Freeway Skys

As the sky grew dark again, and the air thick with the stench of despair, Earths few survivors scattered, finding shelter to wait out the night sky until dawn appeared once more.

As she search silently through the empty and deserted hallways for supplies left and long forgotten looking for salvation in the dim light. Emma felt around in her pocket, fingers caked with dirt and pain, desperately searching for the silver locket, familiar and true, she felt it and grasped it tightly, eyes squeezing shut, transcended to another place, another time, given to her by her love. A love gone but never forgotten in the aftermath.

Spoilt by a wretched mindless society, this was her only reminder of what once was. The locket represented the hope and longing she’d felt, replaced now by empty, filthy halls, broken stairs, endless nights, screams of loneliness and despair. The heart wrenching silence of so many souls, released and now lost in this fidget world.

A putrid smell interrupts her thoughts now blanketing Em as she crouches quietly, tired and alone waiting to for the dawn. Eyes burning from the fumes, and hopelessness filling her lungs with dread.

Lost in her thoughts once again, reminded of the madness when the last were depleted, the hideous leaders refused to see, but continued to play egotistical games. All gone now. That life, the one she’d lived was only recalled in dreams and whimsical memories. That life was before the air was spoiled, but somehow she had overcome it.

Somehow Em had been forgotten and forced to overcome the horrors of a new world and reality.

As her thoughts scattered, unorganised and unsequenced, mottled by near starvation and deep sadness her mind returned to that day. Em knew they’d come to save the few.

As the survivors disappeared one by one without a trace she wondered had they perished or was it somehow something else, could it be that they were not alone.

In a misted memory from a different time she recalled looking up into the dark sky and seeing the beautiful trial of minuscule lights gliding through the sky. They were so high it was hard to see them but she knew from that moment other beings where watching, they where close and had no fear of us. Em knew that one day all of earth would know what had been plain, considered crazy yet inevitable. There was something out there deep in space, yet right beside us, hidden in plan site for so long. They had come many times, had taught and tried to guide us over the millennium. She witnessed them march through the sky like the car lights on the freeway. Marvelled at the beauty and know how. Warmed by the idea that this wasn’t all there was.

Now alone in the dark holding her precious Locket she prayed that they would come for her, to take away from this wretched existence and show her, finally what was beyond this earth.

It was then that she realised she was no longer alone in the silence, she could feel the presence, an intense gaze that sent chills through her body, the hairs on her arms standing tall as goosebumps devoured her body, shivering in anticipation for what was coming.

Emma closed her eyes tight, feeling the rapid thudding of her own heart, beads of sweat forming on her brow. Waiting, barely breathing.

As the warmth enveloped her she knew it had her in it grasp. Then quiet. All of her senses numb, head pounding in rythum with her beating heart she was lifted. Darkness, air moving rapidly across her body. Her mind went blank, unable to organise a thought, no pain, no smell, just oblivion.

Emma’s eyes fluttered as she tried to focus, but couldn’t make out anything. She was laying quietly desperately searching her mind to understand the sensations around her.

Emma’s arms moved around her searching once again for anything familiar. She realised she was naked, her body laid bare, and raw. Unable to truely take in her surroundings, bright and clear, warmth and a sweet smell lingering in her nostrils.

As she slowly sat up, vision returning, still fuzzy and criptic shapes forming in her mind. Emma could finally make out a room, opening to an oasis. She could hear the rumbling of water, feel warmth on her skin, and see a gown laid on a recliner type structure just within her reach. Em stretched out her clean arm, slender fingers feeling for it, overwhelmed by an acute sense of self, pulling it over her, light and like silk against her body.

Her eyes widened as the reality of where she was began to sink in. Voices approaching she staggered to a stand, unsure of who or what was appoching. Just then Em realised she’d been taken, rescued, the oasis in front was another land, another planet, full of life.

He approached her gliding across the floor as if to not be touching it. The gravity seemed different, forgiving, light and easy. Stretching out a hand, the skin red in tone, only three fingers, long and smooth outstretched in a gentle motion.

Em took it in hers, a rushing sense of love and beauty enveloped her, she was feeling peaceful and protected. The fear and uncertainty gone, moving easily across the smooth ground. As Em scanned the landscape she could see hundreds of human like forms busy going about their numerous duties. Massive creatures never imagined also everywhere, gliding alongside the human like beings. Hand in hand.

She looked up to the face of her creature, smooth features a fine nose like structure opening and closing in time with his breath. Eyes slightly further apart than what was her normal, large and kind looking down at her. No ears could be make out, but as he lent toward her, she could make out tiny triple openings where present, fine white hairs all over the red like skin. His mouth was lipless and large, the fine hairs broken and shorter than other places. The expression unfamiliar, kind, open, sensing my apprehension he spoke.

“Your in a new world, a world in harmony, and I’m your friend “

Em squeeze his hand tightly realising his was her salvation, knowing he was her partner and would one day be her lover, barely able to contain her joy she wept and in a moment of gratitude responded “thank you”