School Number Three

School Number Three – Timon Tan

“It was time for the introduction. We were all gathered in the gym hall. The parents, the teachers, the first graders through to the last graders, even people whom we did not know, prospective parents who were to send their kids to this very school the next year forward, wanting to find out more about us, how we do things, and how we gained a name.”

“We, the last graders sat in the first few rows of the hall. The first graders were just behind us, than the other grades, and the parents…a few of us were to give speeches to the crowd, talking about our experiences within the school, what we hoped to achieve and what we had planned, as last graders for the school year ahead.”

“The principal came up first. He talked about many things, though I wasn’t listening. I was too busy worrying. I was to be up next, the first last grader to give her speech among the two selected. I counted down the seconds to which I was to be up there, being signaled by the applause of the audience and than the host coming up, announcing my name.”

“The audience let out a wave of claps as I shakily got up from my spot, my peers cheering me on. I resented that, as it just placed more pressure on my shoulders not to let them down. I had not been out front in such a situation before, not with thousands of people watching my every move. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Alina, pointing at me, telling her new friends in excitement that the person out there was her older sister, my father, silently at the back of the crowd, cheering me with his mere sight. Sighing in reluctance, I stepped up onto the podium, and turned to face the massive crowd of people that nearly overwhelmed me with its shear sights…I began.”

“’Thank you. I’d like to first thank Ms Claud, whom unfortunately could not make it here today, for giving the opportunity to speak to you all. As a last grader, this is to be my last year studying here, and I wish to make the best chance of it. Not just to get into a good university and a good grade, but so as to be able to treasure the warm memories of this school and its radiance love that we as a school possess without the bitterness of regret and disappointment.’”

“’But that’s not my main reason. I do have a special reason for wanting to try my best this year. You see, amongst the crowd today is Alina, my sister whom I love and treasure with my heart. She will be studying at this school from tomorrow, and as her older sister, one whom she looks upon to, I do not want to let her down, but be a shining example to which she can work up to and be proud of. Thank you.’”

“The crowd applauded as loud as they could, drumming into my ears the sharp beat that would eventually drive me deaf on day. But still, amongst them, even more comparable than my father, was the claps of Alina the loudest, whom I knew really loved my speech the best of all. I sincerely smiled at her as she beamed back the same to me, really glad to be each others sister.”

“I took a seat back with my peers. There were pats on my back, encouraging, congratulating, maybe even envying. I could not help but smile secretly while burying my head in my arms. It looked like I was embarrassed. Well, I was, yet I was not, enjoying the added attention.”

“Marat slipped next to be, his fingers on my forehead raising it to meet his face. He saw the smile that I had not yet free from my face and instinctively knew why. He laughed at the irony of my feelings and I laughed with him as well, wanting yet not wanting, resenting yet enjoying, wanting to be modest, yet wanting to be pompous.”

“Our laughter stopped when the next student speaker came to the podium, and it was none other than Marat himself…”

“Life seemed perfect I reckoned. It could not get any better. But that I know now…Naïve.”

School Number Two

School Number Two – Tan Timon

“It was the Day of Knowledge, the first day of school at School Number One and I really wanted to see my friends again. I had not seen them for a long time, because most of them went on holiday, but we, my family, did not.”

“I am a last grader. It is to be my last year in School Number One and I vowed to make it the best. I guess partly because…because…Alina was going to study in the same school as me, and as an elder sister, wanted to make her proud, and wanted to do well myself as well.”

“I wanted Mom to come with us to the celebration, I really wanted. I cried myself to sleep the night before when she called us from Moscow to tell us she could not attend, but yet now I realized, thank god, it was a blessing in disguise…now I’m glad she did not come…she would not have survive I guessed.”

“Father went with us to the celebrations that day. He was really beaming. I can still remember the anticipation in his face as he woke us up that morning and even though it was still dark outside and the lights were out, when his arms curled around me, and his kiss was planted on my cheek, I opened my eyes to see that smile on his face, a smile that was all contented and pleased with the children he had brought up.”

“I guess he should never have. I mean, he was a really good man who loved us so much that no one can compare. I would have treasured it if I knew, when we walked to school that day, holding each other’s hands, visioning the happiness that was to come from the day ahead. Me, being a senior student, Alina, her first day at school, that was what was in his mind I guess. All about his children.”

“Alina was very adorable too. I dressed her up that morning, being the best sister I could be, passing onto her the best pressed ironed clothes that I did that night before. I helped her did her hair, resulting in one even more silky and flowing then mine. She inherited my old uniform that I wore back when I was her age, in first grade, and though through with age, it possessed the power of my youth that shone onto her, making her, in my eyes, and my father’s, the most beautiful girl I had ever seen.”

“That morning held a clean cool breeze that came down from the north that swept clean the path that we walked. It was, I felt the most perfect autumn day yet, maybe too perfect…maybe a remission for the events that were to happen later that day…but either way, the most perfect morning yet. And like I said earlier, I would have treasured it if not for its painful memories…”

“The school was packed when we arrived. Cars adjoined each other alongside the pavement leading to the school, and whole families, moms, dads, brothers, sisters, even cousins and aunties and uncles…they were all there. The atmosphere was unforgettable…in our rural area everyone knew each other by name…I immediately recognized the first person I saw. It was Marat, one of my childhood friends that I’ve known since we were babies…we lived next to each other before he moved away six years ago to the other side of town.”

“We hugged each other in our arms. We were very close friends and quite intimate with one another even with the separation. He looked rather handsome when I saw him that morning, dressed his best and acting all joyous. Still, he was the same Marat I knew when I last saw him in August, at the end of term. After little hellos between him, my sister and father, he walked with us on the rest of the way to school.”

“We soon reached the school and my father went off to greet some of his friends. I immediately introduced Alina to some of my friends from the lower years that were waiting for us at the courtyard. Oleg, Mick, Boris, Santa, Irina, and they all liked her immediately, and she loved them too.”“I stood aside, letting them socialize, and as I looked upon Alina as she mixed around with the peers, the parents and some of her would be teachers, I cannot help but realized...how beautiful was she…but yet, not know, this was all to be easily shattered…”

School Number One

School Number One – Tan Timon

The girl sat quietly. Solemn, mournful, confused. She sat fearfully in her own home, as the thoughts of the siege haunted her day and night. The back rest in the chair did not concern her, nor did the food that lay next to her on the table. The comfort of her own home, the familiar comforter, the humming of the air conditioner, the presence of her favorite soft toy, the cup of water that she longed for nearly forty-eight hours ago, it all did not sooth her.

With a face of hopelessness, eyes of despair, her slouching figure, with a head that never lifted up and the indiscernible atmosphere of loss, did everyone in the room felt the cost done to the girl. It was untold of, indescribable as it was. No one knew what she felt, how she felt. They were not her. They were once her, but not her. Not her anymore that they may understand and know what she had been through.

“Diana. Do you wish to go to your room?” A woman said, kneeling at face level to the girl, with her arms on the girl’s shoulder, mournfully and understanding as she could be.

The girl, her daughter, whom she protected, whom she had mothered for, for fourteen years, she could no longer protect. She was scarred, scarred for life, a haunt that will never leave her for as much as eternity, because she was part of it, a victim of the incident, one that was threatened, assaulted, hurt, one whom seemed to be just a tool in a bigger picture, not as an individual, not one who was human, one whom had feelings.

“No. I’ll tell them my story.” She said in a whisper, “The world must know what we’ve been through.”

The mother nodded acknowledging. As much as her daughter been through, she too wanted the world to know, know how much suffering she had been put through, to bring justice to that who harmed not only her daughter, but many other children. Though what had been done, cannot be undone, what that can be done, will still be done. And it will be done.

“Sir. I’m ready,” said the girl.

The mother stepped back, allowing space between her and her daughter before retreating to the opposite side of the room, where she sat on a sofa, still in view and hearing of her daughter and the others, but enough to give them a little privacy.

From the corner of the room, stepped forward two people, a man and a woman. The girl took a look at the man, and cringed immediately. Images of the hooded men, those monsters that shouted at her, kicked her in the stomach, forced her to do things against her will, and that took away all her friends that she knew, it all came back to her. Her tears began to flow, the mere sight and memory…

“Diana. It’s all right. We’re not here to harm you. We just want to hear your story.” The woman said. She slowly dropped to her knees, in the same position as the mother was earlier, at face level to the girl. The girl lifted her head and looked at her. She recognized the same hurt, terror, fright, and fear in the woman’s face, like hers.

“I was there when it happened. I saw what you saw. I felt what you felt.” The woman said.

The girl remained silent. No one felt like she did. No one could.

“Take your time honey. You can end it anyway you like. We just want to help.” The woman said.

“It…it…it…” She stuttered, as horror came back to her mind again. She closed her eyes, draining all the tears. Than she opened it again, revealing an empty hollow.

“It was the Day of Knowledge, the first day of school at School Number One and…”

That’s The Way Life Goes Sometimes

*Disclaimers Notice: The following short story contains offensive language.

That’s The Way Life Goes Sometimes – Timon Tan

From the dark, voices spoke. Voices, shouts, screams, the shattering of objects, those sounds crept into Vicki’s room through the gap between the door and the floor. Outside, a man and a woman screamed at each other, the woman, pulling her hair as she walked past the man who was her husband. The man, sweating all over, with raised voice as he voiced his opinion to his wife. Their voices, tension filled with anger and hate.

“Fuck you Dave! You make me sick! SICK!” She screamed, pointing an accusation finger over at her husband, face raved with abhorrence.

“Fuck you too Kath! Why did we ever get married? Why didn’t I see this in you before? Why are you such a bitch!”

Back in the room, the noises began to awake little Vicki. Slowly, but surely, she rolled off her mattress and made her way to the door, rubbing her eyes wide from the sleep in her eyes.

“Kath…I hate you! I really do hate you!” Dave said, turning his back with his arms folded to Kath, refusing to face her.

“That’s it! I had it! I had it with you! I want a divorce!”

Creeping silently, she felt the door in the darkness. Gradually, she opened the door till there was a small gap, enough for her to listen clearly what was being discussed outside and to get a view of what was going on.

“Fine! I’m moving out of here!” Dave shouted, this time with fist clenched, slamming them onto the table top, the glass and wares jumping in motion with its intensity.

Vicki jumped at the sight, she saw clearly what her father did. She saw clearly the anger and hatred that was harbored in him. She had never saw him in such a way before…all she knew from him was love, not anger and hate. It did not look like him at all…it looked like a beast.

“Good! Get out of my sights! Get out!” Kath screamed like a mad woman! “You sleep on couch tonight!”

“No. I paid for this house. You sleep on the couch!” He said coldly.

“No. This is my house too. I paid for it!” Kath retorted!

Now tears began to fall from Vicki’s eyes. Even her mom had transformed into the same beast as dad, a beast of anger and hatred. It was her parents, the two people who loved her, adored her and sacrificed all their heart and soul for her, now, at each other’s necks.

“Oh yeah? Who made the decision? Who made it all possible?” He snapped immediately, almost at breaking point.

“Who bought the couch? Who paid for cushion? Who-.”

SLAP!

Kath fell to the floor, her palm pressed against cheek. She slowly took it away, looking through her palm to the floor, than through her husband at the wall.

“Dave…how could…” She whispered with disbelief, than ran off to the master room, slamming the door shut, bolting the lock.

All this little Vicki witnessed. She saw it all just as her dad slapped her mom in plain sight and cruelty. She was an innocent bystander, brought into the adult world of violence and selfishness. All this was too much for her to comprehend, never exposed to such vices, always shielded from such harm…but now…

“Fuck her! Fuck Kath! Fuck this! Fuck it all!” He shouted out loud, venting his anger through his words…words that was nothing less immoral. All these little Vicki heard. All these little Vicki disliked. Little Vicki slowly crept back from the door, her little heart aching as the devil of her father and mother threw its unseen burden onto her. It made her cry, it made her wrenched, it made her felt unloved, unsecured. She could not believe it was him…no it was not her father. It was not him! It could not be him!

Dave cursed and swore a few more words. No words could explain how he felt…hatred, anger, pain. Deep inside, his heart ached. It ached from all those feelings. It pierced him like a hundred knives, yet, even as a matured adult, did not know how to remove them, rather, it almost seemed that he did not want to…

He fell back onto the chair, thinking how did he get himself into such shit. With his hands on his head, he gave a frustrated growl. He wanted to cry, but could not…his heart hardened. He drew his eyes towards the master bed room where he could hear sobs from.

“Screw her!” He thought. His focus went from the left to the right, onto his daughter’s room, than he noticed the gap. In the darkness, he saw the reflection of the hall lights as two little dots as it moved further and further into the darkness.

“Oh my, Vicki!” He gasped in incredulity…


From the darkness voices spoke. Normal voices, goodbyes, the sounds of the moving of items…naturally, with those sounds, little Vicki awoke. For a moment, she did not know what was going on, than it came back to her as a searing pain. The fight, the divorce, the separation…all those painful memories, rising to surface again. She still remembered them clearly as if it happened yesterday. Than she recalled, today, tonight was the night her dad was moving out, flying off. She crept to the door again, this time non-hesitant to open it slowly.

“All packed. Have a good flight Dave.” Mom said impartially, hoping not to disclose any hint of regret or feeling.

“I will.” Dad said, his eyes drawing to little Vicki’s room for a moment, than saw Vicki at the door. He put up a smile. “Hey Vic.”

“Daddy…” She said quietly, than ran towards him, wrapping her arms around him.

“I don’t want you to go…” She begged him, tightening her grip on him, not wanting him to go.

“Honey, I know it’s been kind of bad for you these past few days, and I don’t want to make it worse…” He said.

“But Daddy-.”

“I know you don’t want this, but it has to be. Your mom and I just just… don’t get along like we used to…and I’m…I’m already packed.” He tried to explain as best he could, but yet not satisfying her.

“But Daddy, why do you have to leave?” She asked innocently, looking up at her dad, the figure that meant everything to her. She could not understand why…she was too young, too innocent, not yet exposed to the harsh realities of life.

“Well, honey, your mother and I can’t live together anymore.” He said.

All these while, Kath stood at the door of the master bed room. She quietly witnessed the conversation between Vicki and her husband. Oh how hard it was for Vicki! But there was no other choice….no other way…the violence had to end…all for Vicki’s sake!

“I know, but why do you have to leave town?” She asked.

“Oh…well,” He paused, looking at Kath for approval. This was almost impossible for him to explain! Kath stood still, not wanting to hear any more of it, but he had to explain why. “I got someone waiting for me in Melbourne.”

“But…but…will I ever see you again?” She wanted to see him…she did not want to live life without him…she wanted him…no, she needed him to live.

“Sure you will honey. We’ll work something out.” He said, hoping to sound positive, giving little light to his daughter though knowing the truth.

“But how? You are in Melbourne, I am in Sydney.” She questioned further.

“Maybe your mother will agree to you spending a week during the holiday.” He replied. You Liar! Already money strapped him moving out, why even consider sending Vicki to Melbourne?!

“Why not more?”

“I’d…I’d do not think your mom agree to more honey. It may not possible. We do not have money.”

“But, you can try, can’t you?” She said, filled with a certain uncertainty, knowing deep inside her that she would never see her father again.

“Yes honey. We can try. I have to go now. My plane leaves in twenty five minutes. Now, I’m going to bring the luggage out. Go to your room so you do not have to watch me. And no long goodbyes.” He said, attempting at a bit of humor, but to no avail, Vicki still not wanting to let go. How? How?

Slowly, he took her tiny palm in his hand, unwrapping them from him…to her, it felt like the signal that he was walking out…walking out of her life forever.

“Don’t forget to write.” She said, blinking softly when he did so, slowly stepping back, eyes turning watery.

“I won’t. Goodbye. Now go to your room.”

“Okay.” She said. Her father picked up his suitcase, reluctantly making his way to the door, than-


“Daddy! I don’t want you to go!” She cried. Running again to him, burying her head into his waist, crying profusely, letting none behind.

Dave looked back up at Kath once more, seeking advise. None came. His heart ached. His daughter did not want him to leave…she loved him so much, he loved her even more…oh god!

“I know honey, but…I have to.” His voice now revealing that he was shattering. He could no bear to leave her…he was everything to her! How could I! I failed her! Failed her as a father! FAILED!

“Why?!”

“You wouldn’t understand…” He whispered.

“I would! I would! I would!” She cried!

“No. You wouldn’t honey.”

“…I’d…I’d…” She paused, letting it settle in, stopping the tears for a moment. Dad kneeled down to her height, both of them looking into each other’s eyes. “Goodbye.”

“Goodbye.” He said, than gripped her for one last time! Hugging each other for dear life…

“Now… to your room.”

“All right…I’d…I’d guess that’s the way life goes sometimes.” She said in neglected crying, gulping down everything…getting a last glance at the figure, the figure of love, the person that loved her so much…so much that he had to leave…leave and walk out of her life so quickly.

He walked to the door with his luggage in hand, than standing in the doorway replied.

“Yeah. That’s just the way life…is.”


Than he left…he walked out of that door. From that day on…I never heard from him again…

Sorrows Furnace

Sorrows Furnace – Timon Tan

Kathy shivered. It was cold. Freezing, chilly, bitter. Her entire body was shivering, teeth chattering. She gripped the coat even tighter, curling into a tiny ball, maximizing body heat. It was something she just did, a natural instinct. She did not knew the science behind it, but just did.

“Cold…” She muttered involuntary through the clattering of her teeth. She gave no mind to her surroundings, just minding on the cold. The cold and keeping warmth was all that was on her mind…cold…cold…

“Here. Drink this. You need water.” A voice came off from across. She slowly peered out, a pour of water dripped onto her lips. Instead of savoring it, she coughed, spitting it out. Her mouth was dry, frozen…too dry, too dry to consume the water that dampen it, it would take a while.

She tried to speak, but her throat was hoarse. No sound came from it. She tried to reach out, desperate to communicate to whomever it was, the person who aided her with the live giving water. She stretched out her tiny hand out of the covers, immediately sensing the cold, than slowly retreat. But before she could completely retreat, a foreign hand reach out, touching her fingers. She flinched.

She just realized her fingers were numb, she had never had such feeling before and was thus shocked. She never had been so cold, to such intensity that she could not feel parts of her body. It was just all foreign to her…in her mind, there was no such idea to what it was yet. She did not know what to do, just except to retreat further into her cocoon…her eyes closed. She went placid again…too cold…cold…have to…have to…sleep…want to sleep…comfortable…nice…warm.

“No. Don’t sleep! Do not sleep! No!” The voiced shouted! Senseless…meaningless. It did not mean anything to her…besides, the noise was getting further away from her. From crystal clear to muffled, than to no noise at all…

Kathy reached out to her mom. Her tall figure towered over Kathy as she talked to the receptionist. She turned her head, looking at Kathy smiling, rubbing her head, than turned her attention back to the receptionist.

Kathy than gazed outside to the snow. It was cold in the mountains, she did not want to go out, rather preferred to stay indoor where it was warm. To her amazement, there were kids her age outdoors curling snow into their palm, flicking it at one another, building figures made of snow, just simply enjoy the cold rather than the warmth.

Her dad stood next to her mom, talking to the receptionist as well. He rummaged through his bag looking for something, than found it, his credit card. Than out of the blue, a scream!

“Avalanche!”

Kathy turned her head to where the voice came from. It came from outside, it was one of the kids. They were now running in all directions, some to the left, some to the right, and some towards the entrance of the building. They busted through, crying for their parents, pointing towards the direction of the entrance.

Kathy’s parents and all the people in the building turned their attention to what was going on outside. Kathy crept behind her mother’s legs, clamping her hands around it tightly as her eyes remain fixed outside in fear and amazement. A cloud of white was approaching the building. It traveled with shocking speed, stunning those who saw it, only being able to blink before the cloud engulfed them. Kathy screamed just as the glass shattered and snow poured into the building silencing her and everyone else…


“NO!” The voice shouted again, than pain all over her! She shrieked.

“Shut up! Shut up! You’ll bring the roof down!” She still shrieked as her body responded in the impending pain. The person had shaken her physically, shaken her sense back to conscious. The sudden contact drove her nerves wild…it was all muddled up…pain! Pain!

She subsided in her scream, eventually stopping. She was now fully conscious.

“Come on. You cannot sleep, or you’ll die!”

Die. Die. She recognized the word. Die. Pass on. Depart from her life. No she did not want to die.

“Get up.”

She tried her best, summoning strength from within. Slowly, she opened her eyes, looking straight forward. She saw in front of her, a figure, a figure of a boy, an older boy.

“Good. Wear these, they’re oversized but dry. I took off your clothes earlier as they were wet with snow.” He slowly helped her up, leaning against the snowy wall still covered in the coat. He passed her a t-shirt, pants and a woolly jacket. It was all too big, the shirt covering her whole body, but still better than nothing, it was the only dry clothes he could find. She quickly wore the pants and wrapped the jacket all around herself, than tucked in her legs, resting her head between it, thawing her fingers between her legs and chest, not bothering to look up.

“Its all right. We’ll be all right. I found food and water, and I have started digging a hole out of here, it won’t be long now. They’ll find us, rescuers will find us.” The boy said as he crawled over to the girl.

He tried to look at her face, but she just dug her head further into her jacket. He tried something daring, he reached out and lifted her head up, hoping to get a glimpse, wanting to give support, instead she jerked away, again digging into her legs, retreating into herself. He let go for a while, than tried again.

“What’s your name? I’m Josh.”

“Where’s mummy?” She muttered.

Josh stood stunned for a moment. He could not answer that question. He had found many dead earlier. He knew her mother was one of them as he found the girl hugging the corpse that of a woman. The father was probably dead too, holding onto the woman’s hand, frozen. There were no other survivors except him and the girl.

“I…I..” He stammered.

“Where’s Mummy? Where’s mummy?” She said again, this time more distressed.

“I…don’t know.” It was all he could say.

“WHERE’S MUMMY?! WHERE’S DADDY!” She began to shriek again in a high pitch voice.

“Shut up! Shut up! They’re, they’re dead! They’re dead! All right!” He shouted at the spur of the moment. No! I should not have said that! I should not have said that!

Kathy absorbed that for a moment, letting it come to her what it meant, than, her eyes grew watery. Josh spotted it.

“I’m…I’m sorry. I’m sorry.” He whispered, slumping against the snow wall. Now what? What did I do? What am I going to do!

Kathy cried. Her sobbing was as loud as ever. It was only the two of them. Though she was still small, it was amplified through what Josh knew had happen, and why she was crying. I don’t know what to do, how to comfort the girl! He cried out in his mind.

She cried for about a minute or so, and still cried on as Josh sat in thought. What would mummy do? What would daddy do? He recalled back to his days when he was sad…he would cry in their arms…he would lean on their shoulders and bask in their comfort…he would-.

Josh crept over slowly to the girl, slowly again, he lifted her head, meeting eye to eye with her. They looked in each other’s eye, realizing the equal pain and sorrow they both shared. He blinked, she blinked. She pulled away for a minute, than buried her face into his arms, crying again for what must seem like eternity…

Wrath

Wrath – Timon Tan

A breeze blew through the mountain side, scrumptiously sweeping by tiny molecules of ash and unseen specks of dust and dirt. Its size barely compared to anything, almost each of its individual entity invisible to any naked eye. On its own, the tiny molecule was harmless, non-threatening, and infinitely indestructible. Its nature as such that it can only be contained and held at bay, not destroyed completely rendering it ineffective to be itself. With these properties, it nearly seemed deceiving that it was ‘completely’ harmless, yet with a massive amounts of it in the air, the ash and dust could suffocate, draw the life out of an organic living being, cutting it off from what was most important to all organic beings, air.

The specks floated through the air, originating from a hot centre, a rim of fire that grew active by the moment, spewing out more dust and ash at every second. From the rim of fire, earth moved and heat brewed as forces beyond man grew and grew with intensity, with such force and power that no living being could ever imagine or understand. The inner structure of the world collided against each other, rubbing and storing energy that was soon to be released in bulk.

On the inside, the earth was ravaging. Inside, the earth was a ball of never ending fire, filled with molten rocks, at temperatures as hot as hell itself. The liquid fire within the earth moved about in currents, in circles as it circulate to the surface and back into its abyss of red. The liquid fire that circled to the surface solidified again, creating earth and rock. Most of it managed to release its hidden pressure, however, under the mountain side of an area, this pressure was building. Like a hose that was capped with the water on, the pressure built up, ready to burst the cap at any moment…releasing its fury onto the surface world.

On the surface, all looked calm. Nature went on its merry cycle of survival. The herbivore deer, blatantly chewed on the blades of grass that carpeted the hills, looking occupied and busy with its ingestion though actually vigilant of its surroundings and all that was going round it. Its eyes darting from the side of its skull from left to right, always on the sentry for potential predators, then a movement in the bushes, before the deer darted away into the trees.

A predator cat, a puma, near towards the rocky mountainous area. It lay lazily on the rocks, being filled from its last meal. In its den rested the carcass of a recently slain fawn, all its meat ripped from its bone, resting in the belly of the puma. The puma took no heed of anything else as it rested unlike the deer, ignoring everything. It was the predator…not the prey, with nothing to fear from…well at least from any living man or beast.

A distance from the mountain, two humans, two person, two people stood at a lookout point gazing upon the sight of nature, the volcano mountain. Its caps were covered in slight snow, clouds shading most of its top. The slopes leading down from the cap started out blackish, growing brown and than grey as it descended. Greens also richly littered the soil around the volcano, rising close to the snow at the rim.

One of the person was in his age, an older person, with black hair that turned white with time. His face was covered in wrinkles and light pimples that yet somehow, improved his looks, making him look wiser and matured, not uglier and older. Though old by years, his spirit and heart was still young, physically, he was strong as well, being able to keep up with his young son as they climbed the hills and mountain side, at times, even faster then him, using his experience to his advantage in traveling over the terrain.

His younger counterpart stepped up behind him. His son, his own flesh and blood. He placed his arm on his father’s shoulder, breathing heavily as he caught his breathe once more. He held his head facing the ground, than looked up in the direction his father was looking, at the volcano. He stared at it for a moment, being hypnotized by the glory and awesome power of nature. He had never seen such sights in person before, only in pictures, moving pictures and through his imagination by what others said. Beyond that, he had been too young, too inexperienced to climb the mountain alone, he could only climb up to a certain height before being held back by the tinning of the air. But now being older, at a ripen age of eighteen could do almost anything being at the prime of his life.

“Hey dad. This is amazing!” The son gasped in realized awe as he began to examine the volcano with his very own eyes.

“What did I tell you son? This is heaven! Breathe in the fresh mountain air.” He said than took a deep breath, feeling and being at all calm.

The two flesh and blood sat on the ground, with their backs on the green grassy field. The father closed his eyes, his mind drifting back to his wife as the breeze blew across his face, reminding him of all the times…the son, his thoughts flew back to his girlfriend. He thought of her face, her smile, her voice, all that brought love and joy and happiness to his heart. He imagined walking down these fields with her, holding her hand, skipping by the lilies, playing by the riverside…simply, what it seemed like heaven.

But below the surface, right beneath their very feet, the fires of earth ravaged. It ravaged more violently than ever, as more pressure built up, then with a shock, released this pressure onto the surface world.

For a moment, everything was quiet. All the animals turned silent. There was not a sound. No squeaks, no chirps, no pats…nothing. It was an absolute silence, like a gun shot had just occurred and then the deadly stillness that followed. It was the same.

The father stood up immediately. He knew something was wrong. An unholy silence. The son followed through, his instincts made him feel uncomfortable. He looked at his father, his father looked back. An unconscious agreement was made between them. They bolted immediately!

BOOM!

“RUN!”

BOOM!

“DON’T LOOK BACK!”


“By Jove! Look at the vol!” The hunter shouted! He pointed his finger at the mushroom cloud that rose in the sky from the volcano top. His companion gasped in shock, his natural reaction frozen in shock.

“No way! Oh no! The professor! He and his son said to climb the mountain today!” The companion said and turned to the hunter, nudging him. “COME ON! LETS GO!”


The ground shook with fury! The son tripped! The father turned! His face caught a glimpse of the armageddon that raged behind him. The mountain went up in a rage of black smoke and cloud! Red could be seen spewing from the side of the mountain, the trees flattened as pyroclastic flow swept in. It was heading their way!

He picked up his son immediately, slapping his hand across his face as he tried to look what was behind them, stopping him from doing so, jerking his wrist pulling him forcefully from the ground.

In all directions, the animals fled! The birds flew from the trees, screeching a song that was never heard before, the puma’s stretching those legs as far as it would go, sensing a feeling that was unusual to its natural call, fear. The deer bounced, bounced along side the puma, running the opposite direction from the exploding volcano. It plummeted ash, smog, rocks, earth, and toxin into the air. The sky around it turned black at once, the air poisonous killing all who breathe in its immediately vicinity. From the sky, birds fell motionless to the ground, giving in, one by one, the deer’s fell on its side in mid-stride from shortness of breath.

Meanwhile, the father and son ran! They ran as fast, as speedy, as quickly as one could. It was not a run to win a competition, or to test one’s self, but a run to save one’s life…

From the mountain, seas of red spewed from it! It flowed as quickly as water, moving through the country side like a flash flood. It swallowed trees and animals that were in its ways, setting alight all. All was charred, nothing stood. There was a metal object in the way of the stream also. Its rubber soles burst with the heat, catching fire. The metal chassis twisted and moaned, the glass shattered spreading its projectiles all over the internals. Anyone inside the metal object would have been killed…it did not stood a chance.

The father’s shoe scraped the side, skidding down the slope for a quick escape. The son followed through, attempting to imitate his father’s skill, instead he fell on his side in an uncontrollable slide rolling all over the gravel. The trees by now covered their view of the mountain. The father was glad. He did not want to witness the eruption. It was unthinkable! He held his son’s hand and ran on, running towards the direction of his car that was in the nearby bushes. His only plan of escape was such, they could not stay so close to the eruption point…escape…flight…that was all he could do, even if it was pointless…

“Oh my!” The son screamed!

In front of them, a river of red flowed. Lava, molten rock, it consumed the entire path before them. They ran along side it. No! It could not be!

Their car was crumbling under the lava. It laid right in the middle of the river, twisting into scrap metal every second. They’re only hope of escape! Gone! NO! NO! FAR OUT!

“What are we going to do?” His son shouted, his voice evident with fear…the certainty of death, almost now a reality.

The father paused for a while, getting some space to think. He looked at the lava. NO! Think positive! Think! They might be a way to survive this!

“We find a cave. We might not be able to escape, but we can still hide.” The father said with fingers crossed. No. It was useless. Death was almost certain, but hope…with hope, there’s life!

The father and son hand in hand ran again. They hugged the hillside, looking for a cave, or even a hole they could hide in while hell raged around outside….

They ran on. There was no sign of a cave. There were no caves in this area. He kept running, following the stream of lava. If he could outrun the lava…maybe…maybe…but still, the pyroclastic flow? He could not outrun the major eruption…it was just impossible.

He stopped for a moment, breathless, his son stopped too, they both catch their breath. The father turned his back. More smoke and ash ejected from the chimney. It settled down on them slowly, filling the air with ash…he breathed it in and coughed. The air…it was slowly killing them. Have to get out of here fast.

“DAD!” The son screamed! He pointed at the opposite end of the river. On the other end, there a car pulled up, its lights breaking through the ash cloud that settled upon them. The Hunter and his companion stepped out, covering their mouth with a cloth! They waved over to them!

“Professor!” The hunter shouted over! He looked at the ground. The river…the river of lava…it was all that lay between them and safety. It was nearly thirty meters wide. Too wide!

BOOM!

The top of the volcano went off! Pyroclastic flow flooded out of its tip! It was a cloud, a dense thick, super heated gas cloud. It hugged the ground and flowed like avalanche, growing faster and faster as it ate up everything in its path. It was a monster…a lifeless consuming dispassionate moving cloud of death and destruction…

The father looked over his shoulder. Over the trees, he saw the cloud traveled down the side of the mountain into their direction.

The son panicked, he gripped his father by the shoulder.

“What are we gonna do?!”

The father turned again. The cloud approached. The hunter beckoned for him. He looked around. There was no fallen log that could act as a bridge. He did not have a rope…there was no way they could cross…

“Jump!” Shouted the hunter.

The son and father turned in unison. Behind, the super heated cloud, certain death. In front, the river of lava, almost certain death as well…still they could try their luck and jump it…maybe…a miracle.

“Come on. In three!” The father said, gritting his teeth, preparing for what was certain death.

“One!”

The hunter waved!

“Two!”

The father and son breathed.

“Three!”

The both of them ran! Stretching as far as they could! They got slowly to the edge…

Never to return

Never to return – Timon Tan

Berrat don his armor, strapping his shoulder pads tightly, his wife helping him place a gorget over his neck. He helm proudly laid on stool next to the entrance of his tiny house, attired with all sorts of battle marks, from mere scratches to dividing penetrations, showcasing the history of its wearer and a testimony to its age in combat.

Proud as it may seem, his wife did not like it, rather, seeing it as what he would eventually die wearing rather than protecting him from death.

On his chest he wore a laced covered leathered armor. It was as light as a feather, yet still providing as much protection as plate armor would provide. It was specially weaved by his wife, putting her housekeeping skills into practical use on the battlefield. It was dyed his favored color, red, the same color that flowed through his veins, the color that he would probably last witness before he would die.

He did a final check on himself, ensuring all pieces of his armor were in place. He stood in front of the mirror, inspecting the man in the image, a warrior covered in a red suit of hand-weaved armor. This was the armor he was to ride into battle in, this was the armor he was going to fight in, to kill in, and possibly to die in.

His eye turned to his sword lying on the table. With little hesitation, he held it in his grip, holding it high above his head for a moment, like he was ready for battle, ready to sway it down to strike his first victim, than instead let it down, placing it in its scabbard.

He was ready.

He walked up to the door, grabbing the helmet in his arm, the helmet worn for several generations, by his forefathers and beyond. The helmet they rode into combat with, and died in. He felt proud to now, finally wear that same helmet…to don the power of his generations on himself.

He looked over at his wife, standing right next to him. She looked into his eye, trying to find a moments comfort in, yet finding none. In his eyes only held an uncertainty, not knowing what lay on the road ahead.

“Honey, I’d…I’d…I’d just want to say goodbye.” He said. Yes, he would return. He would return like he did many times before. Was he not standing there now after many a times, wearing that same suit of armor, welding that same sword, facing danger time and time again?

“It’s all right, its just that…just that,” she paused, choking on her emotions, than looking over at the peaceful angel sleeping in the bed. “If Ayda calls…I don’t know what might become of her. I don’t know how I’ll nurture her with out her father.”

Berrat stood silent for a moment, looking with his wife over to the sleeping beauty, than down at the ground.

“If I don’t, than who will? Who will pick up the fight? Who will challenge the Kraa? Who will protect this land, protect you, protect,” He looked over at the angel again, “protect her?”

They gripped each other tightly for one last time, tears already dripping from each other’s eyes. Hugging, gripping each other, for what might mean separation for eternity.

He let go, walking over to his daughter, still sleeping. He looked over her. His heart overwhelmed, hoping that this was not the last time he ever saw her face again.

“Girl, daddy loves you, daddy loves you.” He said. A tear dropped from his eye, dripping onto her flawless cheek. He took off his glove, using his bear hand to wipe the tear off, stroking her face with his fingers, than finally, his last goodbye to her, a kiss. He picked himself up, walking slowly next to the door, with the rain pouring outside, than with a final look into his house, turned to the darkness outside that awaited him, and left.

Unknown to him…she was conscious enough, conscious enough to sense his kiss. It meaning that he would never see her again…never to return.

Then, she cried.

Short Lived

Short Lived – Timon Tan

With the door closed behind her, her privacy was ensured. No intruding force could enter with out her knowing of its presence. Privacy of course, having one’s own space without other’s information or knowledge of the events that occurs within one’s privacy. It was like a circle. Everything inside her circle was her privacy that no one knew, no one could touch, and no one would ever enter. Closing the door, and locking it behind her just extended her privacy circle, not just by a little, but by nearly thirty feet more. Her privacy circle extended all the way to the walls of her house, but no more.

Within that privacy circle however, she had a visitor. Someone whom she had invited as a guest into her private retreat, someone who for that night, she would break her privacy boundaries to keep grasp of.

Ryan was a boy. Silent and meek. Not too handsome, but still, considerably pleasant good looking. His face was littered with pimples all over, his cheeks, forehead, everywhere. A faint mustache grew right above his lips that was not too bushy but still enough to give the distinct look of age and maturity. He shaved his beard often but the new growth of base hair gave it away. His head hair was pretty long actually, extending all the way to his ear, though not covering it. He allowed it to grow and look natural, not using and sort of gel or cream to enhance his looks. Being one of a timid nature, he was not adept at sports or any of the muscle required activities. Having muscles to impress his girl or being famous for scoring the winning goal was not his way of going about things. Rather he did not impress her at all, but she allowed herself to be impress by his nerdy and jerk like ways.

So it was, Ryan, a boy, and Christine, a girl, were all alone in the house. Her parents were not going to be back for the week end, and Ryan’s parents thought he was at his friends place. This setup was impossible in reality though, but it was through deception and sneakiness that it was made possible. A boy and a girl, both who liked each other were in the house alone.

She did not intend it to happen though, but it just ‘happened’. The two of them took advantage of their temporary privacy, sitting on the couch together, eating pop corn, heads together, watching their favourite movie. Eating in the living room was normally not allowed, but of course, parents were not here to enforce the rules, and thus, like all rules, it was broken, one way or another.

The two of them, slowly, but surely, came closer together to each other. They both touched each others hand, experiencing an intimacy between them that no one else could experience. It was a first for both Ryan and Christine, their hearts beating fast as they began to realize what this meant for both of them, what it meant for them to be holding hands. Whether the proceedings were coincidental or deliberate, they both enjoyed it.

Christine blushed as she began to absorb her feelings. She knew she was falling for the nerd head Ryan. Although she denied it with her logic, her heart said otherwise. Why would she enjoy holding hands with a nerd? Why? She guessed, or rather, she felt was that she actually liked him.

Giggling at this revelation to her, Ryan was surprised with her action. Slowly, he placed his palm on her shoulder, signaling her to calm down, wanting to ask what she was giggling at. Christine came to a stop, but at once, looking at Ryan again, began to laugh uncontrollably. Ryan, confused, just played along, laughed as well just for the sake that Christine was laughing.

Then during the laughter, it was then Ryan realized why Christine was laughing. They were holding hands! Holding hands! Impossible! He never thought that he would do such a thing! At the beginning of the year, he thought that holding hands with a girl was disgusting…revolting to say the least, now he was holding hands with the girl he liked.

Caught up with laughter, Christine lost her sense of balance. She fell from her head grip on the couch, her head ending up in Ryan’s lap. She sighed, relieving herself from the laughter that she was so caught up with. She closed her eyes and rested.

Ryan, being good natured, and also naïve as well, began to stroke her. He stroked her hair in a downward position, correcting it from the bends and mess that was made when she fell on his lap, and she enjoyed it.

To Ryan she appeared like an angel. An angel, resting on his lap, enjoying the affection and tenderness that he was showing her. Her closed eyes, placid face, and shimmering hair slowly turned his heart soft. It was like taking a potato, mashing it, making it easy to swallow. It was not surprising that soon Ryan began to follow his heart, not his brain, his logic.
Christine did the same, for during that moment of calm and relaxation, Christine’s gave over her thoughts, allowing her brain to rest and simply, following instinct, following what she naturally would do. Like sleeping, where one at a point of time, give over to rest and sleep, so did Christine. She gave over to her heart, her emotions…

It was not long before Christine’s and Ryan’s head came together. They gave both of each other their first kiss, hugging each other around the waist. Enjoying it, they did the same again. Even better! The both did the same. Extravagating! Heaven! Bliss!

They both enjoyed the warmth. Their bodies were together, their fronts, moving in perfect synchronize. They kissed in a motion that was as graceful as ballet dancing. She hugged Ryan closer…yes! That felt good…so good! Amazing!

Ryan felt the same as well…his pulse rate was increasing, accelerating the flow of hormones all over his body. Testosterone it was, making his actions more erotic by the second. He wanted to fulfill those desires created by the hormones. It was overwhelming him, taking over his entire body…and it did.

Being more bold then ever, his hands reached down, touching an area he should not have. He did a goose on Christine. She cried out, cried out in sudden fright, than taken over by her own hormones as well. For that moment that she cried out, her logic came back to her. She knew she was heading in the wrong direction, but she was nearly there! She was nearly there! She has nearly reached the end! There was only one more step to go…and it involves much much more audacity. She knew she could not…but she wanted to! She really wanted to!

Christine reached down to Ryan’s jeans, unzipping it. Than it all got out of control. She vaguely remembered it as a dream, but it was real enough. Within the minute, she felt Ryan’s hands reaching down her rear, her privacy circle was dangerously merging with Ryan’s circle. It was slowly becoming one. Vividly, they made their way to her bedroom, continuing their love making on the bed. Arr yes, the touch…she enjoyed it, exploiting her body for its pressure, fulfilling the want within her…yes. Fulfilling it so fully…she did not even realize it…that for within that moment of pleasure, she experienced the ultimate pleasure one’s body could provide…she felt it. Like a dog, she moaned as she felt it and passed through her entire body like a ripple…then blacked out. Their privacy circle, merged.


Ryan awoke. It was morning. He did not recognize the bed her was in. The covers had flowers, his covers was plain brown. The room was not his as well, bewildered for that moment. He fell onto his side, onto something. He jumped in shock, falling from the bed onto the floor. He knew whose room this was. Christine’s. He than realize he was naked. What?

Ryan slowly pulled himself up, looking towards the bed in shock. Impossible! He could not believe he did such a thing. Never in a million years. His logic told him that he could not do such a thing, but yet he did.

Christine laid in the middle of the bed. She was undressed too, her frail fragile body laid there, looking so delicate again, looking innocently. There was blood on her bed sheet, and other spots of liquid. He knew what it was…he knew what had happen…

He looked around, desperately searching for his clothes. It was not in the room. It was in the hall. He rushed for it, dressing himself in a hurry. He grabbed Christine’s clothes as well and dashed for the room. She was awake by then.

“Ryan…what happened?” She whispered as he came in. He stood there in shock, holding her clothes in his hand. It took Christine a while, before she figured what happened.

“Ryan….what the…we did not really did it did we?” She croaked, her eyes widening.

Ryan could not speak. He only nodded his head. Christine looked down, realizing she was undressed. She spotted the blood on the sheets. She knew it…they had done it.

“Christine…I’m sorry. I didn’t knew…I didn’t.” He began to cry. He broke down, crumbling at the entrance. He could not handle the facts that began to emerge…he could not…could not.

“Leave…just leave.” Christine said softly. Ryan picked up himself, and left.


For the next month, the both never spoke. Ryan was never the same, his friends noticed the change in him. He was more quiet, more introverted. He still could not grasp how he could have did it to Christine. His friends noticed another change as well. Ryan and Christine were no longer together. They avoided each other totally in school. Ryan even lied to the teacher to get out of chemistry class when Christine’s class had a joint lesson with his. All his friends knew he was not ill, yet he claim he was, giving the reason that his periods were up. The teacher stared at him in total disbelief, but eventually let him go.

He did not know what to do. He could not tell anybody. They would both be shipped off to hell if he did. He took away Christine’s virginity, he lost his as well, but worse off, he realize that the events that night, that was suppose to symbolize wholeness of one to the other in the event of marriage, was breeched. He could no longer even attend church without feeling any hint of guilt. Self condemnation followed from the songs he sang and the thought of standing at the white throne with the sin he had done was simply indescribable. It pained him.

Christine had problems of her own as well. Besides the same pain that she had, something was beginning to happen. Her mornings were now plagued with nausea and vomiting. She felt tired more often, and once even fainted in physical education. People noticed that Christine was a transformed person, now one of total lost and depression. It was true. People even said she was suicidal.

Speculation began to circulate. Something between Ryan and Christine had happen. All sorts of things went around, from physical abuse, to a failed date, to what Ryan feared the most, the truth, that they did it together.



One day, out of the blue, Ryan received a phone call from Christine. She sounded sad…depressed. He trembled as he recognized the caller…but he knew he had to stand up to it. His attempts to redeem himself, to be wash clean again. He prayed daily, and confessed it to someone he could trust most. Mostly importantly of all, he knew he had come clean with the One on High, and all that left now was to apologize to Christine.

“Ryan…I want to say goodbye.” She said simply.

“Christine. I want to apologize, I’m..sorr-.”

“Ryan. I’m pregnant. My parents just found out. It’s over. It’s over.” She interrupted him with that piece of fact.

“Christine. Don’t do it. Don’t abort the baby, it’s a life. It’s-.”

“Ryan. Goodbye. I will see you hereafter.” She said with the coldest voice ever, and then, the phone went dead.

Fear began to dwell within Ryan. His mind began to imagine things. Maybe Christine was really going to abort the baby, or she was going to let the cat out of the bag…or…commit suicide.

He began to feel concern for her. He recalled her voice and what she said. She was dead serious. Goodbye was all that was said. And the words, hereafter. His eyes widen. Oh my… Than an unknown pain struck him in the heart, he winched, thinking it was heart burn from all the fat he consume earlier on. But what he did not know, his circle…their circle, Ryan’s and Christine’s, had shattered. Recovering, he reached for the phone, dialing the number that he had not touched for the last month, that was still so familiar to him.

“Hello. Mrs Le?” He spoke.

“Ryan. What is it this time? To screw with my daughter once more? What? Mess up her life?”

“No, madam. Mrs Le, Christine just called me. I believe that she’s going to do something stupid.”

Mrs Le stood silent for a while, she refuse to believe him. Maybe it was just a way to attract attention, but then again, he might be right…Christine had cried all night…screams and sobs came from her room. Depress she was.

“I’ll check.” She said, and walked to her daughter’s room with the cordless in her hand. She reached it and knocked softly in the door.

“Honey? Are you all right?” She asked. No response. She tried again. Nothing. Maybe she was asleep or just crying softly. But she wanted to check just in case. She opened the door.

The first thing she noticed was blood…..

No Way

No Way – Timon Tan

The wind blew the leaves along, shuffling it along the road side, settling it down a few feet away from where it initially laid. The weather was gaining strength, the wind picking up speed and the clouds growing greyer, bringing along the word of rain that threatens to drench all that was under its reach. One of this that was under its power was the high school kid, oblivion to its impending hazard as he did not even consider it a danger at all. After all, it was just rain. It did nothing more than to just get him wet, maybe a nuisance as it caused his shirt to dirty or shoes to be soiled, but other than that, it could not harm him, it would not kill him, it would not melt him or so and forth. In the contrary, he actually liked the rain, the feel of it, the freshness it brought to the environment, its coolness, almost every aspect of it. From the fact that it was the basis of life, to the actuality that it made him wet. It was interesting though, as he never contemplated the fact that rain was water, and that in water, living things, like himself, drown. He took a look back over his shoulder, looking back at his friend, smiling to her as they parted their ways.

“Bye Christy. See you tomorrow!” He said with his most sincere smile, being an earnest person by nature.

The boy hated this part of the day the most, where he had to be separated that that he spent most of his days with, his friends. He liked the company of those he grew up with, since the vulnerable age of six, to the grown and ripen age of fifteen, he grew with these people, sharing most of his life with them. He loved his friends so, being almost like family to him, almost a sixth of life till now was spent with them, making them as close as brothers and sisters. Not even his immediate family could share the same bond as he had with his friends. It was simply different.

“Cya tomorrow as well, remember to bring along the disc.” She replied. She held the same views as the boy as well, friends since young, probably friends forever as well. Eight long years their friendship had lasted, and she loved every moment of it.

The both of them never took advantage of their friendship, but still being young, they took advantage of their circumstances, ignorant to the fact that as fortunate as they were, it was only thanks to the misfortune of others, survival of the fittest as they say. The two friends certainly did not fit the bill for surviving in what is already a tough world, only to get harder as events proceeded. Only thanks to their parents that they managed to grow up, knowing the meaning of peace. Though unknowingly to them, a new malevolence was rising from the west that was to end all that was worked for. It was coming…just not yet.

They broke their eye contact with each other, as their thoughts turned to home. Relaxation, the feeling of being able to let it go was the first to come into the boy’s mind, that feeling of safety and security clouded him. At home awaited him food, his bed, rest, refuge, it was home, which can be simply described as, home. Home was home.

As the boy dwelled on this thoughts, unknowingly to him and to two thirds of the world population, the new malevolence as said, was growing, preparing to what they were about to do. They were going to change the world…change the world in a way never done before…in what was to be unbelievable and inevitable. They could not turn back now…the infidels had to be exterminated. It was for the good of the world…..it was for world peace, and for peace to prevail…sacrifices had to be made. Sacrifices like in all other situations…..one man’s suffering…another man’s peace.

As he thought of home, it prompted him to look at his watch, wanting to know of what time it was. Quarter to four it said, the boy was walking pretty fast. He had already past under the bridge and was very close to home. Above him, a train, transporting a few dozen people from location to location, zipped above him, rattling the brick made bridge and shaking its worn concrete foundation. Despite the fact that the train was literally only a few feet above his head, he walked on, more interested again, in the thoughts of home. Cars twirl around the corner of the bridge, next to him, which he let them past before he crossed the crossing.

He took a step up onto the pavement, and continued his journey back to his home. Passing the usual giant house that construction never seemed to end. It was as big as a bungalow house and had the features of terrace building, however, it was missing its front door and windows. Inside was empty, with concrete dust and chip offs on the floor. With the exception of maybe a forgotten spanner and fragile glass panes, there was nothing else of value inside the house…it was a house whose construction was halted…for what reason, unknown to the boy as he walked pass…

He passed the old creek with its river beds flowing little with water. It still held life though, as tiny algae and tadpole fishes swam in its calm pristine water. The boy had been to the creek many a times though, as part of curiosity and adventure, he had made trips to the creek to and fro from his house, sometimes with his friend Christy as they explore the hidden secrets of their suburb. They found secret clearings at times, trees perfect for climbing, ponds that hosted isolated pods of fishes and aquatic life, rows of wild but striking flowers, once, even an injured bird that they nursed back to health, that now was having young birds of its own…the boy would sometimes visit its nest to check how it was going, smiling at how far the once condemned bird, never to fly again, was now fulfilling what it was created to be. It simply amazed him…

Going on from there, the boy passed a number of similar looking terrace houses, each with the same design. In building structure and look, they were literally duplicates of each other. The only difference was the different cars in each driveways and number signs on the front gate, differentiating each of the houses.

Passing house thirty six, he waved to the lady that was watering the plants. She like usual waved back. The boy had maintained good relations with his neighbors in this area as it was in his nature to do so. This particular afternoon, the lady signaled him over, with something in her arm.

“Hey kid, howya going?” The lady said in her hoarse voice.

“I’m all right mdm. Thanks for asking. What about you?” The boy replied.

“Me? Ha! The government is cutting off my pension…they think I’m too much…they need it to support some lussian/iana threat crap…but anyways…I have my sons to support me if anything goes wrong…” She revealed a bouquet. “Give this to your mom willya? Tell her this is my appreciation for her helping me out with my tax form.”

“Sure do mdm.” The boy received the flowers from the lady. Freshly cut, and blossom, its aroma reached the boy’s senses even before he took a sniff of it. Immediately, he felt lighter for some reason...it took his mind off everything, concentrating on its scent for that very moment, before he snapped back to reality.

“My mom will enjoy this.”

He held the bouquet of flowers in his hands and continued on down the road. What a day it was for him already…the last day of school…two whole weeks to relax…time to slowly study for his preliminaries…and now, a bouquet of flowers for mom….life was good…too good really.

Meanwhile…on the opposite side of the world again, the malevolence again was ready to release its justice upon the infidels. Launching its projectile of change, they applauded and cheered at the deed that was about to be done. It was to be the start of a new beginning…a new beginning into what was to be the start of a new era….an era that changed all that has and had been. They watched from behind the glass panes as the projectile of change launched from their containment, and onwards to do what it was meant to do…..change.

The boy delighted by the goodness of the day so far, simply ignored everything else. He got home in record time, strolling through the gate in bliss. It was a perfect day…and it could only get better, forgetting that what goes up….must come down.

“Hey son!” His dad greeted with much enthusiasm as the boy came through the gate, always delighted to see his son.

“Hey dad!” He replied, hugging his father with open arms, digging into the comfort and security he provided. His father, his dad…nothing could replace him. They enjoyed a relationship only fathers and sons would understand, an un-spoilt love between the both of them, bonding them together for life.

“Guess what son? I got good news…want to guess?” His father eagerly said, unable to contain his exhilaration.

“Surprise me dad.” The boy said simply.

“Your mom….is….pregnant! Another little boy, just like you….imagine! You’re a bigger brother son! You really are!” His father said, spilling the good news!

“She is?” He said….staring at his dad with a sharp gaze, trying to contemplate what it all meant….than it clicked.

“Yes! That’s amazing! Can I name him? Can I? Can I?” He said with joy, bouncing about like a six year old kid. His father smiled back, delighted at his son’s interest.

“Yes son. I discussed that with your mother. You have the honours.”

“Yes!” He jumped into the air, fist pumping nothing, repeating that same word over and over again.

“Yes son. I know you’re excited…come on, lets go in.” He said and lead the boy into the house…



“We have word from the President, that a state of emergency has been declared. We warn all citizens, to stay in doors! We repeat, stay in doors. If you have a basement, go there immediately…officials says that they are speaking with the enemy diplomats as we speak…” The Television babbled on. The father and son watched earnestly in concern, worried.

“What is going on?” The boy asked.

“I don’t know son. But I think we better do as the new reporter says….this sounds very important.” The father said, biting his fingers, silently debating in his head what he should do. The matter was simple, stay in the basement. But his wife was still out there, coming back from the hospital. He could not just leave her out there…where danger was present.

“Son. Take all your important stuff. We’re going to the basement...” The father began.

“What about mom?” The son questioned.

“Go. Go there. I’ll be there shortly.” The father ended. The boy looked at his father in puzzle. It was one of those times where his father never explained things, he would return with a smile and promised that his son would know eventually…except this time it was different…. He had a solemn look on his face. His son immediately knew not to question.Picking up the phone, the father dialed a number that was so familiar to him. Tears were already beginning to drip. He knew that it was the last time….the last time…

“Honey?” He said into the receiver.
“Yeah darl. I’ve heard the news. I’m speeding back at fast as I can…we cannot miss this for the world.” The reply came from the end of the line in a hurried voice.

“Look, you would not make it honey…I know how fast they will take to reach here…..the boys at radar informed me…I just want to say…goodbye love….I’ll miss you.” With that, he cut the line.“No way! Darl! Wait! Wait….no….no way…” She stammered, chucking her phone in the back seat, stepping on the accelerator, full speed ahead, towards home.

Back home, the boy was already in the basement, with all his essentials stacked in a corner. The father grabbed his mini safe, inside was all he need for an emergency. He grabbed his glassed old 16, smashing it on the ground, grabbing some extra cartridges, before rushing down to the basement to satisfy the complains of his son.

“Quiet down son…” He hissed as he locked the heavy wooden door that was the only exit out of the basement.

“What’s going on?”

“I’ll tell you after it’s happened.” The father said, running to a small peep hole in the corner, opening its flap so as to see what was outside. His son came beside him. He placed his arms around him.

“Son…I have to tell you. This is it…if we live through this…it will be a miracle.” He said sadly, with head bowed.

“Live through what?” The boy asked.

“That.” The dad said, and pointed at the peep hole. He pointed at a sight, never seen before.

Surely enough, projectiles of change filled the skies. Each missile, cylinder shaped with a pointed end at its front, aimed towards the east. Hundreds of them filled the air……ready to make change.

“No way…” The boy began, and than, firecracking sound from the distance could be heard. The father dragged the son away from the peep hole, wanting to close it.

“Wait! That’s mom!” He shouted! Pointing out. Sure enough, traveling down the street, his mom’s car sped. It ran over all that was in its way, wanting to get home as quick as she could.

The father ran for the door, unlocking it as swiftly as he could, budging it open as his wife stumbled down the stairs.“It’s coming! The big one!” She screamed. The father slammed the door, bolting it with the lock and ran towards his shaken son, who was totally traumatized.

The trio hugged each other. Tears flowing, with prayers of grace, mercy and compassion upon themselves, asking God to save them. Hoping that they would be save. The father and mother, at the moment, becoming one, one last time…before it all ended…


In the air, the nuke sped towards the ground. In built, was a special camera, designed to record the very last moments before this special nuke, that was to be the predecessor to peace, hit and caused the sacrifice that was to bring peace.

Inside the bunkers, the victims watched helplessly, their missile defense system useless to stop such a massive assault, they tracked all the missiles. A total of several hundred aimed at all major cities, with about a hundred thermonuclear hydrogen bombs among them, all ready to hit their target…

In the ships, the enemies watched in glee as the dots on their radars disappeared one by one. Each dot disappearing upon its assigned target scoring a hit. The numbers started to dwindled…with each disappearance, applause came…

For those above ground, time stopped. They ceased to exit in this world…many of them, getting to meet their creator with anxious hearts…only few were excited about it…

For those underground…the last words, before the entry of this new era…No Way…Way it was….as they entered the era of hell…the era of the last….the time of tribulation….

No Way?
Way