A Short Story of Sorts

The car was speeding along the road, running from something or someone. The sky behind them was lightening toward dawn, the broken moon hanging low in the sky, growing ever closer with each passing day. Inside the car two people were watching their surroundings with white-knuckled intensity. They both knew that time was short, this mission dangerous, and their enemies around every corner. He was an author, a writer for the newly formed underground, dispensing the ideals of freedom, justice and equality. She was his lover, and his bodyguard, keeping him grounded and safe from their pursuers.

The night was ending and soon they would have to go to ground, hiding from the horrors that stalked the day. The all Seeing Eye’s of the Administration were almost everywhere and spreading fast. When the Moon broke people turned to their leaders for guidance and those leaders betrayed that trust, taking as much power as they could. The Administration was taking over and stamping out any opposition with brutal, and often deadly efficiency. The duo of intrepid heroes pulled off the main road, heading for deeper woods in their dilapidated old car, these days you could barely trust anything that wasn’t made before the 1970’s to many micro-chips and whatnot for the Administration to control.

They pulled off into a copse of willow trees, the car would be hidden from sight in this little glade, the over hanging branches would hide them from any conventional eyes, though more technologically advanced means of surveillance might still track them, only time would tell…time they no longer had. Each grabbed a few hours of sleep while the other kept watch, their dreams were troubled, sleep fitful, but these days everyone’s dreams were strange and fitful. Doctor’s and scientists blamed the encroaching moon, other folks who still left the cities and ventured off the beaten path knew that these days it wasn’t just the moon hanging to low in the sky that gave everyone nightmares. All the old legends seemed to be walking the countryside without a by your leave from the saner and more scientific minds. The cities were still free from these new dangers, but folks still knew not to go out after dark, something had changed.

The Daylight hours passed by without incident, each member of the intrepid duo taking a turn at the watch, dusk fast approached and they began preparations for returning back to the road. The writer, his tall frame stretching against the shadow’s adjusted his glasses and closed his eyes. Preparing his mind, and his spirit, for the task at hand. He pulled a piece of chalk, worn down to a nub, and began to whisper quiet words as he sketched arcane symbols and whorls along the outside of the car. They seemed to glow in the moonlight bright against the dull gray of the metal. When it was done he sagged against the car, as if the drawing took far more energy than it should. His companion helped him into the passenger’s seat and climbed behind the wheel, the routine was practiced and smooth. And soon they were on their way down the road.

They drove fast that day, their destination was close, and if they pushed it they would make it right as dawn was breaking. If they were lucky they would be sleeping in a bed tomorrow, and safe, safe at last. They drove fast that night pushing the limits of their machine and the enchantment on it, but neither cared, they were close, and that made them sloppy. Perhaps it was chance, perhaps it was the fact that their ride had reached its limit, whatever it was the damage was done, and the car broke down three miles from their goal, with dawn fast approaching.

“What now?” she asked, looking to him for guidance.

“Now…we run,” he replied a sardonic smile creasing his lips. There was no joy in that smile only resignation.

They took to their feet then, running through the woods, dodging through the shadows, as swift as a rabbit on the run. The danger was clear; as soon as they stepped from the car they could hear the howls in the distance, the sounds of their pursuers rose from the silent night all around them. The protective metal shell that had shielded them from the darkness gave them up now, and the horrors of the night were fast on their heels. On the road they ran now, all pretense of stealth forgotten in the chase, speed was their only asset if they could reach their goal, they could rest then.

The hot fetid breath of their demons stalked them, it was close, so very close, and their destination was only a few hundred meters ahead. With a last burst of speed they made it, or so they thought, but pursuit didn’t end at the boundary, something breached it something large, something angry.

They ran then fear giving their feet wings, until she fell behind turning to face their tormentor, a grim determined look in her eye. He stopped then, begging her to follow, begging her not to do this, tears in his eyes, another friend would die to save him. He couldn’t live with that torment again. Not again.

She turned her eyes filled with sorrow, and smiled, she would do this, one last sacrifice, one last life to pave the way, to end the darkness, and then she turned.

He left, stealing his heart to the pain, vowing that her death would be the last, and ran on. He reached the door to their destination as the sounds of battle filled the air behind him. She was a warrior and would give the beast as good as she would get, for a time. But no person can battle the darkness that consumed the world without help, and no help was coming for her that night.

As he entered the building his companions within joyous at his return, he listened for her last cry, those around him saw the sorrow in his eyes, and fell silent as they waited at the threshold of their sanctuary. But no cry came, and the sounds of battle ceased, darkness pressed in, the light seemed to be leaching out of the surrounding fixtures, and the moon hanging bloated and broken in the sky dimmed for the first time since the cataclysm. The world was silent and hushed, a pregnant anticipation. And from that silent darkness, his companion walked, her eyes shining in the shadow.

“How?” he gasped.

“How?” they chorused behind him.

Her answer was a smile, as she walked into his arms, everyone else crowding around congratulating and cheering their comrade. No one saw, in the deepest of the shadows, a tail slithering into the distance, and a faint glow coming from the eyes of his friend.

The End…for now.