by Len du Randt
You’re in hell, and you’re not getting out. Ever!
Jared tumbled and turned in all directions. He could feel himself move and float around, but the darkness around him stayed static. The voices and taunts increased; millions of invisible accusers, hurtling accusations at him from all around.
You killed Amy!
‘No I didn’t.’
You killed the baby!
‘I didn’t even know...’
You’re the one, Jared Greene.
‘No, I’m not.’
All power goes to you.
The accusations became a steady chanting. The more Jared resisted and denied, the louder and more involved the chanting became. You killed Amy. You’re in hell. You killed the baby. You’re in hell.
Jared tried to move away, but the voices moved with him, growing louder and more intense. The voices vibrated into his being, speaking into his mind.
You killed the baby! You’re in hell!
Jared screamed. Invisible hands tried to cover invisible ears, but passed right through. The accusations grew louder. It buzzed around him like a hornet’s nest. Jared screamed again, his voice swallowed by the darkness.
‘Jesus, help me!’
The voices stopped at once.
Jared looked around.
Nothing but thick darkness in every direction.
From far away in the distance, Jared saw a tiny speck of light, no larger than a pin prick. Was he seeing things? Did he finally lose his mind? He turned away, and when he turned back, the white dot was still clearly visible in the overwhelming darkness.
All the darkness in the universe cannot engulf the tiny light of a single candle.
His father had told him that when he was only five years old. He never forgot those words.
Jared tried to move toward the dot in the distance. After what felt like an eternity, he was no closer than he was when he started. The pin prick of light still seemed an eternity away.
He was still thinking about the dot of light when it suddenly grew larger in size, until it was as large as his fist. Minutes later it was as large as his head. All of a sudden the light expanded and pulled Jared in as it washed away the blackness.
White.
Everywhere.
As with the black, Jared couldn’t see anything other than white. But the white didn’t suffocate him like the darkness did. It didn’t hurt his eyes either.
‘Hello?’ The voices were gone. Jared could sense it. They weren’t merely quiet. They weren’t there at all. ‘Is anybody here?’
No one answered, but Jared didn’t feel alone. He heard a faint buzzing sound that grew gradually louder. He could feel himself moving forward at a tremendous speed. The buzzing grew louder.
He moved faster.
A flash of gold and the white vanished.
Jared stood still for a moment, closing his eyes. He slowly opened them and looked around. He was standing in the middle of Ridge street. Other than the buildings on the side of the road and the cars parked on the street, Kelwick appeared completely deserted.
‘Hello?’ Jared yelled. ‘Is anyone here?’
Jared entered a shop nearby. Despite the schmaltzy elevator music playing softly over the speakers, there was no sign of life. He left the shop and entered the cinema complex. Again, there was no one.
Jared stepped out into the street again. He could see his arms, torso and legs. He could feel his clothes and flesh, the breeze playing with his hair. He hunched down and rubbed the palm of his hand on the concrete sidewalk. Sure enough, he was real.
Where is everyone? he thought as he walked to the middle of the road. He looked up and down the street but still saw no one. As he walked he noticed that there weren’t even birds.
Nothing.
Just him and a deserted Kelwick.
Where on earth is everyone? Jared thought. Where the hell am I?
Chapter 7
A car on its roof.
Sparks.
A tree.
Jared jerked as if waking from a bad dream. He was standing in the middle of Ridge street, looking down Kelwick’s main road to where it abruptly stopped in the distance. The cars alongside the road were charred and rusted. Where just a moment ago, all the vehicles were fine, they were now somehow burnt-out and desolate. The tires appeared melted, and so did the interiors. The windows were missing, the metal framework twisted and dented. Not a single car down the road was intact.
‘What on earth...?’ Jared asked as he neared one of the wrecks. It smelled of burnt rubber and still radiated a substantial amount of heat.
All the grass next to the sidewalk also appeared scorched by whatever had melted the metallic beasts alongside the road. Jared walked to a patch of grass and rubbed his fingers over it. What should have been soft was hard and brittle, and when Jared brought his hand to his face, soot covered his fingertips. He wiped it off on his pants and surveyed the rest of the surrounding terrain.
Store windows had been blown out. Fires raged inside the shops along Ridge street. The trees that were once a prominent feature of Kelwick were burnt down. Jared noticed various carcasses of animals lying around. A charred dog lay next to one of the cars. A few birds on the sidewalk. Flies buzzed relentlessly around the dead animals.
That was when Jared first became aware of the smell. Rotted flesh and burnt hair. He choked, and used the sleeve of his shirt to filter out some of the pungent air. Half-running, half-tripping over his own feet, Jared made his way down one of the side streets. The rancid stench of death and burnt hair followed thick and fast. There was no escape.
Jared searched for a place where he could hide, somewhere he could go. It was then that he saw a distinct orange glow on the horizon in the distance. Yes, Jared thought. That’s where I’ll go. Somewhere not too far off something howled. The sound was one of anguish, long and guttural and made the tiny hairs at the back of Jared’s neck stand up. It’s only a dog, Jared tried to reassure himself. He wasted no time finding out and started his journey towards the orange glow. His mind raced as he tried to figure out what had happened to Kelwick and where on earth everyone had disappeared to. Flames crackled from within homes as he cautiously manoeuvred through the desolate side street. Finally he came to an intersection and walked to the middle. He looked down each road for as far as he could see. Nothing but burning homes, burnt-out cars, and scorched trees.
Crack!
Jared froze.
Someone or something was in the house at the corner. Jared looked at the house. A thin trail of smoke rose from the windows, but there were no visible flames.
Snap!
Jared took a step closer to the house. He could hear something moving inside. ‘Hello?’
No answer.
Crunch!
‘Is…Is anyone there?’
Again, no answer.
Jared walked up the path to the broken-down door and peered inside. The stench coming from within was even worse than outside and Jared had to breathe through his mouth to prevent himself from succumbing to the overwhelming nausea that attacked his senses. ‘Hello?’
Someone moved in the room at the far end of the house.
Jared stepped inside and took a few careful steps towards the room that the sounds were originating from.
‘My name is Jared Greene, and I’m coming in to help you. I mean you no harm.’
Jared carefully walked down the hallway to the door and slowly stretched his hand out towards the handle. Now and again Jared accidentally breathed through his nose and was sent reeling. Something fell on the other side and hit the ground with a loud thud!
‘Hello...?’
Glass shattered.
Jared touched the handle and wrapped his fingers around it. The growl at the other end made him freeze. Jared listened. Was it a dog?
Another growl, low and threatening this time.
Jared jerked his hand back. What was behind this door sounded much larger than a dog, and he had no intention of finding out wha
t it was.
There was a sniff from the small space beneath the door followed by a bloodcurdling howl.
Jared realised that whatever was behind the door had better not see him. He bolted for the front door, but it was too late. The closed door behind him exploded into many fragments of splintered wood as the beast broke through it. Jared stopped dead in his tracks and as slowly and non-threatening as he could; turned around to face two glowing eyes and drool-covered fangs.
* - - - *
‘How is he?’
Rebecca sighed. ‘No change yet,’ she said. ‘The doctors say that it’s still too early to tell.’
‘It’s been over a week now,’ Justin said. ‘How much longer do they need in order to figure out what’s going on?’
Rebecca clutched the receiver. ‘These comas can go on for years. It’s simply just too early to give an accurate assessment at this moment,’ she echoed the doctor’s words. ‘They’re still waiting for test results to come back from the labs.’
For a long moment Justin didn’t say anything. ‘When are you coming back?’
‘As soon as I hear something tangible.’
‘It’s way too quiet here without you,’ he said and forced a chuckle. ‘I don’t like it and neither does Monique.’
Rebecca smiled. ‘You’ll both survive. I’ll be home before you know it.’
‘Promise?’
‘Promise.’
Justin didn’t want to hang up. He probed his mind for topics. ‘How’s Tanya?’
‘Oh, she’s fine. She’s changed a lot since you last saw her. She’s more...mature now, if you know what I mean?’
‘So she’s a more mature witch now?’
Rebecca laughed. ‘Now, now, Justin Greene. Play nice.’
Justin merely laughed quietly.
‘So how’s your book coming along?’
‘Other than the rejection slips piling up, not much.’
‘Keep the faith, honey. Whatever must happen will happen at its appointed time. At least you finished the novel and that is already much more than most people have accomplished who had tried taking on the task.’
‘Thanks, baby,’ Justin said, ‘but I never would have been able to finish it without you. That’s for sure.’
‘You did it, alone,’ she said, ‘and I’m so very proud of you.’
‘I love you, Becky.’
‘I love you too,’ she said. After both hung up, Rebecca picked up a vase filled with flowers and took it to the basin where she filled it with water. She placed the vase on the bed stand next to Jared and sat down beside him. ‘And I do love you too, Jared,’ she said and softly sang to him while she held his hand and stroked his hair.
* - - - *
The growling beast that stood not too far from Jared reeked of scorched flesh and hair and Jared retched when he breathed in some of the rotten stench. Whatever it was, was as big as a Canadian grizzly, yet it had no fur. It had a stub tail and its face resembled something half-bear, half-human. It pulled its lip back into a snarl that revealed razor sharp teeth, and its eyes lit up as it crouched, ready to charge and pounce.
Jared spun around and sprinted as fast as he could. The movement was all that the animal needed for instinct to kick in. It charged towards Jared in short, jump-like movements with one objective: to kill.
‘Oh hell!’ Jared yelled as he bolted for the front door. ‘Get away from me!’ The thumping sound behind him told him the beast had no intention of listening to him. Jared broke free from the house and ran down the street as fast as he could manage, but the beast stayed right behind him, breathing its foul breath down the back of his neck as it snapped its jaws open and shut.
What the hell is that thing? Jared’s mind screamed as he ran into another house. He didn’t have much energy left to continue this type of running for much longer. If he didn’t lose the beast soon, he would surely be done for.
Jared’s nostrils flared. His lungs felt like they had been dipped in acid. His mind raced. He needed rest. He craved sitting and resting for just a moment. He would get no such opportunity. The stairs! Jared bolted up the wooden steps to the first floor just as the beast crashed through the front door. It sniffed and looked up, catching a fleeting glimpse of Jared’s foot as he reached the landing on the second storey.
The beast pursued. The wooden railing cracked and shattered as it forced itself up the narrow flight of steps. Jared knew that he had to act fast. He looked out of the window at the street below and flipped the latch. He tried to pry the window open, but to no avail. It was stuck. The steps crunched under the weight of the huge beast as it clawed its way up. It would be upon Jared within seconds. He was cornered. There was no way out. The bear-like creature stuck its ugly head out of the staircase, growling and snapping at Jared with its massive jaw.
Jared ran to the end of the hallway. He cursed when he realised that the only way out would be through the window or down the stairs. He looked at the massive charred head at the top of the staircase. The beast was crazed, relentless to get its prey regardless of what stood in its way. Now! Jared ran for the window as fast as his aching legs would allow.
With a jerk, the beast broke through the final constraining pieces of railing.
Oh no!
The monster shook itself.
Jared ran.
It looked up at him and bared its fangs.
Jared ran.
It snapped its jaws at him.
Had the side-step been a fraction of a second later, the hairless Grizzly-like beast would have clamped its razor sharp teeth into Jared’s leg.
It barely missed.
Jared tucked in his head and dove through the thin sheet of glass that separated him from freedom.
The beast lashed out with a powerful claw. It missed.
Glass sliced into his arms and back as Jared landed on the roof with a sickening crunch. He rolled down the roof and dropped over the edge, falling onto the grass one storey down.
Wood cracked and splintered as the creature forced itself out of the window. It made its way to the edge of the roof, but didn’t jump off. It merely growled as it observed the man lying on the grass below.
Jared had to force himself not to look. He flinched as pain shot up through his arm and into the nerve centre of his brain. As a reflex, he cried out.
The beast threw its head back and howled. It sniffed twice and then made its way back into the house.
Get up! Jared rolled over. He wanted to close his eyes and let it all end here. Get up now, Jared Greene! He stumbled to his feet and ran, huffing for breath as he made his way down the deserted road.
* - - - *
Jared will be fine, but you must make him see.
Rebecca whispered the words softly.
Just who was the homeless man? What did Jared have to see? How did the stranger know about Jared?
You must make him see.
She sighed and looked at the cardio monitor next to the bed. It beeped in a steady rhythm. The line on the monitor joined in the rhythmic tune. Up and down, up and down. Jared inhaled and exhaled, as if joining in the opus of rhythms. The respirator also pumped up and down in the same steady motion. Everything was a steady rhythm in the symphony of death.
‘Oh, Lord,’ Rebecca prayed. ‘What am I to do? What is Jared supposed to see? How can I make him see if I fail to see myself?’
Jared’s finger twitched.
Rebecca looked up at the cardio monitor. The lines remained the same. There was no spike in activity. Did she see right? She leaned forward. ‘Jared?’ she asked. ‘Can you hear me?’
Jared’s raspy respiration was the only answer she received.
Rebecca sat back in the chair. Disappointment flushed out all hope that she had left. She didn’t know how much more of this she would be able to take. ‘Please help him, Jesus. Please give me back my son.’
She squeezed Jared’s hand and stood up. ‘I’ll be back tomorrow,’ she said and kissed him on the forehead. ‘Know tha
t the Lord is with you.’
With that, she turned and left the room.
* - - - *
Shaun snaked his way through the long, dark, and mainly empty hospital corridors. He followed the signs to the best of his abilities, having to re-trace his steps only twice before he finally reached what appeared to be a reception desk.
‘May I help you?’ a nurse behind the desk asked.
Shaun looked down the corridor. He would much rather figure it out for himself than ask for help, but he had limited time, so he shifted his pride aside instead. ‘Sure,’ he said, his voice barely above a whisper. ‘I’m looking for Jared Greene. I believe he’s being held here.’
The nurse frowned at Shaun’s choice of words. ‘Do you know which room he’s being held in at least?’ The sarcastic bite in her voice was not lost on Shaun.
‘Twenty five, I think.’
‘That’s down the corridor to the end. Turn left. The second door on your right.’
‘Thanks,’ Shaun said and nodded. He made his way to the end of the corridor as instructed and turned left. Only once he was clear from the scrutiny of the nurses did he dare breathe out.
‘Twenty five,’ Shaun read aloud as he reached Jared’s room. He hesitated for a moment, wondering if he should go in. He pressed his back against the wall and rubbed his hands over his face. ‘Why?’ he asked and exhaled deeply. The last time he saw Jared was at Amy’s funeral. He looked down the corridor. It wasn’t too late to turn back. He could leave and no one would ever be the wiser. He closed his eyes for a brief moment, took another deep breath, and then stepped inside the room.’
The space was lifeless and cold, devoid of colour and emotion. Shaun walked in slowly, soaking in every little detail as he made his way to Jared’s bed.
‘Hey bud,’ he said and stifled a chuckle. He stood next to his friend and colleague, mortified by the mummy that lay in front of him. ‘I heard that you’re being detained here for a while.’ His joke didn’t receive much response. Shaun sat down on the chair next to the bed. ‘Oh Jared,’ he said. ‘Why this? Why now?’
