Prelude to the Apocalypse: Eternal Flame Universe, #0

By Thom Erb

All Apocalyptic Endings Have a Clandestine Beginning! 

The year is 1985 and while the world lives under the constant fear of the Cold War, there are far fouler evils welling up and clandestinely plotting to bring the world to a dark and brutal end. 

Discover the beginning of the end of the Eternal Flame universe. 

Who is behind such a vile slaughter in the Prelude to the Apocalypse. 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Drunken Skald Press
• Release date: Nov 15, 2016
• ISBN: 9781536575361

Thom Erb

Thom Erb is a writer/editor of short and long fiction, exploring all shades of darkness and light and the varying definitions of heroism. Refusing to pigeonhole his writing, Thom continues to craft tales that blur the lines of horror, noir, dark fantasy, thriller, weird western, science fiction for both adult and young adult audiences. He is also an artist/illustrator of murals and comic book/graphic novels. When not writing, Thom enjoys reading, movies, television shows, role-playing games, playing drums, comic books and rooting for the Dallas Cowboys, Texas Rangers and New York Yankees. He lives in upstate New York with his wife Michelle and their trio of hellcats, Girllie, Hooey and Maggie. Proud member of the Horror Writer's Association. Official Website and Blog: www.thomerb.com Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/ta b https://www.facebook.com/ThomasAErb Twitter: https://twitter.com/Thomaserb

Book preview

PRELUDE TO THE APOCALYPSE

Prelude to the Apocalypse

Eternal Flame Universe, Volume 0

Thom Erb

Published by Drunken Skald Press, 2016.

This is a work of fiction. Similarities to real people, places, or events are entirely coincidental.

PRELUDE TO THE APOCALYPSE

First edition. November 15, 2016.

Copyright © 2016 Thom Erb.

ISBN: 978-1536575361

Written by Thom Erb.

To all CIitezen's of the Erbal Nation!

Without your undying support and loyal readership, I don’t know if all my ideas would make it to the page. If you keep reading, I shall keep writing…Deal? Groovy. Let’s do this!

A big shout out to my editors for a doing such a bang up editing job: Scarlett R. Algee,. Holly Zaldivar, Skip Novak. I cannot thank you enough for all your hard work, valuable time and talents. Thanks so much!!!

For Shelly, each story I tell has a part of you in them. Thank you for allowing me to disappear for days, weeks and months into these strange worlds and for letting me hang out with some very interesting, and sometimes horrifying, people. I love you!

PRELUDE TO THE APOCALYPSE

An Eternal Flame Universe Prequel

Thom Erb

Drunken Skald Press

Contents

Introduction

1. Birth Of The Apocalypse

2. Two Minutes to Midnight

3. Selling The Apocalypse

4. Take These Chains

5. Predicting The Apocalypse

6. Revelations

INTERLUDES

7. Like Hell

8. Coming Home

9. Anarchy, in the UK

10. Burning down the City

11

12

11. FATHER and SON

Chapter 12

ERBAL END-CREDITS EASTER EGG- Ala- Marvel-style

13. School Daze

Excerpt from the LAST IN LINE

Excerpt from HEAVEN, HELL, or HOUSTON

About the Author

Introduction

The Eternal Flame universe and all the satellite stories that take place within it have been a long time coming. It was a spark lit by my love for role-playing games, 80s metal music and the zombie apocalypse. (There will be much more explained on the back-story of the books set in this world in the LAST IN LINE- the Eternal Flame Trilogy-book one, Which you can get here.)

Because this setting is so vast and takes place not only not only in many locales but also set in 1980’s, I wanted to write a primer for all the events, characters that will take place in the rest of the stories.

This book will set the stage for you, dear reader, as you join me in the nostalgic adventure into my childhood and love for all things geeky and zombie.

I hope you dig the stories contained inside these pages. Get ready for the ERBAL Apocalypse. It will be a real humdinger.

Enjoy and mucho love and peace to you all!

-Thom Erb

From Hell’s 1/2 Acre, New York. November 2016

www.thomerb.com

1

Birth Of The Apocalypse

It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has exceeded our humanity.

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- Albert Einstein

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…now I am become Death (Shiva), the destroyer of worlds…

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- Physicist Robert Oppenheimer

2

Two Minutes to Midnight

Pinnam Pharmaceutical Research Group.

Laboratory: 7E-REDEEMER

Wewelsburg, Germany

Early spring, 1984.

            Dr. Gustav Moltke stood inside the most state-of-the-art biochemical research facility in the entire world. To the unknowing public, Pinnam Pharmaceutical was working tirelessly, day and night on the cures to several of the world’s most deadly illness—most recently the Human T-lymphotropic virus/HTLV-III, as the mainstream media was tagging it. But they would soon know the truth—the ultimate, dark and apocalyptic purpose to every-living being on the planet.

            There were only three exits to the large Laboratory; Two that the six well-armed guards four, well-vetted lab techs and Mr. Hayden, his head of security and second in command,  knew about. And there was one only Gustav, himself knew about. One could never be too careful in the high-stakes game of deadly contagion creation and manipulation.

            He was in the lowest level of the vast complex. Level 22. The chaotic strings of Paganini’s Caprice No. 5 filled the sterile-white laboratory. Dr. Gustav Moltke was a tall man, with bright blond hair, shocking blue eyes and an amateur boxer’s build. A true son of the Fatherland. His large hands were tucked inside the pockets of his white lab coat. He gazed into the twenty-by-twenty foot observation room. A cloud of thick, mustard-colored smoke billowed into the room and horrid screams filled with panic, fear, and pain slithered through the heavy cloud.

             A wide smile grew upon his clean-shaven face as on-by-one, the test subjects in the room died—their limp bodies slumping to the floor.

            Subjects #313, 314 and 315 have expired, Doctor, Mr. Hayden, Moltke’s first assistant informed.

            Now...let’s see if the reanimation time has increased, Gustav said, stepping closer to the window.

            Flipping through an archboard, with a ream-worth of printed statistics on them, Mr. Hayden handed the paperwork to his superior.

            Ah, with the last test, we were at a ten-minute reanimation time. Let us pray to the Dark One that all my hard work has expedited the process. It needs to be—No... MUST be quicker. If not, instantaneous. Do you understand me, Herr, Hayden? Gustav’s eyes never wavered from the paperwork.

            "Of course, Professor. With the blessing of our Dark Master and your brilliant E5150 Accelerant, I’m sure it will cut the reanimation time in half," said Mr. Hayden.

            Splendid.

            The cries of the dying were silent and the mustard-yellow colored cloud shifted and swelled inside the sealed room. Mr. Hayden stepped to the control panel before the observation window and tapped a button. The slow-growl of industrial fans grind and the cloud swirled and disappeared into the overhead vent.

            Gustav felt his chest tighten, and every muscle was taut as a coiled wire. He’d prayed for this moment. He’d spent most of his adult years, ever since he accepted the Lord Orcus as the one-true-god. His sole purpose was to see the restoration of the Dark God of the Undead as the rightful ruler of this world. Ad to punish the insolent human race. Now, he was mere moments away from seeing his deep desires come to fruition.

            He looked upon the large clock hanging from the wall. He glared at the second hand- tick... tick... tick on.

            The room was clear. All three subjects lay still.

            Gustav let out a deep breath and laid a big hand against the window. The cold glass felt good. He was never one for self-doubt, but he was so damn close. His Dark Lord Orcus had selected him from the vast legion of priests to lead the Redemption Movement. Failure was not an option. Waiting and helplessness were never his strong suits. He was a man of action and demanded instant results. A shoddy trait for a scientist but it was one of the many demons he had to live with constantly.

            Moments passed and no sign of movement.

            Gustav balled his fist and pounded the window.

            Of all the seven hells! he screamed.

            Professor Gustav Moltke glared into the nothingness of the observation room and felt years of repressed rage, angst and frustration boil to the top. Never had been his retribution been so close at hand and now... this... one obstacle blocked him from his final goal, which only made his blood-lust grow stronger.

            More, silent moments passed.

            Finally, Gustav walked away from the window, anger rolling off his large frame in waves.

            Cleanse, clear and prep the next batch of subjects. I’ll be in my office. Inform me when it is done. His tone was cold, and he never turned to look at the failure that was becoming a familiar, constant companion.

            The hiss of the airlock door began as Mr. Hayden shouted.

            Doctor!

            Gustav froze and his thumb plunged down on the open-close button of the air-lock.

            The green light flashed to red.

            Mr. Hayden’s voice was frantic with hope. They’re... moving... Doctor.  It’s working!

            Spinning on his heel, Gustav felt a deep-grin spreading across his face.

            They were the most beautiful things he had ever