The awakening hc-1

by Stuart Meczes

  The awakening

  ( Hasea chronicles - 1 )

  Stuart Meczes

  Stuart Meczes

  The awakening

  “What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.”

  — Ralph Waldo Emerson

  0

  The Depraved appear in the distance — hundreds of them, scuttling, jumping and crawling their way through the pouring rain. A sea of evil, surging towards me.

  It had all ended so fast. I look down at my twisted, broken body and a bitter laugh escapes my lips.

  Some hero I turned out to be.

  I was meant to protect the world; I couldn’t even protect her. My eyes well up as it dawns on me that I’ll never hold her again, never smell her sweet hair.

  I can taste blood in my mouth. I try to spit it out, but have no energy left. It just dribbles pathetically down my chin. More comes up to take its place. Not a good sign. I know I should get up, should fight to my last breath. I’m just so worn out, and without her, what’s the point anyway?

  The stench of smoke and scorched metal fills my nostrils. An intense throbbing in my side draws my attention. I discover with a flash of nausea that a scaffolding pole has speared through my ribs, pinning me to the ground. I’m not healing anymore; I can’t even summon the will to try.

  This is it then, the end of the road.

  I’m going to die here.

  I close my eyes, trying to let the images of her face occupy my mind. I want my last thoughts to be of her as I die. For some reason I can’t make them stay shut. The curiosity in me needs to see how it all ends.

  The creatures surround me. There is a crescendo of baying and twittering laughter as they study me. Standing in the centre is The Sorrow. Even though the iron mask covers its face, I know it’s wearing a sick, triumphant smile.

  It crouches down and presses a metal knee against my chest. The weight crushes all of the air from my lungs. I have to use all of my remaining strength to gasp the next breath.

  The Sorrow lifts an armour clad arm up to its artificial face, the screech of the metal joints like rusty door hinges. There is a click as it unlocks the straps. The mask dislodges with a wet pop.

  So this is how it’s going to be.

  The excited chattering rises into an ear-splitting roar. There’s no escape. It starts to pull the iron face away, wanting to show me what lies underneath. I let out a long, final sigh.

  Now comes the end of everything.

  PART I

  AWAKENING EDEN

  1

  Sleep didn’t come easily anymore. When it did, it was restless and unsatisfying. As usual, I’d been lying awake for hours, existing in the itchy state of tired blood and wide eyes.

  Leaning over, I lifted the corner of the mattress and retrieved the photo from its usual spot. My father stared back at me, his face brimming with youth and intelligence. Sadness tugged at the walls of my stomach.

  “Morning, Dad.”

  I’d never understood the emotion I felt. The man in the picture had died before I was old enough to remember him, yet every time I saw his picture it felt like my heart was breaking.

  Ritual completed, I tucked the photo back into its place. Sinking into the pillow, I closed my eyes and prayed for sleep. The skull-rattling buzz of the alarm clock jerked me back awake. I swatted the off button. Lying still for a moment, I listened to the steady pattering of the winter rain on the bedroom window. It was still dark outside and could just have easily been night.

  Another miserable day in London.

  Heaving back the covers, I was hit by the bitter chill of the morning. Teeth chattering, I grabbed a towel from the back of the computer chair and padded to the bathroom for a shower.

  After somehow managing to tame my hair into something resembling a style, I trudged downstairs and into the breakfast room. It was one of those open plan setups, the blue and white tiled kitchen blending into a carpeted area filled by a large oak table. The rest of my family were already assembled. My half-brother Mikey sat at the table shovelling Weetabix into his mouth. John, my stepfather, leaned over the work top, studying a newspaper spread out on its surface. He thumbed through the pages tutting at the headlines and shaking his head. He paused occasionally to take sips from the coffee mug clutched in his gorilla-like fist.

  “More murders,” he grumbled, talking to no one in particular. “These poor buggers were found without any blood or organs in ‘em. Probably black market stuff. I’m beginning to wonder why we ever moved here. It’s supposed to be a good area!”

  Mum, who was as usual darting around the kitchen like an agitated wasp, murmured an agreement. Bacon and eggs spat away in a large pan on the hob. Thick steam curled up in rolling loops before getting sucked away by the extractor hood. She glanced over. “Morning, Alex.” “Morning,” I yawned. John grunted without looking up. Mikey mumbled something indecipherable through his mouthful. “Breakfast in two,” she added and went back to tend to the pan.

  Taking my spot at the table, I poured a glass of orange juice. A few minutes later an overcooked fried breakfast was set down in front of me. Mum was never going to win any culinary awards, but she did her best.

  “Thanks,” I said, trying out a smile.

  John closed his paper, and limped over, coffee in hand. Once seated, he absently rubbed his knee with one hand whilst drowning his food in brown sauce with the other. For a while there was no sound but the clatter and scrape of cutlery. Then John looked at me. He held the gaze for a second before clearing his throat. I sighed.

  Here we go.

  “Alexander,” he began in that tone. “I heard the school team are still doing trials, why don’t you give it a go?”

  Mikey descended into a fit of laughter, dribbling milk down his chin. He cut it short when Mum shot him a reproachful look. John kept his gaze fixed on me while he waited for my response.

  He might as well have asked me to pole vault Everest. There was no way I could ever join a football team. Not because I didn’t want to. I’d often watched the cool guys score goals and girls and fantasised about being the one in their studded boots. But I’d been born with an allergy to sports. I was liable to trip, drop, miss, foul and fumble my way through any game. Plus my fitness levels were worthy of any nursing home. Ninety minutes on a football pitch? Not a chance.

  It wouldn’t be a problem if my family didn’t revolve around sports. John had been a pretty talented striker in his better years and even managed to get scouted for Chelsea’s youth team. That all ended when he’d beaten up a guy outside a pub after a night on the booze. The same guy had come back later with a crowbar and tested John’s reflexes for him. After months of surgery he’d left the hospital with a fake kneecap and a shattered future. He now worked as a sports physiotherapist, determined to make sure other people achieved what he couldn’t. I had respect for that and would probably have told him as much, if he wasn’t such a condescending dickhead.

  Mum coached children’s tennis part time at the local leisure centre. She loved her job and always came home armed with stories about how little Jimmy had done this, or Katie had said that. Everyone tended to switch off, appeasing her with nods and smiles.

  Then there was Mikey.

  Brilliant at every conceivable sport known to mankind, the prodigy had chosen to focus on football. Already playing for the county youth team, it was simply a matter of time before a scout scooped him up.

  So it seemed natural that I should follow suit. Instead I was the odd one out — the runt of John’s alpha pack.

  I tried to think of how best to proceed without igniting a row. “Don’t think I’ll bother. You know football isn't really my thing.”

  John took
a long slurp of his coffee and smacked his lips.

  “Alexander, you never know what your potential is unless you try.”

  As if a button had been pushed, I felt my face flush as the familiar anger boiled in my stomach. “Do I have to be amazing at sports for you to accept me, John? Is being an A star student not good enough?” I fumed.

  “Actually, I was thinking it might help you make some friends.”

  That defused me. I dropped my eyes down to my plate and stabbed at the brittle bacon with my fork. Social status was a sore spot. I wasn’t good looking enough to make instant friends, and the awkwardness I felt within my own skin made it hard for me to hold a decent conversation. Most people never persevered long enough to see if I had a personality hidden somewhere. So I settled for a single friend, Tim, who’d had the bad fortune to sit next to me in a lunchtime study club. Over time I’d managed to wear him down with bad jokes and proximity until we fell into the mates classification. Unlike me, Tim had plenty of other friends, so I spent a lot of time alone. Not quite finished with his scrutinising of my existence, John looked to my mother for support. “Do you agree, Elaine?” he questioned, gesturing towards me. Mum gave a weary sigh. “Just let him be who he wants, John. He’s not Michael.”

  John nodded in silent agreement and cast an adoring gaze onto his son. Mikey was two years younger than me at 15, but looked much older. His constant football and gym training had given him a pretty good physique. I was thin and gawky — skin stretched over twigs. He sported a healthy olive complexion, whereas my skin was the anaemic shade of a computer hacker. Our jade coloured eyes were the only trait we shared. Mine were green for another reason as I stared at Mr Perfect and his shampoo ad hair. As though he could hear my thoughts, he swept a hand through his chestnut mane, before pushing his defeated bowl of cereal out the way and attacking his fry up. No one believed we could be even slightly related, we looked so different. Some liked to suggest that my real Dad had been an inbred.

  Which was always nice.

  The conversation petered out into a thick silence. Mum glanced at the clock and told us to get a move on. With relief I devoured my eggs and bacon, washing them down with the remnants of my juice.

  In the hallway, I shrugged into my black parka jacket and grabbed my schoolbag. We shouted goodbye from the open doorway and I lowered myself into my old blue Peugeot 205. The passenger side wing mirror hung loose like a droopy dog ear. It clattered against the side as Mikey climbed in next to me. He ejected my Soulfire album and tossed it in the glove compartment, replacing it with one of his own.

  “Hey!” I protested.

  “Come on mate, you listen to them every day.” “I like them!” “Yeah, so do I, but I think listening to something that much is like an OCD or something.” I couldn’t help but laugh. Mikey grinned and pointed ahead. “Let’s go Beckham!” Rolling my eyes, I pulled out of the drive.

  After travelling bumper to bumper at the speed of a stoned snail, we passed through the front gates of Chapter Hill School. I pulled the car into a tight arc by the main steps and stopped so Mikey could jump out.

  “Thanks mate, laters.”

  He gifted me with a swift punch to the arm and slid out of the car. A few seconds after slamming the door too hard, he was locked in the arms of Lisa Harwood, an attractive blonde from my year.

  I give it two weeks before he gets bored and moves onto his next victim, the jealous part of me predicted.

  The five minute warning bell clanged, stirring the crowds.

  Damn!

  I cranked the car back into first and charged around the main building towards student parking. I pulled into the last available space, between a silver Fiesta and a chavved up Clio. I switched off the engine and sat still for a moment, staring at nothing. Then I sucked it up and opened the door.

  Without warning, a rough set of hands yanked at my jacket. Surging upwards, my forehead smashed against the doorframe. I cried out in pain and twisted, trying to break free of the grip. It didn’t work. As I lurched upwards for a second time, I saw the familiar skinhead and unkind black eyes and understood that Terry Burton — my own personal, full time bully — was the one attacking me. After I’d been successfully removed from the car, he held me up in front of him, jacket twisted in his rough hands.

  “Oi knob head,” he spat through clenched teeth. “What cha think you’re doin?”

  Terry was half a foot taller than me and well built. He had to hunch over to bring his face close to mine. There were only a few centimetres between us and I could smell his hot, reeking breath on my face. I gagged; he stank of alcohol and stale cigarettes.

  Desperately I looked around, not sure what I’d done to annoy him this time. Terry smiled over his shoulder and I noticed the rest of his crew. They always hovered around him like flies on turd. They were all laughing at my baffled expression.

  “Don’t member you askin’ for permission to park in my spot Eden!” He unclenched a fist from my jacket and stabbed an accusatory finger at the Peugeot. I tried to respond, even though it was pointless. We all knew what was coming. “B-but, it’s free parking and you don’t have a c-”

  Terry's fist exploded into my stomach like a piston. I grunted as the wind rushed from my lungs. He let me go and I crumpled to the ground, chest wheezing and mouth flapping as I struggled for air. White hot pain blazed through my stomach. It took all of my strength not to vomit.

  “Ha-ha, little freak looks like a fish!” he snorted, causing a fresh wave of laughter from behind him. He reached out and seized a handful of my hair. I winced, still gasping as he dragged me back onto my feet again.

  “Now you best listen up mate. I’m holding that spot for TJ’s girl. She’s running a bit late.” He jerked his thumb in the direction of the wiry black guy, who stood at the right of the crew, arms folded. TJ nodded in agreement, a large smirk on his nasty face.

  “Now, if you park in my space,” he continued, stabbing a finger into my chest, “then she’ll have to pay for parkin. That ain’t no way to treat a lady is it?” He didn’t wait for an answer, just wrenched my head from side to side. The pain made my eyes water.

  “Glad you agree mate. Now why don’t you be a good little girl and go park down the road so we can keep this spot free yeah?” He let go of my hair and I nodded glumly.

  “Safe. Now get out of here before I give you a proper shoeing.”

  The gang gave my car a few half-hearted kicks as I reversed out of the space and headed back the way I'd come. As I drove away, another car passed me. I glanced in my rear-view mirror and watched it swing into the space I’d used. The car door opened and Elliot — one of the football guys from my Physics class — got out. He walked right past Terry and his crew. They didn’t even give him a second glance. I bit my lip hard as the tears welled up.

  Once back out of the main gate, I drove a few hundred yards to Tailor Street. I parked up and chinked a few pound coins into the pay and display. After slapping the ticket on the dashboard and slamming the door, I shuffled back to school.

  Trying to cheer myself up, I re-imagined the scenario.

  Terry pulls me out of the car, but instead of quivering, I catapult forward, driving my forehead into his nose. There’s a satisfying crunch as it crumples. I laugh as he staggers about screaming, as a waterfall of his own blood spills down his front. Then I glare at his stupid friends. They all run away, terrified.

  The blast of a car horn from somewhere down the road snapped me back to reality. I wondered for the umpteenth time if I should tell the school. And for the umpteenth time I argued that it would only get worse. Mr Burton senior was chairman of the school governors. This fact had allowed Terry to do A-levels in the first place and pretty much gave him a free reign to do what he wanted.

  Got to love politics.

  As I reached the main gates for the second time that morning, the final bell rang. Picking up the pace, one hand holding my aching stomach, I ran through the empty grounds and up the stone steps of th
e main entrance. At least he didn’t push me down these again, I thought bitterly.

  The school itself was one of the largest in Chapter Hill, mainly because it accommodated for sixth form students like me as well as years seven to eleven. It was easy to get lost in the spider web of corridors and rooms if you didn’t know where you were going.

  I tore down the empty hallways, my footsteps echoing around me. By the time I reached my English class, the door was already closed.

  Thanks Terry, you made me late as well.

  As I put a clammy hand onto the door handle, I was oblivious to the fact that my whole life was about to change.

  2

  Twenty three faces looked up as I stood panting in the doorway. Mr Hanley stopped writing on the whiteboard and turned his podgy, red face towards me, peering over the top of his spectacles.

  “Ah Alexander, how nice of you to join us! Better late than never I suppose, please take your seat.”

  I muttered an apology and sat down at my desk.

  At the start of the term it had been determined that I wasn’t cool enough to be allowed on the back row and the rest of the desks were full. So, I’d been left with the spot straight in front of the teacher’s desk. This meant I was an open target to any onslaught from behind. A regular occurrence as Andrew Pearson — another member of Terry’s gang — shared the class with me.

  Mr Hanley continued writing on the board until he was interrupted a second time by a light tap at the door. Miss Cleveland, the leather-faced school secretary, peered through the glass. Our teacher excused himself and waddled out of the room.

  Instant disorder ensued. People shouted to each other from stools and others got up to go and talk to friends. No one spoke to me. Instead, an empty Coke can smacked against the back of my head. I spun around to the sound of laughter as the cold liquid dribbled down my neck. Andrew stared at me from the back row, a satisfied grin on his face. “Sorry Eden I was aiming for the bin!”