The End

Just a short story a friend had me write, about the end of the world.

This story takes place in a different time, different from the way you live today. Lots of lives were lost, taken by selfish acts of young love. Puppy love, something you are much too young to know. This is a very graphic story, and maybe someday you will pass it down to your kids, and maybe your own story one maybe not so heart wrenching. This story isn’t a fairy tale, nor does it have a very happy ending. But it’s true, every last sentence. This happened years ago, when I was just a kid, before any of you were thought of.

 

The rise and fall of the sun ticks time away. Its fall I think, everything seems to just blend together now. After what happened everything is a blur. Surviving what was supposed to end us all. I don’t know what is left, if there is anything. I don’t even know how I’m here, luck I guess. The sun is slowly setting in the east and the light from some of the broken street lights click on. It’s time to find a bed. I walk with my sister on one side and my best friend on the other. Times like this, even with others you still feel alone, very alone. My sister is 16 she’s young, too young to have to put up with this. There was no warning, no alert, it just happened.  Heather looks sick, lack of food and sleep will do that. The water that we find isn’t exactly clean but now days nothing is. My friend Jamie is 19, just a few months older than me. We set up a little camp site by the river’s edge.

               

The glow of the fire light my sisters pale face. I hate seeing her like this, I have hoped. Hope that maybe one day we won’t live like this. That there are other cities in other places where we can live and find a way to take care of each other. We keep to ourselves a lot, often lost in thought of this horrific nightmare. Jamie coughs; I think she is becoming sick. She looks paler then usually, “Hey J, you doing ok?” she just nods her head and stares blankly at the fire. Heather snores softly across from me under neither her ratty little blanket. Jamie stares at the fire while tears roll down her cheeks. She watched her family die, she was lucky enough to get away.

 

I lay here looking up at the black lit sky hoping someone somewhere is doing the same thing.  Stars dance across the sky making my eyes drift in different directions.  The fire cracks and I jump awake. Not that there is anything to worry about out here. I walk across the camp fire and cover my sister with my blanket. I sit with my head on my knees when a sound from behind me startles me. I grab the pocket knife from the backpack. I walk out of the glow of the campfire and squat down, “Hey Eddie, I think there are people over here.” a voice, a male voice it’s impossible, two more people. I walk back over to the fire, “S**t, ones awake.” one of the guys pulls a knife, so I flip open mine, “What do you want?” my voice is harsh, “No harm, just peace. We are alone just like you. I’m Eddie, and this is my brother Dylan and his daughter Janey.”  Dylan has piercing green eyes, and jet black hair, Janey looks just like him except she’s two maybe three. Eddie has curly brown hair, and brown eyes that touch deep, “I’m Sam, and right there is Jamie, and over there is my sister Heather.” Heather looks up, “What’s going on sis?” she forces herself up and to my side. She smiles but it’s weak. Jamie doesn’t look up nor does she say a word she just coughs. Janey yawns and drifts slightly to sleep on Dylan’s shoulder. “You can lay her down on my mat.” Dylan smiles slightly. Heather walks back to her mat and lies back down.  Eddie pulls a fuzzy pink blanket out of his bag and lays it over Janey.

                We sit around the camp fire; no one says anything for a long time. Soft snores break the silence, “Where you guys from?” my eyes meet with Dylan’s before he answers, “We are from here, just have been wandering around, do you know of any safe places, like places with people?” I shake my head and look over to my sister. Jamie is lying on her side snoring softly.  Eddie lays flat on his back and drifts off.  Dylan and I don’t speak; we stare at the fire, and then look up at each other. He is the first to say anything, “Do you think there’s anything left?” I meet his dead stare, his green eyes lock with mine, “For her sake,” I toss my head toward my sleeping sister, “I hope so.” he just looks down at his daughter and nods. I get up and walk down to the river’s edge, the full moon reflects brightly off of the water. I look down at my reflection and see Dylan standing behind me, “What happened to her mom?” he looks down, “I really don’t know, we didn’t talk much.  Janey is all I have left.” I nod, “I understand, Heather is all I have left too.” he looks back, “What about her?” he points at Jamie, “She lost everything, everyone fell in front of her.” he takes a few steps closer and stands by my side.

Weeks have passed and Jamie, Heather, Dylan, Eddie, Janey and I have kept together. The hunt for food and water is hard, but we manage to scrape by. Over these past few days our hunts have been short, Jamie is getting really sick. I do believe it’s just a matter of time before we wake up and she doesn’t. Somehow inside I don’t think she has a problem with that. Her time is ticking to an end and all she can do is wait and hope it isn’t long. Today it’s the worst it has been, she has been coughing and vomiting blood. Lucky for us we found a little gas station with gallons of water and some food. We will camp here for the night. I don’t know how far we have walked or even where we are going, I just know every town we seem to pass is just as empty and destroyed like the last one. 

 

Albany, NY. Days, weeks, months, who knows anymore. I know it hasn’t been that long since Jamie started getting sick, she’s getting worse as days tick on. She refuses to let us take care of her. We just got here and found a good gas station, this is the first place I’ve seen with their sign still in one piece. I kick a rock down the broken road and Jamie coughs and falls to her knees. She sets her hands on the ground, “It won’t be long now, this is my time, I just know it, I feel it.” she coughed again, “Don’t be sad guys, I will be with my family, your families. I’ll tell everyone hi, and that you guys are doing good.” she coughs really hard and lays down on the pavement, “Goodbye guys, I’ll see you someday.” she coughs for a last time and just closes her eyes. She doesn’t move or breathe, blood slowly pools out of her mouth. Heather clings to my side and cries, “Don’t cry for her sis, she’s in a better place now.” I wipe my face, “Sam, is that going to happen to me?” I look my sister dead in the eyes, “No, they have plans for you, mom and dad, I bet they are looking down on us now. Lighting our paths, they know we can do it. We have to do it for them.” she hugs me tight, “Promise?” I nod my head, “Promise.” Heather grabs Janey’s hand and runs off into the store, “Why do you lie to her like that?” Dylan’s hand touches my shoulder, “I hate to see her down.” I bend down  and cover Jamie with her blanket, “You will be missed and never forgotten, you were the best friend someone could have.” I let myself cry. Dylan pulls me into his arms and lets me cry. Eddie wraps around us too. I finally suck away the tears and stand up. This gas station has new clothes, we all change. I feel somewhat clean. I grab a little grill from a store shelf and grab some canned foods. The grill starts right up, I cook dinner. We all sit around the little fire outside the store, “Hey Sam look what I found.” Eddie holds up a pack of cards, I smile for once, “Lets play.” Janey plays with the little barbies Heather found her. I deal out cards for poker. This is the first little bit of fun we have had, for once it doesn’t feel so bad.

 

Dylan and I sit up as everyone sleeps. The stars here look amazing, that probably due to the  lack of street lights. I dig in the store for two flashlights.  I grab a bottle of shampoo and the flashlights. I throw a flashlight on Dylan, “Come on.” he looks at me all confused, I smile, “Just come on.” he quickly jumps to his feet. I walk around the block and throw a rock through a window. The smell of chlorine hits immediately. I climb through the broken window with Dylan right behind me. The moon light bounces off his shimmering green eyes. I take my shirt off exposing my extremely dirty skin and my pants go next. Just standing in front of him here, makes my heart race. He smiles slightly and takes his shirt off. His body  looks like rocks put perfectly together. He strips down to his boxers. I jump in the pool letting the cold water wash my skin. The chlorine burns but in a good way. He jumps in next, I grab the shampoo bottle and  squirt it on his head. I rub my hands on his head and down the back of his neck. He pulls me in close to his body. Every inch that he touches seems like its on fire. He burns me deep . He rubs shampoo in my hair and down my shoulders. I stare into his eyes, he leans in slowly. His lips touch mine and it’s like my body is being hit by lighting. He pulls me in tight not moving his mouth off mine. We go underwater, his hands rub my body and I grip his arms. I don’t want him to stop, he kisses my neck. I push him up against the pool wall and wrap my legs around his waist. I unhook my bra and press myself up against him. He grabs my hand and pulls me onto the cold floor out of the water. He pushes his body on mine kissing me hard, he puts one hand on my hip. I take off my underwear and so does he. We chuck them in the pool, he slides into me starting slow at first. It’s been so long since I’ve had a physical connection with a guy. I can tell he feels the same way. He doesn’t break eye contact, I feel so lost in him. He ends all too soon, he rolls over and lays next to me. I dive into the pool and fish out my bra and underwear and hand Dylan his. We dress in the dark, I feel his eyes looking me over when I get dressed.  He comes up behind me smelling like strawberries and chlorine.  I turn around a kiss him. I climb back out the window. We walk hand and hand down the street to our sleeping family members. I lay next to him on his mat and fall asleep to the beat of his heart.

 

“Sam, wake up.” my sister kicks me in the side. I roll over and smile at her. We start picking up everything, when something makes a sound. All of us freeze, I pull the knife out of my pocket and flip it open. A guy steps out from behind a car, his gun pointed straight at me. I slowly put the knife away and he puts his gun away. Heather clings to my side pushing right through Dylan.  The guy smiles, “Welcome to Albany.” he puts the gun in the back of his pants, “I’m Daniel.” no one moves or says anything for a minute, “I’m Dylan and that’s my daughter Janey.” I look at Dylan, “I’m Sam and this is my sister Heather.” Daniel laughs and Eddie moves behind Janey, “I’m Eddie.” he smiles again, “Well how would you folks like a hot shower and clean clothes?” we all nod, “Well then follow me, I have a safe house a few miles up the road.” he grabs my hand, “I need to talk to you.” My sister shoots me a dirty look and leads the way. Daniel pulls me in close to him when everyone’s backs have turned. His hazel eyes meet mine. His brown hair hangs right above his eyes. He smiles at me devilishly, “I think you have ideas on how to pay me back.” he leans down and kisses me. Dylan makes me feel good but Daniel makes me feel great.  He pulls me in tight and wraps his arms around me. His mouth never leaves mine. I pull away breathless, my body shakes, “There’s more where that came from later.” I feel like I’m walking on air. My head floats high in the clouds, “Sam!” my sisters harsh voice snaps me back, “What?” she grabs my hand and walks me away from everyone, “What’s up with you lately, first Dylan and now Daniel. What happened to just me and you huh?” I look down at the ground, “I’m sorry, I don’t know what’s up with me. I have a magnetic bond to both of them, I can’t help myself.” she shakes her head and walks away.

 

The house is a log cabin, two floors.  It sits in the woods next to the river just a little ways out of town. Daniel opens the door, “There is rooms for everyone, just pick one. Two showers, ones upstairs one is down. Just find clothes in the rooms and go to town I guess. Sam will you help me cook?” he smiles at me and it sends chills down my spine. I nod my head. Everyone disappears into different rooms, and the showers start. Daniel pins me up against the wall, “I don’t know if I can keep hiding this from people. I’m drawn to you.” his lips meet mine, soft at first, then starting to rougher. His hands are on my hips and he leans into me. He puts his mouth by my ear, “I need to have  you.” I smile, “Just wait.” We quickly throw soup and sandwiches together for dinner before making a mad dash up stairs. In his room he closes and locks the door. He takes his shirt off and throws it on the floor. He pins me on the bed  and takes my shirt off, “Don’t say no.”  he kisses me hard, making it impossible to say no. He takes my pants off  while kissing my neck. His hands are rough pushing harder . I moan with his aggressiveness, he bites my neck.  He thrusts into me hard and doesn’t stop.  Out of breathe we lay side by side, “Go take a shower, I’ll be down stairs with the others.”  I wait for him to leave before going to the shower. I let the hot clean water run all over me, “Mind if I join?” Dylan’s voice comes from behind me. I smile, “Please do.” This should be interesting, two guys, one house, one me. His hands softly rub my back. His gentleness turns me on, I turn around and face him. His lips softly meet mine and slowly move down my neck. Even in the hot water I get chills. Someone bangs on the bathroom door, making my heart stop, “Sam, come on!” My sisters voice is excited, “Hang on!” Dylan rubs his hands all over me and kisses my mouth. We leave the shower on but lay down on the floor. He slides into me slowly. He makes me feel so much different then Daniel. Dylan is soft and gentle, Daniel is rough and dangerous. I feel like I need them both. They both complete a part of me. Daniel is rough and doesn’t let me say no. Dylan lets me decide. Someone bangs on the bathroom door again, “Sam?” this time it’s Daniel. I don’t stop Dylan, the closeness of being caught turns me on, “Just a minute.” I look at Dylan and he nods.  He picks up his pace and finishes a lot faster than first planed. Dylan gets dressed and sits on a chair across from the bed. I quickly change into new clothes and take a long time doing my hair. We hear footsteps, “So, when everything happened…” Daniel steps into view, “I was just looking for you Dylan, your daughter wants you.” The way he said daughter seemed like a warning almost. We all know that she wasn’t looking for him. He just didn’t want him here and he knows better than to question it. Dylan walks out of the room. Daniel stares into my eyes, they are full of anger and hate, “What’s going on between you two?” I look at him and smile, “Nothing.” he smiles lightly and places his hand on my chin, “Good, for a minute there I thought I was going to have to kill him.” There is no joke in his voice, he was a 100 percent serious and that scared me. He grabbed my hand, “Now come on, let’s join the others down stairs.” I walk out in front of him.

Down stairs my sister is laughing, it makes me feel good to hear her laugh. She sees me, “Sis!” she hugs me. It’s like we are normal again. It’s like back before everything happened.  Dylan smiles and Daniel glares. I sit in between both of them under a blanket. Daniels hand sits very tight on one thigh and Dylan’s hand rests lightly on the other. It’s like the perfect mix of hot and cold.  I get up and walk to the kitchen, Dylan follows closely behind. He pins me against the wall, “This has to stop.” he looks me dead in the eye, “What you mean?”  I look away, breaking eye contact, “Daniel, if he sees us, he said he would kill you, and I believe him.” he kisses my forehead and draws me into him, “Then meet me down here, when he falls asleep.” I nod and he walks away.

Weeks go by, and Dylan and I barely exchange any words during the day. At night we steal a few hours together. My life has become all about Daniel, my sister ignores me. My dreams are filled with memories of the day that started this all. The way the gray clouds took over the sky, the first sound of thunder. The loud roar of the wind in the trees. Our town was falling apart, the government thought they might as well finish us off. Gun shots filled my ears the look on my dad’s face right before he died. Everyone I have ever known was being shot down.  Only the lucky survive, and if you did survive you didn’t last long. Survivors slowly started dropping off. Here we are, the rest of us, but for who knows how long or if there is even anyone looking.

 

The clock on the wall beeps twelve, Daniel snores softly on my side. I slowly crawl out of bed and sneak down the stairs. Dylan is standing shirtless by the sink.  The wind is blowing hard outside, and raining is falling fast. Lighting flashes in the distance making the lights in  the house  flicker. I press myself against Dylan, chills run down my spine. I hear foot steps behind us and quickly but quietly jump to the fridge, “What’s going on here?” Daniels voice was angry. I look at him and smile, “The sound of the thunder woke me up, thought I would get a glass of milk.” he eyes Dylan up and down. Dylan stands with his arms folded across his bare chest.  A smile creeps across my face. I look between Dylan and Daniel who are now just a few feet apart to see my sister staring at me holding Janey on her hip, “What’s going on?” Daniel looks at Dylan and then at my sister and Janey, “This is for taking my love.” He pulls a gun out of the back of his pants. Everyone freezes, “Daniel, put the gun down.” I touch his arm, he looks me dead in the eyes, “This is your fault.” Anger shows in his face. Just than Eddie steps in the room and Daniel pulls the trigger hitting Eddie dead in the forehead. He drops to his knees all wide eyed. Blood covers my sister’s face and body.  Eddie dies on the kitchen floor without saying a word. Dylan grabs Janey from Heather and cleans the blood off of her at the sink. Daniel turns the gun to me, “I’ve killed one, what makes you think I won’t do it again?” I don’t say anything, “I’m going to show them who you belong too, get on your knees.” I slowly start to get on my knees, he c***s the gun, “Hurry up.” I drop to my knees, he slowly starts to unzip his pants. My sister runs up and shoves him, he shoots the gun and my sister falls to the floor. I crawl over to where she is laying. She touches my face, “Sissy, I love you, don’t ever forget that.”  Her hand goes cold inside mine. I feel as if I just got a ton of bricks on  my chest. I lay my head on her chest and weep. Soft gentle hands touch my sides, “Come on get up.” Dylan’s voice is soft. I shake my head. Dylan lunges at Daniel catching him off guard, “You son of  a b***h.” Two shots were fired and no one moves Daniel lies lifeless on top of Dylan. Janey slowly falls off the kitchen counter.  Dylan breaks down and cries, I slowly crawl over to him, “lets go.” We both get up and take off out the door.

Here I am again, walking to who knows where for who knows how long. Neither Dylan nor I have said a word since we left that house. We both are really shut in. His eyes hold a lot of pain and sorrow. We curl in close together and try to drift off into a dreamless sleep. The sound of a helicopter wakes us up. He pulls me in close to him and a bright light blinds my eyes, “Hey, I found some.” A stranger voice yells to another, “Just stay calm, we are here to help you.” Two mean slide down a rope to the ground, “Don’t be scared.” He has a soft smile. They send down a latter, “Just come with us.”

That’s the last thing I remember of that time. My kids look around at each other, eyes wide like doe’s, “Daddy, is that really what happened.” Dylan nods his head and wipes his eyes, “It was very scary back then, now give your mom and me a hug and kiss goodnight.” Our three youngest jump up and hug us before disappearing into their rooms.  Our oldest son Adam sits in the far corner of the room looking at the snow falling slowly to the ground, “I don’t believe it.” He gets up and stomps off to his room. Some part of me thinks he has part of Daniel in him. His harsh words, and angry tone resemble too much of him. He is a story for another time. Maybe he will be telling it to his kids in time. But for now, this is the end of my story, I am off for some much needed sleep, until we meet again.