Wow, so I have only been doing this blog for two months and I missed a deadline. The last few days have been so busy at home and work that I didn't even think about it being Wednesday today until I was eating lunch. Hence today’s post is a Thunkday rather than a Thinkday.
So, first off to my loyal readers, you know who you are, I am sorry. Next week will be enlightening and exciting for sure…or at least will leave you wondering…I plan on speaking on my theories behind why prices are so hire versus salaries…and it might not be what you think.
In the mean time, I am working on a short story for submission to an anthology a friend of mine is putting together. The writing bug bit me hard and I punched out the first draft, 2,700 words, in only four hours. I have been making tweaks here and there refining it as I see fit, but I would like to know what you think. Here is a small excerpt from the story:
***
Greg brought Sarah into focus on his viewfinder. As a photo journalist for the Herald, he had been through three major military initiatives, yet what was before him now was unlike anything he had experienced in the past.
“Greg, are we green?” Sarah asked as she smiled at the camera. Unlike Greg, Sarah had never been in a war zone. The microphone in her hands was the only thing keeping her hands from shaking. Her work was primarily related to humanitarian efforts. This wasn’t her first assignment in Japan, but it was her first working with Greg. They were here to cover a human interest piece on the apathy Japanese youth felt towards the bombing of Hiroshima during World War II. Of course, that was a far cry from what was happening now.
“We are green Sarah, let’s bring this home”, said Greg.
“This is Sarah Roberts reporting live from the Peace Memorial in Hiroshima, Japan. The footage we are about to show you may be disturbing to younger audiences.” Sarah gave the camera a sympathetic, meaningful glance. “Earlier today this town was an image of perfection; the sky was blue, birds were singing, and the laughter of children could be heard nearby. Details are still coming in, but just minutes ago a building across the street from where we stand exploded, followed by what I can only describe as chaos.”
Another boom ripped through the air as Greg turned the camera; Sarah following in perfect unison with his sweep. Behind her a city in devastation filled the camera’s view. On the edges of the park could be seen fire, smoke and crumbling buildings. The skeletal remains of a ten-story skyscraper sat partly obscured in smoke as if someone had planted a shovel into a pile of ash. People could be seen fleeing towards them, running out of the tree line as if to escape the horror behind them.
“It is unknown if the two occurrences are related, but shortly before the explosion dark clouds began gathering over the remains of the building you see behind me, when a sound, I can’t really describe…” Sarah’s eyes suddenly became hollow, “A sound like nails on a chalk board followed by a crash of rolling thunder swept over us. Greg can you get a shot of the sky?” Greg swept the camera up to capture the strange rolling clouds above. “Immediately following the thunder we could see, what appeared to be a wave of air, radiate from the building. Branches crashed to the ground around us as it passed,” bending over Sarah picked up a small branch to emphasize her point. “In a flash an explosion ripped through the skyscraper directly behind me. Only I swear…,” she swallowed hard, “I swear I could hear the sound of hundreds of voices screaming in agony as the building blew apart.” As Sarah looked off into the distance Greg knew his shot was gold.
What started as a trickle of people running through the trees had become hundreds. He could hear their panicked cries: “Nigete, sore ga Oni! Nigete, sore ga Oni!” The fear and panic in their eyes and voices was palpable. Greg focused again on Sarah. Something had taken a hold of her too. She half-turned to get a better view of those running to her. Greg could see her mouthing the words they were saying.
The crowd was moving faster towards them. Greg had seen mobs in Afghanistan, Iraq and Libya before. These people only had one thought, to escape, and nothing, not even a person standing directly in their path would deter them. “Sarah, come over here.” She didn’t respond. “Sarah we need to move before they trample us.” Greg yelled trying to get her attention. “Sarah!” he grabbed her arm and pulled her close, as the crowd surrounded them like the rage of a tsunami. A wall of arms, chests, shoulders, hands and elbows pounded them like waves crashing on the shore. Greg’s camera shot from his arms, only to be trampled and ground into hundreds of small pieces.
Holding Sarah tight, preventing her from being swept away Greg moved inch by inch to a nearby tree. “Sarah,” Greg gently spoke as he surveyed the mob swirling around them. “What are they screaming?”
Sarah looked towards the devastated building mouthing their words silently to herself a few times before finally snapping back to reality and stating: “Run away, it is a demon.”
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