We Are The People

Whisper

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"What was that?"

"What?"

"Did you hear that?"

"Hear what? And why are we whispering?"

"Because when you whisper, your senses open to the things amiss."

The two characters of this short story continued to huddle close together, their backs against the cold alley wall. The air stank of foulness and the harsh wet rain soaking their thin clothing. Their empty stomachs ached for something warm and it has been a few days since they foraged something worth eating in the many garbage cans that littered on the streets. The night was dark, the darkest she had seen in her thirteen years of life, the old one among the two decided. The stars were missing and the only thing that gave her hope every night was nowhere to be found. The two of them seeked shelter tonight on the side of an abandoned building that was used to be a fast food chain long ago before the economy collapsed and chaos settled in on the once relatively peaceful place they called home.

Something broke through the sound of rain hitting the pavement and both their hearings heightened to any source of danger. The two both rose to their hackles, ready to run as fast as they could at the first sign of intruders. A shadow stood at the entrance of the alleyway they were in. The younger of the two gripped her older sister's good arm and immediately stood behind her. Knowing what would already happen, the older of the two released the weapon holstered on her hip and fired two consecutive shots at the enemy. Many more shadows appeared and she cursed, this weapon could only fire limited shots. She would have to think fast so both her and her younger sister could survive another night. First, find a bright place. The shadows would not follow them there. But right now, her top priority would be to escape this alley. It was a bad move staying here but she had no choice. She was badly injured on her left shoulder and needed to rest.

Three of the shadows were closing in and many more were coming. She kicked off a barrel she knew was full of gasoline and fired it up. She then grabbed her younger sister and fled through the night, their steps light and sure treaded. They both turned around a corner and stopped short. More of the shadows were on the other side. She pressed a finger on her lip, signaling her younger sister to be quiet. They silently crossed the road and proceeded to run the opposite direction. They ran and walked for a long time, constantly watching their backs if any of the shadows were following them. These shadows were once people too. But when the end of the world came and everything was brought to ruin, pain, anguish, and hopelessness took over the bodies of humans and left these remains. Shadows were everywhere but they only appeared at night. The night which the girls loved long ago, was now the time of day they most dreaded. Shadows can be destroyed by sunlight, bright lights, and fireball shots. But these shots were hard to make and procure. The only way to get them was to steal them. It was the only way you can survive throughout the night.

There was a house that looked abandoned up ahead but it could be already taken by one of the humans that were still alive. Raising her weapon up and still silent, the older of the two peeked through one of the windows to check for shadows. The coast was clear. The door was locked but then they both kicked the door and they were in. Suddenly one shadow appeared and two shots were immediately fired. It disappeared in a puff of smoke. The two of them checked all the rooms and when they were sure that it was indeed safe, they collected all the books in the house and started to burn them.

"Hey, it's the Lorax." The younger of the two showed her older sister the book. They both smiled and remembered the time when their parents were alive and used to read this book to them before they slept.

"We can burn this last."

The fire on the fireplace was warm and felt good. They found a couple of cans of chicken soup in the cupboards and they each had one can as they sat in front of the fire. There was a medicine kit in one of the bathrooms and they treated their wounds and changed bandages. They also got blankets and pillows and made themselves comfortable in front of the fireplace. For a short while, the two of them would be safe. They sat together and gradually fed books to the fire to keep it going. They just stared at the fire and after a while, the younger let out a yawn and closed her eyes but she still reached out for the book and handed it to her sister. In a whisper she spoke.

"Please read this to me."

Her sister took the book and a jolt of sadness hit her heart and she fought back tears. Seeing this book just held so many memories of their old life. In a whisper, she read the first line.

"I am the Lorax. I speak for the trees. . ."