Imminent

Chapter 1

The sun peeked in my bedroom window, lighting my hair like a fiery halo. I lift my head from the pillow, my short messy hair sticking out like a birds nest. The suns vibrant rays send a glossy, gold sheen all around the room, blending with the leaves of Autumn. The sound of the kettle boiling and Lacey's giggles bring a peaceful hymn to my ears. As I open my window to engulf the cool Jaeford breeze I find a letter on my windowsill addressed to me. I'll read it later I think to myself as I climb back into bed and close my eyes yet again the suns waking rays warming my body only to be disturbed by Lacey jumping onto me landing on my back and rolling next to me, her face in front of mine.
"Get up get up get up!" She squeals laughing "Lacey bear verrryy hungry" her hands becoming claws her making roaring sounds.
I get out of bed and throw Lacey over my shoulder her squeals sure to be heard to Mars and back. I walk into the kitchen and dump her on the barstool ruffling her messy curls. I make two hot chocolates with extra whipped cream on top for Lacey, she smiles happily when I hand hers to her, mumbling a small thanks well nibbing on her fingernail. I switch on the stove and pour the pancake mixture into the pan adding chocolate chips to Lacey's pancake with maple syrup on top, I put lemon, sugar and honey on mums. Strong coffee in one hand and pancakes in the other I walk to her room figuring she's having a down day.

I underestimated mums bad day today, her eyes are bloodshot and her cheeks still wet from crying her antidepressants scattered on the floor, knife still bloody from cutting. I put her breakfast on the side table next to her and prop her lifeless body up with pillows.
"Mum you have to eat" I say she grunts in response her wrists still bleeding and bloody. I rummage round for the first aid kit and clean her wrists up. She hasn't been the same since my sister Tullulah died of terminal cancer. I walk back out to the lounge and eat my cold pancakes. Lacey's watching Karumen to tsurīman. I wash up and take a shower dressing in a black tank top and ripped jeans. I remember the letter and grab it from the windowsill and ripping it open. It contains a holoticket and a note from a society called C.O.A, I unfold the letter, it reads;
Seth Knight
You have been selected to depart earth before its imminent end.
The world ends in three days, you have two days before you depart.
Sincerely C.O.A
I put the holoticket into the safe and jump into my truck I make a quick list: 5 gas masks an extra in case one breaks, 2 radiation suits, 25 litres of water, 3 Water filters , 85 cans of soup, Outdoor cooker, 34 gas bottles , 4 guns, 2 machine guns, Crossbow with 26 arrows.
And whatever else comes to my mind. People give me funny looks as I stock up, good thing dad equipped a bunker room in our basement last year. I put all the supplies in the bunker and go to mums room, the pancakes untouched and coffee cold I take the cold food out to the kitchen and put the untouched food in the bin and coffee down the sink. Lacey's still curled up on the sofa in her blanket still watching Karumen to tsurīman. I sit down next to her grabbing the remote off her and turning off the tv. Lacey tries to turn the tv back on but the remote is out of her reach. I grab her by the wrist lifting her off the ground taking her to the bathroom and plonking her in there she gives me her death stare and sits down protesting shower time.
"Where's mummy" she asks pouting I sigh why this question Lacey?!
"Mummy's having a bad day Lacey" I respond folding my arms.
"Well I want mummy to shower me" she protests.
"Shower yourself Lacey" I grumble, I switch on the shower and lay out her towel and face cloth, she stays where she is with her pouty face.
"Shower. Now" I say pointing to the shower, she doesn't move.
"I WANT MUMMY!!" She screams pouting afterwards.
"Jesus" I say face palming "get in the shower Lacey"
"No" she pouts, I haul her up off the ground her limbs thrashing around, I peel her Pjs off and put her in the hot shower turning it down to lukewarm, Lacey stands there staring at me.
"Can you do it Seth?" She asks crossing her arms, I sigh and take my shirt off so it doesn't get wet.
"Fine what does mummy do?" I ask giving in. Looks like I'm mummy now.
"Well first she washes my hair with shampoo then with con-dish-in-er, then washes my body with the pouffy thingy" she says, I grab the shampoo and massage it into her hair careful not to get any in her eyes I rinse it out of her hair before massaging the conditioner in and rinsing that out. I grab the 'pouffy thingy' and rub the lavender soap on it. Grabbing her arms I scrub it on before moving onto her back then her legs, letting it rinse off. I turn the shower off and grab Lacey's towel, I dry her hair and her body then turn her into a Lacey burrito. I'm about to walk out with Lacey in my arms to my room when I see mum in the door way filming, she's been filming the whole thing in her holopad. She chuckles when I spot her but continues filming stepping out of my way, I walk to Lacey's room with her in my arms, now conscious of her filming. I pull out a white dress for Lacey and a flower crown, she gives me one look and runs out of the door naked and laughing, I run after her trying to catch her but still playing her game. I pear around the lounge looking for the obviously hidden Lacey behind the curtain, pulling back the other curtain I say loudly crossing my arms "I wonder where Lacey bear is" I walk over to the other curtain and peel it back. "Found the rare Lacey monster" I say grabbing her laughing body, arm around her waist. I fireman carry her back to her room and place her on the ground, mum still filming.
"Lacey doesn't want to dress" Lacey says laughing, I sigh.
"Does Lacey want to be naked all day?" I say adding a lisp, she nods and is about to do another runner but I catch her and lift her by the wrist and plonk her back on her bed before quickly shutting the door with a flick of my foot. I dress Lacey in the dress and French braid her hair, placing the flower crown carefully on her head. Mum stops filming and smiles.
"I'll pack a picnic and we'll go the park" she says smiling, Lacey squeals excitedly and follows mum to help with food. I walk back to my room to find another note. On my bed. Is this some sick joke I think to myself cautiously opening the note, typed again.
12:00 I'll be at your door
This is creepy, they know where I live! I look at my clock 10:34  I have a few hours, enough to try and enjoy a picnic. I walk into the kitchen and grab the basket of food. We walk to the square which soon won't be there if what is said to happen happens. Lacey grabs my hand and swings it back and forth making up a random song about butterflies, fire breathing faeries and red dandelions. I laugh at her random tune and join in, you only live once and humanity has three days left before death.