Date: Mon, 30 Dec 2002 01:18:08 -0800 (PST) From: mike b <scuba_mick@yahoo.com> Subject: Prophetic chapter 2 (sci-fi section) ****************************************************** Hey everyone, This story contains a fair amount of violence some of which might offend. But hey if you got through the first part you can get through this one :) If you like the story feel free to email me at scuba_mick@yahoo.com. And now the story continues (a Huge thanks to Pfantazm for all his help !!!!!!! i really appreciate it) ******************************************************** Prophetic Chapter 2: "Somnambulant" Seth could not believe what he was seeing. There before his very eyes, was the man he had been dreaming about, constantly for the past week. "Are you sure?" asked Moira. "I'm positive Moira it's him!" exclaimed Seth. And with that Seth bolted toward the escalator. Moira raced after him. "Seth, wait a second," she called out as Seth started pushing his way past people on the escalator. There were too many people in the way and the guy was in the midst of a big crowd, but Seth had to reach him before he disappeared and he lost him. Seth was almost at the escalator when he rammed into something and almost keeled over. "Would you watch where you're fucking going!" yelled a voice. Seth turned around and saw that in his rush he had accidently elbowed a woman in the face. "Oh crap, I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to," he said. The woman brushed him off with a disapproving glare and continued down the escalator clutching the side of her face. When he finally reached the bottom Seth looked in all directions for the guy, but he was nowhere in sight. * * * Seth and Moira were seated on a bench just in front of the escalators. Seth's face was buried in his hands as Moira touched his shoulder reassuringly. "I'm telling you Moira it was him, he was exactly the same as he was in my dreams," he said in exasperation. "Seth," began Moira, "that guy could not have been the same as the one in your dreams." "I'm telling you it was him." said Seth, looking Moira straight in the eye now. Moira looked back, concern accentuating her features. "I've seen plenty of fella's who look like your dream guy," She said. "And I know how lonely you feel, not knowing anyone who is gay, but this is silly." Seth glared at her. "No, Moira you don't understand," he said angrily. "Every inch of my body was telling me it was him, I cannot ignore that!" He stood up. "You don't understand what these dreams are like. They are so real." Seth said those words with so much conviction that Moira almost believed him. *Almost* believed him. "Seth, but they aren't real." said Moira tenderly. "But they are real to me!" he replied loudly. A couple of people turned and looked at him. With that Seth stormed off. Moira decided to give him some time then she would try and figure out what the hell was going on. * * * Seth slammed his bedroom door and walked over to his bed. He slumped down and buried his face into the pillow. He was just so damned confused. Seth could feel a pretty massive headache coming on, he rolled over onto his back and closed his eyes. He took a few deep breaths and began to relax himself, before long Seth was asleep. * * * The sky here had a strange purplish tint to it. He could feel the long grass of the wide plain rushing against his skin as he ran. Seth ran with so much energy. He looked up and saw a massive snowcapped mountain range. The view took his breath away. Seth realised he wasn't alone in his run through this grassy plain. He looked to his right and to his left and saw thousands of men and women running right along side him. Seth had no idea who any of these people were but he felt deeply connected to them. All of them were running, with incredible purpose towards this mountain. Suddenly Seth stopped running and he was alone. He looked directly ahead and in front of him, in the middle of the plain stood a woman in a black pin striped suit her blonde hair up in a tight bun. She smiled at him and said "Welcome, Prophetic one." He woke up and looked at the clock. The time read five-thirty. He'd been asleep for four hours. Seth had no idea what that dream meant, but somehow it felt very familiar to him. It felt similar to opening up a photo album and rekindling old memories. But he had no idea who those people were; there were thousands of them. He also had no idea who the woman was but he had a feeling he would find out soon enough. At any rate Seth found it to be a quite a positive dream. His musing was interrupted by a quick knock on the door. He looked towards the door and saw it open slowly. A red haired covered head peeked around the corner. "Can I come in?" asked Moira quietly. "Sure," replied Seth. "Sorry if I look a bit out of it. I was asleep," he continued. "I know. Your mum told me," said Moira. "You didn't have any more dreams, did you?" she asked a bit of concern creeping into her voice. "Well, I did, but it's nothing to worry about," said Seth with a smile. Moira sat down next to Seth on the bed and put her arm around him. "You know I'm starting to believe you," she said. "Really?" replied Seth. "Hell yeah" said Moira with a reassuring smile. "We have known each other since kindergarten and in all that time I've never heard you so convinced about anything," she continued. "What, not even that time when we were ten years old and I was convinced my parents had adopted me?" asked Seth innocently. "No way. You're definitely sounding more convinced now," said Moira with a laugh. "Besides that was you just trying to deal with the fact that you found out your parents had sex." Seth laughed. "Thanks," he said returning her wide smile. "These dreams are important to you, aren't they?" asked Moira as she and Seth lay down next to each other. "They are, I mean, mainly because I know they aren't dreams, Moira" Seth began. "Like last night, when I had the dream about those hooded guys, I could feel their evil and their anger and their loathing, and I mean really feel it," he continued. "And the last dream I had it well it blew me away." "I thought you said it wasn't important?" quizzed Moira. "Okay, so I lied," replied Seth. "Well, not lied as such; I just didn't know what to make of it," he finished. "Tell me what happened," said Moira as she made herself more comfortable. Seth went on to explain the dream and how the woman had appeared before him. "She called you The Prophetic One?" said Moira a sense of amazement in her voice. "Well, not *The* Prophetic One, but she did call me Prophetic One," replied Seth. "You know, Seth, looking at all the stuff that's happened, maybe these dream aren't regular dreams after all" said Moira excitedly. "What if they were prophecy dreams," she continued. "You know that's the best theory I have heard," said Seth. "In fact, it's the only theory I've heard, I think you might be on to something," he finished, a smile spreading on his face. Moira returned his smile. "Hey, why don't we go out tonight?" she began. "You know have a bit of fun pick up some cute boys and just let loose!" "Hey, sounds good to me," replied Seth. "Why don't we head down to The Rainbow Quarter and check out a few clubs?" Moira got up. "Hey, sounds like a plan. I'll pick you up about eight." Seth walked Moira to the front door and then went into the kitchen and grabbed a drink. He sat down at the kitchen table and let out a big contented sigh. After that last dream Seth had been getting happier and more energetic by the minute. He couldn't explain it but in time Seth hoped he would be able to. * * * The Man looked at the six robed figures standing in front of his desk and sat smiling. The seven of them were in a large office, and religious paraphernalia was everywhere. Crucifixes hung, as did various religious paintings from the walls. The room itself was well furbished with a large oak bookcase and desk. The carpet was a deep maroon, which matched the darkness of the wood-adorned walls. "Praise you my Children," began the man. "Your efforts these past nights have been outstanding." One of the robed figures, the Leader, stepped forward, "We only do what we must. We fight the good fight, Reverend," he said. "And you do it so very well, my son," replied the Reverend. The Man stood up and walked around his desk. He looked at the Robed man who had stepped forward. "My son," he began, "tell me about the Rainbow Quarter." "Well, Reverend, it is a place where the unclean congregate" said The Leader. "It is a place of debauchery, sin and pure evil." "So it is a place that is unholy?" asked the Man neutrally. "Yes, Reverend, it is the most unholy of places" said The Leader, nodding. "A trifle melodramatic, my child," began the Man with a chuckle, "but it does sound like a place we should eventually torch to the ground." "Do you wish for us to do it tonight, Reverend?" asked The Leader eagerly. "No, no, that time will come," said the Man thoughtfully. "Tonight I just want you to pay them a visit, and bring order through chaos." And as the Man said this an evil, twisted grin grew wider and wider upon his face. * * * Seth looked out the window of Moira's car as they headed down the main strip of what the Gay community in the city called the Rainbow Quarter. Seth loved all the lights down here. It was such a bright vibrant place and he couldn't wait to hit the clubs. Ever since his last dream with the woman and the thousands of people, Seth had been filled with so much energy and like all the other events related to these dreams; Seth couldn't make heads or tails of it. "So where do you want to go dear?" asked Moira. Seth looked at her and smiled. "Why don't we go to Destiny lounge?" he replied. "Cool, that's what I was thinking," said Moira as she made a right turn and headed to the nearest parking lot. * * * The six Robed figures were standing in the middle of a street. The street itself was very quiet; it was rowed on either side by abandoned buildings and the odd sex shop. The street itself was at the end of the Rainbow Quarter. Beyond this street was industrial land. It was out of the way from main traffic and from the general public areas of the Quarter. This made it the perfect spot to be what most gay men referred to as "Cruiser's Boulevard". Off the street there were six alleys, three on either side where gay men went to have fun. 'To engage in the most sinful acts possible,' thought The Leader. The Leader looked at the alleys. "We will split up and go sequentially. You three," said The Leader pointing to three men to left of him, "take the second alley. You two," he said referring to the two men on his right side, "will come with me. We will take the first alley," he continued. "And now my brothers," he said as he drew his knife, "Let us go be instruments of God and show the unclean the light of The True Way." The other five men drew their knives and headed off in the direction of their assigned alleys to bring order through chaos. The Leader couldn't help but smile. * * * Seth and Moira danced away wildly, arms going everywhere. One of their favourite songs, the DJ Meri Vox mix of "No Reason" by Mambana was playing. "Have I ever told you how much I love this song!" yelled Moira over the cheering crowd. "Probably the same amount of times I've told you!" replied Seth with a laugh. When the song ended the two of them went and sat down in the upstairs lounge of the club. Seth's brown hair was matted with sweat and Moira's face was very red. "Hey, you want some water?" asked Moira. "Yeah please, I'm boiling here," replied Seth. Moira got up and headed over to the bar, leaving Seth alone. He watched Moira head over to the bar and then turned his attention to the walls of the lounge. They were sky blue and covered in the most beautifully decorated fish of all different colours, none of which clashed with the colour of the walls. Seth smiled, his head bopping to the song that was playing in the lounge. He looked over to see where Moira was exactly and saw her queueing up behind a couple of shirtless guys at the bar waiting to get served. Seth looked away from the bar, stood up and headed over to a railing at the far end of the lounge. From this part of the lounge you could see down onto the huge dance floor itself. Scanning the crowd he saw a bunch of guys who had no T-shirts on. Seth didn't really find any of them attractive. He was more wondering as to why they bothered. It was just the ultimate example of vanity and narcissism. Seth kept scanning the crowd watching all the people dance their little hearts away and then. . . he saw him. * * * The Three robed figures stood at the entrance of the dark alley. The Leader looked at the scene in front of him. There were five men of different ages all engaged in some form of sex act. The Leader looked at the three men closest to him. One was standing up while the other two were down on their knees sucking his dick. One of the suckers opened his eyes and saw the robed figures. The guy stood up. He was young, about 18 and effeminate. He smiled and walked towards the robed figures. He didn't see the knives concealed behind their backs. "Oh, I love men in costumes," he said seductively, "especially religious ones. How may I serve you father?" he asked the leader. The Leader looked at the young guy. "Get on your knees boy," said the Leader. "Forgive me, Father, for I have sinned," said the guy now on his knees and clearly enjoying the role-playing. The Leader grabbed the guys hair and yanked his head back. "Yes, you have," he said coldly. "How can I make up for it, Father?" asked the guy. The Leader brought the knife out from behind his back. "Beg for forgiveness, my child," said the Leader, his voice filling with venom. Before the guy knew what was happening The Leader was stabbing him again and again and again. * * * Seth ran up to Moira just as she was about to order and grabbed her by the arm. "We have to go now!" he yelled over the noise of the crowd. "What is it, Seth?" she asked, a bit of annoyance showing in her voice as she was dragged away from the bar. "I saw him," said Seth intently. Moira nodded and followed Seth down the stairs and onto the main dance floor. Seth scanned the crowd and tried to calculate in his head where Dream Guy had gone. "Well, where is he?" asked Moira as she also scanned the crowd. Seth kept looking, and there, near the exit, he saw Dream Guy's brown hair. Dream Guy was with someone else, a blond guy who looked about Seth's age. "He's with a trick," said Seth bitterly as Moira looked in the same direction. "I'm sorry, Seth," said Moira softly as she saw the bitterness and hurt playing over Seth's face. Seth continued to look on as Dream Guy and his casual fuck held each other and walked out of the club. "Seth, let him go. You will have another chance," said Moira positively. "Especially if we are right and your dreams are prophetic." Seth turned and looked at Moira. "They are prophetic. That's why I have to follow him and talk to him," he said, looking towards the exit. "Come on, they have a head start on us." Seth grabbed Moira's hand and pulled her along towards the exit. "Seth wait!" Moira protested. "How do you even know where they are going?" "Oh, I know where they are going," said Seth assuredly. "Oh, and where is that Prophetic One?" asked Moira sarcastically. "Cruiser's Boulevard," said Seth nonchalantly as the two of them headed out of the packed club and onto the crowded street. * * * At the entrance of the alley The Leader surveyed the scene before him. All five of the unclean had been slain. "These demons shall not taint the world anymore," he said to the two robed men behind him. "This is just heavenly, my brothers" he said with pleasure. "Should we discard of these bodies, sir?" asked on of the subordinates. "Not just yet," said The Leader. "More shall be joining them. Why make double work for ourselves?" he said with an evil grin. * * * Dream guy and Blondie headed down Cruiser's Boulevard holding hands and going for the occasional grope. "Which alley do you want to take?" asked Blondie. "Why don't we just go down the first one? I don't think I can wait any longer to get up your arse," said Dream Guy with a seductive smile. When they walked into the alley Dream Guy and Blondie stopped. There in front of them where five guys all laying down, all separate from each other and none of them moving. Then Dream Guy and Blondie saw the three robed figures step out of the shadows at the far end of the alley as they felt the presence of more behind them. * * * Seth and Moira turned right of a side street and were now on Cruiser's Boulevard. "So is it true that guys come down here to you-know?" asked Moira hesitantly. "Yes, Moira, gay men do come here to fuck," said Seth with a sly grin. Moira rolled her eyes. "So where do you think Dream Stud went?" she asked. Seth looked at the six alleys. "You know, I'm not really sure. We should search all of them," he said matter-of-factly. "And what are you going to say when you meet him?" asked Moira with a raised eyebrow. "Um, . . . I don't know yet," said Seth with unease. "I haven't really thought that far ahead yet." Moira laughed. "You crack me up, Sethie," she said giggling. But the giggling ended when she heard the screams. "Okay, I wasn't the only one who just heard that, right?" said Moira, panic filling her voice. "No, you most certainly weren't," said Seth, getting equally freaked out. The screams where like something out of a horror movie. "We need to go investigate," said Seth. Moira was about to reply when another scream broke the night. "Maybe we shouldn't, Seth," said Moira as she clutched Seth's arm tightly. "We have to, Moira, someone could be in trouble!" said Seth, urgency oozing from his voice. "Well, it sounded like it was coming from the first alley," said Moira her voice wavering. "Let's go," said Seth, filling with determination. * * * The Leader threw the now-dead brown-haired boy to the ground and turned to the blond. "Please don't hurt me," pleaded the guy. "Filth" said The Leader with a venomous sneer as he raised his knife. "Oh my god!" said a female voice behind the hooded men. They turned to see a young man and woman standing at the entrance to the alley. * * * Seth and Moira could not believe the sight they held before them. There were dead bodies everywhere and six hooded figures, the hooded figures that Seth recognised. "Moira," began Seth his voice filled with fear. "I know, Seth, they are from your dreams," replied Moira as she tried to contemplate the scene in front of her. The robed figures moved forward all of them holding knives. Seth stepped forward as well, he could see Dream Guy lying amongst the other dead bodies, and like those other bodies Dream Guy had a pool of blood beneath him. Seth could see that, thankfully, the blond guy was still alive. Seth looked at the bodies once more and fought the need to vomit and began to speak. "Please," he began, "just let me take the guy in the corner and we will leave you alone and we wont say anything to the cops," finished Seth, almost pleadingly. "Oh, we know you won't," said the figure standing behind the other five. "Kill him and the girl," said the figure and his five men began to advance. One of the men from the pack rushed at Seth, he bowled Seth over as Moira screamed. Seth fell to the ground as the hooded man prepared to go in for the kill. The man crouched and the knife came down. Instinctively Seth grabbed the man's wrist before the knife could reach his chest and began to squeeze. Seth felt an amazing power surge through him, an energy that was similar to the one he had experienced after his last dream except fifty times more powerful. He kept squeezing the man's wrist and heard something break. The man yelped in and dropped his knife, Seth took the opportunity to punch the man hard in the face and as the man went down Seth got up. Now on his feet, he watched as two more hooded figures rushed towards him. Seth, not knowing what to do exactly, dodged out of the way. He needed some kind of weapon - anything at this point would do. Seth glanced around and spied a garbage can near the entrance of the alley, but the two hooded figures where blocking his way. They charged him again and Seth ducked between them, ending up next to the trash can. He threw the lid onto the ground and grabbed the trash can by one of its handles and ran towards the two men. With amazing strength, Seth swung the bin hitting one man in the face and the other across the back. Both men went down cold, Seth gave himself a little smile; then the other three men charged him. Moira cried out as one of the hooded men slashed Seth across the shoulder with the blade of his knife. Seth spun around and cried out in pain, in a fit of rage he kneed his attacker in the stomach and then grabbed the now doubled-over man by the back of his robes and flung him into the opposite wall of the alley face first. Seth heard something, possibly a rib, crack loudly. He spun and faced his last two attackers and stood in a fighting stance that he remembered seeing in an action movie once. The two hooded men stopped in their tracks. Seth stared at them; he was now in a standoff with the two men. Seth began to back slowly away and as he did so he looked over towards Dream Guy. His dream lover's face was easily recognizable now that the dawn was approaching, so recognizable that he realised it wasn't the man from his dreams. Seth felt a twinge of relief echo through his body, which was then accompanied by a rush of guilt and revulsion. Seth looked at the blond guy who was now being supported by Moira. He was badly beaten but luckily he had no knife wounds. He walked over to Moira and helped her support blond guy and then with one more glare at his attackers, Seth began to move out of the alley. As they turned right out of Cruiser's Boulevard, Seth quickly checked to make sure that he and Moira were not being followed. When he turned around he saw the two robed men begin dragging their injured companions out onto the still-dark street, but before he could see what would happen next he turned the corner and the figures fell out of view. Seth looked at Moira who was staring at the pavement in shock. The blond was doing the same. He couldn't blame them. Suddenly he heard Moira yell out, "What the fuck just happened! I mean they massacred those guys" she said as she collapsed to the ground in tears. Seth looked down at her. "We have to keep moving. This guy needs a doctor," he said his voice breaking with emotion and shock. Moira got up and helped Seth support the blond victim as they headed down the street and back on to the main road. * * * The Reverend watched from his window as the van that carried his warriors of light pulled up in the darkened driveway of the church. He smiled a wide proud smile, they had done so much good already and the crusade had only begun a few days ago. For years the Reverend had known he was God's champion. He remembered having dreams as a child where he stood on a mountaintop a great blazing sword in his hand and God's loving hand on his shoulder. These dreams had made him feel so much power during a time when he had none, but now he did have power and it was a divine gift from God. The Reverend watched as the van door slid open and his warriors began limping out he could see that four of them were in extreme pain. The smile fell from his face. * * * It was 5:30 before Moira and Seth arrived at her home. They had gone straight to the police and had told them about the hooded figures. The blond guy, whose name was Steven, refused to speak about what had occurred, all he did was just stare at the floor. Realising he had probably gone into shock, the police took Steven to the hospital. Before they had left Steven with the police, Seth gave the brutalized young man his and Moira's phone numbers in case he needed anything. Knowing that he would be okay with the police and hospital staff, Seth and Moira went home. The two friends slowly made their way up the staircase so as not to wake Moira's mother and father and headed to Moira's bedroom. Too tired and too shocked to even talk to each other or change their clothes, they both slumped down onto the bed and were soon fast asleep. * * * "You let one of the unclean beat you!" yelled the Reverend, spit flying from his mouth. "But master," began the Leader, "he was strong, incredibly strong, and fast as well." "Are you saying that he was stronger than all of you?" said the Reverend sweeping his hand out to encompass the six men standing in front of him, anger still in his voice. "Yes, master," replied the Leader. "At least, he was physically." The Reverend narrowed his eyes, "No filthy, unclean abomination is stronger than this institution!" he yelled. The Reverend Picked up a glass jar from his desk; read the label and stared at the contents. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "Anyway, children I doubt you will see him again," he began, "but let me inform you that you have severely disappointed me tonight and you have tainted the True Way." The Reverend, still holding the glass jar, walked over to the Leader, looked at his wristwatch and began to speak. "To make up for it, my sons," he began, his eyes travelling over the six men, "you and the others will go out during the coming night and slaughter and maim more." "Yes, my lord," said the Leader. "We will do it with a song in our hearts." "Good, my sons, my glorious sons," said the Reverend with a smile that was the child of evil and pure joy lighting his face. "I am so very, very proud of you all, but if you disappoint me again," he continued, raising the bottle, "you will feel God's venom." He shook the bottle. Its label read: HYDROCHLORIC ACID. * * * He was there, running from three hooded men. He could feel his legs cramping up and his body collapsing and he felt the knife being thrust into his heart. Next he was stabbed through the back, and then his throat was slit. Then he was all nine of the men who had died in the early hours of the evening. He felt his insides being ripped apart, tasted the blood filling his mouth and felt the encompassing blackness of death. And then he was back in the park, but he was in the body of another now, someone he knew intimately. His chest was tight and his legs ready to give way, his lover was dead his stomach sliced open. He was in the middle of Ansion Park and they were closing on him. Four hooded men with sharp knives were coming and they were so very, very close to him. He couldn't go any further and he collapsed on his hands and knees vomiting. The figures approached him, one of them kicked him and he was forced to roll over. He looked at the olive colored hands; which were not his, covered in vomit and closed his eyes. He opened them to see the four men standing around him and one of them pointing a crossbow at his head. "Look at us as we condemn your soul, abomination," said the crossbowman. And with that the figure pulled the trigger and the bolt was launched. At the moment it impacted his skull, Seth bolted up right in bed screaming. Moira darted up at the scream. "Seth, shhhhh, baby, what's wrong?" she said worriedly. "Moira!" exclaimed Seth as tears filled his eyes. "He's going to die, he's going to die tonight!" He buried his face into his knees and began sobbing. Moira didn't need to be told, she knew exactly who Seth was talking about. it was the guy from his dreams, his dream lover. The man that Seth felt intricately connected to, in mind, body and soul, was destined to die. To Be Continued.