Whirling World

by Drinkel, Dean M

  Litres of blood covered the inside of the shower but Erica turned the taps on every now and again to wash the red gore down. Luke ignored the water, just kept cutting. The sharp tang of iron filled his lungs as he continued to carve, to separate and bag the chunks of meat that had once been Frank the organist.

  The eyes last. He picked up the head and used a metallic scoop to remove them. They came out with a slight sucking sound and were bagged like all the other parts.

  Erica and Mathers helped him carry the containers of Frank’s bits and pieces down to the car and arrange them on the back seat along with the black leather bag. Luke took off his soaking surgical smock, crumpled it into a ball and threw it on top.

  “Take him back to Central Building,” he said to the feeder in the front seat, and the car started up and drove off. The machinery would find Frank most useful. Every bit of him would end up in the city somewhere, doing its civic duty as a traffic light, or a vending machine, or part of an air conditioning system.

  Luke watched the car until it turned a corner.

  On the other side of the river, behind a line of hills, the sun rose.

  The Looking Glass

  by Anthony Crowley

  It was approaching World Heroes Day in down-town New York.

  On a normal, regular day, the local New Yorkers would gather in their thousands - appearing like celebratory aliens as they walked along the Manhattan streets totally hypnotised by the media narcissists whom displayed idealistic fools on every side-walk poster, but now seemed like 24-hour watchmen: as if on the hunt for something far greater.

  Day to day slaved routines of being a hermit for the rich and the powerful kingpins of this metropolis had grown out of hand. Enslaved citizens with a Jesus complexion was a regular occurrence from the locals.

  Tommy and Esther were beginning to learn the task of their new-found jobs in the fifth precinct. They were childhood sweethearts from the same school and neither of them was completely sure what they had to do to succeed.

  Some graduates had been lucky and had everything made for them, some were unlucky and ended up in jail for some petty crime or other. Tommy and Esther wanted something special: they had dreams of escaping to a faraway land away from the clutches of this artificial society.

  ***

  It was 5.00am on a Monday morning. Many commuters already had their minds programmed for the Prize - a prize with no winner just a gain towards a corrupted government whom made their secret handshakes to traffic the innocent profit from the hands of the needy.

  The alarm buzzed, Tommy slowly opened his eye and realised he only had about thirty minutes to get ready. Esther lay beneath his arms and appeared in a dazed state until she farted, immediately waking them both from their comforting warmth. They had no choice but to drag themselves out of bed. They lived in a large apartment complex which was located five minutes away from their workplace: Celestials Corporation. They were office juniors which was a glamorised name for being a dogsbodies.

  They were different though: they didn’t see the reality like their office colleagues. They could see the truth of everything and everyone around them. That was the only reason why they had to go through the daily routines of life.

  Tommy and Esther quickly got themselves cleaned and dressed and headed outside the front entrance of their building.

  It was a sunny blue sky which contrasted with the concrete jungle constructed around them. It was many miles away to see a spot of green grass or even a view of a peaceful ambient setting. Everything here was designed with only a fabricated and materialistic outlook.

  Surely it would be frightening for any child that was born into this environment because the only reality they would know was the artificial bubbles which would condition them for years onwards.

  Tommy looked up towards a billboard screen which was flashing an urgent broadcast. Every street had these televised screens to show the nation their hidden words of greed.

  Good morning, my fellow people, we are now coming into a new era of success. World Heroes Day will soon be upon us all. A day to be thankful for who you are and what you are here for, but also to give something back to your country. You, are the most important creation. We are the Earth, people!

  Tommy looked bewildered as he gazed into Esther’s eyes – his expression displayed a deep worry for possible consequences ahead. He could see that the TV presenter was hiding behind lies and deception – just another person getting paid to be nice to the world. Tommy placed his hands upon Esther’s shoulders and began to speak abruptly to her. “How much money do we have? We must get away soon. We can’t keep living this bullshit life, baby! This is about us and our future!”

  Esther placed her hands on Tommy’s and smiled as she offered some words of comfort. “Darling, we have enough money now, but you know we have to wait until World Heroes Day so we can avoid the distractions and restrictions from those corrupted assholes”.

  Tommy grinned back as he felt a moment of ease and focus. “You’re right, my love and not long to go then. OK. Let’s get moving. We can’t be late because they’ll deduct our living resources.”

  ***

  Esther and Tommy arrived at the entrance of Celestials. It was if the whole world was moving fast around them. Nobody seemed to notice they were there. They walked into the building and went to their work stations, tried to ignore the media noise and nonsense blasting from the numerous television screens pontificating about the announcement which had just been broadcasted.

  They looked about them. Their work colleagues seemed to be behaving oddly – secret talks, whispering to each other whilst sipping watered down coffee from non-recyclable cups. It was against the law to consume more – it was against the law to breathe without permission!

  Tommy and Esther had their work stations next to each other. They were basic tables and chairs with piles of instructed letters stacked up in front of them. Each letter had a different instruction for each hour for the day. The routine was both mentally tiring and controlling. They were so happy they had something to dream about for the coming days ahead.

  It was ironical really: neither of them liked heights but their office was located twenty floors above the ground. Esther needed a breath of fresh air so she lifted herself from her chair and walked over to the pane-glass window. The surrounding noise slowly vanished as she entered a trance like state as she gazed through the glass. Illuminated flickering lights appeared to circulate before her, like an electric current was charging from some-kind of energy. What was happening?

  Tommy tilted his head towards her, seeing that she appeared transfixed by something but what? He took a quick look around: nobody else on the office floor had seemed to notice what was going on. His jaw dropped. Something was there, he could just about see it, generating into life before his Esther, something living and breathing, something not of this world.

  He rushed over to her and placed his hands around her waist, shaking her so he could get her attention. Esther started to foam at the mouth as she snapped out of the trance and fainted into Tommy’s arms. He helped her down onto the nearby chair and fetched a cup of water.

  Esther, coming fully round, was unaware of what had happened, Tommy was a little startled from what he could see within the glass. In hushed tones he asked her if she could remember or recall anything about what had just happened: “Did you see that?! That thing within the glass?”

  “The only thing I could see was sunshine and I started to feel tired, but perhaps I did see something...in my thoughts. It was nothing, I suppose. Only a bad thought from working too much lately,” she replied.

  “Tell me. What did you see?”

  “Well, it was weird. I could see the end of the world...everything I knew vanishing in front of my eyes.”

  Tommy pondered for a moment. “During our lunch-break, let’s go to our favourite vegan café and try those hotdogs? The fresh air might be good for you. We can talk better there.”


  “Sounds great,” Esther replied.

  ***

  It was lunchtime, Tommy and Esther headed outside as they took a brisk stroll to Parul’s café.

  Suddenly the ground underneath them began to shake and they grabbed onto each other while trying to keep their balance. Tommy stared, he could see the glowing illuminated spectre which had appeared on the glass buildings along the street. It (was some kind of life-form?) had his total attention as it increased in size and there in the centre, a heartbeat, it was generating into a larger than life phenomena.

  But where were the usual bystanders...and the traffic? Where had everyone gone? It was like they had walked into a ghost town.

  As they approached the cafe, the ground tremors dissipated. They held tightly onto each other as they went to cross the street. They looked right and then left and were instantly struck with terror. What was going on – it seemed like the whole world was drowning within a sea of destruction, debris flying through the air...it was hard to breathe.

  They turned to each other, unsure what to do, the streets were vanishing around them; a terrible sound echoed and pierced their ears. They were frozen with cold fear but also sweating, as if the air was suffocating and choking them. A hazy mist, resembling a reddish-green polluting gas now surrounded them.

  Tommy slipped onto the hard ground below him – a large crack had appeared in the asphalt as if caused by an earthquake. But this had been caused by something far stranger. He shouted at Esther that they should go back to the office building for safety. They made a run for it.

  Within minutes, they arrived at the building and turning behind them, the whole street disappeared in a gloomy haze. Tommy dashed upstairs and went back to the window where everything seemed to start. Esther stood by his side.

  Something bizarre looking was glowing within the glass, Tommy was convinced it was a living creature of some kind. He asked Esther to reach out and place her hand on the glass. She held her breath as she did so – her heart raced incredibly fast. As soon as her fingers touched the surface she began to feel a warm tingle upon her skin.

  Tommy couldn’t believe what he was seeing, it was as if this illuminated being, there in the glass could actually sense Esther’s touch and possibly her thoughts too. Noticing this, she started to panic.

  An idea came to him. “Professor Stuart...remember him...that scientist? I know he was struck off because of his views on underworld studies...but maybe he can give us some answers? What do you think?”

  Esther quickly pulled her hand from the glass, turned and quickly headed away. “Come on then, we haven’t got much time!” she shouted.

  ***

  Professor Stuart lived outside of town. He spent his days living like a hermit far from modern society which was exactly how he preferred it. He had been taunted and hunted like a witch, all because of the findings of his studies.

  To reach the professor quickly, Tommy had an idea – they had to get to the airfield. From their office building it would be a good fifteen minute walk, along parts of town which, though seemingly clear from the reddish-green mist had been evacuated all the same – probably due to the on-going emergency broadcasts being shown on the massive billboard screens.

  When they arrived they were lucky in the fact that it was untouched but there didn’t seem to be anyone about until an air-steward ran from a nearby hanger screaming and panting.

  “I can’t believe this is happening! What is it? What is it?” he shouted.

  Tommy and Esther approached him – Tommy rested his hands on the man’s shoulders. “Calm down, what’s the matter?” he asked.

  The air-steward looked skywards, an expression of frozen terror on his face. Tommy and Esther followed suit – they couldn’t believe it either. The sky was illuminated with the greenish red mist, it looked also as if it was wrestling with the unusual force.

  Tommy turned to the man, distracting his attention. “We need a helicopter. Can you take us to one?”

  “No way!” the steward reply, frightened. “I’m getting out of here!”

  They watched as he dashed off into the hazy polluted sunset and within only a matter of moments he was suddenly lifted off the ground by the unknown force. The steward screamed loudly as his skin and flesh was turn away from his torso, revealing the bloody skeleton underneath but then as quick as it had started, the remnants of him vanished along with the ground and earth which had once been below.

  The world they once knew was becoming a living and breathing abyss. The air which had once been fresh and clean was now doing its damnedest to suffocate them – they had to act quickly as every breath was now becoming a breath for survival. They had to find the professor’s hideaway as their very lives depended upon it.

  Tommy and Esther ran to the nearest hanger, there was a helicopter. They rushed inside, fastening themselves tightly into their seats. Lucky for them the keys were still in the ignition. Tommy started the engine. He was an experienced pilot and manoeuvred the bird upwards but it wasn’t easy as a gale-like wind fought against them.

  Within moments it was as if they were in the eye of a terrible storm. Tommy forced as much pressure as he could onto the steering lever a few times to try and get the machine higher and after several attempts he was successful. They now flew above the misty ground beneath them. Esther looked on, totally shocked, as she could see what was happening to the earth below. No buildings were to be left standing, no cars nor people, no form of any living activity – only images of total destruction.

  From his window, Tommy could hardly see anything so concentrated on the job at hand. They were only a matter of minutes from reaching Professor Stuart’s hidden fortress. It was located at a former military base where he once worked. He was the person in charge of ‘Unknown Activities’ which had been covered up by the government.

  The location was linked to Roswell.

  Keeping a watchful eye, Esther noticed the base as it came into view and told Tommy that they must land near one of the larger buildings. The mist hadn’t quite reached the base and she could see a metal hatch sticking out of the ground by the side of a hill – well placed and hidden. Tommy brought the helicopter down nearby and once outside they made a run for must have been the professor’s bunker.

  Checking all was safe, they headed inside.

  ***

  “What do you want? Have you come to take the last of what I have? If you have then you can fuck off!” said an angry voice. It was the professor.

  “No! No! We need your help, Professor Stuart!” replied Esther.

  The professor grinned and pointed upwards. “I told them, I knew what was going to happen, but they wouldn’t listen,” he said. “Now, please, follow me...we have to be quick, I’ll tell you exactly what is going on.”

  He paused briefly as he walked, Tommy and Esther followed behind through the network of tunnels. “A while back now I came across something extraordinary. Initially I had been studying biomechanical engineering but I decided to develop my interests into unforeseen events. I’m sure you are unaware but an unusual eruption occurred about ten years ago, just outside of town. At the beginning, the team put it down to a change of climate but I sensed it was something more. I tested the hydrosphere and found it was reacting somewhat abnormally. I carried out detailed research and performed numerous tests and found strange activities had been occurring without our human knowledge. I hope I’m not losing you?”

  “No, please go on,” Tommy said as Esther shook her head.

  “Well,” the professor continued. “We are not the first civilisation to exist on this planet. We were here to make a change and difference definitely, to improve what had been here before but our species ignored and polluted the planet. We should have listened to ‘them’ but we didn’t.” His voice trailed off as he waves his arms about him but he soon calmed and picked up his train of thought again. “I did further tests and I found something alive within the transition zo
ne of the earth. It was alive! It breathed and it had been watching us for centuries. There is a living colony down there, of what I can’t be one per cent sure but they are there, they exist and we are somehow supposed to be their messengers. Our very existence developed from them and my friends – they want their planet back.”

  Tommy and Esther were both distraught and afraid as they let the professor’s words sink in. They also felt ashamed because if it was true what he had told them and had they known about it they would have tried to help to make a change but now all that was gone, the world had become total chaos and devastation.

  “The colony – they are an alien form, a living entity which exists within the earth’s core. The general perception of aliens is that they have big eyes and fragile, skinny bodies but that is a myth, they are not like that at all. How did they get into the earth’s core – we don’t know, but we do know they are there and they watch and observe us every day. They know exactly what we have done to this planet and how it affects their world below – goes somewhat to show how ignorant we humans really are, hey?” he laughed but there was no mirth.

  “Professor, can you tell us what the illuminating glow is, we saw it in the glass and...” Tommy asked.

  “Yes, the glass. I told them not to use it but the government wouldn’t listen, it was fashioned from what we found at Roswell...I believed it held something ‘other’ but they thought me mad. Anyway, anyway, we must go deeper...once we’re down these stairs, make sure you pull the iron bar across the door after we go through it – we need to be safe and don’t want any...unwanted visitors now do we?”

  As instructed Tommy and Esther followed the professor down the stairs and throw the door into another tunnel, Tommy turned and pulled the iron bar across the door – the ground and walls around them began to shake.

  Professor Stuart pointed. “Into those body suits, quickly quickly, make sure you connect the respiratory masks correctly. I will help you if necessary.” He stopped suddenly and looked around him. “Our visitors have arrived,” he whispered.