The Great Gateway - Chapter 14

The Great Gateway
Chapter 14 – Flesh and black blood

“It’s actually a very simple concept,” began Flesh with a smug smile on his face. “I have created the ultimate case of revenge. It all starts with the creation God had in mind before humans, animals on land and sea. However for my project I did not need those that feed off plants and the likes. Just the meat-eaters. The ones that had to kill to survive.”

“I took advantage of the time Matthew here was taken to do my work. With the Earth at a standstill until he returns, nobody will miss a few animals.” Matthew felt sweat trickle down his neck. He suddenly felt guilty for helping what seemed to be his biggest obstruction yet.

“Then I set about altering a few genes here, some chromosomes there and voila! My masterpieces. Then with the help of those scientists of whom you are well acquainted, I began to create a machine you see before you now. It’s purpose? It is to make my masterpieces by the multi-dozen.”

“Hang on!” Ralph yelled. “The scientists are on our side, they found out about you. They lead us to you. They revived my best friend…”

Flesh stuck a hand out to interrupt. The name certainly fitted. The hand was so bony you could see the yellow. “Pardon my laughter,” he chuckled “Do you understand why they knew so much about me in so little time? Because they’ve known me from the start. They support my ideas that I’ll get to if you stop butting in!”

Sylvia couldn’t help asking. “Even the Doctor?”

“Even the Doctor,” replied Flesh sounding more agitated by their words now. “Anyway, with their help I have created army after army of these creatures. To test them I released some on the White Blanket and The 6 cities. I was unaware you’d be there to stop them though, so I kept the rest back. Until now…”

An evil hand reached for a button. “NO!” Matthew yelled leaping forwards and forgetting all caution. He was greeted with a lance blow to the intestines and sent backwards winded. Of course he was too late. “Look outside,” Flesh said with a happy tone in his voice.

Outside the castle, thousands upon thousands of the Carnivones began to flock the paths and headed towards the vortex to the Great Gateway and all it’s worlds. In no time at all, there’d be victims like Matthew once was but there’d be no bringing them back…

“YOU MONSTER!” Leo shouted and he charged. Even the rest of the team wondered what he was doing. Unless he was transformed he was a useless fighter, but he had a sidekick. Pasci was racing his little legs alongside. All Flesh did was raise his lance and caught them both in separate bubble-like energy balls.

“Obey your master!” he yelled at them and drew his attention back to Sylvia who was throwing rocks at him. “Master?” she shouted. “How can they bow to you?” Her words were soon jinxed as they suddenly bent their heads and shoulders on Flesh’s command.

‘Something’s wrong,’ thought Matthew. ‘Flesh is controlling those two, yet he could have controlled us earlier and finished us off.’ Flesh let out a cruel laughter. “I have full control over all Carnivones remember.”

“That’s a lie!” yelled Ralph without really thinking. “We know Leo was built off you crazy machinery, but not Pasci.”

“Pasci is part of my black dragon leagues. And he wouldn’t be a Carnivone if I had no control over him would he?”

“I… I… I am… not real?” whimpered Pasci.