Short Story Time
14 comments
AppleTriggeredCHALD
12.03.2018 20:54
Linkoo please tell
Dear Journal, my name is Milo, and my hometown, Smithville, has been attacked by foreign people we call “Mairiates.” All the people that I have known has disappeared: my family, my friends, everyone. The last thing I remember from the outside world is my mother telling me to run and hide. You might be wondering: Outside world? Well, long story short, after my mother told me to hide, I found a barrel, so I decided to hide inside of it. I landed in a pile of bread. I’ve recently discovered that there is a small hole in one of the barrel’s planks. I finally was able to see what has become of my hometown, and I was very surprised by what I saw, for I wasn’t in the same place as before.
I found myself inside a ship of some sort, surrounded by other barrels. There was a man, a tall man with a very scraggy beard, a plaid jacket and black pants. He was standing by the stairway to the top of the ship, leaning against a barrel. I wanted to get out, to explore and see if anyone else survived, but I’d have
to wait for him to leave, which lasted a long time. The man did some very strange things: he started squawking in a strange language, nothing I’ve ever heard before. He kept making some strange gestures, some of which I’ve never seen before. Finally, he left and I saw my chance. I carefully and quietly opened the barrel, and at last I was able to see everything around me. Yes, my clothes were a little messy, only because I had been lying on bread for the past 24 hours. I started over to some of the barrels and started opening them to see if there was anyone inside. To my dismay, none of them had any type of living person inside. I started walking back to the barrel I was in when I heard the sound of footsteps hitting wood.
As I turned around, I found myself face-to-face with the bearded man. He drew closer and I knew I was in trouble. “What are ye doing on my ship?” Scared out of my mind, I tried to run around him, but he skillfully picked me up by my shirt’s collar and brought me to the top of t
he ship. “Look what we got ‘ere. A little stowaway.” His shipmates started sneering and making funny faces to me. I know I wasn’t a very interesting sight to behold but they surely enjoyed it. “What do ye have there, lad?” One of the bearded man’s shipmates said, pointing to my journal that was in my hand. I had no idea what to do. If I told them what my journal is, whoever you are that is reading this won’t be able to read the rest of my story. “Well?” They said again. “Its m-m-my-swiddleflinger…” I didn’t know what else to say. The bearded man’s shipmate looked at me confusedly, as if he didn’t know what I said. A little thing for you to know: A swiddleflinger is a tool that we Smithvillers use to build kanyoes. “Yer what?” “My swiddleflinger…” “What in the world does that mean?” “A swiddleflinger is something that all Smithvillers need to live, like clothes and food…” The ship was quiet for a while. Then they all burst out laughing. At least it was better
than them taking this away. The bearded man picked me up again and brought me into a small room and threw me inside. He shut the door and I heard a clicking sound come from the other side.
The room was dark, but I could faintly make out what else was in the room. I saw trunks and weapons dangling on the wall, which really freaked me out. I found a few animal skulls, which weren’t that cheerful either. There was a ripped blanket on the ground, so at least I wasn’t going to freeze to death. I walked over to it and rapped myself in it. The next morning, I woke up to the sound of small feet scraping against the wooden planks that made up the boat. I jerked up with a start, and in front of me was a rat with scraggy fur and wiry whiskers. The rat looked up at me and squeaked. I was trying very hard not to scream. I mean, how would you feel if you were asleep on the floor of a ship and suddenly a rat is in front of you? The rat scampered off and the door to the room opened and the ship’s captain was on the
other side. I stood up and he grabbed my arm and pulled me out of the room. Outside of the room stood the captain’s trusted companions, looking at me straight in the eye.
“So kid, where’d you come from?” My heart stopped. I didn’t know what to say. They’d caught me off guard and now I’m going to pay for it. “Well?” “Smithville…” “So you’re a survivor…” The captain raised an eyebrow. “Y-yes…” “Don’t worry... You’re not the only one…” “R-Really? Who else?” Then it hit me. Those gestures that they made before, my parents had made them when they were talking and didn’t want me to eavesdrop. They told me it’s an ancient language that the olden Smithvillians used to talk to each other before they learned to speak English. “You guys are survivors…” “That’s right. We managed to escape and decided to take some food with us, which is why you’re on here.” “But then, what happened to everyone else in Smithville?” “I don’t know. Our ship lef
t before we could really figure out if anything happened to them.” “Oh.” “Don’t worry, kid. If you’d like, I’ll send one of my men with you back to Smithville so you can check on the place. The ship will stay here until you return with the news.” “R-Really? Thank you!” I managed to hug him. I started packing immediately. I couldn’t believe it. I returning home! Maybe everyone is okay, maybe I’ll see my mother and father again. I couldn’t wait.