Prologue

A Chapter by Rob Walsh

Prologue

   "And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him."
- Revelations 6:8

   A thin layer of cool gray mist covered the ground as Kaleb sat on an old rickety bench waiting beneath the mystical blue twilight sky. He became growingly anxious awaiting the arrival of the woman he had so longed to see. He brushed his mid length jet-black hair out of his eyes, being careful not to knock his hood down. Kaleb leaned back, attempting to relax. His blood red leather jacket made a creaking sound as he moved. He reached inside the hidden pocket to pull out a flask, it was old but loved. A very worn out piece of brown leather wrapped around it. He turned it over and rubbed his thumb across the engraving, now too faded and scratched up for him to read, but once it read something of meaning. He twisted the cap off and took a swig of the liquid. It felt warm as it ran down his throat. He spun the cap back on and returned it to his jacket as the edge of uneasiness slowly dissolved within him.
   He heard the soft footsteps of a woman approaching from the right of him, he turned while pushing his hood back and there she was, an auburn haired beauty wearing a white sundress. He leapt off the bench and headed towards the girl. The sound of his biker boots echoed in the empty park as he ran. As they reached one another they embraced. Kaleb lifted her up off her feet and she clung to him even tighter. He took everything in, letting her body and distinctive scent intoxicate him once again. It had been so long since he felt her touch and tasted her lushes lips; Kaleb was drawn in even deeper. He loved having her in his arms; she was his heaven, which was a stretch for someone like Kaleb.
   He was not normal in any sense of the word, but neither was the woman he was holding; Rose. He was a creature of the night and she was a flower of the light. They both came from completely opposite worlds, but it didn’t seem to stop how they felt about one another. Why couldn’t an angel fall in love with a devil? It had seemed so forbidden; and it was. When they began to pull away from one another Kaleb noticed a sense of sorrow within Roses’ eyes. They were on the verge of filling with tears. He softly placed a hand on her shoulder.
   “What’s wrong?” he asked worried.
   She looked toward the ground, green grass filled the spaces in-between her toes, “I’m afraid Kaleb.”
   “Afraid of what Rose? This is what we have been waiting so long for.”
   Rose turned from him, the curls in her hair swept over her shoulder as he went to place his hand there, but she denied him that pleasure. He stared at the charred scars that had accumulated on her back; the damaged skin was a symbol of her purity, to what she was and what she had sacrificed to be with him.
"What did they do to you?"
She slowly turned back to him staring into his bright green eyes; he met hers. “We can’t do this,” she said in a soft tone.
   “Do what?” Kaleb asked in concern. She hesitated and Kaleb took a step closer, now within arm’s reach.
   “If we do this-” she paused continuing to look into his eyes, “It could be the end of everything.” Kaleb took a step back in disbelief of what she had just said to him. He couldn’t believe what he was hearing but he knew she was right. The thoughts circled inside his head as he grimaced over it. They sacrificed so much to get to where they were, waited too long, but now loves blind eye had been opened and they realized it would destroy them and the world as they knew it. Kaleb was shattered. The heart beating inside his chest felt like it was going to crumble into a thousand pieces. Kaleb took another step back and headed to the old rickety bench he had sat on waiting for her month after month. He removed the flask from in his jacket again and began to drink the warm liquid, he continued until there wasn’t a single drop left. He removed the flask from his lips and a small streak of maroon nectar dripped out of the corner of his mouth, he quickly wiped it away. Rose approached Kaleb and sat down next to him, placing a hand on his thigh.
   “I’m scared Kaleb. They're going to be coming after me soon."
   Kaleb placed the flask down on the bench as he turned to her and spoke softly,
   “Whatever it is I will protect you from it.”
   Hearing the strength in his voice made the final string snap that helped her keep the tears at bay; they rushed down her milky white skin. Kaleb used his hand to wipe the tears from her face. His hand felt cold to her flushed skin.
   “It’s not that easy my love when you know what they'll do to us. You know the consequences of what will happen. Do you really what that blood on our hands?”
   Kaleb stood up off the bench and turned to her.
   “So what do we do?”
   Rose wiped the rest of the tears from her face and looked back into his green eyes; they were now dulled from their brightness.
   “I don’t know. I love you so much Kaleb. You showed me what love really is. There’s nothing more important to me than-” Kaleb press a finger to her lips. Her thoughts were killing her inside and out, it was such a crucial decision but she believed deep down she knew what was right and what would protect them both.
   Before Kaleb could reply a figure moved within the shadows across the way within the mist. They both stared with an ever-growing fear building inside their gut. Kaleb positioned himself in front of Rose, pulling out the blued steel MP-412 revolver that had been resting within the drop leg holster. The weighted barrel felt heavy and yet it steadied his aim. The figure came closer and clearer; Kaleb turned to Rose.
   “Get out of here now.”
   Kaleb advanced towards the figure. Its hooded thin figure was ever more prominent as the two converged. Kaleb knew this wasn’t going to be a fight he could survive, but he sure as hell was going to try.
“Come back! You don’t need to do this!”
   Rose call to him fell on deaf ears. Kaleb had already made his choice and knew it was too late, but he had to protect the woman he treasured. He lifted the revolver, pulling the hammer back and aimed it right at the hooded creature.

next chapter

© 2013 Rob Walsh

My Review

Would you like to review this Chapter?
Login | Register

Reviews

Laerwen Mincks

It really surprises me how androgynistic your voice is with this piece. I really like that. Your work can easily appeal to both sexes, and keeps me more than interested. Your use of descriptive words actually reminds me quite a bit of my work, please take that as a compliment lol. I've been told it can be "too wordy," but I honestly love that. I love feeling like I am there and viewing this entire situation, almost as though it is an out of body experience; this piece does just that. I really think you should check out J.R. Ward, she writes paranormal romance, so I'm warning you there is some sex, but I'm pretty sure you can handle the graphic-ness haha. I think you would really enjoy her blend of dark and beauty, it is very similar to yours. She also is very androgynistic with her writing style.

Thank you for creating something I can stay interested in.

-Summer