The Strain

Chapter One

The Strain

Chapter One

Soft rain drizzles on the tiny window that hangs above my flat lifeless mattress. My small room is nothing grand that stays lifelessly. My thin mattress sits cold and untouched against the dirty white tiles. The brick walls that surround me give off an eerie and uncomfortable vibe, which makes my room look dark and forbidden. Our building has fourteen floors and each floor houses between three to four families. We had over 300 people living in the building when I was younger, but as time continued on the families started to slowly dwindle away.

I am still surprised that our own family line is still here, the Stranton's are a tough crowd. With just my parents, my little brother, and myself that are left on this floor it gets extremely boring. There are three other families that have survived and still live in this building with us. They are scattered around on their own floors. Even though we do have neighbors below and above us, there is no one my age anymore.

My brother and I are not allowed to leave the building and go off on our own. An adult has to accompany us if we do go somewhere. My parent's think danger is behind every corner. I personally cannot help it if I get tired of staring out the same tiny dirty window every day. I would rather be out scavenging the run down city like everyone else. Sometimes Grandpa Luke will take Tyler and I with him just so we can get out of this building.

I swear I am going insane.

"Abi! Get down here and start getting the items we need for dinner." I let out a huge sigh.

"Coming Mom"

Geez. Where is Tyler? Am I the only one who does anything around here?

I slowly ease my back off the cold dingy brick wall. I quickly get to my feet and start brushing the dirt off of my dark grey pants. I lift back up and brush my long blonde hair back behind my shoulder.

I need to get Mom to trim this. Long hair can be so annoying.

I take large steps and head out the small door frame that sits crookedly before my room.

Our floor has about fifteen rooms on it. Each is the exact same size. Grandpa Luke told me long ago this building used to be an "office building". During dinner time some nights, he would share stories about the past and about how the building we live in is located in what used to be a city called Chicago. Each room in this building used to house workers, or so he says. What work they did still confuses me because the rooms are so small.

The only good thing about dinner time is listening to Grandpa Luke's tales. It almost makes me wish life was still the way it used to be. I think my Mother said a few weeks ago the year is 2098. We honestly do not keep up with the year or even time anymore. I honestly didn't even know about time until a few years ago. Grandpa Luke explained to Tyler and I how the world used to revolve around time. I was taught, since I was little, to use the sun and moon as my guide. It seems to me and still does, the best way to know what time of day it is.

I do know once the sun starts to set I have to start lighting all the candles throughout our floor. I forgot to do that one time and let's just say Mom was not too happy with me. I had double chores the whole week after that.

"Finally Abi. You are so slow." Tyler walks out from behind his small door with a book in his hand.

"Oh hush Tyler. It's not like you were going to get up and help."

I walk over to my little brother and shove him in the arm. He loses his balance slightly and drops his book.

"Hey!"