by Ric Nero
Then I see a video that seems like a commercial to a movie. An asteroid falls on a large volcano island and desecrates it, causing volcanic eruptions and explosions. Confused, I ask a red haired woman ahead of me exactly what’s going on.
“Excuse me,” I say, trying to get her attention while tapping her shoulder. She is a shorter red haired woman maybe from Irish decent. Her size and shape suggests that she’s younger, but as she turns around the wrinkles around her eyes explain otherwise.
“Can I help you?” she asks in a almost sweet crackling voice.
“Yes ma’am. Umm… that last thing on the screen, what was that about with the asteroid?”
“Oh you mean the Wormwood Asteroid Crisis? Yeah, it destroyed the entire Hawaiian archipelago. Both Mount Loa and Kea erupted and exploded creating a disaster all over the Atlantic about two days ago.” She informs me.
“Wormwood?”
“Yeah, it’s a shame too. I’ve been there once, what a beautiful place, but hey, I gotta get going. If the world is coming to an end I need to live my life up while I still can.” The woman raises her arms and dances down the street in a carefree charismatic kind of way, moving her hips side to side in rhythm to a certain tune in her head.
Wormwood. I remember the front page article asteroid I neglected to read fully. Hawaii. A whole damn state is gone. I look back at the screen and see red waves overturn what used to be the chain of islands. I don’t know if the water is red from lava of the volcanoes or from the blood of Hawiian residents and tourists. “Death of over one point two million,” the text reads at the bottom of the screen. The world is falling apart chunks at a time. I just read about that in the newspaper in Chicago and in the book of Revelations, and never could connect the two until now.
Shook up by yet another foretold prophecy taking hold of the present reality, I try not to think about it anymore. It seems to be one thing after another pulling me into desperation and the only way to get past it right now is to not think about it. But the more I try not to think about it, the more I see these morally absent people as they pass by just as the red haired woman did. I start analyzing each and every one of them from top to bottom, trying to understand how they can know what’s going on in the world outside this city and still rejoice. Neither fear nor concern toward our ever decaying fabric of life seem to even be a thought for them. I notice how for some reason the blaring neon lights and logos draws them into its clenches. But mainly, the majority go into what seems to be a strip club. Making it out a few blocks down from where we are now I can see it. A large dark midnight blue building with flame designs around it. The sign reads in red cursive letters, “Abyss.” And above it is a huge mannequin in a wooden throne like chair it has a hood on covering its face and red glowing eyes. It’s a mad shirtless, muscular man with a crimson skin color who wears plain black pants. I think I get it now, all of this here was the dreams I was having the heartless people so concerned in following fleshly desires into the Abyss. I get the connection, but what’s supposed to happen here?
VRRRAAATTT! VRRAAATTT! VRRRAAATTT! Screams and shouts are the quick replies at the sound of the sharp noise. Startled, I quickly turn at the all too familiar sound of gunfire just to find myself surprised to see Auron standing on the hood of the Tahoe with a M-4 in hand aimed in the air. He stands there with an angry snarl, obviously just as mad as me about things maybe. He ejected the ammo cartridge and pulls the charger handle back as the bolt releases the round. He puts the weapon down at his feet, then stands and looks around verifying he has the attention of the crowd. “Why are we still here?” he asks the mass of people the familiar question I’ve heard him use on us many a time to self analyze themselves. “The final days are here, upon us right now! Why are you, us, we…why are we still here? Is it because we were rightfully living our lives for purposes beside our own self interests? Or could it simply be that we’re just lucky in this cold unfair world?” He shouts loud enough that his voice can echo as far as possible through the city streets. He observes how attentive they are to his words over the temptations around them taunting them with sounds and lights. They’re actually focused on him.
“Good women and children have all disappeared right under our noses. Honest men have vanished from our sides. I know you feel death seems to be awaiting you around the next corner! Events have taken place that threaten our existence! You’ve seen sights in the last few days that kill the most important thing we can ever grab a hold to… hope!” Using gestures as he speaks, Auron balls up his fist before him. I look around and see people beginning to fade from the voice of wisdom. “Without hope we are lost, without hope you feel bound to these avenues of sin’s gateway’s!” More and more people ignore Auron’s plea and walk away. “I can’t give you hope, no! But, I can show you who you can put your faith in! A God that will never let go as long as you hold on!” He continues on.
“God?” a voice yells out in the middle of the remaining crowd before Auron. A white guy with a worn trucker’s hat and flannel shirt chooses to contend against Auron. “Look at what’s going on and you ask us to believe in God?” The man says with disbelief as he looks at the others as they respond in with agreeing comments and gestures. “Hope is a dead dream and God is an illusion. How could God exist and allow this much destruction?” The man asks not really wanting an answer or guidance.
Auron still tries to win the hearts of anyone that he can. “I assure you--”
“Assure!? No, I assure you this; death is the only thing to be sure about and life will be over soon! Now if you excuse me I want to enjoy the rest of my life!” The man turns and walks away convincing the remaining crowd to do the same.
“No, wait! Listen, I beg you!” Auron shouts. Sad, no one is left to pay attention to his words, Auron looks around. Searching the crowd for one that may have chosen to take his words lightly. But none respond to his call. Everyone surrounds him as he sits on the hood of the black SUV. I return to the trucks where traffic was still at a complete halt. I join the others who made a U-shaped ring around the front of the truck. Right now it’s all eyes on Auron as we wait in silence for instructions about our next move. But, we see something on Auron’s face that we never saw or expected to see; disappointment. Since the beginning, he always was either prepared or flexible to whatever came his way. But now he has the look in his eye a man only gets when he feels as if he’s lost the war because a battle seems to have slipped through his hands.
“I don’t understand it,” Auron says as he stares into the star filled sky. “How can they not see it?” he asks himself with unblinking almost trance like eyes. “I bring them the truth that they need to be free… but they choose to be captive of their own faults.”
“You just answered your own question,” Dana says to Auron. Auron takes his eye off the stars of the sky and look at Dana who stands directly in front of him. “Their own faults. Their own decision and actions got them here ton Sin City, and those same actions and decisions will get them exactly where they want to be when this world is no more,” she says sternly and in all honesty trying to get Auron to pull his self out of this depressed slum.
“You know what? We were just like them until a few days ago. But God sent for us. And how He sent for us was through his faithful vessel, Auron,” she says with softer words. I was amazed she felt that way and understood so much in such a short period, but I still felt as though I had to save him. Auron squints for a second as he hears these words. As their conversation continues I notice Smith is walking down the street in the mix of the crowd. Unaware of our presence, he heads straight down the strip to the Abyss. I can’t believe it. Why did God embrace me to heal him if this man would just turn his back on him? It makes no sense to me. I tell myself maybe it’s just one of those things I’ll understand later in time. I’m almost driven to go stop him, but I guess he’s made his decision. Turning back around trying to pay attention to the conversation Dana is conducting, I see Auron very slowly stands to his feet. The laughter
and loud chatter on the boulevard has now become quiet. And all Auron can do is point behind us with wide astonished eyes. Almost afraid to turn around I notice the laughter and loud chatter on the boulevard has now become quiet. The flow of the walking crowd has now stopped and everyone looks the same direction down the strip. Once again my eyes gaze upon another remarkable sight. A bright white star gracefully descends from the sky. It’s small in size, maybe no more than the tires on the S.W.A.T. truck. But it twinkled ominously and so brightly it outshines the darkness of the night. It almost mimics daylight. I’m sure everyone has the same question as I do and want to know what it is and what’s happening. But no one says anything, not even a gasp breaks the silence of the city as we watch in wait of what’ll happen next.
Moving in its slow speed it finally falls gracefully upon the center of the Abyss and vanishes at the instance it comes in contact with the mannequin that sits on the roof. Moments pass and nothing happens as we look from one another in curiosity and confusion. The overwhelming sight has yet shown its purpose.
Brrrrrrrmmmm!!! Clllllaaaaaasssss!!! The Abyss begins to crumble to the ground. No, it’s not falling to the ground, the ground around it has opened up and swallowed it. The large building that was the size of a small high school is now gone. All that remains is a hole and emitting inside it is a ghastly crimson red light. People begin to slowly walk, gathering around the hole in curiosity.
“Auron, what’s going on?” I ask. Keeping my attention down the strip I notice I don’t get a reply. “Auron…Auron.” I finally turn around only to realize Auron is no longer on the hood of the SUV. “Where’d he go?” I ask the others as I look from side to side. They begin to look around as well hoping to spot him.
“There!” Jefferey shouts as he points to Auron climbing on top of a yellow taxi cab several cars ahead of us to get a better view.
“Auron!” I shout. He finally stands up fully on top of the taxi cab turning around he puts a single finger in the air as a gesture to tell me to wait.
Zzzzzzzz… A slight buzzing sound comes from the pit serenading the quiet tone over the city. ZZZZZZZ!!! The sound begins to grow more and more as if something’s coming. “Aaaaaahhhh!” The ones that chose to surround the edge of the pit suddenly turn running away and screaming in fright. The entire city that once was so focused on going that direction now in turn run every opposing way they can. Even Auron turns in fright, jumping from the hood of one car to the next. But slipping on the roof of a car, six vehicles ahead of us Auron falls.
“Auron!” Bazz yells out running towards him, but Auron throws his hand in a gesture that says not to come to him and run the opposite way. The buzzing sound has gotten so loud at this point that it drowns out all the screaming and yelling. All that can be heard is the buzzing. Bazz, who continues to go after Auron, stops in his tracks and turns tail soon as he starts worrying about what the ever growing buzzing sound brought with it. Bazz says something, but it can’t be made out audibly from the short distance between us, the buzzing was just too loud. Everyone starts getting worried, I can see it in their eyes, the sound is even creeping me out.
“Everyone in the truck!” Bazz says running past us into the Tahoe closing the driver’s door. We all follow his lead and return to the trucks. I open the heavy armored S.W.A.T. door the same time Sparks opens the opposing passenger door and hops in with the twins. We watch from the protection of the truck as Auron gets up and begins to make a run again for the trucks.
Then from the pit erupts a darkness, it’s so unreal. Looking through the windshield it seems as if everything outside is a painted portrait and out of the pit comes black paint covering the canvas from top to bottom. The darkness has already made its way halfway down this block already. Right on Auron’s heels it comes.
“AURON!” I scream, wishing I could do something. But I know it’s too late. The closer the darkness moves, I get a better view of what it really is, they’re bugs. Big black bugs that resemble locusts, but they’re way bigger, maybe the size of my hands. There are so many of them and they move so fast through the city. I can see them clearly now attacking the people in the city feasting on their flesh. The red head woman I saw earlier, the transsexual that passed me and Auron before, the trucker that chose not to believe in God, all of them. Everyone of them that rejected God, now are screaming in agony calling out God’s name. I feel sorry for them in irony.
“Smith!” yells James, as they point to the right side as the long black haired Smith almost makes it to the truck. He fights the bugs back, swinging ferociously, but he inevitably falls to the ground in pain as the bugs cover his body and feast on his flesh.
“Smith! No!” I scream out reaching down grabbing the loaded M-4 behind me in the left corner of the cab. Cocked and ready to go, I see the bugs cover both sides of the strip and begin to close in from both sides on Auron as he continues making his way to the truck. I swing my door open placing my left foot on the step of the cab as I stand with my weapon aimed over the driver’s door, firing away at the bugs that begin to close in on Auron.
“Yyyyyaaaaaaahhhhhh!!!” I scream as I continue to shoot. But the bullets don’t deter the darkness, nor do the rounds penetrate them all. They ricochet off of them as if they’re bulletproof or armored somehow. I don’t care, I still squeeze the trigger until finally the magazine is empty. “Auron!” I yell out in a painful screeched voice as the darkness finally reaches his feet. “Quick, hand me another mag!” I yell to James with my hand extended out to him, waiting in expectation.
“No!” James says pulling my shirt.
“Thomas, please!” Jessie shouts out. I hear them but I can’t give up and let this man die.
“Mag!” I shout back. I look at them eyes are wide and glossed like glass and full of concern. I understood but I reach in the ammo box myself and try to reload quickly as possible.
“Aaaarrrggghhhh!” Auron yells out. The bugs begin to move up his legs. He reaches and grabs fiercely, throwing them off but there are just too many and move too quickly. I feel a hard yank at my side pulling me back inside the driver’s seat. It’s Sparks grabbing my shoulders and trying her best to look me in the eyes.
“There’s nothing you can do,” she repeats. But I don’t believe it. After coming all this way doing the things we’ve done, escaping the destruction and violence of Miami, it all ends for Auron like this? I try to break free, but they hold me down, and as soon as I break free, I hear a screech and a hard thumping sound even over the buzzing.
I didn’t have to see it, I could feel it in my gut. I just knew it was over for Auron. My heart begins to race so fast that my chest almost hurts. But I had to look and be sure. At that moment, everything seems to slow down; my heart beat, my breathing, the speed people around me are moving, everything. It’s all just in slow motion now. I see the herds of bugs so organized and militant as if they’re filed in hundreds of ranks and columns marching over everything and gnawing away at every person leaving everything else unharmed. They begin to finally reach the hood of the S.W.A.T. truck. The three begin to squirm and quiver questioning whether or not we’re safe within the confines of the truck, but not me. After Miami I promised myself that I wouldn’t be worried or afraid anymore, I am done with fear. I’ve seen too much and survived too much through the grace of God to worry about my own safety while He walks though the storms beside me. I look at them as they draw nearer to the windshield, staring and analyzing these bugs with a heart of increasing anger and rage. Some flew in swarms in the air while others chose to crawl. But these demonic bugs are different from all others. They stand like a horse on four skinny black legs, but their horrific faces are that of a man’s face entirely, only just as black as their legs. Tiny gold crowns sit atop of their heads and teeth sharp as lions. On their chests are plates of Armor and tails just as poisonous as scorpions.
Just then it came out of the pit, ascending out of its lair into mid-air. The attention and concern from Sparks and the twin boys quickly dies o
ut as we all watch in amazement the new terror before us. The exact metaphysical creature from my dreams makes his entrance into the physical reality. He sits there exactly how I viewed him in him in the dreams sitting on his throne of skulls. Maybe thirty feet in height and masculine in shape, a dirty brown sack covers his head creating a sinister shadow over his face. His torso was mostly bare despite the numerous sporadic piercings of his chest and strands of iron chain that wrap his arms and body. Red scales cover every part of his visible body. His legs are covered in battle armored leggings resembling a warrior’s uniform from early Egyptian civilizations. He stands from his throne of hundreds of human skulls in mid-air as if there was an invisible platform under his feet. He holds a scepter high into the air, muscles bulging as he stretches his arms out high and wide, roaring calling forth from the pit a heavy swarm of the locust like bugs fly around him. He is their ruler, the true destroyer. The sight of him is so colossally overwhelming. His entire nature seems to focus on pain and agony. But I didn’t fear him, no. I don’t fear anything on this earth anymore, even him.
“Aaaarrrgggghhh!!!” It yells out stretching even more. The locusts that once swarmed around him now charge directly at us at incredible speed and ferocity. That beast’s yelling must have been some type of war cry. The eerie sound of buzzing has changed into a more insidious echo of horses and chariots storming through the city, but they remain flying like missiles through the air.
