This is the last of it; I only have one shot left. They are clawing at the building beneath me. I ran my rifle dry hours ago, all that’s left is the empty magazines and shell casings. The only thing now is to decide what to do with it. I could turn it on myself, end my suffering quickly, stay up here and dye of dehydration, or leave the safety of the building and take out as many as possible. I had time to think, that’s about all I had with no food or water I would be stuck up here to die a slow death of dehydration. I was always told that suicide is the coward’s way out and that no self-respecting man should ever do it. The option was more appealing to than the alternatives. I was on the verge of tears; never having to make a decision like this in my life was overwhelming. I was afraid of what could be waiting for me after I die, I didn’t want to die but there was no other choice. I looked at the shining revolver I owned, I loved the design, the pearl grips the nickel plated barrel, and the cylinder engraved beautifully. I loaded the last bullet I had in the cylinder and spun it. If I was to go out I would do it playing a game. I pull the hammer back the first time, click that chamber was empty. Once again I cock the hammer, click nothing in that chamber. They say third time’s the charm, click again I still exist. Try number four, click I’m starting to get frustrated, this infernal device wouldn’t do what I wanted to. Number five, click I threw the gun on the floor of the roof. I went back and picked it up; this is the last chamber the bullet must be in this one. I cock the hammer, click. The round was a dud, I’m doomed to spend the rest of my life on this roof waiting in pain for the end to come.
There was just the two of us now. Brett and I were the only survivors. The others from our group died from natural causes or starvation. Although Lily died from being eaten by a giant wolverine about a week ago. Nate had a heart attack a few months ago. My best friend, KC was murdered by lightning. The year is 2052. Brett and I are the only humans left on Earth. We don’t know how it happened, but all of a sudden, people were dropping dead in the streets. And if you tried to looks at them, what was staring back at you was a form resembling a zombie. The flesh was rotting and turning green. But they didn’t come back to life like zombies in movies and books did. They just lay on the ground. Somehow the five of us avoided the silent disease. But then the other three lost their lives as well. Only one thing kept us going. Music. Although there were no other humans on the planet, there was always music playing. We would always find iPods that still had playlists going because its owner had died so suddenly. Music passed the time and gave us hope that somehow, our lives would be ok. Until one day, all the music stopped. The batteries died or the devices broke. Nonetheless, there was no way to get the pretty tunes playing through our heads any longer. Except one. It was the slowest, saddest, hopeless song that ever entered my ears. We heard it when we were cuddling to keep warm, a few days after all the other songs died. Our heads shot up and our tired eyes snapped open. We looked at each other and smiled. He stood up first and then helped me to my feet. Then he picked me up and swirled me around. It was the happiest time we experienced since the disease started. But then he stopped and placed me down. And we listened. We were so happy that we had music again. But not until then did we realize how depressing the tune was. A few hours later, we found were the sad notes were blaring from. It was from a corner store a few miles away. We stared up at the awning of the shop, where we believed the source of the song was. The words were sad and it took all the hope from me. I began to cry and Brett wrapped his strong arms around me. It was the last song on Earth. But instead of being overjoyed by the discovery, I was distraught by the hope I was losing, listening to its melody.
Zane jumped up the steps of the stoop and into the house. Tristain was confused as to why he didn’t say his dramatic goodbye yet so he decided to sit on the ground for a bit. Should he wake up mom and dad? They’d probably want to know that their oldest son was leaving. Maybe he already told them yesterday and didn’t want to wake them. The door opened and Zane leapt down the stairs and skidded to a halt in front of Tristain. Something was shimmering brightly in his hand. “Here, hang on to this.” Zane took Tristain’s hand and dropped a sheathed dagger into it. The sheathe was black leather with a pattern of swirls all around it and it had a silver tip. The hilt was wrapped in alternating black and white leather and on the bottom there was a small silver ring encasing an amethyst. “Wow! You know mom would kill you if she knew you gave me something like this.” Zane laughed and shoved Tristain. “See, that’s why you’re not telling them, right?” Tristain’s face lit up and he hugged his brother. “Right!” For a while they just stood with each other, talking about nothing. Working on the farm, crazy things they’d seen in town, even things the other did that pissed them off. They had their last moment together as brothers. Tristain rubbed his eyes and scratched his head, alone once again. He missed his brother. They weren’t even the brothers that fought nearly to the death every day; they were the kind of brothers that were always there for each other. Now Zane was gone, taken by some stupid meaningless war. It probably wasn’t meaningless, but whatever it was for it wasn’t worth losing his brother. Tristain touched the dagger he’d strapped to his leg, making sure it was secure. He walked around the side of the house and paused as he passed the mask. He’d thrown it against the house, still angry at the man that had been harassing him all day. Again, something told him to take it with him. He figured it would be a bad idea to walk around town wearing a murderer’s mask, so he grabbed a burlap sack from his shed.
“Sora is now dead. Two people left. Now, let the final round begin!” a loud, thundering voice broadcasted through the announcer. Two days ago, a letter came to my mail inviting me to the clock tower in the abandoned forest in town for a high school reunion. Looking at the signature at the bottom, I didn’t doubt the source of this letter. I just never thought that I would have another chance to return to that place. This morning, I left the house at six and rode here in my Jeep. When I arrived, there were already three people here outside the door. The clock tower was an architecture built in the 1500’s that rose 100 meter above ground. There were barks and twigs enveloping the whole tower. The clock stopped working ages ago. I recognize these people. I used to hang out with them very often. We were the only members in our high school’s film club. We would have stayed in the club until graduation, if that didn’t happen. I haven’t heard from them since high school graduation. There was the club president, Loui Christopher, the vice president, Luna Chase, and the secretary, Kas Hutchen. I was the treasurer. We greeted each other and walked in the castle together. Then, the first notice came. “Sinners of the past, welcome. You all know what you did during that last field trip and I know too. I invited you all here to play a little game with me. This tower has been filled with deathly traps. You all will travel through here and the one survivor in the end will be released from this tower of guilt. If there is more than one, than I will wait for you at the top of the tower, and I will announce the rules then. Have fun!” After going through ten floors, only I and Kas were left. We were on the highest floor, waiting for the announcer to come out. Then, though the shadows, there is a tapping noise and a man figure came out. He was wearing a suit, and he had a white sphered mask on with only his eyes shown. “I’m glad you came all this way to greet me. Now, the final floor’ rule. You two see the rope ladder by the window?” he asked as he pointed to the window behind us, “Whoever gets to the ladder first will escape. The remaining person will be judged for his sin. I will count to three, and you two will sprint to the ladder. One, two, three!” Without thinking, I and Kas both started sprinting toward the ladder. When Kas started to beat me by a little, I grabbed her hair and pulled her back. She fell on the floor and I got to the ladder. I started climbing upward when I heard a gunshot. I turned my head and saw Kas on the floor, dead. Her head was bleeding and she wasn’t moving at all. I quickly climbed up the ladders and went to the roof. The wind was blowing strongly, blowing my hair onto my face. When I moved the hairs away from my face, I saw him, our film club director. I started to shudder because he was supposed to be dead. Eight years ago, during my last film club trip, we came to this tower. Like now, we climbed each step and got to the rooftop. The wind was very strong, and we were fooling around. I don’t know what happened exactly, but by the time I turned my head, Mr. Nickson, the advisor, was dangling his body by the wall. I wanted to help him, but my hand slip and he fell. We were too scared and didn’t check if he was really dead or not. We left the location at a hurry. With what I’m seeing now, I guess he didn’t die. But his face is ruined. There were scars everywhere on his skin. He walked over as I started to back off. When I’m at the edge, he pushed me and I fell over. I hanged on to the edge, but he pushed my finger off the edge. As I fell, I saw him smiling, and then everything went black.
We thought that the game had been over without being able to do anything else to win. All hope was lost and the teams head began to sink in depression. The hard fought battle was over and we had no say in it because they had the ball with only a minute left. Even the coaches began to lose hope that we could win. Then we had been given one more chances by pure fate. The other teamed had the ball with a minute left and they only needed to hold onto the ball to win. Lady luck finally showed up and she was in our favor. Just as all hope seemed lost the other team fumbled the ball and we had recovered it. The crowd that was getting ready to leave roared as the team recovered the fumble and the offense took the field. This had now put us in the driver seats of our own destiny as we had gotten the ball back with a little under a minute left. We only had 1 time out left and 45 yards to go for the touchdown that would give us the win. The first play was a successful pass that moved us 10 yards closer to the end zone and we were able to get out of bounds. The momentum of the game had completely shifted in our favor and we were driving into score for the game winning touchdown. We had been given hope that now the game was finally ours to win. Before we had started the game winning drive our coach told us that this was our last hope of winning the game, and he was right. As a team we used every last amount of effort we had to win the game, and we were successful in winning the game.
April 5th 2113 Our base was under attack and I felt like there was no one here. This base was only used as a scientific research center. I was the captain of the defense for this station, but there was no one here to defend it. You would think that the alliance would send more troops to defend such a crucial base. Now we are defenseless and we have no hope of escaping. Well at least not all of us. There is only one shuttle on this base and it only holds twenty people. But we have over two hundred personnel on this station. Only about forty of them are trained soldiers while the rest are scientists. And to make matters worse, the enemies are already on the station killing anyone they find. I ran out with one of the four squads on this base to try and find anyone still alive and bring them back to the hangar to be shipped out. We met heavy resistance but we eventually made it back finding only a handful of survivors. The other three squads did the same thing. When we all got back to the meeting place we only had a little over one hundred people left. One of our squads was completely wiped out. So that means we only have thirty troops to defend now. I ordered the first group of scientists into the shuttle. It would take the shuttle about five minutes to fly to a safe distance, drop off everyone, and then return to the base. I just thought to myself that with only one shuttle, it would be impossible for everyone to make it out. My men started to seal all the doors to the hangar, hacking the controls so the enemy couldn’t get in from the other side. By the time we were done the first shuttle had already came back and was ready for another group to go. Twenty down, eighty to go. Then we heard gun fire. The enemies were at the door. Everyone ran up to their positions. We had made small windows around the doors so that we could shot at the enemies as they tried coming in. As soon as I got to my position I tossed a grenade in through a whole and watched it explode killing a group of soldiers. However, those handfuls of soldiers were nothing compared to the force that they sent to capture this base. Time was running out on us. It would only be a matter of time until the enemy would over run us and kill us all. I started losing hope for myself but I wouldn’t give up on everyone else. The shuttle came back and took the next group. Now there were only forty people left. All of the scientist still there began to pick up guns and ammunition and helped protect the perimeter. We were able to hold them off long enough for the next shuttle to grab the remaining scientist and some of my men. The rest of us prayed to god that the shuttles would come back in time to extract us as well. As soon as the shuttle left the hangar one of the doors was blown wide open and soldiers started flooding into the hangar. We fell back to an entrenched area around the landing site. It was covered with boxes and other science equipment that were left behind. We were able to hold them off to see the shuttle come into view. All of our eyes looked at the shuttle with the sun’s light beaming on its surface. The alliance insignia was glimmering. I looked back to see that all of the soldiers had smiles running across their faces. However, as soon as those smiles came onto our faces so did they disappear. A missile was shot at the shuttle and blew it sky high. All hope was lost now. We were all goners. I ran over to a terminal that was covered. The soldiers that were still remaining, which counted to about nine, followed me. I tried sending out a distress call to any pacing ships that could help us. To my dismay, my efforts came to no avail. Now I had lost all hope. Instead of fighting anymore I began typing this message so that we wouldn’t be forgotten. The last man next to me was just shot and they will be coming for me next. This is it and these are my last words for mankind. I hope that we will find…
A week before Christmas, I made a promise I couldn’t keep. “When I get my GameKid 3,” they would take turns saying—(this time it was Lydia’s turn)—“I’m never gonna even put it down.” “When I get my GameKid 3,” Luke began. “Actually, I bet I’m gonna get mine before you even get yours.” “No—I’m Ella’s favorite cousin.” Lydia pulled on the hem of my long, gray trench coat as we walked through the aisles of the toy store. “So, she’s gonna buy mine first.” “No—Ella’s gonna buy mine first.” Luke, although he was Lydia’s twin, was much stronger and pulled me towards his direction, but Lydia still held on. “Guys, guys.” I wrestled myself away from them both. “I already said that you both are going to get the GameKid 3, so it doesn’t even matter.” The GameKid 3 was the hottest and newest handheld gaming device this season. I didn’t see the big deal of it—It looked like a radio to me, yet it was almost as thin as paper. According to Lydia and Luke, of course, it was a must-have with “endless, new-and-improved features”: touch screen, wireless communication, and video camera. As we walked down the video game aisle, all I could see were boxes of games, controllers, and wires that made the toy store look like something from outer space. The white, tiled toy store floor was vandalized with dirt marks from shoes, there were game controllers where the computer games should have been, packages that were so dented they looked like they had gone through war, pieces of plastic and cardboard littered randomly on the ground, yet at 9:52—exactly 8 minutes before closing—there was nobody in sight. “There it is! There it is!” Suddenly, Luke and Lydia ran ahead of me to a shelf located at the very end of the aisle. They were jumping in unison, huge smiles on their faces at the sight of their prize. However, by the time I met up with them, everything had changed. “Luke, give it to me! You know I saw it first, so it’s mine!” “Well, I grabbed it first, so it’s mine!” In the empty aisle, Luke and Lydia were fighting over a colorful medium-sized box. Luke held it firm between his hands and was trying to turn away as Lydia pinched and kicked him for it. “Come on now! There are plenty more GameKids to go around. One of you guys can have that one, and I’ll grab another—” “—That’s the thing, there’s none left!” Lydia shouted as she managed to lay her hands on the box that Luke held under his arm. When I looked to my left, everything made sense. Above, all I could see were empty shelves. Rows and rows of empty shelves. There was not even a speck of dust to take up space. Then, I looked at Luke and Lydia, who by now resembled wild tigers fighting for meat, as they fought over the last GameKid 3—the hottest and newest must-have—the very last GameKid of them all. I made them a promise that they were both going to get the GameKid 3 for Christmas, but now what was I supposed to do? There was only one left. This was going to make things impossible. “Tots’ Toys is going to close in 2 minutes, sorry.” A gawky, nasally employee dressed in the red Tots’ Toys polo and matching cap approached us. “Gimme it back!” “We’ll be out in a minute!” I shouted over Luke. “But is there possibly another GameKid 3 somewhere in this store? You see, I made a promise, and it was supposed to be a Christmas present for them, but there’s only one left. There has to be one leftover stored away in the back, right? At least one?” The employee sighed as if he heard this all before, but he just didn’t understand did he? “Look, miss. I’d love to help you and all, but every last GameKid 3 sold out a week ago. That’s the GameKid 2.” He pointed to the box Luke and Lydia were brawling over. “I mean, it’s a year old, but if you want that, you need to go to the register now.” Luke and Lydia suddenly stopped arguing, the box dropped to the ground, and their mouths dropped wide open. “Merry Christmas,” the employee said as we walked away, whistling.
There was only one left. This was going to make things impossible. I gazed over at the last surviving human. So much for preserving mankind, I though bitterly. Some hero I turned out to be. I was trusted with the task of protecting a small band of human survivors. They were the only ones to get through the alien extermination project. Five humans; I couldn’t protect five humans. Now there was only one left.
I continued to stare at the boy, and once again I couldn’t help but notice how similar he was to me. I knew that humans and Archions were alike, but I never fathomed that they were just like us. Our two species shared so many characteristics, that I sometimes forgot that we were different. That was what made the other human’s deaths so painful to me. It’s also why I will do anything to protect this boy; the last man standing in this fight. Tears brimmed in my eyes at the fact that this child was the last of his kind.
As an Archion, other aliens had always been kind to me. I was never neglected or alone. However, this one child grew up in a desolate place full of war and violence; just because he was human. Humans were considered to be insects by most of the universe, but my parents had taught me that all life is precious. So when humans became an endangered species, I volunteered to help protect them from enemy planets. I’ve failed. I’ve failed miserably. I’ve let my people down, the humans down, and most importantly, I’ve let this young boy down.
“Thank you.” I jerked out of my thoughts at the sound of the boy’s youthful voice. He gave me a small smile. “You never gave up on us, even when everyone else had. I’m grateful that I got to have someone like you look out for me; and I know that the others would have said the same thing. Even if we don’t make it, I want you to know that I appreciate everything you’ve done for us.” My throat burned from containing sobs. How could he thank me? It’s my fault that he’s the only human left. In the nidst of my depression, something inside me snapped. I shook my head hard. Get a grip! This kid is still alive, and it’s my job to smuggle him back to my world. I can’t give up!
I raised my head and gave the boy a confident grin. “Don’t worry; we’re not dying without a fight.” I stood up and offered him my hand. “I’m going to save you, even if it kills me.” The boy looked at me in surprise, and I saw a spark of hope flash through his eyes. He smiled and accepted my hand. I turned around and we began our journey once again.
“There was only one left. This was going to make things impossible,” Scout Sniper Twatters thought. His current battle was a story waiting to be told. He and his lookout managed to take out a whole squad of the enemy forces. Perched up in an abandoned tree house, he couldn’t help but notice the fallen pictures and stuffed animals. He was amused by how a child’s former playful getaway was the site of a warzone now. While distracted, his lookout, Private Parts, yearned him to pay attention and in that instance, gunfire was heard. Scared for his life and the ones affected by it, he immediately tried to take cover. It proved unneeded though, since it was aimed at a different target. The shot was a blessing in disguise, though. The two men simultaneously gave each other a glance that confirmed each other’s hope. They now had an idea where the last enemy was. This enemy, however, was destined to one bullet, the only bullet left to the men. One shot was all the skilled Twatters had and he had to make it count. “Check over by those trees,” Twatters suggested. It ended up being to no avail. The scene was an old, war-torn building. A terrorist banner draped over the front with their insignia. Many trees surrounded the building, giving the terrorist equal cover in nature and in the building, which had countless rooms all similar looking. A small glisten caught Private Parts’ eye. He zoomed in to see the enemy urinating off of the building. “I guess he was trying to see if the enemy was near with a fake shot,” Twatters laughed. He then set up his shot on the enemy’s head. The last bullet or the last enemy after an amazing battle. “Nice job, Private Parts.”
It all started with his little league team’s win over the Dodgers. His pitching had been impeccable. Taylor James had sent a ball rocketing over the fence with the bases loaded. Danny Willis didn’t miss a single ball thrown to first base. The three outfielders had dove, stretched and lept for every hit that came their way. It was, by all accounts, a great victory. At O’Malley’s Ice Cream Parlor later that night he ordered the only thing on the menu that equaled his unforgettable performance on the field. A Bomber Sundae. It was a creation of pure beauty. Three heaping scoops of slow churned vanilla bean ice cream were piled into the bowl first. Followed by, a generous layer of warm, gooey hot fudge. A sizeable dollop of O’Malley’s homemade whipped cream was perched on top. Layered over were crunchy walnuts, brightly colored rainbow sprinkles and three perfectly red Maraschino cherries. He had devoured it. As the waitress placed it in front of him he had leaned back to appreaciate it, let it soak in. Then, he had shoveled it into his greedy little mouth. It all happened so fast. In an instant it was all done. The bowl was completely empty, the only evidence of the sundae to be found was the traced of chocolate surrounding his mouth. He went home with his belly ready to burst, laid in his bed, and immediately fell into the most peaceful sleep of his life. It didn’t last long, though. He woke suddenly, there was an ominous rumbling in his stomach. His eyes flew open, he jumped out of bed. He knew what that meant. He was well acquainted with diarrhea’s cruel ways. He had been betrayed by his delicious dessert. He flew down the hallway, his feet barely making contact with the floor and skidded to a stop just outside the bathroom door. He burst into the room, throwing himself at the pristine white toilet his mother had picked from the pages of a glossy magazine. As he sat on the toilet, his stomach twisted into knots, he turned his attention to the toilet paper. Or rather, where the toilet paper should have been. A single cotton sheet clung, just barely, to the cardboard tube. He looked around panicked, but there was nothing. There was only one left, that was going to make thing impossible.
“Shut up and let’s go, Rich.” He hesitated. “What’s wrong with you? Just get out, I’ve gotta show you something.” “Maybe this wasn’t the best idea.” I could see the regret slowly sinking into his face. I knew his goody two-shoes attitude would sink in sooner or later, I was just hoping for later. “Why aren’t we back at the house, Liz? Why aren’t we doing the interview! We should be there! We are letting our parents down! They’ll never forgive us; we’ll be in trouble forever. Lizzie we can’t do this. This is wrong. This is betrayal to those that MADE us. I’m taking us back. We have to go right now.” He makes a quick glance on the clock on the radio. “We can make it if I speed, we’re going.” His hand stumbled to put the key back into the ignition. I snapped at his arm and ripped the keys away from him. “Get a hold of yourself, Rich! You’re hysterical! We’re here for a reason. Do you hear yourself? Bowing down to their every needs? Our family is nothing but a bunch of controlling lunatics. They couldn’t care less about where we are right now, all they care about is having the perfect image for their interview. And you want to give them that, Richie? Tell me right now that you would rather satisfy them in this political game that they’re playing when they could care less about your wellbeing right now.” “But Lizzie, you don’t understand! I don’t care if it’s for-“ “Seriously? We came all this way to make our voices heard and you’re just gonna turn back. I am disappointed in you, Richard Marconey Junior. I thought maybe you actually understood how I felt but I guess I can forget that.” “You’re the one that doesn’t understand. I’ll be shunned… I’ll be treated like… like… like you!”
Suddenly John knew what she was trying to say. “So what you’re trying to tell me is that you think my patient is a mermaid?” John asked smirking. She could see the faint smile on his lips and he could tell she was beginning to get angry. “It makes perfect sense,” she snapped back at him. “There’s no way she could’ve gotten those flowers if she wasn’t and she has green eyes and-“ “I have green eyes Allie, does that mean I’m a mermaid?” He chuckled. Her cheeks were turning a bright red. He could tell she was really upset now. “I’ve been reading about them for months Dad. I even did a report on them for school. Maybe if you paid attention to me once in a while you’d know that.” She spun around and ran to her room. He could hear her door slam loudly behind her. At dinner Allie kept her head down and refused to even look up from her food. John cleared his throat. “You know Allie I’m really sorry I laughed at you earlier.” He paused, hoping she’d say something, but she continued to look only at the peas she was pushing around on her plate. “And I’m sorry you feel that I haven’t been paying attention to you lately, I’ve just been really busy. Allie twirled her fork between her fingers for a moment and cocked her head to the side considering what he’d said. Without looking up she answered simply, “No you aren’t.” John stopped and stared at her dumbfounded. He couldn’t believe she’d said that. Before John could think of what to say she finally looked at him. “You’ve never been busy dad, and you’ve never paid attention to anything I do. Just because I’m young doesn’t mean I don’t realize when you’re lying to me.” He could see the tears forming in her eyes. “Other people’s parents do things with them. They take them out and talk to them and take actual interest in their kids. What do you do dad?” Her voice cracked on the last word.
This is the last of it; I only have one shot left. They are clawing at the building beneath me. I ran my rifle dry hours ago, all that’s left is the empty magazines and shell casings. The only thing now is to decide what to do with it. I could turn it on myself, end my suffering quickly, stay up here and dye of dehydration, or leave the safety of the building and take out as many as possible. I had time to think, that’s about all I had with no food or water I would be stuck up here to die a slow death of dehydration. I was always told that suicide is the coward’s way out and that no self-respecting man should ever do it. The option was more appealing to than the alternatives. I was on the verge of tears; never having to make a decision like this in my life was overwhelming. I was afraid of what could be waiting for me after I die, I didn’t want to die but there was no other choice. I looked at the shining revolver I owned, I loved the design, the pearl grips the nickel plated barrel, and the cylinder engraved beautifully. I loaded the last bullet I had in the cylinder and spun it. If I was to go out I would do it playing a game. I pull the hammer back the first time, click that chamber was empty. Once again I cock the hammer, click nothing in that chamber. They say third time’s the charm, click again I still exist. Try number four, click I’m starting to get frustrated, this infernal device wouldn’t do what I wanted to. Number five, click I threw the gun on the floor of the roof. I went back and picked it up; this is the last chamber the bullet must be in this one. I cock the hammer, click. The round was a dud, I’m doomed to spend the rest of my life on this roof waiting in pain for the end to come.
ReplyDeleteThere was just the two of us now. Brett and I were the only survivors. The others from our group died from natural causes or starvation. Although Lily died from being eaten by a giant wolverine about a week ago. Nate had a heart attack a few months ago. My best friend, KC was murdered by lightning. The year is 2052. Brett and I are the only humans left on Earth.
ReplyDeleteWe don’t know how it happened, but all of a sudden, people were dropping dead in the streets. And if you tried to looks at them, what was staring back at you was a form resembling a zombie. The flesh was rotting and turning green. But they didn’t come back to life like zombies in movies and books did. They just lay on the ground. Somehow the five of us avoided the silent disease. But then the other three lost their lives as well.
Only one thing kept us going. Music. Although there were no other humans on the planet, there was always music playing. We would always find iPods that still had playlists going because its owner had died so suddenly. Music passed the time and gave us hope that somehow, our lives would be ok.
Until one day, all the music stopped. The batteries died or the devices broke. Nonetheless, there was no way to get the pretty tunes playing through our heads any longer. Except one. It was the slowest, saddest, hopeless song that ever entered my ears. We heard it when we were cuddling to keep warm, a few days after all the other songs died. Our heads shot up and our tired eyes snapped open. We looked at each other and smiled. He stood up first and then helped me to my feet. Then he picked me up and swirled me around. It was the happiest time we experienced since the disease started.
But then he stopped and placed me down. And we listened. We were so happy that we had music again. But not until then did we realize how depressing the tune was.
A few hours later, we found were the sad notes were blaring from. It was from a corner store a few miles away. We stared up at the awning of the shop, where we believed the source of the song was. The words were sad and it took all the hope from me. I began to cry and Brett wrapped his strong arms around me. It was the last song on Earth. But instead of being overjoyed by the discovery, I was distraught by the hope I was losing, listening to its melody.
Zane jumped up the steps of the stoop and into the house. Tristain was confused as to why he didn’t say his dramatic goodbye yet so he decided to sit on the ground for a bit. Should he wake up mom and dad? They’d probably want to know that their oldest son was leaving. Maybe he already told them yesterday and didn’t want to wake them.
ReplyDeleteThe door opened and Zane leapt down the stairs and skidded to a halt in front of Tristain. Something was shimmering brightly in his hand.
“Here, hang on to this.” Zane took Tristain’s hand and dropped a sheathed dagger into it. The sheathe was black leather with a pattern of swirls all around it and it had a silver tip. The hilt was wrapped in alternating black and white leather and on the bottom there was a small silver ring encasing an amethyst.
“Wow! You know mom would kill you if she knew you gave me something like this.”
Zane laughed and shoved Tristain. “See, that’s why you’re not telling them, right?”
Tristain’s face lit up and he hugged his brother. “Right!”
For a while they just stood with each other, talking about nothing. Working on the farm, crazy things they’d seen in town, even things the other did that pissed them off. They had their last moment together as brothers.
Tristain rubbed his eyes and scratched his head, alone once again. He missed his brother. They weren’t even the brothers that fought nearly to the death every day; they were the kind of brothers that were always there for each other. Now Zane was gone, taken by some stupid meaningless war. It probably wasn’t meaningless, but whatever it was for it wasn’t worth losing his brother.
Tristain touched the dagger he’d strapped to his leg, making sure it was secure. He walked around the side of the house and paused as he passed the mask. He’d thrown it against the house, still angry at the man that had been harassing him all day. Again, something told him to take it with him. He figured it would be a bad idea to walk around town wearing a murderer’s mask, so he grabbed a burlap sack from his shed.
“Sora is now dead. Two people left. Now, let the final round begin!” a loud, thundering voice broadcasted through the announcer.
ReplyDeleteTwo days ago, a letter came to my mail inviting me to the clock tower in the abandoned forest in town for a high school reunion. Looking at the signature at the bottom, I didn’t doubt the source of this letter. I just never thought that I would have another chance to return to that place. This morning, I left the house at six and rode here in my Jeep. When I arrived, there were already three people here outside the door. The clock tower was an architecture built in the 1500’s that rose 100 meter above ground. There were barks and twigs enveloping the whole tower. The clock stopped working ages ago.
I recognize these people. I used to hang out with them very often. We were the only members in our high school’s film club. We would have stayed in the club until graduation, if that didn’t happen. I haven’t heard from them since high school graduation. There was the club president, Loui Christopher, the vice president, Luna Chase, and the secretary, Kas Hutchen. I was the treasurer.
We greeted each other and walked in the castle together. Then, the first notice came.
“Sinners of the past, welcome. You all know what you did during that last field trip and I know too. I invited you all here to play a little game with me. This tower has been filled with deathly traps. You all will travel through here and the one survivor in the end will be released from this tower of guilt. If there is more than one, than I will wait for you at the top of the tower, and I will announce the rules then. Have fun!”
After going through ten floors, only I and Kas were left. We were on the highest floor, waiting for the announcer to come out. Then, though the shadows, there is a tapping noise and a man figure came out. He was wearing a suit, and he had a white sphered mask on with only his eyes shown.
“I’m glad you came all this way to greet me. Now, the final floor’ rule. You two see the rope ladder by the window?” he asked as he pointed to the window behind us, “Whoever gets to the ladder first will escape. The remaining person will be judged for his sin. I will count to three, and you two will sprint to the ladder. One, two, three!”
Without thinking, I and Kas both started sprinting toward the ladder. When Kas started to beat me by a little, I grabbed her hair and pulled her back. She fell on the floor and I got to the ladder. I started climbing upward when I heard a gunshot. I turned my head and saw Kas on the floor, dead. Her head was bleeding and she wasn’t moving at all. I quickly climbed up the ladders and went to the roof.
The wind was blowing strongly, blowing my hair onto my face. When I moved the hairs away from my face, I saw him, our film club director. I started to shudder because he was supposed to be dead. Eight years ago, during my last film club trip, we came to this tower. Like now, we climbed each step and got to the rooftop. The wind was very strong, and we were fooling around. I don’t know what happened exactly, but by the time I turned my head, Mr. Nickson, the advisor, was dangling his body by the wall. I wanted to help him, but my hand slip and he fell. We were too scared and didn’t check if he was really dead or not. We left the location at a hurry. With what I’m seeing now, I guess he didn’t die. But his face is ruined. There were scars everywhere on his skin. He walked over as I started to back off. When I’m at the edge, he pushed me and I fell over. I hanged on to the edge, but he pushed my finger off the edge. As I fell, I saw him smiling, and then everything went black.
We thought that the game had been over without being able to do anything else to win. All hope was lost and the teams head began to sink in depression. The hard fought battle was over and we had no say in it because they had the ball with only a minute left. Even the coaches began to lose hope that we could win. Then we had been given one more chances by pure fate. The other teamed had the ball with a minute left and they only needed to hold onto the ball to win. Lady luck finally showed up and she was in our favor. Just as all hope seemed lost the other team fumbled the ball and we had recovered it. The crowd that was getting ready to leave roared as the team recovered the fumble and the offense took the field. This had now put us in the driver seats of our own destiny as we had gotten the ball back with a little under a minute left. We only had 1 time out left and 45 yards to go for the touchdown that would give us the win. The first play was a successful pass that moved us 10 yards closer to the end zone and we were able to get out of bounds. The momentum of the game had completely shifted in our favor and we were driving into score for the game winning touchdown. We had been given hope that now the game was finally ours to win. Before we had started the game winning drive our coach told us that this was our last hope of winning the game, and he was right. As a team we used every last amount of effort we had to win the game, and we were successful in winning the game.
ReplyDeleteApril 5th 2113
ReplyDeleteOur base was under attack and I felt like there was no one here. This base was only used as a scientific research center. I was the captain of the defense for this station, but there was no one here to defend it. You would think that the alliance would send more troops to defend such a crucial base. Now we are defenseless and we have no hope of escaping. Well at least not all of us. There is only one shuttle on this base and it only holds twenty people. But we have over two hundred personnel on this station. Only about forty of them are trained soldiers while the rest are scientists. And to make matters worse, the enemies are already on the station killing anyone they find.
I ran out with one of the four squads on this base to try and find anyone still alive and bring them back to the hangar to be shipped out. We met heavy resistance but we eventually made it back finding only a handful of survivors. The other three squads did the same thing. When we all got back to the meeting place we only had a little over one hundred people left. One of our squads was completely wiped out. So that means we only have thirty troops to defend now.
I ordered the first group of scientists into the shuttle. It would take the shuttle about five minutes to fly to a safe distance, drop off everyone, and then return to the base. I just thought to myself that with only one shuttle, it would be impossible for everyone to make it out. My men started to seal all the doors to the hangar, hacking the controls so the enemy couldn’t get in from the other side. By the time we were done the first shuttle had already came back and was ready for another group to go. Twenty down, eighty to go.
Then we heard gun fire. The enemies were at the door. Everyone ran up to their positions. We had made small windows around the doors so that we could shot at the enemies as they tried coming in. As soon as I got to my position I tossed a grenade in through a whole and watched it explode killing a group of soldiers. However, those handfuls of soldiers were nothing compared to the force that they sent to capture this base. Time was running out on us. It would only be a matter of time until the enemy would over run us and kill us all. I started losing hope for myself but I wouldn’t give up on everyone else.
The shuttle came back and took the next group. Now there were only forty people left. All of the scientist still there began to pick up guns and ammunition and helped protect the perimeter. We were able to hold them off long enough for the next shuttle to grab the remaining scientist and some of my men. The rest of us prayed to god that the shuttles would come back in time to extract us as well.
As soon as the shuttle left the hangar one of the doors was blown wide open and soldiers started flooding into the hangar. We fell back to an entrenched area around the landing site. It was covered with boxes and other science equipment that were left behind. We were able to hold them off to see the shuttle come into view. All of our eyes looked at the shuttle with the sun’s light beaming on its surface. The alliance insignia was glimmering. I looked back to see that all of the soldiers had smiles running across their faces.
However, as soon as those smiles came onto our faces so did they disappear. A missile was shot at the shuttle and blew it sky high. All hope was lost now. We were all goners. I ran over to a terminal that was covered. The soldiers that were still remaining, which counted to about nine, followed me. I tried sending out a distress call to any pacing ships that could help us. To my dismay, my efforts came to no avail. Now I had lost all hope. Instead of fighting anymore I began typing this message so that we wouldn’t be forgotten. The last man next to me was just shot and they will be coming for me next. This is it and these are my last words for mankind. I hope that we will find…
A week before Christmas, I made a promise I couldn’t keep.
ReplyDelete“When I get my GameKid 3,” they would take turns saying—(this time it was Lydia’s turn)—“I’m never gonna even put it down.”
“When I get my GameKid 3,” Luke began. “Actually, I bet I’m gonna get mine before you even get yours.”
“No—I’m Ella’s favorite cousin.” Lydia pulled on the hem of my long, gray trench coat as we walked through the aisles of the toy store. “So, she’s gonna buy mine first.”
“No—Ella’s gonna buy mine first.” Luke, although he was Lydia’s twin, was much stronger and pulled me towards his direction, but Lydia still held on.
“Guys, guys.” I wrestled myself away from them both. “I already said that you both are going to get the GameKid 3, so it doesn’t even matter.”
The GameKid 3 was the hottest and newest handheld gaming device this season. I didn’t see the big deal of it—It looked like a radio to me, yet it was almost as thin as paper. According to Lydia and Luke, of course, it was a must-have with “endless, new-and-improved features”: touch screen, wireless communication, and video camera.
As we walked down the video game aisle, all I could see were boxes of games, controllers, and wires that made the toy store look like something from outer space. The white, tiled toy store floor was vandalized with dirt marks from shoes, there were game controllers where the computer games should have been, packages that were so dented they looked like they had gone through war, pieces of plastic and cardboard littered randomly on the ground, yet at 9:52—exactly 8 minutes before closing—there was nobody in sight.
“There it is! There it is!” Suddenly, Luke and Lydia ran ahead of me to a shelf located at the very end of the aisle. They were jumping in unison, huge smiles on their faces at the sight of their prize.
However, by the time I met up with them, everything had changed.
“Luke, give it to me! You know I saw it first, so it’s mine!”
“Well, I grabbed it first, so it’s mine!”
In the empty aisle, Luke and Lydia were fighting over a colorful medium-sized box. Luke held it firm between his hands and was trying to turn away as Lydia pinched and kicked him for it.
“Come on now! There are plenty more GameKids to go around. One of you guys can have that one, and I’ll grab another—”
“—That’s the thing, there’s none left!” Lydia shouted as she managed to lay her hands on the box that Luke held under his arm.
When I looked to my left, everything made sense. Above, all I could see were empty shelves. Rows and rows of empty shelves. There was not even a speck of dust to take up space. Then, I looked at Luke and Lydia, who by now resembled wild tigers fighting for meat, as they fought over the last GameKid 3—the hottest and newest must-have—the very last GameKid of them all.
I made them a promise that they were both going to get the GameKid 3 for Christmas, but now what was I supposed to do? There was only one left. This was going to make things impossible.
“Tots’ Toys is going to close in 2 minutes, sorry.” A gawky, nasally employee dressed in the red Tots’ Toys polo and matching cap approached us.
“Gimme it back!”
“We’ll be out in a minute!” I shouted over Luke. “But is there possibly another GameKid 3 somewhere in this store? You see, I made a promise, and it was supposed to be a Christmas present for them, but there’s only one left. There has to be one leftover stored away in the back, right? At least one?”
The employee sighed as if he heard this all before, but he just didn’t understand did he? “Look, miss. I’d love to help you and all, but every last GameKid 3 sold out a week ago. That’s the GameKid 2.” He pointed to the box Luke and Lydia were brawling over. “I mean, it’s a year old, but if you want that, you need to go to the register now.”
Luke and Lydia suddenly stopped arguing, the box dropped to the ground, and their mouths dropped wide open.
“Merry Christmas,” the employee said as we walked away, whistling.
There was only one left. This was going to make things impossible. I gazed over at the last surviving human. So much for preserving mankind, I though bitterly. Some hero I turned out to be. I was trusted with the task of protecting a small band of human survivors. They were the only ones to get through the alien extermination project. Five humans; I couldn’t protect five humans. Now there was only one left.
ReplyDeleteI continued to stare at the boy, and once again I couldn’t help but notice how similar he was to me. I knew that humans and Archions were alike, but I never fathomed that they were just like us. Our two species shared so many characteristics, that I sometimes forgot that we were different. That was what made the other human’s deaths so painful to me. It’s also why I will do anything to protect this boy; the last man standing in this fight. Tears brimmed in my eyes at the fact that this child was the last of his kind.
As an Archion, other aliens had always been kind to me. I was never neglected or alone. However, this one child grew up in a desolate place full of war and violence; just because he was human. Humans were considered to be insects by most of the universe, but my parents had taught me that all life is precious. So when humans became an endangered species, I volunteered to help protect them from enemy planets. I’ve failed. I’ve failed miserably. I’ve let my people down, the humans down, and most importantly, I’ve let this young boy down.
“Thank you.” I jerked out of my thoughts at the sound of the boy’s youthful voice. He gave me a small smile. “You never gave up on us, even when everyone else had. I’m grateful that I got to have someone like you look out for me; and I know that the others would have said the same thing. Even if we don’t make it, I want you to know that I appreciate everything you’ve done for us.” My throat burned from containing sobs. How could he thank me? It’s my fault that he’s the only human left. In the nidst of my depression, something inside me snapped. I shook my head hard. Get a grip! This kid is still alive, and it’s my job to smuggle him back to my world. I can’t give up!
I raised my head and gave the boy a confident grin. “Don’t worry; we’re not dying without a fight.” I stood up and offered him my hand. “I’m going to save you, even if it kills me.” The boy looked at me in surprise, and I saw a spark of hope flash through his eyes. He smiled and accepted my hand. I turned around and we began our journey once again.
“There was only one left. This was going to make things impossible,” Scout Sniper Twatters thought. His current battle was a story waiting to be told. He and his lookout managed to take out a whole squad of the enemy forces. Perched up in an abandoned tree house, he couldn’t help but notice the fallen pictures and stuffed animals. He was amused by how a child’s former playful getaway was the site of a warzone now. While distracted, his lookout, Private Parts, yearned him to pay attention and in that instance, gunfire was heard. Scared for his life and the ones affected by it, he immediately tried to take cover. It proved unneeded though, since it was aimed at a different target. The shot was a blessing in disguise, though. The two men simultaneously gave each other a glance that confirmed each other’s hope. They now had an idea where the last enemy was. This enemy, however, was destined to one bullet, the only bullet left to the men. One shot was all the skilled Twatters had and he had to make it count.
ReplyDelete“Check over by those trees,” Twatters suggested. It ended up being to no avail. The scene was an old, war-torn building. A terrorist banner draped over the front with their insignia. Many trees surrounded the building, giving the terrorist equal cover in nature and in the building, which had countless rooms all similar looking. A small glisten caught Private Parts’ eye. He zoomed in to see the enemy urinating off of the building.
“I guess he was trying to see if the enemy was near with a fake shot,” Twatters laughed. He then set up his shot on the enemy’s head. The last bullet or the last enemy after an amazing battle.
“Nice job, Private Parts.”
It all started with his little league team’s win over the Dodgers. His pitching had been impeccable. Taylor James had sent a ball rocketing over the fence with the bases loaded. Danny Willis didn’t miss a single ball thrown to first base. The three outfielders had dove, stretched and lept for every hit that came their way. It was, by all accounts, a great victory.
ReplyDeleteAt O’Malley’s Ice Cream Parlor later that night he ordered the only thing on the menu that equaled his unforgettable performance on the field. A Bomber Sundae. It was a creation of pure beauty. Three heaping scoops of slow churned vanilla bean ice cream were piled into the bowl first. Followed by, a generous layer of warm, gooey hot fudge. A sizeable dollop of O’Malley’s homemade whipped cream was perched on top. Layered over were crunchy walnuts, brightly colored rainbow sprinkles and three perfectly red Maraschino cherries.
He had devoured it. As the waitress placed it in front of him he had leaned back to appreaciate it, let it soak in. Then, he had shoveled it into his greedy little mouth. It all happened so fast. In an instant it was all done. The bowl was completely empty, the only evidence of the sundae to be found was the traced of chocolate surrounding his mouth.
He went home with his belly ready to burst, laid in his bed, and immediately fell into the most peaceful sleep of his life. It didn’t last long, though. He woke suddenly, there was an ominous rumbling in his stomach. His eyes flew open, he jumped out of bed. He knew what that meant. He was well acquainted with diarrhea’s cruel ways. He had been betrayed by his delicious dessert.
He flew down the hallway, his feet barely making contact with the floor and skidded to a stop just outside the bathroom door. He burst into the room, throwing himself at the pristine white toilet his mother had picked from the pages of a glossy magazine. As he sat on the toilet, his stomach twisted into knots, he turned his attention to the toilet paper. Or rather, where the toilet paper should have been. A single cotton sheet clung, just barely, to the cardboard tube. He looked around panicked, but there was nothing. There was only one left, that was going to make thing impossible.
“Shut up and let’s go, Rich.”
ReplyDeleteHe hesitated.
“What’s wrong with you? Just get out, I’ve gotta show you something.”
“Maybe this wasn’t the best idea.”
I could see the regret slowly sinking into his face. I knew his goody two-shoes attitude would sink in sooner or later, I was just hoping for later.
“Why aren’t we back at the house, Liz? Why aren’t we doing the interview! We should be there! We are letting our parents down! They’ll never forgive us; we’ll be in trouble forever. Lizzie we can’t do this. This is wrong. This is betrayal to those that MADE us. I’m taking us back. We have to go right now.” He makes a quick glance on the clock on the radio. “We can make it if I speed, we’re going.”
His hand stumbled to put the key back into the ignition. I snapped at his arm and ripped the keys away from him.
“Get a hold of yourself, Rich! You’re hysterical! We’re here for a reason. Do you hear yourself? Bowing down to their every needs? Our family is nothing but a bunch of controlling lunatics. They couldn’t care less about where we are right now, all they care about is having the perfect image for their interview. And you want to give them that, Richie? Tell me right now that you would rather satisfy them in this political game that they’re playing when they could care less about your wellbeing right now.”
“But Lizzie, you don’t understand! I don’t care if it’s for-“
“Seriously? We came all this way to make our voices heard and you’re just gonna turn back. I am disappointed in you, Richard Marconey Junior. I thought maybe you actually understood how I felt but I guess I can forget that.”
“You’re the one that doesn’t understand. I’ll be shunned… I’ll be treated like… like… like you!”
Suddenly John knew what she was trying to say. “So what you’re trying to tell me is that you think my patient is a mermaid?” John asked smirking.
ReplyDeleteShe could see the faint smile on his lips and he could tell she was beginning to get angry. “It makes perfect sense,” she snapped back at him. “There’s no way she could’ve gotten those flowers if she wasn’t and she has green eyes and-“
“I have green eyes Allie, does that mean I’m a mermaid?” He chuckled.
Her cheeks were turning a bright red. He could tell she was really upset now. “I’ve been reading about them for months Dad. I even did a report on them for school. Maybe if you paid attention to me once in a while you’d know that.” She spun around and ran to her room. He could hear her door slam loudly behind her.
At dinner Allie kept her head down and refused to even look up from her food.
John cleared his throat. “You know Allie I’m really sorry I laughed at you earlier.” He paused, hoping she’d say something, but she continued to look only at the peas she was pushing around on her plate. “And I’m sorry you feel that I haven’t been paying attention to you lately, I’ve just been really busy.
Allie twirled her fork between her fingers for a moment and cocked her head to the side considering what he’d said. Without looking up she answered simply, “No you aren’t.”
John stopped and stared at her dumbfounded. He couldn’t believe she’d said that.
Before John could think of what to say she finally looked at him. “You’ve never been busy dad, and you’ve never paid attention to anything I do. Just because I’m young doesn’t mean I don’t realize when you’re lying to me.” He could see the tears forming in her eyes. “Other people’s parents do things with them. They take them out and talk to them and take actual interest in their kids. What do you do dad?” Her voice cracked on the last word.