The Broken Seal

It was a beautiful day for a stroll, the sun was blaring brightly in the sky. There was a cooling breeze coming in off the distant highlands of England. The foursome set off on a trek to walk off the hangover and sore muscle from the night before. Usually a bed would be a suitable solution to such a problem but with the weather and the beauty of the countryside nothing could best a nice saunter through the wilderness.

“I’m never drinking again….ugh… my head is pounding” said Justin with great smile across his face. Justin was the jokester of the group and had the most infectious laugh of the foursome.  There were few situation when a smile was not on his face. Normally kept clean shaven there was a nice three day growth on his head that accented the full black beard he carried. He was the shortest of the group but made up for it in his stocky build and demeanor. He sported a fresh gash on the crown of his head from a beer bottle during a brawl the night before.

“I’d be willing to bet the cut on your head has something to do with that,” quipped Chris with a look of amusement on his face. He stood easily three inches over six feet with light brown hair just past his shoulders. Chris was the clumsy one of the group. In fact, breaking things was so a kin to his nature that a simple look was all the apology that was ever needed. He had a slight bruise just under his right eye.

“How was I supposed to know they would use a bottle, anyway how’s that shiner of yours” retorted Justin with a slight smirk.

“It wouldn’t be there had you’d of stayed away from those ladies like I told you.” replied Chris.
         
“Who knew their boyfriends would get mad.” jested Justin with a playful shove to Chris.

“They always get mad” added Alan with an impish little smile at Justin. Alan had dark eyes and hair and possessed a wiry, muscular build. He carried himself with an air of intensity that the other three did not have. Alan unlike Justin never started any fights, although, much as Justin does, enjoys a good brawl. 

“That they do.” said Justin along with a wink towards Alan “anyway yall know it was fun knocking around those English fellows “  Justin ended with a prissy English accent that drew a laugh out of the group.

“What do you think about the whole moving of Stonehenge,” interrupted Paul who at the time was gazing out over the horizon. Paul was the tallest of the four, a dark eyed, tanned man, with a shock of dark hair to match.  Normally the quietest of the four, he had a soft spot for anything historical, “seems ridiculous that the English government would sell something that predates their existence by thousands of years.”

The English government had decided to sell Stonehenge to the Louvre for what the deemed as “protection from the elements.”  The move was said to begin this very morning. The entire group was appalled by the move but Paul, being the historical guru that he is, was upset the most.

“That just goes to show that with the right amount of money you can buy anything on this godforsaken planet” fumed Chris.

“It just seems shameful moving such a relic of the ancient world” replied Alan.

“Honestly, you would think that it was put there for a reason” alleged Justin but playfully added “though you know they are just trying to protect it.”

“Yeah because stone is so fragile” retorted Chris.

Paul still staring off into the distance had a look of sorrow in his eyes “it sucks that this trip will have to come to an end soon. It seems as if we just got here.” He said with true regret in his voice.

Though it appeared that the trip was short, the foursome had been at it for a month and three days. After graduating from college, they had all come to the conclusion that a trip across Europe was just the thing for their over-worked brains.  They, like many other college grads filled with bravado, chose to make their trek by backpack and foot. They decided to bring a small amount of money, and see how far their wits could take them before they had to flee back to America and impending adulthood. The foursome began their journey in Spain and after one month and three days they were only a couple days walk from their finally destination in England before returning home. The trip had been one adventure after another across the wilds of Europe. They carried tents on them, but occasionally stayed in houses and hostels depending on the hospitality of the people in the area. All of them new this would likely be their last adventure together, for adulthood must begin and childish ways must be put aside.

“Don’t worry buddy we still have plenty of time before we have to go back to reality” said Chris in a futile attempt to cheer Paul up.
         
“Come on now Chris, you know we have to be back within a week” replied Paul “but it won’t be that bad going home” said Paul with a fake cheerfulness, as if he was trying to trick himself into believing.

“Yeah,” whispered Justin looking to the sky and losing himself in a moment of reflection. Justin looked around his group of friends, no brothers, and mused that one would have to travel far to find four men so closely bonded together. They were as different as could be, yet shared common elements that held them to one another closer even than blood.

Then in the distance a flash of bright colors blazed into the sky, the light outshone even the sun. The sight of a thousand hues of color dancing through the sky brought such serenity, words could not be uttered. It was as if everything that was good and pure in life was within these lights and calling to the very sanctity of their being. The four men inhaled simultaneously as if trying to pull the majesty in the sky to their very souls.

Then a resounding note shook the core of the world, like that of an enormous gong, spreading trepidation to all the world. The sound came to life in the heart of hearts of every individual, bringing with it an onslaught of foreboding and anguish. Fear ensnared the mind and the unknown came rushing around every living thing, the four, unable to move, felt a certain dread and a great hope.  Unable to articulate any of these feelings, their eyes slowly slid closed as darkness engulfed their spirits….
…And that was the day the world fell asleep.