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I have chosen Teagan Geneviene picture. To write a prosetry story about Armageddon as part of Dan’s TDWC. See all the other entries here.
To say she was lined was an understatement. To hint that her green eyes are unsettling would be an out and out lie. To misunderstand her looks would be a debasement. Her face was so thin and her velvety skin could bring a tear to your eye.
She fell from heaven with a bump, scattering the cats and dogs that were foraging the municipal dump.As she sat there rubbing her knee the last of the homeless stared at her unable to believe what he could see.
Huge pearl drop tears fell from her eyes, sobs falling from her mouth. Trying hard she determinedly tried to crush the screams that showed her she had survived. One brave witness to her arrival stepped forward offering her a slug of whiskey to celebrate her survival!
Unsteadily she rose to her feet she took the old man’s flask and emptied it complete. Unsteadily she crossed the waste ground, the crunching of glass under her feet, the only sound.
The weather was cold and it was dark and starting to snow she borrowed a gaping workman’s mobile and she sent a text !
Early arrival for Armageddon today should I just keep quiet or shall I tell them to panic….. OKAY?? …..
He had only just set foot on this earth and his phone was ringing as he entered the church. Two penguins watched him walking slow how they got there they did not know. He tried to ignore the sound. He hope in here some peace could be found. But then it could be Hope yet she was always late, more likely Mercy she was very timely, more so even than Fate.
Looking outside he had caused rather a scene. The traffic was all stopped and backed up, right down the road. There was a sudden scream and a lorry had shed it’s load! If only to cut off the phone he looked to see that Mercy had, indeed , been textng. Where was she and had there been any news on their meeting.
Short and to the point it read ” Early arrival for Armageddon today, should I just keep quiet or shall I tell them to panic….. OKAY??” Short and to the point at least, he texted her back and told her to join him and tell no one, Panic had not even left yet.
With a wave of his hand the street returned to normal, apart from the lorry! The woman who had been screaming stopped, looked around sheepishly and said sorry! Suddenly Mercy is there at his side OH! it is so good to see you Gabriel she cried.
Their reunion was again stopped by the phone , a ‘ not to be argued with’ voice intoned” Why are we sitting here in this cafe ALONE?”
They knew Death was waiting at the appointed place with his brothers three! Late for an appointment with them is not what you want to be.Together they turned and headed up the road carefully stepping to avoid a plague of toads!
To say that he was put out would be putting it mildly.Death was not impressed or relaxed his fingers tapping on the table wildly! This was the third time in this century that he had had to visit here, and nothing was happening no one was listening and that was all too clear!
Gabriel and Mercy breezed in through the door, unaccustomed to such chaos they were stunned by what they saw. The staff were all looking very pale, sick, hungry and mean. Things certainly looked ugly the atmosphere was sharp and keen.
Death was not alone, sadly no, his brothers were there and that is a really bad omen it means beware. The end is nigh take care. Famine looked the most like Death, sallow colour thin as a rake looking round to see if there was anymore cake. War, always fighting, looking aggressive in a black hoody picking fights and planting bombs and killing any goody in sight. Pestilence was busy making the poor staff sick they were fighting for the loo…oh! yes Pestilence was slick!
Mercy sat opposite Death taking his bony hand, she smiled and said you look tired you need a rest my man! Gabriel ordered coffee then went to join the others he patted War on the back and said “I’ve just been in the east and I saw your mother. Pestilence asked Mercy if she had any aspirin for his aching head, yes she said rooting in her bag she was kindness born and bred.
Chaos was here and as ever he was being bad, things were all going off kilter he was making people mad! The traffic was going crazy up and down which way! Then he noticed Mercy with the horses and he shouted out HOORAY!!
Traffic calmed and horses too, Mercy over rode Chaos it is something she often has to do.The cafe doors fly open and Chaos stumbles in, totally destroying the karma but not flinching Death still wears a grin.
War spins round and rolls a grenade but Chaos kicks it back at him and shouts. “Hey man make my day.” Sitting next to Famine, Chaos announces he is starving, and could could eat a horse, all eyes spin round on him..Okay he says I’ll settle for half.
Things were looking nasty insults and fists flying, inflamed would describe everyone. As usual Chaos was egging it on and he really was having fun! It was getting evil even Death was rising to the bait , the humans in the cafe were all left dead and dying War was so happy I actually think he was actually crying!
It was looking dicey a veritable holocaust. Chaos had nearly won the day. Death was upset because he felt he had lost! Then the doors blew open and the scent of flowers filled the air and in walked Love and Peace with flowers in their hair!
Peace and Love together floated in, no one was too pleased to see them, even death had to force a grin. Pestilence was sneezing spreading germs everywhere. Use a hanky stormed War, Pestilence replied, don’t blame me it’s them wearing all those flowers in their hair.
Mercy and Gabriel hugged them both and welcomed them in. We are pleased to see you both take no note of him! “What is going down here?” Love began, “why have we all been summoned?”
Gabriel said he thought that unless something coulf be done, these humans really need a shock to show them what they have really done. If they don’t listen soon to Mother Nature or to Him then we all know what’s to come. Gabriel hung his head as he finished speaking the whole place was silent now except for the sound of Famine eating.
I have begged for clemency said Mercy looking tired, that is a waste of time roared War they should all be fired! Death said he was loathed to collect them all at once apart from anything else it meant a lot of paper work, they all looked at him in shock, as he added I have to make stock.
The conversation was stopped by a loudly ringing phone, It must be mine said Famine, I thought I’d left it at home . It was the phone upon the wall. It was Satan who said DID YOU FORGET MY CALL.
The door opened again with wind and the devil strutted in. Those humans left standing dropped to the floor. As the devil attacked them with a roar. He snatched a baby from its mother and ate it .
The Devil took out his Ipad and threw it on the table he said when HE shows his face, we can divide things up this time I am willing and able! Mercy will you stop your pleading please why don’t you get out there and see if Death needs help GO ON GET OUT OF MY SIGHT. I have had it up to here with your pleading so far tonight!
Gabriel was sweating his hands found it hard his phone to grip. His nerves were getting the best of him and he could feel his patience begin to rip!! He watched Mercy leave and accompany Death, as he walked up the street. He felt a sudden pang of pity for Death hobbling along on his boney feet.
Peace stepped forward with a serviette and whipped the blood from the Devils mouth Love was comforting the mother whose baby the Devil had supped after ripping its heart out.
Chaos was playing up again, thinking he was being ignored. There is nothing worse than Chaos when he is getting bored! He has been known to trigger earthquakes and watch tsunamis just for fun. Things were getting worse and Chaos was not having fun.
Gabriel’s face grew dark and his eyes filled with tears God was not answering his mobile , this just confirmed Gabriel’s worst fears.
Gabriel wept, Gabriel cried gor his God on whom he relied. This was frightening this was new without God by his side he felt fear.
He was always there at his side , Gabriel was his Archangel he led the heavenly troops but with his God away Gabriel’s feelings were beginning to droop.
The Devil got cocky and then got loud. ‘What’s up Gabe boy, what’s up with you now?” The Devil got up and strode to the bar and ordered a coffee from the un-dead barista, the poor guy did as he was told he was surprised he could get up, shit he felt cold!
Death returned but he was looking very tired he had a rag tag line of good souls that he had acquired. He sat down at the table next to Gabriel and announced he was feeling his age. He had lost sight of his three brothers they were still out on the rampage!
War, Famine and Pestilence were having a ball they were scouring the planet and laying it to waste for once and for all. Death was too tired, he had lost his grip his bones were aching and his feet were giving him gip! He ordered one last latte and waited for the count, it was black outside everywhere, riots and murder the death toll was a rising.
Nothing was normal, nothing was the same fighting and riots and killing it certainly was the Devil’s own game. There were riots over food and looting of shops, people attacking each other all policing had stopped. The army, the police, everyone had long since given up so those who were armed were taking no truck.
Fires raging blood running hot, a young couple making love in the middle of a riot and no one gave a jot. Babies and children abandoned, animals deserted all human failings to the fore and alerted.
Mercy bent down and gently took Gabriel’s hand don’t despair Gabriel all is not lost I feel Hope and Faith close at hand. But cried Gabriel where is God, why has he left us when our need is most I don’t know whispered Mercy who looked tired and as white as a ghost.
Peace and Love were huddled in a corner trapped by two demons who were bankers in a life that was former. The trapped couple busy chanting and singing of love in fact they had attracted a beautiful white Dove.
Death was sleeping he had felt so overwhelmed so much was happening and none of it was good. War was triumphant the whole world was fighting, famine was happy too, stuffing himself with Prawns and Whiting. Pestilence was in his element with all hospitals nothing but empty buildings full of rotting corpses. Mercy took her phone out and with her fingers crossed she made a call, Please hurry up Hope bring Faith things here look all but lost.
Gabriel wept, Gabriel cried his God was not there , his God on whom he relied. This was frightening this was new without God by his side.
Nobody new how long this had been going on everything was collapsing all kindness and humanity gone. A tiny child was crying lost and all alone it was famished, scared bleeding and chilled right to the bone.
Death could no longer bear to hear its cries and decided to go and picked it up, he guessed it was about time this last child in the world died.The devil said I’ll race you, with an evil grin. “No” ! cried death “I want this pure heart, it is truly without sin!”
The Devil did not argue he was having fun, with God as, so far, a no show, he would get the souls of everyone.
Well here is the situation the horsemen were all back the earth was totally wasted it had been well and truly sacked! Peace and Love were broken their smiles completely gone the flowers in their hair were dead weeds, the light in their eyes gone. Mercy was so very tired stretched beyond belief she had spread herself so thin all her plans had come to grief.
Faith and Hope had arrived but they were too late which only goes to show that you can cheat fate!
The Devil was happily punching numbers of the souls that he could take, this was more than he could ever have hoped for OH! the penances he would make them take!
Death got up and started the slow walk to the door every inch of his body ached and his back bore every second of millennia that had gone before.
Coffee anyone, Death heard the Devil say. As he hobbled towards the crying child. Death wiped a tear away.
Then suddenly a hand appeared in the sky it reached down and stroked the baby’s head to stop its cry……………………
And the child was quiet and the streets were empty there was not a sound. The Devil drank his coffee and Famine ate, Death wept and his tears sizzled as they hit the ground. The groans and screams of the unfortunate souls that the Devil had ensnared, started up and echoed around the streets, assailing everyone’s ears. Death looked at Mercy and said this is tenfold worse than all of our fears.
War was worn out he had truly done his worst he had whipped up hate and anger and spite, he had brought the planet low he’d been a scourge and a curse. Pestilence was running wild he travelled by air, sea and train he made people sick, he smite them with disease then struck them all down with pain. Peace and Love had long since fled. Escaping their tormentors to find God they sped.
Mercy and Gabriel knelt down to pray. Mercy beseeched God to listen and not to turn away. Death gingerly, because he was not sure, edged toward them then joining them, he knelt on the floor. There they stayed, and they prayed right through the night.
So they prayed through the night until the dawn and they were totally awestruck by what came with the morn. The sky was full of wonderful light yellows and golds and purple and blue and the most wonderful voices, you could see from his face it was a sound Gabriel knew.
Then finally a voice that drench all the the souls on the earth, whether good or bad, with feelings of self worth. The Devil was angry in fact very irked the voice was calming his sinners, even after all of his evil work! He got up and went to stomp off throwing cups and tables in his wake . When the beautiful voice said “Satan stay and face me to leave would be a mistake…………..”
Gabriel’s face took on a fantastic glow he unfurled his wings . No mean feat when wearing a flack jacket.
Gabriel was happy, he was reunited with his God. The Devil was nervous he did not want to talk but neither was he brave enough to turn his back and walk. Mercy was smiling so broadly her tears she wiped away things were looking up Hallelujah. Come Death she winked that is what you need to say.
The light was truly amazing gold and glowing warm, city and woodland, desert, jungle and sea scape all so blessedly adorned. I honestly cannot explain, how beautiful it seemed with angels singing sweetly it was like the best of dreams.
Back at the cafe the Father Son and Holy Ghost had treated everyone to tea and toast. Then with a wave of a hand the Devil’s work undone. God, all three of him, emailed Peace and Love and asked them to return now, to this world which, for now was free of sin.
Meanwhile the humans began to wake from death and hell without a pang of guilt or fear. The Lord had wiped clean the slate they could all begin with no blood spilt, no need for fuss or guilt. The Devil sulking sat alone playing with a mobile phone, he was angry he was peeved, he was on his own.
The Lord stood up and said I decree that for a while Famine, War and Pestilence set the world free and so for now they can take a break . Fine said Famine, is there any more cake? Death looked up and said you have only mentioned my brothers three, what pray tell, becomes of me. Smiling, God, all three, put his arm around Death and whispered I still need you to collect the dead for me.
I know, the Lord went on that you are suffering with your bones and feet. I have purchased boots and padded socks, there that’s neat. Also a thermal cape and hood to protect your bones and a scarf now there let’s hear no more groans
Love and Peace , Mercy too will be here to hang around with you. OH! and yes may it never be too late we’ll have home visits from Hope and Faith.Then before anyone could deny all things we put back to rights in the blink of the Lord’s eye. Come he said to the Devil it is time you were gone your place is on fire and might perish ere long.
The Devil, fuming , was silent and left with a flourish and hate in his eyes. Gabriel and all his clan ascended up to the skies. As the dust began to settle baristas all over the world could be heard getting to work.
The day went on as it had begun, no sign that the Devil and God had been fighting for the souls of Man. But all of you who have read this tale beware, you escaped this time but if you do not mend ways, look after the planet and behave you will witness The End Of Days. So listen up? You don’t want to be part of Armageddon.
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So excited… It’s coming soon!
willowdot21 