal rights movement. Brown, black and all other nationalities should have equal rights in this country.” Angelica hugs the reverend with sincerity and whispers “esperanza” in his ear. The reverend kisses her on the forehead and is out the door. Angelica has a tear running down her face as she shivers at the reverend’s departure.

9

Allies

Serena was not having the best day at work and when 5:30 arrived it was all she could do but run from her work cubical area and the coffee stain boy. She was on the elevator and out walking the streets towards the church in no time. Serena ed her words to Promise of speaking to Lili’s mother about the youth camp. Her feet were aching and she was starving but she jumped on a bus taking her to Toni’s apartment. Her plan was to meet Lili’s mom and then a shower and possibly food after it was all over. It would take two buses and a four block walk on aching feet to arrive at Toni’s place. Google Maps is great for navigation, but not for the feet doing the walking. Seeing Toni’s apartment building and the front door ajar, she pushed her way through and looked on the mail boxes for the names. “Anderson… found it!” Serena approaches Toni’s door and knocks gently as she can hear a baby on the other side. “Who’s there?” “It’s Serena.” The door is immediately opened. Tony says, “Girl, come on in, it’s good to meet you, besides at church, I mean.” Serena is overwhelmed by Toni’s greeting but it is very welcome after the end of a crappy day. Serena suddenly feels as if she is imposing, “I’m sorry for not calling before I dropped by.” Toni is pleasant and does not seem to mind the unexpected visit.

“Lili talks non-stop about your little girl Promise. She is always sayin’ . . . oh shit!” Serena looks in amazement, “Promise says that?” Toni rushes off to the kitchen, banging around, and talking to herself; “No, I almost burned my famous blackberry cobbler. Folks at the church love it.” Serena follows Toni to the kitchen with a baby on her hip, “I wish I had the time to bake, I used to bake all the time, before Vida and I came here.” “Who’s Vida?” Toni, half listening, retrieves the pie from the oven, “Is Promise going to youth camp?” Serena, prepares for an explanation, but sees Toni isn’t really listening. She stops short of speaking and is angry with herself for disclosing Promise’s true name. Serena, still holding and playing with the baby in her arms, brings her attention back to Toni; “I’m not sure about youth camp. That’s why I came over here today. I wanted to talk to you about camp and Father Abe.” Adam, the small child in Serena’s arms, is now beginning to fuss because attention is not on him. Toni quietly responds, “Adam boy, you better stop that noise. Don’t get me started today. Not with all I still have to do.” Adam responds to his mother’s tone and voice. He is calm again and clinging to Serena. Toni, redirects her attention to both the pie and Serena’s questions. “Ah! Ouch! Damn this is hot! Father Abe is the best thing that has happened to that church. In fact, this town. He really cares; you know? He’s one of us. He understands what this community needs. Girl, you just don’t know the type of people that have come through here with their big ideas and flashing their money around. Nobody cares about big ideas and money, folks care about the doing. You know what I’m talking ’bout?” Serena nods her head in agreement. She doesn’t know if she should share

her doubts about the church, Lucia and Father Abe. Toni seems to be a loyal member of the congregation. Serena hesitates but begins to speak, “Well, Father Abe has been really good to Promise and I. I really have no complaints about the church. He seems to care and really connects with the people. Everyone seems to love what he is doing with the church and the community. I’m new here so I don’t know everything that has happened to this town. I just want a safe environment for Promise.” Toni is now totally focused on Serena, and can see the concern on her face. “What you worried about? Just say what’s on your mind.” Serena breathes deeply, “I don’t know, I mean they seem a little too controlling, I know they mean well but Lucia always has my Promise at her side. Lucia and Stephen seem to always lurk in the shadows watching me. I mean it just feels that way, like someone is watching. I don’t know, maybe I am just holding on too tight to Promise but she is all I have left after her father died.” Toni sympathizes, but comes quickly to the defense of the church, “All I know is this whole neighborhood was taken over by drugs, thieves and folks losing their jobs. Then Father Abe showed up one day and started to make a difference. It’s been more than a miracle, he’s a Godsend.” Serena, wanting to know more, “How did he do this? When did he come here?” Toni, now clasping her hands as if she were in prayer, “I don’t know the answer to either of those questions. Just one day he was here and folks started listening to his message. Things started to change. I know it may seem controlling but things had to change. It takes a strong man, or an army, to turn things around here. And it doesn’t hurt he’s easy on the eye. Girl have you looked at Father Abe? If I wasn’t married, I sure would like to be the preacher’s wife! I would serve him pie all day baby!” Serena blushes. Toni smiles, “Ah ha! You think he is cute too. It’s alright. All us women do. As for Lucia, she’s harmless, she just has a big bark. She keeps Father Abe’s schedule in order and watches out for him. She can be a pill though. Don’t get me wrong. Like a pit bull at times. I just ignore her. I don’t have

time for her games.” Serena notices the dimming of the day and the sun disappearing. She looks at her watch and decides she should leave and get back to the shelter. Toni also notices the darkness, “Looks like it’s about to rain.” Serena, gives Adam back to Toni, and kisses his little fingers; “Be a good little man. It was nice to meet you Toni, thanks for letting me stop in and bend your ear.” Toni, now with Adam in her arms, “No problem, I needed the break and the company. Lili’s father is a truck driver and stays on the road for at least three weeks out of the month, so I need all the adult stimulation I can get.” Toni winks. Serena, doesn’t understand the last of Toni’s words, but she feels suddenly uncomfortable. Toni sees Serena to the door, “Looks like a storm is coming. Take care in this weather. I will see you at the church potluck. My blackberry cobbler is the whip; you don’t want to miss it” Serena, now making a hastier exit to avoid a storm on the way back to the shelter, yells over her shoulder, “Goodbye Toni! Good to meet you and little Adam, and thanks for the conversation.” As Serena walks out of the apartment building, the wind gusts pick up and the temperature changes to a chill. Serena wraps her arms around herself to lend warmth. She can hear Promise’s words as she waits for the bus. “Better wear a coat Mom, a storm is coming.”

10

Unity

Sydney begins to move and gasp for air. She re immediately what has happened and places her hand to the wound that was inflicted by Aaron’s sword. There is no evidence of a stabbing. She looks at Serah and Lael standing over her, and using her mindspeak, “Katherine, Galen . . . anybody. It’s me Sydney. Help me! What is going on?” Katherine responds, “Where are you?” Sydney smiles with relief that Katherine has responded, “I think I am in an alley. Maybe the same one where we saw your former employee Oscar? Hurry! Get me outta here. Those two strange people are here.” Gotian suddenly appears. Sydney is now standing and is not happy with his appearance. “What the hell do you want, Gotian?” “Still rude I see.” Gotian reaches for Sydney but she shapeshifts into a hawk and soars flawlessly in the sky and screeches. A light flashes and the hawk disappears. Gotian, Lael and Serah agree the powers of the five are getting stronger. The others are now together and test their telepathy resources to find Sydney. They are at the alleyway Sydney referred to. Aaron stops, “Sebastian? What are you doing here?” Sebastian ignores the question, and points in the opposite direction, “Your friend that you seek is there, across the highway.”

Katherine asking, “Who are you? Aaron, do you know this guy?” Sebastian, while looking at Aaron, “I am an old friend.” The group now focuses on Aaron for explanation. Galen notices that Sebastian has disappeared. “Hey, where is he?” Luke starts to walk towards the highway in search of Sydney. The rest follow, never getting the answer from Aaron. Luke can see Sydney lying on the ground near the highway. Sydney now sees the four heading her way. She is strangely calm and mindspeaks, “It took you long enough!” No one responds. Katherine is smiling as she approaches Sydney, “Life everlasting I see.” Sydney hunches her shoulders while glaring at Aaron, “I guess so, what the hell were you thinking Aaron?” Aaron is humbled for a rare moment in his life, and says nothing. Luke interrupts the stare, “Are you okay? Where did you go? Is there a suspension of time and space? Did you meet spiritual entities?” Sydney, breaking her death glare towards Aaron, responds with irritation: “Whoa! Take it down a notch. I don’t know what happened after being pulled in by one asshole and impaled by another. All I know is that I felt warmth and a surge of light, only to be awakened by those two odd people standing over me smiling. Why do they always smile? We’re in a nightmare, and they smile. The world as we know it is ending. They smile. We are the walking dead. Again they smile. Mentors or not, they creep the hell out of me!” Serah and Lael show up just as Sydney finishes her rant. A smiling Serah says, “Yep, she’s okay. You know we didn’t think we could bring you back this time.”

Lael nods in agreement. Galen now posturing, “What do you mean this time?” Luke interjects, “Are you not our guardian protectors?” Lael sighs, “Not from yourselves. You were foolish to waste your energies on Gotian. You may want to rethink your strategy.” The five is collectively silent. Gotian is contemplating his actions with Sydney when he hears the gallop of The Horsemen. “We are near. I smell misery, hunger and thirst.” Famine and War spit liquid that forms acid as it hits the ground. “Nations are conspiring to pit brother against brother.” As the gallops continue, the echoes of the Guardians of the Twelve Gates are stronger and can be heard over the voices of the Horsemen. “A thousand years have ed and soon the foul one will be released from his prison. He will deceive and plague the four corners of the earth with seven sins.”

11

Sacrifice

It’s Church Potluck Day! Children are running everywhere while foods and desserts are being placed on tables by of both community and congregation. Promise is chasing Lili in a game of tag. Lili, keeping good pace, looks behind her and finds that Promise is no longer there. Lili stops running, turns a complete 360 and sees Promise standing in front of her. Lili screams but Promise covers Lili’s mouth. “How did you do that?” Promise laughs and her sparkling blue eyes are now black and roll back, exposing the whites of her eyes. Lili moves backwards away from Promise, scared. Promise stops laughing. Taking a step towards Lili. “Lili, it’s me, Promise. It’s just a joke… You are funny. You should see the look on your face.” Lili is not sure what to do, she stands there frozen until Promise reaches her and gives her a hug. Lili flinches and feels cold. Promise pulls away and takes Lili by the hand heading back toward the church. She whispers to Lili, “You can never hide from me, you are my bestest friend. I’ll always know where you are.” Lili remains quiet. The Potluck is nearly over. Roberto asks jokingly, “Who’s going to clean all this up?”

Abe walks away while pondering thoughts, but responds, “As always, we will work together.” The two children are returning to the festivities as they are met with a disapproving Lucia. “Where have you two been? Father will not be pleased that you did not help today. You have spent all your time playing foolish games.” Promise is not happy to disappoint Father Abe and begs Lucia not to tell. “Please Lucia, don’t tell Father Abe, we’re sorry.” Lucia grabs Promise’s hand from Lili’s and reprimands her more. “Then you will stop disappearing and do your chores as you are instructed to do.” As Lucia speaks, a lightning bolt strikes her hand and she is thrown to the ground. Promise and Lili stand over Lucia looking at her as she scrambles to get up. Roberto sees her struggle and races over to help her to her feet. “Are you okay?” Lucia, glaring at both girls, answers Roberto. “I’m fine!” Roberto looks at the girls and Lucia. He knows something has happened, but doesn’t ask again. He walks away feeling odd and confused. Lael and Serah can hear the words of the Guardians of the Twelve Gates, “Time is not on your side. Pay attention to the signs and work together.” Sydney, fully restored and perhaps stronger, agrees, “I think we should start to listen and do what we have to do. The mentors did save my life or essence. Whatever you want to call it, and trying to “best” Gotian isn’t working.” Aaron scoffs, “They didn’t save your life if you were already dead.” “Big words from the Impaler himself,” Luke adds. “Nothing is the same again, your essence can be destroyed. What we did

back at the lake was dangerous,” Katherine says. “Let’s move forward before Gotian arrives.” Galen spins around, “Too late, he’s baaaccck!” A circle of light forms around the five. Again they are unable to move and are now transported to a different time. It is now the 1968 Civil Rights rally. A charismatic man is at a podium speaking to what appears to be hundreds of people with picket signs ing his words of equality. The five can also see police officers and other men with shotguns in the shadows. The five notice that their clothing has changed to 1960’s attire. Some of them are carrying picket signs of hatred: Whites’ only. One God, One Race. The White Race. The reverend is at a feverish pitch and the masses are applauding, while others are booing, at the message delivered. Galen and Aaron try to throw away the inflammatory signs they are holding but the signs are pressed to their hands by a strong force. Katherine sees a gunman making his way through the crowd. “We can make a difference in history! We have to stop this man!” They all agree. The gunman makes his way closer to his intended target and the five are ready to engage him. He comes through the crowd and the five steps aside, pushing him even closer to the reverend. A shot is heard, and screams begin as the crowd starts to disburse and scattered. All seems okay in the world for about 20 seconds until a crimson stain starts to blossom through the crisp, white shirt the reverend is wearing. Bodyguards and assistant ministers run to the aid of the slain peacemaker. His wife is holding her husband’s head in her lap. There are no tears as panic and cries can be heard throughout the air.

The woman silently rocks back and forth with her children watching their father in her arms. Angelica and her friend are part of the very few that did not run as shots were fired, instead she lets the sign for peace fall from her hand. Tears fall freely from her eyes and she feels lost. Abe, in his study, slams a book shut that he is reading. “All is well.” The prophecy is unfolding and this world with it. The light of the circle is now gone and the five are back in the alley with Gotian. Katherine looks the most defeated. Memories of a life that she could not save came to mind. She is angered but silently asks, “Why?” Gotian tells the group that their journey began a long time ago. In this second world they are involved in historical events that change the world and its people forever. He asks that they return to the desert where they can work on their powers and stay safe while doing so. Aaron insists they go back to the warehouse: they will travel to the desert tomorrow. Luke states, “Time as we know it does not exist anymore, we need to go to the desert as Gotian instructs.” They begin their trek.

12

Control

Roberto is walking past Father Abe’s office and notices Abe’s face of discontent. He doubles back, “Are you all right?” Abe looks up at Roberto, “Just a headache. I think I will lie down a while. I will see you at dinner.” Roberto feeling dismissed, backs away, “Okay, hope you feel better.” Abe enters his bedroom and shuts the door immediately. Roberto continues down the hallway and enters while knocking on Lucia’s door. She is kneeling and reading aloud from a book with eyes shut. “And the battle shall rage and many will suffer.” Without opening her eyes, “Hello Roberto…” Roberto is not surprised that Lucia knows he is standing in her room. “Hello Lucia. Just wanted to check in on you after that spill you took and also talk about the youth camp. Do you need more of my help?” Eyes still closed, Lucia is non-responsive. Roberto is preparing to leave the room when Lucia responds, “Everything is on schedule.” Roberto, annoyed, replies, “Good.” As he exits the room, he slams the door shut. Promise is standing directly outside Lucia’s door. Roberto is startled. “Promise! You scared me. What are you doing standing here in the dark hallway?”

Promise sees the look on Roberto’s face and suppresses a grin. “I’m hungry, can I have some cookies and milk? Roberto concedes, “Don’t tell your mother. Moms can make you feel guilty!” Promise and Roberto laugh and head towards the kitchen. While Roberto is pouring milk for Promise, she asks, “Why is Father Abe sick? “Why do you think Father is sick?” Before Promise can answer, Serena makes her presence known. She is standing in the doorway, drenched from the rain and angered at Promise eating cookies. “There you are. I have been looking for you since I came in from work. Dinner time is very soon and you know you aren’t to eat junk food before dinner!” Serena grabs the cookie from Promise. “I am tired of feeling useless and having no control. I am your mother. Not Lucia! Not Father Abe! And not Roberto!” Roberto listening to the defeated mother says, “It’s just a cookie, and it’s my fault. I just thought…” Serena, becoming angrier, “That’s the problem Roberto, everyone around thinks they know what’s best for my child. She is my child, I make the decisions! Not you! Not anyone!” Roberto hunches his shoulders and looks at Promise as she is pulled down from the stool she was sitting on. “Sorry kiddo.” Serena pulls Promise from the room and Roberto is left eating the cookies and drinking the milk that was for Promise. The trek back to the desert was an expedited one. Katherine provided Air Teleport and the five found that their powers and skills were sharper and stronger. Everyone understood what had just happened and the roles they each played in the slaying of the civil rights leader. They also understood that they were part of history. In its making. That it

would be an exercise in stupidity to try and change it. Lightning flashes and Luke is the first to see the vibrant red robe in the distance. Though he could not understand what the entity was, it was definitely menacing. The five walk toward the figure and hear the words spoken, “I am. It is done. From the Alpha to the Omega, the beginning and the end. To him that is thirsty I will give drink without cost from the spring of life. He, who overcomes, will inherit all this as well a son. The cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderous, those that practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars: their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the Second Death.” As the five near, the figure disappears and the wind creates a funnel. “What in the name of all that is sane?” Katherine asks. Luke and Galen almost in harmony, “What’s that sound?” A swarm of locusts come down on the five: attacking them. Luke uses his mindspeak and tells the others to form a cold barrier to stop the locusts. Eyes open and now blackened, the group opens their mouths and frozen air escapes, creating a large and strong barrier. The locusts die on impact of the frigid wall of air. They lie dead and the air now returns to desert temperatures. The group can feel their strength twofold and a flood of memories of their existence from a millennium ago are coming hard and fast. They are now ready to move forward in history. The horsemen can be heard by the five and the sound is getting closer. Abe is sleeping deeply and having dreams of Whisper Lake. Damp, cold and dark. He trudges through the marshy ground, carrying the book he discovered under a tree. There is a crow flying high overhead. It seems to be observing him and the carnage of the campsite. He begins to run and is able to find a ride into the city by hitching. The

driver drops him off at a three story building. Upon entering the building Abe is met at the door by a man wearing a physician’s jacket. He gives the book to the man wearing the jacket and is adamant, “Keep this in a safe place. You and your kind depend on the safety of this book.” The doctor nods. Abe awakens from his dream in a panic and walks over to the mirror where he sees the sweat beading around his forehead and neck. He is uncertain, but believes he can see two figures behind him and quickly turns around. Only to find empty space! He is sure someone is watching so he takes the mirror and crashes it to the floor. A pool of blood starts to form around his feet as his hands drip with sweat and blood. As he sees his own blood start to pool, Souls cover the room and a growl can be heard from the other side of Abe’s door.

13

Regret

“Regret. Do any of you feel regret?” Luke asks the group. “I think we all do Luke. I regret I didn’t treat my wife better,” Michael responds. “I was a total asshole, even after the accident. It’s like I couldn’t stop myself. I lost connection with my daughter and I cheated on my wife with my slice on the side. I just convinced myself that I deserved happiness and if I couldn’t get it in one place, I would go to different places to get it. Money wasn’t an object. I was arrogant.” “Was?” Sydney retorts, “You and the word, arrogant, are one.” Going on, she says, “I feel most regret about my mother. I fell away from the church, I stopped communicating with my parents after college and made up excuses why I couldn’t come for dinner once in a while. I lived this double life. Teacher by day, hot and available for any man by night. I mean, I think every time I slept with a new person I felt like I was sticking it to the church and the bastard that raped me. In the end I felt empty, alone and filthy. I ruined me.” Katherine takes her turn, “If I could have saved Nivan that day. If I hadn’t taken a shower and had been there when the visitors arrived, maybe I could have saved Nivan. No one should endure that hurt. He was my best friend. He was my only friend. I needed him. Hell, we needed each other. I have spent my whole life trying to make up for his death. I give and it never feels like it is enough. I even took for granted, my family, for the pain and regret I felt for the loss of Nivan.” Luke is next to reveal his regrets, “Loss is a never ending pain. I would give

my life to have my little brother back. I should have watched him closer when he was in the water. My parents never let me forget that my reckless behavior caused his death. I hadn’t spoken to my parents in over twenty years and when my mother ed away several years ago, I couldn’t bring myself to attend the funeral. I had my damn assistant send flowers. I didn’t have the balls to select flowers or attend my own mother’s funeral. What I preach is a bloody lie! I regret everything about me. I loathe what I was. Maybe this time I will make an impact! Bollocks… I don’t know!” Finally it’s Galen’s turn, “I loved him in ways that a father would feel disgraced. I called him my best friend, but I loved him as a woman can love a man. I wasn’t true to my wife, true to my dad or true to myself. I loved Michael… I don’t know if he loved me the way I loved him but I should have told him. Maybe I would have been happy and not an alcoholic. I am Jewish and gay and now I’m dead. A crack of thunder and a lightning bolt strike the skies. The five understand they no longer have the gift they once took for granted… free will. Night has fallen on the city of Modos and the storm has interrupted all power in the city. The church and shelter are now without electricity. Abe, Serena, Stephen and Lucia light candles to guide their paths through the church. Roberto is standing in the foyer. “Is that you Roberto?” “Yeah, it’s me Abe. Is there a generator around here?” Another round of lightning illuminates the church while thunder fills in the silent voids. Serena jumps at the sound. Abe answers Roberto’s question, “I already checked for a generator when I moved in. Nothing I could find.”

Abe, Lucia, Roberto and Stephen are calm in the noise of the storm. Serena is frightened and her hands tremble, almost dropping her candle. She heads off to the basement area where she and Promise share a room and checks to see if Promise has been awakened by the storm. Promise is sound asleep. Before Serena closes the room door, she kisses Promise on the cheek. “Sleep well my angel, we will leave this place tomorrow and begin again in a new place.” Serena quickly turns around and hears whispers calling her name and without fear she follows the whispers toward the church sanctuary. The whispers stop and Serena sees Lucia, Roberto and Abe in a circle holding hands. Abe is leading with words, “Blessed are those who believe.” Lucia continues, “For the truth shall be known to them.” Roberto completes the verse, “And the earth will rejoice.” Serena is feeling very warm and dizzy. The words that Lucia spoke reminds her of a time with David, five years after Vida was born. The day Geneveve had the courage to get up after being knocked down by her husband. That was the day she told David that she and Vida were leaving and the truth would be known to everyone. Vida was hiding in her bedroom. In her five years she had seen the violence between her parents. It frightened her at first. Vida always knew that she would not be in this situation for long. She saw the shadows. They protected her. She heard the whispers. She listened. Now she heard Geneveve standing up to David. There was a loud thud outside her room. Her mother called for her. Vida grabbed a coat and walked away from her room to her mother. They both looked at the body on the carpeted living room floor. No signs of violence. One would think David was asleep. Vida knew better, her father was dead. A last look around the place they called home and Geneveve and Vida walked out the door into a new life, one that would be on the run as Serena and Promise. Geneveve and Vida died that day, never to return, never looking back.

Serena is now swaying, almost falling, as her vision has become blurred at the sight of the trio. She holds her head because the pain that has begun is unbearable. She tries to walk to her room but crumbles to the floor. The three in the sanctuary continue their words undeterred with the collapse of Serena. Serena can still hear the wind, thunder and rain outside but the dizziness and pain from her head is over-powering. The chanting of Abe, Lucia and Roberto is starting to fade as Serena is drifting into unconsciousness. Promise’s eyes are open now and she is awake. She runs from the bedroom and towards the church sanctuary doors, which are now closed. “I’m coming Mama.” Promise bursts through the doors and views her mother on the floor. The chants are silenced as Promise screams at the sight of her mother. “Mama?” Abe breaks the circle and walks over to a crying Promise and Serena, who appears not to be breathing at this point. He picks up Serena’s frail, slender body and begins carrying her toward her bedroom. Promise is holding on to Abe’s arm, no longer crying and without expression. Abe places Serena’s body on her bed; her body being stiff and her skin colorless. She isn’t breathing… Abe sits on the bed next to her while Promise climbs into Abe’s lap and places her head on his shoulder. Abe holds Promises hand and smiles. The five continues its pilgrimage through the desert, periodically stopping to train and test their six senses with shapeshifting being the favourite. However, mastering their individual talents is key. Again they stop as each can now hear and see the Guardians of the Twelve Gates in the distance. A wall of the world’s most precious stones appears. The foundation is Jasper, the second is Sapphire, third is Chalcedony, continuing with Emerald, Sardonyx, Carnelian, Chrysolite, Beryl, Topaz, Chysorase, Jacinth and the top being of Amethyst. At the gates stand the guardians, the protectors. The five are in awe of the

beauty and majesty of the tall gates and the wall’s exterior stone. They seem to all vaguely this structure but struggle to put the pieces together. Lael and Serah appear, watching the five; delighted in what seems to be the crossing over and resurgence of the mighty ones that once roamed the first world. Their delight is interrupted as the gallop and the appearance of The Four Horsemen approach the gate. Famine reaches for her time com and she points into the distance. The Horsemen ride harder in their intended direction. A translucent blue wall of water separates the Horsemen and Twelve Gates. Everyone watches to see what is to happen next. Lael and Serah are calm while the five are frozen both in wonderment and unknown expectation. While the wall of water holds The Horsemen at bay the five uses the opportunity to transport to another area of desert as they continue their journey. A cave is now in their line of vision. Sydney makes it known. “I don’t do caves,” “What I’m guessing is that this cave is some sort of protection,” Luke observes. “Follow me. Sydney, you stay behind me so I can protect you. I owe you that. I owe you all that much.” Aaron proceeds to walk in first. The others enter the cave cautiously with weapons drawn. Aaron is leading the way and a dim light becomes a glow ahead. Shadow Souls are visible on the walls of the cave as Luke is pushed into Galen by one of the souls. “Fight!” Aaron screams. The five is at battle with the Shadow Souls. From outside the cave, Lael and Serah can hear the cries and screams from inside. They bow their heads and disappear.

The screaming ends abruptly as Katherine, Luke, Sydney, Galen and Aaron huddle within the cave. Aaron looks at his hands as they are covered in blood. “What is going on here?” Aaron almost trips over a dead body. A body he stabbed with his sword during the battle just moments ago. Luke shakes his head in disbelief along with the others as they are all shocked to see the body. There was something very different about the body they all thought. His clothing was not present day; it looked as if he were a pauper, with tattered rags serving as clothes, a shaved head, and a very thin and malnourished body. The five realizes they are in another time. Wartime. “This man was persecuted.” Galen knows in his heart what this man appears to have been. The echoes of his father’s stories are in focus and it makes sense. The five are now in Nazi and this dead man is a Jewish Concentration Camp prisoner. Galen is saddened by the actual image of what his father endured. Galen whispers to himself, “Why didn’t I listen to you Pop? Why did I dismiss the stories of your life, and our heritage?” Katherine breaks Galen’s thoughts and says to Aaron, “You killed him.” Aaron, now both embarrassed and filled with anger, “Keep moving! Leave the body here and let’s find out what is on the other side of this cave.” The five hesitates but listens to Aaron’s instruction. They all agree in mindspeak that there is no turning back; the journey continues, whatever the situation. They move with haste through the cave until a gunshot is heard and a bright light prevents them from moving any further, impairing their vision. In the country of Austria, in a beautiful stone mansion, an elegant dinner party is being hosted. It’s 1889. The city’s most elite are seated at the table of Klara and Alois. They are the hosts of this most extravagant dinner. They are also beaming with delight and sharing the good news non-stop about their newest arrival: their beloved son, affectionately referred as Addy.

Klara had three miscarriages prior to the birth of Addy so this was a celebration to be shared with friends. Loud laughter, wealth and opulent jewels fills the room along with many a fat belly and boastful women retelling of their clothing purchases, travels and over indulgences at their husbands’ expense. “A toast,” Aloise declared as he rises from a dinner table filled with food and drink. His guests grow silent and attentive, and raise their glasses. “A toast to my strong son Addy. It is our fortune to have his addition to the family. May he live long and reign over many men in his time.” There is an outpour of approval and the clash of glasses. “It’s a wonderful life,” Klara says almost in a whisper. Alois looks at his wife and winks, “It’s an opulent life. These are great times and we are the great men that create work and wages for those without education or good breeding.” “Here! Here!” The other men bellow aloud. Alois is now anxious for everyone to see his son. “Sylvia! More wine and bring me my son.” Sylvia can hear the request from the kitchen and enters the dining room with wine in hand. Sylvia quickly fills each empty or half empty glass for each guest. “Sylvia, is Addy okay? Have you checked on him?” Klara asks. “Yes mum.” “We want to see him. Bring Addy to us.” Sylvia humbles herself even more as she holds her head down without making eye to the mistress of the house as she replies to the request. “Mum, Addy is asleep, it would be a shame to awaken the little one. He was

most difficult to get to sleep.” Before Sylvia could speak any further, Alois stands from his throne and strikes Sylvia across the face. The dinner conversation amongst the other guest comes to a halt. Sylvia falls to the floor after the strong strike to the face. “Did you hear what the mistress requested of you? I am not interested in your foolish thoughts! Bring me my son, now!” Sylvia slowly stands up. “I am so very sorry master and mistress.” She rubs her face where Aloise has hit her and feels that the hit has broken her skin. “I will bring Addy to you straight away.” The guests nod in approval of Aloise’s actions. Gustaff, one of the guests, “Servants need putting in their place and to be plenty grateful to have employ.” Aloise takes another opportunity to toast to himself, “Cheers!” Sylvia climbs the very long staircase to reach the second level of the mansion and is now crying. As the tears sting her face where she was struck, she reaches Addy’s room, it’s cold and she can’t see but feels someone or something is in the room with her. She walks toward the crib. Reaching for the baby, she notices he is blue in colour and cold. Sylvia is horrified, and cannot believe what she sees. Addy is dead. Sylvia is thrown against a wall, where she faints almost instantly. A bright light illuminates the room as Sydney arrives and shapeshifts into Sylvia. She takes Addy from the crib and now has the dead baby in her arms. Unfazed by holding the dead baby in her arms, Sydney looks at the only window in the baby’s room and sees shadows outside. Taking a back route of the house down to the main level, she enters a back alleyway for

deliveries and the servants’ entrance. Sydney looks around in the darkness illuminated by one lighted post across the way. She can hear the wheels of a baby carriage on the cobblestone surface. Sydney hides in the shadow and waits until a woman and the carriage are close. Holding the dead infant in one hand Sydney grabs a large rock with her free hand and prepares to attack. The rock behind her back, she approaches the Jewish woman and her baby carriage. “Hello, can you help me? My employer has discharged me from my duties, and I have no monies. I have not eaten, and my baby is cold and hungry.” The sympathetic woman looks into her handbag for anything she can give to the woman of misfortune. As the woman looks for something to give, Sydney strikes a powerful blow to the woman and bludgeons her to death. The gurgling baby is taken from the carriage and replaced with the dead child. Sydney hurries back to the servants’ entry and prepares to take the child to the nursery to change him. She is met by Klara and scolded for taking so long to deliver the child to the dining room and their guests. Klara pulls the baby from Sydney’s arms and glares at her. “Come here my sweet Addy, you are in a home of riches and you, my son will rule the world.” Klara walks back toward the dining room. Before she does, she unwraps Addy from a Jewish blanket and turns to throw it at Sydney. “Don’t you ever swaddle my baby in your heathen cloth. If the master knew of this you would be discharged or worse. Bad things could come to you and your family.” The blanket is at the feet of Sydney and she averts her eyes from with Klara. Klara disappears into the next room to the sounds of oohs and ovation at the sight of the newborn. Aloise takes the child from Klara and looks at the boy quizzically for a moment and begins to laugh in delight of his strong son. Sydney is left with one hand still bloodied from the murder that she caused moments earlier and she begins to wash the blood from her hands with

great vigor. She can feel the sting that was inflicted upon Sylvia. A shapeshifting occurs and a now conscious Sylvia is standing where Sydney was washing blood from her hands. Sylvia is confused and scared. Where is the dead baby? How did she get downstairs? Where did the blood on her hands come from? Sydney suddenly is transported back to the others, while Sylvia is left feeling dizzy and confused as her hands are under water with the tinges of red now turning pink and swirling down the drain. “Dessert! Where is dessert?” Sylvia dries her hands and understands she is being summoned again by Aloise. She gets assistance from the other staff and they proceed to the dining area to serve the desserts. Daylight shines into the cave and Aaron finds himself face to face with a Nazi officer. Sebastian is the officer in charge. Aaron smiles for a moment because of recognition of Sebastian but the smile is short lived. Gerhard, a nasty faced man with warts that cover the majority of his face, stands next to Aaron grunting in German. Aaron looks around for the group; he is alone. Aaron is faced now with shackled Jews being beaten by Nazi soldiers. Three, in particular, are called out of line: Henry, Anne and Bart. Henry is about thirty years old but the ravages of slavery and malnutrition has aged his face to look more of a tired, eighty year old man. Anne, a teenager, with no shoes and wearing a ripped dress, has patches of hair missing and skin covered with rashes. She is quiet and looks around as if trying to find her family. She was recently discovered after managing to stay hidden in an attic for a time. Bart looks about fifty years of age. He has missing teeth and a stump for a foot that is badly infected. Dried blood is masked by the green and yellow fluid, oozing out of the wound. His face shows the pain he is experiencing, his spirit now broken.

Henry is the most visibly frightened while he pleads for his life to be spared. “I’ll do anything! Please do not kill me, please.” Anne, the sweet faced teenager, spoke in a quieter voice. “I’m strong. I can still work. My father needs me!” Bart no longer has the will or faith that his life will be spared, asks the question, “How can human beings treat other human beings this way?” Sebastian laughs at the requests of the Jews. He walks toward Henry, and asks, “Would you kill your own people?” Henry held his head down and nodded yes. Sebastian looks with disgusts and elbows Henry between the shoulder blades. “Animals. You would kill your own.” Aaron tries to summon his powers but as he does his clothes are transformed into filthy clothing, much like the prisoners surrounding him. He lifts what he thinks is his mighty sword and it is nothing more than a stick he is waving in the air. The Nazi soldiers are laughing with great boast. Sebastian looks at the camp prisoners, “Is this man your savior? The mighty Jew, the chosen one!” Another Nazi soldier s Sebastian in his taunts, “Herr Hauptman, this group is more pathetic than the last group that we killed in the ovens. I hate the ones that haven’t given up hope yet, it’s so pitiful! We should make them the first to die.” Aaron is now on his knees, in confidence, “You all will die.” Erwin, a soldier, grabs Aaron by his tattered collar and drags him over to the man that lies dead at the hands of Aaron. “Who is going to die? You killed your own. Look!” Aaron is quiet and sickened at what he has done. He vomits and Erwin releases him to fall face down into the vomit. Aaron chokes on the remaining bile in his mouth.

Sebastian pushes Erwin out of the way and takes Aaron up by the collar. He looks at Aaron squarely in the eyes, “Quiet now, huh? Jew Hero!” Aaron spits in Sebastian’s face, “I am not a Jew!” Sebastian raises his hands in preparation to strike a final blow to Aaron, when Erwin stops him. “Wait Herr Hauptman! He did us a service, one less Jew. We can use this betrayer of the Jews. He doesn’t look menacing. He can lure out other Jews that are in hiding and bring them to the camps.” Sebastian is now grinning, “That is much better than killing this swine. He will help us in our mission to destroy these animals.” He gets Aaron up on his feet. Erwin has his orders: spare Aaron’s life and Aaron to bring ten Jews at a time for execution. Erwin is pleased that Sebastian has listened to his suggestion. Aaron is ed to Erwin, “Jew, if you want to live, you will do as you are told. I don’t mind wasting a bullet on you. You are what I hate the most. Go chose ten of your animal family, it is their day of atonement.” Aaron is pushed towards the line of prisoners. He is trying to mindspeak to the others but there is no one to hear. Aaron will now create more pages of history. He is kicked by Erwin to move faster. “Choose ten. Choose who dies and who is spared another day.” Erwin spits on Aaron’s feet and once again Aaron is shoved to select the ten of the day.

14

Changling

The sun shines brilliantly on the church on this day but darkness lies within Serena’s room. She is still in bed, motionless and breathing irregularly. She can no longer move. It’s as if her entire body is in atrophy. Only her eyes are open and they scan the room with uncertainty. Promise and Abe are sitting in a chair at bedside speaking to each other about the youth camp and the fun that all will have. Abe pulls a harmonica from his pocket and begins to play an upbeat tune. Promise jumps from the chair and starts to dance to the sound of the harmonica. Serena’s body makes a spastic move and Promise rushes to her side and holds her mother’s listless hand. “It’s alright Momma, Father Abe is playing a song for you.” Serena’s eyes are now frantically searching the room and blinking. Promise releases her mother’s hand and hugs Abe. “What’s wrong with her? Why is she like this?” Serena’s eyes are now closed with no sign of motion. Abe smiles at Promise and a smile is returned. A nurse enters the room and asks if there has been any change in condition and Abe shakes his head slowly. Pauline, a stocky woman, dressed in traditional nurse attire from the seventies is grim while taking Serena’s vitals. Promise asks Pauline, “Is my Mom gonna die?” Pauline is surprised, but composed, “I don’t know. No one knows. She seems to be in no discomfort right now. The doctors are still running tests to

find out why your Mommy is sick. These things have a way of working out.” Promise smiles, “My Mommy used to always say that to me.” “Father Abe, where is the father of the child?” Promise raises her hand and answers as if in a classroom setting, “My father is dead.” The day does not deter patrons from the Nightshade Bar, where Lael and Serah are at odds with each other. Serah wants to return to the Gateway to find answers about the five and Roberto and Gotian. “Serah, this is a bad idea. It is both a blessing and a curse that you and I can walk on both sides. We have been patient for centuries, we do not have longer to wait. We do have a task that was given us.” Serah is unflinching in her quest to return to Gateway, “I want answers, and I know why we are here! I also know what the prophecy holds. I just can’t watch any of this anymore. I want Gotian punished. He risked everything!” Lael, now angry, becomes translucent, “You want something that is not for us to decide. We are to do as we are told, answers will come in time Serah!” They accuse each other of becoming grossly infected with the human condition. They accuse each other of losing the balance they once had and enjoyed. Serah becomes translucent and then is no more. “Serah!” Lael calls out. She is gone and Lael has returned to a solid state and walks out of the bar frustrated and alone. The bartender Sal, scratches his head, as he watched something his eyes could not believe. He pours himself a shot and downs it quickly. The now, group of four, is released from the roof of the cave and fall clumsily to the ground. Their translucent appearance now solid. They agree they have to help Aaron. Galen is feeling trepidation as he knows that this is the place, the time, the stories, that his old man tried telling him about so

many times. “Fucking Nazis. What hero can help these people? My people.” Sydney, brushes the group, ready for a fight; “I put the little Nazi bastard in power when I switched those infants, now it’s time to take him down, let’s do this.” Galen and the others are ready now to fight what lies outside the cave. They run full speed out and into the light of day. All of them are now dressed in filthy rags for clothing and are shoved along with the other camp prisoners. Anne, Henry and Bart shiver with disease and fever. They are offered foul smelling water to drink. It is dark in color and not fit for animal consummation. When her turn comes, Sydney looks away and refuses the water. A Nazi soldier spits in the ladle and says to Sydney, “You’re too good to drink? You will die quickly then. Excellent! One less for the ovens. We will just bury you with the other animals over there.” He points to shallow graves dug and laughs fully while moving on to the next prisoner. Bart drinks the filthy water and whispers to a Jew next to him, “I would rather die by my own hand than let these Nazi Demons throw me to the ovens.” Aaron is now selecting the first ten of the day, “You, you, you and you, let’s go! Schnell! Schnell!” The group of four look past Aaron and watch the selected being pushed out of line and towards the ovens. Henry, Bart and Anne walk trance-like toward the ovens. Sydney uses her mindspeak to Aaron. “Don’t do this, you . . . we can stop this.”

“This is survival. I was a CEO as a human and I understand this power game all too well. It’s them or me and I choose them. We are not to change anything, this is how it is to be.” He points to Sydney, Katherine and Galen, “You, you and you, follow me! We have a special gas chamber for you. A little more humane.” Galen is now vocal, “We should have left you here and never come outside the cave.” Luke interrupts, “We did not want to leave you behind.” Aaron shrugs his shoulders and refers to the three as swine as he pushes them to the gas chamber. The Gateway is vast and never-ending as Serah approaches, grabbing Ruth’s arm. Serah mindspeaks, “Something needs to be done about the events that are happening.” Ruth is calm and does not respond. Serah is now very angry for being ignored, “I need to explain to Him what is going on. I need answers.” Ruth is shocked at Serah’s requests, “You know He watches and He is aware of what is going on. As for answers to your questions, your human ways are over-powering your wisdom and patience. It is not for you to question or decide the fate of Gotian. Your coming here was impulsive, wasted and most human.” Ruth the Gatekeeper disappears, leaving Serah alone with uneasy feelings. The Gateway boardroom finds Gotian pacing as a child waiting to see the principle would be. A space opens in the wall and Ruth appears. Gotian looks at Ruth and begins, “I’ve been waiting a long time to speak…”

Ruth drastically lowers the temperature. A threat to Gotian to silence himself immediately. Ruth speaks to him, who is now frightened of what is to come. “Your actions with your assignment given have fallen very short of expectation, you have angered Him and there will be consequence.” Ruth dismisses Gotian and disappears. The desert is hot and unforgiving. He lands hard on its surface. He has been transformed into flesh and bone. He can now feel pain. Gotian groans at the impact of the landing and the cut he has from hitting a rock upon landing. Red fluid flows from his arm and Gotian, in an attempt, tries to run away from himself while breathing in the hot heavy air. He tries to mindspeak and shapeshift. Nothing. All supernatural abilities are gone. He now stares blankly into the emptiness of the desert and quietly limps wherever his feet will go. Gotian is now human. The group of four is led to a shower room where, ironically, Jews are disinfected before execution. The door is locked behind them and Aaron is on the outside seeking approval from Sebastian and another soldier. Galen bangs on the door, “Release us Aaron!” Aaron smiles at Sebastian and the banging suddenly stops. Sebastian nods to Aaron. “Give them two minutes then open the doors and bring them to the gas chambers.” Aaron waits as instructed and then places the key into lock and finds that it doesn’t work. He twists the knob and he now is the one locked out of the shower house. “What is going on? Open up in there!” Sydney shapeshifts into a smoke that fills the shower house while the other Jewish prisoners are screaming. The gas has been released. A little boy, about four years of age, stands alone without parents, crying. Galen stares at the boy. The door is now forcibly opened by Aaron and Sydney grabs his hand. “Now!” Galen grabs the little boy and a light is emitted from each of the five and the

building explodes. Bodies are hurled in different directions, some lie dead, others struggling to get up and escape. Galen, who held tightly to the young boy, releases him and watches him run with great speed into the trees, disappearing almost immediately. Nazi soldiers are now scattered amongst the rubble, trying to collect the Jews that are alive and trying to escape. There is smell of gun powder in the air and the sound of shots and screams of those hit by a rain of bullets. Galen shouts, “Run!” The direction was not for the group to follow but for the little boy that he saved. Galen knew it was his father. “I was the Jewish hero my father spoke of…” Katherine looked at Galen with comion but says nothing. She lets Galen have his moment. Galen is jolted out of thought when Aaron emerges from the rubble and looks at the group to mindspeak his gratitude and thanks. “You saved my life.” “It’s bigger than that Aaron,” Luke says. “Look, okay I get it completely. We have to stick together. Somehow we are strongest with each of our powers together.” Gunshots continue to fill the air. The five clasp their hands together and the cave entrance appears. They run for the cave and it disappears as they enter. In the middle of the desert sprouts an outline of a city. Gotian begins to walk faster, needing to find Lael and Serah. He starts to run but doesn’t notice that the desert has now become a busy intersection. He is almost hit by a bus. The noises of the city, including the horns of the cars are maddening to Gotian’s ears. He places his hands over his ears and stands in the middle of the street until a police car approaches him. “Get out of the street!”

Gotian looks at the police officer as if he is speaking a foreign language. The police officer stops traffic and exits his squad car. He approaches Gotian. “Hey, what the hell do you think you are doing? You are gonna get yourself killed or cause an accident. Are you homeless, what’s your name? Do you know your name?” Gotian continues to hold his hands to his ears as he is being led to a sidewalk and to safety. The police officer snaps his fingers in front of Gotian’s eyes. “Hey! Are you on something guy?” The police officer is not making much progress and decides Gotian is homeless and harmless. He returns to his squad car and makes a u-turn, leaving Gotian on the sidewalk. Gotian looks down and sees that his feet are mangled and bloodied. He is tired. Human. After school, Promise is at Lili’s apartment, playing. “How long is your Mama going to be sick?” Promise scrunches her face, but smiles, “Not long, Father told me so.” “I thought your father was dead?” Lili questioned. Promise ignores Lili’s comment, “Let’s play a game.” “What kinda game?” Promise smiles, “Oh, I know another secret game.” The girls continue their conversation using mindspeak. “I never did tell. I kept the secret about floating in the air and you making Mr. Sanders dog blow up.” “Yes, I know you kept our secret. But this game is really cool and bigger than floating. You’re going to freak!” Lili is now staring in disbelief. Lili is looking at Lili. Promise has

transformed into Lili. Lili backs away and knocks over a chair holding dolls. “Oh my gosh Promise, you are me, I mean…” Promise laughs and she is now herself again. “Wanna learn how to do it?” Lili is scared but thinks the trick is really cool as Promise said it would be. “Yes! Teach me how to do that.” The afternoon sun disappears and the room becomes dark. Toni is in the living room and looks to see baby Adam out of his crib. “Baby boy, how did you get out of your crib? Come here little man.” Lili has shapeshifted into Adam. Toni heads towards Adam’s room and the door is closed as she had left it. Toni is really irritated now. “How did you get out of your room?” Holding Adam in her arms, Toni enters the room. Because the room is dark, Toni doesn’t see Adam is sleeping in the crib. Toni hears a noise behind her and quickly turns around but sees nothing. Promise quickly removes Adam from his crib and places him in a closet. Toni walks towards Adam’s crib again and bumps into Lili, who Promise has shapeshifted into. Toni is shocked. “What are you doing in here and where did you come from?” “I was just checking on Adam.” Toni, still holding Adam, “Little girl, I do not have time for these games! Did you take your brother from the crib and put him outside in the living room?” “No Mrs. Anderson.” Toni in amazement. “What did you call me?”

“I’m sorry Mama, I didn’t take Adam from his crib. I was jus checkin’ on him.” “Girl, you are trying my patience. Adam didn’t just get up and walk from his crib. Are you and that little Promise girl playing around and not doing your homework?” “No ma’am.” “You just wait til’ your daddy comes home Lilith Anderson! I am not putting up with this foolishness.” Toni places Adam back in the crib and takes Lili by the hand and escorts her from the room. “Time for your little friend to go home. I don’t know what is going on but I don’t like it.” They head towards Lili’s room, with Promise getting nervous. Toni opens up Lili’s room door and finds it empty. Lili shapeshifts into Promise, steps out of the crib, returns Adam from the closet to the crib and catches up with Toni and Lili. She stands behind Toni and Toni turns around. “Where were you Promise?” “I thought you might want some water Ma… Mrs. Anderson.” Toni looks at Promise and Lili and back again. “Okay, playtime’s over, time for you to go home. Get your school stuff together and I will take you back to the shelter.” Toni releases Lili’s hand and goes off to the kitchen muttering something to herself, and shaking her head. Both girls enters Lili’s room, close the door and fall on the bed, while shapeshifting back to themselves. They laugh uncontrollably.

“That was close!” “Lili, do you want to learn another trick?” The five have now transported back to the City of Modos. They are walking and aligned with renewed strength and unity. They a coke machine. Aaron looks at the group and they nod. Aaron stops, holds out his hand, places coins into the soda machine and presses the button labeled COLA. A single can of soda rolls down the shaft into the pocket of the machine. Aaron picks up the soda, and drinks. The group claps for Aaron and then continues to walk. Luke slows his walk, “Hey, I just thought of something. Aaron didn’t offer us a soda!” They all laugh. Aaron laughs as well, “Hey, I am changing as fast as I can. Cut me some slack!” Katherine frowns, “I wonder where Gotian is.” The five continues to walk, pondering the same question. As night falls Gotian slumps on a bench at a bus stop. This is new and horrible. He starts to think about Morningstar and the fall so long ago. Gotian is now lost and damned. The five find themselves at their old haunt, The Nightshade Bar and Grille. Galen cannot resist a hamburger as he does his normal sideshow for the bar patrons and earns his drink and burger from bartender Sal. However his appetite is not as it used to be. He manages to only eat a portion of his burger and the alcohol no longer has taste. “I swear I am losing my human traits. I don’t sleep anymore, I don’t eat as I used to and drinking is awful. It seems I don’t need any of it anymore.” Galen uses his power to raise the plate and float it to the bus tub, next to the kitchen area.

Aaron spots a location at the back of the bar where they can all sit. The five navigate through a heavy crowd and find seats. The band playing music has taken a break so the room is filled with various conversations and laughter as well as the occasional argument and potential bar fight. Enough noise to mask what the five have to discuss. Galen looks around the bar. “This place reminds me of the bar my Pops and I went to after I won the Golden Gloves Championship Fight. One of the happiest times of my life. Pops taught me how to fight. That old man knew his stuff.” Katherine winks at Galen, “My happiest days were when Caitlin and Jake were born. It was amazing to me that two people could create such perfect little people. It made me wonder even more why people leave their children or abandon them. I just couldn’t do it. Children are so beautiful and innocent.” Aaron reflects on his daughter Julie, “I know what you mean Kate. I was at a pharmaceutical conference when I got the call that Julie was being born. I missed the whole thing. When Serena and I were married it seemed like the whole world was right, and nothing could ever go wrong. I don’t know when I became the monster I was. I could never make things right again. The only time I felt good is when I would come home and Julie would run to me and call me Daddy.” Luke re, “Making things right. When my brother died, my parents blamed me. But I lost the most. Not a day went by that I didn’t wish it me instead of him. I have never felt safe again. Not until now my friends.” Sydney recalls her teaching, “Well I guess that just leaves me with my tale of pity. I had a classroom filled with children. I had the opportunity to watch them grow, change and learn. They were like little sponges, soaking in everything, and I mean everything. Even adult conversations they would bring from their homes. It was hard to hear sometimes what some of them went through with arguing parents. I loved being their teacher. A few hours out of a day I was their safe haven. They could laugh, learn and feel good about themselves. Okay, enough of this pity road we are on. The band is back and I want to

dance!” The dance floor is crowded and Sydney rubs her hands together and claps once. A spot on the dance floor opens up and Sydney seizes the moment to occupy it. She is on the floor dancing wildly, alone and without modesty. The others can see her from their seats but get up to observe closer. Sydney closes her eyes and becomes one with the music. She feels she is no longer in her body. The group continues to watch her dance, as does a dark entity in the bar. Bar patrons are now watching Sydney. They are focused only on her. Sydney’s dancing becomes faster and more powerful. As she opens her eyes she sees the group and others staring at her. She stops the dance and touches the nape of her neck. She feels an opening in her neck. The skin covering her spine is now splitting. People are now pointing and backing away. The group hold their positions and are silent. Sydney trembles and sees her reflection in the bars’ double mirrors. She is suddenly doubled over, unable to stand up straight. There is a great amount of weight that prevents her from standing upright. The band has stopped and the tearing of flesh and bone can be heard. Within seconds, Sydney’s back is opened fully and a set translucent wings unfold. Like a butterfly, they expand to full length. Sydney stretches out her arms to balance the additional appendages and her now naked body is translucent without breast or navel. Sydney looks helpless as people are now clapping and moving closer. The group run to the dance floor and try to rescue Sydney but as they approach she is suddenly sucked into the air, pulled through the roof of the bar, screaming. The group grabs at her feet and legs but it’s too late. Just the sounds of Sydney’s screams are left behind. It’s 1906 in San Francisco, California. The Horsemen slow their ride. Death stops his ride first, causing the others to stop their horses. “We will stop here. There is work to be done.” Pestilence is not convinced, “What possible work can we do here?”

Famine shakes her head, “We are close to the city and we must continue to ride.” Death is adamant. “No!” The horses begin a stomping on the earth. The land beneath begins to shake violently and tear apart without effort. The Four Horsemen dismount their horses as the earth continues to crack, shake and open itself. Screams can be heard and the collapsing buildings and nature are swallowed by the earth. People run for cover and into each other as disaster unfolds. The Four Horsemen mount their horses to continue their ride as they leave behind the Great Earthquake of San Francisco to destroy everything in its path.

EPILOGUE

TOMEE’S TORMENT

Before there was a Katherine, mother of two and wife of Nathan, there was torment that a young girl Kate would endure for fifteen years. It is a torment that Katherine has held on to for decades, and remains with her now, to and beyond her death. This is what has haunted Katherine, ed through the young eyes of a foster kid.

This being the fifth foster home Kate had arrive to. She was fifteen years old and had no grand expectations. She had been in seven schools since being abandoned by her crack addicted mother long ago. This newest foster home was no different than the other four homes. Well, there is one difference, seven children lived here. Kate had never lived with so many children before. Still no difference. Kate Houston was social service case number 10078729, her G.A.L. was Ms. Linda Brown whom she had only met twice since being abandoned. In those ‘heartfelt’ meetings, Kate was told to be a good girl, make a bad situation into a positive one, and that she was lucky that she had been accepted into a foster care home. Teenagers were not on the top of the list for the taking, most folks wanted babies. The introduction was to Ms. Silvi. Kates newest foster mother. She was 150 pounds overweight, smoked like a chimney and relied on every kid in the house as a paycheck. Ms. Silvi also had a side business that gave her extra cash on the side that she said welfare was lacking in. Eight now in this shabby, smoke filled house. A house that became spotless whenever there was a welfare check. Ms. Silvi would clean up too. Ms. Silvi wore an ill-fitting, orange dress for only two occasions: welfare checks and special visitors. In my first seven months there I became close, and ultimately best friends with, one of only two boys in the house. Nivan and I had instant connection when I moved in. Nivan had been in foster care since he was an infant and had been

here at Ms. Silvi’s for three years. Nivan was different, I was different, we connected. Ms. Silvi’s extra income came in the form of soliciting the girls in the house to special visitors. The special visitors would pay Ms. Silvi’s monies for these services with some girls as young as eleven years old. Profit for violation and loss of innocence. Only three were safe from this crime, Nivan, David and me. Nivan and David because they were boys and me because, as Ms. Silvi says, I am too black; too fat; and ugly as a baboon ass. There was no money to be made from me. I went to the school’s library one day to look up just what a baboon looked like. Lucky baboon. It was a Thursday, it had been raining for two days, but on this day, school was cancelled because of a flooding at school. Nivan and I planned to sneak in the theater and watch the local production of Les Mis. Nivan had seen the production a million times and this would be my first. I was getting out of the four minute shower we were allowed to take only once a day as to keep costs down. I draped a towel around me when I heard a muffled scream and a door slamming, so much noise. I opened the bathroom door slowly and realized the noise was coming from David and Nivan’s room. The towel dropped from my body as I ran to Nivan’s room and begin to scream, kick, and pound the door open. I tried so hard to break the door down, it seemed an eternity before the door opened and a tall burly man pushed ed me. The visitor was sweaty and adjusting his pants. I vaguely heard his awful cackle as he made some awful remark about my naked body. I looked inside the room with a lump forming in my throat and becoming vomit as I saw Nivan’s face, bloodied and beaten. I snatched a blanket from one of the beds and placed it over Nivan’s body. I turned my best friend’s body over and our eyes met, his eyes were dry of tears, hollow sockets. My eyes filled with tears and fell onto Nivan’s beaten face and begin to smear his bloodied face. Nivan died right there never saying a word. My eyes begin to scan the room until my eyes rested on the poster of Les Miserable. The lump finally released itself and vomit spilled from my mouth. A second later, I felt hands around my neck dragging my naked body and then shoving me into my room, door slamming behind. I begin to hear what sounded like a body being dragged down the stairs in the house. I could smell the stench of smoke and ed the evil glare of Silvi as she shoved me into my room. I never saw Nivan again. If it seemed an eternity to try to get to Nivan, than it was a nano second before I was packing my backpack. I grabbed an old photo of Nivan with his hands outreached while standing on a

bridge, pretending to be, Leonardo Decaprio saying… “I’m king of the world.” I was downstairs in two seconds with a backpack in one hand and an old clock in my other hand. I was ready for face off with Silvi. She sat in that old worn chair like some type of queen. Silvi told me to take my black ass back up stairs. I walked toward her as she rose from her smoky throne. She saw I had the old clock in hand and told me to be smart and give her the clock. This was not just any old clock, this clock held hundreds of dollars hidden from us. Monies gained by selling the services of the young girls in the house. Special visitors… I told Silvi she had two choices, get out of my way or spend her fat ass in prison for murder and the solicitation of children for sex. Nivan paid with his life today because of the evil this woman possessed. Silvi stepped aside and within thirty seconds I was standing in a bus terminal purchasing a one way ticket.