Disappearing Ashes

Misty Winters

My field of vision fogged around me... Where was I? I had no idea. I was laying on something soft, and comfortable. Then everything was clearer. I was lying in a bed.

I should not be lying in a bed. We didn't have a bed. But I was in some kind of room. Like a bedroom with a dresser, a nightstand, a fan, lights etc.

Where was I?

I sat up. Oh... nope, bad idea. My head was aching so badly. I thought back to the last thing that had happened.

Oh, right, I fell.

If I fell, how would I have gotten here so quickly?

The door opened and Mike walked in. "Where am I?" I said immediately.

Mike was silent for a moment like he was looking for the right words. "Fareland."

"What?"

"Behind that stonewall... Was a city. It was our city. Nothing was damaged, only empty, we haven't found anyone."

"But... the fire-"

"I don't know."

My mind scrambled. The fires, the bombs, everything should be in ruins.

Another explosion. Trees toppled over, buildings were demolished to nothing, and people fell to the ground. I knew what I had to do.

I ran.

I ran and ran until I didn't know where I was. I stopped and sat behind a big tree.

And waited.

It must have been hours. I didn't know what to do.

My home now resembled its name.

Dustwood.

After a certain period of time, I heard something. It couldn''t have been a bird, and it couldn't have been the screams of people trying to escape.

But I did hear the voice of people. They sounded like they were planning something. Maybe they were waiting for people like me to sneak out and kill. I didn't know if I should run away, or stay hidden. I decided to see whose voice I was hearing.

I slowly stood up and walked around the tree as quiet as I can. I didn't see any faces, just the backs of heads.

Snap. Silence.

I watched the heads turn around, my heart pounding like a drum. The faces didn't seem ready to kill. They were familiar. Three people had turned around. Mike, Lucy and Jason. Their faces were filled with relief. They motioned me to come over, and there was a group of people behind them. The survivors. They told me the plan. We were leaving.

I stared straight ahead. "Do you think anyone is here?"

"I don't think so. Nobody alive at least. Every building is empty aren't any signs of damage. No ashes, cracks in buildings, or trees that have been knocked over. Actually there aren't any trees at all. No greenery and all the lakes and rivers are somehow empty."

I nodded and felt my head. There was a bump that felt as big as a grapefruit and my whole body was sore.

"You should probably get some rest. There's going to be a lot of work to do and at one point everyone will need to pitch in but not right now when your head is like this."

I looked at Mike. "What are you doing right now?"

"Right now we're searching to see what we'll need to work on. Any signs of nearby water or food sources. We also need to see how everything is going to work." I nodded and watched him leave the room.