practice

prompt: Start your story with a character saying “I can see it now.”

<I can see it now>, mike said. It was close to sunset, and ships' tops were golden, white, or red, as they approached the glitter. A few sails of sport crafts waved, and a deep content was rising in my bones.
<Yes, dear?>
<The night will come, and like the sun divides the earth, it will divide humanity to the darkened and lit. See? see! How night comes to take us, with it's malicious fingernails curled around our throats, and his foot on our back. What grand designs that evil smur has on us, see?>

I sighed. I was coming close to the end of a knit-row, and caution was necessary, or the whole row would unfurl and ruin the patch.

<Johanna, Johanna, look! They want to take me away from you, I hate them! They'll come soon, the night, their legions, with a smashing of feet and their gladiatorial shields, and wreck our world apart!>

The knit-row done, I could spare some attention.

Not looking up, I knew that mike's eye was shining green, his face was contorted, droll beginning to collect, and that he didn't take his pills.

<Mike,> I said, trying not to sound too absent-minded. <Is the night an he, an It, or a they? I don't understand>

I heard his sudden breath as he prepared for another tirade.

<No, Mike. A categorical answer, please>

For a while, it was quiet, except for mike's scratching and pulling at leaves. The patch was coming along spendidly - I chose a light blue wool and threaded in a dark green to imitate the seaweeds. It would make mike look distinguished, I thought, as much as an eye-patch made from wool could be. Autumn was nearing to an end, and so I made the fabric triple-knit, and a broad band to accompany it - mike will complain of 'itches in my socket', but last year he was terribly cold in that wound of his.

<All of them> He said. <I know, Jo, I know, but this time I can feel it. The images are spinning wild, but looking at that straight, proud band the sun is making, I can see that the future is straining to mark a warning, a solid theme throughout the visions!>

<Like that time with the smiths?>

He scoffed.

<They still won't answer my mail, you know. Poor Junior is still jumpy whenever he hears a crow, and the miss won't take the dog out since 'the mites will eat him', not to mention all that money Mr. smith lost on that wild bet you led him on.>

<Now, Mike,> I said, gently. <I predict that you have a wild spell, let it all out, then come home for a cup of cocoa. How about that?>

<I predict> He said, volume rising. <That by Helios' end, a falter shall be in chrono's step. Nyx comes, but it is not her that will arrive! A new force, to rival the old, will come as sure as time stands null!>

A rumble came from the direction of the setting sun and a soft green light started to shine on my knitting. I was very pleased - the dark green wool did go well with mike's lighter shade.

<A wild spell!> mike was shouting now, and a second timber was added to his voice, deeper and darker. <A wild spell indeed! This newcomer, brings ruin in his thoughts. A legion of evil will march across the grounds, shattering all that is good and noble. heroes will rise, and fall by the hordes, for He who comes cannot be turned nor harried nor beat, and he will not stop until the world is gone, satisifed by the knowledge of final and utter victory.>

<I must go, Johanna! Call me Mike not, for I must take on the old name and title, and set once more to defense. I must call on the pantheon, and organize us again. We are scattered and weak, and the enemy strong. How can we fight, each lost in the mortal hidings we now take on ourselves! With you by my side, we may stand a chance against this nefarious fiend!>

<I have my knitting, dear>

<Fine! You Evil woman! If I do not return, know that it is your lack of suppourt that crippled me!>

The green light sputtered, and with a sound not unlike a velcro strap opening, Mike dissappeared from my side.

I watched the sun carefully, just to be sure. No cracks appeared, no sudden twists of the light, and no nefarious, veracious, scheming, malignant, tumourous foes.

I sighed, and pulled out my phone.

<Thor, dear> I said. <Pa is popping over for a visit. No, He's in a mood. Could you set him up with a nice cup while he talks it out? The extra pills are in the second drawer, over to the left of where sif keeps her clay sculptures. See if you can get him to take it, but no forcing him! he might go all the way to australia this time if you do. And love! best wishes for sif and the kids.>