The Next World Crisis

Chapter 1

I woke up on the hard floor, planks of splintered wood lay around me. It was uncomfortable and the only piece of comfort I had on me was a ripped sleeping bag. I never slept fully inside it, in case I had to quickly run but recently it'd got colder and I was slowly pulling it up my body in the night. Rolling over on my back I sighed. I'd found this shack in the wreckage the night before. It was the only shelter that stood standing. It was cold and there was frost edging up the smashed windows. Fog shined down through the gaps in the roof (if you could call it that) and the door wouldn't close, leaving wisps of cold air to come into the hut. I wasn't safe here and I couldn't stay. I grabbed my backpack, as tattered as it was, and went outside. There wasn't much to see, except for demolished fishing boats and ice cream vans. The water in the docks could no longer be seen as it was under piles of wooden masts and metal frames, rusted over time. It's not even as if much time has passed, but I wouldn't be able to tell you anyway, it felt like a year but it was probably only half that. Enough time for the barren lands to remain destroyed and lifeless, but not enough for the past to disappear. As I stepped through the door, not bothering to close it behind me, I looked back over my shoulder checking to see if I'd left any sign that I'd been there. I had to be careful now that 'they' were on my trail.

The sky was a dull grey, no clouds, just grey. What am I doing here?!
A dampness was in the air and I couldn't help feeling annoyed. I was so thirsty but I just didn't want to get wet, my clothes were dirty enough already and I'd already walked through a flood in Tanswork town. Again, the town was empty and abandoned, but it was worth a try. I couldn't find my family anywhere...nowhere...and I'd almost given up. My parents are probably dead, my sister disappeared last year and my boyfriend, Henry, went to Philadelphia roughly a month ago, not that I could remember what month it was, let alone the day. 

I shifted the backpack and started to walk around a fallen building, letting my thoughts flood through. I hardly ever saw another living thing, except for the rare crow or rat. I'd scavenge for food every week or so and usually get a few scraps or tins but the effort in raiding empty houses was just not worth it anymore.