Future's Havoc

Justin stared beyond the crevice of gnarled steel and flame. No man dared go beyond it; luscious trees, glittering lakes, rough rock mountains and more sat before his longing eyes. “Why do you think they stop us?” Justin asked his friend, Tom. They were eight years old, barely strong enough to help lift the metal for the welding of their shelters and pulling of plows in their inner-city dry corn farms.

“They say we killed the world,” Tom said sullenly. “Years ago. My dad told me we created them ‘cause we wanted help. Too many people, they were going to help.”

Justin stared back into the city, wrecked buildings seemed if they were to collapse at any time, destroyed by gunfire, missiles and explosions. Justin didn’t fully understand why they were sent into such poverty, all he knew was he lived here, and they were out there. Robots, created to automate the world, saw humans as destroyers, drawbacks to civilization, but were not brutal enough to commit genocide; they had some form of morals, so humans thought.

“I want to go.” Justin said. “I hate this place. We can’t do anything, we have nothing but garbage, out there there is so much more!” He longed for the whispers of wind, the sound of branches, the taste of river water. He had only heard about it, and he wished to experience it himself more than anyone.

“We can’t, Justin. What if something happens to us?” Tom’s speech sped up, panicked.

No one had gone outside the walls in 15 years, he heard. What if nothing happens? How would they even know? “Tom, no one really knows. What if the machines change their mind? What if we’ve learned our lesson?” Justin pleaded. The machines took over, isolating the humans to large cities, disallowing them from interacting with most of nature, out of the danger that humans would destroy all biological life out of their own selfish desires.

“I’m telling you, it isn’t a good idea. Your parents would be so angry!” Tom said. “Think about it!”

Justin considered his options. Should I stay, or go? He knew his parents would be immeasurably angry with him, but he truly wanted to see the world. It’s only for a little bit. Just beyond the trees to the north, through to the sweeping lake, seeing the flutter of leaves, the smell of flowers and the taste of fresh, natural water. “I’m going to see the world. I’ll be right back, promise!”
    Tom attempted to grab his hand, but missed as Justin escaped the metal divide.

Justin laughed and hollered, free from the clutches of the machines. He felt freedom finally, he felt alive. The grass beneath his feet, dirt from the ground kicking up as he ran.
A high pitched sound emitted from a nearby mountain. A blue stream of lightning-like energy struck Justin, causing him to expand and explode into billions of tiny crimson bits and bubbles. Tom’s scream echoed throughout the city, blood-curdling sounds alerted the nearby homes and individuals, all saw the smoking black pile that was once a young boy.

The clutches held tight; there was no escape.