Below Zero
A Bleak, Snowy First Attempt at Micro-Fiction
It’s been two weeks since Earth was kicked out of orbit.
The world was trapped in a bleak, icy cacoon.
0°F, and we were in The Bahamas.
"We could make our snow cones here," Maddox said, loud enough for me to hear him outside the house, where we camped near the shore.
The wind gusts turned the snow and freezing rain into rocks. I was covered in many layers of clothing and still shivering. Dragging a wagon full of chopped wood in eternal night sucked! Frostbite numbed me and gave me nerve pain at the same time.
“Far north and south are used to this crap!” Castra replied.
“Their temps might be like negative hun--"
“It’s going to get inevitably colder here too, Maddox!”
She was right. Soon, it would be too dangerous to go outside.
I picked up as many stacks of wood as possible, with more still left. I shouted, “Can someone help me over here?!”
“Sure, kiddo,” Castra replied.
Castra and I delivered the firewood next to the metal can housing our fire. Windows were opened to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning. I collapsed on the couch. "First, the freeze. Now, the heat," I murmured.
Jazer burst through the side door, looking like a popsicle. “Despite this snowball Earth, they still left most of us to die," he growled before slamming a paper on the table.
About the Creator
Ace Melee
-Mainly a horror and fantasy writer.
-I post stories, poetry, and scripts on Vocal. My preferred audience is older teens and adults, but I can adjust for younger teens.
Let's Don't Do This
"I just can't do this anymore..." "Do what?" What can't you do? Put gas in your own car? I swear to God you make me take care of everything, don't you? You know I'm on my way to work right now but that never stops you from bothering me, does it?"
By Shirley Belk6 days ago in Fiction
Comments (5)
Whoops! I forgot to put an Author's Note in the comments yesterday. I feel and plan on expanding the story once submissions have closed (and I will add another work in the middle). The cause of the Earth being kicked out of orbit and who left most of them to die will be revealed. Yeah, I left you all on a bad cliffhanger.
I'm with Randy on this one. 250 words can't cover all these questions. Love the premise.
Well done!
This is hitting close to home with the climate crisis and our beloved Mother Earth putting us in our place. Well done!
Kicked out of orbit into a wider orbit or completely askew & leaving the galaxy? Because if that's the case, it's gonna get a lot colder. And left us to die? Where did they go? I have so many questions, lol!