Silences in the Dark

I awoken to the fierceness of my flesh erupting into flames, you would think the sweat spilling out of my pours would devour the fire within its watery thirst. I struggled to get out of bed and drag my blazing body to the bathroom. Where I begun splashing cold water upon my burning flesh and in my cool relief I was so glad my face was not melting. Gazing into the mirror I watched as the water danced off my face. Suddenly an eerie silence and a gut wrenching feeling began to over whelm me. I stood there staring at my reflection in the shadows of the light as it struggled to pierce the glass and forge its brightness upon me. I reached over for the light switch, but it was already in the on position. I flipped it up and down, still nothing. “Ugg, I muttered to myself I will replace it later.” the bulb must be out, still muttering in discuss as I went back into my bedroom to dress.
I went to flip on the light in my bedroom and it also was in the on position, I stood there flipping it up and down, as if some miracle would happen and the light would come on. Still nothing, curiously I made my way through my tiny one bed room apartment, testing the switches and seeing if the electricity is off and sure enough the power must be out. I‘ll get dress and go talk to the manager and see what he knows. I went back into my room and dug through my scratch and sniff pile. Scratch and sniff is my method to save money and time on washing clothes. You scratch the dried food or dirt off and sniff the arm pits and crotch area for order, if there wasn’t any you are good for yet another day of wear. I dressed and stepped out into the late morning sun. The intensity of the heat began brewing with in again as if it were some cosmic energy exploding inside me. Chuckling to my self I thought “maybe it was my intense energy that I blew the fuse in my apartment and no one else’s.” The manager was down on the first floor and 2 buildings over.
I walked a ways then froze in my tracks as the overwhelming silences surrounding me, I spun slowly around making a complete circle there was nothing. No noise, no birds chirping, cars passing, people talking, there was nothing. It was way to quiet, an eerie quiet, like the hand of time froze everything with in its grip including silence.
The fear of denial began to consume my thought of every answer why I could think up, till nothing existed. The Nothingness began to empty out my memories, spilling fear quickly into my head. Fear began pumping wild thoughts into my veins till my emotions where screaming out for panic to become our responder, our savior into the depths of madness. Breathing heavily by now, I walked even more briskly towards the manager’s apartment. Saying aloud over and over to myself “I am not going to panic…I am not going to panic”. The manager will just explain it all to me, like “Oh didn’t hear there was a tornado warning and every one was evacuated” “Everyone but you….now you are going to die” “Uggggg…I am not going to panic” I said even louder as I realized I was banging in sheer panic on the managers door and no one was answering. Oh God! I haves been abandon, left here alone to die. What is really going on, come on…think, as I was banging myself on the head, standing next to the manager’s door. I kept telling myself just breathe; I closed my eyes and breathed slower and slower, trying to gather myself, my sanity. Because by now I was really beginning to freak out…yes panic for real. I turned and ran as fast as I could back to my apartment slamming my door and sliding down to
the floor, fixing to bust out in tears. When I saw my phone lying on my couch, I crawled over and began dialing frantically, realizing the phone was dead, no power, and no phone. Aaah! My cell phone, I got up and ran into my room and began digging in my clothes, till I shook it loose from it’s entanglement from my bra. But it was dead also, I just never took the time to fully keep the thing charged, tossing it back into the pile. I know I will drive over to where I work it is my day off but Joe my good buddy will be working and he can explain all this madness. It’s only six blocks away and in the middle of town, where there is probably a ton of people gearing up for there lunch hour.
I grabbed my car keys off the table and darted down the stairs and into the parking lot. Unlocking my car I slid inside leaving the door open so the heat would escape before I melted, it had to be at least 100 degrees inside and its not even quite noon. I fumbled with the keys and managed to get it into the ignition and turned the car over, nothing. I turned it again still nothing. Slamming my fist on the steering wheel “Come on” I hollered aloud, my voice just echoed into the emptiness of silence, sending that rage of fear creeping up the back of my neck and wedging itself under my skin. As I tried it a few more times before hoping out and slamming the car door. “Fine”…I screamed I will just walk, still mumbling with sarcasms, as I made my way down the street. I no I looked rather odd arguing with myself aloud. “I ‘m probably the last woman on earth and every one else got sucked up in a big space ship except me because I was curled in a ball under my pile of blankets looking just like my pile of scratch and sniff clothes, so they didn’t see any one in my apartment to take. I didn’t want to stop talking because when I did, the realization of silence and stillness would set in, no one around any where and no dismay. It looked like they all vanished off the face of the earth, including all the animals’ bugs and insects every one and every living thing. Keeping my head down and talking to myself kept the panicking mode at bay.
Joe just has to be there I said trying to convince myself. “BAM!”*#* “Ouch!” I ran right smack into the back of the UPS man and the idiot kept on walking, as if nothing ever happened. I lurched forward, grabbing his left shoulder and spinning him around so he would face me. Speaking hastily “Dude, what part of me you did not feel slamming into you?” All he did is look at me as if he was in some heavily trance, like some freaky zombie, he replied slowly and steadily “Earth is dying”… (Pause)”Heaven no longer exists.” “What?” I shrieked and he repeated “Earth is dying”… (Pause)”Heaven no longer exists.” Suddenly I felt a sharp instrument slicing into my flesh; piercing my heart and dropping me face first into the concrete walk way before I could even say ow. I lay their and watched as his shadowy figure slithered away. The fiery liquid spilled from my body, leaving me alone in the stillness of silence to die in a sea of red. I was paralyzed, I no longer could move, not even a finger and my breath was becoming shallower and shallower. I was slowly choking on my own blood and drowning into nothingness. My eyes locked in darkness as I slipped into a silent peace, drifting above my body and taking one final glance at it lying in stillness amongst the sea of red.
Within a flash, just like lightning striking before my eyes, I was transformed into the empty universe. Becoming a flickering light upon the night’s dark horizon, for I had fallen into the stillness, the sky of nothingness stretched along the silences in the dark. So this is it, this is what it is like to be dead. When suddenly I heard the crashing roar of thunder, the loudest sound I ever heard. It sat me straight up in bed, with my heart racing for its life and the sweat of fear pouring out of every cell of my body. Once I caught my breath as well as my senses, I realized my stupid cat had gotten up on the very top of my book shelf and knocked a handful of books onto the floor. Luckily he did that, because my alarm didn’t go off and I am almost late for school if I don’t hurry it up. I jumped out of bed and ran into the bathroom and began splashing cool water on my face to wake up. Staring at my reflection as the water dripped off my face I reached over to flick on the light, but light was already in the on position. I flipped it up and down still nothing. The bulb must be burned out I thought I will replace it later.

My daughter gave me these words plucked from a song to write a story on.
“Now with heavens help you cast your demons out. And not to pull your halo down around your neck and tug you to the ground but I’m more then just a little curious on how you’re planning on making your amends to the dead.”
A short story challenge we had going on with one another tossing themes at each other and writing on them. So this is what evolved.

AMENDS
by Deanne

“Now with heavens help you cast your demons out. And not to pull your halo down around your neck and tug you to the ground but I’m more then just a little curious on how you’re planning on making your amends to the dead.” Jordan said spraying me with his tears as he shook my lifeless body. All I could do is stand above him with one hand upon his shoulder and watch. My body was useless to me now and…hey! I thought I would have wings, a halo and where is the bright light at the end of the tunnel. I lifted my hand from Jordan’s shoulder and began shouting at the sky above me. “Hello Up There” “Can anyone here me…. I am dead, ant I suppose to be going somewhere? Still no one answered.
I began running fast as I could as if I where trying to catch the sun before it sunk in it’s silence behind the horizon taking the day, the past moments with it and only to awaken in the present day, futures tomorrow. When I found myself in the middle of the street being ran over again, an again and again. Well not really ran over the cars and people drove right on through me it really was freaky.
Then I found myself flying into the bodies of all those I have done wrong or hurt in the past and I felt there sorrows there pains I inflicted upon them. “Screaming at the top of my lungs this has got too stop…. Please! I cried as I fell to my knees and spread my arms into the ground bowing my head and crying profusely. When I felt a hand on my shoulder and a voice above me saying, “Son are you okay, can I help?” I brought my body up enough where I was sitting on my knees and rolled my head slowly upward to where the man above me stood.
Choking back my tears I reached out to shake his hand and said “My name is Jordan” And the man returned with a smile and said “Yes I know, you are me…a part I lost long ago an with heavens help you cast your demons out and made a amends to the dead, all the pieces inside of you that have died.” Now rise and allow us to merge back into one, restoring the soul. So it is when our time of dying does come we shall walk as one into the open arms of heavens bright light.

"ON GOING STORY PART ONE"


Rites Of Passage

Rushing feverishly through the streets, filling with a gathering of people, I pushed my way towards the front of the crowd to see what all the commotion was about. My heart was racing knowing intuitively I was not prepared to endure the horror I would be shown.
Their but a few hundred yards away, the counsel was wrestling with a young fair maiden, struggling to tie her head to an old tree stump. Silences fell around and all turned their eyes towards me as to no longer notice to where her head had landed and death consuming her quivering body. I screamed in total anguish as my head fell hitting the back of one of the students sitting in front of me, snapping me back to reality.
I sat up quietly only to notice everyone staring at me with horror instilled on their face. Even worse the deity the head teacher was walking towards me Man I done it this time, I thought. I had fallen asleep again in mediation breaking the silences that filled the monastery of approximate 200 students and scaring the living daylights out of them all.
The deity stood there looking down upon me as he spoke” Not only have you broken the rules, but you still have not learned how to meditate with out falling asleep, nor control your dreams there after. I am having trouble understanding why you have failed to embrace your previous life where you lived here amongst these walls as our great Dalai Lama, There for I will have you taken to the abandoned monastery and you will remain there till you have accepted the gifts and memory of the Great Dalai Lama”. He motioned to several monks 5 to be exact bringing them to their feet as he spoke “Take him to the old abandoned monastery and leave him there” I rose to my feet in utter fear trying to hide it as the monks grabbed my arms and lead me away.
It seemed as we traveled into the land of nowhere as darkness began to fall. I too was so very tired and my heart was heavy with sorrow. As if it wanted to cry aloud, so it is I could be heard, my heart sounded as if it where in the mist of a great thunderstorm and the lightning piercing my soul beckoning the rain. A rain I feared to produce in front of these men.

TO BE CONTINUED

My daughter gave me these words "The Moon Was Full And Promising" to write a story on.
A short story challenge we had going on with one another tossing themes at each other and writing on them. So this is what evolved.


QUEEN OF NIGHT
by Deanne

I awakened to the sound of hoofs clamoring in the distant, praying in the silences of my mind, as they grew nearer. My body lying paralyzed upon the side of the hilltop in the cool wet grass. My eyes frozen stare into the moon hanging full and bright along star lit sky. Knowing life clung to my shallow breath, gave me hope that I still had a chance of living.
When a snort in my face from a horse broke my thoughts, as a shadow of a man placing his head upon my chest as to find my heart still pounding. He must have cause I heard him cry out into the darkness “I have a live one over here”…Rushing inward of feet stammering in the darkness as if to awaken the night “Is it her”…”I am uncertain in the night, yet has to be” “Hurry lets get her back to the village”.
The two men spoke picking my body up and tossing it over on another mans lap as he stayed in the saddle. “Go. They hollered, she barley alive” and off we rode into the darkness.
When we arrived they placed my body on the kitchen table next to the crackling of the fire. And began ripping my dress from my body, till I lied there in my nakedness, just as the others began arriving and talking amongst themselves. “Well is it her” some one asked. “Yes” (holding up my left arm) “She bares the mark”.
Finally a group of women entered shooing the men away and covering me with a blanket. The women locked the door with the men on the outside and began working on me. One washed my hair, another my body, as the others preparing something in the kettle hanging in the fire. When one of the ladies spoke up “Miss Molly…ah there is something I need you to see?” “What is it Sarah” “Come and see”. “Oh what is it” (Molly said looking at my chest) “Look it is a broken dagger piercing her heart…that’s where all the blood is coming”? “Hurry ladies, we have not much time” Molly shouted rushing back to the kettle and removing it from the fire.
All the ladies began to gather around me two on each side of the table and one at my head and one at my feet, totaling six ladies all together. The one placed at my head placed a large leaf upon my heart where the broken dagger erupts from my chest. Holding hands they chanted a spell. “Queen of light…Awaken sight…. Heal the body…Heal the soul…through the dagger...The crystal shall glow…Intensifying your powers to overflow” The room exploded in a bright rainbow light as it shot from my heart and attaining the breath of life to return. I sat straight up as the broken dagger now clinging to the blanket slipped to the floor.
The ladies all stepped back in hush as the room fell silent. “Queen Lanais, has returned” I heard some one whispered. As another picked up the blanket and covering me, another handing me clothing to put on as they spoke “Here you can where this, for your journey home. I said, “Thank you ladies for you have restored my life” “and where is my King”.
Molly step forward with her head bowed and her words flowed in sadness “Your King, madam was slain as you left for dead, your castle was over thrown scattering the bodies all along the hillside” “And you, my Queen is the only survivor”
“So where is it I shall journey home if there is none for me to return” I said with my voice trembling. “Prince Almar” the ladies said giggling. “Who is this prince Almar”? I asked while slipping on my clothing. “He too is the only survivor from his kingdom that was attacked many moons ago and has agreed to protect you and together you both can rebuild for you have our Village to help you.”
“Sarah you and the ladies run along and tell him she is ready to go.” Molly said pointing towards the door.” As the ladies left Molly turned to me and asked how I was feeling and requested I drink the liquid potion she made for me. “I am weak still, but feeling much better,” I said as I sipped the potion. “Your strength will return in couple of days,” Molly said with encouragement. Just as the door flew open and a handsome fellow made his way towards me and bowing as he spoke “I am Prince Almar, I too have been given a crystal heart and pelage before my queen to protect her for the remainder of my life as long as she will have me” “Yes, just take me now to your castle so it is I can rest” I said tiredly. With out another word being spoken he scooped me up in his arms and carried me to his awaiting horse.
We road it seem for hours, The warmth of this strangers body made me feel so safe as I lean against his chest and I drifted into thoughts, half a sleep. I knew with him this would be a love affair, a passion that would linger for many lifetimes to come, I could feel his love radiate into his breath and caress softly down my neck. “Look over there, that is our home” He said stirring me back awake and pointing to the most beautiful castle sitting on top of a mountain overlooking the ocean. It was a glorious site, twilight had rose to the moon glow so full and promising like my life.