The Last Run

  “Tig-eralla.”

  My head snapped around, noticing Donttano approaching me. I stepped away from Fattaralla and Quen-alla and went to him.

  “Yes, Ka-Donttano?”

  “Tig-eralla, I know I should not want more out of you, but… are you willing to head back to the village to gather everyone’s belongings?”

  I froze when I heard his request. To leave the safety of the ship and head back to Zantattte* just to gather material objects…?

  It sounded like a joke. But Ka-Donttano doesn’t make jokes. He was a sensible, mature man.

  Was this another test from Ma-Oktava herself?

  I was tired of all these tests she put me through. I just wanted to live and be with my family and Aourine. Nothing more.

  “But I can’t. Ma would not allow me to leave, and… I don’t want to be separated from her either.”

  He reached out, resting his hand on my shoulder, squeezing it.

  “Tig-eralla, we need you.”

  We need you.

  We need you.

  We need you.

  We need you.

  We need you.

  Snap.

  “Ma, I am heading back to Zantattte.”

  “Zantattte? Why?”

  “Ma, I am needed there. The elders are recruiting runners to head and grab everyone’s belongings.”

  “And Tohthorayn chose you?”

  “No, Donttano did.”

  “But why?”

  “Because I am one of the fastest runners.”

  “You cannot go. It is dangerous. We are safe here. We must stay here.”

  “Ma, I need to go.”

  “Eralla! You need to stay.”

  Her voice rose, but it was swallowed by the chatter around us.

  “Ma, I am needed.”

  “We need you, Eralla. Don’t go. Please, Eralla!”

  “Ma…”

  I let out a sigh, turning around.

  “I need to.”

  The air had become hotter, signaling Ma-Oktava’s nearing doom. The sand that held our people for so long was going to die. All things must come to an end.

  Even the ground itself.

  Every few minutes, my head would turn to look back at the spaceship Ma and the others were on. It only shrank the further I moved away. Only three others from my village decided to give up their comfort to retrieve our belongings.

  Why was I doing this?

  There wasn’t anything valuable in my hut. Except the pots Ma made or the mud toys Lylla and Somala would make when Fa would punish them. I had nothing–

  Aourine’s weird spare parts.

  Those were the only things I had — the only things I would consider valuable.

  I had hidden them from Ma’s sight for years, buried beneath the sand on the right side of the hut.

  I sped across the plains; the wind scraped against my skin, but it never broke.

  Boom. Boom.

  The ground below me vibrated as I ran through the plain hills.

  The signs of Ma-Oktava’s fall only grew clearer.

  I should hurry and retrieve the things swiftly.

  Zantattte wasn’t far from Aktoe. I had to gather belongings from eight huts — one of them Giseine’s. She didn’t ask me, instead Suvgine asked in her favour.

  She still blames me for Ougine’s death. I understand why. I truly do.

  If I had a child one day and they were to die, I would also blame the world.

  The collapsing of Saktak* wasn’t my fault. And it certainly wasn’t my fault that I was the sole survivor.

  How do I explain this very thing to her and the others?

  Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  Rumble. Rumble.

  Time had sped as I ran further away from the people who had come to save us.

  In the distance, I saw Zantattte.

  The tiny Zantattte.

  Waiting for me.

  A wave of relief pushed me forward. The faster I reached it, the sooner I would return to the ship. To Ma, to Fattaralla, to Quen-alla.

  To Aourine.

  The village stood still, the ground humming with the threat of bursting soon.

  The other runners weren’t far behind. I headed to the other huts to gather their items before heading to collect mine.

  The air had become hotter by the time I collected the items from Giseine’s house. The street was clear. Had the other runners already gathered their belongings and left?

  They were rather quick.

  I looked over to the hut that remained clear for five years. Aourine’s. It was directly across from my hut. Perhaps leaving this place would open a door for us to be together. If only she would give up her dreams of exploring to settle down with me.

  It was foolish to think so.

  No time to waste thinking here. Aourine was on the ship, waiting for me. Though I had not seen her, I knew she was somewhere — trying to hide from me.

  What was she going to pack? I doubted those scraps cluttering her house were of any value.

  I opened the door to my hut and entered the space inside. Everything was the same. From the row of touki* to the pots Ma had made.

  I walked further inside, looking through the stuff to find anything valuable to take back. Red and brown toys made from clay. They belonged to me once before being passed down. Now Quen-alla and Batharalla were the ones who would often use them since they were the youngest.

  I paused, looking at the hut one last time.

  I picked up the clay toys, activating the digital storage device belonging to the GOU. I put them in there before moving over to Ma’s plates. She would probably want me to bring it. We didn’t know where the GOU were taking us. Which planet would they leave us on?

  And Ma would be more displeased if she were to know her precious pottery was destroyed along with Ma-Oktava.

  The floating digital storage unit followed behind me as I moved over to Fa’s touki which had been empty ever since he was lost. I stared at it for some time, imagining Fa laying there with Quen-alla in his arms.

  My knees buckled, and I plopped down on the satta with a soft thud.

  “Fa…

  I will take care of them just as you did. No matter how far we go. Sam-shat.”

  I slowly stood to my feet just as the ground shook aggressively. Far more than ever before. I caught myself before I fell flat on the ground. My palm landed against the floor.

  What was going on? Did it already begin?

  I pushed myself off the ground and dismissed the digital storage unit.

  Crack.

  Lines started to bleed through the mud walls.

  This was serious.

  I dashed out the front door and into the wide space. A few huts had fallen down already.

  Boom! Boom!

  The ground shook again. I need to get out of here.

  My feet braced to run out of here and head back to the ship. Ma and the others were waiting for me there.

  Boom!

  The ground in front of me collapsed before I could run. No.

  I need to hurry out of here.

  I turned around, heading around the hut for another exit out of Zantattte. Every possible way to escape was blocked by fallen debris.

  It can’t be just this.

  I can’t just die here.

  My family wanted me. They wanted my support. I cannot die like this.

  I have to try harder.

  I rushed back to my hut. It was still standing. I looked towards Aourine’s hut.

  Memories of the day Ma pulled me away from her came rushing back. I had a chance to fix it.

  I had a chance to fix things — our fragmented relationship.

  I have to try. Harder this time. I have to get out of here and fix things with her. Support my family, but above all, don’t let Aourine pull away from me ever again. Never again.

  Boom! Boom!

  “Argh-”

  The ground cracked. Ash and smoke erupted upward.

  The huts collapsed from the shockwave, and heat simmered through the cracks. The heat blasted in front of my face; I lunged back to avoid it.

  It was hotter than usual.

  Boom! Boom!

  Another loud shake of the ground made my hut collapse. The mud clay wall fell down, taking me down with it.

  Gray smoke filled my eyes. Pain exploded through my body.

  Ma.

  Fattaralla.

  Aourine.

  ?