Neon Knights

Part Five: After the Fall

10...

​Amy looked into Mick's eyes with great love and admiration. They stood there in the rain that way for only a minute even though it felt like an eternity. Mick smiled at her and tried to hold back a tear.
"So a Beetle, huh?" she asked him, breaking the silence.
"What? Don't like yellow?"
"Makes you stand out a bit."
"The girls at the mall like it."
"Aren't those girls like twelve?"
"Got to start somewhere!" they both laughed.
"Hungry?" she asked.
"Look at me. Do I look hungry to you?" she didn't answer and gave him a quizzical look, "Of course I do! I'm fat! I'm always hungry!"
"Shut up, you aren't fat."
"I'm just bigged boned," he said in his best Erich Cartman voice.
"Seriously," she slugged him in the same arm she had injured all those years ago, "you're beautiful the way you are."
"I prefer ruggedly handsome."
"Fuck you."
"Language, young lady, language."
"Charlie," Amy called to her bodyguard.
"Yes, ma'am," he answered.
"I'm gonna ride in the bug with Mick. Follow us in the limo, okay?"
"Yes, ma'am."
​Mick opened the door for her and she slunk in. They smiled at each other as he closed the door. Mick went to the other side and started the engine. She leaned over and pulled him in for a passionate kiss. They sat and rekindled the romance they both had forgotten about for a few minutes before heading down St Louis to Eastern then took a left at Sahara until they reached Boulder Highway.
The streets were deserted save a few cars and the night air was quiet and warm with fresh humidity from the rain. Amy rested her head on Mick's shoulder the entire drive as the radio played a song by Bon Jovi. They pulled into the parking lot, the limo close behind, and valet the Volkswagen Beetle. Charlie paid the limo driver and followed closely behind the couple, giving them their space.
Charlie was very happy for his boss. He saw her as a daughter and only wanted the best for her. He hated to see her so sad all these years. He hated to see her in misery. He noted that this was the first time he had ever seen her truly happy.
"Where do you want to eat?" Amy asked him.
"A buffet! Duh, fat guy here!"
"Whatever you want, I'll pay."
"I can't have you do that. The gentleman always pays for his lady."
"Not if his lady is a multi millionaire!"
"I was meaning to ask you about that. Is that what explains the muscled suit behind us?"
"Yeah," she snickered, "that's Charlie. He's been my bodyguard since I made enough money to afford one."
"That's awesome, what did you do to get so rich? Rob a bank?"
Amy blushed and dodged his question, "How about we there," she said pointing at the Pasta Palace, "I have good memories of that place as a kid."
"Plus they have all you can eat pasta. Perfect for me!"
"Stop calling yourself fat!"
"I can't help it. I'm so ashamed of my weight. I mean look at you!"
"What about me?" Amy asked.
"You're a knockout, Amy. Any man would be kill to be in my shoes right now."
​Amy tried not to say that many men had been in his shoes. Not as lovers in the sense that he was her soulmate. Only as sex partners. So in that instance, she figured he was right about that. Only, what was so great about her? What was there to love? She was tainted goods. Abused and thrown away. Her shelf life had ended months ago. Her acting career in limbo. Although she won all those awards, studios were hesitant to cast former porn starts. All she needed was one more break. All she need was Mick.
"Thank you," she said gratefully to Mick.
"Welcome to the Pasta Palace. Two for you tonight?"
"Yes, thank you," Mick answered, not letting go of Amy's hand.
"I'll wait outside, Ms Brennan, call my cell if you need me," Charlie said dutifully.
"Thank you, Charlie. You are excused for the night. Take the night off and enjoy Vegas, on me."
"Thank you, ma'am," Charlie bowed his head and began to leave. He stopped and turned around, "Still call me if you need anything, ma'am."
"Of course, Charlie. Have a good night."
"You too, ma'am."
"Follow me, please," the hostess said, leading them to a booth. The restaurant was fairly empty and they enjoyed the peace and solace of Vegas' slow season.
"Can I get you anything to drink?"
"Coffee and water," Mick said.
"Me too, please," came Amy.
​They looked over the menu but Mick couldn't help but glance over at the woman sitting next to him. He realized something.
"You know, this is our first date," he said.
"Your right," she said to him with a sparkle in her pale gray eyes.
"Amy, I'm so sorry I forgot you."
"Don't be. It did this to us. The alien and the mist. They made us forget."
"I know, I just," he paused, "how could I forget someone so perfect. My memories flooded back after reading that journal and," he paused again, "how could I forget?"
"I asked myself the same question."
​The waiter placed their drinks down on the table and pulled out his notepad. He was a young college age kid who looked as if this was just a temporary job until his real life started after school.
"Are you folks ready to order?" he asked with his mind obviously some where else.
"I'll take the Rosemary Chicken," Amy answered.
"I'll have the linguini with Tomato Alfredo sauce, please."
"Very good," the waiter promptly left with their menus.
​Amy snuggled under his arm and took in a deep breath, filling her nose with his scent. She had forgotten just how great he smelled. A TV was airing a news story in the background. Something about the assignation of the Pope and riot at the Vatican, but they both drowned it out.
"I have to tell you something, Mick," Amy started, "I only hope you don't judge me too harsh and still like me after I tell you." She couldn't look him in the eye.
"I've waited my whole life for you, and I know you're not a dude, so nothing could possibly push me away. Are you married?"
"No," she paused, "I wish it were that simple."
"What is it then?" She paused for an awkwardly long time before answering, considering her words carefully.
"You asked how I became a millionaire."
"Yes, but I don't care what you did to make it, I only care about you."
"I hope that's true, Mick, I really do. Because I worked in the Adult film industry for years. That's how I made my money."
"What as a producer? Director?"
"Actress," Mick looked at her but she still wouldn't return his gaze, "you know, performer, whore, slut, any of the above terms. I'm so sorry, Mick."
"Hey," he lifted her chin with his hand so he could look her in her beautiful steel eyes, "we all do things to get by, sometimes we're ashamed of those things. Don't worry, I'm just sorry I never got to see one of your movies!"
"I'd rather you were the star of all of them, Mick. I did horrible things in those movies."
"Sex isn't horrible, it's a beautiful thing, just like you, and is nothing to be ashamed about."
"Do you really mean that, Mick?"
"Of course I do, Amy, I love you. If we survive this mess, I want to spend the rest of my life with you."
"I want to spend the rest of my life with you, too, Mick. I love you too."
​They kissed again before resuming their snuggling on the warm black booth seats. He held even closer know and she liked it. She took in his scent again. Time hadn't suffered the feeling they once had for each other. It was if they had never parted in the first place.
"So what do you?" Amy asked.
"Hopefully retire after shacking up with you," she slugged him in the same arm again and laughed at him, "no, I work in Engineering at a low rent television station in Oklahoma."
"Oh yeah, I forgot you had a lot of family there. How's your mom and dad?"
"Dead."
"I'm so sorry Mick, what happened?"
"It's okay, I'm over it now," he then went on to fill her in on the grisly details of his mother's suicide and father's death. His retreat into hermitism and lack of social skills in general. She kissed him on the cheek when he finished his story.
"Sounds a lot of bad happened to both of us," she said, "I guess it's my turn to share," she went on to talk about Billy Warner, getting kicked out of the house, going to California, becoming a porn star, and finally a legitimate actress.
"I'm so sorry all that happened to you," Mick said apologetically.
"I'm sorry all that happened to you and that I couldn't be there for you."
"Ditto, Ariel."
"Wow, I haven't thought about that in years, Mouse!" They laughed as the waiter dropped the entrees on the table.
They thanked him and he went on his way. The news now focused on the biological outbreak affecting the Las Vegas metro area. A pretty reporter was explaining the possible causes for the zombie like state that residents had been experiencing. They both tuned it out.
"So engineering, what the heck is that?" Amy asked.
"I work in Master Control. Which means I record shows, air them, press buttons, set up tapes, record shows, edit movies, get shows and commercials ready for air, and watch a hell of a lot of television. So much so that I don't watch it at home. It's a lot less exciting than it sounds when I first say, I work in TV, right?"
"It still sounds fun, better than what I did. I'm so ashamed of it now."
"Don't be. You did what you had to do to survive. Sex isn't ugly or something to be ashamed of. It's something beautiful, it's art. Hell, you're a work of art, Amy. You should be proud of what you did. Your movies probably helped a lot of lonely guys and girls through some hard times. Like me. I just wish I had seen some of those or been able to be in them with you!"
"Trust me, no you don't! It is not glamorous at all. You have all these people watching and the guys usually go limp halfway through anyway and then you have to wait for them to get fluffed back to normal and ready to go again. It can takes hours to film one five minute scene. There is no pleasure in it for anyone."
"Except the watcher at home."
"I guess."
"How many movies did you make?"
"Not many, the shelf life of a porn star is really short. You hit a certain age and you're done. Mine was when I hit twenty. Well, twenty two according to my forged birth certificate."
"I'm sorry about Billy Warner and your dad."
"Well, subconsciously I proved the psychologists correct."
"How's that?" Mick asked.
"Only two types of girls go into the adult film industry."
"What's that?"
"Girls who like sex, and girls who are repeating a cycle of abuse."
"I'm sorry, Amy, I'm so sorry."
"Don't be, I'm mighty, I can handle it!" Mick paused for a moment after she said this.
"If we make it out of this alive," Mick said.
"When we make it out of this alive," Amy interrupted.
"Okay, when we make it out of this alive, I want to loose weight for you."
"You don't have to, I love you the way you are."
"I want to. You're obviously in great shape, maybe you could show me how to lose weight the right way."
"I would love to," she smiled as she spoke with her mouth full. He thought it was cute.
"Do you think what we had was just teenage hormones?" Clay asked in hopes of her answer. She looked him dead in the eyes.
"You're crazy if you think that! I have never felt that way about someone before or after. My heart belongs to you, silly."
​With that, she seemed to drift off into space. She had a vision of horrible things. Things done to the freaks. Of undead monsters. Of Alec Brosnan. Of death.
"Are you okay, Amy?" he pondered. He knew the look, he had seen it once before.
"They're dead."
"Who's they?"
"Ric and Jeb. They're dead."
"How?"
"Ric was murdered by the Mordred twins. Jebediah was murdered by Alec Brosnan."
"Damn, we were too late! If only we had read found those journals sooner!" Mick exclaimed, pounding his fist on the table.
"There was nothing we could do. Alec is here. He is waiting for us. Bad things are happening to this town. A great battle will be taking place to decide its fate."
"That's pretty ominous. What do you mean?"
"The vision wasn't very clear, I'm sorry," she started to cry. He put his arm back around her.
"Don't cry, Amy. We have each other. Besides, Clay is still alive, right? Did you have any visions about him?" She shook her head no.
"I'm right here, guy," a familiar voice said, "why are you crying, Amy?"
​The couple looked up at their scrawny Asian friend with still dripping wet hair from his dip in the pool earlier that night. He pushed up.
"I hate not being able to smoke at restaraunts here," he complained with an unlit cigarette dangling from the corner of his mouth.
​Mick stood up as Amy pushed him out of her way and gave Clay a big hug. Mick shrugged his shoulders.
"I missed you guys too, can we sit down now?"
"Of course," Amy said, wiping away the tears as they returned to their seats. Clay sat across from them in the same booth.
"So what's all the commotion?" Clay asked.
​Amy explained her vision to Clay. He shook his head at thought of two more friends life cut short by the devilish mist. Clay really wanted a cigarette now.
"That son of a bitch. Hey Mick, your powers come back yet?"
"I don't know, Clay."
​He snapped his thumb and forefinger together. A small flame emanated from his thumb. He blew it out as the waiter came back around.
"Hello sir, can I get you anything as well?"
"Martini, dirty," Clay answered.
"I hate to tell you sir, but smoking is not allowed."
"I wasn't going to light it, I just have an oral fixation," Clay winked at the waiter who scoffed at him and huffed away in disgust. The table of friends laughed at the joke.
"You two fuck yet?" Clay asked without mercy.
"Fuck you, Clay," Mick answered promptly.
"Whatever. Hey pass that empty water glass over here, Amy," Clay asked and she did so.
​Clay put two fingers over the top of the glass, barely touching the ice inside. Slowly but surely water drops began to form around the tips. A few seconds later the glass filled to the brim.
"If you think I'm drinking that your 'effen crazy," Mick exclaimed.
"You know you want my man-juice!" Clay laughed.
"You're sick," Amy exclaimed.
"So what have you guys been up to since Junior High?" Clay asked.
"Not a fucking thing. Waiting for today I guess," Mick answered honestly.
"Yeah, me to I guess," Clay snickered as he pursed his lips, "Damn, how are we going to stop this thing with out the other guys?"
"I wish I knew," Amy responded.
"Damn," they all sat in silence for a moment before Clay continued, "So, dumb question here but I have to ask. Did you guys find journals too and have memories suddenly rape your mind too or am I the only who forgot about all of this crap?"
"I found a journal," Mick said.
"Me too," Amy chimed in.
"Damn, that Journals was a smart guy," Clay said solemnly.
"Your drink sir," the waiter sat down the martini glass, "are you ready to order?"
"Hmm, I think," he looked at the uncomfortable waiter and raised one eyebrow, "I would love a big...thick...juicy...Italian...sausage."
​Clay licked his lips then eyed the waiter up and down, undressing him with his eyes. The waiter walked away in disgust as the table laughed at him. Amy made note not to order anything else because the waiter would surely spit in it. Clay raised his glass.
"To Journals," Clay cheered.
"To Ric," Mick said raising his glass.
"To Shauna," Amy said which made Clay wince.
"To the Freaks," They all said in unison as they clanged their glasses together before drinking them.
​On the television, the reported had been replaced by color bars with "technical difficulties" scrolling across it. They had just missed the camera man having dinner of human brains.
"Do you know what I miss?" Clay asked.
"What?" Mick said.
"Video Stores!"
"Boy that's random," Amy stated.
"No, seriously. I used to love going to video stores as a kid. I remember walking to Major Video off of Lamb and Charleston before it turned into a furniture store. My mom used to give me ten bucks every Friday after school and I would ride my bike there. I would pick up a Nintendo game, a move, popcorn, candy, and soda. God, I must have done it every Friday for years. It was my entertainment for the weekend. My mom worked and I stayed alone all the time during the night and it kept me entertained. Then I got older and mail order and instant viewing on TV killed them all. No one goes to video stores anymore. It's cheaper to buy a dvd online than at a video store anymore. I guess it's not the stores I miss it's the innocence. I mean, I was so innocent, carefree, and clueless I guess. I rode my bike, just me, the wind, and the gravel below my tires. Then the freedom of feeling like an adult as I picked out my weekend worth of entertainment. As I got older the Nintendo games changed to SEGA or SNES games then to Playstation. The store closed and I rode my bike to Blockbuster through the rest of High School. God, I'm rambling guy."
"That's deep, dude," Mick began, "There is a lot I miss about being younger. And your right, it's not the activity or store or shows so much as the innocence and freedom."
"I agree," Amy smiled.
"Enough of this, What do you say we blow this pop stand?" Clay asked.
"Who the fuck uses that term anymore? And what the fuck is a pop stand? Have you ever seen a pop stand, Amy? I sure haven't."
"Fuck you, mouse," he threw a fifty on the table, "on me guys."
"I can't let you do that, Clay," Amy said reaching into her purse.
"It's okay, I don't have much time left anyway, it's the least I could do for two friends I haven't seen in over a decade."
"What did you say?" Mick said, furrowing his brow.
"Oh yeah, I guess I let the cat out of the bag, huh?" Clay said lighting his cigarette, "I'm dying kids."
"What do you mean?" Amy asked.
"I got the gay killer, kids. Full blown AIDS. Should be dead before years end. No biggie. Just so long as I get to take that fucker out with me," Clay flashed a smile before standing up, "lets go bitches, times a waisting!"
"Fuck, Clay," Mick apologized as Clay ignored him and left the restaurant.
​Amy and Mick looked each other in the eye and both felt a strange sense of remorse. After all was said and done, they would only have each other, and they felt grateful for that.
"CLAY!" Amy yelled as she ran out of the restaurant with Mick huffing behind. Clay stopped and turned around.
"What?"
"He's here!" she exclaimed as she caught up to him. Mick tried in vain to catch his breath.
"You mean?"
"Alec Brosnan," she whispered, "the monster is here. I had a vision!"
"Do you know where? Did you see how to defeat him?" Mick asked.
"He hit a jackpot on," she looked around, "this way."
​They walked towards the front of the casino by the movie theater and parking garage entrance. She pointed a slot machine.
"That one."
"How long ago?" Clay questioned.
"Not long, he's close by, he watched you swim, Clay. He has our scent now."
​At that, a mob of people began running past them and out the doors. They looked around and tried to become one with the machines in order to not get trampled on.
"What the fuck is going?" Mick shouted.
"I don't know! I didn't see this coming!" Amy responded.
"It's him, it has to be him!" Clay exclaimed.
"Is that a fucking zombie? You have got to be kidding me," Amy muttered.
​A group of five zombies closed in on the freaks. They could see in the distance a macabre zombie feast that looked reminded Clay of "Night of the Living Dead." Two zombies pulled an elderly man apart, three dined on the meat of a young blonde woman, four held down a fat woman and made her rather ample bosom the main course. It looked like Chaos.
"I say we be the heroes we were meant to be all those years ago," Mick smiled.
"How the fuck are we gonna do that? I can't very well drown something that's all ready dead!"
"Think! We were all given an element as well as a psychic power!" Amy shouted as she brushed her firery hair out of her face. "I can see into the future. Jeb had could speak with his mind and control the air. Mick, no matter what is happening, you can control our emotions and keep us calm under pressure."
"And turn into a match at any given notice," Clay said above the commotion he suddenly remembered the alien craft and Jebediah's last words to him. He forgot what it was called or what he did. He blamed the martini.
"Maybe there is something else I can do to help, something like," then she saw it in her mind's eye and smiled, "douse those mother fuckers."
"Huh?" Clay questioned.
"Make them wet."
​Clay did as instructed and began to cover the entire casino with water. His whole body turned blue and milky as he shot the liquid from every pore. The water did not phase the creatures one bit.
"That did nothing! Now what?"
"We have to make the fire strong enough to incinerate these fuckers on impact," Amy said.
"And how are we going to that? I can't burn them now!" Mick shouted.
"Watch this!" she smiled.
​She put her hands above her head palms up. Several spores flew out of her hands. They floated rather quickly and mixed into the water, turning into a clear coat of wax like substance.
"Burn these motherfuckers, Mick!"
​With that, Mick's hands turned orange. He pointed them at the group of five zombies heading their way. Bright yellow flashed forward and engulfed the creatures immediately turning them to ash.
"Holy shit," Clay whispered.
​He pointed his hands at the group of two pulling apart the old man, incinerating them immediately. Mick then unleashed the scorching power of hell onto the four eating the fat woman. They disappeared in an instant. He then ended the three making mincemeat out of the blonde hooker.
"What the fuck, Amy?" Clay stared at her with his mouth agape.
"The fifth element," she answered to the two shaking their heads, "you know, void?" They still looked at her with clueless bewilderment, "Wow, I thought you guys were nerds too!"
"Um, not as much as you apparently," Mick joked.
"Apparently! It's the fifth level of Go dai, the Japanese elements: Earth, fire, air, water, void or heaven or creativity or things outside the every day world."
"Okay," Clay said slowly and dumbly.
"Meaning I can create anything with my imagination."
"Why didn't you just imagine them getting sucked into a vortex or something?" Mick asked.
"It doesn't work like that. I simply changed the molecules in the water to what I imagined would be the most flammable substance known to man or alien. Something that would incinerate all it touched immediately."
"Why didn't you imagine that in the first place? Why did you need me to make them wet?"
"To make you feel useful!" she sarcastically answered.
"Fuck you," Clay whispered, "I hope your nether regions are infested by the fleas of a thousand camels."
"That's not very nice," Amy laughed, "Seriously though, I needed something tangible to latch onto to make it work. I take it you guys don't watch Naruto?"
"Na-ru-who?" Mick asked.
"Anime?"
"Wow, you are a nerd!" Clay laughed.
"That's hot," Mick kissed her on the cheek.
"Yuck! Get a room!"
"Oh, shit! I hope Charlie is okay!" Amy remembered her bodyguard and pulled out her I-phone.​It rang incessantly without any answer.
"I'm sure he's fine, Amy."
​Her eyes went blank then she fell to the floor covering her eyes. Her mind had shown her his fate. Charlie stopped at the bar across from the restaurants and ordered a drink. A woman with a small scab on the nape of her neck sat next to him. Charlie was about forty five, short black hair, and clean shaven. He was overweight by about fifty pounds, but was strong as an ox and stubborn as a mule.
​The woman next to him must have been about thirty, black hair, and full figured. By this, she was by no means fat, just curvy and very sexy. He preferred his women this way and hated the skinny ones. Even his boss wasn't that skinny so he didn't mind working for her. The woman had long black hair and a bright painted on sun tan.
"Excuse me, ma'am," he started.
"Yes," she said, looking up from her video poker game with a painted smile.
"Can I buy you a drink?"
"I would like that," she nodded in appreciation.
"Barkeep!"
"Yes, sir. What can I do you for?"
"Another round for the lady on me."
"Sure thing, another Malibu-pineapple, miss?"
"Yes, thank you."
​The bartender poured the drink and put it on Charlie's tab. She took a sip and said thank you to him.
"So, are you local?" she asked.
"No, no. I'm from California."
"Really, where abouts?"
"Hollywood. I'm in security."
"What does that mean?" she asked, leaning in.
"I'm a bodyguard to the rich and famous," he smiled, she reciprocated.
"Anyone I know?"
"I worked for Bono for a long time. Currently I work for Amy Brennan, she paid more than Bono."
"Amy Brennan," she looked up to try to remember where she had heard that name before, "the movie star?"
"Yeah, she did "The Princes of Darkness" about a year ago."
"That's really interesting."
"By the way, my name's Charlie," he offered his hand.
"I'm Claire," she shook it with gentle ease.
"Are you a local, Claire?"
"Pegged that on the nose!"
"What do you do here in Vegas?"
"I work at a little dive bar behind a gas station a little bit east of here. It's gone through so many name changes and themes since I've worked there I honestly forget what it's called now!"
"Name some of the themes."
"Race Cars, a dog house, an island tropic, a toy box, a train car, and many more."
"That's ludicrous! The owners must be mad!"
"It changes hands all the time. It is a good location, just bad management. Maybe whatever it is now will stick for a while."
"I hope so. What do you do there, Claire?"
"Waitress, still waiting for my real job to come around but it pays the bills, you know. Hey, I'm feeling a little woosy, I don't think I should drive home."
"I'll call you a cab."
"Maybe I could just sleep in your room tonight," she winked at him, he paid the tab.
​They made out in the elevator heading up to the room. She stroked his cock through his pants and put his hands under skirt and finger fucked her all the way up to the top floor. She took his fingers into her mouth and sucked the juices off of them. He couldn't wait to get this one to his room.
​The woman slammed him against the wall caddie corner to his room door. He could take it rough, especially from this chick. He opened his eyes as he kissed her and noticed hers were open wide and had turned a strange color yellow. He felt her teeth bite down on his tongue. Then he longer felt it.
​Charlie covered his mouth as blood pooled out and over his hands. He reached for the sidearm he always carried to protect his clients. The one his father had bought him when he enlisted in the Marines. She prevented this by taking his fingers into her mouth and biting them off. He pulled his hand back and watched the blood squirt out of the stumps left where his index and middle fingers used to be.
​Charlie screamed as the woman pierced his chest with her long fingernails and wrapped her fingers around the heart she had stolen only moments ago. She pulled it out and took a giant bite from it as if it were an apple. Charlie fell to the ground.
"He's gone, I'm too late, it's all my fault!" Amy cried.
​Mick dropped to the ground and put his arms around her. He squeezed her tight and did his best to console her. Clay also dropped to his knees and put his thin arms around the both of them. The three had united once again, and they would end it, here, tonight.
​Alec Brosnan watched from the roof of the parking garage as the patrons emptied out the doors as if a bomb had gone off. His senses became over whelmed by the smell of fear. So much so that he could no longer detect the three troublemaker's scent. This discouraged the vampire. He wanted revenge, but there were so many delectable treats beneath his fingertips.
His animal instincts took over as he jumped from the top of the five story garage and onto a plump man. Alec bit into his neck and completely drained him of his essence in seconds. Next he grabbed another passerby, a young child fresh from the theater, and made a light snack out of her. The tiny girl's body shriveled up like a prune as he released her. Alec licked his chops. Whatever was going on had just made his day.
Then he caught an unusual aroma. Something that smelled like death. He watched as a zombie pushed open the glass doors and walked out of the large casino with arms outstretched.
"Fascinating," Alec muttered to himself, "What have you created for me to play with this time, Gabriel?"
​Alec jumped into the air, did a cartwheel by lifting his legs in the air behind him, grabbing the zombie's head, and taking it with him as he landed elegantly on his own to feet. The zombie took to steps before keeling over. Alec punted the head into the screaming crowd and laughed.
"Oh how fun! Chaos is in order! The end is nigh!" Alec chuckled to himself as a zombie came up behind him and wrapped two dead hands around him.
​Alec misted into thin air and reappeared behind the creature. He pulled back his arm and launched his fist through the back of the zombie's head, splattering it like Gallagher's hammer to a watermelon. He tipped his black deerstalker cap to the creature.
"I'll see you on the other side, friend."
​Alec went inside only to pick up their scent again. The little cretins weren't too far away after all. He sneered as he floated in midair until going back to his feet in front of the grown children.
"Hello, freaks," Alec said as the looked up to him in aghast astonishment, "Is it finally playtime? I haven't waited a long time for this moment."
​The three friends stood up in unison and rose side by side to each other looking the monster square in the eyes. They did not feel fear this time, no, they felt anger, hate, and unjust suffering.
"You'll pay for what you did Jeb and Ric!" Clay shouted.
"Oh, yes. Jeb was quite delectable. I, however, had nothing to do with Ric's demise. I would have to be of course. I was just a few moments too late!"
​Amy's eyes drifted into a familiar stare. Her mind painted a serene scene that showed her two friends at her side as well as the two that had fallen before. United once again.
"Follow my lead boys," Amy said as she made a break for it.
​The two men followed her sprinting as fast as they could to the door. Alec laughed sinisterly behind them before turning into a faint mist and floating out the door. He reappeared in front of them on the other side of the exit.
"You are not getting away this time, Freaks," Alec growled.
"Behind you!" Amy shouted.
"Oh, child, do you think I was born yesterday?"
​A hand clawed at his back screaming in his mind one single solitary word: "FLESH!" He felt his skin tear and begin to reform. He turned around to the jawless face of Jebediah Washington.
"How can this be? I killed you!"
​Jeb swatted at him as he turned to water and drifted away. Alec reformed behind the dead boy and finished the job he started earlier and picking off the top of his skull. Journals fell to the ground finally at peace. Alec felt a boulder like fist pop the back of his skull, sending him to the ground. The wound left by Jeb stopped trying to heal itself and instead began to rot by turning black. Alec shouted in fear as he realized that he could no longer change his shape.
"NO!!!!" Alec yelled at the rock zombie standing in front of him.
"BRAINS!!!" the zombie corpse of Ric Lewis shouted in a hideous tone.
​Alec sprinted off but fell to his back, knocking his head on the concrete, as a small puddle of water suddenly formed below his feet. Alec looked up to see the Mordred twins dead bodies hovering over him. He heard the queer laugh from close by at the puddle he had created in order to thwart Alec's escape.
​Alec sneered and in anger grabbed a chunk of each of the zombie's hair and did his best to make their heads come together as one. Brains and blood splattered all around the vampire as the twins fell to the ground. He kip upped to his feet. He took off his deerstalker hat and tossed it to the ground. The rock creature came his way as well as a bolt of fire. He dodged them both with gymnast skills by somersaulting past them both.
"You children still think you have what it takes to defeat me? I will send you all to hell to be with your dead friend over there on the floor!"
"Or die trying!" Mick retorted with vigor, sending another burst of flames from his fingertips the vampire's way.
​Alec punched the rock zombie in the gut, crashing the rock into clay like pieces. He jumped on Ric's shoulders and tore the rock layer of skin off of him with ease and grace. The clay monster grabbed his feet and threw him into the air. Clay shot a burst of water at the vampire, who quickly dodged it midair. The water came down like a monsoon onto the clay zombie. It turned into mud, never to reform again.
"Thank you for taking care of that problem for me!" Alec mocked.
"NOOOO!!!!" Clay screamed as he ran over to the pile of mud on the ground.
​Clay punched the ground and returned to his feet. Covered in mud, he could not conjure any water. This mattered little to Clay. The time was now to make the greatest sacrifice, no honor, for his friends. He ran full sped at the monster. Alec took him in his arms.
"This is going so well!" the vampire exclaimed, "first you, then your friends." Alec bit down into Clay's neck.
"NOOOOOO!!!!!!" Amy screamed in vain as she halted in fear Mick holding her back.
​Clay's body went limp and his skin wrinkled to that akin to a rotten tomato. The vampire's eyes went wide. He pulled away and pushed the kid to the ground. He held his throat.
"What...is...this...what...have...you...done?"
"Couldn't," Clay grunted through pruned lips, "smell it?"
​The vampire keeled over and began to vomit a thick black substance onto the ground. Alec began to shiver uncontrollably as his insides ached for the first time in years. Fear of the unknown cause of what was happening to him caused him to panic. He fell to his knees.
"Burn him," Clay whispered from the ground.
​Mick's hands glowed orange. He pointed them at the vampire of their collective nightmares and engulfed the shrieking, vomiting creature in bright yellow flames. The smell of burnt flesh chased the zombies flowing from the casino doors away. Alec's skin melted away to reveal black bones. His eyeballs burst as he slowly faded to ash.
​Amy looked around for spare body parts after the fire fight ended. She had a vision and knew this to be the end. The vampiric mist known as Alec Brosnan had been judged. The demon was now dead. She took Clay in her arms and Mick went to his knees as well.
"Why, Clay? We could have stopped him together!" Amy cried.
"It was the only way," he whispered, "he couldn't smell the virus in me, his senses where overwhelemed by the chaos surrounding us."
"Damn, Clay, you're smatter than you look."
"Fuck you, Mouse," he laughed, "God I want a cigarette."
​The death rattle of Clay's last breath haunted the time torn lovers. They wept for their friend.
"Is he coming back, Amy? As a zombie? Do you see anything?"
"No," she shook her head, "the AIDS in him killed the venom of the vampire and whatever caused the zombie virus as well."
"Damn, it's just the two of us now."
​Amy looked up to him with a bittersweet smile. She was grateful she still had him, but said for the three fallen friends around her. She laid Clay's body down and closed his eyes. She fell into Mick's arms and wailed. She placed a protective bubble of steel around them with her mind to keep the zombies away while they composed themselves.
"Amy."
"Yes, Mick," she looked up with doe eyes.
"Can you bring them back?"
"I don't know."
"You said your power was called void, isn't also known as heaven?"
"I thought you didn't watch anime?" she smiled.
"I don't, but I do read comic books."
"You bastard," she laughed, "I don't know if I can."
"Put your mind to it, see them whole again, give our friends life."
​And she tried. With all of her might she tried. The bodies of her friends remained just that, bodies. No matter what she thought, did, or imagined, the box could not be thought out of. She tried in vain. She wept for her friends.
"I'm sorry, Mick."
"It's okay, Amy. I love you."
"I love you too."
​They kissed. From their kiss the silver globe around them turned pink and began to grow bigger with every passing second. It expanded to include Clay, the muddy pile that was once Ric, the headless body of Jebediah, and a passing by female zombie. Clay's body began to fill with the bright pink light. His eyes, ears, and mouth shot out the color in a psychedelic fashion. His body soon began to fill and become whole again. The female's eyes glowed pink as her skin returned to a normal shade of peach.
"Get a room you two," Clay laughed at them.
​The lovers stopped kissing and looked over at Clay. Amy grabbed him and pulled him in. Her tears fell down in globs and down Clay's shoulder.
"What happened?" Clay asked.
"You died," Mick said with teary eyes.
"Wow, not as scary as I thought it would be," Clay mocked.
​After Amy let go he looked down the neck of his shirt to see the liver spots and bruises caused by the virus that had crippled him for the past two years had vanished.
"Amy, whatever you did, I think the virus is out of me."
"That's great news!"
"What is going on?" the once zombie female asked, free from her virus as well.
"Not quite sure where to begin," Clay said.
"Go somewhere safe," Mick said, "I know this might sound strange but stay away from anyone that looks like a zombie."
​The woman looked at them like they were crazy and walked away with out thanking them for her second chance. The three looked over at the still dead body of Jeb and still pile of mud that once was Ric Lewis.
"Why didn't they come back too?" Clay asked.
"Maybe because they can't? Maybe I can't bring back something that isn't still whole?" Amy said in earnest, "to be honest, I have no idea how I brought you two back."
"With love," Mick smiled, "with love."
"Yeah," Amy smiled back.
"Maybe if you two fuck you can save the whole world!" Clay snickered.
"That," Mick raised his eyebrows, "Might not be such a bad idea."
"Hmm," Amy winked at him, "I think you just might be right."
"Shoot me now!"
"Hey, we just save your life! AND gave you back a future that is disease free! The least you can do is let us have some fun!" Amy slugged Clay in the shoulder.
"Hey now! Just so long as I don't have to watch! That hetero stuff creeps me the fuck out! I mean, what the hell is with vaginas? They're all lippy and slimy and fishy and ewwwwww!"
"Don't knock it till you try it," Mick laughed.
"Don't knock dick till you try it," Clay winked at him.
"Okay, I'm going to go gag over there," Amy fake like she was throwing up as they all stood up.
"What say we try to save these people?" Clay said.
"Or die trying," Mick added.
"Agreed," Amy said.
"So what do we do?" Mick asked.
"Maybe you guys should kiss again, that seemed to work before."
"Sounds like a good idea to me!" Amy wrapped her petite arms around Mick's neck and pulled his lips to his.
​Clay formed a water barrier around them and from their kiss, it turned pink. Clay began shooting water at everyone around them. Every zombie in the area outside of the casino were changed back to normal. Then Clay had an idea.
"Hey guys, inside!"
​The couple stopped kissing as they ran inside the local hotel and casino. He pointed up to the sprinklers in the ceiling.
"Set them off, Mick!" Clay commanded.
​Mick's left hand began a bubble of glowing orange again. He pointed it to the roof and shot a spark of yellow at it, causing a chain reaction throughout the casino and to every room of the hotel.
"Make out again you freaks, I'll link the healing water to that of the casino and cleanse this whole fucking place!"
​They did as instructed. Clay's hands turned blue and then to pink as he sent a wave into the sprinkler. He filled it all the way back to the source causing the boiler and filtration systems to churn out pink water. Soon, every sprinkler head shot out the pink substance. Slowly but surely, everyone that had been infected and did not have a mortal wound was revived and restored to normal save a few bumps and scratches. Unfortunately, this did not include the heartless zombie that had once been Charlie, Amy's loyal bodyguard. Those missing vital parts of their anatomy were simply laid to rest as they fell to the ground to begin their eternal slumber.
"You guys can stop now," the two ignored Clay.
​Clay shook his head as the color of love filled the entire casino. He had once hoped everything had just been a bad dream but now was glad that it had all been real. He had never been so happy before in his entire life. He missed Garry and all of his cheating ways and now he no longer cursed him. Everything happens for a reason, the disease led to the end of Alec Brosnan, the boogeyman. The creature not even the omnipotent alien could control.
"Do you think this is the end?" Clay asked, "Do you think he'll take us back and erase our memories again?"
"I'm not going to let it happen," Mick started, "I'll never forget her again!"
​He took Amy's hand and placed it on his chest. She felt his heart beat and race.
"Jebediah filled me in on my mental power while we were in that craft, it's called imprinting," the two nodded, "I can't place memories in your head, only feelings. I want you both to stand still."
​Clay closed his eyes and thought of one simple thing: love. He sent the feeling into the hearts of both of his friends. The love they had for each other, the feeling that would not leave and would go to no other. He made their hearts, their love, their minds one. Then he collapsed.
"Clay!" Amy shouted.
"What a fucking rush!" Clay laughed as he looked up from the ground at his friends hovering over him.
"You're a dick!" Amy slugged him again.
"Hey, now you don't have to worry!"
"What did you do? I don't feel any different?" Mick said.
"And you won't either," Clay smiled, "I love you guys!"
"Okay, fruit," Mick mocked as he helped his comrade to his feet.
"Now what do we do?" Amy asked.
"Well, what do you see?" Mick asked her back as she closed her eyes.
"Too much," she whispered, "There are many monsters out there tonight. Zombies, vampires, werewolves, hunters, a mantis. They are all on a collision course with us. The alien is waiting for us to succeed. He is very please right now. There is another on his way to battle the alien. We mussn't interfere. The end of that battle will decide our fate."
"Do you see where we go from here?" Clay asked.
"Downtown."
"What's downtown?" Mick pondered.
"Help."
"Well, shall we catch a cab?" Clay laughed, "Or do you one of you have a car?"
"We can take the beetle," Mick returned.
"Wait a second," Clay threw up his hands, "tell me that's your car, Amy."
"Nope."
"You mean, you drive a Volkswagen Beetle, Mick?"
"Yup?"
"What year?
"2003."
"Color?"
"Yellow."
"And I'm the one that's gay?"
"Fuck you. It's fashionable and the girls love it!"
"The pre-op or post-op girls?"
"Fuck you."
"And you like this guy?" Clay pointed his thumb at Mick.
"Got a problem with my gay lover?" Amy asked.
"He's got great taste in cars. Mind if we share him? He's probably into that sort of thing you know."
"Fuck you guys. I like my car," he mumbled to himself.
"Yes, hon, it's very manly!" Clay mocked him.
"You ever have sex in the back seat of one of those things?" Clay asked to no answer, "I don't recommend it. Highly uncomfortable. One moment your in the front seat, next your in the back, although I do like it in the back you know."
"Can we go now?" Mick walked away and his friends followed.
​Mick went into the valet room and pulled his keys off of the rack. He walked with his friends to the parking lot and unlocked the doors with the keychain auto unlock button. They all got in and began the journey downtown.
​On the way, they passed several zombies eating townspeople. They wanted to save them but knew they needed strength in numbers. They needed help and advice from others. Hopefully they would find it down there. A fire raged from the south end of Boulder Highway. Arizona Charlie's Boulder had become engulfed in an inferno. They noticed many dead and streets covered in blood, stores with broken windows and charred remains, flesh on street signs and entrails dangling from roofs, they all felt very queasy.
​The roads were empty of cars save the wrecked ones on the sides of the road. They drove down Boulder Highway till it became Freemont Street and parked the car on the side of the road at the base of the Freemont Street Experience.
​The sight of the street seemed unreal. The amount of dead bodies, the amount of ended lives, the amount of zombies petrified each one of them. A Queen song played over the intercom as the lights of the Experience blinked in harmonious unison. He believed it to be "We Will Rock You."
​They each collectively took in deep breaths. They surveyed the mass of organs and body parts littering the street. The once glorious world famous attraction had been victimized by the plague.
"Did you guys ever think something like this would ever happen in real life?" Clay squeaked.
"Nothing about our lives has ever happened in real life," Amy retorted.
"Touche," Clay answered, "So what now? Pull a repeat of Boulder and douse this street with love?"
"I'm too weak for that, I need to let my chi build up," Amy said.
"Did you just say chi? Seriously, Amy, you're a friggin' nerd," Clay laughed.
"Hey, watch it pal," Mick joked, "That's my nerd you're talking about."
​With that, the trio ran to the safety and security of the vastly empty Neonopolis Mall. The mall had once house fast food chains, a bar, bowling alley, movie theater, shops, and a multitude of street vendors. For some time now, it had been deserted and empty. The town had moved on with out it and seemed to be a relic of the recent past failures of the local government's plan to revitalize downtown. No matter what the governors or mayors tried, nothing worked. Downtown simply had become old, stagnant, and stale. The group crowded and barricade up what once was an arcade and lounge. They retreated to a table to discuss their next move.
"So what in your vision did you see here?" Mick asked Amy.
"I saw a man in white, a hunter. I saw a man covered in black scars. I saw a woman, a vampire, trying to avenge the loss of a loved one. These three will help us. These three will converge on this spot with us in due time."
"Until then?" Clay asked.
"We wait." Amy answered.
"That's it?" Clay questioned. "We wait? Why couldn't we shack up at a Burger King instead? Dying sure made me hungry!"
"I'm sure there's a rat or two you eat around this place somewhere," Mick teased.
"Fuck you," Clay returned.
"You wish," Mick chuckled.
"So do you see anything else?" Clay asked as they sat around a dusty table.
"The man in white has an unusual power. He can morph into a great cat."
"Like Garfield?" Clay kidded.
"Shut up, Clay. Go on, Amy."
"I'm not sure what. He fights to avenge the loss of loved ones, of his family. He fights evil in the form of vampires and werewolves."
"God, I can't believe we're hearing this!" Clay said shaking his head.
"I can't believe I'm saying it!" Amy softly laughed.
"What about the scarred man?" Mick questioned.
"He too fights to avenge a great tragedy. I'm sorry, I wish I could see more. I'm still trying to figure out how to use my second sight."
"It's okay, Amy. Just tell us everything you can figure out," Mick reassured her.
"Okay, the scarred man was part of a ploy from the other alien, the one I can only see as a word: Chaos. He is yin and Gabriel, the alien that abducted us, is yang. One believes himself to be God, the other, the devil. They are both mistaken."
​Amy sighed and closed her eyes again. Mick cupped her hand in his and Clay shifted in his chair. He felt relaxed not feeling the need to constantly cough any more and would do anything he could to keep his friends alive, happy, and together. Even if that meant sacrificing himself again. No matter the cost, he would keep them alive.
"The female vampire is a doctor and she helps the man in white. They are a team and share a past and reason to fight. There is a group of werewolves tracking a rabid werewolf boy that has no idea what he is or what he is doing. They fear the child because he is stronger than all of them combine. The werewolf group is very hostile and will do anything to survive. They are monsters and responsible for many lost lives and tragedies. They are not to be trusted. The mantis is an unusual creature. Her lust brings the animal out from inside of her. The scent she is craving now has sent her over the edge, she must be stopped as well."
"So in other words, Alec Brosnan was a cake walk compared to what's coming?" Clay stated.
"We have a long night ahead of us, boys," Amy said.
"Tell you guys, what," Clay spoke," I'm gonna go crash in the back room. There's an old office with a couch. As soon as the fighting starts, wake me up. I suggest you two get some rest while you can if the shit storm coming our way is going to be as bad as Amy says it is."
"Agreed," Amy said.
"You know what, you guys take the office, it's pretty clean back there, I'll rest out here."
"We'll be fine, you rest, you just died," Amy pleaded.
"I'll be okay. Death makes me not want to waist anymore of my time, or those around. You need to recharge, Amy. You know, your chi. Get to the couch."
"Okay, but only if you're sure."
"As long as you close the door and Mick lets you sleep and not up all night, then I'm down with it."
"Thank you Clay."
​Amy stood up, kissed Clay on the forehead and suddenly realized something new about his appearance.
"Clay, were are your glasses?" She asked.
"Guess you fixed all of me," he stuck his arms out, Thanks, I owe you so much."
"Just promise to live everyday to the fullest."
"As long as I make it out of here alive," he smiled.
"I'll make sure of it."
​With that, Amy took Mick by the hand and led him to the run down, dusty old office. It had a leather couch that was easily dusted off by Mick's torn shirt. He tossed it beat the dust off of it and went to put it back on.
"Keep it off," Amy said.
"I'm nervous, Amy. I mean look at me! What if you change your mind after seeing my grotesque body?"
​Amy stood up and pulled him in close. His breath on her face made her weak in the knees. She kissed him again passionately.
"I could never find you grotesque, Michael Hawkins."
"Thank you, Amy Brennan."
"I love you, Mick."
"I love you, Amy."
​Amy fell back to the couch as he fell into her arms. He was careful not to put too much of his body on her for fear of crushing her. What he didn't know was that she didn't mind, his weight made no difference to her and the extra pressure from his size made her feel more comfortable.
​Mick put one hand on her cheek and the other on her leg. Amy unbuttoned her pants and let tried to take them off. She got them stuck around her ankles and made Mick smile.
"I'll help you with that."
"I got it."
​As she kicked them off, she unhooked his belt, unbuttoned them, and let them drop to the floor. She slipped his boxers down and spit on her hand. She rubbed her saliva onto his penis and led it to her panties. She slipped them to the side and guided him inside of her.
​Her body quivered as he entered her. She took every inch of him and wrapped her legs around him. They kissed continuously as he gently massaged her chest. She flipped him to the couch when she felt come close to ejaculation. She took of her shirt, let her panties fall to the ground, then unhooked her bra. She looked him lovingly as she straddled him and guided him back inside.
​Amy Brennan had only had one orgasm before in her entire life. The one she had with Michael Hawking in 1993. She had forgotten about it and felt the same sensation come over her as the climaxed in perfect unison. They quivered in each other's warm, tender arms. She reached for her panties and used them to catch any semen falling out of her as she got off of him. She smiled and kissed him before cuddling him on the couch.
"If we ever make it out of here, Amy, I want to marry you."
"If we ever make it out of here, Mick, I want you to propose to me properly."
"What do you mean."
"Take a knee, show me a ring, nothing fancy doesn't even have to be real, and propose to me properly."
"Doesn't have to be real?"
"Nope."
​He walked over to the empty desk and opened the drawers looking for something. He found it and turned his back to her. She smiled at his little white boy booty. It seemed like his legs went all the way up to his back. She loved this about him.
​Mick put the object on a chair out of sight and got dressed very quickly. He picked up the object he had just made, walked over to the couch, and went down on one knee in front of Amy.
"Amy Nicole Brennan, I have never felt this way about someone in my entire life. You complete me and are my other half. I want to spend the rest of my life and beyond with you at my side. Will you do me the honor of becoming my wife? Will you marry me, Amy?"
​A tear trickled down her face as she wrapped her arms around him. He felt like he could barely breathe as she then wrapped her legs around him. He thought she was doing a happy dance inside that she couldn't contain as her whole body seemed to shake. Mick showed her the ring he had made out of a single silver paper clip.
"Yes, Michael Hawkins, I will marry you," they kissed.
She gave him her hand and let him put the ring on her left ring finger. They began to kiss again and in between kisses they said these words:
"I love you, Amy."
I love you, Michael."
​They made love once more, this time. This time longer and more passionately. The symbolism of the silver ring of paperclippiness would never escape her mind. Amy held him tightly as the finished and fell asleep in each other's arms completely nude, and completely trusting of one another.
​On the other side of the officer door, Clay Owens stood by the boarded up window and looked out into the post apocalyptic streets of Las Vegas. He shuddered at the mass confusion he was watching. The hysteria, the murder, the endless screaming. He knew he would get no rest tonight.
​Then something caught his eye. A man in white, well what used to be white, was now coming his way with two hand held Uzis in his hands. He was followed closely behind by a pack of six werewolves.
"AMY, MICK, IT'S TIME!"
​Clay walked over to the office door and banged on it. The lovers awoke and quickly dressed. They exited the room and went to the window and looked out at the man in white.
"What should we do?" Clay asked.
"Help him," Amy nodded.
"And pray, definitely pray," Mick added.
​They all knew one thing, the time of reckoning, Judgment Day, was far from over.