Sci Fi
See You There
The old man had been out here in the desert since before most of the world had become a desert. He’d been out here in the abandoned airbase-turned-junkyard since before everything had become an abandoned something-turned-junkyard. He sipped on his soda, then, smiling, laughing to himself, set it back down, picked up his socket wrench and returned to attaching the gimbal to the top of the thrust chamber.
By Alexander Greco5 years ago in Fiction
Injustice
Shari gazed blankly as the first rays of sunlight sliced through darkness, lighting a glow like embers in her deep brown eyes. She rested casually in a crevice where a 100-year-old cedar tree and the skeleton of a rusting tower had met. The tree was winning, slowly and contemplatively swallowing the metal structure whole. From her vantage point high in the air she scanned the patterns of chaotic scars Trethlem had dug through the crumbling city sprawled out before her. Today was the day.
By Clare Watson5 years ago in Fiction
DAY 2
DAY TWO: Innocence Lost Q was raised and trained by survivalist parents, so the past year spent underground was utilized to practice the survival skills she had been taught during her short life. She wasn't sure which of the many possible scenarios had caused them to put their plan into action but she knew it was the day following the day she turned 9 years old. Her memory of that night still haunted her in her sleep, it was nothing like the drills they had practiced together as a family. The days ran into each other, there was only the mundane routine to keep to a schedule. The first six months were spent underground together trying to keep supplies lasting and senses sharp.
By Bridgette A Mercer-Jamgochian5 years ago in Fiction
A Minor Inconvenience
Another hot one. Sweat beads off of my forehead as I skip over the curb and head downhill towards the next block. Click-clack. My sandals snapping against the sizzling pavement. My yellow checkered dress tied at the waist, flowing in the slight breeze. Mask secured, air-locked and snug; Just the way they taught us.
By Holly Reid5 years ago in Fiction
Locket of Love
“Mary,” I stride this road that so many have before. So many walk and fall and walk again. Most walk and fall. Never getting back up seems the easier path. It’s always easier to simply lie down and give up. Watch the world spin until you, like most of the world, decays.
By A.T. Haessly5 years ago in Fiction
Oracle
Laz came to in an abandoned house the smell of sweat mildew and death burned his nose, as his eye came into focus he cringed finding himself on a dirty mattress at the end of the mattress shaking as the wind whipped through the broken windows and cracked walls. "What's wrong" Laz asked " nothing or I don't know I just feel empty today." Asriel said emotionlessly. "Hey" Laz whispered "come here" Asriel slid into his arms, looking down at her he kissed her forehead and thought "fuck she is beautiful". Playfully Laz asked " wanna spirit away before we start the day?" Asriel looked up at him a slight fire flickered in her eyes, his heart grew heavy realizing that this would be the last time he would hold her, kiss her, and hold her. The slight nod of her head brought him back to reality. Laz reached into his backpack and retrieved a small wooden box with an intricately decorated lid. Slowly Laz began to move the wood around to reveal the key that unlocked the box. With a quiet click the box's lid began to slide open. Out of the corner of her eye something shiny caught her attention, Asriel leaned over to see what it was. Laz catching what she was attempting quickly turned to shield what was inside the box. "Uh uh uh" Laz scolded moving one finger back and forth "its a surprise and it's not finished yet." "HUMPH" Asriel scoffed rolling her eyes. Carefully to not show the inside of the box he pulled out two bags of powder one with black powder and the other with red powder, two spoons, a metal screen, and two syringes. Setting everything on a broken coffee table. "Az toss me that bottle of water" tossing him the water bottle Asriel began to shake not from the cold she shook in anticipation. She hadn't spirited in over 12 hours and Laz could tell she was starting to feel the first caresses of withdrawal. Laz poured half of the black powder into one spoon the other half in the other spoon, he the put the screen on top of the spoons pouring the red powder on top of the screen immediately lighting it on fire, this was Asriel's favorite part second only to the high, beautiful black and red ombre smoke floated into the sky forming a fox with nine tails and a skull mask. The fox jumped around playfully launching itself onto Laz's shoulder then hopped onto Asriel's lap its tails caressing her cheek, the fox began to turn back into smoke fading into the fog that blanketed this part of town in the early morning. With shaking hands Laz put both needles through the screen and pulled the plungers back. Asriel sat chewing on the ends of her fingers the anticipation driving her to the brink of her sanity. After what seemed like forever Laz held out the syringe to Asriel greedily she ripped it out of his hand. They then turned back to back to perform their own individual rituals simultaneously they fell against each other's backs and their heads rolled back to rest on each other's shoulders. As their eyes turned the color of the smoke they slipped into uninterruptible bliss. Laz's mind drifted to a time before all of this, before the end of the world as they had come to know it, before he knew he was dying, before Oracle aka spiriting. "Laz" Asriel whispered ripping him from his thoughts once again. "Yea babe?" Laz whispered back " got to get going the trial starts today at 2:00 if we miss our names being called will lose our spot and the oracle". Asriel's half sleeping voice bearly reached his ears. "SHIT!" Laz roared the volume of his voice jolted Asriel awake making her sit up instantly. With a chuckle and in his best superhero voice Laz bellowed "let's go my love time to take over the world" Asriel laughed and with a slight smile she took his outstretched hand and they were off. They arrived at the Nexus lab right as a woman in a red lab coat called their names. "Follow me" the pudgy woman said flatly. Following The woman inside she led them down a long hallway and through a double door to a big presentation room. Inside the room they saw a big projection screen a projector and two rows of chairs, taking the seats that correspondence with the ticket given to them from the woman they waited for the rest of the participants to find their seats. Around 10 minutes later the last few participants filed into the room and found their seats. once everyone was seated, the lights began to dim as the projector screen lowered into place a voice came over the speakers "welcome to Nexus if you have made it to this room you are slect special few whom have been deemed qualified mentally, physically, and emotionally to participate in this groundbreaking research now if you'll join me in please welcoming our founders Ulysses Veninbloon and Armani Carnik" the man identified as Ulysses then begin to walk up to the podium, but before he can start speaking the power to the room was cut before Laz and Asriel could react a loud bang paired with a bright light disabled them gun fire filed the air. "Laz LAZ" Asriel yelled Laz woke flying up from the bed clutching his chest, breathing hard. "What's wrong" Asriel asked worry consumed her face. "Nothing, just a nightmare" Laz calmly said, "Again?" Asriel asked her tone now matching the look on her face. "That was almost 2 years ago" she continued caressing his face lightly. "Az just drop it, it was just dream!" Laz said rolling over annoyed suddenly by her concern. "I'm sorry" Asriel said Laz could feel the sadness in her voice, "no I'm sorry" Laz said quickly turning back over to hug her. As he did he plans over her shoulder and looked at the clock "SHIT... we slept in! We've gotta go babe we might not even make it now!" Laz exclaimed jumping to his feet quickly Asriel followed suit quickly throwing on all the clothes they own to stay warm quickly taking off out the door, Asriel attempted to keep up with Laz as she threw on her other shoe. Both of their addicted minds now in control. Only for a second does Asriel notice how pale Laz now looks under the fluorescent street lights, only for a second does she see how empty his eyes look, only for a moment in her thoughts she wonders how much he's really been donating. Before those thoughts override her addiction her mind registered that Laz has come to abrupt stop. Quickly stopping b overehind him she barely avoids knocking him over "we're here" Laz pants relief washes over them as they see that the light is still green above the doors. Walking up to separate doors they both knocked twice pause and then knocked three more times, before on each door opens in a deep guttural voice whispers "password" in unison the pair say " Hail to you fallen knight, I offer you my soul in exchange for the light", loud locks begin to clink and each door slowly slides open. With one last glance at each other they step into the dark behind them the doors slam shut. Asriel was led down a dark hallway into a back room where a rusty dental chair sat. sliding herself into the chair of the Orleans began to strap her down from her head to her toes to prevent movement after a few minutes the extractor came into the room his voice was far from soothing and Asriel suddenly found herself glad that anesthesia was for the most part unavailable to the lower classes in the world they live in now. The extractors gravelly voice ripped her from this thought " before we begin let me explain the procedure to you as I'm sure you know the procedure is extremely painful and then you don't survive it as the waiver you sign states. Those who do are paid in Oracle or Spirit also known in the spiriting on the streets. does powder can be smoked snorted or shot and the high is unlike anything you've ever experienced or will experience until you use again. Since the world volatile Oblivion and drugs of the old world no longer exist making addicts for the most part endangered and or extinct. Lucky for you our founders found a way to make the soul a tangible product. they were also kind enough to create this program for those who can't afford to pay for Oracle, those can become donors have you paid with product instead of money. I know you've heard all this before however it is my job and policy to explain this to you each time you come into donate. Now the procedure will exact 2% of your soul that is the minimum required amount. To facilitate the extraction two needles are placed inside your eye, your iris to be exact. One of the needles inject a chemical that illuminates the soul, the other needle then extracts the illuminated area automatically shutting off once the 2% is reached the needles are then automatically removed from your eye. if you move, scream, if the needle shifts in any way best case scenario will be blind worst case scenario will die. Do you understand what I've explained to you?" "Yes" Asriel answered coldly "wonderful then let's begin" the extractor said with a little too much joy in his voice. "Oh I almost forgot, after the procedure is completed you'll be moved to a hallway where you will receive your payment and do a back area where an exit door leads to the street you are welcome to use in the back area however using the hallway is strictly prohibited if you break this policy automatic termination of your ability to donate will be implemented this policy is non-negotiable. Do you understand?" "Yes" Asriel said. When Asriel started to come too she found herself in a back area a small bag of clutch tightly in her hand she quickly shoved it into her pocket as not to lose it. While she waited for Laz her body felt like it was crushing on itself. she didn't know it was worse the fear that he had come out yet or her mind screaming at her to get well. Suddenly she heard the door swing open she looked up to find Laz falling through the door, she reached him just in time before he hit the ground. "Laz you idiot what have you done!" Asriel screamed. Looking up at her he mouthed "I love you let's go..." The sound of gunfire distracted him from completing his sentence. "Laz can you run?" Asriel ask panic consuming her. The effect barely registered to him as he was plunged into a flashback. A second round of gunshots closer this time broke him from his trance "I can try" Laz said they reached the door to the exit and began pushing the heavy door open when men dressed all black burst into the front door, Laz tripped over the threshold and they both fell to the ground. Looking up they were both met with fully automatic rifles in their faces. "Laz don't" Asriel pleaded. Slowly putting their hands in the air before anyone could register what was going on Laz grabbed one of the men closest to him using him as a human shield, Asriel quickly followed him without thinking jumping behind the man just in time as a health summer bullets surrounded them. Then they were running ducking into a side alley Asriel hugged Laz tightly pulling away from the hug to scold him for his stupidity. Before she could start she realized that her shirt was soaked crimson liquid "NO!" Asriel screamed as Laz fell to his knees, then his body collapse to the ground. "Run Az run" Laz sputtered blood beginning to come from his mouth. "No I won't leave you" Asriel cried "you have to" Laz began coughing up blood "here this is for you this is my Oracle I don't need it all I could, so I'll always be with you" Laz struggling to speak " now...GO!" Laz huffed using the last of his strength is gently push her away. Thinking quickly she knew she wouldn't answer the next alley she go inside of a gutter hole and hidden the sewer. Asriel watches a watches a group of men dressing all black made their way to Laz walking up to him one of them kicked him and scoffed "he's dead" kicking him again. She heard Laz make the slightest noise but she wasn't the only one. Asriel held her hand over her mouth to stifle the scream she watched another man walk up to him putting two fingers on his neck he shook his head and said "not yet load him up so we can take him to the boss" she watched in horror how's the man put him on a stretcher and loaded him into an all black ambulance and drove away into the night. Asriel could fill her trip ending resistance futile against it. "No... Just a little longer" returning with tears in her house the heart-shaped locket fell to the ground empty. As it hit the ground she heard Laz's voice cry out " Az I'm still here, save me, I love you." Asriel's breath hitched snatching the locket from the ground she heard Laz's voice "find me" as it faded into the fog that blanketed the night.
By LullabiiSkye5 years ago in Fiction
The Same as Me
We call them dummies. Scientifically they’re referred to as Genetically Modified Incubatory Clones. But, everyone just started to call them dummies at some point. It’s actually a cruel name when you think about it. The disease began to spread five years ago. No one is sure where it started. Researchers have been trying to find a source for a while, but there doesn’t seem to be one. A lot of people think it’s God punishing us. He’s cleaning the house. No one knows how you get it either. It’s random in it’s selection. People just begin getting sick. It starts out like a cold. You get a cough, some sniffles, a sore throat, nothing major. Most people don’t think much of it. They barely notice. Then you get the fever and you start throwing up and the pain begins. It’s horrible, keeled over, clenching your stomach pain and nothing helps. That’s when your organs start to fail. Once that happens, you have about four to six months. It’s not a long time, but it’s not a fast death. It’s torture. 3 billion have died so far.
By Laurel Maddie5 years ago in Fiction
Rough Beast
Rough Beast I don’t know you, obviously. You are imaginary. The breath of a chance that someone survived the damage we’ve done to this world and is capable of understanding these words. This moment exists by virtue of us imagining each other. But what are you; a descendant of survivors that I’m unaware of, a clever robot or , equally cliched, an alien archaeologist trying to understand what happened here? Are you something I’m afraid to imagine, an angel or god or some smirking demon viewing the results of its handiwork? I’d like that, because there’d be someone to blame other than humanity. But no, we own this; the X-Virus, the Oxygen Glut, the Short Wars; they’re all ours.
By Pete Chapman5 years ago in Fiction
