THE TOPIC OF THIS CONTEST WAS:
The thud was unmistakable. He slammed on the brakes, and jumped out. Nothing. Panning his eyes across a small field of corn, with red and orange leaves showering down from the nearby forest, he shivered in his thin jacket. He then turned back toward his truck, and starting blinking wildly…
(Stories need only touch on this topic in some way to qualify.)
Before you continue reading, take a moment to consider where you would take that story…
The soddened and sorry leaves lay in the half-frozen puddles around me. What was I doing out here at this time of night? I shivered, I should have worn warmer clothes for this mission of mine. The wind rose and I looked up at the sound of the trees releasing the last of their leaves, almost like a baby wailing. Why did I feel so uncertain and nervous?
No traffic was odd. Yes, it was late but my city never completely goes to bed. My prescription would have to wait until morning, obviously, but why was no one around? It’s like I was standing in a giant empty field.
I hurried back to my treasured truck. I turned the handle. Nothing. I yanked on the handle. I was locked out and I could see the glint of my keys hanging from the ignition. Seriously! What to do now? I panicked even more as for one heart-stopping moment I thought I saw my cell on the car seat. I let out a huge breath as I felt the familiar lump in my pocket. I pulled it out and started dialing. No bars in the corner. No calls? Now what?
I even left on my headlights. Why had I been in such a hurry? Like a pair of big eyes, the lights dimmed on and off as the clumps of leaves coming down blocked the light. I knew I put my car in park so that was good. No need to panic! I’ll just walk home. My home was only a mile or two. It would be good for my health, I chuckled.
I started past my pickup when I noticed it was moving, rolling ever so slightly over the icy puddle which, as I squinted my eyes, was forming a crack across the puddle. I backed away as I saw it continue to spider out. Then it began to move even faster—I ran further away. I looked back, feeling truly petrified with fear as my beloved pickup fell into the largest hole I’d ever seen. The thud sounded like imploding metal.
The concrete had cracked open like a fragile egg. All I could see were the headlights and now they truly did look like they would go out at any moment.
I was a strong woman who could fix anything, but I stood there shaking. Not even one car had driven by. I didn’t have any way of warning anyone about the hole. Hoping to get a signal, I began walking home. Good thing I had my comfy kicks on. Mind racing, why do I feel like something catastrophic has happened?
Still feeling disturbed, I let myself into my apartment with the key I kept in a frog figurine. All the lights in the house were on and the TV was just a blank screen with a message of technical difficulties. What the heck was all this? Was somebody trying to play tricks on me? After all, it was early Halloween season.
I plugged in my phone and wished it would charge quickly. I set a packet of popcorn in the microwave and waited for it to be ready. Soon, the tantalizing smells of the corn made me realize how hungry I was. The popping came to a standstill. I sat down on the couch with a soda and my bowl. It tasted wonderful. I was happy there were no burnt kernels. My truck was in expensive trouble. I felt like crying when I couldn’t get the news to come on. Oddly, the movie channel was fine.
I grew more uneasy when I called and got a strange response from the police department.
“What is your concern Ma’am?” the voice asked.
“My truck fell into a sinkhole on Main Street,” I answered.
“Ok, it’s good you got home safely; just sit tight. We’ll send someone when we can but half of our force did not show up for work.”
“Yes, there was no one around downtown either,” I answered. “I hope my truck will be ok till the tow gets there. I don ët want anyone falling into it.”
I felt more worried. Why was the newscast not on? Why were there no cars on the road? Why were my lights on?
I didn’t sleep. I left the lights on. Around 7, I tried calling my mother. No answer. I tried my best friend. No answer. Where would they go this early? With heart racing, I decided to walk half a mile to the store for eggs and bread. With doors wide open, I went in and saw 4-5 people hurriedly shopping. They were loading up their baskets but no one was working the cash register.
“What’s going on?” I asked a woman who kept blinking bloodshot eyes.
“I was outside,” she replied. “I saw people . . . in the air. I just need milk and cereal for my kids.”
Leaning closer, she whispered in a strangled voice, “It’s the Rapture.”
“What?” Long ago, at church I heard something about that. Christ didn’t take me with him, I realized in horror.
Another shopper said in a robotic voice, “We’ve been left behind.”
I didn’t want to, but I left without paying for my items.
