Aftermath

Chapter 3

Wequickly learned how to use the weapons. It was challenging at first,because we didn't know that the damn guns had a massive recoil.

Would have been goodto know the first time we fired. Would have saved us a couplebandages.

"Guys, comehere." My mother said. Me and Sam went to her without question.Crazy lost its meaning a long time ago. "It's time to go back tothe surface." She said nervously. I stood there, shooken, notknowing what to say. I was afraid. But I knew that the day would haveto come eventually. "How long will we be up there?" I asked."Maximum, 20 minutes." Sarah said from behind us, already havingher suit on. Sam looked at me with a frightened look in his eyes. Heput his hand on my shoulder. "We got this." He said with areassuring voice.

"We don'tknow whats up there yet, so be prepared for anything." Saraexplained with a serious look on her face. We headed over to theartillery area and put on our hazmat suits. We had to wear an extralayer of clothing in case a part of it rips, which can be aterrifying scenario.

We all had oursuits on, and were ready for the inevitable. Sara opened the airtight door and led us up the stairwell. We got the the main entrancedoor, half open from when we tried to save the outsiders. We openedthe door to a red and gloomy atmosphere. When we stepped outside, wesaw over nearly disintegrated skeletons beside the door.

Sam held me,and told me to look away and keep going. He led me forward. "It'sit's, it's all gone." I said with terror on my face. The air feltunusually warm. All of the buildings and streets that were once fullof glory, now shreds and rubble. We tried our best to navigate thestreets full of jagged pieces of metal and concrete.

Suddenly,muffled crackling sounds were hearable. It sounded like glass. Wetried locating the noise. "Anne, Sam. Get out your gun. Beprepared." whispered Sara. We walked through the wrecked streetstrying to locate the sounds, but we had no luck.

"Mom, thatbuilding is still standing! Should we check it out, maybe it hasuseful supplies." I asked. She understood. "Follow me guys, bequiet." responded my Mother. We walked over to the building, whichwas clearly lit fire a few days before. There were burn marks allover it.

We pushed on thedoor, expecting it to open. It fell to the ground, creating a loudshattering sound. Everyone quickly turned around to make sure theydidn't attract anything towards them.

"Noted. Don'ttouch the doors." Sam said with a frightened face.

Wecautiously stepped into the building, greeted by a scene ofsurprising preservation within its walls. "Everything isintact... that's weird. Every other building in the area is crumbled.Why on earth did this one survive...?" pondered Sara, her voiceechoing through the untouched interior. As we explored, the cracklingsound that had accompanied us since we entered persisted. We turnedaround, scanning the space, yet nothing seemed amiss. Confined withinthe building, the distant rumble of thunder caught our attention, anoddity in a town unaccustomed to frequent rainfall.

The ominous cloudsunleashed a cascade of black droplets, a peculiar precipitation thatdefied the norms of our town's weather. Intrigued, I extended my handtoward the alien rain, only to be met with a searing sensation. "Uhm,Sara... Why is the rain black?" I questioned, my curiosityoverriding caution. Before her warning reached my ears, my hand wasimmersed in the unusual downpour, and a sudden jolt of pain elicitedan involuntary scream. "Aughhhhhhhh! What the hell?" Irecoiled, desperately seeking relief. Sam swiftly intervened,thrusting a cloth into my hands, urging me to shield my drenched handfrom whatever mysterious substance tainted the rain.

"Acid rain.."mumbled Sara. "What are you talking about?!" replied my Mother."I don't know, it's something I only read about. It is made throughthe soliditar-" I cut her off. "Now's not the time for a sciencelesson, now let's get back to the damn bunker before things get anyworse!" I shouted. Sam grabbed some cloths from the ground and weput them over our hazmat suits. The crackling sounds began again.Something was approaching the corner of the alleyway. "What thehell is that.." my Mother asked in confusion. It turned its head,and it was revealed to be a horned bear. Mutated by the radiationmaybe. "This just got a whole lot harder.." said Sara. "Okay,on the count of three, I want you to run as fast as you can back tothe bunker."