Reconciled in the End

Chapter 24: Like a thief in the Night

Thomas frowned in the darkness. Peering about, he was scrunch tightly to Siren's back. The calm silence of night hummed him into a sedated lull. Studying the clock hazily, he smiled at the thought of four more hours sleep yet. Her gentle restful breathes were so peaceful. He wished he was allowed more than a night's rest with her.

"Oh God, please let me have more time with her," he sniffled, feeling defeated. He just didn't know how much more strain his body could take of his job's relentless stress! He barely had five hours sleep a night, no break of his work, and met her only in infrequent breaks in an unreal world! There was no 'day off' anymore, no relief, but if he didn't comply with this harsh schedule, they would be parted even more so. He had to do this no matter how painful. "Oh please God, give me strength to run this race!"

He had to calm himself down. He needed sleep for tomorrow as he cuddled even tighter to his dear loved one. She seemed to sense him rouse from sleep as they drifted off holding hands silently. It was all they had.

In a hazy, dream state, Thomas found himself thinking. He recalled himself in one of Siren's psyche assessments, only he was the one sitting there numb. He knew he was asleep as he attempted to shift but couldn't. The clock ticked as he felt the solitary sound pounding in his head. Unable to move, his body slowly sank to the floor, and his eyes were staring at the sky above. The moon shone round, no roof to hide it away in the sky. Knowing full well the obscurity of dreams, he didn't feel much worry about it. Thomas only wished he could move! He knew his real body was nestle right next to Siren, he kept trying to snaggle out of this lucid dream. Sleep paralysis was just the worst!

Four times he attempted to send commands to lift his hands, still asleep and frustrated he kept trying. Suddenly, the moon overhead became tinged with red, a bloody moon indeed! Thomas immediately felt an urging to wake unlike anything before! This wasn't a normal dream. His sleep paralysis was unusually long, and he had to get up and move!

Finally, he got his eyes open to the real world. He immediately noticed a strange tinge out the moonlit patio he had never seen before. It was certainly ominous! A rumble caught him next. Thomas jolted up out of bed in a cold sweat. This was no dream! Perhaps the sixth seal! Time to go! Time to go, now! He lifted the blanket up and grabbed their always ready packs. Time to go now!

Siren blankly sat up, staring at him as he yelled, "We're leaving and now, or we'll be in heaven before we know it!"

Oh, did he feel urged on by the Spirit like never before! Siren gulped, then nodded in agreement. She had blind trust in him. He wouldn't act this way for a simple nightmare. He was too logical for that!

He shoved a winter coat on her shoulders as she tied up some boots. Nothing was pretty but meant to endure survival. It was too warm to wear the thing, but needed to be taken with. She shoved on pants and a shirt over her pajamas, too. Oh, what a sight they looked, but this had a decided purpose.

Soon they were out the door, Thomas left the apartment unlocked and abandoned. They weren't coming back, this was anticipated. Drunks and lascivious people filled the streets, partying in reckless abandon, merely shrugging off the precusor tremor as a joke to a most likely coming massive earthquake. They didn't even hide their deeds in closed doors anymore. Thomas yanked her a different way that was not blocked in sensual fornications. Siren couldn't help but give a look of shock at Thomas as they passed the grotesque orgy filling the streets.

"Hoh," she eased out. It certainly surprised her.

Thomas however, blew it off as he hastily whispered, "I've known of these things. It's frequently displayed over the networks lately. That and other things. Let's go Siren, we need to leave soon!"