The Change

Skyscrapers like lonely giants tower over isolated streets. Abandoned cars litter them, and silence rings out like a chorus of death. A thick fog enshrouds everything covering all in a blanket of white. I find myself standing in the middle of the road. Lost and confused I walk forward into the haze. I don't know where I'm going or where I've been. Everything looks the same, white and still.

"Hey! Is anyone out there!? Can anyone hear me!?", I yell only to hear my own echo answer me back. An unshakeable feeling of unrest sets in. The air is cold and stagnant like I'm walking in a graveyard at midnight. I continue forward passing empty cars. It feels like at any moment people will walk out of the buildings; get into their cars and drive away.

However, everything remained still or so it seemed. A strong wind came from behind me without warning. I turn back to see a bright gleaning light. It was small at first, I could hardly see it at all. Then it got larger by the second. So large that it swallows everything around it. Call it a gut instinct, but I knew it was dangerous. Without a second thought, I ran as fast as I could.

Faster and faster, my lungs burning as they did earlier. As if someone had set them ablaze. But it didn't seem to matter how fast I went. I didn't even have to look back, I felt the light engulf my body. It was cold, so cold it burned. Like my body was freezing. In a desperate attempt to save me from this frozen death, I reached forward.

Only one thought echoes in my mind, "I want to live! I want to live!" as if responding to my will; the light that was wrapped around me became warm and began to sink into my body. I could feel it like pure energy was being poured into every cell. I closed my eyes, it was like going from a nightmare to a dream, when I opened my eyes again I was in a different place.

I was looking at a hospital room ceiling. I knew because it was one of those drop ceilings in a boring gray color. That and it smelled of rubbing alcohol. I sit up in the bed, my body is heavy. There is an IV in my arm and I'm wearing a hospital gown. Don't get me started on how much I hate this gown. The door to my room is open; a nurse walks by and he sees me. He yells for a doctor, who rushes over.

Taking out her stethoscope the doctor checks my heart and lungs, which don't burn anymore.

"How are you feeling? Any pain? Discomfort?" the doctor asks in a gentle tone, her eyes wide with wonder. It kinda felt she was looking at a strange new creature she just discovered.

"I feel heavy but other than that fine. Though I guess I'm a bit thirsty too." I replied, my voice is a little horse but understandable.

The nurse and doctor looked at each other with surprise. As if they didn't expect me to understand them, let alone reply.

"I see. I'll go get you some water, I'll be right back." the nurse said before running off. Then a government suit walked in. You know the type; wearing a fancy suit and sunglasses indoors. They think it makes them look cool but it just looks stupid. A Men in Black wannabe.

"Howdy, Aah mah name's Ragen Smith. Aah works at the federal department of weather. Min if Aah asks ya some question?" Ragen asked me, then switched to the doctor. "If the doc ok's with it, of course."

Maybe it's the fact that he said he workes for the federal weather department or that a person working there would need to carry a gun, but I just can't bring myself to believe a word he said. The doctor on the other hand was charmed by his southern charm.

"I do want to give her a full check-up, but as she seems to be fine for the moment. I guess it can wait a minute." the doctor said as she walked out and closed the door. He pulled up a chair and sat down next to the bed.

"Well, little lady. Aah have a few questions for ya. Firstly, what do ya remember about what happened?"

I was hesitant to answer, but then I thought that I might get some answers if I play my cards right. "I remember an orange cloud was overhead. Then this goo started to come down." I replied. He shook his head, but I could tell he wasn't paying much attention. He had that glazed look on his face, the one I use in school all the time.

"Aah see, remember anything else?" he asked.

Yes, I remember running like a rat in a maze. The unspeakable pain, and a nightmare to end all nightmares. Which that being said, theirs no way I could tell him that.

"No, sorry. I don't remember anything else." I replied. He nodded his head, smiling at me.

"That's fine. Thank ya for all your help." He said as he was standing up.

"Wait a minute, do you know what that cloud was?" I asked.

"It was nothing to worry about. Some crop dust got mixed into some clouds that's all." He replied then left.

Crop dust my ass. What were they dusting? Lady Liberty? Who's is he trying to kid? I'd like to meet the fool who believes that stupid story. So that I could laugh at them. The doctor walks back in, giving me the check-up she should have the first time.

"Well, as far as I can tell you're completely fine." She said as she takes the IV out of my arm. "Once you get dressed and fill out some paperwork you're free to go" she continues.

I looked at her like she had two heads, and she saw me.

"Sorry, I know what your thinking, but we're running out of beds. We need to move people out so we can move people in." She said as she walked out. I wouldn't understand till I left, then I saw it.

Hordes of people lined the halls and littered the waiting rooms. Those who could stand were leaning against the wall. Everyone else was either on a bed or laying on the floor. It was a balancing act. One miss placed foot could land on someone's face. Once I finally made my way to exit and get halfway home. I'd realized I never got that water. I decided to take the bus, as I didn't feel it was safe to walk around outside after what had happened. Looking at my phone to check the time.

It read " 12:56 AM, 7/01/2032" I was out for a little over a day.

You might be wondering where my parents are. Considering they didn't come to see me in the hospital or even call. Well, my parents died when I was a kid. It's no one's fault, they died in the pandemic of 2020. I was three at the time. I was taken in by my aunt and her family. With that being said I don't see them much. My aunt works for a black company. So, she rarely homes. While my uncle left to go get milk and never came back. My aunt would have called if she knew, but even if the hospital did get her number, she couldn't answer anyway. Her boss locks all the phones up during work hours so the employees won't have an excuse to leave.

As we cross the bridge into Undertown, I look back at Snazzyville. The bright lights and modern buildings slow faded into dim star lite streets and old rusting hovels. After the pandemic took the lives of over 60,000 people. The remaining citizens decided enough was enough. Their rage, frustration. and sorrow started a technological revolution. Leading to advances in science and technology.

Manhattan and the Bronx were transformed into the city of innovation. Being the birthplace of the first artificial intelligence and the cure for cancer. The builds were something out of a futuristic sci-fi film. Self-driving cars and trims littered the city, Heck the bus I'm on now is self-driving. But of course, where there are brilliant lights there are deep shadows. Brooklyn and Queens were neglected. Left behind it became old and dusty. To the point, only the people who lost their jobs to the machines or were homeless came to live there. It becomes known as Undertown. Those of us who call Undertown home refired to the modern side of town as Snazzyville. It might have another name, but you know what I don't care to learn it.

The bus stopped at the end of the bridge, not daring to go any farther into Undertown, letting all of us off. Only a few of our street lights work making the streets dark. The perfect lighting to get jumped, which is why I avoid going out at night if possible. Halfway down the main street, where a maze of alleyways meets the road. A group of shadowy figures lurks just out of sight. Walking as fast as I could pass the opening. I caught their attention.

Moving from shadow to shadow, they try to sneak up on me. But I see them, don't ask me how. It's cloudy, dark, and the wind is blowing in my face, but I see them. I can see glowing blue figures shaped like people against a black and white photo style city background. I can't see any faces or what they're holding, but I know that they're dangerous. Call it animal instinct. I start to move faster, but it's too late they got me surrounded.

"Hey there girly, it's dangerous to be out after dark. why don't you let us walk you home?" A man said in a creepy playful voice. The kind you hear in one of those low budget horror movies.

"How about you leave me alone and I don't kick your ass into next Tuesday," I replied, ready to fight.

They apparently didn't like my answer, seeing as they rushed me. One came from behind, I elbowed him. Another two from the right, I gut-punched one and ball busted the other. But the three from the other sides got me. Holding my arms and punching me in the gut.

"Damn brat! We'll make you wish you were never born!" A man holding a knife to my face said in a high pitched voice.

I'm between a rock and a hard place. But I fight with everything I have and they hit me in response. They laughed at me as if I was a rat on a wheel. Working hard to go nowhere. The knife's cold blade started to slide across my cheek. My blood felt warm and cold at the same time. The nightmare I had in the hospital flashed in my mind and a thought echoed in my head.

"I want to live!", just then a veil of faint blue light enshrouds my body. Like being outlined by a highlighter. The men's eyes widen, their grip on me loosens. I look at the man in front of me and think that they should just disappear. Then as if in response to my desire a pulse of light flys from me throwing the men six feet in the air in all directions.

When they hit the ground some of them are out cold. The ones who were awake ran and didn't look back. I caught a reflection in the window to my right. A glowing girl with black hair and bright green eyes that looked like jewels looked back at me.

It took a moment, but then I realized that girl was me.