Flooding Aldham (A Dystopian Short Story)

Chapter 3

"Robbie, how do we get home?" Catherine's voice wavered; she was on the verge of tears. I inhaled the wintry air as I constructed a plan.

Step one: get Catherine home in one piece.

Step two: ... I'd think about that later.

Approaching a patrol all drenched and bedraggled, you'd never know who or what you'd be mistaken for. Our last resort was a small hole in the corner of the fence. It was safer, but if we were caught, I wouldn't be surprised if we were shot on sight.

The ground quaked as a black vehicle emerged from behind the sheets of rain. Diving behind a tree, holding Catherine tight in my arms, I watched the headlights swerve past, disappearing around the fence. I held her face in my hands.

"When I say so, you run. Don't slow down. You run as hard as you can. Understand?" She nodded, fear and determination reflected in her wet eyes. It was now or never.

"Run!" I screamed, sprinting towards the fence, Cat trailing behind me. She stumbled as she ran, dragging on my hand for balance. "Don't stop!" I cried as panic streamed down her face. Terror struck me like lightening; my shadow sprinted in front of me.

Cat's foot caught on a stray branch, sending her flying to the ground. My heart pounded in my heaving chest. I swung her onto my shoulders, ignoring our shadows as they grew taller and longer.

"Robbie! Hurry!" she sobbed. I dodged trees and branches. My legs were numb. With a mind of their own, they ran for Cat and her alone. Crashing to the ground, I forced her through the fence.

"Go home! Go!" I dragged myself to the fence, hooking my fingers around the metal frame as her slim figure scrambled out of sight.

Thundering footsteps pounded towards me and I shaded my eyes from the piercing lights. Hazed by hysteria and exhaustion, loud voices resounded around my head. My face smashed into the ground, overwhelming me with the emanating petrichor of the grass. Ignoring my frenzied pleas and thrashing, the snagglers showed no desire to stop.

They can bend you but they can't break you. Be brave. Be brave for Cat. Silent tears of distress trickled down my face. A sharp object was stabbed into my neck and the world spiraled into the shadows.

Well, What happens now??

Read, Write, Imagine, Explore

Mavy-liz