Ashes - Part 1

The city was in ashes and in utter ruins. Everything had exploded. There was so little left, except the skeleton of buildings. A thick smog hung in the air. Everything was lost. The small group of four people didn’t know what to do, or where to turn. Was the whole world like this? Or, was it just the city of San Francisco, California? How could this city have been so great and now, it was just obliterated? Where had all the people in the city gone?

~ ~ ~

A week before…

Jesse had come to visit Sk. They had been enjoying time climbing trees together in the woods. They always tried to find quiet places that gave space for storytelling and lots of questions.

“What is your favorite smell?” Sk asked Jesse.

“I’d say the smell of cedar or pine wood. One time my dad and I made a wooden treasure chest. We stained it with a dark stain and it was my special treasure box! I still have it.”

Sk smiled with his handsome, kind smile. “That sounds like such an amazing memory. What do you keep inside of the treasure box?”

“Mostly little treasures and handwritten letters from family and friends.”

Sk’s expression changed and he appeared sad, as if he just remembered some difficult memories.

Jesse reached out and touched Sk’s shoulder. “What’s the matter?” They were still perched in a large tree. The day was cool and sunny out. “You know… I’d do anything to protect you. You’re the kind of brother I always wanted to have. It just took me awhile to find you. But I’d die for you in a heartbeat if it was my life or yours. You are very special to me.”

“Thank you. That means a lot and I think the same about you.” A tear started to run down his cheek but he wiped it away quickly. “Wanna get down from here and wade in the river down below?”

“Of course, I do! One day, maybe we can go see the ocean soon. Oh, and what is your favorite smell, Sk?”

Sk smiled again. “The smell of salty sea waves. We should make a trip to the ocean soon!”

Jesse laughed. “Are you excited to meet Komal and Maryam in a few days?”

“Oh, yes! The four of us are gonna’ have a great time in San Francisco.” Sk dipped his feet in the river.

“For sure! But you know those two… they’ll likely have a few pranks up their sleeves for us.” Jesse flicked some water droplets toward Sk playfully.

Sk dodged the droplets and splashed Jesse with several handfuls of water until he was rolling in the grass laughing. “Yeah, remember that one time when we were together and they pulled out silly string and sprayed us with hot pink silly string? That was ridiculous! If the silly string wasn’t enough, then they pulled out the water balloons.”

“Oh my goodness… yeah, I’ll never forget that. Speaking of which, we should think of some kind of way to prank them back when we see them soon,” Jesse said, plotting with a corky facial expression.

“Any ideas?” Sk questioned.

~ ~ ~

Back to present…

The wreckage of the city seemed endless. Why on earth did this happen? Komal, Maryam, Sk and Jesse stood together, looking at the desolation of the city.

“How could this happen?” Komal questioned in shock.

Maryam pulled Komal in for a tight side hug. “I have no idea. I never thought things would come to this…”

Jesse looked at Sk but couldn’t speak at all.

Sk took a deep breath. “We’re gonna have to figure out how to survive…”

Authors Note:

To read part 2 by a brilliant writer named Komal, follow the link below: