The Curse of 1977 (Book 2)

Like so much garbage, Charles was tossed into the pit-like dungeon in his sleeveless undershirt and boxers.

Confused, the man looked through the small peephole to see the guards turning away and laughing as they happily marched out of sight. He then turned back around to find himself surrounded by wolves, wolves of varying colors, from all black to all white and mixed shades. They all remained perfectly docile as they plodded around the equally calm man that saw fit to only stand perfectly still in place.

As Charles began to shuffle amongst the pack he suddenly heard something that resembled someone speaking. He gawked all around before an old, Middle-Eastern man came waddling out of the shadows within the dungeon. He was a raggedy looking fellow from head to toe. His grey, scraggly beard drew down past his chin.

"I am here because of the king, my dear friend." The old man said as he approached Charles.

Charles stood and watched as the old man stepped up to him. "Who is the king?" Mercer asked.

The old man looked dismayed as he opened his mouth and replied, "I would not praise his gods, so here must I die, with the beasts."

Charles stared oddly at the old man for a few moments before another figure emerged from the shadows. The figure had the brightest eyes that Charles had ever seen. They were so bright in fact that the man had to squint just to shield his vision from them. Much like the old man, the bright-eyed individual was wearing tattered clothing; a brown cloth-like material that covered only their body with nothing protecting their feet.

The closer the person came the more Charles could make out a face behind the eyes. The face was that of his son's. But rather than light up with gleeful enthusiasm, Charles just stood still and stared at his child with a most mystified glare.

"Son, what happened to you?" His voice cracked.

Placing his hand on his father's left shoulder, Isaac calmly said, "I am here because of the king, dad."

"These beasts were to devour us, but the Lord has spared our very lives." The old man humbly smiled. "Praise be to God in heaven."

Charles was neither impressed with the familiar old man or the wolves that circled him. He just wanted to keep his eyes on his son for as long

father's shoulder before turning and pacing around the

"I am here because of the king." Isaac uttered in

"Boy...what were you up to?" Charles' heart began to beat out of pace.

have bought that dog." A slick

around to see a black-furred wolf actually standing behind him on two feet. It was only five inches taller than Charles, and yet

turned back to see both Isaac and the old man drop to their knees and begin to pray out loud in unison,

awe, Charles stood in front of the wolf and watched as his boy and the age-old prophet lifted praises

"What were you doing in this world, son?"

not for Isaac," the wolf behind him patted Charles on the shoulders, "his time in hell will

approached his father and whispered directly into his face, "Tell mama I'm

shoulders and shook him screaming, "What were you doing,

very soon...we will see the

the soft sound of a woman singing, 'Soon and very soon we're going to see

The top of the man's head was layered in bandages, as well as his chest and stomach

surprised with a red and white stripped apron around her waist.

planet. His head hurt so badly that

should lie back down." Audra came over to his bedside. "You've been out cold

an almost frightened manner. He began