Page 87 of The End of the World As We Know It: New Tales of Stephen King’s The Stand

He rushed toward her and dropped to his knees.

The sound of the sword hitting the stone floor echoed through the space.

He looked like a helpless child with wide and wild eyes as he gazed up at her with tears welling.

Relief crossed his face. “I knew it! I’m not suffering from some delusion from isolation.

I’ve been praying for a sign, and that sign would be to find another person. ”

He looked handsome in his desperation. She touched his shoulder. “I, too, asked for a sign.”

“He made it clear to me he only wants those willing to do their part in the new world he’s building. He’ll bring us together. If we only put our trust in him. I come here to pray.”

She leaned toward the young man, feeling a swell of excitement as well as relief. Flagg delivered. All she had to do would be keep him from wandering away. “I’m glad we found each other. What’s your name?”

“Joseph. Joseph Parks.”

Her lips curled to a soft smile while staring into his eyes. The fading sunlight through the stained glass sliced across his face. “I’m Elizabeth Gladworthy. Devoted to building something wonderful amongst the despair. He wishes it.”

“I am, too… I want to feel closer to him.”

“Are you alone, Joseph?”

He nodded his head in exaggerated eagerness. “Yes. I’ve stayed in the city because there are more supplies than if I ventured to the countryside.”

Elizabeth studied his face, the softness of it. There was a naivety she found attractive. “Very wise… Where are you staying?”

He averted his eyes in slight shame. “Here and there. I can’t stand the idea of going back to my nan’s house. Too many memories… my dormitory still has a lot of bodies inside.”

She frowned and touched the side of his arm. “That’s not good. I’m at the hotel across the river. We can have or be whatever we want there.” Her eyes shifted to the sword. “Where did you take that from?”

His cheeks flushed. “I went to the Tower of London. I loved that place as a kid. My nan was a Royalist. Didn’t think anyone would mind. I took a few things. The sword makes me feel… safer.”

“Exactly. No one will mind. Come with me to my hotel. It’s gorgeous… and free.”

His face brightened. “Do you have lots of food?”

“I am afraid I can only offer you beans on toast tonight. It’s just been me, so I have a camping stove and not much else.”

“I love beans on toast. My nan used to make it for me.”

“Good. Why don’t we walk to my hotel. Then we can sit and talk about our dreams.”

Elizabeth rose to her feet. He beamed with a wide grin. She had all his attention. Elizabeth wasn’t greedy. One companion until Flagg was enough.

Joseph looked around the hotel in wonder. The aroma of dead flowers filled the hotel. There were too many located all over the building and Elizabeth didn’t want to bother with the effort to clear them all out.

“This is nice,” he said.

“I know… You mentioned a dormitory? Where were you in school?”

“King’s College.”

“That is impressive. Your nan must have been proud. I taught boys like you.”

“Hey, I wanted to teach, too! Math and physics.”

“Your parents must have loved that.”

His smile faded and face darkened. “I don’t like to talk about them. I had to live in hospital for a few years, then I was sent to live with my nan.”

She stopped and touched his arm. “I’m sorry. You don’t have to tell me.”

“Thank you. Maybe I will at some point. Anyway, tell me about your dreams.”

She had to think fast. She couldn’t scare him off with her dreams of fucking. At least not yet. She couldn’t put him off straightaway.

“I dreamed of… flying to him. Finding a way across the pond. You don’t happen to know how to navigate a boat or fly a plane, do you? From what I gather from my dreams, he’s in America. Las Vegas.”

He laughed and blushed. “Nope. Wish I did. I’d fly to him, too, if I could. Maybe we’ll be given a miracle. It’s kind of a miracle we’re both still alive.”

Elizabeth almost pitied how hopeful and naive he was. It was adorable, yet it made her want to crush him at the same time. A soft little public school boy getting his balls squeezed for the first time. “How old are you, Joseph?”

“Eighteen.”

Her stomach leapt with excitement. She remembered the eighteen-year-old boy she met when she was sixteen. “So young… Did you have a girlfriend?”

“No. It didn’t really interest me when I started uni. And before that, I kept to myself.”

She led him into the main bar area, where she spent most of her time. It reminded her of being out looking for a good time despite not a soul around. He rushed to the room’s center.

“This place is so wonderful.” He scanned a coffee table filled with candles, board games, playing cards, piled-up books. Next to the table was a cart with spirit bottles, wine, and beer. “You really made a new home here.”

“I did. But that was before I heard his voice.”

“So, you want a way to America?”

She sat on the faded sofa in front of the coffee table and grabbed a bottle of whiskey and two glasses. She poured doubles. “Do you know the story of the Stone of Scone? The stone that once sat below the Coronation Chair?”

He glanced at the drinks then back to her. “No. Not much into history. I know a little about the Bible.”

“Your nan was a God-fearing woman?”

“Yes. A true saint. She touched so many lives.”

“That’s nice. Well, the stone was taken from the Scots and brought to the king of England. But that isn’t the part of the story that interests me. It’s said the stone is a true relic from the Bible.”

“Really? How did it get here?” He put his rucksack down and sat next to Elizabeth. She extended a glass to him. He shook his head. “No thanks.”

She smiled and took a sip, then licked her lips. “Maybe later.”

Elizabeth touched his thigh. He scooted a few inches away, yet continued to smile. “The stone? The story is fascinating.”

Elizabeth had to hide her anger at his rejection.

“Yes, sorry. It’s also called the Stone of Jacob.

It’s where he lay his head in Bethel as he received visions in the form of dreams from God.

Later, the prophet Jeremiah brought it to Ireland before it found its way to Scotland.

The English took it from the Scots. For a very long time, it resided beneath the Coronation Chair in Westminster Abbey. ”

Joseph looked off as if he’d entered a dream world. “Visions! Dreams. Just like us! Could we be prophets? This has to be the end times, like in the Bible.”

She smiled at him. His innocent enthusiasm excited her. “Exactly. You are very clever, Joseph. I think we are in touch with the divine. I could feel it when I entered the Abbey and sat on the Coronation Chair. Flagg has told me directly that I am his chosen one on this side of the world.”

“I believe it. You’ve been so kind and welcoming to me.”

“Joseph, I just want to make you feel welcomed and good. You can be yourself around me.”

He shifted his gaze to his fidgeting fingers. “Thank you. I know we just met, but I’m very tired. Do you mind if I take one of the rooms?”

“Not at all. But it’s a big place, so I’ll put you next to me. Best we stick together.”

“Okay. I trust you.”

“Good. You can.” She stood, grabbing the second drink. “Follow me. The keys are still at the front desk.”

Flagg had been silent for the few days since Joseph’s arrival.

He couldn’t be angry at her being attracted to Joseph, because she had to believe Flagg had given him to her.

The absence of Flagg though made it difficult for her to sleep.

She shuffled through her box of pills from the hospital and found ones that might help.

She hoped in the darkest corner of her dreams she would find him.

With a shot of whiskey, she took the pill.

Not long after, her mind drifted into a dark void.

He whispered. “ You like him. I know you do .” She could feel his breath on her neck.

“I… You’re the one for me.”

“It’s okay. I’m not a jealous guy. Have fun with him. Make him into a man. He wants it. But he’s shy. Look at you. You’re a knockout. Give him what he wants. What you want … ”

Elizabeth could feel herself smiling in her sleep. She did want Joseph, and now she would have him. She would have both.

“We will find a way to you.”

“Let me handle that, darlin’.”

The following day, Joseph wandered in and out of his room, then ate a light supper of cheese sandwiches and potato chips with her. He seemed pensive throughout the entire meal.

“You okay?” she asked.

“Yeah, just had a few wild dreams.”

“Really? Tell me.”

He hesitated. “I’d rather wait until I’m sure.”

“Up to you, Joseph. I’m here for you.”

She blew out the candles they used for light and returned to her room.

She had never been with a virgin before.

It aroused her. She opened two beers and poured them into pint glasses.

Into one of them she sprinkled crushed diazepam.

His shyness might be a problem considering he hadn’t reacted the way she expected when she tried to get close to him before.

He was young enough to get hard and dumb enough not to think anything of how the spiked beer made him feel.

Elizabeth wore a fresh robe and nothing else when she walked to Joseph’s room and knocked on the door with her knuckles.

He opened it with a smile. “Everything okay?”

“Yes, sorry. Just lonely, I guess.” She held up the beers. “And I don’t like how we left supper. Nightcap?”

He glanced at her robe and bare feet. “I guess… a little company wouldn’t hurt.”

She entered and closed the door behind her with her foot.

“I know you said you didn’t really drink. Why don’t you try it anyway? You don’t have to be shy around me. I don’t like drinking alone. And it will open your mind. Help you relax about your dreams.”

He hesitated before taking the pint glass. “Yeah, the adjustment being around another person hasn’t been easy. All right—cheers, then.”