A neon white cross hung above the door.
The word “Church” was written in white paint on the floor with an arrow pointing towards the doors.
***
Tracy walked by the mess hall, quickly glimpsing inside. Laughter could be heard coming from within, which was always a welcome sound to hear. It was only nine months ago that it was just her, Charlie and Shiva rattling around in the temple. A big part of her was jealous that she had to share her God with the others, but another part was happy for the company. In total, fourteen people lived in the temple, thirteen now that Dr Jones was returning to the city, but even that amount of survivors is incredible considering the amount of monsters and murders that happened in such a short space of time.
Footsteps echoed off the stone wall, as Tracy headed down three flights of spiral stairs.
A thick wooden door led her into the hall of mirrors.
Her eyes lit up with excitement as every single mirror was illuminated by a lovely light.
‘Who should I be today?’ she asked the world, stroking her fingertips across the glass of a mirror. For a few minutes, she walked through the hall. Tracy hadn’t even discovered where the room ended. It appeared to continue off for as far as the eye could possibly see. There were just thousands upon thousands of mirrors floating in the air all around her. ‘How about I try this one?’ She walked face first into the nearest mirror. White light consumed her as gravity sucked her forward. Tracy flashed through time and space. She sometimes wondered if this was what being born felt like. She was aware of things that she never knew before. It was like she was in this realm and several others all at once. For a brief moment in time, she swore she knew everything and could feel everything in the universe. And then she was in the ocean. She could feel the pressure of the water all around her. She did not see the world with her eyes, but her mind. It was too dark to see with her eyes, but still, she knew the layout of the land. She could feel the hundreds of other alien fish all around her. It was exhilarating. She could feel the primal thoughts of the creature and instinctively knew how to swim with the others. She cut through the water with such ease and grace. Every day was a new adventure, a new life and a new experience. Tracy never wanted a rescue party to come. This world was hers. She never wanted to leave this place, and she would stop anyone who tried to take it from her.
***
Magnus dropped to his knees before the cross hanging on the wall. The church was empty. It wouldn’t be surprising if he was the only one that came here anymore. Christianity was a dying religion. All religion was dying since man began to populate other planets. The old teachings simply didn’t fit the belief structures that people held, but Magnus still believed. He believed that the universe was too grand to just be made by chance. He believed a higher power was watching over him, but why was he being tested like this?
‘Why do you plan to take her from me?’ he prayed. ‘I have been a good Christian. I have lived a good life and stayed true to what you have taught us, but why do you take my wife from me? She is my love. She is the one person I treasure more than anyone.’ Magnus laughed loudly at a sudden epiphany. ‘Is that why you are doing it? Are you jealous, God? Are you jealous that I love my wife more than I love you?’
‘No, my child...’ whispered a weak voice.
Magnus spun quickly, half-expecting to find someone in the room with him, but he was alone.
‘Who said that?’ he asked.
‘I did,’ the voice was coming from the front of the room. Magnus turned to the cross and froze. Jesus was hovering in the air before him. His arms were outstretched as if he were still hung from the cross. His white robe glowed magically, filling the room with love and peace. ‘Magnus, you have done well,’ said Jesus, his image faded as if he were on a badly tuned television. ‘I can save your wife, but you must come to me.’
‘Where must I go?’
‘There is a planet not far from here.’ Images of the planet appeared in Magnus’s mind, as star chart information and coordinates were uploaded into his brain. ‘Bring your ship to this planet. Find me, Magnus.’ Jesus began to fade from sight. ‘And I will cure your wife of her illness. Can you do this, my son?’
‘Yes, Lord,’ said Magnus, only now did he realise he was crying. ‘Yes!’
***
Matthews sat on the edge of the bed, lighting up a cigarette, as Maggie showered in the bathroom. Shiva was lying behind him, her incredible naked body there for all to see. ‘I wish life could stay like this forever,’ announced Matthews, passing the cigarette to Shiva. She happily accepted it and took a drag. ‘I feel like I have died and gone to heaven.’
‘Nothing lasts forever,’ replied Shiva.
He turned to face her, ‘I didn’t expect those words from your mouth.’
She smiled a lovely smile, ‘the wheels of destiny are in motion. I don’t know how Jesus brought your ship to this planet, but it is only a matter of time before he does it again. We must make sure we are prepared for that event.’
‘Does he have a base? I could go there now and destroy it. I have already switched off our distress beacons.’
Shiva sat up and cradled his face in her hands. ‘Jesus is trying his best from his own point of view in life. I want no part in this war between my people. I made that mistake once before and look what it cost this once beautiful world. All I care about is keeping you all safe.’ A sweet kiss was planted on his lips. ‘In time, we might reach out across the galaxy spreading peace and love to all the worlds, but for now, we prepare. My temple of mirrors is a sanctuary of peace. You are all safe here. We have so much work to do and so much pleasure to experience. The fourteen of you are my disciples. I will teach you, love you and protect you.’
‘What happens when others come to hurt us... to hurt you?’ asked Matthews.
‘That is when you will protect me,’ she smiled, kissing him again.
‘My life is yours,’ he told her, ‘now and forever.’
***
Magnus sprinted into the command room, nearly giving the pilot at the controls a heart attack. ‘Captain, you scared the shit out of me. Captain...?’ Magnus ignored the pilot and rushed towards the three dimension hover map in the centre of the room. He typed in a few commands to the computer turmoil, imputing the coordinates that Jesus had planted within his brain. The star map moved in a blur of motion, panned out and painted a red line from the cruise ships current position to where the new planet was. The information on the screen pointed out that this was an unknown world, deemed not important by surveyors. The star map computer worked out it would take seven weeks to reach the planet.
Magnus clapped his hands together in triumph.
Seven weeks was good. His wife could survive another seven weeks.
‘Captain, what are you doing?’ asked the pilot, as Magnus began to input the new coordinates into the ship’s navigational computer. The star map appeared on the screen beside the pilot. Magnus shoved the pilot to one side, as he entered his activation code and implemented a high-level security lock on the navigational system. It meant Magnus and only Magnus could change the ship's intended destination. Magnus let out a loud laugh, slapping the pilot on the back.
‘It’s done,’ he cheered, as the deep space cruise ship began to change course.
‘O-Okay,’ replied the nervous pilot.
‘I did it. I saved her,’ said Magnus, talking to the universe. ‘God is good.’
Books by Simon Smith-Wilson
***
(City of Sin Series)
Five Days Notice
Hand of God
Last Tomorrow
All those Yesterdays
Blood for Blood
Dark Fantasy
(Prisoner 3-57 Series)
Prisoner 3-57: Ghost
Prisoner 3-57: Nuke Town
Prisoner 3-57: Phantom Soldier
Prisoner 3-57: Trilogy
(Zombies Series)
Zombies
Zombi
es: Black Rock
Zombies: Death Squad
Zombies: Hell Dimension
(Generation Series)
Personal Apocalypse
The Curse of Meredith Holmes
Erasing Creation
(Heroes of Magic Series)
The Legend of the Hermit Master
The Last Magic Dog
Liquid Crystal
Star Slayer
(Beast Trainer Series)
Beast Trainer: King’s City
(Infection Series)
Infection
Infection: P.O.T.U.S
(Novels)
Sinister Shadows
Tokyo Terror
Adultery & Murder
I Believe
The Arrangement
Killers
Bridge to the Moon
Attack of the Sprouts
Winter is Coming
(Short Stories)
Princess Amber and the Unicorn Valley
The Owl
Before the Dawn
Angels of Abortion
Story of God
Gift from God
The Longest Wait
Wanderers of the North
Dark Fantasy
***
Prophecy is in motion. A woman marked by destiny travels the wasteland, searching for the girl that will father her God. Rebecca blows away all evil without mercy, whilst gathering followers for her new and mysterious religion. Rumours of her magical exploits reach far and wide, shaking up the powerful families that control this dying world. Day by day her forces grow larger, increasing her threat to the stability of power.
Snake sets off from North City with a Special Forces team. Intelligence reports have confirmed a Wanderers of the North nest has been located. It is the furthest south the army of cannibals has ever been, but not everything is as it seems. Terrible secrets are revealed, as a new threat steps out of the shadows. In order to survive, Snake must kill everything and everyone that steps in his way.
Democracy reappears for the first time since the bombs were dropped almost forty years ago. Lamar dreams of a better life for everyone in this post-apocalyptic world, but no one will listen to the empowering words of a Muslim man. War crimes and genocide are no longer considered crimes. North City is consumed by the worst atrocity in human history, as religious intolerance sweeps through the streets in a river of blood and violence. Christians and Muslims clash for the final time, as one faith is hunted to extinction.
Prisoner 3-57: Phantom Soldier
***
Prisoner 3-57 awakes in the middle of a brutal battle, on an alien world, in a body that is not his own. He has memories of a life he has not lived. This stone cold killer sets out to finally discover the truth that they have kept hidden, as his consciousness is transported into the minds of innocent people. Confusion consumes Prisoner 3-57, as his urge to survive is battling the compelling need to rescue the loved ones that he has never met. His mind starts to rip apart as Prisoner 3-57 is transported from one body to another. With each leap of consciousness, new memories form in his mind, slowly erasing the identity of Prisoner 3-57. The shocking secrets of the Phantom project will be revealed, as the greatest soldier humanity has ever witnessed leads the charge into alien worlds in his final push for freedom and the truth.
The Legend of the Hermit Master
***
Darkness has fallen upon the mountain forest. An evil organisation has kidnapped the heroes of magic. Isabella is obsessed with locating the seven black crystals of ultimate power. The last of the magic dogs passes away after the brutal attack, leaving only a single puppy as her legacy. Katie is saved by a kind old man with incredible magic powers, as she wakes to the cruel reality of this big world. The Hermit Master sets out of a daring adventure to find his lost friends before it is too late. Katie might be young, but she comes from a race of powerful magic dogs. Together they must travel the country, pass through magical lands, face off against dangerous foes and save the never ending forest before it is destroyed and all its magical secrets are revealed. Can a ragtag band of crystal mages save the world from destruction?
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