The unexpected future of humanity

Chapter 1

During WW7 the world went into chaos. All countries were fighting over the last of the energy resources. The big countries, like the USA and China, underestimated the smaller countries and were blindsided by the many big raids that happened. It was brother vs brother and the human race almost died off. Few survived, scattered around the world and it was rare that I ever saw anyone.

My name is Charlotte, I am 21, and I know how to fend for myself. I barely survived the war by escaping into the Nantahala National Forest in North Carolina, my home, and I made myself a small treehouse with an old mattress, a filthy cooler, a chair, a satchel, with a knife and a lighter in it, a makeshift pit for a fire, a pulley, a makeshift desk, and a pillow. I survive by eating serviceberries and sometimes wild indigo. I spend my extra time looting destroyed houses in the hope that one day I will find something useful.

I went out to collect some serviceberries with my satchel and I heard a high-pitched wail coming from behind a bunch of big bushes. I grabbed my knife from my satchel and ran toward the sound. As I rounded the bush, I saw a man wearing torn khaki pants and a black T-shirt, holding a little girl up by her hair with a sharp machete over his head about to detach the girl's head from her torso. Neither of them noticed me yet so I act fast. I run behind the man and kick him in the nuts so hard that if he wanted to have kids it was now impossible.

The man groans and slowly turns around to finally see me right as I insert the knife between two of his ribs and twist. I can hear the bones snap as warm gooey blood starts to spill all over my knife and hands. His knees give way and he falls. I yank my knife out, wipe it off on the ground, put it back in my satchel, and run over to the girl. She must have passed out from fear.

I haul her back to my treehouse and put her down on the mattress. She had a shallow slash in her lower leg and bruises all over her face, arms, and neck. I tended to her cut and got out the remainder of my indigo from last night, reheated it and sat down to eat. The moment I sat down the girl woke up suddenly and gasping for air. I put down the chicken and walked over to her as she tried to lift herself up and failed. "You're hurt and tired, you should get to rest." I said as I stopped in front of her. She looked up at me and looked like a rabbit trapped in a snare. She has chestnut skin, curly brown hair tied up into a ponytail, wild hazel eyes, and a pair of jeans and a dark green tank-top on. "Calm down, I won't hurt you. I'm Charlotte and I saved your life so why would I want to hurt you." I cooed.

She looked around nervously before she looked at me. "Where am I?" She said in a soft voice. "You are in my house." At that she looked around and took in the dull sight with interest. "My name is Sandra, I am 11 years old, and I live in a community south from here. That guy jumped me when I was foraging for something to eat." Sandra said. "Do you live with anyone else?" she asked. "No." I said and to that Sandra replied grievously "All my family members are missing."

I found that information pretty shocking. Sandra seemed to be so innocent and full of life that I couldn't comprehend that her family was missing. "How old are you?" Sandra asked. "I'm 21, my family died when I was 10. I can barely remember them." At that Sandra said, "I'm so sorry." I replied, "Me too."