The End - Visions of Apocalypse

Johnathan Gibbs sees a bleak future

Eccentric psychic Johnathan Gibbs has been making astounding predictions, and warning his followers, “The end is near.”

He looked up at Werner with his eyebrows elevated. “Tell me you don’t believe this foolishness.”

“Read on,” Werner told him.

Heinrich drank while his eyes darted back and forth over the page, taking it all in: Celebrity fatalities predicted in exact detail. Natural disasters pinpointed to the minute. Gibbs was even claiming that he was from the future. Astounding, if any of it were true. It likely wasn’t.

“Well? Tell me you don’t find that somewhat concerning.”

”Don’t believe everything you read,” Heinrich said with a note of uncertainty.

“It might be worth finding this man,” Werner said. “Imagine what wealth of knowledge he could possess if he truly does know the future. If he’s seen the apocalypse, he could help us prevent it.”

The intense look in his eyes suggested that Werner was quite serious about seeking this man out. It left Heinrich feeling very unsettled; this Gibbs fellow was either brimming with lies or worse, the terrifying truth. Heinrich didn’t want to hear either one.

He looked down at his beer, surprised to see that it was nearly empty again. He wondered when he’d finally drink enough to drown his worries. Maybe never, but it was worth trying. He signaled the bartender and pointed to his glass.

* * *

July 8th, 2022

John remembered this day, so vaguely that he thought maybe he had imagined it. He had been a very different man in a different place then, but the event was the same; a gigantic object hurdled through the sky, impossibly dark and completely unnatural. Its shadow passed over the Earth as it seemed to speed toward the sun. Immense darkness, only a sliver of sunlight peeking out around its edge. And then it happened; for just a brief moment, a flash of fire illuminated everything. Flames burst out around the object, engulfing it as if the sun had exploded. It was beautiful.

The first time he saw it had been long ago. He was with Kara and the children, and he had told them that he loved them. That was the last time they had all been together, the last time he’d been a father and husband. The last time he had been whole.

We’ll always be together. Even in the hereafter.

* * *

June 16th, 2012

John’s eyelids snapped open. Bright spots were still dancing over his eyes, the memory of the event burned into his brain. It was real. Something had actually crashed into the sun. John was back in bed in his old apartment, except he hadn’t died. He was sure of it. He had been pulled back too soon.

Why do I remember?

He had asked himself that question a million times, never getting any closer to an answer. But this had been no coincidence. Something or someone was doing this, turning back the clock to avoid disaster. It was time to find out why this was happening. No matter how long it took, he would find the cause. It was his only way out.

* * *

July 8th, 2022

It was around noon. Werner limped into the tavern, easing the burden with his walking cane. He sat himself at the bar, climbing up into his stool and stretching out his aching leg. The television was on above the bar, displaying the local news. Werner picked up a menu and was about to flip through it, when he noticed the strange looking man sitting two seats away, staring back at him.

Werner said nothing at first, merely ignored him and turned his eyes to the television. But the man continued to stare. “Is there a problem, sir?”

The strange man smiled wide. “I’m just glad to see you’re still alive, old friend. I would have been disappointed if you’d killed yourself.”

“I’m sorry, have we met before?”

“Many times, Dr. Werner.”

“No one has called me Doctor for nearly a decade.”

“Just Emil, then?”

“Pardon me,” Werner said irritably, “but where have we met?”

“Here, among many other places.”

“I don’t remember.”

“No one remembers. Not like I do.”

Werner gave the strange man a sideways glance and then turned his attention to the menu.

“They’re already bringing our meals,” the man said. “I ordered you veal.”

Werner slapped the menu down on the bar. “How kind of you,” he said sarcastically. “But I’m a vegetarian.”

“I know, that’s why I ordered veal.”

“Uh-huh.”

“Tell me, Dr. Werner, if you were on death row and you could have anything as your last meal, would you want a veggie platter?”

“I’m not on death row.”

“Yes you are. We all are.”

“Are you insane?” Werner asked.

“I certainly hope so,” the man said. “If I’m not insane, then there’s something really wrong with me.”

The stranger got up from his seat and sat right next to Werner. “Does the name Joseph Heinrich mean anything to you?”