Modern Dragons: Ash

Ch. 1

Ash falls like rain now. The volcanic eruptions spewed countless amounts of this stuff into the atmosphere. There's no more satellite communication in areas like mine. The ash blocks it all.

I live alone on my farm in rural Oklahoma. The power is gone after an attack on the nearest plant. The last thing I heard before light went dark was that major cities had fallen and the military with it. They fought valiantly, but they couldn't do much against the beasts.

Today I've decided to leave. The ash has destroyed any hope of growing crops here and I have run low on food. There aren't groceries stores around here anymore. There's nothing left.

I look out across the fields of ash from the vantage point on my roof. Acres of land, worthless. The sun barely penetrates the clouds of grey. I climb down off the roof and leave my home. I bring nothing with for there is nothing to bring. All the food is eaten and all my belongings would slow me down. I bring but the clothes on my person, Jeans and a Grey t-shirt, a jacket slung over my shoulder.

Sadness pains at my heart, a tear slides off my cheek as I leave my home.

*****

I walk for what seemed like, and possibly was hours. The rhythmic crunch of my feet is the only unnatural sound heard. Fatigue is taking hold and will soon take over. The road I take heads east, away from the initial eruption zone toward the coast.

No cars rumble past on the ashen road. The ones seen are abandoned or destroyed by non-human means. I would love to drive on the highway but the amount of noise would draw unwanted attention. The black marks on the asphalt further on my worries.

The wind picks up coming from the east, whipping up ash and blowing it in my face. Along with the ash comes an unexpected sound, not loud enough to make out what it was, but just enough to know it wasn't natural. My instincts told me to run, but I had to know.

I increased my pace, the wind aiding by shifting back to its original direction behind me. I ran continuously along the uneven ground until I saw evidence from what I was looking for, tire tracks. The tracks themselves are faint, slowly being covered by shifting and falling ash. Farther ahead a shape loomed into view.

Coming closer the shape came into focus. An over turned car lay in the middle of the road, a middle aged man stood waving his arms and calling to me for help. I ran up to him, catching my breath I asked "What happened here?"

The man put his hands on my shoulders and clamped down hard. "The Demons. The Demons are after me!"

I tried to push him away but to no avail. At this point the man was uttering nonsense. "Let go of me!" I said, trying to escape his clutches. Distracted by my own panic I didn't realize he had stopped talking. Instead he looked behind me, at something I could not see.

"I-it's coming. Run!" He stammered out, running behind his overturned car.

I spun around on the spot to a sight that petrified me to my core. A mile down the road was a creature flying low to the ground, it's wings staying steady while still keeping speed. As it drew nearer I noticed more details. It was four legged with its wings on its back. It's scales were ice blue. It was beautiful... and deadly.

In a second it closed the gap between us. Adrenaline mixed with fear pushed my thoughts away. I rolled off the road, the beast roaring past me. The pressure from its speed blew me against a tree. The hit winded me. I looked up to see the demon stop mid flight by spreading its wings wide and flapping once. With that one mighty flap of its wings the overturned car propelled down the street. The man who I did not know was dead without him even realizing it.

The scaly animal turned its slender head in my direction. I froze as if it was Medusa herself was looking at me. It walked over to where I was sitting. I looked around for anything to defend myself with. A few feet to my right was shrapnel from the car. When the beast came within reaching distance I made my decision, I lunged for the make shift weapon.

I grasped the piece of metal and rolled over onto my back, holding it like a shield. Seeing the creature raising its claw I knew what this was. This is a dragon. A mythical creature of death and destruction, but also the giver of life and blessings. It is clear this is not the latter. It brought its claw down; I brought my right arm up to block.

Its claws ripped through my flesh, tearing with no resistance. Screaming in pain, I slashed out with my piece of metal. It cut the underbelly the dragon, not very deep, but just enough to draw blood. When I swung I had to use my left arm forcing me on my side at this point. I felt the dragon's blood fall where my flesh was torn. Above me, the dragon yelled out on its own, it began to fly away. Then it turned around. From half a mile out it launched a volley of fireballs exactly where I lay.

I took no time getting up, adrenaline was keeping the pain away. I ran into the forest, away from the road, and most importantly, away from the dragon. I heard the projectiles land somewhere behind me. With fear of a forest fire I ran faster, dodging around trees and around brush. After a few minutes I stop, and rest at the foot of a tree. As I try to catch my breath the adrenaline fades away and pain takes it's place.

"Holy-. Ah it hurts!" I yell from pain. Where the dragon cut my arm blood runs out. Waves of heat radiate off as my body works to close it up. I take off my jacket which has been torn and dirtied up and dust it off. I tightly wrap it around my arm, moaning in pain as I do so. The jacket soaks up some of the blood and will stop more bleeding.

After making my makeshift bind I took a look at my surroundings and...

I have no idea where I am.