-Chapter 1-

-Safe at Last-

"Hello... Hello? Angel, you really think she's got a chance? She looks ready for death to me..."

I could hear the voice around me, but it was muffled. It sounded quite girly and young, but I could've been wrong. Slowly, I opened my eyes a little. My eyelids felt heavy, but still I managed to wearily glance at the two girls standing over me, both presumably in their mid-twenties. The one nearest, who was checking my temperature I think, looked rather pretty with a long blonde ponytail drooping over her shoulder. Her hair was clotted with dirt and dust, but that was the usual now I suppose. Apart from that, she seemed motherly. I could see that sort of glint in her eye... it was calming, especially as I was extremely frightened right now. I mean, wouldn't you be scared if you're whole body felt numb and these two random people you didn't know just wandered up to you? Oh yeah, my body. To be blunt, I literally felt like I couldn't move. Whether that was my brain being lazy or the actual truth, I don't really know.

"Oh! She's awake... Her eyes are open, that's good, right?"

The same voice spoke, her voice a bit clearer now, and it belonged to the girl further away. She was perched on the edge of what I later found out was my new bed for the next two months, twisting a strand of curly golden brown hair in her fingertips. Her voice had an ounce of hope the second time she spoke, not like the first time when it sounded full of anxiety. In response to her question, the blonde-haired girl nodded without turning around to face her partner, instead just smiling reassuringly at me. Then, she spoke too. Her voice definitely sounded older and a lot more content like nothing worried her.

"What's ya' name kid?"

She stared at me intently with quizzical brown eyes while waiting for an answer. I did try to immediately, but the only thing that came out of my mouth was the sound of my ragged breathing. After coughing a couple of times, I tried again. Seems the coughing worked, as I managed to quietly mutter my name after.

"Yejara."

The blonde-haired woman smiled warmly once again at me, pleased she'd gotten an answer it seemed.

"Yejara, eh? I think I 'eard a Scottish accent then Laurie! She's a bit far from 'ome ain't she? Poor girl... You want anything pet?"

I think the next few things she said were supposed to be friendly conversation, but I wasn't really paying attention to her or 'Laurie'. Nope. I was too busy eyeing up my new placement. It looked quite old, the room I was in. The walls were bare... well, except for the odd strands of peeling wallpaper. It was a long room, with actual beds down either side. I'm guessing it used to be an old hospital ward, as scraps of medical equipment were laden over the floors. You know the sort of things I'm on about: breathing tubes, monitors, those things they use to resuscitate people. The windows on the wall opposite me were smashed, a couple of them covered with wooden boards. Still, most of them were covered by gloomy tattered curtains. And hey, at least the roof was still intact! For saying this was the apocalypse, it seemed these girls had found a pretty good place overall. My sight-seeing however was interrupted by the blonde-haired girl yet again. I'm guessing she did all the talking to the bewildered people like me. She must have taken my silence as a 'no' to her last question, and so carried on with her interrogation. "How old are ya' Yejara?"

I answered her quickly this time, my voice easing up a bit now each moment I spoke.

"Fourteen."

Both girls looked at each other and then me, an... uncomfortable look on their faces. I felt slightly intimidated if I'm being honest. Yet, both of them shared a caring smile with me again before the brown-haired girl (who I presumed was Laurie) stood up and gestured around her. I just managed to tilt my head to the side to see what she was doing but the pain that shot through my neck at that moment was almost unbearable.

"So, err... welcome Yejara! I know this isn't the best place in the world, but I'm Laurie and this is Angel. We're part of a group we formed voluntarily to help out the, errm, less fortunate of the apocalypse? Basically, if you're under eighteen and in a state, we're here to help get you back on track."

The way she announced it was like something off those cheesy adverts on the television. It was definitely rehearsed, but it did the job. So, this place was like a children's hospital, but with less of the technical stuff and no nurses? There didn't seem to be anyone else either except for these two stood before me; the place felt desolate, but I wasn't in a state to argue. Actually, I wasn't in any sort of state to do anything by the looks of it. You see, I'd spotted a small cracked mirror on the bedside table of the bed next to mine. I was not a pretty sight. As I was being propped up by several pillows, I could see most of my top body: all the way down my arms, my face and chest. I didn't know where to start... My long auburn hair was mattered and dirty, my overgrown fringe blood-clotted and sticking to my skin. Under my right eye there was a slash that ran over my cheek, the blood slowly dripping from the tip. No wonder it hurt so much to open my eyes. There was dried blood all around my nose too; the remains of a nosebleed. On the part of my arms that was revealed I could just see bruises, and I bet it was the same under my sleeves. And well... my purple baggy shirt was covered in damp blood patches just about everywhere. Now I understood why everything felt so weak and numb.

Angel must have noticed me watching my reflection and put her hand on my shoulder, causing me to turn my head back around to her. She gave me that same reassuring look she had earlier and tried to explain to me.

"Hey, it's not as bad as it looks. Most of it's just dry blood y'know, the cuts are quite small but deep. But yeah, it's gonna 'urt to move an' that for a while. I think you've either sprained ya' ankle or fractured ya' leg too, so don't think about walkin' in the time bein'."

I nodded to her. There wasn't much else I could do but accept it, was there? It wasn't like if I closed my eyes and wished hard enough it'd all just magically get better. It hadn't worked any other time in my life, so it wouldn't now. I couldn't even manage to be optimistic at this very moment. This apocalypse wasn't the 'fresh start' I'd planned for.

Oh, the apocalypse. Let me fill you in on that. It started around two months ago when the sun shattered, just like that. Masses of the sun just disappeared overnight, with only the faintest glimpses left now. You can't see the moon at night anymore, just small, twinkling stars. There isn't daytime or night time anymore either. The sky is a dull navy colour throughout the day; the stars are the only sign of night approaching. Because of the sun, you don't see many plants around either, just thick, dusty wasteland where forests used to be. Even cities are starting to look similar. And the people? Well, they've sort of lost all links to humanity as it was. You don't have good or bad anymore. People just scavenge for their food - money is useless. Everyone carries weapons in case of a rebel group attacking you. I mean, I'm fourteen, and I carry two small daggers with me everywhere. No one has a home anymore. You see somewhere that looks good for a decent night's sleep? You just claim it. I've slept in many abandoned houses in the past couple of months; in places that used to be someone's bedroom... it's horrible. But that's life now.

Back to Angel. She still didn't seem happy enough to leave me by myself yet, and so she began asking more questions. Laurie didn't move from her spot either, instead just watched me intently. I'm guessing she wanted to hear all the answers straight from my mouth too. "So, do ya' know what 'appened to ya' Yejara?"

I looked at both girls blankly as Angel quizzed me. Of course I knew what had happened! Well, what I presumed had happened. I mean, the last thing I remember fully was me screaming with my 'rescuer' pinning me against a wall. It was pretty easy to guess what had taken place in the time that followed. He'd more or less made it clear what was going to happen before he knocked me unconscious anyway. Just thinking about it made me shiver and brought tears to my eyes. I could feel them trickling freely down my cheeks as I stuttered an answer back to the pair.

"I-I was, err... beaten up. By this... guy. He rescued m-me from some raiders; I thought he was nice..."

I couldn't look the girls in the eye as I spoke. I must have seemed so stupid to them – a young girl trusting a stranger she'd never met. Angel pulled herself closer and cuddled me gently, taking the mother's role in this situation. I could feel her stroking my head too and couldn't help but lift my limp arms around her and cry into her shoulder. "He told me... what he was going to do. B-but I... I can't remember most of it..." I finished, losing my voice. All I wanted to do was sit there and cry into Angel's shoulder. She tried to ask me what I meant by 'what he was going to do' a couple of times, but I shook my head in fear and burst into another wave of tears, unable to even mumble the answer.

"I'll let you handle this. I'm going to go sort out the young'uns next door." Laurie whispered quietly. I didn't see her leave because my head was still nestled into the shoulder of a very comforting Angel. I just heard her footsteps down the corridor of broken tiles, followed by the creaking of a door swinging open and small, childish voices shouting 'Auntie Laurie!' The door slammed shut seconds after, the screaming toddlers blocked out. This made it apparent that this was the older kid's room. With Laurie's disappearance, Angel pushed me away lightly. She placed her hands on my shoulders, trying to look me in the eyes. Her tone had become a little more serious than last time she had spoken. I think she was getting annoyed with me.

"Yejara, what did he do to ya'? Look, if ya' tell me, I can 'elp ya'. If ya' don't tell me-"

"You'll throw me out? Force it out of me? What?"

I didn't mean to be so harsh like that: shouting abruptly at her. But it just came out. In my mind, I was still distressed about this whole ordeal. I think giving me that decision just hit a nerve or something and I reacted to it. Ashamed, I looked away, waiting for something awful to happen to me for my mistake. But it didn't. Instead, Angel let go of my shoulders, running a hand through her tangled fringe in frustration. Without her support I felt a rush of pain through my stomach all the way up to my neck. I yelped quietly before lowering myself back down onto the mound of pillows, the pain dying down just laying there. My yelp caused Angel to stir from her daydream she'd gone into and stare at me, producing a long sigh before finishing her sentence I so rudely interrupted.

"...If ya' don't tell me, Yejara, I can't 'elp ya' as much as I want to. I'm not gonna throw ya' out or force ya' into tellin', but I won't think any diff'rently of ya'. 'Kay?"

"Okay."

The retort of hers was really unexpected. All I could muster was to feebly smile and say that two-syllable word. Angel finally averted her gaze from me as I said it too, a relieved expression appearing on her face. I still wasn't going to tell her anything. I, at this moment, didn't feel ready to. Come on, put yourself in my position. When I close my eyes, I can see my 'rescuer's' face, this malicious grin spread wide over his lips. That image is emblazoned into my mind forever; I may get over it, but I'll never forget it. Anyone can see how scared it makes me feel by my trembling hands. Still, until it happens to you, you'll never be able to put yourself in my shoes.

Another minute or so of awkward silence, and Angel must have realised I wasn't revealing anything else for today. She looked around the room for some inspiration for a conversation starter, but her big brown eyes finally rested on me. I didn't know how popular a few slashes and bruises would make me! Well, I knew it hurt more than I expected, but it's the price I paid for this attention. Angel bounced up into a standing position, yawning and stretching her arms behind her back. This gave me a lovely – however not really appreciated – view of her very streamlined figure. She was really pretty... I wonder: how did she keep up that look in the apocalypse? Angel walked down the side of my bed until she reached a shabby curtain hung up on a rail fixed to the wall. I hadn't noticed this before, but each bed had a rail quite high up that went around them, fixing into the wall on each side of the bed so you could pull a curtain across for privacy. That is exactly what Angel did with mine, cutting my little area off from the rest of the room. Then, she seemed to rummage under my bed before emerging again, throwing a muddy, old rucksack at me.

"Found it next to ya' in the ditch. Guessed it were yours, cus it's got pictures in it." she smiled thoughtfully. I think seeing that bag was the first thing that made me even a little excited since I woke up. Forgetting the pain in my arms I pulled it towards me, flipping the top open and pulling out a velvet black choker with a cross hanging from it. I put it on immediately, not wanting to be parted from it again. It's the last reminder I had of my mother, apart from my memories. My mum... the only person to ever love me and care for me. It had been hers, as we were a Christian family. But before I left, she gave it to me. I thought I'd lost it. Angel chuckled. "C'mon. I found some spare clothes in there earlier when I was lookin' through it. Why don't we get ya' cleaned up an' ya' can put them on? Plus, I wanna 'ave a look at your leg an' ankle to see if ya' okay. I used to be a nurse before this mess started, so you're in good 'ands."

It wasn't my choice to decide, whether it sounded like it or not. I grinned as I realised Angel had planned all of this beforehand to get her way. Sneaky, but effective. Slowly I nodded my head in agreement at her, pulling myself up and perching on the side of the bed, my legs dangling carelessly over the side. Moving around hurt a tremendous amount, and I really wanted to scream but I had to just stay calm; I was safe now. Although, sitting up like this meant I could see the huge bruises on my legs too through the holes in my torn jeans. Plus, my left ankle looked quite swollen from this angle. Great, more injuries for me to discover. Angel helped me sit up before rushing off outside the curtain, returning a minute or so later with a small, battered blue case in her arms. She dropped it down next to me on the bed, causing it to emit a very worrying crack-like noise. Then, she flung the top open, pulling out an array of medical pads and bandages. "I'll start with ya' face. If it stings, tell me, yeah?" She instructed, covering a small cotton pad with some clear liquid from an ancient looking bottle. I braced myself as the freezing cold pad touched my face, flinching from the temperature. As the initial chill faded though, it actually became quite soothing with Angel just cleaning all my cuts. Apparently I had not only the huge, deep slash on my cheek, but a large gash in my forehead where I'd probably been hit with something. Angel thought it might have been why I was unconscious when she found me. Once she'd cleaned it though didn't look half as big as previously; it looked like a small, red spot hidden by my fringe! I already looked better with just my face free from blood.

Angel carried on disinfecting all the wounds I had for a while. I know this sounds perverted, but at one point I was just sat in my underwear as she carried on. I felt embarrassed then, but every time I asked if I could do it she insisted she should do it or I'd probably cause more harm than good. I couldn't argue. When she'd cleaned all the ones over my chest and stomach, Angel wrapped a huge bandage around me. I looked like one of those Egyptian mummies. All my middle was covered in off-white material which was really hard to breathe in. The one on my forehead had a big cotton pad medically taped over to stop it from bleeding and the odd cut we found on my lower leg was bandaged too. Angel seemed pretty glad with her work as she admired me before tossing my spare clothes over from my rucksack.

"All done with ya'. Your ankle is fractured I think, but with no x-rays I can't be sure. For now, don't attempt even walkin', okay?" she smiled as I quickly pulled on a white strappy top and a new pair of skinny jeans. Before I could answer however Angel had pushed my curtain back against the wall and was already heading towards the creaky wooden door that Laurie had disappeared through earlier.

"Try to sleep Yejara. Ya' got a couple o'ours before we wake people up for breakfast."

That was the last I heard from her as her silhouette trotted off into the room down the corridor, the blue box swinging freely from her arm. What did she mean by 'people'? I looked around the room to see a girl with short black hair sleeping in the bed right near the rasping door, curled up in her blankets so only a little of her tired face was visible. No wonder I never noticed her. Also, in the bed four spaces down from me, there was an unusual lump tucked underneath the thin duvet sheets. I guessed that was some other kid stuck here too. Well at least I'd have friends here... hopefully; that question would be answered in due time. I carefully lay myself down after my little investigation of the room, pulling the warm cover over me. Maybe it would be good here, with people supporting me and a load of new strangers to befriend. All I know is that everything changed a whole lot for me when Airen came along.