Chapter 1

As We Knew It

By Lucas Ribbeck

“I never thought i would lead my friends to war. But to war we went.” I tell the group of younglings at my feet.

“I was sixteen when the bombs exploded in the atmosphere, enabling a world wide emp. Everything was gone, phones, television, the nuclear reactors, gone” my voice drifts away from me as I lurch into the memories.

Chapter 1

“Why are you doing this?” I shouted the the shadow looming over the almost lifeless bodies of my parents. Its evil laughter fills the air around me. It’s laughter is suffocating, I can barely breathe. As i feel my own body fall I wake up in my own bed, my alarm clock blaring.

“That was a weird dream” I say aloud, shutting off the alarm.  I text my Friends Cyrus, Josh, And Cat“hey I’m awake and will be coming to grab you soon. excited for the trip. Make sure you have what you planned to bring on the trip.”

“I will dumbass. lol” replied Josh

Cat replied with a heart emoji and the message “sure thing luc. See you soon” followed by another heart. I wonder if she does that heart thing with anyone else. I shower, shave the promise of a beard off my face, and head downstairs to leave. I grab a protein bar and run out the door. I walk to my car. It’s a newer model ford. I unlock the car and sit down. Cyrus runs up to the car and gets in the passenger seat.

“I brought my stuff” he holds up a bag of his clothes and another bag filled with snacks and drinks.

“Put your clothes in the trunk and the food in the back seat. Cat will want to sit in the front when we grab her.” i tell him. As he gets up to put his clothes in the trunk he replies

“You know she is sweet on you right?” he asks me. one of his token smirks appear, showing he is telling me something jokingly although it might be true. He puts his clothes in the trunk and steps into the back seat.

“I’ll sit in the back with josh so you and cat can suck face up front. Just pay attention to the road.” he says. Cyrus was always the jokester, but he is someone valuable to me.

“Yup that’s totally what will happen. Maybe she wants to sit up front so you and josh and makeout. Just don’t moan too loud its distracting” i smirk. That will make him quiet. For now

His only reply is “touche.”

“Now please, turn on some toons” he says aloud. So i do what anyone would do, blare slipknot while driving past a church.  We cruise across town for ten minutes before turning down the music when we get to Cat’s. She is waiting on the porch when we get here

“Could you pop your clothes in the trunk for me Cat?” i ask her

“Sure thing lucas. I got the dvd’s and disk player” she lets me know as she walks to the trunk while I unlock it. She hops in the passenger seat. “Lets go” she laughs through a growing smile.

She rolls down the window and shouts “California here we come!”

“Actually we have to pick up Josh first” Cyrus and I say at the same time

“That explains why it was so quiet” Cat Says, a small hint of annoyance in her voice

“Relax, I told Josh to be on his best behavior. Hopefully he hasn’t smoked too much when we go to grab him.”

She laughs “ knowing josh, we will all get a contact high off of him”

We grab josh and he isn’t high for once. “Let’s go my dudes” he says as he walks out of his house. He puts his clothes in the trunk and sits in the seat next to Cyrus. “I brought the supplies, guys.” josh says as he pulls out toilet paper and several other commodities.

“You listened for once. Lets get on our way.” i say through my smile.

“California here we come!” cat shouts out the window