Chapter 1

It was dark when he woke; the alarm hadn’t gone off yet, Eric felt like he’d been cheated; the bed comforting the warmth all encompassing, it was a true sleepiest dilemma should he get out of bed and ready for college or wait until the alarm goes off… it was a real challenge doing the sensible thing; for Eric knew if he laid his head on the pillow he would be late for the first tutorial of the day Mathematic and Mechanics, not a real insensitive for waking though; however seeing Layla Hopps first thing has its particular appeal. With monumental effort Eric dragged his body out of bed, pulling the blanket off exposing himself to cold. Schlepping down the stairs half asleep made Eric rethinking the whole idea of college or passing this term. At the bottom of the stair Eric fumbled for the switch on the left had side of the wall as he entered the living room, the piercing light momentary blinded him, another thing that annoyed the young man about early mornings in truth he could sleep for ten hours’ day without a problem; people spouting nonsense of too much sleeps not good for you were the epitome of ideocracy.

The living room wasn’t much to look at, situating two three setter couches comfortably, a good thing that Eric could appreciate the green carpet it prolonged the evitable cold floor of the kitchen on the way to the titled floor of the bathroom. He eyed the brown   leather couch as he passed with a quick glance to the mounted wall clock he estimated he could get away with a five-minute power nap, however he relented trudging through the kitchen and into the bathroom which was connected to the kitchen via a door which lead to the pantry which then was connected via another door to the bathroom, if anything England is the land of the doors. From a thermodynamic stand point of view it made sense having so much doors in these houses; for conserving heat.

As Eric entered the bathroom icy shards of cold shot through his socks and into his feet, the young man powered through pulling the shower curtain across and putting on the shower he only had to fiddle with the temperature for a moment before it was just right; not unlike the goldilocks fable;

After he was finish with his morning ablution’s Eric was very careful to step on the floor mat, there was nothing worse than stepping on a titled floor just as you finished washing. He quickly made his way back upstairs paying momentary attention to the clock, he quickly got dressed going for a causal look jeans, a t-shirt and warm coat; just encase of rainfall which was an environmental hazard of English weather. Putting on his bag and going through his penultimate routine of putting keys, mobile phone and student I.D card in pocket as well as attaching headphones to mobile, putting on his morning mix a combination of slow jazz and blues; B.B king, Al green, Christ Beard just to name a few.

It wasn’t long before he reached the front door and doing his final check patting himself down, and out he goes always the first out of the house and depending on his timetable the first one back. The crispy wintery air greeted his face before the cold could spread to the rest of his body. He took a breath; nothing beat the smell of morning air when it rained the night before as the oxygen travelled through his lungs it was true refreshing. Not wasting anymore time he headed off to college on foot.

It was overcast not to unusual for the British isle as Eric walked the way to Saint John’s College; a well memorised path it was for Eric, he could have done it in his sleep and on more than one occasion he found himself in front of the gates with no clue on the journey. As he walked he paid very little attention to the going on around his persons very little took place this time in the morning and if something drastic was to take place he would have heard it through the low volume of the headphones, coincidently the only way to listen to slow blues. The morning was refreshing a time to collect himself, Eric wasn’t thinking on anything as he walked he just let his mind wonder. As Eric came up to the corner shop ‘booze burst’ the off license on the way to college, a small place room enough for three aisles and a medium size fridge and a freezer for cold goods. Eric neared the shop and stood in front of the closed graffitied shutters confused, he pulled out his mobile it was past eight A.M the shop was usually open by this time; run by Mr Minaj a fifty-year-old south Indian man, sikh by religious denomination. He opened the shop after he quite as an accountant Mr Minaj continued to work to stay busy and as he put it to stay away from the wife. It was strange as Eric stood in front of the shop Mr Minaj was usually punctual in all the time, three years, that Eric knew the man the shop never opened a minute after eight it as already ten minutes’ past. He looked around there wasn’t anyone about strange he thought Eric shrugged his shoulders and continued on his way to collage.

Eric took Paverrall Drive the street where all the rich people lived big houses and spacious drive ways it was a scenic route to college, but to save time and get to college a bit early Eric cut across Ederson park and walked a trail leading into wooded area which would take him directly to the college albeit it would take him to the back of the college. Walking through the woods was pleasant the fresh morning dew invigorating, Eric reached the college in little time he walked around to the front; the back gates where closed prompting students to use the front entrance, all subtle little ways in which the man controls you. The gates were closed when he got there which was slightly strange occurrence, Eric looked around expecting to see someone; which he didn’t; he took a seat on the front bench in front of the gates, Eric took a book out to pass the time.

As he read Eric slowly lost track of his surroundings and time, ten minutes into the book he was totally immersed the works of Louis Scott had a way to captive the readers Eric was particularly engrossed by the authors world building abilities as well as his take on magic. Eric just finished chapter ten, the book was beginning to pick up Eric knew if he didn’t stop himself know he would have continued. Putting the book away Eric looked around again he saw no-one, it was beginning to feel strange in a Tim Burtonesque way. It was strange as Eric looked around again he could see no cars or any pedestrians, he took off his headphones hoping to at least hear traffic; non reached his ears; he walked up to the closed gates and shock it yelling out an inviting. “Hello”. The was no reply. Again, he yelled “hello”. And again, there was no reply. Eric took out his mobile trying another avenue of contacting someone in the college as he keyed in the number slight trepidation took him; Which Eric thought strange because he had no cause to worry. All he got was a dial tone and an automated message to effect of leave a message and number the college would get in contact as soon as possible. As that route of ‘attack’ proved less than useful Eric contacted his friend Simon, a Scottish with an accent for prove tall and gangly coming into manhood, the same thing happened just as with the college just this time it as an automated message from the sim company that the person was unable to take the call and to try again later.      

With nothing else to do Eric made his way home with headphones off taking the long way, he walked like a monitor lizard constantly scanning, Eric felt the panic rise with every step he took, and every breath he took he was watching; waiting for that one person. It was a quick walk; jog; home everything was closed and so far, not a human sound. He took the busiest roads to home, there was on-one as he got closer to his home he picked up his pace; doing his best to mimic Usain bolt; when he approached, the corner leading into the street where he lived and it wasn’t busy with activity because of primary school the panic Eric felt cascaded in to new levels. The cars where in the drive way a grey Volkswagen CC and a Citroen, a French car as with anything from France that isn’t food or drink it was subpar.  Eric couldn’t remember how he wrestled his keys from his pocket and opened the front door he threw his bag without looking probably breaking something in the process; in no time, he found himself in front of his parents’ bedroom door; almost as if he teleported having no recollection of running up the stairs; hesitating as he stood in the threshold and for some unknown reason Eric thought of one of the most famous Gedankenexperiment; thought experiment; schrodering’s cat for all he knew his parents were still alive sleeping blissfully by not opening the door they his parents were in a state of perpetual dichotomy of dead or alive. Eric didn’t know how long he stood in front of the room; ignoring the room behind him with tremendous effort, if someone was to ask him how long he stood there he couldn’t have told them if it was a minute or ten hours. His arms felt like lead when he reached for the door handle it felt cold in his hands draining the warmth almost as if seeping the life energy from his essences, like a knife plunging into his heart, twisting the handle was like the knife twisting in his heart. The door provided little resistance when he opened it which Eric thought strange.

His parents looked peaceful, like sleeping beauty, he watched them hoping for signs of life his devious mind playing tricks on him the shadows and blankets making it seem as if his parents where breathing giving birth to that little voice in his head telling him it would be okay. He stood at the head of the bed looking down at their resting forms unable to confirm the overwhelming results, robotically Eric bent down to shake his father gently at first then gradually he began to increase receiving no response he moved to his mother to repeat the process calling to them; by the time he gave up the bed was shaking and his voice hoarse due to screaming. He checked there pulses and listened for a heartbeat just to be certain, Eric couldn’t find any they were just bags of flesh now an empty shell. Eric couldn’t identify his emotions as he left the room he expected to at least cry he reached up to his tear duct just to confirm, he wasn’t crying, as he left the room he thought himself a monster unable to shed a tear for his parents passing.

He faced the door he so steadily ignored as he stood in front of his parent’s room, it was his younger siblings room Alice and Bethany non-identical twins freckled faced and bubble personalities holding the world in wonder as all five-year olds did; they were beautiful girls and the two most important girls in his alive he was there older brother he was responsible for them when their parents weren’t around, a responsibility he took seriously, Eric would have died before letting harm come to them. The door was closed Eric couldn’t decide if it was a good thing or not, he couldn’t immediately see into the room and confirm what he knew to be true but in same part of himself against all mounting evidence he thought them alive. The door seemed so imposing as he stood in front of it Eric sat down the weight of the decision weighing, he was more indecisive than when he stood in front of his parent’s door he sat transfixed by the door his mind blank. It was dark when he looked at the window Eric had no recollection of the setting sun, Eric stood legs stiff from sitting so long moving as if in a dream he opened the door he knew on a subconscious level they no more; no five-year-old no matter how tired would be able to sleep an entire day. Eric walked it felt like someone else was controlling him, he checked on Alice first she was closer to the door he went through the same process as he did his parents; he received no response; he checked Bethany with the same results.

Eric left girls room for his, climbing into bed with his cloths still on he laid there in the dark drifting off in restless sleep; the final thought in his mind that he was a monster, his family was dead and he never shed a tear.

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Eric wake with a start it was still dark out, heart rate alleviated perspiration on his brow he estimated he only got three hours of sleep Eric checked his watch, glow in the dark, out of habit; a nice gift from his friend Zoey a cute brunette petite olive skin girl dark smouldering brown eyes, Eric may have had fleeting feelings for her some time ago. He dragged himself out of bed feeling lethargic as he walked past the rooms; refusing to acknowledge them. Robotically Eric left the house the sunrise just peeking out behind the horizon; first light; he began walking choosing a direction at random he slowly increased his pace until he was running at a half-jogging pace, he ran with no destination in mind; just to get away from the house. Eric passed stationary cars, he ignored them already knowing what he would find Eric continued to run eventually he found himself collapsing on some bench exhausted. He sat there momentary catching his breath, he pulled out his mobile and dial the emergency services; typing the short three-digit number with trepidation Eric put the mobile to his ear. It dial bringing minuscule amount of hope to Eric, as it continued the hope that so bloomed withered until he heard that dreaded automated message. The mobile slipped from his grasp and bounced twice, Eric sat there lifeless staring off into the ether. Maybe due to lack of sleep, running for gods know how long or the crushing realisation that his family he drifted off into sleep; dark, cold and alone.

Again, Eric woke with a start this time by the chirping of birds and the music of the winds blowing through the trees, the sunray’s warming his face he felt melancholy. Hunger pains brought him acutely back to reality, Eric got up trying to get his bearing he had no clue where he was he chose a direction he guessed would have taken him to an area he recognised. As he walked he stomached grumbled Eric looked for something to eat or a place to find food, he came upon a corner shop the shutters; Eric stared at it, ‘I’m I, really, thinking of breaking into the shop’, he questioned himself and the unmistakable small part himself voiced ‘Yes’. He started at the shutters he had no realistic way of entering the establishment, Eric cut his losses and moved on. As he walked saw a house with a nice wooden door, oak, if he had to have guessed. He marched to the house with purpose and rapped on the door, the sound deafening in the settle silence. He put more force behind his knocking as well as the accompanying ‘hello’, no doubt he would have brought the attention of the neighbours if there were any; but social necessity dictated he at least tried, even if there wasn’t much of a society felt with all the mounting evidence. Eric took a step back and with forced kicked the door placing his foot as close to the door handle as possible; copying TV shows. The door provided some resistance before giving way Eric stepped into the living pine floors and black leather couches arranged around an entertainment set, large flat screen Eric guessed fifty inches. He appreciated the arrangement and TV however he ignored it and the kitchen in the next room, with great effort and made his away upstairs where he assumed he would find the people that lived in the house he checked the first room without paying attention to the décor Eric made his way to the bed founding a body, he repeated the process three more times with the same results. With that done Eric made his down to raid the kitchen stating his hunger, it was funny Eric mused to himself as he ate the sandwich on any other occasion he wouldn’t have thought of breaking into the house and eating food pillaged from the kitchen would have been unthinkable not even two days ago. As he ate Eric help consider he might have been broken, sitting here eating a sandwich with a family dead upstairs like nothing’s wrong. Maybe he was coming to turns with his family’s death, the most likely reason, or it was the hunger a primal need that caused many humans to resort to unsavoury practices. But Eric knew these reasons are nothing but hallow, he was surrounded in a city of dead and his sanity was testing.         

Leaving the house, without a backward glance Eric eventually found himself in an area he recognised, subconsciously to prolong having to deal with the situation; home; Eric checked the houses on the way, finding some interesting things along the way ranging from grow rooms to katana sets; which Eric felt slightly bad for liberating but he reasoned to himself that previous owner would have no need of it. By the time he reached the Carters, the next door neighbours a lovely elder couple living by themselves children grown and having children of themselves, he was more than proficient in kicking down doors than he would have been in any normal future he imagined for himself. Eric skipped the knocking some time ago finding it tiresome, as with all house by now Eric had little trouble in breaching the threshold and confirming a forgone result, he found nothing of interest as searched their house.

The moment Eric dreaded came as he stepped out of the Carters home, and with just a few steps he found himself in front of his homes door; locked, Eric was surprised he must have done it subconsciously when he left home an ingrained habit, Eric ignored the stair and made his away to the back and into the shed; a small thing room enough for gardening tools, bikes and storage. He took out a spade and got to work in the grass area for he knew it would be enough for his family, this was as good a place as any he reasoned to himself as he got busy digging. It was slow going the soil being held together by the grass, nonetheless he kept at it with singular determination. Eric panted heavily as he sat down and looked at the four graves he dug he stared with nothing going through his mind; he was empty.

When he caught his breath, Eric got up, with some stiffness in his legs, he made his way into his parents’ bedroom and processed to pick up his father; stiff rigour mortis Eric noticed. As Eric processed to move the body he noted that it still smelt like his father, however he could smell undertones of decay. His father wasn’t that much taller than him six foot two and on the skin Eric found it difficult to pick him up, he found it strange maybe it was a psychological. As gently as he could he placed his father into the ground. He repeated the processes as gently as he could for his mother and sister trying not to pay as close attention to their faces as he could, Eric couldn’t stand the of their lifeless faces it just looked so unnatural they were usually so full of life.

Eric stood at the foot of their closed graves spade in hand.” This is where I’m supposed to give the eulogy”. Eric choked out voice full of emotions. “Eulogies aren’t for the dead I’ve come to realise they are for the living… As I’m the only living being here I don’t need to give a Eulogy to remember you all as a knew you a caring father, a loving mother and joyous little young girls barely having the chance at liffffffffffe.” Eric choked again a tear threating to release itself. As soon as the first tear rolled down his cheek it was like a damp bursting, the tears came boring Eric was relieved he was crying; he wasn’t broken inside; this relieve brought more tears to his eyes by the time he stopped he was bereft of any more tears.

Eric stood up from his fetal position and took one long look at the graves before going back into the house and into his room it only took him twenty minutes to pack a bag of clothes and other necessities such as camping gear, as well as the katana set he liberated from one of the houses it wouldn’t be to be caught unprepared; the thought did cross his mind that this might be a start of some type of apocalypse zombie or otherwise.

As Eric left he mused to himself it was a nice home, but home is where the heart is and his heart wasn’t there anymore. 

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Eric walked with no destination in mind wondering, just like his mind, it’s been a year he thought to himself as he walked passed a stationary car; a corpse of family inside. Within the first month he taught himself how to drive a car for all the good that did, within six months the petrol stopped working and two months after that diesel followed.

Eric found himself in some suburb in the south Eric stopped looking at name for areas some time ago just knowing his general whereabouts was good enough for him, it was getting dark Eric noted the sun his only time piece. Eric has taken to sleeping in libraries; houses tended to reek of the dead; Eric was a tried hand at breaking into libraries, it didn’t take him long to found one. Grand door with the name Acocks Green library printed across the top Eric made make work of getting into the establishment closing the door behind Eric got to work and prepared for sleep. Once he was done Eric took a stroll around the library with a battery-operated lamp in hand, it was dark the sun has set, he walked along the shelfs browsing the titles and occasionally reading the blurb eventually he settled on a fantasy adventure book a coming of age epic. Eric read until his eyes where heavy he blinked and the next thing he knew the sun was up and birds were chirping. Eric noted that without the constant noise pollution of society his senses has improved by an exponential amount.

With all mornings, he followed a routine pack up eat and leave, as he left a strong breeze swept pass he shivered and took out a jacket from his bag and once more he set off. As he set off Eric forced himself to call out for anyone as he knew by now his calls fell on dead ears, this continued until his voice was horse. Eric walked until he his feet couldn’t take it anymore finding a bench he sat down and rested, these days he didn’t think of much his one single hope was to find someone; but deep in his mind he knew.

As Eric sat there just like the dead, any sort of apocalyptic event he could have imagined this wasn’t on his list; he still carried the black katana just encase however a year without any sort of active made it seem for nought. The stillness was oppressive it was something he manged daily phantom noises made his hope soar until he realised it was nought but a figment of his imagination, these events always threaten tears, Eric wouldn’t class himself as an emotional person; the film ‘my girl’ brought swelling behinds his eyes; but this isolation stripped him bare and at random moments tears spilled from his eyes, therefore tried to not think of anything in the pass and just focus on his solitary gaol of finding someone.

Eric got up and continued his search.

Eric woke with the light, he just laid there what was the point he thought to himself it’s been ten years since the deadening Eric though it would be so simple to end it all he thought of this many times and on many occasions, he found himself standing on a ledge unable to take the final step. He couldn’t decide if he was a cowered for not taking that step or brave for precisely that reason, it was something he couldn’t answer. Being alone was a dangerous thing, the mind an evil trickster turning on itself.

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He walked out of the library; books his lone companion reading everything from academe to fiction. The only books he tending to stay away from was romance it reminded him of something he would never have an intimate moment with that one person, over the years it was something he began to crave; just that one moment to have some contact, greeting a person in passing was something he yearned for. Eric lamented the fact he was twenty-eight and still the dreaded V.  

it was a place his already been to about three years ago, Eric stood there immobile thinking to himself that it’s been ten years since he last saw anyone, walking around wasn’t helping anyone. ‘what I’m I to do’ Eric talked to himself.

‘I’ve been doing a lot of that… talking to myself’. He couldn’t decide if he was crazy or of strong mental constitution, he wasn’t talking to any imaginary people or inventing fantasy’s.

Eric knew he couldn’t continue like this so with great difficulty he gave up on finding anyone Eric set his sight on something knew maybe running a farm. With that he set off to find a farm house.

Only one thing of note happened within the last ten years that was dogs, the population of dogs grew with each year they roamed around like a pack of wolves and just as deadly. When he was first attacked Eric was fortunate that he still carried his katana, it was mostly out of habit, he swung the katana without much care Eric was fortunate the blade was as sharp was it made very little out of the dog that attacked him bisecting the creature and taking off the leg of the second mutt that attacked him, showing force the pack took off and ran literally with tail between legs. Since then he has been collecting manuals on martial arts and practising daily, with nothing else to do it passed the time.

 Having crossed the channel to mainland Europe and spending three years trans versing the continent Eric truly felt he alone, returning to England; it was as good a place as any he thought; Eric quickly established himself in a farm fixing the place and making it comfortable for himself, only periodically leaving to get more books it read. The years soon began to blur Eric kept himself occupied with anything that took his fancy from blacksmithing to gardening.

Eric was forty years of age, he guessed he long ago lost track of dates; only paying attention to the sunrise and sunset. It was a bright sunny day when he woke rooster crocking in the background, he stood up as usual following his morning routine, checking the animals and fixing fences and so on. It was a small farm house he built for himself three bedrooms, one for sleeping, one for books and another to store things; modern convenience like a flushing toilet was something Eric had to figure out himself, it was all well and good the toilet flushes but where would the waste go it was things like this that Eric had to worry and fret over.

Having read all the books in his collection Eric readied his horse a chestnut coloured breed, strong and having been with him for a while it was real affectionate and gentle never startling without need; it was a real companion. As Eric readied his mount he true began to appreciate the people of old, simple things like learning to ride a horse would have been akin to learning how to drive a car. Eric could still remember the day he decided to take up horse riding, without anyone to teach him for he had no prior knowledge of the animal it took him longer than expected the only help he had was dusty old books. Having completed the preparations Eric heaved himself up onto the horse.

“come Wilson old boy”. Eric said to the horse patting it on the neck before heading out, towering over cars as the moved.

Having books as his only source of entertainment Eric cleared the surrounding libraries in time, the journey his currently on is to get to oxford and tackle that archive of literature. Having collected his titles Eric made his way home, trying to avoid cities as much as possible it reminded him of what he lost; they weren’t much of cities anymore nature reclaiming them as soon as humans left, the wild coming to take back what we took; entropy. As Eric rode through town, Hillcrest, he couldn’t help but think of the folly of man. Global warming was a very heated argument when there were people around to discuss such things; Eric couldn’t help but laugh looking back at it; man, thinking it could somehow destroy mother nature the only thing we were destroying was ourselves even if the planet would have heated to a hundred degrees it still would have been here, but we wouldn’t, and in time nature would have healed itself and continued the dinosaur a prime example.

 Spending so much time alone Eric was intimately familiar with sounds and noises, as he drove through the town Eric couldn’t help but hear a very humane noise.

“Hello”. Eric heard, he steadily ignored it. It was faint almost like the wind, it sounded distinctly female. Eric noted it must be that time when he was starting to go crazy already the signs were there having named his horse Wilson. Eric continued, on his way ignoring the continues calls, for he knew if he investigated and found nought he might not recover. It wasn’t that much further from his home, he would ignore it and rest.

It was drizzling by the time he got home, he prepared the fire place with wood he cut earlier on in the year having a roaring flame heated the house just like a warm cup of soup in winter. Eric got comfortable in his armchair, with a warm fleece on, mug of hot chocolate and a book entitled ‘the Treatise on the principles of Engineering’. As he was about to crack open the book and read he heard a knock on the door, three raps and “Hello”. Eric just stared at the door unable to move. Again, three raps and “Hello”. Again, Eric was immobile.

‘I’m finally losing it.’ Eric thought.

“I’m coming in”.

‘Good luck with that’. Eric thought because it would be pretty hard for imagination to affect reality.

The door burst open; Eric long ago gave up locking the door, who was he keeping out; wind streamed through the doorway and there stood a figure, rain and lighting pouring down around her. She stepped in and closed the door.

“Hope you don’t mind”. Eric just looked at her speechless his mind throwing him for a loop. “Why didn’t you stop… do you know how long it took to walk here”. She continued as she stepped into the living room, confidence with each stride, she looked around with appraisal in her eyes. “Nice place”. She said as she took to the coach on the other side of the room. She sat there staring at him. And Eric stared intern; yet to utter a word. She was proximately five foot eight ginger haired, grey piercing eyes; alluring; she looked about sixteen on her way to womanhood. And Eric knew in a few years she would be the definition of drop dead gorgeous, to Eric she looked like a goddess radiating beauty and power with each stride; he reasoned with himself he only had these impressions because it’s been years since he last saw a woman, and indeed she was. “Are you going to say something.” She stated from the coach legs slanted hands in lap and back straight, like a lady, and waited for a response.

“Erm…” was all Eric manged before lapsing into silence again.

“Well any-who I’m Sarah”. She said really pulling the who.

“Erm… I’m…. Er”. Eric said really trying to get the words out.

“Erm come again I didn’t get that”. Sarah asked.

“Are you real”. Eric asked hesitantly.

“wait… what kind of question is that… of course I’m real look at me”. Sarah said gesturing at her figure, looking at Eric dubiously.

Eric had nothing to say lapsing into silence staring at her again, he imagined something like this happening on many occasions through the years; he ached for it, now that it was here after so many years he had to take it with a grain of salt, painfully.  As Eric observed her, he found it strange she had no bag or luggage, but then again, he reasoned with himself what wasn’t strange in this new world he found himself; population two, with a heavy asterisk attached.

Eric couldn’t decide whether to speak to her or not, he averted his eyes pointedly looking in a corner to put her out of his line of sight; after so long without human contact it took an implausible amount of effort on Eric’s behalf to turn his gaze from her and look in the corner ignoring her, it was akin to a man, Eric,  stranded in a desert, World, for four, years, days without water and stumbling an oasis, Sarah, however the water was contaminated, possible with insanity?, and needed to be purified, ignored, before it was safe to drink and restraining himself to do so until it was safe. Eric could feel her eyes on him. Acknowledging her Eric reasoned with himself would make him fall farther into this delirium he found himself in. It felt like he was standing on the precipice, the temptation was so strong the call of the void was unbelievably tempting; the longer Eric felt her staring at him his will power withered like an iron door on the shore just one tap would crumble it.

“Hey I’m over here…Hello.” Her voice like music to Eric’s hears, pulling his gaze to her. Eric drank in the sight like a blackhole guzzling everything around it, the door had crumbled. Maybe in this crazy world he found himself in it wouldn’t be that bad to be a little crazy to he reasoned.

Eric looked at her, his void, and took that final step. “Sorry about that... I’m Eric…nice to meet you”. His voice hoarse full of emotions, his words coming out slow having not spoken to anyone in so long.

“It’s okay…how are you, it must have been hard for you…so long alone.” Sarah stated.

“It…was”. Eric’s words came out slow and measured, controlling his emotions with an iron grip.

Sarah stood and with two strides made her way over to Eric, his body coiled as she got closer he didn’t know how to handle this situation in his fantasies it never made it to this point, she held her hand out inviting Eric to take it. He stared at the offered limb as if it was a snake coiled ready to explode, hesitatingly he reached out to the offered appendage; was this his life line. He grasped her hand, Eric marvelled at her soft skin it was so soft and warm compared to his worn hands; having spent many a day working the farm, practising martial arts and blacksmithing. She gently tugged Eric out of his seat and pulled him to herself as Eric moved towards her there was no denying she was really, Sarah embraced Eric and he in turn hugged her hungrily drinking in the feel of her body. It was hunger for human contact that was the only cardinal instinct coursing through his being, the feel of her made him weak in the knees Sarah took his weight and gradually sunk to the floor whilst holding Eric.

“You’re really real”. Eric said voice breaking, he tried holding his emotions as he held her however as soon as the first tear shed from his tear duct it was like a flood it cascaded like a water fall, his tears came freely he didn’t care anymore.  

“It’s alright I’m here.” Sarah said as she comforted him, humming a soothing melody as she rocked him like a baby, eventually he stopped crying and just held her as she continued to hum her sweet melody and slowly he began to drift. 

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It was morning by the time he woke, and he woke indeed he did to an unfamiliar sensation the warmth of another body. To Eric she was the most captivating creature radiating peace as she slept, Eric felt a miniscule amount of relieve seeing her. She was using his arm as a pillow and his other arm rapped around her waist, she was tantalisingly close Eric could feel her chest through his cloths, they were soft. Repositioning his arm must have woken her.

“Morning”. Sarah said voice heavily laced with sleep.

“Morning”. Eric said as he gazed at her.

“I can feel someone his happy to see me”. Sarah said with a playful infliction in her voice, she slowly traced her fingers along Eric’s chest down to his neither regions.

Before she could get close Eric stopped her hands. “I’ll go prepare breakfast, hope you don’t mind eggs.” Eric said as he moved away and disentangled himself from the situation.

Sarah grabbed Eric pulling him close, his heart immediately accelerated her scent permeated it was intoxicating. “only a few layers separate us from ecstasy”. Sarah whispered in Eric’s hear, it was so tempting seductively intoxicating.

“Stop that”. Eric said forcefully extracting himself from the situation, it was like and outer body experience. He found himself in front of the chicken coop unable to believe himself, refusing her when she was practically throwing herself to him; copulation was never far from his mind. He returned indoors having retrieved the eggs, turning on the gas stove two a low temperature; that was the secrets to making an omelette low temperature; he went through the motions of preparing breakfast. The kitchen was a comfortable sized room big enough for an island table and equipment arranged around the table making it the centre piece of the room. Eric heard the wooden chair scrapped along the titled floor as Sarah sat down, he was acutely aware of her presence having completed the preparations for the omelette, all he could do know was wait, Eric took a seat opposite he and thought of a way to break thought of a way to break the invisible tension.

She sat her chin rested on interlocking fingers staring at Eric, “I’m surprised I would have thought you would have ripped my cloths and ravaged me.” Sarah said with a hint of melancholy in her voice. “We could still…” She said suggestively.

“No, we couldn’t, how old are you what fourteen, fifteen.” Eric said refusing to give an inch.

“What does age matter in today’s world.” Sarah said.

“It matters to me.” Eric couldn’t believe the words coming out of his mouth since when was he of such moral character.

“I can see the hunger in your eyes the way you look at me… Even know I can feel your lust.”

“But that’s what separates us from beast control, and besides you’re hardly a woman… a child.”

“If this is about me not being a woman I’ve been visited by my dare aunt Flowma, a most unpleasant woman at times and the most peculiar of sayings and I quote ‘if she bleeds she can breed’ quite a saying I’m sure you agree.”

Eric couldn’t help it but let out a laugh even though the joke was in poor taste. “In all seriousness, I’m not going to sleep with you, it wouldn’t be right for a man of my age.” Eric stated. “And more importantly where your parents, you must have been born after the deadening”

“Why wouldn’t it be proper for a man of your age.” Sarah said, Eric picked up that she avoided the question.

“Well the law and society.” Eric stated, maybe it was his twenty-first century sensibilities.

“Is there a society without people? Is there laws if there is no one to enforce them.” Sarah said.

“I know what you’re doing I’m not going to get into this.” Eric firmly stated, he got up and prepared the finishing touch on the dish before serving it. They ate in comfortable silence.

“This is really good, where did you learn to cook so well.” Sarah asked as Eric collected her empty plate and placed it in the sink.

“where else would I learn anything from books my dear.” Eric said, with a hint if bitterness in his voice.

“oh.”

 Eric left the kitchen and made his way to the adjoining living room and out of the house Sarah accompanying him as we walked the farm checking in on the life stock. “what do you do all day.” Sarah asked as they finished there round.

“Well for starters I check the animals and then whatever takes my fancy.” Eric said as he walked to the back of the house, Sarah close on his heels, he walked into his dojo; martial arts practise room; he built himself an extension onto the cottage. Eric opened the door and the first thing that welcomed them into the room as the warmth, from the fire place located on the left hand side of the wall.

“Cool weapons”. Sarah commented as she surveyed the room with swords and pole arms lining the walls. “Where did you get them?” Sarah asked.

“Please take off your shoes before you step on the mats” Eric said as he took off his shoes and proceeded onto the mats. “I made most of them myself” Eric continued in response to Sarah’s question.

“How did you make the swords a didn’t see a forge”

“The forge is next door”. Eric said as he stretched.

There was a distinct change was Eric finished stretching, he did not proceed into explosive movements he stood still and slowly proceeded to bend his one leg as an angle and gently rocked to and fro whilst pushing his hands out; almost as if his was calming the water he alternated between left and right always going at a slow past. Eric continued to do varies movements always at a slow pace as if he was imitating a sloth.

“What are you doing.” Sarah asked, sitting on the side lines looking as Eric moved through varies forms.

“Tai chi and now I’m going to do some Karate katas.” He simply stated.

Eric centred himself feet shoulder with apart hands down at his sides, he took a breath held it and in a quick burst he released it and stepped formed with his left foot twisting his hips and throwing a punch with the opposing hand. He continued with the katas going through the motions with rapid movements as compared to the earlier tai chi.

“How did you learn all that”.

“well I just decided I wanted to learn some sort of martial arts cause I always wanted to so I learnt Karate and from there I just sort of picked them up Tai chi, Kendo, Jujutsu, Muay tai and so one.” Eric said as he continued going through the varies katas.

“Yes, but how did someone teach you”.

“Well no, as with most things I learnt I’m self-taught I looked around for manuals.” Eric said. “they’re over there next to the in the cabinet over by the door leading into the cottage.”

“Do you think you could teach me?”

“Yeah Sure I see no reason why not… what do you wanna learn.”

“All of it.”

“Okay why don’t we start with Tai Chi.” Eric said. “Come stand next to me and copy my moves.”

As the years progressed Eric taught her all that he knew.

Ten years had gone by since Eric Meet Sarah he was an old man in his fifties growing feeble and weak by the year, he found it more and more difficult to pry himself out of bed and continue on; maybe the only reason he lasted so long was due to Sarah his ray of happiness in this empty world.

On this day, Tuesday, by Eric’s best estimate found himself in bed late into the afternoon, Sarah walked in. Maybe it was something in the way she walked or the expression on her face but Eric could tell something was wrong, she sat down on the bed Eric made room for her.

“What’s wrong Sarah.” Eric asked.

“Nothing I just came to see you, check on you, you haven’t been out of bed all day.” Sarah said taking Eric’s had in hers.

“Look at my hands so aged and look at you, you haven’t aged a day since we meet. Soon I will be gone and you will be her by yourself.” Eric lamented. “I can feel I’m not long for this world much longer.”

“Don’t worry about that old timer.” Sarah said.

“I feel tired I’m going back to sleep wake me in the more.” Eric asked.

“Don’t you want to eat.”

“I’m not hungry.”

“Okay see you in the morning.” Sarah said melancholy as she left the room closing the door behind her.

--

Eric woke with a headache the next more, streams of sunlight cutting through the curtain openings it was mid-day Eric guessed opening the curtains further. ‘strange’ Eric noted Sarah usually woke him when asked.

“Sarah!, Sarah!” Eric shouted trying to get her attention, ‘she should have woken by now’ Eric thought to himself as he made his way to the kitchen. ‘she must be outside’ he reasoned, they usually left a note on the fridge if one of them went out for an extended period; he found none.

With nothing better to do Eric tended the farm, a farm wasn’t like a garden it needed tending to every day especially the animals after so many years it was ingrained. Once he was done Eric made himself some tea, as was proper for an English gentleman his age, and got comfortable in front of the fire place with a book; one of the many in his collection. He was so engrossed in the book, the enquires by David hughes, by the time he lifted his head it was dark and with no sign of Sarah; an unpleasant feeling began to take root, Eric resolved himself not to worry she was a big girl. He left a note on the fridge and left to sleep, as of late Eric found it hard to stay awake and paradoxically he found it hard to sleep. He went to bed with unsettled; phantasm plaguing his slumber.

-

Eric woke disoriented he dreamt himself in a void of darkness empty as far as the eye could see it was disconcerting in the sense of nothingness, he felt an oppressive force exerted around him, Eric didn’t know how but it felt malicious. He ran as fast and as hard as he could but all attempts at gaining momentum failed he just couldn’t get enough steam it felt like the harder he tried the slower he became, it seemed he wasn’t getting away from malevolent force by running.  He wadding slowly like a person trying, and failing, to run in a strong river current the harder you fought the more it sapped your strength. Eric stalled unexpectedly an external force halting his progress try as he might he couldn’t move after some struggle Eric gave up and just stood there, as suddenly as this external force come it ceased Eric got control of his body momentarily and then as he stalled he got sucked into oblivion and that’s how he woke with a start that sensation of fall was still with him when he woke.       

Eric took a moment to gather himself before getting out of bed it was strange as he stood up his knees clicked, in the dream he felt it vividly his young body the boundless energy of youth. it was with melancholy Eric left the room lamenting the effect of the ravishers of time how he wished he could have done his youth all over again.  Five steps took Eric to Sarah’s room Eric rapped on the door three times before opening it, the room was empty Eric stood there dumfounded did she take all her stuff, the bed and wardrobe included. Eric closed the door behind him gingerly he didn’t know what to think as he walked downstairs, it took him a second to notice what was different. All the little things Sarah added to the décor of the house, gone, the landscape portrait of a meadow and a cottage hung above the fire place; absent. the chair that mirrored Eric’s own next to the fire, gone, he remembered dragging the thing from warehouse two kilometres away. The kitchen the same occurrence gone was her plate and utensils, his stood alone. He ate in sullen silence the food like cardboard in his mouth by the time his was done he didn’t even remember what he had. Walking around the plot many incidences just like the inside the house occurred thinks he made for her gone.

Eric walked a little way away from the farm to a meadow one of Sarah’s favourite places, it was beautiful wild flowers bloomed the sunlight cutting through the clouds laminating the majesty of Gia’s beauty. Eric sat down Indian style gazing at the meadow and remembering his time with her, he knew it was real it could have been an hallucination he felt her, he could remember her.                                                                                                                             

By the time Eric got home darkness had fallen with it bringing the cold, with heavy feet and an even heavier heart the old man made his way home, ‘maybe it was all a figment of my imagination’ Eric thought as he got into bed. He laid is head down to rest, for he did not know it would be his last.

Eric knew he was dreaming it was ethereal peaceful even, there was no need to walk he just floated it was like he was drawn to something; he heard a voice a Murmur as Eric got closer the voice sounded more familiar ‘ come to me’ it said

“Sarah.” Eric called questionably.

“Come to me.” The voiced called stronger, it was definitively Sarah. ‘Great now I’m dreaming about my delusions.’ Eric thought, as he floated by.

Without warning the next thing Eric felt was being squeezed from all sides, it was painful a cry erupted from his mouth, he jerked and found his limbs less than cooperative, the light was blinding and he felt some sort of fluid all over his body, ‘great now I pissed all over myself.’ Eric thought, it take a minute for his eyes to adjust and what he found made him gaze in wonder for a moment then scream with surprise and if one whose adapted at listening to screams they would have heard undertones of fright; for Eric saw a giant head man handling him and passing him of to another giant.

End

A.N: This is my first story so please comment.  Not all chapters will be this long, I go the first Arc planned so Chapters should be semi-regular.