A lifetime of happiness! No man alive could bear it: it would be hell on earth. - George Bernard Shaw [October 1, 2001. 3:02 a.m. Streets of New Haven.] "...So, is this the way to Kramer's Antiques?" Michael asked again. "Well, yes," Charlie replied patiently. "We had to take a detour from the deep pits scattered throughout the city." "More like giant clogprints deeply imbedded on the road," Michael muttered under his breath, "Not to mention the occasional gang of hellbeasts or horrors going about their merry way..." Aloud, he said, "So, you think Mister Kramer will still be there when we reached his shop?" Charlie shrugged. "Not really, but we don't have any other option at the moment. We'll just have to do what we can." "Charlie?" Alicia asked. "What is that?" "What is w--" Charlie didn't finish his question when a glowing humanoid form brandishing a indigo kris and surrounded by bluish light spots flew past then at high speed from the general direction of Kramer's Antiques. "-- whoa." After a while, Michael broke the silence. "...In all my years, I've never seen anything quite like that one." Both Charlie and Alicia nodded. With that thought, Michael resumed scribbling furiously into his notes. They resumed their walk, more cautiously this time, until they arrived at the shop. That was then they saw the unconscious people on the ground. "Karen!" ===================================== New Haven ------------------------------------- After crossing two high-tension wires Scene 2-7: Things Get Even More Worse Started by Thomas Wilde and James Howard Shorted by Signus Megido ===================================== Johnny Basquain opened his eyes. At first he thought he was dead, then when his eyesight fully adjusted to the gloom he found himself still alive in the bottom of a deep pit instead. Then again, his current situation may not be any less different that being dead and in hell. Johnny gingerly raised an arm, and winced at the pain shooting up from his whole body. Thankfully, none of his bones seem to be broken, but he was nothing less than one big bruise. He sat up and looked around, his mood brightening a little when he realized that he had ended up near the place Kramer instructed him to go to. Right next to him was the suitcase, still intact despite the fall. With some effort, Johnny stood and picked up the suitcase. "Karen," he whispered to no one repeatedly like a mantra, "Please be all right. Please be safe." He continued his journey. Only a little while longer... ======== [Date and time Classified.] Six people gathered around a table. "The end is near," The first one spoke. "Mankind shall be no more," intoned another. "The world shall be destroyed," added the third. "The human race will pass away," murmured the fourth. "We must not allow this," said the fifth. "We shall wait for him to arrive. Then we shall discuss this in earnest." The sixth, seated at the head of the table, spoke. "Agreed," all spoke somberly. Suddenly, the doors slammed inwards, and the President of the United States of America strode in. His indifferent gaze swept across the room, taking in the subdued faces of the people assembled there. Patsy cracked a smile. "The wait is over, boys and girls!" He announced. "The life of the party is here! Bring out the booze! Let's party like it's the end of the world!" The six other world leaders collectively sweatdropped. ======== Outside the room, Niemann facepalmed. And so it goes. ======== [October 1, 2001. 3:11 a.m. Streets of New Haven.] "Well, that was a bust," Aria commented sourly as they walked towards Stephan Carroll's house. Archbishop Luccini nodded. "Yes. It is with much sorrow that our fellow servants of the Lord, Father Edgewood and Father Bruno, passed away. They will not be forgotten, and their deaths will not be in vain." Aria agreed. "Yeah, and we couldn't even find useable supplies too," she added. Luccini could only nod again in reply. "Tell me what you know of the residence of New Haven's founder." "Nothing much," Aria admitted. "I wasn't here long, since I mostly travel to different places because of my job as a caretaker. I'm sorry, Father Luccini." "It's all right, my dear," Luccini consoled her. Spying Carroll's house in the distance, he added, "We may perhaps find a means to combat whatever evils have emerged in this town in there." ======== Catastrophe was on a roll. She rubbed her hands together, and proceeded to make her biggest project yet. Disaster, looking over Catastrophe's shoulder, felt worried. His charge might be getting into something that may be over her head. Fortune didn't care as long as she keeps getting some. In which case Disaster obliged her. Hi ho. ======== [October 1, 2001. 3:15 a.m. Streets of New Haven.] Harlukia pulled the switch. The building to his right disappeared in a cloud of dust. "Interesting." Harlukia turned the knob. The building to his left vanished, leaving a hundred- foot wide crater. "Interesting." Harlukia pushed the button. ======== [Date and time Classified.] GRAUSWEIN: I'm afraid there is more bad news. STILLETO: What could be worse? Maine disappearing? GRAUSWEIN: Funny you should mention that... ======== [October 1, 2001. 3:16 a.m. Streets of New Haven.] "Nothing's happening," Harlukia frowned, pressing the button several times in irritation. ======== R.E.D. INK: So, California and New York sunk into the water, Alabama, Maine, Philadelphia and Wyoming disappeared, and Texas is now a fiery hellhole? GRAUSWEIN: These occurrences are also happening in other parts of the world. The most notable are that of Jerusalem and the Vatican City rising up into the air for no apparent reason, a new land mass emerging from the Atlantic, the Philippines now having a socialist country, and Tokyo is being totally destroyed by a reptilian mutant sea monster even as we speak. R.E.D. INK: Again? ======== [October 1, 2001. 3:17 a.m. Streets of New Haven.] "Must be broken," Harlukia shrugged. "Ah, well..." The Vampire Lord continued to walk, slowly heading towards the general direction of the New Haven Maximum Security Prison. Hi ho. ======== [October 1, 2001. 3:03 a.m. Streets of New Haven.] "Hurry!" Maple urged his companions on. "If we run fast enough, we might make it!" "Please don't leave us," Alice begged as she trailed behind them. Maple glared at her. "If we don't hurry, we'll be too late!" Alice shrunk back. "Sorry..." she apologized profusely. Stroika noticed the exchange. "Maple never snapped at Alice before... He is serious." She mused. Drachmov wheezed. "How could someone that old move so fast?" They burst into the clearing, and stumbled into a nightmare. ======== [End Chapter 20] -Signus Megido Herald of the Last Army