Prisca's_Writing_Area

Title: The End of the World, again
Character: Number Five
Word Count: 301
Prompt: fire
Rating: PG13
Finished: 07.07.2022

:::

Five tried to sort out his mind. So the earth would end in a giant fireball this time. At least there would be no escape; no one left behind in a dystopian world alone. He preferred to die with all the others, then again about 50 years of loneliness.

Then his eyes fell on the old briefcase he was still clenching with his fingers. Hazel's legacy. When there had been no chance to escape the world's downfall, he gave it to him. "Take this," he had said, "and go before it is too late." And without thinking about it, Five had teleported himself away, back in time.

He breathed in deeply. Yes, he knew what Hazel wanted him to do. Stopping the apocalypse. Again. As if this was so easy. He was left entirely on his own; nothing new for him. His brothers and sisters scattered all over the country. Because of him. The last time they had met, the world had faced the downfall once before, and he had tried to stop it by risking a group time warp with the six of them. It had gone terribly wrong.

Even if he would be able now to find his siblings, would they trust him once again? Would they be willing to give up their new build lives to follow his prophecy?

He closed his eyes, could see the giant mushroom cloud again, could feel the burning heat radiating from the fire, engulfing everything in its way. Leaving behind - nothing.

Children's laughter tore him out of his thoughts. When he opened his eyes again, he noticed the playground in the park he was standing. A smile sneaked on his lips. Two children, a girl and a boy, playing tag with their father. A happy family.

And he made a decision.