Bomb-short story

This is short story I made for my university  coursework would love to know what you all think.

short story 

Bomb 

“Don’t come back you asshole”, beep. He put the phone back in the compartment of the car When John’s voice came on the earpiece. “Do you see an old blue garage door?” Ray stepped out of his black car. It was as dark as the sky at night. He tapped on his ear piece. “Yeah I see it John, is that where it’s being stored?” Ray stared directly at the derelict house. He felt the cold air blow over what little hair he had left. He did not see any cameras or men guarding the garage. “John, are you positive your information is correct.”

 “My Intel is never wrong. I am offended that you even have to ask. How long have we known each other Ray?”

“Too long John too long ha”

 “Ray, you know you did not have to handle this mission, I would have been fine being in the field by myself.”

“Shut it John, you know you’re in no condition to carry this one out what with that busted leg of yours, and I can’t believe you tried to leave me out the loop on this, good thing I came over to see what you were working on.”

“Yeah Ray, good thing you did… back up will be with you shortly.”

Ray ran up to the garage door sliding his hand underneath. The door got jammed and left a small gap. Ray got on his knees and crawled in through. Once inside he pulled on a piece of string. A dim light filled the room. Ray’s mouth fell open; he saw under the dull light a metallic box with flashing buttons lighting up like slot machines. A glowing green timer stuck out on top of the box.  Twenty three minutes remaining.   

Ray tapped his ear. “John this is going is going be a problem.”

“Why Ray, what’s wrong. What do you see?” Ray franticly spun his head around the room, he could see a calendar with the year 2058 November 22. There were a bunch of tools hanging on the wall, saws, hammers and wire cutters and below that, an old radiator.  Along the right side was some writing that looked like it had been carved into the surface.

Ray could just make out few of the words in the poor lighting. ‘The old must make way for the new.’ Beep! Ray turned his head back to the Bomb in the room. Twenty one minutes remaining. A glowing green aura flashed in his eyes. An orb or sphere what kind of bomb is this?”

“The coast seems clear. Just seems like there is a bunch of psycho babble by that nutty terrorist group Gaia on the wall. John, there is this huge glowing green sphere. What kind of bomb is this? I have never seen anything quite like it before. How do I disarm this? What are we dealing with here John? Where is that back-up!?”

“Calm down Ray! They’re on their way; you know you really should have just stayed home with your family.” Just stop you don’t need this job to be with us don’t you walk out that door. He heard her words play in his head. Family he said under his breath.

Ray gazed on at the timer watching every little second go by. Each one made his insides twist.  Beep 20 minutes. “John where are they I can’t wait.”

“You are right Ray; you’re going to have to do this by yourself.”

Ray hastily grabbed the wire cutters off the wall and made his way over to the jungle of wires. He looked on at the monster standing before him. “John what the fuck do I do.”

“Ray, just take it easy mate. There should be a blue wire, cut that it should slow down the timer, all bombs have them.” His eyes darted all over the maze of wires scanning from right to left.

“There are about four blue wires, which one am I meant to fucking cut, John!”

“John! John! Are you there?” There’s been no reply just the sound of a bee buzzing in his ear. He felt the sweat starting to form around his forehead ‘beep 19 minutes remaining.’ He held the cutters over the mess of wires. He tried to remember how to disarm a bomb but he never dealt with an explosive of this magnitude before. The wire cutters shock in his hands as he moved them over to one of the many blue cables that he could see. What the fuck do I do? No pressure just thousands upon thousands of people’s lives in my hands, but no fucking sweat I can do this. Ray moved the cutters over to thickest blue wire. “It’s always the blue one” he said to himself. His eyes shut like metal doors slamming down. ‘Beep 19 minutes.’

His forehead felt like a waterfall had been formed on top of it. He could hear his own rapid heart beating all over the place as if it were a fish trying to swim upstream. Just cut it he told himself again and again.

“John I really need you right now.”  Still nothing, come on hands work with me just cut the damn wire, it’s the right one. His hands pulled back from the blue wire. Beep 18 minutes. His hands rebelled against him. Just fucking cut it! He lifted one hand away to wipe the sweat from his brow.  His hands felt like cinder blocks please work with me here!  

He shut his eyes once more breathing in the air around him. Just press down on cutters do it.

Snip

He opened his eyes and looked down at his shaking hands and ran them down over his face. 

I am still here.  He looked up at the timer, the numbers had frozen in place.

 “John I don’t know if you can hear this but I have disarmed the bomb. I will be waiting outside for the backup to take this beast apart.”  He walked halfway over to the garage door before feeling like a knife had been dug in to his neck. His face made impact with the damp concrete floor. 

He awoke looking up at a shadowy figure. It was too dark to see his face. All he could hear was a cold chilling voice piercing his eardrum. “Ah glad you’re awake, would not want you to miss the end.”  

“Who are you?!” 

“Me,” he laughed stepping out the darkness dressed in a black hood.  He approached Ray’s face lifting his tongue out.  The wet trail ran down Ray’s face. He licked his lips. “We are all Gaia children.” Ray tried to break free noticing he was hand cuffed to the radiator. “For Gaia has spoken to me, telling me that we must create a new race.  Gaia feels that her children are roting away. They are causing her so much pain she is decaying as we speak, Gaia. She is crying right now. Don’t you hear her tears falling upon us?”

Beep 15 minutes remaining. Ray’s eyes flashed over in horror the numbers were dropping down again. It’s not fucking possible how could you have started it up I cut the wire.” The hooded figure bent down on the floor titling his head. He reached out to grab Ray’s face, squashing his lips together mimicking his words. “You did nothing my pretty little man to this divine angel that shall send us to the holy land where we shall all be at peace in mother Gaia’s bosom. He placed his hand over the glowing green bomb petting it “Its ok my angel, daddy won’t let him touch you again.”

“You’re fucking nuts!” He stood up trying to pull forward only to hear the chain pulling him back down. The radiator was old and he could feel the lose pipe it was attached to.  ‘Beep 14 minutes. ’He struggled pushing with all his might. His hand felt like it was going break at any moment as he pulled on the radiator.  Ray looked over at the man to make sure he was not looking. The hooded figure was running his fingers along the words as he read them out. “The world shall end in eternal peace setting free new life to rise where the old has fallen. Your will shall be carried out oh great heavenly Gaia.”

 Ray pulled again at the cuffs. ‘Beep 13 minutes; Ray heard the pipe give way he bit down on his lip; he slid the handcuffs over the small gap in the radiator. He felt the heat on his hands burning away his skin.  He got up quickly not having time to think about the pain. Luckily for Ray the hooded man  did not notice Ray’s escape as the sound of the bomb charging up covered it.  He lunged forward at the hooded figure while he was not looking, knocking him off his feet and sending them both to the floor. Holding the cuffs around the hooded man’s neck he yelled “Open them!” He squeezed harder around the man’s neck with the chain of the cuffs. The hooded man reached down into his pocket and held out the key. Ray took the key and unlocked the cuffs, while the hooded man caught his breath.

“Now, you’re going to answer my questions you sicko fucker. How did you restart the bomb? How do I disarm it? Who is your leader?” 

“Ha I don’t need to tell you anything my cupcake. However you could say you and I have something in common.”

“I have nothing in common with a cult fuck like you!”

The man spat in Rays face. Ray saw red. Time was short.

“Answer my questions?” Ray pulled back his fists like a catapult and let a barrage of shots.

“Just kill me I will be with the holy one soon anyway and so will you.” ‘Beep 12 minutes.’

Ah! He yelled as he grabbed the man by his robe and punched him one last time knocking him unconscious.

“I have nothing in common with a nut bag like you.”

“John, are you there?!”  Ray did not hear a buzzing sound in his ear this time.

“Daddy come play with me,” a high pitch voice said. Ray spun around the room, he would recognise that voice anywhere.  He scratched his neck as he said “I’m losing my bloody mind, that backup should have been here by now.”  ‘Beep 11 minutes.’

“Stop, Stop, stop. Just stop beeping.  Ray felt a nudge at his trousers. He looked down to see a small boy in a green hat.  “It’s not possible, how are you here son?” His son let forth a cheesy smile running towards the bomb. “We have to save Zelda from Ganondorf.” Ray’s eyes flashed with horror as he ran after him.

“No! Get away from there.”  Ray shut his eyes and reopened them to find his son had vanished.  He looked down at the small box with the colour coded buttons, they were flashing before his eyes. ‘Beep 10 minutes.’

Just then before his eyes a red balloon flew past and then a green, then a blue. Then hundreds of balloons surrounded him. The faint sound of happy birthday was playing in his ear. “Happy birthday Amber, sorry dad could not make it he is working.”

“He never has any time for us anyway. I bet he doesn’t even know how old I am today.” 

 Her glossy red hair was shining even in the gloomy light.  She walked up to Ray. His eyes were beginning to blur. She was right up in his face; her thin eyebrows crossed, she was directly looking at him.  “Well do you!”  A loud ringing pierced the room. ‘Beep 9 minutes’

She was gone; Ray was left in a daze, his hand clinching the wire cutters scratching his neck with the other. Ray looked at the cables. He found the more he stared at them the more the different colours started to merge together. His eyes tried to re-adjust like a camera coming into focus. Then he smelt a familiar scent. The air in the room became sweet it was flowing into his nostrils. Strawberry’s how can it be! He felt her hands on his shoulder, he turned around.  

“Cassy, you’re not here, you can’t be!” He turned around to see nothing. Another chime rang in his ears. He lifted his hands to his head. “Get a hold of yourself Ray, none of its real, it’s just stress, you can do this.”  He closed his eyes, taking deep breaths, when he opened his eyes again it was to the sight of her. “Ray can you stay home tonight, take a day off, it’s your daughter’s 16th birthday.”She was just standing there, her lips were not moving but her words were playing though his earpiece. He found himself replying back.

“I have to work Honey; I am doing this for us. for you and the kids.” Again her voice echoed in his ear. “It’s not about that; you just never want to spend time with any of us. You’re so obsessed with work. It’s like you don’t want be with us.” He saw no anger in her eyes just a blank stare. He blinked his eyes for a second and she was gone. ‘Beep 7 minutes.’

“Stop!” He yelled. The orb was getting hotter by the second. The room felt like a sauna. “The green wire, I remember that from military training,” he said out aloud to himself.  He brought the wire cutters down on the green wire, snip. He looked at the glowing timer it had frozen again 6 minutes.  He tapped on his ear piece “John it’s disarmed! I fucking did it!”  The static on the other side was still playing through Ray’s ear.  He turned around to pull up the garage door, his legs buckled underneath him.

Then he heard it, the horrifying noise of a simple beep. 5 minutes. “No Impossible, I deactivated you!” he screamed out. Ray got up on to his legs and staggered back over to the box in the centre of the room. 

The timer changed from green to red. Ray bashed his hands on to the ground pounding the floor like some wild ape. The ear piece was picking up all kinds of voices.

“Daddy do you think you will be back in time for my school play? I got the lead part.”

“David, daddy doesn’t think he’s going make it back in time.”

“Ray, I have something to tell you,” John’s voice came on to the earpiece.

“Where the fuck did you go John, let’s disarm this bomb we have hardly any time left. I was losing my mind here.” Ray yelled. There was silence on the other end. The static came back.  

He was just there, I heard his voice. “John what did you want to tell me!” ‘Beep 4 minutes’ Ray could not take the incessant beeping any more. He held out the wire cutters and snipped at random wires in a rage, closing his eyes ‘Nothing.’ The timer was still dropping. He cut another and another he did not care anymore, in bafflement the bomb was still counting down. Ray stepped back he lost grip of the wire cutters and fell back laughing. ‘Beep, 3 minutes.’

“It did nothing, the wires they are all gone, yet you continue to tick how is that possible, how! God damn it, how!” Ray sat on the floor.  He laughed so hard that tears began to drizzle down his face. He turned around another ‘Beep 2 minutes.’

He rocked back and forth with his arms wrapped around his legs sitting in the dim light. He could feel his skin burning, ignoring the pain.  The voices took it away. “I need you Ray the kids need you. Quit your job.” Her calming voice was playing though his ears. There before him his family, their hands reaching out to grab his. ‘Beep 1 minute’

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry I should have been there for all of you,” he bellowed out. ‘Fifty seconds.’

“It is ok honey, come be with us now.” She said in a peaceful voice ‘Forty seconds.’

He crawled towards them. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry,” he repeated again and again. ‘Thirty seconds.’

Shush dear it’s all over now. You get to be with us; today you quit your job.” She said in a cheerful tone. ‘Twenty seconds.’  

John’s voice came on the earpiece. ‘10 seconds’ “Ray, there was never an off switch, I never wanted you to find out I told you should have stayed with your family but I could not have you screwing up the plan, the world will be reborn just as Gaia wanted.” You and I have something in common the hooded man was sent by John it all came together.

5 4 3 2 1…beep.

The Day Death Went Away Chapter 8 Crime

He just needed to cut through town and he would be safe back in his house. He could feel the grass brushing against his legs as he started to descend down the hill. He had got about half way down the hill, when he heard a high pitch scream. It was from back where he was. “It was Ruby!” he said.

Mark did not even think about it for a second. He ran back up the hill, only to see Ruby Struggling as she was getting dragged out the car by two rather large muscular men.

“Let me go” Ruby yelled.

“Shut up! You Rich bitch, that a nice car you have we will be taking it now.” The man covered Ruby’s mouth with his bear like hands.  Ruby opened her mouth and her teeth bit down on the man’s finger.

“Ow! You stupid bitch, you need to be taught your place.”  The other man was unbuttoning the fly on his jeans. “I would have just put a bullet to your head but that don’t seem to work anymore.” Mark ducked behind the hill watching in horror what was about to occur. Mark thought back to when he was on the bridge. How he’d just given up, he was powerless and scared. “I have already taken a bullet to the heart, what’s the worst that they can do. It’s not like I can die.” He said to reassure himself.  Mark clinched his fists into balls.  He thought about all of the action stories he had written. How the hero always sweeps in to save the damsel in the last minute. They always make an entrance.

Ruby screamed as one of the men put their hands up her blue skirt to pull off her panties.

“No! No! Oh god no! Please let me go.”

“You brought this on yourself bitch; you should have just been a good girl.”

“Turn her on her back, let’s see that ass.” The men flip Ruby onto her back and pinned her down in the dirt. Mark could not take it no more he made his entrance.  He climbed up on top of the car. The men had not noticed him. He thought about what an action hero would do at this point. They would always say some kind of Cheesy line or insult to the bad guy. He thought if he could distract them Ruby could get away. Mark took in a deep breath and yelled “Hey small dicks, over here.” The two men turn their heads around. Mark eyes wish they could not see the man’s junk, It looked like dry raisins.  

“What did you just say to us you little shit.”

“Come over here and say that to us again.”

“Get away from her or I will call the police!”

Mark was not stupid he knew he could not win a fight. He had got hold of Ruby’s phone that she had left in her car when the two men were not looking.” He held out Ruby's phone. While the men were focused on Mark, Ruby kicked her hills into one of the man’s nuts. He fell on the ground in a fetal position. Mark jump down from the car, the other man had chased after him.   

Ruby pulled up her panties and ran to her car. She quickly got in and slammed the door behind. She turned the ignition key and press her foot on the pedal. The other guy quickly made a recovery, but he was too slow. Ruby was already driving down the hill. She Saw Mark running and the mussel bound man behind him. He was closing the gap between them. Ruby slowed her car and opened the door
she yelled “Get in.”

Mark jumped into the car while it was moving at a slow speed and shut the doors. Ruby and Mark watched out the wing mirrors as the man fade from view. They were both shaking and breathing heavily as they drove off into town. Mark wondered if people cannot die then they won’t be scared of committing crimes. He knew this was only going to get worse.

The Day Death Went Away Chapter 7 Radio

Ruby stood behind Mark. “I think we should drive you home now.” Mark nodded his head. He could not help wonder if he was just dreaming all this. Not one person had passed away in the last 52 hours how can this be? Why is this happening?

Mark and Ruby got into her car and drove away from the Hospital. “So where do you live then Mark?”  Mark had no idea how far away from his home he was. But he gave the name of his street. “I live on Blind Light Road.” He said in a quiet voice.

“Oh I know where that is, it not far from me.”

“Oh great, you can take me home I just want to go to sleep.”

Ruby had nothing to say to Mark, she was trying to think of something to say but the whole situation was just nutty. She Reach over to put on the radio again.  A man voice came blaring out the speaker’s “My fellow listeners God is among us. He has come down from the heavens. He has brought us the gift of eternal life. We have been lead back into the “Garden of Eden.” We no longer have anything to fear.”

“Well that not something you hear every day on the radio. What a bunch of crap! I’m sure there is logical explanation to all of this.” She switched the station to another, only to find more news. “A wife had repeatedly stabbed her husband with a kitchen knife although he has over 200 stab wounds the man still seems to be alive. Although he says he is in agony he is just happy to still be kicking. The wife Mary Dawn is being held under arrest for attempted murder.”  Ruby press on the breaks, the car came to a sudden stop. Mark’s head jolted forward but Lucky the seat belt keep him in place. Ruby hands were shaking on the steering wheel.  She whispered something under her breath but Mark could not hear it.  

Mark looked out the car window at the night’s sky. The sky was ablaze with an array of colours. It was as if the sky was an enormous canvas and paint was being thrown onto it everywhere. Mark got out the car realising he was on the hill top just outside his home town. From the hill top that was looking over the town he could hear cheering and music in the distances.  

I know how to get home from here. I don’t need to be with her no more. Mark turned around to see Ruby still sitting in the car. He could see the sparkle of tears rolling down her eyes. Her face was red under the dashboard lights.  Mark though he could turn around and just walk through town to get to his house. He did not know what was wrong with Ruby and really did not care. It’s not my problem he said to himself. I don’t do well with emotions of others. I just want to get home.

The Day Death Went Away Chapter 6 Dead But Alive

Mark walked down the narrow hallway till he got to a wooden door .Hanging on the interior of the door was a name. “Doctor Miller” Mark despised Doctors; he did not like the idea of the prodding, pulling and pocking every part of his body. It made Mark feel like he was going to hull just thinking about it. Mark legs wanted to turn the other way and get out the Hospital .However Ruby knocked on the door for him before he could turn around. The door opened and the Doctor said “come in" with his husky voice.

Mark hesitantly walked into the Doctors’ offices and sat up on the examining table. The Doctor had little too no hair left of what seem to be black hair. His ice cold eyes were looking directly at Mark as he spoke. Mark disliked the white lab coat he was wearing. It made the Doctor seem like some kind of mad scientists in Marks mind. “Aright Mark; tell me what’s wrong with you other than a change of clothes and smelling like something that crawled out a sewer.” The Doctor laughed to himself. Mark already could tell he was not going to enjoy talking to this Doctor.  But Mark has never liked anyone so this came at no surprise to Mark. 

Rather than talk Mark just took off his T shirt that was falling apart. The Doctor eyes instantly locked onto the hole in his chest.

“That a gun short wound directly in your heart!” he said in surprise.

He then quickly put his ear to Marks chest. Mark wanted to push the Doctor away, but let him proceed. “I don’t understand this, it’s not medically possible.” The doctor said in surprise. The Doctor then grabbed hold of Marks wrist to check for his pules. “Nothing not a single beat.” The Doctor said as he sat back into his leather chair.  

“Doctor what is wrong with him? How can he have no heartbeat?” She asked.

“The Better question is what is right with him! And everyone else I have seen today for that matter. ”He said in a frustrated voice.  

He tuned around to face Mark. “Young man I don’t know how to tell you this, but you should be dead right now. Medically speaking this is not even possible. Your heart is not even beating it defies how the human body works.” That was it; he had confirmed it for Mark.

“I am a miracle” Mark said as he let it sink in. 

“I think we should run some tests on you. Then remove the built from your heart.” The doctor said.

“No, thank you I just want go home!” He yelled like a little kid. Ruby noted to herself Mark must have suffered some kind of brain damage. He does not act like an 18 year old.  Mark jumped down from the table and ran out the room. 

 “Good bye doc.” She chased after Mark.
She found him in the small waiting room looking up at the TV hanging above with everyone else in the room Ruby looked up at the TV as well. “Breaking news in a shocking event we have just revised reports from The Worlds Heath Centre. That for the past 52 hours no one has died in the world.”The news reporters on the TV looked completely bewildered in disbelief  them self’s. “I will repeat that for you again. There has not been one single death on the entire planet. Since 52 hours ago!” Everyone in the waiting room's eyes shot up and sat in silence. Except an elderly old man with a scrunched up face “It’s one of them TV pranks.”  This was no prank Mark thought. This is real. 

The Day Death Went Away Chapter 5 Waiting

Mark sat in the waiting room looking at all the people in urgent need of medical care. One young girl with sandy blond hair in pig tails. Had a Javelin going right through her abdominal, the Javelin point was covered in blood. The blood was dripping off the javelin onto the white linoleum floor. The girl seemed to be fine though. She had a big cheesy grin on her face like she was unaware of the seriousness of her accident. She was not the only one. Mark and Ruby looked around the waiting room. A man whose arms and legs were facing in Ways Mark thought should not even be possible. Yet the man still seem like he was not in any serious pain, just mild discomfort. The most flabbergasting of all these people, was a tiny boy. He had olive skin with scruffy brown hair. He looked no older than seven. To Mark and Ruby’s astonishment his head was twisted around the wrong way. Mark and Ruby wondered how he could even possibly still be breathing. His parents next to this boy with their worried faces, They too must have been wondering the same thing. The mother looked like she was about to faint at any moment as the father held her.

‘None of it made sense. How were any of these people still breathing?’ Mark said to himself. The lady at the desk who was calling out the people, looked like she was also going to faint every time she said “The Doctor will see you now” to the patients as they approached her. Everyone was staring at each other in the room gobsmacked wondering the same as Mark was.

Ruby sat down next to Mark “Looks like it’s going to be awhile. You gonna tell me what happened to you Mark?” Mark was not paying any attention to Ruby. He was too busy contemplating how he was still alive. How any of these people were. At first he believed he was dead. Then he thought he had got extremely lucky, but as he sat and watched these people, did they all also dodge death. Mark faced Ruby; he noticed her eyes were closed.

“Why are your eyes closed?” He said.

I don’t want to see these people. My gut can’t take it.”

Mark said nothing else on the matter. Ruby tapped her feet impatiently back and forth against the legs of the chair. “You ready to tell me, I saved your life. For all you know if I hadn't come along you would be dead by now. I think you own me an explanation.” Mark give in and told Ruby all about what had happened to him. She was utterly stunned, all she could say was. “You’re pulling my leg right?” She opened her eyes for a brief second. “I think I believe you though, after seeing all this and what I heard on the radio, your just one more of them miracles. Mark asked Ruby to feel his arm for a pules just make sure he was not imagining it. She placed her fingers onto marks wrist. Mark watched her face go into complete bafflement. She quickly removed her hand from Marks wrist and yell out “Your right you have no bloody pulse, how can that be?!”

The lady at the desk said. “Mark Fallen the Doctor will see you now.”      

The Day Death Went Away Chapter 4 Crowds

                                                

The outside of the hospital was an absolute chaos of people standing outside the front doors. Mark looked out the window of the car watching these people who were holding microphones and cameras.  He watched as they pounced on the first person to walk out them sliding doors. Bright flashes from the cameras were going off. They were like fireworks. The person walked out the sliding doors and the crowed of people gathering around.  Mark could not see what the person looked like. Mark turn around to face Ruby who was also looking at the crowed. “This could be a problem.” She said to Mark. Mark thought she was right. After all he did not like crowed's ever sense he was little. Crowed's have always felt like the walls closing in on him.

“They are just looking for more stories. One look at you and they'll be all over us. But I think you need to get checked out and this is the closes hospital around.” He knew Ruby was right but he just could not bear the thought of going through the crowed. “Ones we are inside they can’t follow, that’s why they’re waiting outside. We should just make a run through them.” Ruby and Mark opened the car doors and step out. 

“Can’t you just take me back to my home?”  He pleaded to Ruby.

“You could kick the bucket at any minute! I don’t want you to drop dead in my car, then have it be on my conscious! On the count of three we are goanna make a run for the doors. Grab hold of my hand.” She said. Mark hated body contact but he took hold of her hand nevertheless. 

“Three. Two, one.,"

 within seconds his arm felt like it was being pull out of its socket. They ran across the car park through the pack of people. It was so fast the flood of people just blurred by as they barged their way through. 

Mark was shocked when he made his was inside. Hundreds of people squashed into a tiny white room. Mark looked around at some of the people. He was stunned to see the conditions they were in. some looking worse than him. Ruby walked in the room in utter dismay her mouth drop open.

 “No wonder there were so many news reports outside. Just what the hell is going on?”     

The Day Death Went Away Chapter 3 Miracles

 As Mark looked out the window in the car he watched the trees blur by; he could see the reflection of himself. His skin colour was pasty. It was as if he never seen the light of day before.  Mark turned his head to face Ruby. Every now and then he would catch her staring at him out of her dark brown eyes. Then Ruby reached her hand out to turn on the radio. The radio host's voice came booming out. “A quick news update on what people are calling a miracle. I am standing with a man who had taken a direct shot to the head and is still breathing. Sir please tell our listeners how you’re still alive.”

“I don’t know. The doctors say I should be dead right now. No one has ever survived a direct gun shot to the head before.” the radio news men carried on speaking. Mark ears perked up when he heard the news. Mark was placing his hand on his heart where he was shot. Ruby turned to Mark and said “unbelievable there been cases like that guy popping up for the last 48 hours. People just surviving fatal accidents, I did not believe it tell I saw you. I mean look at you! You look like you could drop dead any moment but your alive and breathing, miracles appearing all over the place. Mark was thinking about what the woman was saying feeling his arm for a pules. Mark could still not feel any pulse and still could not hear any beating in his heart. “Say something kid.”

Mark found it annoying how Ruby was calling him kid, when truth be told she could not have been that much older than Mark 2 to 3 year older he thought. Then he remembered That man on the bridge that shot him, had called him kid too. Mark gave Ruby a glare. Ruby jokingly said. “Do zombies get hungry? You’re not thinking of eating my brains are you? The way you’re looking at me right now really suggests you are.” There was a hint of fear in that last bit Mark thought.  

“No! I am not a zombie!” 

“Woah their how old are you? 5.”

“No I’m 18.”

“You don’t say much do you? Well I am 21 for the record.”

 “I don’t like talking.” She stared at him she wanted to know more.

“Well I am afraid you better learn to like it because I just picked up a total stranger in a forest. I want to know how the hell you ended up in such a state. You own me for frightening me half to death.” Mark said nothing. He just carried on staring at Ruby and thinking about what she had said about miracles.  Ruby looks back at Mark. “We almost there now at great falls hospital."  

The Day Death went away Chapter 2 Dead?

Mark shot open his eyes only to find himself looking up at a clear blue sky. Mark sat up with easy, looking around him he found himself on the bank of the river that washed him away. Mark look down at himself he was still in the black coat and his shirt. Mark saw the hole were he had been shot and took off his shirt. Mark could not believe he was looking at the gunshot wound. It was still there but the pain had gone. There was no more blood coming out the wound. Just dry blood sticking to the hairs on his chest. He could not believe it. Looking around himself he saw hundreds of soaring tree reaching out as If they were touching the sky. Mark followed the river hoping it would lead him back to his town. He was completely lost not sure where he was or where he was going.

 As Mark walked along the river bank he noticed that he could not hear his heart beating. He placed his hand to his cheat to see if he was imagining it but there was no pule in his chest. He looked down at his hands they had turn from an olive white to a ghost white. Mark felt his wrist for a pulse. He was shocked to find there was no beat in his wrist. Mark was no doctor but he knew if a human had no pulse that would mean they are dead, yet mark was still standing. He placed his hand to his mouth he felt hot air pass out of his mouth and hit his hand.

“Help anyone if you’re out there i'm lost.” He yell around him his voice seem to bounce off the trees as he saw blue birds fly out the trees but no one answered his call. He could hear the worry in his voice, he had no idea where he was or how he could still be talking or alive for that matter. Mark carried on following the river back hopping he would stumble upon a person, or a house, or even a phone boxes. After two hours of wondering along the river bank Mark started to wonder if he really was dead. Was this what the afterlife was like?

It was not how he pictured it. There were no golden gates or fluffy clouds to sit on. No palaces in the sky with beautiful angels to greet him. No long lost family members waiting to meet him. There was just a bunch of humongous oak trees surrounding him and not a single person in sight. This made sense to Mark though. Why would there be anyone in his heaven, he had blocked the world off. It made sense that there was no one here to see him.  This must have been his idea of heaven block off by tail trees all around him and no people around to annoy him. Mark put his hands over his face; he could feel the tears rushing down his eyes. It was the first time had cried in a good while. The last time Mark shed tears was when he was younger. His sister came into his room and broke every one of his pressures video games. Looking at it now he realised  how silly a reason to be upset.

Mark yelled out “Please I don’t want this to be my heaven. I don’t want to be alone no more. Please give me a second chance.I will be better this time.”Just then Mark heard a familiar sound coming from a clearing out of trees, he followed after it. He was Running, hoping it was what he though it was. His feet rushed though the clearing of trees blowing a trail of fallen leafs in his path. He could still feel the slushing sound his black trainers were making as they still were not completely dried.

He arrived out the clearing of trees to see a road and a woman with dirt brown short hair talking away on her phone. She was inside a parked black sports car. Mark had not seen how worn for wear he was, so when the woman saw the boy appear out of the trees. Naturally her first reaction was to scream extremely loudly. So loud that it could be heard from outside of the car. Mark looked like someone who had risen from the dead. He had dirt all over his face. Cuts all along his arms, his shirt had tears and holes all over. And his jeans looked like something a homeless person would be wearing. Not to mention the dry blood all over his shirt.

Mark was waving his hands at the woman in the car as he approached her. His insane thought of being in heaven was put to rest by the sight of her, yet he still had no idea where he was. “Help me please!” He said with what strength he had left in his voice as he staggered over to the woman’s car. Luckily for Mark the woman got out of her car after the initial shock wore off. 

“Please you have to help me I need to get home to my parents. I have no idea where I am.”

The woman looked up and down at Mark before speaking. “Your one of them aren't you!?”Mark looked at the woman in confusion. “One of them?” Mark repeated back to the woman slowly. 
“I cannot believe its real it been all over the news for the last 48 hours. I thought it was some hocks. But here I am looking right at one. What did it-”Mark cut her off before she could finish and spoke over her.

“I really would like to get home to my parents. Take me back home!” He said in an impolite manner. When it came to interacting with strangers or anyone for that matter Mark was lacking. The woman thought nothing of it though “I think it would be better if we get you checked out at the hospital. Then you can go back home. What your name by the way?”

“Mark. What’s yours?”

“Ruby” she said as she let her lips part to reveal a cheesy grain.

“Well Mark hop in my car and I'll take you to the hospital to get you patched up.”

Mark just wanted to go home after all he thought it was a miracle he was alive. But the woman was offering him a lift. He had no idea how long a walk it would be to get home anyways. He jump into the car and they were off.

The day Death went away Chapter 1 Mark

Mark Fallen could not believe what he was seeing, the gun was pointed directly at him. Mark knew he had about fifteen maybe twenty seconds left to live. In that time Mark thought about how maybe he deserved this. After all he not had done much with his life up to this point. He was unemployed, he had been for some time now. He'd cut off communication with his family; he liked his own space. He liked not having to talk to other people, they just irritated him. He always hated how people would try to make conversation with him. It would always be awkward the pathetic small talk. They would say such things as. 

“How are you today Mark.”

“Great weather today don’t you think."

“What you been up to lately Mark.”

Mark would reply but he always tried to make it as short as possible. Just so he could get away from this sad attempt to try and communicate with him. Even his family would try asking the same things. Mark did not really pay them any mind. He said the odd thing here and there to them but mostly he like to spend time in his room. Mark liked it this way His room was his sanctuary away from the world. He would sit in his room playing computer games and writing story’s. He loved writing stories. All the control he had with his words he created a world that he could escape to. One much more interesting than his life. He could be an action hero, a bounty hunter in space, or even a ladies’man.This was all at the command of his hand.  

However now as Mark stood on the bridge he was none of those things. He was a scared 18 year old starring into the barrel of a gun. He wondered about the time his mother offered to sign him up for karate lessons, if he had just taken them lessons maybe he could have defended himself or disarmed the gun from this man’s shaking hands.  He could not see the man’s face, he had one of them ski marks on his face. It was not black though it was blinding cheery yellow colour. Which Mark found ironic concerning the situation he was in. 

“I can’t let you live, you have seen too much, I can’t have any loose ends, you will run and tell the police about me.” 

Mark was shaking no words were coming out of his mouth. How much longer would it be before this guy pulls the trigger? He knew Mark had seen him shot another man in cold blood then drop the body over the bridge. Mark wondered if had just walked the same way as everyone else instead of taken shortcuts would he be in this predicament.  

“Any last words mate?” He found it funny that the last words he would hear were these. No one ever bothered to call him a mate or a friend but then again he did not ever want any friends. Friends just annoyed him. Mark stood there as the rain started to fall onto his black coat. looking into the man’s eyes though two holes the man had curdle cut out the ski mask. The man’s left eye was twitching a lot.

“Well are you bloody gunna say something or not!” Mark did not speak as he heard the man pull back the safety on the gun still pointing it at his chest. His whole body was shaking he was truly scared. He wished right now more than anything that he was in one of his stories. But he knew this was not the case. For the first time in his life he had regrets he wanted to change. He knew he was never going to experience life. He wondered what it would be like to have friends, to fall in love with someone, to get to know his family more. None of it seemed to matter to Mark up till now but now they were the most important thoughts in his head. 

“I am sorry kid times up.”
The man pressed his finger on the trigger the bullet short out quicker than his eyes could see it. Mark felt a sharp stab in his chest. He heard a pop inside him the built had collided with his heart. His legs gave way as he fell on to the concrete. A pool of blood was forming all around him as it seep’s out of his chest. He could feel the blood running down his chest from within his shirt onto the bridge. Mark knew there was no chance of calling for help or even seeing this event as no one walks this way. It was rare to see more than five people walk across this bridge a week.

Marks head was tilted to the side he got a good look at the man’s shoes. They too were also a bright colour they did not match the circumstances at all. They were bright neon green shoes glowing in the rain. If this man did not want to be seen he was doing a poor job of it.

“Sorry kid it’s nothing personal you were just in the wrong place at the wrong time.” Mark could feel his body shutting down the world around him was fading his eyes were getting heavier. All the sounds around him were distant. As if he was hearing everything from across a room. The sound of a running river below the bridge was the last sound he could hear as he felt his body hit the water. The man had flung his body over the bridge just like he had done with the other body. Marks life was as good as over now he could still feel the current pulling him down the river. He shut his eyes hoping he would black out before he drowned. Would it do any good to call for help with what little energy he had left? He knew there was a hole in his heart. The blood was being mixed with the water. He could see the trail of blood following around him in the water. Mark felt the back of his head bash against a rock he was knocked unconscious, he submerge under the rushing river.