100TC #3 - Dark

Now for the daily 100 Themes writing challenge text, I have decided to go with a short story this time. One that is based on a dream I had that has left a strong impression on me. Please enjoy, for today's theme is one of my favourites : Dark

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- DARK -

They came with the rain

The night was pitch black, no trace of light to be seen, apart from the faint, eerie glowing of the lights of the city dead. Such an immense town, once full of life; memories of a past long gone. Still in the dead of night the street and building lights would light up, as if there was still life in this here town. But there was none. It was all but a reminder of the life that once was there; a reminder of what we had lost, never to come back. There was only a few of us left, not enough to give any sense to those glowing lights though. And so here I was, running through the empty streets of this colossal town in the dead of night with only the faint dead light of the once-living buildings to guide me. I had to make it there fast, before it was too late. There was barely any hope left, but I would give my everything, I would give my last breath to save them. They are the world to me and there is nothing I have ever held dearest; my beloved wife and my baby daughter. We were separated but there is still hope. I can make it to them before it is too late. I can and I will, I know it. 

And so for what seemed like hours I run. I run. I never stop, in the dark I run without taking even the fragment of a second to catch my breath. I run until I reach it. This is it, this building, it is there, still lit as if it was inhabited. I make my way in. This place was once a prestigious hotel and inside, it still looks as if it would have been in business only yesterday. Everything happened so quickly, things did not have time to change really. Everything is still there, unchanged, as if time stopped itself. As if the Earth got rid of its inhabitants in the blink of an eye. Which is, come to think of it, pretty much what happened. I prayed to the gods the elevator still worked, and to my relief it does. 

So I make my way to the highest floor from which I then climb to the roof. And here I am, on the roof of one of the tallest buildings of this once great and lively city. I take a quick glance, but cannot find them. That is where they should have been, my wife and daughter. Where were they??? I start running around, trying to find them, screaming their names, when finally I hear her voice. My beautiful wife’s voice, screaming my name in return. I turn around to realize where she is. She is in front of me, on the roof too... but onto the next building. She is there, smiling at me, our daughter in her arms. There is this huge gap between us, for I am in the wrong building. Yet I am so happy to see her, finally, we are back together. She is not that far, I can almost reach her. I scream at her to stay where she is and tell her I will come as quick as I can. We exchange a smile, my heart feels so warm. We have been separated for ever so long, I did not even think I would see them again. I know I have to make it to them as fast as I can, but I cannot stop myself for admiring them. The smile on my wife’s face is the greatest treasure I could wish for. 

I am soon awoken from my reverie. I could see the look on my wife’s face change from a smile to a startled expression. What is going on? What is that cold sting I feel on my head? One more on my face? Oh dear lord... please... not this... I move my hand up to my cheek, only to realize it is... rain. Cold rain... They come with the rain. I move my eyes back up from my hand to my wife and daughter... only to realize they are not alone anymore. Here it is, right above my loves. That... creature. Gigantic, its dark wings open wider than the length of the street. Its crooked body bent over my wife, grasping her in whatever matter of claw it has. Its monstrous face glaring at me with a grin that sends the worst chill down my spine. Its wings closed. I can hear my wife and daughter’s screams fading into the distance... I am too late. They had come with the rain. And now they are there for me as well. 

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Art by H.R. Giger

(C) Copyright 2014 Hope Alexander aka David Giroux for the text