“Destruction cometh; And they shall seek peace, and there shall be none.”
The television was muted, but the screen flashed with news about the recent volcanic eruption, and the monthly list that showed the names of recently deserted cities. Spe was trying to eat his tasteless porridge when his dad poked his head out of the kitchen and asked him to get a few more oxygen cylinders.
As Spe was walking across the worn-down pavement, on his way to the pharmacy, a wind blew, hard, rattling the wired fence that ran along the sidewalk’s length. Suddenly, his phone up, displaying a warning about an incoming sandstorm. It was finally there. He went numb. Not more than a minute had passed, but it seemed like an eternity before he could come to his senses. He looked up, with heavy eyes, and watched the already grey sky turn yellow. Without sparing another thought, he turned around and ran as fast as his legs could carry him. He did not even notice when he dropped his phone, all he could think of
was getting back home, to his parents. Before long, he was sprinting across the front yard of the two-floor house. Spe was filled with relief to see his mother, already standing at the door. Her eyes, the only part of her face not covered by the oxygen mask, were devoid of life.
“Quick! Come inside. The storm is approaching.” Spe rushed inside to see his father, packing stuff in a bag.
“We have to go! Your mom and I have already packed our things, only you are left. Hurry up! We leave in a minute.”
Spe ran to his room, and straight to his closet, where a bag was kept ready with essential items, like first aid, flashlights, and batteries- lots and lots of batteries. He began shoving clothes mindlessly in the bag.
As he started zipping it up, the reality of the situation crashed on him. The state of panic was too much for him to bear, and he felt his hands trembling. Having packed everything with difficulty, he started to come down the stairs and was stopped by a voice that made its way to his ears, from the corner of his room. He turned back to find a pair of blue eyes staring at him.
“Hey, Fidem! Don’t be scared.” he caresses the cat, picks it up, and takes her with him to join his parents, who are waiting for him, impatiently.
“Are you bringing the cat?” asked his mother, sharing a look with his dad. “ Yes, I can bring her, right?”
“I’m so sorry, Spe, but you know that we can’t. There is barely space for humans in the shelter.”
Spe refused to pay heed to what was being said to him. He couldn’t care less about the situation at the shelter. “We are already leaving our home behind. There is no way I am going to leave Fidem as well. I am sure they can accommodate a freaking cat.” his parents looked at him with sad eyes- sad, but determined eyes. He realizes they would never let him take her.
“Okay, then. I won’t go as well. If she stays, I stay!” his dad was not ready to deal with that at the moment." He grasped Spe’s hand and began to drag him across the living room, toward the front door. His yelling and pulling were of no use. In no time, they were standing in the front yard, where their car was standing, ready to take them away. They got inside, buckled up, and started to drive, each second transporting them further and further away from Fidem, from their house, and from the huge sandstorm that had engulfed half of it.