'SEEK' Continued

Here's some more of my short story. Hope you all enjoy it!

God bless!

Geno



‘You are being hunted. Someone is trying to kill you. The secret to Life lies in the Ancient Text. That is your only escape. Seek the text. You have been given the eyes to read what is therein transcribed.’

Robert removed the glasses, but the writing was still there! Nothing else was changed. He looked around the rest of the house and found nothing strange. His heart was racing now.
He crawled into bed, assuring himself that the letters would be gone in the morning and everything would be normal.

But upon waking the next day, he found the messages still there. Every thought of them and glance at them brought terror into his heart.

Quickly, Robert left the house and made his way to work, not wanting to be around the messages anymore. The glasses he left at home, now not sure what to do with them.
As he drove, a new phenomenon exposed itself: The Wall had changed its color overnight! It had gone from pitch black to bright white, still impossible to see through for the thickness, still looming above the city, but the highest pitch of white.

He expected to see everyone in a panic over the change, but no one else seemed to notice. After arriving at the station, he rushed inside to find Jeff getting ready to go out on his patrol.

“Jeff, what’s going on here?”

“What are you talking about?” replied Jeff.

“Haven’t you seen The Wall!?” cried Robert. “It’s changed color!”

Immediately Jeff rushed outside, followed closely by Robert. They stared at The Wall.

“What do you think happened to it?” Robert asked.

“Um, Robert, The Wall hasn’t changed. It’s the same as it is every day,” replied Jeff.

“What are you talking about? It’s pure white; can’t you see it?” answered Robert in surprise.

Jeff stared warily at his friend. He looked at The Wall again and shook his head. “It’s still black, Rob.”

Robert looked at him in wonder for a second, then grabbed his cell phone and dialed Jenny’s number. She worked only a few blocks away and was soon at the station.

“What is it, Robert?” she asked worriedly. “You seemed nervous on the phone.”

Robert looked at her, shocked. “Can’t you see? The Wall’s changed colors. It’s white!”

Jenny looked at The Wall and then back at Robert. “What are you talking about?” There was concern in her voice. “It’s still black.”

“Is this a joke?” inquired Jeff.

“No,” answered Robert. “It’s white! Why can’t you two see it?”

Jenny and Jeff exchanged worried glances.

“Rob, I think what happened last night did something to you. Why don’t you take some time off? I’ll go call the chief and tell him you need a break,” said Jeff, walking quickly inside.

Robert stared at Jenny in awe.

“You put those glasses on, didn’t you?” she asked, knowingly.
Suddenly Robert gasped. “You think-? But why would putting on those glasses do this, too?”

“What do you mean, ‘too’?”

“Look at my hand,” Robert said, showing her his right hand. “Do you see those words?”

Jenny looked closely. She shook her head. “I can’t see anything.”

Jeff came back out. “Rob, the chief said to head home and rest. He’ll take the time off your sick leave.”

Robert looked at Jenny. “Come with me. I’ve got to show you something.”

Soon they were both at Robert’s house. Robert quickly headed inside, followed closely by Jenny.

“Robert, did you put the glasses on or not?” she asked.

Robert ignored her and pointed to the writing on the wall. “Do you see this writing?”

Jenny peered closely. “I don’t see anything. Now, did you put on those glasses or not?”

Robert sighed and finally admitted, “Yes, I put on the glasses. And now I keep seeing these messages.”

“And what are they telling you?”

“The one on my hand just says: ‘Mark of Death’ and then words on my wall tell me that someone’s trying to kill me. It says the only escape is found in the Ancient Text.”

Robert fell on the couch in frustration.

“I don’t know what to think,” he groaned. “I don’t know what to do from here. In my heart I’ve got this horrible feeling that those words are true.”

“What’s the Ancient Text?” asked Jenny, concerned.

“I don’t know,” replied Robert. “I think the only to find out is to put the glasses back on.”

“Are you crazy!?” she exclaimed. “Look at what they’ve done to you already! You’re seeing things.”

“But I’m not just ‘seeing things’! This is real.”

The two stared at each other, neither knowing what to say. Finally, Robert broke the silence. “Jenny, why don’t you put the glasses on?”

“Are you crazy, Robert? Look what they’ve done to you. Why would I want that? Why would you want that for me?”

“Because they’re showing me the truth! I need to know whether I’m just imagining these things or if what I’ve seen is real.”

Jenny immediately wanted to refuse, but then she saw the glasses sitting on the counter. A sudden and surprising curiosity took hold of her. A strange feeling came into her heart. Was she being hunted as well? Were the glasses the only way out of the death that awaited her?

“Please,” begged Robert. “Just try them.”
“I can’t,” she answered.
Then a new thought entered Jenny’s mind, “Could the answers held by these glasses give her the happiness she longer for?” She longed to be truly happy, but no matter what she did, she never seemed to accomplish that. But as she looked at the glasses, there was something about them that told her they held the answer.

Despite the part of her mind telling her not to put on the glasses, she reached out and grabbed them.

Robert watched as Jenny slowly brought them to her eyes.

Looking around, everything seemed the same to her. Then it happened: looking down she saw the writing on her wrist, then she saw the writing on the wall. She saw it on Robert’s wrist as well. She ripped the glasses off of her face in terror.

“Do you see it!?” exclaimed Robert. “Do you see the messages?”

Jenny just stared at him, wide-eyed. “We’re both being hunted,” she finally gasped.

Robert grabbed the glasses. “I have to know what the Ancient Text is,” he said. “I’m putting them back on.” He slipped them onto his face again.

A message appeared on a different part of his wall: ‘Go outside. The glasses will lead you. Don’t be afraid.’

“But that won’t work,” thought Robert. “As soon as someone sees the glasses they’ll call the police and I’ll have to make a run for it.” He had been involved in many similar chases himself – only before he was the one doing the chasing. Suddenly he remembered, “the only people they ever caught were the ones who took the glasses off. Those who kept the glasses on escaped every time!”

Jenny’s voice interrupted his thoughts. “Do you see anything?”

“Yes. I have to go outside. The glasses will lead me to the answer.”

“You can’t do that!” she insisted. “They’ll arrest you – or worse.”

“I have to. The message says to not be afraid. Once I find whatever this is, I know it’ll help us. I have to go; I have to find the answer.”

He headed to the door, then turned back to Jenny.

“Don’t worry, I’ll be fine. And I’ll see you soon.” With that he disappeared outside.

He walked down the street with his head down, hoping no one would see the glasses. When he reached an alley, he disappeared inside and looked around for new messages. On a dumpster to his side he found writing, just as it appeared in his house: ‘The Text can be found at Salem’s Street.’

Salem’s Street was only a few blocks away – but it was one of the busiest streets in the entire city.

Anxiety came into Robert’s heart and he couldn’t move. Suddenly a person appeared in the alleyway. Robert looked up. It was a neighbor. Seeing the glasses on Robert’s face, the man gasped. Recovering, he yelled out: “Radical! Call the police!” and ran off to spread the word.

Robert prepared to take off down the street, but was stopped when Jenny appeared in the alleyway.