God’s plan

- This story takes place two years after World War III

“I have been carrying the body of my friend for days.” Joshua had wrapped his friend’s body in cloth and tied a rope around his feet, and had been dragging the body for days trying to return him to his hometown. He owed his friend a proper burial. Joshua’s legs were going numb. He hadn’t stopped moving for miles. He didn’t even feel the sweat running down his legs anymore. His white socks were stained brown with mud and dirt that he trudged through. Every couple of miles, Joshua would say, “I’ve been carrying the body of my friend for days,” and kept going. He had two hands on the rope which was over his shoulder. The rope was behind him connected to his friend’s body. He thought about looping it around his waist in place of a belt. But the belt loops on his pants were broken. His clothes were ripped, and his pants were torn. His stomach was so thin his ribs started to show, all of his strength was gone, and he barely had muscle to drag his friend. It was a miracle he had the strength to keep going. His body was small and dry from lack of food and water.

Earlier in his trip, he came across a small settlement and asked for food. That’s when his mantra began. “I have been carrying the body of my friend for days. Do you have any food and water to spare?” He stayed one night and ate a small sandwich, and had several bottles of water. The next day he got up and kept moving and hadn’t stopped since. The beard on his face had no shape. It was growing everywhere. Sweat made his hair stick to his face. Mud had turned his blond hair a dirty brown. His path was destroyed by the war. The road was broken up, the trees were dead. Homes were damaged, and strange dog-like creatures lurked in the shadows around him. Their eyes would peek out and watch Joshua. Their paws made their movement silent. The creatures ran on four legs, with thick black fur that grew wildly. With the bit of strength he had, he would swing a stick to keep them back. Those creatures followed, waiting for him to drop. Then they would feast like kings.

When night fell upon Joshua, he could see more yellow eyes following him from afar. He kept walking. He thought his friend would want him to push through. The darker it got, the harder it was for him to see. Finally, he stumbled on a crack in the road and fell to his knees. The creatures barked and growled at him. They started charging forward until he swung his stick. They stopped in their tracks and backed up, circling him. Joshua could tell he was failing, so he screamed. And fell to the ground. The creatures jumped at him and snapped. They knew in a few moments they would get food. Joshua couldn’t defend the body for long. He knew his time was coming. He let one of the creatures slip behind him, and they grabbed the body.

His friend’s body was taken into the darkness. Creatures followed the blood path and jumped at the opportunity to feast. Except for one. It circled Joshua, watching him closely with its yellow eyes. It growled and showed Joshua its large white teeth, sharp enough to tear through his skin. It waited. Soon Joshua would fall dead. Joshua spat blood on the ground and continuously mumbled, “I had been carrying the body of my friend for days,” as his vision faded to darkness and he felt himself hit the cold concrete as sharp teeth dug into his body, killing him quickly so he and his friend could be together again.