Spiral of Events The Events

Gale reached his hand out toward Crimson as he jumped. She followed him. They managed to face each other.

"What about your temple?" Crimson screamed.

Gale answered her, "It chooses a new owner."

She blinked as her eyes filled with tears. "Really?"

"Now, Crimson, let us recite the words. ‘I give the order of everything. Mine own precious. Thy flesh and thy blood that was spoiled. Turn it pure again.’ "

Gale and Crimson spoke the words. As they finished, a bright orb descended upon them. It consumed Crimson. She disappeared. The golden light manifested inside Gale and flooded his veins. When the light left him, Gale began to age rapidly. His face went through all the stages of aging. The wrinkles became more abundant, then deeper. His hair turned gray, then fell out.

When he landed, his body was skeletal thin. His jaw started to fall open. His vision slowly began to fade as his teeth began to fall out.

"Crimson, Crimson!" The brittle form of Gale called, reaching out into the space in front of him as he vanished, finally reunited with his love for eternity.

Casalynn began to drift apart. The knights had managed all that their acting queen had ordered, including herding most Casalyians into the safety shelters.

A homeless Tank wandered into the failing Casalynn center, his ax slung on his shoulder. Did his eyes deceive him? It can't be! He vigorously rubbed his eyes. He had spotted the Nard, Airlond, and he was standing near Vincent. With a large heave of his ax, Tank charged forward.

Airlond caught the ax, throwing the old man back.

Tank began to shout. "Because of you, I have nothing. Everything that was dear to me was stripped away." He fell to his knees, dropping his ax. He gazed at the failing surface of Casalynn.

Creed went to put his hand on Tank, who shrugged him off. He picked up his ax and lashed out at Creed, "I thought I could forgive you. How could she love you when she had Vincent!"

Creed pulled back from the old man, looking down.

Sue huffed.

Vincent ripped Tank up off the steel surface. "Creed is my younger brother. My mother bore him. There is no changing that. My father loved him as if he were his. Creed is still a child, still my brother." He dropped Tank.

"Vincent," Creed yelled at him, exasperated, "just forgive him."

"No," Vincent replied angrily.

Mininna rolled her eyes, sulking. "Here they go again."

Sue looked questionably at Mininna as she continued. "Their fights were always so stupid," she finished lamely.

"He is an old man. Who knows how long he has left. We do not even know if any of us will survive this situation. It is good that he is with family today. Do you not miss him? We have lost so much. You do not need to lose anyone else because of me!" Creed shouted.

Vincent whipped around, grabbing Creed. "You have no idea the things I gave up. I do not regret them one bit. I did things to protect you. When you are a sobbing mess, old and gray, I will continue to do so, no matter the cost."

"Yeah, but do not forget to live for yourself, Vincent. You live for me. You lived for your wife, but what about you?" asked Creed.

"No," Vincent spoke. "That creep who calls himself my grandfather watched them beat you on one occasion, and ignited another. I will not let him near you, only for him to hurt you more.”

"I am older." Creed pushed his hand to his chest.

Sue glanced down, worried that the platform was breaking apart.

Queen Loyal stomped her foot. "If you have time to fight, both of you have time to check the safety zones."

Crystal raised her hand, as if in school.

"Yes." Loyal acknowledged her.

"What about the mechanics?" she asked.

Loyal glared. "They might go down with Casalynn. I have no idea. I wish I did," she finished softly.

Creed and Vincent flapped their wings, going in opposite directions. Suddenly, the platform beneath Sue's feet gave way.

"Creed!" Crystal screamed.

"Sue!" Creed dove down after her, but the wind whipped in his face and prevailed against his body, pushing him up.

Voices spoke, seemingly out of nowhere, voices eerily like Gale and Crimson but more mature. There was no presence or energy felt. "We have heard your call. We have seen Casalynn's plight. We have been prepared by the Temple of Salvation to give aid." Hands of wind began grabbing buildings that held other Casalyians and the mechanics. Rushing through the air, one of the hands snatched up Vincent, Loyal and Airlond.

The wind hands also carefully began grabbing pieces of Casalynn out of the sky and laying them down gently.

On the ground, people were coming out of their houses to witness the hands moving across the sky.

Saylor witnessed the scene. A cigarette fell from her mouth.

Crystal giggled as she landed. She and the wolves separated. Crystal was still fully clothed. The pups ran up to her.

Sue and Crystal ran to each other, hugging.

Sue giggled slightly. "Creed sort of kissed me and I think I lost Crimson." Sue showed Crystal her ungloved hand.

"That's great and Dude, I found my strength," Crystal responded.

Once all of the Casalyians and debris were safely placed on the ground, the wind hands disappeared. People gathered around them, including the mayor.

The Casalyians began to develop varying degrees of gravity illness.

The mayor tossed her brown mid-length hair and narrowed her big brown eyes, both habits developed to relay confidence in her abilities. She studied the approaching group of people with wings.

"Who are you?" she asked, still staring at the wings.

Loyal spoke up, "Hello. We are Casalyians. This debris you see around you is what is left of our home, Casalynn. I am Acting Queen Loyal, princess and daughter of King Fredo, who is recovering in one of our shelters."

"Very well. I am Mayor Julie Simpson. What do you require?" The Casalyians shot frightened looks to each other.

Fear and trepidation exuded from both sides. Creed stood back, analyzing.

The mayor turned her attention to Creed. "Were you the child taken by those creatures?"

Creed managed a nod but not a smile. Evidently, the story of his recent kidnapping and subsequent rescue is already being told. I suppose I'll be the subject of gossip down here, too, he thought.

"I'm glad to see you are alright," spoke Mayor Julie with a reassuring smile. Then she addressed the group. "If you need a home, we will offer it to you, but you must build your own. Also, I require an assembly to be held two years from today to celebrate your progress and hear your future intentions. That may be tight, but it should allow enough time to be settled and a plan developed.”

Loyal offered her hand to Julie. "Very well, but Creed will do the speech. He knows your race best."

Mayor Julie agreed, but added, “First things first, we want to offer our help with your sick and wounded. But, next, you need to get all this debris cleaned up and the ground filled in. This UFO debris field is not only unsightly, it looks dangerous. None of this stuff is going to explode, is it?”

Loyal chuckled lightly. "Honestly I don't know but we will protect everyone from harm."

Julie sighed and spoke menacingly. "I will hold you to that."