The light filtered through the trees dappling the ground with the pattern
of the leaves. The light was silver-white and unreal. I was conscious of
being warmed by what felt like the sun, but the light wasn't sunlight.
Suddenly the world begins to toss like a ship and I begin to feel sick. The
trees topple and come crashing down. An especially large one falls towards
me and I scream. I try to get out of the way but it felt like I was in
water. I began thrashing my arms around wildly and felt... cotton? My eyes
snapped open and I realized I'd only been dreaming. I untangled myself from
the blankets and sheets then went down the hall to my bathroom. That was
the third time this week I had had the same dream...
I woke up the next morning and got dressed in my school uniform. After I tied the crimson kerchief over my hair and put on the mandatory skirt and white blouse, I went downstairs and ate some breakfast before running out the door to catch the bus. I got there just in time and got on board. I walked down the center aisle past a boy named Bray. He was in the class just above me. My face melted into a smile and as a walked by. Then I tripped. After my face blushed the same color as my uniform, I rushed to the back of the bus and sat down by my friend Martin, Bray's brother.
"Good morning!" he said brightly.
"What's wrong with you this morning?" He asked concerned.
"I had that dream again," I said. I didn't mention wiping out in front of Bray.
"The one in the forest?" he asked.
"Yes, I wonder what it means." I got off the bus and headed to my locker. After gathering my things, I went to my first class. I had trouble concentrating though; my mind was on the dream, and Bray...
After school I went home, but my mother, who usually waited for me in the kitchen with a snack, wasn't there. I remembered seeing her car out front.
"Mom?!" I called. "Mooooom?" I yelled walking upstairs. As I walked past my mom's room, I heard some harsh breathing. I pushed the door open slowly and dropped my pack when I saw her. "What's wrong?" I asked worriedly. My mom was lying on her bed looking very pale.
"Hun, I'm sorry," she whispered.
"For what? You didn't do anything!" I said.
"I'm sorry for what I did in that lab. Pretty soon you'll be on your own."
"What? What do you mean...." I asked shrilly.
"I've been feeling sick for quite some time, I'm going to leave you soon."
"Mom!?" I said tears springing to my eyes.
"I'm so sorry sweetie..." she trailed off and began coughing. Mixed in with her spit was blood. "Listen, I've run some tests, the adults are dying, and I want you to go to the countryside. You should be safe there."
"No mom, no!" I took her hand and cried. "I love you."
"I love..." she said before getting into another coughing fit. She died three hours later. When she did, I called an ambulance, which for some reason had a lot of calls, about some mysterious sickness. Was that what she had meant? I had thought then... how right I was... I called Martin after my mom was taken away.
"Hello?" a voice came over the line.
"Hi, um, no... He's with his friend Trudy. Who's this?"
"This is Krista, Krista Bennet," I said.
"Don't you go on the same bus as me?"
"Ya," I said pleased he'd remembered. Then another thought; how could I be happy because a boy said he'd seen me before when my mother had just died. This brought on more crying.
"Are, are you ok?" Bray asked. I paused for a moment before answering.
"No... My mom... she.........." I said mumbling.
"She what?" he asked.
"She died, a few hours ago. That's why I called Martin..."
"That's terrible! What happened?!" he asked.
"She, I don't know. She said something about being sick for a long time, and a lab, her lab at the government science building.. I don't know she was really sick, and died after I got home from school." After that I cried even louder.
"Would it be ok if I came over?" he asked.
"Yeah, that'd actually be good. Thanks," I said. Under any other circumstances I would have been thrilled, but I was just drained. I gave him my address and hung up.
I woke up to the sound of a yelling from the next room. I was at Martin and Bray's house in the guest room. Bray had invited me over and I had agreed. I heard Martin yell, "Why do you have to take everything that means something to me!?" Puzzled, I sat up and listened.
"I don't!"
"You've taken mom and dad, whether anyone will admit it or not, you're their favorite. You've taken Trudy and now your taking Krista!"
"I didn't take Krista! She needed someone and you weren't here. So, I did what any descent person would have done and helped her. That's all!" Bray yelled.
"You know what!? I hate you! I hate everything here, as soon as I turn 18 I'm gone!"
"No you're not," Bray said dangerously quiet.
"And why not!?" Martin said back.
"Because you care for Krista, you don't want to leave her. Even if it means staying here, with me."
"Let's not get into this AGAIN!!" Martin screamed. Again!? They had had fights before. Martin liked me and Bray knew?
I stood up off the bed and walked to the door. I opened it a crack and peered out to where they we're yelling, now out in the hall.
"I can't believe yo---," Bray yelled trailing off after seeing my head sticking out of the door. Martin spun around to see what was going on and I stepped out into the hall.
"I thought... I thought you were asleep!" Martin said.
"Well, I'm not anymore..." I replied. Martin and Bray looked ashamed. "Listen, Martin, can I talk to you?"
"yeah, sure." he said walking over. I held the door open and we went and sat on the edge of the bed.
"Listen, I heard everything..."
"You did!?" Martin asked flushing and turning away.
"Martin, look at me. Bray didn't take me. I'm still your friend, maybe more..." His eyes lit up as he looked at me.
"Really?" he whispered.
"Yes," I answered. That was pretty much the last time I ever saw Martin. After that, it was always Zoot. His parents died two days after I came to stay with them. He went crazy and began yelling power and chaos and calling himself Zoot. Jaffa, another boy in my year, began doing similar things. I had left the day before his parents passed away. I was too afraid to go see him after what happened.
I finally did what my mom had asked, and I went to the country. Out there, I had time to think. My dreams started up again and I woke afraid every morning. I tried to figure out what it meant. I began to understand, sort of... only at the time, I couldn't put it into words. A few weeks later, I visited the city. I walked up a deserted street. Everything had been trashed. A few cars still burned. The further into the city I went, the worse it got. I started seeing people, they were dressed very oddly. The also had, paint?, on their faces.
I had heard, on the portable radio I had taken with me when I left, that the adults were dying and kids were running free, doing whatever they wanted. Eventually though, the radio didn't have any more broadcasts. One by one, the lights from the city began turning off, and eventually the whole city was in darkness at night.
I had stayed away for a while before coming back. I went to the suburbs where I had lived, it was nearly deserted. I walked around lost for a long time. I got some things I had left behind from my house, and then went back to the country. I learned that the kids had been forming 'tribes' and if you didn't have one, you weren't safe. I found a tribe called the gaians, and joined them. I was with them for a long time.
My life settled down for the most part, I helped out with things at our camp. I cooked and gathered things that were needed. Everything was all right, until one day, a girl named Eagle came to our tribe. That's when things started changing again.
I had become one of the more powerful members of the tribe. There was someone named Pride who was pretty much in charge. He had been here a REALLY long time. I had been here nearly as long as him. I had joined when there were very few of gaians. Eagle, came and within two weeks had practically taken over. Ever since the first time I'd met her, I hadn't liked her...
"Hello," I said seeing someone new at our camp while cooking one day. "Are you new here?" I asked standing up.
"Yes, I came here with Pride," she answered.
I nodded and extended my hand, "I'm Krista, known by most people here as Sparrow."
"I'm Am-...," she began. "I'm Eagle," she said.
"Nice to meet you," I said. She hadn't taken my hand. I put it down by my side. Just then Pride came up behind her. Ever since I'd come here I'd liked Pride, a lot.
He put his hand on her shoulder and said, "So, I seen you've met Sparrow, Eagle." His hand stayed on her shoulder and my eyes flashed jealously. She smiled a half smile. Although, I swear it was a smirk.
I had pretty much hated her ever since then. My hatred grew stronger when she and Pride spent so much time together, and even MORE so when she became leader. When that happened I left. Walking out across the grassy fields with the stars and moon above me, I began crying. Everyone I ever loved was taken away by something. Martin had been take over by sorrow, my dad by cancer when I was seven, and nine years after that, my mom by the virus. Now, 'Eagle' had taken Pride.
I came upon the city unknowingly. I decided to find somewhere to stay. The sun came up pretty soon and people began coming out of buildings. One of the people was Bray. He was with someone with dark brownish black hair. Her hair was about the same color as my own. The girl said something to Bray and he nodded. She went back into the building she had come out of, the mall. Once she was out of sight, I ran to Bray and threw my arms around his neck. He stepped back surprised to see who had lunged at him.
"Krista!?" he whispered. I nodded grinning. "Oh! I missed you! Where have you been!?" he asked hugging me tightly.
"The country," I said. I didn't mention the gaians though, that was behind me now. "And you!?" I asked breathlessly.
"Here, at the mall," he said smiling widely. Just then the girl came back out. Her mouth fell open and she looked like a must have when Pride put his hand on Eagle's shoulder. "Danni! " Bray yelled, motioning her over. She walked over stiffly. "This is Krista, my little brother's girlfriend from before the virus."
Danni's face softened. She smiled relieved and welcoming, "Hello Krista, I'm Danni."
"Hi," I said shaking her outstretched hand. Bray led me into the mall and to a cafe upstairs. A bunch of people were sitting there in pajamas eating some oatmeal. They all looked up and some of the boys blushed. Bray introduced me to the others. The tribe was called the Mall Rats. I smiled and shook a few hands. Just then, Trudy came walking in. Her mouth fell open and she ran over hugging me tightly. We had been pretty much best friends before the big V.
"Krista!?" Trudy said disbelievingly.
"TRUDY!" I said happily. The rest of the mall rats stood there staring. After we'd explained the nodded and Ebony just sat there glaring at me. After they'd given me food and shown me to a room I laid down to take a nap. Before I could though, Ebony walked in. "Look, I don't know why you decided to turn up. But, I don't want you here. If you know what's best you will leave. By tomorrow," Ebony said in an eerily calm voice.
I answered her levelly, "You know what Ebony? You're right." Her eyes widened and her self-assurance faltered. "You're absolutely right," I continued. "Because, I don't want to continue my life on the charity of an old friend. Bray's nice, I do like him; I even thought I loved him at one point. The truth is though, he feels bad for me. Because of Martin. That must be why you hate me right?"
"Come again?" she asked.
"You hate me because Bray cares about me, even if it IS in a brotherly way. You want him to like you, but he doesn't... Want to know why? Because you took advantage of his brothers illness to get power." She stood palely. Her mouth hung open gasping for air. She then turned and fled the room.
That night, at dinner, I went into the cafe to see all of the mall rats, seated around a table. It reminded me of a family sitting down to eat and talk about their days. Which reminded me of my family. My dead parents, and older sister too. She was five years older than me. She had died of the virus as well. Tears came to my eyes and I turned to leave.
"Krista! Hey! Just in time for dinner!" a voice called. Too late, someone who I remembered was named Lex had spotted me. He had seemed kind of sour about something but was being nice to me for some reason. I wiped away my tears, smiled, and went and sat down.
I woke up the next morning and got dressed in my school uniform. After I tied the crimson kerchief over my hair and put on the mandatory skirt and white blouse, I went downstairs and ate some breakfast before running out the door to catch the bus. I got there just in time and got on board. I walked down the center aisle past a boy named Bray. He was in the class just above me. My face melted into a smile and as a walked by. Then I tripped. After my face blushed the same color as my uniform, I rushed to the back of the bus and sat down by my friend Martin, Bray's brother.
"Good morning!" he said brightly.
"What's wrong with you this morning?" He asked concerned.
"I had that dream again," I said. I didn't mention wiping out in front of Bray.
"The one in the forest?" he asked.
"Yes, I wonder what it means." I got off the bus and headed to my locker. After gathering my things, I went to my first class. I had trouble concentrating though; my mind was on the dream, and Bray...
After school I went home, but my mother, who usually waited for me in the kitchen with a snack, wasn't there. I remembered seeing her car out front.
"Mom?!" I called. "Mooooom?" I yelled walking upstairs. As I walked past my mom's room, I heard some harsh breathing. I pushed the door open slowly and dropped my pack when I saw her. "What's wrong?" I asked worriedly. My mom was lying on her bed looking very pale.
"Hun, I'm sorry," she whispered.
"For what? You didn't do anything!" I said.
"I'm sorry for what I did in that lab. Pretty soon you'll be on your own."
"What? What do you mean...." I asked shrilly.
"I've been feeling sick for quite some time, I'm going to leave you soon."
"Mom!?" I said tears springing to my eyes.
"I'm so sorry sweetie..." she trailed off and began coughing. Mixed in with her spit was blood. "Listen, I've run some tests, the adults are dying, and I want you to go to the countryside. You should be safe there."
"No mom, no!" I took her hand and cried. "I love you."
"I love..." she said before getting into another coughing fit. She died three hours later. When she did, I called an ambulance, which for some reason had a lot of calls, about some mysterious sickness. Was that what she had meant? I had thought then... how right I was... I called Martin after my mom was taken away.
"Hello?" a voice came over the line.
"Hi, um, no... He's with his friend Trudy. Who's this?"
"This is Krista, Krista Bennet," I said.
"Don't you go on the same bus as me?"
"Ya," I said pleased he'd remembered. Then another thought; how could I be happy because a boy said he'd seen me before when my mother had just died. This brought on more crying.
"Are, are you ok?" Bray asked. I paused for a moment before answering.
"No... My mom... she.........." I said mumbling.
"She what?" he asked.
"She died, a few hours ago. That's why I called Martin..."
"That's terrible! What happened?!" he asked.
"She, I don't know. She said something about being sick for a long time, and a lab, her lab at the government science building.. I don't know she was really sick, and died after I got home from school." After that I cried even louder.
"Would it be ok if I came over?" he asked.
"Yeah, that'd actually be good. Thanks," I said. Under any other circumstances I would have been thrilled, but I was just drained. I gave him my address and hung up.
I woke up to the sound of a yelling from the next room. I was at Martin and Bray's house in the guest room. Bray had invited me over and I had agreed. I heard Martin yell, "Why do you have to take everything that means something to me!?" Puzzled, I sat up and listened.
"I don't!"
"You've taken mom and dad, whether anyone will admit it or not, you're their favorite. You've taken Trudy and now your taking Krista!"
"I didn't take Krista! She needed someone and you weren't here. So, I did what any descent person would have done and helped her. That's all!" Bray yelled.
"You know what!? I hate you! I hate everything here, as soon as I turn 18 I'm gone!"
"No you're not," Bray said dangerously quiet.
"And why not!?" Martin said back.
"Because you care for Krista, you don't want to leave her. Even if it means staying here, with me."
"Let's not get into this AGAIN!!" Martin screamed. Again!? They had had fights before. Martin liked me and Bray knew?
I stood up off the bed and walked to the door. I opened it a crack and peered out to where they we're yelling, now out in the hall.
"I can't believe yo---," Bray yelled trailing off after seeing my head sticking out of the door. Martin spun around to see what was going on and I stepped out into the hall.
"I thought... I thought you were asleep!" Martin said.
"Well, I'm not anymore..." I replied. Martin and Bray looked ashamed. "Listen, Martin, can I talk to you?"
"yeah, sure." he said walking over. I held the door open and we went and sat on the edge of the bed.
"Listen, I heard everything..."
"You did!?" Martin asked flushing and turning away.
"Martin, look at me. Bray didn't take me. I'm still your friend, maybe more..." His eyes lit up as he looked at me.
"Really?" he whispered.
"Yes," I answered. That was pretty much the last time I ever saw Martin. After that, it was always Zoot. His parents died two days after I came to stay with them. He went crazy and began yelling power and chaos and calling himself Zoot. Jaffa, another boy in my year, began doing similar things. I had left the day before his parents passed away. I was too afraid to go see him after what happened.
I finally did what my mom had asked, and I went to the country. Out there, I had time to think. My dreams started up again and I woke afraid every morning. I tried to figure out what it meant. I began to understand, sort of... only at the time, I couldn't put it into words. A few weeks later, I visited the city. I walked up a deserted street. Everything had been trashed. A few cars still burned. The further into the city I went, the worse it got. I started seeing people, they were dressed very oddly. The also had, paint?, on their faces.
I had heard, on the portable radio I had taken with me when I left, that the adults were dying and kids were running free, doing whatever they wanted. Eventually though, the radio didn't have any more broadcasts. One by one, the lights from the city began turning off, and eventually the whole city was in darkness at night.
I had stayed away for a while before coming back. I went to the suburbs where I had lived, it was nearly deserted. I walked around lost for a long time. I got some things I had left behind from my house, and then went back to the country. I learned that the kids had been forming 'tribes' and if you didn't have one, you weren't safe. I found a tribe called the gaians, and joined them. I was with them for a long time.
My life settled down for the most part, I helped out with things at our camp. I cooked and gathered things that were needed. Everything was all right, until one day, a girl named Eagle came to our tribe. That's when things started changing again.
I had become one of the more powerful members of the tribe. There was someone named Pride who was pretty much in charge. He had been here a REALLY long time. I had been here nearly as long as him. I had joined when there were very few of gaians. Eagle, came and within two weeks had practically taken over. Ever since the first time I'd met her, I hadn't liked her...
"Hello," I said seeing someone new at our camp while cooking one day. "Are you new here?" I asked standing up.
"Yes, I came here with Pride," she answered.
I nodded and extended my hand, "I'm Krista, known by most people here as Sparrow."
"I'm Am-...," she began. "I'm Eagle," she said.
"Nice to meet you," I said. She hadn't taken my hand. I put it down by my side. Just then Pride came up behind her. Ever since I'd come here I'd liked Pride, a lot.
He put his hand on her shoulder and said, "So, I seen you've met Sparrow, Eagle." His hand stayed on her shoulder and my eyes flashed jealously. She smiled a half smile. Although, I swear it was a smirk.
I had pretty much hated her ever since then. My hatred grew stronger when she and Pride spent so much time together, and even MORE so when she became leader. When that happened I left. Walking out across the grassy fields with the stars and moon above me, I began crying. Everyone I ever loved was taken away by something. Martin had been take over by sorrow, my dad by cancer when I was seven, and nine years after that, my mom by the virus. Now, 'Eagle' had taken Pride.
I came upon the city unknowingly. I decided to find somewhere to stay. The sun came up pretty soon and people began coming out of buildings. One of the people was Bray. He was with someone with dark brownish black hair. Her hair was about the same color as my own. The girl said something to Bray and he nodded. She went back into the building she had come out of, the mall. Once she was out of sight, I ran to Bray and threw my arms around his neck. He stepped back surprised to see who had lunged at him.
"Krista!?" he whispered. I nodded grinning. "Oh! I missed you! Where have you been!?" he asked hugging me tightly.
"The country," I said. I didn't mention the gaians though, that was behind me now. "And you!?" I asked breathlessly.
"Here, at the mall," he said smiling widely. Just then the girl came back out. Her mouth fell open and she looked like a must have when Pride put his hand on Eagle's shoulder. "Danni! " Bray yelled, motioning her over. She walked over stiffly. "This is Krista, my little brother's girlfriend from before the virus."
Danni's face softened. She smiled relieved and welcoming, "Hello Krista, I'm Danni."
"Hi," I said shaking her outstretched hand. Bray led me into the mall and to a cafe upstairs. A bunch of people were sitting there in pajamas eating some oatmeal. They all looked up and some of the boys blushed. Bray introduced me to the others. The tribe was called the Mall Rats. I smiled and shook a few hands. Just then, Trudy came walking in. Her mouth fell open and she ran over hugging me tightly. We had been pretty much best friends before the big V.
"Krista!?" Trudy said disbelievingly.
"TRUDY!" I said happily. The rest of the mall rats stood there staring. After we'd explained the nodded and Ebony just sat there glaring at me. After they'd given me food and shown me to a room I laid down to take a nap. Before I could though, Ebony walked in. "Look, I don't know why you decided to turn up. But, I don't want you here. If you know what's best you will leave. By tomorrow," Ebony said in an eerily calm voice.
I answered her levelly, "You know what Ebony? You're right." Her eyes widened and her self-assurance faltered. "You're absolutely right," I continued. "Because, I don't want to continue my life on the charity of an old friend. Bray's nice, I do like him; I even thought I loved him at one point. The truth is though, he feels bad for me. Because of Martin. That must be why you hate me right?"
"Come again?" she asked.
"You hate me because Bray cares about me, even if it IS in a brotherly way. You want him to like you, but he doesn't... Want to know why? Because you took advantage of his brothers illness to get power." She stood palely. Her mouth hung open gasping for air. She then turned and fled the room.
That night, at dinner, I went into the cafe to see all of the mall rats, seated around a table. It reminded me of a family sitting down to eat and talk about their days. Which reminded me of my family. My dead parents, and older sister too. She was five years older than me. She had died of the virus as well. Tears came to my eyes and I turned to leave.
"Krista! Hey! Just in time for dinner!" a voice called. Too late, someone who I remembered was named Lex had spotted me. He had seemed kind of sour about something but was being nice to me for some reason. I wiped away my tears, smiled, and went and sat down.