"Leia can you hear me" I say softly....*no answer*.. I tilt my head as far as I can and stare into the night sky, off to the left I see the lights of what is left of New York. I think to myself of earlier years, seeing loved ones. I think these things to distract myself, I know inside that leia is dead, and has probably been dead for minutes now. I don't cry because this knowledge of her death is far back in my thoughts, surrounded by walls of happier things. At this time I can't afford to loose hope. I let go of Leia's hand, which I now notice is cold and stiff. I shiver and let out a long breath. The air around me clouds and I know that soon, my body will lay as lifeless as Leia's. I wish that thought didn't creep through, but I'm too weak to keep it out. All at once my emotions and thoughts pour in like a broken dam. I look back at Leia, her blue eyes stare at me, they seem to accuse me of what has happened to her. I know in my heart that It wasn't my fault, but I accept the fact that in her last minutes with me, she most likely blamed me. Tears fill up my eyes as I walk down the dark alley way compiled of twisted memories, and cross into the streets that use to be filled with angry men and woman, fighting to make it to work on time. Each step takes the breath out of me, and it feels as if I'm crawling. I don't bother looking at myself, I know I'm skinny, dirty, and covered in blood. I look up again and see the search lights flooding the City, they look for survivors like me, who have now completed our second trial. We call these simulated lands and cities "Trails". They are dream-like cross sections created by someone or something that is unknown to us. I drag myself up against a car and lean on it. I hear sky scrapers and other buildings falling. At this moment , twenty six days after the landscape was created, it now falls in on itself, shutting down permanently. I pull out my flare gun, which is used to provide current locations to the search lights. I throw the gun and it skitters across the street. I know perfectly well that without that gun I am stuck in this dying landscape, and it's a matter of time before I, like Leia, Will be taken down with it. As I sit here I listen to the screams of other kids who have lost their gun, most likely in a fight or chase. They run in a desperate attempt to escape the hell they've been put in. I see a kid my age take his life in a parking lot, as if he wasn't already dead.... I continue to lie still and search the area, a small kid, around the age of eight sees me and sits down just inches from me. He looks at me as if he expects comfort, which I have none to give. He grabs my hand and begins to cry. I don't shake it off, I don't struggle, I just hold it back. After all that has happened I try to find joy in this moment, and I hope to God he shares this joy with me. I know he hears the screams of other kids and scraping metal as the structures crash to the ground. I lay back and block out the noise. I take one last look at the kid, then at Leia, who's broken body disturbs me. I hear the crack of concrete below and above me, and I close my eyes.
