6.

Layla squinted behind the wheel, trying to reduce the glare of the desert sun as it reflected on her windshield. She cursed, not for the first time, the fact that she neglected to bring sunglasses on this crazy trip. She had barely brought enough water either, and had been careful to take only small sips so as to not waste it. The car’s A/C wasn’t working and the desert heat had her covered in sweat, skirt glued to the sedan seat.

She let out a nervous chuckle. Maybe this would be her death. They would find her one day, a dead husk in the corner of her run-down car holding an empty package of potato chips. Would they wonder what made her do what she had done? What had possessed her to take a flight to the US, which she had never visited before, and then rent a car and drive into the desert with barely any preparation?

‘A dream, a stupid dream,’ she thought while dirving down the dusty road. ‘A really stupid reason to die like this.’"

But she had gone too far already. She was pretty sure her job had fired her for not turning up last week, and she was near her credit card limit after paying for the flight, the car and the gas, as well as food and whatever else she needed. She couldn’t go back. No, she was following this road to the bitter end. All because of a dream.

An hour later she felt the pull, the same one that had taken her this far, calling her to turn into a dirt path that trailed deeper into the desert. She dutifully turned and after a few more minutes of driving reached what seemed like a small huddle of cars, buses and motor homes, as well as a few strewn crates and makeshift furniture. Layla parked her car just outside the circle of vehicles and frowned. This was it. This is what her dream had led her to.

“Good god, it looks like a shitty hippie commune,” she muttered to herself, getting out of the car while wiping the sweat off her body. This place did not look like it had a shower, which was not doing wonders for her mood.

Uncertain whether to even approach the sketchy place, she was surprised by a man coming from behind a bus and waving at her.

“Hey, I don’t recognize your face. First time here?” He asked. He wore shabby clothes, also damp with sweat, and carried an honest-to-god clipboard, like some kind of manager. He also looked like he was high on something, or possibly just crazy, with eyes too wide and feverish in their sunken sockets.

“I… I’m sorry, don’t mean to intrude. I’m not even sure why I’m here,” she laughed a tiny, nervous laugh and edged closer to her car. She was ready to bolt out of this bad idea at a moment’s notice.

“You’re having the dreams, aren’t you?” He asked.

She froze, her eyes widening with shock. “How do you know?”

“The dreams bring people here. It’s not perfect, but better than putting an ad or something. I mean, can you imagine it? ‘Is your life stuck in a rut? Do you feel like the world will end and everyone will die soon? Why not enjoy our getaway package, blah blah blah...’ Nah, terrible idea.”

“What the bloody…? Ok. Ok, how? How do you know? Did you DO it? And how...?” She trailed off, leaning onto her car for support.

“Sorry, you must have a lot of questions,” said the man, unfazed. He leaned back against the bus. “Take it easy, I will explain what I can. One question at a time.”

“This feels crazy...” she muttered, eyeing the inside of the car again. She had struggled so hard to get here and now she felt tempted to turn around and bolt. To leave this strangeness behind her, like a bad dream. She was afraid of what would come next.

“You’re not crazy,” said the man. “The dreams are true.”

“Then…?” She tried to ask her next question, but she couldn’t. It sounded too crazy, too big, too impossible for words.

“”Yes,” said the man. “The world will die soon. In less than two months, actually.”

He said the words, made them real. But it was not enough. It could not convey the enormity of that concept, the intensity of what she felt. But she still tried:

“Shit. Goddamn, bloody, shitty fucking shit.”

“Yeah.” He nodded in agreement. “Sorry.”

“This feels like the plot of a shitty B-movie. It’s always the end of the world with those movies... Ha ha,” she laughed again, still nervous and small. After a moment of hesitation, she asked. “So is this why the dream called me here? To prevent the end of the world from happening?”

The question seemed to make the man uneasy. “Not… Exactly. What’s your name, miss…?”

“Layla Banks.”

He nodded. “My name is Cody. Come here, there’s something you need to see.”

The portal glowed, even in broad daylight, although trying to pinpoint the color of the glow was a tricky thing. The color slipped from your memory as soon as you’d see it, and Layla was forced to look away in confused awe. The portal was an impossible thing, she knew as soon as she saw it.

“So this… portal. It will take me to a safe place? A place where I won’t die?” She asked.

“You and anyone else that goes through it,” replied Cody, still staring at it without blinking. “For the next two months anyway.”

“After that…?”

“Gate closes. World ends.”

“No. That can’t… There’s got to be a way to prevent it, right? Right?” She turned to look at him, eyes wide and pleading. But when he looked back at her his expression was not encouraging.

“I’ve tried,” he said. “I’ve tried so much. Sorry, but this is the best I could do.”

“But then… Anyone that doesn’t go through will die, right? N-not everyone can come here and go through the portal! My sister...” Layla’s voice broke at that point, she glanced at the portal, then looked down at her feet. “I can’t leave her behind...”

“Can you call her? Ask her to come here? If she steps through the portal, she will be safe,” said Cody.

“No, no, you don’t get it,” said Layla, biting down on her lip to stop it from trembling. She bit so hard it hurt. “She doesn’t have the money… I, and me as well, w-we live in Manchester. I had to spend a lot of money to come here… but. BUT! She doesn’t have that kind of money! She’s going through a lot of… She. She can’t come all the way here!”

“Sorry,” was Cody’s reply. And to his credit he did look sorry, but there was a practiced tone to his answer. Layla realized that he had said that before, to other people. Many, many times. “I can’t bring her here.”

“Is there any other way?” She pleaded. “Anything I can do to save her too?”

He paused, as if considering something. “Would you be ok with your sister being abducted by aliens?” He asked.

“Wait, what? Aliens?”

He nodded. “They would keep her for research purposes. But she wouldn’t even notice the aliens are there. For her, it would be like staying in a human five-star hotel.”

“Aliens… Do that?” Layla asked, still stunned by the change in the conversation. “You… You’re not not pulling my leg, are you?”

“No.”

She looked into the distance, a furious internal debate playing behind her frowning expression. “Would they hurt my sister? These... Aliens?”

“I can make sure they don’t,” he replied. “But they might mess with her memories, to keep her from leaving the hotel.”

“And… Is there no other way?” She asked.

He shook his head. “It only gets worse from here. This is as good as it gets.”

She frowned more, balling her hands into fists, but there was nothing she could do. No other path that she could see.

“Fine,” said Layla at last. “If it’s the only way. Let her at least be alive, and happy.”

“I can arrange for her to be saved… But I need you to do something for me in exchange,” said Cody, approaching her. His expression was deadly serious now. “Sorry, but I can’t do this for free.”

“What do you need?” She asked.

“I want you to be part of a play.”

The stage, if it could even be called that, was little more than planks of wood nailed together on top of wooden boxes to form an elevated stage. There were two tall planks on each side framing it, and a man in a dusty, sweaty white shirt was arranging some cloth on a rope that went from one side to the other, makeshift curtains for a makeshift stage.

“It looks ghastly,” said Layla, clearly unimpressed as she stared at the stage.

“Does it look that bad?” Asked the man putting the curtains on. “I mean, for something we started putting up yesterday, it could be a lot worse! Could be better, but could be worse too, you know? We’ve been hard at work since last night in this heat and… Seriously, is it that terrible?”

“Oh, I mean… Yesterday? Wow, that’s quite fast,” said Layla, suddenly embarrassed at her outburst. “No, it doesn’t look so bad, actually.”

The man chuckled back at her “It’s alright, I know it looks like shit. Just messing with ya.”

“We’re in a bit of a rush, so it will do,” added Cody. “It’s not the stage that matters anyway. It’s the play.”

“Are you gonna be part of the crew too?” Asked the other man, looking at Layla.

“I… Yeah, I guess.” She said, glancing at Cody. “I mean… That’s the agreement, right?”

He nodded in response. “The play will be the day after tomorrow. So you have until the end of the day to finish the stage, and tomorrow to rehearse it. No pressure.”

“Wha… TWO DAYS?” Layla opened her mouth, spluttering and searching for more words to express her outrage, but finding none. Instead she looked at the man setting the stage, then back at Cody, wide-eyed.

“Sorry,” said Cody.

“Don’t worry,” said the other man, now walking down the ladder after having finished setting the curtain. He offered his hand to shake and smiled at her. “The play’s not very big, I’m sure you’ll pull through. Name’s Marcus, by the way.”

“I’m Layla,” she said, shaking his hand. It was sweaty and a little rough, but his grip was gentle.

“It’s very important for the play to go right,” said Cody, deadly serious. “I know it’s short notice but all of you must act as if your life depends on it.”

The two crew members looked at him in different degrees of horror, frozen mid-handshake.

“Damn, buddy! You gotta ease people in on this stuff, you can’t go all ‘it’s life or death’ out of the blue!” Said Marcus, chuckling as he admonished the other man.

Cody deflated, looking slightly guilty. “I’m sorry,” he said. “But it’s true. Please take it seriously.”

“If I work hard, will you keep your end of the deal?” Asked Layla, looking at Cody with a serious expression. She did not even blink. “No going back, no matter the result?”

“If you do your part, I will do mine,” he replied.

“Okay! Okay...” She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and when she opened them again her mind was set. Turning to Marcus she asked, “so where should I start if I want to help?”

“Well… Are you any good at making props?” He asked.

What followed was a full day’s worth of hasty introductions, friendly encouragement and a lot of nailing, sawing, carving and arguing as the props took shape in the hands of the mostly inexperienced crew. When she finally put down her crude carving tools and joined the rest of the actors at a table sitting next to the portal it was already night. Layla’s face was covered in sweat, her body ached from the hard work and her stomach was rumbling. Everyone was crowding around a bowl of stew and taking portions for themselves, and Layla was never so grateful as when they offered her a bowl and spoon of her own, full of the rich and delicious-smelling stew along with a slice of homemade bread.

“I didn’t know you had experience with theater!” Said Marcus, smiling with delight. She looked self-conscious at the attention the other actors gave her and shrugged as she gulped another spoonful.

“Not much,” she said. “I was part of an amateur group for a few years. We did plays for charity and such… Until I got too busy with work.”

“You mean in England?” Asked Marcus.

“I live in Manchester. Yeah, it’s in the UK,” replied Layla.

“Wow, you’re really far from home!”

“I had to spend most of the money I could get my hands on just to come here… Would never have done it if it wasn’t for the...” She paused, feeling self-conscious about saying out loud something so silly.

“... If it wasn’t for the nightmares,” finished another man she had been introduced to as Anthony. He had been quiet for most of the day, focused only on his work. “We’ve all had them.”

“I did not,” said the other woman in the group. Susan, on the other hand, talked a bit too much and creeped Layla out. Right now she was staring intensely at Anthony as she launched into a speech. “I never needed such crude incentives. Instead I saw the truth with my very own eyes and offered my services and my life to The Great Cody. I pledged my soul to the Almighty Suzy. The path I follow is of my own choice, and it has led me here.”

“Eating stew after making props all day?” Asked Marcus, stifling a chuckle.

“... Yes,” replied Susan. “It’s… You would not understand. There is a grand reason behind our actions at this moment. A greater purpose we cannot fathom.”

“So… You don’t know why we’re doing this play either?” Asked Marcus, even more amused.

“... No.” She replied. “But I have faith in The Great Cody.”

Layla glanced at Cody, who was now busy welcoming another car that had driven up to the gate with his clipboard, then back at Susan. “By Great Cody, you mean... him?”

“Yes! Him!” She approached Layla suddenly, her face inches from the other woman as she continued in a whisper. “I saw him open the portal. Showing the true way. He speaks with The Great Gods through The Almighty Suzy and sacrificed his own life, many times over, for our sake. A true Messiah, he killed himself a hundred times to save those in need!”

Marcus glanced at Cody, then chuckled. “He seems to be pretty alive right now.”

Susan sighed at that and backed away, slumping down into her seat. “You do not understand. The unenlightened can never understand...” After a pause, she reached for her bowl and resumed eating as if nothing had happened.

“So, Cody…” Layla said. “Did he offer you guys anything in exchange for being part of the play?”

Marcus and Anthony looked at each other in silence while Susan had a faraway look, gently stirring her bowl of stew.

“I have a family,” said Anthony at last. “Want to give them a fighting chance once we cross into the portal. He said he would help with that. In exchange for help with the play. I… Me and my family. We really need this.”

“I don’t need any rewards,” said Susan. “I pledged my service to The Great Cody months ago. He has been shepherding and helping those who come to cross the barrier into the new world for the past few months. The play is a… Recent development.”

“Has he offered you anything?” Asked Marcus, looking at Layla.

“He… He said he’d help my sister,” she muttered, looking down at her bowl. “So I was wondering how trustworthy he is.”

The other three actors looked at each other for a moment. It was Susan who answered first.

“No matter what you think of me, I’ve seen him sacrifice himself for the sake of others. Take from that what you will.”

“I trust him,” said Anthony. “Not sure why. But I don’t have a choice.”

“I guess… I don’t have a choice either,” said Layla. She was still looking down at her bowl, lost in thought.

“Hey, sometimes you gotta take the leap, right?” Marcus chuckled. “I’m not even getting anything out of this and I’m still helping out with the play.”

“Really? You’re not getting any help before going into the other world? Or saving anyone else?” Asked Layla.

Marcus hesitated, strangely serious with an expression Layla had never seen on him before. “No,” he said at last. “I don’t think I’m even stepping into that portal.”

“Wait, what? Why?” She asked, straightening up in alarm.

“Well… It wouldn’t work out for me,” he said, vaguely gesturing at the portal, which shone eerily at night and they could all see from their table.

“We all have our reasons to be here,” said Susan, looking at Layla. “You should respect that.”

“Um, sorry! I didn’t mean to...” was her reaction, trailing off into flustered silence. Marcus handwaved it away and chuckled.

“Don’t worry, it’s no big deal.” He said. “You want more of the stew? Better get it now while it’s still warm.”

She nodded and offered her bowl, which got another generous portion poured inside. Layla had a spoonful of it in her mouth, chewing in silence as she looked at Cody, now arguing with the recent arrival. Cody was as calm as ever, even while the other man shouted at him.

“Sorry if… Um, don’t know if I’m supposed to ask or not,” she said. “But when Cody said that it was a life or death situation to be part of the play... Was that a manner of speech?”

The three actors exchanged glances again. It was Marcus who gently told her.

“Well, Layla. The world IS about to end. What do you think?”

It was the next morning, while everyone was practicing their first scenes, when they saw the two vans approaching. It was not unusual to see vehicles driving towards them, and Layla had already seen two groups talk to Cody before gathering their belongings and walking into the portal. One seemed like a family, with their two children in tow.

But when the vans stopped and opened their doors, the people filing out immediately drew Layla’s attention and started ringing alarm bells. Many were odd, or even deformed in some way, with large, bulging eyes or skin so pale she could see their veins and teeth that looked crooked and sharp. Was it some sort of alternate lifestyle people into extreme body modification?

But THAT clashed with other people coming out from the van who looked perfectly normal, including many children which were now excitedly running around, gawking at the portal or chattering with whoever was within earshot. It could easily have been mistaken for a daycare excursion if it wasn’t for the uncanny feeling that the adults caused on Layle. She tried not to judge people by their appearances, but the more unnatural among them unnerved her in some deep and primal way that went beyond their ugly faces. Something wrong, on some fundamental level. She shivered and hoped they would be gone soon as she turned back to her rehearsal.

“Welcome, children of Dagon,” said Cody, smiling as he walked towards them with his clipboard in hand. “I’m glad you could make it here at last.”

“It’s not exactly a family vacation, is it?” Said one of the two women detaching themselves from the group to talk to him. One was very conventionally beautiful, with long, brown hair, a slim figure and bright green eyes that stared back at him with a sour, disdainful expression.

“Yeah, sorry it took so long,” said the other woman. She was short, pudgy and had a face that was more fish than human, with bulging eyes and a toothy grin that showed only sharp teeth, like a shark’s. “You know how it is. Kids need a lot of attention and with so many of them traveling we needed time to prepare everything. Plus supplies and tools for… You know.” She gestured towards the portal.

The two women gazed at the portal for a moment without speaking. Cody smiled at them and broke the silence. “I appreciate the effort. You will all be welcomed into the new world and be given plenty to prosper and spread the Seed of Dagon. I’ve made sure of that.”

“Sure,” said the fish-like woman. “And in exchange I will take part in the play as we agreed. I’m Maria, by the way! And you must be Cody?” She asked, offering her hand. Cody shook it.

“Are you sure you want to do this, Maria?” Asked the other woman. “You know, you don’t have to do this for us, we can still find another way. I don’t want you sacrificing yourself for our...”

“I’ve told you already, nobody has to die in this play,” said Cody, interrupting her. “The players won’t be harmed, I promise.”

“Nor anyone close to us, right?” Asked Maria, looking seriously at Cody. “This is not that kind of ritual? It’s not the King in Yellow?”

“No, seriously! This is just a normal play. For entertainment. I mean… It’s important, but not deadly! You can go back to your two kids when it’s done, Maria.”

The atmosphere in the conversation immediately cooled, and Maria’s smile vanished as she stared at Cody. “I never mentioned I had two kids. Not in my texts or in my phone calls with you.”

It was Cody’s turn to lapse into silence, although this one was awkward rather than contemplative. “Uhh, yeah...” He said eventually. “My… My god told me about you. Sorry if that sounds, um...”

“Creepy? Yeah, it does,” said the other woman, her expression even more sour than before. “Do you know anything about me then?”

He looked at the ground, crestfallen at the way this conversation was going. After a sigh, he said, “I know your name is Gwen. I know you’re the daughter of the High Priestess of Dagon in your hometown. And… I know you don’t get along with her because you’re a lesbian. That’s… All I was told.”

Gwen made a face as he finished speaking. “That shit’s creepy. And knowing all that, you’re still ok with me going to your new world? I won’t help repopulate it, you know?”

He shook his head. “That’s fine. You don’t have to do anything. I don’t ask for anything. Except, of course, for Maria to… Play her part.”

Gwen shot a meaningful glance at her companion, her expression softening. “It’s obviously your choice, but you don’t have to do this. This play stinks of yellow nutcase shit. We can try finding another way...”

Maria shook her head, determined. “This is our best shot at saving my boyfriend, Gwen.”

Cody's expression froze in surprise as he glanced from one woman to the other. “Boyfriend?” He asked.

Marie returned him a sly smile. “I know, I don’t look like much of a catch, right? But at this party a while back I met him and we hit it off right away! A total sweetheart. And fully human too, so… You know. Was happy to take you on your offer, when you mentioned there was a way to prevent humans from dying.”

She turned back and waved at a guy that was busy playing with two kids. He noticed her and waved back. He had glasses and an unfortunately patchy beard, but when her turned back to keep entertaining the kids it was clear that the young ones loved him.

“Your god didn’t warn you that, then?” Asked Gwen crossing her arms. “So much for being all-knowing.”

“I didn’t know...” Said Cody, still looking at Maria’s boyfriend. “I think… My god enjoys screwing with me.”

Gwen chuckled, “Yeah, sounds about right.”

Cody turned to Maria and said, “your boyfriend can survive the end of the world if he goes through the portal. You and your family are welcome there.”

Gwen said, “so long as she’s part of your creepy play.”

He lowered his head. “She’ll be safe. So long as she’s part of the play, she’ll be safe.”

“Why? Why are you doing this play, anyways? ”

He looked at her and his stare made her uncomfortable. He was terrified, eyes wide and lips pursed tight, as beads of sweat rolled down his forehead. In a whisper, he answered: “For entertainment.”

A full day of busy rehearsals had come and gone, and the exhausted players had all slunk to their sleeping spots in various places around the campsite, mostly tents or their own cars. Cody was guiding a truck full of construction material into the portal when the world froze in place, everything growing quiet as time came to a halt.

“Aren’t you tired of doing that?”

Cody did not reply, instead turning to see Nyaralathotep standing beside him, string at the truck stuck halfway through the portal.

“Organizing the survivors, making sure they have what they need, hearing they plead and beg for things you cannot provide. Making deals that count on your Suzy’s help, and afraid for what she’ll ask in return. It sounds exhausting!”

The god smiled at him, still dressed in an expensive suit. Cody only looked back at him warily and kept quiet.

“You don’t want to be doing this, do you? Carrying the weight of all these people’s lives on your shoulders while hoping for mercy from a being that treats you as a toy? There is no way this will end well. What was the phrase Hastur used again? ‘This will only end in tears,’ wasn’t it?”

Cody turned his back to him and walked towards a couple of boxes that stood a few feet away from the portal. He sat on the boxes and made himself comfortable.

“Pointless. No matter what you do, it won’t save them,” Nyaralathotep shook his head, walking towards Cody as he talked. “Hastur will get bored of your little Eden soon, she has the attention span of a goldfish. And the people living on the other side? They’ll be food and playthings for the other Elder Gods, including myself of course.” He smiled politely, the sincere smile of a well-trained politician. “You can’t protect them forever.”

Cody looked up at him, but still said nothing.

“You could protect them, of course, it would be easy enough” continued Nyaralathotep. “But you know me. Why should I do it without an incentive? Why would anyone help save your puny species without an incentive?”

Cody looked down at his clipboard and frowned at the numbers written on it, deep in thought. He idly tapped the edge of the clipboard with his pen. In a burst of motion Nyaralathotep was in front of him, pulling Cody’s chin up to force him to stare at it. But he was no longer a man in a suit, Nyarlathotep was now a rubbery, contorted figure with an enormous, gaping maw, larger than Cody’s body. So large was the mouth it was also part of the creature’s torso and even part of its leg. There were no visible eyes, and instead of a head, a long tentacle that stretched enormously high, disappearing into the night sky. An impossible creature, in a world frozen in time.

“YOU WILL NOT IGNORE ME. YOU DO NOT HAVE THAT CHOICE.” It spoke with a voice that pierced into the listener’s skull like a bullet. Each word was a slab of marble dropped on a metal floor. “YOU THINK YOU MATTER? YOU FOOL YOURSELF INTO THINKING YOU ARE IMPORTANT AND YOUR ACTIONS HAVE MEANING? YOU ARE NOTHING! NOTHING!”

Cody only offered him a small smile and closed his eyes. He could wait. He had practice with it, and eventually Nyarly would run out of steam and let him go. It was not the first time this had happened, and Cody suspected it would not be the last,

He could wait.

“There’s actually some people sitting outside… Fuck, we have an audience!” Whispered Layla while peeking from behind the curtain.Her only real costume was a crude mask and a red string tied around her right index finger.

“I thought that was the point,” said Anthony, adjusting his own mask. If he was feeling nervous, Layla couldn’t tell. He always held his emotions under a tight reign, and with the mask it was now impossible to tell what he was thinking. He, like every other actor, also had red string around his index finger.

“She is in the audience,” whispered Susan, appearing behind the two of them like the vengeful ghost. “The apotheosis is upon us! She will decide our fate!”

“Wait. What? Who?” Layla asked, turning back to peek from the curtains again to search for whoever Susan could be referring to.

“The Almighty Suzy!”

“Not this again,” muttered Marcus, gathering next to the group. “At least Cody we actually know, but who is this Suzy anyway. What does she even look like?”

“She’s the one clad in yellow,” replied Susan.

Layla looked down at her own shirt, which was yellow with blue stars on the front.

“That… Does NOT narrow it down,” said Marcus, chuckling.

“She is more right than you know,” said Maria, also masked as she joined the group. Layla still felt a shiver of uneasiness wash over her, and felt guilty over it. Despite Maria’s appearance, she had been one of the most helpful and kindest of the group, helping others get better and even cooking a mouth-watering feast for everyone at the end of the day. “There is something important watching us. I am sure of it.”

As Layla scanned the audience from behind the curtains, she noticed a woman wearing a very conspicuous yellow hoodie among them. She seemed to be sitting alone in a corner, smiling…

“Are you all ready?” Asked Cody, interrupting her thoughts. He was backstage with them, no clipboard in hand this time. He seemed unusually tense. “It is time.”

“Sure thing. Let’s dazzle them with our performance!” Joked Marcus. It was a poor joke, but the other actors laughed together, releasing some of the nervous tension that hung backstage.

“Remember,” said Cody. “It’s ok if a word or two is off, that’s not what matters. Get the feelings right. Make this a play to remember.”

“Yes, yes, you’ve told us that already,” said Maria, gently shooing Cody away. “Go sit and enjoy the play. Now it’s up to us.”

“Alright. Break a leg,” said Cody, with a small smile. When he saw Anthony frown and Susan’s eyes light up, he added: “metaphorically, of course.”

The stage was still rough and uneven, the only light was a jury-rigged lamp with an extension cord running all the way to a motorhome nearby. The only props were a table with cutlery, plates and fake food made from painted wood, as well a noose that hung from above. But when Layla and Marcus first entered the stage, everyone in the audience turned to look at them. It felt like the whole world held their breath.

Layla spoke her lines:

“Friends and kin, now we feast!

Let all our worries be released,

In remembrance of a place,

Whose name is Terra.”

“Think of the stage we leave behind,

Remember the sights we’ll never find,

Forgotten nights and days,

In past Terra”

“Never forget those who stayed,

Whether ignorant or afraid,

We will never meet again,

In lost Terra”

“What an odd poem to start a party,” said Marcus. “Where did you learn it?”

“I learned it in a play,” said Layla. “A play at the end of the world.”

And the play that followed was not ‘The King in Yellow’. But there were similarities, mirrored elements and themes. It was written by someone who still remembered what it felt to be part of the play, both as audience and as a player. Few are the ones who survived one of these roles, let alone both, but Cody was there, among the audience now. Watching intently the play, as well as the reaction of his companion beside him.

“It’s not the same,” Suzy whispered into his ear. “They are not worshipping my memory.”

“It’s not meant to be the same,” whispered Cody. “It’s about remembering their world, after the end. Something you should know about.”

“Nice goal, poor method,” Suzy replied. “Your words are just that: words. Without my will behind them, they will be garbled, twisted and lost with each account. Within one generation, nobody will remember how your world was. It will be distorted and twisted and, ultimately, forgotten.”

“That’s not a bad thing.” He shrugged. “Things change, right? Nothing stays the same forever.”

“Those I have absorbed, they will be remembered by me. Always. Forever. How they truly were.”

“Shh!” whispered another woman behind them. “I can’t hear the play!”

Suzy turned to the woman with a faint smile. The lady had a lot of care put into her hair and makeup, even in the middle of the desert and close to the end of the world. She was glaring.

“Sorry about that,” purred Suzy. “Enjoy the play.”

And so the play continued. The acting was earnest, and didn’t need much prompting to feel realistic. They all could relate to a part at the end of the world. Discussions were had on the merits of their dying world and what they would or wouldn’t miss. Wild partying alternating with quiet recollection. Then the climax arrived, the grand finale, where the feasters decided to declare their last regrets while tying their red strings to the noose. Their wishes that they would take into the grave.

And this is where the script for the play ended, telling each of them to write their own personal regrets and say them out loud as they tied them to the noose.

“I regret sacrificing my boyfriend for an eldritch god that did not even listen to me,” said Susan, staring at the noose. “I thought I had to do it. I was wrong. And I will regret it for the rest of my life. I wish I could bring him back.”

She unwrapped the red string from her finger and tied it to the noose, and moved aside to allow the next person to step up. It was Anthony.

“I regret leaving my mother behind,” he said, looking down. “She is very sick and I cannot take her. I wish I could, she deserved better. I’m sorry....”

He tied his string and the next person approached the noose. It was Layla’s turn. She looked at the noose and found her eyes going moist.

“My sister is not coming with me to the new land. I wish… I hope she’ll be alright. I never really got to say goodbye. I should have spent more time with her, helped her more when she was down on her luck… I thought there would be more chances to do it later. I wanted to focus on my career. But now it’s too late. I can’t even say goodbye.”

She held back her emotions long enough to tie her red string to the noose. The one after that was Marcus.

“I’ve only been here for a few days, but it was nice seeing so many people working together. Folk from all walks of life, all trying their best to build a new home in a different world. I… Well, I wish I could join them. But I can’t leave my family behind. I’m sorry, I just can’t. I don’t even have the guts to tell my family what will happen to them. I regret a lot of things, in the end.”

He tied his red string to the noose and moved aside, letting the last player, Maria, approach the noose. She took a deep breath, as if steeling herself.

“I’m leaving behind my own community, some great people who helped me when I needed it most, and who will also need help after the end. I am sorry I couldn’t be there for them. And I also regret the humans I couldn’t help. I even tried convincing some of them… But they wouldn’t listen. I regret some things, sure, but I don’t regret coming here, or being part of this play. If it saves lives and helps build a new tomorrow, I don’t regret it at all. You hear me, Yellow King? Take me if you have to, but I don’t regret coming here! Not! One! Bit!”

She quickly tied her red string to the noose while saying her last words and then backed away. Now all 5 players were surrounding the noose.

“Now we wait for the verdict of our play,” they all said in unison. “Are we entertaining to the King in Yellow? Are we the last entertainment before the end of the world?”

Both the audience and the players seemed to hold their breath, as if waiting for something or someone, and the air was one of hushed anticipation. Then, as if a switch had been turned off, everyone grew quieter still and closed their eyes, frozen in place. Time was not frozen, one could still hear the desert wind or see the bonfire crackling. But everyone was still as a statue, except for their breathing, and they did not react when a large figure clad in sickly yellow rags and wearing a large iron crown walked onto the stage. The features of the figure were mostly hidden, but occasionally they bled out between the fabrics, dark and corrosive to the mind

The King in Yellow took center stage, surrounded by the frozen actors and facing the audience. It’s gaze eroded all reality. It’s voice was an endless legion.

“MeH… iT’s fiNe, I gueSs,” said the King in Yellow, in a gesture that was a vague approximation of a shrug. “AlriGhT, you guYs enTertAINEd Me.”

One member of the audience rose, the only one not frozen in place.

“Your play will be remembered, long after I am gone,” said Cody. “Perhaps not perfectly, but it will endure. And best of all, nobody needs to die.”

“ThOSse KilLed by mY pLAy, tHey arE now a PArt of mE. I grANt tHeM salvation,” said the King in Yellow. “ForEvEr.”

Cody shrugged. “I still prefer my version,” said Cody with his own small shrug. He stared at Hastur, The Feaster from Afar, also known as Suzy, with a steady gaze and calm expression. He did not back down.

“AlrIgHt tHEn,” said Suzy. “I wiLL cOntiNUe to EnJoy tHe entErtAinMent yOu pRovide.”

“This was the only play in the near future,” siad Cody. “But I’ll see what I can do.”

“I’m SUre tHe bEst is YeT to cOMe,” replied Hastur. And the air was filled with laughter, shrill and poisonous, before it was no more. And suddenly every person awoke from their slumber. The players took to the front of the stage and bowed before the polite applause of the audience. The King in Yellow was nowhere to be seen, and his voice went unheard by all except Cody, who looked anxiously at the distance.

The play had ended.

The players were now putting things away while talking among themselves. The atmosphere was subdued, almost solemn. Partially because they were tired after all the practice and the play itself, but mostly because of the anxious expectation for what would come next. Everyone carefully avoided looking at the portal as they put their things away.

“So what are all your plans, now that this is done?” Asked Maria, looking at the others. She flashed them a small, toothy smile.

“My family arrives tomorrow,” said Anthony. “I’m scared of how we will take to the new world. I heard they’re trying to build a city on the other side? But it will still be… Very different. Cody’s supplies might help. That’s what I hope, at least. But I was a lawyer before this, you know? Not much of a survivalist. How much will I be able to help? And how many will make it past the first winter? That… That scares me.”

He wiped his brow, as if exhausted by the sudden outburst of conversation. Nobody else picked up the conversation, so Maria shrugged. “I guess, since I brought it up, I should also tell you guys,” she said. “We’re planning on settling close to the sea. Umm… Not sure how much you guys know about me and my people, but we’re REALLY good fishers.” She chuckled, as if enjoying a small joke. “I hope that will help people in the new world, a bit, and let them get past… Our looks.”

Maria was usually chipper and upbeat, so it was surprising how nervous she looked at that moment as she glanced shyly at the other actors and then looked down. It took her courage to continue. “Do you guys think we’ll be accepted on the other side? Me and my people? I mean… Be honest. My looks are weird, aren’t they? I look weird to you. Do you think that will matter?”

It was Layla who replied. “I thought so, at first. That you guys looked weird. I’m not proud to admit that, but I was really unnerved at first.” She shook her head, looking embarrassed. “But you’ve been nothing but nice to us since then, and I feel really stupid for judging you like that. Honestly? I’d join you guys in a heartbeat once you go into the other world.”

Maria smiled widely at that, revealing all her sharp, mismatched teeth, and rushed towards Layla, wrapping her in a tight hug. Layla looked surprised and embarrassed in turn, awkwardly patting the other woman in the back until the hug broke off. “You’ll be welcome with us, of course!” Said Maria. “And all of you guys as well, if you want.”

“I will remain here, following the orders of The Great Cody,” said Susan. “Whatever he tells me to do, I will do it. My life is not worth much, but it’s his.”

Her confession during the play weighed on everyone’s minds. “Well… Not sure what exactly happened in your past,” said Marcus. “But maybe use the new world as another start? A chance to begin again?”

“Working for Cody is my way to begin again,” she said, looking Marcus straight in the eye. “I would die for him.”

“That won’t be necessary,” said a voice behind the actors, and they all turned to see Cody approaching them, still tired looking and carrying his omnipresent clipboard as always.

“Good work on the play,” he said, nodding to the actors. “You all pulled through, and our patron was pleased. Congratulations.”

“About what we discussed...” said Anthony, before pausing hesitantly. Cody nodded at him.

“Don’t worry, I’ll give it all to you tomorrow,” said Cody. “I’ll keep my word. Now Marcus? Can I talk with you for a bit, alone?”

Everyone looked at Marcus as he eyed Cody warily. Then he shrugged and let out a chuckle. “Sure,” he said. “Lead the way”

The two walked away to the edge of the camp in silence. The noise of the camp and the glow of the portal slowly faded into the desert night. Slowly their eyes adjusted to the dim light.

“So… What’s up?‘ Asked Marcus, when they stopped, a good distance away from everyone.

“Are you still determined not to go into the new world?” Asked Cody. He was staring at Marcus with an odd expression, eyes wide and mouth drawn tight. In the dark one couldn’t see, but his hands gripped the clipboard so hard his knuckles turned white.

“Uhh, yeah. Yeah, I’m afraid so,” replied Marcus, looking awkwardly at the camp. “I mean… You’re doing a good thing here, don’t get me wrong. And I was happy to be part of your play, sure. Was happy you asked me, specifically, to be a part of it in the first place. A little surprised too.”

Cody hesitated, letting the desert silence linger for a moment before speaking. “You were - I mean - You… Remind me of an old friend of mine,” he said. “A very good friend.”

Marcus chuckled. “So is this why you’re so adamant about me going to your world?”

“Soon, every human in this world is going to die,” said Cody. “It’s going to happen, you know. It’s real.”

The other man nodded. “Yeah… I know. I know. I had the dream too. When I woke up my pillow was wet with tears, and my wife asked me what happened. I couldn’t tell her, of course... But I knew it was real. The dream felt different from the others. It felt...” He paused, searching for the right word. “Life-changing. I was not the same person after I had the dream. The old me wouldn’t have come here.”

“Then why? Why stay behind?” Asked Cody.

Marcus chuckled again, but it was a nervous chuckle. He was looking down now, or at the distance. Avoiding any eye contact.

“Well… For starters, my little girl - her name’s Linda - well, she’s young... Hell, she’s going to be three soon. And she has asthma. Real bad, you know, with the nebulizer and everything. Me and my wife still take her to the hospital regularly, you know? She… She would have a real hard time in the other world.”

He stopped, hesitating, and Cody quickly responded, “I can give you enough medication. There’s things we can arrange...”

“It’s also my wife,” said Marcus, interrupting him. They both stood still, looking at each other, before Marcus looked away. “She… She likes going to dance clubs and the mall… And she loves programming and sits at the computer most of the day… She’s a die-hard city girl, you know?”

He chuckled, but there was no warmth this time. No joy, it was a small, sad chuckle that died in his throat before it came out, stillborn. “Took her camping once. Had a battery for her laptop and we were only a little distance from the other campers and still… She hated it. She was graceful about it, of course. Doing it for my sake. Only when you really love someone, you go to places you hate just to make the other happy, you know? Eh… She...” He choked at that point, his emotions threatening to overwhelm him. It took a deep gulp of the desert night air, surprisingly chilly, before he could continue speaking. “She would hate it. Having to scavenge food or live without her little comforts. The life she’s used to… She. I know her. I know her enough. Living in that other world would be hell for her...”

There was another moment of silence, even longer this time. Marcus was now actively trying to control his emotions. Taking deep breaths while his fists clenched tight. He rubbed a hand over his face with a sigh.

“What if I brought you and your family to a different place? A place where you would live after the end, and it’s a five star hotel, all the time?” Asked Cody.

“A five star hotel...?” Marcus looked confused. “Is… Is this a joke?”

“No! I swear no jokes! There is a place I could take you and your family that is, basically, a five star hotel. And you could survive after the end there. Although… There is a catch.“

“A catch...” Repeated Marcus. “You mean… A reason why you can’t send everyone to this hotel?”

“Yes,” Cody replied. “You see, this hotel… Well, you’d be watched. 24/7. You wouldn’t know it, but you’d be watched by these… Aliens. And they would also tamper with your memories so you wouldn’t be able to realize you were in that hotel for years and years.”

Marcus took a moment to digest what he had heard. “Watched? All the time? And tampered with?” He hesitated before asking, in a small voice, “even my child?”

“... Yes.”

“And we could never leave this hotel?”

“For the rest of your lives,” replied Cody. “There would be other guests. Certainly. But… That would be your new life.”

Marcus made a face, looking away again. “Sounds like a prison,” he said eventually.

“You and your family wouldn’t realize you could not leave… But I guess you could call it a prison.” The other man admitted.

Marcus said nothing, but his face crumpled into a defeated expression. He hesitated for a moment, struggling with himself in a furious internal debate, before he bowed his head in defeat. “No...” He said. “I don’t want this. I don’t want this for me and my wife and… And my child. She’s so young! Imprisoned? For her whole life? And being watched? While still thinking everything is normal?” Marcus’ voice was small and desperate as he shook his head again, still looking down. “No… I don’t want this. I don’t want this,” he said.

“But...” Cody struggled. “If you stay here, you and your family will die...”

“I can’t tell them…” Said Marcus. “I can’t tell them that they’ll die before the end of the year. I can’t watch them struggle with that, and knowing the other options would only make them suffer more? I can’t… God forgive me, I can’t tell them.” Marcus slowly turned away, looking at the desert sky with a deep sigh. He had made a decision. “I guess this is it. I go back, and live my life with them. As long as we can. As happy as we can. For what little time we have. Ah… I’m sorry. I’m sorry if I let you down.”

Cody shook his head. “That… Don’t worry about that. But is there anything I can do? Anything at all?”

Marcus looked at Cody with a small smile. “Just remember me. And my family, I guess, although I’ve only talked about them to you a little. But, if you can, remember us. After all this is over. I think… That’s the best we can hope for. To be remembered, after the end.”

Cody, already visibly distressed at Marcus’ words, now lost it completely. He closed his eyes tight and scrunched his face while desperately trying not to cry. Marcus walked up to him and wrapped his arms around Cody in a hug, patting his back softly.

“Hey man,” said Marcus. “It’s ok. It’s ok… Sometimes that’s the way things go.”

He comforted the other man a bit, until both backed away. Cody wiped his face and whispered, “you will be remembered.”

“Thank you,” replied Marcus. “That means a lot. And good luck with your work around here. You’re helping a lot of people.”

“Thanks.”

They said their goodbyes, a little awkward after the outburst of emotion, then Marcus walked back to the camp site around the portal while Cody watched from afar. After some time, a small, beat-up car detached itself from the others and started driving down the dirt path on the long road back to civilization. Cody watched all of this happen in silence, one hand holding his clipboard while the other was firmly in his pocket. He watched until the car was but a dot on the horizon, and then it was not even that. It was gone.

“I know you’re listening,” said Cody. “I know you’re here.”

“Doesn’t mean I have to answer,” replied Suzy behind him. “But, lucky for you, I will anyway.”

“Did you know…?” He asked, still not turning. He kept staring at the point where Marcus had disappeared into the horizon, hands trembling and face white, but his eyes did not waver. “Back then, when we drank together in that bar. When you challenged me whether it was right for you to devour and preserve him or not.” He turned to her at last, teeth bared in a grimace and eyes still wet. “Did. You. Know?”

“Yes,” was her simple reply. She showed no signs of remorse nor gloating, looking back with a calm expression still as a mask. "I knew from the start.”

“You knew? When you threatened to devour him? When I said goodbye to him and followed you, hoping to find a way to save the world? When I made up this plan and was willing to die for it, many times over? Through all that you knew where it would end?” He raised one hand, curled in a fist, and covered his mouth with it while trying to control himself, his ragged breathing, his furious blinking. His body was like a machine, breaking apart one piece at a time. “Here? Me admitting defeat? You devouring my FRIEND?”

“The choice is yours. It will always be yours, in the end.” Suzy raised her arms in the air in a grand, theatrical gesture. “Choose,” she commanded.

All energy in Cody seemed to vanish at that moment. He let his arms drop to his sides and his head bowed down. He was still for a very long moment, while Suzy patiently waited for his answer.

“Take them at the end. Right before they go crazy. Wait until the very last minute before you take them. Please.”

“I can do that,” Suzy replied, her voice calm.

“Will it hurt…? For them?”

“No.”

Cody hesitated. “Will I forget about him? Like everyone else when you devour them?”

“Oh no, I have guaranteed that won’t happen,” said Suzy, but her voice was different and when Cody looked up it was Marcus’ face staring at him atop Suzy’s body. From the yellow hoodie to the filthy blonde hair to the slender, pale arms, they were all Suzy’s, except the face.

“I promise to play the part of your friend perfectly,” said Marcus. “From start to finish. You won’t even tell it was me, all those years. I will recreate your memories with him to the letter. And it is only at this moment that you will realize that it was me. All those years, when everyone turned away and only one friend remained loyal and true. All the good memories, the support through hard times and laughter in the good moments. It was all me.”

Cody was staring at the other in shock. Tears welled in his eyes, but he did not move, not even to blink. The machine was broken. He stared as Marcus raised her hands to his face and pulled it off, peeling like a mask. Yet even when Marcus’ face was out it still breathed and blinked, realistic to the very pores. Behind the mask, was Suzy. She was grinning.

“Thank you for inviting me to your play,” she said. “I enjoyed being a part of it, to the very end. Consider me thoroughly entertained.”

Cody, without changing his expression, walked to Suzy and grabbed her by her hoodie, pulling her close until his face was inches away from hers.

“... Entertained?” He asked, his voice a faint whisper only she could hear.

“Isn’t that what you said you would do?” She asked. “Entertain me?”

He pulled one of his hands back, redying a punch while staring at Suzy. She did not even flinch, her grin still etched on her face. He pulled back more, all that energy coiling, reaching a boiling point, arriving at the inevitable release.

But it never came. He dropped his arm and let her go with the other. His body went limp. Her grin remained.

“Right,” he said. “Right. Entertainment.Good. GOOD FOR YOU.” He spat the last words “But in exchange for all this ENTERTAINMENT you’re going to do this favor for me.”

“Will I?” Asked Suzy, still grinning.

“Yes. You will,” he replied.

Layla was looking at the portal, hesitant, mustering the courage to take the next step. She had a backpack full of tools and supplies, given to her and many others by Cody, and she knew there was more waiting for her at the other side. She still felt unprepared. It was not enough. It would never be enough.

Layla looked at her phone, specifically at a number she needed to call before she went. She was unprepared for that either.

“Layla! Hold on, don’t go yet!” Said a voice behind her. She turned and squinted at the darkness. It was Cody, walking from behind a truck while beckoning someone else behind him. The other woman stepped closer to the glow of the portal and came into view.

It was her sister. Layla froze in shock for a moment, before rushing to her and wrapping her arms around in a tight hug.

“Myria? What…! Good god, what are you doing here?”

“Layla? Is… Is this really happening? I was back in my flat a moment ago...”

“Oh, you’re here! You’re really here!” Layla hugged her sister tighter. Then she let go and looked at Cody, confused. “I thought… The deal…?”

“I changed the deal,” said Cody with a shrug. “Pulled some strings last minute. It’s the least I could do.”

“But why? Why me?” She asked, still confused despite the cheer that spread across her face. She glanced at her sister and her smile widened.

“Honestly? Random luck, nothing more.” He shrugged again. “But… People shouldn’t be separated from their loved ones like that.”

“Thank you! Oh, thank you so much, I’m never going to forget this ! Can… How can I repay you?” Layla asked, her hand grabbing her sisters’ and holding it tight, as if afraid she would be taken away if she didn’t hold her strongly enough.

“You don’t owe me anything,” he shook his head again. Their eyes met and Layla noticed that his eyes were red, as if irritated. He did not look happy. “And don’t bother remembering this. I don’t want to be remembered. Being forgotten suits me fine.”

He turned to walk away, but Layla cried out to him.

“Cody? Are you alright?” She asked. “You look… Really blue.”

He stopped, considering the question, then shrugged. “The show must go on,” he replied.

“Layla? What is happening?” Asked her sister, Myria, her voice confused and afraid. “I’m now in this place, and that guy brought me here? And he told me...”

Her voice faded into silence as Cody walked away from the camp, into the darkness of the desert. There, in silence, he stood and gazed again at the horizon. He gazed at the dirt road leading to civilization on which his best friend had driven a car only an hour ago.