Middle Earth

by Ernest M.

I woke up in an unknown place, the sky was orange. The clouds were creepy grey. I thought it's just a bad dream but, it's not. I can't believe it. It's true. It's seriously TRUE. I felt it.

A soldier with great muscles approached me, "Hey kiddo! GET UP! GET UP! GET UP! Grab your weapon in the armory." He said aggressively. I tried to hit myself in the face in order for me to wake up but it didn't work. "Hey! What are you doing?" the soldier asked, "Umm! Am I dreaming or what?" I replied. The soldier hit me with his pistol. "YOU'RE NOT DREAMING, MORON! We're in the middle of devastated city. Can't you see?"

Both of us trembled when we heard growling sounds from a distance. "Oh crap! Here they come! FOLLOW ME, KIDDO!" the soldier requested while the growling sounds continues. We are now running for our lives. The soldier is faster than me. This soldier is highly trained to sprint fast. "WHAT THE?" the soldier said angrily, "You're too slow, Sprint faster, you little rat!" "I'm not really used to run, sir." I said to him, "Besides, I have an asthma, sir." "Oh! Why didn't you say so? Jeez! Try to speak out earlier next time, kiddo!" So he lifted me and put me on his back, instead. "HOLD ON!" he said.

Later we saw a devastated mall. We came inside then we found it is safe. There's no one inside, just two of us. Then I took my chance to talk to him. "Anyway sir, I'm Ernest." I told him with a shy tone of voice, "I'm 19 and... and... umm... I don't really know what's happening and... ahh... I can't... I can't explain my emotion." "There's no reason for you to fear, Ernest. I'm on your side and I will cover you." The soldier comforted me and rubbed my pained shoulder.

Later on, he told me to stay at the entrance of the mall. He even gave me his bag full of ammo and explosives. "Stay here. Guard them. Don't attempt to use them when those monsters appeared. Just run or hide, understand? I will steal some foods!" then he ran away. He promised to come back.

I can't believe that I'm actually holding his bag. I accidentally saw his I.D. His face was handsome but his haircut was terrible. "I don't like his haircut." I whispered and laughed quietly. "Hehehe! Why do soldiers need to have a haircut like this?"

I also read his name, "Woah! What a cool name!" I said, "Mr. Axle McKreins, his family name is also cool. I really love American names."

He came back with bunch of groceries. "Hah! Oh yeah! We'll never feel hunger with these... Wait a minute," the soldier remembered something, "I told you to get a weapon from the armory, didn't I?" "Aaah! Aaah! Nope? I mean... YES! You told me but I forgot, ehehe!" The soldiers temper flared a little. "Grrrr! Ah! AHH! Okay, nevermind. I'll get one for you later. Let's get out of this goddamn mall." He grabbed my arms with his tough hands. "Oh man! This will get ugly in a minute." I said in my mind.

Unexpectedly, we saw a bus coming. The soldier aimed his pistol at the bus. "Sir?" I looked at him. "Stay back, Ernest! You don't even know what's inside that bus." he said. The bus stopped. A girl with a green headband stepped out from the bus. She looks pretty but her jacket makes her ugly. She looks 16 for me. She yelled to us, "HEEEEEY! EXCUSE ME, YOU TWO! DON'T WORRY, WE'RE HUMANS! OUR INTENTION IS GOOD!" Mr. McKreins and I smiled to each other. "COME ON! Let's get on the bus!" he said excitedly and put his pistol back to his pocket. I pulled out the groceries. When the doors of the bus opened, I saw the bus driver. He was aged. "Do you mind if I help you?" the aged bus driver enthusiastically asked. "Sure thing!" I replied before Mr. McKreins. "Thanks!" Mr. McKreins thanked the aged driver.

The bus began moving. The girl smiled at me. She was standing instead of sitting. "Hi!" she waved her hand. "You look so tired, huh! But your cute." I laughed, "Hehehe! Why, thank you! The name's Ernest." I shake her warm hands even though it is dirty. I always do that every time I will meet a new person, especially girls! "Ernest! Oh, what a fine name to you, boy! Just call me Sassy." She smiled at me once again.