Chapter 1: Friendship

Kym's POV

People started filling into the cafeteria (well, it's just a large hall with make-shift tables and chairs but I just wanted it to sound normal, like how I have always wished things would be) as I placed a big hot barrel of soup to the side of the counter. As any other days for the past three years, I have been helping around the kitchen during meal times or helping wherever or whenever help or assistants are needed. Just then Julie came from behind me and placed a huge pot of some starchy stuff next to the soup (I am not sure what they were but its edible. We have no reasons to complain. We are just glad that we have food to fill our stomach and a safe-enough place for the time being). When our eyes met, we smiled at one another. Julie just turned 18 last week, one year older than me. She was one of the few whom I got to know when I came to the 2nd Mass not too long after the invasion. Talking or even thinking about the invasion never fails to bring tears to my eyes. But in the past years, those tears have turned to anger. I lost both my parents and younger sister, Amelia, to those skitters.

[Flashback]

We have been relocating and hiding with some people but due to the large group, it proved difficult and 'they' finally found us. The skitters tried to kidnap Amelia and I. We heard what they did to the children. They put a harness on their back and control their minds to do the deeds of the aliens. One of the skitters tried to drag me away and I fought with all the strength that a 16 year old in me had and freed myself. I ran over to where Amelia was, hiding behind a wall, sobbing and screaming. Just as I reached her I was thrown down to the hard concrete floor by the skitters. Amelia tried to help me and the last thing I saw before I lost consciousness was the skitter grabbed onto her and she tried to fight them off and in the midst of it all, she was thrown a few feet away, her body lying motionless. I fought hard to stay conscious but darkness overcame me. When I woke up, I was with the 2nd Mass.

[End of Flashback]

'Hey Kym, are you ok?', Julie questioned. I must have been in a daze, which is quite often whenever I think about my family.

'Yeah. I guess so', I quickly snapped back to reality and gave Julie a faint smile. She understands. She lost her younger brother too in the invasion but at least her parents are still with her. I am so glad for her but at times I felt so jealous. I am all alone and I missed my parents and Amelia so much that it hurts.

People in the 2nd Mass started queuing in line to get their lunch. No one ever complaints that we have the same food almost every meal. We were just thankful, I guess. As I began scooping soup into their bowls, I saw a familiar face. Ben Mason, my best friend since I came to 2nd Mass. He was the one who found me in a pool of blood after the skitters' attack. He was on patrol with his older brother, Hal, Maggie and Dai when they found me and some other survivors. When I woke up, he was the first person I saw. I was panic and terrified. I kept asking for my parents and Amelia. I was practically shouting and sobbing uncontrollably that Dr. Anne Glass has to give me sedative to calm me down. Later they told me that myself and some others were the only survivors from that skitters' attack. It took a while for the news to sink in. I started to sob. Ben who was standing next to my bed put his right arm on my shoulder and gave it a light squeeze. That very moment I felt comforted. I felt that he understood. He took care of me during my recovery period. Although I do not know what problems or worries he was facing at that time, I knew he was burdened because I could see from his eyes. He looked tortured.

Ben's POV

The moment I saw Kym, I smiled. It just seemed like yesterday that we met. I am so glad that she has been smiling a lot more. I know it's not easy to lose your love ones but I know she is trying her best not to let it pull her down. She is strong, I know it.

'Hey Ben. Back from your patrol with Hal?,' Kym asked as she scooped some soup into my bowl. She looked up and gave me a faint smile.

'Yup, but my partner today was Anthony, not Hal. Hal is with Maggie,' I said as I moved along the line. She just nod and continued her duty.

'I'll see you later. Ok,' I said I took my bowl and walked over to where Matt, my little brother was sitting with some of his friends and Lourdes.

'Hey Matt. How was school today?' I asked before I ruffled his curly hair and gave a nod to Lourdes and Matt's friends. He has grown so much in the past few years. Dad has even allowed him to hold a gun and fight alongside with us. I felt a pang of sympathy towards him. This is not supposed to be the way of life for him. A 13-year-old boy should be out playing basketball, soccer or video games with his friends, not holding a gun and having to face death. The more I think about it, the more hatred I felt building inside me.

'I hate school. I don't see the point of it but Dad and Anne wanted me to stay in school. I would prefer to just hang out with you guys,' he replied as he poked the food on his plate. How do I explain to my teenager brother that though school does not look promising at the moment, it's the least that we could do for him to retain some normalcy in this dark dark world. Moreover, I know this war will be over one day and I don't want Matt to miss out on his education. Just then Lourdes chipped in.

'School will do you good. Trust me Matt'. I gave her a wink. It's always good to have someone else to talk some senses into my little brother's head. Matt pursed his lips, deep in his own thoughts and then looked up and gave Lourdes a smile.

'I think so. I can't go against all of you who is so adamant about me staying in school,' he said. I really love my brother. He might not like something but he will try to look at things differently. I really wish things would have been different for him, for the rest of us.