I woke up in a maze, but I didn't really wake up. I was standing, my feet numb and frozen on the cold ground, when the world seemed to form around me, shadows hovering through the darkness and space and drifting into place to make a world that would change my own. But unlike books I've read, where the character remembers nothing, I remembered everything that had happened. Every single horrible thing shuddered into my wakefulness, and the good things were buried underneath the anger. And the one shudder-worthy thought that stood out most was it was all your fault. You shadow-walker had ruined my life and I shall never forget that, even years later trying to find myself under all the regrets you have caused me. But my own horrible pain was apparently never important so I will go back to the beginning because I will make you hear every word. Every word of what you have caused me. And I shall make you regret it. But you and I, let us take a trip back to the past. The past, that started this all. I remember people's agonized expressions as water crept up towards even the highlands. Poison in all the water; Human poison. We had brought this fate upon ourselves. We had had it coming for a long time before. But then you came into the story. The space shuttles were all ready to go, to orbit around the planet until the flood around the globe receded and if it didn't, we would seek a new planet far away. If another planet even existed. So there I was, on the highlands. Me and my family were walking towards the shuttle. I remember it even now with blinding clarity, the kind that comes in bright flashes that seize your unsuspecting mind in it's harsh grip of guilt. 

"It will be okay, Blaze" My serious husband, Isaac, said. His face appeared ghostly in the moonlight. "Even if the world is ending." Which I hoped it wasn't. But the water would be poisoned forever. Isaac seemed to come to the same conclusion. His eyes glittered as he surveyed my pale body, twisted with fear of the future. "It is the end of this world. But not our world, of humanity." He announced. His hand sought my tense shoulder and his warm touch calmed my hyperventilation. 
  
"The end of what world?" our child, Lily asked, her eyes wide with fright, her pupils round. Her small hands clumsily gripped her rag doll as she scrambled along behind us. I leaned down and picked her up and she laughed. 

"Nothing of importance." I whispered to her, my heart aching. I wished I could smile back at her but my heart was too busy aching with pity for my daughter. To live in this world! The fear my child would have if she knew the horrible truth. I had just got out of college! I was too young for children but I loved Lily anyway.

"The end of this world means the end of humanity. It has hosted us for thousands of years and we have failed to find another!" I whispered to Isaac but my voice hiccuped on the last word and changed into a sob. You can hear, I was much changed then. By you.  

You changed me. 

So we were walking up the hill, water creeping up behind us, far away. I remember my amazement as the looming shuttle propelled its way into my view. It thrust its narrow nose into the moonlight, tip gleaming. It appeared tense, a great steam rising around it, shrouding it in mist. Its sides were well polished and on the base, a small ramp extended from the shuttle and rested on the grass, waiting. My family trooped ahead of me, onto the ramp. 

And then you came to stand in front of me. Notice how I always italicize you? Why do I do that? Your daft brain wonders. But I will tell you the reason. It is because I always think your name with such contempt, such loathing, that I must include it, to let you know. But we must go back in time now, to where you were there, standing on that ramp in front of me, separating me from my family. Your face was shrouded in a black hood. You spoke like you were some divine being.
But I was not fooled.

"You have an appointment," You had rasped, "on Earth. Die or live, I refuse to let you leave. This world needs one person to stay and it is you. Because this is the end of the world." You had leaned forward, your mouth curling into a smile.

"No!" I shouted. "My family..." They were already gone in the shuttle and the ramp was lifting. "You'd better hurry," I started to sneer at you but you were gone, like you'd vanished into thin air. However, I am too rational a being to believe a second of that. I ran towards the ramp and tried to leap on but it was too late. The ramp had locked into the side of the ship. I banged on it, fearfully, but to no avail. I shrank to the ground and sobbed. 

But then I realized with another prick of fear. The shuttle would take off soon and I needed to get away or else. Or else... I couldn't bring myself to think of it. I started to run away from it. And I kept on running until I was a safe distance away. There were no more people, I realized. I was separated from my family, probably forever. I was the last human alive on Earth. I watched in silent awe and dread as the shuttle lifted off with a great fiery song of farewell and I was alone. 

I would end myself, I thought as I ran towards the water. The dark water, forever rising in the moonlight. The poison riddled water, tossing and turning in glittering crests of the waves. But as I ran, I saw a dark crevice ahead. I tried to stop, tried so hard, but woe and alas! I don't know why I bothered, but I did. I do not know how it got their either but it had. And it was too late. The ground disappeared beneath my feet, the world above cast away, and my consciousness faded. Above me, the water continued to rise, singing it's quiet song of death. And below was nothing but darkness. Up in space, my family was floating away. And the Earth was as good as gone. So there you have it, this story is about the end of the world. 

Author's Note:
Please comment if you like it so I will know if I should keep on writing it!