Pestilence

Everyday is the same. From beginning to end it’s the same. The only difference is if I will eat today. My food stocks are dwindling now. I’ve been walking for about two months. It has felt like an eternity. Since the incident four months ago, I haven’t seen anyone else. Granted I don’t bother to check the ruins for survivors, I’d probably be disappointed. So I’ve been walking. Endlessly it would seem, but I hope to happen upon someone. In these long two months I have not seen anything but rocks and rubble, not a living thing. Its as if the whole world was emptied of all life. No animals, no fish, no plants, no people. I’ve been living off canned food I had stored up. And if I absolutely must I do go to the ruins looking for food. But I haven’t seen any place with food in a week, and I’m starting to run out. Water wise I am normally fine with I know how to ration my stuff, but this week has been incredibly difficult. I can’t take any water from my surroundings it all has to be bottled. Otherwise the water is either gone or turned into a disgusting cesspool. I have to keep moving though. I can see the clouds gathering on the horizon, and that means its getting closer. I walk all day, but I have to rest. It moves day and night, it always seems to be behind me. I’m sure it will be on me in a few hours at the most, but I will walk until it overtakes me.

Page 1

            It’s hard to explain exactly what it is. In simplest terms it is a cloud. I know it better as the third horseman, as the pestilence. This cloud, from what the newspapers said before they stopped printing, was created by a union of philanthropic scientists. They took up the cause of protecting the earth from the machinations of global leaders. Then the war came. The last remaining powers in the world fought a massive war over something small that no one understood. But nonetheless it happened. This union of scientists wanted to stop the war. From there they created this artificial pestilence. It was intended to show both sides the power of man meant nothing when put against that of nature. And to keep up this folly of a war would result in nature’s wrath. The scientists released their cloud at the site of a battle. The cloud did its job and took the lives of thousands, serving as a warning to the transgressions of man. But as opposed to dissipating after a few hours, the wind moved the cloud. It was blown right to a nearby city. And unlucky for humanity, this city had one of the most advanced medical research facilities in the world. The doctors there were dabbling in nanomachines with artificial intelligences. Somehow, someway, the nanomachinces became sentient and merged with the cloud. From there it swept the earth, devouring any organic matter to power the nanomachines.

Page 2

Now I am all that’s left, and the cloud is getting closer. There is nothing left for me but my regrets. I wish I had had no hand in creating that cloud. My mind was clouded with high-minded ideals that have essentially caused the extinction of humanity. I wanted to save people, now I only brought death. I before anyone should pay for what I have wrought on the world. I will sit here and let it take me; let it deliver me to my deserved punishment. But behold, there is a pool of water here that could deliver me faster. I dip my hands into the muddy mire, it burns. I pull up the dirty water and gulp it down. Then I wait. Something unexpected happens though. The muddy, lethal quagmire rejuvenates me. Like giving a thirsty man water, I felt refreshed, even nourished. It is obvious that this is dirty, diseased water. I don’t understand this. But it doesn’t matter anyway; the clouds are very near now.

            It is then that I hear a sound that I haven’t heard for months. The sound of hoof falls. On the near horizon, a horse appears, and its hooves break the silence. At first glance it looks like a white horse bounding over the deadened hills, but as it gets closer I notice things and begin to remember it. It is actually a pale green color. The horse looks kind of decayed and gaunt. Just by looking at it I know it should be dead. As it neared, so did the cloud. I cannot fathom words that can describe the anguish and fear I am feeling right now.

Page 3

But it brings back things. It trots up to me and stops. I can feel the hot, rotten breath on my face. Then it began to speak, I hear a voice in my head.

            “Do you remember me sire?” The horse stares intently into my eyes.

            “What are you?” I stammered. But strangely enough I felt comforted by the horse’s presence.

            “I am yours sire, I am your horse. We must hurry, the others are waiting.” By no the cloud had enveloped me, but nothing was happening. The cloud actually made me feel better. But along with the cloud came a flood of memories. I was the head scientist in charge of producing the pestilence, but I am something else. I knew what the exact location had to be for these events to unfold. I knew exactly what city would be the first to fall victim to the pestilence. I knew everything in advance. I knew everything that was going to happen.

            “What…What am I?” I ask the horse. Meeting its gaze, and all the while fearing its answer.

Page 4

            “Why sire, you are a horseman. You are the embodiment of pestilence, the third horseman if you follow the book of revelation. None of that matters now though, your task has been completed, and now you are to return home.”

Page 5