Pulse

by Wade, Matthew

  “Sorry I….” She put a finger on his lips to silence him.

  He thought how beautiful she was. She didn’t try to hard but she was naturally stunning. She had long dark hair that was straight and shining, and bright blue eyes that would have given her a Celtic look, except for her slight olive tan that added a European flavour.

  He flipped her around so he lay over her, and with her guiding him to the right place, he pushed forward, and entered her. They started pushing and pulling against each other. The rhythm was a little out of sync at first, then they slowed and found a pulse that flowed.

  The feelings and emotions he went through him were like nothing he had experienced before. He had been with two other girls previous to Maggie, but it was purely a mechanical act. He had not felt an emotional connection.

  This time he was overwhelmed with love, passion and a desire to care and protect her. He was a little scared by the feelings, but didn’t let them hold him back.

  He realised that Maggie Finlay was something to treasure.

  They settled into a natural rhythm and found a position that satisfied them both, moving at first cautiously, but then learning to let go, moving more vigorously and passionately.

  As they gripped each other tighter and tighter, their breathing became quicker and heavier. Maggie grabbed hold of Blake’s shoulder and dug her head into his neck.

  She involuntary bit down on him as she began to loose control.

  Her hand clenched into a fist so tight it almost squeezed the air out of him. He could feel her body becoming tense and pushing into him as hard as she could, losing control of the cool she had been trying to maintain before.

  She pulled back and looked into his face. Her eyes scrunched closed as he pushed again, not wanting to stop for a moment.

  Blake also tried to maintain his cool, trying to stay focused and not wanted to get too excited to quickly, but as their rhythm increased, Maggie let out a moan and involuntarily banged on his shoulder with her fist.

  “Now” she said.

  That tipped Blake over the edge, and they pushed hard against each other one more time, before collapsing back onto the bed.

  They snuggled back under the covers. As soon as they caught their breath, both of them started giggling uncontrollably.

  “You bit me” said Blake, teasing her.

  “I couldn’t help it” she said. “I claim self-defence.”

  “Oh do you now? Well I claim that you wilfully took advantage of me and seduced me.”

  “Oh? Are you complaining?”

  “No ma’am” he gave a small salute.

  Maggie kissed Blake on the lips and lay on his chest.

  Maggie went to say something but noticed Blake’s breathing slow. She looked up at him to find his eyes were already closed.

  She lay back on his chest and nuzzled into him. Not soon after she was drifting off into a relaxing and satisfying sleep.

  Twenty four

  Dark and the cold again. Images becoming clearer, walls made of stone or granite. The ebb and flow of the blanket now is more complex. Creatures and life creating waves within the push pull.

  Details of noises from far away and close. Each pop and crackle creating a visual canvas of noise, a map of the world in front.

  Objects darting left and right, backwards and forwards. Jumping at every movement and sound.

  But now the sharp sound again. This time more defined. The sound illuminating the world in front for the source above to see.

  The sound is pinging around everywhere. The source is getting closer, moving across and down, but slowing as it approaches.

  Now it is above us, and slowing to a stop. Part of it drops towards the floor. When it hits, it smashes. Sending dirt and life flying all around.

  The noise has stopped, but something had changed. The impact has sent us rushing upwards. Upwards towards the new world. Upwards towards the light.

  Must find a place. Somewhere to go. Somewhere where we will be safe.

  But I turn and we are scattered. I am on my own.

  Twenty five

  Bobby and Stuart were staring at each other with a look of excitement and wonder. Bobby had called up Stuart to say he wanted to show him something cool. They had gone out into the back garden of Bobby’s house and put out a load of old electrical gadgets on the grass.

  Stuart reacted with fear and disbelief when he first saw the first demonstration. Bobby had detonated a speak and spell on the lawn, and Stuart spent the first five minutes looking for a cable, or a timer with a cherry bomb attached, or something that would explain what he had just seen.

  After he had recovered from the shock and accepted that Bobby had done it himself, he excitedly started quizzing him on what it felt like.

  “So you do this with your eyes?” He said, still looking at Bobby with a mixture of awe and wonder.

  “Na it feels more like my mind is doing it. I sort of imagine I’m shooting out towards the object, and it just explodes. I can’t explain it any better than that.”

  “Can you, like, control how much power you give it? I mean, can you, like, just do it subtly, or does it always have to explode?”

  Bobby paused for a moment to think.

  “Good question – let’s give it a go. Put that old light out on the grass. The one that looks like a disco ball. If you switch it on on the side, then we can see when it goes.”

  Stuart positioned the light and turned it on as asked and stood back just like he would have done if he had just placed a firework on the lawn and lit the touch paper.

  Bobby lowered his gaze and focused on the light. This time he gently let the power surge up within him, and gave a push with his mind. Not as hard as before. Instead trying to throttle up the revs rather than slamming his foot hard down.

  He held the push and slowly increased power. He could feel the energy building up in him, stronger and stronger, starting to be able to control the surge, just like turning up a dimmer switch. He felt the energy leave his body, stronger and stronger, slowing feeding the power though until...

  Whuuuummm.

  The light made a very soft click and went out.

  “Oh yeah! That’s right!” said Stuart. “You took it out without it exploding. How did that feel?”

  “Yeah cool. I think I can control it better the more I do it.”

  “Try something else. Does it have to be electrical, or can you blow, like, a – I dunno – a tree or something.”

  “A tree?!”

  “No, I mean, can you push it over?”

  “Maybe not that – how ‘bout if we try and knock my bike over?”

  Bobby set his mountain bike so that it was propped up by a couple of bricks, but could fall over with a quick nudge.

  He stared at the handlebars.

  He pushed again.

  Nothing happened.

  He took a deep breath and pushed as hard as he could, giving himself a headache in the process.

  Still nothing.

  Bobby looked at Stuart and shrugged. “I guess not. Has to be electrical.”

  “Alright so now we see how big you can go.”

  The two boys scanned the garden for a big electrical device, but were not satisfied with what they could see.

  “Or how about how far away?” said Stuart; gesturing over to the houses backing on to the garden they were in.

  Bobby grinned and picked his spot.

  “OK so – house opposite, top left window.”

  Stuart looked over to see a girl moving around in the upstairs window. She appeared to be standing over her stereo, reading the back of a CD album cover. She swaying left and right to the music, obviously enjoying it.

  Bobby let fly.

  Whuuuummm.

  The girl jumped back as her radio shot out a puff of smoke, and although they could not hear her, they could see that was screaming.

  An older man, presumably her father, burst into the room. He grabbed the girl and pushed her out the door, befo
re returning moments late with a fire extinguisher.

  Once he had brought the unit under control, he looked out of the window, scanning the view for anything that could provide an explanation.

  “Quick – run!” said Bobby.

  The two laughed as they headed back inside.

  Once the laughter had died down, the two started to plot their next move.

  “What now?” said Stuart.

  “Let go into town” said Bobby with a mischievous grin.

  “Haha! Yeah” said Stuart.

  The two of them grabbed their bags and went out looking for something to destroy.

  Twenty six

  Maggie and Blake were walking back to Blake’s house. They had finished school for the day, and the sun was beginning to set behind them, casting a warm orange glow on the houses in front.

  There were not many other people around, as school had finished an hour previously, and the workers had not started the rat race.

  They were walking hand in hand, and talking about everything and nothing.

  A warm spring breeze was in the air, and the blossom was being swirled around them.

  A car was driving down the road, and slowed at it approached the couple. They carried on walking, not paying attention to the vehicle rolling along side. Maggie noticed first as the man in the driver’s seat turned and looked Maggie up and down.

  He was looking at her body, moving his head in a slow nodding motion, leaning across the passenger seat as he did.

  She tutted and looked away from him, hating when men letch in that way. Blake pulled his sunglasses down and stared at the driver. As soon as he saw Blake and realised he was younger, stronger and faster, he stopped the gawping and accelerated and drove off.

  Blake put a reassuring arm around Maggie. “You must get that all the time.” He said, squeezing her tight.

  She nuzzled into his shoulder for comfort. “Not really” she said, losing confidence in herself.

  Blake’s phone buzzed in his pocket. He grabbed the unit, swiped the screen and put it to his ear.

  He answered with “Hi Dad.” He listened for a moment before replying. “Yeah school was OK, coach says I’m learning the ropes good.” Another pause. “Oh, OK, no problem. Yes Sir. Yes Sir. OK, sir, I will do it now sir.” He ended the call.

  “Your Dad?” asked Maggie.

  “Yeah – said he would be working all night. Guess we have the place to ourselves.” As he said the last sentence, he tickled Maggie’s ribcage, making her jump and playfully punch him in the side.

  “And what are you implying, young man?”

  “Nothing” he said.

  They walked on for a while, Blake looking lost in his thoughts. “How’s Bobby?” He asked.

  “He seems better now.”

  “Did he have any effects after his hospital stay? We were worried about him for a while.”

  “He seems a bit different recently, but he is going out more so that’s a good thing?”

  “Oh really, who with?”

  “Stuart Gibson.” She rolled her eyes as she said his name.

  “Haha! Where do they do when they go out?”

  She looked at him and raised an eyebrow. “How should I know? And why so curious all of a sudden?”

  “No reason, just asking. So do they go to the mall, or the park or what?”

  She was looking at him now as he spoke. “I don’t know, babe. Seriously – why the interest?

  “No reason – just talking. Hey, let me see your phone.” She gave him a questioning look. “We should set up that tracking thing.”

  She pulled away from him.

  “Oh, no – I mean, I didn’t like the way that guy in the car was looking at you. And, you know, I might not always be there to protect you.”

  “Oh, so are you my knight in shining armour now?” The atmosphere was turning frosty.

  “Hey, hey, no – I mean, look – I care about you, babe. I just worry that if anyone tries to do anything, or you feel threatened, you can easily find me, and can easily find you. I’m only suggesting 'cause I care about you.”

  “Awwww.” She said. “You’re sweet.” She took her phone out and unlocked it. She passed it over to Blake.

  Blake changed the setting on her handset and gave it back to her. “There you go,” he said. “Done.”

  The sun was almost gone, giving way to the night for another day.

  Back at Blake’s house, captain Simpson’s phone buzzed to indicate a new message. He opened it to see it was a link from his son.

  Well done boy he thought.

  Twenty seven

  Their first port of call was the local supermarket. They strolled into the store and spent a few minutes picking up some crisps, chocolate bars and a couple of cans of coke. As they mooched around the store, Stuart leaned into to Bobby’s ear. “Dude, are you sure about this? If your Aunt and Uncle find out they will be devastated.”

  “Chill dude, I know what I’m doing. Come on.”

  They walked up to the checkout and Stuart smiled at the assistant.

  “Hi” said the overweight woman behind the checkout without even looking up.

  “Hi how are you?” Stuart said. No response from the woman.

  She started to scan in the items and glanced up at the other, quiet boy standing looking at the scanner. “You OK hun?” She asked. The quiet boy seems to be staring at the till with a fierce intensity. “Sir? Are you OK.”

  “He’s fine” said Stuart. “Just a bit tired I think.”

  Suddenly the woman stopped scanning and raised her hands above her head. “What the…? Oh for the love of God! Jerry! Jerry get over here my till has gone off! Jerry.”

  A tall thin man who answered to the name of Jerry shuffled over to the checkout. “What is it Delores?”

  “It just went off by itself.”

  “Did you kick the power cable out? You know you have to be careful about that with these things.”

  “No I didn’t do anything I swear. One minute I was scanning this stuff and the next it all went dark.”

  Jerry looked up at the two boys. “Sorry guys, I’ll scan these back in on another till for you.” He looked up to see which checkout was free. “What the... Oh for god’s sake! They’re all off.”

  Stuart and Bobby turned around to see that all of the checkouts had gone dark. The ones at the far end were emitting blue smoke from the tops.

  “Don’t worry – Didn’t really need these anyway” said Stuart.

  As the boys exited the store, they started giggling excitedly. “You managed to take them all out. That was soooo cool.”

  “Yeah I had to push out a bit harder to hit the end ones, that why the smoked. That was cool. But I’ve got a better idea.”

  *

  The computer store was too open plan, and too crowded to be of any use, so the boys went into the record shop. It was ideal because it had shelves set out in rows like isles, and it sold many desirable goods.

  “OK.” said Bobby “Here’s the plan. The games are at the back of the store. They will have a security tag fitted, so I need to take out the detectors at the front. I can do that on the way out in case they catch fire or something. We also need to deal with the cameras, which will be tricky so we don’t arouse suspicion. There will probably be a store detective so we have to make sure no one is watching.”

  “Right. But I still have to be quick with my bag.”

  The store was brightly lit, with a shiny white marble effect floor. Sales people form the store in red t-shirts wandered around like a pack of wolves waiting to pounce on their next unsuspecting victim. One security guard stood at the doorway, and glanced at the two boys with little interest as they walked in.

  “The games are at the back” said Stuart, his voice shaking as he spoke.

  Bobby wasn’t nervous at all. He was scanning the store like a pro, looking for security devices. “I want to check out the DVDs first” and walked to the middle of the store, to the section marked
action.

  The two of them pretended to browse the titles. Bobby casually looked up at the black dome in the ceiling that housed the security camera and pushed.

  Whuuuummm.

  The small red dot inside the black dome blinked out. “One camera down” he whispered.

  “Another one in the corner. Eleven o’clock.” Stuart was settling into his role as wingman.

  Whuuuummm.

  “Done.”

  “Last one. Three o’clock opposite corner. Oh. Good shot.” said Stuart as the light went out.

  “OK let’s go. Grab the game and go.” said Bobby as he strolled to the back of the store.

  They both stood at the isle marked PC games and started idly browsing.

  “Can I help you sir?” said an approaching sales assistant in the red t-shirt. Stuart jumped and instantly looked around shiftily.

  “Do you have, err, Zombie Island?”

  “Yes that should be over there in the age restricted section.” Pointing to the end of the isle.

  “Oh OK, thanks.”

  “Let me show you.” The red t-shirt walked over to the end section, and pulled out a box. “Did you want the normal version or the apocalypse nightmare pack?”

  “Oh, err, how – how much are they.”

  “Standard is thirty nine ninety nine, nightmare’s an extra twenty – fifty nine ninety nine. But if you open a store card today you get ten percent off.”

  “Oh OK – thanks.”

  “Shall I take this to the till for you?”

  “Oh, no, can I take it? I want to grab a couple more things first. Thanks anyway.”

  Just as red t-shirt man walked back towards the front of the store, the door behind them opened and two security guards stepped out. Stuart’s heart missed a years’ worth of beats and his face flushed bright red.

  The guards made their way purposefully towards them and they both held their breath. As the guards got to within a few paces of the boys, Stuart got ready to talk his way out of trouble. The guards walked past the two boys and stopped just behind them, and started looking and pointing at the security camera dome in the corner.