Journey to a darker world

by Christian Mathis

  Agatha began to blast more and more sand into the quicksand making it harder and harder to float or trudge. Zadok had pulled a quarter staff from his amulet and began sliding it over the top of the quicksand to me. Agatha shoot sand into James' eyes, and he began to scream and Fell backwards into Gabriel’s grave. “No! Stay away from him!” Agatha said. While she was distracted, Zadok swung the staff and wacked Agatha on the side of her head and knocked her out. We tied her up and escorted her to the brig.

  Annabelle attempted to patch up and try to reduce the severity of Toni’s burns. It took most of us to pull James out of the hole, and after we covered it, we had the memorial service we all needed for closure. The outer door slid shut with a hiss, and we all took our seats on the bridge. Each of us took shifts watching over and talking to Agatha it was clear the time on this planet, the loss of her friends and the feeling of being betrayed by her friends had driven her to madness.

  Chapter sixteen

  We decided it would be best to go to bed and get some rest before trying to blast off back into space. I heard soft footsteps outside the door, getting closer to where I laid.

  “Hey, Catalyst? Do you mind if I come in and talk?” I could tell it was Annabelle’s sweet voice.

  “Of course, I wouldn’t mind talking to you, you know I will always make time to spend and talk to you.” Annabelle sauntered across the room, her hips swaying seductively. I could not take my eyes off her the entire time she approached my bed. The bedsprings creaked as she slipped under the sheets and nestled her head onto her chest. I ran my hands down her sides and wrapped my arms around her chest. Pulling her closer and closer.

  “Catalyst Ever since we got to this planet, it’s one really messed up thing happening after another. I don’t want to lose you like Agatha had to lose Gabriel. Besides actually dying, most relationships fail. I have always been afraid to get involved with people because I go crazy over the thought of losing them. I never felt the way I feel about anyone else that I fell about you. What makes us different than all those other couples in all the other times and worlds?” Said Annabelle. I stared into her sparkling eyes that shimmered like the moon over a small pond. I ran my fingers through her long enchanting hair, I inhaled, and my nose was filled with her alluring scent.

  “Annabelle we are not perfect, and I would never claim to be. I think the problem with most people is they have this idea of this perfect person and this delusional relationship where everything is supposed to work out, and they will never fight. Perfect people are not real, and anyone you view as perfect is going to fail and never live up to the image you have when you meet them. Then they fight and argue and thing since they do; the relationship is a fail. Everyone fights. That’s what makes us human. If you dated someone you never fought with, you would have to be the same person and ideas one issue; you’d be dating yourself. I promise when we fight, I will always try to use it to strengthen our relationship and move past the squabbles to be a great friendship, relationship, partnership. People grow, people change, things change. I want to learn and grow with you. My life has not been the greatest one; most of it was awful and dark, and it sucks tremendously, I have watched countless friends die. Never known my real family and bad things happen to everyone I am close to. Some people’s lives suck however when I am with you it is like the dark tone of my life Is lifted, and everything is good. If you are with me there will always be good in my life. Annabelle will you marry me?”

  Her jaw dropped, and I saw that she was as surprised as I was. She sat there in awe for a moment, then threw he arms around my neck and hugged me tightly.

  “Yes, of course, I will marry you, Catalyst I love you, and I can’t see my life without you.”

  “I love you too!”

  It started in Europe. They combined communism and capitalism, democracy, and socialism. They created a centralized European government. Which spread the wealth, they employed the jobless and homeless to build homes they used the newfound wealth and knowledge to irrigate the deserts with seawater, fixed healthcare, criminals were sent to prison at sea until they could be rehabilitated. Threats were either killed or exiled to the Outland. It was so successful continent created a coalition that led to success. They claimed we have the lowest crime, no homeless, no poverty, cheapest energy by using solar power, cleanest cities, and environments.”

  “Hey, dude Wake up! Zadok and Toni said it time to try and blast off, we are finally going to get off this world,” said James.

  “James, we got engaged!” Annabelle gave James a tight hug as we walked to the bridge. I checked on Agatha to make sure she was alright and would be safe during lift-off.

  “Catalyst, if I ever get out of this cell, I’m going to fucking kill you. I wish we would have killed you when we found you in the cave all that time ago. Everyone I loved would be alive, and you would be dead.” Agatha screamed

  “I could have easily killed you all; we needed you’re help as much as you need ours, I truly am sorry for you losing everything I am no stranger to lose, I can’t bring them back no one can. If you need anything let me know,” I said. I heard the thus of the door behind me my footsteps echoing through the hallway underfoot. I took my seat next to Annabelle, and we all strapped in and prepared for liftoff. BOOM. The thunder of the Nuclear-powered engine roared through the entire ship. The metallic clicking of the engine firing pierced my eardrum.

  The propulsion system kicked in, and the ship began to lift off from the ground. My seat shook violently, and the hull began to hum. I looked out the window and could the black trees and grey sky whiz by faster and faster.

  “Here we go this is it, Third times a charm!” Toni shouted. The ship climbed higher and higher into the sky. After almost a year on this planet, I could not wait to get home and especially to mess up the pretty boy presidents face. I tried to stay happy thinking about him was making me mad, and positive moments don’t happy too often in my life.

  I reached over and slid my hand into Annabelle’s hand and squeezed it tightly. I smiled and gave her a quick kiss. Incredibly blueish lighting flashed across the sky followed by a sonic boom of thunder. Razor wind lapped against the stern of the ship. I peered us of the window, and space was within our grasp.

  Another sonic boom shook the ship, and we were thrown into complete darkness. First the computer and screens turned off then the lights other systems after that.

  Once again, the familiar feeling of the ship eerily scrapping the planet’s surface rang in my ears. We slammed to a stop, and I was thrown from my chair slamming my chest and head into the wall and then sliding down. I collapsed into a pool of my blood.

  When I awoke the ship was still pitch black, and I could not see my hand in front of my face. I felt my fingers twitching in my right hand as if I had regained full feeling in my melted hand.

  “Guys what the hell happened, WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK. WHY CAN’T WE GET OFF THIS HELL HOLE OF A PLANET NO MATTER WHAT WE TRY!” I screamed. No one answered me at all.

  “Annabelle, James, Toni, Zadok, anyone?” I yelled. I ran my hand over my head, where a giant bloody gash should have been my fingers only felt a small healed over scrape.

  I pulled one leg out from under me and then another. My legs both in severe pain at the same time they were incredibly numb. I ran my hand up my legs, and they were slightly bloated, and I could not move them at all. It was as if I had Pins and needles to an absolute extreme. There was a low humming in my ears because of how quiet the room was.

  “Annabelle, please answer me; I can’t lose you again!” I rubbed my thighs to try and return the circulation to them, yet the feeling still would not return.

  I fell asleep once again because when I awoke, I saw a thin sliver of light coming from beyond the window. I stretched and wiggles my toes and then my foot. Rotating my ankle, stretching my leg and then bending my knee. I eased my way over to one of the chairs and pushed off it to pull myself to my feet. I placed my weight on my right foot and tested my balance. I wal
ked across the room towards the window and the light. Surly, James, Annabelle, and the other had to have left toward the light and away from darkness.

  The first thing I had noticed when I first began to exit the ship was an overpowering sweet smell like that of a strawberry. I opened they Mach infinity’s bay door and stepped onto a part of the planet I had never been to before. Lush green grass crunches under my feel, and the sky was a bright brilliant blue and purple. Beautiful brown and grey trees peppered this new valley, and where I looked were bright green plants and bushes most different of all was that this part of the planet had an Abundance of not only foliage also animals. The chirping of birds filled the air, and I saw them fly overhead.

  I heard scurrying in the bushes behind me, I turned and crouched low to the ground. Poised and ready to attack, I began to think of all the poison I would use to subdue a threat. More rustling ensued and then a low tapping sound as if the pitter-patter of teeny little feet. A soft squeaky voice came from inside a bush beyond the ship’s stern.

  “I promise I don’t mean to scare you, and I won’t harm you. I came to offer you, aide.”

  “Well then a little friend comes on out of the bush and let me meet you, have you seen my friends?” I said.

  Out of the bush came three feet long multicolored squirrel, like the Indian giant Squirrel from the earth.

  “Hi, I’m Duly I saw your ship crash from the sky, so I ran over make sure you were alright. Your friends did come through hearing about five or six other people Two women and three men. They went to go exploring wanted you to rest and regain your strength. It seems you took a pretty nasty Hit.” The strange fellow began to rub a weird sap unto my head, and he handed me a strawberry the size of a softball. I kneeled to where he was standing so I could get a better look at the rather strange character.

  “Well, Duly it is nice to meet you my name is Catalyst, and honestly I am usually awful at trusting people, especially people I met, so everything about you says you’re a good guy. I never eat food from strangers. I’m starving so thank you.” I took a bite of the giant strawberry expecting it to be bitter and nasty like everything else about the planet; it was surprisingly sweet and juicy. The most succulent Food I had ever eaten in my entire life. I slurped the juice that had run down my fingers.

  “Hey duly do you have any more of those delicious Strawberries?” He looked at me funny, then a giant grin grew on his face, and he scampered closer to me.

  “Of course, there is, fruit is plentiful here. I can take you there if you like. It would be no trouble at all.”

  “Honestly, I would love that much.”

  Duly began to sprint across the valley, and I had to run to catch up with him. I glanced back at the ship and furrowed my brows. For a crash that rough the ship had surprisingly little damage.

  “Catch up, you slowpoke, last one there is a rotten egg” Said Duly. I scrambled to catch up to him; he was running fast. I stopped to catch my breath and put my hands on my knees. I bent over and began to paint.

  “We are here, were here Catalyst was here “Duly said as he jumped around me giddy with excitement. The giant strawberries grew in droves all around this little Alcove where we stood. Giant grapes hung in clusters on the walls and watermelons the size of small boulders covered the base of the walls. Most stunning of all was the crystal-clear water. I stripped off my crusty shirt and the remains of the spacesuit. I pulled off my boxers that were glued to my skin. I ran and dove into lagoon of luxurious water. Drinking as I swam and scrubbed the caked-on blood and sweat and dirt from my skin. It occurred to me I had not had a proper bath or shower in almost a year. The water was crisp and cooled the best temperature for swimming too. I dove underwater felt the coolness completely encase me. The sound of the water soothed my ringing ears. I laid on my back and floated I thought about how nice and perfect it was there.

  I looked down at my right hand for a split second I could swear it had returned to its black burnt state. I shook my head and dove under the water again.

  “Hey, Duly, where are my friends? Weren’t you going to take me to them?”

  Duly slid down the trunk of a big beautiful oak tree.

  “Oh yeah, I nearly forgot I get distracted so easily, let’s go Catalyst. Don’t forget your pants. “

  I glanced down and almost forgot I was completely naked. I washed my clothes and got dressed.

  “Catalyst are you coming? We can’t stay here forever; sooner or later, it will pour that beautiful clear water from the sky.” Said Duly. He excited scampered across the Forest floor and leaped from tree to tree.

  “We aren’t far now; do you have a family catalyst? My wife’s name is Sara, and I have two kids Mary and Luke”

  “No, I’m not married, I did get engaged to a beautiful girl named Annabelle though.”

  “Duly

  SNAP! I heard a twig snap in the distance.

  SNAP, SNAP. The footfall grew closer, and the feet were running faster and faster.

  “Catalyst up here.” Duly lowered a branch, and he struggled to pull me up to a high tree branch. A shadowy form reached the clearing where we had been standing.

  “pst Duly drop me, I learned a lesson from a lady once jump them before they jump you.”

  I felt like a stone and landed on the mysterious figure’s shoulder, pushing him to the ground.”

  “huuuuuuuuuu” The wind was knocked out of them, and they began to wrestle me to the ground. We rolled around the forest floor, and I sent my knee into their chest forcing the air from their lungs. “Catalyst, Is that you?”

  My jaw dropped, and I jumped back surprised and started. For a moment my mouth opened and closed yet no words would form.

  The words came out and hesitant as if my mouth couldn’t trust my eyes.

  “Raymond how can this be I watched you die. The Duchess of death made you go crazy and attack us; we had to kill you. I’m so sorry.”

  Raymond turned his head and walked towards me, eerily quiet and slow.

  “Yes Catalyst, everyone is dead because of you. You should have listened to me if it was not for you; we would all be safe and sound in the Bone fort.”

  “Raymond, I’m sorry I really truly am! I wish I could save all of you. I relive that moment every day “

  He turned and began to walk away, he stopped in his tracks and spun around and shouted. “you are a curse Catalyst. Cursed to cursed.”

  I ran after him with all my might. My foot got tangled in a tree root, and I fell to the ground and rolled down a small hill. I laid on my back and stared at the sky. Three birds began to fly together in a perfect circle

  “Ray, come back! Duly what’s happening!” I screamed repeatedly

  “Do not be afraid, Catalyst I am here to dry your tears. “Duly wiped my face and handed me a strawberry. “

  “Nooo! This isn’t right none of this can be real; The undamaged ship, barely being wounded, every being almost perfect. My life sucks this must not be my life. What’s going on, Duly what is the truth because this must be an illusion.”

  Duly ran around me until he was joined by a smaller lady squirrel and baby squirrels. They clipped my legs, and when the giant three-foot animal was on my chest, he pressed his forehead onto my own and said, “Catalyst, everything is only as real as you deem it to be.”

  Chapter seventeen

  The world had started to fade, the bright blues turned to grey, the beautiful green turned to black, and the foliage and trees shriveled up and disappeared. I felt the giant Strawberry turn to dust in my hand. Blood trickled down my forehead and caught my lips. I smacked my lips and tasted the bitter, warm blood. Creepiest of all was when everything grew quiet, and the silence pierced my ears.

  “Duly, this place is fake. What is going on, Raymond is dead. Am I hallucinating am I dreaming, am I dead”?

  The rainbow-colored squirrel reappeared before he melted and reformed into a large green serpent. He crawled on all his legs and turned his head completely around, thrustin
g his tongue in and out of his mouth. “silly Catalyst, you’ve gotten too close to the truth for your good. Yes, you are hallucinating, everything here is you at first you created what you wish you could have now you will be forced to view only the darkness of your fears, “the strange snakes hissed.

  I fell to my knees once more,, and the serpent shape-shifted again into a hunched over man. I leaned back to check on him hesitantly when he revealed his face to be Willard.

  “Help me, Catalyst! He is coming for me!”

  “No! This is not real you are dead, and I’m sorry I could not save you!”

  Willard shot into the sky, and Raymond appeared and slit his wings off before Willard fell back down to the earth dead.

  My head started to spin before I was forced to relive the death of All of my friends repeatedly. My hands stung as if I had poisoned hundreds of people. I watched myself grab Ray’s hair and push poison into his scalp.

  The scene morphed again; we were inside the ship’s engine room. I knew what was coming; I could not stop it.

  “No please stop this madness I can’t relive this anymore tears began streaming down my face as I watched myself poison Gabriel and then watched him die.

  “Catalyst, why are you crying? Everything is ok, I promise.” I looked up to see Annabelle standing in the doorway holding one of the exploding flower’s stems

  “Annabelle! I missed you so much. Are you real because of so much of this is fake?”

  “Catch me if you can catalyst,” Annabelle said as she giggled and ran out the door. I smiled and chased after her until a thought occurred to me that she was probably a part of my delusion. Right before I reached Annabelle, James appeared and pulled out a blood sickle a pulled his arm above his head.

  I lunged forward to push James back and stop him from killing Annabelle; I fell right through him. His head snapped back, and he screamed. “You cannot touch what is not real!” My eyes were locked onto the sickle as James sunk it into Annabelle’s chest with an echoing thunk. Her blood squirted into the air and doused the walls.