The Ladies of Horror
Picture-Prompt Writing Challenge!

Scurry
by Kim Richards

The sun rose upon a dirty and dead land. Dust whirling about in the air obscured its light, reducing it to a dull glow on the horizon. This place had no need of its warmth as nothing remained to drink in the rays. The grass vanished long ago along with the animals. Blackened tree trunks jutted skyward as though begging the gods to restore life. Whatever gods there once were no longer paid attention to this ruined world.

Only the roaches survived. Roaches and men, who dug themselves bunkers beneath the earth and stone. They filled the bunkers with food and water. The smart ones figured out ways to purify the air and grow things. When the hellfire erupted, both bug and human scurried into those dark places. The dumb ones starved over time and died but not before they ate roaches and roaches ate them. No one waited to be rescued; none shared what they  had. Many lost their hope; others their minds. Mankind, born of dust, succumbed when it clogged their lungs and choked out all things born and grown.

Son, I tell you this–not as a warning to be better stewards of our planet or we risk this becoming our legacy. I tell you because it is time to scurry…down into our bunker. Just follow the roaches…they know the way.

Fiction © Copyright Kim Richards
Image courtesy of Pixabay.