Digital Detox Island

Prompt: As a computer programmer, you get tired of staring at a screen all day long and decide to take a break from technology. After turning off all social media and traveling to a remote deserted island with no internet access, you realize that the island may not be deserted after all when strange beasts, half flesh and half machine, appear at night. (Source: https://www.servicescape.com/writing-prompt-generator)

Waking from her nap in the glorious sun, which beat down on her forehead, a deep growl came from deep within the island.

Rizzie became alert almost immediately. Deep growling wasn’t something she was accustomed to living in Chicago. Yeah there were strange noises, but deep, guttural, groaning and loud grows was not something that happened everyday. She now wondered if there were any regrets to this digital cleanse and if she had scrambled off in pursuit of a fantasy fool heartedly.

Her life was boring. It had been the same hum drum of powering up a machine and writing code and correcting code, testing and repeat. Then off to go home to take out, what’s streaming online and scrolling through social media, glancing at lives that are feel distant from hers. Smiling families, kids, boys friends, girlfriends, furry dogs, cats, freshly caught rainbow trout, camping trips and endless photos and memes of the way people were going about their lives real or imagined.

Her campfire was now down to burning red coals and thought it would be a good idea to get it blazing again. She would have some kind of protection if it came down to it. Hopefully whatever was out there wasn’t fireproof.

Looking around, she quickly gathered as much dry leaves, grasses, sticks and anything else she should find to build her fire back up. There were a few pieces left over but she would definitely have to scavenge for more in the daylight.

She was now completely focused on the fire and was doing a good job, now throwing in anything that was within reach so it could get as high as possible. The growling had intermittently continued but what scared her most at this point was the heaving steps that were reverberating. Never had she been a witness to the breathing and moving wildlife that was moving among her.

Out of nowhere, a new sound came about. Crackling like thunder, it sounded artificial, like when something short circuited. A noise that she had heard several times over from all the tinkering she did at her local hacker space.

As time stood still and her fire was a height, blazing right above her head, she gathered enough courage to try and see the source of the terrifying noises. Her head raised as high as it would go, she held up a torch and peered as much as she could through the trees. Out of all the moments into this journey that she had experienced, this moment changed her. She doubted the sanity of her mind as she saw what appeared to be neon green and blue glowing lights on a grid the size of a window, attached to a leather-skin like creature. The claw of the creature, reaching up to the grid adjusting pins on it.

Never more had Rizzie doubted herself then this moment. This detox may be officially over. Her brain now creating motherboards attached to prehistoric creatures.