Meltdown ♔ C.G.

[0.1] ▸ ESCAPE

[ Solitare by  Marina and the Diamonds ]
•••

Madison ♔
"Madison. Madison, wake up. C'mon, I'm hungry and it's your turn to go get the food. I don't wanna go anywhere unless you're up. . . Madisonnn, please? What if something happens?" I wake to the sound of my younger sisters soft, gentle voice pleading against my ear, begging me to abandon my slumber and take on the new day. I let out a small grunt, signaling to her my awakening, and take the time to slowly roll over onto my back. Wait. What am I doing? There's no time left in this world full of death and despair to move about leisurely. "C'mon, Maddie. Let's get going. We keep moving. Remember?"

I open my sleepy orbs, my mind flooded with remnants of old memories and abandoned dreams. I sit up off of the cold, wooden floor. Without hesitation, I use my calloused hands to fully hoist my small frame up and off of the splintered ground and into a standing position. Mirroring my actions, Alanna wearily rises from her kneel.

"Okay," I mumble, my mouth dry from long days accompanied by a short water supply. "You stay here. Keep a knife in hand in case you hear me yell. . . and do not, I repeat do not come downstairs unless I tell you to, unless you want to find yourself dead. You understand?"

Alanna nods. "Do you understand?!" I repeat, the static sound of my voice climbing slightly above a whisper this time. In this world, we are obligated to be harsh towards one another. It's almost as if it's the only way to maintain some sort of life.

"Yesss, I get it. Okay?" she hisses back. I feel a slight amount of anger tug at the inside of my throat, but I quickly push it back down. "Fine." I pat her head.

I diligently and silently as possible open the attic door, and resting my heel on the first step, lead myself down into what used to be a home; once filled with echoing laughter and bright smiles, now presents itself to be nothing but the shell of a house.

Once I have finished descending to the bottom of the stairs, I pass my sister one last look, a sorrow-filled glance, but one that is laced with warning as well. She nods back. Every time I come down here, it all feels so odd. So empty. I am too used to reaching the first floor and being tangled up in a swarm of warm greetings and "Good mornings," but that is no more. It just doesn't exist. Not a lot does anymore. Not that I know of, anyways.

BANG! That's when a sharp noise pierces my eardrums in a most abrupt manner. I immediately halt my footsteps, and not long after, others replace mine.

      What?! Is it mom? Dad?! No. Don't be stupid, Madison. They're dead. They all are. Stop feeding your brain with false hope. But then... who is here?

       Fueled by an utmost unease toying with the steady beat of my heart, I wind my head around to the kitchen, and that's when my heart stops. Men. Two of them. More than me or my sister can take on, with our weak, child-like frames acting as our only support. They're rummaging through the cupboards, depriving what's left of my family of the food that is oh-so-vital to our survival in this cruel world. Shit.

All of a sudden, one of the raiders, a tall, burly black man with what looks like dreadlocks turns around to face my direction. The sides of the frames of his glasses are the only thing preventing him from detecting my presence in the threshold. I yank my body back behind the camouflage of the doorway, into the dining room.

"C'mon. This house seems unscathed. There could be hygiene products upstairs," one of the figures suggests. It's a woman's voice. What if they find the attic?!

Okay, Maddie, think. She always closes the attic door until I knock on it with the broomstick. But then...what if she forgot? All I can do is wait. . . and that's what hurts the most. I'm the only being keeping her heart beating at the moment. Everyone else that she's ever loved is dead. Gone. I can't let myself get caught up in an attempt to lead the couple away. As I sink lower onto the ground, my mind continues to flood with horrible thoughts, when I hear the front door click open, and then slam itself shut.

Are they gone? I peek out the front window, just enough so that the only part of me that's visible are the strands of dirty hair matted upon the top of my head, and the tired eyes that seek the peace and comfort which I once found in this home.