Conrad Graham, your not-so typical teenager was indignant. He, along with a few other teenage boys had been locked in a van for more than 6 hours straight. Their captors, Nathan and Maxwell, were only looking for money. They work for the GC, which is the Global Community trying to promote peace.

"All right," Nathan barked. "No talking! We're stopping for a bathroom break. We're going in groups of three." Nathan patted his pocket which revealed a pistol. "Don't try anything stupid!"

Conrad rolled his eyes. He wasn't going to run. His hunch was he was here because of his brother. They were using him. If his older brother Trace, who was a pilot, didn't cooperate with GC, they would send Conrad to a re-education camp to work for Nicolae Carpathia.

The newest kid, a African-American kid, supposedly named Lionel asked, "When are we gonna get something to eat?"

Conrad rolled his eyes again.

"Okay," said Jake, a kid who was extremely headstrong. "When they get us out, we jump them."

"I don't think that's such a good idea..." Lionel said worriedly.

One of the oldest teens there sneered at Lionel. "I hope you're not in my group!"

Conrad was one of the first three to go and he decided to be smart and cooperate instead of jump them. The second group, however, didn't come back until what felt like an hour.

A kid who was waiting for the third group decided to use time up by teasing Conrad.

"Boy, Conny," he said using a nickname Conrad hated. "I can't believe you didn't jump anybody,"

"That was the most stupidest idea ever!" Conrad said angrily.

"Aw," another boy laughed. "Conrad, who enjoyed running from the cops turns good. That should bring reporters!"

Conrad smiled and reached into his pocket. He pulled out some beef jerky.

"That's gross! Has that been in your pocket since we got here?" one of the boys in the back yelled.

"No, that's sick. I just bought it." Conrad stuffed the jerky in his mouth.

"You mean stole."

"No, actually I payed for it. My brother would kill me if I stole."

"Give me it."

"You shoulda had your brain on in there,"

"Lucky. Gimme some."

Conrad gave him a look. "Gimme?"

"Give me some!"

"No! You should've thought of it."

"Shut up!" Nathan hissed back, knocking on the window.

Conrad smiled at the kid as he finished the jerky.

A day later, Lionel was dragged back, then two days later,

Jake and the other kid.

Conrad shook his head. Lionel was running with the wrong crowd.

The end of their long car-journey from Indiana to Mississippi ended with Lionel throwing up.

After Lionel cleaned himself up, he walked up to Conrad. "Do you know why I am here?"

Conrad nodded. "I could guess. Ya see, they have a lot of ways to get a hold of kids. Poor Jake, they just snatched off the streets. Me, I suppose I'm here because of my brother. He is a pilot for GC. I also know they have relations with people in prison, do you know anybody in prison?"

Lionel thought for a second, then said, "LeRoy and Cornelius!"

"Who are they?"

"Two guys we helped the cops put in prison. They killed my uncle."

"Does that help?" asked Conrad.

"Yeah, but, what does your brother have to do with you being here if he's on GC's good side?"

"He isn't, he likes his boss, but he doesn't trust the entire GC. He doesn't like it,"

"Do you know where we're headed?"

"A re-education camp I suppose."

Lionel nodded, gave his thanks, then walked away, stunned.

Conrad shook his head.

"Conny," Jake yelled. "The GC captain wants us."

Conrad followed Jake, to see a tough-looking GC guard.

"You are to be the eyes and ears of Carpathia." a man said in a unique voice tone.

Whatever, Conrad thought looking at Lionel. They were thinking the same thing.

Conrad was getting sick of learning the GC cheers and chants and praising Nicolae Carpathia. He just needed to wait for his brother.

Conrad was getting tired of being yelled at. He wished he would quickly obtain news that his brother had escaped the GC, then he would get out of there.

Interrupting his thoughts, a boy shouted, "Snake!" About twenty five snakes slithered in every direction.

Conrad's eyes grew big. It was amusing to watch everyone freak out.

Then the ground started moving. First a big rumble that about knocked everyone on the ground, then chaos released.

Conrad rushed to get inside the GC building but Lionel stopped him.

"What are you doing?" Conrad asked him.

"Earthquake!" Lionel yelled. "We have to get out!" Lionel shoved Conrad out just before the porch came down on them.

"Lionel!" Conrad called. "Can you hear me?"

"Yes! Do not come in here! Get away from the building! I'll get myself out." Lionel called back.

Conrad watched as Lionel tried to dig himself out and felt helpless. He watched as the second floor caved in behind Lionel.

Without thinking, Conrad started up a car that was beside him. "Lionel! Can you hear me?"

"Yeah," came Lionel's moan.

"Do you see the headlights?"

"Yeah," Lionel said again.

"Follow them out!"

Conrad worked to clear ruins from the other side. With the ground moving, he found it difficult. Lionel was almost out when the headlights pointed to the sky and the car started sinking. As the building behind Lionel collapsed, they heard a whistling, air escaping.

"Gas leak!" Conrad screamed. He had no idea what was going on or what was happening. An unexpected earthquake was happening right now?

A monstrous explosion threw Conrad and Lionel back. Conrad looked up only to see the purple and black clouds that covered the entire sky.

Since both Conrad and Lionel were away from the GC, they thought if they escaped, they wouldn't be missed until way later. Before they could exchange thoughts, a tree came down.

"Look out!" Conrad shrieked.

Conrad blinked. The tree had smacked Lionel on the forehead. Conrad tried moving the tree and its branches from Lionel. They were heavy, but Conrad finally moved them. Despite the mess, GC guards spotted them. Conrad breathed a sigh of relief, thankful they didn't run.

"Are you okay?" a guard asked him.

Conrad nodded. "But he just got smacked in the head."

The guard nodded. "You go up there, help get tents ready for the injured."

A soft moan escaped Lionel's lips. He was awake! Along with that, the sun was out and it looked as if the earthquake never happened.

"Who are you?" Lionel asked awkwardly.

"I am your friend, Conrad," he said slowly.

"Where am I?"

"You're at a re-education camp, GC." Conrad held up three fingers. "How many fingers am I holding up?"

"Three."

"What's your name?"

"I don't know." Lionel moaned.

Conrad frowned. That wasn't the answer he wanted. "How old are you?"

"I don't remember, could you tell me a little bit about me?"

Conrad nodded. "You're 15, your name is Lionel, you are from Chicago."

A doctor walked in interrupting there conversation. "Feeling better, Lionel?"

Lionel nodded. "I guess."

"I'll be right back," Conrad headed inside the ruined building to find Lionel's things. He hoped it would help his memory.

Conrad grabbed Lionel's bag and leafed through it. Inside was a Bible and teachings from a Rabbi Ben-Judah. There was information on the vanishings, as well as the earthquake. According to the paper, the earthquake was world wide and was predicted in the book of Revelations