by Agster, Joe
“When the mind is your source of power, the sexes become equal,” he reminds her, hoping she will dispel any apprehension to sticking to her true self. “When you love yourself, your true self, it will show through.”
In that moment she wonders to herself if he is indeed from another world. Perhaps he will rescue her from the plight of the asteroid, possibly at the last moment before it crashes down. Her path, her destiny could be brighter than she realizes, something she’s rebuffed in her mind several times now but cannot shake. Maybe it’s love that’s causing her to be optimistic, but this strange man before her may be a glimpse into an enigmatic yet vast universe.
As the night winds down and the wind picks up, they look up to the sky, admiring and fearing the asteroid. It is still barely visible, but its presence dominates the top of the sky. They study the sky and try to track its movement to the west as it settles over the mountains. This is the first time she could look at it, finally accepting her fate, whatever that may be. She takes comfort in knowing that no matter what, she will have an amazing man at her side.
Day 5 – December 30
Friend looks through the window, and can’t help but notice a few individuals gathering near the front entrance to the hotel across the street. It’s the Planet Real hotel, directly across from their hotel, known for its catering to a younger, hip crowd. Both hotels appeal to the younger generations, so they are in fierce competition with each other.
As they get dressed and head down there, then notice a few more make their way inside. It’s an odd sight for sure, to see this many people at once under these circumstances, causing the two of them to stare at each in amusement. It’s something worth checking out, something they cannot ignore.
Upon entering the Planet Real foyer, a small crowd is already gathered. A man welcomes them. He is young, stocky build with somewhat long, reddish hair and full facial hair, and a joyous personality. The interior is lively, with pale brown hardwood floors, bright colored decorations on the walls. The casino floor is cleared out, tables removed. It seems this group redecorated the place to make it a giant club, orders of magnitude larger that the Vyxx, with a stage set up for music.
“Welcome everyone. I’m Lars. We are planning a big party tonight for all remainers who have stood brave in the face of inevitable death. We want to tell the world that we will not scurry and hide like cockroaches. We are going to celebrate our end in the most spectacular way possible. So spread the word. We will have music, dancing, whatever. Bring whatever liquor or refreshments you can find. There are no rules, just be yourselves and celebrate the end together!” He preaches loudly to the crowd, who cheers him on.
Friend and Cassie glance at each other. Remainers? It has a nice ring to it, a perfect choice to describe these people willing to stay, seemingly enthusiastic and full of life. As they look around, they see a crowd that is fearless and defiant, ready to embrace the final two days on Earth.
Friend and Cassie return later that evening, bringing with them a bag of tiny liquor bottles they’ve gathered from various abandoned rooms throughout the hotel. But everyone else brought just as much if not more, and with that, more than enough for a party. Hundreds gather as the night progresses, as the band playing a fusion of rock, blues, and soul. The organizers even rigged the lighting in the casino area to provide the optimal lighting effect to match the festive atmosphere.
Cassie spends a bit tending the bar, mixing drinks. Friend sits at the bar, watching her in amusement. As the night rolls on, everyone is enjoying each other’s company. As Friend carefully observes, there are no more phony social personas, people are just being themselves now.
As the hour passes midnight, the celebrations have yet to subside. A tired Cassie holds onto Friend as they make their way away from the dancing crowd. They head back to their room, Lars thanking them for coming, reminding them the party will be even livelier tomorrow.
In this day the shadows of fear have turned into the elation of hope. The city that felt like a dystopian wasteland just a day earlier has morphed into a beacon of celebration. It was refreshing to them to see this camaraderie among the crazy brave, those willing to stay and embrace their fate. And it seems evident the next night, the final night, will bring out even more of it.
Day 6 – December 31
The Final Day
Cassie wakes with a hangover. But it was worth it, releasing all the buildup of tension and stress. It was worth being in the company of people that have begun to care about each other, and not a collection of strangers that made up our current society. This longing is foreign to Friend, as mutual caring for each other is a core custom, at least that’s what his gut tells him.
The word is out. Hundreds, if not thousands of travelers stream back into the city. Where they come from who knows, but they all share one goal, to participate in the biggest final party this Earth has ever seen. They come in defiance of orders to evacuate. They refuse to run, to hide and cower. And no military platoon, no armed force is here to stop them.
As the dawn of the final day manifests, Cassie and Friend enjoy a sandwich for breakfast, watching from their room as cars drive in from the distance, and tourists walk the streets. Soon Lars appears, directing traffic with the help of his small band of helpers. He also appears to be studying the street layout, pointing about, probably issuing directives.
Cassie and Friend head downstairs to see what the fuss is about. Across the street at the Planet Real, scores of more dwellers emerge from the emptiness of the south end. Friend and Cassie greet Lars, providing all with a warm welcome.
Lars engages the large crowd. “We are going to have the biggest party ever tonight. The word is that visitors are coming from all over. We will be taking over the Metropolitan hotel, along with a couple other surrounding hotels. I hear even the famous DJ Lingtao is making his way here, set to drop the beat as we celebrate our final hours.”
The crowd is made up of young and old alike, from some small children, along with grandparents, and from all different backgrounds. There are no rules but two: just enjoy each other, and don’t hurt anyone. This rekindles a fond affinity in Friend. Despite the looming tragedy, the outpouring of love that radiates cannot be understated. It’s something this exotic place has been missing, a coming together.
By midday the festivities are in full swing. Music blares out from the loudspeaker system in both hotels, and along the street. Revelers scamper back and forth among the hotels. The lighting of both hotels lit up, signs flashing. Even down the road some of the other hotels have done the same. Someone has even reprogrammed the street hologram to now play music as it shows two countdown clocks, for both the New Year and the asteroid impact. Many of the travelers have brought their own party refreshments, mind altering substances of varying kinds.
Nightfall comes, the day breaking for the final time. Cassie is looking as radiant as ever in her black dress, as Friend keeps glancing at her over and over. She grabs his hand, drawing from it what little comfort left she has. They relish in the party atmosphere that has taken over their hotel. The desolate scavengery that persisted the casino floor after the announcement has transitioned into a vivid display of celebration. A DJ stands on a platform, cheering on the crowd, playing the high energy beats that provide the festive mood. Hundreds packed wall to wall dancing with each other. Children are left to their own devices, playing in their own space. They rejoice as they play, remaining blissfully unaware of their circumstances. Many embrace with hugs, kisses, seductive dancing, even explicit acts that normally deviate from the social customs. Religious leaders of all kinds of faiths also gather to pray for everyone. Everyone wishes each other well as they head into the afterlife, accepting their fate in the most ecstatic way possible.
Across the street at the Planet Real the celebration is just as vibrant. A famous band, known throughout the nation, plays the stage. Cassie recognizes them, in awe seeing them in person. Lars greets Cassie, then Friend with a hug. They make their way to the b
ar where Cassie helped bartend the previous night, and help themselves to some beer, still flowing from the tap. She mixes her favorite drink for her and Friend to share, vodka with ginger ale and a splash of cherry, the “Cassandra” she calls it.
As the time approaches midnight, Cassie and Friend are standing outside, listening to the countdown, looking up to the sky. It’s only a day later but it seems hundreds times brighter this time, hovering in view, just over the western mountains, north of the moon. There seems to be little interest in counting down to midnight; the focus instead being on 4:21, the moment of impact.
“Let’s get married!” she calls out to him, as they hold hands.
“Married?” he inquires, before understanding what that means: a formalization of their love. He affirmatively nods with affection, as she signals the pastor she had talked to earlier. He gleefully trots over, parts with them a few words, then encourages them to kiss as he declares them husband and wife.
The newly wedded Cassie and Friend retreat back to their room to enjoy their brief honeymoon. As they embrace each other under the cover of night, the colorful illumination of the buildings below dispels some of the darkness, just enough for him to study her naked skin, even reveal her various imperfections like a pale birthmark above her navel. Then she whispers to him that she loves him. This is the first time she has used that word with him, he realizes. He doesn’t need confirmation of her love he tells himself, but it adds to the pleasure of being with her in this moment.
January 1, 2:02
They bundle up in additional warm clothing to brave the stiff frozen air on this final night. Cassie suggests finding a quiet spot, to reflect on their six-day adventure together and to spend their final moments. They head south, away from the bright lights and into the darkness, uncaring about the possible danger. As they pass the last resort on the south end, they stumble into a park that is completely empty, but perfect for them. They find a bench along a small pond, where they can gaze at the stars. The night sky is amplified by the reduction of light pollution, induced by society’s crumble in the final days.
They gaze into the low western sky in silence, focusing on the asteroid as it comes closer, faintly hearing the celebrations in the background. The asteroid is so large and bright now it overtakes the moon as the most illuminating object among the stars, with its white center and reddish halo, reminding them of its proximity. It is unforgiving, unrelenting in its pursuit of Earth.
The magnitude of the situation weighs on Cassie as the days have been reduced to a couple hours. Deep down, as inane as it is, she holds a glimmer of hope that the asteroid would just stop, even by a miracle. To both of them, every moment matters. In her mind, now is the best possible time to reveal to him her most cherished secret.
“I want to tell you something I’ve never told anyone,” she speaks to confide in him. “It’s something my father told me the day he died.”
She tears up, the weight of her reality sinking in. He hugs her and holds her tight, as much as he can, wishing he could just absorb himself into her.
“In the chasm between life and death, he saw a vision of me in the future, a glimpse of me in my later years… He said I ruled the world.”
“Like your president?” he wonders.
“No. Something more. Something different.” She looks upon the sky, recalling his dying words. “He told me one other thing. When you die, you exist in a dimension where time doesn’t flow, it just is. The beginning, the end, it all exists simultaneously.”
“But time flows in the afterlife, I would imagine,” he theorizes.
“Yes time flows it seems, it’s just not our time here on Earth. It’s like our time here exists as a separate dimension there. When we die, we can see the beginning and the end of time all at once, like a portrait on a wall.”
“Well, in under an hour we will find out,” he sadly expresses. He is finally overcome with anguish, not at his own death, but at the idea he may never see her again, that the afterlife has other ideas, other plans for them.
With only ten minutes to go, the asteroid is so bright that they cannot stare at it. It approaches from the low western sky, illuminating so bright it feels almost like day, making the sky around it a fiery red instead of blue. As it begins to enter the atmosphere, it leaves a gigantic trail of fire, and roars like a thousand jet planes coming at them. She clenches his hand in total terror, barely able to utter her final words, “Find me in the afterlife.”
“I will. I promise.” He imparts his final words on her as he stares up at the asteroid in the sky.
With only minutes left until impact, they begin to feel the heat from oncoming fireball, roasting them in their bundled clothes. The heat becomes unbearable as the sky turns from red to white, as the space rock bears down at an accelerated pace. They close their eyes, unable to withstand the brightness any longer. They can only feel its approach now, getting hotter, boiling their skin, vaporizing them, the pain excruciating as their flesh disappears. In the final moments, the shock wave obliterates everything in its path before it crashes. Then, nothing.
5
Date and Time Unknown
Am I dead? This is the first thing to cross his mind. His eyes open to a bright light, surely to lead him into the afterlife, but then he discovers it’s only the sun. Then he feels the sand, those tiny particles once again tormenting his skin. He immediately stands up on his two feet and shakes it off, as he tries to discern his current reality.
There is a strange familiarity to all of this. The smoothed dirt trail. The shabby clothes. Just moments ago his skin was roasting in searing heat, but now it’s cold again, sprinkled in icy sand. Standing up and dusting off his clothes, it doesn’t take long for him to suspect the improbable, that somehow he has been given a second chance.
He’ll need more confirmation. His watch reads 8:21, now turning to 8:22. But what day is it? Did the asteroid ever hit? He races down the dirt trail, intent on resolving the truth. It’s quite a distance to the tarred road, and even jogging at a brisk pace is not enough for his sense of urgency. But the road eventually comes into view, the Mini Mart along with it.
He barges in. The old man merchant is oriented differently but otherwise identical to the last time he saw him, even dressed in the same clothes. The holographic broadcast is also playing, but a different set of news messages, since he arrived a bit earlier than before. The date in the broadcast reads December 26th. Is this right?
He then slowly pulls out his wallet, and as he opens the billfold, sees the same money, the one thousand, as if it was never spent. This must be some kind of second chance. That is the only explanation. He is gripped with euphoria at the idea of one thing: that he can see Cassie again. Those six days, he declares to himself, were the best days of his life, and he gets to relive them!
Friend stares in bewilderment at the holographic display, his eyes barely moving at it shows the current news, but is bumped out of his trance by a wondering onlooker.
“Hey friend, everything ok?” the curious merchant asks, as Friend nods.
“Is it true? Is today December 26th?” Friend curtly asks, with a big smile.
The merchant shakes his head as he replies in jest, “I hope so… did someone have a little too much Christmas eggnog last night?”
Friend peruses through the store, finding a bottle of water. He doesn’t want to make the same mistake as last time, feeling dehydrated and finding himself constantly wandering and searching for a water dispensary. He returns to the counter, and notices the hologram is now talking about the asteroid. And again, just as Friend remembers in crystal clear precision, the agitated old man recites his rancor.
“All this fear mongering over a—” he opens, as Friend cuts him off. “…Fear mongering over an asteroid. Millions of those things in the sky. Let the government do its job.” He finishes his words in a diminishing tone, in curious awe.
“Took the words right out of my mouth.” the merchant belts, admiring the coincidence.
Eager to get moving, Friend buys the train ticket and makes way for the depot. He’s earlier than last time, but observes the same people oriented exactly the same as before. When the train comes he assumes his same seat, taking care to study the mannerisms of the passengers, things he didn’t pick up last time. He watches a woman named Sarah, her name according to her badge, who glues herself to large silver miniature computer for almost her entire ride. He is briefly entranced by such a devotion to a computer, as he wonders if she is devoid of real friends.
He arrives at the shopping district. He takes the prudent approach and buys the same clothes, hoping to create the same effect for when they meet again. He passes buy some of the shops he and Cassie visited, where she found her dress. He can visualize her so perfectly at this moment as if he is staring at a ghost, wearing the dress, how it accentuates her perfect curves, her eloquent smile shaped by her voluptuous lips, her eyes staring at his.
He visits the eatery. He carefully studies how they prepare and store the food, knowing that he will most definitely return later after the evacuations. At the sandwich shop, he watches to see if they use the key to open that sandwich refrigerator, but soon realizes that they key is for securing food overnight. He contemplates asking them where they store the key, but concludes they would think he is crazy. He is so wrapped in keen observation he nearly forgets why he is here, to eat.
Later in the evening, he becomes drawn into studying the games of chance in the casino area of the Metropolitan hotel. He stands slightly off to the side, watching as a crowd gathers in front of a wheel, the objective being to guess the number where the ball lands, ranged from 0 through 36. It becomes perfectly clear how the house builds advantages into these games, adding an extra set of zeroes, manipulating the chance takers to focus on the red or black numbers. More interesting though, are how the numbers are digitally reassigned to their positions on the wheel, increasing the randomness. He is certain that even if he memorized the resulting numbers at this very moment in time, he could maybe win once or twice. Beyond that, his mere participation would most likely alter the flow of events, no matter how miniscule, creating a diverging timeline with slightly different results. If he were to play this at all, he would need to solve the riddle of the randomized number assignment after each role. But this is for another time.
