“NaNoWriMo 2020 Pt. 6”

Author’s Note: This is a Take Ten to Write story and has not been proofread for errors. If I feel inspired or if there’s interest in the story, I’ll post a revised, edited, and extended version at a later date. Happy reading!

Additional note: In honour of National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo), all 30 stories written in the month of November will (hopefully) create a single multi-part story that will reach its conclusion by the end of the month. Stay tuned for a new story part every day!

Read the compiled NaNoWriMo TTtW story here!

MASON’S POV

Garrett would’ve been so disappointed in me.

I sigh as I wipe the last of the tomato’s juices from my mouth. He would’ve scolded me for not rationing it out, but I was hungry, so I ate the tomato.

Garrett isn’t here anyway, so I can do whatever I want.

I let another big sigh as I kick around some of the ashes. As far as I can tell, this fire was pretty recent. Which means that I just missed the action. Which is both a blessing and a curse.

On one hand, I would’ve loved being able to see actual people again. But on the other hand, I’m glad I’m still alive.

A sudden fluttering sound scares the crap out of me. Immediately, I scramble for shelter.

My heart pounds as I peek out from the burnt flaps of fabric that are all that make up the singed tent. Two pure white birds are flapping around right beside the campsite.

My mouth drops open. I haven’t seen another living creature in what feels like forever.

I have no idea what comes over me, but I find myself approaching these beautiful, pure birds. They ignore me completely and let me approach until I can see every single perfect feather on their bodies.

I’ve decided: I’m keeping them. Somehow, I’m going to capture them and they’ll be my companions during the apocalypse.

I set down my backpack to find the length of rope that I found at a city a few weeks ago. I’m in the process of tying an extremely crude lasso when a sharp snap echoes around.

The birds’ heads shoot up as they try to find the source of the sound. I do the same, allowing my eyes to dart around.

I don’t see anything.

Still keeping an eye out, I go back to tying my rope. Just as the first loop is finished, I’m hit with a wave of regret. What am I doing, capturing these beautiful creatures? Have I really sank so low that I want to force these birds to suffer the same pain of flightlessness as me?

I let out a disgusted sigh and let the rope drop from my hands. They deserve to be free.

I’m about to try scaring them off when a flash of movement catches my eye.

There, in the forest, behind the birds. A teenaged girl, maybe one or two years older than me.

My heart jumps. Another human being.

I raise my hand to catch her attention, but her eyes are fixed on my two friends. She raises her hand, pointing a quivering finger at me.

Before I have a chance to yell or move or do anything at all, the world is engulfed in flames.

Final Comments: Okay, so I went a bit over ten minutes with this one. But I had to get to the actual plot portion!!

Overall Rating: 😏