Harmony's Locket

The smell of burning wood along with the sound of flowing water awoke him. Aside from the sun showing through the black clouds, it was the start of a normal day. He yawned as he stretched out his scarred, thin arms, The man’s clothes resembled rags closer than they did a garment. He stood up from his cold blanket that he called his bed and began to tend to his raft. He went to his fishing net and pulled up a couple of guppies, a good breakfast in his eyes. Looking off into the distance he could see the smoke coming from what remained of land. He picked up his broken hand mirror that he kept around and began to talk to himself, or at least attempt to. His face looking lifeless, he stuttered out, “H-hello, sir.”

The nameless man had been floating on his raft for a couple of years, his scarred body resembles that of someone in their forties, despite him being in his early twenties. The date has been forgotten to time along with all of humanity. He was born into a world that had already ended, he did not know how or why, all he does know is he is alone. His memory is foggy, but he does remember being raised on land with a small group of survivors. None of them were educated, being barely able read or write. His mother would always tell him to practice talking, even if nobody is around. Besides those small details, he remembers being taught to survive, how to fish and purify water. His last memory is being pushed into the water on his raft by his family.

The raft had been floating down a massive river for years, never stopping throughout the entire time. Using driftwood and items he found flowing along with him he has upkept the raft. He has found all kinds of objects from old cans of food to advanced weaponry that he has never had to use, not that he would even know how to, but nothing like he had found that morning. Floating down the infinite river was a shining crate. It caught the man’s eye, he reached for a homemade net to grab it. After a couple of failed attempts, he finally got ahold of it. He caught his breath as he dropped it aboard and opened it. it revealed something he had never seen before, several books, seeds, saplings and a heart shaped mechanical locket. He was confused, not knowing what they were. He fumbled around with the books, seeing the strange symbols known as letters. The seeds and saplings were greatly preserved, though he had no soil to plant them all in. Lastly, he picked up the metal locket and opened it, on the inside was a note saying, “For my Harmony.”

Next to the note there was a small button built into the locket, nervously he pressed down on it. The locket began to make a buzzing noise then started vibrating, the unfamiliar motions made him drop it on the raft. A projection appeared out of a small lens that was in the locket. A woman appeared in the hologram, both the man and the woman made eye contact, resulting in them both yelping from shock.

The hologram woman wore a lab coat and underneath some scrubs. She looked extremely clean and well taken care of. She went from standing to sitting on the floor as she fell from the shock. The man, with his eyes widen, could not look away from her, with her long hair waiving perfectly, as if she were right in front of him. Her eyes hid a beauty like no other, as if he were looking at green grass, only a thing he could dream of. She stood up and looked at him, with a confused face she asked, “Who are you?”

He just stared blankly at her, not knowing what to say.

“Hello?” She asked again.

“H-hello, sir” he stuttered out.

“Excuse me? Sir?” She asked in a sassy but playful tone.

He stayed silent, not knowing if he had offended her.

“Do you not have a name sir?” She asked again teasingly.

“No remember,” he sighed out.

“Oh? Well then, I guess I will just call you Sir for now. My name is Dr. Asha. Do you know the year? Or where we are?”

“No know, Dr. Asha.”

His tone went from fearful to more of a curious and friendly one, feeling a safety and warmth in her voice. He sat up himself, realizing it was a projection.

“You don’t know anything? Wait, are we on water?” Asha asked as she looked around, noticing the raft.

“Yes. Safe.” Said the man calmly.

“My god, you are on the ocean, how is land? Is it still on fire?”

“Hot, infinite river safe.”

“It’s not a river, it’s the whole ocean, the dark clouds and ash in the air, how do you breathe?”

The man did a big inhale and let out a big exhale.

“Okay smartass, it seems you must have adapted to the environment, but how long has it been?”

Asha looked worried, but her pondering of the worlds fate was quickly interrupted by the man saying, “Asha, beauty.”

“What did you say sir?”

“You’re beautiful,” he said, forming a short yet proper sentence.

Asha looked at him blankly, only letting out an awkward, “thank you.”

“Do you know how to speak properly?”

“Nobody talk with. Silent time, all time.”

“You’re out here alone? Do you know how to read?”

“Alone, no read.”

“you’re like a caveman, my god, how are you alive?”

“Fishing. Water cleaning. Been on river for long time.”

“Did you ever use to speak complete sentences?”

“Once. When Child.”

“Do you have anywhere to go?”

“No, river forever.”

“You don’t know anything about what happened do you? Listen I know a place where you can be safe. I need you to do something for me Sir. In that crate are some books and supplies. It is important you keep those items safe and bring them to a safe place. I can show you how to get there and you will be safe as well.”

“Where?” He asked, being intrigued by the offer.

Asha looked around and pointed towards north, through a massive circling wall of clouds. She let out a sigh seeing the storm but stayed firm that is where he needs to go.

“No. Death.” He responded quickly, looking away.

“I know it’s dangerous, but you have to! Through that storm is a safe land. People could be dying there unless you give them these supplies!”

“I die if I go. No.”

“Please, I beg you!”

After a pause, the man looked back at her and asked, “Are you there?”

Asha also paused, then softly said, “Yes. I am talking to you from there. These supplies are important. So many lives depend on them. Unless you want to live on a raft forever.”

“Then I go,” he said quickly, “One rule.”

“What is that?”

He picked up one of the books and said, “Teach me.”

Asha agreed and for the next couple of days would help him learn to read. He also began to form proper sentences again. Also remembering how to laugh, something he had not experienced since he was a kid. He always held the locket close to him. Even refusing to turn off the projection as he slept, to her dislike. She would lie down as well to keep him company. As the days continued, the man began to grow further attached to Asha, complementing her with new words he had learned. Asha started to enjoy the sweat talk but stayed distant. The man would battle the strong water current to head towards the massive storm that could be seen across the whole ocean. Whenever he would get doubtful or scared, Asha would reinsure him that its for the safety of everyone on land.

One morning as the man began a reading lesson, he saw a picture in one of the books of a family at a park. He turned it towards Asha and asked, “Was this the normal?”

“Yes, everything was green, land was safe, and people got to be with their families,” she said somberly.

“What happened?”

“Oh well, in short, life. Mother nature just said enough was enough. We began to make weather machines, to control how the Earth worked. Crazy thing is they did work for a while. Until the ocean began to grow a strong current, the sky turned black, and storms began erupting. The ice caps melted and everywhere got flooded, those places that didn’t broke into flames.”

“I see, I never saw that. Family pushed me out on the ocean. Told me to live. That’s all I know. What are these books for?”

“They are survival guides, how to farm, ways to build. It’s why they are so important.”

“I understand. Storm is close. I need to prepare but, one last question.”

“What is it?”

“Who is Harmony?” He asked as he pointed towards the note in the locket.

Asha was silent, but then said, “My kid, my love. It’s a name that has been passed down for generations.”

“Is she there with you?”

Asha stayed quiet.

“I see. Wish me luck Dr. Asha, I promise I will keep the crate safe. Then we can be together!” He exclaimed.

“Sir,” she mumbled out.

“Yes?”

“Good luck.”

The wind roared as he went into the storm. His mind went towards the thoughts of his family. How they wanted him to find others and be safe, but he was too scared to explore. He was not afraid of death, he never was. He only feared dying alone. Now that fear is gone. The water shook the raft and before he could react it began to fall apart. Everything soon faded to black as he passed out, holding the crate and the heart shaped locket.

He awoke in the water, with his arms wrapped around the crate, seeing a safe shore ahead and the sky being clear. He smiled and laughed, but quickly faded towards panic as he looked for the locket. He found it crushed in his hand. He turned it on, Asha struggled to speak as the projection was breaking.

“Thank goodness you are alright Sir! You’re almost there, but I have something to tell you,” Asha said quickly.

“I love you,” said the man, interrupting her.

“You don’t know what love is,” she retorted.

“I nearly died for you; I don’t know what else to call it.”

Asha was silent, but then said, “I’m not there Sir. This is an AI recording with my consciousness, not a phone call. I died long ago, trying to get these supplies to my family. I am not sure if they even made it there but, they could use the supplies if they did.”

“What? Why lie?”

“I need you to live, and not for me, for yourself. I need you to protect the people on that land. Please, do that for me.”

With tears in his eyes, he agreed. The AI Asha hugged him in the water before the hologram began to go out.

With a smile she said, “thank you,” before it cut out.

He washed ashore with the crate, everything bright green, he found a massive ship that was beached. He laid in the sand but was quickly approached by a little girl wearing ragged clothing. They both looked at each other curiously before the little girl asked in a soft innocent voice, “What’s your name mister?”

He was quiet once again, catching his breath, but with a smile on his face said, “Harmony.”

She looked shocked, but then laughed loudly.

“What’s so funny?” he asked.

With a big smile on her face she said, “You and I have the same name.”