by Len du Randt
You’ve lost it, Jared. You’ve lost the contract, you’ve lost the company, and you’ve also lost this friendship.
‘I’m so sorry, man,’ Shaun said. ‘I was angry, and irritation clouded my judgement. I should never have spoken to you that way.’
Shaun stood up. He made his way to the window and stared out at the sunset. The fluorescent night lights flickered on in the room and the street lamps below came on in unison. Rush hour traffic crept by as the last rays of sunlight drowned in Lake Metanoia in the distance. Down below, hard working men and women returned home to prepare dinner and watch television. They were oblivious, drones without any knowledge of what was going on around them. They had their set patterns that they followed religiously. Every single day. As long as nothing disrupted the pattern, they were content.
Jared had disrupted Shaun’s pattern. Everything was different now. The company was falling apart. People were handing in their resignations. Others waited for answers first. It was only a matter of time before the entire business would implode on itself.
‘I need your guidance, Jared,’ Shaun said. ‘Now more than ever. I don’t know what to do. I don’t know where to turn to.’
A nurse entered the room and checked the stats on the cardio monitor. She didn’t seem to notice Shaun as she wrote down the new statistics on a form and clipped it to her clipboard. She checked Jared’s drip and as she turned to leave, acknowledged Shaun’s existence with a faint smile.
‘I’m sorry,’ Shaun said. ‘Miss...?’
She turned. ‘Yes?’
‘Are there any new developments yet?’ he asked.
The nurse looked at Jared and then at the cardio monitor. ‘We honestly don’t know anything yet. There’s a lot of pressure on his brain. We’re flying in a specialist from Brussels to see if there’s anything that he can do, but until then, all we can do is wait; wait and pray.’
Shaun nodded. Outside, night settled in, thick and dark. The fluorescent lighting created an institutional atmosphere in the room. ‘We’ll just have to wait and see then, I guess.’
The nurse smiled. ‘Drop by again,’ she said as she made her way to the door. ‘Who knows what will happen?’
‘I will,’ Shaun said. ‘Thanks.’
She nodded and left, leaving Shaun alone with his thoughts and Jared’s raspy breathing.
‘Wake up, Jared,’ Shaun hissed. ‘I need you, man. Wake up, damn it!’
Shaun stood up and glanced outside the window at the lights before he drew the curtains. He then opened the bathroom door and was pleasantly surprised at what they could squeeze into the tiny space. The modest room sported a toilet, wash basin, medicine cabinet, and shower. He entered the room and closed the door behind him before locking it.
‘This is bad,’ he whispered at his reflection in the mirror. The pale reflection looked back at him expectantly, but delivered no possible solutions. Whyte & Greene was as good as gone without a fighting chance from the man who had breathed life into the company.
Shaun splashed water over his face and sighed deeply.
‘This is really bad.’
* - - - *
‘There is no change to his condition,’ Tanya said as they entered Jared’s room. ‘This was not part of the original plan; this was not part of the prophecy.’
‘It wasn’t my fault that your plans didn’t work out,’ Natasha said. ‘If that’s what you’re implying.’
‘I’m not implying anything. All I’m saying is that if anything happens to Jared...’
‘You mean if he dies?’
Tanya shot Natasha a glance. ‘If he dies, the prophecy dies with him, and we lose everything we’ve worked so hard to accomplish.’
‘If he pulls through and that woman has access to him, we might lose him anyway,’ Natasha said. ‘I have a very bad feeling about her. I don’t trust her at all.’
‘Who?’
‘His mother.’
‘Rebecca?’ Tanya narrowed her eyes. ‘You are not to harm a hair on her head. Do you understand me?’
Natasha didn’t reply. She merely looked at Jared’s still figure lying on the bed.
‘Do you understand me, Nahemah?’ Tanya asked. ‘I’m serious about this.’
‘I understand,’ Natasha said, not bothering to hide the condescending tone in her voice. ‘But if this comes back to bite you, I will not accept responsibility.’
‘She is not to be harmed,’ Tanya confirmed her resolve. ‘She is the key to the success of our plan. She is the reason that we will even stand a chance.’
‘I understand.’
For a moment Tanya didn’t say anything. She walked over to the window and pulled the curtain aside. ‘I saw on the news that the police fished the body of Jared’s old PA, Lisa, from the river this morning,’ she said without breaking her gaze from the hypnotic lights outside. ‘That was obviously not part of the plan either.’
‘Don’t worry,’ Natasha said. ‘There is absolutely nothing to link her to us. Not one single shred of evidence.’
‘You’d better hope not,’ Tanya said and waved her index finger under Natasha’s nose. ‘Or I’ll make certain that you’ll live long enough to regret it.’
Neither of them saw Shaun peeking through the gap in the bathroom door. He silently closed the door and took a step back, wondering what on earth he had just witnessed.
* - - - *
‘There was a man in there,’ Natasha said as the two women entered the parking lot. ‘He overheard our conversation.’
Tanya stopped in mid-stride and looked up at the building. ‘Who? Where?’
Natasha closed her eyes and concentrated for a moment. ‘It’s Jared’s old friend Shaun, from Whyte & Greene.’
‘How did this happen?’ Tanya snapped. ‘I didn’t see anyone!’
‘He was hiding in the bathroom.’
Tanya cursed and slammed the palm of her hand against the roof of a car. ‘This changes everything, Nahemah.’
‘What do you propose I do?’
Tanya didn’t need to think it through. ‘Kill him,’ she said.
Natasha nodded. ‘It shall be done.’
‘Do it tonight. I don’t care how, I just want him dead.’
‘As you wish.’
Tanya cursed and lit a cigarette. ‘Make sure you don’t mess this one up as well,’ she said as she buried the lighter back in her purse. When Natasha didn’t answer, she looked up to drive home the importance of her request. She looked around the parking lot as her words trailed off.
Natasha was gone.
* - - - *
The orange glow in the sky was still a distance away, but Jared could tell that he was nearing its source. It felt as if the blade of a knife had been slipped between his ribs. The fall must surely have snapped off a short-rib or something. Every time he placed weight on his right foot, a stabbing pain shot through his leg, causing him to walk with a slight limp. If that beast was to sniff him out and chase him again, he would surely be done for.
Something exploded and Jared ducked instinctively as the all the windows of a nearby house shattered into thousands of tiny shards.
After what felt like a safe time, Jared continued along the road. Must have been a gas leak or something, Jared thought and shuddered at the idea of encountering that jumping bear-thing again.
The sun was setting. Darkness would soon swallow up Kelwick. Jared noticed that the darker it became, the brighter the orange sky seemed to light up. Was it a beacon? A sort of flare? An encampment where he could find people that could tell him what on earth was going on? He figured that he would find out soon enough.
Something distracted Jared. Some sort of movement in the distance. Oh no! Jared thought and his heart pulled tight in his chest. He relaxed somewhat when he realised that the shapes in the distance were human. Six of them.
‘Hey!’ he shouted and waved his arms through the air as he limped toward them. They stopped and turned. One pointed at him and the whole group approached
him.
‘You guys have no idea how glad I am to see you...’
Jared’s words trailed off as he neared them. Something was wrong. Although he was accustomed to the constant smell of smoke and burning rubber, another stench became unmistakably clear as he neared the group of people. The smell of burnt hair and flesh. The exact same smell that followed the beast that almost killed him. Through the dimming light Jared could just make out the features of the men.
‘Oh no...’
Their hairless heads were burnt; their clothes bloody and torn. One of the men opened his mouth and gurgled a raspy scream.
Jared ran. Pain shot through his legs as he fled down the road. Not again! He looked behind him and saw the six men running after him, gaining distance with each pace. This can’t be happening! This isn’t real!
The half-charred, half-dead group of men were catching up fast. The stench stung Jared’s nostrils as breath forced its way in and out. He kicked over a garbage can as he ran into a narrow alley and almost lost his balance. A few seconds later he was sprinting down the alley towards what appeared to be a wall.
Oh, come on!
Jared stopped at the wall and searched for a way around it. There was none. The only way out of the alley was the way he came in. The six figures advancing upon him blocked his way. They closed the gap with rapid pace, like a pack of wild dogs, clawing the air as they fought off each other to get to him.
Jared pushed a small crate next to the wall.
The zombie-like creatures were just about upon him.
He jumped, hoping to at least grab hold of the top. If he didn’t, he would not have another chance.
Yes!
Jared pulled himself up with what strength he had left. One of the men grabbed his ankle and tugged hard.
Jared screamed. It felt like they were ripping his foot right off his leg. With one hard yank, he freed his foot and fell over to the other side.
From the other side of the wall, Jared could hear the men scratching and moaning.
What the hell was that? Jared stood up and faced the wall. It took him a while to regain his breath. He touched his right shoulder and flinched. Slowly he advanced toward the wall, touching it lightly with the tips of his fingers as he listened to the scratching on the other side. Something terrible had happened to Kelwick. He didn’t know what, but what he did know was that he had to get as far away from here as possible.
Think, Jared! Think!
The sudden stench of burnt hair and a soft growl behind him iced his blood. Jared turned around slowly and was just in time to see the bear-like beast jump at him with its razor sharp fangs.
* - - - *
‘Lose weight without any exercise. With Electro-Gym you are in control. This simple yet effective weight control system was developed—’
Justin pressed a button and the television snapped off. The image died with the soft crackling of static. He dropped the remote next to him and sighed. When are you coming home, Becky? he wondered as his gaze shifted to his teenage daughter sleeping on the couch next to him. When will all this finally be over?
‘Come,’ he said as he gently shook Monique’s shoulder. She woke and blinked a few times as if to remember where she was. ‘Let’s get you to bed.’ Justin stood up and held his hand out to help her up.
Something felt wrong.
Justin turned and his heart skipped a beat when he saw the silhouettes of the two men standing at the window, looking in. Something urged him to get out of their line of sight.
‘Monique, get—’
BLAM!
The blast was quick, blunt, and loud; like a car backfiring. Justin fell to the ground for cover. He could see Monique’s legs as she ran to the bedroom. He tried to push himself up but had no strength in his arms. It was then that he felt the wetness at his hands, that he became aware of the burning pain in his face.
I’ve been shot!
Justin tried to move his arms but couldn’t. He tried to speak, but only managed a faint gurgling sound. Consciousness was seeping away with each passing second.
Please protect her, Justin thought as darkness blurred out his vision. In the name of Jesus Christ, please don’t let anything happen to her...
Justin woke from the dream screaming and drenched in sweat. He slapped his hand around on the bed; his heart fluttering in his chest with fury. He finally found the bed lamp switch and clicked it on, filling the room with instant light.
‘Oh Lord,’ he said and choked. He took a few deep breaths as he tried to control the raw adrenaline pumping through his veins. It took a moment before his mind distinguished between dream and reality. ‘Please be with Rebecca,’ he pleaded through the breathing. ‘Please be with my son. I beg of you, Lord. Please protect them both.’
* - - - *
The slash of a blade.
The glint of metal.
The roar of fire.
In one swift motion, the sword flashed through the air, instantly separating the beast’s head from its body.
Jared’s eyes were still closed when the remainder of the monster smashed into him, smacking him into the wall. Jared’s mind reeled. He tried to wrestle the dead weight off him, but couldn’t find the strength to do so. The stench was unbearable, as was the gaping wound a few inches from his face.
The beast moved. Jared’s heart sank. It was only after the dead animal was flung to one side that Jared realised what was going on. A man stood in front of him, his hand extended toward him. ‘Take my hand,’ the man said. ‘You’re safe for now.’
Their hands slapped together and the stranger pulled Jared to his feet.
‘Thanks,’ Jared managed.
‘Thank me later,’ the man said. He nodded toward his companion. ‘Follow us.’
‘Why?’ Jared asked. ‘Where to? What’s going on? And who are you?’
‘Your questions will be answered in time,’ the man said. ‘But it’s getting dark very quickly now. We’ll talk later.’
‘At least just tell me who you are,’ Jared insisted.
The man pointed at his companion. ‘This is Elrisk,’ he said. ‘My name is Yuriel, but you can call me Simon.’
Chapter 8
The streets of Kelwick were desolate and quiet. Too quiet. The man that identified himself as Simon carefully looked around a corner and surveyed the street from left to right. Once he was sure that the coast was clear, he made a hand gesture that somehow told his companion exactly what he needed. The man introduced as Elrisk half-hunched as he ran across the street to a burnt-out convenience store. He withdrew his sword and made his way into the shop through the shattered window where he disappeared from view for what felt to Jared as too long.
‘Shouldn’t we go and check if he’s okay?’ Jared whispered.
Simon merely held up his hand, not taking his eyes from the building. He waited a moment longer and stood up. ‘Right,’ he said. ‘All is clear. Let’s go.’
Jared looked at the shop. There was no trace of Elrisk. ‘Are you sure?’ he asked. ‘How do you know...?’
‘I know,’ Simon said and helped Jared to his feet. ‘Come. You don’t want to be out here when it’s completely dark.’
Jared wasted no time. He followed Simon across the street until they were inside the store. Elrisk stepped from the shadows. He saluted Simon and the two of them patted each other on the back as if they had just succeeded in accomplishing a major task. Jared figured that he’d soon find out what was going on, so he merely stood back and observed as the last rays of the sun completely disappeared outside.
‘We’ll be safe here,’ Elrisk said. ‘The only way inside is through the window we came in. I will stand cover and guard it until sunrise.
‘Confirmed,’ Simon said. He motioned for Jared to stand back and then made his way to the middle of the room. He unsheathed his sword and closed his eyes. After taking a deep breath, Simon exhaled loudly as he drove the sword into the wooden floor. He took a step back and once satisfied, spread his li
ps into a smile. A blue light pulsated from the blade of the sword, growing in intensity and light until the whole room was illuminated. Simon looked at Jared. ‘They’re afraid of the light,’ he explained. ‘It drives them away.’
Jared nodded. ‘Afraid of the light. Right.’ He pulled his face to emphasize his sarcasm. ‘What exactly are we hiding from? Where on earth are we? Why do you carry a sword, and more importantly, why does it radiate blue light?’
Simon looked at Elrisk who gave him a knowing nod. Elrisk took a defensive position at the window; his sword drawn as he stood guard. Simon then walked to the nearest wall and slid down to the floor with his back against it.
Jared sat down next to him and studied the man for a few seconds. ‘Comfortable?’
Simon nodded.
‘Right,’ Jared said. ‘Now please stop stalling and tell me. What the hell is going on?’
* - - - *
‘I’ve been to the hospital today,’ Shaun told his wife as they washed the dishes together. She washed. He dried and put them away.
Samantha looked up. ‘And...?’
‘Still no improvement,’ he said. ‘The doctors don’t even know how long he might still be in this coma, or even if he will recover at all. It’s frustrating, at the very least.’
‘What will happen to Whyte & Greene?’
‘I don’t know, Sam. There’s just too much we don’t know at this moment. The company is in the process of being liquidated. We’ve lost most of our best guys already. I guess that if Jared should die, that the Executor of the Estate will take the money from his trust funds and whatever savings he didn’t squander the past few weeks and use that to pay off the staff and all other outstanding bills.’
Samantha took a deep breath. ‘Are we...are we okay?’