Damaged

Three

I was awoken by Emerson's soft shaking. The sun was shining brightly through the couple of Windows in the large bedroom. I sat up and looked at him, and then at the people around me milling around, getting ready for the day.

"What time is it?" I asked him quietly, my voice still a little husky.

"Nine." I rubbed my eyes as he said this, "Cara Sharp is going to tell us what happened... and then she's going to give us some new clothes." I woke up a little more when he said the second part.

"Good... I really need new clothes, I probably smell like shit." Emerson laughed a little when I said this. A small smile spread across my face, and I got up. Emerson and I got ready, too, but there wasn't much to do.

There are some things I always keep in my backpack. I brushed my hair and fixed my makeup so I didn't look to much like a zombie.

"Ready?" A voice said from the entrance of the room, everyone looked towards her. It was Cara, "follow me." Everyone followed her out the room and to another large room. Chairs faced towards a small stage. Cara waited for us all to sit down, and then she stepped up onto the stage.

She gave a big sigh, and then, "what happened..." I noticed Emerson shifted in his seat. Looking over at him, I gave him a gentile smile and took his hand... I was starting to like Emerson as a friend.

Cara continued, "as you all know, a comet has hit the whole state of Massachusetts. No other state. There are only some parts of the state that have not been damaged: here, Boston, and Springfield. We are the only survivors of Boston." At this, I gulped down hard. So that's it? My parents are dead?

"There are 75 of us and 32 in Springfield." Cara continued, "I'm here to help you. I want to give you a life of safety and maybe we can rebuild the city."

She continued to talk about how she wanted to help us. There was something weird about her, though. In was unable to figure out what, making me unable to trust her. At least for now.

When she finally finished talking, the group of us walked to the cafeteria to eat breakfast. I sat with Emerson.

"You okay?" I asked him.

"Yea... I'm fine," he said, and I was about to change the subject, until he spoke up again, "it's just weird to know that my family is... they're all dead." He flinched at the last word.

I placed my hand on his back, "I know the feeling."

Landon joined us at the table. He seemed angry.

"I don't trust her. Not one bit." He told us.

"Me neither." I said calmer than him.

"I don't want to be here anymore."

I was a little surprised at this, but I agreed, shaking my head, I said, "me neither." And I realized how much I didn't want to be here, "let's leave."

Both of the boys looked at me.

"Okay." Landon said a bit to calmly.

I raised an eyebrow. I could still feel the concerned face of Emerson looking at me.

"I don't know about this, Willa." he told me, his voice a little shaky.

I looked at him, "you must have a reason to want to leave." I said quietly, looking deeply into his eyes. His face changed and he looked down.

Landon sat on my bed with me, and Emerson on his own.

"I had parents who pushed me to my hardest. They made me work 24/7. I never really knew the outside of Boston. I've never really been anywhere except for Massachusetts." Landon told Emerson and I, "look... I don't just want to run because of Cara... she's one reason... but also because I want to go somewhere. With my parents dead, I can do what I want now without my parents." His voice almost came to an angry state.