It would be impossible to detail every step of the lapsing of these monsters, - to tell how, day by day, the human semblance left them; how they gave up bandagings and wrappings, abandoned at last every stitch of clothing; how the hair began to spread over the exposed limbs; how their foreheads fell away and their faces projected; how the quasi-human intimacy I had permitted myself with some of them in the first month of my loneliness became a shuddering horror to recall.
The change was slow and inevitable. For them and for me it came without any definite shock. I still went among them in safety, because no jolt in the downward glide had released the increasing charge of explosive animalism that ousted the human day by day. But I began to fear that soon now that shock must come.
____________________________________
Mike Mackenzie smiled to himself and tossed the book aside, even as he turned off the television. Wells was a favorite of his; he had recently finished, The War of the Worlds and was about to begin reading The Time Machine. Wells was a consumnate gentleman, in his opinion, if you looked past the unpleasant business of his marrying his cousin and what have you.
Evidently Mr. Antonio of 1412 Amber Way felt the same way. Mike really did appreciate a man with a taste in classic literature, he really did. And apparently Mr. Hemlock was kind enough to donate his library to Mr. Mackenzie, if the fact that Mr. Hemlock was currently slumped on the couch bleeding profusely. Oh, wait a minute, that was him who had killed him. The idea that Mike could forget such a thing made him cackle suddenly, before he lit a cigarette and looked around at the flat, now a wreck stained with bloody fingerprints and one or two bulletholes. It wasn't sporting to pull a gun out on someone like that; Mike liked to give his victims a sporting chance. Usually, anyways.
The light on the horizon was interesting enough that the news had decided to run a story on it. Mike didn't really like watching television, except when it was about him. He had been appearing with more and more frequency on there anyways, but apparently tonight was not one of those great nights when the police discovered the last place he had decided to sleep. He did, however, dislike the way that they made him out to be a coldblooded thug, like everyone in the last prison he had escaped from. He was a gentleman, dammit, a conisesseur of life. Wasn't he?
Nonetheless, he would probably investiage that light tomorrow. He had read up on the Incas a few years ago, back in the prison library. Fascinating people, they were, a shame about the Spanish, a real downer, but that was the way of things. It was reassuring to know that some of their contributions to global culture had remained untouched by the passage of time.
edited 31st Dec '11 7:24:54 PM by Locoman
Before the great light appeared John Jackson could easily see a pattern in his life, on weekdays, I wake up, go to school, learn stuff that I'm likely not going to use in the future, eat lunch alone, recess has the same isolation, go back to class to learn more useless stuff, go back home, do homework, dinner and emptily surf on the internet before bed. And on weekends, it was basically a little homework, a lot of web surfing and playing with Linda for a bit.
When the pillar finally appeared, John kept on hearing talk about it. It came from God as a gift or punishment, it was a message sent by aliens, it was merely natural phenomena that science had yet to explain...but one thing came out in the boy's mind, this subject might be what makes him friends. However, whenever he tried to enter conversations...all that happened was awkwardness...he should have figured it out, he couldn't make friends the week he moved so there's no chance for him to make friends now.
And so, John waited for the light to disappear so he could continue the mediocrity of his life...
However he wouldn't be finished talking about it, as one afternoon, his sister Linda asked "John, what do you think the light is?"
With all the answers that he was given, John couldn't figure out how to answer his sister "I'm not sure..."
"I heard it's an angel, giving everyone good luck!" Linda said those words with a bright smile on her face
Oh John wished what his sister was saying was true, than he might have made some friends! Trying to hide how much the words hurt, the brother responded "Is that so?"
The excitement in Linda's voice dimmed as she said "Yeah...I heard the angel is going to go soon, I wish it could stay."
"Hey, that's not the only way you can get good luck. Maybe you'll find a four-leaf clover."
"But that only works on one person...I want everyone to have good luck!"
The conversation continued between the two until dinner time. Linda...at least John had her...
edited 1st Jan '12 7:25:32 AM by JustaUsername
Some people say I'm lazy. It's hard to disagree.
Sparkle Kedavra!
Nothing could have been more ordinary for Beth Herendell than March 27th. The only priorities of her were to stop by the local post office for stamps, for her parents, and to pick up the water bottle that she had left behind at the last gymnastics lesson. Well, maybe the first thing that could have made the day slightly less ordinary, was after visiting the gymnastics center, there was some light in the corner of her eye, a strong light, that irritated her eyes, and the irritation wouldn't go away for a while. Other than that, the only thing that she really wanted to do was to curl up on the velvet blue couch in front of her parents' small black television, with a nice, warm bowl of chili.
Her eyes flickered as she intensified her stare at the television in front of her, and searched through the channels. Just like her day, there wasn't much. At first she was slightly interested by a film of the local city orchestra, her true interest was captured on only the next channel.
Just this morning, a pillar of white light that could be seen from almost anywhere in the world lit up. The light, originally so bright as to be hard to look at, has now dimmed to the point where it cannot be seen clearly in broad daylight. Its position has been tracked to a remote location in Peru, South America, but local geographers have been unable to identify exactly where. Speculation among historians has linked it to the ancient Incan myth of the Heart of Desire.
"The Heart of Desire..." she repeated to no one in particular, scooping herself another spoonful of chili. She frantically searched through her thoughts - she KNEW that she'd heard of it somewhere. Beth definitely remembered studying the Incas, but the memory was so long ago and so hazy that she couldn't remember about this "Heart of Desire".
The thoughts traveled to the light that it told about. Maybe that was what bothered her eyes? It made sense, it was a pretty strong light, and it wasn't something that someone could just ignore. Except for, just possibly, her. Beth still had no idea how or why she ignored it at this point... what would she have seen if she actually could look directly at strong light.
"Bethie!" a shrill voice from the kitchen, her mother's voice, called out, snapping her out of her thoughts, "Come out here and fold the laundry once you're done messing around!"
"Okay, mom!" she yelled back, immediately shutting off the television, and rushing for the exit of the living room. She didn't have time to wonder about the myths. For right now, she had more important things to do.
There will be that one day that my bad luck will come to an end. It won't come for about thirteen hundred years, though.
Shortly after dinner, there came a rattle at the door. A letter was posted through, in an envelope immaculately presented and as clean as new. On the front, in plain yet faint joined-up writing with a coloured pen, was written To John.
______________________________
Just as the last item of clothing was sorted, there came a rattle at the door. A letter was posted through, in an envelope immaculately presented and as clean as new. On the front, in plain yet faint joined-up writing with a coloured pen, was written To Beth.
...
Hurray for brief respite. Simon thought as he flicked the TV on. In the thirty seconds he had before one of his parents popped out of nowhere to chastise him for not studying or doing something intellectual or profitable, he was going to do something distinctly not 'studying', 'intellectual' or 'profitable'.
...Now that's an interesting news segment. Simon wondered, watching a report about a beam of light. He hadn't exactly noticed that with all the boring crap he had to shoulder his way through that day.
This 'Heart of Desire' thing caught his interest however. What the hell was it? Probably nothing more than a myth. But if its name was any indication, it was...
Nah, it was crazy. Why would something like that exist? It was ludicrous. Like the giant pillar of light that was supposedly out there.
...Hm.
Simon sat there in wonder. Could it really exist? This Desire thingy? He could certainly use it, assuming it did grant desires. This life annoyed the crap out of him. Something needed to change...
"Simon?" His father entered the room. "What're you doing sitting around? Come on, you'll need to learn about investments."
Simon groaned softly. "Goodie. I was worried that I'd completely forget how to throw my money at someone and hope he cloned the notes."
"Don't get smart with me," His father warned lightly. "Now, come here."
...Should probably decide really soon if this is worth it. Simon thought.
The Warrior Monk of Coeurl
The bar was about as rowdy as one might expect in southern California, which was really applicable most anywhere. It was a spacious place, with a bar lining one wall, an assortment of drinks behind that being shuffled around by bartenders working to fill the orders of customers either talking to eachother, flirting a bit or watching the overhead television, booths concentrated towards either side of the door filled with the more sober people who were content with enjoying a drink and a pool table or two taking up the other end occupied by the more drunk and risk taking crowd. There were a couple tables out in the center of the place, but these were for the most part unused.
Alan was, on this day, one of the more sane crowd, occupying a booth on one of the side walls next to a window, his guitar case propped next to the seat. He was laid back, one arm draped over the seat, the other holding his drink- just a regular beer, he didn't feel like getting anything better today - and his hat tipped low. Indeed, today was a day of reflection, and days like that usually sucked.
He turned his attention briefly, if only to stop him from thinking, to the TV, on which a news cast was playing. He came in late, but the TV had subtitles on for the people who couldn't hear over the damn ruckus, so that was good.
At this point, Alan stopped reading. The only interesting thing had just been said. But what the hell were they talking about? Alan tipped his hat up, glancing outside to check.
It was barely visible from his angle, but he saw it- a pillar of light. It was practically screaming 'I'M RIGHT HERE!', for crying out loud!
"Note to self: See about catching a plane to South America...", Alan muttered, tipping his hat down again and drinking his beer. "If the damn thing's gonna point itself out to me, might as well see what all the fuss is about..."
edited 1st Jan '12 12:21:26 PM by InfiniteParagon
"You lost, Dio. You lost for one simple reason - you were using charcoal." - Hank Hill
Elizabeth had woken up several hours early and prepared the day, made sure her uniform was cleaned and pressed so it would be free of wrinkles. After showering she braided her hair into a long braid going down her back, using two hair clips to to keep the hair on the sides of her head instead of falling down in front of it and obscuring her vision.
Elizabeth examined the breakfast she had prepared for the young mistress and smiled before moving it unto a tray and carrying it towards Yuki's room.
"Young mistress, it's ti..." She began call out as she opens the door and enters Yuki's bedroom, however, she grew silent as she saw that Yuki was still sleeping heavily. So Elizabeth quietly placed the tray on the wheelchair placed in the room before sitting herself down on a stool next to the bed, softly pulling hair away from the sickly young lady's face and whispers to her "Young mistress, it's time to wake up, it's a beautiful day."
PARTY PARTY PARTY I WANNA HAVE A PARTY
The key slid into the lock, bittings perfectly in place. The bittings moved the wafers, aligning them perfectly with the shear line. The cylinder rotated with his hand, matching his movements perfectly. And the door to his luxury condo gently opened inward, stopping perfectly parallel to wall, only inches from it. A perfect, functioning system. Not a piece, not a step, not a movement out of line, out of place.
That's how it has to be, after all. In order for something to work properly, it must work perfectly. Every piece must fit, every step must flow, every movement must be used to the utmost. There cannot be another way. If something doesn't work as it should, the system itself will not work, and therefore it must be replaced, either with a new system or a new part. The new piece will resume function and the faulty piece will be cast aside, and forgotten. For it does not work as it should. That is the way of things. The way it always has been, and the way it always must be. For if it is not, then...
Travis sighed. Then what? Time will stop? The world will fall to pieces? Stop waxing philosophical, it doesn't do anything. Polished hardwood floor met polished designer loafers as Travis stepped into his home, briefcase in hand. Yes, his home. Apartment 151, Liberty Luxe. Hardwood floors, fully stocked kitchen, designer furniture, master bed and bath, study, living room equipped with all the amenities, and a patio overlooking the city. The best condo money could buy here in Manhattan, the best home. And yet it was no home to him. Merely an extension of his work. How many did he still have to call? Twenty? Thirty? It didn't really matter. Come sunrise the next morning, they'd be done. One way or another.
He sat down on his couch and turned on the news, stretching after a long day's work. A day that still wasn't done, he reminded himself. Straightening himself out, he carefully placed the briefcase on the living room table and jabbed at the combo lock. It clicked and the briefcase sprung open, bearing its contents. It was names. Names and numbers. Of some of the most wealthy and influential men in the state, in the region even. And he had been appointed, by his father no less, to be the one to call them and ask for their political and financial support in the upcoming election. An important task, certainly. Which made him a very important piece.
He stared at the paper before him. How easy it would be for him to cock this up. How easy it would be to be that faulty piece. He wouldn't even have to do anything. Just stop working. Stop working. Stop being just another piece. Another gear that orbited his father, spinning as he spun. If he just stopped working, he could be free. He could be thrown away, forgotten, like any other faulty piece. Like any other faulty piece. A faulty piece... thrown away
He sighed, and picked up his phone.
More on that later, but first, an update on our top story.
What? Oh, right. The news. He had turned that on, hadn't he? Oh well, he could spare a minute. Let's hear this "top story".
Just this morning, a pillar of white light that could be seen from almost anywhere in the world lit up. The light, originally so bright as to be hard to look at, has now dimmed to the point where it cannot be seen clearly in broad daylight. Its position has been tracked to a remote location in Peru, South America, but local geographers have been unable to identify exactly where. Speculation among historians has linked it to the ancient Incan myth of the Heart of Desire. Because of this, numerous individuals from across the world have already announced expeditions to locate the source of the light. We now turn you over to a live report from Tara Nudn.
The Heart of Desire? Where had he heard that before? It sounded familiar. Wasn't that an old myth about some jewel? Yeah, a jewel called the Heart of Desire, so named for how it made its owner's greatest desire reality. It was an old myth, one that not many knew anymore. But still, that's all it was. A myth. And this light, just a mass hallucination. Collective obsessional behavior. And then Travis looked outside, and saw for himself the truth of things. There it was, unbelievably, undeniably. A bright pillar of light, stretching down to Earth like God Himself had sent it. Or maybe cast it out.
Incredible... How had he not seen it until now? It was absolutely amazing. Not that it matters, he thought, shaking his head. Whatever this was, myths were still myths. Fantasies to comfort the hearts of men. And what a comfort this one was. A jewel that granted your heart's desire? Get real. He picked up the phone again, and began to dial. He looked at his calendar. Then again, even if it was a myth, it wouldn't hurt to go see it. Maybe get some pictures of whatever it was. Would make a great story. He might even be able to fit it into the campaign. And he did have a few weeks of vacation stored up that he needed to use before the campaign went into full swing.
Travis picked up the list of names, and added one more at the bottom. The name of his travel agent. He'd give her a call after he'd finished with all this. Book himself a flight to South America, for a much-deserved vacation. But before all that, he thought, shuffling the papers back in order, he had some calls to make. Better get started.
edited 2nd Jan '12 12:47:05 AM by KSPAM
I've got new mythological machinery, and very handsome supernatural scenery. Goodfae: a mafia web serial
A plane flies across the ocean as a man looks out the window, watching the clouds. An older man walks to his seat.
"Terry, this trip will do wonders for you. I just pray you let go of what happened." The man said.
"... Dad, you heard the testimonies. They deserved to go to jail." Terry said.
"Please, for our sake, don't dwell in the past." A woman next to his dad said.
"When I become a cop and I see them mucking about, there will be hell to pay..." Terry muttered. The two people held their hands.
"Don't worry honey, he will get over it one day..." Terry's dad said.
edited 1st Jan '12 5:12:39 PM by Psyga315
John's father got the door and gave his son the letter.
The boy looking at the letter wondered who would submit such a thing to him, he didn't have any friends to give him invitations or stuff like that, he didn't excel nor fail at school so they wouldn't send a letter straight to him and he didn't really do anything in town.
John went up to his room and opened the letter, only than could he figure out the sender...
Some people say I'm lazy. It's hard to disagree.
Sparkle Kedavra!
The chore was done, all the clothes were folded and sorted, and Beth could go back to being lazy... or so she thought. She had gotten as far as settling back on the couch, turning the television on (which no longer documented the "Hearts of Desire"), and eating a little bit more chili, when the familiar voice rang out again;
"BETHIE!"
She flinched as she heard her name; it had been a while since she'd heard her mother yell so loud. Although her mom didn't sound angry, or excited, she sounded pretty neutral... she just yelled it, super loud.
"Coming!" she hollered back, once again setting down her meal, and found her mother standing by the front door, with an envelope in one hand. Beth tried to read what was on the letter at first, but it was too far away for her to see, at least for now. "What is it?" Beth asked, her eyes seeming to jump all over the place, which she thought was caused slightly by the fact that she almost knew what her mother had called her for... but almost. The letter was the obvious part, but what was it...?
"This letter came in the mail for you, Beth -" her mother held out the letter to her, which Beth immediately took, "- do you know who it's from? Is it one of your friends? Maybe a college?" At the last statement, Beth's mother's eyes seemed to glimmer in hope for a quick second.
Inspecting the letter, Beth had absolutely no idea who would have sent it to her. The font of the words "To Beth" were much different from any of her friends, and it definitely was not a college. She still refused to budge from her parents' house, so the possibility of a college was quite obviously eliminated.
"No mom," the twinkle in her mother's eyes left as quick as it came, "I don't know who it is, but thanks!" Beth turned around, back towards the living room, and sat the letter down next to her chili. She took another spoonful of the meal - over the time that she had gone, the chili had grown cold. Standing up once more, she brought the bowl into the kitchen, and set it in the microwave, for exactly one minute.
Waiting for her dinner to be ready again, she glanced back towards the living room, back to the letter, and stared at the envelope on the table. It was absolutely foreign to her, she had never really received many envelopes like it in her life. She picked up the letter again, and held it up to her face, to look at the addressing again; "To Beth", and that's all it said. It still remained a mystery to why she had gotten this letter, but, there was only one way to find out. She tore open the envelope with her bare hands, and looked at the note inside.
There will be that one day that my bad luck will come to an end. It won't come for about thirteen hundred years, though.
Inside the envelope, John found a few sheets of paper, four plane tickets on the next flight to Peru, and a small scrap of paper that said You can settle for an ordinary life. Or do you feel like you were meant for something better? Something special? A brief glance showed that the first sheet of paper was titled The Legend of the Heart of Desire.
______________________________
Inside the envelope, Beth found a few sheets of paper , two plane tickets on the next flight to Peru, and a small scrap of paper that said Always remember: You're braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think. A brief glance showed the first sheet of paper was titled The Legend of the Heart of Desire.
edited 3rd Jan '12 1:44:00 AM by LizardOfAus
Two tickets to where the Heart of Desire was, the thing everyone was talking about...this has to be a prank. It's like how some people trick naive children about them being Wizards who were admitted to Hogwarts.
Still, John was curious to see how much work they put in the prank, the tickets did look authentic and there were enough for his whole family. John kept on reading...seeing what the other sheets of paper had to say.
edited 3rd Jan '12 7:33:44 AM by JustaUsername
Some people say I'm lazy. It's hard to disagree.
Here is what that sheet said.
edited 2nd Jan '12 1:36:17 AM by LizardOfAus
Sparkle Kedavra!
The first thing that Beth found was the paper with the worldwide-popular quote. No matter how many times she heard it, she never really believed it Psh, are you kidding? If anything, it's the complete opposite for braggarts... and me? No, I'm not smart, or anything. But what's this about...?
Next, she saw the legend. This was obviously more interesting to her than the quote. She squinted her eyes as she read; from first word to last, she couldn't piece together if she'd heard it before or not. Give it up, Beth, there's no way that you could remember. You're just making it up to believe that your smarter. That quote is going to your head!
Tossing the scrap of paper and the legend papers aside, all that was left was the Peru tickets. Her eyes widened and buzzed around at how intensely she was looking at the tickets. And there were two! Wait... two?
Her surprised expression turned into a frown. She'd have to leave one of her parents behind if she brought another parent to Peru. Maybe she'd just go by herself, and leave both of her parents behind? Or ask for another loan from her parents to bring both of them to Peru? None of the answers that she gave herself were satisfactory to her brain. But, for just one minute, an idea popped into her head. She raced towards the home phone, and dialed her older brother's number. She counted the times that the phone rang before he picked up; one ring, two ring, three ring, four - "Hello?"
"Caleb, it's Beth," she replied to her brother quickly, "I just got this strange letter and it has this paper talking about this thing called the Hearts of Desire and I have no idea who sent it to me or what it's supposed to mean, but I -"
"Whoa, whoa, Beth, calm down!" her brother, Caleb, interrupted her. "Slow down! What are you trying to say? What's the main point?"
Immediately, without thinking, Beth blurted over the phone, "Will you go to Peru with me?!"
An awkward silence leered over the phone, and while Beth was a couple of miles away from her brother at the minute, she couldn't tell if he was upset or shocked, or surprised.
"Um, Beth..." he started another awkward silence. Something to Beth sounded like he was about to say something to deny her request. But instead, he said, after a couple more moments, "...Why do you want me to go to Peru with you?"
"Well, someone here wants me to go with some other person, who I hope could be you, to do something that I don't know about yet... there isn't really a reason, Caleb, it's just one of those useless adventures that you've always wanted to go on!"
Caleb laughed over the phone. "Alright, Beth, you've convinced me, I'll go with you, just give me twenty minutes -"
"Thanks Caleb! You're the best!" Beth hung up the phone, and mentally celebrated. She was actually going to Peru, with her brother! But the celebration didn't last long, as she still had a lot to do; grab her passport, pack a suitcase, wait for Caleb... she snatched the papers, even the scrap paper with the quote. As she passed her mother in the kitchen to get to her room, she yelled, "MOM, I'M GOING TO PERU!!!!"
"That's great, Bethie - wait, what?!?"
edited 2nd Jan '12 6:37:40 AM by PottedHair
There will be that one day that my bad luck will come to an end. It won't come for about thirteen hundred years, though.
Unlike a certain albino, John wasn't finished with the pieces of paper. So far he was thinking that whoever wrote this was a bit dedicated to the prank...writing a whole history about the "Heart of Desire". John couldn't tell whether he should admire the one who wrote this or be creeped out...
edited 2nd Jan '12 7:18:05 AM by JustaUsername
Some people say I'm lazy. It's hard to disagree.
The next page was printed thus:
| January 1st, 1200
| January 29th, 1606
| March 1st, 1809
| September 1st, 1910
| July 29th, 1961
| Janu
| October 22nd, 1999
| March 27th, 2006
The next page was covered in an equally nonsensical list of dates and numbers, and the page after that was a detailed description of the 'Nahuiollin Temple', inside and out. Whoever put them in was either a nutcase, or borrowed them from a nutcase thinking they would come in handy.
edited 2nd Jan '12 8:08:03 AM by LizardOfAus
Mad Pinoy
Somewhere in North Carolina, Dani Lee was finishing preparing the family table for dinner time when the news broadcast about the pillar of light and the Heart of Desire came on. Her curiosity was piqued, as the Heart of Desire was one of the greatest Incan myths that was discussed in her class concerning South American history.
She opened her laptop to do some last-minute research on the Heart of Desire before dinner. As she read on, she thought Imagine how the world could be helped if the Heart actually existed! What happened tonight can't be coincidence, or a prank. I'd go after it, but it's a Monday, and I have school tomorrow. Whoever's exploring for it better know what good they're going to do with it...
"Dani! Get your siblings! It's time for dinner!" her father hollered. "Coming!" she said while closing her laptop.
Dani went upstairs and gathered her brothers, who were playing video games, and her youngest sibling, her only sister, and went downstairs with them to eat dinner prepared by their mother.
edited 2nd Jan '12 9:02:11 AM by Insano
Allurand and surrounding world loading, 28%...
Sparkle Kedavra!
Beth waited by the door for her elder brother, one suitcase in hand. She looked tired at first; she had to look carefully to make sure that she would dress appropriately for Peruvian climate because of her... condition. For a while, she sat on the front porch, when, after several minutes, a familiar dark blue minivan parked in the driveway. Grinning from ear to ear, she ran up to Caleb's minivan, and sat down in the seat next to her brother, a tall, 23-year-old man with moderate length blonde hair. "Hi Caleb, long time no see!" she said as she hooked up her seatbelt.
"No kidding! You still living with mom and dad?"
Beth rolled her eyes. "Of course, Caleb, don't you remember? I'm not moving out, ever."
"Whatever you say, sis," he replied, as if in a joking manner. He pulled the van out of the driveway and headed for the airport. "So, this random trip to Peru, is there really a meaning to it?"
She shook her head. "Not really." At this point, she lifted up the sheets of paper, the tickets, and the scrap of paper. "Unless you counted this relevant..." she stared at the papers some more, and fiddled them around in her hands, before she realized; there were more papers that had gotten stuck on the back of the other papers. "Oh..."
"Hm? What?" Caleb stopped the van at at stop light and turned to his sister.
"More papers." She answered simply. As she explored the pages that she had missed before, she noticed... nothing really made sense. Raising an eyebrow and looking closer at the print made no difference. This action gained more attention from Caleb.
"Um... is something wrong, Beth?"
She shook her head, still looking at the papers. "Not really. Unless you can tell me what this means... 'January 1st, 1200, January 29th, 1606, March 1st, 1809-"
"Sounds like random dates."
Beth glared at Caleb, then rolled her eyes again. "I know that, but what does it..." she turned over the page and found more numbers, more random text... then something about a temple. "...Nahuiollin Temple." she said aloud. Gaining one last awkward look from her brother, the stoplight flashed green, and the van moved on. She read about the temple, but still didn't understand it's relevance to much of anything.
"...By the way, thanks for coming along." Beth said out of nowhere, as if to start a conversation with Caleb.
"Not a problem, sis. Gonna cost me a few days down at the market, but no big deal."
She nodded. Not sure of what to say next, she simply sat there in silence, eyes wandering all the while, although looking back at the papers just a few more times, to try to see what it was trying to say. She looked through her suitcase and picked up the envelope, setting what she had read back into the envelope. And the letter remained on her lap.
There will be that one day that my bad luck will come to an end. It won't come for about thirteen hundred years, though.
Cessant Sinner in Red
"-We now turn you over to a live report from Tara Nudn-"
Click
A break from the mediocrity... Might just be what I need. Dylan plops onto his bed, staring at the ceiling. Of course he had heard this myth before. He studied Archaeology. But he had only considered it ancient hogwash. But when he looked out his window, he could see it, that bright pillar of light that signaled.... something. Its shine, coming into his window, gave him an idea.... He needed some extra credit anyways.... But bah, money for a trip to Peru... Never going to happen. Short enough on money anyways... but then again... He could get away from all these assholes... And if the pillar is real... the myth could be too...
Dylan stands up. I HAVE to go... Hehe... Free from all these ignorant fools and pompous professors.. Only the situation of money is a problem. Stupid ridiculous loans...
Dylan sighs. "Damnit. I'll just have to figure something out..." He plops down on the bed, sinking deep into the soft matress, as he ponders how this would work. "It'd cost about... 18 hundred.... Damnit.... But the thing I want most... Worth it." He walks over to a desk in his dorm, pulling out a giant textbook, and flipping through to the section on the myth of the Heart of Desire.If it's true, I only have thirty days... Heh... I'd need a last minute ticket for sure. The stone... would have to be somewhere in the forested areas in the Peruvian mountains... On the edge, rather. So not as large as it could be... still pretty large. Could it be one of the mountains itself? Hmm... How would you get through? ... Would it work on compasses, and GPS? They didn't have those things when it was invented... But it is, supposedly, magic. It still might... There would have to be a path through it to the temple... but it would be dangerous, I imagine. Ugh... I'm going to need other people, aren't I... God fucking damnit. So that would be a larger cost... Well, there are sure to be other people thinking the same thing. I might be able to hook up with some of them. Dylan continues pondering in this way for some time, eventually coming to one, final conclusion. "There's no way in hell I can make this work." He stands up, cursing in defeat. "Well.. Maybe it is a hoax, at least..."
edited 2nd Jan '12 1:09:55 PM by neopie
I ship it.
PARTY PARTY PARTY I WANNA HAVE A PARTY
He nodded and handed the blue pass over to her. "Steve will know if this is his handwriting," he said. "I bet you a million dollars it is."
David - Stay ahead of the mummy
I John 4/8 Remember!
She read the scrawled message, her lips moving. "I'd bet a million of my own that it's his, if I had a million," she said. "Do you understand the reference, David?"
David took the blue pass. "Of course. First John, chapter four, verse eight. 'God is love.'"
She looked at him for a long time. "Is he, David? Is he love?"
"Oh, yes," David said. He folded the pass along its crease. "I guess he's sort of. . . everything."
Cynthia waved. Mary waved back and gave her a thumbs-up. Steve pulled out and Mary followed him, the Acura's wheels rolling reluctantly through the first ridge of sand and then picking up speed.
David put his head back against the seat, closed his eyes, and began to pray.
And thus ended the last six and a half hours of his flight. Travis yawned, and leaned back into his seat. Guess he could check yet another book off his list of unread Stephen King novels. And after not just devouring, but forcing the book down his gullet bit by meaty bit for these last few hours... Honestly, he was rather disappointed. Not by the book itself, mind you. The book was a tour de force. Then again, so was just about everything King wrote.
It was just disappointingly short, or at least it had seemed that way. Travis squinted at the tiny print in the bottom right hand corner of the last page. 704. That was more than a hundred pages an hour. Guess it was true what they said. You really do read a good book faster.
He sighed and closed the book, putting an end to the story. And, if his ears popping were any indication, his flight too. Over the intercom, the tinny and distorted voice of the pilot could be heard announcing, "We are now arriving at Jorge Chávez International Airport. Please fasten your seatbelts and prepare for landing."
Travis did as he was told, and buckled up, quitely reflecting on the book's ending. "God is love".... "I guess he's sort of everything." He closed his eyes, sighing. It was true, he guessed. If there was a God, wouldn't being everything be a part of job? He could certainly see how it made sense to say something like that.
Still, he thought that this passage managed to outshine it: "You said 'God is cruel' the way a person who's lived his whole life on Tahiti might say 'Snow is cold.' You knew, but you didn't understand. Do you know how cruel your God can be, David? How fantastically cruel? Sometimes he makes us live."
"Sometimes he makes us live" indeed.
edited 2nd Jan '12 11:29:55 PM by KSPAM
I've got new mythological machinery, and very handsome supernatural scenery. Goodfae: a mafia web serial
The Warrior Monk of Coeurl
Early the next day, Alan was on his way to boarding a flight to South America. It might amaze others, how he did stuff like this almost entirely on a whim, but Alan had lived his entire life living on a whim. Want to visit a national landmark? Why not? Thinking about hitting the road and just travelling? Get some gas and go!
Was it the easiest thing in the world? No. Getting on a flight especially wasn't a walk in the park, when you carry a sidearm around five-ish years after some terrorist attack he didn't hear much about until afterward. Alan knew from experience just to keep it separate, have your liscence handy and to do whatever the hell they told you. And even then, he got shit for it.
This time in particular, he got on the plane just barely before it was too late, gun and ammo in two separate bags near his guitar case nowhere on him and far out of reach.
Now came the harder part: surviving a several hour trip with nothing much to do other than think, sleep and eat whatever the hell they gave you on the flight.
Being in no particular mood to reflect on anything, especially after he had just left another city full of people and memories, Alan forced himself to sleep as soon as they were in the air.
Still, easier said than done.
edited 3rd Jan '12 7:08:53 AM by InfiniteParagon
"You lost, Dio. You lost for one simple reason - you were using charcoal." - Hank Hill
The pieces of paper proves it, whoever made it is dedicated. Well...even if these tickets were real, there was no way he'd be able to check it out for himself. He's only a 12-year-old boy plus he's parents would just write off the letter...he should just throw it away and than probably call the police...
"Hey John, is that the letter you got" asked Linda at the door of John's room.
John responded "Yeah, it's an invitation to the location of the angel."
Why did he just have to say it so bluntly...why did he have to call the "Heart of Desire" an angel...
Linda's response is to be as expected. "Really!?" she said with Joy.
"Um...er..." John couldn't think of an appropriate response.
"I have to tell Mom & Dad" said Linda about to go off before John said "Wait!"
Linda turned back towards his brother, with her eyes staring straight at her. "Our parents won't accept the tickets unless we say it in the right way."
These tickets were fake...they will get rejected at the airport immediately...and yet, John couldn't help but think of way to convince his parents that they were real. Maybe a part of him wants to teach his sister of the harshness of reality...maybe a part of him doesn't want Linda to hate her parents...maybe he believed the tickets might actually be legitimate but whatever the case, he was going to the airport with these tickets.
"Oh okay!" shouted Linda before eventually saying "Well...what would be the right way?"
John responded "Well...the letter had my name on it so I say that I won a lottery."
Linda could tell that what John asked seemed like...lying. "Is that how you really won the tickets?"
In rebuttal, John asked "Do you want to see the angel up close?"
Linda's response was quick. "Lottery it is!"
And so, John convinced his parents that his tickets were legit and the packing began.
If the tickets are real, it would be nice...I could see the animals of Peru in their habitat, learn some of it's natural history...I wonder how close I could get to the Heart of Desire...
Some people say I'm lazy. It's hard to disagree.
While waiting for her Lady to wake up Elizabeth rises up and walks to the window, pulling away the curtains to let the sun in before she turns on the TV and hears the news about the pillar of light
Heart of Desire?
The night is brightened tonight.
Against the clear skies of the night, great bursts of sparkling light fly hither and thither. These are the fireworks welcoming in a new age. There are other lights in the sky; the softly glowing moon, the glimmering stars, even the lights from mankind’s vehicles blazing their trails across the wild black yonder. But on this night, of all nights, there stands a greater light.
Far away, in the distance, a pure white line, reaching from the ground below to the very sky above and no further. This great welcoming light is a beacon for the downhearted, a temptation for the wicked, and above all symbol of hope and reward.
Now see far away. As far from that light as you can go, where in all its radiance it stands as a glimmer in the distance. In that place lies a street of ruin, lined with shadows, and there a young woman stands. Her dress flickers above the pavement, a glowing lantern at her side, and her eyes glimmer as she watches the light in the distance.
She watches the beacon…
…and she remembers the day…
…the day that changed everything.
27th March, 2006
“Good evening and welcome to World News, I’m John Basseter. Coming up: Preliminary results for the Ukranian election put Viktor Yanukovich in the lead, a rare tornado in Germany killed two and caused a blackout for 300,000 people, and Al Queda conspirator Zacarias Moussaoui gave a shocking testimony regarding the events of 9/11. More on that later, but first, an update on out top story. Just this morning, a pillar of white light that could be seen from almost anywhere in the world lit up. The light, originally so bright as to be hard to look at, has now dimmed to the point where it cannot be seen clearly in broad daylight. Its position has been tracked to a remote location in Peru, South America, but local geographers have been unable to identify exactly where. Speculation among historians has linked it to the ancient Incan myth of the Heart of Desire. Because of this, numerous individuals from across the world have already announced expeditions to locate the source of the light. We now turn you over to a live report from Tara Nudn
The television was turned off.
edited 16th Apr '12 1:14:45 PM by LizardOfAus