The End

He held the tarnished heart shaped locket in his hand looking down at it with blurred vision from the sweat rolling off of his forehead and the tears welling up in his eyes. He could hear the screams coming from her like it was just a moment ago that he lost his beloved. Some days he wasn't sure how or why he kept going but he did. That locket kept him going. The hope that he could see her again. It was a quiet night. All you could hear was the crackling of the fire and his heavy disembodied breaths as he tried to gather his thoughts. He remembered it like it was yesterday.

They sat by the lake taking in the beautiful scenery. It was summertime a light breeze blew in the smell of the lake and pines. The sun was setting and hitting the water just right. He mainly stared at her, taking in her breathtaking features. She had beautiful shiny brown hair that she had tucked behind her pointed ears. Her eyes were green like emeralds twinkling in the sunlight. She smelled of summertime and lillys. A slight breeze blew her hair back and he could see the locket he had given her years ago. His heart was overwhelmed with love, he pulled her in for a kiss like it was their last. Unknowing of what was happening around them.

Snap. The cracking noise of a stick startled him from his stupor. He quickly stood shoving the locket in his pocket and looking around. It was probably just an animal he thought to himself. He hadn’t seen other people in months. He didn’t know if there were any other people at this point.

He opened his pocket knife and stuck it in the top of his last can of raviolis as he sat back down.

It watched him from the bush. Studying his every move. The creature didn’t expect to see a human. It was expected that they were all gone at this point. Snap. The creature froze as the human stood abruptly looking around. It watched him eat and swig from a bottle of whiskey. While he cried holding something of importance in his hand. Why would this human be here, why would he be so distraught?

After about half the 5th the man finally passed out holding his bottle; the locket wrapped around his hand as if it was the day she was taken. He dreamed of that moment. A flash of light, the wind turning from a breeze into a whirlwind and her being lifted from his arms. He grasped at her trying to stop whatever was happening only to get her locket tangled in his fingers as it snapped off her neck and she was lifted away from him.

The creature came closer to examine the human, his breathing uneven. The human seemed to be in distress. As the creature hovered over the man. The man opened his eyes and gasped.

The creature was large and embodied a man at first glance but as he looked closer at the creature he noticed long bird-like legs and arms with only three fingers and a black shiny armor encasing its body. The much larger muscular structure hovered over him. It leaned in closer and an odd barrier disintegrated around its head. He could make out facial features that were not human. It’s mouth was vertical and eyes were splotchy and amber colored. Its neck was filled with orifices. As the barrier disappeared the creature's face looked distressed as it breathed in our atmosphere.

With his hungover, groggy state and shaky disposition the man spoke. As he reached for his knife.

“What do you want?”.

He knew he was no match for what was standing above him. He could only hope that whatever forcefield might have been around it was down and would allow him to protect himself. Had this been what took his wife and children from him? Was this something new that he had not encountered yet?

They stared at one another for a moment in silence. The man swung at the creature but was halted with a swift swipe of its hand. The creature leaped away quickly.

The man’s breathing was erratic and uneven. What in the literal fuck just happened? Why didn’t it just kill me? He thought to himself. He stood and looked around. The dew was settling and his fire was nothing but embers at this point. He knew he had to go find more sustenance if he planned on surviving. He leaned down and picked up his whiskey and took another swig to calm his nerves. The locket lay in the dirt next to it. He dusted it off and placed it in his pocket.

The multitudes of people were crammed together in this odd space. It was a large room with an oval opening. Each person had a small implant on the back of their necks. Some would run towards the edge of the room and kill themselves. Many were chaotic, some killing one another. Others just curled up in corners of the ship. At this point they felt as if there was no point in fighting anymore as the large creatures stood around them. Taking one person or another away at a time.

The creature walked up to her and stopped. As the others were hysterical running around like apes she stood staring back at it like it was just another person. The creature cocked its head to the side and studied her a moment longer. Instead of dragging her away It reached its three fingered hand out and gestured towards a door. As weary as she may have been after watching countless people die. She moved towards the door. The creature bounded through the large corridors behind her as she closed her eyes and reached for her neck. Her locket was gone. A tear welled up in her eye and the creature stopped almost confused. It felt her pain and anguish.

How could something so simple have such a complex aura that affected the creatures so significantly?

As they continued down the corridor the creature gestured towards a room. As she entered she noticed a multitude of screens filling the room with different images of what looked like home and earth. That is when she saw him. Another creature walked over to what she could only describe as a control panel. It was an luminescent floating orb when touched, lit up with colors so vibrant the spectrum was indescribable. The screens turned to white noise and the creatures shrieked in agony. The superior creature who had escorted her to the room nudged her towards the orb. With uncertainty and reverence she placed her hand on it. It began glowing in beautiful shades of purple and pink and the screen lit up with an image of her husband.

He was walking down a canopied dirt road not far from the lake they were at the day she was taken. They had traveled down the road many times together to sit by the lake and enjoy one another's company. He looked disheveled and tired. She could tell he wasn’t himself. His beard was scruffy and his eyes darkened. He was searching for something but she didn’t know what. She could feel him, his presence, his laughter, his love. He still knew she was alive and she knew he wouldn’t give up. She watched him look toward the open door of their cabin. He pulled his knife and began searching the rooms. She fell to her knees as tears rolled down her cheeks.

He finally reached the store. The windows were busted out so there was no point in using the door anymore. He walked down the disorderly isles rummaging through hoping to find anything that he could eat. A can rolled across the floor at the end of the aisle in front of him. He paused.

“Hello? Anyone there?”

Silence answered him back. He slowly walked down the aisle curious as to what could be at the end. Knowing that the can wouldn’t have rolled by itself. He picked it up. Kidney beans. "Hum." He stuffed it in his bag. He called out again.

“Hello?”

Still nothing that he could see or tell. He quickly exited the store and began walking towards the liquor store. He needed some more booze to get him by for the next few days. He was going to have to make a new base camp soon and move closer to where people were. The stores were ransacked and had little left. All the homes around the lake had been emptied by him. There was really no way he could continue to wait and hope for her return. He gathered the rest of the supplies he could find and scrounge together and started his trek back to their cabin.

He returned to find the door open. He knew he had closed it. As he entered the small living room area where his children once played he could hear their screams of joy and laughter again. He hated being here but it was the only place that gave him comfort in this dystopia. He pulled out his knife and began searching the rooms one by one.

The creature lurks in the dark corners of the ceiling watching him. Waiting for the moment to pounce. As the man walked into the room it screeched and fell. Its brain waves were scrambled, anxious, confused. He stood frozen, looking at the creature as it scrambled to stand back up. It thrashed and pushed him aside as it ran through the door. He laid in the living room unconscious.

A monster began running towards her and she could feel the threat. It was going to kill her. Another scooped her up and brought her to its chest. It used nothing but a force that was indescribable to push the others back as it carried her off. She could feel its human-like breathing. Surprisingly it’s touch was warm and comforting. She was unsure how to feel about what just happened. Is he still alive? Where is this thing taking me? Knowing that she had no power over what was happening she allowed the creature to take her away from the chaos that was ensuing. It waved its hand above her and with a flash of light she became unconscious

“Hello?” His voice rang from the other room.

“Ian?” She walked towards his voice. Her environment began to become more clear. As she saw him lying on the living room floor of their cabin. She knelt next to him. Something wasn’t quite right. This wasn’t their home but it was him. He was alive. She was touching him. After all these months they were together again. He sat up looking at her in confusion. She embraced him sobbing.

“I can’t believe it is really you!”

He wrapped his muscular arms around her embracing her smell. She still smelled of summertime and lilies even after all these months. Was he dreaming? He reached for his pocket and felt her necklace. As he pulled it from his pocket he felt her hand touch his.

“ I can’t believe you kept it all this time.”

He was struggling to speak as he was hemorrhaging blood from the contusion on his head.

She reached back and felt the moisture and began sobbing again.

The creature from before reached in touching them both and an overwhelming feeling came over them. A whaling came from the other room. They both looked towards the children's bedroom. He stood a little woozy but whatever they had done he was healing quickly. As they walked towards the room together they saw their children sleeping. The smallest fussing slightly.

The light walkers watched intently as the family interacted. There was more to them than the typical humans. Maybe there was hope for humanity after all.

To be continued.