“Ok then Piper, if, just for the sake of argument, I accepted all that, and I’ll admit it does answer a lot of questions. Then, I still don’t get what’s really happened to your friend Tom, it seems that one minute you’re telling me that he’s dead, then the next he’s alive. Don’t get me wrong Piper, I can see how you really think that you’re telling me the truth, but then I get this funny feeling that I’m in some strange parallel universe where nothing makes any sense, so please, enlighten me.”
“Well Mary, this is where it gets really wild, so hang on to your hat. The Soul Taker, like I just told you, controls most physical things round here, but now it’s gone a bit further, in fact, it’s gone one hell of a lot further. It’s somehow managed to create an extraordinary place that everybody calls Rapture, which, to you and me, is a kind of heaven. It’s a place where your consciousness goes after your body dies and you live on, happily ever after, forever. You also get an extra bonus, you can go and check it all out, get used to it before you actually cash in your chips.”
“You’re right Piper,” said Mary, putting both of her hands on her head and locking her fingers, “absolutely right, this is totally unbelievable. If, what you’ve just told me, were in any way true, then it would be an incredible moment. At last, after thousands of years, we can all stop worrying about dying. Whatever our religion, creed or colour, the eternal afterlife is ours for the taking. That sort of information would change our world, suicide would become rampant, bodies would rain out of the sky, people behaving like lemmings, would throw themselves off tall buildings.”
“Mary, slow down a little,” said Piper, warily, “I think that maybe you’re going just a little over the top.”
“Perhaps you’re right Piper,” said Mary sarcastically, “but bear with me, once I get everything into proportion, I’ll be able to grasp the situation a lot better. Now where was I, let’s see if I’ve got this right and feel free to correct me if I’m wrong. Tom is dead, and now he lives in a heavenly place that’s known as Rapture, but, if you want, you can pop in and see him and have a chat.”
“I know what you’re getting at Mary, and I understand the sarcasm, when you dress it all up like that, it does sound ridiculous. But I’m sorry, you can think what you like about all this Mary, and yes, I know that someone less kind than you, might say that it’s all a load of rubbish. But, I believe every word of it, and what’s more, I’m going to grab this chance of a lifetime with both hands. So, whatever happens, I’m going to go with Henry to check it all out, and while I’m there, I’m going to talk to Tom and beg him to forgive me.”
“Now just hang on a second Piper, you go with that thing over there and who’s to say that you’ll come back? Don’t you go rushing in to things, this might all be a trick, so, it would seem sensible to think about it for a while, you’re exhausted and so is everybody else. They’ve all been very patient, but we do need to make a move now, it’s too late to head for Naples, everyone needs some rest. Talk to Henry, there must be a Hotel round here, tell him everybody is tired, tell him you’re going to sleep on it. Tom’s not going anywhere and neither is Henry, you can see them both tomorrow.”
Piper knew that Mary was right, exhausted didn’t cover it, the emotional rollercoaster that she’d been riding all day, had left her feeling flat and empty. Now, feeling guilty, she looked over her shoulder at the others, their faces looked weary, they probably all felt as bad as she did. Nodding to Mary, she quizzed Henry about any Hotels in the area that they could use for the night.
“I understand My Lady, although I no longer feel fatigue, I am informed that your race cannot function without daily unconscious rest. I have therefore been informed that a Hotel is only eight minutes’ walk away. A walkway to your destination has been cleared for your use, please follow the designated path, deviation is not allowed. The facilities in the hotel are clean and tidy, hot water will be made available for washing purposes. I must leave now, but I have no doubt that we shall meet again.”
Hook, line and sinker, she’d swallowed the lot and all he had to do now, was reel her in. Tonight, he would take her, tonight whilst she slept, her friends would be powerless to interfere, Piper was his game changer, he would keep her close.
The thought of his coming change exited him, how triumphant he would be on emergence, his clan would still be encased in their Pupa and as was his right, he would consume them, to the victor the spoils. A thing of wonder would be re-born when the thick black casing, that would contain him, split open and he crawled out of the dripping pupa. His great heart would pump fluid into his enormous green wings and his bright red carapace would harden.
When he had eaten his siblings, his reproductive abilities would undergo parthenogenesis and he would carefully lay his own self fertilised eggs. They would be his legacy, dormant for eons, waiting for the renewal, for the next time, a tomorrow lost in the mists of time, when this sterile and barren planet would once more burst back into life to nourish his children.
Then, finally, when the eggs were safe, buried deep beneath the red mantle, he would leave this world and its fertile system of planets. Launching himself into the vastness of the cosmos, he would begin his everlasting journey, liberated, as he floated on his great diaphanous wings, sailing majestically on an ocean of solar winds, moving far across the galaxy to new and exotic feeding grounds.
Henry melted back into the flesh coloured soup that surrounded them, sure enough, a pathway wide enough for them to walk two abreast began to appear as the gunge retreated in an almost straight line. Picking up their gear, the small group began to trudge into the twilight, careful to follow the line of the path. Ten minutes later they were in an eerily quiet, very respectable looking, hotel reception, helping themselves to room keys.
Everybody chose adjacent rooms on the same floor, conscious that they were in enemy territory and grateful for someone there to cover their back. Everybody was grateful that the Soul Taker had kept its word on the hot water. After showering, Piper ate a couple of energy bars from her pack, followed by half a bottle of water, when her head hit the pillow, she went out like a light.
To try and cut down on the stench from outside, Piper had kept the windows closed. Although they’d somehow enjoyed hot water in the shower, like the rest of the city, there was no electricity supply to the building, therefore the rooms were in absolute darkness.
So, when a thin trickle of the putrid pink slime began to drip from the tap and into the small washbasin in the bathroom, it went unnoticed. Piper was far too tired to see it overflow and run down the white wall tiles and onto the black granite floor. There was nobody else around to notice the thin line of the slime, as it made its way across the floor, up the side of the door and across the bedroom wall. Piper rolled onto her front, as it ran down the wall and on to her pillow, she was snoring loudly when the pink treacle finally began to pour into her ear.
CHAPTER 15
When Piper opened her eyes, she felt so much better for a good night’s sleep, she snuggled down in her bed, pulling the covers back up to her chin. Lying there, with her eyes half closed, in that warm, cosy, half way house between waking and sleeping, she could see by the light on her curtains that it was a lovely sunny day. Outside, a blackbird began to sing its little heart out on a nearby tree, children were playing across the street, she could hear their laughter. Downstairs, her Mother was moving about the house, singing to herself, the smell of fresh baking wafted up the stairs. A petrol mower burst into life below her window, her father had obviously finished reading his paper and had decided to cut the grass.
She sat up in bed stretching, slipping on her dressing gown, before getting to her feet and switching on the radio on her bedside table. Drawing the curtains, she looked out onto the street, her father had disappeared round the back of the house, still mowing. Next door Mrs Murphy was washing her bright red car and she could see that the Taylors next door to her, were preparing a barbeque.
Showered and dressed, Piper made her
way downstairs for some breakfast, her mother was in the kitchen, but she’d poured out a glass of orange for her and left her a full toast rack.
“Good morning, darling,” her mother called as Piper walked past the door, “I’ll bring your coffee out in a moment.”
“Thank you,” Piper shouted as she picked up the paper her father had left on the table.
She was through her third piece of toast when her mother appeared smiling, with her coffee.
“What are your plans for today Piper?” She asked, as she poured the coffee, added the milk and stirred in one spoonful of sugar.
“I think I might go shopping,” she replied, “Tom’s picking me up tonight and taking me bowling, I’d like some new jeans, the ones I’ve got are looking a bit tired. Didn’t you say that you had some dry cleaning to pick up, give me the ticket and I’ll call for it while I’m out.”
“That’s a good idea, I’ll get it, oh, and by the way, don’t forget that Grandma and Grandad are calling at around four’ish. Try and be back, you know how much they look forward to seeing you.”
Her father walked in through the back door, wiping his hands on an old, oily rag.
“Good morning sweetheart, you finally decided to get up then?” he winked and smiled at her, before turning to her mother, “I think I’ll pop into town Greta, take that old mower in for servicing.”
“Ok Ben, why don’t you take Piper with you, she wants to do a bit of shopping, she’ll get the bus back, won’t you Piper?”
“Sure, if you’re going now, I’ll go get my bag.”
• • •
Her father dropped her at Macey’s, just outside of Lawrenceville where they lived.
“I’ll pick you up if you’re not going to be long,” said her father as she climbed out of the car.
“No, I’ll be a while dad, but thanks anyway. I’ll see you later.”
She waved as he drove away, then walked into the store, wandering slowly around the place, taking her time. People she knew and friends that she’d known at the local school, stopped and chatted, Cecelia, one of her oldest friends suggested coffee. They found seats in the cafeteria and made it lunch, buying sandwiches as well as coffee. They chatted about boyfriends and music, laughing together as they reminisced about school, finally, going their separate ways after promising to meet up the following week.
Piper bought some jeans and bits of makeup that she wanted, then picked up her mother’s dry cleaning, she looked at her watch and noticed that it was nearly 4pm. She made her way outside to the bus stop and met some neighbours that were waiting, they chatted until the bus arrived.
Walking into her house on Bergen St at 4.30pm, she was in plenty of time to see her Grandma and Grandad. They embraced her warmly, then they all wandered out into the back garden, her grandparents hung on her every word as she chatted with them over glasses of cold lemonade and ham sandwiches in thin brown bread. Then they recounted their adventures on their latest Australian cruise and told her of where they anticipated going next. She was always pleased to see them because they were kind, loving people and she knew just how much they cared for her. Piper prided herself on how close her family was, often thinking that if she ever had children of her own, she would try and bring them up in similar, loving, environment.
After they’d left, Piper changed and showered, then sat in her room, waiting for Tom, flicking through a magazine and watching the sun slowly set, casting crimson bars across a darkening sky. When she heard the doorbell, she grabbed her pink printed fleece and her across body bag and skipped out of her room. Her dad was just opening the door, there stood Tom smiling at her as she bounced down the stairs to meet him.
Her mother was in the lounge watching ‘Cheers’ on the TV, she opened the door and came into the hall smiling.
“Hello Tom,” she said, “you two have a wonderful time, enjoy yourselves.”
“Thank you, Mrs Reed,” he replied.
“Don’t be too late,” said her father
“Don’t worry Sir, I’ll have her back safely by 10.30pm,” said Tom, wearing his serious and responsible face.
Piper squeezed her father’s arm and kissed him on the cheek as she walked out of the door. Outside, on the pavement, she kissed Tom gently on the lips, before climbing into his old Toyota self-drive.
“What’s the Bowling Alley zip code Piper, it’s gone clean out of my head?”
She typed it in for him under the Sat Nav, he pushed the drive button and the electric engines whispered into life, pulling away from the curb, they moved off down the quiet suburban road.
“My God Piper,” Tom said, with obvious relief, “alone at last, you can cut out all the crap now, I don’t think that anyone’s watching or listening, so just relax and talk to me. After all these years, it’s just so wonderful to see you again, I know that it’s only been a matter of days for you, but for me it’s been sixty long years since I last saw you, so long that I’d almost given up hope. This Rapture place is liveable once you get used to it, that’s if you don’t mind all the gaps and glitches, it’s a bit like a badly made film. As long as you do as you’re told and pretend that you’re happy, everything goes smoothly.”
“Tom?” Piper was looking at him quizzically, with her head on one side, then she spoke again, pronouncing every word slowly and clearly, “what are you talking about?”
Tom was so wrapped up in the joy of the moment, that he didn’t even register that she was speaking.
But, if you make ripples or start complaining, the drones are soon on your tail, sometimes they pick you up, sometimes they don’t ever bring you back again. Maybe it’s me, perhaps I haven’t really given the place much of a chance, everybody else seems to manage just fine. I know deep down that there’s no alternative, but ever since I arrived, I’ve felt like a prisoner serving time, counting the days, hoping to find some way of contacting you, but not knowing how.”
“Stop it now Tom, you’re frightening me. What is the matter with you?” Asked Piper, pressing herself against the passenger door, putting as much space between them as she could. What on Earth is all this nonsense about?” She continued, unable to meet his eyes, “You’re acting like you’ve had brainstorm or something, we were both out together last night, getting a birthday present for that dreadful cousin of yours, surely, you can’t have forgotten that already? I’ve no idea what’s brought all this silly talk on, you’re suddenly acting like a stranger Tom, talking about things that don’t make any sense, things that I just don’t understand.”
She looked up into his face, trying to make sense of it all and was struck by the depth of hurt in his eyes. She felt an overwhelming desire to reach out to him, soothe away his pain, tell him that she was sorry, she was here now and everything would be alright. But as soon as that strange thought had entered her head, it vanished again, like smoke in the wind, leaving her wondering what it was that she’d been thinking about in the first place.
“Oh, Jesus Piper, you really don’t remember do you?” Tears were welling in his eyes, “you didn’t really stand a chance, did you? The bloody Soul Taker got to you, altered all your thoughts before you even got here. Wiped me out of your mind completely, changed all your memories and made me a stranger.”
“Tom stop the car, you’re frightening me, I want to go home.”
“Oh, Piper,” he said, as he pulled into the kerb, “what have they done to you, my very own ‘Warrior Queen’, frightened of me? If you only knew what a joke that is?”
“You’re doing it again.” Said Piper, opening the door and stepping out. “I don’t know who you think your talking to, Tom? But It’s certainly not me, I’m Piper, so why do I have to listen to all this crazy nonsense?” Her eyes suddenly opened wide, “oh my God, you’re not having a psychotic episode, are you?”
• • •
“For God’s sake Piper, wake up,” Mary and Jake were stood on each side of her bed panicking, Jake had hold of her and was shaking her so roughly that she flopped
about on the bed like a Rag doll, Mary was struggling to hold Piper’s head still and scrub her face with handfuls of wet wipes. Neither of them was making any difference, Piper lay on her back, her chest rising and falling as she breathed, but she gave no sign of being aware of her surroundings. Her face was hidden beneath a death mask of stinking pink slime, that had hardened in the night and was stuck like glue
“I don’t know what the hell we can do here,” said Jake, “take a good look Mary, you can you see how it’s all over her head, maybe the stuff’s filled her skull, eaten her brains, how can we tell?”
“Well, whatever’s happened to her, one things for sure, we can’t just leave her here. We’ve got to make a run for it Jake and somehow take her with us. Maybe they’ll be able to get this filth off her in Naples, let’s hope that there is something they can do. In the meantime, we’re going to have to move fast, because this is a game changer, now that they’ve managed to get Piper under their control our days are numbered, they’ll want rid of us as soon as they can”
“You’re right Mary, it’s Piper that they wanted all along, it seems that travelling through time has turned her into a figurehead for their wacky religion. You, me and all the others are now surplus to requirements, so like you say we’ve got to get out of here, or die trying. My room looks out onto the back of the Hotel, there’s a yard with trade waste bins and what looks like a staff car park, the main thing is, that there’s no pink gloop covering the floor. There’s also a back alley that looks like it runs all the way up to the main road with a big black Range Rover conveniently parked in a passing space little way up.”
“Sounds ideal Jake, but how do we get to it, we’re one floor up and we can’t go down to reception, it’s knee deep in that pink filth.”
Soul Taker Page 17