Brick and Bone

The world was not ending with a bang, or a whisper, but rather one scream at a time. Crumbling bricks, stones and ash crunched under the truck tires as the vehicle rolled to a stop. He cut the engine of the F250 and the rumble echoed through the narrow buildings. The forest green machine rolled forward and stood out against the tan and gray ruble that littered the city. The sloshing of fuel in the extra cans in the bed were the only noises that could be heard over the crunching of the rubber on the ground. Torin opened the door and moved quietly to the edge of the disintegrating bridge once the vehicle came to a stop. Peering over the side, he could see the colonies of people far below and how they were growing more aggressive; desperate. Their skin began to harden and shimmer like fire opal and glass as the bacteria began to take over their organic flesh.

The oceans were gone, and the salt calcified anything that was close enough to touch it. Trees, various plants, birds and even insects had been changed into pawns of gems and stone and had succumbed to the hardening of their bodies. The remaining brine and crystals were infectious, and they looked for anything with a pulse to consume. The colonies of people living too close were now shifting into monsters with diamond hides and iron claws.

There was only one way through them. Torin had walked himself through the plan multiple times and still wasn’t sure if it was going to work. All he knew was if they didn’t leave the city soon, neither of them would live much longer. Famine and fear lurked in shadows and in every dusty window. Everyday there were fewer people wondering through the streets. For the most part, the citizens that were left would scramble for water, food or protection from the plague. With the exception of a lucky few, everyone had eventually either been torn apart by the diseased, or encased in rock themselves.

The rotting bridge, his disintegrating castle, was home since the plague of Medusa got a foothold in the coastal Cities. Rumors spread that many of the mountain towns were unaffected by the bacteria that was turning every living thing to stone. Very few people were found to be immune, but any direct contact with the bacteria would end with the same fate. Resources were even more scarce than before, and Torin had to find a way to get him and his little sister out of the city. He would often dream of green trees, grass and craved fresh fruits or vegetables and his green truck was his reminder that it could happen again.

Torin walked back to the cab of the truck and gently shook his sister awake. “Elara, wake up. We have to move,” he said in a hushed tone.

With a slight wiggle, Elara opened her eyes and stared at her older brother. They were six years apart and though she was almost 18, she was far too young and naive to survive without Torin’s help.

Elara’s green eyes creased with the glaring sun, “Is it time to go?” she asked.

Torin smirked, “Not yet. We still have to get another couple of things, but very soon we will. Let’s get inside before we are seen.” He grabbed his backpack from the center of the bench seat and jumped down from the truck.

Elara was slower moving and was still groggy from her nap. Once she gained full consciousness, she grabbed her bag and climbed out of the truck, following her brother. The tower appeared to be an old lighthouse that had been converted to a doomsday bunker. Clearly it hadn’t worked as intended because it had long been abandoned before Torin and Elara took up residence.

The top of the tower held two beds that looked down upon the bottom floors. The inner circle was open and the numerous windows on the upper levels helped light reach the bottom. The stone fortress had been the saving grace to the siblings on more than one occasion. Any time the monstrous people began to get too close, they would hide inside. The outside had now been encased with glimmering bodies that solidified and hardened into a shell from failed attempts to gain entry. They were the perfect camouflage for the beautiful death that was always looking for new victims.

Once inside, the tower, Torin began rummaging through the stores of dried foods, water cases and extra clothing that they had stashed below the floor. He arranged the supplies in sealed totes and began to load them into the back of the truck. Moving cautiously, Torin took his time loading everything they needed while still keeping an eye open for any disturbances outside. Once the bed of the truck was full, Torin went back inside to talk with his sister.

“We have talked about this before. Are you ready to make a run for it? Once we start driving through those colonies we cannot stop for anything or we will be stranded there and who knows what will happen.” Torin’s stern look was one that his sister had grown used to.

Elara sighed and stuffed her headphones and a book into her backpack. “I know. We have talked about this so many times and I know what to do. You don’t have to keep reminding me how dangerous this is. We can’t stay here anymore.” Elara waved her arm around to signify that she was talking about the lighthouse. She then paused and looked around the stone walls. There was no artwork, no personalization, and no comfort, yet the tower was home and a sad feeling grew in her stomach.

Torin saw the change in mood and half hugged his sister. “Whatever happens, we will be on to better things.” He grabbed his sister’s bag and tossed it into the cab. He didn’t want to look back and remind himself that they should consider staying. The urge to leave and try to find a better life was overwhelming, so he didn’t want any moment to change his mind.

Elara walked out of the tower and closed the heavy wooden door behind her. A small laugh escaped her throat as she figured it wasn’t needed to close the door. Someone else could now use the place for safety. After looking at the shimmering case that covered the outer walls, Elara walked to the other side of the truck and climbed in. She opened the small back window and made sure she could fit through easily without stumbling over the supplies that filled the bed.

Torin watched his sister prepare herself and waited for her nod of approval. Once he got it, he turned the ignition and let the loud engine roar to life. A still moment was immediately followed by rushed movements from all around. The glitter that covered the sea bed and towers was beginning to move towards them. Miles away, a green strip of forest stared at the siblings and matched the truck that would take them there.

“Here we go,” Torin said while jamming the truck into first gear.