CHRONICLES OF THE FOURTH HORSEMAN

SEE

There was the dark flash again.This time much more intense than the other two before, the pain was both brain and body numbing.The then day dreams would follow, dreams so vivid that it felt real, as real as the fact that Azzy was still in the asylum.It was Tom's time to see her world.A world that was too crazy to be real.

He has been having these crazy visions.It started with a wild dream a week before.He was somehow out of his body floating into the air, it was all cold and quiet and then the chaos would start .Hunger, war and death everywhere and all the times he would see this beautiful angel laughing with an evil tone.She was not by herself, there were three others following every move that the angel made.Other ugly "ghosts" to be exact were floating in the air around him laughing and chanting in a language he could not comprehend.The sight of the angel was what interested him.The beautiful thin being was more or less genderless and the more he looked at the angel the more he got confused.There was also something familiar about the gorgeous being in all its paleness.He felt like he knew he/she personally.He then woke up scared and it took him a moment to realize it was a dream. Ever since then the dreams have been getting more frequent but nothing seemed to change.They hav even advanced to day dreams or what you could call visions.

He woke up from just yet another one.He had a plan to go check on Azzy.He knew she was not doing well and honestly he was beginning to think that maybe she was not crazy.Maybe the dooms day prophesy was real after all and maybe the world was coming to an end pretty soon.Tom got up and went about the business of preparing himself.He was never a morning person but ever since the dreams started he could not sleep through the night.

He dragged himself out of his tiny room with just a bed, an arm chair and a study table.It was a neat room seeing to that Tom himself was a neat guy.The books from highschool which he and his two best friends had just completed were still carefully placed on the tiny table at the corner.His clothes were arranged length wise on the wardrobe and the little room was well kept.

He walked out and stretched up a bit taking a little time to look at the skies and briefly enjoy the morning sunshine which he very much needed.Thoughts raced through his head.most of them were questions he didn't have answers to.He was soo deep in his thoughts he never even heard his mothers salutations.After a short lived time out, Tom made his way to the kitchen where he briefly stayed while taking breakfast but the he walked out and off to the bathroom he went.

All this while I was seated on the bed saying my mantra.I repeated the word "peace" over and over again just as the yoga lady in the hospital had taught me.By now I had totally believed that all the stuff about the end of the world and being death was not real.I had learned to move on and i was feeling pretty good about myself.

My days were getting more and more peaceful by the day.Maybe it was as a result of the drugs they were giving me three times a day or maybe I had just accepted that i had a mental problem, either way I liked it that way.There were no more voices on my head.No more floating and most certainly no more getting sick out of the blues.I had a pretty simple routine which involved getting up in the morning, taking my meds, joinining the rest of the patients for a little group chat before breakfast.

The most important part of my day was the yoga that was two hours between 4:00pm and 5:00pm.The yoga instructor, miss Alison was the my favorite person in the whole hospital.She was gentle, caring and calm.She took her time to listen to the patients and taught us relaxation tricks that would come in handy at night when I was fearing to sleep for the fear of the nightmares.She is the one who had taught me to use the mantra trick and so far it worked perfectly.

I was seated on my bed saying my mantra while relaxing when one of the doctors came for me it was Tom.Of course I was happy that he had come by but I didn't expect him for two more days.I was expecting my father who kept on promising that he would show for four times now but as usual something always came up that held him back.I wanted to see him so badly because I wanted to discuss my college plans with him.The doctors had said I was good to go back home but I didn't want to go back to my step mom.She was probably the reason why I was going crazy.I had to get as far away from her as possible and the only excuse I could think of was college.

Tom was already enrolled to a university out of the country and I couldn't picture my life with the crazy woman without him to strengthen and encourage me.John was my friend but he was not willing to do the things Tom deed for me.I also wanted to follow Tom out of the country and I knew he wanted that too.Back at school we were always working hard and competing against each other because we wanted to be better.

Tom was a little bit sharp than myself but I always gave him a run for his money and in the end we had an equal grade and there were few remaining slots.I needed my father to approve my decision and I would be on my way but until then I planned to stay in the hospital rather than go back home.As I stood up and straightened myself to go meet Tom, the thoughts of him going away and me being left behind were circling the back of my mind causing a mingrane.

I was happy for his achievements though and for that I intended not to show him my fears and disappointment.I walked out of my room and walked the hall ways to the main hall where people waited for their patient.On the way I said hey to a few of my newly found friends and one of them gave me a candy bar she had hidden on her sleeves.The wire overalls looked good on me and I wished they could let me go home with them When I checked out even though I knew very well they wouldn't.At the end of the corridor, a guy was seated peacefully but as soon as he saw me he went into a coiled position and started calling out for the doctor saying he was seeing death.He kept pointing at me and requesting for me to not go any closer.I couldn't understand why he freaked out but I figured he probably had heard the stories everybody was telling about me claiming to the angel of death herself.It was understandable that someone like him could fear someone like me.The way he acted though was concerning.The doctors asked me to go away as I was trying to go over to him and help him understand it was just but my crazy head rushing out and in fact I was just a sick girl who was working towards getting better.He had then become aggressive as he had realized I wasn't stopping.The doctors were restraining him and I just walked away feeling a little bit bad and remorseful. Poor guy didn't deserve the shenanigans.

I walked hurriedly for the remaining distance.Tom had every other virtue on Gods green earth but patience was the one he didn't.By then I knew he was probably loosing it.As I walked into the hall, I saw him seated, eyes glued on this lady who had just been admitted a day before.She was still going on and on about a haunting in his house, her story soo sweet that Tom had lost count of time there for a while.She had reported claiming her daughters dolls were haunted and that the were the reasons why the little girl was lying in a hospital bed nursing knife wounds.She was believed to have been cut by her mother who was now in the mad house awaiting mental assessment for mental health before trial.

"Hey you look good," Tom began. At this point I realized his eyes were a little red and swore.He looked a pale and tired." I can't say the same about you, what's wrong."He didn't bother to answer and I didn't ask much.We sat across each other and he started a forced conversation that i joined but wasn't really for.We talked about the weather, and about the weather man on the news and then about everything we could think of but sooner than later we went blank.Tom offered to take me out for a walk around the hospital and since there was a river through the huge facility, we knew exactly where

to go.

We walked out of the hall and across the field to the river banks.The river was pretty much guarded given the nature of the facility.We had to get clearance and I had to prove I wasn't a danger to myself or to others and ofcourse i wasnt.I don't hurt people and can't bare to kill something leave alone someone which is is why the idea of me being death was preposterous.

We sat down on the grass facing the river.The cold breeze was refreshing and felt good on my skin.The air was cool and fresh.Tom seemed relaxed and his face shone a little bit.He loved water and being an introvert and all that, it suited him.He was still a little bit pale still but atleast there was a calm rested look on his face.I could see and feel there was something bothering him but i wasn' t sure how or whether to ask.Having known him fo all this time i knew he couldn't answer not unless he wanted to.I also knew he could hold back because he feared for my health and all that.

We sat in total silence and for a moment it felt awkward but then it was relaxing.We had sat there for about thirty minutes when Tom finally spoke.There was a mixture of fear and doubt in his voice."Hey are you still having the awkward breaks still?" he asked.My answer was a simple "no" with no intentions to further the coversation.I wasnt sure whether he wanted to talk about my mental break but I sure as hell didn't want to talk about it.I was still embarrassed about the previous events and made sure to avoid talking about them.

" I don't know if it is okey to tell you what I am about to tell you but I have to tell someone,you are my best friend and the one person I can really confide in.It is going to weigh on you though," he said trying his best to avoid eye contact." I have claimed to death.I have seen things I can't even begin to describe or explain, and the doctors says its all in my head, and I am still here.I don't think their is something you could tell me that could out weigh that," I answered with a forced smile.He looked at me to be certain I wasn't just saying it for the sake.He went on and told me about his nightmares and the serious looks on his face made me tremble a little.

I wasn't sure what to say and I was busy calculating my next move in my head when something interrupted.It was a sharp screem from the hall about fivety meters from where we were seated.Another one followed them another.Everytime coming from a different person.Within no time there was some sort of commotion and people both patients and visitors were running out of the hospital screaming in horror.Tom short up from where he was seated and started for the hospital and I followed back.

I don't know whether we were being brave or foolish, all I know Is that we were running into a building where everyone else was running out of.There was a little rubbing of shoulders as well made our way through the running crowd but we never seemed to notice.Their was no way I would let Tom walk into danger alone.I had to be by him even though I was offering no help at all.In case of anything I could help scream or something.

Inside, a few patients were coiled in the corners while the doctors were trying to calm them down." Everybody saw it, there was a ghost right there she is standing," one of the patients said pointing at where I was standing.The patient from earlier then let out a wail from the corner before dropping to the ground.Tom rushed over to find him bleeding from a stab wound at his back.Tom walked back a few steps and stood their confused.We had not seen anyone walk towards him leave alone hurt him.Their was a look on Tom's face.Almost as if he had seen it coming.He walked back slowly, grabbed my hand and walked me out of the hall."I saw them in my dreams...th...the ghosts.They were laughing when this bad a*s angel was reaping up the souls of the dying people.The world was ending," He was pacing wildly and biting on his nails."Maybe you are not crazy, maybe the end of the world is here.We have to go," he continued.At this point I held his hand, looked him on the face and assured him there was an logical explanation for everything that was happening.

Deep down my heart was thumping.The blood on my veins rushed angrily and a cold sweat was forming all over my body.Undescribable chill swept through my whole being and for a moment I froze.I was staring at one of the most horrible being on the whole universe.It was well more like a human being but it had no physical form.It shaped itself from what looked like fog or mist.Wide open eyes which didn't seem to blink, a wide gap on the face instead of a mouth and two little holes for the nose probably.I tried to open my mouth and say something but my jaws closed soo tight that my mouth couldn't even open.I tried to lift my hand to point but they were too heavy.I ended up just standing their like a statue.

Tom was a still going on and on about his dreams without even looking at me and for that he never saw it.The figure then came towards him from behind, laughing hysterically.It was at that point that I saw a knife on its hands.By the time I got out of the paralysis, the figure was just behind Tom ready to raise the knife.I managed to push Tom out of the way and I was the one standing right in front of it.It raised its hand before swinging it ready to strike.But then it stopped, bent towards me and deed what seemed like inspection before stepping, well more like floating back a little.it made what seemed like a bow before disappearing into thin air.It was gone.I turned back towards Tom just to find him seated with his mouth ajar.He had seen it too , and he was terrified.We had to get out of there.

I never turned back to get my things.We just walked out and ren about three miles before stopping to take a breather.We kept looking over our shoulders for more ghosts but their seemed to be none and we hopped it stayed that way.It was a five miles distance from the hospital to the nearest town and we had to get there before darkness.We wouldn't want to out in the darkness with the knife carrying ugly ghost.

The walk was quick and in any other occasion tiring but we were too scared to feel it.In only thirty minutes we were on a bus heading back home.I would rather deal with my step mom.I wasn't sure going home in the hospital clads was a good idea but I didn't have a better one and neither did Tom.How were we going to explain why I went home without checking out? What will we say about the ghosts?

Everybody would for sure believe I was crazy if I told the story as it happened and for that we decided not to tell.We got home before six thirty and to my surprise my papa was there.The look on his face said everything I knew he would say if he opened his mouth.However he stood up, hugged me and for a moment there I thought I saw a tear.He held my hand and walked me to tiny room and made me sit on the bed.

I thought he was going to scold me to kingdom come but instead he held my hand and apologized.He told me that he had watched the news and I didn't have to explain anything to him." You saw the news? Wait is it about the mental hospital?" I asked realizing what he was talking about." yes about the patient who stubbed two people and claimed it was the ghost," he answered.I wasn't sure whether to relieved or angry.I settled for confused instead."I understand why you never checked out properly.I would have probably done the same." He concluded as he turned towards Tom to thenk him.He went on to apologize and explained why he never came to check on me.Apparently a bad storm had ranged the southern part of the country and he together with his friends had to go to the people's rescue.It was understandable.

What wasn't understandable though, was why the news reported differently about the incident at the hospital instead of telling the truth.Tom and I had seen it and soo had everybody else.Of course no one would have admitted it except for the patients.It is like claiming you saw big foot or you were abducted by alien or fairies. Nobody would believe you.Not even you own father.

Tom and I now knew the truth.The thing about end of the world was more than just a tell tale.It was as real as it gets.We had to find out when it was to happen and how it related to us.John was of course skeptical when we told him about it but he loved a good puzzle and he would have loved to see it for himself and for that reason he was willing to join us on the quest to find the truth.This time round Tom asked me to tell my story about being death again and he listened and even too notes.

He seemed interested and John thought the story would make for a sweet novel.He even promised to write it someday.First things first, we had to look for a starting point.The only way we could do that is if we looked for the one person who seemed to know something about the apocalypse crap.I had told Tom about Duke and he thought of we could prove Duke was real then we could go looking for him.Personally I thought that was a bad idea since the last time I saw him he punched me out of my meat suit and jailed me for hours leaving my body to cause chaos.He was the reason why I checked into the mental hospital in the first place.But then he was the only person who could help us understand what was happening.

Even if he was real, he was all the way across the world in the united states and we were in Africa.I seemed like the university applications would come in handy after all.That was if my father was willing to let me study abroad and whether john was willing to join us.The three tourists I had met earlier at the service and in the silver city were also from different parts of the world and they were our other options.The process was proving to be tedious and impossible.But Tom was in quest for truth and explanation.

I had a long talk with my father and he was not for the idea of studying abroad at first but later he agreed and all that remained was for me and Tom to help Johns mom understand and let John go with us.That, was a different task.Johns mom was born strict and over protective his father was henpecked and deed as the lady said.Our only hope was to get through to her or we had to go without John.we all knew it was a painstaking job but we were willing to take the chances.John was not the kind of guy that put himself into unnecessary situations but he was always sharp to take other people out of crazy staff they put themselves in.The perfect recovery guy.

We needed him more than we would care to admit.While Tom was kind, strong and smart, John was strong, fast and thorough and admirably patience.He however believed that science had answers for everything.He had however watched star trek , supernatural and X-files, but that didn't mean he believed any of them.He had agreed to be part of the team because he needed to prove us wrong.He was also our friend who knew us soo well to understand we would always get into trouble and we needed someone to get us out.That was his job and he deed it without ever complaining and we loved him dearly for that.Leaving him behind was a thing none of us wanted.

It took Tom four hours and some minutes to get her to consider the options.Tom was the soft spoken one.Everyone in the village loved him for his characters.He was everyones dream child.He was our only chance to successfully execute our plan.As expected, his talking tricks and respect got Johns mom to let him join us.The first part of the plan was done leaving us with the hard part.

It was one thing being in a country we had never been in before, it was another thing to look for one person we only knew by name and weren't even sure existed amongst millions of people.Where the hell were we supposed to start.Ever since I was little i heard people around me say how hard it was to live out there being a person of the "race".I wasn't prepared to go out there and get judged, hated and shunned due to my looks and color.I confided in knowing that I would not be alone .Tom and John would be right there with me.Tom ready to fight for both me and John while John would make sure that I we never got ourselves in trouble we couldn't dig ourselves out of.It was reassuring.

We were to report in three months.That gave us enough time to study the book of revelation and see if we could understand anything.Maybe it could give us a clue as to what was happening.We started a Bible study program and we even invited some people from the church to join us.We dragged poor John into it too.Though he spent most of the time trying to make logic off the good book, he was helpful when it came to debates.He had the strongest points to debate on but in as much as we argued and argued, we never came up with anything.It was almost impossible to interpret the book and that only made Johns argument about the Bible just being a book more and more reasonable.I however felt like I had the answers but I had to do something or give up something to get to those answers.I was holding on to the fact that if we never found Duke, that would mean that all that crap Was only on my head and life would go back to normal.No ghosts, no Azrael, just crazy pale me and my two best friends.

Time went by soon quickly and before I knew it, I was parking for the first day of higher education.Our parents had pre- visited a week earlier and they were satisfied.My dad however was having second thoughts because he felt like I was not ready to go out all by myself.He also feared that I could have another episode while out there.He was hopping I could change my mind but I was determined to make it happen.I needed to get away from crazy wife and her shenanigans.My old man had no other choice but to let me go.Of course my step wasn't happy about all of that, but she didn't have a say over the matter.It was one of the first wins for me and I loved it.

My dad took us to the airport and off we went.it was my first flight ever and as soon as the plane took off my stomach twitched and turned.I was sweating badly to a point that the guy next to me offered me a wipe and assured me that it will get better with time.John passed a brown bag just in case and I held it tightly on my arms as if my life depended on it.That was soo totally not how I pictured my first flight but at least I didn't throw up.With time I felt better and by the time we arrived I had gotten comfortable enough to take a five hours nap.

My hostel room was tiny but it had everything I needed.I didn't have to share it.Dad had made sure to get me as comfy as he could afford and I was grateful for that.John and Tom shared a hostel and in as much as I would like to deny it, I was a little bit jealous.The got to be together much more often and I secretly wished I had that luxury too.It could be nice.

We had a week to get used to the surroundings before reporting for the first class.We used that time looking for Duke instead.we searched social media platforms for him but it was impossible to find someone with such a name.People often use fake names or nicknames for their social network platforms and maybe Duke was too.Or maybe he never had any accounts.Tom however came up with an idea.Since Duke was a believer of the supernatural, maybe he had disguised himself with supernatural name or groups.We followed that route and sure enough we found someone similar.All that remained was to look for him.

The last thing I remembered was him looking for some ancient bones.Maybe we could get to him by pausing as people who knew where the bones were.We had no idea what we were getting ourselves into but we had convinced ourselves that we had no other choice.John had gone ahead with our crazy plan even though he believed it was a bad idea.The faster we proved ourselves wrong the faster he could win the bet and maybe, just maybe then we would get back to being the abnormally normal friends.

Tom was the one to lay out the trap.He posted a bag of bones we had taken a picture of from the internet.We sure hopped the dude wouldn't look too much or he could realize what we had done.Later John and I would comment and seem to be having a heated debate.The kind of debate that would draw Duke's attention toward us.Fortunately or unfortunately, the plan worked, it worked way too well.

Two days later, we were chilling on the schools parking lot admiring a super gorgeous convertable when so dudes in a black van showed up and shoved us into the van.One of the guys put some cloth over my nurse and for a moment it stung and then there was nothing.We were unconscious.

When I came to be, I was in the very same trap I had been months earlier half an year ago to be exact.I was however with my meat suit still on and I wasn't hearing voices.Tom and John were tied up on a chair and the dude was questioning them.Tom was a little bit edgy but John was calm and well composed.

Duke realized I was awake and a weakend smile formed on his face.He looked scary, it was a little bit dark and that made his shadow on the wall look more like the figure from a month earlier.I realized just how bad the idea was from the beginning.I was not tied up or anything but I didn't try to move.I knew it was no use and I couldn't give him the satisfaction of watching me struggle.I was better than that.If living around Tom and John had taught me something, it was a lesson to analyze and choose my battles wisely.I intended to do exactly that.

Duke was mean and full of himself.He believed he was the savior of the world.It was a little better earlier when their was a possibility of him being a figment of my imagination.But now he was right there.Standing in front of me and my friends to see.John was more than likely trying to sight some logic to explain the fact that I knew a guy I had never seen before.This was of course because John didn't believe in astral projection or the saul or magic.For him those were stories made by people trying to deal with their anxiety or stress.

Duke looked at me for a while before heading towards my direction."You...!" he started "soo... you brought your friends hah? who are the? Famine and war?"He said holding the pliers he was using to interrogate the boys with.He got closer to my face and the fishy stench hit my nose.I was not sure whether it was coming from his body or his mouth, but it was bad.I was freaking out soo bad .