by Ingrid Fry
It was definitely not the time for prudery. I wrapped my arms and legs around him like a koala and pulled myself in close. I pressed my hand across the gash on his back to stem the bleeding. In my other hand, I held the crucifix. This baby was coming home with me.
The crucifix, that was.
A statue of Jesus Christ on the cross towered over our heads. So gaunt, I could count his ribs … one, two, three, four, five six … I’d seen better looking Auschwitz survivors. The white marble torso was gashed and streaked with blood. His head listed to one side, and blood trickled over his face from a vicious looking crown of thorns. It was a horrific representation of suffering. He looked as beaten and tired as I felt. I met his agonised gaze.
What did he make of the scene below him? A bloodied, semi-naked priest embracing a bloodied, naked woman holding a crucifix as a dagger.
The sun broke through the clouds and illuminated us in a single ray of dazzling light. I wasn’t sure if it was a sign of God’s blessing—but it felt like it.
We would need it, and more, to cope with the terror that lay ahead.
At least I wasn’t alone.
I had Jason, Ashley, Dromeus, possibly the Maestro, and maybe Luca.
Six musketeers fighting against the Dark Force and an army of thirty-five thousand roach infested humans.
This wasn’t the end. It was the beginning. This was our highway to hell—the beginning of the apocalypse.
We were going to need bigger guns.
[35]
Appendix — Maggie’s Playlist
Happy Wasteland Day – Open Mike Eagle
Crystal Ball – Pink
Time – Pink Floyd
Timebomb – Beck
Dust – Antony & Cleopatra
Bits and Pieces – The Dave Clark Five
Who Can It Be Now? – Colin Hay
You're My Best Friend - Remastered 2011 – Queen
Her Diamonds – Rob Thomas
You're the Voice – John Farnham
Revenge (feat. Eminem) – Pink
Strange Things – Tom Jones
I'm Too Sexy – Right Said Fred
Demons – Imagine Dragons
Bad Case of Loving You (Doctor, Doctor) – Robert Palmer
Love Me Now – John Legend
Help! - Remastered 2015 – The Beatles
Too Much Monkey Business – Chuck Berry
Last Tango – Jacki DePiro
Should I Stay or Should I Go - Remastered – The Clash
Who's Cheatin' Who – Alan Jackson
You're Looking Hot Tonight – Ivo Franklin & His Orchestra
Fight Like a Girl – Kalie Shorr
Tell the Truth (Live) – Eric Clapton
You Can Leave Your Hat On – Tom Jones, Anne Dudley
Pinky Swear – Jazmen Safina, Wrist.
Your Cheating Heart – Bruno Capinan
Drowning – Ellie Drennan
All for Love - From "The Three Musketeers" – Bryan Adams, Sting, Rod Stewart
Go with the Flow – Sara Niemietz
S.O.S. – ABBA
Love Is the Sweetest Thing – Al Bowlly
Nature of The Beast – The Angels
Devil Inside – INXS
Highway to Hell – AC/DC
Book Two: Journey to Hell
The Crystal Sphere Series by Ingrid Fry
Book Three – Quest for Light Book Four – Search for Truth
Accidental contact with a mysterious Crystal Sphere changes the nature of a group of humans and a dog, forcing them on a terrifying quest to save the world.
The frightening mission continues in book two of the
Crystal Sphere series.
Fate conspires to bring new Musketeers into the fold, and the action ramps up as Maggie is forced to deal with horrors both in the real world and the psychic realms.
Maggie is a keyboard warrior and feels ill equipped for the battle she must fight. With no shortage of romantic opportunities amongst the action, life becomes complicated. Will Maggie betray Jason?
Can Maggie and her motley crew—comprised of a plumber, booze hound, spiritual warrior, Catholic priest, nurse, Detective Inspector, Maestro and a beagle-cross—save the world?
The strange crystals hold the key to victory and survival, but Maggie isn’t the only one who wants them.
Will they survive the onslaught of evil determined to stop them?
Who is the mysterious Maestro?
The truth shocks everyone.
Where does Maggie’s heart really lie?
What’s behind the mystery of her father’s disappearance?
Time is running out for humankind, and it’s certainly running out for Maggie. Evil is hot on her heels.
* * *
[1] Maggie’s Playlist: Happy Wasteland Day —Open Mike Eagle
[2] Maggie’s Playlist: Crystal Ball — Pink
[3] Maggies’ Playlist: Time — Pink Floyd — The Dark Side of the Moon
[4] Maggie’s Playlist: Time Bomb — Beck
[5] Maggie’s Playlist: Dust — Anthony & Cleopatra
[6] Maggie’s Playlist —Bits and Pieces, The Dave Clark Five
[7] Maggie’s Playlist: Who Can It Be Now? — Colin Hay — Men at Work
[8] Maggie’s Playlist: You’re My Best Friend — Queen
[9] Maggie’s Playlist: Her Diamonds — Rob Thomas
[10] Maggie’s Playlist: You’re the Voice — John Farnham
[11] Maggie’s Playlist: Revenge (Feat. Eminem) — Pink
[12] Maggie’s Playlist: Strange Things—Tom Jones
[13] Maggie’s Playlist: I’m Too Sexy—Right Said Fred
[14] Maggie’s Playlist: Demons — Imagine Dragons
[15] Maggie’s Playlist: Bad Case of Loving You (Doctor, Doctor) — Robert Palmer
[16] Maggie’s Playlist: Love Me Now — John Legend
[17] Maggie’s Playlist: Help! — The Beatles
[18] Maggie’s Playlist: Too Much Monkey Business — Chuck Berry
[19] Maggie’s Playlist: Last Tango — Jacki DePiro
[20] Maggie’s Playlist: Should I Stay or Should I Go — The Clash
[21] Maggie’s Playlist: Who’s Cheatin’ Who — Alan Jackson
[22] Maggie’s Playlist: You’re Lookin’ Hot Tonight — Ivo Franklin & His Orchestra
[23] Maggie’s Playlist: Fight Like A Girl — Kalie Shorr
[24] Maggie’s Playlist: Tell The Truth — Eric Clapton —Live
[25] Maggie’s Playlist: You Can Leave Your Hat On — Tom Jones
[26] Maggie’s Playlist: Pinky Swear — Jazmen Safina
[27] Maggie’s Playlist: Your Cheating Heart — Bruno Capinan
[28] Maggie’s Playlist: Drowning — Ellie Drennan - EP
[29] Maggie’s Playlist: All For Love — From ‘The Three Musketeers” — Bryan Adams, Sting, Rod Stewart
[30] Maggie’s Playlist: Go With The Flow — Sara Niemietz —Fountain and Vine EP
[31] Maggie’s Playlist: S.O.S. —ABBA
[32] Maggie’s Playlist: Love Is The Sweetest Thing — Al Bowlly
[33] Maggie’s Playlist: Nature of the Beast — The Angels
[34] Maggie’s Playlist: Devil Inside — INXS
[35] Maggie’s Playlist: Highway to Hell — AC/DC