UNDER EDITING 𝐺𝑅𝐴𝑉𝐸 𝐷𝐴𝑁𝐺𝐸𝑅 | 𝐴𝑃𝑂𝐶𝐴𝐿𝑌𝑃𝑆𝐸 ✔︎

Escape

(Lexi's POV)

(Still a flashback)

I grab the last of my things and run out of my room.

I don't know what the hell is happening right now but it's freaking me out.

I help my brother with one of his bags and we flee to the car where my mom was already in the drivers seat.

I sit in the passenger seat and my brother climbs into the back.

My mom pulls out of the driveway quickly and we head towards wherever this safe haven was.

My mom speeds down the highway, following other cars that seemed to be going to the same place.

As I look out my window, I notice how shit the world has gotten. AND I DON'T EVEN UNDERSTAND WHY!

I see cars in ditches with their alarms blaring loudly, I see people sprinting, I see people fighting over items. I'm just glad to be in a moving vehicle right now.

Then I see it.

As I look out my window, I see a slow moving person. They look super pale and seem to have a bit of hair loss. As we approach closer, passing the person, I see an unspeakable sight.

Half of her face is torn off.

Once she saw me though, she started so wobble towards our moving car. She was nowhere near fast enough to get to the car, but she... or it... was eager.

My mom tells my brother and I not to look at anyone.

We slowly come to a stop where police officers are directing us. They point at a road and my mother drives down it, along with the other cars that are ahead. It takes about ten minutes before we see it.

It looks to be an old summer camp that the police took over. No sight of a sign though. We pull up to where the police tell us and they usher us out of our car. A bit rude of them, sure, but they're probably just as scared as we are right now.

They pat us down and check us for any wounds. I wasn't sure why, I still have no idea what's happening.

An officer lead my family over to where many family's were. Another officer was standing up with a megaphone.

"Listen up everyone! We know how stressed and confused you all must be but please, bear with us! We know what we are doing so all we ask is that you follow directions accordingly!"

Everyone was focused on him now.

(This next scene is kind of referencing a scene from The Fifth Wave! I thought it fit so please enjoy and credit goes to that movie!)

"We have a facility up north that will keep us safe and away from the outside. We will be separating family's. Adults will take bus #17 and #18. Kids will be loaded into buses #19 and #20."

I was a bit shocked. Why would they want to separate families at a time like this?

"We do not need any arguments! This is the best way for us to keep people organized by age category! Please line up over by Officer Marsh and tell her your name and age."

Everyone lines up behind Officer Marsh. I get tense but then I feel my mother's arm on my shoulder.

"Alexia." She stated simply, trying to get my attention. Yet not drawing attention from others.

"Yes?" I say simply.

"I.. I'm gonna need you to lie." She says in a hushed voice.

"What? Why would I lie right now-"

"Just listen." She interrupted.

I stand still and wait for her to continue.

"If you tell them that you're 19 then they will separate you from Noah. I will be fine by myself but I need you to tell them that you are 17."

I usually would argue. I mean, isn't it against the law or something to lie to the police?! I didn't protest though. My mother is very strong but Noah isn't very brave.

"Okay." I say. "Are you sure you'll be fine?"

She nods. "Yes, we're all going to the same place after all right?"

I hum in agreement as I make my way up to Officer Marsh.

"Name and age." She says bluntly.

"Alexia Ashwell. 17 years old."

She points for me to go to bus #19. I wait for Noah to tell her his information and she points to the same bus for him as she did me.

We walk together and I notice how shaky Noah's breathing is.

"Buddy, everything's probably fine." I say swiftly. "I'm sure whatever is going on will blow over soon."

He nods. Noah still looks shaken but is a bit more at ease.

We load into the bus and sit next to each other.

Noah has always been quiet but right now you could hear a pin drop. All he did was stare at the back of the seat in front of him.

My thoughts are interrupted by an officer on our bus.

"The drive will be about two hours. No need to panic, kids. Just try and make your own fun on the drive over." She smiles sweetly but I could see she was panicked too. What the hell is going on? Why are there people with their faces torn off and why are they wobbling around? Why are the adults giving little to no information?

This is gonna be a long ride.