The World Is Doomed Then

“It’s up to you to save the world!” She exclaimed, jumping around like an excited child.

“I guess that the world is doomed then.” My gloomy reply immediately dampened her spirits. She swivelled around, and jabbed her finger to my nose.

“No! I refuse to hear that! You will save us!” I shook my head and turned away. When a woman made up her mind, what could a man do? It was even worse if the man’s sister made up her mind; there was no escape from a sister’s unwavering decisions.

“Janessa, I quit for a reason. I’m not going back there.”

“Oh no you don’t!” I fell to the ground, having gained the extra weight on my back. “You are not running away from here! From your destiny! From me! What about me? If you don’t do this, I’ll die! You can’t live without me!” I sputtered, drawing in fresh breaths of oxygen, knowing full well that I would be sporting blue and purple spots tomorrow. My sister fondly seemed to forget about my injuries, and that I’ve only been able to get out of bed during this past week.

“Janessa Virginia Williams, are you trying to kill me?”

“No, of course not. I need you too much.”

“Well, then. Get off of my broken back, if you would be so kind!” She swung herself off of me and apologized, but I just brushed it off. “Now, I think it is time that you go home. You are evidently tired.”

“What about the world?!” She grabbed me by my shoulders, almost as if to shake me awake.

“Let go of me...Thank you. Now, I’m definitely not going to save the world in this condition, okay? We can talk about it again in...three years? Thirty?” I offered, even venturing to smile, though my whole face felt like I just set it on fire.

“THIRTY YEARS!!!!” I covered my ears and retreated; I was already half-blind and lame, I honestly didn’t want to go half-deaf as well. “THIRTY YEARS???!!!! ANTONIO, ARE YOU INSANE?!! DID YOU HIT YOUR HEAD OR SOMETHING???!!” I took a few more steps backward, safely placing myself behind the desk.

“Please stop screaming. This is a respectable neighborhood, with a lot of children that should be trying to sleep now. Also, yes. I did hit my head. Remember? When I was trying to save the world? Only six months ago? I hit my head so hard, I actually suffered some memory loss. Do you remember that, my dear, calm and gentle sister?” She glared at me. “Also, yes, to your other question. I am insane. I’ve always been. You told me that fifteen years ago, and I don’t see anything that has changed, do you?”

“Yes, I do!” She spat out. “You!” She marched closer, and once again her finger was jabbing at my nose. “You have become a COWARD! You have become a FOOL!! You have -” I grabbed at her finger, pulling her into my chest. She wriggled like a worm, and I suddenly remembered her fondness for those creatures. Unfortunately, she didn’t allow me more time for fond memories (memories that I only RECENTLY came to remember again). She pushed against my shoulders, and the burning fire seared through my whole body.

“WATCH IT!!!” I thundered, and she took five steps backward.

“Don’t you dare yell at me! It’s not my fault that you gave up and didn’t complete your mission! And I won’t take anything back! I am ashamed to call you, yes you, my brother.”

I ducked behind the crate, grimacing. This...was not a good idea. My whole body was screaming at me to go home. Take a nice hot shower and go to bed. Die in peace. Die in your sleep. There was no greater prospect than that for me.

I peeked around my hiding place, analyzing the environment. I would only have one chance. It would be a run-and-grab. Fighting would have to be avoided at all costs. Sisters are the curse that we men have to live with...

Okay...Two guards at the east gate. Three at the west. There is one at the north...Strategy...I sat down, resting my head for a little bit on the object behind me. It felt like a swarm of bees had attacked my head. There was fire burning on my chest and shoulder area. My legs were jelly. In the words of my doctor, uttered only the week before, I was not in the physical condition to go back to work; if I had wished to do so, of course.

I retrieved my handgun. I actually had no idea what I would use it for...It only had three bullets left...Strategy: Pull together your courage. Rush out from behind the crate, running towards the launching pad. Grab the key, and pull the ‘abort’ lever. Evade the shots fired by those at west and east gates. Rush towards north, saving three bullets for shooting the guard there. The building will go into lockdown by then...Scrape through underneath the closing door. Run towards exit, hurdling the key into the waterfall. Lastly, jump down waterfall and pray not to die the death offered by crushing water.

I shot out from behind the crate, running towards the pad. The yells reached my ears, and I felt a few bullets whizzing past me. I tumbled over into a roll as one hit me in the stomach. I had reached the key though. I heard a scraping sound, but my attention was at retrieving the key and pulling the lever.

The yells continued, as I struggled to bring the lever down. Finally, it clicked onto the ground, but just as I turned around, ‘slam’! A cage fell over the spot that I was standing on. The guards approached. This is it...

One of my pursuers suddenly tripped over his feet, and two more bullets hit my chest. I dropped down, and knew with certainty that this was the end.

It’s up to me to save the world?! Seriously, sis, the world is doomed when I walk in...