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Rated: E · Short Story · None · #2330020
People take refuge in a haberdashery while the apocalypse happens around them outside
The angels didn't look like they did in catechism books. These were no benevolent cupids with fluffy wings.

These were fearsome creatures with haggard grey faces, torn featherless wings and gaping, toothless mouths. They started tearing the people near them apart and the sight of the carnage kicked my ass into gear.

I turned and ran into the closest building. Inside was dimly lit but I could see the shapes of other cowering people. We locked the door and ignored the banging and the cries from outside. Eventually the noises moved far away and I looked around. I was in a double story haberdashery which had a small cafe in one of the corners of the bottom floor.

Who the hell still goes to a haberdashery?

After a few hours the owner of the store, a short plump old lady, cried out
"I'm going! No! Don't try stop me! You Godless heathens and.... Others" she gave a distasteful look at the Middle Eastern couple "can stay in here. But that's SALVATION for ME out there. The flights of angels have come to bring me to my rest"

We tried to stop her but she left. The rest of us sat breathlessly while straining to hear what was happening outside. She was humming some hymn about angels and slowly starting singing more and more loudly. We froze as we heard her bloodcurdling screams as the angels ripped her limb from limb.

"Christians didn't have it right then" smirked a man who I later found out was an atheist.

After the old woman, a Jewish family took their chances. Turns out they weren't "right" either.
Then went the Muslims.
Then the Hindus.
Then the Buddhists.
Then the Scientologists.
They all went.
Dead. Dead. Dead.

After days of being alone and out of food I decided I was going out. Nothing the angels did could be worse than staying in this decrepit old crypt.

I hadn't made it more than a few steps from the haberdashery when an angel swooped down and grabbed me. Rather tenderly, for its size.

As it took me up towards the light I asked
"Why me?"

"You recycle" it replied.
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