by Loui Downing
“Cocanauts, bier, beer, cerveza, patatas…” shouted the man holding a variety of refreshments. A young child called him over and swapped a few cents for a jumbo ice cream. Neville felt the warm breeze swish across his tanning body as he listened to the sea and the conversations around him. The sand felt comforting on his tense feet as he kicked the soft sand as he walked along the beach, taking in the relaxed atmosphere and way of life.
Neville sat down for a while and began to fall asleep. He awoke moments later which to him felt like a few hours and stood up and stretched. He walked down the fiery wooden planks that spilled towards the sea, burning his feet as Neville tip-toes down to the sea front. He retreated to the concrete path at the top of the beach, finding a tourist information desk and a crowd of Spanish locals playing cards for money, dancing merrily around their table, the plump man had just won the game and took great pleasure at taunting his friends. The moment that it happened was like a cold tingle electrifying through his body, his shoulders twitching concurrently. He felt something turn him around as he stood looking at a group of girls that sat quietly on the steps, swinging their feet to and fro. He couldn’t take his eyes off one particular girl, her eyes making Neville warm as he starred unknowingly for long periods. Her hair was medium length, wavy with a deep dark chocolate colour that Neville watched sparkle on the sun’s sweep. He couldn’t help his emotions right now, which usually ends up getting a big hand print across his face when at school. At last their eyes met each other, making her cheeks blossom like sunrise as they continued to stare for a few seconds longer, smiling and looking away.
The days progressed and all Neville could think about was her gracious smile, her dominant brown eyes and generous nature. Neville hadn’t realised how much he had missed her until now. A few days past and he had not bumped into her at all, nor seen her around. Her face faded in his memory, spending many nights alone in America remembering her broad smile and how she made him feel. Images flashed back into his mind as his eyes closed and his grip on the photograph tightened. He has wanted to see her for such a long time now that it was physically painful when he thought of her. Neville flung a tear from his face and sat down on his bed, moving covers and clothes that still remained. He placed the photograph of his family and a small one of her in his pocket so that he would always be able to see their faces. He noticed a glistening wink from the box where the letter had been kept. It was her jewellery that shone from the bottom of the box. He reached in and grabbed it dearly, placing a bracelet on his right wrist as a sign of eternal friendship. As Neville rotated the bracelet around his wrist it finally dawned on him that he would never see her again. His heart raced with wrath at the thought. Powerful rage pumped through him at what had happened in England, blaming her and everyone else’s death on the war. Ilio, he thought would be in his heart forever. It was now his duty to uncover the truth. Neville’s tears were halted at the sound of a single gunshot coming from outside the front of his house. He picked up Ilio’s gifts and a rucksack and started ramming it full with personal belongings. Neville lifted one draw and tipped the items straight into the blue and grey rucksack. He rushed to the landing, trying to stay silent as he crept past the other rooms in his house. He stopped forcefully as he noticed a small man standing with his back facing towards Neville. Neville reacted instantaneously and hid in the airing cupboard that was conveniently level.
“I canne see any one. You sure we have the right house?” said a voice coming from the landing. Neville peaked outside his door to watch what was going on a few feet away from him. He watched a bearded man wobble around into other rooms whilst scratching himself unkindly. The small man disappeared into Neville’s parents’ room. Neville sprinted at full speed, heading for his parents’ room. The floorboards sounded as if they were ready to give way at any moment, dust and dirt spilling onto the family’s belongings underneath the staircase. The door slammed shut just as Neville reached it. He placed his arms over the white panels and pushed slightly. The door was tightly fixed in place; the thing that had entered had barricaded itself in there. Neville tried over and over, restlessly pushing the door and wondering to himself why anyone would do that. Was it because it was scared or because it was looking for something, Neville thought. Neville gave up at pushing the door and decided to take a run up. He ran full pelt towards the door on the count to three, going shoulder first. He crashed to the floor, landing on top of the door which cushioned his fall. After a few seconds he opened his eyes and saw huge clouds of dust gliding in the air. The dust descended to the ground, making way for a small shadow visible in the corner of the room. Neville froze as he stared contently towards the shadow. He quickly wiped his eyes and looked back towards the shadow, only there was nothing there. The window clattered and made the net curtains fly forward towards Neville, making him jump out of his skin. Something made Neville motionless, capturing and holding him to the ground. He regained his thoughts, the knock giving him mild concussion. Neville had fallen badly, injuring his left leg, wobbling as he walked towards the vacant window.
The discomfort eased as Neville lifted his leg, placing it carefully on a nearby stool his mother used to use for beauty treatment. The sweaty palms were brushed against Neville’s trousers. His decision on what to do or where to go was unclear, but all he knew was that something had been stolen. He kindly let his head fall into his hands, brushing his hair back as if to find an answer behind there. The temperature dropped sensationally in the house and darkness swarmed in through every possible entrance. The dawning atmosphere was like a breath on Neville’s neck, unknowingly frightful. What was happening to Neville scared him even more so now the strange things continued to worsen. A giant flash startled Neville as he dropped his leg from the stool, causing him to call out in agony. Torch lights could be seen coming from downstairs. He hid behind where the door was originally, covering himself with some clothes his parents used to wear. The staircase creaked as the figures closed in on Neville.
“I don’t have much time, come closer” said a deep voice coming from behind Neville in the corner of the room. Zoom came into view, his metallic eyes gleaming through the darkness. Neville felt so relieved to finally have seen Zoom, although his anxiety and paranoia remained. Zoom came into full view as the miniscule amount of light just managed to form the outline of him. His bodywork was a complete mess; the front compartment dented and scratched signs of misuse and rust all over him. Neville however stayed adolescently behind the clothes, peeping through a gap occasionally.
“The thing that you just saw is very much real, so don’t doubt it. I managed to copy a letter from your father before it got into the wrong hands” said Zoom, displaying writing on his screen as he turned around so that Neville could read. Neville contemplated revealing himself from behind the clothes, hearing his father’s voice in his thoughts “…. risk makes you who you are….”, reinforcing his decision. He ran daringly, taking a great risk to read the letter that Zoom assured him is urgent.
April 12th 2015
Neville,
I write to you to tell you of the things that have by now already happened to you. You will notice that the security is tight now in England. I took the risk to write you this letter and I sincerely hope you get to read it.
The stories you have been lead to believe true are in fact the opposite. A pathway is there for you Neville; you must find it. The man of markings knows the way.
Do not be fearful of his kind.
I’m sorry I cannot speak directly to you.
Look after the little gem.
Joseph
“Edward…Edward” mimed Neville over and over again. The look of admiration towards Zoom was incredulous.
“However can I repay you Zoom?” said Neville, his smile growing with every passing moment. The footsteps and banging on the staircase rose so loud that it was only a matter of time before they would meet whoever is there.
“We need to leave” said Neville firmly as he grabbed Zoom’s
upper compartments.
“You go sir!” cried Zoom. Neville only had a few seconds before they would be spotted. Neville hid in a nearby build-in wardrobe and watched as six tall surveillance men pile into the room. The blonde haired one at the front said something in an eastern European accent that Neville couldn’t recognise. The foreign man took something small from his pocket and fired it directly at Zoo without delay. A gradual shutdown noise echoed throughout the room, shocking Neville completely as he watched in amazement. Zoom crashed to the floor in slow motion, causing Neville to make a noise that one of the team members overheard and looked over. The other five lifted Zoom’s deceased body and carried it out through the door they had come through. The men proceeded briskly to the streets as Neville stood looking at the floorboards in amazement. He expanded the palm of his hand and placed it around his ear in an attempt to overhear whispers from downstairs. The blonde man remained in the room, ensuring that there was ni activity in there, as he walked downstairs, missing Neville out. The rest of the men headed out of the house and as Neville watched them from the window, placing Zoom into the back of a small lorry and driving off into the ink black unlit road and out of sight, Neville feeling so low it was untrue, he pulled himself away from the window and tried to think of his next move. He turned around to go down and out of the house but there stood a patrol in the doorway aiming a small object that looked similar to the one aimed at Zoom. The man said something in Swedish and poked the gun eagerly towards Neville. A shadow distracted the man, giving Neville vital seconds to make a choice. A few more patrol men surged up the stairs and into the room, all aiming their objects at Neville, dressed in navy and wearing visors that covered their identity. The patrol man turned around and searched the room. They all looked frantically around the room for Neville. Neville was no where to be found, all that remained was the still objects that belongs to his parents. The window reflection made it clear where Neville was, making him head back outside. Neville knew that if he stopped now it would be then end entirely.
CHAPTER NINE
The Two Faced Dome
A crunching noise came from the dry hedges surrounding Edward, Francesca and Alexandra. The deceased atmosphere paraded all around them, the land thirsty and desolate. It hadn’t rained for over three months, turning the soil slowly into sand. You could taste the cracked soil with every inhale, feeling as though it was clogging your lungs. The area they’re in was initially difficult for them to recognise, but after a short walk they spotted the remains of the millennium dome. Buildings and houses in the distance were flattened, only the odd house or building surviving. The destruction had created a new view over London that stretched as far as the surrounding cities. Edward turned to face the dome they had magically come out of, deeply shocked that they had entered somewhere so lifeless. The dome stood immaculately, filled with scaffolding and a wealth of machinery. Their lives would never be the same again, as they slowly came to terms with the fact that they have been living in a simulation for most of their childhood.
“Shhh…that’s wha I’ve been tryin ta say to ya. Their probably shocked that’s all. Wait until they see the otha side” said a tiny hillbilly American like voice coming from the red haired bushes and exhausted tree close to the regeneration dome.
“Did you-?” asked Francesca, raising her finger.
“Yeah” replied Edward, answering way before she had finished her sentence. They all stopped for a minute, listening deeply for any other voices, although all that could be heard was the wheezy breath of the wind. The aged leaves fluctuated on the hairy bush just over by them all, which made their nerves tremble as they all looked at each other at the same time. Francesca sternly lost her concentration on the bushes and looked back the dome, deeply confused and angry with what they had discovered, part of her regretting it all. They carried on walking, forgetting about the noise for now, as they had bigger issues to contend to.