The Only Road

A Mysterious Friend

 ''Somewhere far away, there is a country unlike any seen before. In this mysterious land there are no cars or trains.'' ''But mom, how do they get around?'' I asked'' ''would you like me to continue?'' ''yes'' i said settling down in bed. ''People there don't age. they have no need for candle or flame for in the sky there is bright light that warms and lights everything there. now get some sleep, aren't you getting a little old for me to be reading to you?.'' she asked blowing out the candle and leaving with a smile. before she closed the door I yelled''Good night!'' And a faint ''goodnight'' calmly came back.

A loud BOOM! woke me up from my sleep, ''come on we have to get out of here.'' A voice came running at me. Getting up from the hard, broken, floor I grabbed the jacket I was using as a pillow and started to run. I ran across the room, jumping through a broken window landing crouched in the cold, wet, alleyway. ''Come on!'' came the voice again. Running down the alley following the voice, I noticed the air getting warmer and warmer, brighter and brighter. Coming out of the brick alley I was met by a golden glow that smelled of ash and smoke. Buildings everywhere were burning, houses, apartments, businesses, everything seemed to be on fire. Holes were left where walls once stood, craters replaced the brick roads ''what are you doing standing there, come on!'' my friend said again. I tried catching up to him but it seemed as though he would always run faster than me, never close enough to see him properly. ''Just up here!'' he said running down another street. But when i got there i noticed a long set of stairs leading down that i had never noticed before. Above the large staircase read the words 'FLICKER STREET STATION' but before i could take another step another loud BANG hit somewhere behind me sending me flying down the stairs. Pain coursed through my body, but it wasn't long before i felt another pain in my head as I hit the floor smacking my head......

''Can you tell me story......'' ''Chris!'' ''Hope!'' ''Run!''.........''HOPE!'' I screamed almost standing. ''calm down, it was only a dream.'' the voice said calmly. ''and what a dream it was, you nearly tore my arm off even while you were asleep. Impressive.'' he said handing me a small plate. Sparks flew every now and again as I scarfed down the food on the plate. ''thank you.'' I said not looking up. ''your welcome.'' came a reply. ''you have good manners for a homeless.'' ''thanks so do you.'' I said back. ''how did you know I was in that house?'' I asked holding the bread in front of my lips ready to consume it. ''because i was looking for you. And its a good thing to.'' he said not looking up from the fire. ''i wouldn't be here if you hadn't found me, thank you.'' ''who is hope?'' he asked me. ''my sister, one day I woke up and saw that i was alone. I've been looking for her ever since.'' I said hesitantly. more loud BOOMS shook the ground and rattles the lights hanging from the ceiling. ''we should get going.'' he said grabbing a large stick from the fire. I stood suddenly feeling more pain in my head. ''where are we going?'' i asked following. ''whats your name?'' he asked as we walked through a broken train car, wresting our way through debris. ''Chris.'' I answered jumping down onto the dark, rusty track. ''where are we going?'' I asked trying to see past the faint glow of a fiery torch. ''we have to get to the city.'' he said still walking. ''The city is being bombed.'' i said in a low voice. ''Not this city.....'' he continued. and almost word for word he started to tell the story my mother told me, about the city without lights. A city without war and void of death. ''i know this story.'' i said running to his side trying to hear better. ''well that story isn't just a story, it is real.'' he said stopping and staring at me. ''how do you know?'' I asked doubtfully. ''The king of that city made maps, so that people would be able to find it.'' he said pulling out a folded piece of paper. The thing didn't look out of the ordinary, old, tattered with lines all over it. ''we are here, follow this line and it will take you to here.'' he said pointing. ''There you will find a friend that will lead you to your next destination. but be wary people will try to stop you from reaching the city. do not lose the map.'' he said handing it to me, turning. ''wait, why should I trust you, and why are you not coming with me?'' I asked. Hope, the sister you are looking for, is also at the city.'' he said disappearing behind the cloud of shadow that seemed to stand just beyond the light. ''How do i know your not lying?'' I yelled. ''thats impossible.'' I said still hearing the echoes of my last words.