You Killed Us
1140 Words
I hear a laugh. A very adorable laugh that I wish I'm the funniest person in this world to keep that laugh going forever. It's Hera's laugh. She barges into my room with her smile. She's hiding something behind her. I don't know what it is. Then she stops inches from me, waiting for me to talk to her.
I'm at my desk, studying for the exam tomorrow. I don't want to fail it or the beast will punish me for eternity.
“What is it, Hera?” I ask, putting up a smile.
“Guess what? Father bought me something.”
She shows me the action figure of Zeus. A limited-edition and it looks glorious in person than on TV! How did he get this?
“That's cool, Hera!”
“Let's play!”
“I'm sorry but I can't. I'm studying.” I gesture at the piling notes and books on my desk.
“It won't take long!” she insists, pulling my arm.
Adjusting my glasses, I nod since I'm almost finished. I can finish it all after dinner. “Okay,” I answer.
“Yay!” she celebrates. In circles in the room, she runs pretending the action figure Zeus is flying.
Whereas I pull out a box from under my bed. It contains all of my toys dating back to the time I don't remember as an infant. They're old and most of their function doesn't work anymore. But I still value them. They're all I have.
I bring it to the middle of the room on the floor. She sits waiting for me to push it near her. As soon as it's only an arm's reach from her, she pulls out toys one by one. I let her choose and I'll make use of what is left.
We play for long minutes and she will show no signs of stopping. Sometimes I regret playing with her when I'm studying. But that doesn't mean I hate playing with her. Actually, I love playing with toys with her. It's just that I'm always in a confusion about how can I manage my time studying.
“Dinner's ready!” says Mom from downstairs.
“Yay!” exclaims Hera letting go of the toys including the limited-edition Zeus.
I couldn't help but feel the pain when she throws it away to crash against the hard floor. She doesn't realize how rare it is!
Every time Mom says dinner, we race. Of course, I let Hera go first or she will get mad and fuss before eating dinner. Climbing down the stairs, Mom scolds us.
“How many times have I told the two of you to not race climbing down the stairs?”
I don't look at her in the eyes and just climb down normally. Hera celebrates sitting on her chair as usual. I sit beside her.
“Alright!” shouts Dad. “Let's get it on!”
He's excited to eat Mom's cooking.
Abruptly, everything fades into grey smoke. The walls, the table, Mom, Hera, Dad, and everything. Then they form into grasses, the mountain of Olympus, the clouds, and the sky. It's Hades District! It's so beautiful as always. Olympus is shining bright in the sky. I wonder if I ever get to stand there. I'm carrying my huge backpack and comfortable clothes for the hot climate.
“Leo, wait up!” shouts Sander behind me.
I turn and see him running to catch up to me. Philip is running behind him too. As soon they caught up, we walk steadily to somewhere I forgot. It doesn't matter anyway. I just want to chill with these guys.
“Where are we going again?” I ask.
Sander answers, “To Philip's house, duh…”
Closing his eyes in regret, Philip says, “I warned the two of you. Don't you blame me when you get uncomfortable.”
We laugh at his face, teasing him but he's good at keeping his temper at bay.
“I hope we don't die of cringe,” says Sander.
I add, “We apologize in advance since we may accidentally disclose confidential information to your mother.”
“Not funny,” says Philip, showing us his disinterested face.
“What're you worrying for?” I ask. “It'll be fine.”
I tap his back and he becomes a smoke—as everything did after him. They swirl around to the horizon and build up into the towering buildings that never failed to amaze me. The wind with the snow is so cold, my throat feels dry that eventually makes my whole body shiver. Then I feel a warm hand in mine. To my right, Macky is walking beside me. Although we wear gloves, they don't stop me from feeling her warmth.
“It's so cold,” she shivers and puffing out mist.
Her scarf reaches her mouth to keep her warm. Using her mom's wool hat, it's a little bit oversized for her but she looks cute. I adjust my glasses to see very clearly how she looks, not missing this for a second.
“Let's get hot chocolate,” I suggest.
“Okay,” she smiles.
I take her to the cafe. We still hold hands and some bitter guy murmurs his jealousy as we pass by.
“Go to hell, normies,” he mutters.
What an incel. Get a life and a girl, man!
Her hand is so small and cute. I wish this peaceful and wonderful time won't end. Thanks to the King and Olympus, we enjoy the moment of peace.
“I wish this will last forever,” I whisper to her.
She stops walking and looks at me with seemingly hollow eyes. “But it can't.”
“Why not?” I ask. I'm confused.
“I'm already dead.”
The words strike me like an axe splitting my skull. Her head bleeds suddenly, her skin is getting pale, veins darken on her face, and her eyes are pools for maggots to enjoy.
“Macky?” I ask, slowly walking back. “What's going on?”
With her torn rotten lips, she says, “It's because you wanted to be the King… You failed to protect me.”
“Where were you, Leo?” asks someone behind me.
I turn and exclaim, “Mom?!! What happened to you?!!”
She looks just like Macky. They look like corpses. Maybe they are!
“You killed us, Leo…,” says Dad.
“You abandoned us,” says Hera, sticking her rotten face on my stomach.
The stench! I can't handle this. Then I just realize billions of dead people are coming towards me.
“Get away from me!” I shout but they couldn't hear through their rotting eardrums. “NO!!!”
- Writer
