October 24th 2076

Charon

My head is slightly sore and my throat is dry and I can taste Champagne and Anna. I stretch on the far too expensive for one night bed and my eyes shoot open as I reach nothing.

"Anna ?"

I sit up. The room is empty our clothes still litter the floor which suggests Anna is either in the bathroom or wandering the hotel naked. I chap the bathroom door and I am greeted with silence and nudge it open to find it dark and empty.

"Anna ?" I call again. She is nowhere the room is empty. I quickly shove on last nights shirt and trousers and leave the room.

The hotel is quiet with few people gathered at different points. None of them are Anna.

"Anna ?!"

I walk fast to the dining room and find Mrs Nale sat clutching a mug tightly between both hands.

"Have you seen Anna ?"

"I thought she was with you ?"

Mrs Nales mouth forms a small o of realisation and I know she has worked out something I haven't.

"She'll come back Charon. She always does."

Suddenly it all makes sense to me. Anna hasn't just left the hotel she has left the time.


23rd May 2279

Anna

Someone is trying to pull me out of sleep and I am refusing. I am warm and snug and I don't want to open my eyes.

"Anna ?" I am shaken slightly as Charon calls for me. I try to find the voice to nestle in closer but suddenly I realise his voice is rough.

I open my eyes and I am in the outcast building with a blanket pulled over me. I notice that I am naked under the blanket.

"I have to go back ! You don't know !" I am now near hysterical as I realise I have just left Charon with no explanation or goodbye.

Charon holds me tight and whispers "I get over it. We'll talk about it later."

He pulls to my feet, I am glad to be home but I didn't get to say goodbye to anyone and now I know that he is about to go through hell. But technically he has already been through it. He is standing in front of me. Mine. No Azrukhal. Patched skin.

"I'm so sorry" I feel like crying. I have left Charon to face his terrible future.

"I get over it." He repeats.


October 30th 2076

Charon

We are sent to Alaska. All the fun of DC is now over and it is back to the front lines. The action takes my mind of off Anna. I find the invisible men, I kill the invisible men. I have chosen my knife over my shotgun. I wish to feel more than just a trigger. I watch as life drains from the reds eyes. I still feel nothing.

December 18th 2076

There was an attempt on General Nales life last night. It was far too organised to be anything other than planned.

They were too organised. The front line was too silent. I knew something was happening and my first move was to protect the General.

Mrs Nale is grateful, she gives me a sad look and a pat on the arm as she walks past me to hold him.

I took the bullet to my shoulder.

I do not fail my employer


December 31st 2076

The tents are filled with excitement as midnight approaches. The men want 2077 to come. It is the year everything changes and only I know. I sit with a beer held tightly in my hand. The countdown begins.

I look around the room.

How many of these people will make it to next year.

Who would actually want to?

Knowing my survival seems like a relief but it is more of a curse. I know what is to come.

Midnight comes. 2077 arrives and so does the impending death.


January 15th 2077

Charon

We are filling one of the trucks up with fuel. It's only $7300 this month, which lately hasn't been too bad. Alaska was reclaimed 5 days ago and we are getting everything organised for the trip back home. I am unsure if I want to return to DC and see Anna's ghost everywhere but I know it is where I meet her again, so it is where I need to be.


January 12th 2077

The soldiers have been ordered to wear masks at all times as we travel through the states, transporting equipment. An infection of sorts "the new plague" as they are calling it in papers is slowly but surely killing thousands of American citizens. General Nale advises me to wear a mask, it is papery and agitates my face greatly. I know that I am not killed by this disease so it's use is obsolete. However maybe it is this mask that keeps me alive till then.


January 16th 2077

Denver has fallen. The television shows pictures of a destroyed city covered by smoke and fire. Rioters have claimed the city as their own. The plague apparently started in the city's centre. The citizens are calling it Chinese sabotage and have decided to show the government exactly what they think of this. We are being called in with masks and protective suits. I've already lost 2 of my men and another is shivering with a sweat. If Anna had not told me the date of the apocalypse I would believe it was already starting


February 19th 2077

There is riots in all major towns. The cause of new plague is apparently a forced evolutionary virus which causes mutation or death. I am beginning to peace together my own fate. I have had to kill many innocents are in the name of peace as they loot and pillage like animals. My nose is constantly filled with the scent of burning and I hear the rebels screams every night as I try to sleep.

Vault spaces fill up rapidly and Anna's kin will hopefully be on 101s list.


March 30th 2077

The inflation is increasing even more. The resource war has heightened to new extremes and bread has become more expensive than fuel or precious metals. Mrs Nale sold her finest jewellery just to feed the men for a week. When the men protested she insisted that we are a team and we stick together.

Cadet Duches has sold his spare uniforms to gain water and whiskey. He has resorted to sewing his uniform together to stop it falling apart and the team has dubbed him Patchwork. A small humour in hard times.


May 28th 2077

I met Anna one year ago to the day. I sit outside The Statesmen passing the time with cigarettes. I watch as patients are carted into the hospital next door. Some are victims of the plague, others are victims of violence caused by the chaos of supermarkets. I know that Anna is not thinking of me at this moment as I am thinking of her but knowing she is somewhere in time, safe from this chaos is reassuring.

I look at the panic of the masked faces around me and pull my own over my face and decide to take a walk downtown.

I end up unsurprisingly at the museum of history, thinking of Anna has led me to this spot. I walk around the exhibitions silently and without realising I was observing the buildings structure I notice something. The museum is built with layers in mind. There is at least 3 sets of doors before the statue I am standing at. The walls are thick from aged construction.

It could be bomb proof.


October 1st 2077

I have held a private meeting in one of the hotels function room. I sit General Nale and his wife down and I have decided it is the moment to share my burden.

"The bombs go off." I speak straight out.

General Nale scoffs but Mrs Nale takes me seriously.

"Anna told you, didn't she ?"

I nod and rub my chin slightly.

"I need to keep him safe." I point to her husband "We need to be out of the city or in a strong reinforced building for the day."

Mrs Nale holds her hand in front of her mouth shocked at the confirmation.

"When is it ?" She whispers.

"23 days."

"Days ?!" The general roars, he is on his feet and he is furious.

"The museum downtown. I have ordered building plans to double check the plan. It could withstand a blast and Anna confirms that it still stands in her time."

The general paces "I can't hide. I have people to lead. Would message would I be giving ?"

"That's why she was so childlike at times." Mrs Nale whispers.

"Survival." I address the General "It is my duty of contract to protect you."

"We need a food stock. Where are we going to get food now with the way things have been ?" Mrs Nale murmurs to herself planning ahead curled up on the chair.

"I can't abandon my post."

"Love if you don't you will die" there are tears in her eyes and I look away as she gently caresses him. "I trust Charon and I know Anna has given him vital knowledge. We will follow him."

General Nale finally agrees with persuasion from his wife and we began a plan to stock up to head to the museum of history before the 23rd.

As we leave the room I find one of the hotel managers crouched by the door. He has been listening to our entire conversation. I stand threateningly and he quickly like a worm escapes down the hall.