Through the Ruins of New Adelaide
The acid-scarred buildings loomed over Tommy as he picked his way through the rubble, clutching his father's old lasgun. It was too big for his twelve-year-old hands, but he couldn't let go. Not after what he'd seen.
Chitin crunched under his boots – fragments of tyranid carapace left behind by the swarm. The air still reeked of their bio-acid, making his eyes water. Or maybe those were tears. He couldn't tell anymore.
He'd last seen his parents three days ago, when they'd pushed him into the basement shelter before the hive fleet arrived. "Stay quiet," Mom had whispered. "We'll come back for you." Dad had pressed the lasgun into his hands. "Remember what I taught you."
The shelter's power had failed yesterday. When he'd finally emerged, the hive fleet had moved on, leaving only devastation in its wake. Now he searched the ruins of his home district, calling out in whispers, "Mom? Dad?"
His answer came in skittering sounds from the shadows. Tommy raised the lasgun, hands trembling. A lone hormagaunt emerged, its blade-limbs clicking against the broken rockcrete. Its eyes fixed on him with terrible hunger.
Tommy thought of his father's lessons at the firing range. He thought of his mother's smile. He thought of their last words.
The lasgun's weight didn't feel so heavy anymore.
Authors note
I thought this up and wrote it within 15 minutes of me waking up so its not ot the best i can do, hope you enjoy though!