I have barely stepped into the office before strong hands grasp me from behind and force me to the floor. I find myself remembering the police doing the same outside our house and staring up at the dirty broken windows, understanding for the first time that you no longer live there.
The Director walks calmly over, his expensive suit unmarked by its enveloping shroud of flames. He kneels down, his face so close to mine that I can see the howling abyss behind his eyes.
‘I am truly sorry,’ he whispers. ‘You have fought well but it is over now – you must accept that.’
Then he stands and speaks to his lieutenants holding me down. ‘You reduced the medication far too soon. Please make sure this never happens again.’
I struggle but their grip is firm and unshakeable. After the needle’s scratch on my thigh, I can feel a deadening paralysis creep upwards.
Leading the holy army, you’d have thought I might have prayed more often. But when I spoke to the empty air, all that returned from the silences were memories of your shining eyes and the soft music of your laughter.
And they are all I have now.
Comments
rjnewlyn | August 17, 2010 - 00:08
A bit of a gap before the next one as away for a bit. Sorry not to leave it on a happier note ...
Rob
celticman | August 17, 2010 - 00:22
That's ok. Look forward to the next one.
lenchenelf | August 17, 2010 - 09:52
Like the continued ambiguity as the two apparent realities merge,
'his expensive suit unmarked by its enveloping shroud of flames.'
atb lena xx
MistakenMagic | August 17, 2010 - 11:58
'After the needle’s scratch on my thigh, I can feel a deadening paralysis creep upwards.'
- really loved this description, Rob. Very realistic in a surreal world!
Magic xxx
insertponceyfre... | August 17, 2010 - 12:23
I like the way you're clashing the worlds together Rob - like Lena I also love the shroud of flames. Come back soon with another one please - you're not doing a road trip are you?
Beeme | August 17, 2010 - 16:33
There are some really great images in here, I like this one in particular;
"He kneels down, his face so close to mine that I can see the howling abyss behind his eyes."
Fabulous, will wait in anticipation for the next instalment.
Beeme xx
kenny_mooney | August 20, 2010 - 15:50
Just caught up on all the pieces since 7 as I've been away for a bit. Really liking where you're taking this, the bluring of worlds, the ambiguity over what's real - very good stuff. Keep it up, you've got us all hooked!
rjnewlyn | August 31, 2010 - 23:14
Thanks very much indeed everyone (and the cherry picker) and apologies for the gap.
No, Insert, not a road trip unfortunately (might manage one next year - working on that and coping with my itching feet in the meantime). Sun and water and ancient ruins. Restful anyway.
Kenny - many thanks and great to see you're back. I got a bit worried when your home page went blank ...
Sooz006 | June 10, 2012 - 13:48
I've been away from this for a week, reading and catching up with other stuff. I expected to have to go back a chapter to refresh but from the first sentence I picked up the story where I'd left off.Now you have to allow for my senility when I say that to do that says a hell of a lot for the strength of the story.