As soon as I was free of the terminal, I thrust my claws in and ripped out the hard drive, trapping Mephisto’s spirit there as efficiently as any magician's runes or pentangles. I tried to figure out what to do next, but exhaustion overcame me and I slept for a while, travelling strange dark roads in my dreams.
When I awoke, I surveyed the wreckage of the flat. There were scorch marks from the battle and the window was broken, but someone had set the chairs upright. Then I noticed Theresa materialising gradually on the couch; she looked as sick as I felt, but smiled faintly.
We spent the rest of the day recuperating in silence – Theresa becoming less translucent as I rearranged myself into human form again. The spotty kid who’d been my target was nowhere to be seen. I wasn’t bothered – he’d lie low and think twice before writing Hell-destroying programs again.
‘So where next?’ Theresa was beside me, looking out over a darkening city.
‘I can’t exactly go home,’ I replied. Mephisto’s fury still buzzed away on the disc in my pocket.
‘Same here.’
‘So …’
‘So?’ Her eyes were shining.
We ran. We’ve been running ever since.
Comments
rjnewlyn | October 19, 2011 - 20:55
The End.
Thanks everyone for reading and sticking with it!
Rob
insertponceyfre... | October 19, 2011 - 21:10
...nothing like a happy (ish) ending. Another one starting next week hopefully?
Silver Spun Sand | October 19, 2011 - 21:11
Thanks not needed. The End, it cannot be;-( More, please;-)
celticman | October 19, 2011 - 22:32
Boo-hoo I hate happy endings.
oldpesky | October 20, 2011 - 09:47
I loved these little bytes, and I hate endings. Hope there's a sequel or reboot.
tcook | October 20, 2011 - 14:29
Wonderful stuff I've been awaiting these for ages and I'll miss them. Another coming along? Something different? Bated breath etc....
MistakenMagic | October 20, 2011 - 17:27
*Glomps* Wow... I can't believe it's over! It's been one hell of a ride, Rob. Really well done on completing this masterpiece. Can't wait for the next epic ;-)
Magic xxx
rjnewlyn | October 20, 2011 - 19:41
Thanks very much indeed everyone - very kind. Not completely sure what's next but ideas crystalising a little. In the meantime the long (novel) version of this seems to be humming along very nicely. We'll see ...
Rob
fatboy74 | November 4, 2011 - 14:43
I have been waiting for you to finish this for ages and like an idiot I hadn't realised 26 wasn't 25 which i've already read - I think that makes sense... anyway great finish and a great start to your next one. Are you going to post the novel version on here? I'd certainly like to read it. Well done :-)
rjnewlyn | November 4, 2011 - 23:34
Thanks very much Fatboy. Not sure where the novel will go - I'll have to finish it first. We'll see ...
Rob
Sooz006 | May 19, 2012 - 20:00
This is so much better than Planet, and I loved that.
Tow points.
I think you need more end game. It was too easy. A wily ole devil is going to be ready for a trick like that I think, but it does leave it wide open. He's trapped, not finished.
And .... I think you need a little bit more target early on to get a pin on him. I saw him as a much bigger character. I thought the computer geeky persona was a mortal disguise. Crikey, at one point I even thought he was GOD.
I much prefer what he is, it's perfect and works brilliantly, you just need to give more of an impression of him. A single extra sentence early on would be enough.
Brilliant, sorry it's ended.
rjnewlyn | May 19, 2012 - 23:04
Thanks very much indeed Sooz for all the kind and helpful comments. I haven't looked at it for a while now but it's been really useful having your input and the second opinion. Turning it into a novel has been an interesting business so far - good to have a rough line to follow but of course it's far too thin as it is and there are subplots and additional characters to work out. I'm coming up to 70,000 words now and still only around part 7 (although some of the later parts will skim by a lot faster). The nice thing is that I'm still enjoying the writing, despite the late nights, which is something I'm savouring while it lasts.
Anyway, thanks again - very kind of you
Rob