Reflection

  I sat in Dean’s study alone. He had drunken too much and I had carried him to his bed earlier. At some point later Diane had lost interest and presumably began walking up and down the streets like everyone else. I was much taller than Dean, and a bit heavier, so I only felt tipsy as I sat in his armchair. Idly thinking, I grabbed my phone. No connection. Soon the power would run out, and the water after that. What was to be done? I donned my hat and exited into Dean’s backyard. As the moonlight touched me I felt it again, a small itch in the back of my mind. Why not look up? Aren’t you curious? You’ll never be alone again. I pushed these intrusive thoughts down and, careful not to make a sound, snuck my way into the shed. I grabbed a small hand-axe that Dean would’ve use to chop wood, and put it inside my coat pocket. I didn’t want to be unprepared. I walked out and sat in the grass for a few minutes. The itch grew louder the more time I spent out there, but I felt suffocated inside, trapped and unable to move. I close my eyes and turned my head slightly upwards, towards the moon. I wondered, did it even look the same? Was it even really the moon? My eyes were screwed shut, a single glimpse would turn me mad. I imagined it, pale and beautiful in the night sky. What had changed? What cosmic shift had occurred to ruin the world? I tilted my head downwards and stood up. Tall, and now armed. I strode back inside the house, and began to think.

  When I woke up it was raining. The water system had finally shut down, Dean and I went into the backyard with empty pots and cups to catch what rain we could. Despite his earlier comments on my outfit, I saw that he was wearing a wide brimmed sun hat, as well as sunglasses. When I asked him about it he told me they were a last resort if he accidentally saw the moon, maybe if the image was distorted it would only drive him half crazy. Thankfully, we completed out task without incident, and hurried back inside. The power had gone out while we were asleep. Luckily, I was correct in assuming Dean had a generator, but he insisted we had to save fuel, so instead of turning on the heater we wrapped ourselves in blankets. I didn’t mind the cold too much, I had always loved winter, but without proper heating, I was started to miss hot drinks and that feeling of safety that came with the luxuries of modern life. At least I wasn’t alone. Suddenly I heard panicked footsteps as Dean ran into the guest room, where I was sat reading.

  ‘Tom? We aren’t alone.’ He said, panting. I stood up, and he rushed me to the study. The camera set up was open on his laptop. Dozens of people stood outside the house, all facing the same direction. Staring at a man in front of our door. While everyone else stood lifeless and still, the man was animated, almost fanatic in his movements. He was slightly overweight, dressed in fairly humble clothes. Wearing cargo pants and a plaid shirt with a beige jacket, he looked like an outdoorsman. He turned, and, in a deliberate and human way, knocked three times on the front door. Dean looked at me hesitantly.

  ‘What do we do?’ he asked. I sat silent for a moment.

  ‘Whoever this man is, he seems more aware than everyone else. I don’t like it but this could be a chance to learn about what’s happened. I certainly have a few questions to ask, but we can leave if you want.’ I responded. Dean paused.

  ‘Fine but at the first sign of trouble we run like hell, over the back fence and into the forest, I doubt any of these lunatics will be door knocking there.’ Dean grumbled. I nodded in agreement and we walked to the front door. Dean stood behind, around a corner in case he needed to get the drop on whoever this was. I closed my eyes firmly shut, and opened the door.

  This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

  ‘Hello,’ a warm voice spoke, ‘may I come in?’

  ‘Will you be alone?’ I asked.

  ‘Of course, it would only be polite.’ I heard him move as he turned around to speak to the group outside. ‘My friends, I will be only a moment. Please, continue spreading the word to anyone who will listen, and be well.’ With that, he stepped inside and shut the door, and I hesitantly opened my eyes. Up close I could see the strange man was wearing sunglasses. I wondered what his eyes looked like.

  ‘Now,’ The man said happily, clapping his hands together, ‘lets sit down and have ourselves a conversation.’ I cleared my throat loudly and Dean came out and stood behind me. He gestured to follow him, and we all made our way to the living room and sat down.

  ‘Are you one of them?’ I asked bluntly. The man’s friendly smiled diminished slightly, and he sighed.

  ‘One of them… You seem quick to judge son, but, in the spirit of transparency…’ He trailed off. Reaching to his face, he pulled off his sunglasses to reveal a familiar sight. Milky white eyes, no pupils or irises, with strange black lines shifting a moving around the empty space.

  ‘I suppose I am ‘one of them’, if that is how you would term it, but, I hold a different calling. I am the shepherd, and the others are my flock. It helps to have someone more… aware lets say, to instruct and guide them.’

  ‘It seems to me that they’ve all gone insane’ I stated coldly. Dean gave me a look, implying I should be more careful but the stranger simply laughed.

  ‘Yes, yes, I’m sure it would appear that way to you, in fact, you’re technically correct in your understanding, it’s just that your understanding is incomplete. It olden times, it was said that the moon could turn people insane, indeed, the word lunatic is derived from the word lunar. That ancient force which once drove men mad when they looked up into the night sky has, finally, returned. But you presuppose that such madness is a detriment, whereas I understand and know it to be entirely beneficial’.

  ‘How could it possibly be a good thing? We’ve been attacked by your ‘lunatics’, they’ve lost all sense of reason and human emotion!’ I yelled. Unperturbed, the man cocked his head slightly.

  ‘Well that’s just it isn’t it. Perhaps humanity is undesirable in the face of something else. When you stand under the cold moonlight and feel its crawling embrace as you meet the moons gaze, you will feel terror fill you, your mind will writhe and warp, as your ego fights to hold on to what it knows, it will surely lose. Where once stood a cruel, primitive ape, there will now stand one blessed with something purer than humanity. So yes, members of my flock may have tried to attack you, to show you what you refuse to see, but it was simply because they know what’s best for you.’ He leaned back in his chair. ‘As do I.’ We were silent for a while.

  ‘But what is it?’ I asked earnestly. ‘What happened to the moon?’ I met the man’s shifting gaze as he thought.

  ‘It’s difficult to put into words. All I can tell you is that something is there where it wasn’t before. A consequence of my lucidity is perhaps, a shallower understanding of our God. In order to truly understand it, you must look. I’m not ungrateful though, with my help we’ve managed to convert many more than would otherwise be possible. Talking is a hell of a thing. The other faithful make less sense the longer you listen to them’

  ‘Your God? It’s a God?’

  ‘Maybe, maybe not. Perhaps that’s just how my mind chooses to interpret it.’ He finished. I sighed in exasperation.

  ‘Why. Are. You. Here?’ Dean asked angrily. ‘Surely you didn’t come to discuss philosophy, so what the fuck do you want?’

  ‘I want what any shepherd wants. To take care of his flock, and you are under my jurisdiction, it is my duty to enlighten you. So come outside, look up, and you’ll never be alone again.’

  ‘We’ll pass. Now please, get out of my house.’ He responded. The man exhaled wearily.

  ‘I had a feeling you’d say that.’ He said softly, a frustrated look in his eyes as he pulled a metal whistle from his pocket and blew.