All I Have Left

Chapter 1: What's going on?

The silence was deafening. Like a muted aftershock. Fear overtaking your entire body, it was a fear that you've never felt before. And everything was fine 3 days ago. Our city was peaceful and the only violence or crime that was heard of was a robbery. MAYBE a shooting. But this was different; this was pain, fear, death in every sense of the word. We haven't left this room in days, my best friend and I. We've drowned in tears and melted in each other's arms. She was all I had at the moment. My family was trapped at home, my boyfriend as well. We were alone at my new apartment in the middle of all of this chaos. How could things have changed so much, in a matter of days. No one was safe anymore. Nothing was safe.

3 DAYS AGO...

I can't believe I got my new apartment! I've been waiting months for this to happen. First thing I'm going to do is have a sleepover with my best friend in the whole world, Bria. So I decided to call her. Luckily, I got this house as soon as summer started.

"Hello?"

"Hey Bria!"

"Hey sweetie, what's going on?"

"I just moved into my new place!"

"That's great! Congratulations!"

"Thank you, thank you! So I was thinking about having a sleepover. Just me and you"

"Definitely!"

"Okay!"

Later that day, on the news, I saw an urgent report of fights breaking out all over the city, I grabbed the remote and turned the tv up.

"...of violent fights happening all over the city. No one knows what's going on quite yet but we are currently asking around and investigating this matter further", the reporter explained. There are fights going on everywhere in town? I wonder why. Nothing has happened lately, nothing drastic, that is. I walked to the kitchen to get something to eat and then the phone rang. I picked it up and heard panic on the other line.

"Adrienne!!", the voice yelled.

"What? Who is this?" I asked.

"It's your brother. Where are you right now?"

"I'm at home, why?"

"Take cover, now! There are riots going on everywhere and I want you to stay safe."

"Riots? For what?"

"I don't know. People are just being violent now."

"Okay, but I have to get Bria."

"Hurry!"

Before I could say another word, the line went dead. Why is this happening? I don't understand. I got in my car and went to go get Bria. Whatever is going on, there's no way I'm going through this alone.

About an hour later, we came back to my house with food, snacks, drinks, and anything else we needed at my house.

"Do you think this thing will get bad?" she asked.

"I don't know. I hope not." I shrugged.

Just then, we heard a gunshot. We both flinched and shot our heads toward the window. We were just frozen. Then there was another shot, and another. What the hell was going on here?

"A-Adrienne...?" Bria's voice broke.

"I know." I whispered.

If you think this was bad, it was only the beginning, there were shots going off randomly for days. Whenever we went out, bodies were left in the street. We decided to stock up on enough food to last for months, even though we hoped this wouldn't last that long. We didn't plan on coming back out of that house. I didn't have to call in to work because no one was going. The fear of being killed was too much. We had bags and bags of food and essentials. Good thing I have a garage, we were unloading the car for a long time. After we finished, we were set for everything, we even got more blankets and clothes. The scariest part of this whole thing was that I had no clue what was happening. People were dying for no reason, people were killing for no reason; I was a prisoner in my brand new apartment. I hadn't heard anything from Danny, my boyfriend. I was starting to get scared. So many people were losing their lives and who knows if someone I love is next. Bria was still frozen, fear was all over her face.

"Bria..?"

"Adrienne...I don't understand what's going on and I'm terrified." She said.

I pulled her into a hug and rubbed her back.

"I don't either, love. But we'll find out." I said. Just then, my phone rang. It was Danny.

"Hey babe, thank God." I sighed in relief.

"Hey where are you?"

"I'm at home. What's going on?"

"I don't know. People are killing each other for no reason. I'm stuck at home and I'm terrified about what could happen to my baby girl. Please tell me you're alright." He sounded terrified.

"I promise you I'm fine. Please don't try to come over here because I don't want anything to happen to you." I said. He was silent for a minute.

"...Adrienne, I can't just leave you there alone. I need to know you're alright." I could hear the pain in his voice and the air hitched in his throat at the thought of something happening to me.

"Bria's here. I'm safe. I don't want you to risk it. Please stay home and stay safe. I refuse to lose you." I said. Silence again.

"Please call me regularly. Take cover. And if you ever need to leave the house, let me know and I'll come to you. Please don't argue with me on this." He said firmly. He's very protective, and I love it but there was no way I'd let him leave the house with...whatever's going on here.

"Alright babe. We have enough food to last through this anyway." I said. He sighed.

"Okay good. Well we're about to barricade the house so I'll talk to you later. PLEASE stay safe. I love you, Adrienne." He said softly.

"You too. I love you more, Danny." Then I hung up.

A few hours later, we checked the news and there was nothing tragic that caused it. The reporter said that it just seemed like people were killing each other just because they could. Other joined the violent crowd gradually as time passed. By nightfall, the terror only increased. Bria and I used the furniture to surround us as we slept. All night long, I heard screams and gunshots in my sleep. Bria and I were both crying so we slept next to each other, holding each other tight. This was the most terrifying night of my life. There were what sounded like riots outside and people dying right outside my window. And worst of all...it was all for no reason. No one had a motive. It was as if the value of human life was suddenly zero. There was no reason for this. The world was just evil.