NBA Dramatique, Prelude 22

Goran was extremely tired from the long flight. He thought that if he would have been allowed to sleep overnight on the plane, he would have simply stayed in his aisle seat until morning. Instead he took his heavy bag out of the overhead compartment and made his way through the gangway. He had left his homeland half a world away at the urging of an unknown benefactor who promised him wealth and glory. All of the correspondence that he had received regarding this opportunity was signed simply "Followers of the Sun". Goran felt a sense of mystery and perhaps even danger about this curious invitation, but also sensed that he was being given the opportunity of a lifetime. Caution be damned, he packed his things and got on an airplane.

As he walked towards the baggage claim area, there were a few people waiting at that late hour for passengers who had just arrived. He noticed a tall, thin man wearing sunglasses and a long black raincoat who seemed to be smiling and staring at him. As he got closer, Goran could see the outline of a sun embroidered on the breast of the coat.

"Are you Goran?" he asked. Goran nodded that he was. "They call me Barnes. I hope you had a good flight, but I'm sure you are quite tired. If you'll follow me, we'll take the car back to the hideout."

"The hideout?" Goran asked.

"Haha! Come on!" Barnes put a hand on Goran's shoulder and guided him to the door. Outside was a black limousine with darkened windows waiting for them, and another tall man holding open the door for the back seat. "Raja, this is our new friend!" said Barnes with a smile. "Let's take him to his new home." They got in the plush compartment of the vehicle and Raja closed the door, then walked around the get behind the wheel.

Goran found the soft seats very comfortable. Barnes offered him a drink. He wasn't sure what it was, but it smelled strong, and was dark in color. Barnes was drinking one as well, so he drank it as not to offend. He had no memory of the rest of the drive.

When he awoke, he found himself in an extremely large room. From the high ceiling hung a gigantic chandelier. Heavy crimson cloth hung on the walls to appear like curtains, though there was no actual window anywhere in the room. A large man wearing an eye-patch played a celebratory song on piano from an elevated platform in the corner. Multiple sofas, over-sized chairs, chaise lounges, and beds were arranged around the room. On each was at least one man and and least two women. They were all laughing or loving, drinking out of bottles and large decorated goblets what appeared to be the same beverage he had partaken of in the back of the limousine. On the wall to his left was a large mural of the sun in the sky. It was chipped and looked prematurely old. On the wall to his right was a scene painted in three separate frames. In the first, men were depicted fighting in war wearing armor that was decorated with the same sun symbol that Barnes had on his coat. The second frame contained a damaged painting - the lower half was torn away - of a sun, low in the sky, with a human face that appeared to be crying. The third showed a night scene, with the same armored men, but with gaunt, frightening expressions on their faces as they tore their enemies limb from limb.

Suddenly, the lights of the chandelier went out and the room became completely dark. The assembled revelers howled and shrieked with happiness, their laughter became manic, and groans of pleasure became frequent. The piano continued playing but the mood of the tune changed considerably. Goran remained frozen in place, too frightened and confused to even consider moving. Then, without warning, he felt many hands forcefully grab onto his arms and legs, holding him tightly in place. He struggled to get free from his unseen captors, but could not find the strength to resist. He felt warm mouths attach themselves to his neck, his shoulders, his abdomen, and his thighs, then felt his skin tear open as those mouths sank their teeth into his flesh. The noise from the darkened room was a chaotic symphony of howls, screams, and laughter on top of the crashing minor chords that the piano player continued to bash out. Goran could feel his own warm blood washing over his skin as the hands that held him began to slip upon it. The mouths continued to bite and draw, and soon consciousness slipped away from his weakened body once again.

Goran awoke in the same place he last remembered, but he was looking straight up at the chandelier, the lights of which had turned back on. He heard low laughter surrounding him, and he turned his head without sitting up to see who was nearby. What he saw caused him to bolt upright immediately.

The people who had been in the room previously were all still there, but had undergone a disturbing transformation. The soft and supple shapes of the women now appeared rotting and grotesque. The men who had appeared athletic and strong were putrefied and nearly skeletal. Barnes was there. Raja was there. The piano player. Many others. Every one of them a walking corpse.

"You're monsters!" he said to them. They made bizarre laughing sounds and hit their own hands together in a twisted imitation of applause. A large, hulk of a man with dark flesh hanging loosely from the bones of his face stood and stepped slowly towards Goran.

"We are what we are." he mumbled in a low empty voice. "And now you are too." Goran looked quickly at his own arms and hands. He was pale as ivory, and large chunks of skin and muscle were gone where they had been eaten away. He could see his own bones in places. "No one else can see us like this if we stay out of the sunlight. We look the way we looked when you first saw us, and so will you. But understand - the sun has set on your old life. You are reborn. You will never die. You're one of us now and forever. Call me the Big Resurrection."

Goran was shocked beyond speaking. He was also beginning to feel hungry, and dreaded what that could mean.