Aftermath

Larissa worked tirelessly creating fire, her almond face catching the moonlight while she worked. Her muscles begged her to end her laborious task but she persisted as she knew that warmth would be their only saving grace. Beside her sat Uma, a small girl of three with a soft olive complexion and bright icy eyes that looked to Larissa for comfort often throughout their journey. Uma was the purpose behind all that Larissa did, as small as Uma was, she was going to be the answer to all the horrors of the land.

A small plume of smoke began from Larissa’s labors, gently rising above the dried tinder grass. Quickly Larissa took hold of more dried grass and added it to the fire which she then followed up with small twigs until the fire was big enough to take thicker pieces of wood. The warmth that radiated from the fire made Larissa smile widely enough that Uma took notice and grinned back. With the gentle care Larissa pulled Uma into her lap and held her affectionately, “We can rest now baby, there is nothing to fear.”

Using a free hand Larissa pulled her matted traveling bag towards her and produced a tarnished heart-locket. The locket had once been a resplendent rose gold however time had worn away all of its beauty aside from the contents within. Gingerly Larissa opened the locket to reveal a picture of her parents, both dark and smiling happily, a reminder that the past had been kinder and loving. “See here Uma, these are your grandparents”, Larissa said sweetly as she held the locket in front of Uma to see. It was difficult to conceive that life had changed from a pulsating network of human connectedness to absolute desolation. Politicians and passive citizens were to blame, war broke out and before anyone knew it bombs were launched leaving nothing in its wake aside from a hellish landscape. Water and food were scarce that whoever possessed them held ultimate power over the remaining populace.

Larissa had caught the attention of the Otopie leader Tobias who was gracious and loved by all. Together Larissa and Tobias fell in love and had Uma yet over time Tobias changed into a monster as food became scarce over time. Tobias began resorting to cannibalizing weaker members to feed the growing demand of the community. Larissa could not stand by idly, she chose to flee with her daughter Uma than live savagely. Tears welled in her eyes at the thought of Tobias being lost to her after all the struggle they shared together. “Momma, why do you cry”, Uma questioned as she craned her small head up towards Larissa for an answer. The softness of Uma’s voice made Larissa weep, “Momma please don’t cry”. Uma’s small hands went to Larissa’s face and touched the soft dark skin that had been dampened with sweat and tears.

Suddenly the sound of a stick snapping in the distance forced Larissa to halt her outpouring of emotion. Her wide dark brown eyes scanned the dead trees around them, her heart began to beat erratically, tears still streamed down her cheeks. Uma pulled her small hands away from her mother out of fear that she somehow displeased her mother. Gradually Larissa rose up from the ground and pulled Uma with her, Larissa’s grip tightened around her child protectively. The heart-locket descended from her hand and hit the dirt ground with a solemn thud.

A loud resounding male laugh broke through the tension causing Larissa to grow cold. Slowly eight figures emerged from the blackness of the night as if they were mere apparitions from a childhood tale. Larissa attempted vainly to run but all of the men were upon her, their hands pulling mother and daughter apart callously. “You’re in big trouble now ma’am” said the largest of the eight males who subdued Larissa with a forceful punch. Unceremoniously Larissa was draped over the shoulder of the man who incapacitated her. As for Uma she had been placed atop the shoulders of a tall broad shouldered man who gave her a piece of dried meat to eat. The cluster of men stamped out the fire Larissa built and embarked on their return journey, their bounties safely secured.

On the ground laid Larissa’s heart-locket, her photographed parents forever staring into the sky above for eternity. How lucky Doris and Fletcher had been to have died in the initial bomb, they never lived to see Larissa fail.