The nuclear bombs hit within the next twenty-four hours.
The Council had strategically sent out individuals to prompt the members of the lower society who were deemed useful to leave. It was insisted upon that the news was to be kept quiet. It was to happen during the hours of dusk, when everyone was due to report back to their homes. Families would leave inconspicuously and quickly. Rooms would be provided to them upon entering the Council's City. Their lives would then be lived out, peacefully and respectfully, without any more interference from the unruly Veil.
A perfect society would be created. The world would thrive like it once did, but this time, Acceptable actions would rule. There would be no fears of war, famine, or death. It would be the ideal utopia. And the Council would be unstoppable.
>>>
Kevelle had been sitting in his room, messing around with his cello, when his father abruptly opened the door. "Son, gather everything you need. We must go."
Kevelle was alarmed. He could hear the urgency in his father's voice and see it in his father's eyes. "Go? Where are we going?" Even as he was verbally questioning his father's orders, he followed them. He hurriedly but efficiently threw clothes into a suitcase.
"We must head to the Council City. Questors told your mother and me that our presence was required there. We are to stay for an undetermined amount of time."
"We have to leave? Immediately? Does that not seem unusual to you?"
Dr. Olusola began assisting his son with packing. "I know better than to question the Council. So should you. Watch your words, son. There are many who would happily misconstrue them."
The packing was done, and the two men met Mrs. Olusola in the foyer of their grand home. "Are you prepared to depart, my dear?"
"Yes, Mother," Kevelle replied, keeping in mind the words of his father.
The three left the house without a backwards glance.
>>>
Avriktael almost tore the door down with his force. "Estolei! We must go! Now!"
Estolei looked up sharply from the last remnants of food she was gathering. "What?"
Avrik grabbed the luggage the two had managed to scrounge up. It wasn't much, but it would be enough to survive. Or so Avrik hoped. "Reports have come in. Questors were seen speaking to the Wishers. It's time. We have to get out of here, quick!"
Estolei rushed out after her brother. "How will we ever manage to cross the boundary of the Outskirts?"
Avrik glanced back at her. "We're not going to the inner city, sister."
She almost stumbled. "What? Do you mean...?"
Avriktael nodded. "We are going to the Wasteland. That's our only chance of survival, if there ever was one to begin with."
"But Avrik! You know what type of beasts plague the Wasteland! We don't have enough ammunition to protect us!"
He cursed loudly. "I know! Okay? I know. But right now, all that matters is getting there. We will worry about what happens after that. The whole area will be ashes within the next couple of hours. There's no way anyone is going to survive that. Our only priority right now is getting out of the bomb's range before it makes impact."
Estolei said nothing more as the two of them hurriedly made their way to the only form of safety they could find.
>>>
Kierstaer was sleeping when a harsh knock sounded on her window. She bolted awake, the unexpected noise scaring her. She rushed to her window to see what could have caused it. She recognized the familiar blonde hair of her friend Scothmpson but did not recognize the small, brunette man with him. Hastily, she unlocked the latch and threw it open, ignoring the drops of nightly dew that painted her skin. "What are you doing here? It's not Acceptable to be out this late."
Scothmpson whispered harshly, "Get whatever you can gather in five minutes and meet us outside."
"Why?" she questioned. It was not usual of her friend to order her about, but the tone in his voice put her on edge.
Mitchane almost snarled at the pretty young woman. "We don't have time! The Council is going to bomb us all! We have to get out before they do!"
Kierstaer was frozen in place. The Council was going to drop a bomb on them? Why? What motive did they have? She couldn't remember hearing about a particularly outrageous riot or such. Nothing major had happened in the past few days or even weeks. Every action had been mostly Acceptable. So, what was their reasoning? What exactly was going on?
"I know you're confused, and you're probably frightened. I understand. I'm feeling the same way. But Mitchane overheard his parents speaking of leaving. He found out about the planned massacre and ran to my house to tell me. They're only sparing those they deem worthy, such as the Questors and some of the Wishers. That means us Polishers are doomed. I'm not leaving without you, but we need to hurry. Please," Scothmpson pleaded.
She realized she needed to calm down and keep a cool head if she wanted to survive this. Quickly pinching herself to make sure it wasn't some kind of sick dream, Kierstaer ran to grab a bag and threw the first things she touched into it. It wasn't a lot, but she didn't have much in the first place. She glanced outside to make sure the two men were still there and, seeing they were, exited her front door. She met up with them, and the three began to run towards the Outskirts.
"Wait, why are we going to the Outskirts? Won't that be one of the first places the Council plans to target?"
Scothmpson nodded. "Yes, but it's our only way to the Wasteland."
"There's a shortcut we can take that will minimize our time in the Outskirts," Mitchane offered. "I've read about it in one of the books I borrowed from Kevelle. I think I know where it's at."
"Lead the way," Scothmpson said. Kierstaer noticed for the first time that her friend held tightly to the other's hand. She raised an eyebrow but filed the question away to ask later. If there was a later. At the moment, her only concern was managing her breathing while they were running.
Mitchane knew what they were doing was a risk. Hell, it probably wouldn't save them, but the Council had left Scothmpson no other choice. Sure, he could have went with his parents to the Council's City, but he wasn't about to leave Scoth behind. The blonde had come to mean more to him than anything else.
Scothmpson felt similarly. He wasn't going to let anything happen to Kierstaer or Mitch, especially Mitch. He would fight until his last breathe to ensure the man who had captured his heart was safe.
>>>
There were no sirens. Actually, there was very little sound. For the few seconds before the nuclear weapon made impact, the Earth stood still. It sounded cheesy, but it was true. For but a moment, there was everything in its silent glory. Then, just as quickly, there was nothing encompassed in a rage of sound.
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