Critical Information: Where Reality is in Question

[rossbondreturns]

Chapter One

On The Beach

The waves crashed and the cries of seagulls playing in the wind as they dodged the kites carried across the air. The water itself was nice and warm, sun block was applied to keep lobsterization from occurring. There were umbrellas and blankets covering just about every inch of dry sand, some even had beach chairs close enough so the end of the waves could tickle their toes. As usual in a California summer people had fled to the beach to escape incineration in the inner city or even further in the valley. Beach volleyballs were being batted around, Frisbees were flying and footballs were being thrown. Laughter. Cheering. Life.

If only it didn’t all end.

And my eyes didn’t have to sting with tears.

But it did, always did.

Every time.

And I didn’t know why.

It never made any sense.

How it started was always different.

I take her hand in mine and I feel she squeezing it gently. She is as beautiful as the new days dawn and seeing that beauty always make me wonder. What did I do to deserve her? How did I ever win her heart? Her shy smile, the one that gives her pixie dimples , make me forget all my questions. I want to get lost in those green eyes forever, her long raven hair flowing down just so. Reaching forward I brush it away from her eyes, and I see her pupils widen. And I know that the end is coming.

“The people.” She mumbles her voice trembling.

“I know, just look at me.”

And in the reflection in her eyes I saw Angels of Death. Their thrusters carried them over the beach, and then they opened fire. And the dunes of sand became piles of ash, the beach became a battlefield, the ocean ran with the blood of millions. Then she was gone from my hands faster then Phased Plasma can turn one to ash and cinder. But no…this cannot be real, this is only a dream.

In front of me there is a door, just standing on the beach like a monolith, a beacon of reality.

And I run towards it even as the sun is replaced by the blast of a Mushroom Cloud.

And the ocean is boiled to nothing.

Sand turns to glass.

And I step through the door.

And leave the beach.

As behind me, somewhere lost in my minds eye. Reality destroys another memory.

[rossbondreturns]

Chapter 2

Master Bedroom

I wake up and my body is tense, so tense the chords in my neck strain. I hear a scream but it's almost like a distant echo. Long raven hair cascades over my shoulder, and I feel her there and I know I am at peace.

With her.

The girl of my dreams.

"I hope I didn't wake you."

"It was the dream again wasn't it."

Turning to her I see the concern and the love wonderfully mixed upon that face and it hurts.

"Yes."

"Was I there?"

"You're always there. And you're always beautiful."

She smiles then lays back against the pillow.

Her voice sing songs to my ear, "Have you been taking the medications your Psychologist prescribed?"

I kicked my feet clear of the sheets and responded as I walked to the bathroom in the affirmative.

I turned on the light and the bulb burned burned out with a fizzle.

"I did need to take two though so thanks for reminding me."

Opening the medicine cabinet I pulled out the contained, eased off the cap and shook two fills into my hand.

She screamed in my ear for me to stop and knocked the pills out of my hand and into the sink where they rolled around until they plopped into the drain.

I had stopped him in the nick of time and I watched those glowing red eyes plop down the drain. Then I knocked the container out of his hands and those soulless red eyes rolled on the floor to a stop. And when they came to a stop they were all looking at me.

And I screamed...

[Derek Reese]

Interesting stuff so far Ross. Eager to see what else you have in store.

[Jordan]

OOOOOOOOOOOH I know what this is!!!!

[rossbondreturns]

Chapter 3

At The Grocery Store

*I had screamed as the bag had split, apples falling all over the aisle rolling hither and yon. Typical so annoyingly typical, crouching I began to pick up the apples one at a time placing them in another bag. Something always broke when I shopped. Whether the egg carton, oranges, wine bottles, something would end up all over the fraking place and nothing good would ever come of it. I reached for the last apple, but someones hand beat me to it by a bare moment.*

"Here you go Ma'am."

"Oh...thanks. You needn't have."

"But of course I should have and did. Besides not helping a pretty lady like you would be criminal negligence."

*He was still dressed in desert cammo, a soldier, in a world where soldiers rarely made it home.*

"Well thanks again. Mr-?"

"Denham...Marshall Denham."

"Thank You Mr. Denham."

*He smiled and it stirred something in me something I hadn't felt in a while. A sad happy nervousness, a feeling I felt I had long left behind. And he stood looking at me, studying me in the way only a soldier can, like he had all the time in the world. And then the moment was over and he...took the handle of my cart. From that moment on I knew he was something special.*

[rossbondreturns]

I'd like to say I'm sorry this story has sat dormant for so long. Been a touch busy and some of you know what I mean. Real writing projects and all.

Chapter 4

Wedding Day

I hated to wear tuxedos almost more than I hated wearing full dress for no apparent reason. Today though, was going to be different. Today I was going to get married. To the Love of my life.

"Heads up, hot chick in coming," whispered Todd, my best man slyly.

I gracefully realigned myself so I could see her walking down the aisle. God, my God. You have created a miracle and given her to me.

Butterfly Kisses.

Her hands are like the smoothest silk, and I could get lost in her eyes forever.

I spoke my vows to her.

"Cherish. You are God's divine providence to me. That broken bag of apples healed my life. When I came back from the war I had nothing, everything that I had loved was gone. You filled that void with love and care, you healed my broken heart. I do not deserve you, but you have always been there for me. And I will always be there for you. No matter where life takes us, it will take us there together. That is my vow from now until eternity."

And as I slip that ring on her finger grown women use up boxes of Kleenex.

And the Terminators applaud from the back row.

I don't remember them on the guest list.

[rossbondreturns]

Chapter 5: Nursery

*I took the night shift because she needed the sleep, the twins generally slept well and tonight that was the case. But I couldn't get to sleep myself and I knew just what that meant, our four year old would be up soon, he would come to the door with a request and I'd do my daddy duties.*

"Daddy," I heard his precious voice inquire.

"I'm up big guy," I responded stepping out of bed and into my slippers, walking over I took his hand, "let's go see what's up."

*We both walked quietly back to his room, but he stopped at the door. Kneeling beside him I asked him.*

"What's the matter?"

"There's a monster under my bed."

"Now Son we've been over this there's no such thing-"

*From under his bed I saw a red glow.*

"I'll check it out you wait right here."

*I approached his big boy bed and the red wouldn't go away, it casts his toys and books in a blood red spill. I looked under the bed.*

I had thought I was alone in the rubble but those red eyes lit up in front of me like gateways into hell. It's human face was falling off in places, dead skin, revealing a chrome skeleton of destruction. I had nowhere to run, nowhere to move to so instead of resigning myself to death I lunged at the machine instead.

We fell backwards into a void in the parking structure, and as I struggled against the raging machine I could catch glimpses of rusted out wrecks. It was live or die time, live or die. It was slashing against me tearing at me like a mad thing. I just tried to hold on, tried to fight it off when I realized it had a metal handle in its hand. I looked down as its hands reached for my throat and the explosion was so bright.

It was painfull.

Boots coming to a stop beside me.

Cherish.

She's working on my legs...but I can't feel them.

I am so charred I can't feel much of anything.

Being dragged.

Outside seeing the H/K Kestrels streaking by towards their targets.

A massive explosion turns night to day and carries Cherish backwards, aflame.

She lands and tries to put herself out.

I try to crawl to her to help.

Realize I have no legs.

She writhes.

I reach out.

"Thank You Daddy."

*I smile and touch my boys' hand. And it leaves soot or dirt smears behind. I begin to fear that I'm going crazy.*

"You're welcome Son."