Book by: Cobber

Chapter 2: Collaq

Reads: 1048
Comments: 13

It started as a whisper. A faint whisper which he thought he was imagining until it became louder and couldn't be ignored or denied.

"Martin, take me in, I have come on a far journey to be with you. To be with you. To be with you..." And so it repeated and eventually Martin's conscience began to process the words and his brain sputtered and than coughed to life. Memories rushed back: pushing his father off the raft down the Cape, running across the lawn at home, feeling the lawnmower on his foot, tasting the big chocolate cake he got for his thirteenth birthday, enjoying the last family vacation to the Grand Canyon.

"Martin, open your eyes." The whisper commanded and he obeyed. His eyes creaked open like an old, rusty shutter. The pain was excruciating.

"Hello," he whispered, "who's there, where am I?"

"Feel around Martin, use your hands." Martin lifted his arms and wiggled his fingers. His body felt heavy and moving was difficult. He tried to extend his arm but his hand was tangled in some kind of fabric. He tried to push it away and reached a solid obstruction. Martin clutched around in panic, hoping to find some opening, feeling the claustrophobia build. With an awkward motion, he tried to kick one of his legs, but his knee hit the barrier and bounced back.

He was in a coffin.

"No!" he screamed. "Help me, let me out, I'm not dead! Let me out!" And then the whisper.

"Stop screaming Martin, you're six feet underground. No one can hear you. And even if they did, you are dead." He stopped struggling. The last moments of his life flashed back - meeting the woman, seeing the swarm of red butterflies, feeling the pain under his chin.

Oh God.

"There is no God who can help you."

"Am I in hell?"

"Oh no, certainly not hell," chuckled the whisper.

"Who are you?" he asked timidly, petrified to find out who was locked in the coffin with him. There was a moment of silence and then, a reply.

"I am Collaq. For the time being let's say I'm a part of your conscience, a part that entered your body when you died."

"Can you help me?"

"Absolutely," purred the voice. The claustrophobia receded slightly. "You see Martin, there are advantages to being dead. You can't be killed, and it offers a unique perspective for looking back on life and deciding who wronged you."

"Why should I feel that I've been wronged?"

"Ah Martin, why do you ask such stupid questions? Not even death can correct your feet or take away the insults you experienced from others. I can help you; I want to help you get everything you ever desired." The crazy lady in red said the same thing and her help consisted of a nail through the throat.

"Calm down Martin. Yes, I'm an associate of Monarch. We work together and I fully intend to keep the promises she made to you. The women, the wealth, the respect, the revenge will all still be yours." He relaxed and decided to give the voice, this Collaq a chance. What choice did he have?

"Can you get me out of this coffin?"

"Of course," laughed the voice. "In time, with my help, you will grow much, much stronger. Collaq told him what to do. Within an hour he pushed away the last dirt and climbed out of the hole into the cemetery. He kicked some dirt back into the grave and began to walk in the direction of his old house.

Submitted: September 14, 2006

Horror fantasy horror evil forces monarch

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Comments

Donald H Sullivan

A real page turner going here. I kinda have mixed emotions about Martin now. Would like see him get his revenge, but not wanting to see him being so foolish as to sell his soul...

Fri, October 13th, 2006 6:08am

Author
Reply

Thanks again for the comments Donald. Martin becomes a very complex character. Sort of a split personality.

Fri, October 13th, 2006 8:42am

AmandaRVP

I love your writing and love the characters. Again, thank you so much for introducing me to booksie.

The only problem though, I don't have people comment on my work. And they look at it all the time!

Tue, November 14th, 2006 2:40am

Author
Reply

Thanks Amanda for the compliments. I'm glad you came. I've found the best way to get comments is to comment on others. In addition, I've been inviting a lot of other writers onto the site to check out my writing (like yourself). They've been nice enough to give it a read and comment. I'm going to check out your writing in a bit. Thanks again.

Phil

Tue, November 14th, 2006 9:06pm

avis

very very interesting, I sort of get the feeling that Martin will turn a little evil, but of course I am probably wrong. Very good voice and description I must say, keep on writing!

Avis

Tue, November 14th, 2006 5:01am

Author
Reply

Thanks again Avis!

Tue, November 14th, 2006 9:08pm

scifiwriter

Hi Phil,

Checking in as promised. This is a good start, some good characterisation going on. Great atmosphere in this second chapter, dark and foreboding. Wonder what will happen to Martin now. Guess I'll have to read some more to find out.

Fri, January 5th, 2007 12:10am

Author
Reply

Thanks Scifiwriter. I'm not totally happy with the first chapter anymore based on some of the feedback I've received. I wrote it long ago and will at some point update.

Martin is in for an interesting time. I'm continuing to enjoy Assimilation. I look forward to getting back to the gang tonight and finding out what happened to Nevin.

Phil

Fri, January 5th, 2007 4:17pm