Burn Me Down

Worth fighthing

I commanded my shaking hands to take the letter. As I lifted it, a familiar piece of paper fell down the folded note. I picked it up and skipped a heartbeat. It was a tarot card. Two of Swords. I thought of Oliver, how he turned that card around that very eve. I held back tears. I missed him already. What kind of human being could do what he did to me? I swallowed back the hint of anger that was starting to point its way out, then read the last words Lady Blackburn wrote for me.

"Dear Karma, I knew you would come back to see me and I am so sorry you have to see me like this. Please know that I left this world happily and with no regrets. God talked to me after your departure. He told me how this world would end through a play of cards that I did not quite understand. Maybe you could find a bit of an answer to your questions into those cards, where I found nothing but numbers. God told me to pick three cards, and write them down for you. I had the lovers, the tower and the two of cups. And then this card fell from the deck. My mother told me that nothing happens for no reason so I kept it for you.
I hope all of this is going to help you through these rough times.
I truly love you and always will.
Wishing you the best, Aurora Blackburn"
I cried a bit louder than I wanted to. Her cat was softly touching my leg, probably trying to mend my broken heart. I picked it up and stroke its head a bit, until it emitted a reassuring purr. The cat's cage was under the sofa, so I pulled it up. The last thing I could do for lady Blackburn after all she did for me was to bring her cat with me. Besides that, many cultures around the world assume that cats scare away the evil forces, and therefore protect their owners.
I stepped out of the house and started to walk. I had no idea where I wanted to go, but I had to go to the city. I was afraid, alone and about to fight for survival. As I walked down the street, I noticed there were no cars, no lights nor any noise. It was the perfect mood for a run, I thought. If only everything remained that simple. If only my parents did not divorce, my dad would've stayed with me. I did not want to admit it but the loss of my mother was starting to hit me. I let out a whimper, and tightened my grip on the cage. At least I had the cat with me. It would make me an easier target, but at least I would not die completely insane, it was my Wilson.
It took me about an hour to get to the city borders. A thick cloud was darkening the sky above the skyscrapers. Once again, no signs of life. How was that even possible? I was watching the news three hours earlier and it was still swarming with people, running and panicking. What kind of cataclysm makes the whole population disappear in a few hours?
A few cars were crashed or stopped, the four flashers signaling distress. I accelerated my pace. A gargling sound made me turn over. It came from a car, the one closest to me. I inhaled the thick air and opened the front door. If someone was still alive, I had to help them. As the door swung, a strong scent made me cough. A woman was sitting on the passenger seat. Her head resting on the window. Her eyes were barely open, but I knew she saw me.
-Chris... is that you? she breathed.
-Is... is everything alright? I asked.
I could've thought of something more intelligent to say, but at that moment, I couldn't find anything.
-Are the kids with you? she asked.
She turned around to face me. Both her eyes were a crystalline blue, no pupil, as if a thin layer of ice covered them. She was blind. I then noticed who she was talking about. The kids. On the back seat. They were laying there, their faces completely white. A thick line of blood under their small noses, dried from the heat inside the car. They were dead. That was the smell. I gasped and walked back.
-Chris, why are you leaving us? We need you!
I started to walk away. I could hear the woman screaming from the car. It was too much to bear, and I understood how she felt. Looking around me, it felt like the sun was already setting. The dark clouds and the smoke filtered the light in the least appealing way. I had to find something to eat and a place to stay the night. I thought of the mall, but Hollywood taught me that if there is one place that is dangerous during the apocalypse, it's the malls. However, I knew nothing about this part of town besides the huge indoor outlet. Well, I was also aware of the motel a few kilometers down the highway, but that is where my mother usually stayed, and if I was to find her body, it would be the end of me. I looked up, contemplating the rumbling of the clouds, barely floating above the skyscrapers. I had nowhere to go that I was aware of, besides the mall. I could not risk a night out before I figured out what happened to everyone here. The outlet was a few blocks away. I had to get there before nightfall, which seemed to be way earlier than it should. I started to walk steadily, not bothering to look around me. I was afraid, and hoped not to see more death, even though it was surrounding me at that point. As long as the dead would not arise, I would be alright... right?