Tethered

Six years ago, the world ended. Six years of nothing but raw chaos in its purest form. Civilization fell, religious ideologies were now gone, and nature was slowly taking over. I miss the days when I could walk and enjoy the weather—when movie theatres were a sanctuary of films. Crowds of people were places you wanted to be, but let’s start at the beginning. On the night when everything ended, I had finished what I believed was a successful interview. The job would have been nice, but it seems so trivial now in the grand scheme of things.

The nightlife was just waking up in the city as I entered the tavern. “Yo, Joe!” a familiar voice came from the bar. My shoulders became rigid. “Joey! Joey,” he held the note and harmonized with the music in the background. A pulse of ice flowed through my spine. “Jesus! Over here!” I turned my head and saw Ezekiel.

“Hey, you crazy twat-waffle!” I yelled.

“That is the most cliché greeting ever. Get over here, you dick.” Best friends reunited again after six years…

Always with the six years, you know we met in kindergarten on our sixth birthday. Anyways, back to the story.

“So, how have you been? A little birdy told me you had an interview today. Do you think you got it?” Ezekiel asked.

“Not to brag, but I killed it. I had them laughing by the end,” I replied.

“Well, let’s celebrate! First rounds on me.” I smiled as he put twenty bucks on the bar. “Two pints for the two of us. So how have you…”

Hold on a minute, readers. Take that out of your mouth! Stop putting random shit in your mouth. That is not edible. I wish I could slap you, knock some sense into the piece of brain you have left. Now, I’ve lost my spot. Oh yeah. Ezekiel and I were hanging out at the bar.

“Dude, I don’t understand why you are stressing. Andrew will be back, and I mean, he loves you. It’s not like this will be some Hallmark movie where he falls for the town’s veterinarian. He’s only visiting his sisters. It’s temporary. He’ll be home soon,” he articulated.

“I know, but…”

Ezekiel interrupted, “but nothing. Again, he is at home visiting his sisters. Why do you always freak out when he goes out of town.”

“I’m starting to think he might be cheating. He’s so distant lately--always quiet, barely listening. I feel like I’m constantly repeating myself.”

“Isn’t your husband quiet by nature and has ADHD?”

“Yeah, but he’s never been quiet with me. He used to be affectionate and willing to be involved in our life together. Now he barely talks to me.”

“I’m sure it’s nothing. Look, there’s a good reason for it all. It would be best if you got the conversation moving. If you two don’t talk, this could become poisonous.”

“I’ve tried, but all I get are one-word responses. It’s like he’s not interested in me. Most days, I feel like I’m alone in my marriage.”

“I’m positive he is still interested in you. I’ve known you for twenty-two years. I have not once felt that you were uninteresting,” Ezekiel stated.

​“Thank you, but this still doesn’t change the feelings of him possibly cheating.”

“I think something else might be going on. It could be something undiagnosed.

“That sounds ridiculous. He doesn’t have anything else. Trust me, I would know.”

“One, you wouldn’t, and two, I honestly don’t think he’s cheating on you.”

“And why do you say that?”

“He’d never do anything to harm you.”

“I guess you’re right,”

“Of course I’m right. Look, Andrew loves you and only wants the best for you. If he does step out of line, I know some people.” Ezekiel winked.

“I wouldn’t go that far. I suppose you’re right. I’m letting those intrusive thoughts win again.” I said as I took the last sip of my beer before leaving. “I’ll see you next weekend?”

“Of course, now that I’m back in town.”

​“And how long will that be?”

“I actually have my own place. So I’ll be here until the end of the world.” The tension released within my shoulders after hearing this. We hugged, and I left the bar.

I was walking down Mors Blvd. A groaning sound reverberated down the alley. My shirt brushed against the hairs standing on my neck. A deep sensation of panic poured out, and I felt it best to go home in another direction. A block away, I saw a young individual limping. I ignored them and kept going. Suddenly, they fell. I rushed over to them, tripping over my untied shoe. “Excuse me, are you okay.” I reached out my hand to help them up. The young woman’s moans sounded like the ones from the alleyway. “Are you okay?” no response. Once on her feet, she began to walk away. I noticed that her leg was bleeding. “Oh my god! Are you sure you’re okay? You are bleeding pretty badly.” Again, no answer. I grabbed their shoulder, and they turned around. There was an absence in her eyes like she wasn’t there. She was in her work uniform. Sophia, the name tag read. She started to topple over. I caught her and helped her onto her feet. Her body went dead. I struggled to stay upright. Her breath was labored and smelled of putrid dead fish boiling in its skin.

“Come on, You can do it, grab your footing.” I figured she was wasted. It was a little early in the night, but I’m not one to judge. Her breathing increased for a few seconds, and then stopped. There was an intense pressure on my shoulder, followed by excruciating pain. I screamed in agony. “Get off,” I screamed. I managed to tear her away from me. Her face was covered in blood, my blood. The opened wound singed in the blowing wind. “Gah! You bitch!” I yelled. She approached me again; I pushed her away and backed up. She staggered and caught her footing. A murky film glossed over her eyes. She took a step forward. I took another back. She started to move towards me at a slow pace. “You stay away from me, you psycho bitch!” She jolted forward, I punched her in the face. I heard her hit the ground as I began to run.

There was a group of people just a few hundred yards away. I began to shout. “Help, this woman is crazy!” Out of breath, I touched the first person closest to me. “Please help.” They didn’t respond. “Hello?” I grabbed his shoulder and spun him around this time. He had the same lifeless expression on his face as Sophia. The large man in construction gear groaned and grabbed me by my wounded shoulder. I screamed as his callused hands pinched the exposed nerves in my shoulder. The rest of the group turned around. My eyes met theirs. Each one of them was disfigured. Lips were torn, eyes were missing, and limbs were gone. I ripped myself away. The construction worker’s jagged nails scratch through my muscles. I nearly collapsed from the pain. I ran, almost tripping and landing head-first into a sewer. It being to painful to move my arm, I ripe of my show and begin to run.

I noticed other people were running only a few blocks away. I head in their direction holding my arm in place. They were randomly smashing people in the head. A cacophony of screams echoing in the sky. The sounds of car horns, crunching of metal, and explosions. My arm went dead, and I began to lose feeling in my right leg. I tried to walk, but I stumbled. I saw a large man running towards me. “Please help me!” my words slurred.

The man stopped, “I’m sorry,” he said.

Confused, “what do you…,” He smashed me in the head with a metal bat. The bat peeled away from my skull before I blacked out. I woke up to find myself standing in front of a body. Their pockets were turned inside out. His jacket and shoes were missing. I reached down to check on him. My hand went through him. I screamed. “What the fuck!” I shouted. I tried reaching again, and my hand passed through the body. Unable to comprehend my new reality, the person began to move. As they stood up, I began to recognize who they were. “Do I know you?” I asked. The person groaned and began to walk. I tried walking around him, but I couldn’t feel my legs. Looking down, I saw a wispy where my legs should have been. Already freaking out about being intangible, I swallowed hard, but my throat failed.

Aggrivated, I made my way in front of them. I recognized the slackjawed profile, the spiked frost-tipped hair, and those Dolce and Gabbana eyeglasses. I stopped in shock. “It can’t be.” I went in front of them. “It’s me!” Frozen, I watched myself. I noticed as he would move, I would follow. It was completely involuntary. I was trying to grasp my new reality when my body began to run. My body dropped down onto his knees. Confused, I looked over to see my body huntch over, feasting on the body of a dead child. “Oh, God! No! Stop! What are you doing!” My body wasn’t responding. “Can you not hear me? Answer me, dammit!” I yelled. “Hello.” He didn’t respond. “I can’t watch this.” I turned away, trying to ignore the sounds of ripping flesh and bones cracking. “How am I so strong?” I spoke, still not turning around. My body let out a loud burp, and then got up. “Did you get enough,” I said as my hand passed through my body’s shoulder.