Chapter 1

                I’m cleaning the dishes, well what’s left of them at least. These dishes have been through Hell and back and only a few have survived; the few that did make it through are cracked, chipped and discolored but they are gonna have to do because I can’t afford to buy any new ones. I can’t afford to buy new anything anymore, much like everyone else. I stop scrubbing the plate and glance around my house. It’s small. A small living room, an even smaller kitchen and two very snug bedrooms that are connected to each other by the only bathroom in the house. This is my home. I was born here and I will die here; if they let me. 

Over the years, this house has gone nowhere but downhill. The roof leaks every time it rains, the wood floors creak and each board you step on sinks deeper into the floor. The only carpet I have is in the living room. It used to be red but throughout its lifetime it has faded to a nasty pink and has gotten stained all over and ripped up in the corners. I focus my eyes on the couch. It has a hole on the side. I had meant to patch that up last summer but I couldn't afford to buy fabric or thread so as a substitute, I covered it up by placing a side table in front of the hole. That side table was handed down to me when my Aunt Maddie was killed and eaten by a hunter. I had just come home from hunting myself when I had heard about the misfortune, only I'm not one of those hunters who satisfy themselves with human flesh. I trained myself to eat animals but nowadays they're so hard to find, I'm eating once a week if I'm lucky.

Startled, I jump, when I hear a faint knock on the door. The water in the sink is cooler now. I guess I was distracted a little longer than I had thought. I hear a knock again only this time a little louder. I turn my head to look at the door then drop my eyes to the floor. I guess I'm not gonna get the rest of these dishes clean. I turn around and take a few steps towards the door when it hits me. That smell, its weak, almost nothing but it’s there. I walk towards the door knob. The smell gets stronger, I find myself licking my lips. I haven’t had something to eat in a few days and whatever is on the other side of that door is something I know I can’t have; something I'm not aloud to have. Just open the door, see what the human on the other side wants and help them if I can, then close the door and get back to cleaning the dishes.

I grab the doorknob, turn my hand and pull the door open. On the other side of the door stands a pale woman with dirty blonde hair that barely brushes the tops her shoulders. Beside her, a beautiful dark skinned woman stands smiling, showing off her straight teeth. I drop my eyes down a few inches and see her cradling something as if it were the most precious thing she owns. I take a deep breath. The smell is so strong it makes my eyes water and stomach growl in hunger. When was the last time I ate? My eyes turn black as I begin losing my vision. I can feel pain shooting up from my fingertips as I squeeze the door frame to keep control. Relax; don't let them see who you are. I take another deep breath. Please don't let it be what I think it is. Oh God, please. Anything but that! 

It was what I hoped it wasn't. On the other side of this door was something I knew I couldn't have. It was something that was against the rules for someone like me to have. It is something so precious to Society, the one that the Government ruined so many years ago, and if I get a hold of it, this world will have an even smaller chance of rebuilding what's left of all humanity, and I would be hunted down and killed. On the other side of the door was a newborn baby.

"Can I help you two?" I ask wearily. Who knows what these people are here for. Or even why they have a baby. The dark woman speaks first, "Hi, my name is Leela Thomas. I work for the CFF, the Children are the Future Foundation. We are an organization for children to help keep them safe from the virus and to help all of humanity grow to be as strong as it used to be." She is still talking but I don't want to listen. I have chores to finish before the sun comes up and I go to bed. The CFF? Humanity? The human population has gotten smaller and smaller over the years. Where there is one human, there are five of us. When the virus broke out 30 years ago, it spread like a wildfire. It went from person to person with just one bite. Soon enough, The government had developed rules, these sort of guidelines for us to follow because they were scared that their would be no humans left. Things like don't hunt anyone in their sleep and even pointless ones like don't bare your fangs at people. But the Children are the Future Foundation? I guess that's the governments way of trying to fix what they ruined. I guess I can't complain because at least they aren't killing us all off one by one.

"So all we are asking is if you will help what's left of humanity and adopt this baby boy?" The dark skinned woman continued. There is a brief pause. There is no way I will put my life in danger by taking care of this baby. I would just be putting that baby's own life in danger really. And I just don't know if I can hold myself back until this baby is old enough to be on his own. We exchange looks awkwardly and quickly. "No." I said firmly and then slammed the door.

I have to say I am proud of myself. I stayed calm during that whole short conversation and didn't go completely insane and try to eat them. I did have to hold my breath which is probably the only reason I did stay sane and I didn't really end the conversation very politely either. Holding back was really hard and completely against my nature; really for anyone who is like me. I wonder why they were going door to door like that trying to get someone to adopt that poor baby. Don't they know that that is dangerous?

I clear my head of everything that just happened and finish cleaning the dishes, dust the living room and sweep the floors. Before I knew it the sun was coming up which meant it was time for me to go to sleep. I quickly put on an old t-shirt and shorts, pull the blackout curtains over the windows to block the sunlight and climb into bed so I can get some shut eye. When I wake up, I have to go hunting and I need all the rest I can get.

Reviews

[Rogue]

Hi,
I really enjoyed this. I'd love to see where it is all going and I do hope you post more.
The word "their". Just do a quick glance over and you should see an instance where it should be "they're" and another that should be "there"

Very creative and imaginative work. :)

[Confessions of an Addict]

Thanks! I'll fix those and I will post more chapters soon.

[Rogue]

You are welcome. I look forward to reading them. :)

[UseMeAbuseMeCureMe]

I love this a lot! youre really good (:

[Jack...]

Kelli, Melissa asked that I stop by and read your story and I am glad she did. This is wonderful, it certainly leaves the door open (no pun intended) for many different scenarios and developments. I can tell you poured a lot into this. One piece of advice I would give you, which has been given to me many times is...show us, don't tell us. You can go into detail, but sometimes too much detail will ruin the flow of the story.

An ex: You can turn the door knob, but did we really need to know it was turned to the right? I know I am being a little picky, but believe me, this is how I learned. You have a great talent and I can't wait to see what else developes out of your story.

[Confessions of an Addict]

Thanks so much, that's really great advice! I'll remember that next time I'm writing.

[Melissa]

WOW you have the beginnings of a great story here. I am intrigued and I'm not kidding. I'm a poetry writer and bearly wade into the prose genre. What a delicious morsel you have here...It can deffo be expanded. There is a poet/writer here who could help you with your prose if you're interested, his name is Jack Ivey.. He commented on my poem you commented on, the Tears one.. click back and click on him if you want him to review this.

[Confessions of an Addict]

Thank you very much! I will do that.