Update 6: Running out of films :(

Hi everyone, this weeks update features the first of a duo of stories from my trip to Australia. This first story is about the first time I saw my family walking through the door of our hotel it was a pretty cool experience. Anyway read, enjoy and keep following me, I do this because people read them.

Daisy Chains and Old Fords

Daisy Chains and Old Fords

I am the heavy weight contender, before the title fight. I am every school boy and girl waiting to open that results envelope. The klaxons are sounding and I’m just waiting for the bombs to fall. Sitting on that sofa, wringing my hands, a nervous chill ripples through me. The silence is deafening me.

Buzz! Just like that colour erupts into the world, flashing vibrancy into my eyes. Earplugs fall from my ears and I realise the sound has always been there, just in the background and now it comes louder and happier. The bombs drop, the envelope is torn open and the bell for the 1st round has rung. IT was as strange feeling, my mind raced faster than ever. Sweat tickled my spine, me eyes ached with the pressure in my being. The were so many stories to tell. So many faces to memorise again. What will they think of me? Do I look ok? Will they be proud of me? Will they think I’m failing? Will they love me?

Though my mind raced with a tsunami of questions, my body moved as if it we slowly turning to stone. My arms we leaden, my legs we immersed in concrete. Every step became exhausting. Every breath shallower and shallower. The panic threatened to over come me. However my love and the thought of seeing them again out weighed the judgement they might enforce upon me. My love for them forced blood through my body cracking the stone. My love was so strong I felt it pulse in my finger tips. I focused all of my attention on that insignificant white door. A door that was present in its hundreds all over this building. But this one was special this door, with its matt steel handle, and the lock that never worked held behind it my reason for living. My family.

Each step took an eternity, my eyes pierced the wood of the door, they burned a hole through it. Finally I placed the inferno that was my hand upon the handle of that insignificant door. I felt the sweat condense on the cool steel. This was it. All the planning, talking, it would all come together or fall apart.

I pressed eagerly on the handle, the workings of the lock clicked and the resistance fell away. The door slowly sung open.

The brightness of the luminously lit hallways dazzled me. It was like gazing upon the gates of heaven from the darkness below. As the pure light faded into a delicate hue. I saw them. The emerged from the ether. The first sound I heard was the laugh of old friends reacquainted. The first thing I saw was the warm smiles of reunited family. In that second that I observed them without them seeing me. I knew I gazed upon life in its happiest and purest form. I saw the face of genuine love.

Then I saw him, amongst the faces of old and new, I saw him. He was so different from when I last saw him. Physically he hadn’t changes. But his form seemed larger and stronger. I saw him carry weight in his shoulders now. I saw wisdom and the wear of the world in his face, but he still had that impish glint in his eyes. His hands looked like Dad’s. Then I realised something. Last time I had left, I left a misguided youth who needed his big brother. Now striding towards me was a man, who didn’t.

As we locked in an embrace that was three years overdue. I felt the windows rattle, the foundations of the building buckle as these two stars reignited each others colossal flames from one another, and roared into life for another lifetime. The others blurred, slowed and faded into the background. We released each other and I felt the colour return to my face, I felt myself stand taller and the fire in my soul pour into to world. Arms around each other we returned to the room, which now echoed with happiness, playful teasing and sweetest of all, laughter. I moved between them all sharing hugs that should have been shared long ago, heard stories that made me laugh, and we all drank until we were merry.

I saw in each and everyone of them the same thing. Something that only today that could have given them. Something that unabashed love of family could have bestowed upon them, it was light. Every word spoken, said “I’m listening to you”. Every drink drunk said “I happy in your company”. Every touch said “Let me share the weight you carry”. Every smiling face said “I love you”.

The klaxons faded. The results were read. The fight was over, and it all came together. 

Written by,
                  Daniel Elmer

Update 5: A Dream Child!?

Hi everyone,
I am now back from Australia, it was a fantastic experience. I love the country, its so vast and well sandy :). The weather was great and I now know what a shark warning sounds like (next time I'll actually get out of the water).
Missed my family too much and seeing them again was great, my brother is now a 21 year old man, pretty freaky considering I still remember when he was 5 and I used to lock him in the wardrobe! Anyway this next story is kind of an experiment. I wanted to take something mediocre like the walk home after a night out and blow it up to the grandest proportions. I hope it came off well. I had fun writing it and this is based on a walk home with my mate through Windsor after a night of debauched boozing. In the future I want to start writing a small series. It's going to feature the characters from No Love Lost in a journey through civil war. I have drafted the first already and I hope to have it done in the next few weeks. Anyway enjoy this one and I'll see you next week.

Odyssey Hyperbole

Odyssey Hyperbole


We exploded out of the strobe-lit cavern, into the fresh air. We stumbled to find our equilibrium we locked arms around each other in cheer. Aaron temporarily glanced back to the mouth of sin, from which we had emerged. He saw the doors creak as the shut and the smoke dissipate into the world. I sighed deeply as I knew the night was over, the music had long been silenced and the faces we met that night evaporated from memory. But we still had the best part of the evening to look forward to. The long walk through heaven.

I inhaled deeply, the noxious fumes of the evening that had clung to my soul were being slowly dissolved by the pure air that cleansed us both. With hazy vision we began to wander down the path to our salvation. The sole sound was the soles of our trim dress shoes clicking off of the cobbled walkway. It was as if the armies of the world marched in toe with us.

The stones on which we walked had been worn to a shimmer by the shoes of the many pilgrims who had walked this path before us. Gazing out down the seemingly endless road ahead, the thousands of stones shone out in the night. It was as if we walked upon the Milky way, taking billions of miles with each foot fall. The lights that hung above our heads lit up the way like searing Suns. Each one bathing us in its amber embrace until one of its brothers took over and guided us a few more steps.

The cool wind of the early morning caressed our faces. I felt her delicate fingers run through my hair and I felt her lips touch every part of my face. The wind put her hand down the opening of my shirt and blew out all of the sweaty bile from the night into the abyss that surrounded us. I felt reborn, I had once again died in that place only to be bore to the world anew, with no worries that the curse of adulthood brought. My only concern was to enjoy the walk.

Aaron looked around, allowing his blurred vision to pierce the pitch vacuum of space. His vision intermingled with colours like a mighty nebula. He could make out the figures of the old ones in the distance. Beings, Titans that had been in this place long before us, and would remain long after we, as dust were carried away by the wind herself. Each giant warranted more marvel than the last. As we stumbled arm in arm, under the powerful countenance of each giant, we Aaron took stock of their greatness. One Titan held in his hands nothing but water and in the other a stone. With these tools he was able to provide endless information on any subject. We passed the mighty black horse shortly after. Legend had it that if you were to capture the horse, he would provide you with endless wealth, which would appear to bleed from the walls. The final colossus that Aaron saw before his vision was too impaired, was the strongest of all. A lone female star, who if you provided her with beans would bestow upon the world a limitless supply of energy. We kept our heads low and hushed our voices out of respect for the slumbering colossi.

As we blissfully marched on, the stars began to become sparse and the Universe faded from our feet. We approached our destination in quiet humility, the milky way faded, the wind left my breast and the Suns above were replaced by the chalky hew of the morning blue sky. The journey was nearing its end. Many had set out on the same journey but we were the last survivors, we would be permitted to leave this place. The walls of  the place echoed with the lamentation of the many who came before us, and had failed. But even their cries were hushed, when two of the strongest marched up defiantly, shaking off heavy chains that had bound us to Windsor that night. Proud we shook the very earth with our stride, fire erupted from our bellies and strength resounded in our being.

Suddenly from the shadows lurched a figure. His back was bent, his hands and face twitched spasmodically. He seemed to not know where he was. The charcoal holes of his eyes, met with the chipped ice of ours. Purpose seemed to shoot through his body. His crippled body jerkily almost ran towards us. As he approached us we could see that he was one of the unfortunate souls lost. Doomed to wander this place until the salvation of day came. There was nothing we could do for this bent and broken figure, he pathetically meandered closer. Until we could see his blood shot eyes and the wild confusion in his face.

We stood facing each other, ready for our final test. We would not be denied our passage by anyone. Croakily he raised his head and muttered something to us.
Aaron and I set our faces like stone, the adrenaline roared through our minds. Hearts pumping hard, our veins pumped blood and fury throughout our being. If he sought to halt our leaving, we were ready to fight. I glanced around at the surround vista of dawn. This place would not be standing once we erupted. The stars themselves would shatter like glass under the power of our blows. The morning sky would be torn in half, exposing the very workings of existence. The ground would collapse under the weight of our fury.
We leaned closer as he attempted to speak again.

“You got a spare fag, mate”.


Written by
               Daniel Elmer

Update 4: A New Hope

Well the time has come for me to abandon you all to go to Oz. I have left you with a story I wrote a while ago. It's pretty personal as those of you who know will be able to work out. I'm kind of happy the way it turned out. I want to revisit it at some point when I get back in order to flesh out the varying senses. I think I get the feeling across but I don't punt it home. I'll have a look when I get back. Anyway keep reading I'll be working on more material over the holiday so watch out. I'm gonna try some different things, with settings and motifs. Again comments and emails are always appreciated. Love you all.

Celestial Waltz

Celestial Waltz


The dinner was turning out to be a rather bleak affair. We were all dressed in our best clothes. Trousers pressed, shirts crisp and clean. It was a grand meal of the ceremonial vegetarian dishes. No meat was served as this was a time to celebrate life, no death could be present at the table.
I looked around the cold, vacuous room at my Mother and Brother, both looked despondent. My little Brother maneuvered a piece of unidentifiable greenery around his plate. My mother simply sat eating slowly and methodically, almost as if she were on automatic pilot. I knew we were all fighting back a renewed grief. It was supposed to be a time of celebration but all we could think about was the person we lost all those years ago. Every holiday the grief shot through us. This was the worst holiday of all. My palms were sweating already, I was so nervous. I fought to choke down the tears that desperately fought to be released. I knew that if I broke, if the new man of the house broke everyone would break. I couldn’t , I couldn’t be soft anymore, especially today.

“Mum, do you want anymore…Mum please don’t cry” .
I cupped her tiny hand in my own to comfort her. She sat there shaking, she was too strong to weep but tears crept down her face. My face grew hot, my jaw clenched.
I looked over to my brother, who had never been the same after we lost him. He never cried he wanted to be strong like him and I, but I wasn’t strong.
“Jack, you OK?”
“Yeah, Mum it’s OK, I miss him too”
My brother moved round the table through the empty, cold atmosphere of the room. He stopped at my Mother’s side. We both embraced her. We knew how hard today would be for her.
“You know we don’t have to do this if you don’t want to”.
She dabbed the tears with the corner of her napkin.
“Yes son, we do, I’ll be fine. Thanks boys, now go and finish your-”.
The antique clock on the small mantle piece began it’s dirge-like chime. We all stared at the clock as it chimed through the silence. It was time to go. My Mother rose to her feet, placing her napkin down neatly, she crossed her knife and fork on the plate.
“OK boys we need to go now. Don’t be afraid, we will all feel better once it’s over.”
My brother gazed at his feet.
“Dan, what if…what if he’s not happy”
“I know I’m worried too, I’m sure he will be happy though. Come on lets all go out together.”

*   *   *   *

We stood in the face of the front door, Jack and I clasped my mother’s hand. We stood for a second to ready ourselves. Then all together we opened the door and stepped out onto the street.
Already we could see other families out on the street ready to observe the miracle that was soon to occur. The crisp night was still and silent. The street lights were already all switched off. The village was covered in shadow. I looked at the droves of people who stood outside with us. There was every kind of person, young, old,  families large and small. I was overcome by how, so many people could make absolutely no noise.

We all stood outside for what seemed to be an eternity, waiting.
“Mum, there are clouds. How will we know when it starts.”
“Jack, they will find a way to make themselves known to us. They have come all the way from heaven to see us again, clouds wont stop them’.
I looked up imagining what their journey from the spiritual plane must be like.
I smiled I was feeling better now.

Everyone felt the change. The air seemed to become static, slightly humid. Every pair of eyes were turned skyward. We knew it was about to begin, I felt the tears well into my eyes again and my hand started to shake. I felt my Brothers, hot little hand grip mine, he squeezed as I heard him begin to quietly cry.

The thick grey clouds overhead began to quiver and move in a spiral , it looked as if the hand of God were stirring them. The centre of the vortex seemed to swell, a low rumble echoed across the face of the Earth. Then a brilliant light pierced the cold darkness. There were some gasps from people. The pillar of light broke the shield of darkness like a mighty spear. A gouge in the cloud, miles across was formed and we stood directly underneath it. As the light began to fade people began to point and I could feel the sense of excitement build and build.

Through the chasm slowly dropped what looked like specks of purest light. They danced amongst themselves, it was like watching a celestial waltz. The dots twinkled and swirled like a school of fish as the descended to the Earth. There were billions of souls .
I was amazed at the very sight, I realised how lucky we were. Once in a half century the souls of those past as allowed to revisited their mortal coil and those left behind. Though I was afraid I would not see him in the plethora of shining lights.

My brother looked at me.
“I can see him”.
“Where?”
“He’s the brightest one of all, look”.
Jack pointed his finger at the centre of the vortex  of light. I smiled as I saw him. His light was indeed the brightest of all. As they approached the Earth individual lights split off and floated towards those they loved. I saw our light begin to move towards us. As he approached us, we all hugged each other in a tight circle.
“Mum..” I could finish my sentence.
“Don’t worry let him come to you”. My Mother’s face became bright as the light grew closer.

It floated over head for a second. Then it washed over us. My family was no longer with me. I was surrounded by light, my very core was warm and filled with love. I felt the presence of him with me. I threw my arms out in embrace. I felt him hug me. My soul was uplifted  all the worry disappeared all my grief was eased.
“I miss you, I hated the world for taking you away from me. I don’t want to be a man yet, I miss being a son.”
He whispered into my ear, something just for me.
“OK, I promise.”
As I finished speaking the light faded  but the warmth remained .I was back in the street with my Mother and Brother. Both of them had tears streaming down their faces. They had seen him as well.
I let the tears run down my cheeks, I smiled with a quivering lip.
“Mum, Dad’s OK isn’t he?”
My mother wiped the tears from my cheek.
“Yes son, he’s fine and he loves us all very much.” .

Upload 3: Men and a Baby

Hello, again everyone,
Just wanted to say a big thanks for the feedback I have been getting. I'm really starting to enjoy this writing lark Now this weeks upload was actually supposed to be last weeks, however as The Journey was a work of spontaneity I wanted you to read that one first. No Love Lost is inspired by my love of war-sci-fi novels. Most of you know I read alot of Warhammer 40k and Abnett always managed to construct great battle scenes. This was my attempt at a small one. I think it went well, I wish I could have created a greater sense pressure, but I hope this is still good. Next week I have a pretty personal story to put up, which I actually wrote just before this upload. It's about my Dad and and his death. Nothing graphic or OTT, just wish the story would come true. But that's for next week. Please enjoy this little slice of mayhem and comment or FB me with what you think.  

No Love Lost

No Love Lost.

It was hard to hear anything over the constant background noise of animal calls and the creaking of wood that echoed from the surrounding rain forest. The apes bellowed out in disjointed song. A low roll of rustling foliage was constant and unbroken. But the high pitched warble of the brightly colour birds was by far the most annoying.

  Private Venoan sat on the floor of the courtyard of Monolith station 1A, he was amongst about a hundred other guardsmen, all dressed in the same olive drab fatigues and armoured flak jackets; though the majority had shed the heavy vests due to the sweltering tropical heat that made the forest look as if it were underwater.

  Venoan was slumped against one of the many sand barricades that his unit had set up in the prelim to this defensive operation. The coarse fibre of the sack itched the back of his head, but it was too hot to care. He glanced around at his comrades. Some played cards in the shade of the mighty power manufactorum that loomed overhead, others gambled, some lucky few were even able to catch some sleep in what nooks they could find. Venoan whiled away the time in the same manner as every other operation he had been a part off. He liked to take his war knife and use it as a razor. He found something therapeutic in the feel of the blade against his stubble-ridden cheek. He found it more relaxing than any number of ember sticks or boisterous games.
Cool sweat trickled down his neck and into the opening in the jacket he still wore. He was always cautious. The simple case of leaving his helmet and jacket on and choosing to rest by a fortified barricade had saved him from a snipers bullet or initial firing volley more than once. Others had not been so lucky.

  Just as Venoan felt his eyes closing, a fellow trooper stood looming over him.
“Fancy one?” said Novargus holding out a lit ember stick, the sweet smell of the fumes caught in Venoan’s nose.
“Nah man, It’s too bleedin’ hot” replied Venoan, groaning as he stood to chat.
Novargus and Venoan had been initiates in the army together back at the scholarum of planetary defence. Since graduating senior officers had seen the bond between the two and had therefore kept them in the same unit and rotation. They were never apart.
Novargus stood a towering man, Venoan looked at his massive frame and then at the 200 metre tall tower and chuckled at the comparison. It was probably the only thing bigger in this forest than Novargus.
“Suit yerself, pussy.” Novargus raised his gargantuan mitt of a hand and placed the ember stick in his mouth, taking a deep drag that saw about a quarter of the stick turn to ash.
“Why do we keep getting this shitty detail?” Novargus exhaled rich smoke over the top of Venoan’s head.
Novargus and Venoan began strolling through the melee of troopers, as usual Varg set the pace.
“Come on man, every other PM has been bombed or assaulted by these Enviro Terrorists, this is the only one left and it’s be biggest one.”
Varg waved one of his massive paws out to the surrounding area.
“Shit man, even if they could attack this place, there’s too much forestry to get any vehicles through and its so hot a march through the forest would take days and most would die of the heat.”.

  It was true, we had to be air dropped in, the forest rolled out for miles in every direction and was so tightly compacted getting lost would be a cinch, then it was only a matter of time.
“To be honest, even if the tree huggers attacked us, we’re so dug in the fight would only last for a few minutes before their side resembled a well tossed salad.” Varg chuckled at his little joke.
Venoan, realised his buddy was right. PM 1A was the primary sight for nutrient extraction from the planet’s crust. It produced the greatest amount of energy and the largest profit of any station like it. No wonder the council had placed an entire battalion here at all times.

*   *   *   *

  The day drifted on slowly, the Sun beat down on the mob of weary men. Venoan, after engaging in a few hands of poker, in which he lost 75 credits to Griff, had moved to a shady spot where he whiled away the rest of the time. He had planned to recalibrate the dot on his scope but the heat and lack of entertainment had made him lazy.
Novargus seemed to be feeling the heat as well as Venoan watched him slowly trudge towards him, accompanied by Sciondar.
“That punk take you for a ride then?” Sciondar was a lean man, with a bald head, which was adorned with various tattoos that ran down his left temple. Few knew that Sciondar used to run with a viscous gang in the outer domes of Saint’s Square, in fact aside from Varg, Veonaon didn’t think his unsavoury past was known by anyone.
“Yeah, 75 credits.” Venoan said coolly.
“Man you know Griff cheats, we should get your money back” Vargus turned his thick neck towards Griff, who had lured in some other chump from the 2nd Grenadiers.
Sciondar flicked out his jack knife, which wasn’t the standard issue combat knife. When asked why he carried the arguably inferior blade. Sciondar always said it reminded him of his past and how he had to carry that as well.
“Come on Varg sit yer big ass down, the heat is makin’ us all jittery.”
“Sci’s right, not worth it, besides it killed some time, which in this hell was worth it.”
  Venoan ran a hand through his dark hair. As he drew his hand back, his hand was soaked with sweat. He flicked the moisture onto the floor and watched it dry on the searing concrete.
“So Ven, what’s with the ring?” Sci pointed his knife at the silver band that adorned Ven’s finger.
“Oh shit man, did you propose to her?” Varg looked more awake now than he had all day.
“Yeah, last leave, I took her to the Great Minos river. Moonlight, candle-lit dinner, band, you know the works. Then I got down and popped the question.” Venoan caressed the precious ring and grinned as he remembered the look of happiness on her face.
“Christ, well I guess I owe you 50 credits, I never thought you’d have the balls.” Varg playfully shoved Ven, but not knowing his own strength he nearly rolled Ven right over.
Sci was oddly quiet.
“What’s up with you.” Ven said as he righted himself.
“Isn’t your woman the sympathiser.”
“Sci, Firstly my woman’s name is Juno, and second she’s not in league with those tree huggers, she just sees their point.”
Varg looked at Sci with a degree of distain, he had known Juno the same amount of time as Ven.
“She seems pretty legit to me Sci, You don’t know her like we do.”
“Man, she only goes on protests and thing like that, sure some of her mates, are a little off the deep end, but not her.”
“Fine Ven, I was only saying my gut tells me otherwise, jus’ hope you know what you’re doing, she could still pass on info to those prats.”

  The trio sat in silence for a little while as the time passed. The conversation and the heat had made the men edgy.
“I’m gonna do the rounds.” Ven rose wearily to his feet, his equipment seemed to weigh twice the amount it had when he started the day.
“Yeah we should get back to our positions, I’ve seen the CO checking.”
The three men, went their separate ways.
As Ven meandered his way back to his shady spot by the barricade. Sci’s words played on him.
Ven had always been careful with sensitive information. Ven never even told Juno where he was being deployed to, right? He remembered over the vid-phone that morning, before he deployed. It was the first conversation they had had since the engagement, but Ven thought it was pretty usual. All the lovey dovey stuff they usually said to each other. The discussed his getting back home to tell Juno’s parents and…Christ! He had said he wasn’t looking forward to goin to PM 1A because it was so hot.
It was only mentioned in passing , Juno didn’t even seem interested when he spoke about his job, it had cause a lot of arguments in the past. Due to Ven and Juno’s political alignment being totally different.
 
  Ven ran back through conversations over the previous days, in amongst all the day to day stuff they spoke about he had mentioned PM 1A, the day and duration of deployment and through talking about Varg and Sci he had mentioned the relative strength of the deployment.
Ven wasn’t worried about what Juno would do with this information, She barely listened and loved him too much to ever endanger him. Ven was concerned with what his CO might do to him if he found out he had unwittingly leaked information.
“Fucking Sci.”. Ven muttered as he got back to his spot.
Ven found the place grew silent, the fatigue of the day had quietened the men, and the forest around seemed eerily silent. There were no more animal cries, no whooping, howling not even bird song could be heard. The place seemed suspended in time.
Chink! Something impacted the barricade behind him.
“What the fuck?” Ven peeked over the top of the bags and saw a small metallic dart with a pulsing red beacon sticking out of the sand bag.
“Fuck. Tracer!” Ven leapt from his position, as he did so a rocket roared out of the forest, guided by the tracer dart. Shit! Ven ran as fast as his tired legs could carry him. The rocket slammed into the barricade, obliterating it in an explosion of smoke and fire. Ven was thrown into the air.

*   *   *   *

  The ringing in his ears began to fade. Smoke stung his watering eyes. As Ven regained consciousness his face was covered in particles of debris. The heat from the smouldering blockade stung his face. Ven rose slowly looking around.  The entire scene had become one of chaos .Men scrambled to pick up their weapon and don their armour. Most were cut down by the heavy automatic fire that erupted from the surrounding area. CO’s screamed, trying to get the melee of men into some sort of formation. Small groups of men had managed to organise themselves and were launching a counter attack, but they couldn’t see through the abundant plant life. Ven rose looking sluggishly around as ash from multiple rocket fires burned all around.
“Ven! Get you’re head down!” Sci bundled Ven behind supply crates.
“Shit what’s everyone doing! Here take this.” Sci handed Ven a stubber shotgun.
Men around him fired what weapons they had managed to recover, most of the men were half dressed, their upper body naked. Many paid for that as a focused barrage raked their position. Ven saw three men go down. Two of their chest’s exploded from heavy rounds. The other lost an arm below the elbow and rolled around screaming for a medic.
Ven and Sci began to spray the tree line with round after round. Not knowing if the had actually hit anything.
“Fuck! We’re too exposed, Sci we need to find a way to flush them out.”
“How’s this?” Varg strode up as rounds whizzed past his meaty frame. In his hands her held a napalm thrower.
“That’s it! Sci, Varg needs to get close to burn the bastards, tell everyone to lay a base of fire we need to protect him.”
Sci relayed the order through his radio. There was a temporary hush, as everyone re-aimed. Then all hell broke loose. The fire focused on the area of forest that Varg made his way towards was shredded, wood splintered and trees exploded under the unrelenting fire. Varg was caught by a glancing round to the ribs. He faltered slightly but again moved into position. He stopped.

  Varg released the safety and the muzzle of his thrower sparked into life. The pressure gauge needle darted up. Varg pulled the trigger and jetted forth a tide of flaming napalm. The tree line erupted in huge flames. The screams of men could be heard from within as the environment they used to attack became their graves. Ash and ember swirled around as Varg emptied his tanks on the enemy. People began to run out of the forest of liquid fire, and we were ready for them. Those who had survived the initial volley, had our spirits lifted by the sight of this titanic man single handedly turning the tide of the battle. Every person that escaped the forest was met with a hail of bullets from our own guns. Be burned alive or be shot, that was their only choice.

  Suddenly Varg yelled. A round had hit him square in the knee, shattering his patella, his leg was useless. He fell to one knee still trying to keep his weapon raised. Another round tore through Varg’s neck jetting blood. He refused to go down. Holding one hand on his weapon the other clamped around his neck he defiantly survived. He was too far ahead of the men to be retrieved. Everyone watched him, willing him to stand and retreat to safety. Ven knew he couldn’t. Ven watched as a final volley spattered against Vargs armoured chest, breaching the armour. His hand fell away from his neck and blood spilled out over his left side. His finger spasmodically released the trigger. The flames of Novargus ceased. He collapsed back and Ven watched as the life began to leave the giant’s eyes.
“Varg! Shit! Sci! We have to get Varg he’s hurt!”.
Sci held Ven back with one hand.
“Don’t do it Ven! You go out there they’ll put holes in you. Avenge Varg by killing these bastards!”.
Ven choked back his tears, him and Varg had been through it all together. He couldn’t imagine life without that giant casting his shadow over him.

*   *   *   *

  Their assailants began to rush out of the forest and take up positions about a hundred metres away. They had regrouped and recovered. 
“Fuck. They’ve turned this battle into a meat grinder.”.
Ven saw that Sci was right, with both teams so close the fire fight would intensify and the casualties were going to shoot up. Ven saw that the attackers were wearing some kind of full body suit.
“Sci! Are those Hydro suits?”.
Sci peeked over his parapet.
“I think you’re right they look like ’em.” Sci said dropping his head back into cover as a hail of rounds peppered the place his exposed head used to be.
Christ! It made sense now. They had been in the forest for days, using the hydro suit each person would be able to stay cool and recycle excreted water, they would have been able to sit there and watch as Ven’s battalion became ever tired and fatigued. This was how they could beat the numbers. But all of this required a lot of specific timing and knowing exactly how many people were to be deployed.

  “Cover!” Sci ducked his head low as a rocket shot past missing the barricade by mere inches.
Sci and Ven looked at each other laughing.
“That was fucking close V…” The second rocket punished the cover they were behind, launching them all into the air. Ven landed with a severe slam. The wind was knocked out of him. He tried to get up but his head was swimming. He saw Sci had landed next to him and was face down in the debris.  Various mangled bodies littered the area. The barricade reduced to a smouldering stump.
“Sci…Sci, get up” Ven’s voice was nothing more than a choking whisper.
He reached a bloody hand out to Sci and pulled his body turning it towards his face.
“Sci..” Sci had lost half of his face to the rocket and the seared gore of the remaining cavity turned Ven’s stomach.
“Shit..” Ven rolled Sci’s lifeless body away. Ven looked around for survivors, there seemed to be none. Ven realised his vision was blurred and dim. He had lost his right eye in the explosion. Ven now knew all was lost he could hear the footsteps of the enemy marching towards his. Odd shots echoed throughout the sizzling battlefield, they were executing survivors.
Ven thought of his beloved Juno, her smiling face, her good nature and her eyes. Ven couldn’t tell if he was crying or not. He thought of the proposal, the love and life they were supposed to share. He thought of her full red lips, her steel blue eyes and her shocking blonde hair. He despaired at the fact he would never see her again.
The footsteps stopped next to him. He turned his head up to see his murderer.
“Ju…” A lone shot rang out and Ven was dead.
The trooper holstered her pistol and turned to see the destruction of the tower. She strode forward, with full red lips and steel blue eyes.


Written by Daniel Elmer

Upload 2: Upload Harder

First of all thanks for all the comments from friends and family regarding my first attempt at writing. Now reading The Enlightenment back for the first time, I can see how my style has developed and I have been able to spot the mistakes. Now The Journey was one of those Kubla Khan moments of spontaneous writing. I had just finished this weeks post, when after listening to much sad music (and yes Celine Dion was there briefly :$) I began to write this piece of work. It took me about 20 minutes to finish and I think and hope it shows a certain diversity with my writing style. Those of you who know me would be familiar with my love of Sci-fi novels and particularly the Warhammer series, and next weeks post will show that. However for now here is something a little different, but I hope you like. I certainly enjoyed writing it.

The Journey

The Journey

Rain peppered the wind screen of the car. It had been pouring all day. I drove through the empty motorway, the only noise was the monotone hum of the engine and the roar of the rain outside my metal cocoon. It was 4am and I was the only thing on the road. My headlights illuminated the black scene. The world was dead. Trees wilted under the unrelenting downpour. The gleaming surface of the road was uniform and uninspiring. At 4am in the rain and darkness, all beauty is lost.
It had been hours, the car was stuffy, full of stale air. My back ached and my legs were tired. I felt my eyes growing heavier by the mile. My skin felt warm and fuzzy.
It seemed as though I was in purgatory, driving on and on with no hope of ever stopping or seeing anyone. It was the most alone I had felt in my entire life.

I slowed down as I approached a vast metal sign slick with rain. My lights glared off of the surface making it hard to read. I knew this was the place I had to be. I crawled along a few more yards looking for a place to put the car. As I turned the engine off I at back and a cigarette, one last  repose before my journey. I inhaled the smoke deeply. Allowing the acrid smoke to fill my tired lungs. I could only see the lone ember of the cigarette in the world of black. It was for now, my best friend. The smoke flowed out from my nose and mouth filling the inside of the car with its foul stench. I thought of all the events that had brought me to this vile place at this time. I knew it was all about to change. I missed the way it used to be so much. I would have it back again, I had to.

I cracked the window and a torrent of rain clawed to get in. I flicked the dimming cigarette out into the abyss. I checked my watch in the night, it was time. I heaved open the door and climbed out of the vehicle. The rain roared at my entrance into its domain. I was now truly part of the darkness. The rain shot through my jacket quickly, soaking my very core. The heavy droplets splashed my face. I felt them wash the bile and taint from my soul. I smiled.

Drawing up the collar of the jacket I ran towards the long line florescent lights in the distance. As I jogged forth I could see the goal of my journey. The salve for my lonely sorrow.

She stood alone in the light, sheltered by the concrete monster that towered above. Her figure, though wrapped in a long coat looked beautiful, her face flawless, her nose touched red by the cold. She stood arms folded gazing out into the darkness. She saw me. Her hands dropped and she ran out of the light into the rain. Her thick long hair bounced as the rain hit it. Her gleaming green eyes seemed to glow and push the night away from us. My heart skipped and leapt into my throat. It was all I could do not to crumble to my knees weeping.

We ran for each other, in the middle of the darkness our bodies embraced. Her body’s touch instantly revived my dead soul. Her hair smelt sweet and her skin smooth as ivory. In the middle of the black tarmac, alone and away from the eyes of the world. We kissed our first kiss in years. Our wet lips met and the shell of sadness that had encased me all this time was blasted away. My hands cupped her delicate cheeks as we kissed. Her fingers were drawn through my soaking hair. My spine tingled at her touch. Every feeling in the world was numbed, every memory was shattered. All life before this moment ceased. All that remained was love. I moved my hands in the warmth of her back. Under her coat her skin was soft and warm. I felt her inhale deeply, She tasted sweet, and cool. It was like the first time we kissed, my heart pounded I could feels her’s doing the same through my chest. Our lips finally broke and I stared into those deep pools of emerald green. Her full lips smiled at me and she caressed my cheek. I couldn’t help smiling back. We touched foreheads and both closed our eyes just listening to the sound of each others existence. I felt whole again. Her hands rested on my chest. We gazed into each other’s eyes again and shared one more kiss.

The Sun began to emerge from the clouds as we walked back to the car and left the airport.
She put her lips close to my ear and whispered “I missed you.”.

Written by Daniel Elmer

The Enlglightenment

For the sake of chronology, I have posted the very first thing I ever wrote and completed. It's got some style errors etc, but hopefully you can appreciate the picture as a whole. This is my car wreck, pleasing and intriguing from a distance just don't get too close otherwise you'll smell burning rubber and misplaced commas.

The Enlglightenment

  The Enlightenment

 

  The biting cold pierced my scrawny frame. The muscles in my back and legs tightened, the hairs on the back of my neck stood frozen. The cold steel of the bastard sword mounted on my back pressed against the yak hide of my tunic, chilling my spine. My boots were sodden with the early morning dew coupled with the shin high powdered snow. Crowding the vast expanse of woodland that lay around me, mighty fur trees stood 20 feet tall, looming, watching us frozen by the violent blizzards that had occurred the previous evening, The storm had wrenched nearly all plant life from the very earth, the hardier floral life of the wood, small shrubs and patches of tiger eye flowers stood motionless and looked as if they were encased in frosted glass. Only the sounds of our feet broke the silence that crushed the area. A low mist of snow was still visible all around in the distance, reducing visibility to about 30 feet, I had never been in a more open area and felt more claustrophobic  The blizzard had been so harsh that we could only see a blur of white all around, it was impossible get any perspective of distance. Any normal traveller would have quickly become disorientated and to get lost in these woods, even at the end of winter meant certain death, if not from the cold then from one of the many predatory animals, who being raised in this hell have become hardier than any man armed with a sword or axe.

   I was only fifteen and definitely would have died many times over this morning had it not been for the looming figure that strode powerfully ahead of me, his broad shoulders and back shielded me from the worst of the wind sheer, the snow was harmlessly kicked into the air with every mighty step he took. My father was indeed worthy of the title of Battle Master in my clan, the other men tell me of his many victories in battle. My favourite was how he had saved the Battle Master of an opposing clan from his treacherous Battle Brother, a man called Lars and in saving his life had earned the title he now wears. Of course there were nay sayers and rumours of greed and perversion spread to sully my fathers name but I never believed a word of it, he was my father and one day I too would earn the mantle he wore, and going through this rite of passage today would bring me one step closer. For one, I would earn my manhood and would have slain a creature of such evil that I would be the talk of the clan for some time. Most boys my age are taken out to the woods by their fathers to hunt the mighty trihorn or the giant snow vyper, but my father had found me something that not even the grown men of my village have seen let alone killed.

   Since finding out what my father had in store for me during my trial, I have been practicing my swordsmanship and not stopped until I showed an aptitude akin to that of my piers. I felt ready. Now that the day had come though, I had never felt weaker, the very weather was on the brink of bringing me to my knees. My sword felt as if it weighed a ton and my muscles were so frozen I could barely expand my sternum to take in air. But the sight my father; inexhaustible and relentless in the face of this harsh scene thawed the blood in my veins and spurred me on. I focused my sights on the mighty buster sword inlayed with runes and a spine of pearl through the middle of the blade, a lethal weapon bestowed to the mightiest warriors of our clan. Watching it set in the middle of my fathers back bobbing lightly from left to right with the movement of my fathers gait, it seemed to be waving me on filling me with confidence.

   “You are the strongest boy of your age in the whole clan, you are ready for this. Remember you are my son, despite your youth the blood of a thousand warriors screams through your body. When you enter the den of this vile beast you do not fight alone, your ancestors stand with you. Your sword shall fall with the force of a falling star. Your enemy will know when it sees you that it does not face one boy, if faces a hundred baying lions, and it shall know fear for the first time.”
  As my father spoke these words I could not see his face as he didn’t turn around to address me, it was as if the great heathen Gods spoke to me.

  “Father you have trained me to be emotionless, lethal and most importantly smart, I will not fail you, I will be Battle master one day”. My throat choked with a lump as I spoke the final words of the sentence.
  
  “You will make me proud boy”. My eyes welled and the tears of pride froze to my cheeks, but I no longer felt the cold. My muscles shook the ice from their surfaces, my hands felt as if I held hot coals in my palms. My sword felt light, I finally felt awake.

   The journey had been long, walking slowly for hours through seemingly identical scenery battling the final remnants of the storm. The snow covered our path behind making it impossible to tell how far we had come. For hours we had walked in total silence, now that my father spoke to me I knew we were getting close. Before I could reply to my father he stopped suddenly crouching placing one hand on the fabric wound handle of his mighty blade. I mimicked my father’s behaviour, dropping a couple of feet back so my father could draw his sword rapidly without having to worry about decapitating me.
 
 “What is it father” I spoke in a low whisper, so as not to give any assailant an unnecessary advantage.
  
“Its been stalking us for a few hours now, it’s been waiting for us to succumb to the cold. I was hoping that it would have lost interest but it must be starving if its risking attacking us especially since it is most definitely alone.”.
  
How could I have had no idea that something was out there, I was now truly grateful for my father’s presence. I strained my ears against the background noise of my breathing and the snow falling from the tops of the trees. I pricked my head up suddenly on full alert, I heard a low growl, but the damned sorcery of the place made it impossible to tell the origin of the noise. I had to think, I knew these forests, I knew every animal, I should know what it is by sound alone. Even if the scenery made it impossible to know where it was; I could gauge what we were begin stalked by.  The noise came again, a cold sweat tickled my spine, my blood ran cold, I knew what it was.

*   *   *   *
   It was the terror of this region, the Gaunt. It was a beast that existed more in the lore of the region rather than in any corporeal form. Very few people lived through an encounter with this animal. It’s ferocity was  legendary. It was said that it once tore its way through one of our neighbouring villages and every weapon was left mounted or sheathed, it had killed everyone before they had a chance to draw arms. It was supposed to be about two and half metres tall, long slender limbs that ended with long clawed hands and feet, rows upon rows of bone crunching teeth adorned its wide smiling jaw. The worst thing was the Gaunts eyes more than a quarter of its head was filled with two great steel blue orbs. The fact that the eyes were so big gave it a huge peripheral vision , meaning it was nearly impossible to catch the Gaunt off guard and it was suicide to attack one from the front, so you see our dilemma.

   “Damn it all”. My father’s quiet frustration was barely audible.
I was about to respond to my father when I too felt the cause of his angst. A low murmur was rolling in all around, the wind was picking up. The snow from the trees began to fall and new snow was blown through the narrow foot path in the woods creating a blinding wind tunnel of white. Now with the Gaunts pristine white coat and this blasted localized blizzard it would be impossible to see or hear the Gaunt. He had every advantage. From the lore surrounding the Gaunt and its attacks I knew we were as good as eaten.
  
  I looked to my father for guidance or solace in our final moments, but he had vanished. The damned snow was kicking up so fast that I could not see my father who I was sure was only a few feet in front of me, or was it behind me, I had no idea, I had lost all bearings. 

   “Father…”. I could not be heard over the howl of the storm.
“Father!” I cried, squinting my eyes to try and see some form in the distance but there  was only white. Had my father taken flight in the opening seconds of the storm, no he would sooner die himself than leave me for the Gaunt’s claws…Unless he assumed I would have enough wits to use the storm as cover and run myself. Blast! I was so panicked I had passed up the only opportunity in the blizzard before it became disadvantageous. Now the Gaunt had had time to adjust it would now not locate by sight but by its uncanny sense of smell. To the Underland with it! I still had a chance it might not have located me yet the cold would hamper its nose hopefully enough. I decided to make my escape. I raised myself from my knees, took a hopefully educated guess as to what direction my father had been in and set one foot forward. No sooner had I planted my boot into the freshly lain snow, than I heard a tremendous bark over the wind, My muscles froze, my eyes widened in panic allowing the harsh wind to rakes it icy nails across my eyes making them water. I was so overcome by panic that I never thought to even attempt to raise my blade against it. I just stood there, waiting for the slashing claws and the teeth that bite.

   Without warning the Gaunt lunged through the barrier of snow, it was my first up close encounter with this monster of legend, though it was for a split second it was every bit as terrifying as the stories had made out. Its eyes wide with fury and starvation, its long slime slathered tongue shone, wagging to one side of its razor filled mouth. Its slender muscle-knotted torso and arms glowed with the brilliant white of its coat making it hard to gauge how broad or tall the beast was. All I could see for definite was the long pronged claws at the end of its fingers, each one as terrible and long as a machete.

   As if in slow motion the great beast lunged at me with an unrelenting rage in its cold eyes, my mind screamed, Move!! But my legs stood frozen by the cold and terror, even my voice was stuck fast in my throat. As I caught the pungent breath and could practically feel the Gaunt’s bulging eyes devouring me, a flash of steel shot inches past my face and embedded into the Gaunt’s neck. As the image solidified I saw my fathers mighty blade driven into the twisted neck of the monster. My father’s powerful arms wrenched the sword to on side and the crack of the Gaunt’s spine and tendons snapping echoed throughout the forest. As I stood up my father pulled his blade free and gobs of gore followed. The pristine white of the snow became tarnished with the flowing blood of the now dead animal, the fury still bubbling in it’s eyes. I stumbled over to my father still in shock at my near death experience. He looked at me with a look of almost contempt as he wiped the entrails off of his sword with a handful of snow. The storm ebbed and ceased into a silent tranquillity. 

*   *   *   *

  “You couldn’t even raise your sword-”
Instinctively I grasped the quilted hilt of my blade with my left hand.
“If you could not even raise your sword in the face of this fiend, I wonder if you are in fact ready to undertake this challenge” My father turned away from me and began to continue walking, leaving the corpse of the gaunt freezing in the wind.
I followed him pleading, “I am ready! I have the strength of my whole family behind me, and you father you give me courage. I know I can do it”.
“Fool! If I hadn’t been here today you would have been butchered by this place, but make no mistake, you will face the Succubus alone, she has the power to crush skulls with her bare hands and the sorcery and wiles to obliterate a man’s mind and soul.”
I tensed at the thought of facing such a voracious abomination.
“You hesitate even for a breath, if you doubt your purpose or hers, she has won, she will tear you from gob to gizzard.”
  I will not fail, I will not bring shame to my family name. I will excel like my father.
“Remember this is the beast that once killed your mother and stole you away from me when you were an infant. I might have been able to save you son but I was too late for my sweet  Allyshar…”
Though I would not see but the back of my fathers head I knew he was choking on his tears, I don’t fully remember what happened that day, I remember the darkness of that cold wet grotto. My father assures me what I am about to say is just the juvenile mind warping memories, but I swear I was not afraid in that place it was almost as if I were happy. I expect it was part of the Succubus’ hex to ensure my mother and I didn’t struggle.
“..Are you listening boy?’  My father called back half cocking his head in my direction.
“Sorry father I am just remembering that day, that warped creature stole my mother and I from our village and that crething thing ate my own mother and sought to devour me…I will kill it.” I stared intensely at the back of my father’s head, he knew I was serious but made no reply. We continued to walk in silence.

  Now I walked with a sense of purpose, each lofty step I took defied the very snow which tried to hold me at bay, My sword weighed as much as paper. My muscles hurtled me forwards, my breath like fire melted away the cold. The rage in my belly and the mettle in my soul smouldered out into the world, rushed past the trees, over the landscape encompassing everything . I strode tall, headlong into the black abyss of the cowardly evil before me and I ventured forward …now at my fathers side.

  After hours of walking, finally the trees were dying. We looked ahead and the trees though every tree was without leaves, only the ones ahead looked rotten and gnarled. The Succubus’ sorcery spreads to the very Earth herself . We knew we were very close. The temperature cant have dropped but as we intermingled with the lifeless world before us, I swear the atmosphere itself was dead. Nothing could be heard for miles around even our voices seemed to just drop out of our mouths, with no wind to carry them. My internal fire however could not be extinguished. No matter the landscape my flame poured from every part of my being this desolate place would be burned up in my fury.

  We trekked about a mile until the snow stopped falling and our feet fell on black, hard earth. My father turned back quizzically.
“Hmm, the snow is still falling.”
I turned my head back as well. The snow was indeed falling furiously only a few hundred metres behind us. Why was it not falling here.
As if by telepathy my father answered.
 “We are close to her now, her mysticism even repels mother nature.”.
The lack of mother Earth’s power made the cave mouth ahead seem all the more insurmountable. My father and I approached the deep dark gob of the place. There was no need to keep our guard up now as was necessary in the forest, nothing natural would venture this close to the beast’s domain it’s unholy magic repelled all form of life. All was baron.

*   *    *   *

  I gazed into the mouth of the cave, the crushing black of the entrance seemed to press down on everything around it, I felt as if I were carrying a dozen black mammoth hides on my shoulders. It wasn’t just looking into the cave that raised goose bumps I swore that the cave was looking back at me, with its one obsidian eye, I felt the tension go from my knees, the strength from my arms. Looking at my father even his mighty frame seemed to be struggling as I saw a lone bead of sweat trickle down past the throbbing vein in his temple. Truly we were looking into the mouth of  hell. My father pulled me to the immediate left of the mouth, out of it’s gaze. Taking his huge bastard sword off of his back and resting it tip-first in the chalky earth, he squatted bringing his deep set eyes parallel to mine. He stared at me a moment, eyes piercing straight through my eyes into my mind, into my soul.

“My son, this is your trial, are you ready?”. His stare growing more intense, looking for any hint of weakness he might not have purged from me.
“Yeah…I’m (ahem)” I straightened my back and met his gaze “I am ready, this thing ruined our lives it will  die.”.
My father settled back onto his haunches and relaxed his gaze.
“Ok…now I’ll offer you the last of my advice, this is all I can do to help you. When you enter the cave don’t be fooled, nothing you see is real it’s all a spell to confuse you, to make you doubt your purpose. There will be a long passage that you must pass, don’t worry it’s a direct route you cannot get lost, but at the end of the tunnel there is a sharp slope. Be careful not to fall as the end of it will drop you right into the Succubus’ lair.” My father rose stretching the back of his legs and turning his head heavenward.
“I’m sorry I cannot tell you what to expect when you get in there no one has ever seen it, even when I rescued you I found you in the tunnel itself.”.

  I rubbed my forehead until I every detail of my fathers recount of the layout was drilled into my mind, I needed every advantage I could get. I felt the bile rise to the back of my throat begging to be purged, but I swore I would not dishonour my father by showing weakness at the apex of my trial. I stood and inhaled deeply washing the acid away with the icy, dead air. Turning my head back down the way he had come, to the snowy hinterlands of my home. The snow now delicately falling after the whiteout, the trees standing majestically tall. The sheer beauty of the tranquil scene frosted my resolve, a light wind caressed my worn face. I swore I would emerge from my trial to feel that breeze again. My fathers hand fell onto my shoulder, his eyes absorbed the scenery as mine were. It must have only been a few seconds but it felt as if we stood there for hours in this happy purgatory, as we truly stood between heaven and the mouth of hell.

*   *   *   *

  I moved slowly through the black maw of the cavern, I glanced back at my fathers ever decreasing image and I felt my courage dissipate proportionally. The cave walls were a damp obsidian that seemed to suck the light from the entrance. I could barely see my hand in front of my face. I desperately wished I had had the foresight to pack a torch. I felt the monsters eyes in every crevasse of the wall. Every step I took I imagined her smacking her lips with that terrible tongue as her meal wandered ever closer.

The slimy floor of the passage way was long and about five feet across. Good, I had enough room to draw my blade freely if that bitch snuck up on me. I exhibited text book knowledge of my fathers training; always keep off centre to the main route, keeping your sword hand facing the middle of the route. Before entering  I covered the hide on my back in the soil outside in order to mask my scent. I also coated my sword blade in a layer of wet mud to dull the glimmer of the blade in the light. I skulked along the wall of the passage, darting my eyes in all directions, just in case.  I stopped, my eyes explored what seemed to be the end of the long tunnel. A dim, majestic blue light shone down the tunnel at me. This was it. I crept forward the padded fur of my boots masking the noise of  my footfalls. I slowly drew my dulled blade, ready to cut this monster asunder.

  Approaching the room I moved very slowly, allowing my eyes to adjust to the new level of light. Though the light was not harsh it seemed to wash over me and almost sooth me, I felt the frantic panic that had been welling up in me begin to fade. I entered the room. The chamber was large and cylindrical, I noticed a large pool of water in the centre of the room. My eyes were however dazzled by something else in the room, in the centre of the room suspended above the shimmering pool was a giant formation of crystals. They were luminous with every colour imaginable. The light danced all over the walls of the chamber, as I looked down even my hands and body rippled with beautiful colour. With my sword braced ahead of me in my village’s traditional combat stance, I circled the pool of water mesmerized by the majesty of the place. She must be here there was no other route in or out of the chamber, she must be watching me right now. My mind turned back to the Gaunt and my father. I kept replaying the event of the attack in my head, why hadn’t my father answered me? He must have been able to see me, he was close enough to strike a killing blow to the Gaunt. I kept thinking I had had a role in that victory…as bait.

This place truly was wonderful, the warm water bobbed delightfully, the light glided over the deep black walls. My sword was heavy and all the hype and panic before hand seemed painfully funny and pointless. I felt so at home here, I felt more belonging here than I ever had in that village. All those people with their bestial faces, their evil sly smirks. I hated them all. I had never belonged there I was always treated like a second class citizen. Even this trial was a crething joke. Why should I have to prove my own worth as a man? I have worked, I have lain with a woman and on occasion defied my father. So by every marker of society I was a man. Who are these fools to ask for proof in blood?

I sat down at the poolside and threw my sword to one side. I discarded my boots and dipped my feet into the pool, making playful ripples in the water. A song  crept into my mind, it seemed to flow up from the pool off the walls of the brilliant crystal and into my head. I began to hum a light melody, I smiled a wide grin as I saw my reflection in many colours on the surface of the crystal. As the light reflected off of the wall, still humming I noticed there was a variety of images on the wall. I strained my eyes, still humming. All over the walls, everywhere, where children’s toys. Rocking horses, balls of every size, action figures and many more. They had all fallen into disuse, cracks and ware adorned their once colourful forms. Humming, my hand brushed against something. I looked down and at my right side and there was a small wooden sword. I was sure it wasn’t there when I first sat down. Turning the fragile termite bitten blade in my hand I felt a certain connection with it. As it had once been wielded by my own hand. I looked around the glowing room, I felt as if this place were my true home. I gazed back down at the toy, the lovely melody still echoing around me as I sang.

Suddenly my Father’s words rang into my mind..

“Don’t be fooled, nothing you  see is real it’s all a spell to confuse you, to make you doubt your purpose.”.
Creth! Since I first stumbled into this room that whore had put her hex on me. She had made me doubt my entire life, even made me hate my own father, but not now. My father had drilled me well, his words broke the spell over me. I shot a look back down into my hands. Creth the sword definitely was not there when I sat down. She had put it there. She had been close enough to tear my head off and all did to prevent it was hum a damned tune, which I was still humming. 

 I kept on humming, if she was nearby I didn’t want to give the game away yet. Fondling the wooden blade I rose, my back drenched in sweat and my head swam with suppressed panic. I casually strolled over to where I had discarded my sacred sword. My eyes were transfixed on that sword, if I could just get close enough…now! I threw the toy aside and rolled swiping my blade as I did, I rose in a low guard stance. I had stopped humming the tune, but it kept on singing throughout the crystal room. It was her! Knowing now she was there and had been singing with me the whole time I almost collapsed from the terror. I tried to control my breathing and get a fix on her location as I had done with the Gaunt’s growl. The crething crystal seemed to bounce the sound off of every surface, if I didn’t know better I would have swore the room was filled with singing monsters.  Finally my rage and fear boiled over.
“Where are you!”.
As my frantic shout echoed throughout the room, the song ceased, drifting off like a lullaby the final note hanging in the air like magic for a few seconds.
The water rippled once.
Silently a form emerged from the pool of water, a woman. She was tall and slender in the dark of the room. For a moment I was captivated by her beauty, but not with lust more with, love. Drips exploring her curves and meanders found their way to the floor with a light, plip. The figure moved towards me elegantly.
The song trailed off.
“I used to sing that to you .”.
“I’m so happy you have come back.”. She chimed. Her voice washed over me like a summer breeze.
“What do you mean”. My voice was dull as if the words had been pulled out of my lungs.
“When you were stolen from me I thought you lost my love. Look how big and strong you have become.”.
Don’t listed! My Father’s words screeched into my mind.
The figure glided into the light of the cave, her body was covered with scales of a golden glint. A whip like tail swayed playfully at her back. Her face though, he face was truly beautiful, warm almost kind. Creth! Even her appearance was meant to delude. I raised my sword into a medium guard stance. Wait until she makes her move, search for an opening.
She moved ever closer.
Her body swaying majestically, her feet didn’t make a sound as she passed over the slick stone floor. Approaching me I noticed something, she was slow, her stance was faulty. It was as if she wasn’t going to fight.
Smiling almost in a whisper she uttered “come to me.”.
Suddenly she lunged at me arms outstretched. The adrenaline must have been surging my brain into action as she seemed so slow and her arms were set almost to embrace not to eviscerate.
Her long slender fingers almost touching me a leapt to the side spinning , keeping my stance wide I brought my blade down with a grunt. My blade sung as it became coated in the blood of the witch. Her hand flew against the wall with a dull thud and fell harmlessly to the floor pooling in its fluid.
The woman let out a blood curdling screech.
Clutching her bloody stump she turned to me with tears in her eyes.
“Why…”
  Sobbing she hobbled towards me. As I looked at the pathetic figure coming towards me again, I was consumed with the worst feeling I had ever experienced. My temples throbbed with heat, Tears streamed down my face. This must be the demons magic at it’s worst.
Before this witchery could over come me completely I dove forward plunging my blade into her sternum. We both toppled over she was on top of me. My hands still clutching my blade fiercely. Blood trickled from her mouth and spattered on my cheek. As the life gradually faded from her sparkling eyes, our gazes met. Her face suddenly lost the ashen pallor of death and became warm and kind.
“I love you *cough* my son.”.
The life left her body and she became grey, her frail figure slumped onto my chest, I could feel her heart stop beating through my clothes. My mind swam. The feeling grew even stronger, I realized all too late that it was shame.
  I rolled to the side and gently allowed the woman to settle on the wet ground. I stood and stumbled back, my eyes fixed on her body. My body erupted in sweat, my hands clammy, shook uncontrollably and tears washed the blood spatter from my cheeks. My mind raced, it was as if a truth was pushing its way to the front of my brain.
  Had my father used me as bait, was the feeling I experienced upon entering this room been magic or familiarity. Had the sword really been mine? I cradled my head in my hands as all the things that woman had said to me flashed into my head.
‘Happy you’ve come back…stolen from me…sing that to you…big you’ve grown.’.
I couldn’t be, I timidly walked towards the corpse that had my sword sticking out of its mid section. A warm smile adorned the face of the woman, the scales had lost their shimmer. Her eyes dully stared at the ceiling. I squatted closer gazing into those dead eyes. I jumped to my feet recoiling in fear.
“The same colour as mine!”.
No! this woman had been my mother. And I had plunged a filthy piece of metal into her killing her. She died in such agony, at the hands of her own son.
  I stood there paralysed with nausea, I wanted to slip the end of my blade through my neck and join my mother, but at the pinnacle of my despair my mind turned to my father. He had lied to me, tricked me into killing her, but why. I didn’t know but I sure as creth would find out.
  I rose and moved to retrieve my blade, rage boiling through my veins. I was so focused on my father, the man I had once revered over all others had betrayed me, I never heard someone approach me from behind.

*   *   *   *

  I felt the air driven from my lungs. I clutched the cramp in my stomach. A sharp pain hit the palm of my hand. I looked down at a rune adorned steel tip. The sword had been driven through my back and emerged out my front covered in my gleaming blood.
“Thank you boy, she might look harmless enough but her magic slaughtered everyone who came last time, but I managed to get away with you whilst they died. Now join the whore.”.
The blade was driven forward, I heard my ribs crunch with the pressure. My vision blurred and blood shot out of my mouth onto my Mother’s body. I heard a grunt and the blade was roughly and painfully withdrawn. I tumbled to the ground. My blood ran cold and the pain faded into a dizzying high. I turned my head to my assailant. Through tears I saw the powerful figure of my father standing over me. He casually cleaned my blood off of the tip of his blade.
“Ok boys get in here, the bitch and her spawn are dead. Get that crystal down, we’re all about to become very, very wealthy men.”.
I wanted to yell in rage at the shattered image of my father that stood over me, all I could manage was a gurgle as my lungs filled with blood.
“Little shit still breathing huh? You cost me 14 good years. Pretending to care, but now it will all be worth it…time to die…son.”.
The last thing I saw after my Father drove his foot into my wound, was him casually with his foot, rolling my mother into the pool of water as strange men moved mining equipment into position. 


Written by Daniel Elmer