Day 12

3.

Joe, Janice, and Mr. Abbot talked all evening. Joe didn’t quite understand how their communication was working just yet. He spoke out loud, but didn’t really need to. They couldn’t read his thoughts except for the ones intended for them. It was just easier to speak out loud. It kept things much more organized in his head.

Both of the bricks had been in that wall for a long while. They had seen plenty of death in their stay. They reflected on the fact that there had not been a single mugging, murder, or any other violent crime in that alley since Mr. Abbot’s death. Well, not by human hands anyway. Things were stirring that were beyond Joe, Janice, or Mr. Abbot’s comprehension.

The evening was a long one. Joe got to know his new friends, also known as saviors. He didn’t know how he could ever repay the favor, but he would try. His debt was large, but he figured it was worth it. He was still alive, after all. Janice mentioned that they had never seen anyone make it that far.

The lights were still on, and they were still talking as the sun arose over the buildings.

“I don’t know if they can leave the alley,” said Janice.

“We didn’t have the best vantage point from that wall. Are they anywhere else in the city,” asked Joe.

“And how would we know that?”

“Good point,” said Joe.

“You do know that we could figure it out. It might take some risk, which is not my game, but it is possible,” said Mr. Abbot.

“What do we need to do,” asked Joe.

“Well, for starters, we need to find an alley way that will be dark at night,” said Mr. Abbot.

“That’s easy enough. Then what?”

“We watch them from the safety of the light. I’m not sure if we’ll have to wait for someone to walk into the alleyway, or if they move anyway,” said Mr. Abbot.

“They don’t move at all, well at least not until there is some morsel to suck on,” said Janice.

“You sure,” asked Joe.

“Positive.”

“You know, she’s right,” said Mr. Abbot.

They sat and thought of a way to observe, and possible coerce some bait into a dark alley.

“Janice, do they only take people? Or would an animal work as well? Maybe something like a rat,” said Joe.

“Hmm… If we can get a rat into the alley, we might have a shot at seeing it. What did you have in mind?”

“Cheese. There is an alley right out that window over there. Tonight we could drop some cheese, and just watch,” said Joe.

“It’s a plan. It is odd… I never sleep, but I still like my quiet time, like I’m sleeping, on occasion. Down side of nit having eyelids,” said Janice.

“I’m gonna crash then. Wake me if you need anything,” said Joe.

“Like what? Some lemonade? Goodnight.”

Joe turned off the lights and went to sleep.

4.

Night started to arrive and the veil of light started to recede. Joe was startled awake by a dream that he could no loner remember. The last slivers of day were sliding out of his apartment, so he figured it was for the best that he did wake when he did.

Janice and Mr. Abbot were awake as always. There was not much choice in that decision, just a matter of life when one is a brick. They had been placed on the windowsill before Joe had gone to bed, so they had been keeping an eye on the alley. So far very little was out of the ordinary. The only odd thing was how the shadows seemed to grow. There was always at least one part of the alley that remained shaded all day. Once the sun started disappearing, the shadows grew in an unnatural way. They followed the suns natural angle, but there was something amiss. It could have been the fact that the heart of the shadow was darker than it should have been. Or it could have been that there was a hard line like two shadows overlying each other.

As Joe managed to get the lights on, the sun took its final bow and receded for the night.

“So, anything new,” asked Joe.

“Not really. Well, why don’t you take a look for youself,” said Janice.

“Why do they look all weird? The shadows I mean,” said Joe.

“You got me. I was about to ask you the same thing,” said Janice.

“It’s because they are down there. If they are down there, that means they could be anywhere. Well, at least they could be in any alleyway. I wonder If they can leave the streets and make residence at other locales,” said Mr. Abbot.

“I don’t know if I want to find out anytime soon,” said Joe.

Joe opened the window and tossed a few cheese crumbs on the pavement below the window. The shadows didn’t change at all. After a long pause there appeared to be movement below. A rat, or cat, or some other small animal had finally decided to take up the offering. The shadows swarmed slowly and consumed the poor beast. From the windows they could only see blackness. After a few minutes the shadows thinned and they could make out the remains of the vermin being cleaned up. It was an odd thing the shadows did. It was almost like they didn’t want their presence to be known. The three wondered how far the shadows grasp could reach. Joe knew that he would be sleeping with the lights on for the foreseeable future.

Remember

1.

Remember a time when you were happy. Remember the family you used to have. Remember your old job. Remember the hobbies you loved. Remember you kids first steps. Remember their first car. Remember your wedding. Remember the dreams you will never achieve. Remember the life you used to know. Remember that you are going to die one day.

Remember when the government started recruiting for new soldiers after the massive casualties. When your son took up arms even before he know what side to believe in. When your daughter decided to join to cause and help the wounded. When you disowned both of them because it was easier to believe they were already dead than worry about that fate.

Remember when you were presented the flag of a patriot, your son, who died in the line of duty. Remember when your wife killed herself because outliving her children was a worse fate than death. Remember when you were about to jump off the ledge, but couldn’t at the last second. Remember everything that led you to this point. Led you to this decision. Led you to this place. Led you to me.

Are you ready to fulfill your destiny? Are you ready to ride the tiger and take this country, this world, back for the sake of you family. Are you ready to make sure their lives were not in vain? If you are then come with me. I can save you. I can give you meaning and purpose. I can take the pain and teach you how to use it as an asset. An ally. A weapon. I can teach you. I can show you the only path worth leading. The only life to live. The only way to die.

Imagine a world without pain. Without suffering. Without hunger. Without darkness. A perfect world is possible, you only have to believe. You have to know that it is possible, but it takes your effort and the efforts of your brothers, and sisters, to make it a reality.

I can see it in your face. I can feel it from your soul. You are a rider. You have the power to change anything. All you have to do is believe and it will be so. Focus all of the hate. Focus the anger. Focus the pain. Take back this world for your son. Take it back for your daughter. Take it back for you.

If you believe that you have what it takes, walk through the door. You will never go back to the life you had, but will become part of something bigger. A vision. An ideal. A soldier. A Rider.

Now is the time to fulfill your destiny and the destiny of so many others. Join us. Work hard. Die knowing that your life meant something.