Harmless

A demented story with no real point

Created on Midjourney

“Trust me,” the demented looking happy face said, “I’m harmless.” Right before it blew up half the Grand Canyon.

Nino, whose feet had been rooted to the ground in disbelief at its sudden appearance, turned tail and ran. He didn’t know what that thing was, but it was anything but harmless.

He outpaced most of the other terrified people doing their best to distance themselves from what remained of the former natural wonder and the crazily grinning monstrosity that had destroyed it. But he stopped to help a young woman who had tripped and seemed at risk of being trampled.

“Thanks,” she said as they both began to run again. “What is that thing?”

Nino shrugged. He didn’t know any more than she did. What he did know, was that the shriek of jets approaching meant the government already knew what had happened. He only hoped they could destroy the happy face before it caused more damage—and killed more people.

At least a dozen tourists had been standing too close to the edge of the canyon. They had disappeared in the attack. Nino thought they had been vaporized. A small mercy, given that a long plunge to their deaths would have been worse.

The shriek of the jet engines intensified. Sunlight glinted off missiles as they streaked toward the happy face, obliterating it in an instant, even as its creepy voice accosted the terrified tourists. “I come in peace.”

Nino stopped running, along with the rest of the crowd. He tried to catch his breath, while looking back at the departing jets. Sirens wailed in the distance as an eerily familiar voice said, “Trust me.”

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Crazy images come from crazy Midjourney prompts. I really don’t know what to make of this one myself. Where did the happy face come from? Does it think it’s harmless? Is it messing with its victims? And how many of these things are there? It seems another one has arrived at the end of the story. Let’s hope there isn’t an endless number.

Chime in and tell me how you think this story ends. Maybe I’ll write another story based on one of your responses.