Apocalypse:
an event of great importance, violence, etc.
The
earth was changing, everyone could sense it, and we didn't know what to do
about it. The problem was...people were looking down, under our feet. That's
where the troubles could be felt. The shaking, the fires, the floods, all of
them below us, but...time and again history has taught us, look up. The heavens
brought the ruin of earth. The one thing in this solar system that could create
life, the sun, was the very thing that opted to take it back.
Chapter 1
Days before
the event happened, worldwide panic set in. Every channel on TV ran a story
about what to expect, or how to prepare, or who to pray to. The sun was going
crazy, and no one had an idea what to do. A solar flare unlike any before it,
so unusual, even the brightest minds of the world didn't know what to make of
it, was heading straight for the earth. The heretics called it retribution, the
priests called it judgement, and the word apocalypse was whispered in dark
corners. In the end, it really didn't matter. There was no way to prepare. The
earth didn't stand a chance.
I remember
my parents telling me that we had to leave quickly. As my father rushed around
the house grabbing things such as our camping gear, lanterns, batteries, and my
mother went for the food. Both of them worked together, stuffing it all in our
four-door sedan. I jumped into the driver’s seat, earning me such a glare from
my father. I mumbled a sorry and moved to the back.
I had never
seen dad drive so fast. We practically flew away from our home. My parents were
arguing about whether to stop at a store or not. Approaching the Super Store,
my dad began to slow down. Gunshots rang out from inside the building. Every
window was broken, and people were running out carrying as much as possible.
It’s odd the things you remember in times like these. I remember a man; eyes
wide with terror carrying a bag of dog food in his arms, dog food, of all
things. My dad gave my mom one look and drove away from the store. Lawns and
houses passed by so quickly. All I saw was a blur of green.
Dad took us
into the woods. There was an old cabin tucked away in a valley near a small
lake; its waters were clear as crystal. My dad said we were lucky that only a
few people knew it was there. He hoped it would stay that way. I overheard my
Dad say, "There is a chance these mountains will protect us." My mom
didn’t respond. Her eyes had a shine to them every time she looked up. Later I
learned she was holding her tears.
We didn’t
do much for the first day. We sat in the small cabin playing cards and waited,
for what, we didn’t know. My mother listlessly wandered around the cabin,
crying sometimes. Her face framed by her greying hair was unreadable. Dad lit a
fire at night using the wood we collected from close by. None of us ranged very
far.
After the
first day of camping in the cabin, a deep silence fell over us. The days passed
slowly. One evening as the sun was setting my father woke us up carefully. His
strong hand on my shoulder gently shook me awake. My mom was crying silently.
Inside the cabin we all huddled together, waiting.
A faint red
glow was forming outside. As it built, the world began to take on a deep red
glow. Gradually it grew brighter and brighter until we had to shield our eyes.
The light was so strong I could see the bones inside my arms. With a brilliant
flash, it doused the world in a light that penetrated everything. Nothing could
hide. Then I remember darkness, which arrived only with my loss of
consciousness.
I was the
first to wake. Something felt different, looking around the cabin I saw my
parents laying side by side, breathing lightly while sleeping. For the first
time in days, my mom wasn't crying. Looking closer, I saw there was something
different about them. I couldn't explain it, but they looked darker somehow.
There was a change in them that I was unable to see, only sense. I looked down
at myself and noticed I looked brighter, almost like a glow inside me was
trying to light the way out.
My parents
were sleeping soundly so I decided to let them wake on their own. I stood up
and went outside to look around. The sun was just falling behind the mountain.
We had been asleep for almost a full day. My stomach confirmed my suspicions
when it loudly grumbled. In the fading light of our little valley, I looked
around at the trees, the lake, and our car. Everything seemed as I remembered,
yet different, just a little off. It was almost as if when I looked right at
something, it was the same. Then when I glanced out of the corner of my eye
things would shift. As I stood trying to find the difference, I heard my mom
call out my name. I knew from the way she said my name something was wrong. She
very nearly screamed it. My heart pounded in my chest as I rushed back.
Dad lay on
the ground rubbing his eyes. He rubbed his face as if he had trouble waking. My
mom, on the other hand, looked fully awake. She was sitting on the ground where
I had left her. She still called my name as I ran back to her side. Each call
was louder...more frantic.
"I'm
right here Mom." I reached out to her and placed my hand on her shoulder.
She jumped at the sound of my voice and turned her head towards me. It was at
that moment that I saw her eyes. The deep blue that had welled with tears just
yesterday was gone, replaced by pure black, the black of nothingness,
emptiness.
My dad
stood up behind us and turned towards me. His eyes focused on me. A warm smile
formed on his lips when he realized I was ok. The smile vanished quickly when
he saw mom. He rushed over to her and grabbed her by the shoulders.
"Honey,
can you see me?"
Mom turned
her head towards the sound of his voice and blinked a few times. "No, is
it still night? Are there no stars?"
A gasp
escaped my dad's throat. He didn't say a word at first, then as silent tears
rolled down his cheeks, he told my Mother "Your eyes have gone completely
black, the sun is setting, but it's still light out. From what I can see. Shade
and I are ok, but honey, the glow must’ve made you blind." My Mom broke
down and sobbed. Dad held Mom close.
"We
will work through this."
