In the Beginning of the End

By Aneisi Hernández Ruiz

In a world torn apart by natural calamities and wars, Airam and a resilient group find themselves on the outskirts, shunned by a society ruled under the deceptive ideology of Belusat. As they navigate the contested city, prophecies, enigmatic messages, and echoes of ancient kings intertwine with their present struggles, painting a vivid tapestry of past and future conflicts.

Amidst the chaos, love, faith, and unwavering conviction become the pillars that sustain these characters. Despite facing adversity, enduring mystery, betrayals, and inexplicable challenges, they cling to the hope of a brighter tomorrow, where happiness can finally reign. "In the Beginning of the End" is a gripping tale that transcends time, weaving together the threads of destiny and resilience in the face of a fractured world.

• Language: English
• Publisher: UriArte Publishing & Consulting
• Release date: Mar 15, 2024
• ISBN: 9798224486595

Aneisi Hernández Ruiz

Aneisi Hernández Ruiz is a Cuban-American writer of novels, stories, and phrases. For more than twelve years she has studied and researched in depth to produce this work, with the aim of letting readers know a little more about the great mysteries of God and humanity; through the fiction and reality that the novel contains. She participated in several literary workshops at the Casa de Cultura de Santa Clara, Villa Clara, Cuba, taught by Yamil Díaz Gómez, writer, editor, journalist, and professor; where she learned about literature, narrative and writing forms. Her novels are characterized by simultaneously being written in the style of two narrators. All her works, even if they are modern, fantastic, or futuristic, contain a critical, deep, and drastic impact on different societies worldwide.

Book preview

EPIGRAPH

In an abyss of fire... iron bolts burst... breaking a bronze door... and the Trickster returned to earth...

INTRODUCTION

Astooped monk strolled through the streets of an ancient city, picked up a newspaper from the ground, and began to read the news announced on the front page:

The war is over, rising global warming, misery, re-emerging diseases, shortages, and broken international banking were consequences of this... (page 3).

The Savior of the world restored the planet under a single world economy; a mandatory microchip was implanted in the right hand or forehead of each individual, to commercialize in an organized way the few existing resources... (page 5).

The Savior of the world organized the countries that survived war and natural disasters... (page 7).

"The nations received a new name:

• Mountain areas of the United States and the southern portion of Canada: North America Nation

• Central and South American Elevations: United South America Nation

• Elevations of Southern Africa and part of Egypt: Africa Nation

• Central European areas: United European Countries

• Asian Highlands and Mainlands: United Asian Countries

• Middle East, entirely unpunished: Middle East Nation

Islands and low coasts all over the globe were submerged or frozen..." (page 8).

CHAPTER I

The refuge

Iwent downstairs and gradually accustomed my eyes to the dim lighting of the library; it was in the basement of an abbey on the outskirts of the old city. Several monks had lived here previously; the only survivor was Friar Joseph, who gave refuge to me, and a group of people disapproved of the implant to trade.

When I reached the last step, very close to a massive painting of Jesus of Divine Mercy, I observed my surroundings until I saw her beautiful face under the light of a candle. She was so abstracted by the table reading a book that she did not notice my presence, so I delighted in admiring her, her short black hair, always scattered on her face, her delicate fingers leafing through the pages, her thin, feminine figure despite her carelessness in dressing, and her eyes, so intense and lively, that, if there were honeycombs nowadays, the queen herself would be envious of such a beautiful honey color.

Airam! You scared me, she said, startled as she saw me arrive.

I'm sorry, I didn't want to, but Friar Joseph wants to talk to everyone and asked me to find them to meet in the chapel... And since you were the only one missing, I assumed you were here. I know you like reading very much, I said politely, although I would have liked to tell her everything I felt about her, but this always happened to me. I kept silent.

What's happened? Well, let's go then, she concluded, seeing that I shrugged in doubt.

Susej put the book on one of the vast shelves by the fireplace and took the candlestick with the light she was lighting. We climbed the stairs silently, although my heart burst every time I was beside her. We crossed the open gate between the wooden altar and the celebrant's chair inside the chapel. A small clay vase rested on the altar where I had placed the last red kalanit from the monastery garden. We went down on the left next to the baptismal font. On the right was the beautifully carved acacia box where the consecrated hosts rested. We sat next to the others on the wooden benches, perfectly aligned on both sides.

Since the only ones missing were Susej and Airam, and they have just gone up, I will explain why I have called you all. I have been informed by friends from the eastern suburb of the big city that a good man got wheat and some clothes that he wants to exchange for water, which his group lacks most. We do not have enough clothes, and we need wheat to make bread, but we do have a well we built in times of calamity, and thanks to God, it still gives us drinking water. We can also send some goat's milk. Early tomorrow, I suggest to youngsters and men that they head east for the exchange, Friar Joseph reported. He was seventy-six years old; his hunched figure and white hair highlighted his old age. I could spend hours with him without getting bored; his great humility in speaking and his look, capable of pacifying the worst of beasts, were admirable. He was indispensable to all of us in these difficult times.

And how will we pass through the city without the police noticing us? Susej asked, addressing the monk in her sweet, charming voice.

You will leave through the back door; there is a shortcut between several ruins, which leads to the east; you can go there very carefully, he replied.

Before the sun rose, overheating the morning, we set off with five jerrycans of water, shared among all; there were seven of us. Susej carried the milk; it was a single gallon. When we arrived in the eastern suburb, Jairus, a man with brown eyes and very dark skin, came forward to introduce us:

Good morning; we come from the monastery on behalf of Friar Joseph for the exchange.

Yes, of course, here are the clothes and the wheat, replied a thin man with gray hair and very black eyes, I suggest that you go out one by one because there is a lot of movement in the city and it is better not to call attention.

Of course, we go with the sacks of wheat, Airam, and Susej can take the clothes, said Nomolas. He was short in stature and had striking gray eyes; he was also the most intelligent of the group. He had a law degree and had always worked as a judge. He was famous for his sense of justice until he was stripped of all for not accepting the new world order.

We were going towards the shortcut when suddenly shots were heard. The city police had discovered us. Since no commercial deal was allowed except through the implant, they went straight to where strange movements were seen. Those in the suburbs quickly hid, but the cops kept shooting; a young man tried to confront Susej, but she managed to throw him to the ground and immediately slipped behind me through the shortcut; I took the sacks of clothes and ran as much as I could. The policemen, not knowing the way, fired but did not reach us.

When we arrived at the abbey courtyard where there was a field covered with hop vines, date palms, and olive trees, the others were waiting for us, worried about our delay.

If it hadn't been for Friar Joseph's shortcut, the shots would have hit us; one of the young men from the east died almost in front of me, I commented, leaning back on one of the closest olive trees to take a breath.

What a run! said Isaduj as he poured on himself a bucket of water extracted from the well and soaked his curly hair, tied up in a ponytail. Always so haughty and presumptuous, he was there only for his mother. Unable to negotiate in the market due to the implementation of the cashless economy, their businesses ceased to make sense.

Children, thank God you are all alive, but one of those who helped us in the exchange is no longer among us; let us pray for his soul, interrupted Friar Joseph as he instructed the large family to leave their things there and go to the chapel.

An immense silence took over the monastery; only Isaduj, as always with great caution, left the temple.

At the end of the prayer, we all prepared to wait outside for the women to finish lunch. Susej and I sat on the floor next to Isaduj, who was leaning against one of the many columns supporting the roof, which covered the entire corridor bordering the barren inner garden.

I didn't imagine you could knock that policeman down, Isaduj said boldly.

There are many things you don't know about me, she replied, smiling, as she removed her short black hair from her beautiful face.

Show them to me.

You are very curious.

I am when it is about a girl, he said, fixing his brown eyes on Susej while I raged inside, not knowing what to do.

If you want, I can teach you Aramaic, the ancient language, because today only Hebrew is spoken, she said, blushing.

Wait! I didn't mean those things, he said contemptuously.

You can teach me, I interrupted, adjusting my glasses to my nose. It was my time, and I had to improvise.

Of course, she replied, looking at me, there are many interesting books in the library that will help us study it. I have learned a lot here; it is vast. Friar Joseph told me that they were brought from remote places of the world; many donated to be saved from war and natural disasters. I have found books on cryptology equal to those I studied at the University, also papyri in a very ancient language, although I haven't been able to understand all of them... she paused sadly, I guess it's because I couldn't finish my degree.

I couldn't finish my medical degree either, I commented in a low voice, I had to study a few subjects at a time since I had to work to be able to pay for them. My father was a simple accountant, I concluded, discouraged.

And your mom?

She died while giving birth to me, then my father died during the war.

I studied until high school and did quite well in business until they put the implant to sell and buy, interrupted Isaduj, calling Susej's attention.

I was silent because it was always the same. Every time I liked a girl, I got nervous in front of her, and instead of doing things to attract her attention, I only looked ridiculous... Susej was flushed by Isaduj's piercing gaze; she instantly began to speak:

Did you know that Friar Joseph brought a martial arts book from China?

So the monk keeps good books; I like that, Isaduj replied with interest.

Well, I haven't flipped through it yet, and it's in Chinese; we can practice self-defense; I imagine everyone did it for military service. My father instructed me personally, he was a policeman... When I joined the IDF, I should have become an excellent soldier. Otherwise, I would embarrass him. A great silence sprouted inside her; the memory of her father made her nostalgic, and her eyes reflected it.

Of course, I always prefer practice; it's more direct...

Are you feeling well, Susej? I said in a shallow voice."

Yes... I am fine.

...Letters and letters, nonsense. I don't know who came up with the idea of writing books. None of them are useful when you go out into the street and face reality, Isaduj continued.

I haven't practiced it for a long time.

No problem with that. A lesson well learned is never forgotten, don't you think, know-it-all? he said contemptuously to me. I wanted to explode and fight him right there, but I couldn't. I was no match for him, strong and athletic, while I was skinny and did not even know how to hit someone. My military service was not precisely in the defense ranks, so I lowered my head and kept quiet.

It was very useful to me, Susej said.

Pretty, intelligent, and strong, good qualities, said Isaduj, this time rolling up his sleeves to highlight his muscles. I clenched my fists tightly, although what I could grasp was only dust.

Thank you, she replied sadly.

Isaduj was going to say something else, but instantly, Judith, with her cheerful smile and crazy eyes, interrupted:

Young ones, the table is set; you have spent a lot of energy today; you have to recover it.

The three of us went to the refectory; Isaduj did not stop talking to call Susej's attention, who responded with giggles.

...

We all had obligations in the shelter and shared the tasks; the women helped with the cleaning and cooking. Friar Joseph cared for the goats and sheep that provided milk, wool, and some meat; when necessary, some were sacrificed. The men attended agriculture in the small field of the monastery, fighting against constant climatic changes and acid rains. The elders cared for and educated the children; the old women sometimes made clothes of any textile or wool for the large family. Susej, Isaduj, and I sneaked into the big city begging for vegetables or, without Friar Joseph knowing, fleeing from the policemen, stealing food for everyone. We always returned home with something – citrus or vegetable. Although they were not always fresh, they were still edible. These trips were a bit annoying because Isaduj, who knew the market well, played the know-it-all and constantly gave us orders.

During rest time, most people preferred to sleep because we got up at dawn to be able to do everything before the sun came out. Friar Joseph usually slipped into the library, and sometimes Susej accompanied him. I sometimes retired to rest a little, too.

One afternoon, sunny and