Age of Men Read online

people, four more would push him back in his never-ending struggle to get to his son; all the while the monster descended rapidly towards Timmy with his claws open and ready to snatch him.

  “Timmy!” Jack cried out.

  Timmy stood frozen in fear and watched as the giant fiery monster darted down straight towards him with outstretched claws and just as it was about to snatched him, Timmy ducked for cover and the beast grabbed the old man sitting in the puddle of mud.

  Timmy glanced up from the mud and dirt as the monster took to the sky while it tore the old man to pieces and ate him before the illuminated part in the dark clouds consumed the monster again.

  Jack was finally able to push his way through the crowd and rushed over to Timmy, grabbed him and embraced him tighter than ever.

  “Timmy!” Jack was relieved that his only son was still alive, “I told you not to leave my side!”

  “I know!” Timmy sobbed, “I’m sorry.”

  “It’s coming back!” Someone screamed in terror.

  Jack stared up at the clouds as they swirled open underneath the flap of the monster’s wings and it swooped down towards the humans. Six more monsters swooped down one by one and descended towards the terrified humans and flew faster than their ear-splitting screeches that echoed through the sky.

  “Oh God...” Jack uttered in defeat as ten more monsters pierced through the clouds.

  “My time to shine.” Meat said as he stepped closer to Jack.

  Meat held the sharpened bone in his right hand and toyed with it a bit to feel the weight as he studied the arsenal of monsters that were attacking the human race from above.

  “I know this might not be the right time for this,” Jack said, “But I might not get another chance to ask if I may get your autograph.”

  “Once I’ve killed one of these bats out of hell, I’ll sign anything you want.” Meat was confident in his victory as he stepped up to the plate and aimed at the nearest monster. He kept his sights transfixed upon the descending monster, aimed and threw the bone javelin.

  Jack, Timmy and Meat all watched with anticipation as the javelin rocketed through the air towards the fire-monster and pierced its throat. The monster howled in pain and crashed down into the crowd of humans a few yards away. The flames on its wings died the second the creature drew its last breath.

  “You did it!” Richard gasped as he ran closer.

  “Never doubt me.” Meat said as he kept his sights on the sky.

  “Look...” Timmy said.

  Timmy pointed at the creature that crash-landed a few feet away from the fire-wall. It lay in a contorted heap and was seemingly dead.

  “Now what?” Richard asked.

  32

  The perds galloped down the deserted cobblestone walkways of Pretor towards the majestic crystal castle that was situated in the middle of a lightly purple-coloured lake. From behind the bars of her prison, Alicia could see that the town was once a thriving community that was now lost forever. All that remained were the buildings that stood like relics of a forgotten era.

  As they neared the lake, crystals emerged from the water to create a bridge connecting the castle to the mainland in a smooth and inaudible motion. The water of the lake was clear and as they crossed the bridge, Alicia could see right down to the bottom of the lake that was at least twenty feet deep.

  Two things went through her mind as they approached the colossal castle; was her family safe? What made her special enough for the leader of this alien world to single her out as the saviour of their people?

  The diamond encrusted doors opened automatically as they approached and the perds pulled Alicia’s hovering prison cell through the large vestibule as the ambient noise of their hooves echoed off the walls. The diamond encrusted doors to the throne room opened as the two natives got off their perds.

  Alicia shifted in her cell to get a better look at the mysterious man who sat on his throne with a cloak draped around him just as white as his skin. The light beams that imprisoned her disappeared and Petrav held out his hand to aid her out of the cage.

  She took his hand as she studied her surroundings and noticed that a thin layer of water ran down the walls of the throne room, but didn’t pool up on the floor – instead it appeared as if the water vanished into the floor.

  Her eyes struggled to adjust to the brilliance of the light in the throne room and the fact that it made everything glisten, but she was finally able to focus on the man on the throne who seemed to be much paler than her captives. His hair was whiter than snow and flowed over his shoulders and down to his hips. He had the same piercing eyes, but they were a more intense shade of blue – almost like the blue part of a flame.

  Eljav stared at her from the throne; mesmerized by the beauty in front of him. He stood up and walked over to her with his sights transfixed upon her. He knew from the instant she walked into the throne room that she was the one he’d been looking for – the one to save his people.

  “I’ve searched centuries for you.” He said, “Across galaxies... I was about to give up hope when noticed your soul in a distant galaxy on the far side of the universe. It stood out like a beacon for anyone who knew what to look for.”

  He bowed his head when he was finally in front of her and then continued to study her with his eyes – not so much the exterior, but as if he could see into her soul and her essence of life.

  “I’m Eljav.” He said and laid a tender kiss on her hand.

  “Alicia.”

  “A name to match the magnificence of your beauty.”

  Eljav dismissed the two subordinates with a gesture of his hand, but kept staring into Alicia’s eyes as if she was the answer to every question and prayer he ever had. She tried not to blush, and though she felt guilty about the fact that another man found her alluring, she liked the attention.

  “Please.” He insisted, “Don’t be shy. I mean you no harm.”

  She couldn’t help but be reminded of aliens in every movie she’d ever seen saying we come in peace and smiled amused.

  “What is it?” He asked.

  “Nothing.” She composed herself.

  “You probably have a million questions...” He said, “Come...”

  He gestured for her to follow him out onto the balcony and the view stole her breath; the balcony had the perfect view of the lake with flourishing fields beyond it that surrendered to snow-covered mountains. The two suns were rising from behind the mountains and lit up the sky to a brilliance of colours.

  “Ever heard of soul-mates?” Eljav asked, “It’s a term we learned from your people decades ago. It describes two individuals who are meant for each other. Though it might not be the correct word, it’s the only word in your language I can use to describe why you are important to our survival.

  “Our people can’t reproduce like humans. Only the leader and a child-bearing woman who is born into each generation can reproduce. That woman was lost millenniums ago and we’ve been unable to multiply, so we turned to the stars hoping to find someone whom I was compatible with, but none of the worlds out there was home to creatures with features similar to our own... until we discovered your planet.”

  “Earth.”

  “Earth.” He agreed, “Our people were already dying when we discovered earth and our top builders started working on a device to transport someone from your planet to ours – it was a combination of light-worm energy and the gravitational pull of Godla – the black hole at the edge of our galaxy... but as time passed we learned with each new human we brought here that not just any human female would do. She had to be born to be compatible with me.”

  “You’re behind the inexplicable disappearances throughout human history...” She said as if having an epiphany.

  “We finally gave up hope and I had to watch the last of my people die. Petrav and Igbod are all that remains of our once impressive nation of millions. It was Petrav who, while scoping the stars with the device, first noticed a beacon shining on your planet... that beacon
was your soul. And with newly restored hope of saving our people, we started the once abandoned transportation device and tried to transport you here... but due to age, the device had trouble focusing in on its target, so we had to do what we could to get you here.”

  “You transported everyone...” She said in thought.

  “Transportation on such a scale had never been attempted before and it put much strain on the gravitational pull of Godla and it collapsed on itself after your people arrived.”

  “You mean there’s no way back?”

  Eljav shook his head and said, “No. That’s the trouble with black holes – they’re extremely rare and Godla was the only one in our galaxy... but I want you to think of this planet as your new home now. Everything will belong to you if you can mother my children.”

  Alicia stepped aside for a moment and stared at the rising suns in the distance. She had a lot on her plate and though she would do anything to see her family again, she wasn’t sure whether she was ready to have intercourse with an alien – no matter how much alike they were to humans. Even if it were true that he’d give her anything she wanted, including her family, she’d feel guilty beyond reason for sleeping with another man.

  “You’re torn between your feelings.” He said.

  “It’s a complicated situation you’re putting me in.” She said, “I’ve just started to process what had happened and where I am and now you’re telling me I’m the only thing standing between your people and extinction.”

  “You can rule this world by my side.” He said, “Once we’ve consummated, your body will live to see another thousand years. You’ll be able to see your children grow up and fill this world.”

  A thousand years of making babies was a long time – too long for her to even fathom. She’d have to stand by and watch Jack and Timmy die of old age and disappear into memory forever. She wasn’t strong enough to do that.

  “It’s a lot to process.” She said.

  “Take all the time you need to think it over.” He said, “If you’re by my side, there’s nothing in this world you can’t have.”

  Petrav burst through the doors of the throne room, hurried over to the balcony and bowed hastily. Though Petrav and Eljav spoke in their native language, Alicia could see something worrisome was transpiring. Petrav nodded at his instructions and hurried out again.

  “What was that about?” Alicia enquired.

  “Nothing to worry about.” He assured her.

  She stared out at the mountains in silence for a moment.

  “There is something I want.” She said, “I want my family.”

  “That’s impossible.” Eljav said, “Your kin will be on the other side of this planet.”

  “I know. Your planet is three hundred times bigger than ours... but I also know about light-worms.”

  “What do you know about light-worms?”

  “I know they can take me anywhere at the speed of light. You can use one of them to take me to my family.”

  “And what then?” Eljav asked, “If the worms get you there, how will you find your family? Will you search through each and every one of the billions of people there?”

  Hope faded from her eyes as Alicia realised that she didn’t think her plan through completely. He had a point; how would she ever find her family? Even if she lived for a thousand years, it might not even be enough time to search through earth’s entire population.

  “Petrav said that the humans are split into two camps; women and men. Why is that?”

  “Optimism, I suppose.” He said, “In hopes that another human female might be compatible.”

  She spotted Petrav and Igbod down below as they walked over to the edge of the lake. The water near the edge started swirling and formed a funnel from which a massive illuminated worm appeared. They climbed onto the back of the worm before it retreated into the funnel that closed on itself again.

  “Where are they going?”

  Eljav sighed and then said, “There’s trouble at the male camp. They’re going to restore order.”

  33

  “You actually did it.” Josh said astonished.

  Jack, Josh, Timmy and Meat stood in front of the slain monster; mesmerised by its sheer size and ferocity while Richard kept a fretful eye on the sky. Though the creatures had their fill of human flesh for now, they could be back any moment for more. If there was something he learned from all his years of being a coward it was not to fear the calm before the storm, but rather the illusion of calm after the storm.

  “What now?” Meat asked.

  “Well,” Jack said, “We need to get this creature into the fire-wall somehow.”

  “How do you propose we do that?” Richard asked.

  “With a lot of man-power.” Jack said.

  “That’s something we have in abundance.” Josh said.

  Josh climbed onto the creature’s contorted back, cleared his throat and addressed the people close enough to hear him.

  “May I have your attention, please?” Josh announced, “I know we all want out of this prison and that we’ve tried everything to get out... but we haven’t tried this. If we roll this creature into the fire, we might be able to use it as a bridge across the flames.”

  “How do you know that’ll work?” Someone asked.

  “We don’t.” Jack said, “But it’s better than sitting around doing nothing.”

  “We need at least twenty volunteers to help move this thing.” Josh said.

  It didn’t take long for fifteen volunteers to step up and Josh nodded in approval at the biggest strongest bunch of them all standing before him – there was even a famous WWE wrestler in the mix.

  “You’ll have to count me out.” Meat said as he stepped aside, “I have a bad back and though I’m pretty sure there are chiropractors amongst us, I’m not willing to bet my life on it.”

  Josh nodded at him and then addressed the volunteers, “Okay guys, we’re gonna push this big ass thing into the flames.”

  Josh jumped off the creature’s back and joined the group of men who looked like rugby-players getting ready for the scrum as they readied themselves for the thrust of their lives.

  “Ready!” Josh called out as he positioned himself, “On three! One… two… three!”

  And as if an unseen bell tolled, they all started pushing and heaving with all of their might; trying to budge an unmoveable mass of flesh, scales and giant wings, but their tarnished first effort didn’t discourage them from trying again and pushing even harder.

  “Push!” Josh yelled from underneath his sweaty brow.

  The giant cadaver gradually budged until it finally rolled over onto its back and the left wing chucked open; landing in the flame-wall and extinguished a section about six feet wide.

  “It worked.” Richard was impressed.

  Josh gestured for everyone to stay still as he inspected the egress formed by the massive wing; it seemed to absorb the flames beneath it to create safe passage through the fire-wall, but it was better to be safe than sorry and so he was a little precautious. Richard, Meat and Jack were the only others to be precautious. Once a part of the fire wall was extinguished, people started becoming restless with the prospect of freedom right in front of them.

  “Everyone, remain calm!” Josh said.

  People eager to get out started rushing forward and pushing to climb onto the dead monster to freedom and chaos broke out within a matter of seconds.

  “Please!” Josh pleaded with raised hands, “Exit in an orderly fashion!”

  An eager fat man who swayed to the sides as he climbed onto the back of the monster pushed Josh aside and he tumbled to the ground. Jack and Timmy helped Josh to his feet and he stood with the others and watched the exodus of people rushing to freedom; some people were trampled to death in their bid to get emancipation from their alien prison. Jack shielded Timmy from the carnage as the first person was pushed into the flame-wall and the blue part of the flames engulfed the man as he screamed in terror.
Jack watched as the screaming man’s skin melted off his face and his flesh formed part of the flame before disappearing.

  “We’ve started something we can’t control.” Jack said fretfully.

  “It’s a riot.” Richard said.

  “It’s a stampede.” Josh corrected.

  “It’s human nature.” Meat said, “When faced with danger, it’s every man for himself… always has been and always will be.”

  Thunder roared in the sky above and then the clouds opened up as a brilliant wormhole pierced through. Humans dropped out of the wormhole towards the concentration camp below and it was only then that Jack noticed petrified screaming coming from the other side of the fire-wall. Some people forced their way upstream against the overflow of escapees trying to get back in.

  “What’s happening?” Jack asked as more people dropped from the wormhole.

  “I can’t really see.” Meat said as he stood on his toes.

  “Lemme stand on your back.” Richard suggested, “Come on, Meat! I’m skinny and light.”

  Meat groaned and got down on all fours; allowing Richard to stand on his back to get a better look at the commotion beyond the conflagrated wall. He had to stand on his toes as Josh helped to steady him and he could only see through the extinguished part of the wall. He could hardly see anything, except the flow of people rushing out and the few that tried to get back in.

  “Can you see anything?” Josh asked.

  “Not really.” Richard said.

  “Hurry up.” Meat said, “You’re not that light and my back is killing me.”

  And then Richard saw what all the commotion was about; a giant illuminated worm was burrowing out from the earth and swiftly swallowed people up as they fled before it burrowed back into the soil only to repeat the motion. Richard noticed that every time someone was swallowed by the worm they’d drop from the wormhole hovering over the concentration camp.

  “What do you see?” Jack asked.

  “You don’t wanna know.” Richard said as he got off Meat’s aching back.

  “You’re heavy for such a skinny dude.” Meat said as he cracked his back.

  “What’s happening out there?” Josh asked.

  Richard motioned to the wormhole with a nudge of his head and they could tell from the expression of defeat on his face that there was no escape. Timmy removed his dad’s hand from his eyes and watched as more people dropped out of the wormhole – some plunging to their deaths as they fell on their heads while others broke limbs on impact.

  “Don’t look.” Jack insisted as he closed Timmy’s eyes again.

  “They’re doing this.” Richard said as he pointed at the wormhole, “There’s some kind of worm creature gulping down on people as they try to escape… and then they get dropped back inside again.”

  “So what do we do?” Meat asked, “Do we stay or make a run for it?”

  The dark clouds above opened with massive thunder that echoed across the valley and about a hundred or more of those flying fire-monsters all swooped down towards the millions of humans still in the concentration camp.

  “I say we run for it.” Josh said.

  “Those worm-things will get us out