Previous Challenge Entry (Level 4 – Masters)
Topic: EERIE (07/28/16)
-
TITLE: Creepy Freaky Sunday | Previous Challenge Entry
By Marlene Bonney
08/01/16 -
LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE
SEND A PRIVATE COMMENT
ADD TO MY FAVORITES
It all began that morning at breakfast. Nate had awakened late, the expected Sunday morning alluring bacon and sausage smells noticeably missing—as, it turned out, was his mother.
“Where’s Mom?” Nate questioned Mr. Banks who stood in the middle of the kitchen, empty clean coffee mug dangling from his fingers.
“I don’t know, Son. We had an argument last night—you know, about us all going to church as a family. . .maybe she had an early choir practice. . .”
Characteristically, Nate shrugged it off as he gulped down a small glass of orange juice and a bowl of milk-covered, sugar-coated cereal. A few minutes later, he emerged from the back porch, grabbed up the ball on the stoop and made an impressive swished dunk into the basketball hoop attached to the garage. Gary and Jim, his closest neighbors, would eventually come for their usual “Four-Horses” game, a preamble to the scheduled competition with the whole team at noon. A yawning Gary soon arrived, but Jimmy did not.
“Probably an overnight with Shelly; they had a movie date,” winking suggestively at his friend.
“I don’t THINK so, dummy—remember, they made that silly “wait until marriage” pledge a few months ago at their church.”
The afternoon basketball game cancelled, since only half the team showed up. Gary, his stomach growling like an approaching freight train, left for home.
“See ya after?” Nate spinning one more point into the shaking rim.
“Nah, I gotta help my mom. She’s in a bad mood. Dad didn’t come home last night. She thinks he’s on another drinking binge with his poker buddies.”
Nathan was suddenly shaky, an unfamiliar clamminess spreading all over his skin, like shivery goose-bumps gone berserk. The air was different somehow, a bone-chilling emptiness wrapping itself around his heart like an unforgiving vise. He weakly climbed the steps up to the back door. This day was becoming weirder by the moment.
“Miriam, is that you?” his father’s hopeful voice rising, “oh, hi, Son, what’s the matter with you? You look like _____!”
Mr. Banks sat next to his ailing son on the worn living room couch and turned on the local T.V. station’s newscast.
“We apologize to our viewers for the delay. A virus has apparently attacked our staff and we are short-handed today. There are constant news feeds across the country about bizarre events that have disconnected our normal media contacts. . .this just in: the previously suggested possible terrorist attacks theories are now discounted, as it appears all regions around the entire world have been affected!”
The two men looked blankly at each other, strangely mute as Mr. Banks used the remote to flick to another channel.
“Disturbing images are emerging from our damaged satellites. We caution parents that what you are about to see will be graphic and inappropriate for young children.”
Unbelievable scenes played across the screen like a macabre horror flick: interstate highway traffic accidents and jams; incredibly long lines in police stations “missing persons” units; businesses and stores so low on personnel that looters were openly thieving; jet plane crash sites, debris and human body parts strewn across beaches, neighborhoods, and roads; derailed trains, like crooked caterpillars, dotting rural areas with occasional survivors; factories and manufacturing plants at a standstill as injured employees were rushed to local hospitals that were understaffed and ill-equipped for such a massive influx of casualties. . .
“We plead with the public not to panic! And, now, President Moneham addresses the nation:”
“My fellow Americans, it is with great sorrow I have to report to you that our esteemed Vice-President, along with several of my staff, have been kidnapped. Unnatural events have rocked our world in the night, a catastrophic alien mass abduction attack a possibility. Things will soon be under control and I urge you not to panic.”
Father and son went outdoors, peering up into the empty sky along with sporadic gaping neighbors, gazing in superstitious fear up into the unknown.
“Lacy, my daughter--she floated up out of my sight, crying and laughing at once. I heard her say something about a blaring trumpet, but I heard nothing!”. . . “That’s what my husband, John said, too!”. . . “Someone DO something—the children have disappeared!”
____________________________________________________________________
“For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. . .” The Bible, I Thessalonians 4-5
“Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.” The Bible, Revelation 22:12-13
“Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” The Bible, Matthew 24:42-44
The opinions expressed by authors may not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com.
Accept Jesus as Your Lord and Savior Right Now - CLICK HERE
JOIN US at FaithWriters for Free. Grow as a Writer and Spread the Gospel.
Come Lord Jesus.