Valhalla - Cole O’Connell

Micah cries at night after a party. He hugs that guitar to his chest and makes choking sounds now that his eyes are gone. Traces the neck of the thing like it could ever be a replacement for what he lost. Like the music it makes could compare to a voice he can barely remember. Dog tags hang from his neck. They aren’t his. 

Asha takes better care of me than the others. At least she tries to when Vanei is gone. Her hands are calloused and clumsy, unsure of their work. I don’t expect any of them to know me well, it is the nature of things. I do hope Vanei comes back soon. 

Stars always seem to fascinate this group. They stare out the windows all the time, exhale with whatever might be left of their lungs, and just stay there for hours. I can never be sure what they’re thinking. That’s alright though. I’m sure it’s the same when they wonder about me. Do they wonder about me? At least they have a face for me to read. Perhaps that’s why they don’t lend me many of their thoughts. I’m not quite like them, so they forget I’m here. Strange, I thought we were more alike than not. Perhaps I was mistaken. 

I do wish they would stop hurting each other. I have more blood on my floors and walls than I ever thought possible. Brain matter is the worst to clean. I tried to stop them once, just once. I’m not like them. Coming back afterwards took a long time, but I came back. They treat it like a game, killing each other over the smallest things. Jonny says his victims deserve it. Asha says it’s fun. Vanei is ambivalent. Current hypothesis: Killing is a regular pastime for sentient species. 

This group is lucky I enjoy them. I would have sent more of them out of the air lock if not for that fact. Ordering me around like their damn servant. Vanei is the only one to stand up for me, not that she has to. But she’s been quiet after Jonny disappeared. She keeps asking how long it's been. Nearing 400 years now, the longest he’s ever been away. She won’t let me declare him dead, but the captain is considering it. It’s been quiet, but clean.  

Vanei is quieter than usual. Micah left his guitar behind. The captain put me on autopilot before he left, but I’m not going anywhere in particular. My computers know how long it's been, but I don’t want to check. Ah, sensors indicate a surge in gravitational pull, possible black hole ahead. I’m shaking. Come now darling, be the first to see an event horizon. Stay with me now, please. I don’t want to be alone. New hypothesis: We’re all that’s left. I love you. 

Cole is a senior Linguistics student with a love for fantasy and science fiction. They hope to work as an editor for other people's work in the future and maybe publish some of their own stories too. They dedicate their writing to their family, who have always been a pillar of support when it comes to their creative dreams.