Christmas At Ground Zero - Weird Al Yankovic

Merry Christmas!

Of course, because of various circumstances and poor timing of particular events, we’re putting off Christmas until Thursday.

Trust me, we can use the extra time.

All that aside, I thought I’d continue the ‘end of the world’ theme and give you more of my post-apocalyptic story. 

Enjoy.

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The Promised Land: (Part 2) The Outsider

Eden grasped her throat as she wheezed and stared at the soldiers with big, fearful blue eyes. One of the soldiers shouted something, but his gas mask muffled whatever it was he said. Eden tried screaming, but her throat burned too much. When she didn’t answer, the soldier raised his rifle and the others followed suit. Eden fell to her knees in fear, trying desperately to say something. Anything. In a split second, she heard three gunshots and the man in front of her crumpled to the ground. The other soldiers started looking around frantically and shooting at something in the air. Eden saw a flash of silver as she was jerked to her feet. Something grabbed hold of her wrist and she was forced to run just to keep from falling. Rata-tata-tat. Tap, tap, tap. Rata-tata-tat. Tap, tap, tap. Eden looked back to watch the soldiers fall to the ground one by one. The force pulling her along slowed and suddenly let go. Eden found herself on the ground staring at an overcast sky.  The clouds were a sickly green color, with the sun fighting to shine through. A dark shape with red eyes appeared in her view just as her vision darkened. Eden felt something cover her nose and mouth before she passed out.

~*~*~*~

When Eden came to, she opened her eyes and stared at a greenish-red overcast sky. She sat up and looked straight ahead. Eden was sitting in a grassy field, but the grass was brown and dead, just like the sight across the tattered road ahead of her. The site looked as though it used to be a college campus at some point in time. With murky comprehension, Eden realized she was staring at her own beloved school. The buildings she often went to class in were falling apart. Whatever walls were still standing were filled with gaping holes. The red and brown bricks were now black and grey. Rubble filled the sidewalks. All the flowers were gone. The trees were splintered and dead. The overcast sky above the campus had a deep red tint to them as the sun faded in the distance. Tears came to Eden’s eyes as she took in the scene. It was as if someone had dropped a bomb on her life while she slept… Or on her school. Or perhaps the apocalypse happened in her sleep. Or maybe time sped up and sent her into a horrible future. Or maybe she was in an alternate world altogether. Eden’s mind raced with these possibilities as she continually failed to grasp why her life was in shambles before her.

Eden covered her mouth and inhaled a shaky breath.

A snap from behind caused Eden to jump and turn around. A fire was roaring behind her. Sitting on either side of the fire were two young men. The scene was a mirrored painting. On the right side of the fire sat a boy with silver hair, clad in grey and white. On the left side sat a boy with black hair, clad in green and black. Maybe it was the way the fading sunlight struck them. Maybe it was how well the two mirrored each other. Either way, Eden felt she was looking at the personified dichotomy of good and evil. Light and dark.

Eden was so enthralled in the scene that she did not stop to see the smaller details. She never noticed the large camo backpack or the black, oblong case sitting beside Silver (as she subconsciously named him)... Or the small bag sitting in Black’s lap… Or the guns at his feet.

Black looked up from the fire and stared. To Eden’s horror, his irises turned deep red. She involuntarily shrank back and was wondering whether or not to make a run for the hills when he spoke.

“You don’t have to be afraid.” His voice was calm and steady, with a trace of annoyance. “We’re not going to hurt you. If anything, we just saved your life.” His eyes stopped glowing and turned to a dark color as he stared back at the fire. Eden realized now his light-haired companion was staring at her.

Silver offered a wide grin and friendly wave. She half raised her hand in response, still wondering whether or not reality had abandoned her. Silver motioned for her to come over and sit with them. A chill ran up Eden’s spine as the wind picked up. Weighing her options, the warmth of a roaring fire seemed worth whatever risk was involved.

“If it is a dream,” she thought, “I might as well go along with it.”

Assuming her best bet was not to join the dark side, she sat by Silver. Eden raised her shaky hands to the fire and looked from one guy to the other. Being closer to the light of the fire, Eden realized that the two males looked younger than she at first guessed. 15? 16? Probably somewhere between 15 and 17, she decided.

Sniffling a little, Eden asked, “Who are you? Where am I?” The last question was asked in hopes that she didn’t really wake up in the same world she fell asleep in.

“You’re in Freedom. Or what’s left of it,” Black answered. He glanced at the debris and drank from a steaming metallic mug.

“Freedom?” Eden echoed, as she struggled to remember ever hearing of such a place. “What happened here? Where is everybody? And you still haven’t told me who you are yet!”

Black lowered his mug. “You give us your name, missy, and I’ll decide if you get ours.” Seeing Eden’s offended expression, he added, “Hey, you were in the one surrounded by soldiers.” He took another swig of his hot drink.

Eden folded her arms in aggravation. “My name is Eden. Eden Teknia. I’m from Tennessee. I go to school here. At least, I did before I woke up this morning”

“Nice story,” Black muttered as he stood up and handed the mug to Silver. “Where are you really from?”

“I just told you!” Eden’s anger vanished into fear as Black’s eyes turned red again. He stared at her for a minute before they turned back. He sat down as if nothing happened and prodded the fire with a stick. His thick dark eyebrows pressed together in thought. “You… you really don’t know, do you?”

A Great Destiny - Jonathan Maiocco

I'm a nerd. Deal.

It’s been a while since I posted anything story-wise. I figured I would let you guys see a bit of my newest work (they’re multiplying, I know). Hopefully, I can get a good portion (if not all) of it done over break. Here’s hoping.

This is the beginning. I seem to start out with some really annoying main characters (in my opinion). Hopefully, most of them turn out semi-decent by the end. *shrugs *

Anyhow, on with the story.

You can listen to this while you read, if you like epic instrumental background music. If not, that’s ok too. At the end is a song that is sort of the theme for this story. Sort of. Some lyrics fit more than others, but you’ll get the gist of it.

Happy reading. 

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The Promised Land

“Is this worth dying for?”

Eden stared at the brown parcel in her hands. Visions of her journey thus far plagued her mind as she searched for an answer. How much had she lost just for her to end up here? Had she gained anything at all? Here in the midst of the enemy’s clutch, she was defenseless. Yet something nagged at her, eating through her very core. Something that screamed, “It doesn’t end here.”

Eden continued to stare as tears filled her eyes. “I’m not giving up.”

The Promised Land: War of Change (Part 1)

“There’s nothing to eat.” Eden Teknia poked at the food on her plate: mashed potatoes and some sort of meat masquerading as chicken. It was lunchtime and the university cafeteria was full of noisy students, just like it is at noon every day. Eden wasn’t tuned in to the conversation of her friends, having lost interest a while ago. With a sigh, she shoved the plate away, stood up, and walked to the grill, looking for a burger.

She impatiently picked bits of fluff off her brown long-sleeved sweater while waiting. It was mid-October, but this week had been the first time Tennessee weather decided to agree with the calendar. Eden wouldn’t normally have minded the weather change, but she was still getting over a cold and the low temperatures weren’t helping any. When she finally received her burger, she was disgusted to find the meat patty charred. As if it weren’t bad enough that she had a headache and wasn’t feeling well now the school expected her to eat charcoal?

“What is this?” Eden demanded of the cook. She continued before the man could answer. “This is completely burned! I’m not paying $20,000 a year for burned food! Why do you even work here? Never mind, I’m getting something else.” With a sharp motion she set the plate on the counter and stormed back to her table.

Eden tapped her friend Mary on the shoulder. “Hey, I want to go to Taco Bell. Can you drive?”

“Sure,” Mary replied in a somewhat hesitant voice. Eden pulled on her jean jacket, grabbed her backpack, and headed out the door. Fifteen minutes later, Eden and Mary sat in the lobby of the girls’ residence hall, munching on delicious tacos and quesadillas.

“How did you do on your psych quiz this morning?” Mary asked between bites.

Eden crumpled a taco wrapper into a ball. “Bombed, like always. The teacher has no idea what he’s doing. He makes the quizzes overly complicated.”

“Have you settled on a major yet?”

“Nope. I thought about Education, but I don’t think I can handle being in a room with a bunch of snotty brats every day. ”

“That’s a little harsh.” Mary refrained from mentioning that she was an Elementary Education major. “What about a lawyer?”

“Like my dad? Nah, too much paperwork.” Eden took a sip of Mountain Dew before continuing. “I like the idea of being a doctor, but that requires a lot of science classes.”

“Whatever you decide to do will require a lot of classes.” Mary checked her watch to keep track of time. “I have a 1:30, so I better get going.” Grabbing her backpack, Mary waved as she headed out.

Eden collected the trash and threw it away. She slung her backpack onto a shoulder and walked back to her room, her headache having decided to abate for the time being. On her way to the second floor, her phone rang.

“Hey,” she answered.

“Do you want to try explaining the two Ds first or should we skip straight to the F?”

“Why don’t we go over the two As instead?”

“Don’t be smart with me.”

“Love you too, mom,” Eden muttered as her headache returned. She stayed silent as her mother ranted about responsibility. Eden took her time getting to her door at the end of the hall. Her mother was about finished when Eden unlocked the door and stepped inside the empty room. She let her bag slide off her shoulder and onto the floor with a loud thud.

“Listen, mom,” Eden said at last, trying to get off the phone. “It’s only midterms, I have plenty of time to bring up my grades before finals. My afternoon class today cancelled and I have a headache, so I’m going to take a nap now. OK?”

There was a long pause as Eden heard her mom sigh on the other end. “Honey, I just want you to do well.”

“I know.”

“I’m sorry you’re not feeling good.”

“It’s ok.”

“Are you coming home for Thanksgiving break?”

“Yes, mom.” It was hard for Eden not to sound annoyed, but she was glad her mother wasn’t angry any more. “Can I take a nap now?”

“Oh, right. I’m sorry, honey. I’ll let you go. I love you.”

“Love you too, mom. Bye.”

Eden hung up and flopped onto the bed. Though it wasn’t quite as soft as her bed back home, it was welcome reprieve from a stressful day. Eden didn’t bother taking off her shoes or jacket. She didn’t even bother setting the alarm. She curled up with her soft plush turtle, pulled a comforter over her head, and fell asleep.

~*~*~*~

It was dark when Eden woke up. It wasn’t a sound that woke her, but a smell. It started out as the faint smell of wood burning, like a campfire, but then it grew stronger. So strong that she woke up choking on smoke.

Eden rolled off the bed with a painful thump and crawled to the door in panic. Tears stung her eyes as she tried to see through the smoke. The door was already open and Eden heard a lot of noise in the hall. 

Unable to stop coughing, Eden stood up and ran to the nearest exit, down the stairs, and outside. She collapsed to her knees as she continued to cough. The air smelled worse outside than it did inside. It was a foul odor, similar to the smell in Eden’s biology classroom. The same stench her classmates jokingly referred to as the smell of death. It burned her nostrils and clogged her lungs. The noise Eden heard in the hall was also louder outside. All Eden could make out was garbled shouting and an uneven tapping sound. 

Rata-tata-tata-tat. Shouting. Tap, tap, tap.  More shouting. Rata-tata-tata-tat. Eden’s cough dwindled to a wheeze as she struggled to breathe. She stood up and tried to keep walking. She stopped when five figures dressed in camo surrounded her. Every one of them wore a gasmask and each one held a gun pointed directly at her. 

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Here's the theme song, as promised. Like I said, this will give you a basic gist of the story. 

~ Never Alone ~