A Prophet's Tale: A Collection Of Short Stories From A Twisted Mind

A Collision of the Dreams and Realities of Mr McKee

Through the thick smoke, the sergeant's voice filled the room with great violence. Searching around, I snatched my camera and a photo of my dear beautiful Lucille was placed in my chest pocket. I began my descent towards the unnamed abyss, now famous in the camp for its stench of rotting ill-timed courage. The jazzless sound of the land filled with boom after boom as I was forced to shield myself with the sandy trenches, taking snapshots of the horrors of my present situation at any given opportunity.

"GERMAN'S APPROACHING!"

The nearest dug-out lined up with my eyesight. The dirt walls blurred as I made my way past them. Without caution, I searched for any sign of damage to the paintbrush that dangled from my neck. I suddenly experienced an unstoppable force enter my body striking me down. My sight was that of darkness and soon after it was the image of blood pouring from my nostrils. I released my trapped foot from the unseen body which had impeded my journey to safety.

Reaching the soft confines of the dimly lit apartment, I perched myself upon a perfectly moulded mound of sand. I reached within my chest-pocket, however, only to retrieve a speck of dust from my investigation, I sank into the darkness of the dirt, having now losing my only Messiah.

My eyes widened and goosebumps were tattooed on my skin as a soft hand met my collar. My heart raced as the pistol typically stored in my left pocket reached my hand. I felt a sudden force urge the lifestealer back into its place.

"Please put the gun away, Chester"

The touch was gentle, angelic and kind, yet also displayed signs of masculinity and discipline. My eyes turned to meet his. They were of a man I had only met a few hours before the nightmare's beginning, although gazing into the generous and innocent soul of my companion made it feel as though it were a dream.

"Let me release you from your suffering"

His reserved midwestern-voice was inviting, creating a sense of safety around the candle-lit danger of my current environment. Gazing at his face, I noticed nothing exemplary about his nature, instead, just a simple reflection of the values society had intended. The only thing remarkable I could identify were his aspirations, which sparkled in his young eyes. This, however, was enough for my sorrows to have been thrown overboard during the brief escape he led me on. At this exact moment, I achieved true bliss, true happiness and true love. The developing smoke around the room released me and began revealing the true persona of his initial introduction had hidden.

"There's one more in here"

His voice had changed. Becoming somewhat feminine, it was now rough, detestable and reflected the exact causes of my initial departure. The smoke continued to fill the room and a thick green wooden door manifested itself in the wall.

"Daisy!"

A new voice filled the room, again reminding me of my previous sorrows.

"Daisy!"

The detestable noise grew, as the smoke slowly covered my vision.

"Daisy!"

I groped my chest. The metal box which had only seconds ago rested upon my ribs was there no more. Glancing up at the green door, I saw my visitor exiting through it, camera in hand. Without thought, I followed.

The greenness of the door became all I could see. I had ventured through and appeared on the other side. I sat there, my fists clenching the leather armrests. The booms had past and instead been replaced with the screams of my new society. The smoke had cleared, revealing the undesirable figurines which I had once escaped. The wonder of the door called me back, inviting me to take part in the renewal it had offered me only a short second ago. But then the fantasy was no more.

"Quick... Photo... Now"

I recognised the structure of the individual whose words I tried desperately to not be the recipient of. My eyes longing for the safety of the green presented all that was not as blank objects. The outline of my past ventured to the huddled mess on the now wooden floor, as I felt a cool liquid massage my feet as it flowed into my browned socks.

It was at this moment I could sense the smoke returning to release me into my true reality. A final scan of my surroundings revealed a man and a dog sitting beside me. They, besides the door, were the only thing clear to me. I stood up and began to venture away from the undesirable dream occurring around me. As I did I could hear the faint movements of the other man and his smaller companion following my path. My palm connected with the cold metal knob. Turning one final time I found that the entire room, as it had once before, was made non-existent by the thick smoke, except of course for the door, the man and the animal. The knob spun around in my palm and I stepped out into the clearing leaving the abominable situation I had woken up in behind me.