The Land Behind Us

Chapter 2

Melendra knew what to expect when she came to Earth. It was torn, broken, and inhabitable. In school, on Mars, they would learn the history of how they got there. Humans were destroying the Earth. In the year 3009, the Earth had had enough. Volcanoes erupted, earthquakes shook the lands, and tremendous rainfall flooded Earth. We were doomed. Soon before all this happened, a woman named Evelin Green was prepared. She had been doing research and studies on Mars for many years. She had also found a way to make it liveable and safe. A week before the great disasters she took over 200,000 people with her to Mars. Millions of people didn't want to go. They said Evelin was crazy. Now here Melendra stood, staring at the aftermath of the event. It was worse than she ever imagined. She almost went home when she saw it. But the Martians needed help. Earth was their only choice. 

It all started a decade ago when a prophecy was uncovered. It foretold the events of mass destruction on Mars. The only way to save it was a long, treacherous journey through Earth. Even though Melendra was only 15, she knew she had to do something. What she was going to do, she hoped, would change everything. 

The journey she was about to take began in Baltimore, Maryland. A few Martians have left on this trip, but none have returned. As she walked down the street a sign grabbed her attetion. Washington D.C. was written across it. She decided to take a quick break from walking. Her feet were starting to hurt. She set down her bag and dug around till she found a map. It was a map of the United States. She unfolded it and searched for Washington D.C. After a few minutes, she spotted it. She was only a day or two walks from Baltimore. She grabbed her bag and started walking. 

This was a lot harder than she expected. She had to climb over cars, avoid potholes, and try not to step on broken glass. In less than ten minutes she was already getting all cut up from all the rubble and glass. Her feet were bleeding. How was she going to make it to Baltimore like this?

She kept going. It was only getting worse. Each minute she had double the cuts. Her legs were aching. She was losing sunlight. It had to be six in the evening. She hadn't eaten all day. Finally, she approached what used to be an apartment complex. It was still standing, mostly, but it was old and abandoned.  Melendra sat on an old chair outside the building and took a deep breath. She would need to stay here for the night.

After an hour of going through the rooms in the apartment building, she had found lots of supplies. She built a little fort right at the entrance of the building. It wasn't much but it was good enough for the night. She had found some snacks. She climbed in and eat a small dinner by herself. She really missed her family already. It was getting dark. She was about to close her eyes when she saw him.