Sea Levels

The new normal.

Heading into the early days of fall it's almost as if it happened the day before. Aries Jackson, a young black man in his thirties navigates the seas of the atlantic which has expanded more inland. Impacting the entire east coast from Maine all the way down to Miami.

It's insane how much the water has found it's way inside. Aries' small boat sails pass the fifteenth story of the John Hancock Tower at eye level. The entire Back Bay neighborhood sits underwater. The levels continue to grow each month.

Scary to think what it will be by the time winter comes. Aries pleaded his case before the tsunami hit. He tried everything from reaching out to scientists, politicians, government officials, even the president. They thought it was asinine and straight up ridiculous. "There's no way a tsunami of that magnitude could hit this part of the world." they said.

They used their media propaganda tool to shame and ridicule him. It caused most of the people if his life who he thought loved and cared for him to distance themselves from his presence. Some even suggested he check himself into a mental institution.

Everyone with the exception of his wife Erica who he's currently searching for. He hasn't lost hope even though the days go faster and the nights become longer. His radio goes off as a voice checks in.

"Bro you there?" the voice says.

Aries glances over to his radio and answers. "What up Nikki?" he replies.

Nikki, Aries' younger sister of a few years.

"Sun's coming down soon, you should make your way back to base." Nikki said.

Aries glares around the space and keeps his eyes peeled. He gleams at every opened area and nook.

"Nah, maybe another hour or so." Aries answered.

"You'll have a full day if you start bright and early tomorrow." Nikki said.

"I cant' stop now. Finally got to the point of her office and I don't know how high the water will reach by then." Aries stated.

A brief pause in between as Aries gathers his thoughts.

"Don't be crazy bro, it's gonna take forty minutes to get back to dry land and another thirty minutes to get to base. You're losing mad light." Nikki demanded.

"I said another hour." Aries stated sternly.

"Know you don't wanna hear this but, you think she's still out there?" Nikki asked.

Aries face becomes furious of that statement. The frustration of his energy transfers through the radio waves.

"Bye Nikki." Aries responded.

He clicks the motor on and heads to the closest window of the building. His reflection bounces off the mirrored glass. He takes the window out with a sledge hammer. At this point the water is high enough to step inside of the building and low enough so it won't enter.

He flicks on a flashlight and searches the floor. Nothing but abandoned desks, chairs, and tables. He takes his time to view everything so no detail gets pass him. Something catches the corner of his eye. He glances over to his left and moves towards this item.

Moving in closer his eyes become wider. The look of familiarity as a sign of some sort of relief and hope. He picks it up.

A heart-shaped locket.

Aries holds it tight and kisses it softly.

Static comes in. The radio.

"Bro you there?!" Nikki asks.

Aries mood shifts from happy to aggravated.

"A, I'm serious, respond!" Nikki shouts.

The sound of a motor echoes from a distance. Aries holds his position to detect where it may be coming from.

"Bro you got an incoming, marauders! I'm picking it up on the scanner." Nikki stated.

"How many?" Aries asked.

"Three at the most. Due to the size of the boat. You got about ten minutes to either avoid em and get out, five if you planning on combat." Nikki told him.

"All I need is three." Aries said.

"See you when you get back." Nikki said.

Aries takes cover in a dark corner.

The marauders pull up to the window. Just as Nikki guessed, there were three of them. Two hopped on Aries' boat and went through the supplies such as food, batteries, water, and miscellaneous resources. They load their boat with Aries' items. As they continue to load, a shot rings out and pops one in the back of the head. His body drops overboard and sinks to the bottom. The other marauder turns towards Aries and before he can draw his firearm, Aries plugs him with five rounds. Four to the core and one to the head to finish him.

Both down.

The final marauder and obvious leader aggressively opens fire. Jumping off the boat and into the building through the window.

Aries shields himself under a cubical desk as he counts the shots. Finally he runs out of rounds and attempts to reload. Aries stands and fires two shots. The marauder avoids one although the other catches him in the shoulder. A big guy this is, larger than Aries. He rushes Aries and tackles him to the ground, knocking the gun outta Aries' hand.

The marauder grabs hold of Aries' neck and strangles him.

Aries puts up a good fight. The marauder bangs Aries' head against the floor. Time's running slim as his ways of receiving oxygen begin to shrink.

Aries stares the marauder in his face, looking directly into his eyes. Just when Aries is about to reach his last breath, he swiftly stabs the marauder right in the pupil of his left eye. The marauder screams in utter agony. Aries retrieves the gun and fires a clean head shot to his temple. The large marauder falls instantly.

Aries gathers himself along with his breaths.

He radios Nikki.

"Sis." Aries says.

"You good?!" Nikki asked.

Aries looks at the blood stained locket. He wipes the blood and opens it. Inside is a small wedding day picture of Aries and Erica. He's filled with joy inside. He closes it and stuffs it into his pocket.

"Bro, you okay?!" Nikki yelled.

"Yeah. She's out there still Nikki." Aries stated.

"How do you know?" Nikki asked.

"Just do. Time to put a unit together, see you when I get home. We got work to do." Aries said.

THE END.