A soldier survives a lost battle only to find a far worse fate awaits him.
At the dawn of the new century time and space have become one and the same. The end of the world has become the beginning of a new age. An age where death and life has merged into a new life form. The walking dead. The land is over run with these new and deadly creatures.
War broke out all over the world as the human race was taken off guard as the new beasts slaughtered the humans one by one. Some of the humans chose to stand and fight but the masses were to much for them and for every one dead killed two more were reborn. Humanity never had a chance.
We the remaining survivors were forced into hiding as the war rages on. We will fight on! We must! For the fate of humanity rest on our shoulders. The fate of the world. The fate of our very souls.
MAJOR THOMAS WEST US MARINE CORPS
Thomas looked at the piece of paper through his glossy eye. The paper was covered with blood. He lifted it to his nose and a maggot fell onto the paper. He wiped the paper on his cheek smearing the blood on his face mixing it with the blood on the paper. He tilted his head opening his mouth trying to talk but blood dripped out instead.
A noise came for somewhere inside him. He started to turn on his left leg but it would not move. He looked down with his one eye and saw the bottom half of his leg was missing. He let go of the chair he was holding and reached for his leg. He tumbled to the ground and the paper in his hand flew across the room.
He laid there for a while trying to think, but no thoughts came. Nothing came his brain was dead. His whole body was dead for he was dead. Just like so many before he was killed in his sleep. Where were his guards. Dead as well. His whole unit was dead. But Thomas did not know that. How could he. He was a walking corpse.
Soon other dead bodies come into the room. Most were his unit just as dead and confused as he was.
Another battle lost but the war goes on…
Simon stood onto the roof waiting, watching, hoping that perhaps major West was able to get out of his make shift office in time. But he had his doubts. The dead hit them so hard and fast that he didn’t even have time to sound the alarm. All he could do was run. Run until his feet hurt and his legs wanted to fall out from under him. He scurried up the fire escape of this old building. It used to be an old hotel or maybe a some low rent apartment house. Hard to tell anymore.
He set down his binoculars wiping the tear from his eye. Marines don’t cry. He pulled out his guns checking his ammo supply. His rife was empty and he only had one clip for his automatic. Damn it.
He looked around the roof. No sign of life or even unlife. He stood up slowly and searched the roof. There was a couple of air units, empty birds nest, and whole lot of trash.
He checked the door to the stairs it was locked from the inside. Is that a good sign or a bad sign? Music hit his ears and he spun around quickly his gun at the ready. Nothing but some wind chimes.
He walked over to the fire escape and looked over. Nothing coming up at the moment. He pulled a cord out of his pouch, tied it to the side of the fire escape, and pulled it tight shaking the fire escape slightly. Then he unwound it over to the side of the air conditioner wrapping it around the top of it pulling it tighter. Finally he walked over and cut down the wind chimes tying them to the cord.
He pulled the cord and the chimes rang. Next he went over to the door and inspected it. There was a handle but no key for the lock. He tired the handle again pushing on the door. It would not move.
Simon rubbed his eyes he was exhausted. He knew he had to rest. If even for a few hours. He gave the door one last try and walked over to the other side of the roof and looked over. Nothing to worry about.
Simon pulled a hook and some rope out of his pack. He fasten the hook to the side of the second air conditioner pulling on it make sure it was tight. Then he piled the rest of the rope next to the edge of the roof. Lastly he sat down next to the rope, leaning against the edge of the wall.
He scanned the roof one last time, setting the gun in his lap, holding it like a baby, and finally closing his eyes. He was out in a matter of seconds as the chimes rang again.
Simon felt the rain on his face long before he opening his eyes. The morning fog was rolling over him like dust on a highway. He sensed something watching him but he could not see them. He was blinded to the world. He was lost in his dreams.
He saw Sarah. So young,! So beautiful! She was only 19 with a knockout body and the most radiant brown eyes he had every seen. She took him into her life, she let him into her heart, and carried him around in her soul. They were as one. He loved her more then the marines, more then his family, even more then his cherry red corvette that him and his dad spent years rebuilding.
“Come home to me Simon. I miss you baby.” She stood there wearing nothing but a bathrobe made of silk and honey. It was see thru and he could see every curve of her body. He scanned her body starting at her long burnt brown hair that encircled her body like a snake in a tree. He followed her hair past her eyes and perk lips, down past her silk neck to her large firm breasts, down to her beautifully keep flower.
He laid her down gently onto the bed parting her robe like a curtain exposing the smooth flesh beneath. He licked and kissed her legs working his way up past the valley over the mountains, stopping briefly to crease and nipples on the peaks, until he reached her lips. They kissed passionately for what seemed like forever. Their tongues and lips dance to a beat only they could hear.
Sarah rolled on top of him bouncing upon his lap. Simon watched her, caressing her, living in the moment, not wanting to leave. Simon felt himself building he was going to explode. Sarah started to scream in her own joy as Simon let loose with everything he had. She fell on top of him exhausted. He held her tightly not wanting to let go.
“Wake up love they are coming for you.”
Simon opened his eyes as the chimes rang loudly. He scanned the roof quickly with his eyes. Nothing. The wind whipped through him as the rain continued to pound him. He stood up and looked over the side. It was clear. Nothing in sight. He checked all four sides. Still nothing. He let out a sigh of relief.
“God I miss you.” He whispered closing his eyes. Once again the image of Sarah appeared in his mind’s eye.
When he opened his eyes he noticed the door was wide opened. He raised his pistol and stepped toward the door. He could see a light shining deep within the dark stairwell. He took a few steps toward the door. He glanced around the roof one last time before stepping into the darkness and toward the light.
ABANDON HOPE ALL YE WHO ENTER HERE!
Simon slid under the cardboard sign as he continued his descent down the stairs. The light he saw was getting closer and brighter with every step he took.
The staircases was surprisingly clean as if someone was still maintaining it. He tried not to think about what he would find at the bottom. He was trained marine he knew how to push fear to the back of his mind. They drilled it into him all through boot camp.
When he was halfway down the stairwell he found the source of the light. A door was being propped opened by a paint can. He approached it slowly looking in all directions. There was no one in sight. He poke his head in the door looking first left then right. There was a small table lamp hanging from the hallway ceiling directly over the top of the door.
He stepped in cautiously with his pistol out in front of him just in case he ran into trouble. The hallway was clean a little to clean as if some one had just mapped it. The smell of fresh bleach danced into his waiting nose. Can’t be?
He took the left and walked slowly watching, listening, and praying he would find someone and not something. He continued down the hall and again he noticed how clean everything was. The walls were even freshly scrubbed. He walked under more table lamps hanging from the ceiling about every 10 feet or so. Just far enough to give the hall a bright homey feeling.
Wait? What’s that? Noise? No! It’s music! Coming from where? He zeroed in on it and moved toward it. It was coming from a room at the end of the hall. The music grew louder as he got closer. He edge closer and closer. The door was closed and reached for the door and turned the knob slowly opening it.
“despite all my rage I am still just a rat in a cage”
The music was so loud that it knocked him back a little. What he saw made his stomach turn. He turned around closing the door slowly trying not to make an sound. He hurried quickly down the hall back to where he came in. As a veteran of two wars he had seen a lot of things he would like to forget. Torture, death, and destruction, but nothing he had seen compared to what was behind that door.
More noise behind him? Shit? He spun around. Nothing? Thank god? The exit just a few more feet and he was out of there. He started to run not caring who heard him he just need to get out of there. The stairwell just ahead he is going to make it.
Ouch! Damn it! What the hell was that in my shoulder? Simon reached for it! Dart. Feeling sleepy. Mind getting cloudy. Feet and legs turning numb. He crushed to the floor just in front of the door. His gun flew out of his hand and his gun hit the floor as his face hit the tiles.
“What do we do with him?”
“Take him downstairs and prep him for the game.”
“Yes sir!”
Simon felt himself being dragged.
“The time has come bring forth the accused!” The sounds of men, woman, and children cheering loudly rang through the room.
Simon felt himself being dragged into the room like a lamb to the slaughter. He was hogged tied, gagged, and blindfolded. The pain seared his chest, stomach, and gentiles as they scrapped against the newly waxed floor.
“Put it in the chamber.”
Simon heard more cheering as he was lifted off the floor, flipped onto his back, and tossed into something he hoped was water. It smelled very strong. His body burned like fire as the liquid absorbed into his cuts and bruises. He tired to scream but the gagged prevented any sounds from coming out.
“Start the purification.”
Simon was rolled over and over in the ‘cleaning solution.’ The pain was burning every part of him. He found it harder and harder to breath as they continued to ’purify’ him. He was rolled over and over in the liquid. His skin felt as if it was being ripped from his bones. All he wanted to do was die.
“Removed the accused and put it on the stand.”
Simon was yanked out of the chamber, untied, and strapped into a chair. Then they removed his blindfold and gag. Simon opened his eyes but they didn’t work for they were no longer there the liquid burned them away.
“What the fuck do you want with me?” Simon screamed or at least that is what he wanted to say but it came out as nothing but a series of grunts for, like his eyes, his tongue was also damaged beyond repair.
“The accused will be silent. You are accused of sins against our lords. Since your sins are of the flesh you will punished by dismemberment by our lords. May they take mercy on your soul. Send in the lords.”
Simon heard something come into the room. He heard chains dragging and a strange moaning noise. Then he heard a door slam as more sounds of chains and moaning. Oh my god was all he thought as the image of what he saw in that room came charging back at him. He pulled at the straps with all his strength breaking them. He was free from his bonds but not from his fate.
The “lords” came at him, tearing at his flesh, ripping at his limbs, breaking his bones, and ending his life. As his life was torn from him the pain disappeared and he was emerged in a tunnel of light. He looked up for he could see once more. At the end of the tunnel he could see Sarah waiting for him smiling. She reached out to him pulling him back to her once more. Together as one.
The battle is lost but the war goes on. As a lone figure dressed in blue overalls, with Bob written on the pocket, and carrying a mop slips out of the room unnoticed by the others. He makes his way up to the roof, climbs down the fire escape, and runs away from the building. To freedom, to honor, to his destiny.
READ MORE STORIES LIKE THIS IN MY NEW BOOK "DREAD".
The fortunate inherit riches, prestige, positive notoriety. Those not so lucky bear legacies filled with poverty, infamy or, worse yet, the unhinged insanity and murderous urges of their ancestors.
After Satan negotiates a pact with God and unleashes his army of demons, a secret sect battles a diabolical prophecy that threatens humanity.
Release Date: November 21, 2018
