"Those" / Matthew Garcia

                Finally the creature broke down his bedroom door, it was her, he thought. “Why, hello there, angel of my nightmare.” he said, knowing very well he was the only living thing there. The beast took a malevolent wheezing breath, slowly limping toward him. Stretching across their enormous bedroom, the humble man gently extended his lengthy pool cue and gently poked back the creature. He stared into its dark black eyes; a tear began to roll down his face. “Your eyes used to be so beautifully brown,” he began softly, “Now look at them, both a swirling pit of black….Nothing.” Just then, an explosion rocked his large house, on their hilltop. He looked out his rather large window, on the west side of their room. It overlooked the city, his city, now lying in ruins, smoke rising out of certain sections of said city. He let out a great sigh, and looked back to his former lover. Fruitlessly, the beast reached out toward him.”Don’t you ever wish, just for a second, we could just go back, before all this mess? Before I was elected? Maybe even before you and I met? Perhaps when we were in grade school?” Cherished thoughts crossed his mind, creating a small smile upon his face. “I remember when I was just a child, running free around my family’s small farm house. When I’d fall or make a mistake, someone bigger was always there to catch me or to pick me up. It’s no longer like that is it?” He paused for a moment, gathering his thoughts. With tears rolling down his cheeks, and sadness apparent in his voice, he said “I should have just listened to you, I should’ve never allowed those scientists to play god. It just wasn’t right…I wasn’t right, and as always, you were.” It seemed his hollowed opponent had grown bored with him. She gently made her way to the window, staring in awe at the flashing explosions occurring throughout the city. He chuckled softly, “You were always one to wander.” He watched her for a moment, and for the first time in awhile, he was actually happy. There was no war, no fighting, no hate, just him and her. He leaned against the wall behind him and allowed himself to slide to the floor. Dropping the pool cue, he allowed it to roll across the room; quickly he loaded and readied his Tokarev. “I used to one day dream of bringing a child into this world, and that child being able to ask ‘Father, what was war?’ But now it seems that won’t ever be a reality, war is all around us.” As he said this, he saw another one of those things lumbering slowly to the door. “Its unavoidable.” he said as he rushed to the door, barricading it in mere seconds. He then turned to his lover, who was now looking in his direction, a confused look plastered upon her face. As she slowly moved toward him, he sighed one last time, “It seems now, it’s time for me to take my leave. Listen to me sweet heart, if there’s still an ounce of humanity left inside you, hear me.” The beast made a grab for him, but failed. He proceeded to grab her wrists and shove them to her shoulders; he gently pushed her to the wall behind them. The thing let out a soft screech. “My world…Our world has come crashing down around us. It seems the Earth is meant for destruction, but even through all this, I can still remember the day I first saw you. Gleaming perfection in every way possible, it was then I began to believe in love at first sight.” Tears began to gush from his eyes, the sound of loud crashing and thrashing came from the feeble door. “Always remember the way you made me feel, how happy we’ve both been over the past few years. I will always love you.” He managed to choke out. He quickly made his way to the back of the room; lifting his gun to his left temple.                                      From his left, she approached, from his right; the door had just broken down, things flooding their room by the dozens. He closed his eyes and……..