Village, a one man or family endeavor. After years of plight, wars, depressions, famine and other disasters at the hand of society and its rules. Humanity chose to spread out and spread thin. Any memory of old was razed from the face of the earth. Skyscrapers, casinos, stadiums, houses, all gone, recycled for materials. This was with one goal in mind, help rebuild mother nature by carrying the burden of our sins. People left places to go find their own little places to call homes. The rich were left stranded with their worthless paper and numbers, as people were fed up with the old style of living. Yet in this world without any rules, there were some unspoken agreements between people. You could not settle and build a home, if you can see another house. You could not directly talk or help someone. If people married, they had to leave their home and find a new place to stay, unless one side of their family would leave to live somewhere else. Why? Because society is evil! A good society has no poor or homeless. A good society educates those that need education. A good society does not burden others, but let’s them help themselves and grow. This was meant to give us all that and more, as nature bloomed again.
It seems we have some settlers again, trying to settle next to us. These damn parasites. She tugs at his shirt. Will we be okay, dear? He pats her on the head. Don’t worry, dear. A family is stronger than than some dirty leeches, he says as he loads up his trebuchet and lights the projectile before firing it at the bushes and trees. I didn’t think it was necessary, but it seems like we need to order a fence. She smiles looking at him. I am so glad you said that. I order it the week we moved here, when we started building the house. He looks shocked at her. And why didn’t you tell me? She chuckles. Well, you were doing your own thing and I didn’t want to step over your toes. He goes to take her head into his big hands. I love you. He takes a look at the fence and its instructions. This fence can stretch up to the maximum allowed distance of half a kilometer from the house. Simply stick the wooden rod where you want and it will plant itself steadily into the ground. Well… This seems easy. This way they should know not to poke their heads around here anymore, greedy bastards.
As the night falls, the couple sits out on their porch, looking at their new fence with a big smile and hope in their hearts that the settlers won’t disturb them anymore, before going inside. Gruesome stories are told by nomadic families about parasitic killers that wait for villages to pop up, before they kill the host and take their place. Some speak of nomadic heroes that roam the planet in search of these parasites to exterminate them. Others call those heroes deranged vigilantes that hunt humans for sport. And even now, it shows that word travels even when people barely see each other. I am sorry. I should have put this fence the moment you became pregnant, says Etnad. She leans on him as she grips his hand tightly. All that matters is that we’re fine, says Alia. We were so lucky to find this place, says Alia. It feels like this was fate. You, this place, your pregnancy, it all feels like destiny for me, says Etnad. A knock on the door. Etnad turns around to look through the viewfinder. I need your help, please! Alia pulls on his hand and starts shaking her head. Don’t. He winks at her and takes her hand slowly off. What do you want? He shouts with the door closed and hand on a knife. I need your help, man, please. I’m dying. Etnad opens the door quickly and plunges with the knife in his heart. Serves him right, god damn parasite.
If you liked this short story and want more of it, like, share, comment and re-read it. That way, you can make sure to cast your vote for it to become the short story series for 2022. And if you want to keep the short stories free, you can always donate at https://www.paypal.me/RaulFO