The Enemy Within

It has been just two months.

Months since they started coming.

Me, my mom and my father lived in a nice home, in an urban location. We had to relocate, so they wouldn't find us. My mom had told me stories of a world where the air was clear...you could see the sun! You could go outside without coughing and choking on the pollution in the air.

Their existence was known even then, but they didn't bother the people much then. They were welcomed by people, even my ancestors. No one suspected what the creatures could do. What they would do.

But one day...my great grandmother Chamelia heard a noise. It was a noise we'd never heard before. And that was the last sound Chamelia ever heard. Her entire village was wiped out, with only my great grandmother surviving. From that day on, the creatures were our enemies.

Now, even in our urban location, we lived in fear of them coming to get us. They wanted to eat us, skin us, enslave us! They had more powerful weapons then even the weapons could kill hundreds of men.

I was sitting with my mother under a huge frond leaf, trying to convince her to get some rest. "No my dear, I must watch for them." My mother had been convinced they were going to attack for days now, and I wanted her to get some rest. Besides, she was going to slip up and say the name. Saying the creatures' name was taboo. It seemed like they could tell when you were talking about them, and it was such bad luck!

"Mom, get some rest. You've been saying they'll attack for days! Besides, if they do, we'll fight better and well-rested you." She finally complied and went to bed. 

For the first few hours, everything was fine. Then I heard an explosion. Ash rocks, dirt and plant parts went flying over us. My mom woke up, sat up, and we locked eyes. Immediately, we knew the plan. 

We ran. We ran, ran, and ran. Mom eventually stopped and began throwing stones as best she could. But then we ran again. Unfortunately, it wasn't enough.

They caught up with us.

Now, they plan to kill us. I wish they never existed. The terrible, horrifying, dreadful creatures. They will kill us all.

Now you will ask rashly with your utmost curiosity, “Then who actually are they?”

 I answer you:

   “They are humans.”

                                                                                       By - Sanaskriti Saha