To The End

Chapter Eight

Its been awhile but I'm back. :)

Chapter Eight

      The horses hoofs made dull thuds that echoed around us as they bounced off the concrete road. Abandoned cars were cluttering the road at odd angles from where civilians left them hastily during the chaos of the Rapture. The horses weaved through the now useless automobiles that once mattered to someone. So many things that people craved were now tossed to the side, nothing more than selfish garbage. The entire world had become a place that revolved around peoples desires. At the end before everything had turned black, no one cared for anyone but there selves. "What is in it for me?" had been a popular slogan that had been worshipped. The saying had even been posted on billboards along the interstate in bold letters. We had passed atleast three now as we traveled down the road. Everytime we passed them I would feel disgraced by my own kind. I was almost embarrassed at how low humanity had allowed its self to go and i was tempted to knock the sign from its iron posts. We had turned into nothing but animals. I shook my head trying to rid myself of the past but it was pointly as the memories continued to burn in my mind like a fire that couldn't be stopped.

       By the time most realized everything was coming to an end at a rapid pace it was too late for people to change there ways, including myself. The locals had been given information and body counts of the missing people. Thirty percent of the world had disappeared without time for a goodbye. As the people cried in anguish at the loss if there family members all I could think about was that percentage, thirty percent. Only thirty percent out of a hundred were worthy enough to make it into heaven. What kind of messed up probability was that? It shook me to the core that so many evil, murderous, selfish human beings could be ignored. How could everyone sit around and cry when they were responsible for ripping the world apart, for making it what it was. There were no rules after it happened, no laws and no one to enforce them. Those left behind went insane, robbing anyone they saw and taking anything they wanted without consequences. Eventually every town was just about as bad, if not worse, than this deteriorating interstate we were traveling on. Crumbled remains of what used to be a building, a town, a road, or cars. It was all ashes that were left to blow in the wind. Nothing more than memories that once mattered.

      I shut my thoughts down as I realized I couldn't fix any of that and I would surely only drive myself crazy. The interstate seemed to stretch on forever and being in the open made me uneasy so when Abel spotted a narrow back road we branched off. The trees stretched high and swayed gently as the wind tossed them around lazily. We all stayed quiet not used to the land and weary of what could lay ahead of us. Just when I thought it would stay peaceful the road came up short. A yellow school bus lay toppled onto its side across the road blocking our path. We paused surveying the barricade in silence.

"Should we just cut through the tree's or go back?" I asked quietly, my forehead wrinkling.

"It doesn't feel right its too quiet." Nathaniel spoke. Now that he mentioned it the wooded area on either side of us was errily quiet. Not even the wind seemed to blow anymore, almost as if the wilderness was holding its breath in anticipation. A skin crawling feeling itched throughout my body.

"Lets just cut through, we've already wasted too much time. Have your weapons ready." Abel said as he changed our course to the left of the bus. The tree's were too thick, forcing us to go deeper than I would have liked. A twig snapped to my right making me freeze in the seat of my saddle.

"Did you hear that? This feels wrong, somethings wrong." I whispered as Marcus stiffened under my nervous frame.

"Calm down. Maybe it was a animal, were almost through." As Abel spoke the tree's thinned out into a murky swamp with green goo floating at the surface. Different assortments of bugs buzzed at the surface making the water there bedding ground. It was as if the wilderness mocked Abels reasurance, laughing in our faces daring us to cross the stinch filled water. I watched Bernie as he dove in without hesitation paddling through the twenty foot stretch of water and leapt onto the mud at the other side.

"Alright I'll go first. Nathaniel, hang on tight." I said ready to be back on the road and safe from aligators.

"Wait, I'll just fly over so there's less weight for Marcus to carry." Nathaniel said as he swung his leg down, his feet sinking a couple of inches into the muck on the ground.  The fact he could fly still baffled me, I had almost forgotten I had been riding along with a Angel.

        I guided Marcus into the swamp and he slipped in after sniffing the edge nervously. The water came up to his nose and he snorted while sipping at the water tentatively. My over worn pants became heavy with water and my boots heavy and sloshy. I held onto my saddle tightly and tried not to close my eyes in fear. Swimming had never been my strong point and I feared what lived beneath the goop. Just the thought of the thick water dragging me under and covering my head im a heavy blanket had my body quivering ever so slightly.

"You're almost there!" Nathaniel called to me from behind. I nodded, mostly to myself in reassurance.  Just as I reached halfway Marcus came to a abrupt stop. I nudged him with my feet trying to encourage him to hurry but he didn't budge.

"Come on, Marcus." I said. He tried his best, bucking slightly with such force I almost slipped. He only moved a couple inches, trying to rear up onto his back legs with a frightful neigh of protest. He was marred into the thickness below.

"Abel! We're stuck."

"Keep trying!" He shouted at me as he searched through his bag, for what I didn't know.

    I nudged Marcus again and his muscles rippled beneath me trying his hardest to get us both to safety. One front foot came loose from the cement like mud making up the floor of the swamp. He pawed at the water in anger as he began to panic, but his forceful pawing had him sinking lower. The water came closer to his nose and he had to tip his head to breath.

"It's okay." I lied. Soothingly him while rubbing his curled neck. He calmed slightly but just for a moment before unexpectedly his body jumped with a terrifying sound moving him a foot forward. His movements sent me flying off his broad back and into the water. I screamed as my head went under into the darkness of the swamp. Water filled my lungs and I flailed my arms until I reached the surface. Coughs racked my chest forcing the water from my lungs in a harsh gurgle.

"Mukaylen!" Nathaniel shouted, "Are you okay?!" I couldn't answer for the all the hacking I was doing so I waved my arm at him. I grabbed onto Marcus' mane and wrenched myself back onto his back, avoiding touching the bottom of the swamp in fear of getting stuck myself.

"Mukaylen!"

"I'm fine!" I gasped finally, catching my breath. My wet black hair tumbled into my eyes and I swipped it away with a shaking hand.

"Get me out of here!" I turned looking back to see Abel unwinding a rope. Where had Nathaniel gone?

"Where's Natha--," I began but was cut off by laughter.

"Well, well. What do we have here?!" Someome cackled from the trees. More laughter followed from different directions, making me freeze and my throat go dry. I instinctively untied by bow from my saddle amd cluched it tightly in my hand behind me. The owner of the ear splitting laugh was on the side of the swamp I was closest too, and they were coming in my direction.

"Abel!" I cried.

*****

It's short I know, but it's something . I will update tomorrow! Poor Mukaylen just can't catch a break can she?
Dun, dun, dun. :)