Howls From the Wreckage by Christopher O'Halloran

Author:Christopher O'Halloran [Christopher O'Halloran]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Amazon: B0C24YVS6S
Publisher: HOWL Society Press
Published: 2023-04-05T04:01:40+00:00

Serena dove down to help. “You’re bleeding.”

“I know. Fuck.” They scrambled into the corner of the room, and Raven worked on removing the shard. She feared it would gush blood like a geyser when she pulled it out, but the blood oozed slowly down her arm.

Raven’s parents appeared in the doorway. “What happened?” her dad asked.

“The fuckers threw a rock through the window, and she got glass in her arm,” Serena said.

“Jim, you need to say something to them. I’ll get the first aid kit. I can’t believe they came here.”

“Hey!” Mr. Williams ran to the window. “This is private property, so you need to get off my land.”

“OK, Groomer,” Serena’s mom retorted over the megaphone. The crowd laughed and another rock flew through the window.

“I’m calling the police,” Mr. Williams said.

“I’m not coming to help you,” Sheriff Frank Descartes said. The crowd laughed again.

In the distance, a looming darkness was fast moving and heading their way. It swirled like a school of fish, tumbling on top of itself, veering back and forth before adjusting toward the protest, always toward the protest, as if it could smell them.

Serena’s hand squeezed hers. She had been crying, and Raven wanted to wipe those tears away, tell her everything would be okay, even though they both knew it would never be okay. Or, at least, their version of okay would be different than everyone else’s.

An okay that would be perfectly adapted to sitting inside a burning building and remaining calm, always able to find each other, and survive.

Mrs. Williams poured antiseptic on Raven’s wound. It stung like hell, making Raven cry out. Then she wrapped a bandage around her arm, working quickly, like a medic trying to get a soldier out of the line of fire.

“Does it feel better?” her mom asked.

“Do you see that?” Raven pointed out the window into the distance.

“See what?” Her mom looked up. The fog was closer now, and within the town limits. She now doubted it was a cloud. It was intentional. Fast. And moved with purpose.

“What’s that?” Serena asked.

“It’s not good,” Raven said.

“Jim. Do you see that?” her mom asked.

There wasn’t much of a distance now. It was around the block, ready to invade. It seemed unnatural. Not so much of a fog, but more like a swarm of bees on such a massive scale they could destroy a city. The church steeple, which overlooked Raven as the tallest building in town, was consumed by the black mass.

And then another scream. And another. Another. And they were becoming more rapid. The protestors outside finally turned to see the swarm absorbing their town. It was almost upon them. They froze for a second, before rising in a new uproar more chaotic than the protest before. Signs were tossed aside and families corralled their children to scatter in different directions.

“Everybody get inside,” the sheriff shouted, barely audible among the commotion. Then he sprinted down the street, but his legs were unable to keep up. He skidded forward on the pavement, and the cloud neared his flailing body.

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