The Last Fight of Human Race

by Sanyukta Suryawanshi

  Anton turned to his mother and a glimpse of joy sparkled in her eyes until the the herd circled around her.The huge eyeballs,diamond shaped iris were all looking at her,and huge gums and sharp teeth got too close to her face.She felt her chest getting heavier and heavier each nano second.She knew this was the end of her .But she didn't want to witness it.One of the monstuas from the herd sniffed her arm.It looked at her son ,as if a poison taster giving thumbs up to his lord for the food.Her son ,to this only nodded slightly,but a firm nod.The herd picked her up and then put her near the same fire.This time maybe,they were preparing to celebrate her death.Her eyes welled up at the thought of being killed by her own son.

  Flashbacks ran through her mind.

  One and a half years ago-

  ''I am so scared but.....I told myself I had to be brave Christy,we need to get out of here ,I couldn't let this happen to my child.What kind of mother would I be?'' Cindy's voiced cracked .Her cheeks soaked in her tears.

  ''WE WILL GET OUT OF HERE.We will find a way.Don't worry.Nothing will happen to Anton''Christy assured her encircling her arms around Cindy.

  Cindy and Christy looked at ,what looked like moving cars.They didn't know where they were now.What started as a small errand to earn some cash to feed her son turned out be a dangerous game.

  She looked through the rectangular glass.Remembering her mistakes-'I was standing in my blue ripped jeans and black tank top.I was so irresponsible,din't even care that I was smelling like booze when I was going to pick up my son.I could tell that he noticed that I was drinking again.He hated it ,that I used alcohol to wash away the pain.He hated it that I tried to justify it to him.''It's just something adults do when they are upset ''I said.

  ''Then why does uncle Matthew do it on his birthday,he seemed happy.So,you do it when you are upset and ALSO when you are sad...'' he asked,confused or maybe he caught my lie.

  He was right though.When we are upset; when you are going through tough times,we drink.When we are happy,celebrating ,we say'' cheers!'' and we drink.So,we adults were basically just doing what we wanted to do and justified it as per our convenience.But I wasn't in the mood to argue with my ONLY family.But at that time it was more important to be worrying about how I would pay his school fees than to be worrying whether he would get into a habit of drinking like me.

  I sighed,and silently walked him towards our ''home''.I didn't have a home.But I wanted him to have one.My son,Anton,he was such a sweet kid , I never wished for things to turn out like this for him.

  I snapped out my flashback as I heard Christy vomiting .I immediately got up .This was not unusual for us but the fact that it had become a usual thing for us is what made my heart ache.What hurt even more was that not only was it a routine for us ,but also we didn't know when it was gonna end.

  I patted Christy's back as she ended throwing up.She moved her arm as if trying to grab something .I lowered to pick her up.But she moved her arms frantically.Not wanting me to pick her up.''A-Anton'' she managed to say.I immediately ran out to see my son.But all I could do was see from the metal door.Guard standing in front of the door.He pointed towards something .It was the ''creator'' ,a huge human sized tall glass which looked like a closet.I tried to hold my tears back.I stepped away from the door.I looked at the guard giving him a look that said ''this cant be..but it is'' .

  The guard said from the other side of the door ''Step away from the door ''. I turned around and started walking .Somehow I managed to walk.I kept walking, blinding emission of light shined through the little square glass on the door.And I,I kept walking. Other people in the warehouse knew what the screeching sound was.They knew what that light meant.They hung their heads down and some looked at me with pity.I kept walking until there was nowhere to go.My legs gave up or did I ? I don't know.Maybe it was me who gave up,I gave up being strong.I slumped on the floor.And I broke...not only into tears.I broke.I was shattered.I cried and cried until I was out of breath and water.I had lost sense of time,sense of everything.When my senses came back ,I saw Christy giving me a sympathetic look.

  '' here have some water,you must be thirsty''she said in her ducky voice.

  I took a huge sip,tears started streaming down my eyes.

  I gobbled ,until I finished the whole bottle.I pursed my lips and said ''It's over ....''

  She looked at me with her gloomy eyes.

  ''No,it's not over...''she said reluctantly.

  Flashback ends.

  ''I should have listened to Christy'' I said . 'Uh oh,I spoke too loud ' Cindy thought.

  Anton walked closer to her .He grabbed her by her neck and held her high.Cindy looked at the ground below her.

  'When did Anton become so strong and so tall' she thought.

  She felt groggy all of a sudden,then realized it was because Anton suddenly decided to plunk her on the ground.He looks in the opposite direction.A light blinked around his head.He closed his eyes shut,but when he opened them,there were scarier than before.He ran ,with his other men.Cindy was unsure about her own health but she was sure of one thing that she wasn't let anyone else die on her watch.She was not the best person in the world and she most certainly wasn't the worst.She ran ,she ran after her son with all her might.

  ''Something seems wrong.Why do I have this strange feeling something bad is about to happen ''She said to herself as she hid herself behind the tall pine trees in the dark.As soon as her kid and other monstuas were at a distance she went closer.

  ''Uggh'' she whimpered.

  On the other hand ,Christy was running as fast as she can.Cold wind blocking her breathing,along with a little rain,wasn't making it easier for her to run.Her legs gave up but she kept going,but she had to give up,her heart couldn't handle anymore.She collapsed on the wet grass.Panting ,she looked up.

  A monstua stood in front of her.Their raging eyes ,ready to attack her ,or kill her or do what they did with Cindy ,or the person whose death they were celebrating.He seemed surprised as he looked behind him calmly.A desperate,confused Cindy was trying to hide from him behind the trees.

  He smirked .

  ''I will take care of you later.'' he said and walked to words Christy.

  ''First,I am going to finish you'' he grinned through his ferocious teeth.

  He shut his eyes tightly,and turned his face up towards the dark sky as he bellowed.He plunged at Christy ,leaving both women in shock.His mother stood there behind him,stunned by her sons actions.Her pinkish fair skin was stained with wet mud as she wiped off her tears with her trembling hands.She looked around .Another campfire made by the monstuas which was left unattended

  'How can they light a fire in front of someone who is being killed,wont the victim try to save themselves by using fire against the monstuas?'Cindy thought

  She glanced at Christy and ran towards the fire ,she didn't stop to look back until ;she grabbed a huge piece of wood from the campfire.She turned towards Christy and her son.With one hit,she set Anton's head on fire.

  ''Aaagh!'' he cried in pain.

  He staggered away from Christy holding his head in pain.

  He wailed and wailed until he helplessly slumped to the ground.Cindy's eyes furrowed in shock ,her chest going up and down as she breathe heavily.Her heart was still pounding as if it was about to explode.Christy was on lying on the ground ,on the verge of being unconscious.Cindy collapsed on her knees,her eyes staring into nowhere.Christy got up on her feet but didn't move.She kept looking at Cindy's stunned face.The fire that she was holding in her hands fell from her hands.Her body gave up,she felt numb ,seeing her son dead in front of her.She looked up at Christy.

  ''So,this was it.I had a feeling something terrible was about to happen...''she trailed off

  ''I thought maybe ,I was going to die.''she said

  ''But...I didn't think it would be something worse than that''she croaked

  Christy looked at the monstua ,Anton,and at his mother.Not sure what to do or say.She looks around aimlessly.

  ''I think they might be com
ing to get us'' she found the courage to say so.

  Cindy simply nodded.Eyes still wide in horror and disbelief .Christy help her get up .She walked two steps with Christy.She stopped and looked back at her son.Walking backwards ,looking at her son she stopped .She threw the fired wood on the ground.

  Christy looked at her in shock.

  ''No mother should ever go through this'' she declared.She closed her eyes tight as tears ran down her cheeks stained with dirt. She threw the fired wood in her hand on the ground .She hoped that this will atleast mean,that not only her son but other dangerous monstuas that reside there would be dead.She looked as the fire blazed around her son's body .She turned away from her son and strode out the forest without looking back.

  Back at the Monstua's territory-

  When the first monstua was discovered he was harmless but only looked and acted sightly different than others.But looked alien.This enough for the humans to treat him like trash.The media first gave him spotlight but soon started to degrade him not his name but his entire existence became a joke.It was too late for us to go back now.We had already changed ,just like him,so we decided to make you have a taste of your own medicine.

  Martin had no words left.

  ''I didn't have any choice ya know.It was either live life of misery or make you people suffer.'' he fumed.

  Martin watched as the monstua stood up and walked out.

  ''Come on now.You don't want to be late for your first day ''the monstua said as it went out the huge metallic door.

  Martin sighs heavily.

  Martin walks behind him.The monstua leads him towards a huge hall where all the monstuas are experimenting on something.

  ''You work here now'' the monstua declared looking at Martin.

  ''As long as you live you will serve me'' he concluded and strode out the door.

  ''What am I supposed to work as ?''

  ''You are hitman aren't you? I am letting you continue your career.''Monstuas chuckled

  The ivory monstua motions him to walk further.

  Martin thuds on the ground,unconcious.The ivory monstua pulls out a tranquilizer from the back of Martin's neck.He picks up an unconsciousMartin and lays him on a stretcher.

  Groggily Martin wakes up in a vacant room.Its serene opposite to what he expected.Still unable to move he sits on bed near him .As soon as he sits ,he feels like all his energy had been drained.He lies flat on his back,plopping on the bed in exhaustion.He closes his eyes, sighs heavily,and the memories start to come back rolling.

  ''I shouldnt have done that to Jason'' he says.His voice only echoing in the vacant room.

  ''You said it was you guys versus humans then why recruit us ?'' he asked to the ivory monstua.

  ''Cause some you may have the potential to join us ,many of you have surrendered to us .I suggest you make the same smart choice they made'' he says

  Martin clenches his jaw.

  ''Wait,you said they surrendered ,how could they surrender,you guys stormed in and devoured every person you saw .''Martin uestioned

  ''Why do you think people you and Rodney are alive ?'' he said

  ''I am because I am good at ass kickin' .About Rodney,I was about to ask you!.''Martin grinned

  'The ivory monstua acted indifferent

  ''Then I shall tell you..''the ivory monstua walked towards a purple colored goblet of wine from the golden tray .

  ''Your first hit'' he said as a screen appeared where the monstua stood.

  Martin was taken aback by this magic show provided by the monstua.

  A Man with labcoat in her 30s was in the picture.

  '' he is the one of those scientists that went rogue''

  ''Okay will do''Martin answered immediately.

  ''How are you not reluctant at all to work for us?.Killing your own kind''monstua doubted

  ''You forgot.I am assassin.I kill people for money.I don't have any morals.I only live for money''Martin declared

  Monstua chuckled at this.

  ''So?How much money am I getting ?''Martin asked stoicly.

  Monstuas laugh faded,surprised at the question.

  ''You will be given your life.''Monstua said

  ''If you guys are so smart that you build all of this in a day then why are you hiring a human to kill''Martin potinted out

  He turned his eyes to the ivory monstua

  ''Your people cant handle it?''Martin taunted.

  Ivory monstua flared his nose.Monstua gestured him to stay back.

  ''You think we are on a killing spree? Nah I am just trying to make the world a better place that's all but your scientist friends are not co-operating you see''Monstuas said

  ''Co-operate ?''Martin scoffed

  ''Look,you need to co-operate too or else you will be dead just like the others''

  ''Oh, really? If you creatures are so strong ,so powerful then why the HELL do you need me for?''

  ''I was really avoiding this conversation,really,I didn't want to break it to you but you compelled me to.Really I did care about your emotions'' the monstua sneered.

  ''Oh we killed all the cops ,detectives etc.Since they are all dead we don't know about all the dangerous criminals especially the killers that are still roaming free,we want them to be arrested'' he concluded .

  ''Oh,since I am an assassin you think I know where to find them?'' Martin confirmed

  ''Yes,you are either friends with them or you must have heard of them at some point since....you were the best assassin there ever was'' he said.

  ''Am!'' Martin declared righteously

  ''Oh ? is that so ? then prove it and maybe we could you a good deal'' Monstua said.

  Martin simply nodded.

  ''For now,you get to live,in the quarters where all the other humans live'' the monstua said and lead him to a passage where there were cells with humans in it.

  At the restaurant -

  The freezer door has dents in it.Banging on the door can be heard from afar.

  Jason lies in the freezer of the restaurant ,unconscious or dead ,nobody knows.

  Monstuas have taken over the place.They haven’t left any traces of Grace.If they find Jason in the freezer,there wont be any of him either.

  Cindy wakes up to the sunlight peeking through the leaves of tall pines.

  ''We are still here huh?''she asked Cindy

  ''We lost our way last night .Its a miracle that we are alive.''Christy shrugged.

  Cindy gave a half-hearted smile.

  Christy noticed this,she wanted to ask her if she was alright .She wanted to hug her tight and tell her that everything is alright.But she couldn’t lie.She knew she wasn’t alright with Anton's death so how can hos own mother be alright?

  It was a stupid question.Christy was surprised that Cindy didn’t harm herself in anyway.Cindy was safe and Christy wanted to keep it that way.

  ''Come on ,get off of your butt,we've got to move missy'' Christy said as she patted Cindy's back and got moving.

  Cindy widened her eyes and let out a soft chuckle.

  ''Okay,ma'am''she said.

  After walking for a few minutes Cindy finally asked.

  ''Christy,where are we going exactly?''

  Christy stopped at her tracks .After some huffing and puffing from her Cindy walked close to her .She looked closely at Christy's face.She turned her lips in trying to control but that just made it harder.She burst out laughing.

  ''What?''Christy asked.

  ''Oh my god,Christy.Look at your face.''Cindy laughed uncontrollably.

  ''I am serious ,I am very determined to get us safely out of this situation,to protect you.'' Christy said.

  After catching her breath from so much laughing,Cindy said '' I know ;you like a very determined...kid''

  She began to laugh again.

  ''Oh,my god you look like a little kid''Cindy laughed.

  Cindy zipped her lips again.

  ''A kid who is very determined to....you know..''Cindy says

  Christy gestured her finish wh
atever Cindy was saying.

  ''..buy an ice cream''Cindy said and burst into laughter.

  Christy smiled at seeing her friend smile again but she didn't let Cindy see her smile,so that Cindy can laugh some more.

  ''What ,come on take me seriously.''she said .

  ''Ok ok sorry.So,whats your plan?''Cindy asked.

  ''I d-don't have one right know''Christy replied.

  ''Well,what about the place you told me about ,before?''Cindy said as she ran her hand through her her hair.

  ''Uh,you mean the restaurant...yeah sure.We could go back there''Christy sighed whilst rubbing her palms on her thighs covered in jeans.

  ''Whats wrong Chris?'' Cindy asked .

  ''Nothing...Nothing,everythings fine''she said as she seated herself on a huge rock.

  She sat upright looking at the sun going down.She placed her hands on her knees.Squinted her eyes looking at sun then at her friend.

  Cindy didn’t know what the hell was going on with her but she was looking at the sun,so she did too.Now she realised why was Christy was silent all of a sudden.

  The exquisite beauty of the sun going down,the sight was calming,soothing,reminding them that its not so bad .The sight of sunset calmed them so much.As if it calmed their souls.

  They weren’t looking at the world like its ending ,simply their lives were changing.This made their journey a little less tense a little more fun.

  ''We are going to something about this situation.We are not going to be running around.''Cindy declared.

  ''Yeah,we did that a lot in our previous lives''Christy said.

  ''Come on I will lead...to the restaurant ''Christy said.

  ''Okay,lets go'' Cindy said.