22 April 2012
Darkness
“When you get to the end of all the light you know and it's time to step into the darkness of the unknown, faith is knowing that one of two things shall happen: either you will be given something solid to stand on, or you will be taught how to fly.”
“You have to have the darkness for the dawn to come”
Prologue
32 AD
My sight faded and then regained focus. The heat caused a haze to shroud the land around me and sweat poured into my eyes to blur my vision further. The pain was becoming less piercing but now I was struggling to breathe. Why had I been deserted? Why betrayed? Seeping from my hands, the blood proved I was mortal but my mind knew otherwise. The hour had come. The sky above me grew dark; the sun had vanished, devoured by darkness. The ground violently shook underneath. Townspeople and soldiers muttered unheard words below and fled, leaving me alone. But I was not. Above me, stars momentarily filled the darkened sky. In the air, I heard soft words of wonder and hope that moved me to tears and now I was not afraid.
“So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just, and shall cast them into the furnace of fire.”
1978 AD
As I wipe the condensation from my bedroom window, I can see him again. Like before, his visits are becoming more frequent. From my earliest memories, I could remember him being there, always stood on the other side of the street looking up at my window, features hidden by a long hooded raincoat. For the past seventeen years of my life, I had grown up living in the shadow of this man. I could remember as a young boy seeing him illuminated by an orange street light which glowed like fire because of the heavy rain. Even at an early age, I knew that there was something unusual about him…but I wasn’t scared. A couple of years ago, his visits ceased. I would look for him every night. Strangely, the sight of him made me feel safe and during the time of his disappearance, I felt vulnerable. I held these feelings until a month ago. He returned while I was studying. I had read the school’s selected text twice and I was still struggling. A developing headache had made me open my bedroom window and take in the early spring air, hoping the freshness of the evening would soothe me. As cooler air poured into my room, I looked out and smiled. He had come back. I have never found out who he is or why he watches me, but as I look at him now, I am certain of one thing, he means me no harm.
JUDGEMENT
1.
The moss-covered gate swung in the strong wind in front of me as flashes of lightning illuminated the bell tower which stood guard over the grounds. I entered the church, leaving the unearthly weather behind. However, what I saw inside made the weather seem like a friendly companion. A life-less figure, shrouded in darkness, hung from a cross at the old chapel end of the church. I walked towards it slowly, my eyes reluctant to look up. The empty sound of footsteps echoed throughout and reminded me that I was alone. Dimly lit through narrow grimy windows, the main body of the church seemed to stretch out endlessly in front of me. I forced myself forward until the silence was broken. A dripping sound focused my attention to the base of a large, wooden cross. I walked closer. Blood splashed on the grey stone floor beneath. I looked up. A sudden flash of lightning revealed a man, naked, with hands and feet nailed into splintered wood. I stared in horror, unaware of the darkness leaving the shadows behind.
2.
I had composed myself as best I could by the time the police arrived. In the doorway of the church, I hastily explained my findings and escaped into what now seemed a welcome storm. Taking refuge on the nearest bench, I could see the extent of this investigation. Flashing blue lights now replaced the lightning above and countless police officers guarded the crime scene. Sitting with my head in my hands, the horrific images slowly, but vividly came back to me. The deep gashes across the chest. The shattered rib-cage. The thick blood draining from the open wounds in the victim’s side and blood-soaked grey hair clinging to a tortured face. I shook my head to bring me back to the present. My officers would need directing and organising in there and I couldn’t afford to let anything slip on this case. Standing up, I began to walk back through the church grounds. I passed the old oak by the edge of the graveyard; its knarled-fingered branches gripped at the collar of my jacket. A snapping sound behind made me turn. Nothing. I moved on, quickening my pace. A strange sensation had come over me. A shiver stealthily crept down my spine. I had become cold, but my skin felt hot and I was increasingly finding it hard to breathe. I became aware that I could see my weakened breath misting the air in front of me. Was it that cold? Suddenly, a loud, endless shriek came out of the darkness. A thousand tortured cries. The sound was all around me, ringing in my ears. It hurt. I staggered forward, slipping on the mud beneath. I tried to find my bearings but my head was spinning. I fell. As my eyes re-focused, I could see my hands stretched out in front of me, cuts spoiling my skin. The mud by my hands slowly began to move and a burning smell filled my senses. I shook my head in dismay, trying to make some sense of what was happening. No explanation came. I pulled my body away from the ground as the mud boiled beneath. The heat was unbearable. I wanted to move further away, but I was being held. I tried to look up but my head would not move. I was paralysed. My eyes began to stream, and through them, I now noticed flames that roared in front of me. The tears blurred my vision, but then my eyes saw what they should never have seen. A figure, flames dancing from its skin towered above me. Its body, riddled with dark veins, lowered and shuffled forward. Transparent skin stretched across its face, with eyes and a gaping mouth visible underneath. It leered down at me with the darkest eyes. Terror forced me to watch as huge fangs grew from its chest splitting its skin, leaving a dark hole where terrified screams escaped. Its breath hissed against my face as saliva steamed off its own blazing skin. I began to wretch. The stench in the air engulfed me. I needed to escape, but why would my body not respond? What was this evil? Before I could find any answers, flames shot towards me. The hairs on my arms singed in the heat. The smell of my own burning skin filled the air as it tightened and cracked. I screamed! Then there was darkness.
“Destruction cometh; and they shall seek peace, and there shall be none.”
I.
He watched the apparition torment its prey. Yes. Only an apparition. To unleash a real demon into this world, this early, would have ended life too quickly. No. He wOuld play with him first. He had to. It was the only way. He would take him to the edge of sanity and reason. That would be the only way to upset the balance. Turn the remaining light into dark. Total darkness. his own race would THEN be free.
3.
“Mr Wallis…Christopher Wallis. Can you hear me?” I jumped up at the sound of my name, immediately looking in all directions afraid of what I might see. It wasn’t what I was expecting. Darkness had turned to light. Shining white walls surrounded me and as my eyes adjusted to their new found light, I began to realise where I was. I rested my head back down on the pillow and tried to make some sense of why I was here. Before I could recall what had happened, the doctor interrupted. He explained that I had been rushed into hospital last night after being found unconscious by a police officer in the grounds of St Michael's church. I had received minor facial injuries possibly from a fall and apart from this, in his opinion, I was fit and well. I could leave hospital later in the afternoon after final checks had been made. I stared at the ceiling, with the smell of the hospital bringing back vivid memories. It had been five years now. Five years since darkness had crept into my life. Five years since I had found my wife clinging to the wall of a cave; Jessica screaming our child’s name. Five years since our daughter had drowned. Five years since Erin disappeared. Five years since our lives had changed forever. I closed my eyes. Distant memories and images were now clear. Jessica lay on the hospital bed in front of me, shaking. Still in shock. Concealing my own grief, I stroked my wife’s hair. As tears filled my eyes, Jessica repeated our daughter’s name, over and over. I re-opened my eyes and wiped away the tears that had once more escaped from inside.
4.
As Jessica entered the main entrance to the hospital, she immediately saw me sat in a chair by the tea shop. She hugged me tightly and in doing so, I felt the tension loosening from my body. As our bodies parted, I held Jessica’s hands in mine. Leaving the main entrance of the hospital, we made our way across the car park. It was a fresh summer’s day after last night’s storm and the late afternoon sun shone down as we reached our blue Peugeot. Jessica removed the steering lock and started the engine. I smiled and began to relax, welcoming the familiarity. Twenty minutes and we would be home.
5.
A soft beeping noise welcomed us as we entered our house. The answer machine in the hallway displayed an awaiting message. Jessica pressed the play button as I went to the kitchen. While reaching up to grab two mugs from the cupboard above my head, I could just hear the faint replaying of the answer-phone message, but could not place the voice. As the kettle began to boil, a scratching sound came from the utility room. I had forgotten about Daisy, our golden retriever. Usually, letting her into the house would b
DARKNESS • Opuss № I