05-The Beast

A wet dog smell assaulted my nose, a heavy weight pushed against my chest, and something dry and crusty covered my forehead. Muddled memories of a dog jumbled around in my brain like a jigsaw puzzle missing most of the pieces,

“Bobby?” I asked confused,

“Get off me Bobby,” I commanded softly, the weight didn’t move. Memories came to me in flashes, a growl, a whimper, messy handwriting on a small page. A beast in the church, my breathing quickened as I remembered all of what had happened before I went out cold, I struggled against the weight, opening my eyes all I saw was darkness so I closed them again. I started to panic as the weight didn’t shift, I was madly shoving at it every way I could but my left arm was pinned so the only proper one I could use was my right. After a few minutes of frantic pushing I managed to move it just enough so I could get my face out of the shaggy mass that I was beginning to realize was the beast. I lay there panting and slowly opened my eye and uttered a small gasp, a grinning skull with empty eye sockets seemed to sneer at me, a raggy priest’s uniform hung around it. I averted my eyes unable to cope with the sneer of its face. I was under the animal and from what I could see we were in front of the alter. I gasped wondering how I survived. For the better part of the next hour I struggled under the beast trying to get free. Finally I managed to shift it a little and roll out from underneath. Standing I looked down at it. All of the fear it put into me while it was alive was gone, the power it had held was now wasted. The animal itself just looked like a bigger version of Bobby and I wondered why I’d killed it, a howl from outside the church reminded me. A cool evening breeze brushed past my knee’s, I quickly crouched down and tried to find the knife matted in the creatures fur, every second felt like an eternity almost as if I was waiting for the next beast to stalk behind me and have me for it’s meal. Goosebumps from the breeze prickled on the back of my neck and down my arms, I needed to find the knife and fast. My hands ran along the fur wishing that I would hit something hard praying to God in his run down church that he would help me. I guess I got my wish because within a few seconds I found the hilt and pulled. It came out with a sickening snick. I became aware of the receding light from the windows and stood up shocked wondering what happened to the day. Ignoring the light I bent down and wiped the drying blood on the animal then slid the knife into its sheath. Walking to the door seemed to take and age. I didn’t want to be doing anything. I wanted to go home and see my brother and sister, maybe this was all a dream. Soon I would wake up and have to go to work to pay for my mothers booze. Anger bubbled in my belly at the thought and I pinched myself. The pain told me that it wasn’t a dream. I sighed and looked outside. Instead of gravestones there was now just grass, and a weedy gravel path. I sighed, I couldn’t see the road and I had no idea where I really was. I turned around back into the church and tried to figure out how I could block the doorway, nothing came to mind so I went into the priest’s part of the church. The walls were old and slightly crumbling but I couldn’t really do anything about that. I closed the door carefully behind me and went into his kitchen, a single door led into a hallway. I decided not to go down it instead closing the door and settling down in the same place I slept the night before. I got the blanket out of my bag, it smelt damp but at least it would keep me warm. I lay there listening to the loud calls of the birds and animals outside the church. I didn’t want a repeat of this morning so I kept my knife near me. A part of me knew that getting away from the animal today was pure blind luck, I wouldn’t survive another attack but the hopeful side of me shut it out. My breath fogged out above my head I pulled my bag over to me and got out my diary pen and torch. Turning to the page after the one the priest had written in I saw more in the same handwriting.

Thank you lord,

My faith is renewed. I don’t know how but the church stood while everything else was damaged. I opened the doors today and called out to all that could hear to come to the church. The girl’s siblings turned up, Lucas I think the boy’s name is was asking for his sister. She’s disappeared the night of the blue flashes. They said they would stay until their sister turned up. 5 other’s are staying with us.

Aldis is in my prayers wherever she is.

I looked at the next page. There was more that the priest had written,

Aldis the girl appeared again exactly the same as the night of the flashes. Her siblings were so happy to have their sister back. But it didn’t last long. They tried to wake her but she wouldn’t come out of her slumber. She slept the sleep of the dead, except she was still breathing. The light from the windows turned a baleful white. The other three decided to leave. I advised them not to but they didn’t listen. As soon as they opened to door they disappeared but the door looked as if it had never been opened at all. I don’t know what is happening but I am sure that God is doing this for a reason. Our food supply will last us for another year but water is our more pressing concern I only have enough for the next month. I hope this has all ended by then.

I sighed and turned to the last page not wanting to read any further. It was blatantly obvious what had happened they had run out of food and starved to death. Dejected I started to write my next entry into my diary.

_{Dear Diary}

_{I went to sleep last night and woke up with everything weird. Nobody was here; the church looks as if it’s been abandoned for 100 years. I don’t know how this is possible, but it seems to be. The priest is not just a skeleton at the altar. A giant dog the size of a car attacked me! I’m alive; although I’m not sure if that’s a blessing or a curse it’s going to stay that way though. Tomorrow I’m going to go home, hopefully something is still there. I want the family blade for protection. Plus I might be able to find some food.}

_Aldis

I put the pen down and waited for the ink to dry. Closing everything and putting it in the right places I wrapped my blanket up closer to me to keep the heat in as much as I could. After a while I fell into a shallow and restless sleep. I waking at every sound near the church and almost having heart attacks every time.

04-I am not worthy

Unease gnawed at my gut. I opened my eyes the sight confused me, a gentle white light shone into my eyes, blinding me slightly, I put up my hand to shield them, and looked around, the walls were crumbling, the couches and coffee table was gone. So was the carpet. I stood up slowly the wooden beams of the roof were sagging and I could see holes in parts of it a strange light shone through it the same light that was bathing me in a warm glow, the carpet I slept on was now dirt, nothing remained not even the underlay. My bag was still in the same place, although it looked older, where the coffee table was my dairy was now sitting on the floor the pen and ink beside it. Everything looked older the diary was curling in on itself, and the pages where yellowing. I turned to the bag, it looked okay nice if a little worn. I had no idea what had happened but already my survival instincts where kicking in, as well as a worry for Lucas and April. I went and picked up the diary, I opened it to the last page I wrote in. The ink was fading and the paper was yellow, but there was something else not quite right, indents on the other side. I turned the page quickly. Someone with a really messy handwriting had written in the diary, the ink was old and fading just like the rest but I took no notice, I was too caught up in what it said.

To whomever reads this,

God’s wrath has finally come upon us. The end of the world is nigh, and all of us have caused it. Forgive me father for I have sinned I have not headed your call, I thought I was a man of God. I thought wrong. We are all DOOMED. An angel appeared to me last night in the form of a girl I once knew. Full of innocence and hope. She asked me to do one simple task, I failed. I know she was an angel because she said the Holy Lord’s Prayer with me in Latin, no girl these days would know it. Alas forgive me Lord I have failed you; she disappeared without a trace this morning leaving her bag shoes and book here. I can see it happening in my head, the end. It’s playing over and over, there is a bright flash of light and every human dies. Inner cities are reduced to rubble in seconds. I can feel it; everything waits with baited breath for the Human plague to be rid of on this world.

Forgive me.

Forgive me.

For I am not worthy.

That was all it said. There was no doubt that the priest wrote it. I let out my breath realising that I was holding it in. I ran over to my shoes and put them on, showing the diary, pen and ink into the bag I closed it and went into the interior of the church. It looked almost the same as it had the night before apart from the layer of dust coating everything, but it felt, eerie. I shivered, not with the cold and felt Goosebumps travel the length of my spine. Trying to remain calm I slowly went to the double doors. I had a sudden feeling that if I opened them something bad would happen. I realised I would need protection of some kind I had no idea what had happened but from what was written in my diary I decided to make it clear that I did have a weapon. I opened my bag again and rummaged around for the knife Lucas had put in there for me; once I got it out along with a small sheath I put it on my belt. My heart started to race as I put my hand on the door, I pulled the knife out carefully, the silver blade glinted in the dim light from the stain glass windows, the handle was carved bone rough but easy to grip. I pulled on the door slightly it opened just a crack; I could feel my heartbeat pounding through my ears. A small sliver of white light shone through the cracks lighting up the church and blinding me; when my vision returned sunlight was peeking through the open door but an instant later a big shape blocked it back out. My breath caught in my throat. I froze like a rabbit in the glare of headlights. Something sniffed, it sounded big, I stayed where I was, and it sniffed again. Then a deep rumbling growl shook me back to my senses. Whatever was on the other side of the door, it was big, very big. And it sounded hungry. I took a small step backwards; the thing growled again I took another step back. Quick as a flash the door slammed backwards with enough force to break the hinges, the door went flying missing me by a millimeter. My hands started to shake as I saw what was in front of me; it was like a gigantic shaggy dog. It was as tall as me and full of muscle, I knew there was no way I could fight this or run. I decided to make its meal as unpleasant as possible. Holding my shaking hand in front of me with the knife in it I growled in the most animal way I could. A cloud covered the sun, and it started to get dark really fast. The beast’s eyes looked me over. It growled back challenging me.

“You want a fight!?” I yelled at it, meeting its challenge,

“I’ll kill you, you hungry prick!” I thought of my mother trying to hit me and the fires of anger in my belly roared up covering everything else.

“Come get me!” I screamed. The beast didn’t know what to make of me; I could tell it usually had to chase to get its meals. I was confusing it. I screamed wordlessly at it. It growled, I screamed again, my vocal chords were getting hoarse. It whimpered, reminding me of Bobby, I stopped screaming, and that was all it needed to decide, it pounced. I sliced. It hit me and I realised that I couldn’t win I was going to die. A hot liquid landed on my face, the beast whimpered in pain. Then all of its weight collapsed on me and I knew no more.

03-Confusion

I opened my eyes slowly, the sight confusing I was lying on a couch with red carpet on the floor, a small wooden coffee table sat in front of another couch, a bright electric light shone bathing everything in a yellow glow. Confused I sat up, too fast, the world started to spin, I waited for it to stop as my memory returned,

“Ah my child I was wondering when you would wake,” A voice said, to me soothingly, I looked around for the speaker, he was sitting on the couch opposite to me, dressed exactly the same as he was the night before. Rubbing my eyes to get rid of the sleep I asked groggily,

“How long was I out?”

“About two hours,” he said smiling,

“Oh, sorry father,” I exclaimed,

“Never mind that now, can you survive a few minutes while I make you another tea?” I nodded,

“How do you like your tea child?”

“Black,” he nodded and went off to the kitchen, I got up and went over to my bag, he may be a priest but that doesn’t mean he won’t rummage through my stuff. But it seemed he hadn’t because everything was there, I closed the bag and walked back over to the couch.

“So why did you leave home Aldis?” the priest called out to me, I paused for a moment before answering trying to find the right words.

“Mother, she…she hit April,”

“Why?” he asked,

“She was on the drink.” I stated simply, he walked out with two mugs full of steamy hot tea and set them on the coffee table I took mine eagerly and sipped it feeling the warmth spread down my throat and the rest of my body. I sighed with relief.

“So my child why did you come to see me instead of one of your friends?”

“Because you can help me get rid of my mother so she can’t hurt my brother and sister anymore Father.” I said hopefully making it more of a question than an answer,

“Will you help me?” I asked,

“I will talk to your mother,” he stated.

“Thank you Father,” I whispered, he nodded.

“Finish your tea; you can stay here for the night.” I nodded gratefully,

“Thank you so much Father. You have no i-” he held up a hand,

“Don’t thank me I’m just doing what I should do as a man of God child,” I nodded slowly not sure what he was getting at,

“Pray with me child then I’ll go to bed,” he raised an eyebrow at me, “As you should too,” I nodded then lowered my head to pray. He used the usual Lord’s Prayer, except he said it in Latin which thankfully I knew because of visiting his church every Sunday,

“Pater noster, qui es in cœlis;

Sanctificatur nomen tuum:

Adveniat regnum tuum;

Fiat voluntas tua,

Sicut in cœlo, et in terra.

Panem nostrum cotidianum da nobis hodie:

Et dimitte nobis debita nostra,

Sicut et nos dimittimus debitoribus nostris:

et ne nos inducas in tentationem:

Sed libera nos a malo.

Quia tuum est regnum, et potestas, et Gloria,

In saecula.

Amen.” I crossed myself and looked up; the priest was smiling at me,

“Not many know that version these days, well done.” I smiled realising that he was testing my faith and picked up the mug taking another big sip, the priest just picked his up and downed it like water,

“Have a good sleep my child,” he said standing slowly his joints creaking, he smiled, “I’m getting old, I think I’ll retire soon.” He said softy almost to himself instead of me,

“See you in the morning Father; you have a good sleep too.” I told him, he looked at me as if remembering I was still there,

“Do you need a blanket?” I shook my head,

“I have one in my bag Father, but thank you all the same.” He nodded and walked off. I sat there for a while looking into the tea as if trying to find something, I couldn’t find anything. I finished the drink, placing it quietly on the table then heading over to the cloth bag. I opened it and rummaged through to find my diary. I pulled it out; it was an old diary small and handmade, in the side was a silver pen completely metal. The ink for it was in a small glass vial which Lucas had remembered to take too. I smiled and took them all over to the table to prepare to write. I thought about what to say for a second then put the pen to the paper and dated it.

_{Dear Diary,}

_{Mother hit April for the last time, I’m at the church tomorrow morning after Mass the Priest will call social services, all of this will be over an done with I’ll find a job and rent out a house where I will look after my brother and sister. The priest is letting me stay at his church for tonight but tomorrow I’ll have to stay somewhere else, I have a friend from school I can stay with if his mother will let me, she never liked me for some reason. I know God will show me the way, what he wants will happen. I’m tired now so I’m going to sleep, I won’t use the poor priests couch though, because the floor is much more comfortable for me.}

_Aldis

I put the pen down, and closed the diary. Ignoring the fact that I had a blanket stashed in my bag I lay down on the floor and closed me eyes. Within a few minutes I drifted off into a deep sleep.

02-The Holy Man

“She’s going to be so sad when she finds out I’m not seeing her that often,” I said to Lucas, we were in the hallway and I’d just put my coat on. My mother was still ranting and raving but we’d closed the door so she couldn’t wake up April,

“And I’m not going to be sad?” I looked at him, my brother was so strong nothing ever got him down so when he said that it made me want to start crying again, so instead I ignored it,

“Don’t let mother rule your life,” I told him, then slightly embarrassed about what I was going to say next I looked down at his bare feet,

“I love you,” I mumbled only just audible,

“Love you too sis,” Lucas said strong enough for the both of us, and handed me the bag. It was an old cloth one made years ago but it seemed to have survived the ages. I’m not sure what the original colour was but now it was light mustard.

“There’s snacks, $200, a blanket, two changes of clothes, your diary, and a toothbrush, I couldn’t find any toothpaste so I’m afraid you will have to find some,” I nodded grateful,

“Oh there is also dad’s old knife in the side pocket, I thought about giving you the sword but it would look a little awkward walking around with that on your belt and you might get told off so I thought that would do,”

“You shouldn’t have got me that Lukie, but thanks.” He smiled,

“Go before mother calls the police,” Lucas walked over to the front door and opened it, the darkness outside gave me a small inkling of fear but I shut it out, and walked into it. Once outside the rain fell onto my hair wetting it, I cursed realising it would go frizzy when it dried and flicked the hood of my jacket up.

“See you Lucas,” I said to him and walked down the driveway

“I hope you’re making the right decision Aldis.”

“I do too” I thought as I walked, but I didn’t look back.

The white streetlight lit up the grainy world casting shadows all over the ground, fighting all the while to push through the light drizzle. Small puddles lay all over the ground reflecting the light, I caught sight of myself in the reflection of one, a wet and miserable version of my normal self stared back at me, water dripped off the hood of my jacket and onto my nose, blue eyes looked at me sadly. A small scuffling sound gave me goose bumps and sent my heart racing as my imagination supplied me pictures of things that it could be, I took a deep breath and ignored it telling myself that it was probably only a hedgehog or something. I looked up, in front of me stretched a small graveyard, watched over by a proud stone church. The shadows of the gravestones spread out towards the church as if they all wanted something in death that they never got in life. Two sturdy wooden doors loomed over the gravel path; a stain glass window presided above them making it seem less daunting to approach the church, but doubts still started to enter into my mind, Why was I here? Why wasn’t I home? The thought of home brought images into my head of my mother, hitting April and Lucas in one of her angry drunk moments, hitting Bobby, hitting me. My resolve bolstered by the anger bubbling inside of me I straightened balling my hands into fists and walked quickly towards the doors. Gravel crunched loudly under my feet. I was so focused on getting to the door I didn’t pay attention to how far away it was. I stopped almost skidding on the ground. A took a deep breath calming myself, the fires of anger were still alight in my gut but at least now they were just small flickers to keep warm instead of a wild fire that threatened to consume me. I closed my eyes raised my hand and knocked on the door. A deep boom reverberated through everything; echoes of it chased each other down the path to the street bouncing off gravestones as they went. Inside the church I could hear them doing the same. I waited…and waited. Just before I was about to turn around and leave a light turned on inside the church, shinning out the window, a path of light cutting through the darkness, a small patch of brightness in an otherwise dreary and sad world. A key turned in a lock at the door opened slightly inwards, a small sliver of light escaping out of it. A wrinkled face appeared, long curly white hair hung to his shoulders.

“Oh my lord,” he exclaimed as he recognised me, his brow knotted with worry,

“Aldis my child, what are you doing here this late?” before I could answer he opened the door wide and stepped back ushering me in, I stood there for a moment as the warm glow washed over me.

“Come in child, get out of the cold,” I did as he said only just noticing I was shivering. The brilliant white marble floor lay out before me, wooden seats faced the alter and lectern. I took in a deep breath and crossed myself,

“Come child take off your bag and jacket.” I did as told and passed held them in my arms,

“Father I-”

“I think you can tell me why you are here over tea don’t you?” I nodded grateful,

“And while we do that I’ll put your jacket in my drier-”

“You don’t have to do that Father,” I butted in, he smiled at me,

“It’s the least I can do child, now come.” he walked off leading me into a small side area. I took my shoes off at the door and place my bag next to them  The place was bare apart from a few small items like a coffee table and couches. Red carpet spanned out through all of what I could see. He pointed to the couches,

“Have a seat child I’ll be out in a second just let me boil the jug,” I nodded again, and closed my eyes. Within a few minutes I was asleep.

01-Leaving

“Don’t talk to me!” I shouted my voice cracking, tears of anger rolled down my face,

“Aldis,” My mother sighed making her voice soft and gentle to help me see her point of view,

“I said don’t talk to me mother!” I screamed my voice seething with hatred. Our German Shepherd Bobby ran under the table and whined at the noise. Outside lightning flashed lighting up everything with a blue light and thunder rumbled not long after it, heavy rain hit the roof thudding and echoing through the roof. Bobby howled louder every time the thunder rumbled across the sky,

“Shut up!” I scalded him “You’ll wake the kids,” He whimpered looked down at his paws, the sad eyes made me want to run up to him and pat him despite being angry at my mother,

“You’ve already woken us up sister,” a sour voice said behind me, guilt ridden I turned around. Silhouetted in the doorway to the front door was a tall young man, his dark blue eyes were the same colour as the lightning in the storm outside and his dark brown hair was frizzy and pointing in all different directions.

“Go back to bed Lucas,” I said to him kindly over the storm, the thunder seemed to have calmed for the moment and there were no flashes of blue light but the rain kept up like a bongo drum on the roof,

“No,” he replied firmly, “What’s this fight about anyway?” I swallowed this was going to be hard,

“I’m…” I trailed off,

“I’m leaving,” I said in a rush, “and mother doesn’t want me to go,”

“Would you call me mum?” she said exasperated, I ignored her,

“Can you tell our sister I love her?” I asked Lucas, he nodded,

“Don’t ignore me!” my mother screeched like a wounded seagull, I ignored her and walked over to my brother, he was so tall now I had to look up to see him,

“Lukie, I’m sorry but…”

“I know sis it’ll be okay,” he interrupted with a wave of his hand, I nodded gratefully that he’d saved me from an explanation,

“I’ll visit you when she’s not around okay. I promise.” I told him,

“Is April awake?” I asked he nodded,

“I’d better tell her too,” I sighed,

“While you’re doing that I’ll get you your bag,” surprise flashed across my face but before I could ask he was gone. My mother kept yelling in the room behind me but I paid her no attention as I walked down the hall, I looked at the family photos there were some of all of us, apart from my dad, he was the only person you wouldn’t find in our hallway. I sighed and stopped looking at the photo’s they were just more incentive for me to stay. The first room was April’s; I took a deep breath I had to stay strong for her sake, and opened the door.

“Hey,” I said false joy in my tone. A green night light bathed the room in a gentle glow messy washing lined the floor, along with dolls and other toys, in one corner was a chest of drawers and on the opposite wall was a single bed with a small figure lying on top of it. I walked over to her blinking back tears and gave her a hug.

“Why are you going Ally?” April couldn’t pronounce both mine and Lucas’ names properly so when we where talking amongst ourselves we used the nicknames April had given us.

“Scoot over,” I told her gently, she wriggled over to the side of her bed away from me and I sat down.

“There comes a time when you need to leave where you feel most comfortable,” I told her gently,

“But why?” she asked curious,

“You’ll find out why when you’re older Pril,” I said,

“Well I want to be old now,” April huffed; I tapped my index finger on her nose.

“You want to stay as young as you can,” I smiled and lost my control slightly, a fat tear rolled down my cheek, I lifted my hand to brush it away but before I could April noticed it,

“Ally sad?” she asked,

“Ally is happy.” I told her smiling, “She is happy to have a beautiful girl like you for her sister,”

“Ally is happy. Means Pril is happy too,” she smiled and tapped my nose,

“Good, but it’s bedtime for Pril now,” I said softly,

“Will Ally visit Pril?” April asked,

“Ally will,” I promised,

“Good…” she trailed off and within a few seconds was breathing deeply, I was always surprised at how fast April could get to sleep, and I envied her for it.

“Goodnight April,” I whispered and kissed her forehead. I got off the bed gently and drew the covers up to her chin.

“I love you,”