75 WORD WRITING CHALLENGE - April 2012 -- VICTORY TO DIGS!

[Warren_Paul]

That Darn Zombie Novel



We promised to love each other forever, through sickness and health, for better or worse. True love transcends every boundary, even a zombie apocalypse.


“Honey, dinner‘s ready.”

Jack started awake, spotting the novel in his lap. "Zombies ate my Iceberg"? It was just a dream.

He sat down at the kitchen table, and looked up at Rose. “I love you”

“Love you too.”

The ship rocked. Her jaw fell off, and landed in his stew.

 

[Perpetual motion]

Dying wish



Bodies lay scattered before him. He choked on his sobs. This truly was the end of times.


“Do it now.” His best friend said, trying his best to stand.


“I… I can’t.” He replied, not able to look at his dying friend.


“You promised. We both did.”


He checked his clip. It was empty, but there was still one in the chamber.


“Sorry.” He said, and put the gun to his own head.

 

[StormFeather]

A New Hope

Red sky at night, the world is alight
Red sky at dawn, the world is reborn​

Craig clung to the prophecy. The night skies had been red for so long now, he could barely remember stars.

Morning was coming. So was the baby. He bowed his head in silent prayer

'Please live. I’ll be the best Daddy in the world. Just live.'

The skies lightened, and a thin, reedy wail greeted the blood-red dawn.

 

[Hex]

The Promises

No life remained, only the skeletons of trees weeping ash onto the emptied land, onto the unnameable remains of monsters and machines. It rolled and blew, formed deserts, mountains, valleys. Pretended to life where there was none.

Ages passed, uncounted.

Then, a swelling grew on a stretching twig, unfurled into the brilliant, unfamiliar green of leaf.

And, from the restless sea, an oddly shaped fish dragged its hopeful way ashore.

 

[r_j_dando]

Loving Lies

Cold days, colder nights.

Fires turn clouded skies red, the scent of smoke hangs on the air, but I can't risk a flame - it might draw them
closer. I’m old enough to know that much.

Four days since our lives shattered and the dead walked. I hold my little sister closer, and stare into the darkness, waiting, hoping.

"We'll be there. I promise."

When do parents stop lying to protect you from the truth?

 

[allmywires]

Til Death


It was like a little death for her, every time a scream faded away. Every time a heart stopped beating. The sun singed her skin through the torn roof, baked her lips, made it all worse. Her hands shook. There was blood everywhere.

‘I promised,’ she croaked, holding his slippery hand in hers, settling onto his blood-drenched chest. ‘I promised I would stay.’

The church was quiet of screams, and her white dress turned rose red.

 

[choccoweeble]

Meaningless


The World died, and now so have you.

I stare at your lifeless form and weep.

I wish it had been a stranger. I knew him. Before.

All for a few crusts of bread. We could have shared. WE WOULD HAVE SHARED!!

Does he think that life is worth less now? That one more death doesn’t matter?

There is one final thing I must do for you.

You will be avenged.

 

[Bowler1]

Brave New World

He’d promised me the old ways, the old life – from before.

He never kept those promises.

Those empty promises killed him, empty like the world around me.

Those from before, before the flu came - they always talked of the old world.

I loved him for those promises, they were all he knew and understood.

This new world is mine; it belongs to the young, the strong.

‘Rest now father, sleep,’ – you’re time has passed.

 

[TacticalLoco]

Hostile Takeover
##############

The market's invisible hand would set us free.
Each consumer/comrade adjusted to their value.

Of course those without skills had to barter.
Services, children or internal organs,
but such is the way of the holy market.

The revolution never promised everyone would be rich.
That was a simple ruse. The freedom of the masses easily purchased.

The First Oligarch smiled and adjusted his fine robe.
It was as intended; now everything had a price.

 

[crystal haven]

Treasure​

Like a snake I wriggle between piles of bricks. A treasure house of exciting things, that make little sense. An object shines and Mother’s face stares back at me.

“What’s this?” I ask her, while we sit by the fire in our cave.

She strokes the small picture. “A ticket. The government promised escape... But it does not matter.

“They are dead. Gone. The ships dropped from the skies.” She smiles. “We are lucky, Child.”

 

[Scott R. Forshaw]

The Last Ride​

The final settlement came into view beneath the blistering desert sun – decaying, dying, and all that remained of a feeble and fragile world.

Malevolent eyes looked on. The end truly was nigh.​

“Aww, you said we could stop for ice-cream first. It's so unfair.”​

Famine turned her soulless eyes upon Death. “Well, you did promise him, Dear.”​

Death spun his horse, and sighed. “Come on then, you little Pest, I suppose it'll keep for later.”​

 

[Swamp Fox]

The First Colony

The promise of a new and better world swirled noiselessly beneath a shower of acidic dust and ash. Massive quakes in the core fractured the surface and split mountains in two. The seas rolled at first, then boiled.

The machine tried to reverse the process, but too late. In an instant the ground swallowed the machine and destroyed all dreams of a New Earth. And the first terra-forming colony on Rigel failed and died.

 

[stormcrow]

On Being Prepared

I’d made the usual promises of commitment, but what are promises?

The faithful had promised revelation, salvation, ascension, enlightenment; politicians had promised protection, survival, continuity.

You had relied on me: your feet entombed in the melting tarmac as the city blazed around us, but I could not let The Book burn: it is all-important now.

“Scouting for Boys” – a handbook for citizenship: I’ve removed all the pages of ‘promises’; we’ve had quite enough of them!

 

[luci2also]

In Memory...

Your portrait in hand I still see you on that last day.
You look weak, vulnerable, yet resolute.
We saved these for better times.
But the scourge came unexpectedly.
It took you not me.
You made me promise I wouldn’t bring children into this horrible world.
I kept that promise.
Now after these 9 months.
I hope you understand.
Right now is the brave new world.
Our children will make it the best world ever.

 

[Bob Senior]

EASTER SUNDAY

After all hell broke loose, Paw an' me was hiden' in the storm cellar. We had preserves, water, candles and the "Good Book".


Long about three days later, Paw started to dispair. He was thinkin' maybe no other folks was alive. I saw Paw cryin'.


I asked Paw, "ain't it right, the Good Book promised that the meek should inherit the earth?"

"By golly you're right." Paw said, "let's go find your Maw and sisters."

 

[Phoenixthewriter]

Pure White: A Sister’s Promise

The blazing sun bites through my clothes, baking my flesh. The ozone is gone. I burn with no shade to hide under, and nothing but my brother’s ashes, the heat, and blistered skin to comfort me. These red eyes look through my late brother’s sunglasses at the sign ahead; a sign from a long dead town:

“No Trespassing”

Still I continue on. Another month of travel and my brother’s spirit will finally rest in peace.

 

[James Coote]

Ocean's Promise​

"We saw the tops of the skyscrapers yesterday. Visibility was clear, fifty meters straight down."
"Your bro told me." Ray frowned, "Waving his hands this way and that, his imagination dripping wet, painting grand visions of cities on stilts and floating gardens."
"At least he sees the potential," Jena, ever the optimist, was quick to point out. "He was only young when the floods came."
"Still.." Ray sighed.

 

[Christopher Lee]

Unsuspecting Victor


​

One destroyed Earth; the other, Mars.

The two made a pact: The Rider who brings about the most savage, horrific end of days, will control the galaxy.

Proudly, the Black Rider stepped forth and vaporized Mars to dust.

The White Rider opted for a slower approach; one he could savor.

He developed a creature capable of reasoning, problem solving, and high intelligence; natural warmongers. Humans.

In a game of atrocity, We are the true winners.

 

[Anthus]

Second Chance

He sat staring at the ruin below him. The smoking volcanos billowed ash and smoke into the air.

How could his creations do this to themselves? Total annihilation. It was the magic, he thought. It was a mistake to give the lizards magic.

But he’d start again.

This time would be different. Instead of the lizards, he’d use the apes. The apes show more promise. Instead of magic, he’d give them technology.

That’ll be safer.

 

[MemoryTale]

The bag



Broken body travelling a broken landscape… It’s appropriate, in a sick way. Could get there faster if I dropped the bag. Get medical attention. Never. It’s too… What’s the word?

Settlement in view now… Got to… Keep going. Tired. So tired. Never make it. Got to. Deliver bag. All that matters.

Made it. Bag falls off shoulder. People come. I see her. Smile. Tell her it’s alright. I found food. Everything will-