Oh what? A post? From me? And it is late anyway?
Yeah, sounds about right.
I recently wrote a story about the end of the world, while in-between writing a novel and some comics. The novel is slightly behind, but has three finished chapters, three over half finished chapters and plenty more left to write. I started in September and have been writing steadily since. But this is about my short story.
It can either be read below, or on my deviantArt
here. Please do provide feedback.
- The Ending Star -
On a day of peace and quiet, in the town of West Hamplington, a star
screamed and fell to the Earth. Ploughing through rock and hill, nesting
itself within Compton Woods.
From across a neighbouring field
came two young boys running towards it, having gazed upon the fire in
the skies. Hopping over the fence, they slowed down, approaching that
bit more cautiously.
"Don't touch it. It'll be really hot." said one.
"You're being daft Seth. It'll be really cold." the other replied, correcting his friend.
Still, they ignored their better sense of judgement and continued their approach towards the fallen star.
Deep
within and without came a light, flashing and cascading from the stars
core, engulfing the approaching boys. As the light died, so did those
caught within. Bodies hungrily eaten by the star, it balefully glowed,
looking out over West Hamplington.
- - -
Deep within the
ground, across the oceans and within the forests, up mountains and down
canyons, past the moon and from the hearts of humanity came the
stirrings of creatures from a lost age, another time, when the world was
smaller.
They stirred and awoke, for the chains holding the star
at bay had broken, and they all knew what that meant. Almost all of
magic kind had agreed to the sacrifice, to keep the end contained. But
now all would need to aid, for the last time it had not been enough.
Perhaps the newer races might also be able to lend a hand.
"Send
the letters." said the shadows flitting across the world to a man
dressed in Victorian garb, smoking a pipe. Briefly fading out of
reality, the man picked up a mailbag, spun on his heels and vanished.
- - -
Groggily
waking up halfway through the morning, alarm blaring, Sandie Lane
rubbed her eyes, still laying in bed, still tired, not moving beyond
her arms. Yawning, she threw her hand at the alarm clock, mashing her
fingers on the buttons, struggling to shut the damn thing up.
Failing
to stop the incessant yelling of the machine, she grabbed the alarm and
yanked it out of the wall, throwing it against the wall. It shattered
against the metal panel she had left lying there from the last time she
had smashed an alarm, a smile across her face as the pieces spread
across the wall.
"Well, that's only the second one this year."
she muttered, finally picking herself up from her bed. Dropping her legs
from the side of the bed, thin metal necklace clinking as she moved,
Sandie sidled her feet into her slippers laying there, wiggling her toes
in comfort.
She was past her teenage years a few years ago, and
was of average height and weight, of average belief and craziness,
Sandie had long curly and frizzy brown hair, which was very much
suffering from bed hair at this time. Rubbing her deep blue eyes again,
she got up and began her daily routine. She went to the toilet, happily
drying her hands thoroughly on the nice, warm and fuzzy towel, before
she made her way to the kitchen and made breakfast. Such things were far
more important to her than showering. Flicking on the TV, she sat down
and slowly ate her cereal and drank her smoothie while watching whatever
kids show was on the telly during the middle of the morning.
Going
back and washing up what she had used for breakfast, Sandie walking
past her front door, spying newly arrived post in the basket underneath
the letterbox. Flicking through the envelopes, uninteresting and
uninspired mail one and all save one, one most unlike the rest. Gleaming
in golden writing was just her name, no address or stamp. The writing
curled and twisted as she looked at it, and she swore she could hear
faint laughter from the inside.
"Curiouser and curiouser." she
said, grabbing her letter opener from within the basket she plucked open
the letter. Unfolding out from the envelope came a short swish of wind,
the scent of roses trailing back to its sender. Reading through the
brief note, her eyes rereading it again and again, unsure as to what it
meant.
"Miss Sandie Lane,
You are cordially invited to the end of the world council for the prevention of said event.
Please arrive promptly at 1600 by the ford of split intentions.
Yours sincerely,
Jack Robinson
Secretary of the Council"
"Ach,
damn." she muttered, still not entirely sure as to what was asked of
her, and yet, she knew entirely what was asked of her. "Guess they'll
want me dressed up then." she said unhappily as she rubbed her head in
confusion. Putting the letter down on the shelf by the door, she went to
her bathroom and started running a bath.
Tipping in some bubble
mixture, she grabbed her current book and placed it by the side. Closing
the door and locking it, for even though she lived alone you could not
be too careful. Hanging up her bed clothes, top first on one peg and
bottoms next on the other, she slid off her slippers, leaving her
necklace on and slipped herself into the bath. Delving herself into her
book, she lost herself for a while. For if it was the end of the world,
like hell she would miss out on the ending.
After finally turning
the last page she smiled, satisfied with the ending presented to her,
the water having long turned cold, she pulled herself and began to dry
herself. Having finished with that, Sandie wiggled into a pair of one of
her old boyfriend's boxers. Or were they ones she had bought
afterwards, because oh geez were they the most comfortable thing she had
worn down there. Unsure of what else to wear, she went over to her
doorless wardrobe, and pondered on what to wear.
Choosing things
that she supposed would be smart, probably what others would want her to
wear. And there she was, dressed in a suit and skirt, high heels
clicking as she walked, her hair in an uptight bun. Walking past her
full length mirror, she stopped and gazed at herself. Frowning, she
continued to look before yelling in disapproval.
"Nope, nope. Not
doing it." she said, quickly messing up her hair into something far
more normal for her, free and wild. Kicking off her shoes at the wall,
she watched them bounce off and hit the floor, probably making another
dent in the wall as she did. Throwing off the rest of the clothes, still
in a highly particular order from top to bottom, she returned to find
something far more comfortable, leaving her clothes strewn on the floor,
wandering around in boxer shorts, past an abandoned wheelchair and some
spare bike parts she kept meaning to swap over.
Quickly, and a
bit randomly, Sandie choose an assortment of clothes and started putting
them on. A plain black choker, something her last girlfriend gave her
before the accident. Rubbing it fondly, reminiscing on only a few weeks
prior, on better days. Necklace still worn, as well as a wooden African
charm necklace she had picked up on a holiday a few years ago. Two tank
tops, red over black and an open sleeveless brown jacket. Squeezing her
way into some white baggy trousers that the waist was just never right
for, and tying a multicoloured patchwork scarf around her waist as a
makeshift belt, she considered herself far more ready. Grabbing a pair
of trainers, she put them on upon the stairs before heading to the
toilet one last time before heading out. The ride would probably take a
couple of others, and this would be the last time to have hot running
water for the day.
Heading back to the kitchen, she delved in and
stocked up on snack food, as well as preparing a pack lunch. Plenty of
sandwiches, cherry tomatoes, a couple of apples, packet of crisps, the
last slice of funeral cake and and a chocolate bar, before pocketing the
letter. Palming a knife, she dropped it in her bag then slung it across
her shoulder, doing up the clasps and fidgeting till it was
comfortable. As she looked out over her place before leaving, fiddling
with her necklaces, still a bit unsure on what she was doing. As she
left, she gave the front door a good slam, making sure it was closed
properly.
"Man, I really ought to get that looked at." she said
to no-one in particular, before shrugging. "If we survive that is."
Pulling out her cycle gloves from her jacket, she did them up, plucking
her bike keys out from a separate pocket, undoing the various padlocks
she had on her bike, her rather sporty and very rusted bike. Wheeling it
out from under the cover, she hopped on and began to peddle, cycling to
a council at the end of the world.
- - -
"So then, Mr Robinson - why her?" asked Odette, Queen of the Birdsong, lounging on a couch.
"And
why not her?" he replied, tipping his top hat to his questioner before
vanishing, as if he was never there, off to deliver the next set of
invitations. He had only managed up to L, and as such it was to be a
rather busy day for the Spring Heeled Jack.
For Odette herself
had only heard the news of the council because of the connections to her
new beau, a man who put Nicholas to shame. Sighing, she contented
herself to playing on some form of handheld games console, for the
council was not due for another twelve or so hours.
- - -
A
creaky sign on a crooked building. An oulde time pub lost from the
ages, come once more when the signs bode poorly. A wild and scattered
red headed manager leans on his stool, legs over the bar, cane resting
there as well. His eyes show wisdom and weariness, yet his body speaks
of youth and mirth. Spying a couple of new arrivals, he threw his cane
over his shoulder, but otherwise stayed where he sat.
"Welcome to
the Sleeping King my friends. What perchance will you be drinking this
eve?" he asked. As they replied, money exchanging hands, he tapped his
cane across the taps, twirling a couple of glasses across it and filling
them up without moving, the black oak cane doing all the work. "And
there you go. Have a merry end of the world." he said as he finished,
throwing their drinks across the bar to directly in front of them, not a
drop spilt.
Twirling his cane, the barman resting it across his
legs and turned his head to the conversation of a couple of drunk ogres
peaking his interest, their conversation not suitable for any time.
"I
hear they've brought a woman in." said a drunkard greedily slurping
away on a tankard of really rather potent ale, belly hanging well over
the stool.
"And an attractive one at that." chimed in a second drunken voice, his chin bathed in froth.
"I fail to see how that is relevant." replied the bartender, his eyes locking on both of theirs at once in annoyance.
"And we neva asked you in, arm, barman chappy." came the second voice, stumbling over his words.
"Hey, what did'cha say your name was again anyway?" said the first ogre, voice rising in anger.
"I
didn't, and if you take that tone with me again boy I'll cast you out
naked into the frost." the bartender sternly replied, cane pointing
fiercely directly at them, still leaning on his stool and yet rising in
stature far beyond what would be considered physically possible.
"Oh,
and you can call me Merlin." he continued, his voice suddenly becoming
flippant and full of mirth once more, cane slamming on the ground, the
drunkards stool legs suddenly turning to water, collapsing the foolish
ogres to the floor. Looking at each other in puzzlement and confusion,
they turned back to the barman, who did not say a word, just looked
fiercely at the pair. Their nerves failing, they ran out of the pub,
tripping as they did so.
"Clean up by the bar please." the barman
said to a closed door, ownerless brooms wandering out and beginning to
clean up the mess he had made. Tapping his cane back on the floor, the
stools picked themselves up and fixed each other. Soon there was no
trace of altercation in the Sleeping King.
- - -
All
across the woods arrived creatures from some corner of another. Some
were by themselves represented their species all by themselves, while
others come in attendance with others, for either moral support, or the
fact they did not truly trust one another. Just because they were out to
prevent the end of the world did not mean they were friends at all.
Wolves
became men and women, ghostly sprites flew out of rocks, foxes and
badgers came out of nearby warrens and trees walked themselves into a
better position. All species were invited, for what occurred next
involved every species upon, below and above the ground.
- - -
Still
lounging in his bar, cane tapping in time to the music now playing,
Merlin spied a man pop into existence to the side. Tweaking his cane, he
pulled out a beer he had already prepared and threw it to Jack, who
effortlessly caught it.
"You were expecting me then?" he asked, taking a sip of the drink offered.
"Indeed
I was." Merlin replied, hopping off his seat. "But I'll be a while
longer, it's not closing time yet, see? And don't wordy bout that drink -
it's on the house." he continued, giving the cash register a couple of
taps before leaning on his bar. Hitting the overhanging bell, he decided
not to observe Jack as he left, on the road to another council member.
Surely not his sister though? For once in his life, Merlin was unsure.
He could not remember what happened next, nor the time after.
- - -
"I
still can't believe they never got it. I practically signed my name.
Morgana Le Fay. Idiots, one and all." said the first voice of the faey,
bored of waiting for all the others to arrive.
"Indeed auntie." said the second voice, Mordred, irritated.
Their
wings were draped around them as cloaks and dresses, some, like
Morgana's elegantly fitting their form, while others like Mordred's
thrown about, indifference to their manner of dress. Their hair was
wild, plants and animals, even a bird living within. One behind Morgana
and Mordred plucked a spider out of her hair and chomped down on it,
licking her lips as she finished. Deep black eyes gazed around the still
assembled council, the pure blackness not betraying where their gazes
fell. Flowing green and golden tattoos written across pale skin glinted
and shone in the baleful light of the contained star.
Looking up in puzzlement, Morgana felt a magic she had not felt in a long time.
"Meredith has arrived." she said, as the next emissaries landed.
"Oh wonderful, it's the tooth." said Mordred scornfully.
"Hello
cousins." came the obviously false joyous reply from Meredith, aloft on
hummingbird wings, before turning to her attendants to dismiss them.
"Nipper, Fang, leave us. I think we're going to be having a long
discussion with out relatives before the council. How wonderfully
pointless." she continued, fake enthusiasm showing through.
"Enough, all of you." said Morgana, irritated at her whole family.
"What
did you expect sis?" came a nonchalant voice from above, flitting
around them all, flicking his red hair out of his face as he landed.
"Merlin." she said tersely.
"Morgana." he replied. "It's been too long." he said, smiling, embracing her in a familial hug.
"Indeed it has." she replied as they hugged, smiling. "How is he doing?" she then asked.
"Still
sleeping, still awaiting. Very noisy snorer." answered Merlin, letting
go of the hug and twirling his staff. Tapping his staff on the ground,
an armchair growing in the spot. Slumping down into it, he grinned. "So,
when do we start?"
- - -
"Humans. Running late as
always." came the scornful remark of Anubis as he sorted between various
feathers he kept lined in his coat.
"Actually, I think she's
right on time." replied the excited voice of the brer rabbit, returning
his pocket watch to his jacket, before continuing to check the multitude
of wristwatches strewn about his arms.
"Yeah, that'll be me
you're talking about." said Sandie, as she strolled into the assembled
gathering, pushing her bike along side her. "It's a hell of a time
finding this place, but good thing I got this old thing." she continued,
leaning over the handlebars, finally taking into appreciation the
assembled masses. "Had to get off for the last bit though. Funny set of
stiles you got back there."
"This is right weird." she muttered,
seeing all eyes gazing at her, a human, the first human to attend a
council since Arthur Pendragon himself. At least, before he became
something else.
"The last has arrived. We shall now begin." boomed the voice of Bahamut, last of the lizardkin, seaborn of a lost age.
- - -
"We
have failed, and the judgement is now upon us." moaned Gamayun, flying
through the crowds as she spoke. Bird wings flapping furiously as her
beautiful eyes roamed across everyone she flew past.
"Nonsense -
the auguries have held true so far. We can prevent the end again." came
the quiet but commanding voice of Odin, Scion of Norsica, dressed in
brown robes, snow white beard nesting two black ravens, wolf to either
side of him, simple branch staff held in his hands, his single eye
rapidly flicking between attendees.
A thousand voices screamed
and pleaded the opinions of a thousand species, and a thousand voices
fell upon two-thousand deaf ears.
"Enough." roared Bahamut, bringing the council to order. "One at a time, we must have order."
And so began the council discussing the best method to chain the star back up, this time as a far more permanent solution.
"Perhaps
we could bind it with runes, and then Merlin could use some of his
alterations on them, create some ever shift runes?" asked Odin.
"I could try that, but I don't think it'll work. After all, we tried that last time to no avail." replied Merlin.
"Unless we mixed the runes up with orbic chains of binding?" added Horus.
"What, and then combine it with underworld ropes?" asked Hades.
"No, won't work." replied Anansi. "But maybe we could retell a story, rewrite what the star was?"
"Could you do it though?" asked Rama.
"Well, no. Not alone, maybe with the powers of everyone else? added Anansi.
"And you're sure you're not just trying to get our powers for yourself?" replied Odin, obviously wise to Anansi's game.
"Er, partially, I think, maybe. No. But it would be nice." stammered Anansi.
"Moving on." said Bahamut, steering the conversation back on track.
"Could
we not just drop it in the ocean?" asked Sandie, who soon felt two
thousand eyes upon her, scornfully looking. "OK, OK. Stupid question
then." she replied to their accusative glares, hands up in mock apology.
"Unfortunately, that will not work. It has only taken the form of a star." added Susanoo.
"It is more of a malevolent force of nature, trying to exorcise all of reality, including itself." said Merlin.
"Why would it want to do that?" replied Sandie.
"Because it's nature." replied Odin gruffly.
And
so it continued. None could form of agreement of a plan that would
assuredly contain the problem. And yet they persisted, for if they
failed, there would be no world anymore. Something would have to be
done, and it would have to be far grander than what had gone before.
"Wait, what is it doing?" asked Sandie, panic in her voice, spying a glow arising from the star.
A
harsh light, stronger and fiercer than before, a maleficent hue growing
larger, rising in tempo as it beat as heart, thrashing against
invisible chains.
"No, not yet!" came voice the voice of Morgana, now truly fearful for her life.
Beating
his cane against the floor, Merlin began additional spells of
containment. The brer rabbit unleashed temporal bindings, Bahamut gave a
stream of frost, Odin throwing his staff into the blaze, Morgana's
writings travelling across the air, Meredith loosing arcs of memories.
Bolts and spells flew from all manner of creature, all in the council
understood the peril, for all was escalated quicker than foreseen.
Chants
rose and songs befell the star, psychics threw their cards and golems
surrounded it, a pair of ogres striking with old weapons. Zeus'
lightning struck true, Horus and Anubis' staves whispering, Susanoo
unleashed torrents of the sea upon it. Rama fired golden arrows as
dragons rose and struck out, Arthur awakening, knights from across the
lands answering his call. Ishtar and Ares fought side by side as Gamayun
cried out in despair. Anansi spun his web as the monkey king tried to
trick the star with a hair.
Even Sandie pulled out her knife and
made an attempt at stabbing the star, a snark filled comment of the
folly of her actions lost in the blaze.
It was a time of legends at that finest.
All tried to contain the wrath of fire.
But it was all for nought.
Cracking
against the walls of reality, the very fabric of existence tore apart
as the star unleashed its last and final effort. Finally free from the
shackles the council had imposed upon it, it lashed out, starlight
engulfing them all. Flares reached out as it truly reignited, the heat
poring across the cracks, streaming out across the Earth.
And then the world died.