Sky of Dust: The Last Weapon
Page 19
“I just don’t want to end up like that,” Abigail said in a wavering voice. “Or anyone else.”
I put a hand on her shoulder.
“I won’t let that happen to you,” I promised her. “If I ever think you have reached your limit, I will be there to help you.”
She smiled, but we both knew that they were just words. There was no way to prevent the madness; it was just a matter of time.
“Look, I got you this.” I changed the subject, holding up the corsage.
Abigail leaned forward and smelled it.
“Should I?” I started to ask, but she interrupted me with a “duh” stare.
With all my practice, my hands still shook, but I still managed to put it on straight.
“So, your dress seems fine,” I said after I secured the corsage.
“Yeah,” Abigail replied as she fanned out the dress. “I saved the store owner that night. She offered to repair my dress and do our hair for free.”
“Cool,” I said. “A good investment I think.”
Abigail smiled and rolled her eyes, and we were silent for a few seconds.
I cleared my throat.
“Um. Since we didn’t get to finish our last dance,” I began, “I thought we could, you know, finish it.”
Abigail looked mildly impressed and a bit happy.
“I would love to,” she replied with a smile. Her face then went sour. “But this music is way too fast! Things have changed in a year!”
“This is the chance for you to take the next step, son,” I heard dad’s voice whisper behind me.
I turned around, but nobody was there except a couple chatting.
“What’s wrong?” Abigail asked. “Do you want to wait for something a bit slower?”
I turned back towards her.
My hands started to tingle, and I felt a sense of freedom, like I could do anything.
“No,” I replied in a quiet voice. “This is perfect.”
A pop signaled the start of the fireworks, and Abigail looked up.
“Let’s go,” I said calmly. I tapped my watch and reached for Abigail’s hand.
As we began to walk, I slowly let time slip.
Abigail gasped, looking around at people moving in slow motion.
“This…this is how you see everything?” Abigail said in amazement.
“Yep,” I replied, looking around at all the faces of the people enjoying themselves.
“It’s beautiful,” she exclaimed in a hushed voice.
“Yeah, I guess it is,” I admitted. “I never took the time to notice.”
“The best things come from paying attention, I guess,” Abigail replied with a pointed stare.
I felt my face get hot and decided to change the subject.
“Listen, do you hear that?” I urged.
Abigail raised her head and listened.
She smiled wide and let out a little laugh.
“Yeah, the music is slower,” she said in astonishment.
She put her arms around my neck, and I placed my hand on her waist.
“So, you think it needs to be slower?” I asked casually.
“Maybe just a little,” she responded playfully.
Abigail looked up and smiled.
“Look, the fireworks look like shooting stars!” Abigail said with amusement. “I wonder if we could wish off of them?”
“Why don’t you try?” I replied.
She closed her eyes and nodded.
“Done,” she said. “Your turn.”
For the first time, there was nothing I needed to wish for. I was happy where I was, right there.
“Nah,” I replied. “I’m good.”
We smiled, and she placed her head against my chest as we continued to rock.
“That’s good,” she whispered.
Time seemed to go on forever, and that’s the way we both wanted it.
Epilogue
My eyes were heavy—no swollen—and would not open. My mouth was dry and stale like I had been asleep for weeks. I could feel my arms and legs secure against the steel table.
I should be dead, I thought.
I heard footsteps make their way towards me, accompanied by voices—two of them, by the sounds of it. One had a raspy voice, while the other sounded older.
Their footsteps stopped in front of me.
“This is him,” the older man stated. “He’s the only one that has not responded negatively to the formula.”
“I thought you said it was almost finished,” the raspy voiced man replied with anger.
“Well, it is sir; we just need to stabilize it and do some more testing,” the older man replied, clearly nervous.
“We have customers who are expecting a delivery soon, Dr. Stone,” the raspy man spat in even more agitation.
“There is a problem with the genetics,” Dr. Stone said. “Only one of the twenty survived. Him.”
“What’s so special about him?” the raspy voice demanded.
“Nothing that I can see, sir,” Dr. Stone responded.
I heard a scrape and some papers shuffle.
“See, this is his information,” Dr. Stone offered.
I heard steps and the papers exchange hands.
The raspy voiced man laughed, and the papers fell to the floor.
“Are you okay?” Dr. Stone asked.
“Yes, it’s just a wound that some renegade gave to me,” the raspy man said with both pain and amusement. “In fact, this is his son.”
About the Author
Joshua is an avid reader and up and coming author. He currently lives with his wife and dog, Ninja, in Orlando Florida. He is currently working on several novels and short stories that he is aiming for completion by the end of 2012.
Works in Progress
Sky of Dust: The Only Weapon Book 2 of 3
Labyrinth of Revolution
Ten Days in Zombie Mart
Zombie Games
To stay up-to-date for future releases
by Joshua Bonilla, visit
http://www.skyofdust.com/