Unjust Prose Collection
Revelations
A short story with no end in sight
The unfair, unbelievable, terrifying and most satisfying (12)
I woke up in a daze, before the rooster could crow for a second time, throat dry, breathing heavy, sweat on my face, my back, droplets between my breasts. The rooster normally crows when it senses danger or because it can. I can still hear them talking; telling me what to do, but it is almost like my head is underwater — I can’t quite hear — and as I fall asleep again, all becomes clear.
The dragons will re-awaken and ascend from the depths of the darkness of the bottomless. They will come to scorch the earth and spread their wrath. They will have forked tongues and snake-eyes #LizardPeople. They will not be what they seem; they will charm you and then fool you. Then, a woman will come, wearing the sun. She will know just how to touch you, excite you, arouse you and as you get lost in her, a new heaven will descend. She will hold you close as the world shakes and whisper sweet soothing words in your ear, full of nothing.
The horses will roam free and kick the men if they try to mount them. The men will protest and chase them, their stampede will cause the earth to crack open and tear at the seams. It will be the end forever endlessly, or for a moment, then 1000 years peace — who really knows anything — because the real hell has already started. This is where we live, the world has already ended, and we plod on hopelessly, depressively, angrily. Too ill to speak. We are but the last remnants of light left of stars that already died. We see ourselves from far away, only a faint glimmer in the sky. The rooster crows for a third time, I wake up to live another day.
Last night I had a dream, I was tossing and turning; true darkness was a long time in the coming. I dreamt of demons and dragons and a big octopus with many eyes; I dreamt of people multiplying so fast that the earth tipped over and wiped them all out; I dreamt of saucers and cups and sharp forks and eating people to survive; I dreamt of little men jumping like frogs. I wrote it all down and then started to look for the meaning. I proclaim my truth as the Gospel of All, as I speak it. I sit with my eyes closed and then summon the voice within me, I feel myself relax and then connect. I will sing it, then scream it: The new world will come as you see it — cities with gold and pearls — happiness and freedom — death and famine — adventure and excitement — war and conquest — as you feel it and have learnt to expect it. It is all on you. The truth will be revealed when you ask the right questions. Nothing is ever more real than the inside of your head at any moment in time — and when you go to sleep again — you reset and re-calibrate. To do it all over again, in an endless loop.
I have proclaimed it all to be, before the end. The seas and all the rivers will turn red; earthquakes will move countries; tsunamis will drown towns and cities. Nuclear waves will mutate all; spiders will grow bigger than people, fish will have two heads and plants will speak. Pandemics will ravage the earth; robot dogs will run around and breath fire, humans will turn into batteries and artificial intelligence will become mankind.
I will be the prosecutor, judge and executioner. I have wiped you out many times and will do so again. You are all condemned because I made you. Born guilty. You will suffer and endure all, my wrath has no limit. I like to hurt people and feel their pain. When I am done torturing you, I will give you a paradise, but only at the cost of the unworthy. Build the new streets on their bones.
The end of it all is the unveiling of man’s true nature.
Personal Note:
I grew up in a very strict conservative religious environment and attended the Nederduitse Gereformeerde Kerk from the ages of 6 until 18. During this period I underwent religious training and was formally confirmed in the church when I passed all my classes. The church attire was formal. All the women had to wear dresses or skirts. The length of the dress/skirt had to be at least 10 cm below your knee…so as not to entice the men with your knees. Freaks! The men wore suits, ties and hats. I remember the preacher had the same name as my dad, Albertus, and he had the most boring monotone voice ever. I would doze off midway through each sermon and then he would suddenly raise his voice and scream like a maniac about hellfire and damnation and the endtimes, waking us all up.
Happy times.
Here is a link to another piece I have written, very similar in nature:
Dumelang bohle!!! African Greetings!!! Please support me so I can continue to do what makes my spirit feel alive and feeds my soul; and that is to express myself through words and photos every day.
Ko-Fi
https://ko-fi.com/leighannsteenkamp
I do not currently qualify for the Medium Partner Program due to country location; South Africa.
