Siblings’ Song

It is the end of the pandemic, only the remnant of Man survives; with not enough people to cultivate the land, Nature regains her former status, bringing industry to an abrupt halt.

New species emerge, like the walking fish that made the Delaware Water Gap their home. Spiders that acquired a taste for meat overrun some of the cities reclaimed by forest. Only the strong bioengineered experiments escaped from their places of birth.

Hunters and gatherers unite for the sake of the survival of the species. What looks like trees are in actuality skyscrapers that now serve as dwelling places for newly formed communities. A natural canopy forms over what used to be considered urban lands. After two generations, no one remembers the sky.

Resourceful as ever, farms are cultivated indoors by the lucky ones. Maintenance crews become leaders by default, as only they know how to maintain central heating and cooling systems. Politicians are executed after being given the chance to step down. Leadership is not coveted as in the past. "By committee" becomes the norm. In the case of an impasse, a fight to the death determines the victor. As no one has a deathwish, only that which helps with survival is considered. Outside of the skyscraper, the world is a savage land.

***

"Our grandparents did us a huge favor by pushing education. I don't know if we would have survived otherwise." Ray boils an armored spider in cactus water and herbs over an open flame. He looks up occasionally at the sparkling light that peeks through the canopy.

"Their education didn't keep them from dying, did it?" Melissa watches the immediate perimeter for any movement that can be considered a threat. A semi-automatic is perched over her left shoulder.

"That's not fair, sis. No one survived the pandemic. If we were in the medical field, maybe we would have figured out why it is that we survived and not them. Instead, I went to psychology and you went to, sorry, what is it that you do again? Draw?"

"You want me to shoot you, don't you? You know damn well that I'm an art therapist."

"A very valuable member of any treatment team," they said simultaneously and laughed.

"Technically, we could be considered leadership material, but who wants to fight to the death over who gets to decide on what topic for the survival of the community? There are as many communities as there are skyscrapers and each building has their own version of what is right and what is wrong."

"And that's why we're out here, eating spiders, instead of indoors where it's, what, safe? I'm with you, bro, because you and I both know that you wouldn't last a day out here without me."

"Don't make me put you over my knee, little girl. Dinner's ready."