Copyright © 2013 Joshua D Walker no part of this work may be copied without consent of the author Excerpt one from the book (subject to change): A war rages around us every day. Few recognize it is happening. We all choose sides, be it by a simple kindness or a vile act of harm. Our actions are driven by what our hearts tell us. We are motivated to act by the only two emotions that really exist; love and fear. We uplift, belittle, strengthen and weaken. The immortal forces of good and evil celebrate their successes and mourn their shortcomings. This war will continue to intensify until a final battle takes place. It has many names to many people. Christians know this battle as Armageddon. The Vikings knew it as Ragnarok. It will be a great and terrible day when Earth hosts this final conflict. Massive armies will assemble. Some will join together to defend love, while others will exist only to instill fear. Millions will suffer, and few will celebrate. However, the outcome is unavoidable. Light will pierce the darkness and grow to illuminate all. Evil will retreat to leave the righteous in eternal prosperity and absolute joy. Evil knows it cannot win. It knows physical death doesnt matter. Not in this war. Its goal is a spiritual death, to destroy the souls of as many as it is able, so that few can enjoy light’s inevitable victory. My purpose is to save as many people as I am able; to defend their physical bodies and to aid their spirits. We are nearing the end. Hell has opened its black gates and unleashed a mighty army. This is an army of myths. Creatures of corruption and darkness have been dispersed throughout the Earth. They beget doubt and cause dismay. Some people would call them monsters or supernatural beings. These creatures do exist. Unfortunately for them, so do I. Exerpt 2: Ancud, Chile 1871 The second time I encountered Flor was my second night in town. It went much better than the first. At least, I think it did. I had just finished my first day as a teacher. I thought I was prepared to teach my new class. It was arrogance on my part. I will never underestimate the power of an organized group of kids. Children, especially the younger ones who lacked attention spans, cut me down to size faster than an experienced lumberjack chops down a sapling. I had been humbled during class. If Flor were to humiliate me again it wouldn’t seem so bad. Not that I would have gone to a different place to eat anyway. This was the only locale that served food in the entire town. Staying home wasn’t really an option, either; as my cooking skills were not the best. Fortunately, many people were in a similar situation. It was not uncommon for residents of the town to eat in El Tiburon every night. I hoped that, in Flor’s eyes, this would keep me from looking like some strange stalker. Slipping through the door, I found a seat at the same table I had sat at the night before. That corner would soon become my regular spot. I’m not sure why, I’ve just always felt more comfortable with my back in a corner. On that night Flor wore an ornate purple dress. Most people, in those days, had only two or three changes of clothes and the clothes they had were generally very plain in color and style. Flor definitely stood out in this type of a setting. It was obvious she cared about her external appearance and I suspected she inherited this trait of meticulous grooming from her mother who always looked impeccable. Flor came over to me. Butterflies flew rampant in my stomach. I did my best to not let them influence my behavior. “My mom says she rented out her little hut.” Her eyes met mine. The sparkle in them and the sweet smell of exotic flowers was distracting. “That was you that moved into it? Wasn’t it?” “Your mother is a very sweet woman.” I said as my head nodded to confirm I indeed was the new tenant. “I am glad I was able to help her. To be honest, I’m also glad that I don’t have to look for a place anymore.” Flor smiled. “Thank you, I know it is tiny.” Saying it was tiny was a huge understatement. Still, I was not bothered by its size, as I was mostly only there to sleep. Flor continued. “Money has gotten tight for us recently. My dad, well, sometimes he brings us presents and stuff. But, to be completely honest, what we really need is money for food and necessities. You know? I just wish he was around more. He hasn’t been lately. I guess he has his reasons.” Flor paused. “I guess what I’m saying is thank you. Thank you for the help.” I was so focused on remaining calm and collected in front of her that I only absorbed about half of what she said. My brain, most definitely, was not functioning at its maximum capacity, at least not while I was in Flor’s presence. A quick mental note was made, that I would need to improve my listening skills for the rest of the conversation. Did she just share private information with me? I wasn’t sure, but I knew it was my turn to answer her. After stumbling over a few syllables, I was finally able to formulate a response. “I…. I.. I’m. I’m just glad I can help.” I thought. ‘Crap,’ as the realization hit me. I already said was glad to help. My eyes were still fixed on hers. She looked like she felt embarrassed for me. I needed to keep the conversation going. “Listen, I’m sorry about the other night. I’m sure guys in here are always telling you how pretty you are and things like that. It probably gets old and I’d imagine you’re sick of it. Here’s what I’ve noticed, though. There aren’t many people our age in town. Or, at least I don’t know of anyone. I haven’t made any friends yet. So, at the risk of further embarrassment to myself I’m just going to say this. I would like to get to know you better.” Her eyes tightened and her brow furrowed as she contemplated my words. She finally asked for clarification. “What do you mean get to know me better?” A hint of skepticism colored her words. “Just that I’d like to have a chance to talk to you every now and then.” I couldn’t get over how much my abilities were lacking in the skill of talking to a pretty woman. Never in my life had I ever been that bad at something. “It’s just, like I said, I don’t know many people here. It would be nice to have a friend.” My last comment was especially sincere. At that moment in time, my only friend, in Ancud, was Shadow. I missed the companionship of my old friends; I missed Gigante, and most of all I missed Miguel. “You are really not good at talking to women are you?” Flor verbally pointed out. There was a touch of pity in her voice. She was smiling at me. ‘Well, a smile is something’ I thought to myself. Excerpt 3: The water from the tide peaks. As the dirt of the earth absorbs it, the ground turns into something that I cannot decide; Is it clay or mud? I note what my footing will be like for the impending conflict with the Llorona. It will be a little slippery. I know I need to be careful. The calmness of the night is interrupted by a breeze. The breeze carries with it an eerie sound. Listening more intently, I can tell it is a voice. “Ayeeeeee Miiiiis hiiiiiiijos.” It cries in a high pitch extending the vowels. I am caught somewhat off-guard as I expected she would materialize before I heard her. Shadow’s bush moves, “Easy boy,” I calm him using a whispered tone. As with all of our conflicts, I do not want him to risk getting hurt. Especially if he doesn’t need to take that risk. He is only here to back me up, and only if I need his help. I see his orange eyes glowing. They stare at me from behind the inadequate bush. They bob up and down as his head nods yes. I can tell he understands. Turning back to the stream I notice a light that starts on the water’s surface and extends upward. It begins to change its shape and takes on the form of a woman. She wears a flowing white dress. I do not see any feet extending from it. She glides over the surface to the bank of the stream. Moving toward the bank, she emits another squealing, high pitched, howl; mourning her lost children. Like every night, she is searching for them. She will never find them. I learned that spirits, in death, take on the appearance they had in life. Looking at the creature before me, I realized that she must have been beautiful. High cheek bones and thick lips attested to that fact. In her life, her hair must have been long. It flowed unbound, but I could not decipher the color in the bluish white glow of this ethereal being. She had an attractive slim figure as well. I wonder if the stories told about her were true; that a husband had cheated on her. If it were so then darkness certainly won that battle on more levels than one. It destroyed not only her life but his as well. It had ended the mortal existence of those most vulnerable; their innocent children. I pity her, wondering if, after I vanquish her, she will go to heaven or hell. She has not noticed us yet, which surprises me as I have not taken to any cover. In hope I can make her the aggressor, I shout at her. “I’m sorry. Your children have moved on to heaven. It is your turn to follow them.” Her hovering visage freezes, and her whole, vaporous form shifts; without any actual part of her body moving. Now she is facing me. Her forehead wrinkles and the tears that ran, unchecked, down her cheeks stop. She looks at me with confused eyes. I wonder if she understands what I said or if she is simply a residual spirit trapped in a pattern of reliving the last moments of her life. My wonderment, about what kind of spirit she is, receives an answer. The answer comes as quickly as lightning appears and disappears in the sky. It comes in the form of her face altering into a misconfigured fear inducing decayed resemblance of a human’s. She did understand what I said and is fully aware of her surroundings. Hollowed black holes now hold place where her eyes used to be. One ear hangs lazily near the lobe, detached on top. Fangs protrude from her mouth, shooting forward as she moves toward me. Her hands are outstretched. Two foot claws extend from each finger, replacing the nails.
Posted on: Sat, 19 Oct 2013 06:47:44 +0000
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