God gave Ted Erickson the power to freeze the sinful, so why does his own body keep growing numb?
A prostitute. A dirty bum. They can't survive Ted's growing ability to exhale cold air from the Ninth Circle of Hell. So how can the suicidal teenager next door keep singing?
At first Ted Erickson doesn't understand how or why he can freeze things just by blowing on them. By the time he finishes testing this on the neighborhood cats and dogs, he understands God gave him a mission to clean up the world of sinners.
In Noah's time God cleansed the world of the wicked with water. This time, he chose ice, and Ted as his instrument.
Justin Bates, the heavy metal fan next door who plans to kill himself over his parents' divorce, decides to stop Ted Erickson. If Justin dies trying, at least he goes out a hero, not a wuss.
Heaven's Burning is a horror, dark fantasy, or urban fantasy short story.
Genre: FICTION / HorrorIn the parking lot, Justin saw his next door neighbor walking away from his white Bel Air. "How do you do, Mr. Erickson?" he asked. "Are you hurt?"
The man's face squeezed with pain. "That music -- can't you turn it down a little?"
Justin knew his music irritated all grownups, but it seemed to hurt Mr. Erickson physically, as though the man actually felt Satan stabbing his soul with a pitchfork.
"Sorry." Justin lowered the volume. "I meant, you're limping."
Mr. Erickson still looked like a pimple trying not to burst. "My foot fell asleep."
"What do you think is going on in our subdivision?"
"What?" He sounded too surprised, almost scared.
"About the dogs and cats. You know -- they all died mysteriously. I found Jumper just lying in the back yard, not looking hurt or anything. And there's been at least eight or nine more. Not a clue about why they died."
"I didn't know."
"Have you heard anything unusual? Any suspicious strangers hanging around?" Justin missed his collie, but Jumper was old, and the neighborhood mystery excited him.
"Look, Justin -- some other time. All right?"
"Sure, I understand. See you around."
Justin stared at Mr. Erickson's back as the man dragged his left foot behind. A chill shivered up Justin's spine. He suddenly realized Mr. Erickson had lied -- he knew about the deaths of the pets.
And how could someone's foot fall asleep while they were driving?
Justin cranked the Walkman volume back up as it played his favorite song:
St. Peter lights the gasoline
All the saved weep and moan
God is fiddling on his throne
Heaven's burning!
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German
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Already translated.
Translated by Philipp Bornschein
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Author review: He translated the story quickly, yet paid attention to detail, asking me about terms he didn't understand. Very professional. |
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Italian
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Already translated.
Translated by Stefano Vazzola
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Portuguese
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Already translated.
Translated by Nathalia Lessa
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Spanish
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Already translated.
Translated by Válery Jiménez
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