13

THE FIRST

We're not exactly sure when it started, either. Ever since all the power went out... we've kind of been doing what we can to get by, but there isn't much left for us to do. Soon, we'll have to find a way out, or we're going to die here. This house is caving in from the roof, and we've tried staying in the living room, but we're sure we only have about a month left in here. If only the snow wasn't so high... we could find our way out here. But, the snow is still falling, and it's never going away.
        There are a few others here. We all chose this house as the best option when the snow first started falling. We're a group of kids from my old neighborhood, you know, before the fall. My sister, a few of my old friends, and I live here. My sister's been getting kind of weak recently... since she hasn't been able to get into the sunlight at all. Our windows are almost completely blocked off by snow, but we can get out using the roof once it finally caves in. Hopefully, we're able to find a route out.
        "Gguk! Can you come over here? We think we found a new route!" I slowly walked my way over, weary of the factualness of my naive friend's statement, but I thought I'd at least play into the idea a little bit. It's funny, almost, how much of a different person I've become ever since the Cold hit. I used to laugh, and I used to be able to make others laugh, but since my parents... I haven't been able to even smile. My sister seems to miss it, too, but I can't change it. What's the point of having humor anymore? All I need to do is survive.
        "Look! It goes down into the ground, and it leads out to the city. We sent Jackson down this morning, and he came back with more food!" The boy's plump lips shaped into a pout, a look that most people would find absolutely adorable, but I just couldn't find it in myself. Jimin was my best friend, and now, I feel terrible just looking at him. I can't make him happy anymore like I used to do. What happened to me?
        "Gguk, I can tell something's on your mind. We found a way out! C'mon! We can get out of here, Ggukkie!" I huffed, my breath forming a small cloud in the air. Jackson had found a heater months ago, but we can only use it once a month because we have to conserve the gas we have for it. This house is freezing, especially since the roof started caving in. "Jimin, how will my sister get through there? You know how ill she is, she can't possibly make it through that." Another huff came, followed by another cloud, but instead from the small man before me.
        "If she wants to survive, she'll have to figure it out. How do you think she was going to make it in the roof plan?" He quietened now, fear lacing his voice gently, a slight tremble coming to it. "What if we have to leave her here?"
        I growled, grabbing him by his collar and shoving him into the wall. "Don't fucking say that! Ever! I won't ever leave her behind!" I released my hold on his collar, only to be met with tear-filled eyes and quiet sniffles. Jimin looked so heartbroken. Truly, what had gotten into me? We could make it through that roof, and so could my sister, but that didn't mean I had to nearly kill Jimin to prove it. What the hell, Jeongguk? Damn, you're a terrible friend. I finally looked away, in the direction of my bedroom, which Jimin nodded and headed into. This was an everyday thing now; he would tell me of something new he found, small or big, to cheer me up, and then we would head to my room for God knows what. It didn't really matter to me anymore, anyway.
        I stepped in to see him on the bed, a small smile on his face. After what I'd just done to him, I doubt he would be happy to be here, yet here he is. "You know how I am anymore, Jimin... I can't fix it. I hope you can forgive-" And at that moment, that's when I felt lips against mine. It was an odd sensation, one I'd never felt before. Jimin had kissed me. His lips felt like freshly made silk against mine, gliding smoothly and sending a sensation down to my lower region. I didn't feel much else, though. I gently put my hands against his chest, pushing him back and off of me. Wow, he had pushed me all the way down onto the bed? That's new.
        "Let's find our way out of here. Send Jackson and Kris back out tonight, okay? Let's make sure they're bundled more than normal, too, to make sure they don't get sick. You know what happens when people get sick."
        My sister was ethereal when she slept. Kris had been in love with her for years, but now that she was sick, he had told her and spent every day by her side. It was rare to find her without accompaniment. However, Kris had made it to the city, and Jimin and I  were busy prepping her to travel. The house had fallen much, much worse last night. It was now only down to a week or so before we were crushed by the roof. The breeze had gotten much worse, too. "Hey, Jisoo, take a deep breath for me. We have to bundle you before we head out, okay? I have three jackets for you and eight pairs of socks. I can put them on if you want."
        Jisoo smiled, shaking her head gently. Her bangs were beginning to fall on her face. I should get around to trimming her hair again, and soon. "We'll have to leave in the morning, okay? Kris will take you once he gets back so you can go first, and we'll meet you there. Alright?" A giggle left Jisoo's lips. I had the urge to smile, but it seemed as if I had forgotten how. She was so beautiful but became paler and paler with every passing day. I knew her time was close, but I didn't want to admit it. I didn't want it to be true.
        And as morning came, Jisoo and Kris went. The tunnel was in good condition, and it seemed like we were clear to go.
        It was a tight squeeze, and very, very cold. We'd had to grab absolutely everything, even stuffing blankets up our jackets, and wearing backpacks that held as few supplies as possible because everything kept freezing. Jimin's eyes were nearly shut as he crawled behind me, and I kept looking back every few feet to make sure he was still moving. "We're almost there, Jimin, just push through a little more, okay?" And a few more feet. Just a few more. I could feel the breeze from the end of the tunnel already. At least, I thought it was.
        Wait, shit.
        It's coming from Jimin's end.
        "Jimin! Let's go! It's collapsing!"
       
        Then it all went dark.