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tamingthemuseTitle: A New Time
Fandom: Original
Prompt: Thus Spoke Zarathustra
Warnings: none
Rating: G
Summary: I survived. Now I continue living after all is done.
The place had become empty.
As I walked through my hometown, I meant not a soul. Swallowing my growing panic, I hastily made my way home. Home was supposed to be safe, secure. As I entered the house, I felt nothing but dread. I knew there would be nobody here, just as it was everywhere, but the house still had an odd feel to it, as if expecting something, or someone. It felt hollow and empty to me as I closed the door behind me and swallowed heavily at the aching in my chest as I realized that I was well and truly alone.
The inside was still cool, despite the heat of the day, and the lack of electricity. I let the air cool my heated face after the walk I had just endured, sinking to the floor and brining my knees up to my chin. To one side of me, a multi-planed window cast a rainbow of colors over the hard wood floor. Dust motes floated lazily in the air. I couldn’t really see that well just yet, my eyes taking their time to adjust to the darkness of the house.
I had grown up in this house, I knew every corner and everything that had been in here before I had moved out. My mother lived here, in all her packrat glory. There were things in this house that had no use and were considered trash by all others save for her. I knew it all, but the house still felt alien to me. Empty.
Standing, I made my way to the kitchen and opened the fridge, hoping that something had lasted. There were sodas, and everything else was rotted. Frowning, I packed the sodas and went through the cabinets. Boxed foods would last me a while, and canned goods would last even longer. Those I also packed into my bag. From my own house I had brought bottles for water, but I had yet to find a source of water that was drinkable. Maybe if I climbed the water towers…
I walked around the house, my hand touching everything that reminded me of my mother, leaving trails in the dust. Upstairs I entered her bedroom and fancied that I could still smell her perfume. I inhaled deeply and felt tears come to my eyes. I quickly wiped them away, knowing that if I didn’t I would really break down.
After taking what I could, I left the house, locking it behind me as if there were robbers to fear. My bike was still there, unused for so long, in the garage. The lock had always been easy to shimmy and I walked my bike around the cars and out onto the street.
The sun was still beating down and I looked at my options. I could go uphill, to where the grocery stores were, and beyond that the department stores. Or, I could go the other way, and reach the river. Chewing my lip, I mounted the bike and started toward the river.
What was I doing?
There was nothing to rush to. Time no longer existed, and there were no demands on me. As far as I could tell, the entire of the human race had disappeared. There were animals to worry about, but not for a few days yet, until they got too hungry and started hunting.
I knew my way around town well enough that I could bypass the hills and I quickly did so. I rode in the shade as much as I could, the heat of the day becoming too much for me. I wished I had ice, but the breeze on my face as I rode was nice.
I stopped to look about me and smiled as I realized that I had the whole town to myself. I didn’t have to worry about appearances, or about laws, or about being somewhere. The first law I broke was riding my bike on the sidewalks of downtown.
The windows to the shops were all mirrors in the daylight, reflecting myself on the bike, distorted by glass. I weaved in-between cars and didn’t worry about being hit while in the street. I laughed out loud at the antics of a pair of squirrels without shame.
Then I made my way to the old library. It had been sold, not too long ago to the historic community and hadn’t been opened as a museum yet. I fought with the doors until I gave up and threw a rock through the glass. Careful not to cut myself, I stepped through and wondered around.
Here too did I grow up. It had changed, but the layout was still the same. Downstairs had been the children’s section, brightly colored and full of light. The bathrooms were also located there, and I went in to hope that the water worked here. It didn’t. sighing, I went back out and walked around the library. It was just as strange, being empty of books.
The new library was massive compared to this one, but this old building would always hold a place in my heart. I slowly walked up the spiral staircase, just as I always had done, my hand on the rail, and my shoes falling softly. Walking up this way always made me feel like I was living in the olden times, when ladies wore skirts, and people obeyed the rule of silence in a library.
The second floor was a wide open space. The far end, directly opposite the door had a beautiful stained glass window that nearly never got any light, but the town had been proud of nonetheless. I smiled, recalling a postcard I had seen of that not too long ago. Rubbing my chest where my heart began to hurt, I walked toward the window. On either side were wire stairs leading up to two sections that had once been the nonfiction.
When I was younger it had always scared me, for the floor was naught but glass, fogged, but still. I carefully paced the empty aisles and bemoaned the loss of the books. If there was anything to get me through my new life, it would have been a good book.
On my way down the opposite set of stairs, I caught the sight of one dog eared book and reached out for it. I rolled my eyes upon reading the title and stuffed it in my bag. Thus Spoke Zarathustra. If figures that the only book left in the library would be a book on religious philosophy, something beyond my keen.
I quit the library then, smirking at my luck, wondering if there had been a reason for that book being left behind. On the limestone stairs leading to the street, I paused and looked out at the river. Across from the library was a church on a hill, and from this point, it looked as if the hill lead right to the river.
There was a barge on the river, idly bobbing on the waves, tugging at it’s restraints. I bit my lip, thinking that it was dangerous, but knowing that I had always wanted to see other places. The river ran the length of the country. I would never be able to control the barge, but there were smaller boats down at the marina.
With my heart thudding in my ear, I hopped onto my bike and rode to the port. Now was a time for new things. Everything had changed, and I was going to have to change with it. Already, was I used to riding my bike everywhere. Maybe next I would actually read that book.
Fandom: Original
Prompt: Thus Spoke Zarathustra
Warnings: none
Rating: G
Summary: I survived. Now I continue living after all is done.
The place had become empty.
As I walked through my hometown, I meant not a soul. Swallowing my growing panic, I hastily made my way home. Home was supposed to be safe, secure. As I entered the house, I felt nothing but dread. I knew there would be nobody here, just as it was everywhere, but the house still had an odd feel to it, as if expecting something, or someone. It felt hollow and empty to me as I closed the door behind me and swallowed heavily at the aching in my chest as I realized that I was well and truly alone.
The inside was still cool, despite the heat of the day, and the lack of electricity. I let the air cool my heated face after the walk I had just endured, sinking to the floor and brining my knees up to my chin. To one side of me, a multi-planed window cast a rainbow of colors over the hard wood floor. Dust motes floated lazily in the air. I couldn’t really see that well just yet, my eyes taking their time to adjust to the darkness of the house.
I had grown up in this house, I knew every corner and everything that had been in here before I had moved out. My mother lived here, in all her packrat glory. There were things in this house that had no use and were considered trash by all others save for her. I knew it all, but the house still felt alien to me. Empty.
Standing, I made my way to the kitchen and opened the fridge, hoping that something had lasted. There were sodas, and everything else was rotted. Frowning, I packed the sodas and went through the cabinets. Boxed foods would last me a while, and canned goods would last even longer. Those I also packed into my bag. From my own house I had brought bottles for water, but I had yet to find a source of water that was drinkable. Maybe if I climbed the water towers…
I walked around the house, my hand touching everything that reminded me of my mother, leaving trails in the dust. Upstairs I entered her bedroom and fancied that I could still smell her perfume. I inhaled deeply and felt tears come to my eyes. I quickly wiped them away, knowing that if I didn’t I would really break down.
After taking what I could, I left the house, locking it behind me as if there were robbers to fear. My bike was still there, unused for so long, in the garage. The lock had always been easy to shimmy and I walked my bike around the cars and out onto the street.
The sun was still beating down and I looked at my options. I could go uphill, to where the grocery stores were, and beyond that the department stores. Or, I could go the other way, and reach the river. Chewing my lip, I mounted the bike and started toward the river.
What was I doing?
There was nothing to rush to. Time no longer existed, and there were no demands on me. As far as I could tell, the entire of the human race had disappeared. There were animals to worry about, but not for a few days yet, until they got too hungry and started hunting.
I knew my way around town well enough that I could bypass the hills and I quickly did so. I rode in the shade as much as I could, the heat of the day becoming too much for me. I wished I had ice, but the breeze on my face as I rode was nice.
I stopped to look about me and smiled as I realized that I had the whole town to myself. I didn’t have to worry about appearances, or about laws, or about being somewhere. The first law I broke was riding my bike on the sidewalks of downtown.
The windows to the shops were all mirrors in the daylight, reflecting myself on the bike, distorted by glass. I weaved in-between cars and didn’t worry about being hit while in the street. I laughed out loud at the antics of a pair of squirrels without shame.
Then I made my way to the old library. It had been sold, not too long ago to the historic community and hadn’t been opened as a museum yet. I fought with the doors until I gave up and threw a rock through the glass. Careful not to cut myself, I stepped through and wondered around.
Here too did I grow up. It had changed, but the layout was still the same. Downstairs had been the children’s section, brightly colored and full of light. The bathrooms were also located there, and I went in to hope that the water worked here. It didn’t. sighing, I went back out and walked around the library. It was just as strange, being empty of books.
The new library was massive compared to this one, but this old building would always hold a place in my heart. I slowly walked up the spiral staircase, just as I always had done, my hand on the rail, and my shoes falling softly. Walking up this way always made me feel like I was living in the olden times, when ladies wore skirts, and people obeyed the rule of silence in a library.
The second floor was a wide open space. The far end, directly opposite the door had a beautiful stained glass window that nearly never got any light, but the town had been proud of nonetheless. I smiled, recalling a postcard I had seen of that not too long ago. Rubbing my chest where my heart began to hurt, I walked toward the window. On either side were wire stairs leading up to two sections that had once been the nonfiction.
When I was younger it had always scared me, for the floor was naught but glass, fogged, but still. I carefully paced the empty aisles and bemoaned the loss of the books. If there was anything to get me through my new life, it would have been a good book.
On my way down the opposite set of stairs, I caught the sight of one dog eared book and reached out for it. I rolled my eyes upon reading the title and stuffed it in my bag. Thus Spoke Zarathustra. If figures that the only book left in the library would be a book on religious philosophy, something beyond my keen.
I quit the library then, smirking at my luck, wondering if there had been a reason for that book being left behind. On the limestone stairs leading to the street, I paused and looked out at the river. Across from the library was a church on a hill, and from this point, it looked as if the hill lead right to the river.
There was a barge on the river, idly bobbing on the waves, tugging at it’s restraints. I bit my lip, thinking that it was dangerous, but knowing that I had always wanted to see other places. The river ran the length of the country. I would never be able to control the barge, but there were smaller boats down at the marina.
With my heart thudding in my ear, I hopped onto my bike and rode to the port. Now was a time for new things. Everything had changed, and I was going to have to change with it. Already, was I used to riding my bike everywhere. Maybe next I would actually read that book.
