Revenge of the Crazy Ants, chapter 2

This is a continuation of the Crazy Ants.

        The sky and surrounding waters, are choked with red dust. It's hard to breathe on the surface.

        Stones and metiorites rain from the sky, during the spring. Strange, yet friendly crystalline life forms

resembling cats with unicorn horns, and wings, have emerged. They seem to bring beauty into our dead world. The

electrical imbalances, have even caused our planet's orbit to shift. The gravity has weakened in some parts of the

world, causing some of the islands to float.

        Evolution seems to have devolved. More reptilainlike creatures have come into existence. The only humanoids that

exist, besides the mermaids, and mermen, are fauns with six inch horns, and wrinkled faces. They aren't exactly friendly.

        The streams have turned to blood. You don't need to wander far, to see the shades of the dead.

        During the cold months, it rains sulfuric acid. It never really gets very cold; maybe 45 degrees Fahrenheit.

        Ghastly creatures, known as mermaids, and mermen, inhabit the contaminated waters.

        During the summer, glittering ray-emitting flowers bloom from long ago gardens.

        The only fish that exist are jellyfishlike creatures.

        All forms of sexual expression, have been banned. but I don't think it matters at this point. We know how to

communicate by telepathy, however we prefer to speak to each other in an effort to stay in touch with our human

roots.

        Packs of vicious wldcats, hide in the sparse haunted forests. The faces of the dead, can be seen in some of the

lakes.

        Sometimes, we can look up and see black stormclouds. In the area known as the Plaguelands, you can find ruined

citadels, and Talani's Plague Palace; where the badly mutated victims of the war, went to pray. The deserts closest to

the contamination zone, have black sand. We try to steer clear of this area!

        There is an abandoned city filled with man-eating snakes, which range from 36-72 feet long, known as Steph's City

of Snakes. Most of the fish died out in the Sea of Poison.

        A black pyramid, of unknown origin, sticks out like an eyesore.

        Elegant glass citadels were built where the holy cities once were. The faithful came here to worship, but soon

the sickness consumed their bodies, and they perished. It is now an eerie place. Behind the citadel is a forest full of

silver trees.

        It's very difficult to keep ourselves from slipping into hopelessness, and despair. The last thing we need, is to

become hateful toward each other. We still hang onto our dreams, although our memories fade a little each day. Days seem to last forever here.

        A double gate of beaten bronze was built to separate the quarantine area from the Plaguelands. It has become

dented, and scarred through the years.

        Mutated dogs, some with rabies, roam the blackened trees, and bushes of the haunted forest at night, in search

of food. Their horrifying cries can be heard for miles around. Every time I hear one, I jump in terror!

        Desperate people in search of hope, built Religion Factories, with automated priests made of wax.

        People who had lost hope and gone insane, would hold monthly plague carnivals. They would hold contests to

see who has mutated the most.

       

Reviews

[colleen Drippe']

This is an interesting scenario, though it seems more like fantasy than sf. However, you have merely given us a list of things -- there is no narrative to hang onto. Also your sentences might do better combined into paragraphs. I missed the first chapter -- though I may look for it when I have time, but still, it seems to me that what you have here should be expanded. You lack the necessary "hook" to draw in a reader. Someone or something to care about or with whom to identify.