They Say
They say people laughed
They say people smiled
They say people cried
They say people had remorse
They say people cared
They say people were kind
They say people felt love
But here in this desolate wasteland? It’s hard to believe those things ever existed. 30 years after what people called the thinning
But now there
only seems to be death
Only hopelessness
Only fear
Only anger
Only hatred
Only empty people
And now no one seems to have what some people used to call “humanity” still intact.
People live in the ruins of cities that had been home to millions before the thinning. Anyone who is still alive today has fought for every meal, killed for a place to sleep and, murdered for someone’s boots. All memories of good times has become a fantasy. Now the world with less than 1,000 people, is a world of complete anarchy, chaos, disease, filth, and scavengers.
This is the world we live in and no one can change it, we are beyond saving.
I hear a snap and feel the arm go limp from the contact against my knee. Whose arm did I just break? It doesn’t matter I have food now. I scarf it down, trying not to focus on how it’s likely full of bugs and mold, but I force my stomach to keep it down. I wonder what real food tastes like. I wonder if people took it for granted, believing it would always be there. But now all I feel is anger. Anger at how foolish people were before the thinning, anger about how we have to live like animals, and fear, fear of this cruel world.
I keep thinking about the thinning. 30 years ago a small aircraft came from outer space and entered our atmosphere declaring messages of peace and prosperity. And of course, everyone was quick to believe this message, except for one organization who quickly discovered that this small craft was releasing into our atmosphere a viral infection meant to kill 90% of the human population. And it did just that. They had no idea that thirty years later there would be less than 1,000 of us left. They had no idea that inside The Fortress lives about 300 people happily, carrying out their lives and recording data of the outside world. They had no idea that the food the Fortress gave us lasts less than a week. But that’s part of the exchange. They had no idea the 700 people outside of The Fortress are their guinea pigs to do their experiments on.
The fortress holds a drawing every two months for a new guinea pig. And on the eve of the drawing, some people lie awake praying their name gets drawn to end their suffering, some wonder what they will do and some lay awake praying their names will not get drawn. My name was drawn five months ago and I have been on the run ever since, every moment I keep my guard up, I barely sleep each night in fear.
I have one year not to get caught if I am they will likely make a demonstration of me. Who knows they would do
Take me to their labs?
Put me in front of a firing squad?
Sell me for the highest price?
Thinking about this makes me desperate, I want it all to be over, but I keep fighting, fighting to stay alive.
