apocalypse

chapter 1: Beatrix

Chapter 1 : Beatrix

On the morning of November 15, 2030, the sun rises in Los Angeles, a city located in the state of California, United States, one of the largest and well-known cities in the country, full of possibilities and hope .

A light veil of fog still envelops the landscape, creating an atmosphere of peace and tranquility in an almost surreal way.

The first rays of sunlight begin to filter through the windows, coloring the sky with shades of pink and orange, while gradually illuminating the buildings and the still semi-deserted streets. casting long shadows on the ground and making the dew glitter on the leaves and grass.

The atmosphere is vibrant and full of energy with fresh, crisp air, filled with the damp smell of earth and plants.

The silence of the night breaks with the first sounds of the day. you can hear the sounds of the city waking up: the hum of car engines starting to circulate through the streets, the chirping of birds gathering on the branches of the few trees in the streets and the distant rumble of moving trams.

In the neighborhood people begin to wake up, opening their doors and windows to welcome the new day. Voices and laughter can be heard mixing with the rustling of leaves carried by the morning wind.

At 5:30 in the attic in a, not too small, house the alarm clock rings with a persistent and decisive sound, The sound of that alarm clock in the morning is a high-pitched and insistent triiin, similar to a "triiiiin triiiiin triiiiin" that resonates in the room , breaking the silence of the night.

In that so-called room Beatrix wakes up, rubbing her eyes, her eyelashes, heavy with sleep, open, revealing green eyes that shine with an inner light, while the first ray of sunlight enters through the window of her room, drawing a line of gold on the wooden floor.

After hearing the sound of the alarm clock and opening her eyes for a moment, Beatrix lets herself be gently lulled by the softness of the sheets, gives in to tiredness, and goes back to sleep.

Her breathing is even and deep as sleep enveloped her again, bringing her into a sweet state of tranquility. Meanwhile, the sound of that alarm clock placed on the bedside table, which marks the transition from night to day, continues mixing with the sounds of nature and the background of morning traffic, the hum of engines and the horns of cars. The high-pitched trill continues, "triiiiin triiiiin triiiiin", Beatrix feels a mixture of tiredness and irritation from the continuous noise, combined with a sense of stress at the start of another day full of chaos. But the feeling of hidden energy that the city itself exudes pushes its inhabitants to move, to be active and to participate in the pulsating rhythm of life in Los Angeles.

With difficulty Beatrice reaches out a hand to turn off the alarm and, even though the bed is still warm and welcoming, she is forced to get up. She stretches slowly, feeling his muscles lengthen and her body full of stress. Getting up, the slight creaking of the bed follows her movements, with a sigh, in the small and simple room: a narrow bed, a desk full of books, notebooks and a computer in the center, on the side of a wardrobe that creaks every time it is opened .

Beatrix just woke up with a pale face, big dark circles under her eyes and a sharp headache. Her hair, messy and unkempt, covers a still fresh wound as it falls in unruly locks to the floor. Her chapped lips pressed into a thin line reveal the tension running through her. She is wearing old, faded pajamas, with worn seams and a small tear on the trousers. The shirt, which was once colorful, is now creased and worn. Her socks are worn, with holes revealing skin.

Panting, she opens the door, goes down the attic stairs and silently crosses the corridor. And reaches the bathroom, with one fluid movement, opens the door, goes to the sink, and looks at himself in the mirror.

In the mirror she sees the face of a young woman reflected, with a wound on her forehead, with hard features that are marked by the lack of affection and constant humiliations with her hair collected in a practical ponytail, nothing gives a glimpse of the beauty that must be there .

She washes her face with cool water to wake up completely. Then, calmly, she goes about her morning routine, letting the sound of flowing water calm her, forgetting her worries.

Suddenly, like the persistent alarm that repeated itself every morning, the sound of someone banging on the bathroom door interrupts his moment of peace as always. "Boom... Boom... boom, get out of the bathroom beatrix what's taking you so long. Same story every damn morning, you're just a.... Uh, anyway, you don't have to take a shower, everyone avoids you anyway hahahahah" says a voice coming from outside the bathroom.

As she hears those words she prepares to carefully exit the bathroom and returns to the corridor and finds herself face to face with a tall man with similar features to her.

"Ah, what a shame, this time you didn't fall I see! Didn't you want to collect head injuries?" the boy exclaims smiling.

Beatrix looks at him with hard eyes but says nothing and sighing, she walks away and returns to the room and gets ready to go to work.

With light steps she goes down the stairs, which takes her to the kitchen, trying to avoid making noise. In the kitchen, his father is already sitting at the table, reading the newspaper with a cup of steaming coffee in front of him.

The air is tense. Her mother, indifferent as always, is preparing breakfast for the rest of the family, without sparing her a glance. His three brothers are scattered around the room, each busy with their own activities.

"You are already awake?" Father says with a sarcastic, almost accusatory tone. Beatrix lowers her gaze and nods. "Well, hurry up and get to work" He continues.

Beatrix bites her tongue in frustration at not answering, all the morning's courage is gone as if it never was there. She knows that every word triggers their exaggerated reactions.

Her morning routine is a minefield, and every misstep can cost him dearly. He takes a piece of bread and a little butter, and eats quickly while standing. After no more than three minutes she finishes breakfast and leaves the house in one piece without saying goodbye. There's no reason to do that. No one ever notices his absence.

This story seems interesting to me but sometimes I wonder what I'm writing!!!!!