Flash Fiction: Crocquake

Today’s flash fiction is inspired by the epic Syfy Channel phenomenon, Sharknado. With that said, I give you: Crocquake (since Spidericane and Snakefire seemed to entice actual fear).

It was bad enough that people’s homes, cars and loved ones were falling through the ruptured chasms in the earth. No one expected that giant, mutant, man-eating crocodiles would crawl out from the depths to feast on the survivors.

The earthquakes had ravaged the coast, tearing chunks of earth into the sea and ripping massive canyons far inland. At first we sought shelter within the ground itself, but soon discovered the horrors that emerged from the deep. These beasts were not the rowdy pint-sized reptiles you might see at the zoo or on television, these extraordinary creatures were easily twenty feet long and could swallow a man whole. I know because I saw it. I saw the scaly killer crawl clean up the side of a quake crack and take a human down its throat in a single gulp.

We tried knives, axes and chainsaws to end the reign of the crocodiles, but their hide was too thick. Like armor, not really scales. The knives barely made a dent and the chainsaws were torn right off their guide. More people were killed by attempting to take out a croc than those who ran away. And so we ran, dodging the falling earth and shattered rock until we reached a shed upon a hill top.

But the crocs kept coming. Waddling over the earth and charging up the hill towards us. We could see their jagged teeth and open mouths, eager to consume our bodies. I scurried inside the shed to find anything we could use to fend them off. And to my delight, I spotted a few rocket-style fireworks. It was worth a shot, but the beasts would have to nearly be upon us before we fired into their mouths.

So we waited, watching the dozen giant reptiles slog their way up the hill before nearly reaching our shed of safety. Setting up the fireworks, we each aimed towards the gaping mouths of the creatures intent on feeding. As one, we fired. The fireworks squealed on take-off, spiraling through the air before entering the mouths and stomachs of the crocodiles. There was a pause, a single beat of emptiness where I believed the fireworks had failed. But not a moment later, the explosions rocked the beasts from within, splattering their teeth, guts and scales in all directions.