Chapter One: January 1, 2013

Chapter 1:  January 1^st, 2013

Darkness is dominant, no sun shines. I have my eyes open, yet nothing is visible. “Where am I?” I say out loud. No response. It is very cool down here, wherever here is. Suddenly it all comes back to me. I remember the meteor, the heat, the end of the world. This memory seemed false to me at first. I had to see it to believe it. I struggled to my feet. The floor had good grip so I didn’t slip. I remembered where I was. I was in the mine.  We all had to take shelter and the mine was the safest place. That would explain the darkness. I made my way with the little I could see. Finally, I saw a very dim light. I began to run. What would be beyond that light? I had to know. As I got closer, the image behind it got clearer. I began to see what it was. The memory rang true. The world was in a sate of turmoil. The hellish landscape that stood before me, it was a sad sight to see. There was no breeze, there was no sun. Only a scorched horizon as far as the eye could see.

                I could hear footsteps behind me. I did not dare turn. Only when I felt a tap on my shoulder did I turn to see who was behind me. A girl, who I recognized from school, was standing there with a concerned look on her face. “Erik, what are you doing out here?” She asked.

I stared blankly for a second before responding, “I could ask you the same thing…Brooke.” I hesitated on her name. It was hard to recognize anyone in this wasteland, but I still managed. We stood there in silence. I gave in and answered. “I wanted to see if the world had really ended…Well, it’s a half truth.” I said solemnly. The world as we knew it had turned into…This. Suddenly something came to me. I drew in a sharp breath. “Brooke, where are the other people? Are they okay?” I asked. My family, everyone in the area, and even some friends, were all in the mine at the time of the impact.

Brooke lowered her head and sighed, “A few of us are still alive. Mostly everyone in the mine has suffered. The impact shook the whole shaft. Rocks fell, people had panic attacks, and many just died from shock. The people that survived are the kids. Erik, come on. We should go get the others.” She said. I reluctantly nodded and began to follow her in the mine.

I stopped walking before we entered. Noticing the footsteps, or lack there of, she stopped and turned to me. I spoke, “I think I will stay here. You go get the others.” Concern filled her eyes as she turned and walked into the mine. I spun on my heel and headed back out to where I was standing before. Overlooking the landscape in its burned state was depressing to say the least. I blinked back tears. After a while I hear several people approaching me. I turned to greet them, when I see there faces my words catch in my throat. They all looked so sullen, and desperate. Their faces were ashen and covered in dirt. I looked down. To see my friends in a state of peril such as this…I wouldn’t wish it on anyone.

“Erik, this is the others. You know, Adam, John, and Godfrey.” Brooke said. I nodded. This was more than I could bear. I sighed and fell to my knees. “What is going to happen to us? Are we going to die?” I said in a whisper. Brooke walked over and knelt down to me. She put her hand on my shoulder reassuringly.

“Erik…Look, We all have no idea what we are going to do. We have to be strong though. The world we once knew may be gone, but we are not. We were spared. There has to be a reason right? We just have to find out what it is.” She said. I looked at her with teary eyes.

“What do you suggest we do? Rebuild the world?” I said in a mocking tone. Her face remained serious. My smile faded.

“You can’t be serious. Us, a bunch of kids? What would we do? What can we do?” I said. She shook her head.

“We don’t know yet. We will find a way. Somehow, we are going to find a way to bring the world back.” I stared at her like she had grown a second head.

“Brooke! We are kids. Not even old enough to have a legal drink! What do you propose we do? Hunt for food? What is left to hunt? How in the hell can we do any-“

I was stopped midsentence with a hand colliding with my cheek. She slapped me. Complete and utter surprise filled my face. I was struck across the face. My jaw clenched together as I stood up.

“Erik I…” Brooke began.

“I don’t want to hear it. Come and find me when you know what you are going to do.” I said storming off.

                I walked for a while with a mix of depression and anger filling me. This was unfair. Why were we spared? What were we supposed to do? My thoughts were interrupted by a rock hitting me in the back of the head. I whirled around to see someone running at me at full speed. Before I even had time to breathe, I was on the ground with this person on top of me.

“You look suspicious! What are you doing out here by yourself? You look flushed and out of breath! I am thinking you need CPR!”

The person said. Before I could get a word in edgewise their lips crammed against mine as breath filled my lungs. My eyes grew wide. I pushed them off of me and stood up. Now I was even more out of breath than before. “Who the hell are you? Where did you come from? Why do I feel so violated? I want those answers in that order!” I said frantically. I was able to identify the person a female, albeit a very crazy one. She spoke, “My name is Riley Fisher. I came from my mother and father, and you feel violated because you’re shy. CPR is a life saving thing, it’s nothing to be shy about.” I stared at her incredulously.

Author's Note

This is where i have been told it startes to be more than it should be. Like, it should be post apocalyptic, and the end breaks off from that. I start to change the mood of the story a lot, but I might edit it if it proves to be a problem.