Sacrilegious Remains

 

Water drips from vines, hanging with small patters as the drops ripple the water beneath. A soft fog covers the decrepit and decaying city, as the vicissitude direction of each small floral life form, sprawling across the dismantled and faulty walls, seems intentional, while beautifully forlorn. Such observations and inner thoughts are hard to articulate. And to think such enamoring and alluring glimpses of nature covering the broken structures were caused by the slaughter of an entire species.

Flowers sprouted all along the cracks and grassy areas of the roads and buildings, growing along broken pieces of edifice that had fallen to the ground after many years of decay. A completely unnatural area, abandoned and left for undergrowth, and yet it seemed normal in a way. Perhaps they had just simply become numb to the casual traversing of such places, arcanely smothered with wildlife and natural control, but even then, they knew what this was supposed to look like. And its intentional design felt unusual. 

Disturbing the silence, were quiet footsteps, sounding seemingly uncertain. They had been to this area of the city before, they knew where they needed to go next, and yet it always caught their eye. It was an unintentional red herring, how easily it knocked them off their path, simply to glance at each building’s envelopment of vines and moss, reclaimed by nature. They weren’t sure how to express it coherently, but they always stopped somewhere, possibly it was just how it looked. They shrugged it off, it was a waste of time to think about small insignificant nothings. Their steps quickened. Water that had been left over from last night’s rain was disturbed from its rest as it splashed up at the sudden contact. As they passed through the streets, the fog still hung in the air around them.

(OooOooh future note, I’m not totally happy with this and it isn’t as long as I like it to be. I’ll probably change up the wording or just scrap it and start over when I can, but it’s a good enough for now.)

 

Curiosity for the Weeper

 

Verdure burgeons from the walls. Glints of the pallid grey hardened concrete peek out below the growth of moss and leaves. 

Variegated scratches and cracks. Eloquent in a disconsolate way. But now wasn’t the time to be studying their surroundings that they had seen so many times before, staying in the same area could become minacious. This city wasn’t banal, and they had no idea what would happen if they got distracted. They had just started moving again, before their conscious started getting them off track once more. They quickly stepped forward once the thought crossed their mind, as the light from the night sky shifted, casting a luminous glare across the bedew greenery, just as they were about to continue their walk, there was yet another coaxing glimmer. They should have ignored it, but this didn’t seem to be another beautiful speck of flora, or a collapsing building remains, it was a small... object. It had to be justified to stop just one more time, this could be useful. They wandered over and bent down to examine it further. It could fit in their hand, with a cylindrical shape, and a pointed yet blunt end; there must have been some kind of mechanism or purpose for it… a little button rested on the top. Out of pure curiosity, they tapped down on the part, and a small spike shot out of the front that had previously been blunt. They flinched back and threw the object to the ground. The tip had a dried substance that glistened a bit from the stars resting in the sky. 

That didn’t seem correct, it was tiny. but maybe it was supposed to be vexing. It was certainly achieving its goal if that were its intention.  They promptly approached the little thing again, grabbing it and looking at the end that now protruded from the object. The gooey black on the front of the head was foreign to them. Blood maybe? They didn’t know blood could turn black over long periods of time. They didn’t want to be blithe around this tool. It looked bereft of explanation, they gripped onto the soft center part of the cylindrical device and pressed the top again. The spike immediately retracted back, concealing itself.

     Interesting.

They threw the bag that rested on their back over their shoulder, laying it on their chest as they pried open the old zipper, before flicking the weapon around one more time to check for anything they may have missed, promptly dropping it in the bag as they closed the zippers. They quickly continued their way down a mossy path, they had stayed long enough. But they couldn’t help but wonder who had left this object, it must have been a while ago…

(PS: the document turned in on teams is slightly different, o had a few spelling mistakes and stuff along that manner, that I changed here. I didn’t want to make it more tedious by uploading another file, so I’ll just leave this note here.)

            

 

Vestiges of Humanity

 

Soft steps made their way across the pavement, before abruptly stopping, as the air grew silent. They stood in front of a large building, crawling with vines just as the city was. While annoyed that they had wasted so much time studying the area they passed through to get here for what they assumed to be the thousandth time, at least they had gotten... something out of it. Oh. They had already gotten sidetracked, again. They looked back up at the closed entryway. It had a name, but they never knew what it meant. It was almost ironic since this was where they had found the texts to teach themselves how to read and speak, and yet they still didn’t understand what its name meant. The stone that rested above the double door entrance to the structure was engraved with what they assumed to be a label for the place. ‘Atheneum.’ This always caught their eye, since this specific building looked much older compared to the city. Even in how it was built, it was simply different. When they first discovered it, they had even less of a clue of what it was. Now they believed it to be some sort of storage for books, but that could still be wrong, without good evidence. They held a strange curiosity for small details like this, but for this particular area, they never had the time to read into it. They stepped up the moss-grown stairs and grabbed onto the two rusted door handles. They did this every time they came, even though they knew it wouldn’t work. It was always locked, and they had only figured out how to unlock it after they climbed in through a broken window and uncovered a book that had a suspiciously detailed guide on how to undo the locks. They tugged once they had turned both handles and the door made a loud creak as it opened, scraping the wet stone beneath it.

 That certainly wasn’t supposed to happen. Why would it be unlocked? Every time they left, they made sure to lock the doors before they closed them to make sure some animal didn’t break in. Why could they be opened? They shrugged it off and came up with a quick excuse to ease their mind. They had probably just forgotten to lock the doors when they left the last time. Their pace quickened, as they walked inside the Atheneum and shut the doors behind them with unnecessary haste. They had to admit, it was a little unsettling. It wasn’t a good idea to get worked up over nothing though... they needed to start searching the building.

Thy Oil for my Blood

I always despised this area. It’s as if I was in a maze, with extremely high safety hazards. I’ve learned to traverse it over time, but it isn’t fun. It doesn’t help that all these stupid plants get in the way… I think I’ve tripped 5 times in the past hour. I was going to that weird library that’s out in the forest, but I already lost track of the path I was supposed to follow. I probably need to be more careful, but you can’t blame me for finding this wreck of a civilization's achievements just a tiny bit distressing. I have to pick the lock on that libraries door every time I come, I’m pretty damned sure it’s broken since it keeps locking itself even when I make sure that it’s cracked open. Maybe I should just take the door off its hinges… 

     Whatever. I have to actually get there if I want to do anything.

I had been walking around, looking for my original course while I thought about this, but I did slow myself down with those thoughts. I should probably just shut up and get on with this.

     God, I wish I didn’t have to go there again.

 I was frantically looking around the corners of near buildings, before I turned my attention to an alley that laid dormant between the leaning structures. Finally. That’s where I was going. That tiny tunnel leads out to a forest eventually, while I’m not sure which type or forest, I don’t really care at the moment. The library was close to that area, so this would speed things up. I sprinted into the alley, water got all over my pants from the pools of water I ran through that had collected after yesterday's rain, which was annoying, but still not important. It was about to become night again, and I have no safe place to stay but that decaying library, so I might as well get there quickly. An eerily dark library is much better than being left to the wolves. I had been sprinting through that alley for a good minute by now. I always forgot how ridiculously long this was. The buildings in this city had become so unstable that they just leaned on each other, creating stretching paths. I can’t say I hate the look, but it isn’t practical, especially with the creatures that live here. I almost forgot to stop running after I made my way out of the tunnel, my shoes skidded across the stone path, before I caught myself falling as I stepped onto the wet plants that enveloped the edge of the path before it broke off, the rest of the stone was in his knows where. 

     Finally.

I cautiously moved away from the foliage, watching my step to make sure I didn’t disturb something. Now that I had made my way to the forested part of the city... I could actually get to the library. It was an easy walk from here, I took a few turns, before I arrived at the rotten, overgrown mess. It was an awful state, especially for a place full of knowledge. I stepped up to the door, careful not to trip again, and grabbed onto the handle. Oh? It wasn’t locked this time. That’s nice, I won’t have to force it open again... what an odd exception. I creaked open the doors, and the moment I peered inside, I was immediately startled by the loud crash of heavy books tumbling to the floor. 

 

Object

 

I was going to enter the library quietly to not aggravate the creature that broke in, I glanced around before I entered to make sure nothing would jump me. I thought it would be fine, but the moment I laid my foot down on the old mossy floors, I was treated to the sound of the wood creaking beneath my feet. I choked off a small exclamation of panic, to not alert my presence any more than I already had, and I threw my left hand to my hip in case I needed to unsheathe the dagger I found lying in one of the overgrown malls around the streets of the city. I should have just run, but I didn’t want whatever was in here to come chasing after me because I looked like easy food. That thing was definitely approaching me now that it heard something. The worst part was that I didn’t even know what or where it was. I stepped forward again, grasping the handle of my dagger, which still rested in the leather hold. To my dismay, the floorboards creaked again, louder this time. Thinking about it, doing that was a bad idea. I wasn’t afraid, but very concerned. If it got into my bag, I probably wouldn’t get anything back. I checked my surroundings. It knocked some books off the top shelves, there’s no way it was small… Why would it pull books off the shelves anyways? It must have climbed one of the wooden ladders that were built in, it would have to be 9 feet tall to reach the top. And I wouldn’t have trouble seeing the creature if it were, somehow, that height. I was now really considering running, but I suppose my curiosity is going to kill me someday. I held my breath and stepped forward again, wincing as the floorboards creaked a few more times. I peeked around one of the corners.

I was basically strangling my dagger now; I’m about to get mauled and I don’t know where the thing that will maul me is. I looked around, basically spinning in circles, frantically trying to find the animal that got in. I could just be stupid, and the books fell by themselves, but that didn’t stop that sense of paranoia. Just as I was about to start walking again, I heard that creak of the floorboards behind me. I hadn’t taken a step yet. I whipped around, expecting a wolf or something, instead to see a.. humanoid figure? Wait… no, no no no. That made no sense. How.. That couldn’t be a person. My eyes were already playing tricks on me, I couldn’t even see what it was because of the small amount of light that trickled into this place. Whatever that is, it’s tall. Not 9 feet tall, but maybe six and a half feet. I pulled my dagger out and pointed it at the thing. I cursed under my breath, I doubt my little weapon would do much to scare it off, but it was better than nothing. Before I could even react, it bent down in a jarringly human-like gesture and stepped into the light. Theres no was I wasn’t hallucinating right now. It looked like a person up close too. It had very pale skin and long white hair that was surprisingly clean. It wore an old black shirt with the sleeves ripped off, and a black and purple flannel. Human clothes...?It opened its mouth and spoke coherently.

     “What are you?”

 

Hydraulics 

 

I just about yelled like an idiot in some of those old zombie apocalypse movies I found lying around on VHS tapes, staring them down as I responded.

    “What the actual hell?!” 

It looked startled, and straightened its posture, painfully reminding me how short I was in comparison. It stepped back, and looked down at me. I couldn’t tell if it was curious or confused. Maybe both. It let out a breath and spoke again, looking ridiculously calm as well.

     “Wh-”

I couldn’t even respond, I was absolutely horrified for some reason, even if they weren’t that threatening. Before they could even finish their next sentence, I scrambled back and ran to the doors, before I burst out of the library, shoving the doors closed behind me as I ran back to the overgrown city alleys. To my relief, it didn’t follow me. I tripped out of sheer panic a couple of times, unable to focus on not falling, I couldn’t even process how long I’d been running or where I ran to. I eventually made my way through and dashed into one of the mossy buildings, what I assumed to be an underground subway entrance, as I stopped, my shoes skidded across the wet, previously rained-on stone as I started to catch my breath.

 I was almost completely sure that I was dreaming or hallucinating now. I’ve done it before, if I ever ate somethingmildly poisonous, I sometimes thought there were other people. That felt a bit different, but there wasn’t any other explanation. I slumped against a wall. Despite having the muscle to do it, it always made my lungs feel like they were being pierced open when I ran. That feeling was only heightened by the anxiety and fear caused by that sudden hallucination. I fumbled the dagger I had been clenching and stuffed it back into its sheath. There were red marks on my hands from where I had been gripping it. I pulled my bag out and rummaged through it, looking to see if I dropped anything. Nothing seemed to be lost, thankfully. I breathed a sigh of relief, my throat had gained a burning sensation after I ran, so I’d probably need to drink some water. I closed the bag and looked at the metro I ran into. It was rather close to the surface, while still being underground. Plants had crept in here, so vines covered all the walls. Mushrooms sprouted everywhere, along with moss, but I suspect the only way the vines grew was from glints of sunlight coming from holes made by decay. Honestly, the only reason I cared about any of this was to distract myself from that hallucination. Before I could shift my weight to keep walking, I felt like I was getting lightheaded. I went to sit down, or do anything, but I promptly passed out before I got the chance. The last thing I heard was the soft splashing of the water beneath me as I abruptly hit the floor.

 

Ozymandias

 

My hands raised shallow, dripping down with a once inner substance I deem vaguely familiar. The wanderer I had looked upon ran without words. In what I assume to be a search of reason or meaning, I was brought back to those dark marks, which now stain, rinsed of their purpose to become no more than lifeless features. Attempts to remove such traits without assistance would lead to no more than bringing attention to my form. I would not think of such as important, but now that I have been graced with the view of a human life, my tarnished arms would not be of high value to new eyes. As I gripped the cloth wrapped loosely around my wrist, that ichor stained anew, leaving deep red on bandages which originally lay stale and white. Perhaps out of artificial instinct, or some greater curiosity, I was clouded with thoughts from that mortal soul. They had left me; I suspect fear caused those decisions of showing such profuse fear. It would be justifiable to follow this new sensation, this new thing. After this empty moment came decision. I had believed humanity to be extinct, and that was true, was it not? Yet lay in front of me a being capable of understanding my own thought, for the first time in this existence I’ve known. One of the many that left this visage. Now meaningless and empty. Would they take pride in their own species, or would they be disgusted by it?

            It would be foolish to take this as a mirage. I refuse to ignore this existence, at least for now.

 

Ghost

 

That pit of black nothing that lasted for an inconceivable amount of time was short-lived in my lack of consciousness.  When I finally woke up from whatever had knocked me out, I was met with that same, calm face I had spotted in the library. Kneeling and hovering in front of my face, staring at me with what I could only deem to be a lack of amusement. My breath was caught in my throat, I couldn’t be hallucinating again. I went to push myself away, when I felt its hand grab my wrist. A cold spread throughout my arm, as I shivered under its touch. Why would its hand feel like ice? Wait… No. No no no, God damnit. I felt that. This wasn’t a figment of my imagination, or at least, any minor hallucination. I made an audible hiss of urgency, in a tone that I didn’t even know my voice could reach. That things grip tightened around my wrist, as it went to speak.

     “Your struggle is one that will lead you to no success. What is your name.”

Its voice was scarily cold, yet their words didn’t match that monotone, emotionless demeanor. I could barely process what was happening, words failed me as I looked to find any justification or distraction from what was obviously happening. 

     “Back the hell off!”

Their face showed the subtlest reaction, and that was enough to scare me even more. Their hand pulled away from my wrist as they crouched above me.

     “Better. Now give me your name.”

I scrambled away the moment my wrist was free, standing up and pushing myself against a wall. Their eyes followed me as I feebly tried to distance myself. 

     “No- don’t you even try to play this off, thing. What the hell even are you.”

It let out a sigh of annoyance.

     “Eldhúsfífl..”

     “W-What does that even mean?! You can’t expect me to just not be-“

     “Quiet. Tell me your name and I’ll answer your questions.”

They reached into a bag they had laying on their shoulder and pulled out a pen. They pointed it at my throat.

     “…Why are you using a pen to- “

     “Name.”

     “Michael! It’s Micheal… just.. don’t stab me with that?”

I raised my hands into the air, despite just being a writing utensil, they were very good at making it seem threatening.

     “Micheal. You are human, correct?” 

     

     

 

Sisyphus 

 

He felt as if he had been on the verge of passing out for a second time. The only reason he hadn’t looked as terrified as he should have been in this situation was because of the mere idea of showing any kind of weakness to what seemed to be a fully sentient and talkative being. It didn’t quite help that they were practically looming over him, staring down, with a face almost of one who mocked him. Yet it shows no clear emotion. Without being given the time to process this as of his waking, all he could do was think back on what they asked.

     Are you human.

A feeling swelled inside his chest, perhaps desperation. Or fear. He wouldn’t let himself admit that. All he could do in response was give a quick nod of his head, a simple and effortless gesture, that in this moment felt more straining than keeping his body upright. Stumbling over rocks and the moss that intruded into the space, he grabbed onto a railing that lay dismantled and barely attached to the wall that lay behind him. They spoke again.

     “What were you doing in that atheneum.”

Their words did not sound as if to ask a question, they sounded like orders. Their tone remained lifeless and bare, showing no shift or possible meaning beyond their simple definitions. He wiped his mouth, strangling what little breath he had in his lungs from the sheer panic he was experiencing.

     “…Books.”

He stopped them as they were about to question further, speaking more violently, with emotional demand.

     “What… What are you…?”

     “A sentient humanoid that works as intended.”

Their response was quick and firm, while being a bit odd. They put a hand on their chest and continued staring down at Michael.

     “You haven’t had any internal malfunctions, have you? Is it natural for a human to be inanimate on the floor?”

They got on their knees, only now were they actually at eye level. They grabbed one of Micheals arms and lifted it up, examining the visible skin through the ripped parts of his clothes, before their hand was promptly slapped away.

     “Back off!”

     “Your exterior surfaces are damaged.”

They calmly pointed towards a scrape that ran down along his arm. He had noticed it before, but he didn’t see it as fatal in any way.

    “I-It’s fine. I just...”

     “Do you want me to amputate it?”

     “…What? No! Who the hell would amputate an entire limb over a scratch?!”

     “That’s a no. Okay. Micheal.”

They stepped a bit closer to him, before snatching the back of his shirt and lifting him into the air. He audibly gasped, before immediately falling limp under their grip.

     “Oh. He already shut down.”

They sighed and hoisted him over their shoulder.

     “Humans are just as confusing as those magazines made them out to be…”

 

Less than Mortal

 

Micheal was immediately woken up, greeted with the same figure looking down upon him. The location was different, one of the abandoned malls that was in the city. Vines were running down the walls, as water dropped down from them and landed on their heads.

     “What do you eat.”

     “I- Wha-“ He choked out the response, coughing in the process.

     “You are a human. You need Sustenance to sustain yourself. Do you eat other living creatures?”

They were gripping a rabbit in their left hand. Its coat was stained red in a few areas, and it was obviously dead. The sight startled him, but he knew it wouldn’t be a good idea to question how they caught it.

     “…You are human as well. What would you eat?”

     “I don’t require food like your species. That would be inefficient for my originally designed purpose.” 

     “What do you even… mean...? Who are you? Don’t give me some half true answer, tell me your name.” Micheal spoke quieter.

     “You could have just inquired that earlier. I’m designated as 2.G.V.R. Second genetic vitality replication.”

He opened his mouth to say something, but immediately got caught on his words. He didn’t know what this thing was.

     “You... What are you? A machine?”

     “Yes. I assumed you were the same, given that humanity is extinct, but mechanical beings such as myself don’t have blood like mortals do.”

They stood up and backed away from Michael, and walked over to a pile of sticks that they had collected before he woke up. They grabbed one of the sticks and ran it along their fingers. A spark shot up from the contact, and they threw the stick back in the pile. A fire started burning. They took the rabbit in their right hand and started taking the fur off. Micheal flinched and looked away.

     “…So, you are a monster.”

They looked back over at Micheal, and laughed. Instead of their normal blunt tone that he had heard this entire time, this was soft and delicate.

     “Oh, it’s really quite a shame for you to think that… Maybe I am. But you are too. You’re a human, alive when all of your kind has been gone for years.”

They got on their knees.

     “Your frail body is just a machine made of meat.”