Chapter Twenty-One: Cataclysm

“C’tharanak Orr’e Cthulhu… C’tharanak Orr’e Cthulhu… C’tharanak Orr’e Cthulhu…”

The dark dozen chanted rhythmically as they circled an iron pit in the center of the stage. I’d watched them light a great bonfire within it and its flames grew higher and higher, illuminating their swishing robes in the burning glow. The alien hieroglyphs that adorned the walls and floor pulsed with unearthly power.

“C’tharanak Orr’e Cthulhu… C’tharanak Orr’e Cthulhu… C’tharanak Orr’e Cthulhu…”

A few of the ominous chanters, Vik included, broke off from the circle to light more candles. I’d never seen so many candles in one place in my life! I glanced nervously to the dusty red curtains, to the old wooden boards of the stage floor, to the rickety catwalk, flashing in and out of sight above the tall lapping flames. One or two wayward sparks, and the whole place could go up in as many moments! I tried desperately to get Vik’s attention, to get any of them to listen to me, but to no avail.

“C’tharanak Orr’e Cthulhu… C’tharanak Orr’e Cthulhu… C’tharanak Orr’e Cthulhu…”

Epistola came down from her podium and spread her bare arms to the fire.

“Oh greatest of the Great Ones!” Her breathing was labored and her words breathy, building into utterances that seemed both painful… and pleasurable. “We who are nothing, who are but your dreams, we call to you!”

The enormous fire belched higher as if in answer.

“Hear us, Nuclear Chaos!” she ululated. “We bring you the Heart of Cthulhu!”

“C’tharanak Orr’e Cthulhu!” the cultists cried.

But I wasn’t the Heart of Cthulhu! I struggled futilely against my chains. Why couldn’t I make them understand? I was nothing to Riley. Even if he had cared for me once, I no longer made his song take flight. It was over now. Our beautiful music of the night had ended forever.

“Listen to me,” I cried. “This won’t work! He doesn’t love me.”

“Your lies cannot save you, my dear girl,” Epistola chuckled tauntingly as she returned to the podium and opened the Necronomicon. “You are the Heart of Cthulhu. And you will awaken the mighty Azathoth. Vivek!”

Vik turned to her in blind obedience.

“We begin.” And she proceeded to read from the book, the alien words sliding past her moist lips like thick snakes.

Vik took up the largest of the candles and walked toward me with dull, shining eyes. The cultists began to chant more loudly.

“C’fm’latgh ftaghu Cthulhu orr’ebthln… C’fm’latgh ftaghu Cthulhu orr’ebthln…”

“Let the Heart of Cthulhu be purified with fire and water!” came Epistola’s horrifying prayer. “Orr’e d’faechlk!”