The Heretic: ACT II

By Matthew David Carroll

...The one that ties all the others together...

"His eyes moving rapidly as a rain stream flowed along his body.

The cold water began to steam molting the ground, a heat wave rolled in, twisting the air as magma’s penetrative glow oozed out of the earth. The mountains moved, the tree line disappeared in volcanic fury.

The electric air, static charged shatters and cracked glints, timeless.

They’ve come to see him.

Almost visible, their glimmer, calm harmonics, reflecting in the drizzle, that piercing tint the light gives when they move.

This is where it happened.

The Herald sleepwalking through the rain toward them, unknowingly, “I remember, now it’s gone. Don’t tell me. What remains? Nothing... No matter what I say it’ll never reach you... Something there interfering... Keeping me from reaching...”

Their exiles eyes surround them; dot the shadows like red reflections of the stars, both rage and longing.

Her image distracting in the static vapor, he reached out, his heart collapsing.

“Where are you? My heart no longer feels the cord.”

He fell to his knees.

“It’s been ripped from me.”

He hears the rain washing through, reminders of the place they’d retreat to where the stream calmly trickled down the rocky coves.

He sat there in the dark on the cold stone slab drenched red..."

(not a light read, expansive, expressive)

#Fantasy, #Horror, #Time Travel, #paranormal, #Mythic

This is a work of fiction, the product of the author’s imagination used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.
© 2020

• Language: English
• Publisher: Matthew David Carroll
• Release date: Jul 28, 2020
• ISBN: 9781005916176

Matthew David Carroll

Hello,For those of you who are new, I hope you enjoy.If you've already read some of these, I'm glad you're back.It's been terrible for building trust and invites all sorts of nonsense, but my lack of presence is better for new readers to get into the story and character. So I'm elusive for that reason, mostly.If you're interested in getting to know me, forgive us, you can check my other social media for that, but I'm afraid you won't find much at the moment. I keep putting it off.Some of these are quick easy reads I hope will leave you laughing or with some sort of satisfied wonder (I know. I'm finishing them.) Others are over stylized with complex plot structures that require inquisition.I can't promise you'll like everything I write, but you'll know (for the most part) what you're getting into.Complex issues, simple themes. Characters opinions are their own.If you like any of them please share. I appreciate every one of you who have.

Book preview

Dedication:

Two faces

Trading places

Madness waiting patiently

The Heretic

ACT II

Copyright 2020 Matthew Carroll

Smashwords Edition

This is a work of fiction, the product of the author’s imagination used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

~***~

SCENES

Sound discretions

Outside the Walls

Special Access Project

Territory

Dreaming

Lure

Sound Discretion

City guards close the main gate as a hostile crowd pushes their way through.

No one else is getting in! The King’s orders, One of them yells as it shuts, shouts still heard coming from the other side.

But my family is still out there! claimed a strong and angry veteran.

And there they will remain.

Then let me out! He demanded forcing his way toward the gate hoist.

We’ve men out there as well! They’ll find refuge in the ruined temple grounds.

The veteran fought them for control of the hoist.

You’re not getting out this way!

They severed the ropes leaving the hoist useless.

The veteran glared at them in rage.

The guard, nervous, clenched his sheathed sword. You can get out through the old city! That’s where they’re headed!

Barricades had been set up around the ruined temple and soldiers waited to help usher in the influx of displaced.

Priests performed rituals around large baths meant to purify those let in while the Hierophant watched through the thick smoke of burning sage from the monopteros in the garden.

He caught the attention of a young adept cleric.

…Those who harbor strong ambition will be of the first, as well as those who deny it in themselves. They’ll try to bend it to their purpose but are not equipped, The Hierophant told him as they walked through the garden.

They may not be equipped but what am I to see? Even if I were to recognize, how quick it’d be to work against me, The Cleric confessed unsure.

They sat down to rest.

It’s not you I fear for, The Hierophant assured him.

The Cleric looked at him inquisitively.

The prisoner in your company, what he has kept to himself, that is what it seeks.

And you send us that it become aware of him?

The Hierophant sighed and looked away uneasy not wanting to tell him what he had to say, Now is not the time to be ingenuous…

I don’t understand, The Cleric defended.

The Hierophant continued, "Your favor has always been unmatched… and it has also lead