Personal Apocalypse

By John Sheridan

Copyright © 2012

Personal Apocalypse, John Sheridan

Books by John Sheridan

***

The Lake of Love

Dance of Deceit

Lust Virus: Infection

Game of Lust

Life of a Sex Addict

Personal Apocalypse

Chapter One: The Dream

***

My heart was beating so hard that it felt like it might burst out through my ribcage. I tried to swallow, but my mouth was dry. A cold shiver ran down the full length of my spine. The atmosphere felt so tense and morbid. The stench of death seemed to hang over me like some kind of foreboding rain cloud. The edges of my vision were blurred. I glanced down at my hands. They were drenched in blood. Unconsciously, I wiped my hands against my shirt. Panic was starting to set it.

‘The end is coming,’ spoke a soft female voice.

I looked into the darkness that surrounded me. It was like I was floating in deep space. There was nothing around me. I could see no ground, no sky, no buildings or structures. I was in a black void of nothingness. A faint click reached my ears. It sounded like someone pulling on the cord of a bathroom light. A light bulb, appearing to hang from the darkness, illuminated a small section of the void. My eyes widened with shock. A sickening sensation filled my stomach. A dead body lay upon the ground. The head had been crushed. Blood, snot and brain matter dripped out like some kind of leaky tap.

‘In five days the world will end,’ said the voice.

I nearly vaulted out of my bed, as I woke.

Lucy, my furry four legged companion, leapt off the end of my bed in shocked surprise. She gave me a look, which said what-the-fuck-was-that-for? I clutched my hand to my chest. My heart was beating at a million miles an hour. I was covered in a light layer of sweat. The dreams had changed. The theme of the dream was the same. Every night the countdown to the apocalypse continued, but the dreams had changed. I had never seen anything like that. What did it mean? I would soon find out. In five days the world will end.

Chapter Two: Isabella

***

I unlocked the back door and pulled it open. Lucy shot out into the garden with the speed of a shooting star. Lucy was a cute little Lakeland terrier. She had a beautiful black and tan coat, a tail that stood erect in the air, and a beard that always made me laugh. I sat down on the doorstep in my boxer shorts. The sun was already starting its day and blue skies covered the heavens. I watched in amusement, as Lucy did her morning patrol of the back garden. Next doors cat has a habit of lurking in the bushes by the fence. Lucy would make a grand gesture of rushing at the cat, but the whole act would end with a claw in the nose from the coolest cat that ever lived. I turned my cell phone over in my hand and glanced at the time. She would be calling me any moment now. Isabella never failed to call in the morning.

My cell phone began to ring.

Butterflies fluttered in my tummy, as I answered her call.

‘Hello?’

‘Hey, baby,’ said Isabella. I did love it when she called me that. ‘Did you sleep well?’

‘I always sleep well when I think of you.’

Isabella giggled. ‘You had more naughty dreams, eh?’

‘Well, in the dreams you are the naughty one,’ I joked.

‘Let’s hope we can turn those dreams into a reality when we finally meet. You still on for tomorrow night?’

‘Yes. I can’t stop thinking about it. I will finally get to meet you in person.’

‘I know. It feels like I already know you. Joining that dating site was the best decision I ever made in my life. I wish I didn’t have to go to work. I want to see you so badly.’

‘It’s only one more day,’ I told her. ‘And then we can finally be together.’

‘And I get to suck that long hard cock,’ she giggled.

A warm sensation headed down between my legs.

‘And I get to suck your hot tits.’

‘They are yours to suck. Right, I got to go. Will you be online tonight?’

‘Yes. I will be,’ I replied.

‘Okay, baby. Have a good day.’ Isabella blew several kisses down the phone and hung up. I couldn’t help but smile. Isabella and I had been talking online for nearly six weeks. We have talked about meeting up, but finally the day was coming. Tomorrow night I would finally get to be with the most beautiful woman I have ever seen in my life.

Chapter Three: Five Days

***

It was a little known fact that I was the laziest person in the world.  I hated doing any form of physical activity. The problem was that I was a writer. I spent most of my days sitting in front of a computer. My diet was awful. It didn’t matter how good my intentions were I could never maintain a diet. It would only have been a matter of time until I turned into some type of creature that resembled Jabba the Hutt. This was the reason I forced myself to train every single morning. I hated it. It was hard work, but it kept me fit and in shape. It was my morning routine. I would do lots of yoga based stretches, which would then turn into a selection of push ups, sit ups, and squats, and end with a good solid warm down. I was now on push up number fifty-six. I had been training like this for nearly eight months and still my arms felt like they were turning to jelly.

Lucy watched from her position on the couch.

Her head would tilt from side to side with every strained grunt that escaped my lips.

In the background I could hear the television. My television was always on. I know it is a bad habit to leave the television on. I can’t imagine the amount of electricity I am wasting, but for so many years I have dreamt about the apocalypse. In this day and age news travels fast. If something bad has happened then it would be on the television within fifteen minutes. This was why my television was always on. If something happened in the world, I wanted to know about it. I had to know about it. In five days the world would end. Something terrible was going to happen and life, as we know it, will be gone. I have no idea why I am seeing these things. I don’t know why this countdown has continued every single night in my dreams, but the day of destruction is drawing nearer. I am just confused by the news. I don’t know how it is going to happen. Will the devil suddenly appear out of the ground and create some holy war between the astral plains? Will Yellow Stone erupt and destroy the earth? Will a solar flare burn the planet? Will there be some kind of zombie plague? Will a terrorist organisation drop a nuclear weapon and cause world war three? Will an asteroid strike the planet? I have no idea what could possibly happen. I would have thought that there would be some clue in the news, but there was nothing. There were no military stalemates, or tensions that could possible lead to a sudden war. There was no news of anything happening regarding to the sun, space debris, or anything of this type. It was a quiet news day again. The news reporter was more focused on the latest celebrity divorce than anything important. I needed to know how it was going to happen.

Chapter Four: Clarissa

***

Lucy practically pulled me off the driveway, as we set off on our morning walk. After training, my day officially started. The first thing on the agenda was taking Lucy out into the forest. It didn’t matter what the weather was like, Lucy and I never failed to go out on our walks. She pulled slightly on her lead, as we crossed the road and headed down the street. Several of my older neighbours greeted me with friendly welcomes, as I walked by their homes. These people had lived here longer than me. They had watched me grow up from a shy child, to a cheeky boy, to a grumpy teenager and now into the secluded man that I was. My family had moved back up north, but I had decided to stay down south. This was my home. I had lived here all my life. I loved being so close to the forest, whilst being driving distance to the city, and it just gave me a sort of comfort to know the area like the back of my hand.

My cell phone began to ring.

The screen read, “Clarissa”.

‘Good morning,’ I sang into the phone. Talking to Clarissa always put a smile on my face. The two of us had been the best of friends since we were children. Our parents had always tried to set us up with each other, but we have never actually officially dated. It isn’t the old cliché about us being like brother and sister. We were not. I think our parents would be shocked if they learned about all the naughty things we had done together over the years. I fancied Clarissa. I know she liked me, too, but we always had boyfriends and girlfriends. I didn’t really register the hot female aspect of my best friend until my early teens when things started happening to my body, but by that time she was already with Tyler. Tyler and Clarissa have had an on and off relationship for years, but every time they are off I was with Samantha. When Samantha and I were not together, Clarissa and Tyler were. Now and again there would be a time where we were both single and when that time occurred we had more sex than most people have hot dinners.

‘Morning, Logan. How are you doing today?’

‘I’m good. Are you working?’ I replied with a question of my own.

‘Nope.’ I couldn’t see her, but I knew she was smiling. ‘I’m just heading out to walk Holly.’

‘Great minds think alike.’

‘You already out with Lucy?’

‘Yes. I am nearly at the forest...’ the conversation was cut short by the sound of furious barking. Something big hit the wooden fence beside us. For a brief moment in time I thought the fence would come away and the beast would break through. I could hear claws scratching to get out. Lucy’s tail tucked down between her legs. It was the same damn thing every single morning. This fucking dog went mental when we walked by its house. Lucy didn’t bark back. She was sixteen years old and a friendly chilled out dog. She didn’t have the slightest bit of aggression or anger in her. We quick stepped along the pavement, but the dog followed us along the fence, barking like some kind of demonic hound. ‘Give me a second, Clarissa.’ I spoke into the phone. Lucy and I turned right on the street corner, which brought us along the front of the evil dog’s property. Two young men, in their late teens, were working on a motorbike in an open garage. They gifted me with a glare. Like owner, like dog. I could see the dog through the metal bars in the back gate. It was big, it was black and it looked like something that belonged in a horror movie. It was a Rottweiler cross. I knew Rottweiler’s in the forest and they were lovely dogs, but this one had something very wrong with it. I kept my head down and carried on walking.

‘Sorry about that.’

‘Satan’s pup again?’ asked Clarissa.

‘Yes. That thing is fucking evil. I wish I didn’t have to walk by its house every time.’

‘I don’t envy you.’

‘So, what were we saying?’

‘I was asking if you are walking Lucy, which you clearly are. Do you want to meet at the usual place?’

‘I would like that.’ My smile returned.

‘I would, too.’

‘I will meet you there in about fifteen minutes?’

‘Good. And for your information I won’t be wearing panties today.’ She giggled that naughty giggle and hung up the phone. I could feel something warm gathering in the base of my stomach. Clarissa was such a naughty girl. Did this mean her and Tyler were back on a break? I suddenly started to walk a lot faster than before.

Chapter Five: Fuck Buddies

***

Lucy wagged her tail at the sight of Holly. Holly was a scruffy brown haired terrier. She was slightly smaller than Lucy and seven years younger. The two of them were practically joined at the hip. Clarissa and I have always taken care of each other’s dogs whenever we have had to go away. The two doggies were practically sisters. They disappeared into the bushes chasing each other. I turned my attention towards Clarissa. She was standing in the middle of the path. I could feel my heart flutter at the sight of her. Clarissa was gorgeous. She was half a head shorter than me and was curvy in places. This isn’t to be confused with fat. Clarissa was not fat. She was curvy. She was like a proper woman with a beautiful hour glass figure. She wasn’t like some skinny model. She was what I would consider a woman should actually look like. Clarissa had a smile that could break hearts and eyes so deep that you could fall into them for eternity. Her long black hair flowed elegantly down her shoulders and seemed to be the perfect frame for her angelic face. Clarissa was wearing a knee high skirt, black gothic boots, and a blouse with several buttons undone, which gave me a perfect view at her delicious cleavage.

She graced me with her smile.

‘Hi.’

‘Hey.’

She stepped into my personal space and pressed her lips up against mine. It felt like the most natural thing in the world. I closed my eyes and relaxed into the kiss. Clarissa was an amazing kisser. My tongue picked the lock and slipped into her mouth. Slowly, we tilted our heads from side to side. The kiss was deep and caring. It was the type of kiss shared by lovers. Unconsciously, I stroked my right hand up the front of her smooth thigh. At no point did Clarissa pull back. My hand slipped under her skirt, as my fingertips stroked along the slit of her moist pussy. She really wasn’t wearing any panties. She sighed deeply into my mouth.

‘Let’s go someplace more private,’ said Clarissa.

That sounded like a good idea to me.

Chapter Six: Alone in the Woods

***

‘That feels so good,’ she said between deep breaths.

I kissed her gently on the curve of her neck, as I pinned her up against the trunk of the oak tree. Clarissa was already grinding her hips down against my hand. Two long stiff fingers had parted the wet lips of her pussy and were now penetrating deep into the depths of her body. I was not going hard or rough. I was going slow and deep. I would pull my fingers to the point they nearly slipped out of her body and then push then all the way back inside again. The feel of her plump breasts, beneath her blouse, pressing up against my chest was making me so hard. Clarissa wasted no time in finding out how hard. Her fingertips gently massaged the bulge protruding from my pants.

‘I thought you wanted to get back together with him,’ I said.

‘I did. At least I thought I did.’

‘What changed?’

‘Not a single thing...’ She paused momentarily, as I nibbled on her earlobe. ‘I’m tired of being messed around by him. We aren’t kids anymore. He needs to grow up. The date last night was to see if anything had changed, but he still spouted the same excuses and insecurities. Fuck, Logan.’ I was starting to gently corkscrew my fingers between her wet lips. She always did like it when I did this. Her delicate hands cupped my face and she raised my head to share a kiss. It was a beautiful kiss, but it soon turned into something lustful. She started to devour me. It was a clear sign that Clarissa was close. My jaw went into overtime in an attempt to keep up with her kisses. My fingers started to penetrate her faster than before.

‘Will you be going out with him again?’ I asked.

‘I might do. I don’t know.’

‘Do you want to?’

‘Yes. I still love him. It’s just...’

‘It’s just nothing has changed.’ I finished for her.

‘Logan,’ she softly moaned my name. Her breathing had become short and sharp. Those cute little squeaks she makes began to fill the air. Clarissa bit her bottom lip and hugged me tightly. She braced herself for what was about to happen.

‘Cum for me, Clarissa,’ I whispered into her ear.

‘Yes!’ She cried out.

I could feel her pussy grip my fingers, as her hips jolted. It was like someone had just shot an electrical current through her body. Clarissa practically bear hugged me, as her body was consumed with a mind melting orgasm. Her hips began to squirm, as if with a mind of their own. I looked up into the windows of her soul and smiled. Her mouth was hung open. She was gasping for air. Her eyes were wide with a sense of agonising pleasure. My fingers continued to go to work on her. Just because she had cum didn’t mean it was time to stop. I wanted her to feel as special as she actually was. I would increase how deep and hard I could go. I wanted to make this orgasm last for as long as I could.

‘Logan. Logan. Logan. Logan,’ she said my name over and over in an erotic chant.

Our faces were a hair’s length apart.

She wore a mask of torment and delight.

Her body jolted several times. Her lips moved like she wanted to talk, but no sound came out.

Her hands stroked the side of my face.

The look in her eyes was filled with love. It was a look I had only shared with one other.

My fingers stopped. Clarissa could breathe. Her head was placed upon my shoulders, as her body continued to shake and quake. I pulled myself out of her. For a long time nobody spoke. Nobody needed to speak. What did we need to say? We had both shared that look. We knew our feeling for each other. I loved her, she loved me, but neither of us could bring ourselves to say it.

Chapter Seven: Samantha

***

I watched Clarissa walk off with Holly and waved goodbye one final time. I started off home with Lucy. Clarissa had to be at work in an hour, which meant I wouldn’t get to see her for the rest of the day. That made me slightly sad. I was more frustrated about not confessing my true feeling for her. I guess I didn’t want to lose her. Everyone else I had loved in life had either moved away or betrayed me. Clarissa was my last and best friend. What if I confessed my love for her and she didn’t love me back? Our relationship would be forever tainted. I also enjoyed being naughty with her. We were practically in a relationship anyway. We laughed, joked, smiled and spent time together. We made plans together. We went out together. We shared dinner together. And we did more naughty deeds than most married couples do. It was just scary to actually say those words, ‘Will you be my girlfriend?’

‘Logan?’ asked a female voice.

I glanced at the woman standing in front of me. She had a Collie on the lead. The woman was an inch or two shorter than me. She was slim and pretty. Her long blonde hair was tied back into a ponytail and eyes filled with regret looked straight at me. The woman looked like an angel on the outside, but she had the heart of a devil on the inside. It was my ex-girlfriend, Samantha.

‘I don’t want to talk to you.’

I walked by her.

‘You have to talk to me eventually,’ she protested. ‘You have to forgive me. I love you.’

The flames of anger roared within my stomach. My jaw clenched and my fist curled into a tight ball. It took every last bit of self-control I had not to smack her straight in the face. Never in my life would I ever raise my hand to anyone, especially a woman, but this bitch killed my baby. She made a conscious choice to kill my baby. It was like every fibre in my being was screaming at me to kill her in return. Why did she deserve to live when she had killed my child?

I continued to walk on.

‘You don’t think I regret what I did?’

That did it.

I turned to face her. Samantha stepped back in fear. If looks could kill I would be charged with first degree murder. I stepped forward and poked a finger towards her face. I know deep down that what I was doing was wrong. I am no bully, but what she did was beyond evil.

‘You killed my baby.’

‘I panicked,’ she replied.

‘You fucking liar,’ I growled the words. ‘You had an abortion and killed my child.’

‘I wasn’t ready.’

‘THEN WHY DID YOU SAY THAT YOU WERE!’ I screamed in her face. ‘You begged me to have a baby with you. You wanted this child. We talked about it for months. This wasn’t some accident. This wasn’t some mistake we made. WE WANTED THIS BABY! We tried and tried to make this baby. You have no idea how happy I was when I found out you were pregnant. I was going to be a father. I wouldn’t have done this if you weren’t ready for it. You pressured me into this. You wanted this child. And then you went off behind my back and had an abortion. I FUCKING HATE YOU.’ Samantha was in tears, but I didn’t care. I just saw red. ‘YOU KILLED MY BABY. YOU ARE A COLD BLOODED MURDERER. I HOPE YOU BURN IN HELL. I WISH YOU WOULD FUCKING DIE!’

I turned around and stormed off.

Chapter Eight: The Baby

***

I sat in front of my computer with a cold cup of coffee in my grasp. I was supposed to be working on my second adult novel, but my brain refused to budge. I made my living writing children’s books under a pen name. I enjoyed the success of my books. I liked that people enjoyed reading stories that I had created, but sexy erotic stories were more my cup of tea. I liked writing hot sex and questioning the decisions people made in life. This is the type of book I want to write. I had made a conscious decision never to write children’s books again. It was hard to force yourself to write positive and inspiring books. It was like I was lying to my readers. That wasn’t who I am. I have a dark personality. I don’t trust people. I think the world is a cruel place. I like writing books that reflect my life and decisions I have made, or should have made, or could have made. I believe the reader connects to the story more when I write from my heart, but it was hard to do that today.

All I could think about was my baby.

The baby Samantha had killed.

I am not angry that she had an abortion. I don’t know what I would have done if we had an accident and she became pregnant. It is easy to say that I wouldn’t agree to an abortion, but I don’t know. Having a baby is a big decision. It had taken me a long time to come to terms with the idea that we should have a baby together. It was a conscious decision we made as a couple. We were going to have a baby and start our own little family. Samantha then went behind my back and had an abortion. Maybe, I am a hypocrite, but to me that is murder. She killed my baby. We made a conscious choice to have this baby. You cannot agree to make life and then take it away because you’re frightened of the future. If that is how she felt I would never have agreed to have the baby.

‘My baby...’

I dropped my head into my hands.

I began to sob.

‘I just want my baby...’

Chapter Nine: The Publisher

***

I walked into the living room and sat down next to Lucy. She was curled up in the corner of the couch. I let out a long sigh before answering my cell phone. It was a call from my publisher. It was the call I had been dreading. I was kind of hoping they would want to discuss it online, but the editor wanted to personally call me and try to sort this situation out. I hated confrontations. This was going to be a long and difficult phone call. I was not looking forward to it.

‘Hello.’

‘Hello, Logan. I read your e-mail and understand what you want to do, but I am sort of hoping we can come to some sort of agreement. Why do you want to leave the publisher?’ She got straight to the point.

‘I explained this in the e-mail,’ I replied. ‘I just want to step back from the children’s books and take my stories in a different direction.’

‘I understand and respect that, but you can do that and work for us.’

‘I know, but I just want a fresh start.’

‘Logan, you are our bestselling author. The publisher needs you.’

‘I apologise for doing this to you. I appreciate that you gave me this fantastic break, but I have been writing children’s novels for five years now. I don’t enjoy it. I find them hard to write and I find them depressing. I want to be true to myself. I want to work on more adult books.’

‘Can you just think about staying with us?’

‘I am sorry. I have made up my mind.’

‘How can we convince you to re-sign with us?’

‘You can’t. I have to do this for myself. I want to be happy with the books I put out.’

‘Just think about it for a few days. You may have a change of heart. There are thousands of writers that would give their right arm to be in the position that you are in.’

‘I know this. This isn’t an easy decision. I haven’t made it on a whim. I have to do this.’

‘We can cut back promotion. You can have more time off.’

‘It won’t change my mind,’ I replied. ‘I’m sorry.’

I had a feeling this conversation was going to continue like this for the next hour.

Chapter Ten: Research

***

I sat in front of my computer and smiled. I had the biggest grin upon my face. I looked like a complete fool, but I couldn’t help it. Isabella was stunning. Our webcams were open and her image filled my screen. Isabella had beautiful long black hair. It was as dark as deep space. She had a really exotic soft mahogany skin tone and a face that looked like it had been made by the gods. Her smile was breathtaking. She was wearing a tight t-shirt with a floral design. It didn’t leave much to the imagination. It hugged her perky breasts and slim body.

‘I can’t wait for tomorrow,’ said Isabella.

‘It is going to be fun,’ I replied. I clicked on my web-browser and opened my favourites menu. A list of sites I visited on a regular basis opened up. Isabella’s image shrunk down into the top right hand corner of my screen. ‘I already feel like I know you.’

‘It’s weird, right? I mean that in a good way.’

I laughed. ‘I know what you mean. I honestly believe things will flow naturally when we meet. Normally, if I was meeting a woman as beautiful as you I would be so nervous and just turn into a stumbling bumbling idiot, but I don’t think there will be any of that. I think you and I will just be like we are here and on the phone. Just talk each other’s ears off.’ I loaded up several websites on different internet tabs. They were all to do with psychics and mediums posting prophecies and dreams. I checked these websites on a regular basis. Every now and again I would find someone that saw the same thing as I did, but they never had the same date, or they had their own interpretation as to what it could all mean. I was still struggling to find anyone that had the exact same dreams of me, which was weird considering the world would end in five days.

‘I hope talking isn’t the only thing we will be doing.’

She smiled a naughty smile.

‘What do you have in mind?’

I started reading the first website. It was a forum that posted information on news stories, conspiracy theories and dreams by any psychic in the world. I worked my way through the first few pages, just scanning the forum post titles, but nothing seemed to jump out at me.

‘Well, I was hoping to start with a kiss. I think I might have to kiss you as soon as we meet. We have talked about kissing so much. I just can’t wait until that moment when my tongue is in your mouth and your hands are on my body.’

‘I like the idea of my hands upon your body.’

‘I do, too.’ She sighed deeply. ‘I like the idea of my hands on yours, but I like the idea of my mouth on your body even more.’

‘And where would your mouth go?’

I closed down the second and third tab. Nothing interesting was jumping out at me. It was the same old rubbish. These days everyone seemed to be dreaming of the apocalypse, or some kind of giant event that would change the world. Most of these people were so invested in spirituality and religion that they couldn’t tell the difference from a normal dream and a prophecy. People didn’t seem to have the same thing as me. I have had nearly a hundred predictions happen. Nobody really believes me because I am too shy to make a forum post about them. They might think I am mad, but once the prediction happens it is too late to admit I dreamt that, as it’s easy to say you predicted something after it has happened. It doesn’t matter. My dreams are for my eyes only. I don’t know where they come from. I don’t know why I get them, but I know they are important. The countdown has been happening for years. These are the final days of planet earth.

‘Where would you want it to go?’ she asked me.

I closed the final website and Isabella’s image filled the screen again.

I smiled a cheeky smile. ‘I have a few ideas.’

‘Do tell.’

I shuffled in my seat. Something naughty was happening between my thighs.

‘I would like your lips to work their way down my body and... You know?’

‘I don’t know.’ She gave me a mock innocent expression. ‘Say it.’

‘You want me to say it?’

Her breathing had become slow and deep. ‘I do.’

‘I want your lips around my cock.’

Isabella giggled like a naughty school girl. ‘Would you make me suck it?’

‘Yes. I would want you to suck it nice and slow.’

Hardness was setting in.

‘I would look up into your eyes, as I held you in my mouth.’

‘I would love that,’ I told her.

‘I would, too. Would you moan for me?’

‘You wouldn’t be able to stop me from moaning.’

‘I like that. I like my man to moan loudly. I would moan for you.’

‘You would?’

‘Yes.’

‘You would moan as I lick your pussy?’

‘You are so naughty, Logan.’

‘I’m going to be.’

‘Are you?’

‘Do you want me to be naughty?’

‘I always want you to be naughty,’ she said with a smile. Isabella shuffled in her seat and reached down beneath her desk. She held up a pair of white panties in front of the camera. She manoeuvred a bit more and then held up a mini-skirt for me. ‘Are you hard?’

‘Yes.’

What man wouldn’t be?

This sexy woman was naked from the waist down. I can’t see anything, but how hot is that?

‘Can I see it?’

‘It is yours to see,’ I replied. ‘Do you want it?’

‘Yes.’

‘Do I get to see?’ I asked her.

‘Yes, baby.’ Isabella pulled her skin tight t-shirt off over her head. It was discarded to some far corner of the room. I would never get tired of seeing her body. She was beyond sexy. Her firm perky tits were cupped in a white lacy bra. A moment later and the bra had been removed. I sat in my chair with my mouth hung open. Isabella was gently massaging her breasts, as she smiled into her camera. ‘Let me see that rock hard cock.’

I opened my zipper and unbuttoned my trousers.

Isabella was smiling from ear to ear.

I lifted my ass out of the chair and pulled my trousers and boxers down around my ankles. My long hard cock stood erect like a space shuttle ready for takeoff. Never in a million years would I dream of being naughty online. I have no idea who could possibly be watching this, but Isabella had so much power over me. She was this goddess of beauty. I wanted her so bad. Every single time I saw her I lost my self-control and my penis took over.

I lowered my cam towards my lap.

‘Wow.’

She slipped her hand out of view, but down between her thighs.

Isabella moaned softly.

She was stroking her pussy.

‘Tomorrow, I will have that in my mouth, but tonight I want you to stroke it.’

I didn’t need telling twice. This was going to be a fun night.

Chapter Eleven: What’s the point?

***

I rolled the knife within my palm, as I looked up at the ceiling of my bedroom. The house was silent. You could hear a pin drop. I hated it. I missed my family. We had always been so close. I missed my mother, my father, and my two little brothers. The house had been full of life back then. I had brought the house when my family decided to move back up north. This is my home. Did I make the right decision? I don’t know. I never felt this lonely when I was with Samantha. She would have been curled up in bed with me right now. She was all that I needed. She was the love of my life. That life is over.

I pressed the cold steel of the blade against my wrist.

One quick slice and I could end it all.

It would only hurt for a little while.

I am tired of these morbid dreams. Every single night I go to bed and dream of death and destruction. I am fed up of it. I don’t understand why it is happening to me. Why am I so special? I am not religious. I do not believe in God. Shouldn’t someone in the Vatican be getting dreams about the end of the world? They might be able to do something about it. I can’t do shit. I am nobody. I am just some loser that lives alone. Nobody would notice if I disappeared from this world.

I dug the knife in against my skin.

I took a slow deep breath.

I just had to do one quick slice. That was all.

A wet nose was pressed up against my face. I giggled slightly and frowned at Lucy. My furry friend was standing over me with a look of concern. Her tail wagged excitedly in the air, as I smiled up at her.

‘Am I being selfish?’ I asked Lucy. She sat down on the bed beside me, as I gently rubbed her ears. ‘I am bitching about being alone, but I am not alone. I have you, don’t I?’ Lucy and I had always been together. My family had picked her up as a six week old puppy when I was in my early teens. She was now a little old lady that was going grey around the muzzle. The family were going to take her up north, but Lucy and I had always been joined at the hip. She was left to stay with me. She was my best friend. She was my anchor to reality.

I placed the knife down on my bedside table.

‘I couldn’t leave you like that, Lucy.’

Chapter Twelve: Daily Check Up

***

I placed the last plate upon the rack and pulled the plug out of the sink. Lucy was happily tucking into the scraps of my dinner, which I had placed into her bowl. I know I shouldn’t really be doing that, but she was an old lady and deserved to have some yummy leftovers. I always cooked extra anyway, as I liked to gift Lucy with a little treat. I dried my hands on some kitchen paper and flicked on the kettle. My cell phone began to ring. I chuckled to myself, as I glanced at the wall clock. My mother never failed to call me. It was always at this exact time.

‘Hello?’

‘Hello, Logan. How are you?’

‘I am good, Mum. How is everyone doing up there?’

My mum gave me a quick update on how the family was doing. My brothers were in their final year of junior school. They would be making the step up to secondary school next year, which would mean they were thrown in with all the older teenagers. They had joined clubs. My youngest brother was turning into a little football star, whilst the other one had picked up his yellow belt in Karate. Apparently, my dad was still my dad and there was no news about him at all. He did like to keep life simple and straight forward. My mum shared some news about her sister and my cousins. They had also moved up north to be closer to her family. She explained about her new role at work. It was nice. For twenty minutes every night I felt like I was part of the family again. It was at this point the conversation turned to me.

‘How are your books coming along?’

‘They are doing okay. I am writing some material for an older audience at the moment. It is a new challenge, but I am enjoying it.’

‘Are you eating correctly?’

I laughed. ‘Yes, Mum.’

‘How is Lucy?’

‘Lucy is doing well. I kind of like the fact people keep asking me how old my puppy is.’ Mum laughed down the phone. ‘I love the look on their face when I tell them how old she actually is. She is doing well. Lucy and Holly play together most mornings.’

‘And how is Clarissa?’

‘She is okay.’

‘Is she still with that idiot boyfriend?’

‘Ha. I think they are going through a rough patch.’

‘Why don’t you ask her out?’

‘Mum...’

‘Listen, Clarissa is a wonderful girl and would make a great wife. I mean, girlfriend!’

‘I know what you meant. And I know how much you like Clarissa, but our relationship isn’t like that.’

‘I think you should ask her out, you might be surprised by what she says.’

‘Okay, Mum.’

‘Let me tell you why you should ask her out.’ This is generally how most of our conversations ended. My mum had always liked Clarissa. She was practically like a daughter to her. The two of them always used to talk for hours on end when she would come over. I understand what my mother is saying, but Clarissa doesn’t like me like that. I enjoy her company, she has an amazing personality, she is gorgeous, but she would never go for me in a million years, would she?

Chapter Thirteen: God

***

I sat in the field and looked up at the heavens above. There were one or two clouds, but for the most part the sky was clear. Out here in the country you didn’t have the blinding lights of the city to obscure your view. This was why the sky was filled with millions upon millions of stars. They were scattered across the canvas of deep space. After a while my eyes grew accustomed to the darkness and I could see those really dull stars between the constellations. Lucy cuddled up between my legs and rested her chin upon my thigh. She had enjoyed her evening walk and was now ready to go to sleep. I would head back in a moment, but I liked being out here. It gave me time to think. It was hard to believe the world was going to end in only five days. Looking up at the stars really placed into context how small I really was. The universe was such a vast and endless thing. Its size was so great that my mind would never be able to grasp the depth of its existence. I had heard of sun’s that were so big that our sun was only naught point naught one percent of its size. Can anyone imagine that? Our sun is this giant ball of fire that is gigantic compared to earth, but there are sun’s so big that our sun is the size of an ant compared to it, which means earth is not even visible, but how small does that make me? And when you think of it like this, why do I get these dreams? The universe is this grand creation, which is so vast and beyond understanding, but I dream that the world will end in five days? What is the point? Why me? Why earth? Why now? Does god exist? Where do these dreams come from? If there was a God, would he really care about this tiny dot of mud that floats around within the insanely large universe? It doesn’t make sense.

Chapter Fourteen: The Dream Returns

***

My heart was beating so hard that it felt like it might burst out through my ribcage. I tried to swallow, but my mouth was dry. A cold shiver ran down the full length of my spine. The atmosphere felt so tense and morbid. The stench of death seemed to hang over me like some kind of foreboding rain cloud. The edges of my vision were blurred. I glanced down at my hands. They were dripping in blood. Unconsciously, I wiped my hands against my shirt. Panic was starting to set it.

‘The end is coming,’ spoke a soft female voice.

I looked into the darkness that surrounded me. It was like I was floating in deep space. There was nothing around me. I could see no ground, no sky, no buildings or structures. I was in a black void of nothingness. A faint click reached my ears. It sounded like someone pulling on the cord of a bathroom light. A light bulb, appearing to hang from the darkness, illuminated a small section of the void. My eyes widened with shock. A sickening sensation filled my stomach. A dead body lay upon the ground. The head had been crushed. Blood, snot and brain matter dripped out like some kind of leaky tap.

‘Logan, look what I have.’ said Samantha. My ex-girlfriend was standing behind me in the darkness. She was wearing a long white dress. The dress seemed to glow. It was like the very fabric was created by light. She held a baby within her arms. I could feel my heart breaking, as the baby cried. I could see its little hands reaching up into the air. I watched in horror, as tears of blood dripped out of Samantha’s eyes and fell down upon the baby. This wasn’t anything like normal tears. It was like watching someone pour a cup of red paint down her face. The baby was drowning in the blood. ‘I killed my baby for you. It was all for you. I love you, Logan.’

I jolted myself awake.

I sat up in bed, breathless.

Unconsciously, I wiped the back of my hand across my cheeks. I was crying? The dream flooded back into my mind. It was like one of those bad projection films flickering within my mind’s eye. Had that been my baby? Was my baby alive? Was my baby in Heaven? Why was I seeing this? I buried my head into the palms of my hands and began to cry.

Chapter Fifteen: A New Day

***

I looked down at my cell phone, as it rested upon the living room floor. Exhaling, I lifted my body up to complete my thirty-fourth push up. My arms were already turning to jelly. It didn’t matter how much I trained. I simply didn’t have the body for this type of work out. In the background I could hear the news reporters talking about a low magnitude earthquake near New Zealand. It was nothing major, but was one of many tiny tremors they had been experiencing in that region. I get the idea that the news channel was making more out of this story than there actually was. The other main headline was the head of a bank resigning, due to pressure in the media, but being paid a ridiculous bonus in the process. There was going to be some kind of statement on this situation in the next few minutes.

My cell phone bleeped.

I knelt down on the living room floor and read the text. It was from Isabella.

‘I am so excited about tonight. I am counting down the hours.’

Could she get any cuter?

I sent her a message back. ‘We are finally going to meet. I can’t wait until I kiss you.’

I managed a few more push ups before she replied.

‘I just hope I don’t put you off.’

That just seemed crazy. This woman was gorgeous.

‘How could you possibly put me off? I am going to be making puppy dogs eyes at you all night.’

A minute or so went by.

‘You are so sweet. I have to head out. See you tonight xxx.’

I sent a line of kisses back. I still didn’t see what Isabella saw in me, but I wasn’t going to rock the boat. She was beautiful, she was funny, she was kind, she was single and she liked me. This might be my opportunity to move forward with my life. I can finally close the book on Samantha and the things she put me through.

Chapter Sixteen: Date Night

***

Lucy disappeared beneath the wooden sty, as I climbed over it. It took a bit of doing. The ground was slightly moist this early in the morning. The sun was coming up, but it was still a little bit chilly. There must have been rain during the night, as the wooden sty was damp and very slippery. The last thing I needed was the slip off the step and land in the muddy ditch. I managed to get over with no drama and followed Lucy up an incline into the forest. My cell phone started to ring. A quick glance at the screen revealed that the called was Clarissa.

‘Hello.’

‘Good morning, Logan,’ she seemed to sing the words.

‘You are in a good mood today.’

‘I’m always in a good mood,’ replied Clarissa. ‘It does kind of suck that I am stuck in traffic right now.’

‘You’re already going into work?’ A tinge of disappointment filled my heart. It would have been nice to see Clarissa today. I did like being naughty with her.

‘I have to open up this morning. Does that mean you miss me?’

‘I say nothing.’

‘You do, don’t you? Did you want to be naughty?’

‘I could do with that right now.’

I reached the peak of the incline and followed a well trodden path into the dense forest. Lucy had her nose to the ground, as she followed the various smells.

‘I could, too. I love feeling your fingers inside of me. Just a shame you have your date tonight.’

‘I might be able to go out later.’

‘We could try that, but...’

I didn’t like the sound of that.

‘Aren’t you free?’

‘Tyler called me. I was not sure if I would see him again, but I agreed to meet up with him tonight.’ I don’t know why, but that actually bothered me. I know Clarissa and I were not a couple, but Tyler was a jerk. He was a complete and total asshole. He had this amazing woman that he treated like shit. I don’t get why Clarissa never learnt, but knowing her they would most likely end up in bed together. She was a bit of a slut. I think that upset me the most. I didn’t like the idea of her being with another man. Did that mean I liked her more than I thought? Maybe my Mum was right.

‘Well, if you are free afterwards we can go out.’

‘That’s if you and your woman don’t end up in bed together.’

‘I am a gentleman,’ I reminded her.

‘Just keep telling yourself that. Crap, the traffic is opening up. I will call you later. Bye.’

‘Bye, Clarissa.’

The phone line went dead. Ahead of us I could hear voices coming down the path. My eyes momentarily widened with a look of horror. The two teenagers with the big black Rottweiler were walking down the path towards us. They had it on the lead, but the thing was a walking wall of muscle. If it wanted to do something there were no way those two kids would be able to stop it. I clicked my fingers to get Lucy’s attention. My little furry friend looked up at me and wagged her tail.

‘Let’s go this way, Lucy.’

We stepped off the path and started moving through the trees. I didn’t like the idea of Lucy going anywhere near that devil dog. Nobody walked their dogs near that thing. It had a reputation of being a nasty piece of work. Even the other owners of Rottweiler’s didn’t let their dogs near it. You could tell with a glance than something was seriously wrong with its brain.

Chapter Seventeen: New Opportunities

***

‘Logan, I absolutely love this book,’ said the voice of the editor. I felt like punching the air in triumph. ‘The character development in this story is fantastic. The book ticks all the boxes that we are looking for. I really enjoyed how you started off with such a naughty, but loving, house wife and turned her into this slutty dark character that would sleep with her own step-father for money. Step-father stories are very popular right now, but to have a first person female main character written by a male author is not something I have heard of. Dance of Deceit is going to be a big hit. Mark my words.’

‘I am over the moon,’ I replied. ‘I wasn’t sure how the story would do.’

I shifted my cell phone to my other ear.

‘It is a bit of a big leap from children’s books to erotica, but I think you made the right decision. The intimate scenes are so personal and emotional. I was sucked in from the first page. I knew it was going to be a good book when you introduced the main character. She is such an innocent woman. She is the type of woman you would meet on the street, or working in a store, but she has this dark erotic side. I am already a massive fan.’

It was time to get to the point.

‘What happens now?’

‘Well, the acquisitions manager is away at this moment in time. She will be back in a day or two. I have already e-mailed her your book. She started reading it. She is enjoying the story. Everyone in the office enjoyed the story. The acquisitions manager will have the final say on the book, but I don’t think you have anything to worry about. This is a great book. You are a gifted writer.’

‘Thank you.’

‘Just sit tight and we will contact you in a few days.’

‘Okay. I look forward to hearing from you.’

Chapter Eighteen: Erotica

***

The hours flew by, but it felt like no time at all. My novel seemed to be writing itself. I was writing an erotic sequel to Dance of Deceit. It was going to take place a year or two later, but throw the sexy main character into a whole new set of conflicts. The first story had really allowed me to push and develop some of the characters in ways I couldn’t imagine. Today felt good. The news about the book was positive. The editor had been raving about this book for a while. I had turned down contracts at two other publishers, as this publisher had such a fantastic reputation. My future would be secure when I signed my book deal with them. Once I had my foot in the door they would sign every single book that I wrote and I had a lot of naughty stories that I wanted to tell. I don’t know what it was with erotica, but I just enjoyed writing the stories. It wasn’t the sex. It was the emotional conflict and seeing how far someone could be tempted before they finally broke. I liked creating reasons why they wouldn’t give into lustful thoughts and then watching them fall into a downward spiral of passion and love.

I saved the manuscript and opened the music player.

Pearl Jam was selected.

Lucy joined me on the bed, as I chilled out.

Today had been a good day and tonight I was meeting Isabella. A naughty smile split my lips. Tonight was going to be a very good night too.

Chapter Nineteen: The Forum Post

***

Was this really happening? How come I have never seen this person before? My eyes scanned along the forum post. This person had apparently been posting topics on this prediction forum for nearly two years, but they were few and far between. I gave my head a quick shake and re-read his post again.

‘I don’t know who you are.’ The person wrote. ‘My dreams are telling me to post my predictions on this forum and this forum only. I don’t know why.’ Beneath his post were about twenty messages of people swearing and insulting him. It appeared as if this was how the man started all his forum topics. To this day not a single one of his predictions has come true. ‘Here is my contact information.’ The person’s e-mail address was at the end of the text, but the text was not a prediction. The person had uploaded a painting to his forum post. It was a painting that he had done. This was his prediction.

It was a picture of Lucy and me.

That was it.

It was the spitting image of me, and the dog was Lucy.

It was like someone had taken a photograph and uploaded it of us.

Why would this person do such a painting?

I opened up my e-mail box and copied and pasted the person’s email. ‘Dear Sir or Madam, I don’t really know how to say this, but the person in your painting is me. I don’t really understand why you are painting a picture of me and my dog, but I can guarantee that the person in the painting is me. If it is possible could you please explain why you painted it, what does it mean, and could you tell me anything more about the things you see? Any information would be much appreciated. Logan.’

I sent the e-mail.

It was a waiting game now.

Chapter Twenty: First Impressions

***

I exhaled deeply in an attempt to calm my nerves. It was finally happening. I was meeting Isabella. I sat in the front seat of my car, as I had parked in the street at the end of her garden. She lived in a pretty little cul-de-sac, which was only about two miles from my house. I had text her to say that I had arrived. A warm glow filled my heart, as the front door opened and she stepped out. My eyes were already on the move. Isabella turned to lock the front door, which gave me a perfect view of her ass. Online she looked stunning, but she was even more spectacular in person. Isabella was wearing a tight red tube dress. It clung to her slender body and mapped out every single curve. She looked like a model. The base of the dress stopped about half-way down her smooth thighs. I couldn’t take my eyes off her elegant legs, as she walked down her driveway. Did someone this beautiful actually exist? The car door popped open and Isabella climbed into the front passenger seat. The scent of summer flowed into my nostrils. She smelled good enough to eat.

‘Hi,’ she said in her sweet voice.

‘Hi,’ I replied, with a smile of my own. ‘You look amazing.’

Isabella giggled like some kind of school girl.

‘You look incredibly handsome.’

I couldn’t stop the blush from happening. I felt like a teenager again. This woman was gorgeous.

‘I can’t believe you are here.’

My eyes betrayed me, as I glanced down at her tits. They were practically spilling out the top of her dress. I looked up to find Isabella watching me. She smiled a very cheeky smile, as she bit her bottom lip. A wave of pressure headed down between my thighs. How could such a simple gesture turn me on so much?

‘There is something we have to do,’ she told me.

‘There is?’

‘Yes. I said I would do it when I met you.’

She started to lean towards me. My heart was beating at a hundred miles an hour. It felt like a war drum playing within my chest. Was I really going to kiss this sensational woman? My question was answered by her lips. Butterflies fluttered within the depths of my stomach at the sweet kiss. This was like a dream come true. No. This was better than a dream. I never dreamed of anyone this sexy. I was the one that turned the kiss into something naughty. I opened my mouth and welcomed her tongue inside. Isabella gave out a cute little moan, as I titled my head to one side and started to devour her. We shared a long deep lustful kiss. Her tongue was practically down the back of my throat. We forced our lips together, as our heads tilted this way and that. A wave of tingles ran down the full length of my spine at the feel of her hand upon my thigh. Isabella was wasting no time in finding the thing she was after. Her fingers began to tease the bulge beneath my trousers. I was already hard. Unconsciously, I stroked my hand up the side of her firm body. I was half expecting her to pull away, or slap my hand. I cupped her breast within the palm of my hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. Her tits felt amazing.

‘Logan.’ She pulled back from the kiss.

‘Yes?’

‘Can we go on the date another night?’

Horror struck me like a nuclear explosion in the face. Had I ruined this already?

‘Y-yeah,’ I stuttered a reply.

‘Good.’ She smiled an angelic smile. ‘I really do want to go out with you properly. I know we planned to go out to a bar, grab something to eat, watch a movie, but we can do that another night.’ Her sweet expression was replaced by something darker. I could see the storm of lust behind the windows of her soul. A cheeky grin climbed her face. ‘I am just so fucking horny right now.’ I swallowed down the lump in my throat. Did she just say what I thought she said? ‘Let’s go inside and I will suck your nice hard cock.’ What possible reply could I say to that? ‘I have been thinking about fucking you since the day we first spoke. I really thought I would be able to control myself, but you are so good looking and such a good fucking kisser. Do you want to come inside and fuck me?’

‘Yes.’

I looked like a deer caught in the headlights of a truck.

Isabella giggled. ‘This is going to be so much fun.’

Chapter Twenty-One: Dream Come True

***

‘Fuck!’ I moaned in a desperate voice.

Isabella giggled with a mouthful.

I was sitting on the edge of her double bed, as she knelt on the floor between my thighs. She looked up at me with those piecing brown eyes. It was like was she staring straight into my soul. Isabella sucked passionately on the tip of my throbbing cock. I had never had a blow job like this. She was a natural. The way she dragged her lips across the crown was making my brain melt. Her talented tongue was dancing all around my dick. Carefully, she cradled and massaged my balls with her left hand. I was losing my mind. It was a sensory overload. Little bursts of pleasure were popping within my stomach with each sensual suck of my cock. I stroked one hand through her gorgeous hair, whilst reaching down and squeezing her tits with the other. Isabella pulled down the front of her tube dress. I nearly came right there and then. The sight of her stunning breasts nearly made me lose all self-control. She wasn’t wearing a bra. I rolled her erect nipple between my thumb and forefinger. Isabella let out a long pleasing sigh.

She began to bob her head in quick succession.

‘Fuck!’ I called out into the silent house.

Isabella was sucking me off hard and fast. A warm pressure began to build between my thighs. Waves of pleasure rippled throughout my body. I was already so close. She had only been giving me a blow job for a couple of minutes and already I was close. I breathed deeply through my open mouth, as I looked down into the windows of her soul. She must have seen the look of agonising delight upon my face. Isabella gripped the shaft with her free hand. She jerked the base of my cock hard and fast, as she sucked passionately upon the tip.

‘Just like that,’ I told her, ‘keep going.’

Isabella did not disappoint.

‘You look so beautiful.’ She really did. ‘I am going to cum, baby. I am going to cum.’

My hips jolted and then it happened. My cock erupted within her mouth. Isabella moaned erotically through her nose. She continued to suck me off. My entire body seemed to tingle. I could feel my toes curling and my eyes rolling back into my head. Every single muscle in my body was locked in a state of euphoria. The sensation between my legs was indescribable. It was like a firework display of ecstasy. Isabella sucked harder and swallowed down the contents of her mouth. Was there anything hotter than that? This gorgeous woman had just swallowed down a mouthful of cum.

‘Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck,’ I chanted the words over and over again.

Both of my hands were now upon her head. I had handfuls of her hair, as I pulled her into me. This was too much for my body to handle, but I didn’t want it to stop. It was amazing. My hips were squirming, as if they had a mind of their own. The feeling within my body was bordering on the edge of torture. I could feel all the energy being sucked out of the core of my being. I was at my limit. I couldn’t handle much more of this. Isabella’s talented lips had defeated me.

She pulled back and I fell from her mouth.

A deep manly groan echoed throughout the silent house.

I gasped for air, as I fell backwards onto the bed.

I could hear Isabella giggling. ‘Did that feel good?’

‘Fuck, yeah,’ I replied, ‘I don’t think I have sworn this much in years.’

‘I loved the look on your face.’ Isabella got to her feet. I watched in awe, as she hitched up the base of her dress. She wasn’t wearing any panties. I nearly swallowed my tongue. Her glistening pussy was right before my eyes. ‘How about you do something for me?’ I licked my lips in anticipation.

Chapter Twenty-Two: Confusion

***

Isabella and I were naked on the bed. I was on my side, a hair’s length from her face, as she rested on her side. Her breasts were pressed up against my chest. The feel of her warm skin upon mine was so intoxicating. One of her legs was placed over my hips. The tip of my erect cock was pressed up against the soaking wet slit of her pussy.

‘Just do it for a moment,’ she whispered.

‘But I have only done this with my ex-girlfriend,’ I admitted.

‘I know, but it will feel so good.’

‘I don’t doubt that, but maybe we should wait.’

‘I know that is the safe thing to do, but I want to fuck you so bad.’

‘Don’t you have any condoms in the house?’

‘I don’t have any. Didn’t you bring any?’

‘I didn’t think we would get this far. I wasn’t sure you would like me.’

‘Silly. I am crazy about you. Just push your cock inside me for a moment.’

‘It’s dangerous.’

‘I know, but I want to feel you inside me. I won’t fuck you. I just want to feel you skin on skin.’

I knew I shouldn’t do this, but Isabella had some kind of power over me. This gorgeous woman could most likely make me do anything. I pushed my hips forward slightly. I could feel the tip of my cock opening her up. Isabella gave out a gasp, as he face turned into a mask of lust. My cock slipped into her tight wet pussy. The feel of her warmth was amazing. I could feel her pussy gripping me, as I was inside her.

‘I have dreamt of this feeling,’ she told me. Her breathing was deep. ‘Fuck me.’

‘Isabella, you know this is dangerous.’ I don’t know who I was trying to convince. I was already subtly rolling my hips. I would have to make sure I pulled out before I climaxed. I could do that, right? It was then that I sound reached my ears. It was the sound of the front door opening. I could hear a bag being dropped down onto the floor.

‘Oh no...’ Isabella muttered.

‘What?’

‘It’s my husband.’

My heart cracked like a mirror.

‘You are married?’

‘I’m sorry I didn’t tell you.’ We could hear movement downstairs. A cold shiver ran down my spine, as a knot twisted in my tummy. This couldn’t be happening. Tell me she wasn’t serious. ‘You have to get out of here. If he finds you he will kill us both.’

‘Are you fucking kidding me?’ I whispered.

I pulled myself out of Isabella and jumped off the bed. My clothes were scattered all over the bedroom floor. I pulled on my boxers, located my trousers, and slipped on my shoes. I was looking for my t-shirt and jacket, as Isabella opened the bedroom window and looked down towards the side of the house.

‘You have to be joking?’ I asked her.

‘This is the only way out.’

‘We are on the second floor.’

‘You can go down the drainpipe.’

‘I’m not fucking Spiderman!’

I could hear footsteps heading up the stairs towards the landing.

‘Damn it.’ I picked up the rest of my stuff and launched it out the window. ‘I don’t believe you have done this to me.’ I swung one leg out the window and looked down to the passageway below. It looked pretty far away. I have never been a fan of heights to start with, but this was insane. A drainpipe was positioned next to the window. It was a bulky looking one. It looked easy enough to grip, but if it would take my weight was another question altogether.

‘You have to go,’ said Isabella.

I reached for the drainpipe. It was time to make my grand escape.

Chapter Twenty-Three: Going to Hell

***

The drive home felt like the longest in my life. How could she do this to me? I have never cheated on anyone in my life. I would never have gone out with her if I knew she was married. It went against all my morals in life. It was an evil and horrible thing to do. I am totally going to hell for this. It doesn’t matter that I didn’t know she was married. I am going to burn in hell. I did very naughty things with a married woman. Does she have kids? How could she do that to her husband? I feel so dirty and violated. I can’t believe she lied to me like that. Was I nothing more than a play thing? I thought she actually liked me. I am such an idiot. She doesn’t like me. I mean, look at her. Isabella looks like a model and she just wanted someone to fuck. She lied and manipulated me.

My cell phone bleeped on the passenger seat.

It was a new text message.

It was from Isabella.

I kept one eye on the road, as I read it. ‘I am so sorry about tonight. I know I should have told you that I was married. Things are not great with the marriage. I know I should have told you. Don’t hate me. I will call you in the morning and explain everything.’

‘Fuck off,’ I told the world in general.

How could she do this to me? What have I done to deserve this? I really liked her. I actually thought this was a new chapter in my life. I took a leap of faith and opened up to her. Isabella knew things about me that I hadn’t shared with anyone else. I thought she was the same as me, but all she has done is manipulated and used me. Fuck her. Fuck everyone. I hate the world. I hate life. I hate people.

Chapter Twenty-Four: Contact

***

This was the last thing I needed. My eyes scanned the e-mail from my publisher. It was an e-mail from the head of the whole publisher. They had taken the time to write their thoughts and opinions about my leaving. It was borderline hate mail. It was a lovely surprise to cap off my shitty evening. The publisher was keen to point out how I had a poor attitude, I was unprofessional, and summed it up by telling me to go fuck myself. They didn’t exactly use those words, but it was the general gist. I wouldn’t even bother with a reply. They would contact me in a day or two and return to rights of my books.

The majority of the e-mails in my inbox were spam. I had a bad habit of signing up to numerous websites, which mean I got every single promotional e-mail and junk message you could imagine. One e-mail caught my eye. It was from Brendan Holmes. He was the guy from the prediction forum. He was the guy that posted the painting of Lucy and me. I opened up the e-mail.

‘Dear Logan, please forgive my scepticism about your e-mail. You seem genuine, but I get a lot of prank e-mails from people on the forum.’ I didn’t doubt that. The majority of the replies to his forum posts were insulting. The other psychics didn’t rate him, but I can’t deny that painting he posted. ‘If you would be so kind to tell me a little about the things you see. I have numerous paintings. I think if you could say something that I have painted I might be inclined to believe you. As a sign of good faith I have attached a painting I did this morning. Brendan.’

I clicked on the attachment.

It took a second to download.

‘Oh my god...’

This was it. This was what I have been waiting for. I could feel the tears gathering within my eyes. I had begged for confirmation. I needed a sign to know that I wasn’t mad. I never understood why I was the only one that knew about the end of the world. For a long time I just sat in silence and stared at the painting. It was the image of my ex-girlfriend Samantha. She was dressed all in white, like she was some kind of angel. In her hands she held a baby. Its little arms were raise into the air, as if it were reaching up towards the heavens. Blood dripped out of Samantha’s eyes. The painting was identical to the dream I had last night. Brendan had seen the exact same thing as me. It was time to tell him everything I knew. This confirmed one thing. In four days the world would end.

Chapter Twenty-Five: Regrets

***

I splashed the cold water upon my face and then looked into my reflection in the bathroom mirror. My eyes seemed full of sadness and regret. I still couldn’t get over Isabella. How could she not tell me she was married? How could that one bit of information slip her mind? I felt like a real scum bag. I should have stayed in the bedroom and allowed her husband to beat the shit out of me. I deserved it. It wasn’t just Isabella, though. My whole life was a mess. Was leaving the publisher really the right thing to do? Had I been too impulsive? I should have given myself more time to reflect on matters before asking to leave. It wasn’t a decision I had to make so quickly. The image of Samantha and the baby appeared within my mind’s eye. Why did she do it? I loved Samantha with all my heart. I had never been so happy in all my life. Why did she have to kill our baby? I should have my own family by now. My thoughts drifted to Clarissa. Maybe my mum was right. I should really have made an effort with Clarissa. She is most likely on all fours getting taken from behind. That is the type of woman she is. She is lovely and kind, but a complete slut. I can say that. She is my best friend. I just wish she was with me. I know Clarissa would never betray me, but now it is too late. She will be back together with Tyler. My life is a fucking mess.

Chapter Twenty-Six: Nightmares

***

My heart was beating so hard that it felt like it might burst out through my ribcage. I tried to swallow, but my mouth was dry. A cold shiver ran down the full length of my spine. The atmosphere felt so tense and morbid. The stench of death seemed to hang over me like some kind of foreboding rain cloud. The edges of my vision were blurred. I glanced down at my hands. They were dripping in blood. Unconsciously, I wiped my hands against my shirt. Panic was starting to set it.

‘The end is coming,’ spoke a soft female voice.

I looked into the darkness that surrounded me. It was like I was floating in deep space. There was nothing around me. I could see no ground, no sky, no buildings or structures. I was in a black void of nothingness. A faint click reached my ears. It sounded like someone pulling on the cord of a bathroom light. A light bulb, appearing to hang from the darkness, illuminated a small section of the void. My eyes widened with shock. A sickening sensation filled my stomach. A dead body lay upon the ground. The head had been crushed. Blood, snot and brain matter dripped out like some kind of leaky tap.

‘Logan, look what I have,’ said Samantha. My ex-girlfriend was standing behind me in the darkness. She was wearing a long white dress. The dress seemed to glow. It was like the very fabric was created by light. She held a baby within her arms. I could feel my heart breaking, as the baby cried. I could see its little hands reaching up into the air. I watched in horror, as tears of blood dripped out of Samantha’s eyes and fell down upon the baby. This wasn’t like normal tears. It was like watching someone pour a cup of red paint down her face. The baby was drowning in the blood. ‘I killed my baby for you. It was all for you. I love you, Logan.’

A gunshot rang like a church bell.

I spun one hundred and eight degrees and looked in the direction of the sound.

I nearly vomited.

A man was sitting in a leather chair. His face had been completely removed. All that remained was blood, gore, brains and bones. His lifeless body was sitting limp, as a smoking gun hung with the grasp of his hand. Had this man just shot himself in the face? Why would he do that? What was going on here? What did this mean?

‘The world will end in three days.’

Chapter Twenty-Seven: Exhaustion

***

A deep yawn escaped my lips, as I cradled my cup of coffee. Lucy cuddled into me on the couch. It was half seven in the morning. I didn’t like mornings. I liked sleep. My dreams were hindering my ability to have a good night’s rest. I just felt so drained and lifeless today. I think it was a combination of things. The new dream was disturbing me. I didn’t get what it all meant. Why did I keep seeing dead bodies? How come Samantha and the baby were in my dreams? Who was the man that shot himself in the head? None of it made sense. I didn’t quite understand how it all linked together. Isabella was also on my mind. She had tried calling me this morning, but I had ignored her on both occasions. I didn’t have the energy to listen to her lies. I can’t believe she did that to me. I think I am so upset because I actually thought she liked me. It is like every woman I meet seems to screw me over in one way or another.

Lucy rested her chin on my leg.

‘You don’t screw me over, do you?’

She wagged her tail, as I stroked behind her ears. Lucy was the only good thing in my life. She would never stab me in the back or lie to me. I turned my eyes towards the news report. It was the usual nonsense about debt, global crisis and celebrity gossip. The world was going to end in three days. I was expecting something to have happened by now. There should be something like an incoming asteroid, or a nation threatening nuclear war, a terrorist attack with biological weapons, but the world seems to continue forward like it was any other day. I would believe that maybe my predictions were wrong if it wasn’t for Brendan’s paintings. How was it possible for him to dream the same things as me? I needed answers. I needed to know what was going to happen.

Chapter Twenty-Eight: Slow Day

***

I was now onto my third cup of coffee of the day. Lucy had followed me upstairs and was now sprawled out on my bed. I was checking through my e-mails. Brendan hadn’t replied to the e-mail I had sent him last night. That wasn’t very surprising, as it was fairly early in the morning. I should check about mid-day and see if I have anything from him. My publisher had sent me another e-mail in the night. They would post out a letter stating that I had the rights to my stories. They also informed me that it could take up to six months for my books to be removed from retailers. I was fine by that. I knew it wasn’t going to happen overnight. I just wanted a clean start and to focus on the stories I wanted to write.

My cell phone began to ring.

I glanced at the name upon the screen. It was Clarissa.

‘Hello.’

‘Good morning, Logan. How did your night go?’ Clarissa seemed cheerful today.

‘You don’t want to know. How did yours go?’

‘It went alright.’

‘Did you stay over?’

‘No. I wasn’t even tempted. Tyler seems to be trying, but I don’t believe that he has changed. It is weird in a way. I didn’t really feel any emotions for him when I was sitting with him. I think I might have already moved on. I don’t know.’

‘It sounds like you have.’

I don’t know why, but I actually felt good that her date hadn’t gone well. I didn’t like the idea of Clarissa going out with Tyler. Should I ask her to go out with me? What would she say? Clarissa is the only woman that has ever stuck by me.

‘Do you want to come out?’ she asked.

‘I don’t know.’

‘Please. I want to see you.’

‘You want to see me?’

‘I always want to see you.’

I thought about it for a moment. The time was right. I would ask her out.

‘I will meet you in the usual place in about thirty minutes.’

‘That sounds good to me. See you then!’

Chapter Twenty-Nine: Friendly Warning

***

I walked down the old dirt lane towards the sty. A warm glow tickled the inside of my chest. Clarissa was chatting to one of the other dog walkers. She gifted me her sweet smile. Clarissa really did look beautiful. She was wearing a long summer dress with a floral design stitched into the fabric. It showed off plenty of cleavage. Her long black hair was tied back into a ponytail behind her head. She looked incredibly yummy.

‘Good morning,’ I greeted them both.

They replied with greetings of their own.

‘Did you hear about that dog?’ asked the older woman.

‘What dog is that?’ I asked.

‘The devil dog,’ explained Clarissa.

‘Oh. I know that one. What about it?’

‘Apparently it mauled a dog outside of its house.’

‘Jesus...’ Just the thought of that made my stomach twist. That dog was big and muscular. It could do real damage if it wanted to. ‘Is the dog alright?’

‘It has some cuts, but I thought I would warn you.’

‘Yes. Thank you. It is too big for those kids to handle.’

‘It should be muzzled,’ added Clarissa. ‘It scares me every time I see it.’

‘I think I will have to find an alternate route to the forest from now on,’ I replied.

Chapter Thirty: Confession

***

‘Tell me what happened,’ Clarissa whispered into my ear. I let out a long deep sigh and stood back against the rough bark of the ancient oak tree. The feel of her lips upon my neck was causing butterflies to flutter within the depths of my stomach. I squeezed her plump round breast within the palm of my right hand. I don’t know what it was, but I could play with her tits all day. I glanced down towards the ground. My trousers were down around my ankles and my cock was standing proud. Clarissa was in an incredibly naughty mood, but then again she generally was. Her delicate fingers were curled around my thick shaft, as stroked her hands along the full length of my sensitive organ. The way she held me was so relaxing. It was like getting a massage off of some kind of professional.

‘There is nothing to say,’ I replied in a soft moan. We had only been at it a few minutes and already I was close. This is the power she had over me. I was just so sexually attracted to Clarissa. ‘She was married, which makes her a complete lying bitch. How did your night go?’

‘It was the same as before.’

‘You sound disappointed.’

‘Well, I do love him. I did love him. I don’t know. I just wish things didn’t change. I used to be very happy with him. I would do anything for him, but now I feel nothing for him. I have one more date and I think that is it. I hope the spark returns, but I think it has gone.’

‘I’m sorry. I know how much you like him.’

‘Thanks.’ She nibbled on my earlobe.

I should ask her out.

I know she loves her ex-boyfriend, but we are alone in the forest and she is jerking me off. We are boyfriend and girlfriend in every single way. We are best friends. We are naughty. We hang out. We know everything there is to know about each other.

‘Clarissa?’

‘Yes.’

‘Would you like to go out with me?’

She pulled back and looked me dead in the eyes. A look of mild confusion appeared like a shadow upon her sweet face. Her hand continued to stroke my dick. For a long moment she just started at me. It was as if she couldn’t tell if I was joking or not.

‘Do you mean like a date?’

‘Yes.’ I momentarily broke eye contact. I don’t know why, but I was suddenly feeling very small. ‘You and I have never actually gone on a proper date before, you know? I would like to go on a proper date with you and see if you and I could actually work.’

‘Are you being serious?’

‘Yes. Does it seem weird?’

‘No,’ she replied. ‘I just never thought you liked me that way.’

‘I do, but we have always had boyfriends or girlfriends. The time never seemed right. I think now is a perfect time. We are both moving on from our ex’s. We are practically boyfriend and girlfriend already.’ I gestured with a nod towards my cock. Clarissa giggled. She gripped it a little tighter and started to jerk me off even faster.

‘I would love to go on a date with you, Logan.’

I don’t know who was smiling wider, her or me.

‘When do you want to go out?’

‘I am free next weekend. We can do it properly. Go out to dinner?’

‘That sounds good.’

‘We are actually going to have a date.’ She leaned forward and kissed me upon the lips. It was a really sweet kiss and carried her true emotions for me. Clarissa liked me as much as I liked her. Her hand began to stroke my cock faster and harder. A deep groan leapt from my lips as my mouth hung open. The pressure between my legs was building towards danger levels. A tingling sensation filtered down through my body. ‘Are you going to cum for me?’ She asked with a naughty smile. I nodded my head in return. ‘Where do you want to cum?’

‘Do you have any protection?’

‘How naughty, you want to cum inside me?’

‘Yes.’

‘You want to cum in my tight wet pussy?’

‘Yes.’

‘I would love that, but I didn’t bring any. Did you?’

‘No.’

‘I will let you do that next time.’ She giggled. ‘Where do you want to cum?’

I squeezed her breast. ‘I want to cum over your tits.’

‘Good choice.’ Without letting go of my dick she got to her knees. I watched in awe, as she knocked away the straps from her shoulder and pulled down the front of her dress. Her large round tits stood naked before my eyes. They looked perfect. Men had wet dreams about tits like these. I was just happy that they were all mine.

‘Fuck!’ I moaned echoed off into the forest.

Clarissa was sucking on the tip of my cock.

‘I’m going to cum,’ I told her. My fingers worked their way through her hair.

‘Do it.’ She pointed the tip of my cock towards her mountainous breasts. A bright white light ignited within my mind, as every single muscle tensed within my body. I could feel a rush of pressure drop from the depths of my stomach and head straight down between my thighs. Deep primal groans filled the air. My cock erupted spectacularly. I painted her tits and neck, as she continued to jerk me off. It felt like I was having some kind of out of body experience. I felt like I was floating up towards the heavens. Ripples of pleasure danced throughout my body. I could feel my toes curling. It felt like the top of my skull might blow off. How did this woman make me feel so good?

Chapter Thirty-One: Second Chance

***

‘Do you want to delete your account?’ I rolled the words on my tongue for a moment. ‘Yes.’ I clicked my mouse and closed my dating account. I have always believed I was good at reading people. I thought I could spot a liar from a mile away, but Samantha and Isabella had proven me wrong. I was just an idiot around gorgeous women. It would not happen again. My account on the dating website was closed. I would never go on there again. I want things with Clarissa to work out. I don’t want any distractions from her. This coming weekend we will go out together and finally have our first official date.

My cell phone began to ring.

It was Isabella, again!

I couldn’t keep ignoring her. I would finally talk to her and end this matter once and for all.

‘Hello.’ I didn’t try to hide my tone.

‘Hey, baby,’ replied Isabella, but I could sense hesitation in her voice. ‘I have been trying to call you all morning.’

‘I know.’

‘Oh, are you mad with me?’

‘What do you think?’

‘I know, I should have told you that I was married.’

‘Yes, you should have.’

‘I never meant to lie to you.’

‘So, it just slipped your mind?’

‘No. It’s not like that. I-I...’ she stuttered. I could hear her sniffing on the other end of the phone. Was she crying? Did she think I was a fool? ‘My husband isn’t a very nice man. He gets angry and he shouts at me. I have been thinking about leaving him for months now. I went on the dating site to try to just meet someone nice. I never meant to cheat or fall in love. I just wanted to talk to someone. I didn’t think I would like you as much as I did. I never planned for things to go this far, but once it started I didn’t want it to end. You made me feel so happy.’

Was this true?

A tinge of guilt filled my heart.

‘I didn’t know your husband was like that.’

‘You weren’t to know. I am sorry, Logan. I don’t want it to end this way.’ I could hear a male voice shouting something in the background. ‘He has just got back from the shops. Can I call you later?’

‘Okay.’ It wasn’t like I could say no. How much of an asshole would that make me look?

‘Thank you, Logan.’

The phone line went dead. I placed my cell phone down on my desk and sighed. Had I misjudged Isabella that badly? I thought she was using me, but in truth she was being honest. Did that make her feelings for me real? She was still married, though. Did this make me the good guy or the bad guy? I wasn’t sure how I felt about her. She is lovely, gorgeous, naughty and sexy, but she is married. I have never cheated on someone. Could I still have a relationship with her? Did I want one? I was going to start dating Clarissa, what was the right thing to do?

The icon of a new e-mail appeared on the top left of my screen.

I opened my inbox and looked inside. It was from the psychic painter Brendan.

‘I read your e-mail and I believe what you say. I have painted us meeting each other. I don’t think this is coincidence or a random meeting. This is fate. Here is my address.’ He attached his address in the middle of the e-mail. I couldn’t believe it. He lived in the same small town as me. Was that even possible? What were the chances of meeting someone online and learning that they lived ten minutes walk from my house? Our dreams were right. The world really had to be ending. This was too much for my brain to handle. ‘I would like to meet you in person and discuss what we have seen. I have cancelled my plans and will be at home all day. I await your arrival.’

That was the end of the e-mail.

Brendan wanted to meet me.

Finally, after all these years, I would get my answers.

Chapter Thirty-Two: The Psychic Painter

***

I wasn’t sure what I was expecting, but I didn’t expect to end up at a pretty little cottage on the outskirts of town. The person seemed to take great care of his front garden, as there were all sorts of pretty flowers that represented all the colours of the rainbow. This was what my family called the posh part of town. It was a row of lovely little cottages that had the forest on their doorstep. Never in a million years would I be able to buy one of these houses.

I raised my hand to knock, but the door opened inwards.

A man in his late forties, with a receding hairline and a scruffy beard, stood before me. His eyes widened with a sense of shock and his lips broke into a smile, which bordered on the edge of insanity. It was the type of smile a crazy person in an insane asylum would give you.

‘It is really you.’ He shook his head in disbelief. ‘You look just like you did in my dreams.’

I shuffled, uncomfortably.

This was a bit awkward.

What did you say to something like that?

‘Please, come inside.’ Brendan stepped aside and welcomed me in. I was stood in a small hallway. Family photos covered the walls. I could hardly recognise the young Brendan. He looked so different when shaved and cleaned up. In the photos he was standing next to a pretty blonde woman and two young boys. They must be his family. ‘Come this way.’ He led me down the hallway and took a right at the first doorway. I momentarily froze, as I stepped into the room. My eyes scanned high and low, left and right, but my brain was still trying to digest it all. Every single inch of the wall was covered in A-4 paper, but they were drawings and paintings of Lucy, me, Samantha, Isabella, Clarissa, Brendan, his family, the town, destruction, flames, blood, gore, death and carnage.

My eyes fell upon the painting on a stand in the middle of the room.

I moved towards it.

‘That one is still wet,’ said Brendan. ‘I have literally just finished it.’

‘I dreamt this last night,’ I muttered a reply. It was the image of a man sitting in a chair with a smoking gun in his hand. The face had been completely destroyed from where the person had shot himself. ‘How did you know I dreamt this?’

‘I dreamt it, too. I dreamt all of these. I never understood why I dreamt them all, but the images are so clear and vivid. It helps me to remember them when I paint them.’ I walked around the edges of the room and glanced from one picture to the other. I was starting to notice a sort of order, or timeline. There was a picture of a man smiling. It was Brendan. He is sitting in a cafe with a woman. In the next painting the woman is then wearing a wedding dress. Next she has a baby bump. Brendan is holding a baby. The baby is a little boy. The little boy, Brendan and the mother are on holiday. The mother has a second baby bump. A second child is added to the family. The timeline depicts the children growing up, going to school, making friends, birthday parties, Christmas, and playing all sorts of different sports. The final picture is of the mother and the two boys in a bloody car crash.

‘I dreamt that the night Pam was driving back from her parent’s house. I woke up and called her. I wanted to warn her to stay where she was. I would drive up and pick them up, but she was already on the road.’

‘I’m sorry.’

‘Yeah...’

‘When did you start dreaming of me?’ I had to know.

‘I don’t really know when it began. I just started seeing this man. I never really understood why I would dream of you because most of your dreams are boring.’ That sums me up pretty well. ‘Let me explain. I would dream of my life with my wife and family. I would dream major life events before they happened, but once they died my dreams turned towards you. I just started dreaming about your life events. I dreamt of you writing, selling books, meeting women, your family moving away, losing your baby...’ I clenched my jaw at the very mention of it. How did he know all of these things? It wasn’t possible for anyone to know this much about me. ‘I dreamt of us meeting and the things I would give you. It was like my life was put on hold until the day I could give you this information.’

‘Your life was on hold? What information?’

‘Yes. I have plans, but I have not moved forward with them because I have to give you some vital information. I don’t know why you are important. It isn’t like I see into the future. I see stuff that is going to happen in the near future. To be honest, half of it doesn’t even make sense to me, but I have faith that it has some meaning for you.’

‘It is the same for me,’ I confessed. ‘I sometimes don’t understand the meaning of a dream until the events have already gone by.’

‘That is generally the case with psychics like us.’

‘What information do you have for me?’

‘I cannot tell you, yet.’

No. I needed answers. I had waited too long to learn what all this meant.

‘Please, I need to know what this means. My dreams have been counting down the days until the apocalypse since I was a teenager. The world is going to end in three days. I don’t understand why I am seeing these things. Lately, my dreams have become darker and scarier. Am I getting these dreams for a reason? Is there something I am supposed to be doing? I don’t know what any of this means.’

‘Have faith in your dreams,’ said Brendan. ‘You are shown what you need to see.’

‘But why do I get them?’

‘I don’t know. This could be the work of God. It might be the work of the Devil. It might be some strange energy thing that makes people in this town dream strange things. I cannot tell you the source. I can only tell you what I know. I am like a beacon of light in the night. I am just here to guide you further along your path. This is my destiny. There is something I have to give you, but I don’t know what it is.’

‘What do you mean?’

‘I have dreamt of giving you something that is important of you, but I think it is a prediction that I haven’t predicted yet.’

‘So, in the near future you will dream something that will help me?’

‘Yes. That is my role. I don’t know why, but I believe this is important.’

‘I don’t understand any of this.’

‘I know, but you are important. I don’t know why, but I have dreamt of you for years. You are important, Logan.’

Chapter Thirty-Three: Uninvited Visitor

***

I locked the car door and looked up at the heavens above. The stars were starting to come out. I had spent the better part of the day with Brendan. He had seen so much. It was a waiting game now. It can’t be a coincidence that I meet him three days before the end of the world. There has to be a higher meaning to all this.

‘Hi, Logan...’

The flames of anger roared within the depths of my stomach.

I was shocked by how angry I was at the sound of her voice.

‘What are you doing here, Samantha?’ My ex-girlfriend was sitting in the shadows by the front door of my house.

‘I wanted to talk to you.’

‘I have nothing to say.’

‘You can’t hate me forever,’ replied Samantha. ‘We need to talk about our baby.’

‘YOU KILLED OUR BABY!’ My voice echoed off into the silent night.

‘I’m sorry for what I did. I wish I could go back and change it. I miss you.’

I released a long breath and tried to control my temper. ‘Go away, Samantha. I have nothing more to say to you. What you did was beyond forgiveness. Just leave me alone.’

‘I love you.’

‘I hate you.’

‘I-I was scared.’

‘You should have spoken to me when you had the chance.’ I walked by her and slipped my key into the lock. I could hear Lucy yapping in the living room. ‘This wasn’t an accident. We wanted this baby. You killed it.’ The front door opened and I went to step inside, but then she said something. She said something that awoke a part of me I didn’t know existed.

‘I did it for you.’

I grabbed her by the throat and pinned her up against the wall of the house. I raised my fist towards her face. ‘HOW DARE YOU SAY THAT? YOU FUCKING BITCH! YOU KILLED MY BABY. YOU DID! DON’T YOU DARE PUT THIS ON ME! GET THE FUCK OFF MY GARDEN AND IF YOU EVER COME HERE AGAIN I WILL MURDER YOU.’ I tossed her onto the garden. Samantha landed with a heavy thud and whimpered. Her knee had clipped a stone. She began to bleed. Instantly, guilt and shock rushed through the core of my system.

What have I just done?

Our eyes met.

I don’t know who was more shocked.

I turned away and rushed inside.

Chapter Thirty-Four: Tears of Rage

***

What did I do? What did I do? Did I really raise my hand to a woman? Did I really throw her to the ground? What have I become? This isn’t me. This isn’t the person that I am. I don’t know what came over me. I just feel so angry when she talks about my baby. I just want my baby. Why did she have to kill my baby?

I buried my head into the palms of my hands and sobbed.

‘I just want my baby.’

A wet nose was pressed up against my arm. I lifted my head and looked at Lucy. She had her tail down and ears back. My little furry friend could see something was wrong. She licked me lovingly on the arm and gave her tail a little friendly wag. I wiped away the tears with the back of my hand and pulled her into me. My fingers set to work at stroking the top of her head.

‘Thank you, Lucy.’

I sat back against the wall, as Lucy climbed onto my lap. The hallway wasn’t the most comfortable place to sit in the world, but it was as far as I could get before I broke down. It is strange to see how much I have changed. Six months ago I was in a happy relationship and I was going to have a baby. My life was fantastic. Things seemed to be finally moving in the right direction, but because of one’s persons actions everything had changed. I lost my baby. I lost my lover. I have turned into this aggressive, hateful person.

‘I need to get out,’ I told the world. ‘I don’t want to be here.’

Lucy cocked her head to one side. It was that are-you-talking-to-me look.

‘Shall we go down the beach?’

Lucy’s tail wagged like never before. Beach was a word she understood. She yapped a loud yes.

Chapter Thirty-Five: A friend

***

I love the sound of the waves crashing against the shore. It always seems to put me at peace. Lucy was off playing chicken with the breaking waves. I sat back in the sand and sighed. Was life really supposed to be this hard? If everything happened for a reason, was losing my baby part of my destiny? What type of god would make that happen? What possible lesson could I learn from such a cruel and devastating act? It hasn’t made me grow. It has been a negative that has warped my life. Was it all done to get me to where I am today? Was it all part of some great plan so I could stop the end of the world? It didn’t make any sense.

‘Hi.’

I looked up at Clarissa and smiled.

‘Hi.’

I needed a friend and had called her up. Clarissa put everything on hold and rushed out to meet me. She was a real friend. Lucy came up, said hello, and rushed off back to the shore. Clarissa sat down on the sand beside me. I could feel a warm glow fill my soul. She was wearing black knee high boots, a short skirt and a skin tight t-shirt. The t-shirt left nothing to the imagination, but then again I didn’t have to imagine. I knew how stunning her body was. Clarissa cuddled into me and placed her head upon my chest. Unconsciously, I wrapped an arm around her. It felt like the natural thing to do.

‘What happened?’

‘It was Samantha.’

‘She gave you a call?’

‘No. She was waiting for me when I got home.’

‘Ah...’

‘I don’t know why she doesn’t leave me alone.’

Clarissa said nothing. Her silence was my cue to continue.

‘I think she is struggling to handle the break up and losing the baby, but that is on her and not me. I wish she would just leave me alone and let me get on with my life. I... I shoved her.’

‘You did?’

‘I didn’t mean to. I was just so angry. I pushed her over.’

‘You are not a bad person, Logan.’

‘What I did was unforgivable.’

‘What she did was unforgivable. If I had been you I would have stabbed that bitch in the face by now. You are too kind. She knows that you are kind, which is why she is coming back. She hopes you will give in and forgive her.’

We sat in silence for a moment.

We sat on the beach and cuddled.

Clarissa was the one to make the move. She lifted her head and smiled that sweet loving smile at me. It was the type of smile that washed away all my sadness. She raised her head from my chest and kissed me softly upon the lips. It was a sweet and gentle kiss. We exchanged smiles. I stroked my left hand against the side of her beautiful face. Clarissa leaned into my touch. This tiny display showed how much we truly loved each other. We kissed a second time. This kiss was slightly longer and we applied more force.

‘I have something for you,’ said Clarissa.

‘You do?’

‘Yes. It was something you wanted earlier.’

It was something I wanted earlier?

She placed a condom into my palm. Her naughty smile said it all.

Chapter Thirty-Six: Making Love

***

There are certain moments in life that you want to last forever. This was one of them. Clarissa had never looked more perfect than she did right now. She was like an angel of love that made my life feel so much better. Her t-shirt and bra had been removed. My hands caressed her large plump breasts, as she straddled my lap. I was lying down upon the sandy beach, as this gorgeous woman moved her hips with the elegance and grace of some kind of exotic dancer. Her small palms stroked the back of my hands, as we played with her tits together. A look of lust was etched upon her face. I could see the storm of passion swirling through the windows of her soul. Her breathing was short and sharp. The way she bit her bottom lip was turning me on like nothing before.

Clarissa continued to roll her hips.

It had started out slow and sensual, but now she rode me hard and fast.

I loved how warm it felt to be inside her. She was so tight. I could feel her wet lips gripping the shaft of my throbbing cock, as she rocked upon my lap. Butterflies fluttered within the depths of my stomach, as a tingling sensation rushed along the full length of my spine. Nothing needed to be said. I could see she was close. She could see I was close. We knew each other so well. Her sweet erotic moans competed with my loud desperate groans.

‘Logan,’ she gasped my name, as her hips jolted.

Her mouth hung open and her eyes widened with a sense of shock. I could feel her pussy squeezing my cock, as every single muscle within her body went tight. Her back arched and she cried out. I dropped my hands onto her hips and pulled her into me. I was already there. I could feel the powerful sensation gathering between my thighs.

‘Yes. Clarissa!’ I called out her name.

My entire body rocked. It was like someone had just sent an electrical current straight through me. I gripped her hips, as her fingernails were dragged across my muscular chest. I could feel my cock erupting inside of her. How I wished it was skin on skin. Clarissa fucked me like never before. She was rolling her hips hard and fast. I was going in so deep. An overpowering sense of pleasure numbed my body from my head to my toe. How long had it been since I had an orgasm like this? My body was so tense that my groan sounded like some kind of wild beast. I was quickly running out of oxygen.

‘Logan. Logan. Logan. Baby, Logan,’ she moaned into the night.

Did she know how sexy that was?

‘Fuck!’ I groaned through clenched teeth.

I was at my limit.

Clarissa’s body rolled to a standstill, but her hips squirmed as if with a mind of their own. I could feel my dick throbbing inside of her. She lay down upon my chest and cuddled into me. I wrapped my arms around her and kissed her lovingly upon the top of the head. That had been magical. Clarissa had been magical. It was all because of her.

Chapter Thirty-Seven: Two Days Left

***

My heart was beating so hard that it felt like it might burst out through my ribcage. I tried to swallow, but my mouth was dry. A cold shiver ran down the full length of my spine. The atmosphere felt so tense and morbid. The stench of death seemed to hang over me like some kind of foreboding rain cloud. The edges of my vision were blurred. I glanced down at my hands. They were dripping in blood. Unconsciously, I wiped my hands against my shirt. Panic was starting to set it.

‘The end is coming,’ spoke a soft female voice.

I looked into the darkness that surrounded me. It was like I was floating in deep space. There was nothing around me. I could see no ground, no sky, no buildings or structures. I was in a black void of nothingness. A faint click reached my ears. It sounded like someone pulling on the cord of a bathroom light. A light bulb, appearing to hang from the darkness, illuminated a small section of the void. My eyes widened with shock. A sickening sensation filled my stomach. A dead body lay upon the ground. The head had been crushed. Blood, snot and brain matter dripped out like some kind of leaky tap.

‘Logan, look what I have.’ said Samantha. My ex-girlfriend was standing in the darkness behind me. She was wearing a long white dress. The dress seemed to glow. It was like the very fabric was created by light. She held a baby within her arms. I could feel my heart breaking, as the baby cried. I could see its little hands reaching up into the air. I watched in horror, as tears of blood dripped out of Samantha’s eyes and fell down upon the baby. This wasn’t like normal tears. It was like watching someone pour a cup of red paint down her face. The baby was drowning in the blood. ‘I killed my baby for you. It was all for you. I love you, Logan.’

A gunshot rang like a church bell.

I spun one hundred and eight degrees and looked in the direction of the sound.

I nearly vomited.

A man was sitting in a leather chair. His face had been completely removed. All that remained was blood, gore, brains and bones. His lifeless body was sitting limp, as a smoking gun hung with the grasp of his hand. Had this man just shot himself in the face? Why would he do that? What was going on here? What did this mean?

‘No!’ A voice screamed out of the darkness. ‘No!’

Was that me?

‘No!’ The one word rang over and over like the toll of a bell. ‘No! No! No! No!’ Flashing lights forced away the darkness and the voice. I raised a hand to shield my eyes. The lights were so bright. What was going on? I turned away and looked in the other direction, but still the lights continued to flash.

‘The world will end in two days.’

I woke with a jump. My heart was beating at a hundred miles an hour within my chest. I sat up in my bed and recapped what just happened. It was the same damn dream again, but what did the flashing lights mean? What did any of it mean? Who was the man? Why did I keep seeing Samantha? What was all the blood?

‘Hmm...’ Clarissa moaned softly beside me.

A smile split my lips.

She had stayed the night. Clarissa and I had returned home and made love. She couldn’t keep her hands off me. I don’t think I can count the amount of times we had sex last night. I had never experienced anything like it. She made me so happy. I rested my head back upon the pillow and kissed her gently upon the forehead. She was sleeping like a baby. I could watch her sleep all night. I cuddled into her and closed my eyes.

Chapter Thirty-Eight: Love

***

‘Good morning,’ said Clarissa, as she awoke.

‘You sleep well?’ I replied with an eye consuming smile.

‘Best sleep I have had in a long time.’ She leaned forward and kissed me gently upon the lips. ‘You made me feel so special last night.’

‘That is because you are special.’

‘Compliments will get you everywhere,’ she giggled.

‘I hope so.’ I moved my hand beneath the quilt and placed it upon her ribcage. Clarissa raised her eyebrows, as I stroke my palm up her body. ‘I have been thinking.’ I caressed her breast within the palm of my hand. Clarissa sighed softly, as I rolled her sensitive nipple between my fingers. ‘I don’t want you to go out with Tyler tonight. Cancel the date.’

‘Why is that?’ Clarissa’s hand reached down towards my groin. She coaxed it to hardness.

‘You promise not to freak out?’

She nodded a yes.

‘I think I am falling in love with you.’ My words hung in the air for a moment. I tried to read her facial expression, but Clarissa had a surprisingly good poker face.

‘I know you do.’

‘You do?’

‘Yes.’

‘How do you know? When did you know?’

Clarissa began to slow jerk me off in a reverse grip. My heart was starting to throb within my chest. ‘Logan, I am in love with you, too. I always have been. Look at us right now. You are playing with my tits. I am stroking your cock. I have slept with you all night. We have been together since we were children. You are my best friend, my lover and my life. I don’t do this with just anyone. I love being with you. You make me happy. We have such a strong connection. It is just things haven’t worked out for us. The timing was always off. This weekend we will go on a date and start our new relationship together, but I have to see Tyler.’

‘But... what happens if he has changed? I want you to be with me.’

‘You are, too, cute. Tyler won’t change. My feelings for him have. I just owe him this date. I want to have closure on our relationship and know in my heart of hearts that it was the right thing to do. You don’t have to worry, Logan. I love you.’

Her words were like music to my ears.

‘You do?’

We smiled at each other.

‘Yes.’

‘I love you, Clarissa.’

She kissed me. It felt good. It felt right. ‘Will you make love to me?’

‘Yes.’

This was the moment that my new life began and my old life ended.

Chapter Thirty-Nine: Positive Outlook

***

Was it wrong to feel this good? Happiness felt so foreign to me. It had been a long time since I had experienced such a sensation. Clarissa was changing my outlook on life. I had a good feeling about us. I actually think this will work. How could it go wrong? We are compatible in every single way. We have been together since I can remember. It is obvious that the two of us would end up together. She is a perfect match for me. She is that missing part of my soul.

I snapped back to reality at the sound of aggressive barking.

The black Rottweiler was going mental. It jerked violently against the chain around its neck. I hadn’t been thinking properly. I was day dreaming and moving on auto-pilot. I was too lost in my own thoughts and ended up walking by this bloody house again. The devil dog was chained to the post in the front garden. It was practically on the sidewalk. Lucy was cowering behind my legs. I think it had taken her by surprise, too. I looked at the two teenagers in the garage.

‘You got a problem?’

They looked as mean as their dog.

‘No,’ I replied with a shake of my head.

I wish I had the courage to give them a piece of my mind. What idiot chains an aggressive dog in the front garden? That thing shouldn’t be allowed out without a muzzle, but then again, should it be allowed outside at all? It had already mauled dogs and it was clearly unstable. I turned and walked away. Unconsciously, I glanced back over my shoulder. The two teenagers were watching me. It felt like I was under the gaze of a deadly predator. They seemed to have an aura of darkness and violence around them. From this point on I am never walking by this house again. This whole family felt dangerous.

Chapter Forty: Goodbye

***

My cell phone rang. It continued to ring. I sat back in my chair and waited. How long would she keep calling? The sound finally stopped. Silence returned to my bedroom. It was short lived. Isabella called my phone for the third time in as many minutes. Lucy hopped off the bed and slunk out the room. The noisy tune was disrupting her much needed rest. She liked to go into a mild coma after her walks and sleep uninterrupted for several hours on end.

Why wasn’t Isabella getting the message?

This wasn’t going to work.

She was married and she lied to me. I know her husband is supposed to be a horrible person, but that doesn’t change the moral issue I have with the situation. My thoughts drifted to Clarissa. She is the one I want to be with. I like Isabella. She was fun, friendly, kind and so freaking sexy, but she destroyed whatever it was we had. I didn’t want to talk to her on the phone. She would start crying. I would feel bad. It would end up with us meeting and I won’t lie. I fancy her. I fancy her like crazy. She is one of those rare beauties you meet in life. I just don’t want the temptation. I will talk to her on the computer and create some distance between us. That is the best thing to do.

My cell phone went quiet.

My house was finally peaceful.

I returned my attention to my desktop computer and opened up my inbox. I had the usual junk mail and a few things asking me to review products I had brought online. There was one from my mother, which had an attachment. It was most likely family photos. I would check that out a little later and get back to her. I spotted one from Brendan.

I opened up the e-mail and gave it the once over.

It was short, sweet and to the point.

A cold shiver ran down my spine.

I could feel a hollow sensation pull down on the pit of my stomach.

I re-read the e-mail. He couldn’t be serious, could he?

‘Dear Logan, I am so happy that we finally got to meet each other. It is like everything I have lived for was leading to that moment. I have dreamt so many things throughout my life, but it was all guiding me towards you. My destiny is now complete. I can now return to my family. I have left something down the side of your house. I don’t know why it is important, but I know that it is what I am supposed to give you. Thank you, Logan. Goodbye.’

He can now return to his family?

He told me they had died.

I was out of my chair in a heartbeat. If I was quick I could get over to his house in ten minutes.

Chapter Forty-One: Crime Scene

***

I pulled over to the side of the road and switched off the engine. I felt empty. Brendan’s house looked like some kind of crime scene from an action movie. Police cars and ambulances were parked outside his house. Yellow tape blocked off his garden and driveway. A small crowd of neighbours gathered at the cordon. Policemen and women were talking to several people off to one side. I could see them writing down notes. I wound down my window, as one of the neighbours stepped off their garden.

‘Excuse me.’ The young woman, she had to be in her late teens, stopped by the car. ‘What happened here?’

‘I don’t really know,’ she replied by shrugging her shoulders. ‘Apparently there was a gunshot, but I don’t know if that is true or not.’ The image of my dream flashed within my mind’s eye. It was the man sitting in the chair, holding the smoking gun. Had that person been Brendan? I didn’t know. I had only met him on one occasion. The man in the dream was faceless. Was I supposed to stop him? Was there a way I could have saved him? Why had he done it? Did he believe in his predictions so much that he lived a sad and lonely life just to meet me? What made me so special? ‘Are you okay?’ asked the young girl. ‘Did you know him?’

‘No,’ I lied. ‘I didn’t know him.’

Chapter Forty-Two:  Brendan’s Gift

***

I swigged at the bottle, as I paced across my living room. The wine tickled the back of my throat, as it entered my body. I was never a big drinker to start with. I could already feel my head getting that little bit lighter and my problems were not as heavy as before. I don’t understand why Brendan did it. It made no sense. Why would he kill himself? We were a day away from the end of the world. Didn’t he want to know what would happen? Didn’t he want to know what all this was about? Lucy sat on the couch, ears back. I could feel her watching, as I eyeballed the two items propped up on the armchair. I had found two packages down the side of the house when I had got back. It was just as Brendan’s e-mail said. He must have come over during the night and tucked them in the shadows. How long had he been planning to kill himself? It could not have been a spur of the moment. Not if he wrapped these up, drove over, and took the time to hide them carefully.

‘Fuck it.’

I took another swig from the bottle and then placed it down onto the coffee table.

I headed for the big package first. It was about two foot high and two foot wide. Was this another one of his paintings? I brushed my hands across the brown parcel paper, in search for a crease in the tape he had secured it with. Frustration got the better of me. I needed to know what this was. He had told me that he had some important information to give me. Was this it? Was I about to learn the secret to what this all meant? I tore at the paper. I dug my fingernails into the brown paper and ripped like a wild fox trying to get into a bin full of goodies. The wrapping was tossed onto the floor. A painting was revealed.

‘What...?’

I staggered back into the centre of the living room.

I tilted my head this way and that.

My eyes scanned the painting carefully. There was no doubt about it. The person in the painting was me. I was covered in blood. It was just like my dream. My hands, my arms, my face, my t-shirt and trousers were drenched in blood, but I didn’t seem to have any physical wounds. The blood was not mine. In one hand I held a bottle of wine. Unconsciously, I glanced towards the bottle of wine on the table. It was my solution for things that were too big to handle. In my other hand was a gun. Why would I have a gun? I don’t own a gun. What would I need a gun for? For a long moment in time I just stared at the image in front of me. Was this the message that Brendan wanted me to know? Was this how the end of the world would be? Would I have to murder others to survive? Would the new world be that dangerous?

I approached the smaller package.

It looked like a shoebox, but wrapped in the same brown paper.

I ripped it open like a child on Christmas morning. I discarded the lid and looked within. Only two items sat within the box. The first was a hand written letter. The second item was a silver revolver. It was identical to the gun in the painting. I picked up the letter and began to read.

‘Dear Logan, by now I will be dead. I apologise for leaving you like this. I know you had many questions that you wanted me to answer. I am afraid I cannot answer any of them. I am in the dark as much as you. I don’t know why any of this is happening. I don’t know why my family were taken away from me in such cruel and unforgiving circumstances. If there is a god, he does not love us. We are the cursed ones. I have known for a long time that we would meet. I know the dark and horrible things that have happened to you. I know the pain you feel from losing your baby. I know you are a good person. It is why I have willed myself to stay alive until the day we met. Without my family I am nothing. I just want to be with them. I cannot live this life any longer. I have given you a gun from my father’s old collection. It is loaded and in perfect working condition. In my dreams I have seen that you are holding it. I don’t know what will happen tomorrow, but I hope the gun helps you to survive the apocalypse. I have also sent you my last painting. I don’t know what it means, but I think the context is pretty clear. The world is going to end. A new world of violence, death and destruction will appear. You will need to kill to stay alive. I wish you luck, Logan. You are important. We were destined to meet each other. It might have only been a brief encounter, but you are not alone. I know there are others like us in the world. Maybe that is your destiny. You might have to find them. You might have a key part in the new world. Good luck. I wish you well. Brendan.’

‘Damn it.’ I dropped down onto the couch next to Lucy.

She shuffled over to me and placed her head on my knee.

It was her telling me that I was not alone. She could sense I was upset. I leaned forward and plucked the wine bottle from the table. I took a swig, as I stroked my fingers through Lucy’s fur. So, that was it. Brendan was gone. I had waited all these years just to meet someone who saw what I saw. I had waited for someone to tell me I wasn’t mad. I had longed to find someone that could give me answers. Brendan was now dead. He had taken his own life.

I glanced at the painting.

The apocalypse was tomorrow.

Everything was about to change.

Chapter Forty-Three: Temptation

***

Lucy’s bark echoed throughout the house, as she charged towards the front door. I dropped the empty wine bottle down onto the living room floor and staggered to my feet. The world seemed to tilt at a funny angle. I stumbled across the living room and out into the hallway. I nearly bounced off the wall. Someone knocked on the front door.

‘Clarissa?’ I asked the world in general.

Lucy yapped and growled at the door. It sounded aggressive, but her tail wagged excitingly.

I unlocked the door. ‘Hello?’

‘Logan.’ Isabella greeted me with a welcoming smile.

‘Isabella? What are you doing here?’

‘I wanted to talk to you. I haven’t been able to catch you on the phone.’

‘What about your husband?’

‘He is away for tonight. Can I come in?’

Unconsciously, I looked her up and down and then down and up again. Isabella was wearing a skirt and blouse combination. The skirt flowed elegantly down her body and hung at the level of her ankles. The blouse was a tight fit. She had cleverly left the top three buttons undone, which gave me a very good view at her delicious looking cleavage. My eyes stayed on her tits for a few seconds before I glanced back up to her face. Should I let her in? Did I have anything else to say to her?

‘Come on in.’

The words left my mouth before I could stop them.

‘Hello.’ Isabella made a fuss of Lucy, as she stepped into the hallway. I closed the front door and headed towards the kitchen. ‘She is lovely. I always wanted a dog.’ Isabella followed several steps behind me. ‘I am sorry I never told you about my husband. I don’t want you to think I am the type of woman that would openly cheat like that.’ I entered the kitchen and filled up the kettle. The kitchen was fairly open and had enough counter space to meet my needs and just enough space to squeeze in a small table. It hadn’t been used much since my family moved back up north. ‘I know it must look bad, but you and I talked for weeks on end. I really care about. I know you are a good person. I am falling for you. It is why I had to meet you.’

‘You are falling for me?’ I slurred the words.

‘Yes. Logan, I am in love with you.’ She smiled a really honest and lovely smile. It wasn’t fake or forced. I could see she really did mean what she said. ‘I have never felt like this about anyone before. I know I am married and I know that I should have told you, but I am not in love with him. I am going to leave him, but he scares me. I just need to do it right. I just wanted to see you and go out with you. I didn’t plan for us to end up in bed together, but I was so happy when we did. The feel of you inside of me will stay with me forever.’

I licked my lips, as I glanced at her tits.

Isabella followed my line of sight.

Slowly, she began to approach me, as she unbuttoned her blouse. Tingles began to dance throughout my body, as she undressed before my very eyes. I shouldn’t do this. I am going to be with Clarissa. I shuffled nervously, as a warm pressure gathered between my thighs. Isabella was so captivating. I couldn’t take my eyes off her.

‘How much have you had to drink?’ she asked.

‘A lot,’ I admitted. She took my hand with hers and clutched it to her chest. It was nestled nicely between her firm breasts. This woman knew exactly what she was doing to me. How did she have this much power over me? I thought I had more self-control than this.

‘It would be wrong for me to take advantage of you then?’

‘It would be very wrong.’

She moved closely.

‘Do you think I should stop?’

She leaned in towards me.

‘I-I...’ I stuttered nervously.

Isabella pressed her lips firmly against mine. It was a deep and lustful kiss. It had an instant effect upon my body. It silenced that voice that was saying this was wrong. It was the voice that reminded me of Clarissa and that I wasn’t thinking straight. It was the voice that said I had too much to drink and I should just kick her out the house. It was the voice that said she was married and this goes against everything I believe.

I opened my mouth and welcomed her tongue inside.

A night of lust had just begun.

Chapter Forty-Four: Isabella’s Delight

***

‘It’s incredible. Jesus. This is incredible.’ Isabella’s desperate moans echoed off the kitchen walls. She was bent over the kitchen table. Her legs were spread like some kind of police body inspection. Her tits were being squished down upon table top, as she dug her fingernails into the woodwork. Her panties rested upon the floor. Her dress had been hitched up over her hips. I was kneeling on the ground behind her. My face was buried deep into her soaking wet pussy, as my tongue curled up between her tender lips. I had never gone down on someone in such a position before. I don’t know if it was the booze, or Isabella’s power over me, but it was like some sort of demon of lust had possessed my body. I held her squirming hips within my hands. They were moving as if they had a mind of their own. The scent of lust flowed from her body. It was the fuel for the fire that made me lick her deeper and faster. Her agonising screams of pure delight were the greatest sound I had ever heard.

‘It’s so good, Logan. It’s so good. Don’t stop.’

I didn’t plan to.

My tongue curled, rolled and twisted inside her body, as I sucked ruthlessly on the edges of her lips. Isabella’s hips jolted and she cried out a long high pitched moan. I could feel her trying to stand up straight and pull away from me. The sensation between her thighs had become too much for her to handle, but she wasn’t going anywhere. She had seduced me. She wanted me to have her. There was no way I was going to let this end now. I gripped her hips tightly and pulled her back into me, as I forced my face forward. I licked her as deep as I could.

‘Fuck!’ She cried out. ‘Fuck, Logan!’

I laughed like some kind of crazy person.

What had come over me? This wasn’t me, was it? This wasn’t who I really was. These thoughts were quickly brushed to one side, as she screamed out again. Isabella was practically climbing upon the table to escape my golden tongue, but I didn’t want this to end. I wanted more. I wanted much more.

Chapter Forty-Five: Intimacy

***

I rolled the tip of my tongue around her erect nipple. Isabella giggled. I could feel her fingers stroking through my damp hair. We were covered in a light layer of sweat. It looked like we had just run a marathon. We had gone through all the condoms she had brought over. It was one of the most magically experiences of my life. I got to be with this beautiful woman. We were both lying naked upon my double bed. The duvet was now on the floor. Lucy was locked out on the landing. It was just Isabella and I. I sucked softly upon the peak of her glorious breast. She moaned softly and smiled at me.

‘Tonight has been amazing,’ she told me.

‘You have been amazing,’ I replied. ‘I could suck on your tits all night.’

‘They are yours to suck.’ She giggled. ‘I am yours, if you want me.’

‘What about your husband?’

‘I am going to leave him. I don’t love him. I need to get away from that house.’

‘Where would you go?’

‘I could move in with my family for a bit, but it would mean that I would be single.’ She let her words hang in the air for a moment. ‘It means I will be able to be with you. This means you get to have my tits whenever you want.’

‘I like the sound of that.’

‘I bet you do, but it also means I get to have you.’

‘Why would you want me?’

‘I am crazy about you.’

‘Yes, but you could have any man. I am nobody.’

‘You are somebody to me.’ I could see the love through the windows of her soul. ‘You have been the only good thing in my life for all these months. I really care about you, Logan. You mean so much to me. I know I lied about being married, but I am going to leave him. This is a chance for you and me to have a proper relationship. If that is what you still want.’

‘I do.’

‘You do?’ She smiled that sweet smile.

‘Yes. I really like you, Isabella. I would be mad not to want you.’

‘So, do you think...’ she was cut off by the sound of Lucy barking. I could hear my little terrier thundering down the stairs and jumping up at the front door. Who would be calling this late at night?

‘Hold that thought.’ I kissed her breasts and Isabella giggled. I climbed off the bed and quickly pulled on my trousers. My eyes were firmly fixed upon her body. She looked like some kind of angel of beauty sprawled out upon the double bed. ‘You have no idea how stunning you look. I am going to be so naughty when I get back.’

Chapter Forty-Six: House Guest

***

The world swirled, as I gingerly made my way down the stairs. My mouth was feeling very dry. My head was feeling light. I felt like laughing. This was one weird night. Brendan goes and shoots himself in the face and then I end up having a sex-a-thon with a married woman. Fairly sure I am going to burn in hell for this.

‘Okay, Lucy,’ I grumbled.

She was yapping so loud that she could shatter glass. It was constant.

I unlocked the front door. It was only now I realised I had left my t-shirt on the bedroom floor. Fuck it. This is what happens when you come to someone’s house this late at night. I opened the front door and my heart stopped. It was Clarissa. She was wearing a beautiful violet coloured dress. Had she just come back off her date?

‘Hey.’

‘Clarissa, what are you doing here?’ My words were slightly slurred.

‘You’re drunk?’ She chuckled. ‘I thought I would come over and see you.’

‘What about your date with Tyler?’

‘It is over.’ She was smiling from ear to ear. ‘I went out with him. It was a pleasant evening, but I couldn’t stop thinking about you. I couldn’t stop thinking about the things you said. You are right. This is a no brainer. You and I should be together. We don’t have to date. We were made for each other. I told Tyler that I wanted to be with you. I am here because I want to be with you...’

My heart sank down into the pit of my stomach.

‘Hello,’ said Isabella from behind me.

I wanted the earth to open up and swallow me.

Clarissa opened her mouth to talk, but no words came out. She glanced at me and then Isabella. Isabella was dressed in one of my t-shirts, which was slightly too big for her and reached about half-way down her silky thighs. This situation didn’t look good no matter how you looked at it. Isabella and I were half naked. Clarissa turned around and walked away.

‘I will be right back,’ I told Isabella, as I followed Clarissa out.

Clarissa was quick stepping towards her car.

She got inside the car, slammed the door, and started the engine.

‘Clarissa, wait.’

‘Fuck you, Logan,’ she snapped angrily. ‘Fuck you and your fucking whore.’

‘This...’ This isn’t what it seems? It was exactly what it seems. ‘I thought you were with Tyler.’

‘How could you do this to me? I actually thought you loved me.’ The car pulled away from the curb and sped off down the street.

‘But... I do love you.’

What have I done?

Chapter Forty-Seven: The Day the World Ends

***

My heart was beating so hard that it felt like it might burst out through my ribcage. I tried to swallow, but my mouth was dry. A cold shiver ran down the full length of my spine. The atmosphere felt so tense and morbid. The stench of death seemed to hang over me like some kind of foreboding rain cloud. The edges of my vision were blurred. I glanced down at my hands. They were dripping in blood. Unconsciously, I wiped my hands against my shirt. Panic was starting to set it.

‘The end is coming,’ spoke a soft female voice.

I looked into the darkness that surrounded me. It was like I was floating in deep space. There was nothing around me. I could see no ground, no sky, no buildings or structures. I was in a black void of nothingness. A faint click reached my ears. It sounded like someone pulling on the cord of a bathroom light. A light bulb, appearing to hang from the darkness, illuminated a small section of the void. My eyes widened with shock. A sickening sensation filled my stomach. A dead body lay upon the ground. The head had been crushed. Blood, snot and brain matter dripped out like some kind of leaky tap.

‘Logan, look what I have,’ said Samantha. My ex-girlfriend was standing in the darkness behind me. She was wearing a long white dress. The dress seemed to glow. It was like the very fabric was created by light. She held a baby within her arms. I could feel my heart breaking, as the baby cried. I could see its little hands reaching up into the air. I watched in horror, as tears of blood dripped out of Samantha’s eyes and fell down upon the baby. This wasn’t like normal tears. It was like watching someone pour a cup of red paint down her face. The baby was drowning in the blood. ‘I killed my baby for you. It was all for you. I love you, Logan.’

A gunshot rang like a church bell.

I spun one hundred and eight degrees and looked in the direction of the sound.

I nearly vomited.

A man was sitting in a leather chair. His face had been completely removed. All that remained was blood, gore, brains and bones. His lifeless body was sitting limp, as a smoking gun hung with the grasp of his hand. Had this man just shot himself in the face? Why would he do that? What was going on here? What did this mean?

‘No!’ A voice screamed out of the darkness. ‘No!’

Was that me?

‘No!’ The one word rang over and over like the toll of a bell. ‘No! No! No! No!’ Flashing lights forced away the darkness and the voice. I raised a hand to shield my eyes. The lights were so bright. What was going on? I turned away and looked in the other direction, but still the lights continued to flash. Suddenly, the lights disappeared. I stood alone in the centre of the black void. There was nothing around me. There was no bodies, no blood, no Samantha, no baby, no lights. I was alone in a silent darkness. It was then that a strange sense of peace and tranquillity seemed to blossom like a flower within the depths of my body. It felt nice.

‘You can do this,’ said a voice in my ear.

Who said that?

‘You can do this.’

I can do what?

‘You can do this.’

What am I supposed to do? No one has told me? I am not ready for this.

‘You CAN do this.’

You need to tell me what I have to do.

‘YOU CAN DO THIS!’

Chapter Forty-Eight: The Hug

***

‘So, what do you want to do today?’ Isabella hugged me from behind. It was such a loving and genuine cuddle. I stroked my hand along her forearm, as she placed her chin upon my shoulder. ‘Do you want me to get out of your hair? I can go if you have books to work on.’ She sounded so cute when she was uncertain and nervous. Unconsciously, I turned to face her. She looked like an angel that had been sent down from heaven. I cupped her gorgeous face within my hands and lifted her lips towards me. I kissed her. It was one of those kisses that stopped time. It felt right.

‘What do you want to do today?’ I countered with a question of my own.

‘I would like to stay with you.’ She looked nervously towards the floor. ‘That’s if you want me to.’

I kissed her a second time.

‘I want you to stay. I warn you. It is going to be a bit boring. This is where you find out I am not as exciting as you think I am.’

‘Don’t be daft.’ She wrapped her arms around my torso and hugged me again. It had been so long since I had actually held someone. Clarissa and I had hot sex, but we never held each other. Samantha and I used to hold each other. It was a sign of affection. It was one of those little things you did when you wanted to be near a person you had strong emotional feelings for. Isabella really did care about me. It felt nice to feel loved. I placed my hand upon the back of her head and held her close. ‘I am happy just being near you. We don’t have to do anything. I just want to spend time with you.’

‘When is your husband home?’

I could feel her tense up at the question.

‘He will be back about mid-day, but I might be able to come out for an hour or so a little later.’

‘So, I have you until lunch time?’

‘You can have me anyway you want.’

‘Don’t tempt me.’

‘I don’t need to tempt you.’ She looked up into my eyes. ‘I am yours, Logan. You are the only man I want to be with. I am in love with you.’

She was in love with me?

I could see she really meant it. I could feel the aura of love that surrounded her very existence. When she looked upon me it was like I was wrapped in a protective bubble of love and happiness. Isabella wasn’t just saying what I wanted to hear. She actually meant these words. I could feel a warm glow in the centre of my chest. She is married, but maybe this is possible. Could Isabella and I really work? Could Isabella be the woman I am supposed to be with? Did I love her?

Chapter Forty-Nine: Countdown

***

I carried the painting up the stairs. It looked a bit weird having it lying around the house. Isabella had asked one or two question, but I had managed to shrug them off. I had already tucked the shoebox with the gun beneath my bed. The shower hummed loudly through the bathroom door. Isabella and I had worked up quite a sweat this morning. It was nice spending the start of the day with her. It felt normal. I had forgotten what having breakfast and normal conversation with a woman was like. Clarissa and I talked, but it always ended up with us fucking. Did I really have feelings for her? Was I blinded by lust and passion? There was no denying we were good friends. I gave my head a quick shake. I was just trying to justify what I did last night. There was no excuse for what happened. Clarissa and I were going to go on a date and try to make this work, but I had ended up in bed with Isabella. I cannot blame my decision on alcohol. I should have known better. It is just that I do have feelings for Isabella, too. I didn’t know Clarissa was going to dump Tyler and come to my house. I couldn’t have predicted that in a million years. I don’t know what I am going to do about Clarissa. I don’t know what I am going to do about Isabella. It is just nice to feel loved. It is nice to know someone cares for me. Is it a coincidence that all this is happening today? The day when the world is supposed to end? It doesn’t feel like the world is going to end. I actually feel happy. I feel good about today. This is the most content and relaxed I have felt about my life in a long time. Isabella has restored the calm and tranquillity to my soul. I know she is married, but we can work through this. We will be together. I just want today to be over with, so I can put these stupid dreams behind me and focus on starting a new life with Isabella.

Chapter Fifty: The Morning Walk

***

Bird songs echoed throughout the canopy above. Isabella and I walked hand in hand down the country lane. I could feel the heat on the back of my neck from the baking sun. There was not a single cloud in the sky. It was a beautiful summer’s day and I was spending it with such a special woman. Isabella hadn’t stopped smiling all morning. It was infectious. I felt so good to be near her. Lucy zigzagged across the path in front of us, smelling all the various bushes and the markings left by other dogs.

‘You are so lucky, Logan.’

‘I am?’

‘Yes. This is such a wonderful place to live. Do you walk here every day?’

‘I tend to walk Lucy twice a day. She is getting on a bit now, which means sometimes we only go for one walk in the winter, as her legs get a little stiff. On days like today we generally go out twice. I take her here, as it is on our doorstep, but sometimes we go down the beach. It is really peaceful and relaxing down there.’

‘You will have to show me sometime.’

‘I would love to. There is no rush. You will see it a lot when you are my girlfriend.’

‘Aren’t I your girlfriend already?’

‘You are still married.’

‘I know...’ she sounded sad. ‘I decided to tell him that I have found someone else. I will wait until he goes away this weekend and then pack up my gear and move in with my parents. I will phone him when he returns and tell him it is over. You and I can then be boyfriend and girlfriend.’ She gave my hand a little squeeze. ‘I always dreamed of meeting a caring man like you, Logan.’

I kissed her upon the forehead.

She did say the cutest things.

‘Can I ask you a question?’

‘You can ask me anything,’ I replied.

‘Who was that woman last night?’

A cold shiver ran down my spine. How did I describe my relationship with Clarissa? How did I explain what she meant to me? I could exactly tell her that we were fuck buddies, how shallow and horrible would that make me look? I had to pick my words carefully. I didn’t want to ruin this relationship, too.

‘That was my friend, Clarissa.’

‘She is just a friend?’

‘Well...’ I hesitated slightly. I let out a deep sigh. Honesty was the best policy. There was no way I could even attempt a relationship with Isabella if it was built upon a foundation of lies. ‘Clarissa and I have known each other for a very long time. We have had an off and on relationship for many years. Recently, we have been talking about going on a few dates and seeing how things get on. I agreed to go out with her after I found out you were married. I think I was so upset that I thought you betrayed and tricked me I just wanted someone’s company.’

‘I can understand that. Finding out I was married must have been a shock for you. Why was she so upset with you last night?’

‘We had agreed to go out this weekend. It was to be our first official date. Last night, she was on a date with her ex-boyfriend Tyler. She loves him and the two of them are constantly breaking up with each other. The guy is a bit of a dick. I didn’t expect to see her last night. In truth, I thought she would end up in bed with Tyler and the two of them would work it out. I didn’t think she would come around to my house to confess she wanted to be with me.’

Isabella stopped in her tracks.

‘She wants to be with you?’

‘Yes.’

‘That was why she stormed off when she saw me?’

‘Yes.’ I looked towards the ground.

‘Does she love you?’

‘I don’t know.’

‘Do you love her?’

I replied by shrugging my shoulders. ‘I don’t know.’

‘Do you love me...?’ This time it was her turn to break eye contact.

‘Honestly?’

She nodded her head.

‘I don’t know.’ I could tell from the disappointed look upon her face that she was upset by this answer. ‘I told you all about my ex-girlfriend Samantha.’

‘Yes.’

‘You know what she did to me?’

‘I do.’

‘It is so difficult for me to trust anyone. It is hard for me to put myself out there. I don’t know if I will be able to ever fully trust someone after what she did. She killed my baby. The last few weeks you and I have been talking for hours on end. We talk all freaking night.’ Isabella giggled. ‘We talk about our lives, our loves, our hates, our interests and our families. We can talk for hours on end about pointless things. How many other couples can do that? I am crazy about you. You are a really friendly, kind, fun, intelligent, interesting and such a sexy woman. I love talking to you. I love being in your company. I was so excited about our date. I never thought we would end up in bed together. I was so happy by what we did, but when your husband turned up I thought you were just like Samantha. I thought that maybe I was just a play thing to you.’

‘That was never my intention.’

‘I know this now. I am crazy about you. I really am. I just need time. I need time to get my head around the fact you are married. I need to build up trust. It was just a shock to the system.’

‘I do love you,’ said Isabella. ‘These are not just words. I do love you. You make me happy. I am not going anywhere, Logan. I am going to leave my husband. I am going to be with you. I will spend every single day proving to you how much I love you. I know you will love me back. I will earn your trust.’

Chapter Fifty-One: The World Goes On

***

I pushed the shopping trolley down the aisle, as I searched for a bag of dog biscuits. Lucy was at that age where I had to get a special kind. She had a very sensitive stomach. Isabella had returned home to her husband. She would play the innocent housewife for a couple of hours. I would see her tonight at some point. In a few days she would leave her husband. I think I will believe that our relationship is possible when that actually happens. Actions speak louder than words.

I found the biscuits and placed them into the trolley.

I ticked “dog biscuits” off the mental shopping list in my head. Next on the list was wine. I wanted to get something nice to share with Isabella. I turned left at the end of the aisle and walked by a row of checkouts. A young brunette smiled politely, as she walked on by. I smiled back. The voice of doubted started to grow louder in the back of my mind, was this really the day the world was going to end? It didn’t seem possible, or realistic. I had been counting down the days in my dreams. Every single night I would dream of the world ending. A voice would tell me I had X amount of days left. I really believed that it was going to happen. I thought some kind of nuclear war would happen and the world would be changed once and for all. As I look around the super store I don’t see how it is possible. Nothing has happened in the news. No one is worrying about the global situation. Yes. The economy is fucked, but people aren’t walking around like the world is about to end. People are going about their daily lives.

Was I wrong?

Are my predictions nothing more than graphic dreams?

Are my dreams nothing more than my brain trying to process the events in my life?

Have I given these dreams such power over me?

What about Brendan? Was meeting him a coincidence? How could we both dream the exact same things if they were not real? Why haven’t other people been dreaming the same thing? Has a single person in this super store ever dreamed about the end of the world? Why was it only Brendan and I? It just doesn’t seem possible. It doesn’t feel like the end of the world. I sometimes feel a sense of dread hanging over me, but today I feel good. I feel happy to be alive. I am going to be starting a new relationship with Isabella. This is a step forward in the right direction.

A thought occurred to me.

Are my dreams about the end of the world?

My dreams could be about the start of a new life?

Yes. My life with Samantha has finally come to an end. Isabella could be what the dreams are about. It cannot be a random occurrence that she is now in my life. The woman looks like she should be a movie star. She is funny, cute, intelligent and interesting. She is everything and more. I sometimes wonder why she is with me. I am nobody. I am nothing. Is this what the dreams are about? Have I had the interpretations wrong? It wasn’t about the world ending. It was about starting my new life with Isabella.

It did beg the questions.

What about the gun?

What about the dead bodies?

What about all the blood?

It didn’t matter. In ten hours it will be midnight and this day will be over. The countdown is on. In ten hours the day of prophecy will come to an end and my new life with Isabella will begin. It is only ten hours. I just need to get through the next ten hours.

Chapter Fifty-Two: Breaking News

***

The drive back home was always very pleasant. I was lucky enough to live out in the country, which meant I could take the scenic route home. Outside of town were several farms, which have some really strange and beautiful animals. One farm always interested me. It had a field filled with cows, but these were not just any cows. They were highland cows. They looks liked miniature wholly mammoths. Well, in my opinion they did. My family never could see the comparison. I just found them amusing, which was why I always came by this way whenever I returned from the city centre.

‘Breaking news,’ said the voice of the reporter on the radio. ‘A truck filled with explosives has been detained in New York this morning. Police have arrested the driver of the vehicle. Stay tuned for more information.’

It was a terrorist attack?

Was this part of the apocalypse?

Was this how it all started?

I could feel my heart starting to throb within my chest. I had to get home. I had to get online and find out what was happening. This couldn’t be happening. It isn’t fair. I am finally happy. The end of the world cannot happen. I pressed my foot down the accelerator and sped down the country lane. If this was the end of the world, and my dreams were true, then there must be a way for me to stop it.

Chapter Fifty-Three: Six Hours until Midnight

***

The day drifted by, as the countdown continued. In six hours the day of the apocalypse would be over and I will be free of these damn dreams. I just had to get through the next six hours without anything bad happening. The truck bomb had been defused and removed. The suspect was part of a terrorist organisation, but the police believed that he was working alone. New York City and all of the United States of America were on alert. It would have to be a genius terror attack to crack the heightened security. If that was the catalyst for the apocalypse, did that mean the end of the world would not happen?

I picked up my cell phone and glanced at the screen.

I was kind of hoping Clarissa would call me.

She hadn’t.

Maybe I should call her? I am the one that is in the wrong after all. Should I explain about Brendan, and how I was drunk and upset? Did that justify me sleeping with Isabella? What if she asked me to stop seeing Isabella? Would I? Could I? Did I want to? I have strong feelings for Isabella. Last night and this morning were so nice. It felt like I was starting to have some form of normality in my life again. I don’t want to lose Clarissa. She means so much to me. I like her so much. I am so attracted to her. I could be happy with either of these women. I didn’t want to lose Clarissa as my friend. I should call her. I should call her and let her swear at me. She will be pissed for a while, but I know she will forgive me.

I picked up my cell phone and called Clarissa.

It rang twice then she answered. I was met by silence.

‘Clarissa?’

‘What do you want?’ She sounded incredibly pissed.

‘I wanted to see how you are.’

‘Why?’

‘I care about you.’

‘Fuck off, Logan. You care about getting laid.’

‘No. Last night was a mistake.’

‘You couldn’t wait until the weekend? You had to go fuck that bimbo?’

‘It wasn’t that. I was upset about a friend of mine that...’

‘Fuck off. I don’t believe I actually trusted you. I thought you and I were going to make this happen. You are just like every other guy. You say one thing, but all you really want is sex. Don’t call me anymore. I am not your friend. I hate you, Logan.’ It felt like someone was stabbing a knife into my chest. Hate was such a powerful word. I knew she would be upset, but what can I say to this? How could I make Clarissa like me again?

‘I want to fix this.’

‘I don’t.’

‘Please don’t be like this.’

‘Be like what? I told my ex-boyfriend it was over because I wanted to be with you. I came to your house to tell you I loved you and I find you fucking some bitch? Screw you, Logan.’ The phone line went dead. I let out a long weary sigh and sat back in my chair. Was that it? Did Clarissa not want to hear from me again? No. I would give it a few days and call her back. I will wait for her anger to subside. She might just forgive me. It will take awhile, but we can rebuild our friendship.

An e-mail appeared in my inbox.

‘What’s this?’ It was from the publisher I was about to sign for.

I opened the message.

‘Dear Logan, I regret to inform you that we will not be accepting your novel for publication.’ It was like having a ton of bricks dropped upon my shoulders. I was so surprised by the opening line that I re-read it several times. My brain just didn’t seem to want to accept it. The publisher was rejecting my adult novel? They had agreed to it in principle. It just needed the main person to sign off on it, but they had rejected it. On what grounds had they rejected it? ‘We wish you luck with the manuscript. It was a well written and well thought out story, but it is not right for our publishing house.’

That was it.

I was jobless.

The publisher had rejected my book.

‘What the fuck am I going to do?’ I cradled my head within the palms of my hands. I had just cut my ties with the old publisher. I was so sure they would sign my novel. I will have to go through the whole submission process again. That will take months. It will then take months of edits and promotion. It could be another year or two before my book is out. What am I going to do for work until then?

Chapter Fifty-Four: Four Hours until Midnight

***

Lucy yapped and jumped up at the front door. She was my early warning system. I didn’t even know how she did it. No one had knocked. Lucy had been sat in the front room with me when suddenly she jumped up, started yapping, and headed for the front door. Just how good was her hearing? She could hear a car door slam outside the house and footsteps coming up the driveway. I opened the door and greeted Isabella with a nice big smile. Her hand raised in the air, as she prepared to knock.

‘You must be psychic.’

She stepped into the house and kissed me upon the lips.

It felt so natural.

‘Hello, Lucy. Have you been a good girl?’ Lucy wagged her tail excitedly. Isabella stepped by me, as she kicked off her shoes. I could hear her unzipping her long brown knee length coat. ‘My husband will be back in about an hour and a half. I will have to beat him home. So, I think we might have an hour to ourselves.’

I closed the front door and locked it.

‘What do you fancy doing? Have you eaten?’

I turned to face her and froze. For a brief moment in time my brain stopped working. Isabella was standing in the hallway in her bra and panties. Had she come to my house like that? Her clothes were not on the floor, but her coat was hanging on the hook. Had she just come in her underwear and a coat? I was practically drooling, as I looked her up and down and then down and up again. She looked stunning. I could feel something happening down between my thighs. I could see her nipples through the white fabric of her bra. She giggled, as a blush appeared upon her face.

‘You like?’

‘You look incredible.’

She stepped into my personal space and curled her fingers beneath the base of my t-shirt. She lifted it up off the top of my head. I aided her in removing it. I looked down upon her perky breasts. They were giving birth to a million and one naughty thoughts and ideas. I stroked the tip of my finger around her erect nipple. Isabella sighed, but continued to undress me. The next to go were my trousers. She popped open the button, pulled down my zipper and got onto her knees, as she guided my trousers and boxer shorts down. I stepped out of them. Isabella tossed them down the hallway. I was now naked. She looked up at me and smiled. My dick was growing harder before her very eyes. I deep sigh escaped my lips, as she ran the tip of her tongue along the underside of my long shaft. Upon reaching the top she took the head within her mouth. At no point did she use her hands. Isabella began to bob her head back and forth, as she sucked me off. I breathed deeply and brushed my fingers through her gorgeous hair.

‘Logan,’ she muttered my name.

‘Yes?’

‘Do you remember what it felt like when you pushed your cock inside of me?’

‘Yes.’ How could I forget? Isabella had been so sexy. I had entered her skin on skin.

‘I want to do something naughty.’

‘Okay.

‘I want to fuck you unprotected.’

Did I just hear her correctly? She sucked my cock a little faster.

‘I loved feeling you inside of me. I want you to fuck me unprotected. You can pull out and cum over my tits, or in my mouth, but I really want you inside of me. Will you do it?’

Chapter Fifty-Five: Danger

***

Was I really doing this? I couldn’t be doing this, right? I was smarter than this. I looked down upon Isabella. She was lying naked upon the bed beneath me. Her panties and bra had been removed. Sweet little smiles split her lips between desperate moans. Her face was a mask of lust mixed with a hint of agony. I had pinned her arms to the bed above her head. The way her tits bounced back and forth was captivating. My bedsprings creaked in protest. I could feel her pussy gripping the shaft of my cock. It felt so good to be inside of her. The warmth of her body was melting my mind. Her pussy was so tight and wet. It sounded like such a tacky thing to say, but I had never felt a pussy like hers. I was pulling my cock to the point that it nearly slipped out of her body and then forcefully pushing it all the way back inside. A cute high pitched moan escaped her mouth with each thrust. At no point did we break eye contact.

‘Logan, your cock is amazing.’

I did love the way she talked dirty during sex.

‘Your pussy feels so fucking good.’

‘It is yours. You own my pussy.’

God, that was hot!

‘I do?’

‘Yes.’

‘Say it again,’ I told her.

‘You own my pussy.’

I leaned down and pressed my lips against hers. It was a rushed and clumsy kiss, but I needed to feel her tongue within my mouth. It didn’t last long. I didn’t want to disrupt my concentration. It was taking every last bit of mental strength to stop myself from erupting inside of her. I don’t think Isabella fully understood just how attractive she was. She was the type of woman that men jerked off to. I didn’t want to let this end too quickly, but then again I didn’t want any accidents. This was a dangerous game we were playing. I had to pull out of her before I climaxed. It didn’t matter if I sprayed it all over her stomach. It would be foolish to cum inside of her.

‘I am so close,’ she moaned erotically.

The strained tone to her voice nearly caused me to finish.

I gifted her with a cheeky smile and rolled my hips harder and faster.

‘Fuck!’ Her breasts heaved, as her breathing grew short and sharp.

I could see the look of anticipation behind the windows of her soul.

‘You are so fucking sexy.’

‘So are you, Logan. Are you close?’

‘Yes.’

I could feel her pussy gripping me. ‘How close?’

‘I will need to pull out in a moment.’

‘Do you want to?’ Her hips squirmed beneath me.

‘W-well...’ I stuttered nervously. Of course I didn’t want to pull out. How fucking amazing would it feel to cum inside her? But it would be a stupid mistake. It was dangerous. She could get pregnant. Isabella wrapped her legs around the back of my thighs, as she pulled me in close with her arms. I pressed my muscular body down on top of her. The feel of her skin against mine was intoxicating.

‘Don’t pull out.’

‘Isabella, we...’

She cut me off. ‘Don’t stop, Logan. Do it inside of me.’

‘It’s dangerous.’ I said one thing, but at no point did I stop fucking her.

‘Baby, you own me. I want you to make me yours. Fill my pussy with cum.’

How did this woman do this to me? This was dumb. I shouldn’t do this. I know I shouldn’t do this, but her words seemed to have power over me. I went to open my mouth to reply, but I was too late. It happened.

‘Logan!’ Isabella cried out. I could feel her muscles locking, as she dug her fingernails into my back. She threw back her head, as she bear hugged me with her arms and legs. The sensation of her tight pussy clenching the shaft of my cock was too good. A wave of pressure dropped from the depths of my stomach and rushed like a tsunami towards my groin. The headboard of my bed thumped off the wall, as I drilled my dick inside of her as hard as I could. I was using every single muscle within my body to roll my hips and penetrate her as deep as I could. I grabbed handfuls of the bed sheet, as a euphoric supernova ignited within my soul. My hips jolted and my cock erupted. Isabella cried out with delight, as I climaxed inside her gorgeous body.

My hips went into overdrive.

‘Isabella!’

‘Logan!’

‘Fuck!’

‘Yes. Logan!’

‘Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!’

‘Don’t stop!’ Her voice was filled with desperation.

I grit my teeth and continued to fuck her, but where my mind was strong, my body was weak. We went on for a handful of seconds, but the sheer power of the orgasm has zapped my body of all of its energy supplies. My hips rolled to a standstill. Isabella continued to squirm and moan for nearly a minute, as aftershocks of pleasure rippled throughout the core of her body. I couldn’t move. The tiniest movement caused bolts of orgasmic delight to pulse down my cock. Our heavy breathing filled the silent house.

Chapter Fifty-Six: Three Hours until Midnight

***

‘I can’t decide,’ I admitted.

‘You have to pick,’ giggled Isabella.

‘This is a tough call, but I think having you on top is my favourite. That way I get to look up at your beautiful face.’ She cuddled into me and buried her head into my naked chest. Our arms and legs were wrapped around each other. It was like two human beings had been tied into a knot. ‘What is your favourite?’

‘I think when you were on top. I love being on top, too, and I loved it when you took me from behind, but I think the first time you cum inside of me will stay with me forever. It was just so insanely hot. You were so good. That makes me officially your property.’

‘I am yours, too.’

‘You are?’

‘Yes.’

‘What about not trusting me?’ Isabella asked.

‘Isabella, we have just had unprotected sex several times. I trust you.’

‘You do?’ she looked up at me and smiled. ‘That makes me so happy.’

We shared a sweet kiss.

‘I love you, Logan.’

‘I love you, too.’

‘Do you really mean that?’

‘Yes.’

‘You’re not just saying that?’

‘No. I wouldn’t say something like that if I didn’t mean it. I love you.’

‘I wish I didn’t have to go home tonight.’

‘There is an easy answer to that. Don’t go home. Stay here with me.’

‘I can’t do that.’

‘Why is that?’

‘You don’t know my husband. He will go mental.’

‘He won’t know where you are. You can live here with me. We can start a proper relationship together.’

‘You are too good to me, Logan, but I need to wait until the weekend. I want to pack up all my stuff and move it out when he is away. It is only a couple of days. I will be free of him and we can start our new life together. That does mean you get to have as much skin on skin sex with me as you want. You don’t even have to ask. I am yours. It doesn’t matter where we are, what we are doing, if you want me, you can have me.’

‘I like the sound of that.’

‘It works two ways,’ said Isabella.

‘It does, does it?’ I replied with a cheeky grin.

‘Yes. That nice long tasty cock is going to be in my mouth all the time. I own it.’

‘You do.’

She stared into my eyes for one long moment.

‘I should go.’

‘I wish you didn’t have to.’

‘I know. Would it make you feel better if I sucked your cock before I went?’

‘That doesn’t even deserve a reply.’

Isabella giggled, as I rolled onto my back. A warm glow filled my heart, as she walked a gentle line of kisses down my chest, across my abdomen and down towards my groin. Was this really happening? I am sure I was going to wake up in a minute and find out this was all a dream. She was too good to be true. She took me within her mouth.

‘Isabella...’

Chapter Fifty-Seven: Parting Ways

***

I leaned in through the window and kissed Isabella one last final time. She cupped my face within her delicate hands, as she sucked softly upon my tongue. I let out a deep sigh, as I stood up and stepped back from the car. Isabella was wearing an eye consuming smile. I didn’t know who was happier, her or me.

‘Have fun on your walk, Lucy.’

Lucy recognised the word “walk” and wagged her tail.

‘Text me when you get home.’

‘I will do.’

‘Okay.’

There was a long pause, as we both just stared at each other, grinning like idiots.

‘Love you, Logan.’

‘I love you.’

Isabella switched on the engine and pulled away from the curb. She waved her hand out the window, as she disappeared off down the street. Something sad tugged on my heart. A hollow sensation filled my stomach. I didn’t like watching her go. I wanted Isabella to stay with me. I know it was selfish, but it had been so long since I have been truly happy with another person. She just makes me feel so good when I am near her. I looked down towards Lucy on her lead. She was sitting on the pavement beside me.

‘Shall we go for a walk?’

She wagged her tail.

‘Okay. Let’s go.’

Chapter Fifty-Eight: Under the Midnight Sky

***

Thousands upon thousands of twinkling stars were scattered across the canvas of deep black. A half moon covered the world in a lazy light. Lucy lagged slightly behind me, as she sniffed away at the various bushes. This was only going to be a quick walk. Out here there were no street lights, which meant it was very hard to walk across the uneven terrain in the dark. You were most likely going to trip over a tree root, falling branch, a pothole or slip over in mud. Lucy and I were walking the more popular dog walking route, which was a circuit about half a mile wide. It was mostly open land with the odd tree and plenty of bushes for her to investigate.

My thoughts drifted to my dreams.

Isabella had been a welcomed distraction.

My entire life seemed to be one big lie. I felt slightly stupid that I had put so much stock in these dreams. I had allowed them to dictate decisions I had made throughout my life, as I really did believe the end of the world was coming. I thought I had some kind of special role to play in all this, but this was the day of the apocalypse. This was the day the world was supposed to end, but nothing had happened. My life seems to have just continued on. Nothing out of the ordinary has happened. I thought I was getting these dreams for a reason. I thought maybe I could prevent whatever was going to happen. I never actually considered that nothing would happen. I was sure something big would have happened in the world.

In three hours the day will end.

I was one hundred and eighty minutes away from being free.

Once this day was gone then I could live a normal life.

I could live with Isabella.

I could be happy.

Lucy’s agonising scream broke the silence of the night. My heart stopped at the sound. It was a sound of sheer terror and pain. Within a second the sound stopped. I turned back to face Lucy, but was met by the sight of the big black Rottweiler. Its jaws were firmly clamped around the back of Lucy’s neck. My furry little sidekick was hanging limp in its mouth. Blood dripped from a large open wound upon the back of her neck. Suddenly, the two teenage boys appeared out of nowhere. They dived upon their dog and wrestled it to the ground. One boy fought to attach to lead to the collar, as the other boy stuck his fingers into the dog’s mouth and tried to pull Lucy free. I ran forward as fast as my legs could carry me. The demon dog growled, as Lucy dropped from its mouth. It took both of the boys the pin the dog down, as it started to thrash wildly and fight against the lead. I dropped to my knees beside Lucy.

‘Lucy?’

I picked her up, but her head hung limp.

The top half of her neck had been ripped out.

I could see bone.

Time seemed to stop, as I looked at the lifeless body of my best friend.

Lucy was dead.

They had killed her.

Tears began to fall.

‘Why are you walking that damn dog?’ I muttered. ‘Why isn’t it muzzled?’ My voice was broken and filled with sadness. ‘You know it is dangerous. I know it is dangerous.’ The boys were too busy wrestling their dog under control to even hear me. ‘EVERY SINGLE PERSON IN THIS FUCKING TOWN KNOWS THAT DOG IS DANGEROUS!’ I grabbed a rock off the floor beside Lucy. I was moving on auto-pilot. I knocked the boys to the side, as I loomed over the top of the growling dog. The rock came crashing down upon its skull. The dog whimpered, but did not go down. I brought the rock down a second time. A bone crunching snap echoed into the air. Blood splattered upon my face and t-shirt. I brought the rock down a third time.

‘Get off my dog!’ One of the boys grabbed my free arm.

‘FUCK OFF!’

I turned and struck him with the rock.

The Rottweiler staggered to its feet, but another shot to the head put it down again. I lost count how many times I hit this fucking piece of shit. All I saw was red. I just continued to strike the dog. After a while the dog stopped moving. I dropped the rock and looked down upon the dog. Its face was just a mound of flesh that oozed blood and brain matter. I raised my hands. They were soaked in blood. My hands, my face, my t-shirt and trousers were drenched in the blood from the dog. It was identical to my dream.

‘What have I done?’

‘You killed him...’ said a voice behind me.

‘I didn’t mean to. I was trying to save Lucy.’

I turned to face the boy. Horror struck me like a nuclear explosion in the face. The boy had not been talking about their dog. He was cradling his brother within his arms. One of the teenagers had a deep gash across the side of his head. Did I do that? When had I done that? He had tried to drag me off the dog, hadn’t he? Had I lashed out? I don’t remember. It is all a blur to me. I think I did. Did I hit him with the rock? Had I killed this boy?

The brother got up and run.

‘Help me!’ He screamed into the night. ‘Please, help me!’

‘What have I done?’

I stepped over the teenager and knelt down on the ground beside Lucy. I carefully placed my hands beneath her body and lifted her up into my arms. She felt so small and light. I began to sob, as I walked home.

Chapter Fifty-Nine: Call for Help

***

‘Why?’ I sobbed, ‘Why was this happening?’ Lucy’s lifeless body rested at the foot of my double bed. Blood had stained the bed sheets. I cradled my head in bloody hands, as tears rolled down my cheeks. ‘I DON’T UNDERSTAND!’ I screamed up at the ceiling. I didn’t care how vast or infinite the universe was, God would hear my voice.  ‘WHY DID YOU TAKE HER?’ I looked down at Lucy and cuddled her within my arms. ‘What am I going to do, Lucy?’ She was always there to lick my arm, or head butt me in the leg when I was sad. A wag of her tail always made me smile. ‘What am I going to do?’

My feet started moving before I gave the command. I exited the bedroom and walked down the stairs. Bloody handprints smeared the beige walls. I headed straight for the kitchen. I needed a drink. I need something to make the pain go away. I grabbed two bottles of wine from the bottom of the fridge. They were screw tops, which allowed for easy access. I gulped at one of the bottles. Most of the wine poured over my chin and down my body, but I didn’t care. I just needed to drink. Half a bottle disappeared within a matter of seconds. The wine tasted bitter tonight. I marched back through the house and headed up the stairs towards Lucy. I shouldn’t leave her alone. What did that mean? She was already gone.

The image of the dead boy appeared within my mind.

I fell to my knees upon the stairs.

I had killed that boy.

He was only a kid.

‘What have I done?’ I wiped the back of my hand across my eyes and continued up the stairs. I chugged on the bottle of wine as I returned to my bedroom. I was hoping to find Lucy standing on the bed with her tail wagging excitedly, but she was gone. Her body lay motionless, like some kind of puppet that has had it strings cut free. ‘I have to do something.’

I placed down a bottle of wine and picked up my phone.

I called my mum. She would know what to do. The phone began to ring.

‘Please, pick up.’ The phone rang some more. ‘Please.’ I was put through to the answer machine. It was silly. They would be in bed by now. I hung up and thought about it for a second. ‘Isabella!’ I called her phone.

‘I am sorry it has not been possible to put you through...’ began to automated message.

I hung up. ‘FUCK!’

I called Clarissa. The phone rang twice before she answered.

‘I told you not to call me,’ said Clarissa. She sounded tired.

‘Please, Clarissa....’ she hung up on me. ‘No. No. NO!’ I called her back. It went straight through to her voicemail. ‘Why is this happening to me? What should I do?’ A thought occurred to me. There was someone I could call. There was someone that would know what to do. She always knew what to do. I dialled the number. They answered on the third ring.

‘Logan?’ asked Samantha.

I hung up.

What am I doing?

Am I that desperate that I would call the woman that murdered my baby?

‘FUCK!’ I threw my cell phone across the room. It shattered into a million pieces, as it struck the wall. ‘What am I going to do? What am I going to do?’ I rocked back and forth on the end of the bed. And that is when I saw it. It was sitting on top of my chest of draws, propped up against the wall. It was Brendan’s painting. In the painting I was drenched in blood. In one hand I held the bottle of wine. I looked down towards the bottle of wine in my left hand. In the painting I held the gun in the other hand. I leaned down and reached between my legs. The shoebox was tucked beneath the bed. I dragged it out and tossed away the lid. The revolver awaited me. Unconsciously, I reached down and plucked it from the box. I got to my feet and stood in front of the painting. It was like looking into a mirror. Brendan had been right. His dreams had been correct. I now understood. I understood what it all meant.

Chapter Sixty: Personal Apocalypse

***

‘Is that the answer?’ I asked the world. I didn’t know if I should laugh or cry. It was like God was playing some kind of cruel trick on me. I had believed in the dreams. I had believed that I was special. I thought God had some kind of plan for me, but I was nothing more than a play thing for him. It all made sense. All my life I had been dreaming of the apocalypse. Every single night the countdown would tick away, as I drew one day closer to the end of the world. It was like everything in my life was leading me to this point in time. The dreams were starting to make sense. I understood the bloody hands, the dead body, Samantha and the baby, and Brendan’s suicide. How long would it be before the final part of the dream took place?

My question was answered.

The sound of sirens echoed into the air, as police cars skidded in front of my house. The flashing lights illuminated the interior of my house and forced back the darkness of the night. It was the final part of the dream. It was the flashing lights. I hadn’t been sure what they were, but now I had my answer. That kid’s brother must have gone straight to the police. He knew where I lived. It was over. I was going to go to jail. I was going to be branded a murderer for what I had done, but I wasn’t a murderer. I just wanted to kill that fucking dog. If they had just muzzled it then this would never have happened. It killed Lucy.

‘Why?’ I sobbed. ‘I thought I was special. I thought this all had some important meaning. I truly believed the end of the world would come.’ I started to laugh, as I looked down upon the revolver within my hand. ‘I understand. The end of the world is here. The moment I had dreamed about all my life has arrived. I really thought something grand would happen. I thought a new chapter in the Earth’s history would be written upon this day, but it isn’t anything so special. This isn’t a global apocalypse. This is my own personal apocalypse. My world has ended.’

I tossed aside the bottle of wine and climbed onto the bed. I carefully scooped Lucy up within one arm and sat with my back pressed up against the headboard. I remember picking her up as a puppy. She had been so brave and friendly. She had been the only puppy in the litter that came up and started to play with me. I had not been the one to pick her. She had picked me. I lifted Lucy up and kissed her upon the top of the head.

‘We are going to a better place now,’ I told her. ‘Granddad and Grandma will be waiting for us. Everyone will be waiting for us. And you will get to play with my baby. She will be waiting for us on the other side... my baby.’ I felt like laughing. That’s right. She will be waiting for us. She will be alive on the other side. ‘I will finally be able to see my baby? I will finally be able to see my baby!’

I took in a long deep breath of air.

I could hear something crashing against the front door of the house.

The police were coming in.

I exhaled a slow deep breath through my nose and lifted the revolver to my head. I pressed the barrel against my right temple and closed my eyes. This was it. This is what I have been waiting for all my life. My own personal apocalypse was going to happen. Voices yelled up through the house. My breathing grew short and sharp. I hugged Lucy close, as I clenched my teeth. The image of my baby appeared within my mind’s eye. I tried to picture what she may look like. Would she be happy to see me? Would she reach up with her little arms and smile upon her father? I rolled the word “father” around in my mind. I liked the sound of that. I was going to be a Daddy. I was going to be a Daddy to the most beautiful baby in the whole wide world. I was finally going to see my child.

I squeezed the trigger.

***

The End

Books by John Sheridan

***

The Lake of Love

Dance of Deceit

Lust Virus: Infection

Game of Lust

Life of a Sex Addict