The first night, the night everything plunged into chaos, is burned into my memory. I still remember looking up and seeing dozens of them. A clear blue sky filled with moons of all stages and sizes. Some so close you could see the surface with the naked eye. I still remember the noise of everyone panicking. Police sirens blaring, confused people screaming, animals screeching. Then the terrible sound those moons made before they had their way with our world. Vibrant white beams shot down from all of them. Earth would never be the same after that. Millions vanished only to be replaced by people long dead and forgotten in history. Animals that had gone extinct had come back with ones we’ve never encountered before. Concrete jungles became lively death traps while forests withered and died. Handymen become Scholars.
Credits: Darko Pendragon
Darkness. A loud buzzing sound. Cold. Very cold. An odd dream flashing in front of my eyes. Pillars of pure black shot up from the ground. Then, like always, I woke up and slammed my alarm off. I woke up in a cold sweat for the fifth time in a row. I lazily stretched, threw off the covers and got myself out of bed. I searched around for my phone then unfolded my clothes for the day. Nothing fancy for the weekend this time. Just as I finished putting my clothes on someone came banging on my door. I rushed over while struggling to put my belt on only to open the door to no one. I stuck my head out to see if I maybe missed a delivery, but nothing. Not even a car in the street. I went back in and made sure my door was locked. As I turned around, belt still unbuckled, a figure was standing in the hallway to the bedroom. I froze for a moment but still managed to reach for the revolver. I guess leaving it by the door wasn’t an entirely bad idea. I held it up at the figure, finger on the trigger. “Ha, man I really scared you huh?” a voice came booming down the hallway. ‘God dammit,’ I thought to myself. I lowered the gun and put my other hand on my face. David, ironically the one who gave me the gun, came out of the dark hallway. He’s done this before and I’ve hated it every time. “For Christs sake David,” I put the gun down and walked into the living room. “I nearly shot you with your own gun this time!” David laughed as he followed me into the room. “Yeah, it was sure something. Never thought you’d even pick the thing up.” “Whatever.” I slumped down into my favourite chair. “Go make some breakfast.” “Whaaaat? Aren’t you supposed to make your guest bre-” “Guests aren’t supposed to break in and scare me half to death just a week after my crazed stalker did the same either.” I snapped back at him. Uncharacteristically so. While my voice was low as always, there was genuine anger in my voice. David seemed a bit shocked by that. He froze for few seconds before sitting down on the couch next to me. In the 6 years he’s known me I don’t think he’s seen me mad or even snap back at someone like that. I’m always calm regardless of the situation, even in the only robbery I’ve been unfortunate enough to have happen. The whole stalker thing is the only reason I accepted the gun in the first place. David just looked at me briefly while I was fiddling with my phone. “I...” he paused, putting his hand on my shoulder “I’m sorry man.” He then got up and headed for the kitchen. Some parts of me regret snapping at him, some don’t. I continued to go through my messages from over the night none the less. I also made a reminder to go over and apologize to Kimil later. He’s probably still upset from me breaking his favourite telescope last night. I put my phone in my pocket and laid back, thinking about the past week. My crazed stalker smashed a window with a bat in the middle of the night. I didn’t wake up till my alarms kicked in. I was too groggy to realize what was going on, which gave her enough time to get to my bedroom door. All she had to do was knock and say my name for me to completely shutdown in fear. That wasn’t a good night. Thankfully, Kimil came barging in shorty after because of the alarms. He was out in the front yard with his telescopes like always. Good guy, bad drunkard though. Scared her off. The few friends a keep, Kimil and David included, all noticed how shaken up I was and tried to cheer me up in their own way. Kimil even offered to stay at his place for awhile. Former military, pretty safe around him when he doesn’t have a bottle in hand. Broke my arm in an arm wrestling match. David acted like the big clown he always is. His humour helped quiet a bit but just like earlier he can go over the top. Convinced me to take his revolver. Others took me out to places and Margret slept over for a few days till the police eventually found my stalker. Margret’s the only one of us that’s able to beat Kimil in an arm wrestle, so I felt safer having her around. I came back to reality with a jolt. David shook me awake. Apparently I fell asleep thinking about all that. David put a plate of food in front of each of us, sat down, and turned on the TV. He flipped through channels while I made sure the food was actually edible. Looked amazing but he’s not known for his cooking skills. David and I both had mashed potatoes, assorted veggies, and a steak, but I also had a small cake. I think Margret left that cake. “You know,” I said while picking up a fork and my food. “I was kidding about making breakfast.” “I didn’t. Just warmed up it all up.” “Warmed it up?” I was confused. I don’t think I had any leftovers. “Did you bring it over too?” David looked at me, also confused. “Nah. You didn’t know it was in your own fridge? Had a note from Margret with it. All her fancy writing too. Still some left.” “Guess I forgot about it.” I started to eat and David finally found a show he liked. Some movie he’s been wanting to see. Just started too. I couldn’t pay much attention to it though. My mind kept drifting as I ate and images from that dream I woke up from kept flashing in my mind. It made me feel off, but this happens every now and then so it’s not a big deal. At least its not another nightmare. I think. Margret’s food was pretty good as well. Even for being warmed up in a microwave. I hope that’s how he warmed it up. Me and David talked, finished our meal, laughed at his movie and silly jokes, and a little after it finished he left. He comes and goes like this often. Maybe not sneaking in every time, but he frequents wherever I do. We’ve been like brothers since I pulled him out of a ditch and probably saved his life. One of his relationships didn’t end well. He had an abusive boyfriend who left him out to die apparently. Not a pretty sight. A few hours had passed now and the afternoon was already starting. I thought it would be best to go speak to Kimil now. Breaking one of the last things he had left from his late wife last night didn’t go over well. I considered giving him more time but he could use that time to drink himself off the roof again so its better to do it now. I kicked on my shoes and threw on my oh-so beloved trench coat. As I reached for the door, though, I got dizzy and nearly fell over. “Ah, time for this again...” I mumbled to myself. This comes and goes almost as often as David does. About as annoying too. Thankfully it only lasted a couple seconds but I’d have to be careful the rest of the day. I got my footing back and finally headed out the door, making sure to listen for the click of my lock going in place. Now it was time to see how Kimil is. Hopefully he isn’t too angry.
Credits: Darko Pendragon