Safe Place

Year 2033, Country name [Redacted]. Somewhere in the central lands.

As I stand at the top of a broken car I can't help but stare in awe at the blue sky before my eyes. ' So pretty ' I thought to myself.

" Kyle, what are you doing up there? It's dangerous so get down " 

My friend Chris called for me, snapping me out of my daydreaming." Sorry sorry I just thought the sky looked so blue and pretty today so I can't help but stare "

" The sky? It looks the same to me. Let's head back to where everyone is "

I scratched the back of my head as I heard his lack of interest " But it really is pretty..."

We picked up our sacks full of scrap metals that we could sell and started making our way back. We've been settling in this place called Oltown for a week. Wherever we walk all we could see are mountains of junk filled with scrap metals,plastics and garbage. The remains of a city are also visible but they are all in a ruined state and full of moss. The roads are all cracked with a few grass growing. It was all similar from the cities we passed in our journey.

As we made our way back we could hear a drunk old man sitting at the side of the road, he was hugging his alcohol bottle complaining. A complaint we heard many times from different people. 

" I miss my life 10 years ago...my family...if only...if only the war...the collapse didn't happen... "

Few men passing by laughed at the old man. " Poor guy still can't face reality " They muttered.

10 years ago again huh? I ran to catch up to Chris who was walking at a fast pace and tapped his back " Is life 10 years ago really that good? " I asked curiously.

He frowned before thinking for a bit and answering " Probably? I heard from the granpa's at the church that they could eat 3 meals a day. Just from that I think it really is a lot better than now... "

" They could even buy candies easily " He added.

" Eh?! Candies?! I'm so jealous! " How nice...the last time I ate candies was 10 months ago. 

I sighed and looked at the sky, which had turned into a warm orange. 10 years ago...was 2023 right?

2023...I was just 4 years old back then. I don't remember much of my life before...but I do remember what happened clearly during the collapse. Bombs were dropped everywhere in our neighbourhood, the ground rumbling, the tanks advancing and the sounds of guns firing. That day I could barely breathe from all the smoke scattered around, how I sat crying infront of the rubbled house that crushed my parents to death.

I was glued to the ground, my that was voice calling for my parents being drowned in the middle of chaos. I was afraid, in a blink I was alone.

" Welcome back you two " 

Before I realised it we were already back at the house we decided to stay in for the meantime and was greeted warmly by Mayumi who was currently cooking " You're right in time for dinner "

I sniffed around the place catching a really nice smell before looking at the pot, " That smells good, what are you cooking? "

" We're having stew today...with meat of course. Adrian got us some " Mayumi answered. Chris and I both looked inside the pot and our mouths just started watering, making Mayumi laugh at us. We haven't eaten meat for a while and it's pig meat too!

" How? "

" Hmm...I don't know, Adrian refused to tell me. I'm a bit worried "

That Adrian, we're just talking about yesterday how we missed eating meat and now he got us some, Did he use magic like a magician?!

" I guess the details doesn't matter if we can eat~ "

" What about the vegetables you mixed in though...did Adrian get those too? " Chris asked as he stared inside the pot. He's right though there's potatoes, cabbage and...geh...carrots!

" Eww...why did you mix those thigs in! '' I said looking in disgust at the orange thing being boiled with the other vegetables.

" Don't complain, that's good for your eyes Kyle! " Mayumi scolded, " It's not Adrain who got the vegetables, it's Luis actually. He went out and fixed the light bulb at the chapel "

" Heh...I guess Luis can be useful for once "

The sound of footsteps was suddenly heard rushing from outside " I heard that Kyle! You know I have a sensitive heart, please stop?! "

" I'm just joking Luis! Hahaha. How did you even hear that from afar? " I ran up to him pinching his squishy cheeks lightly.

Adrian who followed after Luis comes in to intervene while chuckling at us, " Stop teasing him, Luis can do it if he tries. Let's just prepare the table so we can eat okay? We're eating meat for once "

We all set down the table and put our hands together to pray before we started eating. Sitting here with the rest of them in this small feast gives me happiness. 

After I lost my parents, I was all alone in the dark crying. Until Mayumi found me and gently embraced me. She was my neighbour and we had always played together. We both lost our parents during the collapse and were sent to an orphanage by the soldiers.

It was a church located in the north. There we met Chris, Luis and Adrian who are orphans just like us. We became family and since then we never separated. But half a year ago the orphanage fell and we lost our home once again.

 The war was spreading, there was no longer a safe place for us, so we ran and started our journey.

Our current destination is at the pier located at the southern side. We heard from the priest who took care of us that we could ride a boat there to travel to an island called Altra. A place safe and far from the war here in the central lands.

I can't wait to reach that place soon...

*****

The night quickly fell, after we stared at the night sky full of stars we all fell asleep with our stomach's full. However all of that was interrupted with a familiar sound making me jump. Everyone else felt it too as they reacted the same.

Adrian and Chris carefully looked out at the window " Not good...we need to leave immediately! "

I walked towards the window to see all the smoke coming out of the town we just passed. We quickly gathered our things and carefully got out of the house. Even from afar we could hear the sound of bombs exploding and guns firing.

My body was shaking, my heart was beating fast. No.No.No.No. Hurry. Hurry. Hurry. We need to get out. Hur--

It was so sudden. I felt my body being thrown and the sound of a fire. My ears were ringing and my eyesight was blurry. Blood was spilling on my forehead.

" What happened...? " When I came back to my senses I realised...I was alone. I panicked and desperately tried to call for everyone " Mayumi?! Chris?! Luis?! Adrian?! Guys...?! "

" Guys! Hey where are you?! " I felt my voice being drowned as I repeatedly called for them. Please...don't leave me alone...I crouched at the ground as I put my hand to cover both of my ears, tears falling out of my eyes. I hate this...everyone...don't leave me alone...

" Kyle...! "

Help me...!

" Kyle...! "

I don't want to be alone...!

" Kyle...! " I came back to reality after Chris shook me violently " Snap out of it we need to hurry! " His face was in a panic and his hands were shaking as he pulled me while we ran. 

After we got out of the smoke...my eyes took time to adjust but soon lit up as I saw all of them completely fine.

Mayumi was filled with worry as she ran to me and wiped the blood off my forehead " Oh thank goodness! We were so worried! The stray explosion got you separated from us..."

" Chris are you okay? You inhaled a lot of smoke there " Luis supported Chris as he breathes heavily.

More explosions were heard in the distance as we stood " Let's hurry. I'm sure we'll be safe once we get far after crossing the bridge "

We all nodded and with Adrian in the lead we ran and ran. It didn't matter if we were tired. We all had the same things in our mind and that is to escape. I glanced at the town we stayed in one last time. The night sky full of stars before was filled with nothing but dark smoke. I closed my eyes and looked away feeling a pang of pain in my chest. I was afraid to look back.

As the sun rose again we continued on our journey towards our destination.

--end