“They are ready,” Sheel said as he approached Shubhankor. He was standing with his back to a fire, burning brightly on the ground. “The ships are standing by, waiting for the push.”
“Is Ishtar ready?” Shubhankor asked.
“She believes she is.”
“You doubt her?”
“Nothing like this has ever been attempted before, Shubhankor.”
“For there to be a beginning, there must be a first. Have faith, Sheel.” Shubhankor smiled, turning to face the fire. “One might argue this is the very moment our faith was born.”
“Is this the secret they were trying to hide from us?” Sheel asked.
“Part of it, yes. If she succeeds today, then its implications would change the very understanding of creation. Wouldn't you agree?”
“I suppose it would.”
They fell silent, as Shubhankor gazed into the fire. The glow of that amber light on his face revealed deep ridges of contemplation that Sheel had rarely seen before. Yet Shubhankor's thoughts eluded Sheel. It was as if Shubhankor was trying to isolate and contemplate over every moment that was transpiring, trying to arrive at its greater implications. Shubhankor had become a student once more.
"How many remain?” Shubhankor asked finally.
“Less than one billion.”
“Remember how many there were when we first came here, Sheel?”
“5 trillion, 738 billion, 625 million 538, 257.”
“Soon there will be none...or One." Shubhankor said, looking up towards heaven, “Did you ever consider the inevitability of this moment, Sheel? If not here then somewhere else, this had to happen.”
“Too many times.” Sheel answered.
Turning to look away from the heaven above, Shubhankor faced the fire once more. Then stooping down he plunged his right hand into the flames. Pulling out a handful of burning ashes, he rubbed it slowly on his forehead and cheeks, letting the red hot cinders glow brightly on his face for a brief moment before they turned into ashes.
“Who's waiting on the other side?” Shubhankor asked, his voice charged.
“I presume, everyone who knows.” Sheel replied.
“Time to leave.”
Sheel didn't move. He let the silence stretch till Shubhankor turned towards him.
“I…want to see it through to the end.”
“Sheel, neither you, Naaroke nor Reemon Erra can be here when the end finally arrives. You know this.” Shubhankor eyed Sheel with some amount of apprehension.
“We'll leave before the door closes. You have my word.”
“Very well. Good luck.” Shubhankor turned away.
***************
Author's Note: Why do you think none of these people are supposed to be there when the end arrives? Leave your answers and feedbacks in the comments. Your engagement will help me improve my craft and help my story find it's readership through Wattpad algorithm. TIA
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ONE: Epilogue of Hermesh
Science FictionHow do you defeat an enemy you cannot reason with, you cannot hide from, you cannot escape, you cannot kill? For they are not truly alive. *They are coming. They keep coming. They keep coming.* (No they are not zombies. They were never truly alive...
