Sinister Shadows

by Simon Smith-Wilson

  ‘The women are useless to us now,’ whispered the voice in his ear.

  ‘My wife has my daughter.’

  ‘Soon, you will have a thousand sons and daughters.’

  ‘I want my daughter,’ argued Lopez, not happy watching the women leave in the truck. He wanted to step out into the garage and blow the cab to pieces with his handgun. How dare his bitch of a wife think she could leave with his baby girl?

  ‘You will see her again.’

  ‘How will I ever see him again? I don’t know where they have gone.’

  ‘I know where they are. They are in a nest of snakes. You need friends to see your daughter.’

  ‘You have friends?’

  ‘Ha,’ the voice laughed, loudly, ‘I have lots of friends for you.’ Lopez finished his journey through the corridors and stood over Doug’s smashed in skull. ‘Here is one of my friends right now.’

  ‘He’s dead.’

  ‘Oh no, he isn’t dead,’ said the voice, coolie. ‘He is perfect.’

  ***

  It was like something out of a dream. Matthews let out a laugh that came straight from the depths of his belly, but the voice made a harsh high pitched cry. His eyes could see everything. He perceived the world in a strange new way. New colours had been added to the colour spectrum, as enhanced eyes scanned the surface of the planet better than any supercomputer could. The wind rustling through his feathers tickled and made him aware of parts of his body that shouldn’t have existed in his normal form. Mighty wings flapped, as Matthews cut through the darkness of the night like a stealth bomber concealed from sight. When Shiva had told him that he would step into the mind of a flying beast Matthews didn’t know what to think. Even now, after stepping through the magic mirrors and taking over the minds of other people he still reluctantly held onto his scepticism, but not anymore. It was gone. He believed in Shiva. If he was with her, then everything was possible. Matthews finally found what he was looking forward. A truck was driving recklessly through the uneven landscape at top speed. Someone was shooting out the back at the dozen or so alien hounds hot on their heels. No matter what happened Matthews had to make sure these people made it back to the temple of mirrors. Matthews took in a deep breath, folded his wings and dropped down towards the battle below.

  ***

  Jess lifted the baby from the travel cot. The baby had worked herself up into a right frenzy. Unconsciously, she pulled down the zip of her spacesuit and lifted her left breast out. The baby clung to it, making her gasp sharply. It began to suckle, whilst still moaning. Jess rubbed her finger along the ridge of the baby’s nose. She began to softly sing somewhere over the rainbow to the child. It was a song she had sung to her every night it had been in her tummy and every night since her birth. It took a few minutes, but the baby finally relaxed, closed its eyes and sucked on her breast. Maggie smiled at her, partly for the relief of not having to hear the disturbing cry, but also because it was one of the most natural things to see a mother caring for her child. It made her wish she had one of her own. Jess slipped her hand into Maggie’s palm, giving her a gentle squeeze.

  ‘We are safe now,’ she whispered.

  Maggie nodded her head in reply, ‘I just wish I knew where we were going.’

  ‘I am just going to have faith.’

  ‘Can we really trust the thing that was inside your baby?’

  ‘We are alive aren’t’ we? I will trust anyone that keeps my baby alive.’

  ***

  Tracy glared into the side mirror, as the hounds began to gallop up alongside the truck. One by one they jumped up, taking swings at the side of the vehicle with their sword-like claws from their oversized paws. Deep cuts tore through the metal of the vehicle like it was made of paper. Tracy swerved the truck this way and that way, using the landscape to her advantage as best as possible, but it was pretty much open ground from this point onwards. They were still two minutes out from the temple of mirrors, but two minutes was a lifetime away. And that was when she saw it. First, she was aware of the shadow. It was a presence coming down on them from above. The screams in the back of the truck somehow reached a new level of fear. Tracy looked back in the mirror at the dragon like beast. It was like something out of a fantasy story. The creature was huge, at least twice the size of the truck with incredible wings. It was covered from head to toe in red feathers and had the face of a lizard. Claws the size of the cab snatched up two of the alien hounds, cutting through their flesh with the greatest of ease. The dragon lifted up into the air and tossed the hounds away into the shadows, blood fell like rain onto the windscreen of the truck. And then the dragon was back again, this time coming to the other side of the truck. Tracy let out a deep laugh. It had to be Matthews controlling the beast. Shiva had sent him to protect them.

  ***

  ‘Damn it,’ cursed Matthews, as he attempted to grab the alien hound, but it was like it had eyes on the back of its head. The creature dove away from the truck, as the other one attempted to duck down, but Matthews could feel his talons cutting through flesh. It might not have been a mortal wound, but it was more than enough to take the beast out of the chase. ‘Fuck,’ he cursed, and the mouth of the dragon roared. Pain cut through his back. One of the hounds was on top of him. Matthews flapped his wings and headed up. A sharp burning pain splintered like a broken mirror up his right leg, as one of the hounds dangled from him with its mouth locked in a vice like grip. Matthews shook himself violently, trying to get the hounds off, but the one on his back was slashing its claws in an attempted to dig into his spine. Matthews looked down at the truck, there were still several hounds galloping behind it. There was only one thing to be done. He nosed dived down, flying as fast as the dragon could take him. Matthews kept his eyes open up to the very last moment, but then instinct forced them shut. He belly flopped the flying beast down onto the group of alien hounds, as the others continued to bite and scratch at him. All the air was knocked from Matthews' lungs, as the edge of his world blurred into darkness. He could hear painful howls from the hounds beneath him, as he bounced once, twice and thrice. Matthews could feel a wing snap, he howled in pain. And then the hounds were on him, cutting through his flesh and ripping out his insides.

  ***

  A black structure sat upon the peak of the hill. It was the highest point for miles around. The buildings looked like a giant had twisted and turned them due to their unique design. The walls appeared to spiral upwards. The buildings were tall gothic structures. In the centre was the tallest building of all. This one had Shiva’s face carved into the stonework, making it appear as if she were looking out across the land. There were no walls around this temple, only towers that had Shiva’s form carved into them. Shiva was locked in different poses for every tower, but the detail was incredible. Her naked form surrounded the temple. Her smooth legs were life like, every tower curved inwards over her hips, displayed her bare breasts to the world and up her slender body to her arms that reached up into the air. On every tower Shiva held a powerful green flame in her hands that danced against the winds, shrouding the land in a lazy green light. Tracy grinned with clenched teeth, as the truck sped between two of the towers, racing up to the main building. The hounds followed, but it was their first and last mistake. It happened instantly and with deadly precision. Hundreds of green tracers shot from the incredible green flames upon the towers. It was like a dozen mini-guns opened up. Every hound that attempted to step foot beyond the tower was blown into a thousand pieces. The aim of the weapons was so good that not a single round struck the truck. Cheers of celebration filled the interior of the truck, as Tracy eased off the accelerator and headed up towards the temple.

  ***

  ‘What is this thing?’ asked Lopez, waiting for the airlock to open.

  ‘Our secret weapon,’ replied the voice in his head.

  Lopez looked at the three-inch worm wriggling between his fingers. The creature looked almost identical to the worms you get on earth apart from the yellow pa
ttern running down the centre of its back. It took nearly a minute for the airlock light to turn green and the interior hatch swung open. Lopez still had a bitter taste in his mouth about letting the women get away. He didn’t like the idea of his daughter being out there on the planet’s surface unprotected, but what could he do about it now? Lopez had made his choice. He had picked the power the voice had promised him over the love for his child. Lopez walked through the silent corridors. He was now the only resident of this base. Everyone else was dead. What good was a ruler with no one to rule?

  ‘You will have people to rule,’ laughed the voice.

  A minute or two later and Lopez was stood over Doug’s lifeless body.

  ‘Are you sure?’ He asked the voice.

  ‘Have faith, Lopez.’

  Lopez knelt down beside Doug and placed the worm against his ear.

  ‘He had his head smashed in. I don’t see what you are expecting to happen.’

  The worm snatched itself out of Lopez’s fingers and dove into Doug’s ear with a disgusting squelching sound. The reason was instantaneous. Doug’s lifeless body jolted as if it had just had ten thousand volts of electricity pumped into it. Dead eyes flicked open, as Doug arched his back up off the floor. Lopez stepped back, as Doug flipped around like a fish out of water gurgling incoherently.

  ‘What is happening?’

  ‘Just watch,’ said the voice, soothingly.

  Doug slowly got to his feet. A flap of skin hung from his head, revealing brain matter.

  Dead eyes looked at Lopez.

  ‘Good,’ said the voice, ‘I can do the rest from here.’

  Doug turned on his heels and headed off towards the kitchen.

  ‘Where is he going?’

  ‘He is going to collect the dead bodies of the others. You have to find more of the mind worms.’

  ‘What are you going to do with these... zombies?’ It was the best word that Lopez could think of.

  ‘I am going to give you an army to rule with.’

  Chapter Nine: The Miracle

  Magnus Reeves was a towering figure of a man. He trained in the gym every single day of his life, but even if he never lifted a weight, he was a naturally large man. He had a square jaw, clean shaven and was as handsome as a fairy tale prince with his shaggy blonde hair. Magnus snorted, fighting back the tears as he looked up at his sleeping wife. She was frozen in a deep sleep chamber. Her angelic face looked so peaceful through the glass window. For over a year she had been in deep sleep, whilst he remained awake.

  ‘Her life signs are failing,’ said Doctor Andrews.

  Magnus said nothing for a moment.

  What was there to say?

  His wife was dying. He knew this fact more than anyone. It was why he left his command as a battleship captain to captain this space cruise liner on its journey through the various exotic planets sprinkled throughout the known universe. The whole cruise liner was one large pleasure land where people could do what they wanted without question. The crew would swap after four-month intervals. Hundreds would wake from deep sleep, whilst the others went into deep sleep. Only Magnus stayed awake, ever vigilant over his dying wife. The entire journey went on for three years, but Magnus only needed to see out the next seven months. There was a new alien world that had been discovered with lakes and oceans that could cure almost any disease. Many people said the news was fake, a media stunt to draw the attention of tourists, but Magnus had run out of options. He had given up everything to bring his wife to this world, but they were seven months out.

  ‘How long does she have?’

  ‘Three, maybe four months,’ replied Andrews.

  Magnus spun on his heels and marched away.

  He couldn’t allow the doctor to see him cry.

  How could life be so cruel? They had got so close. All they needed was a little more time.

  ***

  Pleasure swept through his body in the form of rhythmic waves. His left hand reached up and cupped Shiva’s breast, as she straddled his lap, riding him in such a sensational and loving way. Love swirled behind the windows of her soul, as the most beautiful smile was printed upon her lovely lips. Matthews loved how it felt to be inside her. There was something special about being granted access to Shiva’s body. The feel of having her wrapped around him was such a powerful and overwhelming experience. Maggie’s delicate hands cupped his face, turning him to face her. Maggie was lying on the bed beside him; Tracy was down between the beautiful blonde’s thighs, teasing her with the tip of the tongue. Maggie moaned through her nose, as she pressed her lips against Matthews. Shiva leant down and kissed Maggie too. Matthews didn’t know if he had seen anything sexier before in his life. Shiva turned her attention back to the peace officer and kissed him. It was a long and loving kiss, but she pulled back, sat up and forced her bodyweight down against his manhood. Matthews roared out in pleasure. He loved his new life.

  ***

  ‘Are you sure you want to do this?’ asked Doctor Emerson, helping to load the last of the supplies into the back of the truck. None of the others had come down to help. Dr Jones turned to his friend and smiled a big friendly smile.

  ‘I have stayed here for too long. It has been nine months since I left the alien city. I have learnt a lot staying at this temple of mirrors, but I will leave the research here to you. I want to continue learning about the various cultures that inhabited this planet.’

  ‘I wish I could come with you,’ replied Emerson.

  ‘No. It is safer here.'

  Emerson could remember every single detail of the time the alien took control of her body and dragged them hundreds of miles across the surface of the planet. Since then they had spent the last nine months in the shelter of the temple of mirrors. Shiva, the god of this temple, had allowed anyone to take Gabriel’s medication if they so desired. It had been a fifty-fifty split down the middle of the survivors. Half of them jumped at the chance to take the medication and silence the voices that whispered troubling thoughts into their heads, whilst the others embraced the voices and the knowledge that came with it.

  ‘I will be back in a few months for more supplies,’ said Dr Jones, closing the back door of the truck. ‘We will have much to discuss and much to share.’ The two friends embraced a long hug, but Dr Emerson couldn’t shake the feeling that this would be the last time she saw her mentor alive.

  ***

  Kimberly stepped out into the hallway, leaving Christopher in the makeshift playroom for a moment. There was only one door into and out of the room. Kimberly didn’t dare let him escape from her sight for a moment, but things had settled down since they both took Gabriel’s medication. She hadn’t even so much heard a whisper from the alien that made her do all sorts of terrible things. Fernando was waiting for her outside. Fernando was nineteen, handsome and had the kindest blue eyes she had ever seen. He too had taken the medication to silence the voices in his head.

  ‘Good morning,’ he said, in his Spanish accent.

  ‘Morning, Fernando, you heading off to work?’

  ‘Yes,’ he nodded. Fernando had become one of Tracy’s engineering students, as there was much to do in the temple and not enough hands. It was on the job learning, which he was doing so well with. Unconsciously, they both looked down the corridors to make sure nobody was about. They were clear of unwanted eyes. Kimberly was the one that stepped forward and pressed her lips firmly against his. It was a really sweet kiss that carried the full weight of her emotions for him. Her fingers ran through his hair, as she pulled on the back of his head, pulling him into her. A long moment later and she pulled back.

  ‘When do you finish?’

  ‘I finish after five, but my wife is expecting me home.’

  Kimberly couldn’t hide her disappointment. She pouted.

  ‘I will find you on my lunch break,’ he told her.

  ‘I know, but I want you for myself.’

  ‘I want you too, but I love you and my wife.’

  ‘I know
you do,’ she replied, cupping his handsome face. ‘It is difficult for all of us.’

  Fernando checked his watch. ‘I should go.’ He glanced down the corridor and then kissed her again. ‘I will try to think of something. I love you,’ he told her.

  ‘I love you, too,’ she replied, watching him go.

  ***

  The elevator dropped down hundreds of decks in a matter of moments. Magnus pinched the bridge of his nose as tight as he possibly could. How had things turned out this way? All she needed was a few more months, and he would have the cure. There had to be a way to save his wife. He couldn’t let it end like this. ‘Think, Magnus, think!’ What could he possibly do? It wasn’t like he could make the ship run faster than it already was. He had pushed the engines to the fastest possibly point, but it was still going to take seven months to reach the planet that could heal her of her terrible illness.

  The elevator doors opened with a ping.

  The smell of burnt food filled his nostrils, as Magnus stepped out onto the slum levels. Hundreds of people were busying around a makeshift marketplace erected along the various corridors. This was where the poor people lived. There was no deep sleep facility available to them. The ones that joined knew they were spending three years in the belly of the ship. Hundreds of them left with every planet that the cruise ship reached, but then hundreds more would come aboard. The majority were heading to the same paradise as Magnus because they had all heard the stories of the richest on the planet and the magical powers of healing that it held.

  Magnus made his way through the market.

  This was a dangerous place full of crime and death, but no one touched the captain. In fact, the people down here respected him more for his trips down here. Normally, the crew of the cruise ship stayed away in the higher decks where only those with the access code could get to. Magnus sent food parcels down regularly and often sent the medical team to set up a free treatment centre from time to time, but it wasn’t the people Magnus was here to see.

  He stopped outside of a pair of double doors.