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THE FALL Copyright © George John Kingsnorth 2008. All Rights Reserved.

CHAPTER ONE

____The strong light caused Michael to shade his eyes from the midday sun. A fly darted between his neck and collar, anxious to drink the beads of sweat. Other than this brief irritation it was a good day. A memorable day in July Nineteen Eighty-Seven. No clouds. Thick blue sky peppered with black dots of highflying birds. Long dark shadows, which Michael realised would probably cause the photographer some worries. Can’t have the bride and her maidens squinting or having dark shadows around their eyes. They would look like pandas. However, this was not Michael’s concern. He felt relaxed. Confident he was making the right move.
____ “Twelve-fifteen, Michael. Do you think she’s stood you up?” quipped Brendan.
____ “And do you think you’re getting out of being my best man?” Michael laughed.
____ “It would be hard to escape. Just think of it, nothing’ll be yours ever again. You’ll even have to ask permission to go out!” Brendan taunted. “Ah up, here comes Danny. It’s all up now. Better keep up with the boxing to give you an edge to fight back.” Brendan threw a few mock punches.
____ Several crows landed on the telephone wires outside the graveyard.
____ “Mickey, Mickey, the car’s here!” Danny raced up the cobbled pathway leading from the fifteenth century wooden Lych-gate to the church door. He held onto Michael’s shoulder while he caught his breath.
____ “He’s like an old man at twenty.”
____ “He suffers from asthma, leave him be,” warned Michael. Brendan patted Danny on the back. “Sorry big fella, I didn’t realize. Do you want me to get you some water?”
____ “There’s no time,” gasped Danny. “The Bride’s cars at the bottom of the street. You’d all better go inside.”
____ The 1926 Rolls Royce Phantom pulled up outside, framed by the Lych-gate. Bleached out by sunlight, the driver popped open his door, stepped out and made his way round to the back passenger door. As he gripped the handle, a crow on the telephone wire bombarded his hat.
“Dirt bird,” he complained. Several of the crows squawked at him as he pulled a handkerchief from his top pocket to clean his hat.
____ First out of the car were the teenage bridesmaids, three in all, who raced towards the church but were called back to assist the bride as she was helped out of the Phantom by the driver. Danny squinted to see the bride but the strength of light made her a blur of white until she stood beneath the shade of the Lych-gate. She paused to give time for the maid of honour to orgranise the younger attendans. Suddenly a chill ran up Danny’s spine making him shudder. The pleats of the bride’s gown faded to a shade of blue revealing the face beneath the veil.
____ Though her entourage fussed with her dress, Melissa felt serene. The day was finally here. No more fighting with her sister, no more rows with mum and dad, no more stress of preparing for this moment. She was ready. Her father took her hand.
____ “Okay, love, time to go.”
____ “Thanks, dad and sorry for all the tantrums.”
____ “It’s okay, we understand. Now enjoy yourself. It’s your day.”
____ The bridal group moved towards the church. Danny shielded his eyes once more as Melissa’s dress shimmered in the reflected sunlight.
____ Danny raced inside, signaled to the organist, then in a more orderly manner, made his way up beside the groom and best man. Moments later the bridal party began to make their way down the aisle. Michael turned to see his bride. Melissa’s hands began to shake and a tear rolled down her cheek.
The explosion of glass sent a jolt of shock through the congregation as everyone was sprinkled with fragmented shards. A black form thudded onto the old stone floor and red blotches seeped into Melissa’s white dress, before she could pull it away. Michael bounded to Melissa’s side, cradling her in his arms.
____ “Are you okay?”
____ “A bit shaken but yeah, I’m okay.”
____ “It’s alright everybody,” calmed the vicar. “We have a few problems with crows around here, they are always crashing into the windows. Is anybody hurt?”
____ Everyone checked themselves over but on-one reported any injuries. An alter boy rushed to cover the dead bird with a small cloth before taking it outside. A second boy took a small bucket from the side of the church and quickly sponged up the bloody stain. The organist notched up the volume and everyone began to settle back into their pews.
____ Forty-five minutes later, the six campanologists began to tug at the sallies on each bell rope. As the first hammers hit the bells, crows and pigeons scattered from the belfry. The gentle tugs increased the arc of bell from a downward position until they all come to rest upright. The conductor nodded to the treble ringer to pull the first round. All six sallies shot up into the church tower, the tail end of each rope pulling the ringer’s arms taut. Another gentle tug on the rope brought the bell rotating back to the opposite upright position and the sallies all came down for the ringers to stay or pull once more. After the first of three rounds sounded out, the conductor called the first change. The treble bell was held back on the sally to allow the second and third bells to be pulled first. A method from a chart of numbers hanging on the wall indicated the changes they had to make thereafter.
____ As the peel sounded out, the photographer finished her last shot and the wedding guests began to litter the air with confetti as the bride and groom raced towards the Rolls Royce Phantom.
Midnight loomed as the classic yellow 1967 Triumph Spitfire M3’s pulled off the road. Its 75bph engine throbbed gently as the tyres crunched against the pebble drive leading to the Royalist’s Arms, a spacious Tutor mansion-hotel surrounded by shrubberies and trees. The hotel was approximately five miles from Aylesbury along the A418 towards Leighton Buzzard in the sleepy county of Buckinghamshire. The ground floor was made up of red brick while the first floor was half black timber and white plaster, topped with a thatched roof. A few orange lights still burned from within the hotel as Michael turned off the engine and headlamps. The full moon allowed the surrounding gardens to remain visible under a bluish cast. A tawny owl took flight across the freshly cut lawn and vanished into the woods.
____ While Michael fetched their luggage, Melissa made her way to the entrance hall. She was attracted by the four large paintings by Gainsborough, Reynolds, Romney and Stubbs. The first three portraits of various gentry while Stubbs’ piece concentrated on horses in a picturesque landscape.
____ “Shall we register”, suggested Michael as he lugged the two large cases into the hall. Melissa smiled and nodded, following him through to the main desk.
____ A footman opened the door to the bridal suite and led the honeymooners inside. Michael tipped the man and then locked the door behind him. All walls and ceiling were paneled in mahogany. There was a large four-poster bed with hand carved linenfold panels, barley twist posts and a tester to support the tied back curtains. Melissa tested the springiness of the mattress.
____ “It looks old but the mattress is firm,” she informed Michael.
____ “I would say the bed’s not as old as you think,” suggested Michael nervously. They were now together for the first time since that day. Both had promised to save themselves for this moment. At times they had struggled with temptation but Melissa had made it clear early in their relationship that she wasn’t the kind of girl who slept with anyone before marriage. Based on her beliefs it was wrong to do so. Now, in almost an instance by saying ‘I do’ that all changed. Effectively, he had told a church full of people that this woman was his wife and he, as her husband was making it completely acceptable for them both to be in the same room together to do as they pleased.
____ His body shook as he took off his jacket and attempted to hang it over a chair. The coat fell off forcing him to pick it up. Melissa giggled. He returned her smile, then turned his back to undo his tie. Through a mirror he saw Melissa unzip her emerald colored summer dress. She slipped the fabric over her shoulders to reveal her slightly bronzed body still with her bra and pants on. He pulled the tie through his shirt collar. Melissa bit her lower lip as she looked over at him and caught his gaze in the mirror. She giggled again and slid to the opposite side of the double bed to obscure his view. Michael unbuttoned his shirt, his heart pounding while his hands shook as he fumbled with each button. As he finally got to the last one he felt Melissa press herself against his back. Her breasts pressed against his shoulders and her hips touched his buttocks. Blood surged through his body making his trousers feel tight. He could smell her perfume filling his nostrils, adding to his arousal. Again his fumbling hands made a hard task of unbuckling his trousers. He felt Melissa’s hand glide under his shirt across his rib cage, down his abdomen, and into his trousers.
____ “Relax, you’re all tense,” Melissa gently whispered. She began to kiss his neck. Michael closed his eyes as a great rush flowed over his body, every nerve ending, tingling and rippling across his skin. Melissa used her other hand to undo his button and pulled down the zip. Michael turned towards Melissa as she gently pulled both his underwear and trousers down to the ground, admiring him. He kicked the garments away from his feet and pulled Melissa towards him. He felt the firmness of her breasts, teasing his skin as they glided across his torso. Still shaking, Michael lifted her up so her lips were level with his. He closed his eyes and sensed the moisture of her mouth. Her tongue mapped out his teeth as he ventured forward with his own until the tips of each tongue danced around each other. As Michael glided his hand down her spine, she gasped and her head pulled back.
____ Michael was surprised when her lips left his, forcing him to open his eyes. Her body was covered in goose bumps. She sighed and opened her eyes. Blinking she realized he was looking at her. Briefly she was embarrassed that she had let herself go so much. Michael smiled and his expression pleased her.
“I’ve wanted to do this so much for so long,” she whispered and smiled. Her eyes were slightly moist with tears. “Let’s get into bed.”
____ Still in each other’s arms they made their way to the side of the bed. Melissa lay down, still holding Michael’s hand. For a few moments he soaked up the view of her slender body. Suddenly, she pulled him on top of her and again they began to enjoy each other’s lips. He glided his right hand across her left breast, feeling her muscles rippling under her skin as she reacted to his touch. As his fingers gently traced Melissa’s mound he noticed her shudder.
____ “Are you okay?” he asked.
____ “Don’t stop, keep going,” she pleaded.
____ Again Michael allowed his fingers to explore her.
____ Suddenly, his arm was violently wrenched backwards, flinging his body away from Melissa’s. He looked at her in disbelief. Her face expressed the same shock as his. An unseen force flung him across the room, dashing him against a set of mahogany drawers. A trickle of blood ran across his right eye from the deep gash in his forehead.
____ “Melissa, are you okay?”
____ The invisible hand slapped his face with such force he was nearly sent into unconsciousness. Michael struggled to raise his right arm but it was pinned to the floor. He attempted to raise his left but it too remained firmly fixed. He struggled to use his heels to drag himself towards the bed but instead he felt pain ripping through his lower limbs as though he had jumped into a bath of boiling water. He screamed, the room seemed to blur and darkness invaded the outer rim of his vision yet he knew he had to resist. To give in would mean he could not save Melissa.
____ The ceiling appeared as though vaporized. The blinding light burnt at Michael’s eyelids as he tried to turn his face away as far as possible. When the intensity subsided, Michael ventured to look once more at the bed. Melissa, her body thrusting back and forth, lay suspended above the bed as a brilliant white humanoid figure mounted her. Melissa’s eyes were closed.
____ “Michael, Michael, harder, harder,” she cried.
____ “It’s not me Melissa, it’s not me!” he screamed but she did not respond. Tears streamed down Michael’s face as he thrashed around trying frantically to release himself from the restraints of his invisible assailants. A mighty fist drove into his stomach like a mallet, winding him. He gasped for breath, his knees reflexively pulled into his body but his arms were still pinned down.
____ The being of light climaxed. A voice of thunder roared out and Michael heard Melissa scream.
____ “Melissa,” Michael cried out. Her eyes opened and she finally saw Michael. Tears streamed down her face. Something tugged under the skin of her stomach. Sharply she turned to see her own flesh being forced upward as a small hand reached up from within.
____ The figure of light faded and staggered backwards. Green slime fell onto Melissa and she screamed again. Once more the infant hand reached upwards, tearing at the flesh, eager to get out. Melissa shrieked in agony. Michael strained with all his might to break free. From the darkness of the room a hideous face slashed across the room. Like some ancient locomotive it bellowed soot as thick as smoke and came to rest just millimeters away from Michael’s face. The fiend’s breathe froze the air. Michael nearly choked. The lack of oxygen almost cast him into unconsciousness. The dark shape screeched.
____ Melissa’s belly swelled. She was dropped to the mattress but prevented from touching her body as two more unseen beings pinned her arms to the bed. With the unbearable pain, Melissa lapsed into unconsciousness. A hurricane-like force spun through the room. Melissa’s stomach ripped open and the child was sucked upwards. The debris spun round the room making it impossible for Michael to see. He felt the tension on his arms subside and, springing to his feet, leapt onto the bed. A gapping hole remained where Melissa’s taut stomach once was. Blood had sprayed across the blanket onto the walls. Michael’s body began to convulse in anguish, tears streamed down his face as he delicately lifted Melissa’s lifeless body into his arms. Melissa, his love, his life, his everything, was gone.

THE FALL Copyright © George John Kingsnorth 2008. All Rights Reserved.