The End | A Short Story |

“Listen here,” Gramps began as we walked down Ludecrent street looking at the vendors doing our weekly shopping.

Detnfo was a small city, close to the capital Whinrep of the North Republic. Centuries ago the Earth had suffered from fatal disasters and the whole planet and how it was organized and ran changed. Life as we knew it changed. The Earth could not keep up with our constant population raising and the pollution. Even to this day, seven hundred years later, we are still recovering from the disasters.

Pollution is kept to a minimum, and the population is controlled- by controlled I mean that if you are doing anything illegal or are really sick they will just kill you. That’s how I lost my Mim, or as others say mom. She was sick but she was getting better slowly. They would not give her the medication she needed to heal faster because we couldn’t pay for it. When they found out she was sick badly they came.

They dragged her out to the back of the house where a Willow tree now lays in front of the forest that lays beyond and slit her throat. I remembered how I screamed for her, but to no avail. My gramps tried to shield me, but I saw it all. After that day him and Grams moved into our house because it would be easier on us but also because they did not like their neighbors. My father disappeared one day when I was two, Mim said he wouldn’t just leave us but I couldn’t help but think he actually did leave and she was just clinging onto hope. Hope that the world was different, that our lives will change one day. After the twins were born, shortly after dad’s disappearance we started struggling more. We did not have dad’s income and two extra mouths to feed. Grams sews clothes for a living, and while she makes a decent amount we still struggle. Gramps sells what we grow to the local market on Thursdays, and other than that he does odd little jobs.

“I may be old but I can still hear Sterven. Do not say that word again, especially about a stranger,” Gramps’ vituperative voice sounded. Sterven just could not stay out of trouble. His voluble tendencies were always getting him in trouble,, especially since he does not think before he speaks, ever. I glanced over at Finn who was looking at the sky very intently. Finn was always the Taciturn one, he was always like that after Mim died.

Already knowing that Finn was too lost in his thoughts I gave up on trying to figure out just what exactly Sterven had said to earn such a scolding from Gramps.

I was suddenly bumped from the back, whipping around ready to punch someone, I turned and was faced with Warren. Warren was my best friend, but he was an ass. Especially when his green eyes glimmered. I smiled a little then I put a serious face on and punched him in the shoulder.

“Don’t push me again you ass.”

“Awe, you look like a kitten when you try to glare. Also, I am going to have a bruise now because of you,” he pouted, his brown hair falling in front of his face.

“That’s not my fault you are an ass and I thought I was about to be mugged.”

“Mugged for what?” He looked at me up and down. “You have nothing worth stealing. What? Some hand me down clothes and a few apples and coins that won’t get far? Please, if I was going to mug someone I would mug someone with stuff that is worth being mugged, like your Gramps watch.”

“Hey now boy, keep your slimy hands away from me and my watch,” Gramps playfully scolded.

“Sorry Gramps, you know I would never steal from you. Not when you can tell my mom.” Warren muttered the last part under his breath. For someone who played a lot of pranks and jokes a lot he was sure scared of his Mim. Clare was the nicest, but when she wanted to be she could really stick it to him.

“That’s what I thought young-man.”

“Anyways,” Warren drawled. “I actually came over to join you on the weekly walk in town.

“He’s back again?”

Warren’s older brother Kivt was smart, but he let it get to him that he was older, smarter, and had some power. Kivt works for the high society doing whatever it is they do. He always comes back to vist and whenever he does he is an asshole. He’s emotionally abusive and sometimes he even got physical with Warren, but Warren is lanky and would never stand a chance.

“I do not know what you mean, I love the truculent asshole,” he spat, his green eyes narrowed looking at the skyline. It was the afternoon and the sun was high in the sky.

“I know secretly down below you do love him, a little, but his assholeness makes you hate him. Especially since he never helps your parents out with bills, but buys them a few groceries when he comes home and thinks that’s even. You know he’s making money working for the elite.”

“True. And he lives with buddies so rent is cheaper. Makes me wonder what the fuck he is spending it all on.”

“Hey,” I gently touched his shoulder as Gramps stopped to look at a stand. “Just don’t think about him right now.”

“Then what do you want me to think about?” He raised his eyebrows. “The tranquility of our tendentious lives?” he sarcastically replied in a fake accent.

I sighed. “You know what I meant. Just, think abo-”

“About how it is the afternoon and it looks like the sun is setting, yet it also looks like it is getting closer and brighter?” Finn interjected, his sights on the skyline.

True to what he said it looked like the sun was getting closer, and with that it looked like a sunset. But I can see the sun high in the sky.

“Oh get out of your head Finn, I may be old but I’m not falling for a ruse just ye-”

Gramps stopped talking when he turned around and saw what was happening. He just stared into the sky, eyes wide like he was in awe and wonder-like you would see in a child. Except he was in his sixties.

“What’s happening Gramps?” Sterven questioned, his voice timorous.

“I-I don’t know.”

There was a spate of screams and a strident boom as the ground shaked. The temperature dropped tremendously as we began to shiver.

Then all there was was a white flash.