The Awakening

by Tony Mazzarella

  “Cait!” Someone screamed from outside. “Cait. Drew. Are you in there?”

  While the voice was muffled and barely audible, it sounded somehow familiar. Trusting her instincts, she stepped up to the gap in the stone, putting it at eye level, and began to shout. “Yes. We’re here! Help us!” she called out.

  Drew pulled her down quickly.

  “What are you doing?” he asked sternly.

  “Trust me. Something tells me whoever is on the other end is here to help. What other option do we really have?”

  Drew let go of her, and she once again started shouting for help.

  “Quick. Give me the flashlight,” she said. He handed it to her, and she began shining it through the small opening. “We’re here—help us,” she shouted even louder.

  The voices went silent as Drew and Cait stared at each other. They could see the tip of a metal pry bar inserted into the small crease in the stone. It rocked back and forth until the stone began to loosen and eventually pull free and fall off into the night. A cool breeze blew into the space, replacing the stale, damp air that had filled it seconds earlier. They both took a deep breath as they struggled to see who stood on the other side. Bright lights shone in, blinding them from seeing the face of the shadowy figure that peered into the opening. Cait saw the figure reach a hand in, and she instinctively took it. The familiar voice she’d heard a few minutes earlier became clearer as she was pulled into the night air.

  “Miss Cait, are you okay?” asked Antonio, as he helped her steady herself on one of the large blocks that made up the side of the Great Pyramid.

  “Antonio!” she exclaimed loudly. “I’m so happy to see you.”

  “And I you,” he said excitedly. “Are Kirby and Drew with you?”

  Antonio could see Cait’s expression turn dour as she bowed her head in sadness. His loss was still so raw and painful to her and unbearable to think about.”

  “Drew is inside,” she said as her voice faltered. “My father…he didn’t make it.”

  Antonio closed his watering eyes as Cait embraced him gently.

  “I’m so sorry, Miss Cait. Kirby was a good man. If not for him, I would already be dead at the hands of those monsters. He could see her losing her balance as she tried to adjust her eyes to her surroundings. “Steady yourself so you don’t fall. It’s a long way down,” he said, taking her hand.

  Cait steadied herself as best she could while she tried to gain her bearings. She could see lights in the distance and soon realized they were high atop the Great Pyramid looking out over Egypt. It was a windy night, and she could see lightning off in the distance.

  “Drew!” called Antonio as he once again reached his hand into the small opening. “Take my hand.”

  Cait watched as Antonio helped pull him out and helped to steady him as he sat on a stone next to Cait.

  “Are you okay?” asked Antonio.

  “Yes, I’m fine. I don’t understand. How did you know we were here? How did you survive down there?”

  Cait stood up, balancing herself carefully. “What about the others?” she asked, terrified to know the answers.

  “I know you both have a lot of questions, but we need to leave this place. We haven’t been seen yet because of the storm. Not many people are around this late in the evening.”

  “Yes, we need to go!” said a voice from the darkness. They were so high on top of the pyramid that it was only a few yards to get to one of the other sides. From out of the darkness, two large white eyes emerged from the night. Cait’s heart leaped as she saw Don Brazzo clinging to the side for dear life.

  “Don!” said Cait, throwing her arms around him and nearly toppling them both off the edge.

  “Hello, Cait,” he muttered as his eyes became even wider from fear. “I’m so happy you both made it, and I’m sorry about your father.”

  Cait nodded in acknowledgment.

  “I have to tell you something,” she said softly. “Gene…well, he…he didn’t make it either.”

  She was puzzled at his lack of emotion at having heard that his best friend in the world was dead. Don absorbed the words and soon began to smile, and then the smile turned into a hearty laugh as he took his two fingers, stuffed them in his mouth, and summoned a loud whistle.

  “Who, Rock star?” he said, still laughing. “Well, here’s the thing about him. The son of a bitch has nine lives. Didn’t you know that?”

  Just then, Cait heard the sound of stone tumbling down the side of the pyramid. A giant white furry creature came bounding from around the side of the pyramid with a battered and bruised Gene riding high atop.

  “What did I tell you? This crazy bastard came and rescued us on this…thing. It somehow knew exactly where to find you, and once he sniffed you out, well…you know the rest.”

  “What is it?” asked Drew.

  “It’s hard to explain,” shouted Gene. “Everybody climb aboard before we’re noticed.”

  The creature lowered its head to allow the others to climb onto its back. Drew and Cait both embraced Gene as they pulled themselves onto the creature’s back.

  “We thought you were dead,” said Drew.

  “I thought I was too, and if not for this guy, I would have been. Hang on. Let’s get somewhere safe, and I’ll explain. Wait a minute,” said Gene. “Where the hell is Donnie?”

  He looked over the side and could see Don sitting, clutching a stone tightly.

  “What are you doing?” asked Gene with his usual exasperated tone where Don Brazzo was concerned.

  “I’m not getting on that hairy, overgrown yeti again! He about gave me a heart attack the last time. Just go without me. I’ll find a way down and meet up with you later.”

  “Get up here!” yelled Gene, losing his patience.

  Before Don could come off with another terrified response, the creature sank his teeth into the back of Don’s coat and, with a jerk of his head, flipped him atop his back, flailing and screaming. Gene grabbed him as the massive quadruped bolted down the side of the pyramid and away from civilization. He ran for some twenty minutes before ducking into a crevasse in the desert and through an opening in the earth. They emerged into the tunnels that had brought them to Khaheet’s resting place. The creature ran at incredible speed, and after a short time, they found themselves back in the Livorno catacombs where they’d started.

  One by one, they dismounted and embraced one another once again.

  “Gene,” asked Drew. “What happened to you? Last we saw, those monsters were bearing down on you.”

  “Yes, they were, and I was sure it was the end for me. Corrado’s beastie just about had me, but something intervened. The big one with Adrian fought him off, and I just lay there pretty much in shock. Then something strange happened.”

  Don shook his head and laughed sarcastically. “Because none of the rest of the story was strange, right?”

  “Shut up, Donnie!” said Gene. “Anyway, as I was saying, Adrian’s monster…well, he transformed all of a sudden.”

  “Transformed?” asked Cait.

  “Yes,” said Gene patting the creature’s furry white leg. “Into this big, beautiful guy right here.”

  “He’s the beast?” asked Cait.

  “He was,” Gene replied.

  “When Adrian realized what he’d done, he changed too,” said Cait. “Maybe this is the result of his change of heart.”

  “I have no doubt about that,” said Gene, lighting a lantern and walking forward. Cait recognized the paintings on the wall. They were back in the original chamber in Livorno, only a few hundred feet from the surface.

  “He picked me up,” Gene continued. “And somehow summoned more of those monsters to the surface. They tunneled into the tomb, and Kuna followed.”

  “Kuna?” said Drew quizzically.

  “Oh my God. He friggin na
med it,” muttered Don.

  “I didn’t name him, you asshole. He knows his name. He thought it to me. That’s the best way to describe it,” Gene explained.

  Don just shook his head as Kuna’s massive tongue licked him affectionately from head to toe. He stood horrified, covered in white globs of saliva.

  “I think he likes you, Don,” said Cait, laughing.

  “Don’t be so sure,” said Gene. “He probably smells a hidden candy bar. Anyway,” Gene continued, “when we got into the tomb, we saw Corrado and his beast fighting Adrian. They had just about finished him when we got there. The other beasts turned on Corrado and destroyed his minion. That’s when Kuna picked up Adrian, and we got out of there. Not long after, we came across Antonio and this bozo in the Raptor heading out.”

  “What happened to Adrian?” asked Cait sadly. “Is he dead?”

  “I don’t know,” said Gene. “He was in pretty rough shape when we left him.”

  “Left him where?” asked Drew.

  Gene led them a few yards before they came to a white stone pedestal on which Adrian lay still and lifeless and shrouded in a white cotton blanket. As Cait approached, the soft glowing light once again appeared before her as Khaheet materialized in front of her. This time the others could see her as well.

  “It is done,” she said. “He is saved, thanks to you, Cait. Thanks to all of you.”

  “Is he alive?” she asked.

  “His eternal spirit still lives although this physical body lies still. He’s terribly weakened. Your sacrifice and love reminded him of what he truly is.”

  As Khaheet spoke, Kuna walked toward her with his head down, whimpering softly. Khaheet reached up and embraced him around the neck as she stroked his fur gently.

  “I’ve missed you, Kuna,” she said as he began to purr almost like a cat would. “No, I’m not mad at you,” said Khaheet. “You served your master loyally, and now it’s time to come home.”

  Kuna rubbed his head against Khaheet’s and then lowered it in sorrow as he looked at Adrian and began to whimper once again.

  “What now?” asked Cait. “What of the awakening?

  “The true awakening is realizing that love and sacrifice for others is what is most important. Adrian forgot that a long time ago. His awakening is complete and yours too. Humanity is safe and will go on. You all have much to learn and so much love to experience and to give to one another. Someday you’ll all take your place in the light with us, but for now, love one another every day. I will take him to his father to heal and once again take his place in the light.”

  “Khaheet,” said Cait. “What about Corrado; is he dead?”

  Khaheet turned toward Cait with a dire look. “Corrado has chosen to turn from the light once again. He’s escaped into the shadows of this world.”

  Cait’s heart sank as she realized what that meant.

  “Try not to fear. Now you know how to defeat him. Should he seek you out, you have only to tap into the love you hold in your heart. He no longer has the power to destroy humanity or control powerful creatures, but he can spread great evil to those whose hearts are devoid of love. Be wary of him and spread love where you can. That is your best defense against him now.”

  Khaheet reached her hand out and caressed Cait’s cheek. She then put her hand to her heart and summoned a bright light, just as Adrian had in the tomb. She took the ball of light and channeled it through Adrian’s body. A translucent form emerged from his physical body. It was Adrian, but he was bathed in light just as Khaheet was. He opened his eyes, and his gaze met Khaheet’s. They embraced and kissed each other with the passion resulting from having been separated for thousands of years. He took her hand, and they walked together toward the spinning vortex of light, and Kuna bounded happily behind them. Cait and the others watched as they slowly faded into nothingness.

  Tony Mazzarella is a thirty year veteran of the transportation industry, working in sales, operations and supply chain solutions. An avid guitar player and aspiring screenwriter, Tony lives in Pennsylvania with his wife Maria and children Matthew, Lauren, and Nicolas. His first novel, Destiny Earth, is currently available wherever books are sold. Tony’s education includes a Bachelor of Arts degree in history, with concentrations in business administration and management information systems. He also holds a Master of Science degree in computer information systems.

  COMING SOON…I really mean it this time.

  Destiny Earth II

  The saga continues as Will and the rest of the survivors aboard EC2 finally reach Earth. Ileana’s loyalties are once again uncertain as she forges an alliance with Will’s nemesis, Larsen, in a desperate attempt to find her brother.

  Commander James Devon and his crew arrive at the shattered remains of their home world to say one last goodbye, but something is waiting for them. They struggle to stay alive in the midst of the forces aligned against them.

  Lars Stanzic and the survivors deep under the Martian surface discover a once top secret project that could save them all from being trapped underground for all eternity. The Cygnus project and its mad creator are the only hope for mankind and for Edena who has become desperate to see her father again.

  Buddy Holly Must Die - Preview

  Prologue

  You’ve all heard the story and probably heard the song a hundred times. It never really meant much to me in my younger days. As a kid growing up in the late 70’s, I didn’t care about the meanings of lyrics or much else beyond riding my bike and playing with friends. To me, it was just an over played anthem to the rock n roll heroes of my parents lost generation. I recall sitting in the small backseats of my parent’s station wagon with my older brother and sisters and seeing my parents singing along in the front seat. Remember how it went? “Bye Bye Ms. American pie, drove my Chevy to the levee but the...” Well, you know how it goes. I learned later it was a tribute to the rockers that died tragically in a plane crash in a snowy corn field near Clear Lake, Iowa in 1959. Ritchie Valens, J.P Richardson, JR. who was better known as “The Big Bopper” and Buddy Holly who is probably the bravest man I’ve ever met.

  Don’t be fooled by the pictures of the unassuming young man with the curly hair and thick framed glasses. That’s the image of the man that history has recorded. It’s part of the man I knew but attributes like bravery and self-sacrifice can’t be recorded in a still frame or captured in a few hokey lines from a news article. You see, Buddy Holly saved us all, everyone reading these words and hearing the song on the radio is alive because of him. It still hurts to think about it because I can’t imagine what he must have felt as he stepped onto the plane that day with his friends knowing what he knew. Knowing he’d never see his wife again or get to meet his unborn son. What is it that he knew you ask? The secret Elvis brought to his grave and that I will bring to mine. You see, the day the music died was the day that humanity was saved. It’s what I knew and what Elvis Presley knew and yes, he knew it too in the end…that Buddy Holly must die.