https://everythingspeakstome.com/files/original/8557f47aac168911409c4fde70fbce84.jpg f3e10f8df18961cbe1914bbfd1952d2e Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource After The Rise ... Description An account of the resource Using elevations and water level projected on EyesOnTheRise.com, these speculative fictions explore the world that was Miami after sea levels rise 6 or more feet. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Administrator Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Text Please post your written submission in this field. The images you would like to include should be posted as attachments below. I “It seems that fooling around with nuclear energy has made land almost inhospitable. Idiots. Florida is now a part of the North Atlantic Ocean. Its neighborhoods look damp and moldy, its cities look rusted and fragile, and its beaches… oh its beaches. What beaches? This isn’t the Florida that you see being advertised on television anymore. Florida looks like a Lego set that got urinated and barfed on. The people of Florida aren’t doing well either. They’ll have to be wary of other Floridians that want to kill them and take their stuff and the animals. And don’t get me started on the animals. These inconvenient mutant looking bastards will either scare you to death or eat you alive. I honestly don’t know why people from other lands keep coming here when they know what the circumstances are. I’m done with this. I’m tired of the nonsense that the governor is saying about this “sky city”. Oh, I didn’t even mention the sky city. Well since you can’t enjoy a quick breath in Florida, there’s a city that floats above that’s way better than living down here, but guess what? YOU HAVE TO LISTEN TO THOSE TYRANT CUNTS THAT OWN THE SKY CITY! YOU CAN’T HAVE ANYTHING NICE ANYMORE! DAMN 2042! Cut to commercial, Dave. I need my meds.” All because of testing that contraption over the Bermuda Triangle, the water level kept rising and falling for the span of nineteen years. People won’t have to worry about the abnormal changes again, but they do have to navigate the land using a sea vehicle. He really tried to defy fate by making that city possible when in the end, fate defied him. Enough about this foolish human. Instead, let’s snoop into the life of a more interesting and smarter human. ‘Florida Man’. I wonder why he’s called that. “Honey, it’s time we go pack up and get out of here!” Charles urges to his wife, Samantha. “I think that’s a good idea, Charlie. I’ll go get Richard and Stephanie and then start packing.” No time is wasted with the packing. It’s a miracle to see a family finally decide to go when things have gotten this bad. Should have gone earlier. Humans can really be indicative of stupidity sometimes. “Where are we going dad?” “Yea, where are we going? I was just building my Lego batman new parents.” “That’s sensitive, Steph.” Chuckled, Charles. “You say the darndest things sometimes.” “I learned that from you, Pop.” “Oh…. right.” “Dad, are we going to die?” “No, we won’t, Richard. We’ll live long enough to be somewhere else. And we’ll live long enough to see a dragon.” “YEA! I LOVE DRAGONS! I wanna train one to fly.” “Honey, are you done packing yet? I don’t mean to rush, but we’re not gonna live much longer if we stay.” “Ha, ha so funny, dear. I’m crying with laughter.” “Now you’re pushing it.” Where are we going to anyway?” To my parents’ house.” “To get them to come with us, right? Because I don’t think that house can sustain us for long.” “To have them go with us, obviously. Those are my folks. Taught me everything I know.” “Grandpa and Grandma are coming with us!?” “THAT’S AWESOME!” I remember the last time we went to see my parents. Richard let out a fart so concentrated, that it surprised me of all people. He apologized greatly and told his butt to shut up. Everyday I’m around my son, I start living more. Stephanie is almost like her brother. No surprise there, considering they’re twins. The only difference is Stephanie being the more responsible one, like me. We go get what we need from our home and start going to my parents’ house. Getting there shouldn’t be hard at all since my parents live ten blocks from my house in South Miami Heights and there aren’t many flooded streets or crocs around. Piece of cake. My kids can handle the environment. My dearest, Samantha on the other hand, is going to need to hold my hand. What a wonderful family. The man of the house is in great shape for someone in his early forties. Nice set of curly black hair and barbaric beard. His female counterpart certainly looks the part too in her early forties. Rocking short blonde hair. The kind you would see in a fairytale. And the greenest of eyes. The twins share their parent’s traits respectively. II Such brave children at such a young age. They probably got that from their father. The wife on the other hand, is something of a spectacle in carelessness. I just watched Samantha fall on her ass next to me as were crossing the wet streets. I do feel sorry for her, but I also found it funny. I won’t laugh my ass off so that she won’t bust my ass off. “SSS…AHHH.” “This is why you need to keep your eyes on where you’re going.” “I KNOW!” “Is your butt okay, Mom? We have band-aids.” “No kids, I’ll be fine. Just need to massage that area.” She says while groaning. We’ve walked for nine minutes, and Sam has already hurt herself. Unbelievable. We are so close. “Okay gang, we just need to cross this huge puddle to get on the doorstep. I’m going to throw both of ya across. Sound good?” “YEA YEA YEA YEA!” “Absolutely not.” “Ya hear that? I’m gonna do it.” “No wait that’s not what I...” Our kids would then proceed to start flying over the puddle by yours truly. They wanted me to do it again. Sam would rip off my nuts if I continued so I grabbed her and jumped over the puddle with no hesitation. Since she loves it when I carry her around like a princess, that canceled the pure fear she felt when I jumped with her in my arms so I wouldn’t be scolded at. That took me back to before we had Richard and Stephanie. Nineteen years ago, in my first-floor apartment that Samantha helped pay, since what I was earning at repair shop wasn’t cutting it. Apartments in Miami Beach were so expensive because of inflation. Not anymore though. Sam lost both her parents during that time. I guess me carrying her to bed eased her pain. She stopped me halfway to rest in my arms for a while longer. She started to be a bit happier after. And after we had Richard and Stephanie, she filled up with joy. Bringing them to this world has filled up that empty hole losing her parents left. “That was uncalled for.” She liked it. I could tell because she blushes in my embrace and how soft her voice gets. “Uh huh.” “I wanna knock on the door. Can I, can I, can I!?” “Sure, Rich. Not too hard though.” He looks at me with the most ugliest grin only a father can love. He knocks on the door quickly and sure enough, my folks haven’t crocked just yet. “Oh, it’s been so long, Charlie.” “It’s only been a week, Mom.” “Come here and hug us you big bastard.” I embraced my parents with such force, I could have squeezed out their organs like a ketchup bottle. “Whoa now son, I think I’m going to blow.” He murmured. “Sorry, Pop.” “Oh, take it like a man, Javi. This might be the last time you’re in the same space as our son. Be glad he even cares about us.” “Yes, Rose.” They got even brighter when I brought my family. “Do I need to get new glasses? Because I could have sworn, I’m looking at Samantha and the twins.” “Its them alright.” “Oh, what joy. What are we going to do today? You didn’t call us in advance. We could have prepared something for all of you.” “Yea, about that?” My folks stare at me with curiosity, waiting to hear what I’ll say. Not sure if they are gonna like what comes out. “We came here to get you guys. It’s not safe here anymore.” “Oh, Charlie. You know well we won’t leave.” “This is your great-grandfather’s land. It was passed on to your grandfather, then to me. And since you’re leaving to secure a future for your family, I’m staying here with your mother, till death do us part.” “You really doing this, Dad? Don’t you wanna see your grandkids grow up and be better than us eventual old farts?” “That I do wish to see happen, but like I said, your mother and I will spend our final days on this land. I’m not sorry.” It hurt a little inside when Dad said that. But that’s nothing compared to the pain I’ll feel when I need to leave them. I tried reasoning with them one more time. “Mom, you’re okay with this?” “Listen, Charlie. Your father and I are already as worn out as his testicles.” “Hey!” “And we’ve promised each other that we’ll live on his grandfather’s land until we pass. The land isn’t bad either.” The land wasn’t bad. It had a first-floor house that they lived in, with an orange exterior and white chimney on top. The entrance of the house had white Greek keys, designed with interlocking spirals with right angles that go on to infinity and represent unity. And had a garden in the backyard filled with roses of all colors and tomatoes. “Oh, well. This is goodbye then.” “I’m afraid so, Charlie.” I gave my parents the most bone crushing hug possible before heading off. I have to think of a way to get my family away from here. But, how? “Dad look, a copter.” “It looks like its heading over to that floating city the radio was talking about.” Bingo. “Listen up, family! I’ve got an idea.” Well, well, well. Things have gotten a whole lot interesting. The parents are really devoted to staying in their home after all that’s happened. A shame it won’t be for long. III “We’re taking a helicopter to that city.” “What?” “There aren’t any boats around anymore. They got scrapped for parts in making that floating hump of junk. Getting a helicopter up there is our only plan of getting some place safe.” “Can’t we just go somewhere else?” “Helicopters have limited fuel, Sam. We could go looking for more gas in the city, but we’ll have to steal it. I don’t think the authorities would take kindly to us just asking for gas.” And as we stepped on to the sidewalk, my parents’ home gets swarmed with four mutated crocodiles that look like one of Batman’s villains, Killer Croc on all fours. They all broke down the walls of the house and to my eyes, I saw both my parents get eaten alive. “NOOOOOOO!” I scream in agony as there’s nothing that I can do to save them. I saw bone, skin, organs, all get pulled and ripped apart. The only thing I need do right now, is to keep those reptilian fucks away from the only family I have left. “GO! RUN! SAM, GO WITH THEM TO THE HELIPAD!” Once they got far enough away, I readied myself for the definite cuts and bruises I was going to get as I wasn’t going down without causing as much damage as possible. Then, I saw a conveniently placed broken Greek key that was the size of a spear. I took it and thrusted my weapon at one of the King K. Rool lookin bastards in the throat. It started spinning while spewing yellow blood, the color is probably from prolonged radiation. The other three ran after me as I climbed onto some other house. I get smacked by one of their scaley tails, cutting my face. I jump with my spear-like weapon onto the second croc, piercing it through its back as I pull the other end out. The third croc jumps towards me, and I counter by thrusting my Greek spear under its jaw, getting to the brain. The sharper part gets broken, so I use the other end to beat the last croc to death. The adrenaline coursing through my veins amplified the damage I dealt until its head was split open. I regained my composure before heading off to unite with my family at the helipad. Good show, good show. Is this how he got the name ‘Florida Man’ to begin with? A remarkable human indeed. This guy may as well be ‘The One’ in the prophecy. Yes, yes, go to your family, go drive that machine to that dastardly floating city. You may not like it once you land. The helicopter seems to be working just fine. Just need more gas to get somewhere that isn’t close to the oceans. I just hope to God that we can get gas quick because I’ve seen what goes on there. And I want none of my family to be a part of it. “Charles! Were getting stopped by the authorities on the city.” “Shit. Okay, remain calm. Don’t make any sudden moves once we land, got that?” “Alrighty, Pop.” We land onto the city’s landing pad and get guns pointed at us. As we get out, we get told to get on our knees and put in handcuffs by the floating city’s tyrant police. A man then comes into frame, looking as if he was the one in charge here. “Stop, stop. Not this guy.” He points at me, and a cop comes to take off my cuffs. “His family…take them to the cells.” “Now hold on just a min”—boom. “Why’d you do that. I needed him to get info. Now I have to wait for him to wake up. Kill this dumbass.” “No w-w-wait sir, I-I’m sorr”-bang. I got knocked out by a police officer for no reason. The police haven’t changed a bit in the nineteen years that have passed. “Hey. Hey, cupcake. C’mon, wake up!” I gasped for air when I woke up. “Who are you? What have you done to my family?” They’re in a cell together, don’t worry. Now that you’re awake I’d like to ask you something.” “What?” “Are you the ‘Florida Man’ that’s come to stop me?” “What the hell are you talking about.” “I saw a vison of Florida become a ruin underwater a decade ago. Then, I got sent a letter. A letter that contained the plans of making a city that floats and the materials needed to make it. I had people that funded this project and had engineers from NASA to help make it possible. And then, I got sent another letter. This time, it had a depiction of me in my office with some guy in his early forties with a huge unkept beard breaking my neck. That guy looks…just…like…you.” “Listen, buddy. I’m only here for gas.” “Gas? Oh, no, no, no. You will be serving under the command of the All-Father, me. Things have change.” There’s no way I’m gonna listen to you, all-fucker.” “I think you’ll have to, because if you don’t, your children will be part of my nuclear experiments. And as for your wife, she’ll be my succubus. A guy like you that refuses to follow orders, doesn’t deserve a family of his own.” “I think you should reconsider changing the words you have used when speaking to me.” “Now why would I do that? It’s a win for me. I get to use your kids to conduct human testing, and I get to do what I want to your wife. Not a problem, right?” I lung forward to strangle this guy, only to realize he has already thought of restraining me in chains. “You thought I wasn’t ready for something like that!? C’mon, now.” What this clown doesn’t realize is that you should never threaten to do things to a man’s family. With all the anger and adrenaline that’s building up because of this disgrace of a person, I use that strength to break out of my chains with my wrists covered in my own blood, as my family—comes first. “AHHHHH!” “OH G—AH.” I now have this guy in my grasp. I look into his eyes, giving him no chance to speak at all. Instead of breaking his neck, I deplete him of all the oxygen and watch as his soul leaves his body. He claws at my hand to let him go, but I feel nothing. The feeling of pain has been rid of since he threatened my family. His face loses color as his life is slipping away. Then, limp. My hand is covered with scratches. I go leave to look for my family. As I step out the door, I see something out of the corner of my eye. A yellow button that says ‘Destruction’. I don’t hesitate to press that button. A countdown starts from five minutes. I can’t waste any time. Everyone on the city starts panicking. People start falling from high places. They start killing each other. I only care about finding my family. I see a police building and go in. There’s no one at the front. Empty. I go down into the cells and see more people locked up for not following what is asked of them. A shame they won’t be saved. I get a keychain that’s hung on a hanger and proceed looking for my wife and children. People are begging me to open their cells as I walk past. Family is on my mind. Two minutes have gone by, and I haven’t seen them. My anxiety soars. More people started screaming and crying. “PLEASE! GET US OUT! I DON’T WANNA DIE!” Where are they? Another minute goes by. I can’t stop looking for them. I need to save them. As I got farther into the cell room, I saw them. “DAD! COME GET US!” “Aright, come on. Were leaving.” As we go, people in the cells start grabbing at us, pulling on our clothes with their hands covered in their blood from the scraping at the walls. I break their hands. At the helipad, there’s five filled gas cans. Not isn’t enough for a full trip, but good enough. I put all five on and we start flying out. A part of the city barely scrapes the back of the helicopter as it falls and burns itself. As the city crashed, it let out a large explosion. That explosion caught up to us and made me do a forced landing in The Bahamas. Since the helicopter was still filled with gas, I drove it into the water close to a beach and told Sam to grab Richard while I grabbed Stephanie. We swam to shore and looked at the mushroom cloud that got left behind by the city in awe. “Are you all alright? Steph, are you hurt?” “No, I’m good.” “Rich?” “I feel great!” “Sam?” “Still as beautiful as the day you saw me.” “Oh good, I thought I was going to have to find another wife.” “Yea right. You won’t get rid of me that easily.” We all share a bonding moment after all that’s happened. I need a nap. I’m very impressed thus far with what has happened to this man and his family. He has proven himself worthy of making a deal with me. Showtime! “Greetings, Florida Man.” I shield my family from this possible threat that appears out of a tear in the air. “Who are you and why do you call me Florida Man? “I’ll answer your first question. I am an omnipotent being that has been around since the creation of life. I have been all over. Time, worlds, things that you cannot comprehend with that puny brain of yours. I have been watching you for quite some time. And I must say, you have what it takes to make a deal with me.” “What sort of deal?” A deal that can be whatever you want it to be.” “What happens when I make a deal?” “Something gets taken from you I’m afraid. I don’t know what. Just know something will be taken from you.” I don’t know what this thing is playing at. Why me of all people? “Are you thinking about making a deal with it!?” “No, Sam. This is just a lot to take in.” “Well?” It puts out its hand as if to shake mine. “Do we… have a deal?” THE END Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Comradery & Prophecy Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Anthony J. Calderon Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 04/17/2023