Short Stories
It Comes
Can you hear it?
That low thudding sound?
It’s been there for weeks now, in the background, slowing driving me mad.
It’s hard to describe. Reminds me of the low rhythmic thump-thump of a helicopters rotors in the distance.
Only not quite the same.
It’s different, this sound.
Only its not so much a sound.
It’s more of a feeling.
You don’t hear the thudding, you feel it.
In every cell, every nerve, every bone in your body.
Do you not hear it?
Do you not feel it?
It’s been getting louder. Each thud more powerful than the last.
They’re coming.
I don’t know who they are, or what they will do.
But they are coming.
Am I scared?
Of course I am scared!
We should all be scared.
For they are coming, and there’s nothing we can do to stop them.
Wait.
The sound. It’s changed.
The rhythm has changed.
It’s not thumping any more.
It’s humming.
It’s time! They are close.
The humming is getting louder.
Please stop! Make it stop!
Why am I the only one that has noticed?
Why is everyone walking around like nothing is happening?!
The humming is getting even louder.
It’s changing pitch. Getting higher and higher, louder and louder.
Is this the end?
Have we had our time?
I hope not. I had so much more to do.
So much more to offer.
The humming is so loud now.
I can barely hear myself think.
Even the noise of the city is being drowned out.
Still nobody has noticed!
Still people go about their daily business!
Don’t they know its all over?
Don’t they realise this is it?!
Wow. Is it me or is the sun getting brighter?
It’s definitely getting brighter, I can see down that alleyway now.
I couldn’t before. How strange.
Now people are starting to notice. They’re looking around, at each other.
Now they’re looking up at the sky.
It’s getting so bright!
Everyone is shielding their eyes. The light is starting to hurt.
The humming is becoming more of a scream.
Less rhythmic, more solid wall of noise.
My heart is pounding in my chest. I can barely breath
People are starting to panic. They’re starting to put their hands to their ears.
They hear it too!
They hear the noise now!
Wait. That’s not the sun.
The sun isn’t getting brighter.
There’s something in the sky. What is it?
It’s on fire. There’s something burning in the sky.
It’s getting bigger. Should I run?
No, what’s the point?
You can’t outrun them.
They will find you wherever you hide.
The sky is so bright now.
There’s no blue left.
It’s all white.
My eyes are closed and I can tell the sky is white.
I can’t move. Why can’t I move?
Wait. It’s dark again.
The sound has stopped.
Dare I open my eyes?
Yes. I must!
Everything looks normal.
People have stopped running.
They’ve stopped screaming and crying.
Everyone is standing still.
Everyone is looking in the same direction.
Everyone has the same look on their face.
I need to turn around.
Why is it so hard to move?
What is everyone looking at?
Why can’t I hear a thing? Even the birds have stopped singing in the park.
It’s so quiet.
What is everyone looking at?
I’m looking in the same direction now and I don’t see....
Oh.
Crap....
That low thudding sound?
It’s been there for weeks now, in the background, slowing driving me mad.
It’s hard to describe. Reminds me of the low rhythmic thump-thump of a helicopters rotors in the distance.
Only not quite the same.
It’s different, this sound.
Only its not so much a sound.
It’s more of a feeling.
You don’t hear the thudding, you feel it.
In every cell, every nerve, every bone in your body.
Do you not hear it?
Do you not feel it?
It’s been getting louder. Each thud more powerful than the last.
They’re coming.
I don’t know who they are, or what they will do.
But they are coming.
Am I scared?
Of course I am scared!
We should all be scared.
For they are coming, and there’s nothing we can do to stop them.
Wait.
The sound. It’s changed.
The rhythm has changed.
It’s not thumping any more.
It’s humming.
It’s time! They are close.
The humming is getting louder.
Please stop! Make it stop!
Why am I the only one that has noticed?
Why is everyone walking around like nothing is happening?!
The humming is getting even louder.
It’s changing pitch. Getting higher and higher, louder and louder.
Is this the end?
Have we had our time?
I hope not. I had so much more to do.
So much more to offer.
The humming is so loud now.
I can barely hear myself think.
Even the noise of the city is being drowned out.
Still nobody has noticed!
Still people go about their daily business!
Don’t they know its all over?
Don’t they realise this is it?!
Wow. Is it me or is the sun getting brighter?
It’s definitely getting brighter, I can see down that alleyway now.
I couldn’t before. How strange.
Now people are starting to notice. They’re looking around, at each other.
Now they’re looking up at the sky.
It’s getting so bright!
Everyone is shielding their eyes. The light is starting to hurt.
The humming is becoming more of a scream.
Less rhythmic, more solid wall of noise.
My heart is pounding in my chest. I can barely breath
People are starting to panic. They’re starting to put their hands to their ears.
They hear it too!
They hear the noise now!
Wait. That’s not the sun.
The sun isn’t getting brighter.
There’s something in the sky. What is it?
It’s on fire. There’s something burning in the sky.
It’s getting bigger. Should I run?
No, what’s the point?
You can’t outrun them.
They will find you wherever you hide.
The sky is so bright now.
There’s no blue left.
It’s all white.
My eyes are closed and I can tell the sky is white.
I can’t move. Why can’t I move?
Wait. It’s dark again.
The sound has stopped.
Dare I open my eyes?
Yes. I must!
Everything looks normal.
People have stopped running.
They’ve stopped screaming and crying.
Everyone is standing still.
Everyone is looking in the same direction.
Everyone has the same look on their face.
I need to turn around.
Why is it so hard to move?
What is everyone looking at?
Why can’t I hear a thing? Even the birds have stopped singing in the park.
It’s so quiet.
What is everyone looking at?
I’m looking in the same direction now and I don’t see....
Oh.
Crap....