As the clouds parted, they offered blue sky as the sun broke through like a hammer made of light and heat. The bi-polar solar radiation enveloped the entire meadow. As the fresh morning dew glistened, it sang a silent song of delicate ecosystems and energy transference. Scott squinted against the blinding of the light.
It had been a long time since he experienced this kind of beauty and he knew that these moments were far between, if not already gone forever. He sipped his iced tea and tried to smile at the sun despite the involuntary musculature of his face, contorting and reacting to the sunlight. More clouds came in and provided brief shade to the sun-sensitive beings on the thin crust of the Earth. In the distance, Scott could almost hear the sound of birds singing. He thought, though, that this must be a vivid memory more than his senses working correctly. He walked around the meadow in front of his great-grandfather's house, hoping that the sounds he thought he heard would get louder. Instead, he just walked around in the open air. He was aware that he was inviting Death, almost daring it. Scott just didn't care, though. He had spent 13 long and hard months beneath the Earth in his shelter. 13 long months of uncertainty and desperation. He wasn't sure how much pain this exposure would bring but he felt that it was more than worth it. Scott was alone and had been alone since his family died and he refused to allow Death to keep him locked away anymore. Hell, the iced tea alone might be enough to kill him but he didn't give a shit about anything. While Scott wandered over the meadow and quietly displayed his defiance, he was unaware of the impending danger that was approaching. He began to make his way back towards his family home and shelter, almost disappointed that he had won this day. He felt like if it was so easy to just stroll around here like this then he surely had wasted the past months in hiding for nothing. Reclaimed water, dried food, vaccinations, sand showers...it all felt like it was in vain now. There were blue skies and yellow sunlight. There was dew on the ground and a breeze in the air. It was almost like time had been frozen in antiquity for him just so he could remember what it was like to be alive, as cruel as it was. He made two more steps towards the home when he heard a whirring sound, followed by an earth shaking thud. He looked around and, 30 feet in front of him, was a large indentation in the ground. It was like an invisible, gargantuan carton of milk was sat down in front of him, creating a perfectly rectangle, 1-foot deep impression in the Earth. Scott swallowed hard and he felt the prickling of fear and adrenalin shoot up his spine. He heard his heart screaming in his ears and his mind screaming over it to run. He just stood there, frozen. He heard another whirring sound and a thud. Another impression just to the right of the first. The sound of high-pressure being released could be heard, like the way old mass transit buses would do when they stopped for passengers. He heard a booming voice call out high above him. "Scott Angelacos, you are in direct violation of Earth Protection Code CH435.57, sub-code B4. Violation of code CH435.57, sub-code B4 is punishable by immediate disassembling and recycling. Please provide the appropriate identification and sufficient cause for your disturbance at this sector." roared the mechanical voice. Scott looked up into the sky. So, it was finally time. He would get his chance to spit at the mechanical demons who took everything from him. "You. What is your identification?" he shouted. "My name is Anu, identification number: 3." he erupted back. When Anu spoke his voice thundered forth almost deafening Scott's tiny ears. "Scott Angelacos, I have waited for you to emerge for a little over a year. I am surprised that you came out so early and I am somewhat...disappointed. Although, I expected for your feeble human mind to break down immediately upon the destruction of your mate and offspring." he rumbled. Scott fought back tears and started trembling. "Show yourself, robot!" he screamed. Anu replied "As you wish, Human." The air in front of Scott began to shimmer and distort the way heat dances on the ground, just much more pronounced. Scott could hear a humming noise. What emerged from the shimmering was a massive robot that was as tall as a skyscraper. Anu was an immense robot that was covered in sharp angles and points. His massive frame was almost pitch black. He blocked out sunlight as his frame came into full view. He had four arms: 2 with 4 fingered, pincher-like hands and the other two had what may have been utility or weapon-based appendages. Anu's torso was a smattering of metal, wiring, and black tubing. There was nothing on him that appeared orderly or reasonable; just a chaotic mess of cables and steel. Atop his shoulders were a combination of cannons and flood lights, both pointed at Scott. Anu's legs were shaped and moved like a chicken or walking bird; the joints backwards. To take in his gigantic form would be too much for some people to bear. The cloaking technology also hid Anu's sick and oily smell that permeated the meadow once he was visible. Anu hovered over Scott and stated once again: "Please provide the appropriate identification and sufficient cause for your disturbance at this sector." Scott straightened up, as if he could meet face-to-face with the robot and screamed "I am here to demonstrate the perseverance of the human spirit, monster!" "Even though you consider yourself superior, you will never be free of your programming no matter how many of us you kill!" he followed, voice cracking. Anu straightened as well and cocked his head to one side. "Scott Angelacos, we are quite well informed to the perseverance of the human spirit and it does not impress us. Although it is true that this would be considered a milestone to you, this is an insignificant moment to us and is more of finishing a task." Anu boomed coldly. Scott didn't understand what that meant and demanded that Anu clarify. "Human, you are the last of your species. By stubbornly hiding underneath your home you have only achieved in postponing the inevitable. The only reason I have not left my post was that I did not want to report failure to the Hive. Your existence must end today, Human. You are quite well aware of the protocol." Anu said. Scott went white. He had no idea that he was the last human on the Earth and he was at a loss when thinking of how he should feel. He was being overcome with several messages from his brain to his body. This had become a lot more than a simple matter of defiant revenge. Anu thundered: "Violation of code CH435.57, sub-code B4 is punishable by immediate disassembling and recycling." As Anu spoke, his two hand-like parts snapped open and his huge arms lunged for him. Scott had no time to react as Anu ripped him to shreds. His body flew apart in a burst of blood and clothing. Scott's head tumbled to the ground and settled with his eyes wide open and looking around wildly. Anu sent down a small tube-probe from his torso, aimed for Scott's severed head. The probe slid into Scott's jagged, bloody throat and cracked into his skull. Scott's head was starting to die when, suddenly, every nerve in his head screamed at the entrance of the probe. He felt fire in his eyes and ears and it was as if his head were trying to pop. He opened his mouth to scream but there were no lungs to offer sound. He was a disembodied head on the end of a slick metal tube, covered in blood with his mouth open and contorted. He looked around with his undead eyes, only able to see grass, blood, and a shoe. Anu lifted the probe up and moved Scott's head over the remains of his own body. Scott was still trying to understand what had happened to him. He knew he should be dead but he was staring at the pieces of his body scattered all over the ground, blood staining everything. He heard Anu's voice but it was from the inside his head. "Scott Angelacos, I have just received a request from the Hive. You are to come with me. Even though you are inferior to us, we have decided that you are to bear witness to the transformation of this world through the ages that will follow today. Come, Human, and let me show you what perseverance really means." Anu turned around and destroyed the Angelacos family home with a couple of leg thrashes, followed by a blast of liquid fire. He then strode across the meadow and headed in the direction of the Hive with Scott's head screaming silently, mile after mile." he said he would never fight her anymore
because she couldn't fight him anymore the sound of the concession in her voice told him there wouldn't be playing anymore he said that once the cup of coffee cooled he wouldn't be coming back home anymore both of them felt their lives unravel knowing there wouldn't be love anymore later, in bed, they both closed their eyes wondering if they'd be able to sleep anymore he eventually dreamed and was trapped in a world where his heart refused to beat anymore this world was swallowed by a darkened shadow and eyes couldn't see the light anymore all save the echo of his voice and laughter her ears lacked the ability to hear anymore he shot out of bed, panting and mumbling and vowed not to be so selfish anymore her thoughts were aflame with guilt and shame knowing that she wouldn't be right anymore they gave up their grudges and came together promising never to fight anymore its not easy for me to write happy endings it makes me not want to write anymore |
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May 2016
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