《The Bloodscorned》


 The Dreadbane Disease

    It is currently 1870 in the capital city of London, people are sound asleep in their beds, unable to fight the inevitable. Dreadbane has affected everyone, and it is incurable. Humanity has gone through a crisis of unending pain and horror, grief, anxiety, sadness, and rage.


    We cannot fight back against this disease that consumes our body and soul, as it is something far beyond our comprehension. Entities long ago given this disease to humanity, and now we must all stay awake, because if we do not, our souls and consciousness will be sent into the dreamworld, they say; this dreamworld is full of never ending horrors as they chase you down and haunt you for eternity. It sounded like a biblical hell... it scared me to death, I could never sleep from thinking about such a thing. Once you''re in the dreamworld escape is impossible. There have been others who fallen asleep only for seconds before they were awoken by their loved ones, and what they say that they experienced is downright chilling.


    They experienced people killing themselves, unable to escape this realm of nightmares and dreams that these entities created and ruled over. Death there didn''t exist, as their souls couldn''t die. They were forced to suffer for all eternity in their nightmares, alongside other peoples nightmares as well. Peoples nightmares and fears took physical form from their abstract ideals that they were from before.


    As I write this story now, I can tell you my nightmares and fears. I am a simple man, my fear is nothing more than spiders, they just creep me out. Their eight legged structures, and movements gives me the chills, thus, if I was in the dreamworld, I would forever be haunted and chased by spiders. That was my nightmares, that was my fear.


    I couldn''t fall asleep... no... I mustn''t sleep. Escape was impossible, as nothing of good existed in that world such as peace, religion, faith, and hope. They were all nonexistent concepts in the dreamworld.


    But moving onto present times; I was currently at my desk with my candle next to me, writing in the dim-lit room with a quill dipped in ink. I was writing a letter to my beloved, her name was Abigail, such a beautiful woman of many talents that never failed to amaze me.


    She was poetic, her art felt tangible, and her charismatic attitude was something that always calmed me down whenever we went out on a date. She was perfect, and she was my beloved that no one else in this god forsaken world could have. Every day, every night, I write about her, as she is the only thing I can think of that keeps me up, and that keeps me breathing.


    I haven''t left my house in weeks, all my food in the icebox has spoiled, and my fruits and vegetables have rotten to their core. I am losing weight, and It seems that I also have gotten pale as well. I can barely walk, my eyes have bags around them, and I barely have any energy to survive these harsh conditions. I was a walking dead man that has abandoned his religion, and belief in god.


    Once I ran out of ink in my quill, I placed it down and stood up from my chair, barely able to walk from lack of energy. "Water... I need some water..." I said in a monotone voice, hoping that the faucet could pour fresh and clean water from the supply tanks. I made my way over to the faucet as my bare feet creaked along the wooden, and molded floor of my house, eventually making it to the sink where I grabbed an unwashed cup, holding it under the faucet as I turned it on.


    I could hear liquid splashing down into my glass cup however when I looked down I could notice it was all black sludge. Even the drinking water was contaminated. Everything was going to absolute shit, as nothing in this world could work right, ever again. Humanity and our supply of sanity was slowly decreasing from our lack of sleep, as we were afraid of what lies beyond the awakened world, into the dreamworld.Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.


    Realizing my dire situation from having a lack of water supply, I was angered by this, thus, I threw the glass cup across my room breaking the window... however this action caused the outside to release a fouler stench into my home.


    "...Aaaagh!" I shouted while covering my nose, quickly making my way over to the couch to grab a blanket and use it as a patch. The smell coming from outside was horrendous, and I would rather smell a molded floor than such a thing. While I grabbed the blanket, I approached my broken window, stuffing it through the broken glass to prevent the wind from breaching into my home. I could finally breathe again while my body dropped to the floor, resting on my knees.


    "The foul stench from outside is enough to make a man fall unconscious... it is horrendous. It is the smell of rotting corpses of humans who could no longer stay awake, and have died." I cried out loud, talking to no one other than myself. The smell from outside were from people who have fallen asleep in the middle of the roads, on other peoples properties, and even while driving their cars, getting in car wrecks.


    Hospitals and other forms of medical care can no longer help us whenever we get in critical condition, as they need to put us to sleep in order to numb the pain of surgery and such. The world has changed, and these events have been going on for months on end. Outside of my window I could hear cars driving pass my house and crashing into objects, either from lack of sleep, or the driver committing suicide.


    "...There goes another one." I said under my voice, eventually getting up from the floor and making my way over to my room, going to my closet. "I wont survive on the rations I have now, I must go search for more food. Jobs have declined from lack of employees, and businesses in London no longer works like it use to." Opening my closet, I grabbed an outfit from within, starting to change my clothes.


    Taking off my ragged, and worn out shirt, and trousers, I changed into a white T-shirt, black trench coat, and top hat. I placed on black boots and black trousers, making my way towards the outside, but first I grabbed my grey bandana to tie around my face to prevent the horrendous smell of rotting corpses and mustiness from effecting me.


    I released a sigh from the lack of energy, knowing that finding food will require hard work and strategy. Yes, that''s right, strategy. People fought for food in this god forsaken world now. Everyone no longer works, everyone no longer grows, and takes care of their gardens. They all just steal from the market, and other peoples houses.


    I of course didn''t go unarmed in the chaotic streets of London. I brought a pistol with me, it was quite large, being that of an English Horse Pistol. Once I opened the door I could see hundreds of bodies on the ground in my neighborhood. They were all asleep in the grass, some were asleep in the streets, and some were outright dead before me, however I was use to this sight.


    I walked out my house and closed the door. I made my way down the pavement until I eventually got on the side of the road, walking aimlessly down the streets of starvation, despair, and relinquish. It''s been an entire month from my neighborhood looking like this,and nothing about it has changed except from the increase of conceded souls that fell asleep and surrendered to the Dreadbane disease.


    I stared down the streets at the vast city in front of me, with grey skies, and beautiful architecture that crumbled months ago from lack of sleep and deprivation. It was such a joyous, and breathtaking sight months ago, but now it was all rubbish and ruins.


    The city still functioned as it always has with cars, busy environments, trades, and etcetera... however jobs and such were all rare, and if you''re caught selling or trading items on the streets, you''re likely to be robbed, or killed. I couldn''t blame people, because after all, jobs naturally works the daylights out of people until they''re tired and worn out, making them want to sleep, and that isn''t a good thing, that''s why jobs, and businesses have declined drastically.


    I lived quite far from the downtown part of London, it would take me at least twenty minutes to reach there by walking... but perhaps it would be an hour depending if someone tries to rob me or not. Robbing and killings are quite common, as the lack of sanity brings people to do deranged things.


    And oddly enough, it was like I jinxed my situation once I could hear three men yelling out their car window as they drove toward my direction, shooting their guns into the sky like maniacs. The sight shocked me, and I was pumped with adrenaline... my legs wiggled like flimsy sticks and my skin felt cold... very cold. I pulled out my pistol as they stopped their car in front of me on the sidewalk, blocking my path.


    "Welll welll, look what we have here! Quite the little scrawny man isn''t he?" The one driving the car had mocked me as he gotten out the vehicle and adjusted his bucket hat. He too wore a trench coat, however it was brown. Actually, they all wore the same clothing.


    "I don''t want any trouble, just let me walk by... I''ll give you anything you want, long as I don''t have a reason to use this!" I desperately pleaded with them, hoping they could go after another person. I had nothing on me except clothes... and a gun. Money and those things that kept the economy going no longer mattered anymore. It''s kill or be killed sometimes, and I hope it doesn''t lead to anyone dying.

 Sherlock Holmes

    The three men in trench coats approached me with caution. Despite me being outnumbered with flintlock pistols inside their hands, they took my threat very seriously. You would think that I would be happy from them doing so, but I was not. I planned on waiting for them to laugh and mock me once more, so that I could shoot one down and proceed on with the others... but reality can often be disappointing to a man.


    They didn''t mock me, nor did they laugh at me, instead they formed unreadable poker faces as they all circled around me slowly. I couldn''t hide it, I was scared out of my wits, my hand could barley hold my pistol from how it rattled, and I could barely stand from how flimsy my legs had felt. I was about to be perished in such a revolting way by these fools.


    "You three gentlemen must be in search for food or water. I am sorry, but I''m all out of that... even the water supply is tainted with sludge, thus, I merely seek to venture out for more rations. I am empty as all else around us." Yes, I was empty as all else, in other words; the people around us who were asleep, and sent away into the dreamworld. They were empty and had no food or water, nor cash on them. I fit in perfectly with their struggles of poverty, so what else could these men want from me?


    I was broke, I had no food, I had no good supply of water, only my pride and dignity. Eventually they stopped circling around me as one man laughed. It was the man who driven the car, he chuckled at my desperate words and would approach me. "You''re empty are yah? Let''s see if that''s true, why don''t we?" He motion forward with his skunk breath hitting upon my face, smiling as it shown his yellow teeth, most of them having holes inside of them... it was disgusting.


    "Don''t move and stand still, we''re gonna pat you down¡ª" Before he could finish his word, a deafening sound was heard echoing across the neighborhood, scaring the other two men who were behind me as they watched their mate fall backwards with a bullet in his head. They were all in shock while one on the left side of me dropped his gun.


    "You''ve made a grave mistake taking me lightly lads!" I turned around and dropped my flintlock pistol, tackling the one closest to me, and it was the one on the right. I tackled him to the ground and proceeded to beat on his face like a barbaric caveman, only fueled with rage and my instinct to survive. My fist pummeled into his face until it was bloody as his other mate beside me held his pistol at my head.


    "S-Stop! You killed Oliver you bastard! I''ll kill you!" The one pointing the pistol at me shouted, while also being nervous to pull the trigger. I see what was going on now ¡ª the lad has never killed another man in his life, and judging from the way he stood, and with the way he held the gun, he must''ve been a hunter long ago before the world was sent into an apocalypse. You could tell if someone was a hunter from mere body language, and I deciphered it with him.


    I knew for sure he would bring himself to killing me if it was to save his friend that I was beating upon, though his friend was killed eventually after falling onto the pavement, and taking brutal hits from my fist. Before the one on my right side could fire the pistol I backhanded it away. Yes, I could''ve died there, but I relied on my chances and still won in the end. Once the pistol was backhanded away, I quickly tackled him as well, but he wrestled with me... and he was quite strong as if he kept his body in shape over the course of months.


    It was hard to take him down... and in the end I failed to do so. Trying to push him down to the ground led to him grabbing my trench coat and flipping me over, slamming my back into the grass as he pulled me up... and slammed me down like a barbarian. My head repeatedly slammed onto the grass, and it was enough to give me a concussion if it continued.


    "Rrrghh! Hrrraaa!!" His body was only fueled from a short burst of adrenaline like mine moments ago, so he overpowered me quite easily as my own adrenaline tank seemed to wear off. "I''ll kill you! Die! Die... Rghhhhaaa!" His grip on my trench coat was strong and unrelenting, however to fight for my life, I had reached forward with my hands and placed them on each side of his face, digging my thumbs directly into his eyes as he tried to pull his head away. "Gaaaaaahhh!!" His scream was bloodcurdling once red liquid was pouring out from his eye-sockets.


    "Ghhh!" I grunted once I had blinded him with gouges to the eyes, proceeding to rock him in the face with my right fist, sending him backwards on his spine. He fell viciously and held his face in pain. To finish him off I would walk over to his loaded pistol picking it up and pointing it at his head. He fought well, but I couldn''t let him survive and risk bringing more after me on this block if I were to let him go. However curiosity was one thing that always made me stall before I finish my opponent, so I asked him a question as clear as the bright blue sky, "What gang are you part of?"If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.


    He was still wailing in pain, but he responded from desperation, believing that I would keep him alive if he answered me. "W-We call ourselves the London Boys! We are a small gang just looking for resources! We weren''t gonna kill you, you bloody bastard, we never had the intention! We were gonna spare your life!" He eventually stopped his crying and would sniffle, unable to see again from his eyes being torn into by my thumbs. "Can I go...? Am I free?" His snotty nose and his bleeding eyes, it pained me that I had to do this to the lad, but he left me with no choice. I could tell that he was young in the age of 18 or so.


    "May I tell you a story?" I asked him, waiting for his answer. The young man would grunt a few more times until he mustered the words: "W-What is it?"


    I slowly moved the pistol away from his head and would keep it by my side, pointing it downwards to the ground. "My name is Sherlock Holmes, I was once a Victorian detective months ago before the world was sent into chaos from these... entities if you will, I''ve been-" before I could say anything else, I was interrupted.


    "W-Wait a moment, you''re the Sherlock Holmes? Dear god... dear god no!" The young man felt broken in his heart, as if he had done something terrible... and to be truthful... he did. He attacked me along with the other goons inside his group, threatening to kill me with their weapons, while I merely was protecting myself. "WhY gOd? Dear god why?! I''ve attacked such a prominent bloke! I can never forgive myself!"


    I looked down at him with saddened eyes, a bit regretful that I''ve gouged his eyes out, but at the same time I knew that I was safe from harm. "Yes, I am Sherlock Holmes, born in 1845, began my poems in 1865, and starting becoming a detective in 1868. Not many knows that much about me so I theorize that you''re the first. But moving on; I was a man who believed in logic and science, and I found the first love of my life during 1868, the moment I became a detective. She was beautiful, she was filled with many talents, and I loved that about her." The lad upon the ground had stopped whimpering as he slowly sat up to his hands and knees.


    "Was it the famous artist, Abigail Harriet? I-I heard about her and you being together years ago... s-so it''s only realistic enough that I assume it''s her, aye?" He spoke a bit hesitant as his body was trembling with fear, either from being blind, or from approaching death.


    "Yes, my beloved Abigail... that is her name. When I first met her, she changed my life forever and became the sole reason I began creating love poems... expressing my endless love for her beauty, and charismatic nature. She was gorgeous... she was a part of me, and I would never give her up. However as things were too good to be true, they came." The young man faced my general direction, raising his eyebrows as blood dripped down his cheeks.


    "T-They? You mean the entities who brought the world to chaos?" He asked me.


    "Yes, they''re the reason that Abigail is no longer with me. Once they came to the place we call home, they decided to take everything from us, and use us like playthings. These creatures were enormous... just one of them could be the size of a continent as they towered over our planet with their grotesque appearances. They came from a chaotic realm beyond our universe, in such a place that mankind cannot comprehend... and to them, we''re nothing more than insects inside of an ant farm." I closed my yes and looked down in sorrow. "Abigail seen them while they spoke to us. These creatures told us that they''ve created the Dreadbane disease, and if any of us falls asleep again, our soul and consciousness will separate from our bodies into the dreamworld, which is a place that they rule over. I couldn''t believe what I saw, and I thought that I was simply dreaming... but in the end, it became true. Once people fell asleep, they never woke up again, and now Abigail is asleep... and I must find a way to awaken her once more."


    "H-How will you do that Holmes sir? This disease is incurable... nothing can stop it, can''t you see? God hates us... he hates all of us, that''s why he sent them to earth in order to wipe out all of humanity by sending us into this nightmarish realm for eternity! This is our punishment!" The young lad on the ground seemed to lose all hope from the way he spoken.


    "I was once a religious man, lad, I always believed in god and followed his word... but ever since Abigail fallen asleep, my faith has withdrawn from my body. I believe that there is no man in the sky... but only entities who looks at our universe as nothing more than a spec of dust in a abandoned library." My words seemed to have installed more fear into the lad in front of me as he bowed his head down, forming bloody tears in his eyes that dripped onto the tall, and grassy ground beneath us. He was crying silently.


    "...Then I will find out on my own, Holmes sir..." I was at first confused by his words, but then he looked up at me with a determined expression that any man would show once they''ve made up their mind. The cold and chilly air around us would blow through my hair as it did the same to him as well, but knocking off his bucket cap in the process. I could feel a disturbance in the air... as if this young boy wished for me to kill him, so that he could discover the truth.


    "Are you saying that you wish for me to kill you, lad?" I asked him curiously, slowly holding the pistol back to his forehead, positioning the barrel.


    "Yes... my faith in god cannot be tampered with! I believe that he is watching all of this, and has a plan to stop these creatures. Please sir... grant me my death, I cannot live in this environment anymore. I''ve already lost my eyes, so I have nothing else to lose... except my life." He slowly tilted down his head, waiting for his death.


    "If god does exist lad, may he bless you with eternal peace. I thank you for listening to my story, I needed to get that off my chest."


    "...It was a pleasure, Sir Holmes."


    "Aye, it was." I placed my finger on the trigger, pulling it down which released a terrifying echo that reverberated across the neighborhood. The young lad was shot through the head as his body fell backwards, landing in the pile of corpses from his other friends. I could finally rest easy, having the tension leave my body.


    In this world, it was kill or be killed. Remember these words.

 Home Sweet Home.

    The sound of an engine echoed through the crowded and treacherous streets of London; a place I once called home and loved to my heart, now crumbled into a wasteland full of drunken old men who guzzled their pain away from a bottle of alcohol. I managed to steal the car from those London boys I killed. It was a sad moment, even for me, however I had to survive in order to save my beloved from that horrendous nightmare that we''re all cursed with.


    Life wasn''t fair, destiny wasn''t fair, and god wasn''t fair. That young lad that I finished back there mentioned something about god cursing us with this disease by sending these entities to our world... however I believe that is rubbish. We humans have only ourselves, and we can only trust in ourselves in these desperate times of Armageddon. There''s no savior... it''s only man for themselves, and it''s time that we stop relying on a higher power out there to help us. After all... the higher power that we pray to may just be these entities rather than the god you seen in a biblical tale.


    These thoughts inside my head were driving me feral, I couldn''t get them out my head while I made my way down the streets of London... but all the sudden I came to a stop by slamming into something. "What?" I muttered, realizing whatever I hit must''ve been heavy and sturdy. Maybe even alive. "Who was that? What fool would be walking in the middle of the street, in front of a moving car?" I looked around me outside the windows, and to sidewalks of the road, noticing people laughing while others merely stared at something in front of the car without any sort of emotion.


    I must''ve hit something for sure, but leaving my car was a fools choice. Knowing how gangs set up traps for their prey by schemes such as putting money in the windshield and waiting for you to get out the car to take it, just so they could run inside your car while it''s running and drive off with it. Other schemes involves picking up pedestrians in the middle of the night, only to be ambushed by a group of men once you accept the offer, and beaten up halfway to death as they steal your car and belongings.


    The world isn''t safe by any means, especially in this era of Armageddon. Currently I could be in a sort of trap... but then again I could also be overreacting. Whatever happens next was on me; do I get out the car and check for whatever I hit, or do I drive off and leave it there...? I did value human life still, I wasn''t some monster unless some buffoon pushed me to be one. These people around me could be deceitful... trying to mislead me in making a wrong choice, though once I tried strategizing a solution I could hear a knock on the window.


    "Excuse me sir, right in the middle of the road you hit someone!" It was a beautiful lady dressed in clothes of a maid. Her brunette hair was clean and tied into a ponytail, her chest was quite large... however her hands placed on my windshield had taken me away. They weren''t hands of a maid at all, unless she recently became one... but I refused to make that assumption. The brunette knocking on my window was no maid despite the clothes she wore. She was merely part of this elaborate scheme with these people around me on the sidewalk. I was a detective after all, and I could notice if someone really has been working as a maid from how muscular their hands look, along with protruding veins. This woman''s hands were tender, and frail. How deceitful, I almost fell into their trap. "Sir, excuse me!? Do you hear me sir?"


    I didn''t answer her. My expression only became emotionless again once I faced the road and closed my eyes... releasing a heavy sigh inside the piping hot car with barely any room to breathe with my bandana wrapped around my face. "If you would''ve hidden your hands, then perhaps I would''ve fallen into your trap." Once those words left my mouth her expression became angered... and she pulled something from underneath her dress, however before she could pull it out, I opened the car door with enough force to slam her down, and driven off.Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    "That bloody bloke! Kill him, shoot him down before he gets away!" One of the men on the sidewalk came clean-cut with their actions, and I could hear flintlock pistols behind me firing in quick successions. Bullets bolted into the car as I ducked my head, evading each one of them to the best of my ability. "Damnit no! Don''t let him get away, he has the perfect car we can take!" All the sudden I could hear pistols from above me firing down from houses around this section of the road. By the sound of it, these bullets came from the second flood of the buildings, thus, aiming must''ve been a hard thing to do.


    "A bloody ambush!" I cried to myself, eventually reaching the end of the road and turning a hard-right. Once I made my turn I could see a bridge up ahead that led to another section of the city where it was safer, so I mashed my foot harder into the gas pedal, driving forward at max speed to quickly leave this section of the city. The car was nearly out of gas, so I made use of the leftovers much as I can. Eventually I crossed the bridge over the large river stream underneath it, making my way into another section of London.


    I could take a breather upon my arrival, placing my forehead on the steering wheel and holding my chest while panting like a wild dog in the summer heat. My body was drowning in fear, and my heart rate accelerated faster than it has ever done before. In just one day I had two near death experiences from simply leaving my home. That is why I stay inside... however this was all for my beloved, and me.


    Ever since she fell asleep and conceded to the Dreadbane disease, I moved her from the house to basement for safety, just in case we were ever robbed, or gunned down in our own home. I always kept the basement nice and neat just as she likes it, and I always made sure to spread incenses around the basement to release a smell of either cinnamon, or nature. I loved her dearly, but I never cleaned up after myself... that''s why my house is moldy and filled with mice, insects and other bugs crawling around through my wooden flooring.


    I was miserable, and I lost hope on surviving many times, though with Abigail and her presence nearby, it gives me energy to keep moving forward and become a bigger man than I already was from before. I couldn''t die here, not now... or ever, until I release her from this Dreadbane disease once and for all.


    After finally regaining my breath, my foot slowly pushed down on the gas pedal driving slowly through the safer section of London, and searching for any shopping markets, or trading stands that were open; my goal right now was to get food and jugs of water at all costs, even if it means taking someone''s life if I had too.


    It pained me seeing London this way. The clock towers through the city use to look so beautiful along with the gorgeous architectural design of the road pavement... but now everything was either in ruins or destroyed, even the lampposts on the side of the road were bent out of shape, or either scattered on the streets. Once I made a left turn I finally came across people. One was a maid cleaning the streets to the outside of a apartment complex, and another was a whore looking for men to seduce in order to make money off of them. This was quite natural even before the apocalypse, so seeing such a thing did put a smile on my face for a moment, remembering how home use to be.


    I came to a stop on the side of a road, parking the car as I opened the door and adjusted my top hat on my head. This part of the city is was safe, and there is a likelihood of men willing to sell food and water for a little something in return such as jewelry, and other fancy items. I had just the thing if it came to that, thus it''s best I tried my luck here. I walked down the sidewalk and tipped down my hat with a small bow from my head, "Morning Madam" I greeted the maid sweeping on the sidewalk.


    "Good morning good sir, how do you do on this fine evening?" She asked me in such a humble tone of voice, putting a bright smile on my face underneath the bandana.


    "I am doing quite well, I''m merely searching for food and water to regain vitality once again. It''s been quite hard living on the rations that I have now." The maiden looked up at me while placing both her hands on top of the broom, resting her chin on them both. She crept a smile on her pretty face and nodded her head to the side, directing me to the apartment door in front of us.


    "Then going inside there is your best bet, my good sir. There are plenty of blokes who are trading, and you may have a chance on acquiring valuable rations there." I looked at the door that she directed me to with her head, hesitating for a moment but also taking the chance. I walked straight to the door and opened it, turning to her and nodding.


    "I thank you miss, may you have a wonderful rest of your evening." I tilted down my hat once more and walked inside, closing the door behind me. After this was done, I could go home... at least I hope that was the case.

 Meet the Professor

    Once I made my way inside the tattered and worn out apartment complex I was on the first floor. There wasn''t much to necessarily take note of except the stench. It was foul, constructing the scent of unwashed clothing, grubby and filthy bodies that has yet taken a shower in months. Even with my grey bandana on I could smell all of it, leading me to cover most of my face with my hand.


    I closed the door behind me and coughed a few times trying to adjust to this stench, however that proved difficult. Imagine yourself locked inside a bathroom after someone done the dirty deed inside the toilet, yes, it was just as bad as that. In front of me were a set of stairs that led up to the second floor; from the look of things outside the apartment complex it was at least ten floors I had to search in order to find someone willing to sell me rations. I knew this would take a while, so I wasted no time and walked up the stairs.


    They creaked beneath my weight once I traveled up the flight of stairs, eventually reaching the second floor which smelled better than the first. I could breathe more clearly and take deep breaths of fresher air than before ¡ª I looked next to me and noticed a narrow hallway on my right side, and one on my left side, thus I searched the right side first. Walking down the hallway with my hands inside the pockets of my trench coat, I could hear a older man speaking to someone down the end of the hallway, leading to an open door.


    He sounded at least in his 60''s, and from the way he spoke it reminded me of an professor who taught math in college. Maybe this wasn''t the type of guy I was looking for, however it was wise to at least see if he was willing to trade me for some rations I could take home with me... so I decided to make my way over to the end of the hallway, knocking on the door a few times until I could hear him stop his rambling.


    Once he walked over to his door, he fully opened it all the way, and I was met with a very short man standing 5''5 in height. He had a grey beard, brown suit with a white undershirt underneath it, and black tie around his neck, hanging below his chin. He looked up at me while carrying a journal underneath his arm, and a pen in his other hand. "What is it that you want? Can''t you see that I''m in the middle of something?! I told you young blokes to let me be, when I''m doing my research!" The older man seemed to get the wrong idea from my arrival, so I chuckled at him.


    "Pardon me sir, but I don''t live around here... instead, I arrived to this part of London to look for a trade. I''ve been running low on food and water, and I''m willing to trade anything valuable for a considerable amount." He brushed down his beard with one hand that carried his pen, looking me up and down which did confuse me at first, however he closed his eyes and turned around.


    "Come on in." He said whilst walking into his living room. I was bewildered from the old chap letting a stranger walk inside his home, but if he insisted, then I wouldn''t decline the offer.  Once I walked inside I could see a young man sitting on the couch wearing student attire, he seemed to be taking notes while writing on a piece of paper laid out on the table in front of him. So my guess was right; this was a professor teaching some young lad about something. It was either math or science, and from the look of things, they came from a wealthy school, considering they were using pens rather quills to write their words.


    "Hmm..." I thought to myself, wondering what exactly was going on. I wasn''t the type of person to pry into peoples business, but seeing a academic setup did get my attention in these times of the apocalypse. "What exactly is going on here, if I may ask?" I questioned the professor in front of me who walked inside his kitchen and carried large jugs of water outside from it, placing them in front of me.Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.


    "We are researching something magnificent!" He replied to my question, but it was so vague and left me wanting to know more.


    "May I ask what?" I responded.


    "We are currently looking into things about the Dreamworld, and the Dreadbane disease. We found a leading clue to help us understand more about the world beyond our own, so we can study it and learn how to leave its creation if we were ever to fall asleep." The young man answered my question before the professor could do so, and I turned to face him, widening my eyes and showing concern from their research.


    "Is that even possible? These entities... they exist in a world beyond our comprehension, no mathematical structure, dimension, or mortal concept can perceive them. These are beings who looks at the fourth, fifth, sixth, and all dimensions of our world like bubbles inside of a ocean. We stand no chance trying to fight against them, that is impossible." I didn''t wanna belittle their research or give false hope to them, but my response seemed to make them both laugh.


    "Baaahaahaa! Yes, that is true! They''re entities that exists in a realm beyond human comprehension, and they watch us behind the fabric reality for their amusement. That is my theory as well! It may not be true, but it seems the likeliest out of them all." The old man seemed happy that I responded the way I did, and he dropped the jug of water in front of me, quickly walking over to the young man on the couch. "Look at this!" He said while grabbing a handful of papers on the table and making his way back, handing them to me.


    "What is this?" I asked, proceeding to take the papers that consisted of beautiful handwriting.


    "It''s research that me and my fellow student Gabriel has been helping me with; we''ve been studying the Dreadbane disease from sleeping citizens, and we found something incredible!" He would rustle through the bundle of papers inside my hand until he found the one he was looking for, placing it in front of the rest. "Take a look at this, mate!"


    My eyes trailed the writings on the piece of paper in front of me, and it read: "The Dreadbane disease, it''s a cosmic disease that humans cannot cure by any man made medicine, or any medicine on earth. It''s impossible to cure, and it''s more potent than cancer while having catastrophic effects once you lose to the disease, and fall asleep... however, it does have good effects as well. Whenever someone falls asleep they lose their consciousness and soul, and are unresponsive to any outside force... but their physical body doesn''t age, and seems to exists in a temporal stasis. It''s as if time stopped completely on their physical body, or if they transcended the boundaries of time; we essentially become immortal, and aging no longer exists for our physical selves, thus, we can come to an conclusion and theorize that our mind and souls are transported to a realm beyond space and time, in a world known as the fifth dimension which is where this Dreamworld may exist."


    After reading all of this I folded the paper and handed the stacks of research back to the doctor. "It''s all theories, it''s not even confirmed, professor." I crossed my arms as he gently took his papers back and scoffed at my comment.


    "Yes, but you must know that everything at first is always a theory, until proven right. That''s how science works my friend!" He chuckled before turning around and walking over to his table, placing the stacks of paper down. "I believe that we humans are transcending beyond the third, and fourth dimension, into a new plain of existence once we fall asleep. The universe was always a mysterious place, so this shouldn''t be a surprise to many researchers out there. But I must say... it is too bad that this disease is created to wipe out all of humanity rather help us."


    I stuffed my hands back into my trench coat and turned to face the jugs of water scattered along the ground. I could only assume that he had no food but only water, from there being three large jugs in front of me. Though the sight did make me relieved to see something at least. "Humanities end was coming sooner or later professor, and this disease may be incurable... however I don''t care about learning about where we go once we fall asleep, instead I want research on how to actually cure this disease, so that I can see my beloved once again."


    The professor chuckled from my comment. "Curing the disease? Why didn''t you say so? That is the topic we''re working on right now, lad! And we found a magnificent clue that may help us do that."


    I hastily turned around to face the professor, widening my eyes. "W-What?"


    He was either insane from his lack of sleep... or perhaps he meant what he said. Was this it? Was this a way to saving Abigail? That''s all I cared about right now... so I would do anything to bring her back. I had to listen to this professor before me. He was the only hope I had at the moment.

 Cosmic Horror

    Me, the professor, and Gabriel all sat down in the dimly-lit living room, the smell of mold tickled at my nose, however I was use to such a stench; I knew it was my trench coat, it wreaked of a horrible smell that simply couldn''t be washed off by soap and water, rather it needed a deeper treatment that only my wife was capable of doing.


    As we sat on the cushiony sofa, I leaned over the table and looked at three individual pieces of paper with symbols and drawings embedded into them from deep dark ink. Taking one of the papers off the table, I analyzed most of the ancient and alien symbols, coming to an conclusion that they were marks I could not understand by any means. These symbols came from some cult that did rituals for a living, at least that''s what I assumed.


    "What exactly do these symbols mean professor?" I asked the professor as my deep blue eyes stared at a totem drawn on the piece of paper; it had a candle placed on the ground, and three sticks held up around the candle, along with three skulls skewered on the sticks. It gave me the chills, and just looking at it maddened me with a feeling of dread.


    "These are symbols that an ancient cult used in order to talk to these entities that brought this disease upon our world. Can''t you see? We''re the ones that brought them here! It''s all our fault, and we''re the only ones that can banish them away from our world, lad!"


    The professor replied to me, but his response sounded like utter nonsense. I merely closed my eyes and would let out a sigh from my nose, slamming the paper back down on the table and conjoining my hands together, resting my chin on top of them. "And how did you find these symbols professor? I don''t believe a word you say unless an explantation comes about."


    The professor closed his eyes and nodded his head, as if what he was about to say would sound lunatic, "I seen them in my dream once..."


    He replied to me, and I got up and walked over to the water jugs, picking both of them up with my hands, "I have no time for this, all you''ve shown me is make believe." I didn''t dare believe his words, and I was a fool for having my hopes up to the likes of him, however his student Gabriel approached me and stood in front of me.


    "What my professor says is true! Before this bloody apocalypse started, he''s been having dreams of these weird symbols, a-and these dreams somehow connects to what''s been happening! He means it, he isn''t lying!"


    I nodded my head side to side in disbelief, scoffing at the young lads'' words.


    "Your professor is simply bringing false hope, do not believe in his fairy tale." I turned to face the professor who looked disappointed. "Here''s my gift to you for the jugs of water." I almost forgot that I owed him something in return, so I placed down one of the jugs and took an pocket-watch from my coat, tossing it at him.


    "It''s pure gold. Everything inside of it is strictly gold, even the dials. Thank you for the water professor, this should last me two months or less." He caught the pocket-watch looking fascinated at the gold, and standing up from the sofa with a small chuckle leaving his mouth.


    "Sherlock Holmes, that is who you''re, isn''t it?" The professor asked me which stopped me in my tracks, and surprising the young lad, Gabriel.


    This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.


    "S-Sherlock Holmes? Professor what do you mean? This man is really Sherlock bloody Holmes?"


    "Aye aye, indeed. I could notice this watch from anywhere, it''s a watch he always carried with him whenever he''s done his detective work. I''ve read it in stories and books featuring Sherlock and his great discoveries. Your wife... is her name perhaps Abigail?" The professor quickly caught onto me, so I scoffed as it was the only thing I could do.


    "You''re a fan of my discoveries I see. It''s been a while since someone found out who I was without me having to tell them first hand." I kneeled down and placed the other jug of water on the ground, slowly turning to face the professor, and Gabriel.


    "My wife Abigail has fallen ill to this disease... yes... and I am searching for a cure. Anything, and I mean anything that can save her, I would be willing to do it, even if it involves going into the dreamworld myself to search for her." The professor and Gabriel glanced at each other with saddened looks upon their faces, as if they heard terrible news of their loved ones passing away.


    "I am sorry Holmes sir, Abigail was quite the artist. Her works of art felt real... and tangible, and it never went unnoticed by the public. But the only help I can give you, is from what I gained over my course of research! Please, you must believe me! This may be a clue to rescuing her and countless others!" The professor tried to persuade me, but my gut feeling told me that none of it was true... or perhaps that going through with his research could lead to a horrible fate. Which one was more potent you may be asking? I haven''t a clue. All I knew is that we were trying to fight against cosmic horror in the vast expansion of space, and it could lead to horrible consequences... but I''ll do anything to save my beloved.


    "You have my attention professor, perhaps you aren''t the lunatic I thought you may be, aye. You know of Abigail and her art, you know of me and my golden pocket watch, and you know of these symbols that even gave me a chill up my spine. You''re a incredible researcher, and genius man. I''ll hear you out, I have more than enough reasons to do so, mate."


    Gabriel widened his eyes and bowed his head as a sign of respect. "T-Thank you Holmes sir! Thank you for hearing us out! Everyone else thought that the professor was a lunatic, but you''re the first to listen to his reason!"


    I chuckled mildly and nodded my head, reaching into the front pocket of my trench-coat, and pulling out a pipe. I placed the end of it into my mouth and held it with my lips, reaching into another section of my coat to pull out a match, lighting it on the wall next to me, and hovering it over the pipe. I waited for the tobacco to burn so I could inhale it''s fume, trying to relieve this stress built up inside of me.


    "Alright lads, let''s get this show on the road, shall we?" I smirked as they did as well. Perhaps this was the start to saving the world, or simply wallowing in false hope.


    ***


    A few hours have passed, we were all sitting on the sofa and discussing these ancient symbols, and it turns out that they come from a cult known as the "Worshippers of Yogulu". The professor told us his dream in key details, and I must admit, at times I felt like these details were simply deranged, or out of this world, but this was my only chance to save Abigail.


    The Professor talked about how this Cult conducted rituals in the name of an entity known as Yogulu; they''ve done these rituals by sacrificing infants, but hearing that would make me close my eyes and take the pain to my chest. What a sick and twisted cult, just hearing about that had angered me, but I knew that I must get through this story for my own sake.


    The professor described Yogulu as a creature with no symmetry and a blob-like body. It''s icy cold with multiple tendrils swarming inside of it out in the open. Apparently this entity is a god worshipped by this cult, and this so called "god" is the reason that these other entities from the cosmos came to our planet and given us the Dreadbane disease. The professor has no idea why this cult wished for this to happen, unless they had other plans in mind and were betrayed by Yogulu.


    "Tell me professor, Yogulu exists far off in the Caribbean Sea, correct? This cult discovered his whereabouts on a piece of land and decided to randomly call it their god?"


    "No, that isn''t exactly what happened Mister Holmes. When they discovered the god, Yogulu, he spoken to them in their own language that they could understand, and guided them to conduct rituals for an unknown reason. The people who found this Blob-like creature were all strangers at first, but when they heard Yogulu speak to them, they formed their cult and followed his orders. That is how the Worshippers of Yogulu started."


    I took another hit of my pipe, inhaling the tobacco fumes, and blowing it from my nose, "I see... if this story is true, then perhaps we should travel to the Caribbean Sea and search for this Yogulu entity?"


    I looked at the professor who glanced down in a bit of disappointment. "I have no clue where their hideout may be... I''m sorry, but that''s all I could give from the dream I had before the apocalypse, lad."


    I stood up from the sofa with my pipe in my mouth, taking one of the papers in my hands and making my way to the door. "Then it''s time for plan B."


    They all looked at me with wide eyes, a bit confused on where I was going.


    "H-Holmes sir, what is plan B? What are you doing, sir?" Gabriel asked me.


    "I''m going to conduct a bloody ritual." I responded with a chuckle at the end.