Retired

The city was in shambles. Smoke from hidden fires sprouted from a variety of city blocks. Cars, some overturned, stood still in the streets. Plants began to grow from the cracks of sidewalks. The occasional Fiend stumbled around for its next kill. It was all mostly quiet, and uneventful, and I loved it.

I am a retired billionaire. Retired, yes, from work. But more importantly, retired from society. You see, I hate people. I mean I really loathe them. People are selfish, lying, consuming, meat sacks. I learned of this as a child when I first felt the sting of betrayal. I trusted no one. I told no one of my name. Since then, all I've wanted to do was make people powerless. I've made my conglomerate out of this decree. Fluoride toothpaste? I'm in. Addictive video games? Double down. Binge worthy television? Give me five seasons.

I've had great success keeping the sheep in their pens, with a massive income of wealth to boot. But my work would be overshadowed by a world event no one would see coming. A viral outbreak that turned people into mindless killers. These beasts, with their black eyes, have earned the name Fiend. They desire to tear apart anything that moves. People, animals, cars, windchimes, revolving doors, tumbleweeds, other Fiends. Anything that moves.

People panicked, economies collapsed, countries lost control. It was marvelous. The world was back in the dark ages. Well, except for me. Using my wealth and foresight, I've not only garrisoned my office building, but set up an aerial logistical supply system. With a press of a button, a signal is sent from an antenna atop my penthouse to a warehouse five miles away. Through automated machines powered by a solar electrical system, a supply order is carried out. A pallet of food, water, and other essentials is flown to my penthouse by a UAV rated at 200 pounds.

And from atop my penthouse, I would swim a few laps around my pool, tend to my garden, meditate, exercise, read. I planned on living out the rest of my days like this. In a state of comfort and blissful solitude. That is, until that damnable lightning storm occurred. A cacophony of thunder plagued the night. The next morning, my fear had been realized. The antenna had been struck and destroyed. "Shit," I muttered.

With the supply chain now cut, it was time for me to take my leave. This horrible world, in which I giddily observed from my place of safety, I would now have to venture through. I loaded my backpack with food and equipment, then proceeded down to the ground level of my fortress. Checking to see that the coast is clear, I stepped out of the office building for the first time in 3 years.

I walked through the city streets in the direction of the warehouse. I tried to be as silent as I could. But with no other noise, like wind or traffic, I was the loudest thing in the metropolis. I tried to stay calm, but the dark cloud of fear was in my head. My ears were almost ringing. I scared myself with the thought of a Fiend charging me from the rear. I tried a technique I once read about to help manage fear. I exhaled the air out of my lungs, held for a brief moment, inhaled, then breathed as normal. It helped.

A Fiend appeared before me, one that formally was man. It stumbled around the corner of a building a half a block ahead of me. I froze. I was on the sidewalk like a dunce. It stopped and looked at me. Did it see me move? It's just standing there, looking. Fiends aren't known to be inquisitive. They usually react immediately with an attack. It started walking again. I remained still. It resumed shuffling. All of a sudden, it screeched and starting running toward me. What the hell? This wasn't suppose to happen! Did it notice my legs shaking? I begged my body not to move while this beastly man ran toward me. My pants were soaked with urine.

It ran past me. I heard a flurry of skin slapping skin and tearing of clothes. I heard hissing of multiple tones. I turned my head ever so slowly to see two Fiends in combat. They were clawing, biting, grabbing, and swatting at each other. They were killing each other a mere 10 feet away from me.

After a few minutes of this, there was finally a victor. A Fiend that was formally a woman walked past me. It eventually fell to the ground and stopped hissing. I walked over to it and kicked it onto its back. Its eyes were still open. Glossy, and completely black. It wore a pink tank top and jeans. Around its neck was a heart shaped locket. I looked around, then squatted next to the thing. I opened the locket. Inside was a tiny picture of a girl and an old man. Possibly her grandfather.

My journey was uneventful after that. I made it to the warehouse. Enough food and supplies to last the rest of my life. No pool, though.