"Are we all that's left?"
Richard turned his head and looked at Caroline. She had aged in the past 3 months. Her hair had more gray in it and there were lines around her eyes where before there had been none. Caroline was still young at 45 years of age and Richard still found her beautiful.
"I believe that we are all that's left Caroline."
"How can that be Richard?"
Richard shrugged his shoulders and turned to show Caroline his right forearm where his skin had peeled away. Electricy raced through his veins causing them to pulse and flash. He covered his arm when Caroline stepped away and covered her mouth with her hand. She recovered herself and reached out to place a hand on Richard's arm.
"I'm so sorry Richard. When did this happen?"
"It happened shortly after the fall. Nathaniel knew because he saw it on the day he died."
Caroline gave Richard a sad smile. "You and I are both in the same boat Richard. I've been exposed to radiation." Caroline pulled her long hair back and showed Richard the gills which were fast appearing on her neck. "I figure I have enough time to spend with you here before I have to find a source of water to live in."
RIchard nodded. "After today we no longer need to meet. You'll be living in the closest body of water you can get to which is Lake Erie and I'll be something that is no longer human."
"What are we to do Richard?"
"Survive," Richard said. "Survive the best that we can."
Caroline nodded and squeezed Richards arm. "I wish I could stay longer RIchard, but I'm finding it difficult to breath. I must go. Blessed Be Richard."
Richard reached forward and surprised Caroline by giving her a hug. "Blessed Be Caroline. All that I ask is that you pass along what has happened here. Pass along what you've seen."
"How do you expect me to do that to were the later generations will understand?"
"You are a smart woman Caroline. Pass along these warnings in stories, myths, and legends. Keep alive the stories of the ancients. Pass along your wisdom."
Caroline nodded and on impulse stood on her tip toes and kissed Richard on the lips. "Goodbye RIchard," Caroline said before she turned and fled toward Lake Erie.
RIchard watched as Caroline ran into Lake Erie and then dove into it. He watched as she disappeared underneath the waves. Richard finally turned away and headed away from Lake Erie. He knew that he had only days to live. Richard wanted to die in his hometown, but he wasn't sure if he'd make it all the way to Houston. So he decided to head Monticello, Virginia. Thomas Jefferson was his favorite president and he felt more at home in Monticello than he ever had in Houston. Richard took a deep and headed as swiftly as he could to Monticello. All he hoped for was that he'd make it in time.
YOU ARE READING
The Ancients A Tale of Survival
FantasyThe war that everyone had been dreading has finally come to pass. It had effectively destroyed the land. Those that had died were lucky. The ones who survived were slowly being transformed by the radiation that blanketed the world. Thousands of...
