The Last Verse

SFF World - Flash Fiction Entry (May 2017, 1000 words)

The Last Verse

By Mike Pollock

Taryn leaned back against the doorframe, a half burned cigarette in her hand spit wisps of smoke into the air. “He’s been like this as long as I can remember. Building things that is. I don’t think he’s ever spoken an entire sentence.”

“And how long has he been in there?” The man beside her asked. His pen hovered over the lines of his small notepad.

“He hardly ever leaves.” She responded, taking a drag. “He’s got a form of autism and this is his only way of expressing himself.”

Killian’s hands moved with a practiced efficiency as he placed a circuit board inside of a box. The man beside her jotted a few more notes, his eyes never leaving the boy.

“What is it he’s building?” He asked.

She thought for a moment, casting a curious glance towards her husband Kerry. “I’m not really sure to be honest. He’s always building something but never says much aside from maybe yes or no.”

“I see. Do either of you ever work on these projects with him?”

“Well, I’ve tried.” Kerry answered, stepping into the room. “But he’s incredibly protective about who he lets touch his little machines.”

“Has he ever built anything like this particular device before?” The man’s pen was a furious blur.

“No, I don’t think so. Usually it’s something that helps him get by. A couple of weeks ago he made a little box with fingers that helps tie his shoes. Clever little thing.”

The man nodded dismissively and turned his attention back to the boy. Something caught his eye; a spark of electricity as he placed wires on a large battery, and a familiar whinny as the device kicked on.

“Of course!” he yelled, and both parents jumped.

“What does that mean?” Kerry asked, following the man as he stepped towards his son.

“Oh, I didn’t want to believe it. The Council was sure but I hadn’t seen the signs. Still…” He paused, turning back towards Kerry. “The children.”

With an inhuman quickness, he struck. Kerry sailed, tumbling through the air to land beside his wife. She screamed, backing away as the man whirled on Killian. “Do not interfere.” He snarled.

He bent at the waste and lunged, his body a missile as he travelled ten feet across the room. He nearly reached the boy before there was a click and a near invisible wall sprung up before him. He hit it full force and collapsed in a heap.

“You little shit.” He growled, pulling himself back up. He struck the shield with balled fists only to be repelled in a shower of sparks and light. He struck again before pitching forward, Kerry slamming into him from behind. The two wrestled for a moment before Kerry found himself with an arm around his chest and a jagged blade to his throat.

“Take the barrier down boy.” He pressed a bit and blood rolled down his neck.

The boy’s eyes flicked between the man and his fathers. A look of sadness washed over him as he shook his head.

“Insolent child!” The man howled.

In an instant, the blade slit his throat, showering the translucent wall with blood. “You’ve caused this!” He cried, tossing Kerry away like so much garbage. “You!”

His fists pounded down, light flashing once more as he struck the barrier. Fireworks ensued as he assailed it with strikes, his anger distracting long enough for Taryn to sneak up behind him wielding a fire extinguisher.

The cylinder took him aside his head and he lurched. He turned on her in that moment and grabbed her arms as she lifted it again. Before she could twist free, he plunged the blade deep in her stomach. Twice he stabbed, and she fell to the floor with a gasp.

“It’s over boy.” He said, turning a wicked eye toward Killian. “You’ll be as dead as they are when I’m finished with you.”

“No.” Killian said forcefully. He stepped forward. “No more!” in his hand he held the box he’d been working on. The whirring was louder and he reached in through the lid when something popped.

Beside him floated a being of light and swirling smoke. Its patterns shifting along its amoebous form like mists in the morning.

“What have you done?” The man asked, suddenly wracked by a terrible paralysis. His muscles shook with strain but he was unable to move.

We are here.

The voice seemed to echo in their minds. Killian smiled; the man cringed.

“It’s too late.” He spat. “I can feel the others. Several have succeeded.” As he spoke as a gentle tremor shook the floor.

“Please.” Killian said, ignoring the shaking and pointing towards his parents. His mother laid shaking, hands clutched around the handle of the knife. His father’s glassy eyes stared at nothing.

He is beyond us, I am sorry. It said, now hovering beside them. But she we can save.

Her eyes did not move as it approached, its faint light painted across her shivering body. Soon she relaxed and slipped into sleep. The blade lifted itself from the wound and it healed with no scar.

“A wasted effort I’m afraid.” The man said, still locked where he stood. “You’ll all be dead soon, I can feel the shifting.” His eyes snapped to the window where the sky had darkened. “Soon this instance of earth will be erased from the Verse and we will return to occupy its space.”

You are mistaken. We will not allow it.

It pulsed with light and the man before them went limp, his body crumpling to the floor; dead.

Another tremor shook the room, and it returned to the boy’s side. You must come with us. Faint tendrils of light wafted from its form and wrapped Killian and his mother, and their skin glowed slightly from the touch.

He took one last glance into the workshop, feeling a familiar pang of sadness. Then the light around them grew, and they slipped away.