Summary: Elena Gabriella Vega, a seventeen year-old teenager who is a civilian in the colony with her friend Julia Matthews. Mostly known as Lena, who can't stand being in the colony and is ambitious for adventure, she craves what to find out in the Redwoods of San Francisco.

Characters: Elena Gabriella Vega, Julia Matthews, Alexander, Tanner Gore, Ash and Blue Eyes

Rating: PG-13

Violence, Humor, Romance

Chapter 1: Curiosity killed the cat

"And as Julius Caeser made his way to the meeting of the senates, his wife begged-Ms. Vega!".

I blinked my eyes, and snapped from my daydream as I looked away from the cracked stained window. I looked at my teacher, and I rolled my eyes "Yes?" She looked at me sternly, what an old bat, I wanted to be out of here quickly. I glanced at the clock, fifty seconds left, "I am still surprised that your passing all your classes, and you don't even-" The horn blared in the school, I smirked as I grabbed my duffle bag and torn book, and quickly walked past her.

Finally free from High school, it was my last year. And yes even after the plaque, that began ten years ago the colony somehow managed to make up a suitable teaching program for the children and teenagers.

The program contained; Science, history and math, along with gun practice, and physical combat. After when you graduate your committed into the colony to work in a way. Mine was going to be most likely guard, others would get medical, technology, engineering, or be in the school program to teach. My name is Elena Gabriella Vega, an Brazilian, Puerto Rican, and I'm seventeen as well.

I was the only one in my family to survive the Simian Flu, my mother and father died, Marisol and Armando. I still miss them dearly, I first arrived in the colony when I was 13. Back in 2022. That was the year I met Julia and Alexander, who Julia is sixteen, and Alexander is fifteen. Both Julia and I lost our families, but Alexander still has his father and stepmother. I was glad for him, that he still had someone.

"Lena!", I turned and saw Julia and Alexander, I grinned "Hey dorks!" I joked, and Julia looked at me excitedly, and I smirked "Ready to get going?" Alexander looked at us curiously "Go where?" I took out a torn piece of paper of an old brochure "The Redwoods! People actually say that somethings up there" Alexander rolled his eyes," You mean your gonna make this into a Blair Witch hunt?" Julia and I laughed

"No way, there is not some curse up there, the rumors say that someone lives there". Julia looked at Alexander "Alex you should come, it wouldn't be the same without you" Alexander shook his head, but smiled "Nah, I'm gonna be spending the next two months with Ellie and my dad, and draw more".

We said our goodbyes to Alexander and took off, making our way to the abandoned apartment in the main center of the Colony. Julia and I made way to our rooms and started to pack, besides looking what's in the Redwoods, we're gonna be camping as well. In my duffle bag, I packed at least five shirts, four jeans, and three pairs of shoes. And some toothpaste, along with my crucifix and infinity necklace.

And my backpack, I tucked in a red cross medical box, canteen of water, food, and my bag of rope darts, also with duct tape because I had a hole in one of my shoes. Putting extra stuff in I was ready, and I strapped my machete to my waist.

I walked out of my room, to find Julia ready and packed as well, and I smiled "Alright let's get going!", we made out way out of the main center of the colony, and I strapped my pack to a wagon that was attached to my bike, and Julia did the same. We had to go through checkout point though, you can only go beyond the Golden Gate Bridge if you were at least seventeen or eighteen. So they advised me to keep close to Julia, though my good mood was gone.

My ex, Tanner Gore walked up to me, and I glared. I still tried to figure out what made me stay with him for two years "You two better be careful or something will kill ya" He joked, as he gave me a wink, flirting, and I flipped him off "Screw you Tanner..." Julia and I rode off, to myself this was freaking exciting, to finally go beyond the colony, the Golden Gate Bridge to whatever is out there.

The Redwoods used to be a National State Park, before the plaque hit. It was caused by...some rebellion of Apes, I'm glad I wasn't living in California around the time. It took about an hour to arrive at the entrance of the Redwoods, but it was worth it "Hey Lena, lets take a picture of the sign to show Alex when we get back" I smiled "Sure!" The old camera we had still had power, though we had to be careful with the batter since we were not in the Colony.

"Okay! Not let's wander around this god forsaken forest!" Julia chirped, and we both laughed, "Alrighty then Captain, lead the way" I gestured to her, and we made our way as we got on our bikes.

Another 30 minutes and we found a huge clearing in the forest and started to set up the one tent we brought, we were gonna leave our stuff in our backpacks, worried of some wild animal getting in them.

I decided to set up a trap for a wild animal, for us to eat for dinner tonight. When it was nightfall, Julia and I were writing in our journals. The day went fine, nothing out of the ordinary, but I couldn't shake off the feeling we were being watched.

"Um Jules?"

"Yeah Lena?" I looked at her, my overprotective instinct taking over "I think there's something or someone watching us..." Julia shook her head and smiled "Its probably nothing, you'll probably feel better in the morning when we go hiking. She was right, I was probably overreacting, but I didn't let the feeling shake off. I went into our tent and got out the mirror I brought.

I knew I was beautiful. My hair was so wavy, and slightly curled that went below my waist. Brown, black with light ginger, My skin was olive toned, and my freckles were all over my face and shoulders. My eyes were a beautiful light gold brown, my face was soft and narrow with a little blush. I had a small nose, and natural curves on my body. I was around 5'2 or 5'1 somewhere in between.

Julia's beautiful as well, and man did I wish I had her wild curly hair. It was long and a beautiful Platinum blonde with darker shade of blonde, and piercing blue eyes. Julia once said she got her curly hair from her father, who is Irish. Though she wished she would have gotten his red hair. Though to me she would look amazing with either hair color. Julia was 5'2 an inch taller than me. Even though she's a year younger.

Sometimes I'm a little vain of my beauty, though I don't show it off. I walked back out, and saw Julia dying out the fire and stuff her belongings in the backpack and we sat on a log, and watched the moonlight. It was completely normal here, nothing odd or weird "Come on let's get to bed, so I can be lazy Jules" Julia chuckled "Your always Lazy Lena" We hit the hay and slept.

Later~

The sound of footsteps awoken myself and Julia. She faced me scared and worried, and then she signed. We both took a signing course last year "What is that" I bit my lip "I don't know" The moonlight was so bright, it casted off the shadows that were walking around. Two figures, around Julia's height were walking around, with long staffs in there hands. It looked like a human, half animal. I panicked and shoved my blanket in my duffle bag, and Julia's. "When I count to three, we run" She nodded, I guess people were right, there was something here.

"One, two...three!" We ran, leaving the tent and our bikes. We heard the figures running toward us, so I took a sturdy stick and threw my backpack and duffle bag to the ground "Lena! What are you doing!?"

"Gonna fight them off!" I saw one of them run towards me, in the glimmer of the moonlight I saw his face clearly. It was an Chimpanzee, pearly black fur, with a tint of midnight blue. Light tan pale skin, and his face was sorta like a humans. And my god, did it have the most amazing ice cold eyes. Though I snapped out it as I lunged out of the way, and used my rope dart which cut into his left arm, and spun as I hit it in the face.

"Did you have to hurt it!?" I looked at Julia like 'seriously?' " 'Did I have to hurt it!?' Uh your welcome Jules!" The other came running towards me and I did a high kick maneuver, it was a dumb choice, and it caught my leg. The other chimpanzee looked the same age, and bright green eyes, and gray fur along with a light gray speckled face. I struggled out of his grip, and wacked him in the face, I was about to do it again till he grabbed my arm.

I growled at him, "Suéltame!" I yelled in my Spanish language, I wasn't gonna let these things hurt Julia or I, and I then thought boy was it a bad idea to come here. "Jesus, let go!".

Without thinking, I grabbed a pile of dirt and threw it in his eyes. His grip loosened and I kicked him in the chest, and I quickly grabbed my stuff and ran off with Julia. We were running all over the place panicked, we continued running and running till a branch scratched a wound into my right leg, and a small ditch clung to my foot. It was stuck, Julia looked panicked and she tried to shove my foot out. Though we heard hooting in the distance, and the same two came running up. I was still struggling to get my foot out.

The blue eyed one was about to walk to me, hissing, but the gray ape stopped him, "Blue Eyes wait!" "Ash! What the heck! She just whacked me in the face, and threw dirt in your eyes! and look! I have a wound because of that weird rope that she threw" What the hell, they know sign!?

"Oh I don't know as I think about it, maybe because we panicked them and the girl attacked us out of self defense". I braced myself as I laid my hand on my Machete, but the Blue Eyed ape sighed annoyed and tugged my foot out of the ditch, and my leg was in serious pain from the fresh wound the presented itself. Julia stood up, oh god Jules don't try and be brave. So I stood up, awhile not putting pressure on my right leg, again my overprotective instinct taking over.

"You know sign?" She gestured to them, and they nodded "I'm sorry my friend attacked you, she usually goes with what she feels, does it without thinking" I glared "Hey!" and I faced them pissed off "Sorry we're on your land, but my friend and I, intend to stay here for two months!"

"Then talk to my father about it!" The Blue eyed ape signed looking angry, and I scoffed "Fine take us to him..."

Stay tuned for Chapter 2!