The Outlands

Josh watched as Natalie walked towards the raging storm. Every part of him wanted to run after her and pull her back to safety. Tell her there was another way. There had to be another way. But he knew she was right. The darkness would never stop reaching for her. She would never sleep again. She would never live. So, he let her go. Natalie was his childhood friend and love of his life. Once again, he let her go.

Natalie turned back to look at Josh. As though looking for reassurance. The heart-shaped locket clutched in her hand like a crutch. The same locket she had since they were children. With the same faded photo of her family inside. The family she would never return home to.

Natalie looked terrified of what lay ahead. Tears fell down her cheeks. She felt it too, Josh guessed. The gut feeling that maybe this was not the answer. Josh nodded. Giving her the reassurance Natalie was looking for. She turned back towards the storm and moved closer.

Lightning strikes landed all around Natalie. The storm grew bigger. Excited by her arrival. Her long hair was flowing all around her giving her a goddess appearance. She was beautiful. Of all the people on the Earth, Josh wondered why Natalie had to be the chosen one. The bridge between humanity and this world. The one person who could save humanity or end it. A coin flip. Heads or tails. Which will it be?

Josh should have seen the signs, though. All the stories of shadowy visitors and whispers in the darkness. All the times Natalie woke up in the middle of the woods sleepwalking. Josh just thought Natalie was a troubled kid. Thought her imagination was running wild. That was not the case at all. The creature had been summoning her all along.

It was not chance that Natalie found the entrance and was able to cross through freely. Unguided. That has never happened before. It was not chance that she found Josh all those years after he disappeared. No, it was fate. It was always meant to be. Natalie is the key. There was no stopping this from happening.

The shadows danced around Natalie excitedly. Screaming and howling with joy. Pleasing their master. Natalie’s body was lifted off the ground as though she was weightless. She was no longer in control. Then she was gone. Into the dark storm. Just like that.

The storm went quiet. The lightning stopped. The thunder stopped. The black clouds dissipated. As it cleared, Josh could see Natalie standing back on the ground. Staring in the opposite direction. Back towards the Outlands.

Josh’s team said nothing as they witnessed the scene unfolding in front of them. An eerie silence filled the bunker as they waited to see what was next. Natalie turned around. But it was no longer Natalie. Her eyes glowed red, just as the creatures Josh’s team had been hunting all these years. The creature now bore the skin of the girl Josh once snuck kisses to in the woods behind their homes. Natalie was no longer there.

The creature sat still for a few minutes making no movements. Josh grew nervous wondering what its first move would be. The creature scanned to the left. Then to the right. It then locked eyes with Josh. Even though the creature was hundreds of feet away, he could see the growing, clown like grin that covered its face. It let out a howling laugh that pierced Josh’s ears. The sound was sickening.

The soldiers in the bunker covered their ears in agony at the shriek. Josh stood still. Watching every move of the creature. Trying to predict what might happen. His heart hammered in his chest. His weapon ready to fire at any given moment.

There was a flash of blinding light. By the time Josh could recover, the creature was gone. All that remained was miles and miles of desert and decay. There was no sign of Natalie or any of the creatures.

“Let’s get back to camp. Now!” Josh told his team. “It’s time.”

Back at camp, the unit had continued preparing for the creatures’ arrival. It was only a matter of time before it came with its Army. The creature now had its bridge to cross over. The veil had been lowered. Humanity was in danger.

Josh knew the plan. He had rehearsed and researched it over and over. Hand over the one thing the creature needed: Natalie. Allow him passage to the portal. He will be the most vulnerable in human form once the portal is open. Only humans are allowed to pass through. Wait until the portal is open. One shot to the heart. Josh would try to save Natalie’s life and hopefully the creature would be dead.

It was simple. But what if it didn’t work? The plan was only a prediction. What if killing the creature opened the portal for anyone or anything to pass between the worlds. Would the world around Josh collapse? Would both worlds collapse? No one had answers to any of the questions. There were also no other alternatives.

Most importantly, what if Natalie did not survive? That was a scenario Josh was too scared to think about.

Josh headed straight to the Commanders office when he got back to camp. “Just reporting that we are ready, Sir. The creature accepted our offer.”

The commander was sitting at his desk. A solemn expression on his face. “Are you sure we made the right choice?” The commander asked.

“No sir. I…” Josh paused when the commander interrupted him.

“Josh, we are friends. Please call me by my name. This could be the end of everything we have been protecting. This is a personal conversation.” The commander replied.

“No Chris. I do not think we made the right choice. But I know that we cannot keep losing men. This creature must be stopped, and it will never stop unless further actions are taken.

Natalie was right. She was the key to the puzzle. From the start. All the visions she had when we were kids. Shadows on the wall. I thought she was just delusional. If only I had believed her. Maybe I could have prevented this from happening.”

“An impossible task, Josh. No one could have prevented this. We have a chance to prevent it now. The creature will be the most vulnerable as it begins its ascent into the portal. You are the best shot I have. My number two will be there to back you up.” The commander said. “It is our only hope at saving everyone.”

“I know the plan”. Josh started. “I must kill the girl who saved me all those years ago. I am to put a bullet right through her heart. That’s a huge pill to swallow.” Josh sat down in the chair opposite the commander’s desk. Utterly exhausted.

“If it’s too much…” The commander began.

“Absolutely not. If you have a loyal dog who is dying, you do not hire someone else to put it down. It is your duty. You taught me that.” Josh replied.

The commander nodded. “Well, lets make sure the men are ready. A lot of lives are about to be lost. We need to make sure we have done all we can to protect them.”

As soon as the words had left the commanders mouth, the alarm rang loudly throughout the camp. “Well, that’s our que.” The commander said.

Josh grabbed his gear and headed towards the guard tower. The sirens grew louder as he drew closer. The soldiers snapped to attention upon his arrival. “At ease soldiers. There is no time for that. What do we have?”

“Take a look.” One of them replied.

Through the binoculars, Josh could see nothing but a huge wall of black clouds on the horizon. The lightning strikes hit the ground for miles around it. Thunder boomed across the land.

Through the clouds he could see the creature. It had evolved. More creature than human. It crawled out of the darkness on all fours. Red eyes glowing in the dark. It raised on its haunches. Then transformed back into human form. Only more beautiful than ever before. The creature began to hover with the clouds and move towards the camp. An army of shadows behind it. Dancing around the clouds. In and out, ever so delicately.

Josh knew his next move. But he could not take his eyes off mystifying creature. It's as if he were hypnotized. He lost minutes locked in. A magnetic pull seemed to have a hold of him. If he were to let go of the rail, he would just float towards the creature. Just let go…

There was a violent shaking on his shoulder snapping Josh back to. “Commander, it’s time. We have to go.” The soldier was a young man. Maybe 18. His name was Ryan, and he was the second best shot in the unit. Ryan was to take the shot if Josh failed.

“Right. Let’s move.” Josh replied.

Josh and the Ryan made their way to the cave. The bioluminescent walls shimmering brightly at their arrival. Showing out for the soldiers. The cave was an out of this world sight. Josh had not been back to the cave since his arrival to this world at 16 years old. Too bad its beauty was about to become tainted by a blood bath.

The pair climbed onto a ledge with a perfect view of the entrance. The entrance to the other side where humanity thrives without any idea of the potential impending doom.

The ledge was hidden from onlookers. Hidden from the creature. A blind was set up just in case.

Josh and Ryan set up their rifles. In the distance, screams of their fellow soldiers in arms could be heard. Gunfire rang out loudly. Shrieks echoed from afar. Ryan looked towards the direction of the commotion.

“Hey. Look at me.” Josh grabbed his face. “Don’t focus on that. We have the most important job right here. Get your head right.”

“Yes sir.” Ryan nodded, terrified but brave.

The screeching drew closer. The thunder and lightning rattled the cave.

Then, the eerie silence returned. The screaming stopped. The gunshots stopped. The world stopped. The creature entered the cave floating elegantly.

The magnetic pulling sensation came over Josh again. He closed his eyes as to fight it off. Breathing in and out. Slowing his pulse.

The creature arrived at the portal and reached out for the wall of the cave. Fingers gracefully brushing its surface. The portal began to come alive with whirring sounds and earthquake sized rumbling. It was as though the cave was about to take flight. Josh had not prepared for the shaking.

Josh put the sights right on Natalie’s back. Her heart on the other side. Fighting the shaking, he counted every breath. His finger resting on the trigger.

The portal opened. The creature began ascending towards the light that had opened above.

Josh focused his breathing. Dialing in for that perfect shot. Inhale. Exhale. Squeeze. Inhale. Exhale. Squeeze.

A loud scream filled the cave. It was not that of a creature. It was the scream of agony. A human scream. It was Natalie. Her body fell to the ground. She sat up on her knees and covered her chest. Blood cascaded over her hands like a waterfall.

Natalie met Josh’s eyes. The red glow was no longer there.

Josh set down his rifle and prepared to go to Natalie, but the magnetic pull was back. It was strong this time. Josh fell to the ground from his perch trying to fight it. Ryan came tumbling behind him.

When Josh got to his feet, Natalie was gone. The only part of her that remained was the heart-shaped locket.