A ruined world-
When the world ends, only one rule remains. The struggle between opposites fades, and the world is painted by the ruins of what once was. But how does one survive such a world?
[Sbusiso Mnonisi Mabaso]
"In the past 24 hours, the world went to hell; everyone started dying. Planes crashed, I woke up to my son seizing on the floor. The helper hurriedly tried to help him, only to trip and hit her head on the coffee table and die. When I phoned the ambulance, no one answered."
"Sbuu, Sbuu!" As I sat dazed on the floor, not knowing what to do, my son died in my arms, and the helper too. Just when everything was working out, and we confessed our love for each other the other day. BANG!!! My door slammed, and my neighbor, Pastor Zakhele, entered in a panicked state. I couldn't care less, though. I had just lost everything; I couldn't care less about other people. I hugged my son, whose body was already stiffened, his eyes wide open. The eyes that held so much warmth, warm enough to heat up the entire world, had become cold and lifeless.
I heard another bang. Assuming it was the pastor, I turned to look in his direction. Considering that anyone would get shocked by the sight in front of him, I gave a half-hearted smile and uttered, word by word, "T-hey died." The dumbfounded pastor looked at me like he was going to have a panic attack. "I know," he muttered after some time, "of course, I know." His eyes darted around. He staggered to the window like someone who had lost their ability to use one leg, quite literally dragging the other, and opened the curtains, viewing the whole neighborhood. I could see wildfire spreading, the sky dark, covered by rain clouds. And the window was covered by a patch of black smoke.
"What's going on?" I looked at him. He looked at me and smiled in pain. "What if I told you Jesus is coming back?" He stared at me intently. "Do you think this is a freaking joke?" "No, of course not. You think you're the only one who lost their loved ones? My family got burned alive a few minutes ago. I can still hear their screams," he smiled like some kind of maniac. He said he lost everything, yet he's still smiling. "Fuck," I exclaimed, as I saw his bloody hand. "No injuries whatsoever." "What happened?" I said, and pointed at his hand. "What?" he asked and looked at his hand. He extended his palm, and there was a big gash. "I guess I clasped my fist too hard." He wasn't strong; he was just running on pure adrenaline.
I didn't ask any more questions. I slowly put my son's body on top of the couch and Lilitha's (the helper and also my girlfriend) on the other couch. It had been 4 hours since they passed. I opened the TV and hit 191, SABC 1, and the channel had no reception. I clicked on all channels, and finally clicked on Etv, only to be greeted by a horrific scene of a reporter bleeding from her eyes, ears, and mouth. The building behind her was burning. On the entrance, a person got hit by falling debris, and a horrible scream rang out. It was the person being burned alive. The camera switched, and a plane was coming straight for it. The channel went out like the other channels. I assume the plane landed right on the camera crew and reporter.
"You see," the pastor sounded like a madman. It was kind of terrifying. It seemed like he barely even minded the bodies and was in his own little world. Suddenly, a bout of smoke permitted through the gaps in the bedroom door, and fire started engulfing the walls, burning the curtains and roof. The room had become dark in an instant. Before I could say anything, I could feel a hand dragging me. It was Zakhele. "No, my kid." "They're dead, dead!" I yanked my arm off him and carried the two bodies out. One on the shoulder and one by my arm. Zakhele had left the door open, and the fire only just reached my house, so it was not that intense. We raced outside and went out the gate into the streets. It looks like the world has gone to hell. I could see many people from the neighborhood dying one by one. Zakhele's house was already burnt to ashes.
{3!} An indescribable, horrid voice filled with so much power rang next to my ear, scaring me to my bones. How can something like this exist?
I inhaled deeply, trying to calm my heart down. Is this a dream? I don't even know what's going on; a series of events have happened, and I have barely had the time to comprehend any of them.
{2!} The voice appeared again. Zakhele (the pastor) spluttered out blood. Was it the mental trauma he had suffered? The adrenaline must have rescinded. I looked at him and asked, "Did you hear that?" He looked so horrified and he nodded with his red eyes wide open, looking like a crack junkie.
{1!} My brain started buzzing, and all the painful cries of misery stopped. Everyone finally stopped dying. I was already bleeding from my eyes when I snapped back, "What's going on?" Zakhele looked like he had aged considerably. "It's divine retribution."
"Divine retribution, your ass!" I retorted in anger. Suddenly, a big eye with big wings that looked like they were steel feathers suddenly appeared in the sky. It looked so white, even the snow would blush in shame. A loud siren rang out. No, not a siren. It was more of a trumpet.
{All humans-} The horrid, villainous voice that was already haunting my mind came from the evil-looking eye. "What is this?" I could feel my mental fortitude falling apart. Are these aliens culling us? Is it really divine retribution? But why was it speaking in IsiXhosa?
{Today is the day of reckoning. God has spoken; it's time to begin the process. Every human that hasn't died yet is a sinner. All the ones that died have shed their mortal skin and were transferred to heaven. All other sinners are to be revived. All of you deserve to suffer in hell, but God has given you a chance. Unfortunately, that chance only applies to one person. The one who manages to conquer this world.}
The voice rang out once more before the eye in the sky disappeared. "No, no, no. Asoze, how could I have not made it to heaven? I'm a pastor, for God's sake. I grew up in the damn church all my life."
Zakhele murmured. The pit I had in my heart filled up a bit. At least they made it to heaven. I slightly squeezed the bodies and carefully put them down. Although rigid, they weren't completely hardened. At least there's one way forward from here. To conquer this world.
How does one survive a world of madness?
{This world has reached its end, and there's only one rule left: There are no rules. Use whatever means. Good luck!}
Although the devilish-looking eye said we were given a chance, why does it feel like we've just been given a death sentence?
Before I could comprehend the last words, a slightly blue transparent screen appeared in front of me.
"Was that all in my mind?" I looked at Zakhele, inquiring if I was the only one who saw it. He was still looking at where the eye was, looking like he lost all hope. I guess not. Seems like there's no hope for him.
Ding! Suddenly, words appeared on the screen:
[Warning! Leviathan has awoken. Survive the incoming floods and zombification of the chosen ones' bodies.]
What? What the hell is this?
TBC.