24 hours is all I have. Happy Birthday, Anderson.
Not heard from the others for a few hours now.
No contact. It’s like Crowley and his hackers have stopped the feed.
Broken our connection.
Whilst I can still get word out, I will. Thought I’d get a message back before now, but sad to say I was wrong.
I’ve bolted my door with ten locks. Dad got them off the shed door after Mum attacked him. She’s already started to gnaw at her own chains, but it’s doing nothing but break her teeth.
Yeah, it’s come to that. Dad has her chained up now, but I’m not naïve enough to know he had no choice.
I know she’s gone. She never really came back. That was just politics. To get our vote.
I’m locked in my room. Dad is in his, with just an adjoining door between us…and Mum, well Mum is chained up in front of the telly, like she’d want to be. Dad still puts the soaps on for her…Some family, huh?
Crowley would be proud of us. He’s still everywhere. On the news. On every channel at least once a day. No-one sees the PM now. Crowley speaks on her behalf. We won’t see her again, that’s certain.
There’s a flicker on my screen. Incoming. A sign of life…but I’m distracted by the bumps and thumps at my window.
Syd from next door. Her face plastered against the glass. Her smile says come out and play. Her eyes say I want to eat you! I get up and draw the curtain. She’s not herself.
When I return to the screen, there’s a message. Life.
Hello. I’m J.
The cursor flashes slowly at me, with fingers hovering over the keys I type…
Hello.
Who is this?
Anderson.
You’re a disciple.
It’s not a question
The others. Crowley has them.
I pause. Can’t move. I knew it would come to this, but not without a final showdown. The disciples v’s Crowley, that was how it would end, but now…They are gone and I am alone. I know there’s Dad, but he’s not as alive as he used to be…
The cursor flashes. A new message…
Did you hear me, Anderson?
What do I say? Thanks for the update…?
As my fingers rest upon the keys, choice is taken from me…
They’re here. Got to go. J.
The screen goes blank. I rush my fingers over the keys and break the connection.
Still going. Still fighting…and that’s when I hear three taps on my window.
I get up. Know I shouldn’t. I hover at the curtains. Draw them back.
Syd and Mum. Mum unchained.
She’s gnawed through her own arm to get out, but it’s much worse than that…there’s a third person with them.
‘Dad?’ I whimper, and his cheeks stain with tears to see me, as our eyes meet for the last time…
#RISE
#MARIGOLDS
Tom Harris 