MATT

Slowly, I opened my eyes. Where am I? I stared blankly at the cloudy sky looking above me. Carefully, I moved to sit up, putting a hand to my aching head. God, it felt like I'd been hit by a train! I glanced down at my body, scarred and blood covered. Black leather scraps for clothes hung loosely from me as if they were garments meant for a giant and not for me. With a groan, I forced myself to stand, grabbing onto the black scarred metal near me for support.

Every bone in my body creaked as I managed to get up on shaky feet. What happened? I was shocked to find myself in the middle of what used to be a city. Everything lay in rubble, and nothing looked at all familiar. I've got to find help. There has to be someone else in this ruined city, right?

With another groan, I stepped away from my support and stumbled forward. Got to find shelter, food, and water. Instinct kicked in and I knew I wouldn't last much longer out here. My bare feet scratched across the rubble as I moved. Glass poked at the bottoms of my feet, but that pain was minute compared to the agonizing pain that ran along my arms and legs. What happened to me? I wondered as I shuffled through what was once a city street.

A chill wind swept across my face; blowing through the tares in the clothing I currently wore. I shivered; these clothes didn't provide much warmth. I wrapped my arms around my chest, hugging myself in attempts to keep warm. I stumbled forward, confused. Where in the hell was I?

Come to think of it… Who was I? Where did I come from? I obviously came from this place that was once a grand city… judging from the size of it anyway. I was confused, dazed, and most of all, frightened. I was frightened of what could happen to me. My stomach growled and my body creaked. Something terrible happened here.

Everything was gray, caused by the clouds above. I could hear thunder in the distance and realized a storm was coming in quick. Great… All I need. My head pounded and when I moved my hand up to grasp it, I lost my balance and fell to the ground. I choked as the impact felt as if it shattered my bones. I must have a cracked or broken rib or two. Maybe even more.

I winced as I pushed myself up to my hands and knees. I coughed. And as if that just set off another world of pain, I began to vomit. How could I vomit, when I have nothing in my stomach? I could see spots of blood within it, but I just wrinkled my nose and stood, wiping my mouth. Internal bleeding… Not a good sign.

Who would help me?

Nobody

It seemed as if everybody in this cursed city were dead. I couldn't even hear a rat scurry across the ground in search of food. Was this place deserted before it was demolished? Or were the people trapped within its death grip? I didn't want to think about it… So I pressed on.

Maybe I knew what had happened and why, but I couldn't remember. I couldn't even remember my name! It was almost as if I were born into an abandoned world, a world I knew nothing of and nobody to teach me.

I was dizzy and swayed whenever I'd stopped for a short break. But I couldn't stop for long. I knew I had to get out of here, and fast. This place gave me the creeps. Something… terrible was in the air.

Rain began to fall, small droplets at first, then a downpour. A mist quickly settled and made it hard to see. The mixture of blinding rain and the veil of fog worried me… What if I were to fall into an uncovered manhole, or just a large hole caused by the bomb? I'd surely die. But my survival instinct kept me moving.

When I came across the frame of a bus, the metal still half assed in tact, I figured any shelter is good. So I climbed under, finding a tire lying beneath it. Something to sit on besides the cold ground, I thought. So I took a seat and leaned against the cold steel wall, arms hugged tightly against myself for warmth.

Why am I here? Who am I? Where am I? What happened? The questions swam through my head as I tried to sleep. I was tired, drained. I don't know how long I'd walked, but I was worn out. I needed rest, so I closed my eyes, trying to ignore the constant plague of questions. I have all the time in the world to figure this out. As soon as I can get out of here.

"STARS." I heard a growl, and it seemed to echo throughout the bus I'd chosen to hide beneath. I sat up straight, eyes wide with fright. My heart raced and my body began to tremble. I knew this voice, somehow.

"H-hello? Is anybody there?" I asked, squinting against the dark inside my shelter. But I heard nothing. "Hello?" still… nothing. Finally, I relaxed again, resting along the wall. Maybe it was just my imagination. It had to be, right?

A picture flashed behind my eyes. Someone I knew, but how? With that image, a smile crossed my face as I fell into a deep sleep. Who was that blonde haired blue-eyed angel I'd seen? Her eyes were icy and cold, yet soothing and somehow… I felt at peace seeing this face. Even though I was slightly puzzled… Time will tell me who this woman is… Time…