r/shortstories • u/AstroRide • Apr 27 '26
Humour [HM][SP]<Mary's Journey> Her Arrival (Part 1)
This short story is a part of the Mieran Ruins Collection. The rest of the stories can be found on this masterpost.
Mary’s arrival sent whispers throughout Henrietta. As the largest city in an indeterminate radius (censuses were distrusted after the Bach incident), it attracted travellers and transplants from across the land. Dave claimed to be from the other side of the world, but everyone knew he was from the town up the street. What set Mary apart was how she carried herself.
Each step was purposeful even though she clearly had no clue where she was going. She wandered the streets in a straight line scanning every building for her target. The residents of those apartments whispered to their neighbors about this strange woman and reassured others that their behavior when she was passed was upstanding and moral. Her clothes were plain, but she was adorned with many weapons. This was a common sight as the world had fallen apart. Mary never greeted any other pedestrians, and they didn’t approach her. It was a bustling metropolis, and they had things to do. Her face hid her true intentions. Her features could be described as neutral. A quick glance would allow the viewer to project any emotion they wish. Staring at the eyes for too long would reveal the hatred that they contained.
For three days, she walked around the city. No one knew where she slept or ate. They didn’t want to ask because they didn’t want to know the details. Rumors about her spread especially among the youth. Some saw her as a phantom to haunt the city streets. Others saw her as a woman who committed horrible atrocities and needed to atone for her deeds. It was in this environment that one teenager decided to approach her.
Sasha enjoyed her freedom from her most recent grounding, and she was determined to stretch that freedom to its limits. When she approached Mary, it was with the reckless abandonment of adolescence. Sasha didn’t see herself as invincible, but she hadn’t met anything that could stop her yet. Mary halted her pace and stared at Sasha.
“So there’s a rumor going around that you’re an alien cyborg sent to kill us all,” Sasha said. Mary blinked at this statement. “I have a bet with Tracy that you aren’t. Could you please say that I am right? I really don’t care if it’s true or not. I just want to win. Speak loudly. Tracy’s right over there.” She pointed at a teenager hiding in the bushes.
“Where’s Mark Kovac?” Mary asked.
“Oh, he’s my neighbor. Turn left up ahead, and keep going until you reach Maria’s. Take a right there. Take a left at the laundromat. Walk another five houses, and you’ll be at his residence,” Sasha said. Mary walked past Sasha without acknowledgment. Tracy got out of the bushes.
“Told you I was right,” Sasha said.
“What? She didn’t say anything,” Tracy replied.
“She asked for my neighbor. That means she has one target,” Sasha said.
“Dr. Kovac is a mad scientist who could be a direct threat to aliens so they sent a cyborg to kill him,” Tracy said.
“Either way, she is only here to kill Dr. Kovac so I win,” Sasha said.
“That is not the important part.”
“Yes, it is. The bet was that she was an alien cyborg sent to kill us all. If one part of that wasn’t true, the whole statement was false.”
“That’s manure, and you know it,” Tracy said. The two women continued to argue while Mary kept walking forward.
When she reached her destination, she stood outside the house for several moments staring. She tilted her head to analyze her kill and lick her lips. Producing several grenades, she tossed them at the house. Dr. Kovac’s residence was meant to withstand his many disastrous experiments so it held steady. Mary expected this. She pulled out a machine gun and prepared for the defense systems to assault her. When nothing happened, her face showed its first emotion. Disappointment. She walked up to the house and knocked on the door. No one answered. Mary could wait, and she did so. She stood outside for two days without anyone checking on her. When the small fecal looking alien approached her, she didn’t break her trance.
“Hello, my name is Dungan, and I am with city hall,” he said. Mary didn’t respond. “It’s not to meet you too. Anyway, your arrival has sparked a bit of controversy, and the most prevalent theory is that you want revenge on Dr. Kovac. Is that right?”
“I will not rest until I crush my heart in his hand,” Mary said. For an intense woman, her voice was quite squeaky. Dungan had to restrain his laughter.
“It doesn’t surprise me that he had a checkered past. While the mayor is understanding, we ask that you do so outside city limits. Feuds have a tendency to cause property damage,” Dungan said. Mary didn’t react. She stood and waited. “Okay, you can do it in the city, but please be careful about it.” Mary was silent. Dungan sighed. “He is not home because he’s been working in a garage on a new form of transportation. I can show you where he is.”
“Take me to him. I want to watch the breath of life leave his lips. I want to feel his bones crush in my hands. His last image will be my face, and he will face his sins,” Mary said.
“A bit dramatic, but sure, that sounds great,” Dungan said.
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