Future Shock (standard:science fiction, 1050 words)
Author: pjlawton	Added: Nov 24 2003	Views/Reads: 3549/2328	Story vote: 0.00 (0 votes)
A young woman gets a frightening glance into the future.

Click here to read the first 75 lines of the story


After an excruciatingly slow departure process and three more travel
hours later she reached the small Baja fishing village that Jason had 
talked so much about. This had been his favorite vacation fishing spot. 
He had often talked about bringing her along but somehow it had never 
happened. 

For a few Pesos a day she rented a small bungalow right on the beach.
God, it was wonderful. Fresh air and very few people. She had forgotten 
that places like this still existed. 

*** 

The next day's English language paper at the newsstand had bold
headlines. 

‘Giant Quakes in SoCal. Thousands Dead.' 

Scooping it up she quickly read the story. Yes, the Mission District had
been severely hit with massive casualties and damage. Figures said the 
dead would be at least 100,000. 

At first she felt a little sad. All those people were dead. Then
realization set in. She was alive! Yes, thousands were dead but she was 
alive. Joy and happiness were hard to suppress. Quickly she gathered 
her purchases and light in heart and step headed back to her simple 
beach sanctuary. 

How long could she remain here? Forever if need be. She had cleaned out
her bank accounts before leaving and with her considerable savings she 
could live an uncomplicated life here for as long as she wanted. It was 
great to be alive. Life was especially good for she had cheated Mister 
Death. 

*** 

Two weeks later she was taking her evening stroll along the beach when
she saw the daily paper lying in the sand. Disappointed that someone 
would trash such a lovely spot she stooped to pick it up. Her eyes come 
across a bold headline. 

‘Local Tourist Found Murdered. Stabbed and Left to Die on the Beach.' 

Oh my, she thought. How terrible, life was to good here to end up that
way. Turning the paper over she saw the date. It was dated the next 
day.  A photo of the murdered tourist was printed at the bottom of the 
page. 

Unable to take a breath her eyes bulged as a large grimy hand came from
behind and covered her nose and mouth. She uttered a silent scream as 
her legs buckled. It was over in barely a second. She hardly felt any 
pain as the lethal razor sharp stiletto easily slid between her ribs 
and firmly and fatally pierced her heart. 

The last thing she saw as her dying eyes started clouding over was her
picture in the crumpled up newspaper. As the pages slipped from her 
weakened fingers a gentle breeze carried them across the hot burning 
sand into the bright blue water where they slowly washed out to sea. 

End 

Pjlawton1@yahoo.com 


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