Running.

Running.

They were all running—things coming and going at speeds that I couldn't imagine, going up and down, side to side—it was all too confusing. Creatures that moved in the black, thin night descended upon the people as the moon was hidden behind inky clouds that blew across the midnight sky. Though I couldn’t see without my glasses, I kept running. It was either stopped and be slaughtered, or keep running blindly, hoping not to run into something. With my black tee shirt, blue jacket with jeans and sneakers, a backpack full with things I could survive with (food, water, iPhone, a journal to keep my thoughts and track the days, a map, etc.), I dare not look back.

My feet scattered and scraped along the pavement until I heard the crushing of leaves. I knew then I was in the woods. I was safer this way. Uninterrupted, the leaves blowing and crumbling beneath me, feeling the crisp, hawkish wind blowing against my pale skin, it all seemed so ”bad horror movie”-ish, as if the murderer was waiting for the right moment to take a step closer to its prey then onslaught. Shaking my head clear, I somehow managed to stumble on an up grounded root, making myself turn into a tumble weed down the slanted hill and into a muddy ditch. “Ugh, great! I just had these cleaned!” I pestered to myself. My ear wiggled, the sign of something coming closer. Not knowing what it was I just got up and looked around, barely seeing a little indent in the ground, and quickly crawled in. The indent was just big enough to fit two people and something small—like a cat or dog. In an earshot, I could sense the, well, whatever it was, gone and probably going to hunt for a little girl or someone who isn’t me. I sighed in relief, whispering, “Thank God…I am safe…at least for the night.” I unrolled my pillow, blanket, gathered some leaves and made a cushioned bed. I got the trick from the show “Survivor”. Placing my head down, I dozed off to sleep.

I woke to the sound of the birds, chirping and talking away as the sun arose from the horizon. I sat up and stretched my arms out, feeling they had “fallen asleep” through the night. Peeking my head out to see if it was clear to come out, I crawled out from my little indent and looked around. “Nothing. Great! Just what I need! A break!” Pulling my bag out along with me, I checked what I had left. “Let’s see…um…I have bread that won’t last long, some bottles of water…that would last me a week if I preserve enough, or a day if it is THAT hot out. Like that’s going to happen in the middle of November! Haha!” I chuckle to myself. I reached into my bag and brought out a piece of bread, ripped a chunk off and started to nibble on it. Along with the bread I pulled out my journal, making the first entry.



[Nov. 23 2045.

I am alone…I am not sure if anyone else survived the “beasts” yet I am sure that anyone who is as smart as I would have found a place deep in the ground or hidden. I spent the first night in a little indent carved into the ground. It is big enough to hold some people but not many. I would guess maybe…eh…3 people with animals or more bags. I don’t know how long I will have to stay here or if I will have to become a nomad, and carry on. I will try my best to keep myself alive. That I am sure about…]

Now, with my closed journal in my bag, I marked my spot with a colorful orange circle on trees around it. Hoping I would be able to find my way back without getting lost. I wandered through the forest, the sun beaming down against the leaves that were still clinging onto its branch, the cool wind blew and messed up my hair but I didn’t care. It was already filled with dirt, leaves and God knows what else! Thinking to myself, wondering how my family was and how excited they’re going to be when they see that I am alive, I come to the clearing—it was horrible.

Everywhere—everything I saw was either in ashes, or still burning. Maybe one or two houses still standing but not much had made it through. Only one thought after the first glimpse pierced my mind, “Where…Where is everyone?!” I raced through the ashes, the ashes of hatred and defeat. My blood rushing, my teeth clenched tightly against my jaw, I could feel my heart pounding in my chest. This feeling was unbearable. “Why! Why must it be like this!? What did we do to deserve this!! WHAT! WHA-,“ Right in the middle of my mind ranting, I ran into the stone watch tower door. Relieved that at it was still alright, I opened the door and ran up the stairs to the top. I busted though the top door and looked around, seeing nothing I screamed out, “HELLO!! Anyone!! It’s me!! Anyone?!” –It was silent, just hearing my voice echo back to me with no reply. Feeling my heart disintegrate, my peace shattered, my rage hoisted to the point I started crying. Though, not just any old “Boo hoo” tears—but the kind that came from lost, abandoned, and most of all…revenge. I took out my journal and took note,

[Nov. 23 2043 (later in the day)

I know not what happened or why my hometown was burned down. I only know one thing; whoever did this won’t get away so easily. I will make sure I will use every ounce of strength I have into putting this—this—this BEAST do its death! I must go…it is getting later and later with each passing second. I plan not to waste anything of it.]




I climbed down the tower and ran to the nearest standing house, the door was busted down. It had claw marks—BIG claw marks, so it wasn’t a bear or a wolf that attacked us last night. If not those, then what—and why? This is what I was going to figure out. Gathering all that was left in the town, I brought it back to count. “Let’s see…ah….we got some canned foods, more blankets (How did that make it I haven’t a clue), and wood that didn’t burn. Awesome!” I sighed in shame but it was what withstood everything. I shook my head and started to put everything back in my bag. Looking at the wood I began to think, “What if I made a new door...Yes! That would work!” I got the wood and some left over nails and began to work. (Bang bang bang) went the nails against a rock I found, hoping that it would stay up! I wiped my forehead, it was done.






It was beginning to become twilight as the sun sets along the scarlet sky. I, standing at the tower, watched it and looked around seeing what came out. After a few hours, or so it seemed, nothing came but a few squirrels, and if I was lucky, rabbits. I made a small fire using some left over twigs and clicking two flint stones together, a pot full of soup over it, and a bottle of water to drink. It was going to be another long night. As I was waiting for my soup to warm up I wrote,

[Nov. 23 2045 (Night time)

It is now night and I fear what is there to come. Though I know little, all I can put together about the beasts is that…

1: It can make fire.

2: It is large, maybe bigger than a bear

3: It has large claws and can blend with the nightfall

I am ready…I have my weapons, my ground, but most of all—my spirit. I won’t let it win, no matter what the costs are. I go now—it approaches. This might be my last entry and to whom ever finds this, it was the story of a young girl, who lost all but hope. I, Topaz Scarlet, am ready to sleep forever without any regrets.]




I placed it down, get my spear in hand and descend down the long stairwell. Staring into the eyes of the beasts which stand before me, this was it. This was the time; I had to avenge all who had lost their lives to these grotesque creatures. I heard their feet as it went into action, making myself react without thinking. I go—my spear aimed ahead. Never looking back, never stopping my place, and never fleeing—I run towards them…