Ultraviolet Sunset

Well, here I am once more in the realm of stories outside of my comfort level. . It's a nice little challenge and provides some interesting practice at story telling in ways other than I am use to (Hence out of my comfort zone, I am good at repeating myself) .

This story is based on a dream I had last night, thankfully I wrote it down in my Dream Journal, and more so I still remember most of the detail (Even if it's sort of hard for me to write). In an odd twist however, this was the first dream that continued even after I woke up. It was still playing, for a moment, giving me an image of the ending.

I really didn't full understand the story till I wrote it today, it took me approx. 3 hours to write, I did some light editing, though I am sure it needs some serious editing, research, etc. So this is the story's more pure form before all the important home improvement. Well, I hope you enjoy it....

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Ultraviolet Sunset (1,407 WC)



Doctor Michael Drewstile has his arm raised, resting on the sliding glass door, leaned against it. He stares out at the dead world, as he tries to endure the almost blinding brightness. Light gust of wind spin around dust on the sun baked earth, which stretches far into the distances, the cracks curving into each other, almost resembling the tangled mess of a brain. The only thing visible is a nearby large green wall.

Soon the sunlight became to much for the doctor as he looked away, he removed his glasses, and rubbed is eyes. Michael then put his glasses on as he over at look at a large, military style foot locker at the foot of his bed.

“Must, Preserve,” said Michael weakly. The doctor went over to a bookshelf, grabbed some of the books off it and went to the steamer trunk to put them in it. Where there are already some books and a blanket with skeletal remains peeking out of it. He glanced at the remains with a sadden expression, then adjusted the blanket to cover the bones.

Michael glanced at the nights stand by his bed, where along with a picture of him in his decorative Marine uniform, is also a photo of a woman along with a young girl. “I will be with you soon enough,”

The Doctor’s attentions were soon drawn to sliding glass door as knocking came at it. He quickly closed the steamer trunk and turned to see his brother, Steven Drewstile, standing at the door. Michael went over and opened the door.

“Steven,” said Michael.

“I just came over to see how you were doing,” said Steven.

Michael let out an amused chuckle of disbelief. “I guess I am doing as well as anyone could on a world that is doomed to be overcooked to a crisp by its own sun,”

Steven turned to look at the sun, using his hand to shade his eyes as Michael came to stand next to him. “I wonder how much longer we have,”

“There is no telling, Months, Weeks, days, heck even hours before it flares up for the final time,” said Michael.

Steven looked at Michael. “Well, I hope Emily and Sarah are doing well, to think they were accepted into an arc,”

Michael lightly laughed with a soft smile. “I hope so too,”

“It is too bad you couldn’t go with them,” said Michael.

“There was limited room, and who needs an old Marine like me,” said Michael.

“You still have plenty to offer,” said Steven.

Michael grunted. “Maybe,”

Soon the two men’s attentions were drawn to the horizon as the sun began to shine brightly, emanating an intense heat.

“We should get in,” said Steven.

However, Michael was entranced by the sunset as he slowly walked towards the green wall.

“Michael,” said Steven as he followed after his brother, the two walked passed the wall and looked out at the horizon. In the instance are the silhouette of trees which have withstood the heat so far and a dead cracked grassy plain. Soon the sun began to dim as it set, and in that moment produced a vibrate ultraviolet sky.

Michael reached into his pocket and pulled out a phone and quickly took a picture of the sunset.

“What the hell was the point of that,” asked Steven with an amused chuckle.

Michael looked at the picture on his phone, then at Steven. “Must preserve,”

“Preserve, for what. Once the Sun goes, there will be nothing more,” said Michael.

“Must hold out hope, that their will be a future,” said Steven.

Michael chuckled in amusement. “If you say so,”

As the Sunset, the last of its light, disappearing behind the horizon, an extreme cold began to overtake the landscape. A snow storm began to stir along with loud howling of the wind.

“We need to get inside,” said Steven.

The two rushed back to their homes just in time to see the ground become frozen.

Michael rubs his arms to produce heat as his breath is visible in the cold air. The doctor then went over to the footlocker, opened it and set his camera into it. “Maybe one day, someone will find this,”

The Doctor then returned to the window and looked at the bitch black night. There was no signs of light nor life.

“Just got to hold out,” said Michael. He then turned towards the bed and went to lay on it.

******

Michael’s eyes shot up as he let out a gasp, the sounds of his daughter Sarah’s crying ringing in his ears. He groaned as he climbed out of bed and glanced out the window to see the overly bright sun peaking over the horizon. Water drips from overhang and falls into collectors below.

The doctor got up and after getting dressed and having his breakfast rations, retrieved some of the water from the collectors and brought them in before it could evaporate from the coming heat. Michael made himself a cup of tea and then went the sliding glass door and looked out as he sipped on the cold drink. He noticed in the distance there was a sandstorm with lightning and fire mixed into it.

“The End,” said Michael. The doctor dropped his tea cup and slowly walked outside.

“Is this it, Michael,” asked Steven as he joined his friend.

The two walked beyond the wall and watched as the storm raged in the distance. The wind whipping their hair.

However, they soon noticed figures emerge from storm, huge, horned creatures with charcoal like skin and engulfed in flames. The creatures walk towards the settlement.

“This is it,” said Michael with a deep sigh.

Soon Michael was forced to look away as a blinding white light engulfed them. He could soon hear what sounded like the beeping of an EKG monitor.

“We are losing him,”

“Come…”

“10cc, adrenaline, stat,”

“It’s time,”

“Paddles, charge,”

“Home… come,”

“Clear,”

Bzzzzzttt

“Hold on Michael, fight it,”

“Home… come… it’s time…”

“Clear,”

Bzzzztttt

******

The weather is cold with a light drizzle, a small crowd of people are gathered in a cemetery, before them is a coffin draped with old Glory, and next to it, is a large photo-portrait of Doctor Michael Drewstile dressed in his U.S. Marine uniform. The crowd cries in mourning as a preacher gives the last rites.

Emily Drewstile holds her daughter, Sarah tightly, comforting the little girl, as she tries to contain her own emotions.

“Doctor Michael Drewstile, Captain in the United States Marines, was a good man, dedicated to the health and wellbeing of others, even at the risk to his own safety. A decorated veteran, a celebrated neuro surgeon. The preservation of life was his true calling in life and what he worked towards every waking moment, when he was not spending time with his beloved wife and daughter. Doctor Michael Drewstile was a fighter, who fought valiantly till the end against the illness that eventually claimed his life. May he forever reside in the house of our lord, looking down upon the world he was so dedicated to,”

Sarah began to cry heavily, burying her face in her mother’s dress as the coffin began to lower into the ground. Marines in the distance fired their rifles in a twenty-one-gun salute.

Soon Emily coached her daughter away from the gravesite and as they began to walk away, they were joined by Michael’s brother, Steven along with his wife, Mary and their son, Thomas. Mary comforted her sister-in-law.

“Ma’am,” said a young Marine as he approached the group, he holds the folded flag and on top of it is a decretive oak box, containing the casings from salute.

“Here, I will hold it for Mrs. Drewstile, corporal,” said Steven as he took the flag and box from the Marine, who then saluted, then turned and walked away.

“Come, my brother would want us to celebrate his life, and not mourn long for him,” said Steven sadly, he managed to force a sad smile.

Emily managed a soft, sad smile as she glanced back at the cemetery plot. “I wonder if he was alone at the end,”

“Of course not, I always told him, I would be there for him,” said Steven. He then managed to coach Emily on, her arm wrapped firmly around her daughter. Mary came to her sister-in-law’s side with her son next to her.