Maybe After Tomorrow (Hatchetfield)

Chapter 1

It had been a week since Black Friday and, still, everyone lay seemingly lifeless every morning when Henry went to check on them and give them water.
     Or, they did until he opened one of the doors to see Emma frantically pacing across the room, her eyes glued to her phone which was faintly ringing. Henry stood in the doorway, a half-smile on his face.
     "E-Emma?"
     Startled, she looked over to see him standing there, reluctant to approach her. She stopped pacing, instead standing completely still with her eyes stuck to Professor Hidgens.
     "Professor? Where- Where am I? Where is Paul?"
     He rushed over and lay a hand on her shoulder. "You're in my house. I- I'm not sure where Paul is. I'm sorry."
     "What? No, he can't be- What if they- Oh god." Emma's breathing was uneven through the cries sticking in her throat, making it difficult for the professor to make out what she was saying.
     "Emma, shh, slow down." He sat her down, pulling her into a hug.
     "Is anyone else here?"
     "Emma?"
     She looked at the door again to see her brother in law standing there, his eyebrows lowered and eyes wide.
     "Tom? Wha-"
     "I got as many of you as I could after the meteor struck. Unfortunately, I started getting attacked by rocks. So my time was limited."
     The two nodded along, still trying to take in everything around them. And the story about Black Friday.
     Professor Hidgens stood up, approaching the door. "I'm going to go and make something for breakfast. You two must be starving."
     They nodded as he walked away.
     "Emma, are you all right?" Tom asked, a little awkward.
     "What if he's gone? I might never see him again. What do I do?"
     "Hey, hey, don't think like that. There is just as much chance that they're completely fine."
"Really?"
"Yes. Try not to freak yourself out when you don't actually know what's happened yet."
     After a couple of minutes, the two looked up after hearing a knock on the door to see Becky standing there, worry on her face.
     "Becky..." Tom stood up, waited for her to approach him and then hugged her.
     "Tom, what's going on? Professor Hidgens said you were in here and Emma was upset. And that Bill was awake. What is going on?"
     "We don't know where Paul is," Emma said, tears choking her voice.
     "Oh, honey, I'm sure he's okay. Try not to worry yourself too much." Becky sat next to Emma, putting an arm around her.
     "I really hope you're right."
     "Now, I think Professor Hidgens said he was making pancakes, you want to go and get some?"
     Emma nodded.
     "Okay."
     When the three walked out of the room, they could see over into Alice's room where Bill was sitting with his head in his hands. Emma cautiously approached him.
     "We're all going down for breakfast. You coming?"
     He turned round suddenly, his eyes glassy. "What if she doesn't wake up?"
     "She will. But I think you want to be conscious for that happening and there's not a hope in hell's chance of that happening if you don't eat."
     Bill nodded, standing up and following them. "Where's Paul?" He whispered to Tom, not wanting to strike a nerve with Emma.
     "We don't know," Tom replied, making Bill feel dizzy. His daughter might never wake up, and now he had no idea where his best friend was. He didn't even know if they were alive.
     They all walked into the kitchen, following Henry's gesture to sit at the huge table that they guessed could seat at least twenty five people if it had to. Henry gave them each a plate with two huge pancakes on it and there was a bottle of maple syrup in the middle of the table.
     "Does anybody want coffee?" He asked.
     "As long as it's better than Beanies," Emma joked, trying unsuccessfully to lighten the mood whilst the others only nodded.
     The professor gave them all a mug of coffee as they hungrily ate the pancakes.
     "God, these are good," Emma said, "I don't think I remember the last time I was this hungry."
     "That's because you were passed out for a week."
     The four looked up at Henry, shocked.
     "How?" Becky asked.
     "I'm still working on that."
     They sat in silence for a few minutes before hearing the door open.
     "Something smells good."
     Everyone inwardly sighed when they heard the voice.
     Professor Hidgens cleared his throat, looking over uncomfortably, "Ted, you're up."