???

So that was the initial story arc I wrote.  Thanks for reading!  Still rough I will definitely admit.  I appreciate those who read it and welcome any feedback.  I have a lot of ideas of where to go with the characters.  Many of which involving ancient monsters, robots, and tornados.  Oh and cat lovers can rest easy there will definitely be a magical cat involved ;)  I just got to write them down whenever I can find the time lol  Let me know what you think?

Oh and I hope to have some updates on my current comic book I am working on entitled The Way of the Night here within the next couple months.

Myths of Humanity - Chapter 9

Chapter 9

Present day…

After telling their story to the residents of the compound the strangers bow their heads in silence remembering that day.  The residents of the compound meanwhile look at each other in confusion and bewilderment at their story.  “What was in the portal?”, Ray finally asks.  

“It is a special dimension, a sanctuary for us.  It recharges our powers and heals us”, says Alex.  “But only we can enter it.”

“Isn’t that convenient”, says Tom.

Lakota slowly says, “So your all…?”

“I’m a fairy”, says Lindsey.

“A goddess”, says Megan.  “And not in a metaphorical way.  Apparently my soul originated in the dimension of the gods and goddesses.”

“What about you?”, Tori says to Ashley.

“No clue”, says Ashley.

Alex then adds, “Dixie said whatever Ashley and I are is best discovered over time by us but that we are twin flames so we are two halves of one soul.”

“I thought you and Megan were a couple?”, asks Bridget.

“We are”, says Megan.

“Awkward”, says Ray out of the side of his mouth to Bridget.

Kristen walks up to Alex.  “But I saw a dragon come out of you?”

“Oh yea that’s Thorox”, answers Alex.  “You want to meet him?”  Suddenly the small red dragon appears next to Alex sending gasps through the crowd.  

“Cool!”, exclaims Kristen as she begins to pet Thorox.  “So dragons are real!”

“Yup”, says Alex.  “Ashley controls the elements of air and earth which are obviously always around us.  I control the elements of water and fire.  Our bodies are mostly made of water and their is a lot of water in the air so I can bring water forth pretty easily but fire is a little more challenging so Thorox here assists with his dragon breath.”

“Well I have quite a few questions but I suppose the most necessary one is why did you come to join us?”, says Brendan.  “From what I saw you do a couple days ago I reckon you can take care of yourselves.”

“It’s probably better you get that answer from Dixie directly”, says Megan.

“You want me to speak to a dog?”, Brendan asks in disbelief.

“No stranger than what we have already seen my boy”, says Jim.  

Lindsey chimes in, “As long as you believe you can hear him.”

Brendan looks at Dixie and slowly walks over to him and squats down in front of him.  “Ok Dixie, why did you come to us?  

Brendan’s jaw drops as he hears Dixie say, “It is felt that the best way to help humanity is to find humans to bear witness to the healing.”

Brendan is taken aback by Dixie but presses on.  “What do you mean?”

Dixie continues, “To simply combat the Mologs would only treat the symptoms and stall the inevitable destruction of this planet.”

“Mologs?”, interrupts Ray. 

Brendan looks back at Ray and says, “You can hear him too?  Ray and Bridget both nod.

Dixie answers Ray’s question.  “The race that brought about the zombies as you call them.  They are simply here because it is fertile ground for them.  They will try to keep it that way since that is there role in this universe.  We in turn will try to fight and reverse what has happened but we need good hearted humans to work with us so the old ways of fear can be vanquished for good.”

“And we are the good hearted humans?”, asks Jim.

“But we casted you out?”, says Brendan.

Ashley speaks up, “Others tried to do a lot worse to us than send us on our way with a couple knives and dried fruit.  They ended up being too far gone and not surviving our healing medicine.  Just like your friend Bill.”

Brendan nods and looks off in thought as others gathered begin to whisper.

Dixie continues speaking, “The only way to truly get rid of this infestation and set things right is to have the champions that were incarnated in human form work with human allies.  By doing so the hope is that the bridges which were once lost all those centuries ago will be rebuilt.  But there is always free choice so you can always refuse and we will find others.”

“The Mologs are after us.  As soon as we leave you’ll go back to the zombie encounters you are used to dealing with”, adds Megan.  

“It’s a lot I know.  We don’t have a choice but you do.  There is no shame in walking away believe me.  We would all understand”, says Alex.

Brendan looks deep in thought.  He turns to the others of the compound.  Tori, Tom, Ray, Bridget and Jim nod.  Brendan then stands up and walks over to Ashley.  “I don’t know if I am ready to accept a talking dog let alone fairies, dragons, goddesses and whatever else you got going on here.  But I do know I felt the life return to my body when you touched me.  That will stay with me for the remainder of my days here.  So if you really are here to bring good to this world…well then I and the rest of us here stand by you.”  With that Brendan extends his hand.  Ashley looks down at it and then looks back up at Brendan.  She takes his hand and shakes it as the sun begins to set behind them.

Myths of Humanity- Chapter 8

Chapter 8

Alex pulls his car up to the hospital with Lindsey and Dixie in tow.  Alex turns to Lindsey and asks, “Still couldn’t get through to her phone?” 

Lindsey hands Alex back his phone, “No, sorry.”

Alex sighs, “Ok you two stay here.  Megan may respond to this better if it’s just me and her.”

“Very well but please move quickly.  We will guard the car”, says Dixie.

“Uh…thanks”, says Alex as he gets out.  

“What are you going to say to her?”, asks Lindsey.

“Not sure yet.  I heard it from a talking dog and I am still not sure I believe it.”

Alex walks through the hospital corridors.  Cops and EMTs are everywhere.  People are running back and forth.  Stretchers are being wheeled past in a frenzy.  Alex spies Megan and rushes over to her calling out for her.  Megan turns amid the hysteria and cries, “Honey!  What are you doing here?!  Is everything alright?”

“No, not really I need to talk to you privately.”

“Baby can’t you see I am in a crisis over here!  People need my help!  It will have to wait.”

As Megan turns to go back to what she was doing Alex reaches out and grabs her arm.  “No, it really can’t.”  

Megan sees the seriousness in Alex’s eyes and concedes.  They duck into a janitor closest.  “Ok what is it that is so important?”

“Lindsey came to our apartment with a dog and it teleported and phased through walls and then started talking to me.”

Megan does not look pleased.  “You took me away from saving lives to try out one of your book ideas!  I gotta go.”  Megan starts to leave.

Alex stops her, “I am serious.  It really happened.”

“Then you’re delusional and need to be in one of these beds”, Megan snaps.  She feels Alex’s forehead.  “You don’t feel like you have a fever so hopefully that means your not turning into one of…well…zombies is what everyone is calling them.”

“That’s just it.  They are not zombies.  They are an alien race that feeds off emotions like fear and anger and hate and loneliness.  It’s like food to them.”

“You can’t feed off of emotions.”

“The dog said it’s energy just a different type than what we are used to thinking of as food.  He said they lay their eggs inside of other living organisms who have a lot of those emotions and they hatch and feed off that energy and they literally take control of the person they are inside of and feed until they are mature enough and then they emerge from the person as an adult.”

Megan stares at Alex, “Well aside from the emotions as food part, I have heard of certain insects that can do something like that.  But usually just to other insects or maybe small mammals.”

“He said these are intergalactic insects that can do it to humans.”

“The dog told you this?”, says Megan raising an eyebrow trying to process.

Alex nods, “He says he is an alien too.  Part of a different race though.  He said he was born a dog as part of a rescue mission.  He said humans cut themselves off and left themselves open to an infestation of these creatures.  He is here to help you, me and Lindsey save humanity and this planet and reconnect it to the nexus of life.”

“Ok you almost had me half considering it for a moment till the saving humanity part.  This isn’t one of your book ideas this is real life so start taking it seriously.  Now if you will excuse me I have real people who need my help.”

“He said the only way to truly help them is to come with him.  Otherwise everyone on this planet will be lost.  Please it’s real.”

Megan stares into Alex’s pleading eyes.

Megan and Alex are walking up to the car when Dixie phases through the car door.  Megan stops dead completely in shock.  

Alex says, “See told you.  He can talk to you himself.  You just got to believe.”

Dixie walks up to Megan, “Hello Megan I take it Alex explained the situation to you.”

“How…”, says Megan.

Dixie continues, “I am sure you have many questions but time is of the essence and we still need to pick up the last member of the team so I can answer any of your questions as we drive.”

“Alright let’s go”, says Alex as he gently leads Megan into the car.

“What…where?”, says Megan.

“Uh I guess to Ashley’s office”, says Alex.

“Ashley who?”, says Megan.

“This girl…I mean woman I grew up”, says Alex.

“How do you know where she works?”, asks Megan.

“I ran into her a couple weeks ago and she told me where she worked”, says Alex.

“Are you having an affair with her?”, cries Megan.

“No!”, yells Alex.  “I mean full disclosure I did sleep with her once but that was like almost an entire month before I met you.”

“Oh so you just happened to run into a women you slept with right before dating me and now we suddenly have to find her!”

Dixie chimes in, “There are no coincidences in life.  Ashley and Alex are twin flames.  Two halves of one soul.  They will always find each other when they need to.”

Megan looks between Dixie and Alex in displeasure.  Alex uncomfortably says, “He’s a dog what does he know.”

Alex, Megan, Lindsey and Dixie pull up to an office building and get out of the car.  “Sooooooo”, says Lindsey, “we just walk up to her desk and tell her intergalactic parasites that feed off fear have infested human kind and you need to come with us because a talking dog says so.”

“Sounds about right”, says Alex.  

Megan sighs, “I’ve never met this woman but I don’t see this going well.”

Suddenly the group spot half a dozen zombies running towards their car.  

“Quickly inside”, shouts Dixie.  They all run inside the office building and quickly barricade the door before the zombies can reach them.  But more show up and try to break through the glass.  

“Shit they are swarming!”, says Alex.

“Well according to Dixie, they are apparently insects”, says Megan.

“They will overrun the building soon”, says Dixie, “We must find Ashley and get out of here.”

“Ok ok third floor let’s go”, says Alex looking at the directory and heading off, “Fuck for crying out loud if this was some well orchestrated plan why didn’t you find us sooner?”

“We felt it was best for you to witness this for yourselves in human form”, says Dixie.

“Swell”, says Megan.

The group emerges onto a cubicle farm.  Alex frantically looks around as people are huddled around computers or trying to call people on their phones.  

Someone then cries, “Fuck, the land lines just went dead.”  

Alex turns to who said that and sees Ashley at her desk looking concerned.  “Ashley!”, he cries out and runs over to her with the others following.

“Alex!?!”, says Ashley shocked to see him.  “What the hell are you doing at my office!?”

“It’s a long bizarre story”, says Alex.

“I’m Megan his girlfriend.”

Lindsey shakes Ashley’s hand, “Hi, I’m Lindsey.”

“Uh hi.  Why are you all here?”

“Good question so um….let’s see….”, says Alex. 

“No time we need to get to the roof now!”, interrupts Dixie.

“We need to get to the roof.  Can you take us there?”, Alex says to Ashley.

“Why?”, asks Ashley confused and suspicious.

“Hurry”, says Dixie, “They will overrun the building any minute now.”

Alex suddenly turns to Dixie.  “What?!  Haven’t you ever seen a zombie movie.  You get stranded on roofs!”

“Um why are you talking to a dog?”, Ashley asks.

“Trust me”, says Dixie.

Alex turns back to Ashley.  “Look I know this all seems crazy and I am saying crazy fully aware that a zombie apocalypse is happening right now but it is very important we get to the roof immediately then we can explain.  For old times sake humor me, please.”

The group emerges onto the roof of the building.  “Ok we are on the roof.  Now can I get some answers?”, says Ashley.

Alex barricades the door behind them and turns to Ashley.  “Ok let’s see…how do I begin.” Before anyone can say anything else an explosion is heard.  Everyone runs to the side of the building where it came from and sees the building across the street on fire.  Zombies are climbing the building and pouring in through the windows.  

“Holy shit we are all going to die!”, yells Ashley.  She turns to run back down the stairs but stops frozen in shock and disbelief.  Alex turns around and exclaims, “What the fuck!”  The two other women also turn to see what Ashley and Alex are looking at.  They see Dixie standing beside what looks like a portal with bluish light coming from it.  

“What…what is that thing?”, asks Megan.

“Hurry we all need to get through this portal where we will be safe”, answers Dixie.

“I thought you said we are supposed to help people”, says Megan.

“Who the fuck are you talking to?  What the hell is going on here?”, asks Ashley.

“Well you see apparently this dog is really an alien and these zombies are part of another alien race consuming humanity because we are a lonely fearful people.  But the dog says all of us here are part of some inter-dimensional team assembled to save humanity and now he wants us to go through this portal where we will be safe”, says Alex.

“Are you shitting me!  That’s the craziest thing I have ever heard.  I thought you said you were a reporter, not a science fiction writer”, exclaims Ashley.

“It’s all true”, Lindsey says.  Just then a crash is heard and the building shakes.  They all run over to the edge again and see a car crashed into their office building now.  Zombies are crawling through the hole it made.  

“Fuck!”, yells Ashley.  She then turns to Alex.  “So your telling me I either get torn to shreds by these zombies or walk through some inter-dimensional portal with you three and a talking dog from outer space.”

“Something like that”, Alex says.  

Ashley sighs, “I can’t believe I am about to say this but mystery portal beats being eaten alive.”  She then turns and walks up to the portal.  She looks at Dixie and then takes a deep breath and goes through the portal.

“But what about all these people dying?!  What about our friends and families?!”, exclaims Megan starting to tear up.

“I am sorry but there is nothing you can do for them right now.  You have to see the bigger picture.  This has to happen so things can heal”, says Dixie.

“But..”, says Megan as Alex puts his arms around her to try and console her.

Dixie continues, “You have to be strong enough so you can make the right differences and the only way to do that is to go through this portal with me.  Otherwise you will be swallowed up in what is coming and won’t be able to help anyone.”

Lindsey looks down at the chaos below them.  She wipes the tears from her eyes and walks through the portal.  

“He right”, says Alex.  “It’s a war zone down there.  It’s not turning your back if we are in a better position to help by doing this.”

“But what about everyone we care about?  There must be something we can do”, says Megan.

“If he’s right there is but we gotta trust him.  Otherwise we will die on this roof and not be a help to anyone”, says Alex.

“You have to let go and allow change to happen”, says Dixie.

Megan looks Alex in the eyes and nods her head.  She pulls away from his embrace and grabs his hand tightly.  Together the two of them walk through the portal.  Dixie then jumps in after them and the portal closes behind him.  Seconds after the portal closes a jet plane crashes to the ground a few yards away.

Myths of Humanity- Chapter 7

Chapter 7

The next morning she wonders if it was a dream but later that evening when she is at work and sees Dixie he asks her, “How are you doing?”

‘So it wasn’t a dream’, she thinks.  “Well it’s a good thing I live alone otherwise someone would have taken me to the ER the way I looked last night.  It took music and alcohol to go to sleep”, she whispers so her co-workers don’t hear her.

“You don’t have to speak the words you can just think them but we can practice that at a future time.  It is understandable after last night to be disoriented and shaken but it’s all going to be ok trust me.”

“You keep saying that but I am scared.”

“We will make things right.”

Lindsey shakes her head, “I don’t have a clue what you are talking about but I guess after what I saw and heard last night I have no choice but to trust you.”

Over the next couple days Lindsey is distracted.  Her mind reeling as it tries to process everything Dixie said to her.  Every time she sees Dixie over the next week he tries saying calming and encouraging things but she feels so alone and in despair.  How could she possible explain this to anyone.  It is eating her up.  

One day while she is working she notices a bunch of her co-workers clustered around the computer and intensely looking back and forth between the monitor and their phones.  She is so curious about the odd behavior it forces all her thoughts about Dixie out of her head.  She walks over to inquire about what is going on when she sees the words ‘President expected to declare national emergency’ on the screen.  “What’s going on?”, asks Lindsey alarmed.

“I don’t know what the fuck it is”, says one of her co-workers concerned.

Another says, “All those rumors and stories of zombie attacks can’t be true!”

“God you don’t think this is really a zombie apocalypse do you?”, says still another.

“My friend just said they have video of people climbing up the white house and not dying when they shoot them”, says the one co-worker.

“Shit at least your getting messages.  My phone is jammed”, says one of the co-workers.

“Mine too”, says another.

Lindsey runs to her purse and checks her phone.  Voicemails and text messages are exploding on it.  She tries listening and reading some.  They all seem to be about chaos and zombie attacks.  ‘How could a real life zombie apocalypse really be happening’, races through her mind.  Suddenly she remembers Dixie and what he told her.  “It can’t be”, she mutters out loud.  She runs to his cage and blurts out, “Dixie there are zombies overrunning the country.”

Dixie barks and then says, “This is the event.  We need to get to your car and find the others immediately.”

“What others?”

Dixie teleports out of his cage and starts heading for the door, “The three others who volunteered for the mission.  Hurry there isn’t much time if they have made themselves known!”

“But what about the animals and people here isn’t there something we can do to help them.  And what about my family and friends.  I mean you’re an alien and I am a fairy right?”

Dixie walks over and licks Lindsey’s hand, “I know it is in your nature to help others but the only way to truly help them is to find the other three.”

Lindsey thinks for a moment and then says, “Ok.”  She opens the door and her and Dixie begin to head out of the building.  

A co-worker sees them and says, “Where are you going?”

“I am taking Dixie home with me”, says Lindsey not sure what else to say.

“That’s a good idea”, chimes in another co-worker.  “We should all take an animal home with us until this blows over.”

Still another co-worker looking at her phone says, “It might not blow over.  My husband got a text through.  It’s happening in Europe too look at this video.”  All the co-workers huddle around the phone to look at the video.  While they are glued to the video Lindsey and Dixie quietly exit the building.  

Once in the car Lindsey asks, “So how do we find the other three?”

“Two of them are your neighbors Alex and Megan.  One of them at least should hopefully be home if all is going according to plan.  Let’s try there first.”

“Whoa”, says Lindsey, “How do you know who they are?”

“The same way I knew who you were.  I was told.  This was all arranged beforehand and is being monitored.  I’ll explain later just trust me and drive quickly, please.”  Lindsey bites her lip and speeds off unsure what she is doing.

As she is driving she sees people all around her running and driving in a panic.  Everyone is going crazy being chased by others who seem inhuman.  Some people are aggressively fighting or trying to hit the zombies with their cars.  It doesn’t seem to be doing much good since the zombies seem to just shake it off and keep coming.  Lindsey screams as a man tries to break into her car.  Dixie says, “Go!  Now!  Ignore traffic laws!”  Lindsey speeds away from the man and blows through an intersection narrowly missing other cars and getting scraped.  In front of her she sees several zombies running towards her.  They look ravenous and have wild looking eyes.  

“I can’t avoid them”, cries Lindsey.  

“Then just hit them.  It’s ok”, says Dixie.  “Forget everything you think you see and have faith in me when I tell you that the one true way to help these people is to get to the others.”

Lindsey closes her eyes and steps on the gas as the car runs over the zombies.  Blood is on the car from the zombies and when Lindsey open’s her eyes and sees it she screams and then begins to cry.  “It’s ok”, says Dixie trying to soothe her.  “You are doing great.”

Alex is eating Chinese food watching the news in his apartment when he hears a knock on the door.  He leaves the TV and walks to the door and looks through the peephole and sees Lindsey and Dixie standing at the door.  Alex undoes the lock and let’s them in.  “Lindsey what are you doing here?  What’s wrong?  Nice dog I thought they didn’t allow pets here though.”  Lindsey bursts into tears.  Alex tries awkwardly consoling her.  “Oh I’m sorry.  Look it’s going to all be ok.  I’ve seen a lot of fucked up things but it always seems worse at first and then people figure things out and it gets better.”  Lindsey continues crying.  “My bosses are going to call any minute to tell me where they want me to go to cover it but did you want me to make some tea?”  Lindsey nods her head.  “Ok.”  Alex heads to the kitchen to start the tea.  “I don’t know where this sprang up from.  It was just internet rumors and then all of sudden this.  I was sitting here blogging and working on this piece about the refugee crisis for my meeting with my editor this afternoon when Megan called me, Ow!”  Alex turns downward and sees Dixie who had nipped him on the leg.  “I think your dog needs training.  It’s ok though don’t worry about it he didn’t break skin”, says Alex examining his leg.  Alex then kneels down to let Dixie sniff him and try petting him.  “What’s the matter buddy?  You want some tea too or are you just scared with everything going on?”  Dixie then turns and walks right through the wall in the kitchen.  Alex cries out in shock and falls against the wall as he springs back in surprise.  “What the fuck!”  Dixie then suddenly appears right next to Alex.  Alex screams and runs out of the kitchen, “Holy shit!  It’s a ghost dog!”

“Alien actually”, Lindsey manages to force out between sobs.  

“What!?!”

Lindsey tries to compose herself, “That’s what I came here to tell you he was a boarder at work and he did that to me and then he told me he is an alien and we are part of some important mission.”

“He spoke to you?!”

Lindsey nods, “He says he can speak to you too you just have to believe it.”

“I’m dreaming right.  This is all a bad dream, that makes sense.  Oh wait or maybe those Chinese leftovers went bad.”  Alex thinks for a moment, “No I’m going with the bad dream.”  Suddenly Dixie teleports on top of the table before their eyes and barks.  Alex screams again.  Then he slowly approaches Dixie touching him.

“I thought it was a dream too but it’s not.  I have been living this for the last week almost”, says Lindsey.  Dixie licks Alex’s face.  “He says he has the answers for why you always felt different.”

Alex freezes and after a long moment quietly says, “I never told anyone that.  Not even Megan.”

Suddenly Alex hears in his head a male voice say, “But she always knew didn’t she?  Her and the other one that is.”  Alex’s eyes grow wide. “Can you hear me now?”, says Dixie.

“A …a talking dog”, stutters Alex.

“Good.  Now let’s hurry we have to get the other two”, says Dixie.

“What…what other two”, stammers Alex.

“Your girlfriend Megan and your twin flame Ashley”, answers Dixie.

“Ashley…Ashley who?  I know a few Ashley’s”, says Alex.

Dixie hops down off the table and heads towards the door, “You know which one I am talking about and you know where to find them both don’t you?”, says Dixie.

“How did you…?”, says Alex.

Dixie answers, “I’ll explain in the car let’s go.”

Alex looks at Lindsey who shrugs her shoulders and wipes her eyes.