Tags
Arts, IPod, Life expectancy, Manhattan, Non-fiction, Ulysses, United States
Fiction Friday! This weeks prompt: This week’s assignment is to write a short piece, either fiction or non-fiction, about something ugly – and find the beauty in it. Word limit is 600.
This is a continuation of Knock, Knock and literally picks up where Drip and Run left off.
Outside of the gate we immediately fall into a 5 person formation. Ulysses has point, Tyler and Billy on the flanks, I’m pushing the cart and Toby is taking the rear, walking backwards most of the time. We only have about 15 blocks to travel, but many of the streets are virtually impassable, requiring clearing and we avoid areas where we know that others have set up their own strong holds. Our compound aims to be self-sufficient, understanding we can’t live off the crumbs of what was, but not all groups have this philosophy and just like it has always been the world quickly breaks down into predator and prey.
As we head to the East River I gaze at the still stunning Manhattan skyline. During the day, from this distance you can hardly tell how much the world has changed, if it weren’t for the deadly quiet. Without cars, trains, buses, taxi’s, iPods and people talking incessantly on their cellphones the silence is so deafening that I literally jump at the sound of a can being knocked over.
Ulysses puts his hand up, “hold.” We all stop and drop to a crouch as we have been drilled to over and over again. Tyler indicates that he can hear something moving in the space between the two buildings to our left, a gap not big enough to be called an alley but wide enough to hold more than one adult. Billy’s face is white and his coal black eyes are burning fiercely as he scans the rooftops. He’s so young, not even nineteen and I wonder what his life expectancy is now. My legs are starting to burn and I’m getting unreasonably annoyed with Ulysses’ caution, when he waves us on.
Tyler leans in to me, “Probably just a cat.”
“As if there are any of those left.”
We reach the water. They fan out while I check for dead bodies, sewage, animals, anything that could contaminate it. Today the current is moving at a pretty good clip in the center and the immediate area seems clear. I wade in a couple of feet and am about to tell everyone that we’re good when I see her. She’s on her back floating a foot below the surface. Her black hair waves gently in the current and her open eyes are an extraordinary gray, dark on the outside, lighter in the center. Her hands float near her hips just above her body, like she’s getting ready to bring her arms up for a plie. Her bluish lips curve upwards mimicking the giant gash across her throat. Her left leg is neatly amputated at the hip joint, probably for meat and I have the simultaneous thoughts of wondering why whoever did this didn’t take all of her flesh and if it was more difficult to butcher something so beautiful.
“Sci, what’s going on?” Ulysses voice is tense.
“We need to move up river. Dead body.” A life summed up as an inconvenience.
“Fuck.”
“Yea, I know, we don’t have to go up river that far, the area was clear except for…”
“We have another problem.”
Seven problems to be exact. They are bearing down on us from the north armed with what look like spiked clubs and a chainsaw. All I have right now is the animal hope that they don’t have guns and that they are as badly trained as they seem from this distance because those two things may be the only things separating us from the girl in the river.
For all of you who left comments on Tuesdays post, Quickly Sketched, I wanted to thank you, you were all extraordinary in your kindness and with your support.
Valerie said:
This is stunning in its horrifying-ness. I don’t know which would be worse-facing the approaching gang-or the girl in the river.
This piece is especially timely today with the events in Japan and the apocalypse unfolding there. Like so many other events lately- I just want to wake up and find out it was just a bad dream.
Chilling-and magnificent writing!!
kim said:
I agree with Valerie, Jennifer this is such good writing. It keeps you moving. Great!
The Drama Mama said:
This is beautifuly written, as everything you write is, but I really don’t see the beauty in this?
Jessica Anne said:
I love this story. You just pull me right through it, wondering what will happen next. I liked the beautiful dead girl, even in death someone can be beautiful. Can’t wait to find out what happens next.
Jennifer Dillon said:
Thank you Jessica, and I can’t wait to find out what happens next too! Honestly.
Mandyland said:
This series is gripping, terrifying and all too easy to see how it could happen. I loved the line about becoming predator and prey. Strip humans of the cloak of civilization and the result could look something like this.
Ilana @ mommyshorts said:
I am so envious of people who can write about things that they have not experienced themselves. Really well done. And so refreshingly different than any of the other posts.
Kelly G said:
yeeesss!!!! I love post-apocalyptic fiction! This is great. I really got a sense of the way societal attitudes have changed and that you were able to capture the beauty of that poor girl in such an ugly world.
On a side note, my maiden name is Dillon!
Jennifer Dillon said:
I’m glad she came across as beautiful, even if grizzly in that beauty.
Another Dillon! There can just never be too many! It would be hilarious if we were related.
Jessica said:
Oh my gosh, terrifying and so real, how do you do this?
CDG said:
That you can draw, so beautifully, grisly death and the implosion of society, speaks volumes.
I sometimes wonder if, like visual artists, we should be asked to write still-life, human form, death–in order to perfect our craft.
You could teach a thing or two, I think.
Jennifer Dillon said:
Wow, thank you very much.
Mandy said:
I will admit – seeing this was a series that had started long before this piece, I nearly did not bother reading… but I’m glad I did.
Incredibly well written, gripping, and so gruesome. The little details make it excellent! I loved the line, ” A life summed up as an inconvenience.”… even though he recognized her beauty, she still was little more to him than a reason to keep moving.
Your interpretation of beauty found within ugliness, taken so literally… I love it. For one shining moment, he recognizes the beauty of the girl despite the horror surrounding.
Very much enjoyed myself. Thank you!
TRDC #75
Jennifer Dillon said:
I’m so glad you did stay and read!
Cheryl @ Mommypants said:
The tension is still there, for sure. I love how you described the dead body and the reaction to it.
Please continue this next week??
Jennifer Dillon said:
I’m trying Cheryl, fiction is not easy for me, and I feel like I’m flailing a little. I’ve spent the last couple of weeks mulling, sulking and huffing trying to figure out where this is going. But I pledge to do my best!
Pepca said:
Well done! It’s such a raw, cruel world and the girl’s beauty emphasizes it. I’ll surely come back for more.
varunner said:
You’ve got me! I want to keep reading to see how they get out of this mess!
Renee said:
I love it! I’m going back to read the previous installments.
I’ve had my own visions of this “end of society” thing.
Barbara said:
Excellent piece!
I have read your work before (I am coming by way of TRDC) so it was new to me, but nevertheless I was intrigued. You’ve just got to love a well-crafted apocalypse senario!
🙂
Sara said:
I really like your characters. I can feel what they feel and it’s scary. They also are likable and I want them to be okay.
I liked how you used the prompt with woman’s body. It was well timed in the story. I wondered how you were going to get to it as I read and it fit perfectly.