Under the Arches

in handy if you decided to get in any more fights over the coming week.’

  ‘Well, I think I’ve had enough for the time being, but thanks for the thought.’

  ‘So you’ve kept hold of these containers for all this time?’ asked Angelina’s mum.

  ‘In a manner of speaking,’ replied Zeus. ‘The descendents of old Tom Doubting looked after them for me from generation to generation.’

  ‘Tom Doubting? You mean Doubting Thomas?’ said Amy.

  ‘Well, yes, I guess so. Poor lad. He was always a bit of a sceptic, but I think something got lost in translation when the New Testament was published and he never quite lived it down.’

  They spent the afternoon enjoying one another’s company, chatting and joking while Zeus taught them some old dice games he knew. Before they knew it the evening was drawing in and Amy’s parents had sent her a text to let her know that they were on their way. Angelina and her mother were both growing drowsy so they decided it was time to call it a night and they all trooped to the front door and headed out into the cold.

  ‘Well, that didn’t take them long,’ said Zeus as they walked between the characters of the nativity scene, which someone had seen fit to rearrange so that they were performing a variety of sexual acts with one another.

  ‘Looks like Mary’s having a good time,’ sniggered Angelina. ‘So much for being a virgin.’

  ‘I’m more worried about Joseph and the sheep,’ grinned Zeus. ‘Still, it was nice while it lasted. Thank you all for making this a very special birthday for me. It really has been a unique experience.’

  ‘And for us too,’ replied Angelina’s mother. ‘I can’t imagine anywhere I would rather have been.’

  ‘Me neither,’ said Amy.

  Angelina went over and gave him a hug.

  ‘Merry Christmas,’ she said, her face buried in his jumper. ‘Come and see us soon, won’t you?’

  ‘Of course I will,’ said Zeus. ‘Goodnight and God bless.’

  True to his word, Boxing Day afternoon was not more than an hour old when Zeus called round. Angelina had spent much of the morning in bed in a blissful daze, half dreaming about the magical Christmas Day she’d had. Daylight streamed in through her window, lighting her room up and filling her with cheer. Even with only a week left to live it was hard for her to feel sad. The past months had been so eye-opening she hardly felt like she could have filled them any better. She wondered what other people might do if they knew the world was shortly going to end. Would they pack in their lives at home and jet off to somewhere exotic they had always wanted to go? Or would they take out a huge loan and splash out and live like royalty? She did not know. But she was certain of one thing; all she wanted was to spend the time with family and friends, and with Zeus, with whom she had now formed an inseparable bond.

  By the time he arrived she had migrated to the sofa where she was watching her Spongebob DVDs while listening to her new iPod in one ear.

  ‘Heya,’ she called as her mum showed him into the room.

  ‘Hi, how are you feeling?’ he asked.

  ‘Great,’ she said jumping up and giving him a friendly punch on the arm. ‘More than great, in fact. Full of beans.’

  ‘Sprouts more like,’ said Zeus cheekily. ‘Hey, while you’re both in the room, the main reason I’ve come round is to discuss New Year’s Eve with you.’

  ‘Oh, we’re trying not to think that far ahead,’ said Angelina. ‘It’s a whole week away yet.’

  ‘Yes, but I thought we could all go and do something nice to celebrate,’ said Zeus.

  ‘Really? But aren’t you going to be… umm… busy?’

  ‘Not until the clock strikes twelve. Until then I’m all yours.’

  ‘Great! What did you have in mind?’

  ‘Well, I thought we could maybe take a trip into London. You know, soak in some of the atmosphere, see a West End show, and just generally party like there’s no tomorrow.’

  ‘That sounds lovely,’ said Angelina’s mum. ‘What show do you want to see?’

  ‘Well I thought I’d let the two of you choose that,’ said Zeus. ‘I managed to get a brochure, so take your pick.’

  ‘Won’t they all be sold out already?’ asked Angelina.

  ‘Hey, remember who you’re talking to. I’m a well-connected man, I am. If anyone can work a miracle then it’s me.’

  ‘There are so many to choose from,’ said Angelina’s mum. ‘I just like going to the theatre so I’ll be happy whatever we go for. You decide Angel.’

  ‘Is Amy allowed to come too?’ Angelina asked.

  ‘It wouldn’t be the same without her,’ replied Zeus.

  ‘In that case it has to be the Lion King. She loves her Disney.’

  ‘Sold,’ said Zeus. ‘I’ll be back later with the tickets.’

  Sure enough, when six o’clock arrived he was back with four front row tickets for the show. In the mean time Angelina had spoken with Amy, who was delighted with the idea.

  Over the next four days Angelina spent as much of her time with Zeus and her mum as she could. They went walking in the countryside, shopping in the Harlequin and even took a trip on the train to the south coast to spend one last day by the seaside. It was a sublime week, full of joyous reflection and carefree enjoyment, but all too son Angelina found herself waking up to her phone telling her that the 31st December had arrived.

  There was a half-hour or so where she had panicked about things she had wanted to do but forgotten about, but knowing it was too late to do anything about it she slipped her headphones on and chilled out to some music while her head cleared.

  She spent the morning on her own, walking round her old haunts and saying ‘goodbye’ to all the places that had featured strongly throughout the course of her childhood. She even took a stroll through her school grounds on the way to the park, feeling satisfied with her academic achievements; especially those of the term she had just finished.

  At two o’clock Amy arrived and they both began to grow excited at the prospect of the evening ahead. But then came a text from Zeus telling her that he had got caught up with some business and would have to meet them in London at six.

  They watched some videos to try and remain upbeat, and at four o’clock they began getting ready. Angelina’s mum was in the shower for what seemed like an eternity, and when a quarter past five arrived and she had not come out of her room, Angelina banged on her door to try and hurry her up.

  They finally got to Bushey station at just before half five, and by the time they had got their tickets and climbed the steps up to platform six the train was just pulling up. It was one of the fast trains that only stopped at Harrow and Wealdstone before getting in to London Euston. Zeus had told them to meet him in the centre of Leicester Square next to Shakespeare’s fountain. It was only a few stops down from Euston on the tube, but Angelina was growing anxious that they were running slightly late and might miss him for one reason or another. As they arrived in London she sent him a message to let him know where they were, and then they headed through the ticket barriers and onto the underground. The tube lines were packed with people rushing this way and that, each frantically trying to fulfil their own plans for the evening ahead.

  The three of them managed to cram themselves onto one of the trains bound for Kennington, but after a horde of people pushed their way on at Tottenham Court Road, they had to fight their way off it to disembark at Leicester Square before the doors closed. The streets were chaotic when they made it outside, heaving with people, taxis and pedicabs, which made it disorienting to say the least. Angelina had been into the centre of London on quite a few occasions, but in all the mayhem she found it difficult to work out which direction the square was in. They started walking in order to get out of the constant stream of people funnelling out of the station, and followed the main flow round past the ticket offices and cinemas until they found themselves at the northeast corner of the square. It was all illuminated beautifully, with the fairy lights in the t
rees mingling with the bright neons of the cinemas overlooking the square to give it a wonderfully wintry feel.

  They worked their way through the crowds of people towards the centre of the square and soon caught sight of the fountain, but when they reached it Zeus was nowhere to be found.

  ‘Where is he?’ asked Angelina scanning the crowds frantically in search of his distinctive dreadlocks.

  ‘I don’t know darling,’ replied her mum. ‘He did say six didn’t he? We’re not that late. It’s only ten past.’

  ‘Maybe he sent you a message?’ offered Amy.

  Angelina checked her phone.

  ‘Nothing. Oh where can he be?’

  ‘Hot chocolate anyone?’ came a voice from behind them and they all jumped.

  ‘There you are!’ said Angelina turning to Zeus with a frown. ‘I thought we’d missed you.’

  ‘Nonsense!’ he replied. ‘There’s a bit of a nip in the air so I thought I’d get a little something to warm us up.’

  ‘That’s very kind of you,’ said Angelina’s mum with a stern look at her daughter.

  Zeus passed round the drinks and they started to stroll towards the southeast corner of the square.

  ‘It’s nice all this, isn’t it?’ he said as they went.

  ‘It’s beautiful,’ said Amy. ‘I haven’t been to London much and I’ve never seen it lit up like this.’

  ‘It’ll only get better later, you mark my words,’ said Zeus. ‘There’ll be fireworks and all sorts going off. It’ll be quite something.’

  ‘How far is it to the theatre?’ asked Angelina.

  ‘Oh I don’t know, a few minute’s walk maybe? It’s down near Waterloo Bridge and I’ve been told you can’t miss it.’

  Indeed they couldn’t. The huge pillars of the Lyceum Theatre were as unmistakable as the yellow and black banners advertising the show that adorned them. All the doors were wide open and there were a great many people mingling outside, many of whom were carrying souvenir programmes, having gone to the matinee showing.

  The four of them made their way inside, bought some refreshments and used the toilets before making their way to their seats ready for the start of the show. It was not long before the lights went down, a silhouette appeared behind the curtain and gave a great cry that signalled that it was about to begin.

  Outside the theatre the lights of London shone brightly as the minutes ticked by on their way to midnight. Across the world to the east, countries were one by one welcoming in the New Year, while to the west the others made their preparations for the big event. For many people it was just another evening. Just another struggle for survival; as much a time for grief-filled reflection as it was a time for joyful looking ahead. But for every man, woman and child their time was soon to come to an end. The day of judgement had come.

  It was just before ten o’clock when Zeus, Amy, Angelina and her mother left the theatre, their hearts alive from the feast of sound and colour they had just experienced.

  ‘That was amazing!’ said Angelina as they walked down the front steps and turned right towards the river. ‘That bit with the stampede was incredible.’

  ‘And weren’t the costumes beautiful?’ added her mum. ‘So cleverly done. That was a very good choice Angelina.’

  ‘Yeah, nice one,’ said Zeus sparking up a cigarette. ‘I’ve never been to the theatre before. Is it always that good?’

  ‘Depends on what you go and see. I went to a few shows with my former husband but nothing quite like that.’

  ‘Jolly good,’ said Zeus. ‘Anyone fancy a drink?’ He pointed to a pub they were passing on the corner of the Strand. ‘My shout of course.’

  ‘Why not,’ said Angelina.

  The pub was packed inside, but there were tables with chairs outside for those brave enough to endure the elements, which were none too harsh for the time of year. Zeus went in and got them all a drink while they seated themselves close to the entrance so as to still enjoy the buzzing atmosphere inside.

  ‘Cheers!’ said Zeus, raising his glass as he sat down with them. ‘Here’s to a lovely evening.’

  ‘Cheers,’ said the others raising their glasses in unison.

  They each drank and there was a thoughtful silence before Angelina asked, ‘So, what happens now?’

  ‘Well,’ said Zeus taking another sip of his pint. ‘I reckon we sit here and have a couple to drink and then head down to the bridge to watch the fireworks.’

  ‘But don’t the fireworks start at midnight?’ asked Amy.

  ‘Yup,’ nodded Zeus.

  ‘And… err… isn’t some rather important event also supposed to happen at midnight?’ asked Angelina.

  ‘It’s supposed to,’ said Zeus easily.

  The others looked at one another in bewilderment.

  ‘So…’

  ‘We’ll just take it as it comes,’ said Zeus sitting back happily and closing his eyes. ‘Tonight ladies, everything’s all good.’

  They chatted away together as more and more people spilled out from the pub into the streets. Hordes were already making their way towards the river and the traffic along the Strand was beginning to grind to a halt. By half past eleven they had all enjoyed several drinks and Zeus indicated that it was time for them to go.

  ‘We don’t want to miss the big finale,’ he said, and they joined the hundreds of people flocking down Lancaster Place towards Waterloo Bridge.

  Soon they were pushing through the thick crowds with the London Eye illuminated in cycling colours to their right, dominating the skyline. They found the middle of the road easier to navigate as most of the crowds had swarmed to the railings to get the best views. The police had erected railings in the centre of the bridge to try and control the flow of people, and they managed to squeeze themselves into a position where they could all perch on them and get a decent view.

  Angelina checked her phone. A quarter to midnight. Fifteen minutes left. Suddenly the panicked feeling that had threatened to overcome her that morning swept through her again and she gripped Zeus’ hand as tears began to stream uncontrollably down her face. She turned to her mother.

  ‘I love you Mum,’ she said.

  ‘I love you too Angel,’ she replied and Angelina could see that she too was crying.

  ‘Not long now my friends,’ said Zeus, hopping down and turning to face them. ‘I guess now is as good a time as any to say thank you.’

  ‘For what?’ asked Angelina.

  ‘For restoring my faith in humanity,’ he replied. ‘And for making my time here better than I could have possibly hoped it would be. I’ve loved every minute we have spent together and only regret that there is not more time left.’

  Then he turned to face the gathered crowds and bellowed, ‘And that goes for the rest of you! There’s ten minutes to go so make the most of it!’

  Some people cheered. Some looked at him strangely. Others simply ignored him. He turned his back on them and shrugged.

  ‘Oh well,’ he said. ‘They’ll understand shortly.’

  He hopped back on to the railing and they sat together as the crowds continued to swell and the excitement grew to fever pitch. Time passed by and midnight drew ever closer. Five minutes… three minutes… one minute…

  ‘I love you,’ cried Angelina, the tears coming thick and fast now. She looked from Zeus to Amy to her mum. Each one of them looked at her and smiled. ‘I love you all,’ she said.

  And then it began.

  ‘Ten.’

  ‘Nine.’

  ‘Eight.’

  The crowd chanted in unison as a huge clock projected onto a nearby building counted down the seconds.

  ‘Seven.’

  ‘Six.’

  Lights on the London Eye flashed in time with the seconds.

  ‘Five.’

  In the distance Big Ben began to chime and some people began to cheer.

  ‘Four.’

  ‘Three!’

  ‘Two!’

  ‘ONE!’

&
nbsp; The sky erupted in a blaze of colour, as all along the Embankment and on the bridges people cheered and shouts of ‘Happy New Year!’ rang out. Wave after wave of fireworks shot into the air in a dazzling display of purples, blues, greens and reds.

  ‘What’s happening?’ shouted Angelina above the deafening noise. ‘Why hasn’t the world ended?’

  ‘Don’t you think the world needs a good send-off?’ shouted Zeus.

  His face was lit up with the most brilliant and beautiful smile, as if an age of burdens had been lifted from his shoulders. In that moment Angelina utterly gave in and released herself from the bonds of doubt that had attempted to ensnare her. She smiled and laughed and shouted as a feeling of unbridled ecstasy and elation enveloped her. The only way she could have described it was like getting to the end of a final exam and knowing that there was nothing more that could be done, cherishing the new-found freedom and looking forward to an endless summer that lay before her.

  She cheered every flash and every explosion until, as the display reached its climax and with an almighty BOOOM!, the final rocket was sent arcing into the night sky. There it hung for what felt like an eternity, as the sky grew lighter and began to turn a faint shade of purple.

  The celebrations grew quiet. Indeed, all around Angelina all the hugging and kissing and jumping around had ceased. She looked at the crowds of people, each person frozen where they stood, the myriads of expressions telling a thousand stories. Up in the sky the firework hung, its trail of sparks mirrored perfectly in the still waters of the Thames. The time had come.

  ‘Aww bugger,’ came a familiar voice to her left.

  ‘Trust my dad to cut short the finale.’

  Angelina smiled and looked over as Zeus hopped down from the railing. He took one longing look at the firework and then turned and smiled at her.

  ‘Hey little lady,’ he said. ‘You OK?’

  Angelina slid down on to the pavement and looked around her.

  ‘I think so,’ she said. ‘Where are we?’

  ‘This is purgatory,’ replied Zeus. ‘It is a place between heaven and hell where souls wait to have judgement passed upon them. You’ll notice the sky is a weird purply colour. That is a sign that the two realms are now enveloping the world. All that remains is for the judgements to be passed. If the sky dawns blue then a person has earned their salvation. Red, and they’re in big trouble.

  ‘Who gets to chose?’

  ‘I do. At least, with the help of my father. He is speaking to me at this very moment.’

  ‘What’s he saying?’

  ‘He’s saying we ain’t got all bloody night son, so get a bloody shake on!’ said Zeus with a smile.

  ‘So you’ve got to go and judge everyone in the world?’

  ‘Every last one.’ He came over and took her hands. ‘Angelina you must go now,’ he said. ‘Take the tube back to Euston and the train to Bushey. Take your time, there’s no hurry.’

  ‘How will I know… you know?’

  Zeus knelt before her. ‘There was never, ever any doubt,’ he said. ‘Your mum and Amy will be waiting for you.’

  ‘Will I see you again?’ she asked.

  ‘Of course. I’ll see you in the morning.’

  Then he turned and wandered off through