Blurry and vague, a second stretched like an hour. A flash of white light shone across the room, making everything seem in slow motion.
Shards of glass flew around in all directions. What's going on? I pondered, squatting on the floor confused.
In the midst of this unclear scenario, there she stood.
In front of me.
Her long black hair swirled in the air, her stance portrayed that of a knight.
Her body fair and glimmering in the fractured light.
Her eyes bold, piercing and her shape?
Absolute cinema.
Even in a long, simple gown, she looked beautiful.
Who is she? I wondered once more as my eyes closed shut, then I blacked out.
With a deep inhale, I opened my eyes.
What happened? Where am I? I muttered.
"Wow dude, you're really roughed out", a familiar voice spoke from behind me.
Then I turned. Cherry! Shouldn't you be at school right now? I said, turning my gaze to my hand.
"Oh, thank you sister for checking after me"
it ain't that hard to say, shithead, Cherry answered sarcastically. But your dumb ass is more worried about school, she added, walking towards a window.
"Look."Cherry spoke, opening the window curtains. "It's literally an apocalyptic world out there, and you're more keen on school? She said, walking towards her room.
I sat upright then looked at my feet.
How am I at home? I said to myself, trying to remember. But it was all a blur.
Cherry! I yelled out.
"How did I get home?"
"I don't know dude", she answered. "Some person brought you in all unconscious and said he found you lying on the ground at Modown Lake.
Modown Lake? I whispered to myself, confused.
Which reminds me, Cherry spoke again.
"Hope you aren't smoking weed?" She yelled. "Because we both know what people do in Modown Lake," she added.
"What?"
"Aren't you too young to say such words?" I yelled, stood up, and headed towards the front door.
I opened the door. Warmly greeted by the mild rays of the sun, accompanied by the dry humid wind that followed.
This city is called "Meadowbell."
The only surviving and populated region within miles across the earth.
Remember that joke we would say that goes like "If I had God-like power I wouldn't help the world; I'd correct it," and then we would all laugh at the end? Well one idiot took that phrase literally and shot the earth with 20 CCs of gamma radiation. All in a claim "to save humanity.
Boom!
In under 24hrs turned the Earth into a wasteland. Well, half of it.
Few structures still stand though.
Houses were destroyed, lives ruined, soil infertile and those were just the tip of the iceberg.
But we try our best to make a living out of the little we've got.
"Shit, Mia!" I exclaimed.
I ran out, towards Misow Lane.
I arrived in front of a big 2-story house then yelled.
Mia!
Mia!
Mia!.
"Dude chill," someone spoke from the upstairs window.
It was Mia. A young lady with short dark hair. Her eyes lined with black mascara, and her lips with black lip gloss. Only from the top of her hair to the bottom of her boob region was visible.
On her neck was a black choker necklace, and on her was a black top. Indeed giving a gothic appearance.
"Dude, come in," she said, leaving the window. I knocked at the front door, and a woman opened it.
"Oh, hey Ethan" the woman said with a smile on her face.
"Hey, Mia's mum," I answered hastily.
"Oh please, Ethan, 'Mrs. Misow' is fine," she said and opened the door widely so I could enter.
Wow, pretty and rich? This family got everything, even a fucking street, I spoke within me.
I went up to Mia's room, then opened her door.
Swiftly came a hug. "Thank God you're alive, I was so worried," Mia said, her eyes fixed on mine and her arms around me.
Then came out from my mouth…"Where is the bag?"
"I'm sorry...what?" She stuttered back.
"The bag?" I repeated.
"Oh…" She whispered quietly, her gazed droping to the ground. Arms slowly unfolding around me. Her mood totally disappointed.
She placed her right hand on the left, with a wary expression on her face.
"…On my bed" she said in a calm tone, standing still.
I sat on the bed, then gently opened the bag.
"Good it's still intact" I gave a sigh of relief looking at it's content.
Slowly, Mia walked towards the bed then sat on a chair beside it.
What is that anyway?, she said as she gently twirled in a circle with the chair.
"To be honest…I have no idea, but Liam said some dudes on Craigslist will pay top dollar for this stuff" I quoted.
"Really? then let's go... gimme a sec to change" Mia said standing from the chair then headed to her wardrobe.
She opened it, brought out a white large T shirt and a short jean trouser.
Seeing she was about to change "I'll give you some space to…..."
Mia lifted up the black Top she had on, leaving only her beautiful figure, boobs covered halfway by a small bra and panty. Magnificent!
Uh..uhh..uh…
Chm…chm…chmmm I posed clearing my throat.
"What is It perv?" Mia said, her expression cold.
She then put on the T shirt that stopped a little below her thigh, then the skinny jeans that stopped above her knee.
Let's go!
Some minutes later, we were driving in Mia's dad car.
"Hey, so how did you escape last night?" I asked Mia.
She was driving with one hand on the steering wheel and the other, resting on the car open window.
"Luck, I guess" she stated.
"At the end of the hallway, had a small window, so I jumped through it" she added. How about you? she asked turning her gazed briefly at me before they returned back to the road.
"Funny…I can't remember" I answered.
"Everything is all a blur". "And…."
With a sudden step on the breaks, the car stopped instantly.
"….Shit Mia what the hell!" I yelled, my hands holding firmly on the car seat.
What the hell Liam! She yelled out. I looked ahead to find Liam standing at the center of the road.
Oh come on dweebs, don't be such big babies, he said Coming towards the car.
He opened the back door then stepped in.
Alright ladies, meeting point is just ahead, Liam said looking at me and Mia.
I should really do a brief correction of the friends I keep, Mia murmured before putting the car on gear then zoomed off.
"Just right down that path", Liam directed pointing his finger.
"Hey isn't this Medobell's harbor?" I said stepping out if the car.
"Yes dude", Liam answered coming out from the back then stretching his arms.
"Alright let's get this over with and get the hell out of here", Mia said switching off the engine.
Markella, be a dear and try flashing those boobs of yours, to give us some dealing chance, Liam giggled.
Perv! She exclaimed.
You know, I still don't see how the name 'Mia' relates to 'Markella'?
I mean is it an old flame name or? He asked
"It's just a nick name Liam", Mia replied. You can call me Mia or Markella, which ever sounds sexy, it's still one person 'me', she added.
Tushay, Liam quoted.
Two men came out behind a big crate that laid on the floor.
Hey, you with the goods? One of them asked, standing bold but conscious.
Yeah men, Liam replied. You with the money? He asked.
Yeah they answered.
They where dressed in black suits and dark shade glasses.
Wow, Liam secret organization? …seriously? Mia whispered anxiously to Liam.
Just chill girl, he whispered back.
Let's make the exchange safe and fast ok? Liam said walking slowly towards them.
Something didn't feel right.
I couldn't put my finger on it, but something feels off.
Liam wait! I yelled. Suddenly a grenade landed at our center.
Grenade!
One of the men yelled.
Boom!
It exploded send us flying then landing us harshly on the ground.
Whinnnnnnn! My ear rang.
My vision was hazy and so was my hearing.
Smoke filled the whole place, and coming from it was a faint but gentle word.
"Ethan…"
"Ethan…"
What is happening?, I thought within myself trying to gain back my senses.
I felt a sharp pain coming from my head, I touched it, it was moist.
I took looked my palm and it was covered in blood.
Is that blood?, I thought once more laying on the ground.
"Ethan…"
"Ethan…" the calm quiet voice echoed from the smoke once more.
Get the fuck up!, a loud scream echoed.
Someone held my shoulder then sat me upright, immediately my senses returned.
Bang! Bang! Bang! The sound of guns firing echoed around.
What's going on! I yelled
What do you think? Mia answered holding me by the shoulder. She had a scar on her left cheek and bleeding from the head.
Get in the car now, dam it! She yelled, dragging me to the car.
Where's Liam? I yelled still not fully regained.
We got in and Mia hit the ignition.
Shit! She yelled, It's not starting.
Shit! She exclaimed once more, still trying to start the car again.
Instantly the smoke cleared and we where surrounded.
Who are these people? A thought flashed into my head.
They were armed to the teeth, like the military. But the military didn't exist anymore after the great explosion.
What did they want?, and why did they surround us.
Open fire! One of them yelled.
Nooo! Mia yelled bending her head towards the steering wheel.
Shit! I exclaimed before bullets zoomed in the air.
Suddenly…
Boom!
A flash of white light shone.
A black long hair swirled in the wind and a figure so familiar appeared before me.
Her eyes beautiful, innocent and her statue close to perfection.
And with a single wave gesture of her hands, sent all the bullets off trajectory. Instantly it all came back to me….
You're the girl in the Tube…