I'm Not Dying!
By Darne Moon.
I'm not dying! is an adventure tale that contains graphic sexual content between men. If you are not permitted to read such content please refrain from reading any further. I currently don't have an editor, and do have dyslexia so please be patient with grammatical mistakes etc. This is the first time I've written anything of this magnitude in this genre. If you enjoy this chapter please let me know at darnemoon@gmail.com, and I'm always interested in constructive criticism comments and ideas.
I've also got a Yahoo Group, with all sorts of stuff about I'm Not Dying. You can find it at: http://uk.groups.yahoo.com/group/im_not_dead/ This will be my final chapter for about 8 months as I am going travelling to south east asia in 6 hours! I promised I would get this chapter done before then and so here it is I hope you enjoy it thanks for reading I'll keep you updated with my adventures and I am sure I will have plenty ideas to continue this when I return :D
Darne x
Chapter 10
We're going down. A long way down in this dreary black cube lit by a solitary halogen. Ian tries to apologise to me but I'm not having any of it. How could he be so reckless with his own life, and mine. Fancy him allowing them to manipulate me. And as for Carol... well in all honesty that's just Carol she doesn't like to be left out. Emily seems reservedly happy. This emotional torment I'm experiencing is like valium to her.
The black lift eventually comes to a shuddering halt and the doors slide open silently. Another massive cavern is revealed divided by glass walls. Emily marches inside with a determined swagger. From inside her white coat she produced a small graphics tablet and began tapping in something, whilst motioning to us to follow.
"Ian and Carol. Your training will take place here" Two glass partitions begin to lower and a series of white targets rise from the floor. "Your guns are currently set on training. They are auto calibrating, they will monitor and adjust to your technique. Even if you miss your first few shots soon enough you will be hitting target" Emily explains with a nonchalance. If her hands were occupied with her computer tablet, I'm pretty certain she would be making quite flippant hand gestures. Emily was a very expressive conversationalist when we were friends in school.
"Alex, your training however will be more... complicated" She furiously punches in a few more commands into her computer. A multitude of things happen. The glass walls near the back of the chamber begins to move to make a much larger chamber. A variety of white cubes rise from the floor. "Inside please" she states abruptly. I follow her instruction. "Upon that far console" she points to the furthest white cube, "is a pill I want you to take, however before you do I want you to recall a certain few key memories"
"Excuse me?" I ask.
"All our research shows that your trigger emotion is anger, or anxiety. We need to develop that. Essentially we need to find a memory that the Gifters feed on so that your spectral energy release is more efficient"
"What?" I declare
"I don't have time to explain everything! I only have a few days at best to get you firing energy at people!" She studies my face and frowns, "OK in brief and basic terms Gifter's feed off emotions, their discharge... poo, is what creates your power for want of a better word. Essentially their poo alters the molecular structure of every atom within your body. As electrons shift orbit within your molecular make up friction occurs altering the energy energy signature, in your case a form of electrical energy is produced. Eventually that energy will build to a dangerous level and needs to be discharged... much like a lightening storm. However to get poo, the gifters need to eat and what they eat is the hormones your emotions generate. We have deduced your colony of gifters prefer anger and anxiety and we need to mimic that emotion in order for you to be effective as a weapon rather than just a ticking time bomb... so think of something that makes you angry or anxious and take the pill!" Emily finishes. I stare at her a moment, my mind a blank. Basically the words "what the fuck" keep reeling through my head. "Think of something that upsets you Alex and take the pill, I will explain the next stage in present time"
I approach the console and stare at the pill. I try and recall an angry memory, I think about when my dog died and my dads blatant disregard. But I'm not angry, I'm just sad.
"Alex your not trying hard enough" I hear Emily say from the glass corridor.
I frown and dredge my mind for angry times, I recall my time at work, my life back up north and a myriad of memories that were particularly bitter for a long time. The problem is that in the months I've spent back in Wales I've put those demons to rest. I glance at Emily who frowns.
"How about when you were accused of rape. That must have made you angry"
She's right I realise. That did make me angry, very angry. I recall the scene. Lee's accusations, the reactions of other people, the police. I involuntarily clench my fists and a lump forms in my throat.
"OK take the pill Alex" Emily says. I do as instructed. "There wont be any side affects you wont feel anything other than an gradual increase in your rage. Now I want to ask both you and Carol to step into the cubicles that should be..." she types something furiously into her computer, and from the floor a white box the size of a wardrobe rises. A door in the box facing me opens, "step in please" Emily repeats. "These machines will tailor that body armour your wearing to your size the process will take a few minutes. When I am inside I hear a strange whir and click and then a series of armatures and various pieces of equipment being whirling away around me, pulling, scanning, cutting and stitching as they go. "Try and stay as still as possible" I hear Carol laughing from her glass chamber. I have to admit its a very strange sensation, but as promised a few minutes later there is a ding (much like a microwave) and the doors slide open. I step out my loose body armour now perfectly fitted.
"Carol and Ian, start practising when your ready your targets should be rising now" and they did. I begin to wonder what the hell is under this floor. I bet they have everything down there from the kitchen sink to an elephant the way this is going. Its as I ponder this Emily turns her attention back to me. Her eyes fixed on me like bullets. "How are you feeling Alex?" I shrug at her, her expression changes slightly to one of thoughtfulness and contemplation. Eventually she punches in a command into the computer, and the door to my training chamber slides silently open. Emily approaches me, computer tablet under one arm, whilst her other hand searches franticly in the breast of her jacket. "Perhaps this will help" she states as she comes within arms reach of me. Then all of a sudden she slaps me so hard I nearly fall to the floor. My cheek is stinging.
"WHAT THE FUCK!" I bellow at her my hand clutching my face, "What did you do that for, for fucks sake!"
"Quit your whining you pathetic wanker. Your a man for gods sake act like one!" She slaps me again. Suddenly I feel it, that flare of rage that blossoming sensation of anger and hate. I growl at her before I turn to face her. Emily checks her tablet once more and smiles, "excellent" she declares and leaves the chamber. Something inside me is growing, a ball of anger and hate. It comes in waves and I can barely control the shaking that's rocketing through me. I feel light headed.
"Alex please put on the glove on your left hand" Emily states. It takes a moment for me to process what she has requested but I do as I'm told. Glove donned I note how they tighten automatically and some strange calliper unfolds from a section on top of the hand and grips around the weird dial device attached to my forearm. Little green LED's threaded through the stitching of the glove begin to glow green. A crackle of energy surges through me. It's refreshing but it seems to add fuel to my rage. I feel like I'm reaching that glorious emotional plateaux, where you are filled with glorious indignation and self righteousness.
From outside the training room I watch Emily type in a series of commands. The surges of energy flush through me, starting from my core and shooting through my limbs. The focus mainly in my left hand. As the waves keep coming the more they seem to centering on my left hand. Gradually the colour of the LED's and the dial change, from green to blue, then yellow then red. By the time the glove has turned red I can barely contain this strange chemically induced rage. Suddenly a bolt of blue energy sparks from the glove and strikes a section of the glass. The first is shortly followed by a second and a third. The glove then seems to click and the red fades back through the spectrum to green. Then the process seems to start again. The unrelenting waves of energy crash through me, once again the the dial and glove begins to change colour until eventually it reaches red again and a couple more sparks of slightly orange energy strikes the room at random. Once more the glove clicks but the colour changes, this time to blue.
By now I am totally unaware of the environment around me. Somewhere outside my head I hear gunshots, but they are faint. The emotional build up was like a slow and painful orgasm. The type that has been drawn out to long and every part of you is gagging and aching for release.
At some point between the fifth or six of these cycles my vision left me, the world around me was just a bright white blur. No definition to anything just a glowing void. I reach a state of nirvana. It was very much like the fuzzy feeling you get after orgasm. Then it all changed, the waves I had come to ignore became so excruciatingly painful I could no longer ignore them. What I assumed to be my left arm began to burn terribly. Bursts of enormous sound and flickering red lights raped my senses for split seconds at a time. Suddenly there was a crack and throbbing sensation in the back of my head.
"Scalpel" I hear a shrill male voice say. I'm vaguely aware of some gripping and tugging on my left arm, but I feel numb all over, and I cant open my eyes. I just see the dark bloody void from behind my eyelids. "8 mil philips" the shrill voice asks.
"I couldn't believe it doctor" I recognise that voice, it's Emily. "He reached orange stability in just eight cycles.
"You should have stopped Emily. Pushing him as far as you did was irresponsible and dangerous. If he had exceeded red..." the shrill voice of who I assume is the doctor states quite matter of factly.
"I know, I know, but getting to where he did in eight cycles just defeats all our calculations, I had to see just how far I could take it"
"You were lucky the tranquillizer's worked... but you are right, the data is remarkable"
"We could even be on the cusp of discovering black!" Emily states excitedly. The doctor sighs audibly. He clearly doesn't agree or approve.
"And then what Emily! If he reaches black, who know's what would happen, no one has ever reached black. Remember with every spectral level the power is multiplied by 10. Red is high enough for what we need him for. Black could, if the theory is correct..." Emily groans with impatience.
"Yes, yes but if he reaches it does it really matter. It's not like we would know about it!"
"Your ethics concern me Emily they really do. Now his SEAnC chip is ruined. I think we should install a Spectral Filter as well as another SEAnC chip. Pass me the remote activated tranquillizer as well!"
"Is that really necessary doctor!" Emily protests. I note that some feeling is returning to my extremities.
"I think so yes, after what he did to the training facility it would be nice to think something of Rome is left standing if he were to loose control on the mission. I hear some clinking and drilling. "Ah he seems to be coming round" one of my eye lids begin to creep open, and then slams shut again in reaction to the gleaming surgical lamps above me.
"Mr Moon?" I hear the doctor ask. The silhouette of a head looms in front of me. I try my best to nod. "Excellent, welcome back Mr Moon. Can I ask you not to try and move for the time being, we had to tranquillize you with some quite potent drugs. I nod once more. "Now lets get you into recovery Mr Moon and we can all have a little chat about what's happened" Despite the cold and shrill tone of his voice, the doctor was strangely comforting. Emily has a tendency to think of me as just another test subject and not a human, but the doctor seems to not share that sentiment.
Now that the drugs are wearing off my senses gradually return to normal. I am aware that I'm moving.
"Alex" I hear someone cry from a distance and I recognise the voice of Ian, and then the shrill piercing wail of an irate Carol. I try to open my eyes once more. The light is bright and burns my eyes but I'm prepared for it. Cautiously my eye lids slide open and the blurry visage of Ian is bounding closer.
I pass through whatever corridor I'm being wheeled down and into a small room. Ian and Carol are walking either side of me. My heads spinning a little bit and I'm very confused, all that talk about colours and shit made no sense at all. In fact I'm pretty sure I shouldn't have heard any of it, let alone understand it. Maybe the doctor will explain... I study Ian and Carol's faces as best I can. They looked flushed and fearful. Like they had seen a ghost.
"What... happened" I managed. My throat was dry and speech croaky and painful.
"We... dont really know. There were a lot of sparks and crazy things happening, then we were told to get out of the room. Next minute there were loud bangs, and a load of guys dressed up in some crazy armour shit turned up" Carol begins.
"Next minute you were wheeled out on a stretcher and brought here!" Ian concludes, I don't say anything in response.
"How long..."
"A couple of hours" Ian answers me before I finish my sentence. Carol cocks her head at me before excusing herself for a moment. She leaves the room for a moment and returns with a glass of water and a straw.
"Here drink" She offers popping the straw into my mouth. I suck on the water and its like the elixir of life. I suddenly feel much better.
"So what happened" Ian asks. I look at him dully and shrug.
"Fucked if I know" I eventually say. I look over my body I'm still wearing the body armour, but the plates of metal have warped slightly, parts of the kevlar fabric is scorched or torn, and the glove on my left had is missing. Other than that there is no damage to me specifically. I sigh to myself.
"What's up" Ian asks sitting down on the edge of the bed and placing a tender hand on my chest. I smile at him.
"What isn't!" I declare absently. Carol groans rolls her eyes and makes to leave the room. "Not like that!" I state bluntly. "It's just everything is so fucked up at the moment. Nothing is making sense one moment life seems normal or near enough to it that I can get and then five seconds later everything is just crazy. I'm sick of it. If I'm not seeing the future I'm shooting lightening from my hands or having a doctor Dolittle wet dream" Both Carol and Ian look at each other then at me quizzically. I ignore them and plough on with my rant. I figure a good venting is needed, "and now I'm jetting off to Rome to investigate some secret society whilst seemingly reaching some crazy energy level and nearly destroying everyone. I just have to wonder will I ever have a normal fucking life!" I exhale with a degree of triumph but it doesn't last long. Ian and Carol are looking at me sympathetically. Carol pats my arm.
"There he is!" comes the booming voice of General Marsh as he enters the room, "my little time bomb!" I think this is the generals attempt at humour to lighten the mood, however this doesn't go down well with me, Ian or Carol it would seem. Sensing the silent disapproval the general apologises solemnly. Shortly after the general's arrival a very short man, with a wrinkled brow, semi circular spectacles, pot belly and a determined expression enters.
"Gentlemen... and lady" the doctor states loudly after noticing Carol stood beside the general, "we have a slight situation here with Mr Moon. It would seem in the spirit of experimentation and curious stupidity Emily has managed to nearly kill us all. This is no fault of Alex himself but her... anyway, what I wish to discuss is something very important. Alex's position within Operation Seagull. Why is he needed to go"
"Alex's AO is extraordinary, he was also naturally infected meaning his ability however primitive it might be will easily out weigh any artificially infected. He might also prove useful in defeating whatever block they have present at the headquarters" The doctor looks thoughtful for a moment, he turns and stares at me then back at the general.
"I'm not totally convinced. Whose idea was it to take Alex?"
"Well mine essentially, I asked the research team their opinions and weighed up the approvals against the disapprovals and came out with the decision that he should go"
"Alex do you want to go?" The doctor asks.
"No" I say catagorically
"Then in all honesty I don't think he should go" The doctor states.
"Now listen here!" the general begins his face flushed red his voice louder.
"I don't think you understand what just nearly happened down in the training suites general! Alex can barely control his abilities at the moment, and I seriously doubt a day or two more of training won't give him that. If he were to loose control again in an uncontrolled situation, he wouldn't just be a danger to himself but everyone around him and possible everyone full stop. The levels of Alex's energy output is recorded using a spectral chart. At the moment he can reach a state known as Orange stably, however when he went through further cycles, and he entered Red the next spectral range he began to loose control. his energy output was random and at dangerous levels, one of which was very close to Black the highest energy range possible. To understand the destructive power of these ranges, Red at a controlled level is capable of destroying a town, multiply that ability by 10 and you get black, the physical damage that could occur at this range is ludicrous!"
"And here's me just thinking I could see the future" I joke, Ian grins and Carol splutters.
"Very droll" The doctor continues, "thankfully we managed to stop Alex before he completely lost control. That however is just the start. Highschool physics teaches us that energy cannot be created it just transforms from one state to another. Now I bet your wondering where the hell all of this energy is coming from. Well, I'll tell you: Alex is the source. Each human body has the equivalent power as seven nuclear power plants now you imagine just what that will be like if the Gifters use all that energy" The room falls deathly silent. "Exactly, so I'm sorry General but in his unstable state Alex will not be going with you to Rome!"
"This is ridiculous!" General Marsh declares.
"I do have a proposal" the Doctor continues, "Alex will complete his training and at the end if I am not completely confident in his ability to keep control he will not be joining you!" the doctor says with a smile towards me. I'm oddly comforted by him but at the same time a rage begins to broil inside me. Are my feelings not relevant at all!
"I will get him ready general" Emily informs.
"You better Emily! If he doesn't, I will be reconsidering your contract!"
Everyone falls deathly silent for a few moments. The sudden realization of my potential power is scary. In me at this moment I have the ability to destroy an entire town and more! I look to Carol, her face is smiling gently at me but her eyes betray her. The fear is prominent.
Ian doesn't meet my eye, but his hand is now resting on my shoulder. I haven't forgiven him, in fact I'm angry with him. But ever the deep thinker I start to believe that Ian is just caught up in the fantasy of everything. Perhaps now he is beginning to realize the severity and utter danger we're facing, not just from the enemy but from me myself. I can't begin to comprehend myself as a weapon of mass destruction, which is what I believe the Doc was alluding to. Masturbation yes, but not destruction.
Emily breaks the silence with a direct question to the doctor.
"When can we start?"
"After he's rested, I would say in six hours"
And that was that, shortly after that I was wheeled up to my luxurious suite, but somehow its beauty was lost on me. I just walked clumsily around the rooms. Despite how exhausted I suddenly feel sleep is alien to me. I'm alone, and the huge windows in the lounge hang open the massive draps flapping in a dark wind. The night is intense, like a blanket of black velvet pocked with only a few stars. A storm is coming I think. There is an energy in the air.
I realise im still wearing the remains of the armour and I pull the top off. My body is hard and tense and the hairs on the back of my neck bristle. I can feel a dense knot in the middle of my shoulders and I stretch. Bones and joints click.
"Let me in!" I hear outside. It's Ian I realise. I hear him swear at the guards who are clearly preventing him to enter. I debate for a moment whether to let him in. I sigh to the night and head towards the huge doors and pull them open. I look at the guards and reach out to grab Ian's arm and I pull him into the room. The guards do not argue.
Ian instantly hugs me but I break away quickly and walk back to the window. There's something drawing me to the night. I feel like I have an affinity with it and it's brewing wild power.
"Why are you so angry Alex?" Ian asks. I find myself sighing loudly, the knot in my back growing tenser.
"Because your an idiot! How could you volunteer to come to Rome"
"Because I wanted to be with you" I snort then growl with anger.
"Ian..." I have no words. He looks at me like a hurt puppy but I just turn back to the night. The few stars visible through the thickening clouds glimmer dimly. I find myself smiling and I don't know why. No words are spoken as Ian makes a slow advance. Before I know it he is hugging me from behind, his arms wrapped around my naked chest holding me tightly against him. I can feel his heat through his body armour against my naked back.
"Your tense" he whispers gently into my ear. I nod. His hands move across my torso, caressing my skin softly. I groan happily at his touch. His hot breath caresses my neck and the hairs on my arm stand on end. "Here" he mutters as his hands grip my shoulders and clutch strongly. The pain is powerful but satisfying. I involuntarily bolt forward but his strong hands remain clamped onto me, his thumbs digging deep into my skin. I find myself purring wildly as he works my muscles.
I realise my arse is pressed against his groin and I detect the feeling of his growing member pressing against my butt cheeks. I grind against them slightly, and my suspicion is confirmed. He's hard. He presses his groin against me and I push back relishing the sensation as he slowly dry humps me. His hands grip stronger around my neck and pull me up hard against him. I feel helpless in my drained state against his strength. His right arm slips down my back and under my arm to pinch my nipple. I sigh in appreciation as I reach behind me to pull him harder against me.
"Fuck me" I growl lustfully. As Ian bites into my neck just below the ear.
"Not yet" He whispers as his finger toys with my purt nipple, "I want you to beg"
"Please! Fuck me" I state gutturally. Ian laughs quietly but with an evil hint.
"You can do better than that!" He states. I slip my right hand round to his groin and clutch at his inflamed member. It throbs at my touch.
"I need this in me" I growl, "Give it to me, give it to me now!" Ian bites at my ear and I fling my head back in satisfaction. As angry as I am at him he fucking turns me on so badly. Releasing my ear from his bite he turns me around and kisses me deeply on the lips. His force is so strong it nearly causes me to loose balance but I quickly stabilize my self. A thin sheen of sweat has formed across my bare skin. Ian runs a hand across my chest and licks it seductively.
"Your such a dick" I mutter, "I don't want you to get hurt!"
"I wont" He says in hushed tones before he kisses my neck. His confidence infuriates, "I've got you to protect me"
"Listen, if I have to go I don't want you to. If you got hurt..." but Ian cuts me short by kissing me on the lips. I break away angrily and glare at him with the most angry look I can muster whilst aware of our raging hard ons pressing against each other. "Don't you realise how dangerous this could be" I mutter
"If you go, then I go simple!" I push Ian off me.
"You could get killed! I could kill you! Don't you care about that!"
"I'm going regardless to whether you go" he mutters as his hand starts fondling my butt. This debate is going nowhere.
"Your determined then!" I conclude, the words leave a lingering bitter taste.
"I want to help!" Ian's ministrations on my arse grow stronger.
"In a fight that's not yours?"
"It is mine because your apart of it! Now shut up and let me fuck you!" With a strength of Hercules he forces me onto the window still my body hanging over the edge, the cold night air brushes my exposed skin like an icy lick. My hands clamp down on the wooden frame as he deftly undoes my trousers and forces them and my underwear down my legs, pooling around my ankle. I am naked but for my shoes. I hear Ian unzip and his hard dick pops against my butt. It's heat is comforting and welcome. Ian leans over one hand clutching my shoulder he bites my shoulder. His other hand positioning his dick against my hole. I hear him spit into his hand the rub the fluid against his shaft before forcefully ramming it deep within me. I cry out into the night as his length slips into me. My hole screaming against the invasion. It takes a moment or two before he's got his whole length into me. Those moments are excruciating but the moment I feel his trimmed pubes press up against the bare flesh of arse cheeks the pain subsides, in its place a sweeping sensation of pleasure as his throbbing head toys my prostrate.
"Mmm, your tight" Ian grumbles as he releases his bite. Slowly he withdraws most of his dick. The vacant space he leaves inside me crys out for him to drive back in and he doesn't disappoint. As I hang over the windowsill my upper body exposed to the free night air he fucks me slow, long and hard. Each thrust inching me towards my inevitable orgasm. Wrapping his arm around my waist he pulls me hard against him. With his dick deep inside me he shuffles me back and he takes a seat in one of the dinning seats. I begin to slowly impale myself on his dick. Using my whole body I force his throbbing member deep inside me relishing the sensation of his engorged head swelling within my anus. His grunts are deep and guttural as his hands wilfully explore my naked torso pinching my nipples and scoring his nails against my clenched body. I bob up and down his member for what feels like hours. Occasionally he grunts encouragement, as my hot tight hole grips him, but this isnt enough. Some wild passion from deep within me begs for him to fuck me like a stalion. I love the sensation of me in control but I want to give myself up to him. The raging emotions I have felt this evening, the sense of betrayal, the pure belligerence of his opinion, the fear of my self, the terror of bringing harm to my friends and loved ones and countless others, but also, secreted deep in my mind, the toying question of what the fuck is going on.
With my hands clutching to his thighs I continue my self service, ramming my globe like arse cheeks hard against his groin. But the desire to have him dominate me grows stronger, before long I am begging him to take command. I implore him to throw me to the ground and mount me. I don't have to ask him twice and in one movement he picks me up off his cock and throws me almost violently to the floor. I land on my knees and forearms, ass high in the air my hole quivering enticingly. With no warning he pounces on me, plunging that beautiful manhood once more deep inside me. I groan loudly happy to feel complete again, those short seconds where he wasn't inside me felt empty and lonely. With mighty thrusts he pounded my wanting hole. His strong hands firmly clasped upon my hips I could feel his nails dig into me. It hurt but in a good way. A wild way.
I am writhing as my body tingles, with each thrust tiny bolts of energy fly through me. My eyes roll upwards in ecstasy as he maintains his assault.
"Yeah you like that don't you" He grunts between thrusts, "You like that dick in your ass!"
"Just fucking fuck me" I reply my voice dripping with wanton lust. Somehow I detect a change in Ian his pace though perceivably constant altered and suddenly his right hand relinquished its grip on my hip and it grabbed at my dark hair pulling my head backwards. The yank was firm and powerful and I groaned with appreciation. I was getting close. I could feel him fuck the orgasm out of me, each deep penetration was like his dick pushing the cum out of me.
"Oh fuck!" I moaned, "oh Jesus H. Christ!" Before I knew it hot jets of cum erupted from my dick spraying across the floor. Jet after jet errupted from me as if I hadn't come in months. It seemed to go on forever.
"Yeah" Ian howled as my anus clenched with each intense ejaculation. He continued his unrelenting fuck. Pounding into me like some crazed fuck machine. "YEAH" he continued to howl before he pulled out and flipped me over forcing me flat on my back in the puddle of ejaculate I had just made. Before I knew it he had mounted my chest his heavy nut sack dangling above my face and he was furiously fisting his cock. His left hand grabbed my head, dragging it up in line with his throbbing dick as he wanked himself towards his orgasm. Just as he blew his load he forced his long dick into my mouth and long salty streams of cum coated my tongue and throat. As he came he fucked my face just as furiously as he fucked my ass. I felt violated but hugely satisfied and turned on by it. Ian had never treated me so filthily before, like something in his manner had changed but Christ did it turn me on. Seven or eight huge spurts filled my mouth and I struggled to swallow it all. Trickles of cum seeped from the corners of my mouth and trickled down my chin. Pulling his softening cock from my mouth he wiped the wasted cum up with his index finger and fed it back to me.
He smiled at me as I sucked his finger hungrily. His eyes were warm and gentle. He glowed with satisfaction, and after a moment as we both recovered he stood and offered me his hand to help me stand. My legs ached and shivered from the exertion and with astonishing skill he whisked me up into his arms and carried me to the bed where he lay me down carefully with a soft kiss. Ian then clambered in beside me and pulled my battered body against his kissed me on the neck and whispered:
"I love you" I shortly drifted off to sleep.
I awake the next morning sore but happy, yet angry and content. This myriad of conflicting emotions pains my head and a slow and persistent headache forms. As I stumble around the room naked, looking for something to wear I realise Ian has gone. Sat waiting on the dinning table is a small note addressed to me. It's from Ian, he's gone off to training. Plopping into a chair I sigh to myself. Knowing Ian's determination and the fact there is actually nothing I can do to stop him I reside myself to enjoy my headache.
Some time passes how long I don't know nor do I care. The room is silent, the large window still remains open and the crisp light of early morning pours in. In this solitude I almost forget the events of the past few days. What a joke my life is. The silence is broken by the sounds of a small army storming through the corridor outside and bursting into the room like raging bulls Emily and a team of men in coats appear. I'm still naked but in my mood I don't care.
"You should be training Alex" Emily states with a slight hint of rage, "you should have been hours ago! What have you been doing!"
"This" I gesture around me, essentially meaning fuck all.
"Put these on, we've got to catch up on time!" Emily hands me some clothes and another set of body armour. Before I know it I'm in another training compound similar to the one I was in yesterday and the tests begin anew. Their not as intense as yesterdays. Emily and the team of scientists are purposefully taking it slow and steady building my energy output one bit at a time. Eventually I reach what Emily calls an acceptable stable orange. I can't help but detect a hint of disappointment in her voice. She clearly would like to push me further, but the others are clearly there to prevent another incident like yesterdays taking place.
Though the process is laborious and demanding on me physically, I notice there is a small bud of pride growing inside me, I am now capable of flinging bolts of orange energy and hitting the targets quite naturally without really thinking about it. However I know their target, and that is red. Why this obsession with red. I've figured that orange is enough to seriously injure come kill someone or a small group. The piles of splinters and dust where targets once stood is enough to prove that, but red. Surely that's going to far. Didn't the Doctor say that Red was enough to destroy a town... I am literally going to be, like the General said, a bomb. Is there plan to destroy the whole of Rome in the hope that this will rid Inscope of their problems.
During a brief break from training, a horrible concept begins to blossom. Am I really fighting the good fight or am I... am I apart of threat! A tight knot of fear grows deep within me. Am I the next bomb? As this theory grows more worrisome my break time is over and I'm pushed back into the training suite to continue on improving my stabilization. Hours pass with a dull monotony. Look, aim, shoot, look, aim, shoot, look, aim, shoot. The routine becomes so ingrained I don't even have to concentrate and I continue to contemplate who exactly is the enemy.
"OK Alex, your doing great. We're going to release the energy dampener so you should be able to reach Red, at any point you feel your incapable of controlling it please try and stop" A polite male voice informs me. I like this voice its soft, kind and encouraging.
Refocusing once more on my efforts I summon all I can. The familiar crackle of energy shudders through me, and like a tsunami it thunders through me.
"That's it Alex, don't push it, just try and keep a hold on this output" The kindly voice instructs. The palms of my hands are tingling and sweating. Little sparks of red jump from finger to finger. My muscles are in spasm, as my limps jump and jaunt by their own accord. I must look like a puppet whose master is having a fit. In the corner of my eye I glimpse the team of scientists talking hurriedly with each other and stood behind them Emily remains, silent but smiling that worrisome smile she seems to reserve only for me.
General Marsh is there, as is Ian and Carol. All eyes fixed on me curious, expectant. In the case of Carol worried. I study the curious threesome carefully. Carol with her clear apprehensive expression, hands pressed against the glass watching me intently. Ian slightly reserved behind her, arms folded, eyes focused, his emotion undetectable.
"Alex keep focused please" says the voice again as another burst of energy flips through me, and discharging itself into the ground. As asked I refocus on the job at hand. It's difficult but with every passing minute as the pressure of energy rises I feel the end coming. It's intense and climactic but also a huge relief, like reaching the crest of a steep mountain. I finally stabilize in Red. Like something clicking in the back of my head, like the last piece of a jigsaw, the intensity wanes. There is a delayed cry of joy from behind the glass partition. I had done it. I had reached and controlled red. Red. The ability to destroy a town was now safely vested in me. I look to my hands as the spasms stop. There nestled in the palm of my hand like a precious egg is a ball of crimson energy. I have it, I thought, the power. The power to end it all right here. Would it be the right thing to do, take Inscope out or save it to fight whatever war I was fighting in. I don't know. I don't want to know really. No man should ever have to make this decision.
"Initializing the dampener now" Says the voice again. I figure this dampener is like my safety lock.
The orb begins to grow smaller as I relax, until finally it flickers into nothing. "Well done Alex, you did it" I hear General Marsh say as the glass door slides open and he enters the chamber. I stare at him indifferently. Emily, Ian and Carol follow.
"You did it babe!" Ian states over joyed running up to me and wrapping his arms around me and kissing me briefly but passionately on the lips. Carol says nothing but stands a little back from everyone else studying me with her dark watchful eyes. I smile at her over Ian's shoulder, and the corners of her lips tilt up slightly. Something is troubling her it's obvious. Emily speaks next with her usual and infuriating self assuredness.
"I told you General I would get him there, and a day early"
Turning to look at her, the General Marsh nods and smiles, "Yes, well done Emily. At least you didn't nearly kill everyone this time!"
"I'm tired" I say eventually, to the understanding of everyone but Emily. I retire back to my room, asking Carol to join me. Naturally she accepts and we both return to my suite where the window still stands open.
"There's something wrong isn't there" She says as she shuts the doors to the room. Stood once more looking out at the view, the rolling hills leading away from the Inscope Headquarters. We're so high up I note to myself once more.
"Come here" I say to Carol gesturing to join me at the window. Cautiously Carol approaches, not out of fear of me, but her fear of heights. Without looking outside she stares at me.
"What is it"
"This... place... there's something wrong, something bugging me about all of this. I'm worried we're being played for fools, I'm worried this excursion to Rome is not to stop the terrorist but to take out the enemy of the terrorists" I say. My words aren't concise, nor clever but I'm so drained it ludicrous, I can barely think straight let alone speak coherently.
"What are you trying to say Alex"
"I think... I think Inscope isn't what it seems! What evidence other than their word do we have to prove they are who they say they are. I mean, I don't see why it was so important for me to get to Red when orange is clearly enough to cause some damage. Remember what the doctor said, at red I could destroy a town easy. Who else has been destroying towns..."
"What do you want to do..." She asks her head cocked to one side.
"I want to know more, I want to get into that room we were in when we arrived I want to find out what all this is about, and I would like your help"
"Of course... OK how we going to do it"
"Emily, she must have a security pass" Carol nods.
"I'll get it" She says eventually.
"How?" I ask curious, my plan was to distract her and Carol raid her office.
"Woman's intuition, I'll find her get it and meet you here in a few hours. You get some rest, you may need it. Where's Ian?"
"I don't actually know!" I say realizing the fact as I said it.
"I'm here" Ian says coolly stood at the door. How did he get in without us knowing. "What's going on?" He asks.
"Nothing" I protest a little more forcefully than I probably should.
"Didn't sound that way" He intones, as he approaches us. His expression is curious, angry... not quite, happy definitely not. "Why are you so suspicious Alex?"
"I... I..." he eyes me like a hunter stalking prey, "I just don't like this... it's all... to much!"
"Don't you trust us?" Us? US? What the fuck.
"What do you mean us?" I take a step back realizing that I'm right by the open window. Carol edges away from the window and away from Ian and I.
"Oh baby..." he smiles softly at me. I'm nervous. Petrified to the bone. He's really starting to freak me out. He raises his arm and I flinch. "Why so nervous baby" he strokes my face. I suddenly feel like I don't know Ian at all as his eyes bore down on me like steely bullets.
"Ian please... stop. Your scaring me"
"Scaring you? I don't think so. But I could. I could very easily" His words are soft and light but dripping with venom and threat. His eyes glance at the open window. I take my chance and bolt away from him, but I'm just not that little bit quick enough and grabbing my arm he pulls me back to him. Our bodies collide with force but he stands strong. "Where you going baby?" He adds his head cocking slightly.
"Ian... please..."
"Please what?" He snaps, "stop scaring you. Grow up you fucking faggot. You don't know what fear really is" He is pushing me towards the open window. I can feel the cold wind lapping at the back of my neck, the hairs on the back of my neck standing on edge. I catch Carol try to slowly edge behind Ian brandishing a vase. "You think your so fucking fantastic" He continues, "so fucking fantastic. But your nothing but a tool!" The grip he has on my arms is formidable. Carol is right behind him now. She raises the vase above her head. Ian releases one of my arms and brings his elbow back forcefully. It catches Carol in the collarbone knocking her backward onto the dinning table writhing in agony. The vase tumbling out of her hands smashes on the floor.
"Idiots" Ian spits. His expression is like nothing I've ever seen before, disgust rage but enjoyment also. He pushes me right back so I'm virtually sitting on the windowsill. I can feel the world dropping away behind me. The huge drop, that would undoubtedly kill me. "It would be so easy to kill you!" Ian spits. Phlegm speckling my face I wince at the tight grip he has on me. I feel helpless and terribly vulnerable. "Your so... fucking... pathetic" Ian growls.
"BUT I'M NOT!"
From nowhere one of the heavy dinning chairs comes swinging in from the right catching Ian square in the face sending him hurtling to the floor with a horrific thud surrounded by the remains of the chair. Carol stands wheezing, clutching a chair leg in her hands. Her face is red and mapped by pain. "Nobody fucks with me or my friends" She growls as she kicks Ian in the back viciously. She turns to me, her face breaking into a slight grin. "That felt good" She mutters. I, still in shock, teetering on the edge of the windowsill just stare at her. It's true what they say. Don't fuck with a Sheffield lass. "You know" She adds, "I don't rightly care what the fuck is going on, but lets get the flock out of here!" I smile at her.
So we do. We run. We run anywhere, looking for anyway down. We haven't a clue where we're going but it feels good and it feels right. The further we run the more distance we have from Ian. A strange euphoria rushes through us as adrenalin kicks in. I have to fight the urge to laugh. I theorise the best way out is to follow the fire routes and before long we hit what seems an endless stairwell down.
Taking three or four steps at a time we carrier down. Our panting and gasps for air echoing around us. Eventually we hit the bottom and we have one option a sole fire door with the words FIRE EXIT brazen across it. Tentatively Carol opens it, no alarm sounds. Thank fuck I say to myself. Carol peers through the door turns to me and grins like a lunatic. "Fucking jackpot" She pushes the door wider to reveal the underground bunker we arrived through. Scores of black 4x4's are lined up before us. On the other side of the bunker are a small number of armed guards. Creeping out on our hands and knees we scuffle towards the nearest vehicle and Carol tries the door. Click. The door opens. There must be a god I decide and we slip in. Carol behind the wheel, me in the passenger. Stooping low in the seats Carol hunts for keys, and finds them behind the sun visor. "Convenient" I whisper with a grin.
"Yeah but we haven't got anything to fight with" I grin at her.
"Yes we do" I point to the strange dial on my arm. Its cheery green face glowing slightly in the gloom. I begin to root through the glove compartment and to my joy produce a large heavy black mag-light. I hand it to Carol. "Break it" I say pointing to the dial once more.
"WHAT?" She growls through clenched teeth.
"Smash it, I think there's some sort of block on it. A dampener or something to stop me using my abilities"
"Are you sure!"
"Only one way to find out isn't there!" I press my arm against the dash board and look away as Carol weighs the mag-light up. Without warning she brings it down hard on the dial. Pain rips through my arm. I glance at the dial. Not a scratch.
"Harder!" I instruct, and she does. There's a slight cracking noise and the dial has a hairline appearing across the face. The pain is terrible but it ebbs away between thwacks. Upon the fifth hit the glass completely shatters and the dial falls apart, a series of wires and computer chips spill out of the hole in my arm. Blood begins to ooze from the wound but with more courage I thought I didn't have I grasp at the cables and bits of electronics and yank. It feels like I'm pulling on my own nerves and muscles. Discounting this pain I pull harder and with a horrific crunch, slurp and tearing noise the cables come free. Blood is oozing at quite a pace, but forcing myself to remain calm I tear at my t-shirt. Handing the makeshift bandage to Carol I gesture to her to tie it up. Her face now quite visibly pale and drained grimaces as she does what I ask.
"This had better work" I mutter as I wind open the sunscreen above and carol starts the engine. It thunders on and testing the revs Carol forces the vehicle back.
"FUCK ME" She screams as the machine instantly jumps into high speed. With a control that only comes through sheer fear she swings the reversing car round to face the now, curious and confused guards. Changing gear quickly Carol ploughs forward, swerving through bollards. The guards are raising their guns.
"I HOPE THIS THING IS BULLET PROOF" she screams as I clamber through the open sun screen.
"NO NEED" I shout back through the window as I recall the sensation of energy flowing through me. That now familiar tingle gathers in my hands and arms, drawn from deep within my chest. As the guards take aim I let loose. Bolts of blue energy flying through the air, dancing between the guards sending them into violent fits. All around us a blaring alarm screams. Red and orange emergency lights swivel and turn as sirens blurt out their ear splitting tone.
"I FEEL LIKE A FUCKING SITH EMPEROR" I bellow into the car. Carol laughs. As she sends the 4x4 round another tight bend.
"THESE FUCKING BOLLARDS!" She screams up to me. I grin and stretching my arms out and cracking my fingers I figure I can probably do something about these roadway blights. Once again summoning that tingling feeling I concentrate and aim balls of purplish energy towards the bollards. They errupt into shards of metal and plastic. I laugh. I really have got the hang of this now. I am rarely missing and I'm in a moving vehicle!
However a new challenge shows itself. The bunker doors are lowering as scores of armed guards are pouring into the room.
"Oh fuck!" I hear Carol mutter through gritted teeth. This is going to be tricky. Orange I think. I'm confident now in my ability, and all the practice earlier and fuelled by this wild adrenalin I begin to form a large orb of blood orange energy and in seconds its hurting towards the bunker doors. I drop into the car.
"Turn round Carol, FUCKING TURN!" I scream as she yanks the steering wheel round and slamming on the brakes. The wheels whistle as the car does a 180 turn. Throwing the car into a different gear we lurch forward in the opposite direction just as bullets sear through the air pinging off the armour plated vehicle. Once again I thank the god who is clearly looking down on us. Nano seconds later the orb of orange energy meets its intended target and the explosion is extensive. It forces blasts us away some ten meters. Limbs, weapons, clumps of armour rain down from the ceiling they are currently stuck to. We ignore the gore focusing on turning round and getting out of this hell. As Carol brings out scorched vehicle round we see the devastation, a hole the size of a small house is now where the bunker door and couple of dozen guards stood.
"This could get a little rough" Carol declares as she hurtles the vehicle towards the hole. We hit the rough terrain like a wave upon rocks. Jostled in our seats I fight to get my seat belt on. Bursting out of the bunker we hurtle towards the first gates we entered by. Scientists, guards, office workers, everyone is pouring out of the extensive complex. And rampaging through all of them is us. Like a steaming bull we cut through the throngs of people trying to avoid as many as we can. Ahead the lumbering gate stands defying our exit.
"Do your thing Alex!" Carol tells me as she swurves through more people.
"With pleasure!" I declare. Flicking the seatbelt off I erupt out of the sun screen like a jack in the box and recall that orange feeling. Like Ryo from street fighter I fling my hadoken at the gates. Like a small sun the bristling orange ball hurtles forwards. People leaping and screaming out of its way. It collides and I watch the full extent of this level of power. It begins like a slow burst of light followed by the rapid disintegration of everything contained within the burst. A smouldering hole stands where a gate and gate houses stood.
"Holy... fuck" Carol states as I fling my seat belt on and we bounce over the remains of the gate. And we disappear into the night.
~
Hours pass as we wind our way through country lanes and avoid towns and light up areas. We've both been quite silent since our breakout. The realization of the current events dawning on me like a brick to the face. My face pressed to the glass I shed a tear. I realised I was mourning a dream everyone shares. The dream of a happy simple existence. I now know that particular dream is unattainable.
Carol breaks the silence, "Where we gonna' go?" She asks. A poignant question one I had fought thinking about. Marooned, that's what we were, in our own country against a powerful entity. I don't know if enemy is the right word yet. I look at Carol as she quickly glances at me, noting but not making a point of my red ringed eyes and tear stained cheeks.
"We need to ditch this car" I say eventually, "There could be a tracking device or god knows what in it!" Carol nods. She points to a small sign for some random little welsh village. She turns onto the dusty bush lined road and we trundle towards the small cluster of lights in the darkness.
Coming to a quiet halt all our lights are off. It's a common known fact that in these sleepy little back water villages most people don't concern themselves that much with security. Our main issue is finding a car thats open with keys. So to add to our list of extensive crimes already committed tonight we have burglary and grand theft auto to the list. Fuck it in for a penny in for a pound!
We find a likely target. A small hatch back clumsily parked outside an aged cottage. Tentatively trying the door it pops open. Excellent. Now the keys. I look about to find Carol peering carefully through a window. As I quietly clip the car door shut I sneak over. Following her gaze inside there is a small bowl with a set of keys inside. We nod to each other. I slip round the back and try the back door it swings open. My heart pounding in my throat I work my way through the house and snatch the keys out of the bowl and retrace my steps. WHAT THE FUCK AM I DOING! Screams through my head but I put these thoughts of panic out of mind and rejoin Carol at the hatch back. We clamber in and handing the keys to Carol we drive off pronto.
Carol tells me she's left the 4x4's keys in the vehicle as a gesture of good will with a note stating we had to borrow the car! I look her in disbelief, but she's serious. "There's no point in not being polite!" She states.
"We just broke into their house and stole their car!"
"I think the term is borrowed!" Carol insists and I give in. Hell I've blown about a dozen people up tonight whats a car theft-come-borrow compared to that! "We'll go to your mum!"
"Is that wise?" I ask concern blooming for putting them in any danger, "I don't want her implemented in anything"
"She already is Alex, she's your mother. Besides do you really think Inscope will contact the police about what happened tonight, no. They will find us themselves. If their watching your mum they're watching her, we'll just have to risk it"
"We're going to get caught Carol. They're going to catch us!"
"NO! NO they're not. But we need a plan, where and what are we going to do" Carol is oddly calm, her serenity in this situation is remarkable, but then she is a problem solver by nature. I stare out of the dirty window of the hatchback.
"There's only one place we can go... Rome. I want answers. I want to find out what's going on!"
"Then after your mum that's where we're going!" Carol puts her foot down and in our stolen car we hurtle down a dual carriageway towards the facility. Dawn is an hour away by the time we get there. Headlamps off we roll slowly up the driveway and I shrug off the armour. I haven't seen my mum in some weeks and the last time was a little distressing. Her temperament was better but there still sat a rage of ages within her, and at any moment it could blossom. Doing my best impression of an alley cat I stalk around the grounds of the facility trying to recall where about in the building my mums cell was. I hated the thought that she was still here, and had been clinging to the hope that it was all in her best interest but then in light of everything else, is it not best to leave things as they were...
I find the window. I know from my previous visits that its locked and very strong, but... the mantra of the evening is "in for a penny in for a pound" and summoning the smallest amount of energy possible I blow the locks with a little bristle of white energy. The noise is enough to wake anyone in the room but hopefully not enough to evoke interest from anyone else.
"What the fuck!" I hear from inside. I sigh with relief, that's the familiar tone of my mother. Heaving my body inside I tell her not to worry. In the dim light of her reading lamp she is smiling broadly.
"You've come to rescue me!" She whispers urgently.
"In a way yes. Mum... I'm in serious shit!" She looks me over as I stand up in her little room. She gasps at the blood stained makeshift bandage on my arm. "Don't worry about that... there's more important shit. Mum. Carol and I... we need to get to Rome, without..." I sigh, "Without anyone knowing, officals the lot we need to get over there secretly"
"Why?" She demands with a stern whisper. I shake my head.
"We don't have time. Can you help us?"
"I'll try but I don't know how just yet. You have come to break me out havent you?" her face is perplexing but to save issue and the dragon from stirring I nod. She beams, and hops off her bed flinging open her wardrobe and producing a set of black clothing set together. "I knew you would so I've been prepared! I bribed the nurse the other week with a channel scarf if she could get me my bank cards!" I laugh but quickly stifle it. With the speed of a express stripper she whips her pyjama's off and flings her pre-chosen outfit. "I take we won't be able to go to the house?"
"Erm no sorry"
"Well, we'll have to stop off in Paris on the way, I'll need more clothes!"
"PARIS!" I hiss, "mum we don't have time!"
"We are going to Paris! I am not going to Rome in last years DKNY Outward Bound!" I have to laugh. In the scope of all the danger all the threat of everything going on, to my mum, looking good still takes precedence!
"Mum, will you be able to get through the window?" I ask suddenly realising its not exactly going to be as easy for sixty year old to navigate.
"I'm fitter now than I ever was. Do you know how many hours of gym work a day we have to do in this god forsaken hole! I'll get through that window if it kills me" and with surprising grace, the equivalent to a geriatric panther my mum leaps through the window and with loud huff and puff she emerges standing on the other side. I follow her and am disgruntled at my lack of grace compared to my mother forty years senior!
"Mornin'" Carol chirps as we pile into the car, "Where can I take you" I laugh as my mum ponders.
"Right Carol, cash point first, then petrol, then I think... London!" With a determination known only to women Carol nods and the car lurches forward, stalls, makes an ugly grinding noise, then stops. With an embarrassed smile Carol restarts the engine and we're off. From the rear view window I watch mum look about the car and then it comes as she picks up a Disney Cinderella hard bound book up. "Whose the fuck is this car?" She asks. Carol and I exchange looks, smile and I explain recent events.
Somehow my mother just accepts the crazy tale I tell her, and smiling from her back seat she announces she always knew I was special. Somehow my mums acceptance and willingness to help dulls the daunting task that lays ahead. Crossing not one but two international borders, finding some secret society and finding answer that are probably not even there don't seem to phase her one iota. I have to admit I find it reassuring and heart warming that within her maddened state the fierce maternal instinct reigns supreme.
As apprehensive as I was about mum using her debit cards in an ATM she withdraws the maximum she can from all of her cards. With £750 in pocket we refuel, stock up on sandwiches and water, along with a small bottle of Chablis for mum and we continue our crazy trip to London. Somehow time flies and just before midday we arrive in our hopeful sanctuary. The City. London. There we dump the car and hop on the Underground, my mother navigating her way round like a racing pigeon. Eventually we arrive on foot at the entrance of a very auspicious house. That of my mothers old friend Janet. After a surprised hello and brief introduction we're invited indoors.
With unrelenting speed mum gets down to business.
"Jan, we need to get to France, quick and undetected!" Janet looks from mum to me then Carol then back to mum.
"Well, getting to France quickly isn't a problem... but undetected I suppose you mean without authorities knowing!"
"Exactly and I thought... you are the best person to help us!"
Everything about Janet screams punk rock, but her house is a testament to minimalism. She takes a seat on a thin super-cool slimline sofa and offers my mum a seat. Carol and I opt to remain standing. Years ago Janet arrived in my mums life through work. A courageous woman a few years younger than mum. She was driven and a serious net-worker. There was no-one she didn't know or know how to get to them. She had been vital in establishing links with popular brands and large fashion houses.
But right now in a lingo I didn't think my mum knew she explained our plight, omitting certain details like my ability to see the future and flinging energy balls about. Janet soaked it up and without even blinking she laughed. "Its Sharky you need! I'll give him a ring. He's got connection everywhere we'll get you to Rome no worries. Might cost though" Janet adds. Her broad toothy smile is comforting despite the seriousness of her tone.
"How much?" My mum asks.
"Couple of thousand, I can front it for you. Just write me a cheque"
"Is that... is that wise" I spout without control.
"Paying by cheque, yeah sure it is, we'll be fine its a virtually obsolete method of payment. Checking on cheques is rare these days" Janet reassures, but I remain sceptical.
"I won't be able to get the money to you till I get back!" My mum states. Cunning ploy I think but she's also being truly honest.
"Not a problem, Alex" Janet looks up at me, "Your a lucky man to have your mother!" I smile and place a firm and fond hand on my mums shoulder.
"Don't I fucking know it!" I say. Janet smiles.
"Get a shower guys and rest. There's a guest room up stairs for you girls. Alex you'll have to have the sofa. I'll get everything sorted, all going well you'll be crossing tonight" Janet stands, gives directions to the bathroom and points invites us to anything in the kitchen. Before Janet leaves she stops and stares at my arm. "When I get back I'll have a look at that for you" She says before picking up her handbag and leaving us to it.
It turns out to be a remarkable shower and sleep. Full from shit crisps and dry sandwiches I don't raid the kitchen but Carol and my mum do. As they trudge upstairs to bed bearing the fruits of their cupboard rape, I settle down on the sofa. Alone. Reflecting on the events just past... but exhaustion takes over and carries me off to a deep and welcome sleep.
I find myself in a huge room down the centre of which runs a long table. I am sitting at the table, at the far end of the table is sat Cale. Staring at me. He doesn't move. He says nothing just stares. I try and speak but nothing comes out. I am mute. He is mute. From the lofty heights of the roof shards of ice and rain fall, ploughing through the wood of the table like daggers through skin. The wood bleeds words. They scream, they cry, they boom like a death-knell. I move my hand to shield my eyes from the rain. The words move. I move my hand again. The words move once more. They dance beneath my movements like a conductor commands an orchestra. Cale continues to stare at me, perplexity dawning across his expression. I experiment some more with hand gestures and soon I get the words to move how I want. I spell out to him:
Rome.
Cale nods.
The dream fades to a huge field open and exposed. I stand alone naked amongst the long grasses. Dark thundering clouds are forming over head casting the golden plane into a ominous grey. I hear an angelic voice sing from the heavens: "We may be mad, we may be blind, but we can still read what your mind. The trouble is just beginning" I look up to the sky and see an ocean of eyes staring back at me. Eyes that glitter like stars amongst darkening clouds.
"What am I to do?" I cry pleadingly.
"Fight, Alex. Fight!" The voice choruses. I sense movement in my peripheral vision. On the edge of the field stands a crowd of random animals. Each animal sits aside each other and they stare at me. "Fight for them" the voice intones. "Fight for everyone" I stare at the animals. "Now go!" Above me a huge black orb forms like a swirling mass of shadow and it envelopes me. Devours me.
The end for now...
Thanks to everyone whose read this story so far. A special thank you to those that took the time to email me. In the past I've responded to every email, be it fans and of course constructive criticism, but recently organising personal affairs and sorting out my own trip has preoccupied me. You've all been amazing and have encouraged me through this project that was originally only going to be a brief flirtation. I want to reassure you this is by no means the end of Alex and co and their adventures, but they're story will be delayed for eight months or so whilst I myself embark on a new adventure of my own. Six months alone in Asia. I intend to plan and work on other projects whilst I'm away, but also plan extensively Alex's next few chapters.
Obviously the only reason I have continued to write these stories is because of you guys so once again THANK YOU hugely. Usual stuff though let me know what you think, any ideas or concepts for me to consider please email them to me at the adress at the beginning, and also whilst I'm away any stories you think I could do with reading let me know. But also I would like to think that some of you might write your own stuff and to see that happen would be amazing also.
Much love, affection and respect!
Darne
x
P.S. in the words of our great Gandalf, keep it secret, keep it safe!!!!