Authored: December 12, 2024

PROSE

"This is it for us?" she asked, knowing he was behind her.

There was a short silence that felt like the deepest quietness. A soft yet sharp sigh exhaled.

"We were always at the threshold of chaos. We looked into the Darkness and questioned everything. We awaited a response and none was forthcoming. The silence spoke volumes. We tried to make do. We tried to build and shape the world around us. We tried...and tried some more."

She turned and saw him. The voice of the Crimson King on the blood red throne, wearing the devilish shit-eating grin. But she was not afraid. The days of being afraid was over. The King stood from the throne and boney fingers pointed to her.

"You wanted hope? I live on your species hopes and quench my hunger on shattered hope. I watched your wars, your hatreds, and your pain. I swam in seas of your traumas. I drunkenly drank from the shattered shards of what comes after broken Hope. You see Emma? Your species will never reach the Stars. You are mere animals with overgrown brains, animals wearing clothing!"

The Crimson King, laughed. A howling drunken laugh.

"What's coming Emma...." the King cajoled and continued. "What is coming next will be great!"

They stared at one another. Human and Crimson King. The throne awash in blood. Below and around them was the Beam, the beam that led to many worlds on one world.

And that Something, was approaching the center of the Beam. Closing in fast.