De-Rike

For once life had never felt as good, Amber strolled happily through town with some of her closest friends. It was her birthday and they were all going for cocktails on the quay side. After finishing a few of them they all decided to take a walk through the new tunnel and across to the other side of the river.

Walking into the tunnel they were all in awe of this modern architectural feat, the whole tunnel glowed with brightest radiance. It was white and warm, with a completely relaxed feel as they sauntered through, looking from time to time at the river which was lit up above their heads, adding more to the tunnels feeling of grandeur.

Arriving at the end, dusk was approaching fast, only a few scarcely scattered market stalls were still open so they decided to look around. The group were all drawn to the delicious smell of the fresh cake and crepe stall, the man behind the counter although frail and elderly, he had the kindest smile and a bright twinkle in his deep set green eyes. After ordering some of the cakey delights they talked for what felt like hours. As darkness fell the stall became a little cabin and the lights behind the kind man looked just like perfect stars. It was such a peaceful moment. Amber gazed at the sparkling lights she felt so much peace…….

As she was looking in her peaceful state the stars began to change and dim, the wonderment very soon turned into disgust, as she looked harder, the once mesmerising twinkling stars turned into shrivelled rotten cherries, they were almost black with decay.

Amber hadn’t noticed the world around her changing too. She was in a room surrounded by the people who she considered friends, yet she could not remember their names. The room was blue and woodchip, it was dark without windows and just the flickering of an old fluorescent light hanging above her head that continuously buzzed.

Everyone was still gazing at the once shining stars, as voice from a monitor screeched,” what do you see?” the group almost unanimously. “STARS, STARS, STARS” Amber did not see any stars, just the bleakest decay. Those around her looked like they had spent decades in this room, oblivious to their own demise. She looked down to see she was also filthy and wearing what could only be described as rags, she was malnourished and frail just like all the others.

The voice again this time directed at Amber “What do you see?” Amber replied “darkness” and the voice silenced.

The voice again called out this time to a man,  he glanced around fleetingly and fearfully as the door opened...

A heavy-set woman walked through and took the man by the hand, chanting the words “DE-RIKE”. Others joined in with the chant, where as some moved away facing the walls as to not look, and some just continued gazing at the rotten cherries, while chanting in unison.  A small door opened and the man was taken inside. The robust woman pressed a button on the wall, the man was instantly engulfed in flames, as he shriveled he floated upwards glowing greenish blue. He did not scream, nor seem in pain yet he certainly did not survive. Amber watched as his shrinking light disintegrated before her eyes through a transparent shoot up into the ceiling.

Fearful and unsure what on earth was happening, another man, touched her slightly on her shoulder, he had a familiar face but she couldn’t quite remember him. In a very low tone he whispered to her that she must follow what the others were doing or her fate would be the same as the gentleman who had just departed. She turned to him to ask how he had survived but he was gone. He was just another dirty face in the crowded room, of whom she could not recognise.