My vision became distorted. Blurry, 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.
In the midst of this unclear scenario, there she stood.
In front of me.
Her long black hair swirled in the air, her stance portraying that of a knight.
Body, fair and glimmering in the fractured light.
Her eyes bold-piercing and her shape?
Absolute cinema.
Even in a long, simple patient-gown, she looked magnificent.
*Who are you?* Flashed within my subconscious before my eyes drifted shut.
***
With a deep inhale, I opened my eyes. Hastily sitting upright, turning my gaze in all directions.
Where am I? I muttered, seeming confused.
"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 questioned, switching my gaze towards my hand.
"Oh, thank you sister for checking after me"
it ain't that hard to say, shithead! Cherry answered sarcastically. "But yo dumb ass is more concerned about school", she added, walking towards the window.
"Look...". Cherry spoke, opening the window curtains. "...It's literally a post-caoutic world out there, school don't matter no more?" She said, walking towards the living room staircase.
*Sigh*
"Silly girl", I whispered, laying my upper back on the chair.
"How am I home?" I wondered, trying to remember. But its all a blur.
"Cherry?" I yelled out.
"How did I get home?".
"Uhh...",she started. "...I don't know dude". "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 ain't smoking weed?" She yelled. "Because we both know what them dudes in Modown Lake be doing," she added.
"What?"
"Aren't you too young for such languages?" I yelled, Standing up then headed towards the front door.
*Crickk!*
It gave a sound as I opened it gently.
*Wooooff*
Warmly greeted by the mild rays of the sun, accompanied by the dry humid wind that followed.
This city "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".
Total bullshit!
Boom!
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!"
I exclaimed. As a name popped in my head.
I ran out, towards Misow Lane, which was about 3 blocks away from my house.
I arrived in front of a big 2-story house then yelled.
"Mia!"
Paused for about a minute, but no reply.
"Mia!"
I yelled out again, waiting for the assuring response from a familiar voice.
But still nothing.
At this point I could feel something bubbling in my stomach.
"Miaa!"
I yelled once more, this time a hint of fear echoed in my voice.
"Dude chill," someone spoke from the upstairs window.
It was Mia.
On her neck was a black choker necklace, and on her was a black top. Giving a gothic appearance.
"Dude, come in," she said, leaving the window. I knocked at the front door, and a woman opened.
"Oh, hey Ethan" the woman welcomed with a smile on her face.
"Hey, Mia's mum," I answered hastily.
"Oh please Ethan, 'Mrs. Misow' is fine," she said, opening the door properly so I could enter.
*Wow, pretty and rich? This family got everything, even a fucking street* I pondered.
I went up to Mia's room, then opened the door.
The sweet scent of strawberries bashed out from the room. Accompanied by it were 2 arms, which then woved around me. The soft gentle pressure of boobs eventually pressed against my chest. The evenly balanced body-warmth enveloping my very essence. And head gently relaxing on my left shoulder.
*Magnificent"
I was so worried," she whispered, holding on to me tight.
She rose forth her head, staring at me in the eyes. Then her right hand slowly resting on my face. "You've got a scare" she said, worry in her eyes.
Then came out of my mouth.
"Where is the bag?"
Her eyes still fixed locked with mine, suddenly drifted down.
"I'm sorry...what?" She stuttered back.
"The bag?" I repeated.
"Oh…" She whispered quietly, her gazed dropping to the ground. Arms slowly unfolding around me. Seeming disappointed.
She placed her right hand on the left, with an 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, she 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 stated 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 towards her wardrobe.
She opened it, brought out a white large T-shirt and a short jean trouser.
"Oh...", "I'll give you some space to…..."
Mia lifted up the black Top she had on, leaving behind only her beautiful figure, boobs covered halfway by a small breast tube and panty.
*Magnificent!*
Uh..uhh..uh…
Chm…chm…chmmm I posed clearing my throat.
"What is It perv?" Mia said, her expression was cold.
She then put on the T-shirt which stopped a little below her thigh, then the skinny jeans that stopped above her knee.
"Let's go!" she said heading towards the door.
I sat there, slowly getting up tying to process it all.
Some minutes later, we were driving in Mia's dad car.
"Hey, so how did you escape last night?" I asked Mia.
Her right 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, it had a small window, so I jumped through it". 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…."
*Skrrrrr!*
Mia instantly stepped on the breaks.
"….Shit Mia what the hell?" I yelled, my hands holding firmly onto 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 yelled back, coming towards the car.
He opened the back door then stepped in.
"Alright ladies, meeting point is just ahead", he added staring at both of us.
"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 questioned stepping out if the vehicle.
"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, it will 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 questioned back.
"Yeah" they answered.
They where dressed in black overalls and dark shades.
"Wow, Liam secret ops? …seriously?" Mia whispered anxiously.
"Just chill girl", he whispered.
"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 felt off.
"Liam wait!" I yelled.
Suddenly a grenade landed at our center.
"Grenade!"
One of the men yelled.
*Boom!*
It exploded sending us flying and landing harshly on the ground.
*Whinnnnnnn!* My ears rang.
My vision became hazy and so was my hearing.
Smoke filled the whole place.
"Ethan?...".
Ethan…?"
My name echoed through the distance.
What's happening? I thought, fighting to steady my mind.
My head was hurting really bad, I touch it with my hand and noticed it was moist.
*Huh* I exhaled, bringing my hand towards my face. It was stained with blood.
*Is this blood?*.
"Ethan…"
"Ethan…" the voice echoed once more.
"Get the fuck up!", a the voice screamed.
Someone held my shoulder, then sat me upright, immediately I regained my senses.
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", "damn it!" She yelled, dragging me to the car.
"Where's Liam?" I yelled, still not fully regained.
She dragged me in and hit the ignition.
"fuck!" She exclaimed, "It's not starting".
"Shit!" She yelled, still trying to start the car again.
Instantly the smoke cleared and we were totally 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.
"Shitttt!" I exclaimed before bullets zoomed in the air.
Suddenly…
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 stature? close to perfection.
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 vat…