FIC: "12 Years Ago Today" by g0shawk-PG13/R
Title: 12 Years Ago Today
Author: g0shawk
Rating: Pg13/R for non-graphic violence and adult themes. I dunno, I'm really bad at choosing ratings.
Summary: A short story on the life of a boy who loves animals.
Author's notes: A rather depressing story if I do say so myself. Not really sure why I wrote it, but I think it turned out pretty well. I thought about ending it after the first part, but the rest kept bothering me, so I'm posting the whole thing. Read at your own risk :P Please let me know of any opinions you have. Feedback is appreciated!
12 Years Ago Today
He gasped in awe. Birds of all kinds and colors covered the floor of the forest clearing before him. The birds aren’t the only ones rewarded for getting up early. Slowly, he lowered himself to the ground, settling down slightly behind a tree so as not to attract attention. Chin in hands, he continued to gaze dreamily at the beautiful spectacle. After a while, his legs began to get cramped from sitting so long, forcing him to stand back up. Abruptly, he froze as he saw something move out of the corner of his eye. Covering his mouth in shock, he watched the fox creep steadily closer to the edge of the clearing. He bit his lip, wondering what to do. I know it’s nature, and if I wasn’t here it would happen anyway, and it happens all the time, but… I AM here. I can’t just do nothing. His mind made up, he took a deep breath and charged into the midst of the flock, waving his arms wildly and yelling at the top of his lungs. “Go! Fly away! Go, go, go!” Startled, the birds rose into the air as one, resembling a dark cloud being blown away by the wind. He grinned triumphantly at the sight, and whirled around just in time to see the sly would-be-predator dash away through the trees. Turning back to look up at the mass of winged creatures still escaping the scene, he jumped as a loud BOOM echoed through the air. A dark object plummeted out of the sky, landing several meters away. Baffled, he stepped forward, and then halted, gaping. It was a small red-winged blackbird. One of its wings had been nearly torn off, and it was not moving. BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! He screamed as three more birds landed around him, broken and lifeless. Falling to the ground in fear, he curled up and covered his head with his arms, trembling and sobbing.
The dog found him first. The man arrived 20 minutes later. “Kid? Hey, kid.”
At the touch of the hand on his shoulder, he flinched involuntarily. Sniffling, he lifted his head slowly. He saw the dog, and reached out to pet it. The dog sniffed his fingers, but didn’t get any closer. Finally, he looked at the man crouching stiffly in front of him. Brown vest, hat, beard. He couldn’t quite decipher the expression on the man’s face. Awkwardness? Guilt? But why would he…
He backed away in horror as he caught sight of the gun and backpack leaning against a tree in the background. “You-it was you! You-you k-killed them!” Tears welled up again in his eyes, but this time he wiped them away angrily. “Why? Why did you--?”
The man shifted uncomfortably. “They…they’re just birds, kid. There’s plenty more where those came from.”
He glared, crossing his arms. “I want to know WHY!”
The man shifted again, obviously unsure how to respond.
“MURDERER!” He spat out the word.
“Whoa there! Look kid, you’ve got it all wrong. It’s just a game…”
“A GAME???” A game? He gaped in disbelief and confusion. “You KILLED them!”
Losing his temper, the man retorted angrily. “Oh, for the love of God! There are billions of birds out there! It doesn’t matter if I kill a few, they’re all the same anyway! It’s not like they’re humans! Jeez, grow up kid!”
He stood frozen, shocked at the man’s outburst. It’s not like they’re humans. The words echoed dully in his head. Not like they’re humans… “You’re saying…you’re saying humans are better than birds? That’s why it’s okay to kill them, but it’s not okay to kill humans? Because we’re better?”
“Of course!” The man looked surprised. “Animals are only on Earth to serve us. We can do whatever we want with them.”
“I don’t understand. There’s no reason why we should be better; we should all be equal.” How could anyone think humans are better? Animals have feelings and families and lives, too…
“There are plenty of reasons!” Obviously getting upset again, the man started to rant, “WE can think! WE can talk! WE build cities, cars, airplanes, trains…!”
“SO WHAT! They can’t help that! What about mute people, and people with disabilities? WE also build bombs and have wars and ruin forests and cause global warming! WE are destroying everything!” He glowered, anger practically radiating off of him.
The man sputtered, searching for something to say. “Global warming doesn’t exist!”
His anger dissipated, turning into disbelief. “That’s it? That’s all you’ve got?”
The man stood up, clenching his hands into fists.
He flinched, but the man merely turned and strode away, muttering, “Go to Hell.”
He watched in silence as the man gathered up the rifle and backpack, whistled for the dog, and stomped off. As the footsteps faded into the distance, he heaved a sigh filled with relief. Standing up, he looked sadly at the bodies of the birds lying on the ground. Grabbing a stick, he proceeded to dig three small graves. When he had finished, he walked away without looking back, knowing he would never return to that place; knowing he would never again see animals or people in the same way; knowing what he had to do.
-----------------------------------------------------
12 Years Later
“Don’t move! Drop it, and put your hands in the air!”
He stared grimly at the scene in front of him.
There were at least a dozen guns trained on him; the police were watching his every move. SWAT and the bomb squad would probably be appearing at any moment.
The bomb had been set up the day before. He had finished everything else a few hours ago, and then entered the parking lot of the building and called the police. They began arriving almost immediately, followed soon after by the press.
He held perfectly still, his right thumb poised over the red button of the trigger in his hand. This is it. This is what it came to. I can do this… I have to… I’ve tried everything else…
He pushed the button.
Reporters gasped in shock as guns roared, and his body hit the pavement, riddled with bullets. There was a moment of utter silence, and then the building exploded.
-----------------------
2 Days Later
“We interrupt this broadcast to bring you news on the man behind the explosion of the National Gun Association building two days ago, in which 23 people were killed. During the investigation, police officers found a letter of confession in his house. It reads,
To whom it may concern: I do not see myself as a terrorist. I am simply a person trying to spread a message. I am truly sorry this is the only way I could get your attention. Would you have listened to me otherwise? You may think you would, but you’re wrong. This wasn’t the first thing I came up with. I have tried every nonviolent way possible, only to be ignored and laughed at because of my beliefs. Sometimes sacrifices must be made for the greater good. You may not believe me, but all I really want is peace and equality. The NGA is only one of many obstructions to this ideal. This planet belongs to all of us: humans and animals. We are equals here; please treat each other as such.
To the man I met in the woods 12 years ago today; I dedicate this one to you. You were wrong. Humans are much worse.
…A strange message, although it certainly makes some interesting points. Police are still confused by the last part of the let---.”
The television went dark in response to the remote in the man’s hand. He stared at the blank screen in shock. It can’t be. 12 years ago today…
Author: g0shawk
Rating: Pg13/R for non-graphic violence and adult themes. I dunno, I'm really bad at choosing ratings.
Summary: A short story on the life of a boy who loves animals.
Author's notes: A rather depressing story if I do say so myself. Not really sure why I wrote it, but I think it turned out pretty well. I thought about ending it after the first part, but the rest kept bothering me, so I'm posting the whole thing. Read at your own risk :P Please let me know of any opinions you have. Feedback is appreciated!
12 Years Ago Today
He gasped in awe. Birds of all kinds and colors covered the floor of the forest clearing before him. The birds aren’t the only ones rewarded for getting up early. Slowly, he lowered himself to the ground, settling down slightly behind a tree so as not to attract attention. Chin in hands, he continued to gaze dreamily at the beautiful spectacle. After a while, his legs began to get cramped from sitting so long, forcing him to stand back up. Abruptly, he froze as he saw something move out of the corner of his eye. Covering his mouth in shock, he watched the fox creep steadily closer to the edge of the clearing. He bit his lip, wondering what to do. I know it’s nature, and if I wasn’t here it would happen anyway, and it happens all the time, but… I AM here. I can’t just do nothing. His mind made up, he took a deep breath and charged into the midst of the flock, waving his arms wildly and yelling at the top of his lungs. “Go! Fly away! Go, go, go!” Startled, the birds rose into the air as one, resembling a dark cloud being blown away by the wind. He grinned triumphantly at the sight, and whirled around just in time to see the sly would-be-predator dash away through the trees. Turning back to look up at the mass of winged creatures still escaping the scene, he jumped as a loud BOOM echoed through the air. A dark object plummeted out of the sky, landing several meters away. Baffled, he stepped forward, and then halted, gaping. It was a small red-winged blackbird. One of its wings had been nearly torn off, and it was not moving. BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! He screamed as three more birds landed around him, broken and lifeless. Falling to the ground in fear, he curled up and covered his head with his arms, trembling and sobbing.
The dog found him first. The man arrived 20 minutes later. “Kid? Hey, kid.”
At the touch of the hand on his shoulder, he flinched involuntarily. Sniffling, he lifted his head slowly. He saw the dog, and reached out to pet it. The dog sniffed his fingers, but didn’t get any closer. Finally, he looked at the man crouching stiffly in front of him. Brown vest, hat, beard. He couldn’t quite decipher the expression on the man’s face. Awkwardness? Guilt? But why would he…
He backed away in horror as he caught sight of the gun and backpack leaning against a tree in the background. “You-it was you! You-you k-killed them!” Tears welled up again in his eyes, but this time he wiped them away angrily. “Why? Why did you--?”
The man shifted uncomfortably. “They…they’re just birds, kid. There’s plenty more where those came from.”
He glared, crossing his arms. “I want to know WHY!”
The man shifted again, obviously unsure how to respond.
“MURDERER!” He spat out the word.
“Whoa there! Look kid, you’ve got it all wrong. It’s just a game…”
“A GAME???” A game? He gaped in disbelief and confusion. “You KILLED them!”
Losing his temper, the man retorted angrily. “Oh, for the love of God! There are billions of birds out there! It doesn’t matter if I kill a few, they’re all the same anyway! It’s not like they’re humans! Jeez, grow up kid!”
He stood frozen, shocked at the man’s outburst. It’s not like they’re humans. The words echoed dully in his head. Not like they’re humans… “You’re saying…you’re saying humans are better than birds? That’s why it’s okay to kill them, but it’s not okay to kill humans? Because we’re better?”
“Of course!” The man looked surprised. “Animals are only on Earth to serve us. We can do whatever we want with them.”
“I don’t understand. There’s no reason why we should be better; we should all be equal.” How could anyone think humans are better? Animals have feelings and families and lives, too…
“There are plenty of reasons!” Obviously getting upset again, the man started to rant, “WE can think! WE can talk! WE build cities, cars, airplanes, trains…!”
“SO WHAT! They can’t help that! What about mute people, and people with disabilities? WE also build bombs and have wars and ruin forests and cause global warming! WE are destroying everything!” He glowered, anger practically radiating off of him.
The man sputtered, searching for something to say. “Global warming doesn’t exist!”
His anger dissipated, turning into disbelief. “That’s it? That’s all you’ve got?”
The man stood up, clenching his hands into fists.
He flinched, but the man merely turned and strode away, muttering, “Go to Hell.”
He watched in silence as the man gathered up the rifle and backpack, whistled for the dog, and stomped off. As the footsteps faded into the distance, he heaved a sigh filled with relief. Standing up, he looked sadly at the bodies of the birds lying on the ground. Grabbing a stick, he proceeded to dig three small graves. When he had finished, he walked away without looking back, knowing he would never return to that place; knowing he would never again see animals or people in the same way; knowing what he had to do.
-----------------------------------------------------
12 Years Later
“Don’t move! Drop it, and put your hands in the air!”
He stared grimly at the scene in front of him.
There were at least a dozen guns trained on him; the police were watching his every move. SWAT and the bomb squad would probably be appearing at any moment.
The bomb had been set up the day before. He had finished everything else a few hours ago, and then entered the parking lot of the building and called the police. They began arriving almost immediately, followed soon after by the press.
He held perfectly still, his right thumb poised over the red button of the trigger in his hand. This is it. This is what it came to. I can do this… I have to… I’ve tried everything else…
He pushed the button.
Reporters gasped in shock as guns roared, and his body hit the pavement, riddled with bullets. There was a moment of utter silence, and then the building exploded.
-----------------------
2 Days Later
“We interrupt this broadcast to bring you news on the man behind the explosion of the National Gun Association building two days ago, in which 23 people were killed. During the investigation, police officers found a letter of confession in his house. It reads,
To whom it may concern: I do not see myself as a terrorist. I am simply a person trying to spread a message. I am truly sorry this is the only way I could get your attention. Would you have listened to me otherwise? You may think you would, but you’re wrong. This wasn’t the first thing I came up with. I have tried every nonviolent way possible, only to be ignored and laughed at because of my beliefs. Sometimes sacrifices must be made for the greater good. You may not believe me, but all I really want is peace and equality. The NGA is only one of many obstructions to this ideal. This planet belongs to all of us: humans and animals. We are equals here; please treat each other as such.
To the man I met in the woods 12 years ago today; I dedicate this one to you. You were wrong. Humans are much worse.
…A strange message, although it certainly makes some interesting points. Police are still confused by the last part of the let---.”
The television went dark in response to the remote in the man’s hand. He stared at the blank screen in shock. It can’t be. 12 years ago today…