"CHASE! For the last time, GET UP! You said you would finally help out!" Chase slumped out of bed deciding to finally silence his mother. He had said he was going to help out, but he didn't think his mother would actually hold him to it. He joined his mother and sister out in the living room for a quick bite before he was forced to do some chores. The TV flicked on as Chase's mom turned on the news. She always did like to check up on things. Ever since Chase's dad had left for the war she always tried to find out any details about it that she could.

"Hey Mom! They say that another city was taken. This one isn't that far from here." said Chase's Sister Amber. "It's a shame that so few cities would listen to our Mayor. After all he made such a wonderful defense system." Once the war had started and cities started falling the city leaders proposed a defense system so elaborate that the city was pretty much cut off from the rest of the world. The "brilliant" plan for the defense system was actually a really simple idea. By using the latest technology from the military themselves, a large dome was projected around the entire city. The only complicated part was keeping it running, because it took a lot of power to run. Luckily the city had enough power in reserve, not accounting for the power being generated, to run the town and defenses for days.

"Hey Chase now that your awake can you finally take these letters to the post office. I'm way to busy to do it and I think it's a little too far of a walk for your little sister. Remember the post office was recently moved towards the outskirts of the city!" Chase's mom was barely able to finish before Chase snatched up the mail and took off. He had forgotten that the post office was moved so it was a good thing he caught that last tid-bit of information. Since bringing things in and out of the city was so hard now, the post office was moved towards the outskirts of the city. This way mail carriers didn't have to drive as far when they left. Gas was also a material that was scarce in the city. It was stocked and reserved for emergency vehicles and mail trucks.

Chase made it to the post office quick and dropped off the letters. It wasn't far seeing he was a fast walker due to his height. Chase was pretty tall for being 15. He was about five foot eleven. He was lanky, skinny, and had short dark brown hair. He decided that he would take the "scenic route" home to try and prolong getting any more chores to do. He walked along the city limits just enjoying the walk and watching busy people walk to and from home. Something screwy was going on though. Every so often the lights would flicker or the radio would cut out. Chase didn't think much of it because his mind was elsewhere. He was thinking of his father and the war. He never did finish that walk.

Chase made it halfway home when power shut off completely. The reserve energy kicked on, and once again Chase thought nothing of it. Every once in a while the power plant workers would shut down for a special occasion, whether it was a holiday or the workers felt over worked. However Chase did notice something odd. It felt like the ground was shaking. And then, right after, Chase noticed the shaking was growing larger. Nostalgia struck Chase as he felt something familiar, something that he hadn't felt in a while. Suddenly it struck him. It was the wind. He jolted around to see that power for the barrier was completely cut. Almost on cue all power for the city was gone. The only city defenses left were all automatic and ran on electricity. So basically, there was no protection.

Chase started to panic. He started sprinting for home. He didn't make it far when a sickening sound roared through the town. It was the sound of gun and cannon fire. The shaking that happened earlier wasn't an earthquake, but the marching of a vast army. Buildings erupted in fire and people ran for their lives. Chase did the only thing he could think of, he ran out of the city. He darted as far away from the oncoming army. He thought that he, and the other citizens who had did the same, might have a chance. That is until he reached the top of the nearby hills. What he looked down on was the worst sight he had ever seen. This wasn't a simple attack, it was an invasion. He had no where to go. The whole city was surrounded. Enemy lines were closing the gap between themselves and Chase fast. Chase fell to his knees in shock and despair.

Chase had no where else to go, no where else to hide. That's all he wanted to do, was to hide from the war, like he had been doing since the very start. Just somewhere he could be safe and avoid a cruel death. It was too late. The charging invaders were now only yards away. Chase sat there stunned and helpless. Just somewhere to hide, that's all he asked for. A sharp pain surged through his body and everything went dark. His body lay there motionless as the invasion continued.

It didn't take long for Chase to wake up, although he wished he hadn't. He was still in the same spot as he was when the army was stampeding towards him. He was appalled that he was even breathing. He heard nothing but the wind now. Everything was quiet and motionless in the charred remains of his once loved city. He walked towards the city to see if he could possibly find a survivor, then he could find out what had happened to the rest of the innocent. Even the worst of armies usually didn't kill women and children. He walked through the destroyed city for about 5 minutes before he heard the voice of a young women and her kid. Chase was relieved at the sight of other survivors. He walked towards the women trying to get her attention. But nothing seemed to get through to her.

"HEY! I really need to talk to you!" The women turned her back towards him. This frustrated him. He reached out to grab her shoulder but something was horribly wrong. His hand phased through the young women like he was reaching through smoke. Chase fell back in fear. He got up and reached out for the women again, and just like last time his hand slipped through like nothing was there.

"Ahhh! So we have another!" Chase almost screamed at the sound of another voice, let alone one of a male. He did circles trying to find the source of the voice.
"HEY! Up here! It's been a while since I saw another person enter this place. By the look on your face I can tell that you have no idea what's going on, or even what this place IS." Chase could see that the guy was sitting on the roof top of what used to be his own home.
"So where is this place anyway? Why can't I touch or talk to anybody? How did I even get here? And how..."
"HEY! One question at a time! Jeez! This place doesn't exactly have a name. We're not even sure if it's a place more than a state of being. Including you there are 12 of us here now. It would have been 14 but two of us disappeared. Right now nobody can see, hear, or even touch you. As to how you got here who knows. None of us know exactly how we got here, just that we all had our reasons."
"And what was your reason?"
"Me? I wanted to end this war."

"Well you messed up your timing!"

"Messed up my timing? Are you kidding? I was right on time! How do you think the power got cut?"