Michael and Kathy got out of the car, still staring at the empty spot that used to house the town of Cloven Hills. Kathy clung to Michael tightly as if to reassure her that he would not disappear unexpectedly too. Michael voiced what Kathy wanted to say so badly.
"How? How did-" Michael asked to no one in particular. He faltered. How could a good-sized town just vanish into thin air in a matter of a few hours? Michael was very sure they had reached Cloven Hills. They passed the welcome sign and Jeff's Corner Stop. Jeff. Maybe he was still around. Michael grabbed the still stunned Kathy and pulled her towards the store.
They crashed through the door with Michael yelling, "Jeff! Jeffery! The town, it's-" Michael paused, drinking in the condition of the store.
While the outside had looked more or less alright, but the inside was a far cry from the outside's appearance. The shelves were all smashed to bits, products spilled all over the floor. Tins, cartons and glass bottles were all crumpled, trodden upon or plain destroyed. The few notices and pictures were ripped or missing pieces. The counter where Jeff and his customers always hung around to chat or barter had disintegrated to piles of wood fillings and splinters. The cash register lay on its side, metal structure all bent out of shape.
The worst aspect of the store was the body.
Well, it was not really a body. Like the store, the body looked as if it had been thrown into the meat grinder, taken out by someone and to piece it together but threw it all away in resignation. Revoltingly, the head was intact. Michael gagged.
It was Jeff. His cold face was in disbelief, as if he could not believe who his killer was. At least, that's what Michael thought. Jeff's eyes were missing. The head sat on a large pool of blood and gore. Scraps of skin and sinew were strewn about it, creating a macabre wreath. Michael heard puking. Kathy must have lost her cool. He took a tentative step forwards and was rewarded by a sickly squish. Michael lifted his shoe and saw he had stepped on one of Jeff's missing eyeballs. Now he joined his future wife in puking.
When they both regained their composure, Kathy gripped Michael and whispered, "It's horrible, j-just horrible." Michael held her hand to reassure her. " He shakily said, "We'll ring the police. Even if they don't believe us about Cloven Hills they should know about this, this scene." He waved at Jeff's body. Kathy nodded fearfully. Hands holding each other, the two stumbled out of Jeff's Corner Stop.
To be met by a figure standing right behind them. Kathy gave a small scream and stepped back. The figure was clad in a long tattered cloak with a hood that obscured his or her face. Their eyes were visible. They were a dark, glowing black which managed to be seen. The hood turned to face Kathy's direction. A voice that was neither male or female emanated from the darkness of the hood. It muttered, "Sleep."
Kathy crumpled in Michael's arms. Michael screamed at the figure, "What did you do to her! Did you kill Jeff? The town? I'm bringing you to the police!" Before the young man could go any further, the figure mumbled, "She is not needed. You shall come with me. Michael felt an unseen force suddenly propel him up. And up. And up. The figure rose with him. Michael screamed Kathy's name as her limp figure laid sprawled on the ground.
Just as Michael was about to lose sight of his childhood friend and fiance, Kathy's head exploded in a shower of blood and brains.
Michael screamed himself raw. He tried to struggle, to reach out to the cloaked figure and kill them. He strained further, fingers just brushing the tattered ends of the cloak. A blast rocked him back and he blacked out.
Wednesday 8 May 2013
Tuesday 7 May 2013
Gone
"Now, wasn't that dinner great?"
"Oh Mike, you sure know how to give a girl a great time."
Michael smiled as Kathy leaned over and gave him a kiss on the cheek. The two were returning home after a dinner date which had been put off for far too long due to their busy schedules. Everything went off without a hitch as Michael planned. The violinist, flowers and steak were all expertly handled by his friend at the restaurant. Michael made a mental note to buy Fernando a drink the next time they went out for drinks.
It was getting dark, and Michael was starting to worry. They should have been able to see the houses of the suburb they lived in fifteen minutes ago. He was sure they were not lost, yet the absence of the houses or even Jeff's Corner Stop which should be the first building to come in sight was troubling. Kathy asked, "Mike, are we lost? I know it must be tiring, but-" Michael cut her off, "I know, I know. Tired, that's all. Don't worry hon we'll be home soon." He turned a left. He was very sure he was not lost.
"Mike, look. The sign." pointed out Kathy. Michael looked to where his fiance was pointing and nodded. The ever-present sign which said: You Are Entering Cloven Hills. Their home. Michael always had to amuse himself that there were no hills anywhere in or near the town they live in. It was a clean and nice town with friendly folk. Kathy had approved when they were picking out a home. They would be happy there.
The car had just passed Jeff's Corner Stop when Michael saw a sight so shocking he slammed on the brakes. Luckily Kathy and he had their seat-belts on or they would be thrown forwards. Nonetheless, Kathy yelped in pain at the sudden jerk where the seat-belt pressed into her. Kathy blew her hair off her face and asked Michael angrily, "Michael! What are you doing?!" Michael shushed her and whispered, "The town..." Kathy looked to the horizon where the peaceful town of Cloven Hills stands. Kathy gasped as she registered what Michael saw.
Where the town was supposed to be, was barren land.
"Oh Mike, you sure know how to give a girl a great time."
Michael smiled as Kathy leaned over and gave him a kiss on the cheek. The two were returning home after a dinner date which had been put off for far too long due to their busy schedules. Everything went off without a hitch as Michael planned. The violinist, flowers and steak were all expertly handled by his friend at the restaurant. Michael made a mental note to buy Fernando a drink the next time they went out for drinks.
It was getting dark, and Michael was starting to worry. They should have been able to see the houses of the suburb they lived in fifteen minutes ago. He was sure they were not lost, yet the absence of the houses or even Jeff's Corner Stop which should be the first building to come in sight was troubling. Kathy asked, "Mike, are we lost? I know it must be tiring, but-" Michael cut her off, "I know, I know. Tired, that's all. Don't worry hon we'll be home soon." He turned a left. He was very sure he was not lost.
"Mike, look. The sign." pointed out Kathy. Michael looked to where his fiance was pointing and nodded. The ever-present sign which said: You Are Entering Cloven Hills. Their home. Michael always had to amuse himself that there were no hills anywhere in or near the town they live in. It was a clean and nice town with friendly folk. Kathy had approved when they were picking out a home. They would be happy there.
The car had just passed Jeff's Corner Stop when Michael saw a sight so shocking he slammed on the brakes. Luckily Kathy and he had their seat-belts on or they would be thrown forwards. Nonetheless, Kathy yelped in pain at the sudden jerk where the seat-belt pressed into her. Kathy blew her hair off her face and asked Michael angrily, "Michael! What are you doing?!" Michael shushed her and whispered, "The town..." Kathy looked to the horizon where the peaceful town of Cloven Hills stands. Kathy gasped as she registered what Michael saw.
Where the town was supposed to be, was barren land.
Monday 6 May 2013
Late-Night Visit
Michael was dead tired. He was eager to get home after a long day's work. The boss had them all pull night shifts for three days in a row, and Michael could hardly spend time with Kathy. At least Kathy had to work late today too and had just reached their small home.
Michael had just caught sight of the lights of the suburbs he and Kathy lives in when the engine of his car started to splutter.
"What in the world?" exclaimed Michael as his car trundled to a stop. The engine gave one final cough and died. Michael glanced at the gas gauge. It was empty. Cursing, Michael got out and checked the trunk. Where a spare can of gas should be, it was empty. Michael scratched his head in annoyance. He was sure he put a spare can into the trunk a few days ago. Ah well, at least the dumb car died on me in close to the corner store. Michael thought as he shouldered his bag and made his way towards Jeff's Corner Stop.
Jeff had his lights on. Good, it meant he was still up. Jeff opened and closed his store based on the times he woke and slept. A dozy man with love for beer and business to buy his beer, Jeff was well known among the neighbours. He should have some gas. Jeff sold anything that comes his way, almost all of them useful. Michael hoped he did.
The bell jingled as Michael pushed the door open. Jeff was nowhere to be seen. His 'office' light was not on either.
"Jeff! You here!" called Michael. It did not take long for him to get an answer. Michael heard cursing and a crash. From his 'office', Jeff stumbled out. He looked more haggard than usual. For some reason, Jeff was wearing a clean shirt and trousers. He still held a beer in his hand, but the clothes suggested he was a working man like Michael, not the boozy, grumpy yet well-mannered man who owned the store.
Jeff grumbled, "Look, Mike. We know each other for a while now. We're mates. But for God's sake did ya have to interrupt me? I'm busy." Michael chuckled and said, "Busy with what? A game? At this hour? C'mon man, I just need some gas to get home." Jeff gave him a look and sighed. He stalked down his narrow aisles and retrieved two cans of gas and plopped them on the counter.
Jeff watched as Michael pulled away from his corner store. He turned off the lights in his store and locked the entrance. No more interruptions. He went into his office and did the same, locking it. The figure on his chair asked, "Is he gone?" Jeff nodded, sweat breaking out on his back again. The figure continued with a satisfied tone, "Good. Only one more night of preparation, Jeffery and all your desires will disappear. Be patient." Jeff knelt in front of the figure and murmured thanks.
Michael had just caught sight of the lights of the suburbs he and Kathy lives in when the engine of his car started to splutter.
"What in the world?" exclaimed Michael as his car trundled to a stop. The engine gave one final cough and died. Michael glanced at the gas gauge. It was empty. Cursing, Michael got out and checked the trunk. Where a spare can of gas should be, it was empty. Michael scratched his head in annoyance. He was sure he put a spare can into the trunk a few days ago. Ah well, at least the dumb car died on me in close to the corner store. Michael thought as he shouldered his bag and made his way towards Jeff's Corner Stop.
Jeff had his lights on. Good, it meant he was still up. Jeff opened and closed his store based on the times he woke and slept. A dozy man with love for beer and business to buy his beer, Jeff was well known among the neighbours. He should have some gas. Jeff sold anything that comes his way, almost all of them useful. Michael hoped he did.
The bell jingled as Michael pushed the door open. Jeff was nowhere to be seen. His 'office' light was not on either.
"Jeff! You here!" called Michael. It did not take long for him to get an answer. Michael heard cursing and a crash. From his 'office', Jeff stumbled out. He looked more haggard than usual. For some reason, Jeff was wearing a clean shirt and trousers. He still held a beer in his hand, but the clothes suggested he was a working man like Michael, not the boozy, grumpy yet well-mannered man who owned the store.
Jeff grumbled, "Look, Mike. We know each other for a while now. We're mates. But for God's sake did ya have to interrupt me? I'm busy." Michael chuckled and said, "Busy with what? A game? At this hour? C'mon man, I just need some gas to get home." Jeff gave him a look and sighed. He stalked down his narrow aisles and retrieved two cans of gas and plopped them on the counter.
Jeff watched as Michael pulled away from his corner store. He turned off the lights in his store and locked the entrance. No more interruptions. He went into his office and did the same, locking it. The figure on his chair asked, "Is he gone?" Jeff nodded, sweat breaking out on his back again. The figure continued with a satisfied tone, "Good. Only one more night of preparation, Jeffery and all your desires will disappear. Be patient." Jeff knelt in front of the figure and murmured thanks.
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