
Neither machines nor prophecies warned us. It’s been two centuries since Earth suffered a decade of pelting by radioactive rubble from an exploded sun.
During the first months, humans dug underground habitations – and that’s where we’ve stayed. Most surface life that wasn’t allowed in or able to survive died out. The rest adapted like we did. Who knew that fungi would be our partners in survival? It filtered out radiation from water, provided food, and generated electricity.
We live in darkness. Surface stories are kept alive through our art. We know one day we will return.
[97 words]
Rochelle Wisoff-Fields is the receptive host of Friday Fictioneers.
I hope they kept a seed bank to restock the earth
LikeLiked by 1 person
Me too! Seeds can lay dormant in soil for a long time, waiting to sprout again, even if they didn’t have time to do it.
LikeLike
After the last few months, it’s so much easier to identify with the sentiments in this piece. Lovely take on the prompt.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Sandra.
LikeLike
Good story Li.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Sadje 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
A pleasure Li
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dear LIsa,
Let’s just home the virus doesn’t drive us underground. Doesn’t seem like a pleasant existence. Well written.
Shalom,
Rochelle
LikeLiked by 1 person
Rochelle, I hope not also. Thank you.
Shalom,
Lisa
LikeLike
I’m glad they are confident that they will return one day. I’m not sure I would serve their confidence! Good story.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Iain.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Surface stories are kept alive through our art. What a great concept ~ surface stories. This flows very nicely. A long history wrapped up in 100-words.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you much, Alicia.
LikeLike
it’s a future we’re not looking forward to. hopefully, it doesn’t happen in our lifetime. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for reading and your comment. Same here!
LikeLiked by 1 person
A dystopic vision – but with some hope for the future. Gee, sounds like 2020 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Exactly, Dora 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh wow, Li. I love the power of your imagination. Great tale!
LikeLike
Thank you, Shweta.
LikeLike
I love a good sci-fi story, and that was a good one.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you and glad you enjoyed it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Good take on the prompt. Living underground becomes the new normal…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Penny.
LikeLike
The troglodytes shall inherit the earth, literally! Good stuff, brilliantly observed
LikeLiked by 1 person
Shrawl, many thanks!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Let me have my Beatles albums underground please…
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Mole says they are getting smaller each decade.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great story! Devastation with a sliver of hope.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Why thank you 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
A lovely story of survival and co-existence. Seems almost possible. Nicely done, Lisa.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Jolly.
LikeLike
You ended on an optimistic note – just what we need right now!
Here’s mine!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Keith, yes we do.
LikeLiked by 1 person
No Sun? Oh, dear. The end is certainly near. Nicely composed. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Bill, not Sol, some other sun many light years away. Thank you much and glad you liked the story.
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙂 Whew. Close call.
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love the surface stories reference…hope this isn’t a peek into the new world….wait, maybe we’re almost already there.
LikeLiked by 1 person
We’ll have to wait and see…
LikeLike
I wonder what they will be returning to, though? Nice one!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, I wonder also…
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m not sure I’d want to live like that, without the light. Great story and I think you’re right about the funghi.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for reading and your comment.
LikeLike
Kind of reminds me of a relative I have that is living with dementia… she’s already in the dark and it is only her memories that seem to sustain her.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wonderful comparison, Jules.
LikeLiked by 1 person
What a creepy, yet fascinating story. Saved by fungus. Who knew?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Add it to your survival tips journal. You never know…
LikeLiked by 1 person
This could easily be seen as a metaphor. We’ve certainly been driven “underground” in the last several months. Good storytelling 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you very much, Linda.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Nice. Sounds like the ultimate ‘survivor’ show. Our middle-age sun is about halfway through its lifetime, another 5 billion years to go 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
Subroto, the sun in the story is not Sol.
LikeLike
Intriguing! Although a bit cold?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Going through the motions, in the dark, trying to keep hope alive. It’s not exactly warm fuzzies, is it.
LikeLike