The Land Behind Us

Chapter 1

The room was bare; nothing on its walls. The air lay still for many years. On March 26th, 5807, the door opened. Fresh air flew into the room causing dust to swarm the intruder. At the doorway, she stood. Her dark hair lay messily on her back. She was tall and mysterious. Her eyes, the most beautiful blue in the world. As she stepped into the room it seemed as if she was walking on air. Her long, white dress floated behind her in the wind. Her bare feet made no sound as she crossed the room. She walked very slowly, taking in every noise. She approached the back wall and ran her hand along with the white bricks. 

Suddenly she pulled back, in alarm. She kicked a spot on the wall. The bricks crumbled. After the dust settled she saw it. A small, silver box. Next to it was a key. As she reached for the key she screamed and fell back. 

Hours later she woke. She was still lying on the floor of the room. Next to her, the box layed, opened...It was empty and the key was nowhere to be seen. She quickly got up and grabbed a piece of paper and a pen from her bag. 

Dear Martians, 

I arrived here on March 26th, 5807. I entered this room and opened the section of a wall. I found this silver box. I passed out awoke hours later. The contents of the box are gone, just as the prophecy foretold. I am going to follow the prophecy to find the contents of the box. This journey will be difficult, but the land behind us is our only hope. If I do not return please tell my family how much I love them. 

With love, 

Melendra

She set the old, crumpled paper next to a few broken bricks. After grabbing her bag she fled from the room. She ran through the ruble. The land was deserted. Miles and miles of destruction lay ahead of her. How was this their only hope? She needed to trust the prophecy. She began to walk. The path she followed was torn. This journey would be very difficult, testing everything she knew. It would change everything. But she was ready. She knew what she needed to do.