Simulation Game
Page 19
“Don’t worry that’s just the waves,” Jonah who was sitting calmly explained.
“More like a storm surge,” she said her words muffled by his sleeve.
There was a massive roar and an uplifting rush. People gasped and hung onto anything which offered a morsel of comfort. It felt as though a hand had reached down and was battling gravity to pull them to freedom. Felicity’s veins pulsated, and she thought she was about to have a haemorrhage.
The roughness smoothed a little, and she turned to glance out of the window. She saw the ball of Earth surrounded by dust. Shortly after the machine burst through the last layers of the atmosphere. She heard unintentional sighs of relief. Around her people straightened in their seats and looked around at each other their lips twitching with nervous smiles.
“Please remain seated and strapped in,” a voice instructed. Please watch the nearest screen for a tutorial on how to manage weightlessness.
Felicity relaxed and gazed down at Earth a hazy smudge in the darkness. Prison or sanctuary it was now out of reach. She released her grip on Jonah’s arm, and he grasped her hand. “That wasn’t so bad,” he said.
She smiled feebly up at him. “What’s that in your other hand?” she said looking at the curious crystal.
“This is help for our old planet.” Jonah grinned. “Keep looking out of the window.”
Felicity thought she saw a vast object shimmering behind a black veil. About five blue lasers struck the forsaken planet. “What are they doing?” Felicity said anxiously swinging around to confront Jonah. “They can’t destroy our Earth.”
“They’re not. They are protecting it from further damage – giving a chance to any survivors.”
End of Days
Chapter Forty-two
Irvin on a horse and Elley on foot had trudged for mile after mile and day after day without any accurate measure of time. For Irvin trying to exist was exhausting. Having to be hyper-alert, pay attention to any warning signs and dealing with his endless fear. His horse, one of the many things he’d collected on their journey, jumped over the last fallen oak tree and was wading through flood waters when Irvin spotted the remains of buildings in the distance.
Irvin jumped down from the staggering animal and his heavy second pair of boots immediately filled with wet gunge from the quagmire. “I think there’s a town,” Irvin said. “My throats dry and the horse will need clean water too.”
“The City is a dangerous place,” Elley said in a warm voice. She twitched a large grey flake from her nose and led the way.
Irvin had learnt to depend on Elley in many ways. Her strength, stamina and few physical needs was an asset along with her desire to protect her younger brother. At night she stood guard while he slept, during the day she removed any obstacles and directed them accurately to each destination point.
Despite his limited vision, Irvin guessed they had arrived on the outskirts of York, but the City was unrecognisable.
“We must hurry there’s a storm coming,” she said speeding ahead.
A turbulent wind blew, and rain lashed down. Irvin’s, many layers of clothing, weighed like lead, and he didn’t have the strength to climb back onto the weary beast which was already burdened down with essential items. Keeping his eyes fixed on Elley he slogged on until he reached the flooded and deserted streets. Although the place was empty amongst the howling wind, he heard satanic voices. Elley had vanished.
“Where are you, Elley,” he called, as he weaved his way through the ruined streets. He searched for any abandoned buildings which might hold water or something unpolluted to drink. Between the lines of rain, he saw a liquor store. Leaving the horse, he entered the half-demolished building only to discover the drink was still locked away behind a metal barricade. He rushed back out into the street shouting against the wind to get Elley’s attention. A spine-chilling crack caused him to look up just as lightning struck a chimney pot. What a way to die, he thought in the split second before he hit the ground.
“You must pay more attention,” Elley moaned helping him back up. “I’ll end up breaking your bones always having to rescue you. What’s so urgent?”
“Booze in there but I can’t get to it,” he said with excitement. “I thought you could pull the grid off.” He smiled cheekily.
“That’s not a good idea,” she complained but jumped over the rubble and with ease tore down the security screen. “One bottle of wine and a couple for later.” She went over and shoved the bottles in the pannier. “We still need to find drinking water, and food or this poor beast will die.”
Irvin gawped at the exhausted creature as he unscrewed the bottle and poured the liquid down his throat. “I don’t think she’ll last much longer anyway. Her breathing is laboured, and her head is hanging low.”
Without warning the sky split with a tremendous crack, lightning rippled in all directions, and giant hailstones thundered down. Irvin vaulted back onto the horse and drove it forward as it slipped in the mud and decomposing bodies of animals, and people. The stench and signs of brutality went on forever. Bending and shrinking in the saddle, dizzy and nauseous he fought his way through the detritus of life and the relentless pounding of the icy stones.
They arrived at a wide expanse of land and before them stood a magnificent cathedral. To Irvin’s delight, one of the oldest buildings in the City was still standing. Multitudes of people had formed a makeshift camp on the grass in front. Campervans, tents and shacks made from found items were not enough to shelter them from the storm. Each was crushing the other as in panic they attempted to force open the large entry doors to the holy sanctuary. Others remained frozen by a dying fire.
As he climbed from the horse and found a place next to Elley people circled them glaring with hostility.
“This is the end of days,” an old woman said cackling. She brandished a kitchen knife and wore an oversized hard hat balanced on her head. “All those who treat God with scorn and doubt will die.” She spat at Irvin’s feet.
Elley grabbed his arm, and they backed towards the buildings towering wall.
“This is the beginning of your sorrow and pain,” the withered woman shouted. “We have the devils amongst us. We must make a sacrifice and appease the wrath of God.”
Irvin realised that others had joined them sheltering under the parapet. A small, wiry man standing too close whispered to Irvin in a conspiratorial manner. “Don’t worry about her, she shouts at everyone. This will be over soon. The word is all the governments of the world are meeting in the safe zone, and they’re planning how to save us. It was the divided among us which caused our troubles.” For the first time, Irvin saw the rambling man was starving and had weeping sores on his face as though he was harbouring a disease. Irvin shuffled closer to Elley, but the man stepped closer staring him full in the face with intense wild eyes. “Uprisings, conflict and greed. All that knowledge rotted people’s brains, but we’ll come together and start again.”
From out of nowhere a fast-white horse appeared. The rider on its back had an arrow poised and ready to fire. Unprepared people scattered or joined the human knot pushing into the cathedral. The otherworldly being continued to attack, firing bolt after bolt into the air pinning the helpless to the ground. Another blazing galloping shape appeared with smoke pluming from its nostrils. Lightning struck the ground as its hooves crashed down. The earth boiled with fire as it charged through the crowds sything through the necks of all those in its way with its terrifying blade.
A black horse was heading In Irvin’s direction. His heart pounded. Beneath his feet, something was moving in the thick mud. The ground opened, and the dead sprung up, and all-around voices whispered. As he glanced up, he saw the black horse in front of him, steam blew from its muzzle, and its eyes were solid pitch like the rider. Close behind lurked the unmistakable image of death surrounded by massive rabid dogs. Irvin realised he had nothing with which to defend himself as any weapons were tied to his horse. The beast impatiently stamped its hoo
ves spraying Irvin with mud. It wanted him to leave with them.
Irvin heard his name being called above the hysterical din. He glanced around and saw the door had been battered in and was swinging on its hinges. He slid away from the demon towards Elley who was coming to meet him and was reaching out with her hand.
Inside the sanctuary, they embraced each other. Irvin squeezed his eyes shut and allowed a sense of relief to rush through his body. For some reason, he felt safe. “Forgive me, God,” he muttered.
It was in that moment locked within the circle of comforting arms that everything vanished. Sensing the change, Irvin lifted his lids and saw nothing, except Elley staring equally bemused. The cathedral, the people, storm and nightmarish visions had melted away. It was just the two of them on desert soil. Irvin took off his mask and breathed dust-free air.
About the Author
Elizabeth Wixley was born in Hertfordshire in the United Kingdom but has moved many times during her childhood. She attended the Camberwell Art School and joined a design studio in Convent Garden. Moving to Bristol, some years later, she worked full time for the Local Education Authority supporting children suffering from emotional and behavioural problems while ensuring that the transition into a mainstream school was done in a supportive and nurturing manner. While providing children with a haven for learning, she raised two sons as a single parent while studying for a degree in education at the University of the West of England.
Her love of fiction started at the age of six when Elizabeth’s grandmother died of cancer and to ensure that the rest of the family was safe, she would spend the nights roaming the house looking for the “C” monster to make sure that he did not claim any more victims.
One sunny bright day, her sister told her that fork lightning would come and strike her down after which she would spend her days hiding in the garage, and when she heard that the sun was falling out of the sky, well, needless to say, she very seldom ventured out.
With trial and error, Elizabeth soon realised to fight her foes, she had to stare them straight in the eye, explore them and conqueror the inner demons to stand righteous. This helps fuel her love of horror and the many mysteries of the world. Creating a why and what if scenario that runs prominently in her fascinating fiction.
Throughout Elizabeth’s life, creative arts have been her passion whether it is visiting galleries, painting, or writing. She enjoys nothing more than sharing a compelling horror story with others and holding the sanity of her readers in the palm of her hand.
Other Books by E. M. G Wixley
Alfie’s Treasure Hunt
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Alfies-Treasure-Hunt-M-G-Wixley-ebook/dp/B07JJJ3KZM/
Traitor Sun
https://www.amazon.com/Traitor-Sun-Book-One-Earths-ebook/dp/B075WFC4H6/
Vengeful Earth
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Vengeful-Earth-Book-Two-Earths-ebook/dp/B07C9FJ4FP/
Adam’s Cross
http://www.amazon.com/Adams-Cross-Witchfinder-E-M-G-Wixley-ebook/dp/B00RM0A5QK/
Kane’s Cross
http://www.amazon.com/Kanes-Cross-Witchfinder-E-M-G-Wixley-
ebook/dp/B013F1ZLW2/
Devil’s Cross
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Devils-Cross-Book-Three-Witchfinder-ebook/dp/B01G63F9ZA/
Zach’s Cross
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Zachs-Cross-Live-Forever-Witchfinder/dp/1542304601/
In the Devil’s Own Words
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Devils-Own-Words-Cathedral-Chronicles-ebook/dp/B00B8XQF66/
Blood Borne
http://www.amazon.com/Blood-Borne-Chronicles-E-M-G-Wixley-ebook/dp/B00IJXSGZQ/
Reflections
http://www.amazon.com/Reflections-Cathedral-Chronicles-E-M-G-Wixley-ebook/dp/B00G6U4DEW/
Secrets and Shadow of the Missing
http://www.amazon.com/Secrets-Shadows-Missing-Living-Dreams-ebook/dp/B008N051FI/
The Warning
http://www.amazon.com/Warning-Living-Dreams-2-ebook/dp/B007MPDM38/
The Tethered Unicorn
http://www.amazon.com/Tethered-Unicorn-Living-Dreams-ebook/dp/B006TZG8SS/
Looking for Life
http://www.amazon.com/Looking-Life-Novelette-E-M-G-Wixley-ebook/dp/B00KMZVUMU/
Website: http://www.elizabethwixley.com/
E-mail: liz1949@hotmail.co.uk
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