Orion's End

Chapter 1

I constantly wake up wondering what kind of life there is away from this city, or rather, what this city was like at its prime.

We have the remnants of what this place could've been like in the form of smoke stained buildings and piles of rubble and ash. Not much is known about how it got to be this way, but I suspect overpopulation and poverty had a place in why everything went downhill.
I had it much better than anyone else growing up, and I thank my parents for that. They're quiet, sweet people, and I somehow inherited that trait from them, even though I am not biologically related to them. We spent most of my childhood in silence, speaking only when something was absolutely necessary. All that being said, even with the lack of words, there was never a lack of love and I constantly felt safe, regardless of the circumstances.

From the time I could walk, they taught me how to work on the farm and we worked alongside each other up until everything ran dry a few months ago.
It's been hard— our main source of "income" if you can even call it that— was gone. We've been surviving simply by going onto the main road in town and trying to find an honest job for the day. It's easier said than done when half the city is out there trying to do the same exact thing we are.
We often spend hours out there, asking if anyone needs help, and nine times out of ten, always come back home empty handed. It's getting more and more difficult as time goes on and as more and more people lose their livelihood.. and then their sanity. Crime is a common thing; murder, rape and theft is well known in the area but for the most part, no one does anything unless they feel provoked. I really hope no one ever feels provoked.

Today was especially difficult waking up. My head is hurting and I feel significantly weaker than most mornings. I think that has partly to do with the fact that we haven't ate much in the past three days and our water supply is running low. I need to go down to the river and refill on that as soon as possible.
It's a bit early to wake up my parents but I think i'm old enough to go into town on my own. I'm young and I have developed a muscular tone to my body from the years of working on the farm which can hopefully help me find a quick job, something that will at least give me a couple bucks in order to buy something to eat for us tonight. Actually yeah, i've decided. I'll get ready and head out before they wake. Hopefully, I can come back quickly and surprise them with a nice meal.. well, nice enough.. anything seems good when you're starving.