Then They Came

The day draws to a close. We draw the curtains on the growing darkness. Then we lock and bolt the doors before checking the weapons.

The nights grow longer now. There is more darkness than light as the days shrink and cower before the approaching winter.

It will not be long before winter locks us inside here, huddled together. All sitting here, waiting for the dawn. All hoping will we see another day, or, if we don’t, that we will be amongst the lucky ones who die quickly.

Once, we humans ruled this world. This was a country with no great predators. The only dangers to people were other humans. Then, even here, far from any city, still there was civilisation. There was an expectation that any step would not be a last one.

There were times when the night was not a time of danger and fear. There was a time when not every sound in the darkness terrified us as we felt them drawing closer. There was a time when you could visit friends and neighbours and not find what remains of them ripped and torn across the wreckage of what was once their home. There was a time when this land was safe.

Then they came.

Where they came from, no-one knows. Why they are here, no-one knows. All we do know is that we were once lords of all we could see.

Now we are only prey, huddled here waiting, and knowing, one day the end will come.