Sky Rafts

Toby's eyes were glued to the thing as it drifted along the skyline. Cory sits in His lawn chair with his cat nestled in his lap, feeding it diced chunks of meat.   It must have been fairly large to be seen from so far away, a flat wooden plane with four balloons at each corner. It travels like a ship does through waves, rising and falling at random intervals.   "What is that?" Toby asks.   "Hmm?" Cory musters a passing glance, and shrugs. "Sky raft."   "But what are they? I see them all the time but never up close."   "No one has."   Toby toys with her fingers as she gathers enough courage to ask, "You weren't inside when they set fire to the funeral home. Why did you lie?"   "Well… you want the honest answer, the right answer, or the best answer?"

She raised an eyebrow then shook her head. "Is this some sort of test?"   "No." Cory pets Cider as he speaks. "I just like options."   Toby considers the choice for a moment. "Let's go with the right answer."   "I lied and even hid what I saw because I knew you had nowhere to go. By putting all the blame and anger on me, I made you a Saint." He takes a deep breath and lets it out. "Made it easier to invite you into our little group."   "What about The best answer?"   "I saw some dark shit in that church, but I'm smart enough to not judge what I don't understand. You're 'queen of the dead' vibe checks out, but it can't be all you are." He smiles. "I keep my mouth shut if I don't know what I'm talking about."     Toby nods, then eagerly asks, "and the honest answer?"   He hesitates, chuckling and glancing around to see if anyone else was around. He leans in close and whispers. "Never been yelled at with a whisper before. You're cute when you're mad. It might just cool off some of the stronger personalities we have around here."   Her smile vanishes in a flash. Toby narrows her eyes, "That's not funny."

Not long after the end of the world, people began to see a myriad of strange and wondrous things. None are as mysterious and perplexing as the sky raft.   They're clearly constructed, and likely by human hands. The large balloons holding it aloft are magical in nature, featuring symbols that imply enchantment is involved. Some report seeing people, workers making the raft at all hours.   The rafts exist all over the world, the first popping up around Europe. What are the Sky Rafts, you ask? Who knows?   I know… and I'm not telling.  

I suppose I can reveal a little. There are many theories as to what they are and some are remarkably close. For example, one such theory states that the E.W.B are the ones operating the rafts. Close… but not quite.   The E.W.B invented them, an early means of moving large quantities of goods from one place to another and often by rising so high they can't be seen at all. I wonder what that's about…   Frankly, the idea was a smash hit. So many took inspiration from their design that such origins may as well be misinformation. The E.W.B still operates a select few, but they've long since abandoned the idea altogether.

While it's hard to tell from far away, there are many forms the sky rafts take and they vary is size and general layout. Some are merely flat planes of wood. Some line the sides with walls for privacy, and then you have those that may as well be floating mansions.   This diversity only adds to the confusion. What was once assumed to be a specific thing with a specific purpose now fades back into the fog of obscurity, but with all forms of darkness there are fools who believe they bring the light.   While there are those who manage to follow the routes they take, no one has seen them up close, losing track of them as time goes on. Even if you keep up, there's always a chance they'll simply rise into the stratosphere, beyond your ability to follow.

The number of sky rafts decreases exponentially with every passing month. While it was once normal to see them at least once a day, it's now become less and less infrequent.   Again, no one knows why. Perhaps they failed one day and the whole raft just… fell. Perhaps they flew too high or too far. Maybe there was an epic battle that led to their destruction.   Who knows?

Cory nods. "Not funny? Good. I wasn't trying to be."   Toby opened her mouth to speak, only to be interrupted by Olive. "Toby."   Toby turns and spots the fingerprints on Olive's hand. "Are you okay?"   Olive shrugs and glances at Cory. "Man downstairs said yes. Pro Bono."   Cory narrows his eyes. "What?"   Olive holds up her branded hand. "True story. Let's go have a look at this church."   "Well then." Cory stands, Cider nestled in one arm and a hand held out to Toby. "Welcome to Dread Romantic."

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