PINCERS III - by Tioluwani Aina

Dan's advent on Arturia was slightly differrent from Tom's. The city of Sydney was turned upside down when the gi-ants emerged from the ground. Due to the situation and how quick it escalated, it was mandated that every man above twenty, join the law enforcement to fight alongside them.<img alt="" src="/media/inline_insight_image/1000409475.jpg"/>Dan was held up in traffic coming from a photoshoot he had just done for a local influencer. He had turned off his engine to have some time to sit and go through the pictures when he noticed cars begin to run the red lights; some running into each other. Lots of people were dashing out of their cars, screaming and shouting as the evening darkened to a cruel orange.As he turned on the ignition to start his way back to safety, his car was hit by another from behind amidst the frenzy. The sheer force from the impact activated Dan's airbag. Gasping for air, he reached for the handle of the car door to get out when that time was cut in half by a police officer smashing the door to pull him out. Dan hadn't caught enough of his breath yet to thank the officer when an assault rifle got shoved into his arms."You're obviously more than 20, mate" the officer straddled his gun. "No time to explain, there's been an emergency and we need all the help we can get. People are fixed at strategic stations and you my friend, are joining the ranks!"Each word was yelled into his ears by the officer over the obvious pandemonium.Instead of the familiar cool it gifted him, the evening breeze burned hot across his face. Dan looked into the front seat of the car that rammed him from behind. The chap...he's dead. Just like that. His spine almost freezing from the realization."Come, come! Run along, mate! Let's go!" The officer called out.What's going on today?Dan tailed the policeman till they got to his car. The engine roared to life as the officer drove. He made a sharp cut into an off-road path beside the major road. They had been travelling for an hour in silence, save for the radio.It gave them updates on the doom and gloom that had befall the city. Sometimes, the broadcast will be garnished with frantic screams and abrupt cuts, until it picked up on the next panic signal."Where are we going, officer?" And as if right on time to answer Dan's question, the car pulled up beside a group of men waiting at the centre of an abandoned gas station.<img alt="" src="/media/inline_insight_image/1000409476.jpg"/>"We're here" the officer said, the window winding up and his gaze not leaving Dan's face. Dan got the cue to not ask any further questions. "Right".They stepped out of the car and joined the group of men: some officers, some just like Dan. The officer came forward and braced himself to speak. "Gentlemen, these are desperate times and it is in times like these that we rise to the occasion and defend our people". There was a pause to allow those words land. A throat cleared. "Remember, death comes before dishonor. For hope. For country." Dan stepped outside the platform where the men stood to take a quick piss. The ground underneath them began to rattle with the guns cocking in response. As the group murmured amongst themselves, one of the members noticed Dan wasn't too far off but not close by. "Hey cowboy!" He shouted, urging Dan to turn and face the source of the voice. "Where do ya think yer goi-". A gi-ant ascended from the ground below the platform like something was chasing it. The speed of the emergence splintered the platfprmed men to pieces. Dan hadn't seen anything quite like this in his 25 years of living. The f*ck is that?The insects soon used its pincers to take hold of Dan's torso and carried him off into the sky. The incessant buzz of the insects wings beat upon his eardrums, setting off Dan's disgusting response and caused him to retch into the atmosphere.He wiped his mouth and raised his view to see that what he was passing through what could only be understood as a massive ant hill. The pincers' firm but blunt grip and the overwhelming air pressure muddied his vision and thoughts, ushering Dan into slumber.

Other insights from Tioluwani Aina

Referral Earning

Points-to-Coupons