The Cursed

by Darkside
June 2002

 

Curse +923 Days 09:23 PST Matthew's story - Creation Redux

 

I was sitting with Carolyn working thru my latest report. "What do you think of this," I said, "Three days in which the entire world has been thrown into disarray and anarchy. The terrorist group that carried out the attack a few days ago, has as yet made no demands, no statement and has left a world cowering in fear, grief and pain. It seems to me, that humanity has suffered a deep penetrating body blow and this combined with the resurgence of the plague means to some, that the extinction of the human race is only a matter of time.

The economy is destroyed, the losses incalculable; the numbers of dead and homeless beyond comprehension. As the world looks towards its leaders for answers, it finds that they have none. The rescue and recovery exercise was and is an impossible task. No single nation on earth has the ability and resources to cope.

While the world suffers in the middle of the darkest time it has ever known, a small glimmer of light has emerged. Apollyon did more than destroy thousands of square miles of land, millions of lives and centuries of history. It galvanized an entire planet into action, a unity of purpose never seen before and a humanitarian relief aid program unparalleled in history. Maybe it is in this darkness, that we finally discover if humanity is worthy of survival or destined to die out in darkness and despair. One thing is for certain, only a miracle can pull us away from the abyss that we as a nation and as a species are standing on the edge of."

"Not bad," Carolyn said, "Maybe a little melodramatic, but nobody would doubt what you said."

Pat, dashing into the room, interrupted the conversation. No matter how hard he had tried, Pat still walked in the most unladylike fashion. "Turn...," Pat was gasping for breath, "the," deep breath, "TV On!" He flopped down on a spare chair, just in view of the TV. Put a brown parcel he had been carrying down on the floor, and gestured to me hurry up and turn the TV on.

"What's going on," I asked. What in hell next?

Pat struggled to speak, but then managed to flip on the small portable TV I'd managed to acquire.

"The scenes where Apollyon hit are, to be frankly quite incredible. An hour ago a golden white light streaked across the sky and started to cover a fifty mile stretch of the devastated landscape."

"What the FUCK is that?" I said. A wall of white light seemed to come up from the ground and straight up into the sky. It shimmered and sparkled with a fierce blue tinge, as if on fire.

The reporter went on, "The pictures you are seeing are a live feed from just outside the barrier that was erected as soon as the light hit the affected area. So far all attempts to penetrate the barrier have failed. The president has redirected several divisions of the National Guard, army and airforce to this location."

"This has to be related to Apollyon," Pat said in awe.

"Has to be, " I whispered.

We all sat and watched the coverage for nearly two hours. Every possibility was discussed from Aliens to a secret government black program. In short nobody knew a damn thing and I didn't envy the reporters on site one little bit. Having to fill in and try and keep things interesting when nothing interesting is going on, was every newscasters nightmare. Still, I'd have given my eye teeth to be there!

"Look the fuck at that!" Carolyn exclaimed. A small gap had appeared in the barrier, and thru the brilliant white light a figure could be seen standing, as if in a doorway. The camera wobbled and tried to focus in on the figure. I heard the reporter whisper, "Jesus H Christ!"

The figure stepped out of the gap, and I couldn't help but gasp in astonishment. It was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen. It was shaped like a man, but was surrounded by a blinding white light. So bright was the light I couldn't make out its features, but something inside me wanted to worship it. It was like my Gea, but only stronger. Whatever, or whoever it was clearly not of this world.

The figure was still several hundred yards away but the light was so intense it was causing the cameras to overexpose. The figure closed to within a hundred yards of the waiting media and still I couldn't make out its facial features. Then it spoke, its voice like running water, and the most incredibly beautiful voice I had ever heard. "I have seen your pain, felt your fears and now, in your hour of greatest need I have come to offer what little help I can."

It's dulcet almost female tones sounded sincere, full of sadness and grief for the loss of life. "Many of you are watching on Television are full of fear and apprehension, that is more than understandable. It's a very human reaction. Let me set your minds at rest by telling you who I am and why I am here."

"Now what!" Pat exclaimed, his eyes, like the rest of us were riveted to the screen.

"Shh!" Carolyn hissed, "It's talking!"

"My name is unpronounceable in your language, but you can simply call me 'Lucy'." There was a blinding flash, that blotted out all the cameras for a few seconds. When they recovered a tall woman with a long mane of Dark black hair, that tumbled down her shoulders. She was wearing a smart, white business suit. I guess she/it had gone for the most acceptable image for the world to see. Realization dawned over me, I'd seen this woman before, "It's HER!" I exclaimed.

"Who?" The camp directors assistant! I've seen her a couple of times when I've been in videoconference with him. What the hell is going on?"

'Lucy' gave a smile, flashing a perfect set of white teeth, "Some of you will recognize me as the late director's assistant. You are correct. I am that Lucy."

"I knew it," I said with an air of triumph.

"At least she's not hiding it," Pat commented.

Lucy continued to speak, her voice showing compassion with every syllable. "I come from a world, which like yours was devastated by the plague. Instead of changing people, it killed them in the most horrific way possible. We had no idea where it came from, only that one day people, my people starting dying in the millions. Our best scientists tried for years to find a cure; they failed. The plague adapted to our genetic structure so completely it was impossible to tell who it had infected and who it had not. One day you would be alive and healthy, the next you would die. The plague is decimating our planet and its colonies. I was on a deep space exploration mission to a nearby solar system when it struck my world."

"This is something out of a sci-fi novel," Carolyn said, still disbelieving.

Lucy was still speaking, explaining her story. "I turned around to go home, to try and help but was told to stay away. It was then thru your television signals I heard of what was going on here. I spoke long and hard to my government and scientists and was given a new mission. To come here, and find out if your plague and our plague were related. To assist you in whatever way I could, without revealing myself to you. In helping you, maybe we could help ourselves."

"Bet she bought it with her," Pat said cynically.

"I managed to get a job as the late Plague bureau director's assistant. From that position I could monitor and help those afflicted as well as pass back any information your scientists found to my own world. My oath of non interference in your society stopped me doing more."

'Lucy' paused for a few moments, and then continued. "The events of the last few days changed all that. After I saw the devastation caused by the Mega-Tsunami, you called Apollyon I could stand by no longer. I had to act! I had to come to aid of the people that had sheltered me and had given me a home!"

"This is my gift to you," Lucy gestured to the golden yellow barrier, still sparking with unknown energy, " as a demonstration of my technology and willingness to work alongside you to cure the plague that afflicts both our worlds."

Slowly, the barrier became translucent, almost like glass de-misting under a heater on a cold day. Then, without warning it just vanished, "My God!" I heard myself say, almost instinctively.

Behind the barrier, where just a few hours ago was ruined, devastated land was what I can only describe as paradise. Tall trees grew where once was salt ruined land. Around the trees lay grassy meadows, filled with flowers of all colors and varieties. It was like an untouched world. Free from the effects of man and his pollution. This scene, almost from the garden of Eden stretched into the distance as far as I could see. Incredible!

Lucy explained to a staggered world, "I have used our advanced terraforming technology to reclaim and re-engineer the existing land and plants to not only rid the land of the effects of Apollyon but to create an ideal environment in which to repopulate."

"How in hell did it do that! That entire area was wasted," I heard Pat exclaim.

"Which brings me onto my proposition to the governments of the world. We can help each other. Give me the land ruined by Apollyon and I will continue the terraform process on the rest of it, but in return I want you to send me all the plague victims you can find. I'll give them a safe place to live, a place they can call home, a place away from prejudice, hate and fear. If they agree I will analyze their genetic makeup and send it back to my homeworld so that it can used in our fight against the plague. If we work together we can beat this!"

"Sign me up," Carolyn stated. I must admit I felt the same way. This was IT, the way out. A homeland of our own! At long last mankind had a glimmer of hope. This was the miracle an entire planet had been praying for! The camps could close, and we, the forgotten and outcast would have a place of our own. Who knew what technology Lucy could share with us? Who knew what wonders she could bring? Maybe even a full cure! Nothing seemed impossible now! Lucy had acted just in the nick of time. Now, at last we could start to rebuild, finally the answers to all our hopes had come.

I looked around the room. I could see from the look on Pat and Carolyn's face they were feeling exactly the same as me. Inside our very being I felt hope surge thru me. It was even stronger than my Gea, stronger than hunger. We had to go with Lucy! Our, the cursed generations destiny was to help Lucy and in return help ourselves. Lucy had started speaking and suddenly my thoughts were wrenched back to reality.

"Not only will those afflicted be safe and sound, you the governments of this world will no longer have to provide for them, no longer have to man camps or prisons to keep them away from society. They will leave here, with me and have free access to everything they will ever need. We can't wait any longer, we have so little time left to us! Let me know tomorrow at noon time. I must stress the time pressure on both our worlds, if we delay too long then both our species are doomed." with that 'Lucy' just vanished into thin air.

"Well you don't see that every day," Pat joked.

"What's in the parcel?" I asked Pat. Now that things had calmed down a little my attention turned to the package he had been carrying when he first ran in.

"Dunno, its for you," Pat said, picked it up from the floor and gently tossed it to me.

I studied the postal mark, "It's from Washington," I opened it, using as little

force as I needed to rip it open. I reached inside and pulled out a small

Dictaphone. It still had a tape inside! Written on the label, in spidery

handwriting was a note, "Play this! From your friend, Director"

"Who's it from?" Carolyn asked.

I replied. "The Director, he must have posted the day he shot himself. I wonder what's on it?" Whatever he wanted me to hear, would have to be important.

"Pat. Can you look in the second drawer down in my filing cabinet, and get my dictaphone out will you. Get me a spare tape too. I'll make a copy as I listen to it."

"Sure," Pat said. I'd been caught out like this before. First thing you do when you receive some impossible to replace evidence is to make a copy.

After the tape finished playing we sat back stunned, our hopes dashed and despair swept thru my heart. The promised miracle was a sham, a nightmare of an unimaginable order. The feelings of being on the verge of dawn, after the long dark night we had endured were dashed. It was still midnight, and if what was on the tape was true, mankind was in very, very deep shit indeed!

 

 

Curse +923 Days 14:00 PST Matthew's story - Lucy Apocalypse

 

After being on hold for four solid hours, and pulling in every favor I was ever owed by anyone in history I finally got put thru to Jake Wilson, senior security advisor to the president. "Send the tape in Matthew, We'll take a look at it and let you know."

After four hours I expected, no demanded better than this, "Look Jake, don't give me that old line. This is probably the most important testimony in history. The president needs to hear it, NOW!" I tried to keep my temper but my self control was failing.

Jake tried to calm me down, "I said, send it in and we'll listen to it. It's not bullshit, Matthew. We're just a little busy right now!"

"I'll send it to CNN, ABC, Sky news; hell anyone who'll have it, before you get chance to listen to it. Then you can sort the mess out after the world knows about it," I threatened. My journalistic genes wanted to do this from the start, but I felt honor bound to give the government time to prepare first.

"Fine, with me," There was a click as Jake put the phone down. 'Lucy' had managed to throw the whole government in disarray. I knew that. I could just imagine the scenes in the oval office right now. The military hawks would want to take her out, the scientists would want to make first contact and the whole administration would be pulled from all sides. If the plague was supposed to be the story of the century, this was literally the story of history. The government didn't have time to get to grips with what they have now, let alone what I was about to reveal. Therefore there was only one thing for it. Go it alone.

I punched the quickdial number for the CNN newsdesk. It would take me directly thru to an editor. The phone was picked up within three rings, "This is Matthew Robinson of CNN. I need to speak to Andrew Collins right now! Tell him.. "

"Please hold."

"Ok," this better not take too long. When in a hurry, go right to the top.

Andrew Collins was in CNN terms, god almighty.

The voice came back on, "I'm sorry but Mr Collins is in a meeting right now, he can take your call on Wednesday at 11am."

"There won't BE a Wednesday unless he listens to me, " I snapped. Give him a message for me.

"Whats the message?" The voice asked wearily.

"Just one word. Extinction."

"Is that it?" The voice replied.

"Yes, I'll hold and wait for his reply," Every journalist was given a number of codewords that could be used to cut thru red tape and get right to the top. They were only to be used for news items that were of the paramount global importance, for news items that could prevent a major global catastrophe. If misused then the journalists career was over. I didn't care. My thoughts were interrupted by a mans voice, I assumed to be Andrew Collins, "This better be worth it," his husky Texan accent growled.

"It is sir. It's about Lucy. I know what she's really up to, and its not helping us."

"Do you have proof of this? Everywhere in the world is rejoicing at the news, hell everyone is ready to sign up here and now. The proof better be titanium plated?" The stern question was almost shouted at me.

"Yes sir I do. The day he died, the director for the camps recorded a confession and the truth about Lucy. He recorded it on tape and sent a copy to me."

"Hmm, and this isn't just the ramblings of a man under stress, he did commit suicide after all?"

I summoned up my most persuasive voice, "No sir, he gives explicit detail only he would know. Sir, if you have thirty minutes to spare you need to hear the tape. If you want to fire me, that's fine. But if I'm right then the world has to know, before its too late. I didn't exaggerate in using the extinction codeword. We have so little time, listen to the tape please," I almost begged him!

"Ok, get I'll get someone to get it," was the reply.

"No , I'm in a plague camp. There's no time. I'll play it to you down the phone. It won't be top quality but you'll be able to hear it."

"Ok,"

I clenched my first, yes! I grabbed the player and put the phone on top of the speaker, and pressed play.

The news didn't get any better on the second time of hearing it. Carolyn, and Pat came in a couple of times, but I waved them away. Andrew needed to hear this in its entirety and without distraction.

After the tape had finished, I picked up the phone and asked "Sir?"

Andrew was clearly shaken to the core "I, I don't believe it. How could we have been so blinded? What do you want?"

"When the president does his broadcast I want you to cut to me instead. I will play the tape live on air, and add what I have learned. It'll be a full expos‚ on the whole thing."

"I can't just cut out a presidential broadcast, what about the other networks?"

Andrew replied. It was a big ask!

"If the president gives permission for Lucy to do what she wants then that's it we're fucked. There'd be no stopping her! I've tried to get thru to the White House but they don't believe me. I'd like you to try and persuade the president not to speak. Give the air time to me. If he won't listen to me, maybe he will listen to the CEO of the world's largest news organization! Pull in every favor you owe. You must know how important this is!"

There was a sigh on the phone, followed by several seconds silence "Ok, we'll do it. Make a copy of the tape ready and give it to the front gate of the camp. I'll send a chopper over to pick it up and drop it off at the closest news station, we'll then encode it from the tape and download a copy via the net. You realize that Lucy will come after you the moment this appears on screen."

I took a deep breath, "I'm counting on it!"

There was a moment silence on the other end of the phone, "You're a braver man than I."

"Thank you sir! Oh and one last request if everything is set with the president and everything, I want the 4pm news headlines to be about the weather. I'll set my camera up to the satellite feed and wait for you to call."

"Good luck and god speed Matthew," was the sad reply. He knew I'd just signed up to a suicide mission.

"You too," I put the phone down.

Now I'd done it, I'd really done it now! What in hell was I thinking? I'm not up to this kinda crap, especially not facing down a being of Lucy's power. Was anyone?

A thought struck me, the prophet! Of course it all fitted! Over the past few months she'd been preparing me for this, she knew what was going on all along, but just didn't have the details. It's just a shame she didn't live to see this day. Another thought struck home, Lucy killed her! The prophet was too much of a threat. The last of the remaining intercessors would pose a massive problem for Lucy. Lucy had to kill the only person on the planet able to stand toe to toe with her and win, and do it so as to catch her unawares. Unconsciously I fingered the bracelet that the prophet had given me as a gift. I still remembered feeling honored as she told me it was over a thousand years old.

If the prophet couldn't withstand Lucy, then how in hell was I supposed to? What was it the prophet told me, "My job was to stand in the breach of the city walls, and to prevent the enemy from coming in, no matter the cost. We loosed a terrible foe upon the world, and it broke down the walls of our humanity, But it must not pass!" The prophet's dying words struck home, "Take Authority," and, "This far and no further!" For the first time in my life I got down on my knees and prayed to however many gods I could think of.

At five to four, Pat, Carolyn, and I gathered around the TV set to see if Andrew had managed to do what I'd asked. The countdown to the 4pm news began and as the clock read 16:00 the newsreader said, "Hello and welcome to CNN. In an unusual turn of events the temperature in California exceeded that of the seasonal mean. This news and the rest of the day extraordinary events coming up on CNN."

"Well that's done it!" Pat said.

"Sure you want to go thru with this?" Carolyn put a 'paw' on my arm.

"No. But there is no one else. Someone has to stand up to all this"

My phone rang, "Matthew here!"

A thick Texan accent drawled down the phone, "It's all set Matthew. I've managed to delay the broadcast by an hour. You'll have the first stint and the president the next. You're on at 7pm. "

I checked That gave me four hours, lots of time.

"One last thing." Andrew said.

"What's that?"

"Nail the bitch!"

"Who's that?" Pat asked.

"We're on at 7. The president will react to whatever happens here," I just hope he knows what he's doing!

"You realize that Lucy will not take this sitting down. She will respond," Carolyn said softly.

"I know. I've spent the last 2 hours thinking about it. You know what?"

"What?" Pat asked.

"I prayed, can you believe it? Me, Mr skeptic journalist, I actually asked God, whoever that is for help. I figure what have I got to lose. I also realized that the prophet taught me, more than I thought or even believed. She was preparing me for this, I'm sure of it now. I'm as ready as I'll ever be, don't ask me why I know. I just do."

"We have four hours to kill, what shall we do now?" Carolyn asked.

"I've some cards in a drawer somewhere, fancy a game of poker?" It'd give me a chance to practice my poker face for when Lucy turns up.

Pat gave a smile at the irony of the situation. With our species on the verge of extermination or enslavement, with a horrific and painful death in front of us, we actually played games.

An hour before the broadcast I had to get ready. The hour just flew by. Pat and Carolyn tidied my desk for me and tried to make it look as neat as possible. They tested the tape player and left it in my easy reach.

I sat down in my worn swivel chair and waited for the red light to come on in the single camera facing me.

Pat was watching CNN, ready for the cue. As soon as the news reader said "We now go over to a special broadcast by CNN reporter Matthew Robinson in Camp Anderson." The red light flicked on. This was it!

"My fellow Americans, and citizens of this world we call home. I know you were expecting the president to speak to you, but, for the moment you need to hear what I have to say. What I am about to tell you of is of global importance."

I took a breath of relief, no Lucy so far!

"Nearly all of you will have seen the remarkable footage of 'Lucy' and her offer to the world. Of how she intends to help us, rid ourselves of the plague in return for giving those affected, like me a home in the wasteland that was the East coast of the USA."

Here goes, "I can now reveal that this offer is bogus, a trap in order to fool us into giving it, Lucy what it needs. I will also reveal that it was Lucy who was behind the terrorist action that blew up the island of La Palma and so caused the Apollyon mega tsunami. She was also behind the terrorist acts performed in the USA over the last few months, including the car bombing at Bloomingdales a few weeks ago. Not only that, but it is clear that Lucy is behind the plague that has afflicted us all for so long."

I let this sink in for a few moments, "Don't take my word on it. This is a tape recording of Lucy's boss, the director of plague control and confinement. This is his confession he taped right before he committed suicide a few days ago," I pressed the play button. I glanced around, still no Lucy!

"My name is Geoffrey Cook The National Director of plague control and confinement. This is my sworn confession and last will and testament. I can confirm I am of sound mind and body. I don't have much time, but the story needs to be told.

I'm sitting in my office, waiting for the massive tidal wave to hit the East Coast of the USA, nothing, save a miracle will stop millions of people from being killed. It is a tidal wave I blame my weakness for producing. My fault that I was not strong enough to stand up and be counted. My fault!"

The voice tailed off for a few moments, as though the director was composing himself and then continued.

"Everyone remembers when the plague first struck. How in an instant hundreds of thousands were changed, and millions followed soon after. We all remember the panic that set in and the collapse of law and order that followed. Now we've managed to claw back some of that law and order, but the impact to society remains. During those early dark days I was asked by the president to set up a department that would firstly contain the plague, and then work with the other departments on a cure. This I did to the best of my ability."

There was another short pause.

"I remember working late one night, I'd given my excuses to my wife and

family and was struggling in my mind as to how we could contain an

epidemic that had affected millions. Then in front of me appeared the being

you know as Lucy, and I would later name 'Curse'"

"Curse, claimed to be the being behind the plague. That she had caused the changes and would continue to do so, for our own good. Naturally I didn't believe a word of it. Curse also claimed to have the power to reshape nature, to alter any creature or plant into another creature or plant. To demonstrate her power she turned the pot plant on my desk into a small mouse. Right in front of my eyes it shifted from plant to mouse."

"Curse told me, that mankind was dying an inch at a time. Our genetic pool was stagnating, that within a hundred years infertility would be running at 90%. Within two hundred years mankind would die out. Her task was to revitalize the gene pool, to give mankind the bio diversity needed to survive and evolve."

There was another pause. I could almost hear the director draw breath, "Curse offered me a deal. If I was to help her, do as she asked and most importantly keep her secret then she would spare me and my family. We would be immune, and be left unchanged. If I did not agree then she would visit upon me and my family every physical and mental change she could dream of. I was too scared to say no. She tried to give me some comfort by stating 'A few must suffer if all are to be saved.' She told me that if she had let people volunteer, then not enough people would be changed in order to save our species. She had to do it to people without their consent or we would all die. She lied!"

"I had seen every report of the devastation that the plague had caused to people's lives. Every day I lived in fear of it happening to me, my wife or my young children. I hope someday the world will forgive me, but I made the deal. I agreed to a deal with the devil in order to save my own family. I wasn't even allowed to think about who Lucy really was. She said she'd know. I believed her!"

I could hear the sound of sobbing on the tape, a minute or so later the shaky voice of the director came on again.

"So I gave her a job as my assistant. It was Curse's idea to form the camps, that way she had all her 'people' in one place, and we could start to bring law and order back to the country. In those early days I believed that Curse had an ultimate goal of our good in mind. It was that thought that helped me sleep at night. I had no inkling at all as to what she was really like, or what her plans were, until now!"

"When the camp system started to break down, it was then I saw Curse for who she really was. She had no remorse, sadness or even compassion for those lives she was ruining. She lived for causing as much despair as possible. I also learned a little of her past. I think somehow she regarded me as a pet, someone who she could manipulate on a personal level, and that by confiding in me she knew my feelings of being powerless would grow and fester. In that she was right, but I was too weak to betray her."

"According to her, Curse was given power and responsibility over the shape and form of all living things. She refused to say who or what gave her that responsibility, only that it was now an irrelevance. Curse could do anything within her remit of power, but in order to move outside of that she had to obtain permission, authority from the owners of that domain to do so. That is why she needed my permission for her to work with me, she couldn't force me to. I had to agree to it. I guess it was like branches of the government. I couldn't use the national guard unless sanctioned by SECDEF for example."

"I believe that curse needs the permission and help of others to work outside of its remit. That of being able to alter the form of any living organism."

The director let that remark hang for a while and then continued, "I continued in our agreement, hoping that I could somehow restrict what curse was doing to the world, by limiting what permission people gave me, and therefore her to do. I tried to get others to take responsibility away from me, in the areas of research, supply and I even tried to oppose what she was planning for the camps. In other words by limiting my own authority, I limited her ability to operate against us.

Remember Curse can only take what is given to her, only do what is in her authority to do. Her authority extends to changing animals and plants into what she wills them to be. Not taking territory, not imposing her will on others and not take what is not hers to take.

Sometimes my plan worked, others times it didn't. It was the only way I could fight back without her destroying my family. I felt that left unchecked then she, it would cause more harm that it was doing now with me as her slave. I was buying time for science to find a cure for the plague then Curse's power would be broken and I'd be free. I held my tongue out of fear, but also out of the hope that some scientist somewhere would find out how the DNA was changed and find a way to stop it. In short, I was trying to limit the damage as best I could... I failed.."

There was another pause.

"I really felt as though I had won, when we discovered the Prion that seemed to cause the changes. I knew Curse's mechanism, the vector she uses, and so we could combat it. Getting people out of the camps and restoring hope again was my greatest triumph. However I believe Curse created the Prion, and the subsequent evidence required to prove the Prion was behind the plague, in order to fool us, to raise our hopes, only so that when then fell, they fell higher than ever before! I really hoped we'd found the break I'd been hoping for, for so long."

The director sighed, "As we all know that triumph was short lived. Two months after the people were released, and then there was another massive wave of changes. It looked to the world as though we had failed, that the cause would never be found, and that it was the plague victims who still carried the disease. We only had one choice; those affected must go back into the camps, probably for good. It was then clear that she had created the camps to cause fear in the population of going there, and misery for those already in place. The executive orders in place today are in place because we were not strong enough to argue against her. They were her idea. Nobody could think of a better way than what she suggested, and I was too terrified to speak out the truth. The riots and almost civil war caused by these executive orders; in addition to the terrorist acts she orchestrated had the effect of causing the government to dig in its heels and not let the people out. With each atrocity the terrorists and militia's carried out, the more stubborn the government became, and so played right into her hands."

"Curse needed more and more people to go into the camps, so that more and more strain could be placed on the country. Thus, creating stress, fear and terror throughout the world as conditions declined almost on a daily basis. Her real goal for the people in the camps was enslavement, not freedom!"

"Then one night several days after the event, I realized that Curse had allowed our hopes to be raised, had somehow given us the glimmer of hope in finding the prion, and letting people go back to their loved ones. Curse then had bitterly dashed them by changing as many people as had first been changed when it first started. It's objective was now clear, to cause as much distress as possible."

"Curse told me the Geas were tailored to each persons deepest fears, and even their physical form was affected by their inner nightmares. Curse didn't need permission to change people physically and sometimes mentally they were already within her domain of power."

"Curse also seems to have a plan for those she has changed, I'm not sure what it is, but I know she never does anything for no reason," the voice on the tape was full of sorrow.

"This brings me to today. Curse came into my office an hour or so ago, looking like the cat who'd got a years worth of cream. She switched the TV on and asked me if I'd heard of Cumbre Vieja. She then turned the TV on and she counted down from 10, and ended with 'boom'. A few minutes later the reports of the Mega Tsunami started to come in. Curse was reveling in the pending destruction to come, and it became horrifically clear that she had somehow planned it, that she was behind the terrorist group that had detonated the nuke inside the island. I don't know what purpose she has in mind, only that she will cause and delight in the deaths of millions. If I'd have known she was planning this I would have spoken out sooner, instead my weak mindedness and stupidity have destroyed us all".

There was another pause.

"I'm sure Curse is no being from another world, there can only be one thing she can be, and that is a Dark Angel, A demon from Earths past. Maybe there are documents in some old library or vault that gives us more details. I hope someone cleverer than I can find them. I'm convinced that the key to defeating her lies in the past, if only we can find it!"

There was a long pause, "Curse and I have just had an argument. She has gone off to watch the wave hit the coast, leaving me alone to wrestle with what I should have done. Who knows what would have happened if I had said no to her deal, betrayed her the moment I knew what she was really like. I suspect nothing would have changed. She would have killed me, and taken my place. With the only difference that the small victories I won, would have become utter defeats and more lives would have been ruined. It's that thought that kept me silent, that maybe I'll have done more good than harm. At the moment it seems very much the opposite. I do know that when she comes back, she will more than likely kill me, or change me. I'm not going to give her that pleasure!"

There was another gap, as if the director was contemplating his actions.

"I'm sending this tape to Matthew Robinson of CNN, but I've also written it down. Hopefully the paper copy will divert Curse long enough for this tape to get out. I'm running out of time. If she makes you an offer, learn from me and refuse it. Do not give her permission to do anything, for the moment we do, we are all lost and enslaved to this creature. Last of all don't make my death an empty one! Tell my wife and family I love them dearly, and I am so sorry. I tried to do the right thing. Tell them I love them."

There was a click and the tape ended. I glanced up and Lucy stood in front of me, just out of camera shot she gave me a wry smile and slowly clapped her hands in mock admiration. Amazingly neither the cameraman, or Pat or Carolyn could see her. Lucy stepped forward so she was facing the camera. It was then that the cameraman, Pat and Carolyn could see her. Their faces dropped in horror and dread.

Summoning all my courage I said, "Hello Lucy. I was expecting you."

Lucy gave me a stunning smile, "I don't know why you believed those lies, they're not true. My offer to the world still stands, send those affected by the plague to me."

Anger welled up inside me. It filled me with courage that I never knew I had. "No chance! I was once told that it only takes one good man to stop the destruction of a city. Now, with the power and authority of the heavens behind me you shall not prevail!"

Lucy gave me a look that was pure venom, "What do you know of power? You still think in terms of territory, money and influence. True power is nothing of the kind. True power is being able change reality with a single word, with a single thought. Those who want true power should follow me to the wasteland that was the East Coast, those who want to be more than they are should join me. If you want to live in a world dominated by fear stay where you are if you want to be part of that power then come!"

Strangely I was unaffected by the evil standing in front of me. My boldness grew. The prophet was right, All I had to do was stand in the breach and proclaim "This far and no further!" I heard the words come out of me, yet I hadn't intended to speak.

Lucy glared at me. I was speaking a language she understood. "This broadcast is at an end. My offer remains. Goodnight," She snapped her fingers and the camera blew apart in a shower of sparks. One of the sparks touched the cameraman and with a horrific scream he instantly turned to ash.

"Pat, Carolyn, get out of here!" I screamed.

"No I'm staying," Pat answered back and tried to run to help me. Suddenly I felt tired, as if I was drifting away into nothingness. What in hell was going on?

Carolyn screamed "NO!" and tried to drag Pat away. Her superior strength prevailed and he was pulled to safety. The feeling of disorientation faded as soon as it appeared.

Lucy turned and glared at Pat and Carolyn. "Hah! the bit players can watch. You thought that the world would see me as I really am if I turned up and tried to stop you. As you can see its just you, me and the pawns in the corner!"

Suddenly a wall of translucent blue fire shot up from the ground cutting me off from the exit and from any possible help from Pat and Carolyn. I should have been terrified but I stood my ground. This creature had caused the death of millions, ruined millions more lives "THIS FAR AND NO FURTHER!" I snarled.

"And what are you going to use to stop me?. I see no holy sword in your hand? In you I see little faith, not enough to cause me harm." There was a blinding flash and Lucy's form melted and reformed.

A massive winged creature, black scaly and from the depths of hell stood in front of me. In its eyes I could see depicted the pain and fear of countless lives taken and destroyed. If evil had a face it would be this one. A dark oppression swept over me, my mind was assaulted with images every dark act, deadly, perverse, evil and murder. My mind wanted to run but my body was unable to move. Something made me stand my ground. A kind of righteous anger rooted me to the floor. This creature had stretched its authority too far. Taken ground it should not have, taken it, because we mankind in our apathy and ignorance had let it! "THIS FAR AND NO FURTHER!"

The creature stretched out its hand and I saw a ball of white hot fire form. This was it. With a roar of anger it threw it at me. Instinctively I reached out my right hand, and screamed as the fireball struck my hand. The bracelet on my wrist glowed blood red, I felt a blast of heat and then it all went black.

 

 

Curse +923 Days 19:43 PST Pat's story - Aftermath

 

I saw Lucy appear right in front of the camera. This was it! I readied myself to attack Lucy if Matthew needed some help. I wasn't sure what I could do, but any help was better than none.

Lucy repeated her offer, being as persuasive she could. Hell, even part of me believed her! Matthew just stood there, as if daring her to get past him. I missed the first thing he said, but a phrase he said struck me to my very heart, "THIS FAR AND NO FURTHER!"

Without warning the camera exploded, killing the cameraman and Matthew was begging me and Carolyn to get out. I was desperate to help Matthew, do anything to save his life. Even at the expense of my own. We needed Matthew! Suddenly I felt a feeling of disorientation. I looked down and could see myself as though I was floating a few feet above my head. I willed myself onwards, so I can stand with Matthew against the evil that invaded the room. I saw Carolyn grab my arm and I felt a snap as somehow I was dragged back down into my body again. I struggled to make it happen again but Carolyn dragged me away from Lucy and Matthew.

Lucy somehow created a wall of blue fire between us, leaving us unable to help out. Lucy's body then dissolved forming some kind of demonic shape from hell. "We need to get help," Carolyn hissed.

I nodded and we both ran out of the hut. That feeling I'd had, must've been me trying to swap places with Matthew! Carolyn touching me had somehow bought me back.

We both had only run a hundred yards or so when there was a massive explosion, that ripped the hut apart, sending debris in all direction. I heard a deafening, other worldly shriek of rage and we saw a dark, hideous shape fly up from the fire and then it just seemed to fade away.

"Matthew!" I shouted and ran to the remains of the burning hut. I expected the worst, but saw Matthew's body un-burnt but seemingly lifeless lying on the floor, "Get me some water!" I cried out, to the gathering crowd. If I'd only managed to swap maybe I could've done something.

It took an hour to quench the fire, but amazingly Matthew's body remained untouched. When the flames had subdued, Carolyn and I ran towards Matthew and to our astonishment he was alive!"

 

 

Curse +923 Days 19:58 PST - Maki's story - Choosing sides.

 

I watched Matthew Robinson's broadcast with great interest. The so called director's story was a curious theory. But I've never gone on just theory. The fact is, is that Lucy or whoever she is has just given all of us affected, hope, and the offer for us to share in what she can bring to the world. If it's a way of getting rid of this awful, grotesque body I've had to endure for so long, then so be it. The technology she used to terraform the east coast was amazing. I go with what science can prove, not some mystical force for evil.

Lucy clearly has the power to change things, and she's offering to share it with us. If other people choose not to, then that's fine. I'll go off and live in paradise, I hope I can persuade my parents to come as well.

The president has just been on the TV. Apparently he's turned down Lucy's offer at a federal level. But if people want to go, then it's down to them personally. Everyone else can go home, the Prion was the cause after all and so it's safe to let people out.

One week from now, all those who want to join Lucy in her paradise can. I think I can stick this hell hole for another week. I think the presidents sitting on the fence on this one, but at least it allows me a chance to get my life back again. I'm also glad he doesn't buy into this demon thing that Matthew was going on about. This feels so right, so perfect, going with Lucy has to be the right thing to do.

I can't wait to go and share in whatever Lucy has to offer us!

 

 

Curse +923 Days 23:30 PST - Pat's story - Choosing sides.

 

Matthew regained consciousness a few minutes ago. Nobody can understand how he survived the explosion, let alone the fire; but everyone is glad he did. He was a little woozy at first, which I must confess I find quite understandable. It's not everyday you face down a creature from hell and survive. Carolyn and I had sat by his bed for the last few hours.

"What happened?" I asked him, when he was felt able to speak.

He blinked, and gave a moan, "No idea. One moment I was as mad as anything at Curse, determined that no way would she push us any further than she had already. The next she, it, threw a fireball at me."

"That must have been what blew the building up," Carolyn added

Matthew coughed, his throat was burnt a little from smoke inhalation, "No shit, you think!" He added with a smile.

"How come you lived?" I asked. This was the million dollar question.

"I don't really know. The fireball hit my hand, the one with the bracelet that

that prophet had gave me. It glowed red and then I passed out! Curse? Was it

killed in the blast"

"You think the bracelet saved you? As for curse, no, it flew away. I reckon it knew it couldn't harm you so it pissed off, " I couldn't see how it could, but something had stopped Curse from killing Matthew, something drove it away!.

Matthew coughed again, "The prophet was most insistent I take it. She told me she didn't need it anymore. She told me it was forged from a sword that had driven away great evil a long time ago."

"Hmm and she was able to be killed without it!" Carolyn added.

"That doesn't explain my courage, and how I felt about it. I just, just knew that if I stood my ground I would win. I knew I had the power of good on my side, and that no matter how dark things got I, it would prevail. One might call it a matter of faith," Matthew sounded puzzled.

Carolyn sounded excited, "If we knew if it was this 'faith' thing, the bracelet or both that withstood and fought off Curse then we have a chance to fight it!"

"That's it!" I exclaimed. "My god we have a weapon! We have a weapon we can use against it!"

"What did the president say, did he give it permission!" Matthew rasped.

I shook my head "No. He was very clever about it. He said people could go if they wanted, but at a federal and government level he said no. He said he can't stop people exercising their freedom of choice but that the government's decision was to refuse Lucy, AKA Curse's request to send all those affected to her, and to refuse to share information with her. He believes our story, I'm sure of it. He's buying us time. If he'd have come right out with it, then Curse would run amok and then fuck knows what would happen."

"What of the land, the territory she destroyed?" Matthew asked.

Carolyn butted in, "He's let Curse have it! Now my heart sank when I heard this too BUT, This is the clever bit. Only Lucy, Curse, whatever can restore that land to being anywhere near habitable within a hundred years. So he lets Curse terraform it, and when we kick its butt back to hell or wherever it came from, that land is ready made for us to rebuild on. She does the hard work for us! "

Matthew nodded, "Yes that fits. Curse needed a single event, so catastrophic that it would throw the world into complete chaos, so traumatize us it would make us desperate to accept any help at all; and therefore more open to its offer when she made it. After Apollyon hit we were ready to sign anything to stop the deaths. It also needed land in which to establish its kingdom. It knew countries wouldn't just hand over enough land to house millions of people so it destroyed that land to make it useless to anyone but itself.."

I shook my head, ignoring the feeling of blonde hair on my shoulders. Lucy had, had it all planned out. Lucy proclaims herself the savior of a mankind on the brink of extinction. In fact she's almost the devil and is the cause of it all!. Those in the camps are desperate to go somewhere better, everyone else is desperate to get rid of them so they can start to rebuild, and Lucy has a ready made home for them, a home that she killed millions to create, like wiping out vermin so you can build a house where they used to live. That#s all we were to it, vermin to be exterminated and manipulated! The magnitude of the evil made me feel nauseous. All I could say was "I see."

Matthew looked thoughtful, "I remember the prophet talking to me about things having a certain scope, a domain and needing to get authority to work in others. The director had worked this out as well. Now Curse couldn't just take the land she'd destroyed. It still belonged to the US Government, and only the US government could give it to her."

"Shit! Which the president has just done!" Bastard, he'd just given the devil, or least a close relative, thousands of square miles of land in which to do what it liked with.

"Remember, Curse can only affect animals and plants, not take territory. That's also why she needed the terrorist group to set off that nuke, she had no power to just to make the volcano blow up! I bet she was behind the executive orders, she needed to make sure as many people would stay in the killing zone she was setting up! She still needed people to submit to her and do it! I suspect she manipulated their minds, giving each one a Gea that suited her needs, to make them more malleable to her wishes. Shit, maybe that's what the Geas are for as well, to make us easier to control!" Matthew's voice was starting to go. I offered him a glass of water, but he waved it away.

"So why did Curse need us?" Carolyn Asked.

"Easy," Matthew added, "What's a kingdom without subjects? We all felt drawn to what Lucy was doing. I did, we all did! Even when we knew who she was the idea was very attractive. I've no idea what she was planning to do with us, only that by leaving it up to us, the president has reduced the size of her kingdom by quite a lot! As you said, Pat he's bought us time. I bet he doesn't know any of what we're talking about, but his instincts would be buy time so he can act on good information. First rule of war, choose the time and place of your battles."

I had a sudden flash of inspiration, "I've got it!!"

"What?" Matthew asked eagerly.

"I know how we can beat it!" I exclaimed.

"How," Carolyn hissed excitedly, her whiskers were twitching like they did when she got excited.

"If the bracelet Matthew has on, managed to stop the attack from Curse, then there must be other objects, mythical objects long lost or forgotten that will do the same. The prophet told you it was forged from an ancient sword. What if we find the remains of the sword, or at least the metal that was made from it? What if we find out where Curse came from, and how she was released. She's not always been around, otherwise this would have started years ago. If Matthew's faith experience, I dunno what else to call it, allowed the power in the bracelet to flow and protect him then the same can happen for the other items."

"You're talking about magic?" Carolyn looked at me incredulously.

"I guess so. But it seems to be more than just the artifact. The bracelet didn't stop the prophet from being changed in the first place. It only protected her when she had the 'faith' required to make use of it. It's not just the items, its both! Maybe the artifacts act as a kind of mental booster for this faith thing. Without the object we have nothing to focus on. Aw hell I'm just guessing here."

"Who believes in Magic anymore?" Matthew asked.

I shrugged, "Nobody, we all put out faith in science and our own cleverness. We need to unlearn science and learn to use 'magic' as well. We use Science to find what mechanism Curse uses to change people. She must re-write DNA somehow, Science can find that out and so we can prevent it. Faith, magic of whatever will be the shield and the weapons we use to kill it. Sure as anything no weapon we have today can hurt it. There must be something somewhere that can!"

"You're right! We'll need an army to go looking for anything we can use to kill it!" Matthew exclaimed. I could see the excitement in his eyes.

"Yeah. Where were going to get an army from?" I said. Damn! It all sounded such a good idea.

Matthew gave a smile, "Here! US!. Curse didn't get to keep us! We use us, the ones who it changed to go looking for anything that will kill it, to teach people how to defeat Curse, just like I did! Now I know I didn't kill it, because you told me it flew away. But it knew it couldn't harm me so it left to find someone it could! If we can teach everyone else how to do it, then its got no chance! And besides it deserves payback for what it did to us!," Matthew gestured at the bulges his breasts made in the bedsheets.

"Right!" I punched the air. This was it. Curse may have several thousand square miles of land, but mankind was wise to its workings. Curse had limited resources and a limited scope of power only if we let it. We know what that scope is, so we can restrict it. We have a fighting chance, at last!

We were interrupted by an orderly bringing a phone in, "Matthew it's the president. He wants to thank you personally."

Matthew gave me a look as if to say, Shall we tell him?

I nodded. We would need serious resources to do this, only a united world against Curse could prevail. A single country is not enough!

Matthew took the phone from the orderly, grinned widely and said "Mr President. Before you begin, we have an idea. We think it will work, but it will take some time to get moving. I hope you're sitting down.."

 

 

Curse + 1826 days - A Call To Arms

 

Pat stood holding his wife's hand. He glanced around at the thousands of others filling a packed Dodgers Stadium. People of all kinds, Centaurs, Avian's, TG's, psychics and even a few norms. They were just like him, handpicked for the task ahead. There was an air of expectancy, and of optimism. It was a feeling that Pat had almost forgotten existed.

The president walked onto the large platform and stood on the rostrum. On the large video screens around the stadium, Pat could see the president prepare himself to speak. He knew what he was going to say, as Matthew had prepared it himself. It still made him feel nervous, even though it was the only thing that could be done.

The president started to speak "Ladies and gentlemen, it is my pleasure and even greater honor to be able to speak with you today. Our journey has been a long and difficult one. It is my deep regret that so many lost their lives before we reached this point."

The president paused for a few moments before continuing on, "As some of you may be aware, a few months ago we discovered the true nature of the plague that afflicts mankind. All of us remember when its true origin and nature were finally revealed to us. The contents of the tape were not proof enough, so we followed the leads it gave us. In a long forgotten library within the Vatican, we uncovered ancient documents, written by a Monk called Bedwyr nearly a thousand years ago. They told the story of how one of his friends, Myrddin; consumed by rage and grief unleashed a being from an artifact that can best be described as Satan's version of the arc of the covenant. An 'Anti-Ark' if you like. "

"In the story of creation in Genesis there is this verse. Genesis 1 verse 24 'Then God said, "Let the earth bring forth living creatures after their kind:

cattle and creeping things and beasts of the earth after their kind'; and it was so.'"

The president paused to let this sink in, and then took a sip of his water. "Bedwyr thought that is was almost as if God had assigned part of his creation to oversee the construction and development of animals. Bedwyr postulated, what if this constructor and modifier of creatures was one of the angels? What if this angel's sole task was to be able to modify a creature into another creature?"

Although Pat knew what was coming next, it still intrigued him. He just squeezed Carolyn's hand and listened. "Mythology tells us, that approximately one third of the angels sided with Satan in a great war against good. What if one of these was this constructor angel, assigned to assist in the creation of the world? What if this angel was imprisoned inside this 'anti-ark' and was released by this Myrddin? In a titanic struggle Bedwyr and his men managed to defeat this dark angel and banish it for nearly a thousand years."

The president paused, "These are the questions that Bedwyr asked himself and ones that he managed to answer during his studies. After looking at his research and of the nature of the 'plague' afflicting the world, the cause can only be this dark angel, given the power and authority to change and modify any creature in the world. To act outside of this authority it requires permission by whoever owns what it needs, be it land, money or even people. Bedwyr thought that this angel, we'll call it 'curse' was given the task by Satan to bring misery and despair to mankind by using its powers to change people into what it knew would bring them the most pain. This explains the geas, and how curse has been changing people into forms that will cause the most disruption to life and family. For the past five years Curse has been the tormentor of Mankind. It caused the global catastrophe that caused the death of millions, and has sought to ruin the lives of every man, woman and child on the face of the earth. We will rebuild our cities and our lives, we will, must not let it win! "

The president paused for effect, before changing his tone of voice from that of a teacher explaining a topic, to a general briefing his troops. "We are here today to declare war on the darkness that covers the world. We are here to declare war on the darkness that caused the deaths of so many, on the darkness that caused the Apollyon Mega Tsunami. We are here to draw a line in the sand against it, whatever the cost, whatever the consequences," the president gestured with his hand, "we will be free! This far and no further!"

Applause started to echo around the hall, picking up on the mood around him the president stated, "We will serve notice to the principalities and powers that mankind will no longer tolerate them. From this day forth, from the people gathered here and listening to me from around the world; the governments of the world are sending you out."

"Your mission is to read the signs and portents left for us by our ancestors. To search the globe, for ancient artifacts, legends and myths. For anything that we can use against this curse that has devastated and taken so much of our lives. Because the best chance we have for our future, lies in the past. They will also teach us again the ways of Faith, and how to use that faith as a weapon of war!"

"Already, we have located the Ark Of The Covenant and persuaded the people of Axum, Ethiopia to give it up for study. A thousand years ago a monk called Bedwyr showed us the way. Now centuries later it is falls to this generation to take up the battle once more. Curse was defeated once before. We WILL do it again! From now on this is no longer a simple fight. It is a call to arms, a Jihad, a holy war, a crusade!"

The president took a breath, "Curse has given us the very means of defeating it. It created merpeople for us to use to search the seas, psychics to be sensitive to the spirits and thoughts of others, Avians to explore the hard to reach mountain ranges, shapeshifters and bodyswappers to act as scouts. Everyone else is our eyes, ears and hands. By disrupting so many families Curse has made it easier for us build an army! The very things it sought to use against us we will now turn against it! It knows this too well, that's why we've seen the numbers of curse victims fall dramatically away. Every person it now changes is one more solider for our cause. For the first time in a thousand years, it's running scared!

The thousands of people that it deceived into going with it we will free. Those that unknowingly sided with evil, we will release from their chains. To those who would side with Curse, we the free people of world stand as one against you. We are humanity, united in a single mind and a single purpose as never before!

You will not succeed, we will not quietly lie down as though we are a defeated race. Even it if takes a thousand years we will be free!"

"To paraphrase John F Kennedy. "We choose to face and defeat the Curse, not because it is easy, but because it is hard. Because that goal will serve to organize and measure the best of our energies and skills, because that challenge is the one that we are willing to accept, one we are unwilling to postpone, and one which we intended to win. Though we may fall, the human race must have a chance to continue, free from slavery and oppression. No greater sacrifice has ever been asked of a people. But I ask you now to step forward one last time, one last battle to hold the line against the night. God go with you all."

Pat's heart lifted, a hope swept over him and the hundreds of thousands like him around the world. The president sat down to a standing ovation. All that had gone on before was past, the future beckoned and after the longest and darkest night; it seemed, at last to Pat that his path was now clear and that finally dawn was beginning to break.

 

 

-- oo -- oo --

 

"Those who chose to join with 'Curse' were the first casualties of the coming war. Trapped behind the barrier it erected around the devastated East Coast of America, very few of those who went in, came out again. Those that did manage to escape were changed forever, never quite whole, and never the quite same again."

"Mankind went on the offensive on the1826th day of the curse. The Holy war against the curse had begun.

Those chosen to fight in the coming war, the crusaders as they were to be known mission was simple and yet imperative . To find anything on heaven and on earth to destroy the Curse, no matter the cost to themselves, and to train people in the forgotten way of 'faith'. It was a war that was not about territory, or beliefs, or doctrine, or color but simply of freedom. It was a war that mankind could not afford to lose, it was a war that would prove once and for all, that in all things, faith manages.."

Excerpts from "A Call To Arms" By Prof Richard nee Jane Andrews, Chair

Magic Studies, MIT. ISBN 3531235542

 

--- END ---

Notes

Want to write a Curse Story?

In the introduction Sam stated that it was his wish that this be an 'open' universe. Here are the rules I used when writing Cursed, so feel free to write away.

Rules.

1. Major Characters are fair game

2. The curse can only change plants and animals.

3. It cannot operate in other area unless given permission by it's owner

4. Try and stick to the time and place

5. Sam1am@att.net should have the final say as to what is allowed and what's not.

 

Music and lyrics

I had to use songs by the same group in order to get Pat to 'sound' the same.

It was a real task to get the right songs. Hopefully it worked

Marillion - Sugar Mice

Marillion - After Me.

Marillion - The Space.

Marillion - What Kind Of God.

Marillion - Beautiful.

Spandau Ballet - Through the Barricades

 

 

 

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