Chapter 3: Emerald Skies
Saturday, July 4th, 2020
Location: Earth, United States of America, Southlake Texas.
It took a while for the girl, Olivia, to relate the tale of what happened once the bullies caught up to Chris. All the while I stood there, in the women’s restroom, in my underwear and scarf as I scrubbed. At least that hadn’t gotten any soda on it. Grr. I had just gotten that cleaned.
That and it didn’t help that I could feel a migraine coming on. My temples hurt something fierce. It was running my mood just as much as the outrage of getting soda splashed on me. If that hadn’t been the first, or even third time someone threw their drink on me I might have gotten violent. But no, for I have found that when you resort to violence to solve problems, everyone else switches to other means. Like throwing food to get their point across.
Gah, this headache is so annoying!
Meanwhile struggled to keep my inner turmoil off my face as I was also keeping half an ear to her tale as she told me of why the sons of a cop and a prosecutor who did this could not be charged even though there was a video of them doing it. The whole thing was going to turn into a civil matter as there would be no prosecution. The whole system that my father had used to keep me out of trouble was now being bent and twisted to keep these two creeps from getting out of jail.
At least I never started any of the fights I had gotten into.
Putting on my wrinkled and damp clothes on felt really annoying when I should have been spending the day with my best friend. Instead I was standing in a public bathroom in my underwear after cleaning up after Tabitha threw a temper tantrum.
Taking a deep breath, I let out a sigh.
Today wasn’t going to get any better.
I could just feel it.
Turning back to the matter at hand I ignored the dampness and dripping water from my clothes. Given the ninety-degree temperatures I wasn’t worried, my clothes wouldn’t be wet for very long. But still. I felt sticky in places and wanted a proper shower to clean up and not this half measure. So, after parting ways with the younger teen, I decided to go home to clean up.
My thoughts dark as I made my way out of the festival as I called up a rideshare service. A quick series of text messages to Amber in order to explain what had happened. Though its surprising to hear that the two hadn’t noticed the whole thing going down.
Olivia meanwhile had managed to pull through and text me the link of the video where Chris was pushed out into oncoming traffic. Subsequently being hit by a car. Though from the camera angle it would be easy to make the argument that they were reaching for him and not shoving him. For it only showed them from the back. The camera didn’t actually show the shove, just their shoulder movement at the time of the accident. One that I knew from my dad meant that it was meaningless. With only those of us who knew these troublemakers, knowing what really happened.
I didn’t care.
But I wasn’t stupid enough to go Rambo on them as well.
Instead I had decided to go home and get cleaned up before heading to the hospital to visit my friend.
I felt that was the least I could do.
Leaning against the wall, on my phone, as I waited for my rideshare to pick me up. My attention glued like millions of others as the latest news feed from the Middle east as skeletons and zombies poured out of the portal. A flood of undead across its entire length. Not the shambling things that we expect to see but the running, cunning, persistent things found in movies like World War Z.
Video after video was cut short as person after person unknowingly streamed their own death live to the world. The sight of which had my heart hammering in my chest and sweat covering me despite the temperature control effects of my scarf.
For I had seen that wave in my nightmares over and over again. All too frequently resulting in death and screams as I awoke with the first rays of dawn’s light. For one nightmare after another had played every morning in my life and never the same one twice. Most ending in a tide like, just like that.
Heart hammering, I felt like screaming, “Fuck you!” as my former therapist was proven wrong. Zombies do exist. For she seemed to be of the belief that I had been raised on zombie movies and that they are the source of my nightmares.
“I’ve FOUND you,” said a feminine voice with such glee and delight that it made me jump.
My head whipping up and looking about. Only to find the street relatively quiet and empty. Everyone else going about their business like it was just another fourth of July. No one nearby to speak to. Making me suspicious of my phone.
Double checking that my ear buds were in place. I looked about and only found a black cat inside a nearby store as it basked in the sun. No doubt within the comfort of an air-conditioned room.
It wasn’t even looking at me.
With nothing of note, I suspected my phone and ignored it.
“My emperor, my emperor. Oh, so how I have missed thee. To finally be the first to find you after all these millennia.”
“Wha, what’s going on?” I say as I frantically search around for the voice.
“Let’s see.”
“Hmm, no, not that.”
“Ahh, lets try this,” said the voice without a source. Only for a wave of vertigo to pass through me. Groaning, I slid to the ground as my mind spun. The world going black as, for the first time, I was drawn into one of those dreams that plague me every morning. The familiar feel sending bolts of terror through me. For this would be the first time I had fallen into one while awake.
Sitting upon a mithril throne, I looked down upon a full grown man bowing before me who would still stand no taller than my waist should I stand next to him. His need to look up at me even though I was sitting was gratifying. Knowing full well that he was the normal, though lesser being and that I stood tall. Supreme.
Being that I was the chosen under the sun. he who has slain demons and angels alike in my mad pursuit of power. All for the race to claim the World Breaker Throne. My hand, the hand of the Eternal Sun that holds the reins of power for a nation numbering in the hundreds of trillions of souls spanning thousands of worlds. As such, his supplication was the minimum necessary for a mere tier one existence to enter my presence as a being beyond the mortal threshold let alone the mere fact that I am the Emperor.
“Rise,” I tell the man. My armed and armored form even here in the seat of my power. For even though I am mighty, that doesn’t change that there are those who would dare to covet my power.
“What message do you have for me?” My deep and thunderous voice is even louder given the confines of my nearly empty hall. Having dismissed the lesser nobility and any lingering petitioners for the day.
A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.
“The envoy from the Divine King has come,” said the bowing messenger.
“Send them in.”
Minutes later the giant double doors at the far end of the throne room opened.
“Greetings, Emperor. I am Lesia Mithrilwing,” said the angel with four pristine white wings and a mithril halo, wide over her head. Her smile and nod of greeting sufficient as I rose from my throne. Her silver like hair gave off a metallic tinkle as she rose.
“Greetings Holy envoy,” I said with a bow. My pulse racing. For just as I stood far above that messenger, I was acutely aware that her personal might was just as great as my own. Yet she served another king who stood so far above her that her power was like that of a mewling babe.
“What brings you here today?”
“I have come to bear witness to your death your majesty,” said the angel. Causing a silence to fill the room as everyone in the room was acutely aware that none of us could stop her should she choose to end my life. Given that she made no move to do so, I replied.
“How bold a claim you make given that none save yourself can harm me on this world.”
“No claim but fact your majesty,” said Lesia.
“For your people and the gods, rancor under your edict.”
“It’s what must be done,” I said as I took my seat. The venom in my voice obvious to the onlookers as they all winced.
“My men cannot hold out against the horde unless I have the legions of the damned as well.”
“But to condemn your people into enteral torment to build your legions,” said the angel with a shake of her head. Disappointment written across her face.
~BANG~
“It’s what must be done!” I said as I slammed my fist into the armrest. Only for the angel sigh and smile condescendingly.
“And so, I am to deliver you a message from my king should you refuse to back down from this endeavor.,” said Lesia.
“Henceforth you shall be cursed to live so long as your choice remains a blight on the land.”
Her words echoing in my mind as the memory faded to black.
The last feeling coming from the memory was a deep, thundering, rage.
“Did that help you remember?”
The haunting words of the angel and the identical voice talking to me now snapped me back to the present. Though I had to look about once more for the disembodied voice.
“Lesia?”
“Yes, it is I your majesty,” said the angel.
“Where are you?” I ask as I twist about and scan the street for an angel.
“In heaven,” said Lesia.
“Your world is nearly without mana and my presence would cause great harm.”
“Then what’s going on?!” I ask. My voice harsh as I put my phone to my ear to pretend like I am on it to avoid the strange looks I was getting. Heart racing, the words, the questions begin to flow.
“Why do I keep getting those strange dreams every morning?”
“Why are you here?”
“Why do you keep calling ME your Majesty? I’m no emperor!”
“What can I do to make this all go away?”
“Why is there a portal in the middle east?”
“Why are there videos of undead all over the Internet?”
“Why is this all happening now!?”
Panting, I stare at my trembling hands. Finding that I had been shouting into the phone. Causing several other pedestrians to cross the street to get away from me.
Oh, great, now I’m also that crazy girl shouting into her phone.
Panting, I wait for a reply. Once I calm my breathing I ask, “well?”
“That is, um, more than I can disclose at the moment.”
“However!” said the angel hurriedly.
“I will answer what I can.”
Nodding, I took several deep breaths as I forced myself to calm down as Lesia began explaining.
“As for your first question, you are being invaded. I could go on at length about it but you don’t have the time.”
“I don’t?” I asked.
“You don’t. Events are preceding along rather quickly and you don’t have time to listen to an explanation that will take at least a couple millennia if I were to take a single minute to verbally summarize the highlight of each century of this war.”
“What,” I said stupidly as my frustration switched over to confusion.
“The answer to your first question would take too long.”
“As for your second question about what you see just before waking up. That is part of your curse as you are forced to remember the last moment of every single life you have lived since that day in the throne room.”
“Oh.”
“Don’t interrupt,” said Lesia.
“Your third question retaining to why I am here. Or rather I presume your question is more along the lines of, what am I doing contacting you? A solid question with a simple answer. I am cursed.”
“My curse is you.”
“Until you succeed in your mission, I am bound to serve you by the decree of the Divine King.”
“Oh,” I said numbly as I could almost taste the bitterness in Lesia’s voice.
It was at this time a blue SUV pulled up in front of me and called out.
“Are you Izzy Swalwell?” asked the man behind the wheel.
My rideshare was here.
“Yep that’s me!” I said as I hopped in the back seat and buckled in. Soon enough we were on our way to take me home. Blessed silence and away from that strange voice.
A moment later I got a ~Ding~ on my phone.
Lesia: Let us communicate this way rather than out loud.
“Fuck!” My shout causing the driver to look through the mirror back at me.
“You ok miss?” asked the driver.
“Ya,” I said with a sigh.
“Just not the message I wanted to see,” I said as I held up the phone.
“Ok,” said the rideshare driver before peace resumed in the SUV.
Izzy: Ok, but how did you set yourself up on my phone?
Lesia: I am greater than three reams of power above you. I need but will it and it will be done.
Izzy: So, you’re a god?
Lesia: No. Please do not call me that. I know you do so out of ignorance but doing so is dangerous.
Izzy: Ok.
Lesia: As for your other questions. I called you the emperor because despite your death and reincarnation, your soul still has the markers that make you the Emperor. Should you place yourself upon the World Breaker Throne it will respond to you.
Izzy: what really?
Lesia: Yes. As for the portal, your throne is currently punching down the dimensional gates between every world nearby. The ones put in place by gods to keep the worlds separate. Like a boulder rolling down a mountain side it will keep going until forced to stop. Or rather you stop it.
Izzy: Frowny face emoji.
Lesia: Like it or not, the only person who can stop this is you.
Izzy: And how am I supposed to do that! Angry face Emoji.
No response came for quite a while. For nearly the forty-minute drive home, because of traffic, there was no message from the angel. Causing me to worry that it was all in my head until I looked back down at the text messages. Physical proof in hand I hopped out of the rideshare and made my way towards the front door. Just as I was about to speak up another ~Ding~ popped up on my phone.
Lesia: Get cleaned up and then we’ll talk. Events are proceeding faster than intended. I must go.
With a sigh, unlocked the front door and walked into the empty home. Wondering on how much more messed up my holiday was about to get messed up. Making a bee line to the medicine cabinet to take some pain killers for my headache.
After showering and cleaning up the sticky mess that was left over despite my efforts to clean up. I made a beeline back to my phone.
Lesia: Ohh, I am really loving this form of communication. You’re in the shower right now and I can leave you a note with this. It is so convenient. When you get out, check out the news. I think you will spot my peer’s involvement in your current dilemma.
Wrapped up in a towel, I headed downstairs inside my empty home and turned on the Tv. After several moments I switched over to one of the cable news networks. On the screen was a video of a girl in a vibrant green dress who floated down from the sky as the speakers gave off an eternal rattle of gunfire in the background. The Asian looking girl with her long black hair looked fabulous in her frilly, ankle length green dress.
With one delicate hand, the girl who looked no older than fifteen touched an unnoticed man laying on the ground with his camo uniform. Panning downward the camera revealed the pool of blood the man was laying in. Though after a moment, the man got up and began patting the bloodied part of his uniform.
As he did so the girl in green took a single step which sent her atop a nearby military truck. Giving us, the audience a glimpse of the hell that lay all around. All around were men in defensive positions with the occasional access way to let people through. Each firing downrange a seemingly endless spray of bullets as in the distance a horde of corpses littered the ground like some sort of gristly lawn.
In the corner we could see a pair of men rush forward and pull their bloodstained comrade back to safety. All the while the magical girl slapped the cab of the truck, she was on like a hollow gong. As the truck pulled forward to fill in the gap, she glowed.
A bright green aura suffused her as it made its way over until the light became nearly blinding.
“EMERALD STORM!” screamed the magical girl.
Her words not in English, but in Chinese.
Yet I understood them all the same. For the words seemed to come to me in both languages at the same time. As if she was forcing all who heard her to understand her.
Regardless of her words, the glow that once filled her left. Only to be replaced by a rolling green wave crossing the sky. Causing spikes of emerald to fall from the now green clouds that blanked the region. Emerald shards, falling not like rain, but like hail driven by the wind to slam into the ground with explosive force. Sending up clods of dirt with each impact. The drumbeat sound of it was louder and constant, like that of a thousand machine guns going off at once.
Giving the soldiers a much-needed reprieve as the magical girl slumped. Several soldiers catching her before she hit the ground. All the while the world watched an emerald storm of magic lay waste to hundreds of thousands of undead. Though as the storm rage and the undead continued to drive into it, headless of the casualties.
I couldn’t help but feel that this was just the tip of one massive iceberg.